Kerala - Alappuzha   

`Campaign on against pro-poor legislation'

Staff Reporter

Sudhakaran calls for concerted action to save coir sector

ALAPPUZHA: The decision of the Kerala High Court not to stay the Devaswom ordinance promulgated by the State Government is a shock to those who oppose progressive legislation tooth and nail, Minister for Devaswom and Coir G. Sudhakaran has said.

Presiding over a meeting organised here on Thursday to distribute financial aid of the State to coir cooperative societies, Mr. Sudhakaran said some people had unleashed a campaign against pro-poor legislation of the Government. At certain levels courts might pass orders against such legislation. But there are chances that they might revise orders.

Mr. Sudhakaran rejected observations that Ministers against whom court passed strictures should resign. There are examples of lower court orders being struck down by higher courts.

Mr. Sudhakaran said the State Government's resolve to uplift the poor was behind the recent spurt of legislation. What would be the meaning of democracy if the poor continued to suffer? He said the media should play a constructive role in this regard.

Mr. Sudhakaran said a former Congress Minister had asked him to resign as Devaswom Minister on the pretext that he was a non-believer. What right he who belonged to another community had to interfere in the affairs of Devaswoms?

Regarding the coir sector, Mr. Sudhakaran called for a concerted action by coir workers and coir manufactures to protect the sector. Agitations should be minimised without compromising on the spirit of class struggle, he said.

Mr. Sudhakaran said the Government respected the contributions of private sector in the coir industry.

Mr. Sudhakaran pointed out that the present Government had spent Rs.36 crore in the coir sector in eight months. The Government expected to utilise 100 per cent of the funds earmarked for the sector this year.

Revenue Minister K.P Rajendran, who delivered the key-note address, said the Government planned to rehabilitate 17,000 families in the coastal areas of the State in two years to save them from recurring sea erosions. The Government expected to provide them a small house in four cents of land at a place not far away from sea. Rehabilitating a family is expected to cost around Rs.2 lakh. The model of the houses will be finalised later, he said.

Those who spoke included K.S. Manoj, MP, and MLAs Anathalavattom Anandan and

P. Thilothaman. A sum of Rs.16 crore was distributed to coir societies at the function.

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