The Hindu : Kerala News : Food scheme: LDF breaks impasse

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Kerala

Food scheme: LDF breaks impasse

C. Gouridasan Nair

Special fund to be constituted for implementation of the scheme

Chief Minister to chair Food Security Mission
Agriculture Minister its convener

RSP general secretary T.J. Chandrachoodan has brokered the deal.

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The dispute between the CPI(M) and the CPI over the proposed food security scheme has been resolved.

An informal agreement on contentious issues such as the chairmanship of the Food Security Mission and funding of the scheme was arrived at here on Thursday with RSP general secretary T.J. Chandrachoodan working as a mediator.

Prof. Chandrachoodan, with the support of CPI(M) State secretary Pinarayi Vijayan, held separate discussions with Chief Minister V.S. Achuthanandan and CPI State secretary Veliyam Bhargavan to bring about a rapprochement between the two sides. Under the agreement, the Chief Minister will become the chairman and Agriculture Minister Mullakkara Ratnakaran the convener of the proposed Food Security Mission.

A special fund would be constituted for implementation of the scheme. The funds of the Agriculture and Animal Husbandry Departments meant for the scheme would be augmented with money to be made available from the other departments that will be involved in its implementation.

Prof. Chandrachoodan told The Hindu that both Mr. Achuthanandan and Mr. Bhargavan were quite accommodative when he approached them for resolving the dispute.

They had agreed to move ahead if there could be an agreement acceptable to both sides.

A formal decision on the various points of the agreement would be taken by the Left Democratic Front (LDF) State committee at its meeting to be held at the earliest, he said.

Prof. Chandrachoodan started his efforts two days ago by first enlisting the support of Mr. Vijayan and then worked out a formula that could prove acceptable to both sides.

He called on the Chief Minister on Thursday afternoon after holding discussions with Mr. Vijayan and followed this up with a meeting with Mr. Bhargavan.

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