The Hindu : Kerala / Kochi News : State to become hunger-free soon: Fisheries Minister

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Wednesday, May 19, 2010
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Kerala - Kochi

State to become hunger-free soon: Fisheries Minister

Staff Reporter

KOCHI: Fisheries and Registration Minister S. Sarma has said that Kerala would become the first hunger-free State in the country in June.

Delivering the inaugural address at the district level celebrations of the State government here on Tuesday, Mr. Sarma said that the State would achieve this feat through the distribution of rice at Rs. 2 a kg to its 35 lakh ration cardholders.

Through the EMS Housing Scheme and the health scheme of offering insurance coverage to the tune of Rs. 70,000 a year to ration cardholders, Kerala would also become a State with housing for all and universal health coverage, he said.

Mr. Sarma said that owing to the prudent and scientific fiscal management under Finance Minister Thomas Isaac there was no treasury ban during the last four years of the LDF government rule even as the government powered its development projects for the State.

The Minister said that pension for 30 months to the poorest of poor was pending when the LDF government came into power.

Not only was there any pending pension during the four year rule but the pension was increased from Rs. 120 to Rs. 300, the Fisheries Minister said.

Stating that the government had given prominence to strategic development projects, Mr. Sarma said construction of an airport in North Kerala is likely to begin this fiscal year.

Transport Minister Jose Thettayil presided.

District panchayat president P.S. Shyla presented the achievements of the district in the last four years.

P. Rajeev, MP, MLAs M.K. Purushothaman, Saju Paul, M.M. Monayee, and Babu Paul, and Mayor Mercy Williams offered felicitations.

District Collector M. Beena welcomed the gathering.

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