Implement Narendran panel report: LDF

By Our Special Correspondent

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM, MAY 2. The State committee of the Left Democratic Front (LDF) has asked the Government to implement at the earliest the Justice Narendran Commission recommendation that the income ceiling to determine `creamy layer' among Backward Class be raised from the present Rs. 1.5 lakhs to Rs. 3 lakhs.

Briefing reporters after the LDF State committee meeting here this evening, the Front convener, Mr. V. S. Achuthanandan, said the committee had held a preliminary discussion on the report. The LDF panel would hold a detailed discussion at its next meeting on May 12, he added.

Mr. Achuthanandan said delinking of Pre-degree courses would take one more year as the question of sanctioning new Plus Two schools had been referred to the sub-committee constituted for the purpose. The sub- committee would take a final view in the matter. Colleges from where pre- degree courses had been delinked would get higher priority in the sanction of Plus Two courses. The sub-committee would formulate its recommendations taking into account the likely burden on the exchequer, availability of educational infrastructure in each district and the demands of individual communities.

The LDF convener said courses could not be sanctioned indiscriminately as there were excess seats available in many places. Although the process of delinking would not be completed this year, it would certainly be completed before the term of the present Government expired. The committee, he said, had not thought of sanctioning Plus Two courses to unaided private schools.

Mr. Achuthanandan said the committee had given its approval for the draft Ordinance prepared by the Forest Department as suggested by the LDF sub-committee constituted for the purpose. The Ordinance was intended to check encroachment on forests and to end unauthorised possession of forest land by private individuals and institutions.

The committee, he said, could not hold a detailed discussion on the proposed Kerala People's Police Scheme (KPPS) as the Front constituents had not properly studied the subject. The issue would now be taken up at the next meeting of the committee. The committee would also hold a discussion on the Dr. K. N. Shyamasundaran Nair Committee report on the steps necessary to prevent reclaiming of paddy fields. The Government would be asked to implement proposals that could curb paddy field conversion without delay, he added. Replying to a question, Mr. Achuthanandan said his Kozhikode statement that the LDF would not accommodate parties like the Muslim League was only a reiteration of the stand adopted by the CPI(M) long ago. The LDF committee, he said, did not discuss the issue.

He said the LDF committee had decided to do its best to make a success of the May 11 general strike against the economic policies of the BJP Government and the silent consent it gave to the RSS and other forces to mount repeated attacks of the minorities in the country. The committee had also decided to draw up a detailed plan of action against the Central Government's discriminatory policies vis-a-vis Kerala. The Chief Minister would hold discussions with the Opposition parties to enlist their participation in the proposed agitations, Mr. Achuthanandan said.

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