Date:12/01/2006 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2006/01/12/stories/2006011215150100.htm

Front Page

25 kg rice a month for BPL families

Special Correspondent

The scheme to benefit 20.48 lakh people, including those covered under Andyodaya

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: All those living below the poverty line (BPL) in the State will be given 25 kg of rice a month for Rs.3 a kg.

Chief Minister Oommen Chandy told presspersons after Wednesday's Cabinet meeting that the total cost of this would work out to Rs.12 crores a year. This will benefit about 20.48 lakh people. Of them, 4.75 lakhs are already getting rice at concession rates under the Andyodaya Annapoorna Scheme.

Super-specialty hospital

The public health centre at Uzhavoor will be developed as a super-speciality hospital and named after the late President K.R. Narayanan. He had made a proposal for constructing a memorial for the late Narayanan in the Assembly and accordingly Revenue Minister K.M. Mani had put forward the proposal after consulting local leaders. Infrastructure development and creation of posts will be decided by the Health Department in consultation with the Finance Department.

Hospital upgradation

The Thodupuzha taluk hospital will be upgraded as a general hospital. With this, the total bed strength of the hospital will go up from 144 to 229. The Cabinet has approved creation of 18 additional posts for the hospital. A casualty wing will be opened at the government hospital at Varkala and six posts, including two of doctors, will be sanctioned.

Investigation

The Chief Minister said he had asked the Superintendent of Police, Idukki, to investigate the alleged swindling of more than Rs.50 crores by a cardamom auction house in the district. (The cardamom marketing corporation is alleged to have accepted fixed deposits from buyers and failed to repay the deposits.)

Mr. Chandy said the Government would pay dearness and other allowances to the staff of 35 schools set up under the Area Incentive Project when Rajiv Gandhi was Prime Minister. Till now, they have been paid only fixed salaries. The Central Government had set up the infrastructure.

Diploma course

A diploma course in speech and hearing software will be sanctioned to the National Institute of Speech and Hearing in Thiruvananthapuram.

Jayatilak will be appointed Director of the State Urban Development Project.