Date:28/08/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/08/28/stories/2008082850260100.htm

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VS to lead delegation to New Delhi

Special Correspondent

To take up reduction in grain quota, seek Central aid to tide over power crisis

Chief Minister V.S. Achuthanandan

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Chief Minister V.S. Achuthanandan said here on Wednesday that he would lead a delegation to New Delhi to protest against the reduction in the quota of grains to the State for public distribution. The delegation would also demand assistance from the Centre to tide over the current power crisis in the State.

Talking to presspersons after the weekly Cabinet meeting, the Chief Minister said the delegation would meet Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar and Power Minister Sushil Kumar Shinde to record the State’s protest. The visit would be scheduled to coincide with the commencement of the coming Parliament session.

Mr. Achuthanandan said the State would seek Rs.500 crore from the Centre to tide over the crisis in the power sector. The shortfall in power generation because of the failure of monsoon should be treated as a natural calamity. The Centre should provide increased allocation from the Central pool. The quota of power to the State from the Central pool had been cut by 40 per cent.

The Chief Minister said the Centre proposed to auction off excess rice in Food Corporation of India’s godowns instead of giving it to food-deficit States. This was highly objectionable.

Mr. Achuthanandan said the State would communicate its concerns over the attack on nuns and priests in Orissa to the Centre and the Orissa government and seek their protection.

It would record its protest over the delay in providing reimbursement for agricultural loans written off under the Central government’s loan waiver scheme. As many as 500 cooperative societies were facing closure on account of the delay. Though the initial estimate of assistance to Kerala was more than Rs.2,000 crore, this had now been cut down to Rs.1,150 crore.

He said that more than 80,000 tribal families would be given 12 kg of rice free of charge during Onam. Port workers in Alappuzha would be given Rs.15,000 and 5 kg of rice for Onam. People living in relief camps in Thiruvananthapuram and Alappuzha districts would get an Onam kit and Rs.1,000 per family in connection with Onam.

Backward Classes would be given 20 per cent reservation in government colleges and university departments.The honorarium of literacy promoters would be raised by Rs.200 a month.He announced that P. Venugopal would be posted a Collector of Kottayam.