Kerala - Thiruvananthapuram

Cultural fete begins

Thiruvananthapuram: Chief Minister V.S. Achuthanandan inaugurated the Kerala Tourism’s State-level Onam celebrations here on Wednesday.

He opened the week-long celebrations in Thiruvananthapuram, Kochi, Kozhikode, other district headquarters and major tourist destinations in the State at a function organised at the Chandrasekharan Nair Stadium here.

In his inaugural address, Mr. Achuthanandan asserted his government’s resolve to making Kerala self-sufficient in rice, vegetables and milk. He said an action plan was being drawn up for the purpose, he said.

The festivities were being organised this year in the backdrop of resurgence in the agriculture sector of the State.

“The government has been able to avoid labour disputes and bonus strikes and arrest the price rise. The market intervention made by the government following the slashing of ration rice quota by the Centre has been effective.”

The Chief Minister extended Onam greetings to all Malayalis.

Minister for Tourism and Home Kodiyeri Balakrishnan, who presided over the function, presented ‘onakkodi’ to the Chief Minister. Chairman of the Programme Committee V. Sivankuty, MLA, presented the ‘Kudumbasree kit’ to Mr. Achuthanandan . Minister for Water Resources N.K. Premachandran, Minister for Parliamentary Affairs M. Vijayakumar, Minister for Education M.A. Baby, V. Surendran Pillai, MLA, Mayor C. Jayan Babu, district panchayat president Anavoor Nagappan, KTDC Chairman Cherian Philip and Director of Tourism M. Sivasankar spoke.

The inaugural function was followed by the three-hour mega show ‘Sravana sandhya’ presented by Kairali TV and featuring leading artistes.

The cultural programmes were being organised in 14 venues in the city. The festivities in the city will conclude with a pageantry on September 16.

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