Date:25/09/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/09/25/stories/2008092556340400.htm

Kerala - Thiruvananthapuram

UDF protests against tariff hike

Special Correspondent

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The United Democratic Front (UDF) on Wednesday registered its protest against the hike in water and electricity tariff and the LDF government’s “failure” to tackle price rise and provide relief to the weaker sections of society through subsidised rations.

Addressing a press conference here, UDF convener P.P. Thankachan said water and electricity tariff hikes would add to the burden of the common man who was already reeling under the impact of the price spiral. He said water tariff had been hiked during the previous LDF rule in 1999. The UDF had taken a conscious decision not to hike tariffs even though the Kerala Water Authority (KWA) had submitted proposals in this regard.

The State government, he alleged, was not interested in taking measures to reduce the price of rice. The UDF wanted the government to implement a scheme under which the below poverty line (BPL) sections would be given 25 kg rice a month at Rs.2 a kg. Tamil Nadu and Karnataka had announced a Re.1-a-kg and Rs.2-a-kg schemes respectively for the BPL sections.

The UDF also demanded a scheme for APL categories at Rs.8.90 a kg of rice subject to a limit of 35 kg. a month. The Kerala government would incur only Rs. 42 crore a year for subsidising this, Mr. Thankachan said.

The UDF also urged the government to discontinue the single-window system for Plus One admissions “as it had proved to be a failure.” Mr. Thankachan said thousands of seats remained vacant even as students were struggling to gain admissions. It would be better to stick to a practical schedule under which admission and classes would go hand in hand.

With regard to the Class VII social studies textbook issue, Mr. Thankachan said the youth and students organisations owing allegiance to the UDF had withdrawn their agitation.