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Trade Unions conference from Apr 19
Friday, 29 February, 2008
AJ: Trade Unions from India and abroad will be meeting here under a common platform from April 19 to 23 to discuss various issues like globalisation and problems of workers. Chief Minister, V S Achuthanandan, will inaugurate the conference. Over 100 foreign and 150 Indian delegates are expected to participate.Expecting trade unions from all international affiliations', including from Australia, Phillipines, Japan, China and Latin American countries. Twentyfive women delegates from abroad will also be attending the conference,in which problems of working women would also be taken up.
Private bus operators demand hike
AJ: Kerala State Private Bus Owners Feration has demanded a hike in the bus fare following the recent increase in prices of petroleum products. Federation's president, Khalid Munidappilly told that the Federation at its central committee meeting, decided to urge the government to allow a reasonable increase in the bus fare. Though the fare was increased in September 2004 and November 2005, the fare concession for students had gone up to 84 per cent from the 75 per cent as there was no change in the concessional rate for students. He also urged the state government to take necessary steps to solve the problems faced by the private bus operators in the state.
Five die in road accidents
AJ: Five persons, including two children and a woman, were killed and three injured in separate road accidents in the state. Two siblings were crushed to death and two injured when a stone-ladden truck hit them at Mattannur town as they were proceeding to a Madrassa class. They have been identified as Farsana and Shafi.
In another incident, two motorcycle riders were crushed to death when their two-wheeler dashed against a truck coming from the opposite direction at Mangad on the national highway. In the other accident, a 45-year-old woman was killed when a van knocked her down while she was waiting along with a child near a bus shelter at Edat near Payyanur.
Achuthanandan and Oommen Chandy welcomes rly budget
Thursday, 28 February, 2008
AJ: Chief Minister V.S. Achuthanandan, opposition leader Oommen Chandy and the people in the state welcomed the railway budget Lalu Prasad presented in the Lok Sabha as it showered many sops on the state. Lalu Prasad gave in to one of Kerala's long-standing demands for a railway coach factory in the state, announced four new trains, extended one from Coiambatore to Ernakulam and increased the frequency of the Rajdhani train from twice to thrice a week.
The factory is expected to come up in Kanjikode in Pudussery panchyat of Palakkad district, where the state government has promised to provide 1,000 acres of land free of cost. The project is expected to provide direct employment to 4,000 people. The Malabar Chamber of Commerce also welcomed the announcement.
20 pc increase in foreign tourists in Kerala
AJ: The state recorded an increase of 20.37 per cent in the arrival of foreign tourists to the state this year. Seizing on the encouraging results, the state had plans to market more beaches, especially in the areas which had not received due attention so far. Compared to the steady increase in foreign tourists, the rise in domstic tourists was about six per cent.
The government's aim was to develop high quality tourism so as to ensure greater revenue from the sector. Now, a foreign tourist spent about Rs 3,000 a day while on visit to the state. With creation of better infrastructure, this could be raised to Rs 10,000 a day per tourist.
The growth of water hyacinth and weeds in the backwaters and lakes, especially in Alappuzha District, was posing a serious threat to backwater tourism. The government was on the look out for an effective method Of ridding the lakes of the water plant as physical removal of them had failed to root out the menace.
Opposition boycots Assembly
Tuesday, 26 February, 2008
AJ: The Congress-led UDF Opposition staged a walkout in the assembly,charging the government with total failure in controlling the prices of essential commodities. The government, on the other hand, cited the Centre's wrong economic policy and slashing of rice quota for the state as the main reasons for price rise.
The UDF alleged that price rise was mainly due to Food Minister C Divakaran's inefficiency and non-intervention in the market by the Civil Supplies Corporation by strengthening its outlets.KC(M) leader K M Mani said the government was trying to 'wash its hands' off the issue by putting the blame on the Centre and terming the price rise a "global phenomenon". The government that failed in its primary duty to provide food to the state's people has no right to continue in office.Before staging the walkout,Opposition leader Oommen Chandy wanted the government to take steps for market intervention.
Govt. plan to develop IT parks in all districts
AJ: The state government has worked out a plan to develop IT parks in all districts in the state as part of its efforts to enhance its presence in the Information Technology sector. A state-sponsored company called Kerala State Information Technology Infrastructure Ltd had been formed for this and consultants Pricewaterhouse Cooper entrusted to work out the project details.
The proposed IT parks would be in addition to the existing Technopark in the state capital, Infopark in Kochi and the joint venture Smart city coming up in Kochi.Some districts like Alappuzha, Palakkad, Kannur, Kasargod and Kozhikode had already submitted site proposals which were being examined by the government.
The IT department had drawn up a set of norms for the sites for the IT parks which included proximity to rail, road and air connectivity, basic needs like uninterrupted power and water supply and housing facilities. One park required at least 50 acres of land.
NSS resents Govt's move to implement Sachar report
Monday, 25 February, 2008
AJ: The NSS came out strongly against the plans of LDF Government to implement the Sachar Committee recommendations on backwardness of the Muslim community. "The very conception of a committee to work out religion-based reservation went against the basics of the Constitution, N S S general secretary, P K Narayana Panikcer, said.
Besides, extension of concessions to a particular religion and creation of special quota in jobs would upset the social balance and communal harmony. A high power panel headed by Minister Paloli to make suggestions on the implementation of the Sachar report recently submitted a set of recommendations including formation of a separate miniority welfare ministry and welfare scheme for madrassa teachers.
Community policing system in Kerala from March
AJ: As part of reforming functioning of police in tune with changing times, community policing system would be introduced in Kerala from next month to help maintain effective law and order, home minister Kodiyeri Balakrishnan said.
In the first phase, it was planned to introduce community policing in 14 centres, comprising 11 Municipalities and three Corporation limits. A beat officer would be in charge of 500 families in his limits and constantly update relevant details for addressing their complaints.
The new system, as recommended by the Justice K T Thomas commission, was part of reforming the police functioning in tune with changing times as there was need to keep a close watch on newcomers residing in the area limits.Training to beat officers, who will closely monitor and interact with the family members residing in their limits, would be completed by the month end.
Progress in agricultural sector, says Governor
Thursday, 21 February, 2008
AJ: The budget session of the 12th Kerala Legislative Assembly began.
In his inagural address Governor R L Bhatia said the state has
progressed in the agricultural sector. The government was able to stop
suicides of farmers to a certain extent. Farmers' debt relief policy
is an achievement for the government. Signing the Smart City project
is a great success for the government.The governor said the public
distribution system had been badly affected due to the drastic
reduction in allotment of foodgrains by the Centre. Meanwhile, the
Congress-led UDF opposition described the address as one that lacked
any clear-cut policy to tackle the important issue of price rise of
essential commodities. Opposition leader Oommen Chandy said LDF
government has no right to talk about corruption as it had failed to
cancel the HMT land deal, which he alleged, was steeped in
irregularities.
Hartal affected normal life in state
Wednesday, 20 February, 2008
AJ: The Congress-led opposition UDF in the state to protest the LDF
Government's failure to arrest price rise affected normal life in the
state.Some untoward incidents have been reported from various places of the state. Stones were pelted at the march staged by Youth Congress in the capital city. Private buses kept off roads and shops remained closed in most places. Only two wheelers were seen on the roads. Educational institutions remained closed and universities postponed examinations scheduled for the day. The Kerala State Road Transport Corporation, however, was operating its services on convoy basis from major towns.
Hartal affected normal life in state
AJ: The Congress-led opposition UDF in the state to protest the LDF
Government's failure to arrest price rise affected normal life in the
state.
Some untoward incidents have been reported from various places of the
state. Stones were pelted at the march staged by Youth Congress in the
capital city. Private buses kept off roads and shops remained closed
in most places. Only two wheelers were seen on the roads.
Educational institutions remained closed and universities postponed
examinations scheduled for the day. The Kerala State Road Transport
Corporation, however, was operating its services on convoy basis from
major towns.
Budget Session to begin on Feb 20
Monday, 18 February, 2008
AJ: The Budget Session of the 12th legislative assembly will begin on
February 20, with policy address by Governor R L Bhatia. Speaker K
Radhakrishnan said the budget for financial year 2008-09 and Vote on
Account would be presented by Finance Minister Thomas Isaac on March
6. Bills concerning Coir Workers Welfare Cess, entrusting Devaswom
Board appointments to Public Service Commission, Protection of Paddy
Fields from filling and Fish Workers Debt Relief would be presented
during the 14-day-long session. The Subject Committee had already
submited the first two Bills, with the Select Committee yet to present
the other two.
Govt. to probe on Ponnambalamedu issue
AJ: Devaswom Minister G Sudhakaran stated that the government will
probe the Ponnambalamedu incident in which a group of foreigners
performed rituals in Ponnambalamedu where devotees witness the divine
light during Makaravilakku festival in Sabarimala. Devaswom Board has
not informed anything about the incident. It has been reported that a
55 member group of foreigners had entered into the Ponnambalamedu area
and performed rituals after installing an idol there. The group
entered the forest area after getting a special nod from the central
forest department.
Mixed response to motor workers strike
Sunday, 17 February, 2008
AJ: The dawn-to-dusk strike called by Motor Workers' Unions in Kerala
against the price hike in petroleum products today evoked partial
response in the state. The strike was called by the co-ordination
committee of Motor Workers Unions affiliated to various trade unions
including CITU, INTUC, BMS and AITUC. Private buses kept off the roads
in most districts, the impact of the strike was partial in goods
movements. Taxis and autorickshaws plied as usual and the state-run
KSRTC operated its services in most places. The fallout of the protest
on normal life was mininal as offices, schools and shops were closed
for Sunday.No violence was reported from anywhere.
Kochi to host Kerala Travel Mart
Saturday, 16 February, 2008
AJ: The fifth edition of the Kerala Travel Mart will be held Sep 20-23
in Kochi. KTM has become the largest gathering in the state that has
been designed to facilitate meetings between buyers, sellers, media
people, government agencies and other relevant stakeholders. KTM-2008,
like the previous gatherings, would have seminars and cultural
evenings. The registration for the buyers has started Jan 23. Large
groups from Australia, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, New Zealand,
Singapore, South Africa and the US are expected. The event is
organised by the KTM society, which includes 316 members from all the
sectors of the tourism industry in the state, with the support of the
department of tourism.
Pinarayi Viajayan was re-elected secretary
AJ: Pinarayi Viajayan was re-elected secretary of the state Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M) for the fourth time in a row. Vijayan also wrested near absolute control over the party apparatus by getting an overwhelming number of his supporters elected to the party's 85-member state committee on the last day of the CPI-M Kerala unit's triennial conference. Vijayan became the state secretary for the first time in 1998 when then secretary Chadyan Govindan passed away. He got elected to the post in 2001 at the Kannur conference and for the third time in 2004 at Malappuram.
Heavy rains in the state
Thursday, 14 February, 2008
AJ: Rains lashed many parts of Kerala and dry weather prevailed in Lakshadweep. The sudden rain was due to the formation of a low pressure near Kerala coast. Kanjirapalli and Paravoor recorded five cm of rains. Mangombu and Mavelikkara received four cm of rains. Punalur, Kayamkulam and Kunnamkulam recorded a rainfall of three cm each.
Rains or thundershowers were expected to be lashed in Kerala and Lakshadweep in the next 48 hrs.
Karunakaran For Cong. Re-Organisation
AJ: Leader K. Karunakaran fired the first salvo against state party managers saying ordinary workers had little role in the organisation
and the party was not capitalising on the failures of the LDF led government. "I will be meeting Sonia Gandhi when she arrives here on
a two-day visit later this week.I will meet her separately and would raise the issue of conducting organisational polls for the party. "We returned to the Congress to strengthen the party and what I have found out is that the ordinary workers feel they have very little role now.
CPI(M) State Conference Concludes Today
AJ: The 19th State conference of CPI(M) will draw to a close on today after electing a new State committee. The size of the committee is likely to remain 80. The outgoing committee has seven vacancies,six of them caused by deaths and one resulting from the disciplinary action taken against N.N. Krishnadas, MP. The reconstitution of the State committee is also likely to result in the exclusion of a few aged and ailing leaders. The discussion on the State secretary's report to the conference was reflective of the relative strengths of the rival factions in the party and what has been widely described as the near-total isolation of Chief Minister V.S. Achuthanandan among the delegates to the conference.
Govt.functions affected due to party conferences say Hassan
AJ: KPCC alleged that the LDF government has come to a standstill as most of the ministers were attending the ongoing CPI-M party conference at Kottayam. KPCC Spokesman M M Hassan said the criticism levelled against Chief Minister V S Achuthanandan in party's organisational report was actually a 'charge-sheet' on the failure of the LDF government. In the name of party conferences, the LDF government even cut short the budget session scheduled to begin from February 20, Hassan charged. "There was no sincerity in the statement of CPI-M General Secretary Prakesh Karat that the party was open to dialogue with church heads to sort out differences," Hassan said.
Sonia Gandhi To Visit Kerala
Wednesday, 13 February, 2008
AJ: Congress president Sonia Gandhi would pay a two-day visit
to Kerala from February 14. Sonia, who would arrive at Kochi on February 14, would address a meeting of 'Pulayar MahaSabha' the same day. She would inaugurate a Research Centre of Santhi Giri Ashram at Pothenkode on February 15 and she would visit the Rajiv Gandhi Bio-technology Institute and also address a congress rally the same day before leaving for Delhi.
Milk price hike from today
Tuesday, 12 February, 2008
AJ: The hiked prices of Milma milk and other products have come into
effect from today. The price of toned and double toned milk would go
up to Rs19 a litre; Rich to Rs 22 a litre ; Jersey to Rs 21 a litre
(Rs.10.50 for 500 ml) and curd to Rs 12 for 500 ml. He stated that
milk would be distributed in packets with the old prices printed on
them for some more time as the new packets with the revised prices
were not yet ready.
Ten held in connection with attack on Chandy's meet
Monday, 11 February, 2008
AJ: Ten persons have been arrested in connection with the clashes
following the attack on the UDF public meeting attended by Opposition
Leader Oommen Chandy, allegedly by Marxist workers at Palakkunnu. The
attack triggered strong protests from the Congress and its allies.
Home Minister Kodiyeri Balakrishnan said that the IG had been asked to
give a report on the incident. Chandy, who was also in Kozhikode,
alleged that the action of CPI-M workers proved that they could do
anything following that party's state secretary Pinarayi Vijayan's
statement that CPI-M knew in what "language it could silence its
critics'. Congress workers took out protest marches in the capital
city and other centres against the attack on Chandy's meeting.
Govt to discuss KEAR report with NSS and Church
Thursday, 7 February, 2008
AJ: The state education minister M A Baby said, recommendations
of the Kerala Education Act and Rules Revision committee would be implemented only after discussing them with social and religious organisations. He said the report would also be discussed at the next meeting of LDF. The NSS and the Church have protested against the committee's recommendation that the appointment of teachers and non-teaching staff in aided schools be entrusted to an independent statutory agency. The committee headed by former chief secretary C P Nair, in its report submitted to the government on Monday, had also wanted a larger role for local bodies in the affairs of schools.
No change in UDF hartal, says UDF convenor
AJ: The UDF will go ahead with the hartal on February 19 to protest against the anti-people policies of the government, said UDF convenor
P.P Thankachan. He said that they cannot accept the stand taken by chief minister that he is not aware of the land deal. Thankachan said the chief minister is trying to save the ministers involved in the deal.
Catholics to oppose LDF govt's liquor policy
Tuesday, 5 February, 2008
AJ: Kerala Catholic Bishops Council (KCBC) accused the ruling Left
Democratic Front of attempting to bring in a "liquor revolution" by
reopening 1,610 toddy shops and announced plans to stage protests
against the government's move to liberalise excise policy. The
'Madyavirudha Samithi' of the KCBC would organise a series of
agitations and awareness programmes against the "anti-people" liquor
policy, Archbishop of Latin Catholic Archdiocese M Soosapakiam, said.
The present government was attempting to bring in a "liquor
revolution", which would help the multinational liquor companies, he
alleged. KCBC would begin an awareness campaign against liquor in all
its dioceses. The fast at Kochi would be inaugurated by KCBC vice
president Bishop Joshua Mar Ignathios. Hundreds of anti-liquor
activists from 29 dioceses in the state would attend, he said.
Chidambaram launched `Janasree'
Monday, 4 February, 2008
AJ: Union Finance Minister P Chidambaram inaugurated the Janasree Sustainable Development Mission. Chidambaram said that the benefit of growth should reach the poor: Stating that the Indian economy has moved to a higher growth trajectory like
"never before" under the Congress-led UPA Government, he said a performance like this had no meaning if the benefits did not reach the poorest of the poor.
Presently there were over 30 lakh SHGs and 90 percent of them for women. Average bank loans given were Rs 61,000 and repayments were to the extent of 95 percent. In some states, it was even 95-98 percent, he said. Referring to the controversy that Janasree was being launched as a rival organisation to the Kerala's Government's Kudumbashree Project for poor women; he said such criticisms were baseless.
Congress Demands Judicial Enquiry Into HMT Land Deal
AJ: The Congress demanded a judicial enquiry into the sale of about 70
acres of HMT land to Mumbai-based HDIL for setting up the Rs 4,000
crore Cyber city project at nearby Kalamassery.
Speaking to reporters after visiting the project site, Oppositition
leader Oommen Chandy said the probe should also go into the role of
Industries minister, Elamaram Kareem and Revenue minister K P
Rajendran in the deal. "If the government has nothing to hide, why is
the government hesitating to order a judicial probe?," be asked.The Youth Congress workers, who protested against the project, were
badly beaten up by the police, allegedly at the behest of the Mumbai
company, he said. KPCC President Ramesh Chennithala said the Chief
Minister should take efforts to get back the land sold by HMT to Blue
Star Realtors Ltd (BSRL), a subsidiary of Housing Development
Infrastructure Ltd (HDIL). He said he would stage a 24 hour hunger
strike in front of the secretariate on Feb 5 protesting against price
rise.
Karunakaran Holds Rally To Mark His Formal Re-entry
Sunday, 3 February, 2008
AJ: Three years after quitting Congress, veteran leader K .Karunakaran on Friday made a formal re-entry into the party
by holing a massive rally and asked his son also to come back.
Adderssing the gathering, Karunakaran said all those who are still keeping a distance from Congress should return.
Without naming his son K Muralidharan, who declined to return to Congress along with him, he said 'be it father or son. If they are in Congress party, they would be stronger and weak, if they are away'. In the 75 years of his political life, Karunakaran said he was fortunate to have had the support of party workers. 'Without your consent, whether it is in the state or national politics, I will not take a stand', he said.
Karunakaran said he was grateful to Indira Gandhi, Rajiv and Sonia and Rahul. 'I do not know how long I will be able to work, but I will continue till I can,' he said.
AICC General Secretary, Mohsina Kidwai, who formally welcomed Karunakaran back into the party-fold, said Congress' future had been 'brightened' with his return.
LIC Ernakulam Division achieves Rs. 1000 crores first premium target
Friday, 1 February, 2008
Ernakulam (Kerala), Feb.1 (ANI): The Ernakulam Division of the public sector Life Insurance Corporation of India (LIC) has completed Rs. 1000 crores as on January 31, 2008. This is the first time that a division of the LIC iscrossing this mark as its first premium income.
The division is now hoping to achieve a target of 1500 crores rupees by March 31, 2008, said Anil Kumar, its senior divisional manager in Kochi.
Kumar told media persons here that the division continues to be ranked first among 105 LIC divisions in the country, and added that the entire income has been generated from over 4,42, 000 LIC policies.
The other branches that stood out in collecting the first premium income in the state were Irinalikudda with Rupees 77 crores, Kunumkullam with Rupees 73 crores and Thrissur with Rupees 70 crores.
The major share, about 90 percent, has come from the ULIP business under its Market Plan.
Kerala, which has got a major share In the LIC business due to it being a stronghold of NRI and NREs', has till date covered more than 28 lakh policies.
The state has three LIC revenue divisions with 24 branches, 11 sattelite offices and 1200 employees. (ANI)
--MP Labels: Business
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