Toilets a must for fitness certificates for schools in Kerala

The Kerala government has decided to construct clean toilets in all the schools.

Briefing mediapersons after a Cabinet meeting today, chief minister Oommen Chandy said 196 government schools did not have toilets and the Cabinet had decided that toilets should be constructed in these schools within 100 days using the Sarva Shikhsa Abhiyan (SSA) fund. Also, there are 1,011 schools in the 'aided recognised schools' category that do not have toilets. The managements should construct toilets in these schools using their own fund.

Stating that fitness certificates would not be given to schools having no toilets, he said at present these certificates were given on the basis of security of buildings. From now onwards, toilet facilities too would be included. No students will be admitted in schools having no basic facilities from the next academic year.

Bar workers to get Onam allowance
He also said funds had been allocated for the distribution of all kinds of welfare pensions in the state. Palliative care nurses working under village panchayat, anganwadi workers/teachers and cooking staff among others would also be given Onam allowance.

Police personnel working on Onam day would be given Rs 500 as special allowance.

This year, the government would give allowance to a new group of workers, namely the workers of bars that had been closed. The 7,467 workers of 418 bars would be given Rs 5,000 as allowance. The government would advance necessary funds for this, he added.

PTI adds
Meanwhile, on a vigilance court verdict directing further probe in a case of alleged corruption in the setting up of an effluent treatment plant at Travancore Titanium Products (TTP) here, Chandy said the court had not made him an accused in the case.

The case was registered upon a complaint by a pro-CPI(M) CITU leader, he said.

Rejecting Opposition allegation of irregularities, Chandy said he had taken the decision to set up the plant in good faith and was "very proud" of the move to protect the interest of workers.

"Why did the LDF, which is raising allegations of corruption now, not order a probe when they were in power," he asked. "It was during the previous LDF rule that the treatment plant was inaugurated," he said.