Chandy announces new projects during govt's 4th anniversay

Congress-led UDF government in Kerala, celebrating its fourth anniversary today, came out with a slew of welfare programmes, including an insurance scheme for 'Asha' workers besides launching the Direct Benefit Transfer scheme of various welfare pensions.
New programmes were announced by Chief Minister Oommen Chandy in the presence of his cabinet colleagues at a function here to mark the occasion.
Chandy said insurance would benefit nearly 26,000 Asha workers in the state. The scheme is being implemented in association with United Insurance Company.
Giving details of the scheme, he said Rs two lakh would be given in case of death due to accidents and for total disability.

Partially disabled would get Rs one lakh and Rs 10,000 would be given for hospital expenses incurred due to ailments. For education of children, Rs 2,000 would be given and and Rs 50,000 for cremation for natural death, he said.
Asha Project is being implemented in the state since 2007.

Duties of Asha workers include taking up activities such as controlling contagious diseases and mosquito eradication projects.
Rolling out the DBT scheme, he said all welfare pensions of the government will now reach the beneficiaries directly in their bank account every month.
The Direct Benefit Transfer system was launched with over three lakh pensioners from Thiruvananthapuram district receiving their pension for April this year.

"It will be extended to all the districts by next month," he said.
Over 27 lakh beneficiaries of the state would receive Rs 2,400 crore annually under different welfare pension schemes under the system.
It has been decided to renovate 68 fishing colonies in the state at an estimated cost of Rs 30 crore. As part of the project, Rs two lakh each will be sanctioned for converting twin houses into single dwelling units.
To lessen the burden of students by utilising the possibilities of Information Technology, text books would be digitised and made available online, he said.
IT @ School Project is implementing the Digital Collaborative Text Book facility in the state.

Cabinet colleagues, including Ramesh Chennithala, Arayadan Muhammed, P K Kunhalikutty, K P Mohanan, K M Mani and P J Joseph were present at the function.