Stop recovery proceedings of agri, edu loans: Chandy

In view of the impending drought situation, Kerala government today decided to put on hold all revenue recovery proceedings on agriculture and education loans availed from cooperative banks.
"Direction has been given to cooperative banks to stop recovery proceedings of attaching property of those who have defaulted their agriculture and educational loans of upto Rs three lakhs till June 30," Chief Minister Oommen Chandy told reporters here after a cabinet meeting.
Public sector and scheduled banks will be directed to stop attachment proceedings for loans upto Rs five lakh, he added.
On other decisions, he said, 277 special schools for mentally challenged students managed by private groups would be made aided schools. Initially, about 40 schools with a minimum student strength of 100 would get the aided status, he said.

The criterion of minimum 100 students will be reduced later, he said.
Apart from these schools there are many 'BUDS' Special Schools under the Social Justice Department in Kerala. The government has decided to provide the teachers and other staff of these schools having more than 100 students, salary and other allowance on par with those in aided schools.
The teachers and non-teaching staff of those special schools that cannot get aided status will be given Rs 1,600 per month as allowance.
All steps needed for functioning of a medical college in Idukki district next year have been taken. Sanction has been accorded for creation of 31 teaching and 16 non-teaching staff required to get recognition for the medical college.