Page 9 - Kerala Govt

Noted economist Professor M Kunjaman found dead at his residence in Kerala

Noted economist Professor M Kunjaman was found dead at his residence here on Sunday, police said. He was 74. Police said he was found dead at his residence at Sreekaryam near here, and they were informed by the residents' association. Kunjaman, also a Dalit rights activist, was a professor of economics at Kerala University for over two decades. In his condolence message, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan said Kunjaman was a genius who overcame adverse social circumstances with his sheer determination. "Noted for his original understandings and opinions, he had his own vision for Kerala's development. His autobiography, 'Ethiru' is a reflection of the realities of life," Vijayan said, adding that Kunjaman was a teacher with many disciples and a noted writer. The chief minister said Kunjaman's death was a great loss for Kerala.

ASAP Kerala partners with German firm dSPACE to provide skilled manpower

ASAP Kerala, the state-run skill development agency under the Higher Education Department, has forged astrategic partnership with dSPACE, a global leader in mechatronics system software technology based in Germany, to provide jobs for skilled youth in the state. The German firm inaugurated its India operations at Kinfra Park at nearby Kazhakoottam recently. As part of the agreement, dSPACE will collaborate with ASAP Kerala to recruit 100 candidates who successfully complete specific skill training. The Memorandum of Agreement was signed between Usha Titus, Chairperson, and MD of ASAP Kerala, and Franklin George, Managing Director of dSPACE, at a special ceremony held at the office of Ishita Roy, Principal Secretary, Department of Higher Education on Thursday. Commenting on the partnership, Ishita Roy stated that the state government's commitment to higher education, outstanding skill development initiatives, and the availability of top talent make Kerala an attractive destination

Kerala Youth Congress polls: Case registered against use of fake voter IDs

A case has been registered based on the complaints filed against the alleged use of fake voter ID cards during the Youth Congress organisational polls, Kerala police said on Saturday. Police said a comprehensive probe will be conducted into the allegations and a special investigation team comprising eight members have been formed in this regard. Police have registered an FIR invoking various provisions of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) including sections 468 (forgery for purpose of cheating) and 471 (Using as genuine a forged document). Thiruvananthapuram DCP, Nithin Raj told the media that the alleged mobile application used for creating the fake IDs, its developer, and other relevant matters will come under the probe. "We will investigate the issue behind the forged voter ID cards and those who made and used such documents. A comprehensive probe will be held," he said. The Chief Electoral Officer of Kerala had on Friday directed the state police to investigate complaints of alleged

Kerala Tourism Investors Meet secures over Rs 15,000 cr in post-Covid boost

The Kerala government said on Friday that the first-ever Tourism Investors Meet (TIM) organised by it a day ago has significantly boosted the state government's travel and hospitality initiatives in the post-pandemic era. The event resulted in investment offers amounting to Rs 15,116.65 crore in the core sector. This includes a memorandum of understanding that Kerala Tourism signed with Tamara Leisure Experiences for a Rs 250-crore houseboat hotel project, which the Bengaluru-based hospitality group will execute in Alappuzha and Kannur districts, according to a Kerala Tourism release. TIM 2023 saw the participation of nearly 500 investors and entrepreneurs, including 46 startups and 118 investors from the Responsible Tourism sector. A total of 75 projects were presented, of which 52 were from the private sector. They contributed to the investment offers. Besides 23 projects proposed by the Tourism Department, 16 projects were mooted as public-private partnerships. "Together, the 39

Kerala guv accuses state govt of using legislature for other purposes

Kerala Governor Arif Mohammed Khan on Tuesday accused the state government of using the legislature for purposes other than what it was meant for and keeping him in the dark on various issues. Khan was responding to queries by reporters here on the recent Supreme Court observation that the state government and Governor should work in tandem. "Of course they should," he said on the issue of state governments and Governors working in tandem, but asked what should be done when he is kept in the dark or "when the legislature is used for purposes other than what it is meant for". "When, right from the beginning, you start using the legislature for purposes other than what it is meant for, you keep the Governor in the dark. "You pass laws beyond your jurisdiction. Then what to do? You want me to acquiesce to something where it is absolutely clear that they have transgressed their jurisdiction. What to do then?" he asked. He also said that while everyone respected and was bound by what t

Kerala govt moves SC against Governor Arif Khan over inaction on Bills

As per the petition, three bills have been pending before the Governor for more than two years

Happy Kerala Piravi 2023: History, importance, celebration and more

Kerala Day or Kerala Piravi, also called Kerala Formation Day, is a significant annual occasion to celebrate the unification of Malayalam-speaking areas to form 'Kerala'

Deve Gowda's comment about Kerala's LDF-BJP coalition stirs state politics

A political row has erupted in Kerala over a statement by JD(S) supremo H D Deve Gowda a day ago that Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan had greenlit his party's alliance with the BJP in Karnataka to protect its interests. Kerala JD(S) leader, K Krishnankutty on Friday, firmly refuted Gowda's statement. Opposing the national leadership's association with the BJP, Krishnankutty also emphasised the state unit's commitment to maintaining its alliance with the CPI(M)-led Left Democratic Front (LDF). "I met him (Deve Gowda) along with our state president, Mathew T Thomas, MLA, and informed him about our objection in joining the BJP. The state party unit stands by the earlier decision to stand firm with the Left party in Kerala," Krishnankutty, who is also a minister in the LDF government in Kerala, said. The opposition Congress alleged that the JD(S) revelation had established an undercurrent between the ruling CPI(M) and the BJP in Kerala. Congress leader Ramesh Chennithala today

Kerala CM Pinarayi Vijayan flags-in first ever ship into Vizhinjam port

Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Sunday flagged-in the first ever ship at the Rs 7,700 crore deep-water international Vizhinjam port here. Vijayan, joined by Leader of Opposition in the assembly V D Satheesan, Minister of State for External Affairs V Muraleedharan, Congress MP Shashi Tharoor and various state ministers, waved a green flag signalling the tugboats to push the huge Chinese ship -- Zhen Hua 15 -- from the wharf to the docking yard. The tugboats pushing the vessel, which carries huge ship-to-shore and yard cranes, also gave it a water salute. As the vessel touched the dock, firecrackers were burst and balloons released to welcome it. Hundreds of people, across all age groups, arrived at the port area to see the ship arrive at the dock. Zhen Hua 15 -- which began its journey from China at the end of August, was scheduled to dock at Vizhinjam on October 4, but its journey got delayed due to bad weather conditions along its route. On reaching Indian coastal wate

First ship berths carrying cranes from China arrive at Vizhinjam port

The first ship that arrived at Vizhinjam port here carrying cranes from China was given a water salute by the tug boats which pulled the vessel into the Rs 7,700 crore deep-water international port on Thursday, official sources said. The mammoth container handling cranes onboard the vessel would be transferred to the port on Sunday, October 15, in an official event that would be attended by Union Minister for Ports Sarbananda Sonowal and Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, the sources said. The vessel -- Zhen Hua 15 -- which began its journey from China at the end of August was scheduled to dock at Vizhinjam on October 4, but its journey got delayed due to bad weather conditions along its route. On reaching Indian coastal waters, it first went to Mundra port in Gujarat to offload some cranes there and then proceeded towards Vizhinjam, the sources said. It docked at Vizhinjam port at around 11.20 am, they said. The Kerala government last month had said that three more ships wou

Kerala govt urges CERC to reinstate cancelled contracts in power sector

In a bid to meet the electricity requirements of Kerala, the state government on Wednesday decided to urge the Central Electricity Regulatory Commission to reinstate contracts in the power sector that it previously denied permission to. The decision was taken at a state cabinet meeting chaired by Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan. The state government said it would give this direction to the Central Electricity Regulatory Commission under Section 108 of the Electricity Act. State Power Minister K Krishnankutty said that the key regulator is legally bound to follow the direction of the state government. "If the direction is being given invoking Section 108 of the Electricity Act, then they are legally bound to accept the direction. We also have the provision for an appeal," Krishnankutty told PTI. In a statement, the CMO said the decision was taken considering public interest and to ensure that the state would not experience a power crisis. Meanwhile, the Kerala State Electricity Bo

Kerala govt announces cash rewards for 2018 Asian Games medalists

The Kerala government on Wednesday announced Rs 10 lakh cash incentive for state athlete Anu R, who was recently declared to have won a bronze medal in the 18th Asian Games held in Jakarta in 2018. Anu received the bronze medal in the hurdles after a Bahraini athlete, who had earlier won the medal, was banned after failing the dope test, a CMO statement said here. The Kerala government had announced Rs 20 lakh cash award for the gold medal winners, Rs 15 lakh for silver and Rs 10 lakh for bronze medalists during the 2018 Asian Games. Similarly, Muhammad Anas, who was declared as the winner of the gold medal by the organisers in the mixed relay competition in the same event, would also be given the remaining amount of Rs five lakh, it said. Anas's silver medal turned into gold as the person who had earlier come in first place was banned after finding out he used drugs, the statement added.

Despite recent heavy rains Kerala still deficient in monsoon rainfall: IMD

Despite heavy rains lashing several parts of Kerala in the last few days, the state is still deficient in monsoon rainfall, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) has said. Kerala received 34 per cent deficient rainfall during the south-west monsoon this year while the country as a whole got six per cent deficit rains. As the south-west monsoon is now in the withdrawal phase, the rains are expected to reduce from Wednesday, October 4, onwards, IMD sources said. The heavy rains which lashed many parts of Kerala on Tuesday were due to the low pressure system over Jharkhand, they said and added that the withdrawal of the monsoon was complete in three to four states of north-west India. "The conditions are favourable for the withdrawal of the south-west monsoons. The rains will reduce from tomorrow," K Santhosh, director of the Regional Meteorological Centre, Trivandrum told PTI. He said Lakshadweep received a 15 per cent deficit rainfall but that is considered normal. "Upto 19 pe

'Early detection, effective treatment helped control Nipah mortality rate'

Kerala Health Minister Veena George has said that the effective and timely intervention of the state health system brought down the Nipah fatality rate to 33 per cent in its fourth outbreak. She made the statement in the wake of all four Nipah-infected persons recovering from the zoonotic illness. The government on Friday announced that a nine-year-old boy, who was among those under treatment for Nipah in Kozhikode, had recovered. The virus strain seen in Kerala was the Bangladesh variant, which generally has a high mortality rate, George said in a Facebook post on Friday night. This variant can cause death among 70-90 per cent of the infected people. "However, we have lost the lives of two out of the total six affected persons in Kozhikode, which means we have a relatively low death rate of 33.3 per cent," the minister said. The relatively early identification of patients and treatment using antiviral drugs may be the reasons for the low mortality rate, she said. Another signifi

Kerala CM protecting culprits behind Karuvannur bank scam: Cong-led UDF

A day after Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan claimed that the state government had taken action against those involved in the Karuvannur bank scam case, the Congress-led UDF opposition on Thursday reiterated its allegation that he was protecting the culprits behind the fraud. Leader of Opposition (LoP) in the assembly V D Satheesan alleged that the chief minister was defending and protecting those who looted over Rs 500 crore from cooperative banks in Thrissur. Vijayan on Wednesday had said that if one bad grain was found in a bowl of rice, the entire bowl cannot be thrown away. In response to this, Satheesan contended that the chief minister needs to realise that the entire bowl was full of bad grains. The LoP further contended that the stand taken by Vijayan amounts to discrediting the cooperative sector in the state and turning a blind eye to the suffering of the investors. He said that even the opposition does not want the cooperative sector to be harmed and urged the ..

Bribery charges steam against Kerala's health min, Cong calls it 'shocking'

Allegations of bribery have cropped up against a personal staff of Kerala Health Minister Veena George following which the opposition Congress demanded a probe into it. Haridasan, a resident of Malappuram district on Wednesday, alleged that a personal staff member of the minister accepted Rs 1 lakh as bribe for the appointment of his daughter-in-law as a government medical officer. He alleged that a middleman approached him, saying such appointments were being made through the minister's office, and asked him to pay a huge amount as bribe in instalments. A former office secretary of CITU, the trade union wing of the CPI(M), in Pathanamthitta, who allegedly acted as a middleman, also accepted a bribe for the said appointment, he claimed and added his daughter-in-law, however, didn't get the job. Haridasan also released through the media some purported evidence of money transactions between him and the minister's personal staff member. Later in the day, he said officers of the speci

Kerala's left govt starts regional review meetings to assess performance

Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan and his Cabinet colleagues started their state-wide regional review meeting here on Tuesday in order to assess the public mood and review the performance of the state government. Vijayan chaired the south regional review meeting that would discuss various programmes of the government and would also seek the opinion of the public regarding the implementation of the same, official sources said here. The South regional review meeting includes the districts of Thiruvananthapuram, Kollam, and Pathanamthitta. All senior officials of government departments, apart from district collectors from the three districts and ministers from these districts were present at the review meeting. NGOs and prominent social workers were also invited to the meeting. The media was not allowed to cover the details of the review meeting. After the meeting of government department officials, a review meeting with senior police officials of these districts will be held i

Kerala to conduct seroprevalence survey on Nipah outbreaks in Kozhikode

Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan has said that the state will conduct a seroprevalence study on the Nipah virus being repeatedly found in Kozhikode district

Nipah virus update: No positive cases since Sept 16, says Kerala govt

The total number of Nipah infections confirmed in the state is six, of which two persons have died, and four persons are being treated

Centre, ICMR in talks with Serum Institute of India over Nipah antibody

Kerala has so far confirmed a total of six cases of Nipah infection since the latest outbreak in the Kozhikode district