Page 56 - Kerala

Traffic violators detected by AI cameras in Kerala to face heavy fines

The Artificial Intelligence (AI) cameras installed by the Kerala government in association with KELTRON will commence functioning from Monday onwards

UDF asks govt to curb rising airfares to Kerala from Gulf during festivals

The Congress-led UDF opposition in Kerala has appealed to the Civil Aviation Ministry to take steps to curb the "skyrocketing" air fares of flights from the Gulf countries to Kerala during the festive season. The UDF has also sought the Centre's intervention to make provisions for direct flights from the Gulf countries to the four international airports in Kerala. These requests have been made by Leader of Opposition in the state assembly V D Satheesan in a letter sent to Union Civil Aviation Minister Jyotiraditya M Scindia. "I am writing this letter to elicit your urgent action on the legitimate request of expatriates to make provisions for direct flights to Trivandrum, Kochi (Nedumbassery), Kannur, and Kozhikode International Airports from the Middle East and other foreign countries," he said. Satheesan, in his letter, has said that expatriates from Kerala working in Gulf countries have raised concerns about the rising airfares during festive seasons and lack of direct flights to

Sharing dais with Kerala CM Vijayan in US to cost $50,000: Reports

A controversy is brewing over reports claiming that anyone who wishes to share dais with Kerala CM Pinarayi Vijayan in the US next month will have to turn into a sponsor by paying US $ 50,000 and more

Kerala to implement comprehensive geriatric care programme: CM Vijayan

The Kerala government will soon implement a comprehensive geriatric care programme to address the health issues of elderly population in the state, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan said here on Wednesday. He directed the officials concerned to compile a draft for the same after consulting with various departments, a CMO statement said here. Vijayan was speaking while chairing a high-level meeting of the Aardram Mission, which envisages to completely transform the public health sector of the southern state. The state's old age policy would be revised in accordance with the time, the Chief Minister said during the meeting, it said. A comprehensive rehabilitation policy would also be formulated to rehabilitate those who are confined to their homes due to physical ailments following accidents or diseases, he said. The Chief Minister further directed the officials to complete the construction of isolation wards in the state at the earliest and set up de-addiction centres in all ...

Kerala govt raises ceiling on purchase of products from startups to Rs 3 cr

The Kerala government has considerably increased the ceiling on purchase of products and services from startups registered with KSUM from Rs 1 crore to Rs 3 crore in its effort to boost the state's startup ecosystem. The raising of the public procurement ceiling on the purchases by government departments, public sector undertakings (PSUs), boards, corporations, and local self-government (LSG) institutions from ventures registered under the Kerala Startup Mission (KSUM), was announced by it in a statement on Wednesday. KSUM is the nodal agency of the Kerala government for entrepreneurship development and incubation activities in the state. The increase in the monetary ceiling in public procurement will enable more government departments to leverage innovative technology solutions from startups, it said. As per the government order (GO) issued in this regard, the benefits enjoyed by IT-related startups have been extended to non-IT ventures as well, thereby enabling PSUs, boards, ...

Record 11,801 Kerala government employees set to retire on Wednesday

A record 11,801 Kerala government officials are set to retire on Wednesday

Kerala CM directs officials to take steps to ensure monsoon preparedness

Ahead of the arrival of the monsoon in the southern state, Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Tuesday issued a slew of directions, like procuring rescue equipment, storing it locally and cleaning out drainage systems in cities prone to waterlogging, to ensure safety of people during the rainy season. The directions for intensifying the preparations for the monsoon were issued by the Chief Minister in a meeting of the State Disaster Management Authority (SDMA). The meeting was held after the Central Meteorological Department announced that the monsoon is expected to hit the state by June 4. Vijayan directed the officials that a review of monsoon preparedness should be conducted in each district of the state in the first week of June, July, August and September in view of the unpredictable nature of the rains, a statement issued by the Chief Minister's Office said. The Chief Minister said that procuring and storing the rescue equipment locally would help civil, defence and oth

Kerala govt launches project to make capital largest solar city in India

A three-day expo was inaugurated by the Kerala government-run ANERT where the public can learn about and buy several solar energy systems

LDF govt seeks details from Centre on amounts it can borrow: Kerala FM

The LDF government has decided to seek details from the Centre regarding amounts that Kerala can borrow in the financial year 2023-24 as the figures have not yet been provided to it, State Finance Minister K N Balagopal said on Tuesday. Balagopal said that Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan chaired a meeting earlier in the day to discuss the calculations referred to by Union Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs V Muraleedharan at a press conference a day ago. At the meeting, officials told the CM that no such calculations or figures were shared by the Centre with the State and therefore those details would be sought from the central government, the minister said. On Monday, Muraleedharan had claimed that Kerala was allowed to borrow Rs 55,182 crore in the financial year 2023-24 and out of that, the state has already taken around Rs 34,661 crore, leaving a balance of Rs 20,521 crore from which Rs 15,390 crore has been sanctioned for the first three quarters of the financial ...

Congress-led UDF to boycott K-FON project inauguration, claims corruption

Alleging corruption behind the Kerala Fibre Optic Network (K-FON) project, Leader of Opposition in the State Assembly V D Satheesan on Monday said the Congress-led UDF will boycott the inauguration ceremony of the Left government's programme to provide free internet connectivity and all events related to it. The Congress leader said the UDF was not against the project but decided to boycott the inauguration on June 5 because of the "corruption behind it". "The opposition levelled the allegations of corruption with solid proof. However, the Chief Minister is not yet ready to respond," he told reporters here. Satheesan said that when the K-FON project was launched in 2017, it was announced that free internet connections would be provided to 20 lakh people in 18 months. "But even after seven years, only 14,000 people are being given connections. The estimated amount of Rs 1,028 crore (for setting up the project) has been increased by 50 percent to Rs 1,531 crore," he alleged. The ...

Union Minister slams Kerala FM over his claims on financial grants

Muraleedharan pointed out that according to the RBI figures, in the country, Kerala is there in the list of five states which have the highest debts in the country

Cong MLA's plaint against Kerala House marshals: ethics committee refered

Kerala Assembly Speaker A N Shamseer has directed the Ethics and Privileges Committee to conduct an inquiry into senior Congress MLA Ramesh Chennithala's complaint that a few House marshals and a police officer made false allegations against Opposition MLAs who participated in a protest in front of the Speaker's office in March. In his breach of privilege notice, Chennithala had alleged that police registered a case against seven MLAs from the Congress-led UDF under non-bailable sections of the IPC on the basis of a false statement given by a female watch and ward officer that she suffered a fracture in her hand due to the violent attack of the opposition legislators. The watch-and-ward staff, also known as house marshals, oversee the security of the State Assembly and work under the control of the Speaker and the Secretary to the Legislature. Chennithala claimed that there were reports that the medical examination had proved the officer's allegation wrong. The senior Congress ...

Manner of inaugurating new Parl building unbecoming of nation: Kerala CM

Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Sunday said the inauguration of the new Parliament building was carried out like a religious function which was unbecoming of our nation. Vijayan said a government function of this nature ought not to have been conducted in the manner of a religious event. Furthermore, Indian President Droupadi Murmu should have been made a part of it, the CM said. "What happened today in Parliament, the manner it was conducted in, like a religious function, not making the President a part of it, all of it was unbecoming of our nation," he said, speaking at an event held in memory of former MP and late LJD leader M P Veerendra Kumar. Earlier in the day, both the ruling-CPI(M) in Kerala and the Opposition Congress in the state criticised Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the BJP on the inauguration of the new Parliament building and called it a "black day" for Indian democracy and an attempt at creating a parallel history. The Congress attacked the Centre fo

Cutting Kerala's borrowing capacity a 'sadistic approach' of the Centre: CM

Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Sunday lashed out at the BJP-ruled central government over its decision to cut down the borrowing limit of the state by half by terming the move as "sadistic". Vijayan said while the central government jumps at every opportunity to fill its coffers, like implementing GST, it was taking a "negative approach" when it came to helping the state progress. He contended that the Centre demanded payment for the help provided, like foodgrains and aid of armed forces, by it during various calamities face by the state. "This is not just a problem of the LDF government. It is a problem for the whole state. It is a matter of the progress of the people. Should the union government take the position of letting a state perish is an issue to be considered," the CM said. Vijayan said the stand taken by Centre was another crisis being heaped upon a state which has faced and survived several calamities. At the same time he also indirectly criticised the ...

Centre strangulating Kerala by cutting down financial grants: Kerala FM

The ruling Left government in Kerala is now planning to rope in the Congress-led opposition to stage a joint protest against the Centre on this issue

Kerala proud to have the distinction of being the least corrupt state: CM

Kerala has the distinction of being the least corrupt state in the country but there are still "certain rots in service who are unable to change with time," Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan said on Saturday. While inaugurating the state conference of Kerala police officers' association, Vijayan said those involved in corruption will be brought to justice. "Kerala is proud to have the distinction of being the least corrupt state in the country. But we cannot say that our government service is completely free from corruption. Why? Because there are certain rots in the services who are still unable to change with time. Such people are there in all services. We will not tolerate such people in any manner," Vijayan said. He said such "rots" are engaged in illegal matters and should be brought before justice. "Officials should oppose those who are corrupt in the service and inform such malpractices to higher authorities. That should be considered as a responsibility," he added. Vijayan .

Kerala FM lashes out at Centre for cutting state's borrowing limit by half

Kerala Finance Minister K N Balagopal on Friday hit out at the BJP-led union government for cutting down the borrowing limit of the southern state by half and accused the Centre of "targetting" it. The minister said the state was expecting Rs 32,442 crores when the Centre had cut down the borrowing limit from 3.5 percent to 3 percent. But a recent letter from the central government has put the borrowing limit to Rs 15,390 crores, which is half of what Kerala is entitled to borrow, he alleged. "The move is part of the union government's political vendetta," Balagopal said. The Centre is denying the federal rights of a state, he further said and added that no reason was given for cutting down the borrowing limit by half. Expressing concern over whether the development would affect the budget plans of the southern state, he said people are going to suffer as the Centre is denting Kerala's rightful share. The union government has been cutting down funds to Kerala while providing upto

Unhealthy practices done in name of religion are to be prevented: Kerala HC

The contention that animal sacrifice is an essential and integral part of one's religious belief and cannot be interfered with even if it causes nuisance to others, has to be rejected, the Kerala High Court has said. Hearing a writ petition against the inaction of the authorities to stop the illegal slaughter of birds and animals in the guise of ritualistic sacrifice at a private residence here, Justice V Arun said such unhealthy, unscientific and deleterious practices are to be prevented, even if it is done in the name of religion. The court, in an order issued on May 24, directed the Ernakulam district panchayat, the revenue divisional officer, Ernakulam Rural SP and other officials to stop the activities carried out in a structure, resembling a temple, constructed by a private person on the second floor of his residential building, after conducting a probe, at Edathala Grama panchayat near Aluva here. "Going by the precedents and on a proper understanding of the rights under ...

The Kerala Story box office collection: Everything you need to know

'The Kerala Story' box office made in its first week at Rs 81.14 crore, and in its second week, it made Rs 90.58 crore. The film has collected around Rs 210 crore at the ticket counters

Family Health Centre opened in Kerala's Edamalakudi, first tribal panchayat

The Kerala government opened a family health centre at Edamalakudi, the first tribal panchayat in the southern state, on Thursday. The health centre was opened as part of the second 100 days programme of the CPI (M)-led LDF government, which completed two years in power on May 20. Officials said the facility has been made a reality by spending Rs 1.25 crore. Health Minister Veena George, who inaugurated the family health centre, said the facility was established in the tribal panchayat as part of the government's policy to provide quality treatment and health services for all. She said the government is committed to ensuring better health infrastructure and services to the people. Edamalakudy is the first tribal panchayat of the state and is located about 30 kilometres away from the tourist town of Munnar in Idukki district.