Page 79 - Kerala

Kerala says Centre obstructing development in state, ruining it financially

The Centre is attempting to obstruct development activities in Kerala and push it into financial ruin by their fiscal policies, which limit the borrowing capacity of the state and through the Enforcement Directorate (ED) probe into the financial dealings of KIIFB, the LDF government claimed in the assembly on Wednesday. Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan said that while borrowings by government-run entities like Kerala Infrastructure Investment Fund Board (KIIFB) were being included in the debt of the state to limit the loans that it can avail from the open market, the Centre at the same time was not disclosing all the loans availed by PSUs like NHAI, Air India Holdings and Indian Railways Finance Corporation. This "discriminatory" stand of the Centre was evident from a recent report of the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) which said that the central government has not fully disclosed the huge loans availed by the NHAI, Air India Holdings Ltd and the Indian Railways Finance

Kerala govt planning to amend gaming laws to curb online rummy

With celebrities promoting online rummy and massive advertisement campaigns being run to attract people into playing the card game, which has allegedly pushed many into financial ruin and commit suicide as a result, the Kerala government has said it was considering amending its gaming laws to regulate such online games. Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan has said in the state assembly that the government was considering bringing in the amendment subject to the outcome of its appeal in the Kerala High Court against a single judge order, quashing the ban on online rummy games played for money. However, till that happens, various state departments, including the police, are conducting awareness programs in schools and colleges. Besides that, a social policing system, various schemes of student police cadets and awareness campaigns through the media are also being implemented to prevent people from being addicted to such games, Vijayan said on Tuesday. The CM was responding to a ...

Kerala govt devised mobile app to prevent cyber crimes against children: CM

The Kerala government is taking various steps, like coming out with a mobile app, to prevent cyber crimes against children in the state, Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan said on Tuesday. Vijayan was responding to queries in the legislative assembly regarding the increasing instances of cyber crimes against children and steps taken by his government and its agencies to tackle the problem. The CM said that due to the COVID-19 pandemic and resultant closure of educational institutions, online classes were held through use of digital equipment and the internet. Extensive use of digital equipment, like mobile phones, and the internet led some children to fall into traps in the cyber world, he noted. To prevent this Kerala Police has devised various projects and schemes. Besides that, the state Women and Child Development Department was coming out with a mobile app to prevent cyber attacks or crimes against children, he said. On upload and download of illicit photographs of child

Silver Line project not shelved, hopeful of clearance, says Kerala CM

Kerala's biggest infrastructure project Silver Line (K-Rail) has not been shelved and is awaiting the Centre's clearance, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan informed state Kerala Assembly

Kerala to introduce online monitoring system of medicines in govt hospitals

Amidst allegations of shortage of medicines in state-run hospitals in Kerala, a claim denied by the Left government, a monitoring system is expected to be introduced soon to keep track of availability and distribution of medicines in government-run medical institutions in the southern state. The proposed introduction of the monitoring system was announced by Kerala Health Minister Veena George after inaugurating a training workshop here on ensuring availability and distribution of drugs in hospitals. The minister said that there should be a scientific system in place for dealing with storage and distribution of medicines and indent of drugs should be prepared taking into consideration the requirement as well as possible increase in each hospital. She said that hospital employees should use the online system of Kerala Medical Services Corporation (KMSCL) to ensure availability of medicines. Real time data of medicines will be available through the special software once all the ...

26,000 anti-rabies vax tested by CDL available in hospitals: Kerala govt

With an increase in dog bite cases being reported from various districts of Kerala, the state government has made available 26,000 vials of anti-rabies vaccine in public hospitals in the southern state. The state Health Department, in a statement, has said that the anti-rabies vaccines (IDRV) have been made available after being tested by the Central Drugs Laboratory (CDL). It also said that more vials of the vaccine would be made available after they are tested by CDL. The step was being taken as there has been a large increase in the number of people coming to hospitals for anti-rabies vaccine due to bites from dogs and cats, the Health Department statement said. It also said that reportedly dog bite cases have increased by two to three times in many districts of the state and therefore, Kerala Medical Services Corporation (KMSCL) was taking steps to procure more vaccines and distribute them to hospitals. Meanwhile, a 53-year old woman died of suspected rabies infection in the .

Vizhinjam port surrounded by boats from sea, protestors break open gates

Kerala's under-construction Vizhinjam port on Monday witnessed an unprecedented style of agitation with protesting fisherfolk surrounding the strategically important site from the sea on boats, even as others on land entered its premises by breaking open its huge gates. Representatives of the protesting fisherfolk, who were hailed as Kerala's own army for their adventurous rescue operations in flood-hit areas of the state in 2018, had on Sunday made clear their intention to block the port from the sea, to intensify their agitation after talks with the state government last week failed. On Monday, the fisherfolk not only blocked the port from the sea, but on land many of them climbed over the gates and broke the locks from the inside, letting through the horde of protestors waiting outside. Visuals aired on TV channels showed how the police, who were deployed there since morning in huge numbers, stood helplessly as the protestors climbed over the gates and broke the locks. The ...

CM Pinarayi Vijayan to table new Bill curtailing Kerala Governor's powers

Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan will on Wednesday table a new Bill in the Kerala Assembly aimed at curtailing the powers of Kerala Governor Arif Mohammed Khan as Chancellor

Kerala, UP lag as GSDP of 19 states exceed pre-Covid levels in FY22: Report

The economies of 19 states and UTs in FY22 exceeded their pre-coronavirus levels, as they recorded double-digit growth in the last fiscal year

Some persons trying to mislead society on gender neutral policy: Kerala min

Kerala General Education Minister V Sivankutty on Saturday criticised the stand of certain IUML leaders on the state government's gender neutral policy, alleging that they were trying to mislead the people and sought to know why they are afraid of equal opportunity for women in the society. Slamming the statements of IUML leaders M K Muneer and P M A Salam on the issue, Sivankutty said the state government has repeatedly clarified its stand several times and those who are criticising the initiatives for gender equality, gender justice and gender awareness are not reading the writings of time on the wall. He was speaking on the sidelines of a students' programme organised at Kalamassery here. "In recent days, we have seen the statements of some leaders regarding gender equality. Why are they afraid of gender equality? Why are they worried about equal opportunity and equal justice for their mother, sister, wife and daughter?" he asked. Sivankutty made it clear that if it was the case

Private education training firms subject to GST, rules Kerala AAR

Ernakulam-based company is not a formal school but an institution providing special training, it says

Congress urges Kerala CM to announce prize money for CWG medalists

The opposition Congress on Friday urged the Left government in Kerala to announce a cash prize for athletes from the state who had showcased stellar performance and won medals in the recently concluded Commonwealth Games in Birmingham. In a letter to Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, Leader of the Opposition in the Assembly V D Satheesan pointed out that five athletes from the state were among those who have made India proud by winning medals during the games in Birmingham. Eldos Paul and Abdullah Abubacker had won medals in the triple jump while M Sreeshankar in long jump, P R Sreejesh in hockey and Treesa Jolly garnered two medals in badminton, he pointed out. The LoP said though Vijayan had congratulated the winners for their achievement, his government was yet to announce cash prizes for them. "The other states have already announced prize money for the medal winners," Satheesan said and requested the CM to announce cash awards for the CWG winners in the same manner.

'Kerala Savari' rolls out with promise of low service charge, better wages

India's first government-owned online taxi service 'Kerala Savaari' launched

HDFC Bank opens first all-women branch in north Kerala's Kozhikode

Private sector bank major HDFC has opened its first all-women branch in north Kerala region in Kozhikode. The branch, located in Cherootty Road, the hub of traders in the district, will have 4 women bankers. This adds to all-women branches opened by the Bank in southern India and takes forward the bank's inherent values of diversity and inclusion, a statement said here. The branch was inaugurated by city Corporation Mayor Beena Philip at a function here on Wednesday. HDFC Bank is driving diversity and inclusion within the organization with a special focus on enhancing gender diversity, it said. As on March 31, 2022, women constituted 21.7 per cent of the workforce and the target is to increase it to 25 per cent by 2025, the statement said. Sanjeev Kumar, Branch Banking Head, South (Tamil Nadu, Puducherry & Kerala) said the opening of the all-women branch is yet another example of their efforts to take forward gender and diversity initiatives of the bank.

Kerala CM Pinarayi Vijayan launches state govt's own e-taxi service app

Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Wednesday launched the LDF government's own e-taxi service app -- named 'Kerala Savari' -- which is considered to be the first such initiative by any state in the country. Vijayan also flagged off, at the app launch event, the auto-rickshaws which would be operating under the new online taxi hiring service that has been rolled out by the state Labour Department. Under the new initiative, the objective is to link the existing autorickshaw-taxi networks in Kerala with an aim to ensure safe and dispute-free travel for the public at affordable rates prevailing in the state. It is also envisaged as a helping hand to the autorickshaw-taxi labour sector, which is facing several challenges, the government had said last month when it had announced the launch of the service. The government had said it has been learnt that there was a difference of 20-30 per cent between the rate received by the motor transport labourers and the rate charged from the

DHSE Kerala declares Plus One results: Here's how to check your marks

Candidates who have appeared for examination can check their results through the official site of Kerala results on keralaresults.nic.in.

Thousands offer prayers at Kerala's Sabarimala temple on Chingam first

The Lord Ayyappa Temple witnessed a heavy rush of devotees on as it was opened for special pujas and rituals to mark the beginning of the auspicious Malayalam month of Chingam

CBI questions KC Venugopal in solar scam sexual exploitation case

CBI questioned Congress leader KC Venugopal in connection with the alleged sexual exploitation of the prime accused in the 2012 Solar scam case of Kerala

Federalism of Constitution must be upheld in financial matters: Kerala CM

Federalism is the foundation of the Indian Constitution as well as the basis of the country's existence and therefore, it should be kept in mind while moving forward, Kerala CM Pinarayi Vijayan said

Roof of Panoli Ayappa temple collapses due to heavy rain in Kerala's Kannur

The roof of the temple was shattered after a coconut tree fell on it following incessant rain. The walkway of the temple has also been damaged