Thiruvananthapuram: LSG minister K.T. Jaleel has said that the government was chalking out various plans for garbage treatment, including recycling of plastic and electronic wastes by engaging scrap vendors. Replying to a submission in the Assembly on Thursday, Mr. Jaleel said that the government would initiate registration of scrap vendors and recognised scrap vendors would be assigned as recycling agents. Plastic and electronic waste recovery facility will be set up by the local self-governance institutions for collection of plastic and e-wastes.
Speaker P. Sreeramakrishnan said that Green protocol would be implemented in the Assembly premises by setting up waste reduction at source facility and banning plastic. The aim is to make the Assembly premises eco-friendly. As part of these initiatives, cloth bags would be distributed to the MLAs, he said.
LAPSES IN ASSISTANCE TO PUTTINGAL VICTIM
Chief Minister Pinarayai Vijayan said that the government would look into the alleged lapses in giving medical facilities and financial assistance to the victims of the Puttingal firework mishap. CPI MLA G.S. Jayalal alleged in a submission that though the government had announced free treatment to the victims, many hospitals were demanding money after the initial rounds of treatment.
The chief minister said that the government would look into the complaints of non-distribution of assistance announced by the government and collection of money by hospitals from the injured. The government had announced compensation of Rs 0 lakh to the dependants of the deceased and assistance ranging from Rs 4,300 Rs 2 lakh to the injured.
GOVT TO BEAR 50 PERCENT OF ANGANWADI WORKERS' WAGES
Health Minister K.K. Shylaja informed the Assembly that since the local bodies had expressed difficulties in bearing the increased wages of Anganwadi workers and helpers, the state government was considering the option of bearing fifty percent of the expenditure involved. The government had decided to increase the wages of the workers to Rs 10,000 and helpers to Rs 7,000 from April 1. But the local bodies said that the expense could not be met from plan fund or own fund. Hence the government was considering the option of bearing 50 percent expense on this account.
