The state government had earlier written to the union minister seeking the centre's approval
Kerala Chief Minister Oommen Chandy
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Chief Minister Mr Oommen Chandy and PWD minister V. K. Ibrahimkunju will meet union minister for urban development Venkaiah Naidu soon to seek sanction for the light metro projects in Thiruvananthapuram and Kozhikode.
At the media briefing after the Cabinet meeting on Wednesday, Mr Chandy said the state government had earlier written to the union minister seeking the centre's approval. The government would go ahead with the land acquisition process and would also initiate steps for creating infrastructure facilities with the hope that the centre would give clearance at the earliest. The chief minister refuted reports that the project would be delayed following objections from the finance department.
Special schools granted aided status: The three-member committee constituted to give a report on the norms for granting aided status to special schools having more than 100 students, has submitted its report. The panel has recommended minimum of 400-sq-ft physiotherapy and 100-sq-ft occupational rooms. The student-teacher ratio in these schools has been fixed at 8:1.
The Cabinet also decided to gather details of special schools having student strength of between 50 and 100 for granting aided status. Once the aided status is granted, the institution will not collect fees from the students. Of the 278 special schools other than BUDS schools, 277 are being run by NGOs.
BUDS schools, which are managed by panchayats and have a strength of 25 students each, would also be given aided status.
Free ration: The Cabinet decided to provide free ration for two weeks and Rs 5,000 each to 299 workers in Alappuzha harbour during Onam. The funds would be provided from the chief minister's distress relief fund. The workers at Kotamala and Bon Ami plantations in Peermedu and Mahaveer plantation in Vithura will be given two weeks’ free ration.
Other decisions: The PWD will provide bitumen for works that cost up to Rs 1 crore. The salary and other allowance of 12 employees of the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA) have been revised.
( Source : deccan chronicle )
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