Kochi: Mr V.S. Achuthanandan, Administrative Reforms Commission chairman, has called for periodic reforms of the state administrative machinery to meet the changing requirements.
He said at a public hearing of the ARC here on Thursday that the commission will collect the people’s suggestions on the changes and reforms which will be submitted to the government for implementation.
The hearing was conducted to collect the opinions on the status of the legislation and welfare schemes aimed at elderly persons and migrant workers. The government has several projects for the welfare of migrant workers, sexual minorities, elderly people, poor and other sections of the marginalized, Mr Achuthanandan said. The ARC will inspect the implementation of these projects and their lapses and suggest remedial measures, he added.
Migrant workers and elderly persons actively participated in the day-long public hearing. Rajendra Naik from Odisha, who has been working in Kerala for the past 17 years, wanted to know about the welfare schemes for the workers from other states. Many persons like him were unaware of such schemes and the source to know about them.
He also suggested the formation of special units and helplines for such schemes. The other issues highlighted were hostel facility for the children of migrant workers, the lower wages paid to them, the prevalence of child labour and the mafia exploiting migrants.
The participants also suggested the setting up of a commission and department for elderly persons and a databank on them.
