THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The KPCC has demanded a central package for the fishermen hit by cyclone Ockhi. It asked the LDF government to seek central assistance from Prime Minister Narendra Modi who will visit the state on Tuesday. The relief announced by the state government was inadequate, KPCC president M.M. Hassan told reporters after a meeting of the office-bearers here on Monday. He said that one member of each family affected by the cyclone should be given government job.
The party workers will contribute one day’s wages to the chief minister’s relief fund and collect funds from the public from December 20 to 27. The leaders will also take out a padayatra in the coastal areas from December 29 to 31. The meeting congratulated MLAs V. S. Sivakumar and M. Vincent for coordinating the relief measures. The KPCC expressed concern over the non-payment of pension to 38,000 KSRTC pensioners.
“The fishermen have suffered in the sea and the KSRTC pensioners have been left high and dry in the land. Finance minister T. M. Thomas Isaac has claimed that the treasury is empty requiring an economic emergency,” Mr Hassan said. The party will stage protest meetings at block level against price rise on January 17. The DCCs will commemorate the Congress foundation day on December 28 and former chief minister K. Karunakaran’s death anniversary on December 23. The year-long centenary celebrations of Karunaka-ran will be kicked off from January.
