THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The cooperative banking sector will enter microfinance with ‘Muttathe Mulla,’ a scheme which will be inaugurated in Palakkad on June 26, Finance Minister T M Thomas Isaac said. The scheme, to be implemented for Kudumbashree workers in Palakkad, involves disbursal of funds to Kudumbashree at nine per cent. Kudumbashree, in turn, will disburse loans to members at 12 per cent. The scheme will prove a huge relief to people at a time when private financing firms are disbursing loans at 36 to 72 per cent interest rates, he said.
Isaac said the cooperative bank deposits have risen to `1.75 lakh crore. He reiterated the government’s commitment to launch Kerala Bank as an Onam gift. He said Kerala Bank, formed by merging the district cooperative banks and the state cooperative bank, will provide all service offered by nationalised banks and private sector banks. A total of 4255 vacancies existed in the cooperative banks and 1049 vacancies have been reported, he said.
Contributory pension:
The government will appoint a panel headed by a judge to study the implications of the contributory pension scheme, Isaac said. The panel will be formed in a few weeks’ time.
‘Govt will revise Vizhinjam probe panel’s ToR’
The state government has relented to the demands of the Vizhinjam project probe commission that its terms of reference (ToR) be revised. Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan apprised the Assembly of the decision on Thursday and said though the panel, headed by Justice C N Ramachandran Nair, had not written to the government in this regard, the government’s counsel had conveyed the commission’s demand to it. Congress’s M Vincent had raised the issue in the Assembly. The LDF Government had constituted the commission to probe the irregularities alleged in the Vizhinjam port deal signed between the previous UDF Government and the Adani Group. The commission, in its first sitting in Kochi in February, had sought clarifications regarding its ToR. During its 13th sitting in Thiruvananthapuram In May, the chairman had again noted the panel continued to be “circumscribed” by the ToR.
Oppn walkout over curbs on spill over works
The Opposition UDF attacked the government for imposing restrictions over the implementation of spill over works by panchayats. Alleging the government has been a total failure in the rural development sector, the Opposition staged a walkout on Thursday. Responding to the notice for an adjournment motion, the finance minister assured there won’t be any crisis in the sector. The pending bills have been cleared and there are clear norms laid down for spill over projects. In housing schemes, instead of each local body separately approaching banks for loans, the government will have a single agreement, he said.
LDF MLAs erupt in protest against P T Thomas’ remarks
The ruling LDF erupted in protest in the Assembly on Thursday after Congress MLA P T Thomas accused Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan of sitting on a file on Idukki encroachments for over a year. He levelled the charge during the discussion on The Kerala High Court (Amendment) Bill, 2018. He alleged the file relating to the alleged encroachment by Idukki MP Joice George had been held back by the Chief Minister’s Office(CMO) since May last year. On this most of the ruling MLAs were on their feet demanding Thomas’ remarks be expunged. However, an undaunted Thomas, who sought to rub it in further, accused the younger crop of LDF MLAs of unruly behaviour whenever the CM is targeted.
KSPCB, dist admn asked to remove chemical waste from defunct plant, says Moideen
Confirming the chemical waste dumps at the closed-down Binani Zinc Ltd in Ernakulam were an environmental hazard, Industries Minister A C Moideen told the Assembly on Thursday the district administration and the Kerala State Pollution Control Board (KSPCB) would be instructed to take urgent action. V K Ibrahim Kunju MLA drew the attention of the House to a potentially explosive situation where chemical wastes had not been removed from five tanks even though the company downed shutters four years ago. Ibrahim Kunju said the tanks contained zinc concentrates, sulphuric acid and cadmium which could contaminate the Periyar river.
House panel submits recommendations to save Vembanad Lake
The Assembly Committee on Environment has suggested a slew of recommendations to save the Vembanad backwaters, the biggest brackish lake in the state, from further deterioration. The committee, in its 14th report submitted to the Legislature on Thursday, suggested forming eco-development committees with representation from Fisheries, Port, Agriculture, Revenue, LSG, Irrigation and Inland Water Navigation Departments and elected representatives.
All the works related to the lake will have to be brought under the control of these committees. A new legislation has to be made for the protection of all backwaters and water bodies in the state and the newly formed Wetland Authority has to be strengthened by framing rules. The LSG institutions have to be empowered to protect and clean the rivers which empty out into the lake. Since there is rampant encroachment on the lake premises, the Revenue Department should demarcate the boundary of the lake after holding a survey and reclaiming the encroached land.