The state cabinet on Wednesday decided to introduce a Social Security Act for the benefit of lakhs of migrant workers in the state. Chief Minister Oommen Chandy said that the government had held discussions with the departments concerned in this regard and prepared a Draft Bill which was granted approval in Wednesday’s cabinet meeting. He said enactment of the legislation would be made soon. Asked whether the Bill would be introduced in the ongoing session of the Assembly, he said the business of the Assembly had already been finalised and if the government wanted to pass it in the current session it would have to consult the Opposition. He said that the government would take a decision on whether the government should promulgate an ordinance in this regard.
The Chief Minister said cabinet had also held detailed discussions on the monsoon havoc which had caused heavy destruction to crops and houses and means of livelihood. Alappuzha district, especially the Kuttanad area, faced the brunt of the monsoon fury. Union Ministers Kodikunnil Suresh and K C Venugopal, Revenue Minister Adoor Prakash and Agriculture Minister K P Mohanan had visited Kuttanad and other monsoon-affected areas. Reports on the scale of damage had been submitted to the government.
In view of the large-scale destruction to crops and means of livelihood, a meeting of the people’s representatives had been convened at Alappuzha on Thursday. The government has reached a decision on the level of compensation to be paid for crop loss and the same would be announced on Thursday.
He said that the Revenue Minister would submit a memorandum to the Union Home Minister on Thursday seeking Central assistance for the monsoon havoc. He said though the amount of loss was enormous, the Central norms would result in getting a lesser amount.
Solatium Announced
The Chief Minister said that the government would grant a solatium of Rs 10 lakh to the family of ITBP constable Joemon of Alapuzha who died in the chopper crash during the rescue operations at Uttarakhand.
A sum of Rs 3 lakh would be given to the family of Noushad who was killed when the glider he was flying fell into the Muthalappozhi backwaters at Perumathura.
Aid to Care-givers
He said that the Cabinet had decided to provide Rs 400 as monthly pension to persons who take care of them. Government hospitals and cooperative medical colleges will provide injection to those affected by the disease at OPs in these hospitals.
All families having persons with brittle bone disease will be provided BPL cards. There are around 200 people affected by these disease.
Civil police offices will be given an additional fourth grade when they complete 27 years of service in view of the fact that they are getting fewer chances of promotion compared to other government employees with same educational qualifications. Other decisions of the cabinet include setting up of a State Innovation Council with former Chief Secretary Jose Cyriac as its chairman.