THIRUVANANTHAPURAM:A day after the opposition UDF brought the issue of shortage of Plus One batches in the Assembly, the government increased Plus One seats in government and aided higher secondary schools in Malappuram, Kozhikode, Palakkad, Kannur, Wayanad and Kasargod. The Cabinet meet on Wednesday decided to bring a 10 per cent increase in seats in these schools from the current academic year.
Already 20 per cent more seats have been sanctioned in government and aided higher secondary schools across the state from this academic year. Malappuram will get the maximum number of additional seats with the decision.
On Tuesday, the opposition UDF had brought the issue as adjournment motion before the Assembly. The UDF urged the government to address the imbalance between the number of outgoing students and higher secondary seats. The Opposition had asked the government to sanction more Plus One batches in north Kerala. Chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan said the government has been looking into the issue.
Assistance to families of Marad school tragedy
The government announced Rs 2 lakh each to the families of the two children - Vidyalekshmi, daughter of Sanal, Kattithala; and Adithyan S, son of Sreejith, Marad - who died after their school van plunged into a temple pond at Maradu the other day.
The family of Letha Unni, the helper who died in the accident, will be given Rs 5 lakh. The money will be deposited in the name of her children.
Aid for Ockhi victims
As many as 74 fishermen families who lost houses in Cyclone Ockhi will be given a monthly rent of Rs 3,000 for 12 months. These families are from Thiruvananthapuram, Kollam, Alappuzha, Ernakulam, Thrissur, Malappuram and Kasargod districts. An amount of Rs 26.64 lakh will be sanctioned from the Chief Minister’s Distress Relief Fund for the purpose.
