THIRUVNATHAPURAM: The LDF Government, in perhaps its last Cabinet meeting before the Assembly elections, has imposed a heavy burden on the next government by announcing a slew of sops and packages. The Cabinet on Wednesday decided to offer rice at Rs 2 a kg for all cutting across the APL/BPL categories and a fat pay package for government employees, including an enhancement of the pensions.
The Cabinet took these decisions as the notification for the Assembly election is expected some time next week after which the government would face restrictions in taking policy decisions.
In his postcabinet briefing, Chief Minister V S Achuthanandan said that the government had decided to offer rice at Rs 2 per kg to all, subject to certain conditions. Those who own below 5 acres of land and a monthly income of less than Rs 25,000 will only be eligible for this scheme.
The Cabinet also decided to approve the Ninth Pay Commission recommendations with modifications made by the cabinet subcommittee. The pay revision will have a retrospective effect from July 1, 2009. However, the arrears will be credited to the PF account of the employees. The pay revision will benefit government employees, teachers and university staff, the Chief Minister said. Another decision was to enhance the procurement price of paddy from Rs 13 to Rs 14. When the LDF Government came to power, the rate was `7. The Cabinet decided to introduce pension for employees of Regional Cancer Centre, Malabar Cancer Centre and Centre for Development Studies. An additional 222 posts will be created in the Kerala High Court, 29 new posts at Kottayam Medical College and five posts at Alappuzha Medical College Hospital. In Calicut University, 12 posts of lecturers will be created.
Another decision was to appoint Sharmi Ulahannan, the Asian Games gold medal winner, as assistant in the Secretariat. For those winning gold, silver and bronze medals in the ongoing National Games at Jharkhand, the government would give a cash prize of Rs 3 lakh, Rs 2 lakh and Rs 1 lakh each respectively.