THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The Government will consider a new piece of legislation for banning the use of mobile phones in educational institutions, especially in schools. This was announced by Home Minister Kodiyeri Balakrishnan in the Assembly on Thursday.
The debate on the misuse of mobile phones in schools was initiated by K.C.
Venugopal, who raised a submission about the suicide of three VHSE students at the Government Model VHSS last month. Venugopal said mobile clips of alleged sexual assault on one of the students were being circulated widely in Ambalappuzha. Opposition leader Oommen Chandy, who visited Ambalappuzha following the tragedy, also demanded a ban on mobile phones in schools and colleges.
Schoolgirls’ suicide: Govt open on probe
The government is ready for conducting an inquiry by any agency into the suicide of three 17-year-old girl students in Ambalappuzha. A decision on this regard will be taken based on the report by Central Zone IG Vinson M. Paul, said Home Minister Kodiyeri Balakrishnan in the Assembly.
The tragic death of Anila, Veni and Julie was debated in the Assembly during Zero Hour. K.C. Venugopal MLA alleged that the police were trying to scuttle the case in accordance with the interests of some local CPM leaders.
“The Alappuzha DySP, who is inquiring into the case, is not at all fit for that job. He is trying to sabotage the case,” alleged Venugopal.
Withdrawal of power curbs, thermal surcharge ruled out
Power Minister A.K. Balan on Thursday ruled out any chance of withdrawing either the power restrictions or the thermal surcharge imposed on consumers.
Replying to a submission by K.
Babu MLA in the Assembly, Balan said the KSEB was heading towards a loss of Rs 1140 crore by May 31, 2009.
Despite imposing power restrictions on HT/EHT and LT consumers and thermal surcharge, the KSEB’s losses upto November this year has been pegged at Rs 490 crore, he said.
The Minister said that the current storage in the state’s hydel reservoirs was only 2713 million units. Last year, it was 3524 million units.
The Idukki dam has water for generating 1073 million units, 50 percent of its capacity. The KSEB has recovered only Rs 130 crore through the imposition of the surcharge and power cuts on domestic consumers, he said.
The thermal surcharge imposed on August 20, 2008, has brought in only Rs 76 crore upto November 1. The power cut - 20 percent on HT/EFT and LT consumers other than domestic - accounts for another Rs 54 crore.
Govt to hike PG doctors’ stipend
Health Minister P.K. Sreemathi told the Assembly on Thursday that the State Government was considering a proposal to hike the stipend of Post Graduate doctors in the Medical College Hospitals of the State. A proposal in this regard is before the Finance Department. The Government will be willing to hike this with the concurrence of the Finance Department.
At present, the stipend given to the PG doctors is Rs 10,000 and the proposal demands a hike to Rs 18,500. Sreemathi said that after the LDF Government came to power, 1,500 new posts have been created. The Government is contemplating steps to fill the vacancies of doctors. Several steps have been taken to improve the facilities of the hospitals and it will be completed in phases.