THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The Cabinet on Wednesday decided to bring in an ordinance making Malayalam compulsory in all schools up to higher secondary level in the state. The language will be made compulsory in all government (aided and unaided), private, CBSE and ICSE schools.
The weekly Cabinet meeting decided to implement the decision urgently. The government’s move to adopt the ordinance route has been influenced by two reasons.
First, it was brought to the government’s notice that some schools had imposed a ban on teaching and speaking Malayalam in the classroom and on the campus.
Second, there were complaints that few facilities existed to study the language at certain border areas of the state.
Solar commission
The Cabinet extended the term of Justice G Sivarajan Commission investigating the Solar scam to three months from April 28. The commission had sought the extension saying it will need more time to examine the oral and documentary evidence submitted before it. The commission was appointed in October 2013.
Kannur airport
The Cabinet decided to effect a one per cent change on the shareholding pattern for the Kannur International Airport Ltd. As per the revised pattern, the state government will hold 35 per cent shares (I350 crore), public sector undertakings (PSU) will hold 24 per cent (I240 crore), the aviation sector PSUs will hold 10 per cent (I100 crore), while co-operative banks, commercial banks, institutions and individuals will hold 31 per cent (I310 crore).
Pay revision
The pay of Kerala Agricultural Workers’ Welfare Fund Board will be revised subject to conditions set by the Finance Department. The pay of employees of the Kerala State Remote Sensing and Environment Centre and those of the Kerala State Beverages Corporation will be revised based on the recommendations of the 10th pay commission.
Government’s first anniversary
The first anniversary of the Pinarayi Government will be celebrated from May 20 to June 5 with various programmes across the state. A Cabinet sub-committee was appointed on Wednesday to submit recommendations in this regard.
Govt not to bear Lakshmana’s legal expenditure
T’Puram: The government will not bear the legal expenditure of former IG K Lakshmana, convicted in the Naxal Varghese encounter killing case. Considering a request in this regard, the Cabinet on Wednesday decided not to grant him the legal expenditure. Recently, a government affidavit before the High Court terming Naxal Varghese a hardcore criminal had drawn flak. In 2015, Lakshmana had approached the UDF government seeking to compensate I33 lakh, the legal expenditure incurred by him.