Kerala Jyothi award to T.Padmanabhan
This year’s Kerala Jyothi award will be given to writer T.Padmanabhan. Justice (Retd.) Fathima Beevi and Soorya Krishnamoorthy will be given Kerala Prabha award and the Kerala Sri awards will be given to Punalur Somarajan (Social Work), V.P.Gangadharan (Health), Ravi D.C (Industry/Commerce), K.M.Chandrasekhar (Civil Service) and Pandit Ramesh Narayanan (Art).
The winners of the awards were selected by an award committee consists of Adoor Gopalakrishnan, K.Jayakumar and Dr.George Onakkoor. Kerala awards are the highest honour given by the government of Kerala.
Supplyco will continue as the agency for paddy procurement
The cabinet has given approval for Supplyco to continue as the nodal agency for paddy procurement. In the light of the restriction for the Kerala Bank in providing additional financial assistance to Supplyco, the monetory arrangement between Supplyco and the consortium of banks will continue till the completion of rearrangement.
The Supplyco will be allowed to distribute the money for the paddy procured, raise claims for the procurement of paddy, and do the processing and distribution of rice to the public distribution system as in the case of the past years.
Supplyco shall try to ensure that the payments to farmers is done without hassles. The farmers will be given money for the procured paddy through PRS loans.
Approval was also given to pay the outstanding amount of Rs.200 crores payable to Supplyco by the government towards repaying the existing PRS loans to consortium of banks.
The funds provided by the state and central governments for paddy procurement will be used to repay the existing PRS loans as well as to take new loans. The Supplyco shall ensure time-bound distribution of money to farmers. A secretary level committee chaired by Chief Secretary shall ensure the time-bound implementation of the aforesaid decisions.
The Supplyco shall conduct meetings with all stakeholders on regular intervals and to review situations towards ensuring cooperation and support from farmers and the banks.
The department of agriculture will be asked to do time-bound filling of all vacancies of officials who handle paddy procurement in Supplyco.
Committee for the detailed assessment of participatory pension scheme
A committee was formed to conduct detailed study of the report submitted by the review committee on the participatory pension scheme. The Finance-Law ministers and the Chief Secretary will be members of the committee. The cabinet has decided to take decision on this without delay.
The participatory pension scheme was implemented by the state government for those who have joined in service after 01/04/2013. A committee was formed by the government to review the scheme. An order had been issued by the Chief Minister to examine the report submitted by the review committee. The separate committee was formed as a detailed examination of the report has become necessary.
Increase in share capital
The cabinet has approved to convert the loans given to Travancore Titanium Products Limited along with the interest, into share capital. The recommendation to increase the authorised share capital from Rs.50 crores to Rs.100 crores, was also approved.
New PSC member
It was decided to recommend Adv.C.B.Swaminathan, native of Annamanada, Thrissur to the vacancy of member, Kerala Public Service Commission, to the Governor.