THIRUVANANTHAPURAM, 30 June 2007 — The board of directors of the Norka-Roots Development Initiative, a company floated by the Kerala government’s department of Non-Resident Keralites’ Affairs (Norka) has decided to launch a social security scheme for the families of deceased expatriate workers.
The decision was taken at a meeting of the board chaired by Chief Minister V.S. Achuthanandan, the first meeting since the Left Democratic Front came to power last year. The meeting also decided to send an official to the UAE to assist the Keralites who are returning under the general amnesty declared by the UAE government.
The board decided to hold a general body meeting on July 19 to decide on the delayed annual conference ‘Samavayam’ and a festival for expatriates’ children. The general body will also elect the vice chairman of the Norka-Roots. Norka officials can be contacted on Tel: 091-471-2332452/2332416, fax: 091-471-2326263 and e-mail: [email protected].
Mahan Air Adds New Flight
KOCHI, 30 June 2007 — Iran’s Mahan Air currently operating between Kochi and Dubai via Bander Abbas, will add one more flight to its weekly service from Cochin International Airport beginning July 9. The new service will operate on Mondays. With this the airline will have five weekly flights — on Mondays, Tuesdays, Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays — operating from Kochi. The flights will depart from Kochi at 5.15 a.m., a statement here said.
Port to Function Round the Clock
KOCHI, 30 June 2007 — The Cochin Port Trust will function round the clock from July 1, according to the CPT authorities. “An agreement has been reached between trade unions and the port management and everything is in place for the new work schedule,” CPT Chairman N. Ramachandran said adding this would reduce the cost of cargo handling. The three shifts will be between 6 a.m. and 2 p.m., 2 p.m. and 10 p.m. and between 10 p.m. and 6 a.m. At present, the shifts leave a gap of one-and-a-half hour between 5.30 a.m. and 7 a.m. The introduction of the three-shift system is in line with the practice in other major ports.
Banking Facilities for All
KOTTAYAM, 30 June 2007 — India’s most literate state will be declared the first total banking state of the country today with all families getting ‘no-frills’ zero balance accounts for banking transactions. The procedural formalities have been minimized and they would be able to start ‘zero balance’ accounts with a passbook and an ATM card. “At a later stage, these accounts would be able to draw overdrafts as per the guidelines,” a bank official said.
Jail Terms for RSS Activists
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM, 30 June 2007 — A district court yesterday sentenced six activists of the Rashtreeya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) to 10 years of rigorous imprisonment for attempt on the life of ruling party legislator. P. Jayarajan, who belongs to the Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M) that leads the ruling Left democratic Front (LDF) government, was attacked on Aug. 25, 1999 at his house in East Kadirur near Thalassery.
According to prosecution, the RSS activists, who are also active members of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) broke into Jayarajan’s house, hurled crude bombs and repeatedly stabbed him. Jayarajan received serious injuries but survived. One of the convicts is a top RSS functionary in the Kannur district.
The case has seen many dramatic turns and twists. Initially, the trial started at a fast-track court but the pronouncement of judgment was postponed several times after two defendants said they had no faith in the judge. Their contention was that the judge had visited the house of Home Minister Kodiyeri Balakrishnan when his mother died. Later, the High Court had to intervene to shift the case to the district court in Thalassery.
Welcoming the judgment the legislator said it would help unmask the “fascist face of the RSS.” But BJP state president P.K. Krishnadas said the party would file an appeal in the higher court.
In Kannur, which is the epicenter of red-saffron clashes, more than 150 persons were killed in political clashes between the two cadre-based parties.
Award for Kerala Tourism
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM — Kerala Tourism has won awards in the categories of the best State Tourism Board and the best travel destination at the CNBC Awaaz Travel Awards. The awards were presented to Kerala Tourism Minister Kodiyeri Balakrishnan by federal tourism minister Ambika Soni at a function in New Delhi earlier this week, says a Kerala Tourism press release. Thekkady in Kerala was chosen as the ‘best travel destination — wildlife and nature.’ Kerala had also recently won the national award for the best performing state in tourism.
