News and Views

The Food Security Act will be implemented in Kerala from November 1, Food and Civil Supplies Minister P. Thilothaman told the media here on Tuesday.

With implementation of the Act, the BPL-APL categorisation would be replaced by priority and non-priority categories of card holders.

Opposition in Kerala Assembly, excluding sole member of the BJP, staged a walkout on Tuesday in protest against inaction of Central and State governments in checking fall in prices of rubber and coconut.

The walkout came after Speaker P. Sreeramakrishnan refused permission to move an adjournment motion, given notice of by Kerala Congress (M) leader K. M. Mani, in view of explanation given by Agriculture Minister V. S. Sunilkumar on action taken by the government.

Minister for Public Works G. Sudhakaran told the Assembly on Monday that the government would bring a policy on maintenance of roads shortly.

Replying to the demand for grants for Public Works, the Minister said that maintenance works would be brought under a Chief Engineer with adequate staff at various levels.

Minister for Forests, Animal Husbandry and Zoos K. Raju announced in the Assembly on Monday that Institute of Animal Health and Veterinary Biologicals at Palode would start producing vaccine for rabies.

Replying to the debate on the demands for grants for Animal Husbandry, Dairy and Forest, the Minister said that Kerala did not have any institution manufacturing rabies vaccine. The State was dependent on vaccine supplied by private agencies. Hence, the decision to manufacture vaccine in the public sector.

Thiruvananthapuram: United Democratic Front staged a walk out in the Assembly on Monday demanding discussion on Chief Minister Pinarai Vijayan’s role in controversial appointments of relatives of CPI (M) leaders to posts in public sector undertakings.

The UDF objected to the Speaker not permitting moving of an adjournment motion given notice of by V. D Satheesan (Congress) on the subject.