News and Views

Thiruvananthapuram: Kerala Cabinet on Thursday decided to implement Food Security Act in the State in six months.

Ranking will be done at the State level instead of at taluk level for determination of priority groups under the Act. New ration cards will be distributed in December.

Thiruvananthapuram: Kerala Cabinet on Thursday decided to set up data facilitation centres at important entry points to the State by road as part of integrated check post system.

The new system will facilitate acquisition of data and images needed by different departments at a single point and their sharing among the departments.  A Cabinet subcommittee with Finance Minister T. M. Thomas Isaac as convenor has been formed for implementation of the proposal. Ministers for Revenue, Forest, Transport, Civil Supplies and Excise will be members of the committee.

Protests are growing over the decision to merge State Bank of Travancore (SBT) with State Bank of India and transfer of SBT Chief General Manger S. Adikesavan, who opposed the merger, from here to Hyderabad on Tuesday.

Official sources said that the Chief Minister Pinarai Vijayan will write to the Prime Minister demanding withdrawal both the decisions.

Former Defence Minister A. K. Antony said on Tuesday that the government should initiate dialog for a political settlement of the Kashmir issue.

Releasing a travelogue on Kashmir by journalists from Kerala here, Mr. Antony said that though talks had failed earlier, they should be attempted again. “It is hard to deal with the issue. However, things would go out of control if a settlement is delayed. So, no time should be wasted.”

The Congress leader also urged that the Centre should lead an all-party delegation to Kashmir.

The meeting convened by Chief Minister Pinarai Vijayan to find solutions to the stray dog menace on Monday decided to engage trained dog catchers to catch and sterilise stray dogs.

The meeting was convened against the background of stray dogs killing an aged woman at Pulluvila recently.

In areas where stray dog menace is serious, the sterilisation drive will start from September 1. Camps will be organised for this purpose.