Kerala Cabinet on Wednesday decided that the income limit of Rs. 6 lakh a year, specified for reservation benefits for other backward classes in appointments, should apply for educational benefits also.
The Cabinet had changed the income criterion for determining the creamy layer among other backward classes from Rs.4.5 lakh to Rs.6 lakh a year last month. However, decision with respect to reservation in the education sector had been kept pending.
Kannur airport
The Cabinet approved a financial action plan for Kannur airport that envisages government funding of Rs. 132 crore over five years.
Chief Minister Oommen Chandy told the media after the Cabinet meeting that that the airport would become operational by 2015. The tender for the run way had been finalised and work would start shortly. The State government funding might not even be needed; but was being provided as viability gap funding to enable the airport company to get loans from financial institutions.
The Cabinet had revised State funding for Kochi Metro. Administrative had been accorded for Rs 242.47 crore against Rs 158.68 crore sanctioned earlier.
Arogyakiranam project
The Cabinet also sanctioned Rs. 12.87 crore, as State share for the Arogyakiranam project. Benefits under the project would be available to both APL and BPL ration card holders excluding income tax payers and government employees.
The annual income limit for getting financial assistance for leprosy, tuberculosis and cancer patients had been raised to Rs 1 lakh from Rs. 2400 a year. A monthly assistance for Rs. 800 is available to patients under the scheme, Mr. Chandy said.
The pay scales of the permanent employees of Child Development Centre will be revised based on the recommendations of the 9th Pay Commission.
Kottayam bypass
The Cabinet permitted the contract for the Kottayam bypass (Manarcaud to Pattithanam) to be awarded, allowing tender excess of ten cent. The Public Works Department will take over the Kandamkali road at Thiruvalla on the basis of understanding reached with people of the locality. Drinking water to Alappuzha is brought from Thiruvalla. The people had complained about the bad condition of the road through which the pipeline was laid.
The Cabinet sanctioned 11 posts for Minority Commission and 188 posts for Thrissur Medical College. Besides, 25 new posts were sanctioned for the new police station at Elamakkara near Ernakulam.
