The State Cabinet has decided to start first phase of distribution of title deeds to settlers in Idukki district on December 28.
It has also decided to amend the Land Assignment Rules to provide for granting of title deeds for up to four acres and remove restrictions on transfer of the assigned land.
Briefing the media on the Cabinet decisions here on Monday, Minister for Information and Public Relations K.C. Joseph said the restrictions on transfer of assigned land for 25 years would not apply if the lands were occupied as a settlement with homes. Amendments to Rules to impose restrictions on transfer and area were brought in 2005 and 2009. At present, only up to an acre of land could be assigned.
The Minister said that only persons who had encroached upon government land in the district prior to 1977 were eligible for title deeds.
Mr. Joseph said the Cabinet had decided to grant 37 cents of land at Vanchiyoor in Thiruvananthapuram city to K. Karunakaran Foundation to build a memorial for the former Chief Minister.
He said the Cabinet had approved the recommendations of the interview board for the appointment of K. Nazeer, Kozhikode; C.G. Meena, Kaloor, Kochi; N. Babu, Kozhikode; Philip Panakkad, Thiruvananthapuram; J. Sandya, Thiruvananthapuram; and Glory George, Kalpetta, Wayanad; as members of the State Child Rights Commission. Mr. Joseph said the Cabinet had sanctioned Rs.7 lakh to the next of kin of Suseelan who had committed suicide after giving application to the Chief Minister at his mass contact programme.
Arrangements would be made for the treatment of two children of Suseelan, who were suffering from a debilitating disease. The next of kin of four persons who had been killed in an accident at Kadavallur would be given Rs.2 lakh each.
