A permanent film festival complex to organise International Film Festival of Kerala (IFFK) and other festivals will come up in 15 acres of land on the premises of Chitranjali studio of the Kerala State Film Development Corporation (KSFDC) here.
Besides theatre, the multi-purpose complex will have a convention centre, office, seminar hall, media room, and guest house to cater to the needs of mega events. The Kerala Infrastructure Investment Fund Board (KIIFB) has been asked to finalise experts for preparing a Detailed Project Report (DPR) for the proposed complex.
In a reply to a question by O. Rajagopal (BJP) in the Assembly on Wednesday, Minister for Cultural Affairs A.K. Balan said the Request for Proposal (RFP) had already been submitted to the KIIFB. A sum of ₹50 lakh had been allocated for the complex in the revised 2016-17 budget, he said.
The Minister said the KSFDC would construct 100 theatre complexes in the State. Each complex would cost ₹7 crore and would have two modern screens. The funds would be made available from the KIIFB. Nine local bodies had already handed over the agreement for complexes.
Livestock insurance
Minister for Animal Husbandry and Zoos K. Raju said the government would come out with a comprehensive livestock insurance coverage this financial year and make the State self-sufficient in milk by 2019.
This year, 40,000 livestock would be insured and by next year all the livestock would be covered under the scheme. The Minister said that 50 per cent of the premium would be borne by the government, 25 per cent by the local bodies, and the remaining 25 per cent by the farmers.
In reply to another question, Minister for Excise and Labour T.P. Ramakrishnan said a health insurance coverage “Awas” would be launched for migrant workers. Under this, those enrolling would get free medical treatment in government hospitals or empanelled private hospitals for ₹15,000. The scheme would be limited to the age group of 18-60.
