State will ensure three freemeals a day for all: Pinarayi

CM says under J.B. Koshy, human rights panel scaled new heights

Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan presenting a memento to outgoing State Human Rights Commission Chairperson J.B.Koshy in Thiruvananthapuram on Wednesday. Photo: S. Gopakumar

Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan has said that his government will launch a scheme to eradicate hunger in the State.

Inaugurating a function organised here on Wednesday to bid farewell to the outgoing chairperson of the State Human Rights Commission, J.B. Koshy, Mr. Vijayan said the scheme envisaged three free meals a day for all, primarily the indigent.

The scheme broadly followed the provisions of the national food safety law and would be implemented both in urban and rural areas.

Toilet scheme

He said a scheme to ensure toilets for all houses in the State would be launched on November 1.

The government would take stringent action against police officers who violated human rights.

Press freedom

Freedom of the press would be upheld. The State viewed corruption as a violation of human rights and anti-graft action had been stepped up.

Permanent premise

The Chief Minister announced a new and permanent premise for the SHRC. He said under Mr. Koshy, the SHRC had scaled new heights. It was a model for rights commissions in other States. Mr. Koshy had helped highlight the plight of the poor and marginalised and effectively intervened in thousands of human rights cases. At a press conference earlier, Mr. Koshy said that to strike or not to strike work was the right of all. Hence, both sides should respect each others’ rights.

Industries Minister E.P. Jayarajan, Leader of the Opposition Ramesh Chennithala, and Commission member P. Mohandas were among those present.