The Kerala Cabinet on Wednesday cleared proposals for the reorganisation of panchayats and municipalities with upgrading of seven panchayats into municipalities and merging of 16 other panchayats with nearby municipalities or city corporations.
Announcing the decision, Chief Minister V.S. Achuthanandan said the Karunagappally in Kollam district, Thrikkakara, Eloor and Marad in Ernakulam district, Kottackal and Nilambur in Malappuram district and Nileswaram in Kasaragod district would be converted into municipalities.
Nattakam and Kumaranallur panchayats would be merged with Kottayam municipality. Thiruvankulam panchayat would be added to the Trippoonithura municipality and Pookodu and Thycaud panchayats to the
Guruvayoor municipality. Methala panchayat would be added to the Kodungallur municipality and Purathussery to the Iringalakuda municipality.
Sreekaryam, Vattiyoorkavu, Vizhinjam, Kudappanakunnu and Kazhakoottam panchayats would be merged with the Thiruvananthapuram City Corporation. Elathur, Cheruvannur, Nallalam and Beypore panchayats would be added to the Kozhikode City Corporation.
The Cabinet also decided to write off the loans of up to Rs. 25,000 availed from government agencies and cooperatives by Christian Converts from Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes. The moratorium on recovery of loans availed by fishermen would be extended by six months from November 1.
An ombudsman would be appointed for redressing complaints related to the National Rural Employment Guarantee Programme.
