Settlers to get titles for up to four acres under amended rules

The Cabinet on Wednesday decided to amend the Land Assignment Rules to provide for granting of titles for up to four acres to settlers on government land in Idukki district.

The rules currently provide for granting of titles for only one acre. This will be increased to four acres in the case of occupied lands.

Unconditional

Chief Minister Oommen Chandy told the media after the Cabinet meeting that titles granted for occupied land would not be conditional. Occupied land in excess of five acres would have to be surrendered to the government.

He said the ceiling of one acre would remain in the case of assignment of unoccupied land and the land would not be alienable for 25 years. Titles to settlers were earlier being given under special provisions.

Mr. Chandy said the Chief Secretary was asked to submit proposals on amending the dying in harness scheme to facilitate appointment of applicants to posts in tune with their qualifications. Currently, applicants under the scheme could be appointed to clerical and lower division and assistant grade posts, but for certain exceptional cases. He said that the Cabinet had decided to increase the remuneration of teachers of 321 single-teacher schools in 12 districts of the State from Rs.3,000 to Rs.5,000 a month. Workers, numbering 299, of the defunct Alappuzha port would be given Rs.5,000 in connection with Onam.

Financial assistance for the marriage of daughters of fishermen would be increased from Rs.1,500 to Rs.10,000. The assistance to fishermen families in the case of death of a member would be enhanced to Rs.50,000 from Rs.20,000.