THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Chief Minister Oommen Chandy informed the Assembly on Friday that the government would seek fund from the Centre in order to bring relief to the rubber cultivators.
In reply to Saju Paul’s calling attention motion, the chief minister said the government would speed up the implementation of scheme for making Rs 150 as fixed price for small scale rubber cultivators.
“I’m going to Delhi on December 10 and 11. The ministers concerned will be apprised of the need for regulating the Rubber import and increasing the Excise tax. Rs 300 crore has been earmarked in the State budget for fixing the rubber price at Rs 150 for small scale farmers, irrespective of the market price. The amount will be transferred to farmer’s accounts. Though this may not help in increasing the Rubber price, it will benefit the farmers. Demand will also be made to the Centre for the revival of Rubber board in Kerala,” the chief minister said.
Help for differently-abled children
In reply to C Moin Kutty’s calling attention motion, Dr M K Muneer said that more care homes will be started for lifelong care of differently abled children in coordination with voluntary organisations. For that, an NGO-govt policy has been conceptualised.
Rs 5 crore has been allotted to Initiative on Disability in the current financial year for welfare activities of autistic children. 86 centres under Kudumba Sree have been started for the rehabilitation of children above 18 years.
