Kochi: The Kerala High Court was on Friday approached seeking to quash the appointment of Sony Thengamam as State Information Commissioner (SIC).
The petition challenging the appointment was filed by D.B. Binu, High Court lawyer and general secretary of the RTI Kerala Federation.
The petitioner pointed out that Mr. Sony was the assistant secretary of the Kollam district committee of the Communist Party of India (CPI). He had been involved in activities of the CPI in various capacities for long.
The petitioner said the Right to Information Act disqualified MPs or MLAs or a person who holds any other office of profit or connected with any political party or engaged in any business or any profession, from being appointed as State Chief Information Commissioner or a State Information Commissioner.
Mr. Sony, being a political activist, could not have considered for appointment to the post of State Information Commissioner. Besides, he did not have the qualification as prescribed by the Act. As per Section 15(5) of the Act, a person of eminence in public life with knowledge and experience in law, science and technology, social service, management, journalism, mass media or administration and government should alone be appointed as State Chief Information Commissioner or State Information Commissioners.
Friday, August 6, 2010
Job scheme for destitute women planned
KOCHI: The State employment department has given shape to a self-employment programme named �Saranya for destitute women.
The benefits of the scheme would be available to jobless destitute widows who had registered with the employment exchanges, women who had been left alone by their husbands, those legally separated, women aged above 30 years and still remaining spinsters, and unwed mothers from Scheduled Tribe communities.
It is also aimed at lending assistance to women who had to take charge of their wards and extended family in the event of the death of their husbands, or in cases where the husbands leave them to fend for themselves or just disappear.
Though individual endeavours were being given prominence under the programme, group entrepreneurial initiatives would also receive assistance. A beneficiary would be eligible for a maximum loan of Rs. 50,000 and it would be extended up to Rs. 1 lakh depending on the nature of the proposed initiative. While assistance up to Rs. 50,000 would be given free of interest, help above it would attract an interest rate of 3 per cent.
The benefits of the scheme would be available to jobless destitute widows who had registered with the employment exchanges, women who had been left alone by their husbands, those legally separated, women aged above 30 years and still remaining spinsters, and unwed mothers from Scheduled Tribe communities.
It is also aimed at lending assistance to women who had to take charge of their wards and extended family in the event of the death of their husbands, or in cases where the husbands leave them to fend for themselves or just disappear.
Though individual endeavours were being given prominence under the programme, group entrepreneurial initiatives would also receive assistance. A beneficiary would be eligible for a maximum loan of Rs. 50,000 and it would be extended up to Rs. 1 lakh depending on the nature of the proposed initiative. While assistance up to Rs. 50,000 would be given free of interest, help above it would attract an interest rate of 3 per cent.
Experts rack brains to scare away birds
KOCHI: Ornithologists, considered the staunchest supporters of birds, will now be thinking of ways to scare them away � from airports.
The Airports Authority of India (AAI) has sought the help of some of the best ornithologists and wildlife experts in India to rein in avian population in and around airports to prevent bird hits of aeroplanes.
The AAI has approached 15 ornithologists across the country to devise �action plans for effective control of bird population and minimise ornithological interference with air traffic through extensive survey of inside and surroundings of the airports.
The experts approached by the AAI include A.R. Rahamani, Lalitha Vijayan, K. Sivakumar, Dhananjay Mohan, Ataman Athreya, P.O. Nameer and Usha Ganguli.
The Airports Authority of India (AAI) has sought the help of some of the best ornithologists and wildlife experts in India to rein in avian population in and around airports to prevent bird hits of aeroplanes.
The AAI has approached 15 ornithologists across the country to devise �action plans for effective control of bird population and minimise ornithological interference with air traffic through extensive survey of inside and surroundings of the airports.
The experts approached by the AAI include A.R. Rahamani, Lalitha Vijayan, K. Sivakumar, Dhananjay Mohan, Ataman Athreya, P.O. Nameer and Usha Ganguli.
Corporation to process waste of Thrikkakara
KOCHI: Thrikkakara Panchayat and the Corporation of Kochi have reached an agreement under which the Corporation will process biodegradable waste from the panchayat at its centralised facility at Brahmapuram.
President of Thrikkakara Pachayat Sabitha Kareem told reporters here on Friday that the Corporation and the Panchayat had signed an agreement to this effect.
Under the agreement, the Panchayat will have to separate biodegradable waste from plastic and other hard substances to be taken to the Brahmapuram plant.
The Corporation will charge Rs. 1,000 a tonne from the panchayat for the service, said Ms. Kareem.
She said that the agreement was part of a comprehensive drive in the Panchayat to find a permanent solution to the problem of growing heaps of waste in the panchayat area.
Three bio-gas-based electricity generation facility will also be set up at three locations in the panchayat.
President of Thrikkakara Pachayat Sabitha Kareem told reporters here on Friday that the Corporation and the Panchayat had signed an agreement to this effect.
Under the agreement, the Panchayat will have to separate biodegradable waste from plastic and other hard substances to be taken to the Brahmapuram plant.
The Corporation will charge Rs. 1,000 a tonne from the panchayat for the service, said Ms. Kareem.
She said that the agreement was part of a comprehensive drive in the Panchayat to find a permanent solution to the problem of growing heaps of waste in the panchayat area.
Three bio-gas-based electricity generation facility will also be set up at three locations in the panchayat.
Ration card distribution today
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: New ration cards will be distributed from the taluk supply office at Kaithamukku from Saturday to all those who have been given dates up to August 31.
The ration cards for those who were given dates after August 31 is being printed and the dates of distribution will be intimated later, an official release said.
The ration cards for those who were given dates after August 31 is being printed and the dates of distribution will be intimated later, an official release said.
Mass marriage in November
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Kottarakkara-based Ashraya Charitable Society will organise the marriage of 140 girls from indigent families in the 140 Assembly constituencies in the State.
The marriages would take place at single venue at Thiruvananthapuram in the first week of November, Ashraya general convener Kalayapuram Jose and chief executive officer Gopinath Madhathil told a press conference organised here.
Each couple would be given Rs.50,000 in bank deposit and jobs in companies run by Ashraya patrons, besides money for marriage-related purchases, they said.
The marriages would take place at single venue at Thiruvananthapuram in the first week of November, Ashraya general convener Kalayapuram Jose and chief executive officer Gopinath Madhathil told a press conference organised here.
Each couple would be given Rs.50,000 in bank deposit and jobs in companies run by Ashraya patrons, besides money for marriage-related purchases, they said.
16 children taken ill at school
Thiruvananthapuram: Sixteen children from SSPB High School at Kadakkavoor, who were taken ill on Friday afternoon, were rushed to the Chirayinkeezhu hospital after school authorities suspected food poisoning.
Initially, medical teams from Chirayinkeezhu and Vakkom community health centres were rushed to the school after the school authorities raised alarm about children complaining of uneasiness and nausea. Later they were kept under observation at the Chirayinkeezhu CHC and discharged.
Initially, medical teams from Chirayinkeezhu and Vakkom community health centres were rushed to the school after the school authorities raised alarm about children complaining of uneasiness and nausea. Later they were kept under observation at the Chirayinkeezhu CHC and discharged.
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