The Hindu Business Line : Kerala Cabinet okays one-time funding of sick PSUs

The Chief Minister, Mr Oommen Chandy, told newspersons after the Cabinet meeting on Wednesday that the Government was not for direct privatisation of PSUs. It had put up the proposal for extending one-time financial assistance to sick units during discussions with political and trade union leaders.

The details of the scheme will be worked out by a group comprising Ministers for Finance, Labour, Industries, Power and Agriculture, the Chief Minister said.

He said that during his "mass contact" programme in Alappuzha, one major issue that came up was the struggle for survival of the industrial units in the district. While some of the units have been closed down, many others are facing the threat of imminent closure.

Mr Chandy said the Cabinet had been apprised of the issue and it was decided that the Labour Minister would discuss the problems faced by Kerala Spinning Mills and the McDowell unit at a meeting on November 17.

On his "mass contact" programme, he said he had completed the exercise in seven districts and the findings reported to the Cabinet. It was decided that all government secretaries should meet their respective department heads in the districts once in six months to discuss complaints and take on-the-spot decisions. Those issues, which could not be solved immediately, will be referred to the Chief Secretary.

The Cabinet also decided to put in place a scheme for repairing the housing units that were built and distributed under the "one lakh housing programme for the homeless" initiated in the early seventies.

There are more than 67,000 such houses in the State.

Under the scheme, the Government will give 50 per cent of the cost as grant, while voluntary agencies or the local bodies will have to bear the remaining part of the cost.

The Housing Board has been entrusted with working out the details of the scheme and implementing it.

Nod for Vizhinjam port SPV: The Cabinet has approved the floating of a special purpose vehicle for the development of an international container transhipment terminal at Vizhinjam, near here.

The Chief Minister will be the Chairman of the Board and the Minister for Co-operation and Ports the Vice-Chairman. The Ministers for Finance and Water Resources, the Chief Secretary, the Ports Secretary and two experts will be the members of the board.

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