The Hindu Business Line : Walkout over Kerala Govt staff salary issue

OPPOSITION members walked out of the State Assembly protesting what they described as the Government's move to enforce budgetary control over disbursement of salaries and wages to Government employees. The walkout took place after the Speaker refused leave for an adjournment motion on the issue.

In his to reply to the notice seeking an adjournment motion, the Finance Minister, Mr Vakkom Purushothaman, clarified that the Government order seeking to bring salary and wages of Government employees under appropriation control of treasury bills would not be implemented this year.

The order was issued on the basis of the recommendations of the Public Accounts Committee, which had observed that different departments were spending huge sums of money without budgetary allocation or sanction of the Legislature.

Treasury Rules had been amended to vest requisite powers with the Government. Disbursement of salaries would not be affected in any manner, Mr Purushothaman emphasised.

Immigration Act: The State Government has requested the Centre to amend the Immigration Act of 1983 to delegate more powers to the States to deal with unauthorised travel agencies.

Replying to questions, the Chief Minister, Mr Oommen Chandy, said that the request was made on the basis of the Justice Sukumaran Commission report.

The Government also proposed to constitute a Non-Resident Indian (NRI) Cell in the Police Department under the charge of a senior official. This cell will deal with cases involving fly-by-night operators in the field and complaints lodged by NRIs.

Budget services: Air India had agreed to operate budget services to Gulf destinations from Thiruvananthapuram, Kochi and Kozhikode airports from April, the Chief Minister said. It is expected that there would be a reduction in fares to the extent of 25-30 per cent in these services.

The Government had also requested the Centre to permit Al Arabia Airlines to operate services in the sector, as the company had agreed to operate flights at rates even lower than what Air India had proposed.

NRI Centre: The Non-Resident Keralites Affairs (Norka) Department will set up an NRI facilitation centre in Thiruvananthapuram. Construction of the centre, named Norka Bhavan, will be completed within a year.

The Chief Minister said that a proposal for the inclusion of non-residents' names in the electoral rolls has been submitted to the Centre. Only those NRIs who are able to produce their passports on the day of polling will be allowed to vote. The idea was mooted at the just-concluded Pravasi Bharatiya Divas in Mumbai.

All-party meet: The State Government intends to convene an all-party meeting to arrive at a consensus on how to deal with enforced hartals.

The Chief Minister said this while replying to a calling attention motion on the issue. It sought to invite the House's attention to the possibility of the enactment of a legislation to secure compensation to the public from hartals that often turn violent. Organisers of these hartals would be liable for compensating the losses sustained in the bargain.

The Government, Mr Chandy said, had already directed officials to initiate civil proceedings against organisers to compensate such losses.

It also wanted to bring about some restrictions on marches, rallies and other modes of protest in front of the Government Secretariat. This matter would also be discussed at the all-party meeting.

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