The Hindu Business Line : Kerala moots pension scheme for farmers

Thiruvananthapuram, Feb. 20 Implementation of a special pension scheme for farmers, distribution of agricultural loans to the tune of Rs 5,000 crore and establishment of an ATM network connecting the Kerala State Cooperative Bank, district cooperative banks and the primary agricultural credit societies are some of the programmes drawn up by the Kerala Government for the coming year.

In his address to the State Assembly on Wednesday, the opening day of the budget session, the Governor, Mr R.L. Bhatia, said that in view of the success of the ‘Harita Sree’ project implemented in Idukki district for the development of vegetable cultivation, 1,000 ‘vegetable villages’ will be established throughout the State during the year. Also, new sales counters will be set up for the procurement and marketing of vegetables produced in these villages.

Special projects

The Government will launch special projects, initially one per district, through ‘Kudumbasree’ for the development of rural business hubs to provide sustainable job opportunities to the poor. The focus will be on niche areas in agriculture and animal husbandry and value addition to agricultural produce.

The Government will also take up preparation of ‘anti-poverty sub plans’ in all urban local governments, for which ‘urban poverty mapping’ will be done. This will be followed by an action plan to make the cities and towns of the State slum-free.

The Governor said that the feasibility report for producing 10,000 tonnes of titanium sponge in collaboration with a Russian firm had been prepared and discussions were progressing.

The Kerala Industrial Infrastructure Development Corporation (Kinfra) will establish an integrated textile park at Kanjikode in Palakkad district. Also, efforts are on to start a petrochemical complex encompassing Kasaragod and Kannur districts.

More Stories on : Pension Plans | Kerala

Article E-Mail :: Comment :: Syndication :: Printer Friendly Page

Stories in this Section
Snow, showers return to hills and plains

Kerala moots pension scheme for farmers

Kanan Devan reaps rich haul at tea tasting contest

Arecanut prices rule steady

Spot rubber witnesses profit booking

Lower volumes on offer at Coonoor tea auctions

Mumbai to host 3-day Aluminium India 2008 expo

Bollworm may be developing resistance to Bt cotton

Relief unlikely for vanaspati units from new order

Bears pull down pepper futures

Norm for using domestic vegoils in vanaspati off

Maize gains on tight supply