Elected Representatives in Kerala to Take 30% Cut in Salary and Honorarium for One Year
Kerala Government Employees to Contribute One Month Salary to CM Fund due to Covid-19
Date: 22-04-2020
Thiruvananthapuram, April 22: Kerala Chief Minister, Shri Pinarayi Vijayan today announced that all elected representatives in the State – Ministers, Members of the Legislative Assembly, members of different Boards under the Government and members of Local Self Government bodies would take a 30% cut in their monthly salary and honorarium for a period of one year.
“Covid-19 has had a huge impact on the economic sector at the national and state level as well but we are not going back on welfare schemes. Kerala has been hit badly and we are a consumer state. The State is going through a fiscal crisis as the tax collection revenue has fallen drastically and remittances from expatriates have also stopped since the outbreak of Coronavirus. Expenses for healthcare services and food safety are unavoidable. In this scenario, we need to mop up additional resources within the State. It’s a matter of relief that people across all sections of our society have contributed to the Chief Minister’s Disaster Relief Fund (CMDRF)”, said the Chief Minister.
The CM also informed that government employees and their associated organisations have expressed their willingness to contribute one month’s salary to CMDRF. The Cabinet meeting held today decided that a part of the salary of all government employees would be kept apart for this. Accordingly, the salary for six days every month would be deducted for the next five months. This would be applicable to employees of all State-owned Enterprises, Public Sector Undertakings, Quasi-Government organisations, Universities, etc in the State. However, those earning less than Rs. 20,000 a month would be exempted.
State to give impetus to Poultry farming, Fish farming and Animal Husbandry
Kerala Chief Minister, Shri Pinarayi Vijayan today announced that the state would give an impetus to poultry farming, fish farming and animal husbandry to increase self-sufficiency in these sectors. The State would seek NABARD’s help in implementing these schemes. Cooperative societies would cater to additional loans to expand the production in these sectors.
The Chief Minister said the capacity of poultry farming would be increase to give 75 lakhs additional egg production. The Kerala Chicken project would be spread across the State to increase egg and chicken meat availability and 200 new outlets would be opened.
With increase milk production, the State would set up a new milk powder plant and an ultra pasteurisation plant for UHT milk production. The state would also explore the production of new value-added products from milk apart from cheese and yoghurt.
The CM also called for the modernisation of the fisheries sector. Big reservoirs, dams, ponds and freshwater lakes would be used for fish farming. The government also plans to explore fish farming at sea using the latest technology and modern methods. The idea is to increase the production of fresh water prawns, saltwater prawns, mussels, prom fret, kingfish, etc.
Minister of Health & Social Justice, Smt K K Shailaja; Revenue Minister, Shri E Chandrasekharan, and Chief Secretary, Shri Tom Jose IAS were also present during the media briefing.
The CM also informed that full-time ASHA workers who are at the forefront of Covid prevention activities would get an honorarium and fixed incentive from March to May, 2020. Apart from this, an additional Covid incentive of Rs.1,000 would be paid to them. 26,475 ASHA workers in the State would benefit from this decision.
Source: https://www.prd.kerala.gov.in/
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