KERALA

• Simulated Tsunami Scenario: A mock drill was conducted in Alappad grama panchayat to test crisis management for tsunami preparedness, coordinated by UNESCO’s Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission, INCOIS, and the Kerala State Disaster Management Authority.
• Emergency Alert and Response Initiation: The exercise began with INCOIS issuing an alert about an 8.8-magnitude earthquake in North Sumatra, triggering a simulated tsunami advisory for Kerala’s coast.
• Swift Evacuation Efforts: Led by the district administration, the drill involved evacuating 1,005 residents, including vulnerable individuals, to the R.C Emmanuel LP School. Fire and Rescue teams, police, and local authorities facilitated the relocation.
• Medical and Basic Necessities Provisioned: The Health department provided primary care, while food, clothing, essential medicines, and electricity were supplied to evacuees, ensuring a comprehensive relief camp setup.
• Multi-Department Coordination: The drill included the coordinated efforts of departments like Revenue, Police, Fire and Rescue, Fisheries, Health, and Local Self-Government, with technical assistance from Amrita School for Sustainable Futures.
• Tsunami-Ready Certification Goal: Due to the effective execution of the drill, Alappad may be considered for ‘tsunami-ready’ certification, which evaluates factors such as evacuation planning, route mapping, awareness initiatives, and regular drills.
• Positive Review and Future Preparedness: Officials including the Additional District Magistrate, UNESCO representatives, and local leaders attended the review meeting, highlighting the success and reinforcing the importance of continued tsunami preparedness in coastal regions.

• Private Investment in Tourism Development: Kerala’s Tourism Department has opened doors for private individuals to invest in developing tourist destinations under the ‘Destination Challenge’ project, allowing up to 60% private funding in eligible projects.
• Revenue Sharing Model: Investors will receive a share of the revenue proportional to their investment, encouraging private stakeholders to collaborate on enhancing local tourism infrastructure.
• Project Background and Challenges: Launched during the second term of the Left Democratic Front government, the project has seen limited uptake, with only 39 proposals sanctioned so far, prompting the inclusion of private investments to boost participation.
• Funding Structure: The Tourism Department previously funded 60% of project costs, capped at ₹50 lakh, with the remaining amount covered by local self-governing institutions (LSGIs) or through sponsorship. The new model enables private investments in two categories, either sharing costs with LSGIs or covering up to 60%.
• Goal to Expand Tourism Sites: By creating new tourist destinations across Kerala’s 1,000+ local bodies, the project aims to reduce the burden on popular sites and diversify options for travelers.
• Environmental Safeguards: Following recent landslides in Wayanad, the Kerala High Court has mandated a carrying capacity study of vulnerable tourist locations, to implement restrictions on mass tourism in environmentally sensitive areas.
• Boost to Local Tourism Economy: This initiative is expected to attract new investments, enhance local economic opportunities, and promote sustainable tourism across less-explored regions.

• Celebrating Children’s Day: The Kerala State Council for Child Welfare is organizing “Thaliru,” an arts festival for children living in 61 care homes in Thiruvananthapuram on November 7 and 8.

• Wide Participation: Over 800 children will participate in 17 different competitions across various age groups (lower primary to higher secondary).

• Diverse Competitions: The festival will feature a variety of competitions, including poetry recitation, light music, mono act, fancy dress, cinematic dance, group song, folk dance, folk songs, and patriotic songs.

• Promoting Equality: The festival aims to provide children living in care homes with the same opportunities to participate in arts and cultural activities as other children.

• Children’s Day Stamp: A drawing by V. Thanmaya, a Class VIII student, has been chosen for this year’s Children’s Day stamp. The stamp will be released by Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on November 14.

• Supporting Child Welfare: Proceeds from the sale of the Children’s Day stamps will be used to fund welfare activities in care homes across Kerala.

1. Solar-Powered Transition: The Ernakulam Regional Cooperative Milk Producers’ Union (ERCMPU) is transitioning to a fully solar-powered dairy operation, aiming to set a benchmark in sustainable dairy production.
2. Inauguration of Solar Project: Minister George Kurian will dedicate a 2-MW solar power project at ERCMPU’s Thripunithura plant on November 9, marking a significant milestone in green energy adoption.
3. Expansion and Upgradation Initiatives: Alongside the solar project, Dairy Development Minister J. Chinchurani will lay the foundation for Milma’s Products Dairy Upgradation Project, aimed at enhancing production efficiency.
4. Investment and Funding: The project’s total cost is ₹16 crore, funded through a ₹9.2 crore loan from the Dairy Processing and Infrastructure Development Scheme, with an additional ₹6.8 crore from the union’s resources.
5. Innovative Solar Installation: The project features an 8 KW floating solar panel setup on the dairy’s lake and 1,890 KW ground-mounted panels across 4.7 acres, emphasizing resourceful land and water utilization.
6. Commitment to Environmental Responsibility: Ernakulam Union Chairman M.T. Jayan stated that the carbon-neutral project underlines the Indian dairy industry’s commitment to sustainable practices and environmental stewardship.
7. Quality Control Facility Launch: As part of the event, Milma Federation Chairman K.S. Mani will hand over the Central Quality Control Lab to NDDB Chairman Meenesh Shah, reinforcing the cooperative’s focus on quality standards.

1. Accelerated Land Acquisition: Revenue Minister K. Rajan announced that land acquisition for the rehabilitation of Chooralmala landslide survivors in Wayanad would be expedited, allaying concerns over potential delays.
2. Compensation Assurance: The government pledged fair compensation for landowners involved in the acquisition process, with funds aimed at expediting survivor rehabilitation.
3. Funding Delays and SDRF Limitations: Minister Rajan cited a significant delay in the Centre’s approval of a special relief package, suggesting the use of the State Disaster Response Fund (SDRF) as an interim measure, though SDRF’s allocations are limited.
4. Three Main Demands from the State: Kerala has formally requested (1) special financial support beyond SDRF, (2) loan waivers for survivors, and (3) disaster classification under the L3 category, underscoring the severity of the landslide.
5. Temporary Rehabilitation and Further Support: Survivors received temporary shelter within a month, with ongoing financial support until permanent housing is established.
6. Awaiting High Court Intervention: Rajan expressed optimism about a Kerala High Court verdict favoring additional support, noting past relief extended to Andhra Pradesh survivors as a precedent.
7. Broader Assistance Scope: Alongside Chooralmala, Rajan highlighted that Kozhikode’s Vilanagad landslide survivors would also receive tailored relief packages.

Chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan said that the satellite survey report is not the final document on the buffer zone issue.

The only had good intention of completing the survey fast while deciding to go for satellite survey in the first phase as per the court order, Vijayan added.

Vijayan said that the expert committee report would be able to include details which have been left out in the first report. People in various local bodies will have the opportunity to include details of their properties by approaching the committee, he assured. The chief minister said that local bodies have been provided the opportunity to record such details.

Despite strong objections against theSilverLine projectfrom various corners, the government is completing the formalities for the project at a quick pace.
In the latest development, the government sanctioned Rs 20.5 crore towards establishment and contingency charges for the land acquisition of SilverLine project.

A high-power committee meeting on major development projects (MIDP) in the state, that was held on November 17, considered the proposal from K-Rail and approved it, and recommended the finance department to provide additional funds since the existing allocation under the MIDP has been committed already. The state had earmarked Rs 473.03 crore for undertaking various infrastructure projects in the state for the ongoing financial year. The amount for SilverLine project will be in addition to this allocation.

In the absence of proper online Education facilities for tribal students in Idukki, thetribal departmentrecommended opening all tribal hostels in the district to ensure proper education for tribal students.

As per the final estimate of over 2,000 tribal students in the district, there is no proper device to continue their online education. On a trial basis, the tribal department agreed to open tribal hostels and provide entry toSSLCand Plus Two students.

As per the estimate, 13,517 students are having no facility for online education. According to sources, after three months of digital education, most students are out of online education.

The cooperative vigilance will be strengthened and the sections 65 and 66 of theCooperation Actwill be amended so that cases of criminal nature can be reported immediately to the Police and the vigilance. The laws will also be amended by which the cooperation vigilance will be empowered to suo-motu conduct searches in cooperation societies.

All the societies that have a WORKING CAPITAL of more than Rs 250 crore will be clubbed as a unit and an audit team consisting of three members will examine the accounts of such bodies. The transfers of the officials of the department will be on the basis of clear guidelines, all the officials who are working on working arrangement basis will be sent back to the districts soon.

Government school headmasters (HM),anganwadiworkers and accredited social Health activists (ASHA) will now have to notify births and deaths in their jurisdiction. Local self-government department (LSGD) has published an extraordinary gazette notification regarding the same. LSGD cited a Supreme Court judgment that had directed all states/UTs on the same.

In exercise of the powers conferred by clause (ii) of sub-section (1) of section 10 of the Registration of Births and Deaths Act, 1969 (Central Act 18 of 1969) the Government ofKeralahereby specify ASHA, anganwadi workers and headmasters of government schools to notify every birth or death or both at which he or she attended or was present or which occurred in the area under their jurisdiction to the registrar within the time limit prescribed under the Kerala Registration of Births and Deaths Rules, 1999.