KERALA

Vaccination coverage for measles has remained unchanged betweenNational Family Health Survey(NFHS)-4 (2015-16) and NFHS-5 (2019-20) inKerala. While 89% children in the 12-23 months age group received the first dose of measles-containing vaccine (MCV) in both the survey periods, those who got the second dose (24-35 months) was 16%.

ThoughMalappuramdistrict is now getting all the attention due to the latest detection of cases there (140 measles cases till date), the fact is the no district in the state has achieved 100% vaccination.

Meanwhile, the rural-urban coverage gap in the state is not much. While in urban Kerala, 86% children got the first dose, in rural areas it is 90%. For second dose, the coverage is 17% in urban and 14% in rural areas.

According to sources, of the 46 samples of KWA water tested, only 24 samples were fit for consumption, which means 48% of KWA water samples were contaminated with bacterial presence.

Among the samples tested, 80% of the samples were taken from wells and the remaining were KWA water, packaged drinking water, pond and lake water. These samples were given for testing by the public.

Of the contamination, 70.52% were due to the presence of coliform bacteria and 28.74% samples were due to E Coli.

With the rise in the number of tests in these labs, the KWA has also earned a good revenue. From just Rs 6,63,650 in 2020, the revenue increased to Rs 13,92,630 in 2022 (so far). In 2021, the revenue was Rs 9,27,219.

As per the records available in the assembly, 10,187 Pocso (protection of children from sexual offences) cases are pending in the state for trial. Of the total number of pending cases, the highest is in the capital at 1,474 followed by Malappuram (1,310) and Thrissur (1,196).
The pending cases are in the courts at Kollam (710) Pathanamthitta(351), Alappuzha (532), Kottayam

(479), Idukki (573), Ernakulam (711), Thrissur (1,196), Palakkad (635), Malappuram (1,310), Kozhikode (608), Wayanad (284), Kannur (841) and Kasaragod (483). As per the data, there are 28 temporary fast-track courts that are dealing with Pocso cases in state. In addition, one additional sessions court in each district has been designated as Pocso courts as per Section 28 (1) of the Pocso Act.

The southernmost stateKeralatook a technological leap by collaborating with BSNL, a government-owned telecommunications service provider to provide 100Mbpsbroadband Internet connectivity in high schools, higher secondary schools, and vocational higher secondary schools that are run by the state. For this Kerala and Technology for Education (KITE) partnered withBSNLunder the Hitech classroom scheme of Kerala. Now the state-run schools of Kerala will have high-speed internet connectivity.

The 100 Mbps internet connectivity will be beneficial for 45,000 classrooms of 4,685 schools covered under the Hi-Tech school project, with upgraded ICT-enabled education. TheSamagra Resourcesportal and Sahitham mentoring portal which were available to all the classrooms in offline mode will now become easier to use effectively in online or digital mode with the availability of 100 Mbps internet connectivity. This will also enable the availability of KITE VICTERS educational channels meant for students in the classrooms.

With increasing pesticide content affectingcardamomexports, theSpices Boardhas launched an initiative to promote organic methods in cardamom farming in Idukki. According to Spices Board officials, foreign countries, especially Saudi Arabia, are the major buyers of cardamom and since 2018 they have decided not to buy the cardamom from India due to pesticide content.

During the 2017-18 period, India exported 5,650 tonnes of cardamom. But since 2018, the export has got largely reduced. In the last financial year, India exported only 1,850 tonnes of cardamom and in the current FY it has been decided to export 6,500 tonnes. But the export till date stands at just 18 tonnes. We have checked six pesticides for a sample and found the content of two pesticides in the spice. Detection of pesticide residue above the maximum residue level affects the export and market of cardamom, said Spices Board assistant director VVijeeshna.

The Spices Board in association withKerala Agricultural University(KAU) will provide assistance to promote of cardamom in the district. Presently 15 farmers have shown willingness to turn to organic farming on a trial basis. The trial will be conducted on 165 hectares of land. If it is fetching the desired results, we can change to organic farming in the future.

Cardamom market was badly hit due to the pandemic with prices dipping from Rs7,000 per kg in August, 2019 to Rs 1,000-1,200 in September, 2021 in the local market. The Average price recorded at an auction held at the Spices Park in Bodinayakanur on Tuesday was Rs1,062/kg.

He said that there are sections in the MV Act, 1988, to take action against such vehicles. As per Section 190 (2), any person who drives or causes or allows to be driven, in any public place a motor vehicle, which violates the standards prescribed in relation to road safety, control of noise and air-pollution, shall be punishable for the first offence with a fine of Rs 1,000 and for any second or subsequent offence with a fine of Rs 2,000. The minister said that there are also provisions for suspending the licence of such vehicles.

Raju said that though the permits for goods carriage are provided under Section 79 of the Act, it does not specifically talk about vehicles carrying waste.

The Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs Department has implemented a new scheme in Kerala called ‘OPPAM’ which aims to deliver ration articles at the doorsteps of extremely poor families with the cooperation of auto rickshaw employees.

According to the statement, the scheme aims to deliver ration articles by obtaining the acknowledgement of beneficiaries for the receipt of stock and on the same day the issue details are recorded in the E-POS machine under the supervision of concerned Rationing Inspectors, by which the department can ensure error-free distribution without arising any complaints.

Food and Civil Supplies Minister G.R. Anil has said that 837 licensees have evinced interest in partnering with the government to establish Kerala Stores (or K-Stores). The government intended to launch at least five such multi-service centres in each district in the initial phase of the project, he added.

The proposed outlets will have an area of not less than 300 sq ft. Ration dealers who express willingness to establish the outlets will be provided priority. Preference will also be given for those outlets situated in locations where there are no Supplyco outlets, banks and Akshaya centres within a radius of 2 km.

In a major breakthrough for widening theEdappally-Kuttippuramstretch of the national highway, the government has allocated Rs 1,777 crore as compensation forland owners. Revenue officials have prepared a plan to complete land acquisition along the stretch within three months and hand it over to National Highway Authority of India (NHAI).

The total amount earmarked for compensation for the land owners along Edappally-Kuttippuram stretch of the national highway is Rs 5,400 crore. The land acquisition process which was started in 2009 hadnt progressed much till recently. The notification for acquiring land was issued in the same year. The government expedited the land acquisition process after 2018. The acquisition process was completed as per the Right to Fair Compensation and Transparency in Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement Act, 2013.

The revenue officials are serving notices to the land owners asking them to move out within 60 days. The compensation amount will be given to the land owners as they submit various documents regarding their holdings. The for holdings with dispute over ownership will be deposited with the court.

Thestate governmentis of the firm opinion that Covid-19 vaccine should be provided free-of-cost to every citizen, chief ministerPinarayi Vijayansaid in the assembly.

The chief minister said that the state has written to the Prime Minister requesting him to provide Vaccines to all sections of the Society, considering the greater common good. The state has also placed an order for purchasing 70 lakh doses ofCovishieldand 30 lakh doses of Covaxin through the state medical Services corporation.

The state has requested the Centre to take initiative to float global tender for procurement of vaccine as states competing in the market for vaccines would result in the increase of price of vaccines.