Thiruvananthapuram: Finding that 1458 government employees of the state, including gazetted, are receiving social welfare pension. The fraud was discovered during the inspection conducted by the Information Kerala Mission as per the instructions of the Finance Department. College Assistant Professors, including those receiving welfare pension, are receiving the pension.

Teachers including higher secondary students are also in the list of welfare pension recipients. The Finance Department has directed to recover the illegally received pension amount along with interest. Finance Minister KN Balagopal directed strict disciplinary action against the culprits.

Out of the 2 assistant professors who are getting pension in this way, one is working in a government college in Thiruvananthapuram district and the other is working in a government college in Palakkad district. 3 higher secondary teachers are getting pension. The health department has the highest number of welfare pensioners, 373. The Public Education Department is in second place – 224 people. 124 in the Medical Education Department, 114 in the Ayurveda (Indian System of Medicine) Department, 74 in the Animal Welfare Department and 47 in the Public Works Department are drawing welfare pension.

46 people in the Technical Education Department, 41 people in Homeopathy Department, 35 people each in the Agriculture and Revenue Departments, 34 people in Judiciary and Social Justice Department, 31 people in Insurance Medical Services Department, 27 people in Collegiate Education Department and 25 people in Homeopathy are getting welfare pension.

The number of pensioners in other departments and institutions is as follows: Sales Tax 14 each, Scheduled Caste Welfare 13, Rural Development, Police, PSC, Ayurvedic Medical Education 10 each, Cooperation 8, Legislature Secretariat, Vocational Training, Public Administration, Vocational Higher Secondary – 7 each, Forest – 9 , Soil Survey, Fisheries 6 each, Local Government, Road Transport, Industry and Commerce, Fire Force, Dairy Development, Public Distribution, Advocate General’s Office 4 each, Social Welfare, Registration, Museum, Printing, Food Safety, Excise, Archeology 3 each, Labour, Legal Metrology, Medical Examination Laboratory, Economics and Statistics, Law Colleges 2 each, NCC, Lotteries, Jail, Labor Court, Harbor Engineering, Electrical Inspectorate, Drugs Control, Winnoka Divisional Development, Coir Vakisanam 1 each.

The Finance Department has decided to continue the inspections at various levels. The Department of Finance has informed that it will continue to take steps to identify and exclude those who are ineligible and ensure proper distribution of pension to all those who are eligible.

Kochi: The High Court has said that the recently issued guidelines regarding the parade of elephants, including during festivals, cannot be changed. Strict guidelines have been issued keeping in mind the safety of the people and the maintenance of the elephants. Devaswoms should give up their stubbornness in this regard. It cannot be said that the parade of elephants during festivals is an unavoidable ritual. If there are sufficient reasons to reduce the distance, please let us know. The division bench also said that the guidelines cannot be changed considering the expressions of opinion.

The Thiruvampadi Devaswom responded that Pooram celebrations would have to be shortened in the wake of the High Court order. New regulations will create obstacles. The beauty and splendor of the Pooram will disappear. There should be government intervention. Everyone in Tamil Nadu came together and got a decree in favor of Jallikattu. There is no objection to the court. Thiruvampadi Devaswom Secretary K Girish Kumar asked for concessions, seeing the ritual in its own way.

Thiruvananthapuram: The cabinet meeting has decided not to accept the recommendation of the Administrative Reforms Commission to raise the pension age to 60. The decision was taken in the Cabinet meeting held today under the leadership of the Chief Minister.

The cabinet meeting approved the recommendations of the secretary-level committee chaired by the chief secretary appointed to examine the recommendations of the Fourth Administrative Reforms Commission with amendments.

Kochi: Authorities have released a list of items to be avoided while flying from India to UAE. Substances like pickle, ghee, copra etc. have been banned. The Indian Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS) said that e-cigarettes and spice powders are also restricted.

There is a ban on carrying ghee and butter in cabin luggage due to their oily nature. BCAS informed that ghee can be carried up to 5 kg in checked in luggage. Pickles except chili pickle can be carried in check in luggage and carry on luggage according to the guidelines issued by BCAS. But airport and airline guidelines restrict the carrying of pickles in check-in luggage.

Spice powders cannot be carried in cabin baggage. But there is no restriction on carrying them in check-in baggage, according to the guidelines issued by BCS. BCAS had imposed a ban on copra in air travel in March 2022. Ful list visit https://u.ae/en/information-and-services/finance-and-investment/clearing-the-customs-and-paying-customs-duty

Kozhikode: The woman who was the complainant in the controversial Panthirankavu domestic violence case was beaten up again. She is currently undergoing treatment at the Kozhikode Medical College Hospital with serious injuries. The woman suffered injuries to her eyes and face. Her husband Rahul himself took the woman to the hospital in an ambulance on Monday night. Rahul then left her mother with the woman and fled the scene.

The woman told the police that Rahul had beaten her at her house in Panthirankavu and in the ambulance on the way to the hospital, and that she had suffered injuries to her head, lip and left eye. Meanwhile, when the police arrived to record their statement at around 11 pm, they wrote to the police that they had no complaint and that they should be allowed to return to their hometown if their father and mother came.

They also asked the police to help them collect certificates from their husband’s house in Panthirangavu. The investigation is being led by Farokh Assistant Commissioner A.M. Siddique. The Panthirangavu police had summoned the woman’s husband Rahul. The police also informed the woman’s parents.

Earlier, while considering the domestic violence case filed by the girl, the woman gave a statement in favor of her husband and the High Court had quashed the case.

Thiruvananthapuram: The Central Meteorological Department has warned that heavy rains are likely in isolated places in the state  as the low pressure formed in the Bay of Bengal has strengthened. It is predicted to move northwestwards the next day and reach the Tamil Nadu and Sri Lanka coast. Based on the rains, a yellow alert has been issued in eight districts today. The yellow alert has been issued in Thiruvananthapuram, Kollam, Pathanamthitta, Idukki, Ernakulam, Thrissur, Palakkad and Malappuram districts.

Rains are likely in Sannidhanam, Pampa and Nilakkal. The Central Meteorological Department has informed that there is a possibility of strong thunderstorms. The warning says that there is a possibility of rains with thunderstorms in isolated places until November 27. Strong winds with speeds of 35 to 45 kmph and sometimes up to 55 kmph are also possible. 

Thiruvananthapuram: Police have registered a case against an Anganwadi teacher and helper in the incident where a three-year-old girl was injured after falling from an Anganwadi window. The Maranallur police have registered a case under the Juvenile Justice Act.

The Women and Child Development Department officer had suspended both of them as part of the action taken yesterday. The police case follows this.

The child’s father Ratheesh said that he will proceed with legal action in the incident. Ratheesh added that the child’s health has improved. Ratheesh told the media that there was a serious lapse on the part of the Anganwadi authorities and that the Anganwadi authorities failed to provide primary care to the child.

Vaiga, the daughter of Ratheesh and Sindhu, natives of Maranallur, was injured after falling from an Anganwadi window. The parents complained that the Anganwadi authorities were not ready to take the child to the hospital or provide first aid even after he fell.

Last week, while his father was taking him home, the child vomited. When he came home and asked about the child vomiting, his twin brother Vaishnav told the parents about the matter. When examined, a lump was found near the back of his neck. The child fell at 12 noon, but the staff did not inform them, so the parents found out about it at 5 pm. By the time he was taken to the hospital, there was a blood clot in the child’s brain.

When the family asked, the staff replied that he had fallen from a chair and forgot to tell them. The family pointed out that the staff’s assessment that such a serious injury would not have been possible if he had fallen from a low chair was a lie.

The brother also told the parents that the child fell when he was standing on the window. The doctors’ observation that she may have fallen from a height also points to the conclusion that he fell from a window. The child, who suffered a spinal cord injury, is currently being treated at SAT Hospital.