Every panchayat to have a village office

The Cabinet on Wednesday decided to take steps towards implementing ‘one village, one panchayat’ policy so that every panchayat would have a village office.


Chief Minister Oommen Chandy told the media after the Cabinet meeting that data would be collected about panchayats with no village offices and panchayats having more than one village within its boundary.


As the first step, a village office would be set up in Seethathode panchayat of Pathanamthitta district. Village officers would be posted in village offices without a village officer.


Mr. Chandy said that the government had banned killing of pregnant cows, buffalos and goats. If necessary, law would be brought to punish those who break the ban.


A land acquisition unit would be started in Palai. Besides, a unit would be started in Kannur under a deputy collector to acquire land for the widening of national highway. The land acquisition for rehabilitation of landless tribals in Wayanad would be taken up on a fast track basis. The acquisition of land for the approach road to the Indian Institute of Mass Communication proposed to be set up in Kottayam would also be done on a fast track basis. About one acre allotted for Central Water Commission would be transferred to the Institute.


He said that the Cabinet had given financial clearance for the Cochlear implant scheme for children and the scheme would be inaugurated in Kozhikode on April 30.


Replying to a question, the Chief Minister said that the strong action would be taken against the youth who were accused of having raped a woman in Idukki district. Action would be taken against the police, if they had failed to register the case properly.


He also said that IAS Officer Biju Prabhakar would continue to head the Kerala Medical Services Corporation.