AHADS to continue its functioning

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Attappady Hill Area Development Society (AHADS) aimed at implementing eco-restoration and tribal empowerment project will continue its functioning, Chief Minister Oommen Chandy said. Briefing on Cabinet decisions here, he said new job vacancies would be created to employ the contractual staffs of AHADS project as there are no new projects. Priority would be given to 153 adivasis who were working as contractual staffs in the AHADS project, he added. They would be employed as Forest watchers, Police home guards and also in the primitive tribes' project. The other employees would be given job once the Akshayapatram project and Wayand package are implemented, he said. Watershed programmes in Panchayaths would be converted to training centers. A 12-member committee will be formed which would monitor the functioning of the project headed by district collector, he said. District collector has been instructed to pay the pending salary form AHAD's revolving fund. He said Rs 25 crore have been sanctioned for Consumer fed for market intervention. Government has accepted the bill to take over the Kozhikode Home Trust. Swathi Krishna who is under treatment after her kidney transplant would be given Rs 5 lakhs. The family of Rangi, an adivasi who died at Attapadi would be given Rs 2 lakh as solatium.