India Behind The Lens (News Centre)

Chief Minister Oomen Chandy on Monday said his Government would soon enact a law that guaranteed citizens their right to obtain service from public offices.

Delivering the Independence Day message here, Mr. Chandy said the proposed public service guarantee law would mitigate the difficulty and delay faced by citizens at Government offices. He expressed the hope that the proposed law would be as “revolutionary” as the Right to Information Act.

The State would implement a scheme to rehabilitate victims of domestic violence and sex crimes. The law would be amended to give more powers to the police to tackle organised crime, economic offenders, hit-men, thugs and anti-socials. Separate police cells would monitor mafia groups. Cyber crime and the misuse of mobile phones to blackmail and defame individuals would be tackled.

Mr. Chandy said the Government respected the right to protest. However, it would not tolerate undemocratic attempts to unleash violence, usurp law, disrupt normal life, destroy public property and trample on civic rights under the pretext of “people’s” agitations. The Government was ready to resolve any issue through discussion. Its tolerance and conciliatory approach to issues should not be misconstrued as weakness.

Kerala lagged in financial growth, investment, employment opportunities and basic infrastructure. Global recession could diminish the contribution made by non resident Keralites to the State’s economy. Many faced the threat of loosing their jobs. Mr. Chandy said Kerala has to open its own window to the future when the world shuts it on its people employed abroad.

The Government would distribute 25 kg of rice to the poor at a rate of Rs 1 per kg starting this Onam. A scheme to issue ration cards immediately on the receipt of application forms was underway.

The Government would protect 10,503 teachers who stand to loose their jobs owing to shortage of students in schools. It has cleared a rehabilitation package for the victims of Endosulfan.

It would erect a freedom memorial at Vattiyorkavu in Thiruvananthapuram where the first State Assembly of erstwhile Travancore held its meeting. On September 11, the Government would publish a progress report on its 100 day fast track governance programme.

Mr. Chandy unfurled the national flag, inspected the Independence Day parade and took the salute.