Justice Sreedevi to head Kerala Women's Commission

Thiruvananthapuram, Feb 22 (UNI) The Kerala Women's Commission was today reconstituted with Justice D Sreedevi as its new chairperson.

Prof Meenakshi Thamban, T Devi and P K Sainaba were the other members, Chief Minister V S Achuthanandan told reporters here after a cabinet meeting.

A member belonging to the Schedule Caste (SC) would be later incorporated, he added.

The Left Democratic Front (LDF) government had dissolved the earlier Commission last month, which was headed by M Kamalam.

Mr Achuthanandan said the Cabinet had also given nod for a judicial inquiry into the Thattekad boat tragedy in which 15 children and three teachers were killed. It was also decided to give Rs two lakh each to the families of the children and teachers who drowned in the Periyar reservoir on Tuesday.

These decisions were announced by the Chief Minister yesterday and the Cabinet gave its approval today.

He said the government would meet the medical expenses of those who were injured in the boat tragedy.

Noting that the government would look into the findings and suggestions of the Narayana Kurup Commission, which probed the Kumarakom boat mishap of 2002, in which 29 people had died, Mr Achuthanandan said strict action would be taken against the boat owners who did not have licence to run a boat service.

Several boats were running services in the tourist centres illegally, he added.

In the Narayana Kurup Commission, no action had been taken except giving Rs 1.50 lakh as compensation to the bereaved family.

The Cabinet had also decided to waive the minimum electricity charge for certain estates and industries which was closed down.

A decision was taken to give Rs 10,000 and free ration for a month to the 76 families in Anjuthengu and Ponnani, whose houses were gutted in fire.

The Cabinet also decided to give Rs 30,000 each to the families of eight children who were drowned in various parts of the state.

UNI