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| Govt. to reconsider NRI fees hike, says CM |
The Government would reconsider the decision to hike the fees of NRI management seats
in self-financing colleges, said Chief Minister Mr. V. S. Achuthanandan. The Chief
Minister was speaking after inaugurating the Global Convention of the World Malayalee Council (
WMC) held recently in Kochi. The Chief Minister also launched the heart care project for poor heart
patients, a joint initiative of WMC and the Heart Care Foundation. The project involves
providing free heart surgery to 1000 heart patients below the income of Rs. 24,000. Mr. Andrew
Pappachan, Chairman, World Malayalee Council presided over the function. Mr. V. J.
George Kulangara, Mr. Gokulam Gopalan, Dr. A.V. Anoop, Dr. Jose Chacko Periyappuram, Mr.
Gopala Pillai and Ms. Lekha Srinivasan also spoke on the occasion.
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| Training programme for overseas jobseekers |
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The Non-Resident Keralites’ Affairs (NORKA) department would extend the training programmes for overseas job seekers, said Mr. Jiji Thomson, Principal Secretary, NORKA. More centres will be opened in Malappuram and various other centres across the state. The Principal Secretary was speaking after inaugurating the hotel management course of the District Expatriate Association. The training programme is aimed at helping job seekers in various sectors. Women seeking jobs as housemaids are currently being given training at Kochi in association with the ‘Kudumbasree’, Mr. Jiji Thomson said.
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| Smart City agreement soon, says CM |
The agreement with the Dubai Internet City (DIC) for setting up ‘Smart City' in Kochi is expected to be signed soon, said Chief Minister Mr. V.S. Achuthanandan. The Chief Minister was addressing media persons after discussions with the representatives of the DIC. As against the decision of the former government, Infopark will not be handed over to the DIC. The Government demanded the DIC market rate for land and operational freedom for other entrepreneurs.
The DIC has demanded attractive offers in place of Infopark. This includes setting up a Special Economic Zone in the project area. It also informed the Government that there is no scope for higher rates for undeveloped land near the Infopark. The Government would convey its response to the demands to the DIC soon. |
| Tourism Minister calls for NRK investments |
Non-resident Keralites (NRKs) should invest in medical tourism, a highly prospective sector in Kerala, urged Mr. Kodiyeri Balakrishnan, Minister for Tourism. The minister said this while inaugurating the Tourism Seminar held recently by the World Malayalee Council at the Gokulam Convention Centre in Kochi. Kerala would emerge as one among the world’s top five medical tourism destinations within few years. Setting up more multi-speciality hospitals with world-class facilities is the need of the hour. The Government would extend all possible help to NRK investors, the minister said.
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