KL This Week: Kudumbashree Organises 1,085 Onam Fairs; Official Weekly Onam Celebrations from August 27

NewsClick brings you a round-up of the major developments across Kerala during the past week, including the publication of books with portions removed by the National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT), the Kudumbashree organising around 1,000 Onam fairs to sell essential items, enquiry into the reported fraud during Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre (VSSC) exam and the tragic accident killing nine plantation workers in Wayanad district. 

REVISED TEXTBOOKS WITH OMITTED PARTS BY NCERT PUBLISHED 

The Left Democratic Front (LDF) government has published textbooks with portions removed by the NCERT, including topics on the assassination of Mahatma Gandhi, Gujarat riots and other omitted portions. Introducing several such books, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan said that the portions removed by the NCERT should never be removed. 

“A set of new textbooks was unveiled, with sections that were omitted by the NCERT, seemingly driven by a political agenda aimed at undermining scientific awareness and democratic values,” Vijayan wrote on X (formerly Twitter). 

The supplementary textbooks will be distributed by the school education department for the students of class XI and XII. The State Council of Educational Research and Training (SCERT) had earlier decided to include the portions. The Communist Party of India (Marxist) [CPI(M)] led LDF had been accusing the Union government of appropriating the textbook content and threatening the secular character and fraternity among the society. 

HEAT ADVISORY ISSUED AS TEMPERATURE SOARS

Even as the mercury across the state increases, the State Disaster Management Authority (SDMA) has issued an advisory on possible heat wave-like conditions and precaution measures. In a statement published on August 26, the SDMA warned of an increase in maximum temperature by around 3-4 degrees in 8 districts on August 27. 

The heat wave warning was issued to all 14 districts. The effective heat index had crossed 40 degrees and the SDMA advised the public to exercise caution between 11 am and 3 pm. Besides advising the public to consume an adequate amount of water, the SDMA has advised tourists to stay cautious about forest fires. There is no forecast of rain in the state for the next couple of weeks. 

KUDUMBASHREE ORGANISES 1,085 ONAM FAIRS 

The Women’s Self Help Group, Kudumbashree is organising 1,085 fairs ahead of the Onam Festival being celebrated on August 29. With the intention of providing the public with unadulterated food items, vegetables at low cost, and unique products of the Kudumbashree, the fairs are being held across the state.

The minister for Local Self Governments (LSG), M B Rajesh, while inaugurating ‘Onanilavu’, the state-level inauguration of the Onam fair said that such events are important inventions to contain the price rise during the season. 

The fairs will sell flowers, vegetables, and fruits cultivated by the members of the farm groups of the Kudumbashree. The SHG is aiming for a turnover of Rs 25 crore through the fairs.  

The official week-long Onam celebrations of the government of Kerala will begin from August 27 with the chief minister inaugurating the gala event in Thiruvananthapuram. Renowned danseuse Mallika Sarabhai and national award-winning actor Fahadh Fazil will be the chief guests for the event. 

Other events will be held across 30 venues in the state capital with more than 8,000 artists from across the country participating in the programmes, apart from the traditional food and trade festivals. The celebrations will conclude on September 2. 

VSSC EXAM SCAM ENQUIRY REACHES HARYANA

Three people have been arrested in connection with the alleged hi-tech fraud in the VSSC exam held recently. The special investigation team has arrested the main accused from Haryana. 

The arrest took place after the team held inquiries in various coaching centres in Jind in Haryana. The total number of arrests has increased to nine after the police action in Haryana. The candidates who appeared for the exam reportedly used electronic gadgets to send out question papers to get the correct answers. 

THAROOR MAKES IT TO CWC, CHENNITHALA LEFT OUT

In what is considered a setback to senior Congress leader and former leader of opposition (LoP) Ramesh Chennithala, he has been made only a permanent invitee to the Congress Working Committee (CWC). Meanwhile, Shashi Tharoor who contested against Mallikarjuna Kharge has been included as a member of the CWC.

Though Ramesh Chennithala refused to comment on his exclusion from the CWC, several reports emerged about his discontent over the decision. He is expected to express displeasure after the byelections to Puthuppally constituency scheduled on September 5. 

9 PLANTATION WORKERS KILLED IN JEEP ACCIDENT 

In the tragic accident that happened on August 25 in Mananthavady in Wayanad district, nine plantation workers were killed. The accident took place when the workers were returning home after work. All the workers were women. 

The jeep they were travelling in, fell into a 30 feet deep gorge while negotiating a curve, while the district police chief suspected brake failure being the cause of the accident.