Thiruvananthapuram: The Kerala cabinet on Wednesday approved a series of relief measures and development initiatives aimed at supporting disaster-affected families, fishermen, government employees, and local infrastructure projects, officials said.

Disaster Relief for Affected Families

The cabinet decided to allocate ₹58.45 lakh from the Chief Minister’s Relief Fund to assist 143 victims in Pathanamthitta district whose houses were either partially or completely damaged in natural disasters since January 2023. This allocation is intended to provide immediate financial relief to families affected by floods, landslides, or other calamities.

Compensation for Fishermen

In addition to disaster relief, the cabinet approved compensation for fishermen who lost work due to weather warnings. A sum of ₹48.20 crore will be distributed from the CM’s Relief Fund to 1,72,160 fishermen and their dependent families for 14 days of work lost between May 18 and 31, 2025, when fishing activities were restricted due to adverse weather.

Compensation for Other Tragic Incidents

The cabinet also announced financial assistance for families affected by individual tragedies:

• ₹3 lakh to Kumari Akhil, the youngest daughter of Sudhakaran, who was murdered in Pothundi, Nenmara, Palakkad district.
• ₹5 lakh each to the dependents of Jayaram, Michael, and Sundarapandyan, workers from Tamil Nadu who died while cleaning a sewage tank in Kattappana village, Idukki district.

Support for Farmers and Entrepreneurs

To assist farmers and entrepreneurs, the cabinet allocated ₹21.93 lakh from the Relief Fund to district collectors for distribution as margin money to 20 individuals who had taken loans under the Ujjivan Loan Scheme from the South Indian Bank, Thrissur branch.

Police Department Reforms

The cabinet approved the upgrade of 20 reserve sub-inspector posts to Reserve Inspector positions. This measure is intended to strengthen supervision and operations at Armed Reserve Camps.

Additionally, the salaries of key personnel at coastal police stations—including Srank, boat driver, lasker, boat commander, assistant boat commander, and special marine home guard—will be increased to reflect their responsibilities and the specialized nature of their work.

Heritage and Infrastructure Projects

The cabinet approved the beautification of the Heritage Village project and the AKG Memorial Hall at Mavilayi in Kannur district, with financial assistance from the Kerala Infrastructure Investment Fund Board (KIIFB) under the Local Self-Government department. These projects aim to enhance tourism and preserve cultural heritage in the state.

Employee Benefits

The cabinet sanctioned the 10th salary revision for employees of the National Institute of Speech and Hearing, to be implemented with retrospective effect from July 1, 2019. This revision is expected to provide long-overdue financial relief to staff members of the institute.

Government Guarantees for Financial Support

To facilitate financial support and development projects, the cabinet approved additional government guarantees:

• ₹400 crore to the Kerala State Backward Classes Development Corporation for a period of five years to enable loans from the National Safai Karmachari Finance Development Corporation.
• ₹8 crore for eight years to the Kerala State Film Development Corporation to ensure the successful implementation of an e-ticketing system across all cinema theatres in the state.

Focus on Community and Development

The cabinet’s decisions reflect a comprehensive approach to addressing both immediate relief needs and long-term development priorities. By supporting disaster victims, fishermen, entrepreneurs, and public sector employees, while simultaneously investing in infrastructure and heritage projects, the government aims to strengthen social welfare, economic resilience, and cultural preservation in Kerala.

These initiatives are expected to provide timely support to vulnerable communities, enhance public safety and services, and promote tourism and cultural engagement across the state.