T’puram: The state cabinet on Tuesday approved a series of policy decisions including a post-extreme poverty eradication programme, the creation of a state-level narcotics control bureau, administrative appointments and infrastructure works. The cabinet cleared the detailed guidelines for Extremely Poor Eradication Post Programme (EPEP 2.0), which the govt announced on Nov 1 last year during the declaration of the extreme poverty eradication mission. The programme aims to support households just above the extreme poverty category and help them move out of basic poverty, while ensuring that families already lifted from extreme poverty do not slip back. Recognition for Pentecostal churches The cabinet decided in principle to recognise Pentecostal churches as a Christian church category. A committee of IAS officers — Bishwanath Sinha, T V Anupama and Jeromic George — was tasked with examining issues faced by Pentecostal Christians and submitting recommendations. State narcotic control bureau To strengthen action against drug offences, the govt decided to establish a Kerala State Narcotic Control Bureau under the excise department to prevent and investigate narcotics crimes. Special mobile squads The cabinet approved 41 additional posts for special mobile squad units tasked with tackling atrocities against scheduled castes and scheduled tribes. The posts will be distributed as follows: Agali in Palakkad (16), Mananthavady (14) and Kasaragod (11). NRI police station The govt decided to start a new NRI police station, creating 25 posts, including one inspector, six sub-inspectors, six assistant sub-inspectors, five senior civil police officers and seven civil police officers. SI posts redeployed The cabinet approved the temporary redeployment of 86 sub inspector posts from the closed women’s cadre to the Kerala civil police cadre. Apprenticeship training expansion Permission was granted to appoint apprentice trainees in various govt and semi-govt departments according to job roles. A common pool fund will be created instead of departments allocating funds individually from their plan budgets. Departments employing less than 5% apprentices were allowed to increase the proportion up to 15%. New state election commissioner The cabinet decided to recommend the appointment of law secretary K G Sanalkumar as the new state election commissioner. New posts sanctioned Thirteen posts — three permanent and 10 contractual — will be created at Cochin Cancer Research Centre. Fifteen posts were sanctioned for the Rajakkad fire station, while additional requirements may be met through redeployment. Key appointments Pramoj Shankar of Indian Ordnance Factory Service will be permanently absorbed and appointed as chairman and managing director of KSRTC. Syriac George Mampalath will be appointed MD and board member of Kerala Agro Machinery Corporation Ltd.
