State awaiting Centre’s nod

The state is keenly awaiting a favourable decision from the Centre on the takeover of the Tropical Botanical Garden and Research Institute (TBGRI) at Palode, Chief Minister Oommen Chandy informed the Assembly on Tuesday.

TBGRI is a pride of Kerala and the state would like to see it attaining greater heights with the help of the Union Science and Technology Ministry.

Responding to a submission raised by Koliyakode Krishnan Nair (CPM), the Chief Minister said that the state had written to the Centre in October 2012 seeking an early takeover of  the institution. The matter was taken up with Vayalar Ravi when he was in charge of  the science and technology portfolio and later when there was a change of head, with Jaipal Reddy also, he said. Chandy said that salary arrears for employees of TGBRI were pending since 2006 and recently, Rs 4 crore was sanctioned for payment, though it has been met only partially.

Koliyakode Krishnan Nair said that the TBGRI, which commenced functioning in the early eighties in around 300 acres, has 450 employees. But the Ninth Pay Commission benefits have not been released to the employees so far, he noted. He also alleged that large-scale appointments are being made at the instance of the ruling party now and discrimination against Scheduled Caste appointees has also been reported.