Thiruvananthapuram: The LDF government in Kerala is continuing with its extravagant ways even in the times of financial woes. The latest in this regard is spending around Rs 1.5 crore to print folders as part of the Pinarayi government's 1,000-day celebrations.
The beneficiaries of the largesse are some private printing presses.
As many as 75 lakh copies of the folder titled ‘Towards a new Kerala’ have been printed.
An order has now been issued releasing Rs 67,33,892, which is half the total amount. Fifty per cent had been allotted earlier itself.
The latest government order lists Rs 67,33,892 as printing cost for folders, Rs 85,400 for posters and Rs 3,31,892 for books.
Quotations had been invited from empanelled printing presses for bringing out 75 lakh copies of the folder ‘Ini navakeralathilekku’ (Towards a new Kerala), 14,000 copies of a poster titled ‘Onnanu naam, onnanu Keralam’ (Kerala, its people are one), 1,000 copies of the book ‘Paranjathellam cheythu niranju ini navakerala nirmanam’ (All promises have been kept, now it is time to rebuild Kerala), 50 copies of ‘Navakeralathinte nayarekhakal’ (Master plan for new Kerala), 100 copies of ‘Navakeralathinayulla Navodhanam’ (Renaissance for new Kerala), 3,000 copies of poster for ‘Athijeevanam’ documentary festival and 2,000 copies of the book ‘Athijeevanam documentary fest’.
A recommendation was made by the Public Relations Department (PRD) to release the second instalment of 50 per cent of the total amount of Rs 1,34,67,784 for printing folders along with the charges for printing the posters and books related to the documentary festival.
The government order releasing the money was issued based on this PRD suggestion.
The development assumes significance in the backdrop of the government's efforts to collect as much money as possible to the Chief Minister's Distress Relief Fund for flood relief and rehabilitation.
The worst floods in a decade ravaged the state killing nearly 400 and causing widespread damage and destruction in 2018.
Floods and landslides wreaked havoc in the state again this month.
