Thiruvananthapuram: The state Cabinet on Wednesday approved the payment of Rs 5 lakh ex-gratia for kin of CUSAT stampede victims. The ex-gratia has been allotted from the Chief Minister's Distress Relief Fund. 

Four people were killed and 60 injured in the stampede that took place before renowned singer Nikita Gandhi was to perform at a musical festival in the open-air auditorium of the Cochin University of Science and Technology (CUSAT) campus in November 2023. The ex-gratia will be for four families that lost their wards.

Other cabinet decisions:

  • The plan is to convene the 10th session of the 15th Kerala Assembly on January 25
  • Approval for the creation of 28 scientific officer posts in the forensic science laboratory
  • Governor would receive a salute from the armed forces at Thiruvananthapuram on the occasion of Republic Day and state General Education Minister V Sivankutty would attend the event along with Khan.
  • Approval for  the implementation of the USD 285 million Kerala Climate Resilient Agri-Value Chain Modernization (KERA) project with financial aid from the World Bank (Of the total project cost, Rs 709.65 crore would be the state's share and Rs 1655.85 crore would be contributed by the World Bank)
  • Retired IAS officer UV Jose to be appointed as executive director of Suchitwa Mission