Cabinet to grant 50% amnesty on pending traffic violation fines

T'puram: The cabinet that met late on Saturday evening decided to grant a 50% amnesty on pending traffic violation fines imposed through e-challans, in a move aimed at clearing a growing backlog of cases and encouraging vehicle owners to settle dues.The decision applies to all traffic violations recorded up to Dec 31, 2024. Vehicle owners can avail the 50% reduction in the penalty amount if the fine is paid on or before April 30, 2026. The cabinet accepted a recommendation of the transport commissioner, who pointed out that many vehicle owners were reluctant to settle e-challans because multiple violations accumulated against the same vehicle and the total payable fines became substantial. As the number of e-challan cases increased, courts also witnessed a significant rise in pending traffic cases. The amnesty scheme is expected to help clear a large number of such pending violations. Farmer pension expansion: Cabinet also decided to extend the Rs 2,000 monthly small and marginal farmers' pension to 10,115 additional farmers who turned 60 after 2021. An allocation of Rs 24.276 crore was approved for expansion. The agriculture principal secretary was also tasked with examining another 2,225 pension applications recently received by the agriculture department director and taking a time-bound decision. At present, 6,201 farmers are beneficiaries under the scheme. Crop loss assistance: Pending dues of Rs 76.68 crore under the emergency crop loss relief scheme for the period from Oct 2021 were cleared. The assistance will benefit 1,50,267 farmers. In addition, Rs 43.19 crore in pending payments under state crop insurance scheme since June 2024 will be released to 18,171 farmers. The funds will be drawn from the agricultural development fund. Wayanad landslide rehabilitation: The cabinet approved the construction of houses for 13 families affected by Mundakkai–Chooralmala landslide at Punchirimattam, Erattukundu and Village Road settlements, following the model used in the Wayanad township rehabilitation project. KIIFCON will serve as the employer's representative, while ULCCS will execute the project as EPC contractor. New teacher posts: A total of 1,857 additional teacher posts will be created in govt and aided schools based on staff fixation for 2025-26 academic year. Of these, 655 posts will be in govt schools and 1,202 in aided schools, with retrospective effect from Oct 1, 2025. Jal Jeevan Mission works: The cabinet permitted the signing of contracts for 10 drinking water projects under the Jal Jeevan Mission even if central funds are delayed. If Union govt share is not released, the state will temporarily meet the expenditure from its own funds. The projects, worth Rs 153.37 crore in total, cover several local bodies in Ernakulam, Idukki, Malappuram, Pathanamthitta and Thiruvananthapuram. Relief fund assistance: Financial assistance from Chief Minister's Distress Relief Fund was sanctioned in several cases. Families of four persons who died in a building slab collapse at Valiyangadi, Kozhikode will receive Rs 7 lakh each, while the state will bear the treatment cost of an injured person. The family of a child who died due to Nipah infection in Malappuram will receive Rs 5 lakh. The cabinet also approved compensation to 2,433 fishermen affected by sand accumulation at Muthalapozhi, Thiruvananthapuram, which prevented them from going to sea. Compensation for 91 days of livelihood loss will be paid at the MGNREGS wage rate from the relief fund.