Kerala Government to Launch Navakerala – Citizen Response Programme; Attakulangara Women’s Jail to Be Relocated

Thiruvananthapuram: The Kerala Cabinet on Wednesday approved a series of key decisions covering development programmes, health, prison administration, land allotments, and infrastructure projects.

Citizen Response Programme

The government will implement the “Navakerala – Citizen Response Programme” from 1 January to 28 February 2026. The initiative is designed to collect suggestions on local development, assess welfare schemes, understand regional needs, and plan measures for efficient programme delivery. Social volunteers will be engaged in implementation, with requisite training and preparatory measures organised.

A four- member State Advisory Committee and a State Implementation Committee will oversee the programme. Committees will also be formed at Panchayat, Municipality, Corporation, Assembly, and District levels, including relevant officials and experts under the supervision of the I&PRD Director. Members of the State Advisory Committee include Chief Secretary Dr. A Jayathilak, Chief Principal Secretary to the Chief Minister Dr. K M Abraham, IMG Director K Jayakumar, and Kozhikode IIM Professor Dr. Saji Gopinath.

The programme will compile local development needs, gaps in existing projects, suggestions to improve welfare schemes, and feedback on other government initiatives, producing a study report to guide future planning.

Medical Education Department Staff Absorption

The cabinet approved the absorption of 237 ministerial and engineering staff from Kannur Pariyaram Cooperative Medical College into the Medical Education Department. Twenty -two posts will be categorised as vanishing category. Staff nurses who opted for entry/standalone positions at Kannur Government Medical College will be allowed one more opportunity for re-option.

Prison Administration

A new sub-jail will be established in Alappuzha with 24 posts. The Attakulangara Women’s Jail will be relocated to the old women’s block of Thiruvananthapuram Central Prison without extra financial burden. The temporary facility will accommodate 300 inmates and operate as a special sub-jail. Thirty-five temporary positions will be created for three years, with 15 temporary staff appointed through KEXCON to assist the Assistant Prison Officer.

Health Sector Posts

In the health sector, the cabinet approved the creation of fifteen teaching posts at Wayanad Government Medical College for super-speciality departments and five posts at Varkala Government Nature Cure Hospital. In addition, essential positions under the National Ayush Mission or on temporary contracts include two Medical Officers (Nature Cure), one Nurse (Grade II), one Nursing Assistant (Grade II), and one Lab Technician (Grade II).

Animal Welfare

A microplan costing 90.16 lakh rupees to assist 74 families affected by the Mundakkai- Chooralmala disaster was approved by the cabinet.

Land and Tourism Fee Amendments

Tourism land fees will be reduced from 10% to 5% of market value, through amendments to the Kerala Government Land Assignment (Regularisation of Contraventions) Rules, 2025.

Extensions and Land Leases

The tenure of R Girija, Managing Director of Kerala Shipping & Inland Navigation Corporation Ltd., has been extended. Land leases sanctioned include 0.8114 hectares in Idukki’s Village Survey 161/1 allotted to KSRTC for 10 years at 100 rupees per annum, and 39.66 acres in Kasaragod’s Ambalathara Village leased to Indian Oil Adani Gas Pvt Ltd for city gate and CNG stations at 4,60,695 rupees per year for 30 years. The cabinet approved tenders for several major infrastructure projects, including the NABARD-RIDF XXVII CWSS project in Kunnathoor and Karunagappally Taluks at a cost of 16.93 crore rupees, BC overlay works on Chavara Pattakadavu road and Sasthamcotta-Pattakadavu road in Kollam for 3.83 crore rupees, the Mundemmadu Bridge construction in Trikaripur, Kasaragod for 11.33 crore rupees, and the Jal Jeevan Mission CWSS project in Idukki District, which includes the supply and laying of CWPM and GM, as well as the construction of a storage reservoir cum pump house in Mariyapuram Panchayat, costing 21.91 crore rupees.