Age limit for Government job raised to 36

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The age limit for applying for a government job in the state has been raised from 35 to 36. Finance Minister K M Mani made the announcement in this regard in the Assembly on Thursday.Mani, participating in the discussion on the State Budget 2012-2013, said that the government entertained no plans to rollback its decision on retirement age. Orders have been issued for creating supernumerary posts in lieu of all posts that may have become vacant had 13,678 government employees retired on March 31.The new supernumerary appointments will be made from April 1 onwards.Mani also announced a slew of projects including writing off of interest on educational loans availed of by professional college students during 2003-2009. For teachers, the government plans to introduce an optional Voluntary Retirement Scheme (VRS) soon, in addition to liberalising the leave-without-allowance privilege.New schools will be opened in the state to meet the requirements laid down by the Right to Education Act (RTE). In all 990 new posts - 250 doctors, 650 nurses, 60 nursing assistants and 30 attendants - will be created in the health sector soon, he said.A big allocation Mani made on Thursday was Rs 25 crore for land acquisition for the widening of the Karamana-Kaliyikkavila NH stretch. 17,000 children studying in the state’s 267 special schools will be provided a grant of Rs 2,000 each, Mani said. Mani’s surprise announcements have also taken the deficit from Rs 289.25 crore mentioned in his budget speech to Rs 422.57 crore.OTHER ANNOUNCEMENTSGrid-connected solar power generation programme - Rs 10 croreLibrary and administration block for Calicut University - Rs 3 croreScholarship for girl students from Muslim/Nadar communities raised from Rs 125 to Rs 500.Preliminary works for the Valiyathura Fisheries Harbour - Rs 25 lakhHike in welfare pension for traders - Rs 1 croreAdditional support for anti-liquor campaigns - Rs 1 croreAttukal Township project - Rs 5 croreMedia City to be established in Kochi plus a new television channel under the Information and Public Relations Department