Daily News Dose: Kerala makes proficiency in Malayalam a must for government jobs | Feb 22,2022

Hello listeners, this is your daily dose of news from Onmanorama. I'm your host, Susan Joe Philip

From now on, Malayalis, who do not know their mother tongue, will not be considered for government jobs. Those who have got government jobs will have to clear Malayalam language proficiency test before completing their probationary period. The law in this regard is being amended, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan said while inaugurating a Malayalam Mission event marking the International Mother Language Day. The decision to make Malayalam mandatory for government jobs was taken way back in 2013. But it was not implemented since it needed amendments in the Kerala State and Subordinate Service Rule Amendments and approval of the Subject Committee of the State Assembly.

We have a heart-warming story of care coming from Idukki. The Government Higher Secondary School, Kallar school shifted one of its classrooms from top to the ground floor for a student with cerebral palsy. Sera, the 12-year-old had reached the school for the first time after the online classes ended. She was welcomed by her classmates with a warm welcome The classroom was decorated with balloons and her name written using colourful papers. She was also greeted with flowers and chocolates

Opposition leader V D Satheesan on Monday said that it was fear that prompted the LDF government to considerably weaken Kerala Lokayukta. "Why are you so afraid just because there are four cases against you," Satheesan asked Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan during an adjournment motion in the Assembly on the Lokayukta amendment issue. "It is fear that is governing you, " he said. Congress MLA Sunny Joseph, who moved the adjournment motion, referred to the Chief Minister's 2019 article in the Chintha Magazine in which he had proudly stated that the ombudsman in Kerala, unlike in other states, could not just bark but also bite. "What made you change your thinking (chintha) so suddenly," Sunny Joseph said.

A long-feared Russian invasion of Ukraine appeared to be imminent Monday, if not already underway, with Russian President Vladimir Putin ordering forces into separatist regions of eastern Ukraine. A vaguely worded decree signed by Putin did not say if troops were on the move, and it cast the order as an effort to maintain peace. But it appeared to dash the slim remaining hopes of averting a major conflict in Europe that could cause massive casualties, energy shortages on the continent and economic chaos around the globe.

For the covid reports,India added 13,405 new coronavirus infections in a single day, taking the virus tally to 4,28 Cr. The active cases dipped below two lakh after 49 days, according to the Union Health Ministry data

The death toll climbed to 5,12,344 with 235 fresh fatalities The daily COVID-19 cases have remained below one lakh for 16 consecutive days.

That brings us to the end of this episode! Be sure to come back tomorrow. As always, thanks for listening to Daily News Dose.