The Kerala government has decided to provide financial assistance of Rs 25 lakh and build a house for the family of VV Vasantha Kumar, one of the CRPF jawans who was killed in the terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir’s Pulwama last week. The state also decided to make the government job of Vasantha Kumar's wife Sheena permanent. Sheena is working on a temporary basis at the Veterinary University, Pookode in Wayanad. She will be appointed on a permanent basis, stated the cabinet.
The cabinet meeting on Tuesday decided to provide financial assistance of Rs 15 lakh to Sheena while the jawan’s mother, Santha, will be provided financial assistance of Rs 10 lakh. The government will also completely bear the educational expenses of his children - Amandeep and Anamika. Anamika and Amandeep are eight-year and five-year old respectively. The Cabinet meeting also condemned the terror attack in Pulwama.
“A house will also be built for the family,” Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan said while briefing the media about the Cabinet decisions in a press meet.
Minister AK Balan who had called on the family on Sunday had said that the government will not leave the jawan's family orphaned. He had also told the media that the Cabinet meeting on Tuesday will take appropriate decisions in this regard.
Vasantha Kumar's family belongs to Thrikkaipetta in Wayanad district, a region mostly inhabited by tribal people. His ancestral home is located there while his wife and children live in Lakkidi in Wayanad. He belonged to Kuruma tribe and the last rites were conducted according to the traditions of the tribe.
His body was received at the Calicut International Airport with state hounours by Minister for Industries EP Jayarajan. He was laid to rest on Saturday with full military honouors.
The Chief Minister also said that an all-party meeting will be held to rein in hartals.