Chief Minister Oommen Chandy has said that the State government would continue pushing for change in the working hours under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS).

Responding to an adjournment motion in the Assembly on Thursday to discuss the murder of a 15-year old girl, Arya Vijayan, at her home at Venjaramood on Tuesday, Mr. Chandy said that the government wanted change in the working hours to ensure that girl children were not left alone at home when the parents go out for work.

The much-awaited National Food Security Bill will be introduced in the winter session of Parliament incorporating some major changes recommended by the National Advisory Council, chaired by Congress president Sonia Gandhi.

Union Minister of State for Consumer Affairs, Food, and Public Distribution K.V. Thomas told The Hindu on Sunday that the council proposed coverage of the food security scheme from the present 45 per cent to an estimated 63 per cent of the population.

S. Faizi, Environment Expert Member of the Plachimada High Power Committee, has questioned the arguments of Hindustan Coca-Cola Beverages Ltd relating to the Plachimada Coca-Cola Victims' Relief and Compensation Claims Special Tribunal Bill 2011 forwarded by the Union Home Ministry to the State.