Kerala: First Nokkukooli-Free’ place→Trivandrum

• Nokku kooli refers to an unofficial labor norm in Kerala under which wages are paid to trade union activists for allowing investors/builders to unload materials using machines or their own labor.
  
• The unhealthy practice of demanding money for allowing others to do loading and unloading work has so far enjoyed more or less a quasi-statutory status.
  
• Recently, the capital city of Kerala has been declared the first Nokkukooli-free place in the state by Chief Minister Oommen Chandy on November 9.
  
• Provision has been made for payment of loading and unloading charges through banks. The money would be electronically transferred to the Fund. Registered workers could be engaged to do the work against the receipts.
  

Month: Current Affairs - December, 2011