Vayalar Ravi to handle Deshmukh's portfolio

New Delhi, Aug 10 (IANS) Overseas Indian Affairs Minister Vayalar Ravi was Friday given additional charge of the ministries of science and technology, earth sciences and micro, small and medium enterprises that were hitherto the responsibility of ailing Vilasrao Deshmukh.

President Pranab Mukherjee issued directions in this regard on the advice of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, according to a communique from Rashtrapati Bhavan here.

"The President of India, as advised by the prime minister, has directed that Vayalar Ravi, minister of overseas Indian affairs, is allocated the additional charge of the ministry of science and technology; the ministry of earth sciences and the ministry of micro, small and medium enterprises," the communique said.

Mukherjee also directed that Deshmukh, who is admitted to a private hospital in Chennai after multiple organ failure, will continue in the Manmohan Singh government as a minister without portfolio.