From: Press Information Bureau Ministry of I&B <pib.kolkata@gmail.com>
Date: Thu, Aug 19, 2010 at 5:04 PM
Subject: Releases...................pt2
Press Information Bureau
Government of India
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Ministry of Youth Affairs & Sports
Sports Infrastructure Facilities in Rural Area
New Delhi: August 19, 2010.
Under the ' Panchayat Yuva Krida Aur Khel Abhiyan (PYKKA) Scheme', financial assistance is provided for setting up of community sports facilities in all village and block panchayats in a phased manner. The primary responsibility for promotion of sports at the grass root lies with the State Governments, as sports is the State subject. However, the Central Government supplements the efforts of State Governments in that direction. Details of funds allocated under the scheme to the States, including Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Bihar and Jharkhand for the last two years (2008-09 and 2009-10) for promotion of rural sports are given below :
State wise sanction and release of infrastructure grant under PYKKA scheme during 2008-09
(Rs. in crore)
| Sl. No. | Name of State | No. of village panchayat approved | No. of block panchayat approved | Total amount approved | Funds released |
| 1. | Andhra Pradesh | 2190 | 113 | 25.98 | 12.99 |
| 2. | Assam | 333 | 22 | 4.81 | - |
| 3. | Bihar | 847 | 53 | 10.44 | 5.22 |
| 4. | Chhattisgarh | 982 | 14 | 10.11 | - |
| 5. | Goa | 19 | 04 | 0.35 | - |
| 6. | Gujarat | 900 | 22 | 9.65 | - |
| 7. | Haryana | 619 | 12 | 6.51 | 3.26 |
| 8. | Himachal Pradesh | 324 | 08 | 4.02 | 2.01 |
| 9. | Jammu & Kashmir | 413 | 14 | 5.32 | 2.66 |
| 10. | Kerala | 100 | 15 | 1.60 | 0.80 |
| 11. | Madhya Pradesh | 2304 | 31 | 23.65 | 11.82 |
| 12. | Maharashtra | 2689 | 35 | 27.55 | 8.91 |
| 13. | Manipur | 79 | 04 | 1.08 | 0.87 |
| 14. | Mizoram | 82 | 03 | 1.07 | 0.85 |
| 15 | Nagaland | 110 | 05 | 1.48 | 1.18 |
| 16. | Orissa | 623 | 31 | 7.34 | 3.67 |
| 17. | Punjab | 1233 | 14 | 12.55 | 6.27 |
| 18. | Rajasthan | 869 | 24 | 9.43 | 3.71 |
| 19. | Sikkim | 16 | 10 | 0.67 | 0.54 |
| 20. | Tamil Nadu | 1261 | 38 | 13.82 | 5.00 |
| 21. | Tripura | 104 | 04 | 1.36 | 1.09 |
| 22. | Uttar Pradesh | 5203 | 82 | 53.91 | 10.00 |
| 23. | Uttrakhand | 750 | 10 | 8.89 | 3.00 |
| 24. | West Bengal | 335 | 33 | 4.63 | - |
| Total | 22385 | 601 | 246.22 | 83.85 | |
State/UT wise sanction and release of infrastructure grant under PYKKA scheme during 2009-10
(Rs. in crore)
| Sl. No. | Name of State/ UT | No. of village panchayat approved | No. of block panchayat approved | Total amount approved | * Funds released |
| 1. | Andhra Pradesh | 2190 | 113 | 25.98 | 12.99 |
| 2. | Arunachal Pradesh | 355 | 32 | 5.56 | 4.44 |
| 3. | Assam | - | - | - | 3.85 |
| 4. | Bihar | - | - | - | 5.02 |
| 5. | Chhattisgarh | - | - | - | 5.06 |
| 6. | Goa | - | - | - | 0.18 |
| 7. | Gujarat | - | - | - | 7.10 |
| 8. | Haryana | - | - | - | 3.25 |
| 9. | Himachal Pradesh | - | - | - | 2.01 |
| 10. | Jammu & Kashmir | - | - | - | 2.10 |
| 11. | Jharkhand | 403 | 21 | 4.79 | 2.39 |
| 12. | Karnataka | 565 | 18 | 6.22 | 3.12 |
| 13. | Kerala | - | - | - | 0.80 |
| 14. | Maharashtra | - | - | - | 4.86 |
| 15 | Meghalaya | 83 | 08 | 1.32 | 1.06 |
| 16. | Mizoram | 164 | 05 | 2.08 | 0.21 |
| 17. | Nagaland |
|
|
| 0.30 |
| 18. | Orissa | 623 | 31 | 7.34 | 8.05 |
| 19. | Punjab | - | - | - | 6.27 |
| 20. | Rajasthan | - | - | - | 4.72 |
| 21. | Sikkim | 32 | 20 | 1.35 | 0.13 |
| 22. | Tamil Nadu | - | - | - | 1.91 |
| 23. | Uttar Pradesh | - | - | - | 16.96 |
| 24. | Uttrakhand | - | - | - | 5.90 |
| 25. | West Bengal | - | - | - | 2.32 |
|
| UT | ||||
| 26. | A & N Islands # | 19 | 01 | 0.23 | - |
| Total | 4434 | 249 | 54.87 | 105.00* | |
* It includes release of grants approved for the first year (2008-09).
# Proposal of A & N Islands has been approved 'in principle'.
This was stated by Shri Pratik Prakashbapu Patil, Minister of State of Youth Affairs & Sports, in the Rajya Sabha today in a written reply to a question by Shrimati Kusum Rai.
Apart from the above, sportspersons are given training by Sports Authority of India (SAI) under its various schemes. There are 19 SAI training centres in the above mentioned States, and 2,714 trainees in the age group of 14-21 are being trained in different sports disciplines, the Minister added.
rm/jl- pq–1 usq2870 rs/dk/kol/16:45 hrs.
Press Information Bureau
Government of India
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Prime Minister's Office
PM Calls Pakistan PM, Offers Assistance For Flood Relief
New Delhi: August 19, 2010.
The Prime Minister, Dr. Manmohan Singh called the Prime Minister of Pakistan, Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani today to express his sense of sorrow and to condole the deaths resulting from the huge floods that have devastated parts of Pakistan. The Prime Minister said that the Government of India had already made an offer of assistance and was ready to do more to assist in the relief effort.
Dr. Singh said that in such times of natural disasters, all of South Asia should rise to the occasion and extend every possible help to the people of Pakistan affected by the tragedy.
ad/vk/dk/kol/16:45 hrs.
Press Information Bureau
Government of India
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Prime Minister's Office
PM Greets the Nation on NAVROZ – the Parsi New Year
New Delhi: August 19, 2010.
The Prime Minister, Dr. Manmohan Singh, has greeted the nation and especially the members of the Parsi community on the joyous occasion of Navroz – the Parsi new year.
In his message, the Prime Minster has said that Navroz is the most important part of the Gahambar celebration of nature and the seasons, a festival dedicated to renewal and righteousness. He said Prophet Zarathushtra's teachings of human values and respect for the environment are relevant today and hoped that the Navroz will usher in happiness and prosperity to all Parsis and to the Nation.
ad/hs/lv/dk/kol/16:46 hrs.
Press Information Bureau
Government of India
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Ministry of Youth Affairs & Sports
Disaster Management in CWG
New Delhi: August 19, 2010.
The Competition Venues have been completed. Other arrangements required for Games Readiness of the venues are in advanced stage and will be completed, well in time for the Games. This was stated by Shri Pratik Prakashbapu Patil, Minister of State of Youth Affairs & Sports, in the Rajya Sabha today in a written reply to a question by Shri Rudra Narayan Pany.
The Minister further stated that National Disaster Management Authority has made plans to assist the Organizing Committee (OC) in managing any unforeseen situations, like heavy rainfall etc.
rm/jl- pq– usq2876rs/dk/kol/16:46 hrs.
Press Information Bureau
Government of India
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Ministry of Youth Affairs & Sports
Status of Indian Hockey Federation
New Delhi: August 19, 2010.
Following the High Court judgement, the Government has restored the recognition of Indian Hockey Federation as the National Sports Federation for Hockey subject to amalgamation of Indian Hockey federation (IHF) and Indian women Hockey Federation (IWHF) in accordance with Societies registration Act, and amendments to its constitution to make it complaint with Government guidelines. Separately, Hockey India has been derecognized because of its claim to be a private body and refusal to accept Government guidelines for recognition of National Sports Federations. This was stated by Shri Pratik Prakashbapu Patil, Minister of State of Youth Affairs & Sports, in the Rajya Sabha today in a written reply to a question by Shri Kalraj Mishra.
The Minister further stated that Indian Hockey federation is yet to be recognized by International Hockey Federation (FIH), which still recognizes Hockey India. Government of India has informed FI about the above mentioned development and that IHF would approach them for recognition after meeting the requirements of putting up a unified body of men and women hockey. Pending satisfactory resolution of the entire matter, which is also before the Supreme Court, the Government has requested FIH to allow the Indian Olympic Association(IOA) to field the national men and women hockey teams in international competitions recognized by FIH. The IOA has been advised to send the entry for the participation of the Indian Women hockey team in the World Cup to be held in Argentina from 29th August to 12th September, 2010, which they have confirmed. The national hockey teams are being trained by a team of experts coaches at coaching camps conducted by sports Authority of Indi, the Minister added.
rm/jl- pq–2 usq2877rs/dk/kol/16:46 hrs.
Press Information Bureau
Government of India
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Ministry of Culture
Water Logging in Konark Temple
New Delhi: August 19, 2010.
The Minister of State for Planning and Parliamentary Affairs Shri V. Narayanasamy has said that due to occasional heavy rains, the storm water gets temporarily accumulated in the Konark temple complex, owing to its location at lower level than the surrounding area, which is immediately pumped out making the temple accessible to the visitors.
In a written reply in the Rajya Sabha today he said, as a preventive conservation measure, in addition to existing soak pit on the western side of Konark Temple, from where the rain water is pumped out, two more soak pits have been provided in the Temple Complex. Catch water drains have been dug on northern and western side. Low height earthen bunds have been created on northern and western side to prevent the flow of rain water towards the Temple. Essential repairs and maintenance work to the Temple is attended regularly and it is in a good state of preservation.
ad/db/dk/kol/16:46 hrs.
Press Information Bureau
Government of India
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Ministry of Communications & Information Technology
Uniform Policy for Telecom Equipments
New Delhi: August 19, 2010.
The Government had directed Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited in May, 2009 that resources should not be procured in the interest of national security from the Chinese vendors for deployment in the sensitive regions of Assam, Manipur, Tripura, Sikkim, Nagaland, Arunachal Pradesh, Mizoram, Meghalaya, West Bengal, Gujarat, Rajasthan, Punjab, Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand and Maharashtra.
Participation of foreign companies in strategic sector has bearing on national security. BSNL being a Public Sector Undertaking, its network has to be relied upon in emergency.
Amendment in the Unified Access Services (UAS)/Cellular Mobile Telephone Services (CMTS)/Basic Services License Agreements and template of agreement between telecom service provider and vendor of equipment/software/services has been issued on 28-07-2010 in consultation with Ministry of Home Affairs, to address the security concerns in procurement of equipment from foreign vendors. Accordingly, now BSNL may enter into agreement with foreign vendors for purchase of equipments/software/services.
This information was given by the Minister of State for Communications & Information Technology, Shri Sachin Pilot in written reply to a question in Rajya Sabha today.
sp/at/amar/dk/kol/16:47 hrs.
Press Information Bureau
Government of India
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Ministry of Communications & Information Technology
Data Made Available to Security Agencies
New Delhi: August 19, 2010.
It is mandatory for the telecom service providers to install Lawful Interception and Monitoring (LIM) system before launch of telecom services. In case of Internet Service Providers (ISPs), LIM systems are installed at Internet nodes of ISPs as per the requirements of Securities Agencies. However, security agencies are not able to obtain the interception in readable format where complex encryption is used in communication.
DoT has asked Telecom Service Providers to provide technical solution for interception and monitoring of certain services provided through Blackberry devices in readable format to Law enforcement agencies. In case no solution is provided, these services may be banned by the Government.
This information was given by the Minister of State for Communications & Information Technology, Shri Sachin Pilot in written reply to a question in Rajya Sabha today.
sp/at/amar/dk/kol/16:47 hrs.
Press Information Bureau
Government of India
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Ministry of Communications & Information Technology
Loss to BSNL
New Delhi: August 19, 2010.
BSNL has suffered a net loss of Rs. 1822.65 crore during the financial year 2009-10. The loss incurred by BSNL is mainly on account of reduction in revenue and increase in expenditure. The reduction in BSNL revenue is mainly because of decline in revenue from wire-lines due to churning of fixed line subscribers in view of preference to mobile telephony and fall in ARPU (Average Revenue Per User). Though there is a net increase in number of wireless connections yet revenue decreased mainly due to reduction in tariff by BSNL in the competitive market. The main reasons for increase in Expenditure are as below:
(i) The staff expenditure has increased due to implementation of recommendations of Wage Revision Committee. The wage revision has alone caused an additional expenditure of Rs. 2900 crore over the previous year on account of payment of arrears for the period from 01.01.2007 to 31.03.2010.
(ii) Increase in depreciation is due to amortization of one time spectrum fee for 3G & (Broadband Wireless Access) BWA service
The steps taken by BSNL to arrest its financial decline and to restructure the business of company to make it profitable are as follows:
BSNL has undertaken an exercise of organizational restructuring with the help of M/s Boston Consulting Group (BCG), a management consulting firm. The focus of this transformational exercise named Project Shikhar has been towards:-
(i) Revitalizing the businesses by focusing on growth in Mobile, Broadband and Enterprise segments. A separate vertical for New Business has also been created.
(ii) Building capabilities for significant improvements in sales and distribution, product management, pricing, customer service and revenue assurance activities.
As part of this exercise, BSNL's organization structure has also being redesigned along different business verticals to provide end-to-end focus on key growth segments and to clearly define accountability for different businesses and functions at all levels of the organization.
This information was given by the Minister of State for Communications & Information Technology, Shri Sachin Pilot in written reply to a question in Rajya Sabha today.
sp/at/amar/dk/kol/16:47 hrs.
Press Information Bureau
Government of India
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Ministry of Urban Development
Sanitation Rating of Cities
New Delhi: August 19, 2010.
Rating of 423 Class- I cities on various sanitation related parameters has been conducted under the National Urban Sanitation Policy(NUSP) during the period December, 2009 to March, 2010. The aim of the exercise was to assess the performance of the cities in the area of sanitation with respect to outputs, processes and outcomes including environmental and health outcomes. 189 cities were categorized as red cities scoring less than 34 marks out of 100 marks and 230 cities as black cities scoring 34-66 marks out of 100 marks. 4 cities were categorized as blue scoring 67-90 marks out of 100 marks. None of the cities were categorized as green. Cities in the red category are those that need immediate remedial action to address negative public health and environmental outcomes. This information was given by Shri Saugata Roy, Minister of State, Urban Development in reply to a question in Rajya Sabha Today.
He said that sanitation is a state subject and it is the responsibility of the state governments/Urban Local Bodies to plan design, implement, operate and maintain sanitation systems. With a view to improving the performance of cities, the Ministry of Urban Development has been encouraging states and cities to formulate State Sanitation Strategies and City Sanitation Plans respectively. 21 States and 136 cities are in the process of doing so. 111 sewerage schemes at a total estimated cost of Rs.14,834.14 crore and 42 solid waste management schemes at a total estimated cost of Rs.2245.32 crore have been sanctioned under the Urban Infrastructure and Governance (UIG) component of Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission (JNNURM). 96 sewerage schemes at an estimated cost of Rs.2862.29 crore & 56 solid waste management schemes at an estimated cost of Rs.342.02 crore have been approved under and Urban Infrastructure Development Scheme for Small and Medium Towns (UIDSSMT) component of JNNURM. In addition to these, the Government of India has implemented the Scheme for solid waste management and drainage in 10 selected airfield towns at an estimated cost of Rs.130.67 crore. The issue of sanitation is also being accorded due priority in other schemes of the Ministry such as the North Eastern Region Urban Development Programme, the scheme for Infrastructure development in Satellite towns etc. Besides, service level benchmarks have been formulated for the sanitation (sewerage, solid waste management and drainage) sector with a view to emphasizing service outcomes.
ncj/sr/dk/kol/16:48 hrs.
Press Information Bureau
Government of India
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Ministry of Urban Development
528 Projects of Rs.27852.07 crore approved under JNNRUM
New Delhi: August 19, 2010.
A sum of Rs.31,500 crore has been allocated as Additional Central Assistance (ACA) for sanctioning of projects under Urban Infrastructure & Governance (UIG) of Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission (JNNURM) for the Mission period of seven years, beginning from 2005-06 and Rs.11,400 crore for sanction of project under Urban Infrastructure Development Scheme for Small & Medium Town (UIDSSMT). The committed ACA against the above mentioned provision is Rs. 27852.07 crore for 528 projects approved under UIG and Rs.10428.85 crore for 763 projects approved under UIDSSMT. So far 78 projects have been reported physically complete under UIG and 114 projects under UIDSSMT. Some of the States like Andhra Pradesh, Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Chhattisgarh, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu & Kashmir, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Meghalaya, Orissa, Pudducherry, Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu, Tripura and Uttar Pradesh have either exceeded or almost reached their 7 years allocation under UIG of JNNURM. Only States/UTs like Andaman & Nicobar Island, Bihar, Goa, Haryana, Jharkhand, Lakshadweep, Uttar Pradesh and Nagaland are left with some balance in their 7 year allocation under UIDSSMT. This information was given by Shri Saugata Roy, Minister of State, Urban Development in reply to a question in Rajya Sabha Today.
The Minister said that in order to enable the process of leveraging of debt for JNNURM projects credit-rating of Urban Local Bodies (ULBs) has been undertaken. It provides a platform to the ULBs and financial institutions to engage on issues relating to project financing. Presently, 63 ULBs in the Mission Cities have been assigned draft and final ratings. However, Funds from Multilateral Agencies for which Government guarantee is required, can be accessed by ULBs through Central & State Governments. For funds not requiring Government guarantee, Asian Development Bank(ADB) has been allowed to lend to Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) owned 100% by ULB and not directly to the ULBs in local currency to three projects (Bus Rapid Transit Project in Pimpri-Chichwad City, Nagpur City Bulk Water supply Project and Bengaluru Metro Rail Project) on mutually agreeable terms and conditions. Lending to similar other projects where Borrower is a majority government owned corporate entity has also been allowed, subject to specific no objection being taken from the Department of Economic Affairs, Government of India, for particular projects.
ncj/sr/dk/kol/16:48 hrs.
Press Information Bureau
Government of India
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Ministry of Defence
Leh Flood Update: Rescue, Relief Efforts by the Armed Forces
New Delhi: August 19, 2010.
The Armed Forces are continuing with rescue and relief operations in flash flood-hit Leh-Ladakh. The IAF flew one IL-76 transport aircraft and three Cheetah Helicopters, airlifting 6 tons relief materials, two bodies of deceased personnel and one passenger yesterday. So far the Air Force has airlifted over 361 tons of relief material and equipment and flown 826 passengers in 244 sorties.
Nineteen columns of the Army also continue to render rescue and relief operations on the ground. 150 Civilians have been provided meals at the Government Degree College, Leh. 230 civilians and 120 children have also been provided meals at Choglamsar Relief Camp. To improve connectivity in the region, Army troops are assisting Border Roads Organisation in construction and repair of Hunuthang – Handonbrooke road.
The Army has lost 23 soldiers, including three JCOs in the flash-flood. Twelve Army personnel are still missing.
hamid / raj/dk/kol/16:48 hrs.
Press Information Bureau
Government of India
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Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers
Funds to Small and Medium Scale Pharma Sector
New Delhi: August 19, 2010.
The Department of Pharmaceuticals in collaboration with the Ministry of MSME has introduced a Scheme for Schedule 'M' Compliance by SSI Units in Pharma Sector under the overall umbrella of Credit Linked subsidy Scheme (CLCSS). Under the Scheme, the Pharma SSI units are eligible to get 15% (upto Rs. 15.00 lakhs) upfront capital subsidy on an institutional finance for an amount upto Rs. 1.00 crore to be availed by them for inclusion of well established and improved technology to make themselves Schedule 'M' Compliant. To widely disseminate information on the Scheme, this department had held State level Awareness Building Workshops (ABSs) in 9 pharma clusters at Goa, Mumbai, Baddi, Chennai, Hyderabad, Ahmedabad, Indore, Dehradun and Bangalore. This subsidy of 15% (upto Rs. 15.00 lakhs) is also admissible to new Pharma Manufacturing Units.
This information was given by the Minister of State for Chemicals and Fertilizers Shri Srikant Kumar Jena in a written reply in the Lok Sabha today.
dnm/pkm/sb/dk/kol/16:48 hrs.
Press Information Bureau
Government of India
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Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers
Government has Decided to take Over Bhopal Memorial Hospital and Research Centre
New Delhi: August 19, 2010.
The Department of Chemicals and Petrochemicals has not received any report of alleged corrupt practices in the running of Bhopal Memorial Hospital and Research Centre (BMHRC).
The government has decided to take over the Bhopal Memorial Hospital and Research Centre (BMHRC) through the Department of Bio Technology and the Department of Atomic Energy. This Hospital will be strengthened, upgraded and run as a super speciality and research hospital.
This information was given by the Minister of State for Chemicals and Fertilizers Shri Srikant Kumar Jena in a written reply in the Lok Sabha today.
dnm/pkm/sb/dk/kol/16:49 hrs.
Press Information Bureau
Government of India
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Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers
Ban on Entry of Union Carbide
New Delhi: August 19, 2010.
There is no proposal to blacklist and ban the entry of Union Carbide which is now called Dow Chemicals in the country. Minister of State for Chemicals and Fertilizers Shri Srikant Kumar Jena gave this information in a written reply in the Lok Sabha today. He said no such proposal is under the consideration of the department of Chemicals and Petrochemicals.
He said, the High Court of MP at Jabalpur is hearing a PIL filed through Writ Petition No. 2802/2004 in the matter of environmental remediation of Union Carbide India Limited (UCIL) Plant site at Bhopal. The Department of Chemicals and Petrochemicals had filed an application on 10.5.2005, praying that the respondents Nos. 4,5, and 6 (namely Dow Chemicals company, USA, Union Carbide Corporation and Eveready Industries India Limited) should be directed to pay for the environmental remediation of the UCIL plant site.
He said, another affidavit has been filed by the Department of chemicals and Petrochemicals on 15.07.2010 requesting the High Court to expeditiously decide the question of liability of Dow chemicals company and/or other persons/companies.
dnm/pkm/sb/dk/kol/16:49 hrs.
Press Information Bureau
Government of India
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Ministry of Rural Development
Ministry of Rural Development to Commemorate Rajiv Gandhi's Birth Anniversary with National Workshop on Mahatma Gandhi NREGA
New Delhi: August 19, 2010.
The Ministry of Rural Development will be marking the birth anniversary of former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi on Friday, August 20th with a National Workshop on the Mahatma National Rural Employment Guarantee Act, titled " Mahatma Gandhi NREGA making ICT an instrument for People's entitlement: A step towards Governance Reform and Transparency ". The Workshop, to be held at the Vigyan Bhawan and chaired by Union minister of Rural Development and Panchayati Raj Dr. C.P.Joshi will focus on issues of governance reform, transparency and accountability in the context of MGNREGA. Union Minister of Environment and Forests Shri Jairam Ramesh and Union Minister of Food Processing Shri Subodh Kant Sahay would be attending the inaugural session. Chairman, Unique Identification Authority Of India (UIADI) Chairman Shri Nandan Nilekani would be present on this occasion while the Chairman of National Knowledge Commission Shri Sam Pitroda would join the deliberations through video conferencing from USA.
The Highlights of the inaugural session include a demonstration of Biometric based ICT enabled Mahatma Gandhi NREGA processes and release of the National Framework for biometric based ICT enabled end to end solution. A memorandum of Understanding (MoU) would be signed between the Ministry Of Rural Development and Unique Identification Authority Of India (UIADI).
The Workshop would be attended by the representatives from centre and states, Planning Commission, Unique Identification Authority of India (UIADAI) , National Knowledge Commission(NKC), State Institute Of Rural Developments (SIRDs), Panchayati Raj Institution members from district, block and gram panchayats , representatives from awardee/ good performing districts and MGNREGA beneficiaries along with other key stakeholders.
The workshop comes close on the heels of the call by the Minister of Rural Development Shri. C.P.Joshi for effective implementation of the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act and its processes. The Minister has underlined the need to make use of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) tools to ensure that the benefit reaches out to those who deserve it in the rural areas and in the process take yet another towards transparency in the implementation of the scheme. The process of National consultation with different stakeholders has gathered momentum and the deliberations with Planning Commission, Universal Identification Authority Of India (UIADAI) and National Knowledge Commission have provided a fillip to the move.
The emphasis in MGNREGA is now on ensuring public accountability, strengthening transparency and encouraging activities that tap the productive potential of works undertaken so that it becomes a platform for sustainable development. In order to enforce transparency at the grass root level, the Ministry Of Rural Development intends to use ICT devices, especially Biometrics and integration with UIADAI to introduce biometric attendance on site and to improve the overall delivery system in the implementation of MGNREGA by capturing all the processes right from registration, demand of work, issue of dated receipt, allocation of work, attendance at worksite with GPS coordinates ,measurement of work and wage payments.
Mahatma Gandhi NREGA has generated 777 crore person days since its launch in 2006, in which women have half the share and SC/ST more than half. Minimum wages have risen across the country because of MGNREGA intervention. Out of the total expenditure of Rs.95496 crore, 68% has been spent on wages .9.19 crore bank/post office accounts of workers have been opened ,encouraging savings among the poor.45 lakh works have been completed ,with more than 50% work on water conservation, making MGNREGA an ecological act. It is expected that the deliberations at the workshop would go a long way towards innovations by bringing in more transparency under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (NREGA).
akt/st/bs/dk/kol/16:49 hrs.
Press Information Bureau
Government of India
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Ministry of Overseas Indian Affairs
Setting Up of Return and Rehabilitation Fund
New Delhi: August 19, 2010.
Government is currently examining the feasibility of setting up a co-contributory Return and Rehabilitation Fund (R&RF) for overseas Indian workers to provide for resettlement on return, old age security and life insurance benefits.
The Ministry conducted a study through the Indian Council of Overseas Employment (ICOE) and also obtained reports from the Indian Missions in the Gulf. There has not been any significant return of emigrants due to the recession. The State Governments also confirmed this position when reports were called from them. As such, this is not a major cause for concern. The impact on emigration has varied from country to country. Emigration to Saudi Arabia and Kuwait increased in 2009 while it decreased in case of UAE, Bahrain and Qatar. The overall volume of emigration decreased from 8.49 lakhs in 2008 to 6.10 lakhs in 2009. However, there was no mass return of existing emigrants.
This information was given by the Minister of Overseas Indian Affairs, Shri Vayalar Ravi in a written reply in the Rajya Sabha today.
pkm/dk/kol/16:50 hrs.
Press Information Bureau
Government of India
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Ministry of Overseas Indian Affairs
Indian Stranded in Foreign Countries
New Delhi: August 19, 2010.
Emigration of Indian workers seeking employment in 17 Emigration Check Required (ECR) notified countries is regulated under the Emigration Act, 1983. Indian missions in the ECR countries have reported that they are not aware of significant number of Indian youths stranded due to fraud by the agents.
During the period, from January to July, 2010 Malaysia has reported 90 cases of Indian workers, who were brought to Malaysia without proper documents and Kuwait has reported 14 such cases. Syria has reported 80 such cases for the period January, 2009 to July, 2010.
Indian Missions extend help as and when overseas Indian workers require assistance. In addition, in all the 17 ECR notified countries Indian Community Welfare Fund has been established to extend onsite welfare services to all overseas Indians in distress.
This information was given by the Minister of Overseas Indian Affairs, Shri Vayalar Ravi in a written reply in the Rajya Sabha today.
pkm/dk/kol/16:50 hrs.
Press Information Bureau
Government of India
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Ministry of Overseas Indian Affairs
Skill and Pre-Departure Orientation Workers' Schemes
New Delhi: August 19, 2010.
The Ministry is implementing several schemes for the purpose of engaging with the Indian Diaspora and enhancing protection and welfare of Indian emigrants. However, these schemes do not envisage any allocation to State Governments, except in case of the scheme for 'Skill and Pre-departure Orientation to prospective emigrant workers'. The Scheme is being implemented in partnership with the State Governments, the Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME), as well as Apex Industry Associations, NGOs, etc. The objective of the Scheme is to promote overseas employment of Indian workers and to improve productivity and prosperity amongst overseas Indian workers through Skill development of emigrant Indian Workers and equipping them with the basic knowledge about laws, language and culture of the destination countries. Under this Scheme, Rs. 32 lakh has been released to the State Government of Goa.
This information was given by the Minister of Overseas Indian Affairs, Shri Vayalar Ravi in a written reply in the Rajya Sabha today.
pkm/dk/kol/16:50 hrs.
--
Palash Biswas
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http://nandigramunited-banga.blogspot.com/
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