Skill development plan for youth in the naxal hit areas

The Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Youth Affairs & Sports Shri Jitendra Singh has said that the Ministry is not among the 17 Ministries/Departments identified /recognized for Skill Development by the Planning Commission. However, the Ministry through its youth based flagship organisation Nehru Yuva Kendra Sangathan (NYKS) has initiated a Pilot project namely Youth Employability Skill (YES) Project with the objective to enhance the employability of youth by running a variety of employable skill based training courses through recognized Vocational Training Providers (VTPs) for rural youth and youth club members in the States of North Eastern Region and Jammu & Kashmir. In a written reply in the Rajya Sabha today Shri Jitendra Singh said, the skill training is being provided in insurgency dominated areas by the National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC) through its partner agencies. The pilot project has been successfully completed in the States of Manipur, Meghalaya and Jammu & Kashmir under which youth have been imparted training of three months duration in Rural Retail Sales & Marketing with Information Technology and Personality Development. Out of 1283 youth trained under Youth Employability Skill (YES) Project, 946 youth have got job offers/placements made. Another 60 youth from Budgam district of Jammu & Kashmir are undergoing training under Youth Employability Skill (YES) Project. The National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC), the training partner has assured 70% job guarantee for the trained volunteers. The expenditure on the training is being met from the Annual Budget of the Ministry.

The Minister said, NYKS organises National Integration Camps (NICs) with the objective to facilitate youth of the country to come together and share experience and interact together despite having diverse background of language, religion, culture and traditions. There has been significant development of youth who have been associated with NYKS across the country. The developments are in terms of improvement in their organizational behaviour, managerial capacities, assuming local leadership for addressing local social and welfare issues, active participation and advocacy for nation building processes and issues confronting village community in general and youth in particular. 20,000 youth volunteers and motivators those who have excelled in different fields of development have been assigned the responsibility to assume leadership at grassroots level throughout the country to act as National Youth Corps (NYCs) volunteers.

Shri Singh said, for the welfare of youth, NYKS is implementing projects in the field of prevention of drug abuse and alcoholism in Punjab and Manipur, National Programme for Youth and Adolescents Development; Jammu and Kashmir Youth Exchange Programme; Youth Initiative for the Publicity of Message of Development and Peace in North Eastern States; Voter Awareness Programme through Election Commission; Environment Protection Awareness against AIDS and Sanitation Programme (Nirmal Bihar).

He said, NYKS provides one time Grants-in-Aid to establish sports specific youth clubs across the country. Gradually, they have become self supporting for promotion and organization of sports activities in their areas and also motivating others for sporting activities. NYKS for supplementing such youth club’s endeavour, facilitates them by providing sports materials to 50,000 youth clubs. These youth clubs now take active part in Panchayat Yuva Khel aur Krida Abhiyan (PYKKA) sponsored Sports competitions at different levels.

The capacity building, leadership and skills enhancement initiatives have empowered rural youth in a manner that they have started generating awareness and taking active part in the process of implementation of sports, recreation, development and social welfare activities and programmes in their respective villages with the spirit of volunteerism, cooperation and self-help. Thus the Ministry is channelizing the energy of youth towards nation building, the Minister added.

First National Students’ Film Awards and Students’ Film Festival of India

As part of the celebration marking the centenary of Indian Cinema, the Film and Television Institute of India (FTII), Pune and Satyajit Ray Film and Television Institute ( SRFTI), Kolkata , have announced institution of the first National Students' Film Awards and the Students Film Festival of India . Addressing the media in Goa today D J Narain, Director, FTII, Pune said that it is the first initiative of its kind in the country and added that with this initiative they hope to encourage the young minds passionate about film making.

The event will be jointly organized by the FTII, Pune along with SRFTI, Kolkata and the Directorate of Film Festivals under the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, New Delhi. These Awards will be held alternatively at FTII Pune and SRFTI Kolkata each year.

Narain said that the Students’ Film Festival aspires to provide the much needed platform for the young and upcoming talents of student filmmakers in the country to meet and share their work with each other. It hopes to create a meaningful space and atmosphere for the dialogue long overdue specially within the Asian Indian context amongst the students, the film fraternity and the audiences at large, he added.

Talking about the awards Narain said that the awards will be given in three categories viz, Fiction, Non-Fiction and Animation. The entries should be sent through the institutions and maximum 4 entries per category can be sent. All institutions can send the entries and not just film schools as long as the films are made as part of their curriculum. The last date for sending in entries is January 15, 2013, he added. Answering a question Narain said all language films can be sent provided they are subtitled in English and added that they hope to organize the Festival and the Awards Function before the close of Centenary Year Indian Cinema in May 2013.

  Three documentaries with Indian themes showcased in World Cinema

Three documentaries done by film makers from different parts of the world made in different languages showcased in the World Cinema in IFFI 2012 have one common thread viz India. German Director Walter Steffen’s ‘Munich in India’ is about painter Hannez Fritz also known as Fritz Munich and his paintings in India. The Bengali documentary ‘The Revolutionary Optimists’ directed by Nicole Newnham and Maren R Monsen is about the journey of three children in Kolkata slum from childhood to adolescence. The Canadian film maker Nisha Pahuja’s ‘The World Before Her’ juxtaposes traditional and modern women in contemporary India.

Interacting with media today in Goa Walter Steffen said that he was attracted to the story of Fritz Munich who quit a safe job in 1930s to become an artist and his journey as a painter in India during unsafe times. While exploring the adventurous side of the protagonist in his film he was able to see the other side of India, which was not actually a dreamland that he had heard as a child from his grandparents, he added. Answering a query he said that the film has relevance in this day since it shows how following personal ambition is more important than pursuing material gains.

Co-Director of ‘The Revolutionary Optimists’ Nicole stated that the film reflects the strength and positivity of the children and people and it was not meant to be voyeuristic about poverty in India, but to show how the Indian traditions and culture strengthens and empowers the people to face the challenges of ordinary life. Filmed over the course of three years ‘The Revolutionary Optimists’ follows Amlan Ganguly and three of the children he works with in Kolkata as they challenge the idea that marginalization is written in to their destiny

Talking about ‘The World Before Her’ Director Nisha stated that the film explores the tension between traditional and modern perspectives toward women by following the journey of young and ambitious women participating in beauty pageants and women joining Durga Vahini, the women’s wing of the Hindu fundamentalist movement.

Reduction in Profit of SAIL

The Minister of Steel, Shri Beni Prasad Verma has said that Profit After Tax (PAT) of Steel Authority of India Limited (SAIL) during April to September, 2012 at Rs. 1240 crore has been lower by 7.04% over corresponding period last year (April-September 2011) mainly due to adverse impact of input prices, particularly imported coal, salary & wages, higher interest & depreciation, reduction in interest earnings and increase in royalty on minerals, etc. In a written reply in the Rajya Sabha today Shri Verma said, SAIL has undertaken Modernization/Expansion of its Steel Plants/Units at an estimated cost of about Rs.72,000 crore.  The benefits from Modernization/Expansion would start accruing after their completion/ commissioning only.

        The plant-wise details of total number of regular employees (executive and non executive) and contract labours working in SAIL are as under:

Plant	Regular employees (as on 1.11.2012)		Contract Labour (as on 31.10.2012)
	Executive	Non-executive
Bhilai Steel Plant	3767	25350	28377
Rourkela Steel Plant	2211	15814	19029
Durgapur Steel Plant	1645	10713	6900
Bokaro Steel Plant	2708	16856	8973
IISCO Steel Plant	979	7577	13748
Alloy Steel Plant	290	1110	640
Salem Steel Plant	322	1019	203
Visvesvaraya Iron & Steel Plant	228	816	1077

Training Programme for Students as Tourism Volunteers

The Ministry of Tourism has launched a Scheme titled ‘Earn While You Learn’ with a view to inculcate appropriate tourism travel traits and knowledge amongst trainees to enable them to work as ‘student volunteers’. The salient features of the Scheme are :

(i) College-going students pursuing graduation courses or graduates in the age group of 18 to 25 years will be eligible for the training programme.

(ii) The candidates are selected by following a transparent procedure.

(iii) The duration of each programme is 21 working days.

(iv) The course content is finalized by the Ministry of Tourism/implementing Institutes in consultation with stakeholders.

The Indian Institute of Tourism & Travel Management (IITTM) had been authorized to conduct the training programmes at its Centres in Gwalior, Delhi and Bhubaneshwar and one in the city of Hyderabad. Besides, the Jamia Millia Islamia University was also authorized to conduct a training programme at its campus in Delhi.

This information was given by the Minister of State for Tourism (IC) Dr. K. Chiranjeevi in a written reply in the Rajya Sabha on 29.11.12

Direct Cash Transfer will eliminate corruption by intermediaries: Jairam

 

The Minister of Rural Development Shri Jairam Ramesh said that the scheme of direct cash transfer will usher in a new revolution in the country. Addressing an International Workshop on Cash Transfer here, he said that some civil society members have termed this as bribe giving, which is a bogus and ludicrous argument and added that it is rather an answer to the incompetent Army of corrupt delivery agents. Saying that the current system of delivery is not delivering, Shri Ramesh also rejected the notion that the direct cash transfer scheme would abdicate government's commitment to welfare state. He said, the scheme will rather make the welfare State more efficient by rooting out corruption being practised by an army of incompetent and insensitive intermediaries. The Minister stressed that the cash transfer scheme underscores the instruments of the welfare state, which are subsidy, scholarships or pensions, which should be delivered in a better fashion. Terming the new mission as a Cooperative partnership between the Centre and the States, Sh Ramesh also pitched for Independent Concurrent Evaluation of the Scheme.

The direct cash transfer scheme will be officially launched from 1st January 2013 in 51 districts spread over 16 States. It will cover 29 welfare schemes at the beginning and most of them will be scholarship schemes.

Export of Steel from Japan and Korea

The Minister of Steel, Shri Beni Prasad Verma has said that import of finished steel from all sources, including Japan and Korea has marginally increased from 6.66 million tonnes in 2010-11 to 6.83 million tonnes in 2011-12 i.e. an increase of 2.4%.

In a written reply in the Rajya Sabha today Shri Verma said, during 2011-12, the real consumption of finished steel in the country was 70.92 million tonnes as against the production of 73.42 million tonnes. However, for meeting any mismatch of domestic supply and demand or otherwise, import/ export of finished steel is also permissible.

Proposed schemes for promotion of sports

          The Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Youth Affairs & Sports Shri Jitendra Singh has said that details of sports promotional schemes of Sports Authority of India (SAI) are as follows:

(i)      Under the “National Sports Talent Contest Scheme (NSTC)”, children in the age           group of  8 to 14 years are trained in indigenous games & martial arts;

(ii)             Under the “Army Boys Sports Company Scheme (ABSC)”,  children in the age group of 8 to 16 are imparted training in 13 sports disciplines;   

(iii)           SAI’s Training Centres(STC): There are 58 STC residential training Centres across the country and the children in the age group of 12 to 18 are imparted training in 28 sports disciplines.

(iv)           Under the “Scheme of Special Area Games(SAG)”, children in the age group of 12 to 18 years from inaccessible tribal, rural and coastal areas of the country are imparted training in modern competitive sports on both residential and non-residential basis. There are 20 SAG Centres across the country.

(v)             Under the “Centre of Excellence (COE)”, trainees in the age group of 12 to 25   and           above are imparted training. Under the COE, those sportspersons who    have shown performance at National level competitions are trained for   preparing national teams for international mega events like Olympic, Asian        Games, Commonwealth Games, etc.

(vi)          The “Come and Play Scheme” was introduced in 2011-12 for spotting and nurturing talent in the age group of 8-17 years in the SAI’s stadia in Delhi and       its      regional centres in different parts of the country in all popular Sports          disciplines   like Archery, Athletics, Badminton, Basketball, Boxing, Cricket, Fencing, Football, Gymnastics, Handball, Judo, Kabaddi, Lawn Tennis, Swimming, Table   Tennis, Taekwando & Wrestling

Release of Fund to SC and Tribal Sub - Plan

The details of funds allocated and utilised under various schemes relating to Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) under Scheduled Caste Sub Plan (SCSP) and Tribal Sub-Plan (TSP) during last three years and current year, are:

 (Rs. in crore)

Year	Allocation		Utilization
	SCSP	TSP	SCSP	TSP
2009-10	231.10	122.48	174.99	87.00
2010-11	298.10	156.74	255.94	135.68
2011-12	324.20	221.70	217.29*	119.00*
2012-13	340.20	232.55	130.66#	73.36#

    * Provisional                         

 # Upto 31.10.2012

The funds are directed to the targeted beneficiaries under SCSP and TSP.

This information was given by the Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises, Shri K. H. Muniyappa in a written reply to a question in the Lok Sabha on 29.11.12

Programmes for Development of North Eastern States

The Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Development of North Eastern Region (DoNER) Shri Paban Singh Ghatowar has said that primary objective of development plans for North Eastern Region is faster, sustainable and more inclusive growth for balanced development of the region. Special requirements of the NER and need for significant higher levels of investment for achieving the objectives is well recognized. Accordingly, efforts are made to address the problems in infrastructure – physical and social, through funding from various central programmes.

In a written reply in the Rajya Sabha ton 29th November 2012 Shri Ghatowar said, Central Government is also supplementing development efforts of States in North Eastern Region by providing Special Central Assistance (SCA) and Special Plan Assistance (SPA) through State plans. Setting up of North Eastern Council (NEC) under NEC Act, 1971, as regional planning body is another step for balanced development of the region. Earmarking of at least 10% of Plan Budget of Central Ministries/Departments for NER and creation of Non-Lapsable Central Pool of Resources (NLCPR) are outcomes of policy initiative for development of NER.


The Minister said, development efforts have resulted in substantial improvement in growth rate in NE States during 11th Five Year Plan. Statement indicating State-wise growth during 11th Five Year Plan and All India Average is as under

Investment by Foreign Companies in SME

To promote capital investment by foreign multinational companies in small and medium enterprises the Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) in micro and small enterprises (MSEs) has been raised to 100 percent from 24 per cent. However, FDI in MSMEs is subject to sectoral caps and other relevant sectoral regulations.

Enhanced capital investment by foreign multinational companies will create an environment of healthy competition among MSMEs whether financed by foreign investment or otherwise, resulting in availability of better products for consumers.

This information was given by the Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises, Shri K. H. Muniyappa in a written reply to a question in the Lok Sabha today on 29.11.12

100% FDI Permitted for Cold Storage Facilities

All India Coordinated Research Project on Post-harvest Technology (ICAR) conducted a study at National level and printed the report in September, 2012. As per the study, estimated monetary value of harvest, post-harvest losses of horticultural, agricultural and livestock produce, in the country was Rs. 44143 crore at price and production value for the year 2007 - 08.

In order to increase Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) in cold storage sector, Government has permitted 100% FDI under automatic route as per the extant FDI policy. This policy mandates minimum investment of US$ 100 million with at least 50% of total FDI being invested in 'back-end infrastructure' within three years of the first tranche of FDI, where 'back-end infrastructure' will include capital expenditure on all activities, excluding that on front-end units.

The Government is implementing following schemes which have components for increasing cold storage capacity aimed at checking wastage of horticulture and agriculture produce:

1. National Horticulture Mission.

2. Horticulture Mission for North East and Himalayan States.

3. National Horticulture Board.

4. Scheme of Ministry of Food Processing Industries.

5. Scheme of Agricultural Processed Food Products Export Development Authority.

6. National Cooperative Development Corporation.

Further, Government has included capital investment in creation of modern storage capacity including cold chains and post-harvest storage as an eligible sector for viability gap funding under "support to public private partnership in Infrastructure scheme".

This information was given by Shri Tariq Anwar, Minister of State for Agriculture and Food Processing Industries in written reply to a question in the Lok Sabha today on27.11.12

55 FTII films screened at IFFI 2012

The 43rd edition of IFFI is celebrating 50 years of Film and Television Institute of India, Pune (FTII) by screening ‘student diploma films’. A package of 55 films curated by GraFTII, the alumnus association of the FTII represents the contributions of FTII graduates of the past decade. Speaking to the media persons Sanjeev Sood, Documentary film maker and alumnus of FTII said that little-known, fresh faces and films rather than the much awarded and feted ones have been selected for the package. He said that FTII has set a certain benchmark as far as film making is concerned; hence it is a great opportunity for the young film students who have come from across the country to watch and learn from these films.

Megh Pant, Actor and alumnus of FTII said that IFFI is a great platform for young film students, since they get to watch good movies as well as interact with great filmmakers. This will help them to properly structure their ideas and projects. Answering a query Megh Pant said that now FTII graduates are no longer compelled to remain in Mumbai for the sake of their art. Many FTII graduates have gone regional and made a mark in the respective regional film industry, he added.

14 Kisan Call Centers set up to Provide Information to Farmers

At present, Kisan Call Centres (KCCs) are functioning from 14 locations of the country including Rajasthan, covering all the States and UTs. All KCC locations are accessible by dialing a single toll free number 1800-180-1551 from 6.00 AM to 10.00 PM on all 7 days a week nationwide. This number is accessible from all telecom networks including private service providers.

In order to improve participation of State Governments to strengthen these Kisan Call Centres, following initiatives have been taken by the Ministry of Agriculture:

i) Close association of the State Governments in supervising quality of information provided by the KCC agents and also in escalation of unresolved queries to the experts at different levels for correct answers to farmers.

ii) Launching a major publicity campaign on electronic and print media for creating awareness about the Scheme.

a. Identifying group of experts from the State to assist KCC agents in answering farmers queries in call conferencing mode.

iii) Keeping the KCC agents apprised of all new schemes and programmes being implemented in the State.

iv) Organizing orientation and interaction of KCC agents with the Divisional/Zonal level officers of the State Agriculture and allied departments every month.

v) Getting weekly feedback from KCC regarding nature of calls including area specific prevalence of crop diseases, pest infestation etc.

In addition to the above, new technologies like Voice Mail, Internet Protocol Private Branch Exchange (IPPBX); call recording, call barging, redundant Internet bandwidth, playing of season specific advisory during call waiting period have been introduced to provide a better response to the farmers and effective monitoring the performance of Kisan Call Centres by the States.

This information was given by Shri Tariq Anwar, Minister of State for Agriculture and Food Processing Industries in written reply to a question in the Lok Sabha today on 27.11.12

Ban on Gutkha

The Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006 was enacted with the objective of ensuring availability of safe and wholesome food for human consumption. This Act, as well as the earlier Prevention of Food Adulteration Act 1954, gives a wide definition of ‘food’ and includes therein any article/substance which is intended for human consumption.The Food Safety and Standards (Prohibition and Restrictions on Sales) Regulations, 2011 dated 1st August 2011, issued under the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006, lays down that tobacco and nicotine shall not be used as ingredients in any food products. The Hon`ble Supreme Court in Godawat Pan Masala Vs UOI, 2004 (7) SCC 68 has also held that “Since pan masala, gutka or supari are eaten for taste and nourishment, they are all food within the meaning of Section 2(v) of the (Prevention of Food Adulteration) Act.” As such, by virtue of the regulation dated 1st August 2011 issued under the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006, read with the judgement of the Hon’ble Supreme Court on the issue, Gutkha products are food products containing tobacco and nicotine and their manufacture, sale or storage is not permitted under law. By virtue of the same regulation, Pan Masala, if it contains tobacco and nicotine, cannot be manufactured or sold. Enforcement of this regulation, however, lies with the Commissioners of Food Safety under the state govenments, as per the provisions of Food Safety & Standards Act 2006.

Ministry of Health and Family Welfare has been regularly sending advisories to the states to implement and enforce the said regulation. The state governments which have so far issued orders/notification to enforce implementation of the ban in accordance with the above regulation are Madhya Pradesh, Kerala, Bihar, Rajasthan, Maharashtra, Gujarat, Haryana, Chhatisgarh, Jharkhand, Mizoram, Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh, Chandigarh and Punjab. In addition, Goa has enforced the ban through its State Public Health Act.

There is no question of compromising with the life of millions of people. This Ministry has repeatedly advocated with the state governments to strictly implement the ban onGutkha in letter and spirit. Further, the Ministry has also brought to the notice of the state governments the judgements of the Hon’ble Allahabad High Court in the cases of M/s. KhedalLal& Sons Vs. State of U.P. FAC 1981 (1) 262, and ManoharLalVs State of U.P. Criminal Revision No.318 of 1982, wherein the High Court have held that Chewing tobacco is a food article. In view of this, and the regulation dated 1st August 2011 issued under the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006, this Ministry has again written to the state governments to consider examining the issue for banning the sale of gutkha, pan masala, zarda or other chewable products having tobacco and nicotine, with immediate effect.

The Ministry is also trying to generate public awareness through media and outdoor campaigns.

This information was given by Minister for Health & Family Welfare Shri Ghulam Nabi Azad in written reply to a question in the Rajya Sabha today on 27.11.12

Ministry of I&B Approves Anti Piracy Initiative in the XII Plan

The Government today approved a Scheme under 12th Five Year Plan for carrying out an Anti Piracy Initiative in the audio-visual sector. This new scheme of the Ministry of Information & Broadcasting has an outlay of Rs2.0 crores for the Plan period 2012-17.

Piracy continues to be a key challenge for the Indian film sector and has been a prime reason for decline of Home Video market in India. It is estimated by the FICCI-KPMG report for 2011 that the piracy market accounts for 600-700 million unit sales of DVDs each year with more than 10000 vendors operating in illegitimate DVD market. With increased competition within this sector, prices of pirated DVDs are declining as compared to previous years.

Another new emerging threat to legitimate exhibition of films is illegal download of films available on websites. The magnitude of this problem is set to increase in the coming years, given the expansion and availability of broadband infrastructure. While digital technology on the one hand plays a significant role in accessibility of content across various new media platforms, the film sector faces a massive challenge of grappling with pirated software on web-based platforms in the current Indian environment where mechanisms for regulation of content on the Internet are non-existent.

It is generally felt that money from piracy goes towards funding anti-national activities. In view of the foregoing, there is no alternative to government intervention. Hence, it has been envisaged to spread an awareness campaign against piracy in collaboration with stakeholders like business chambers, schools, colleges, etc.

Some of the major activities planned are as follows:

(a) Campaign on piracy through audio-visual, internet and print media;

(b) A dedicated web portal;

(c) Training programmes and workshops to sensitize police, judicial, administrative officials, multiplex and cinema hall owners about the Copyright Act.

(d) Conduct research on effects of piracy and develop public-private strategies to combat piracy;

(e) Production of a film/documentary.

(f) Efforts at inclusion of anti-piracy awareness material in the curriculum of the schools and colleges;

(g) Road shows/Street Plays for creating awareness;

(h) Programme in Schools & Colleges: Debate/Essay competition;

The planned activities will be implemented in collaboration with Business Chambers and NGOs, wherever possible.

Education of Forest Dwelling Tribal Children

In order to provide access to school education to tribal communities, Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA) programme has sanctioned 11479 new primary schools, 11583 new upper primary schools, 149892 additional class rooms and 83827 teachers, while under the Rashtriya Madhyamik Shiksha Abhiyan (RMSA), 2258 new secondary schools have been sanctioned, 3985 existing secondary schools strengthened, 6062 additional class rooms and 14430 teachers have been sanctioned for districts with substantial tribal populations.

Under the SSA, several interventions such as residential schools/hostels, escort/transport facilities, special training for out-of- school children to be mainstreamed to age-appropriate classes, and multi-lingual education with focus on home language, are being implemented along with awareness campaigns and local community participation in school management, in order to bring more and more tribal children into the fold of education.

This information was given by the Minister of State for Human Resource Development, Dr. Shashi Tharoor in Rajya Sabha on Friday.

Reforms Initiated under RTE Act

The Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education (RTE) Act, 2009 has brought in several reform processes. States/UTs have inter-alia brought out notifications prohibiting corporal punishment, detention and board examinations in elementary education. The National Council for Teachers’ Education (NCTE) has laid down teacher qualifications and 22 States/UTs have conducted Teacher Eligibility Tests to improve the quality of teaching.

In order to ensure free and compulsory education for all children in tribal areas, opening of new schools, residential schools/hostels, Kasturba Gandhi Balika Vidyalayas transport/escort facility, additional teachers, special training for out of school children and funds for improving learning and retention have been provided under the Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA) programme.

For effective implementation of the RTE Act, 2009, Government of India has released Rs.19,332 crore in 2010-11, Rs.20,945 crores in 2011-12 and Rs.19,790 crore till date in 2012-13 to the States / UTs under the Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan programme which is the main vehicle for the implementation of the RTE Act.

Jharkhand has notified the State RTE Rules in order to implement the provisions of the Act. Since the notification of the RTE Act, 1,787 school buildings, 34,075 additional classrooms, 721 drinking water facilities and 4849 toilets have been completed in the State under the Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan. Also 4507 teachers have been recruited. Government of India has released Rs.89562.26 lakh in 2010-11, Rs.57903.45 lakh in 2011-12 and Rs.56183.85 lakh as on date in 2012-13 to Jharkhand under the SSA programme, towards meeting the RTE objectives.

This information was given by the Minister of State for Human Resource Development, Dr. Shashi Tharoor in Rajya Sabha on Friday.

Status of Newly Created Security Agencies

NCTC:

            After issue of notification creating National Counter Terrorism Centre (NCTC) on 03.02.2012, some States raised certain objections.  Subsequently, based on their request for wider consultation with all the States/ Union territories, a meeting was held by the Union Government with the Chief Ministers/ Administrators/ Lt. Governors of all the States/Union Territories on 5th May, 2012.  The process of formal consultations with all the states/UTs is on.

NATGRID:

National Intelligence Grid (NATGRID) has been set up as an attached Office of the  Ministry  of  Home Affairs with effect from 1.12.2009.  Further,

Cabinet Committee on Security has in principle approved the Detailed Project Report of NATGRID on 06.06.2011.  Planning Commission has also accorded its in principle approval to the project on 08.07.2011, as a central plan scheme under MHA from 2011-12.  CCS on 18.06.2012 has conveyed its approval for an amount of Rs. 1002.97 crores for implementation of Foundation Horizon-I and some elements of Horizon-II of the NATGRID project.  The implementation of the Foundation and Horizon-I is in progress.

CCTNS:

            Crime and Criminal Tracking Network & Systems (CCTNS) project is a mission mode project under National e-Governance plan being implemented by the Ministry of Home Affairs.  The project aims at creating a comprehensive and integrated system and a nation-wide networked solution for connecting more than 15,000 Police Stations and nearly 6,000 Higher Offices in 28 States and 7 Union territories of the country for sharing of real-time crime and criminal information.  The project implementation schedule of CCTNS project to be implemented in the XI plan (2007-2012) was proposed for four years (2008-2012) based on a rationale that project activities shall be undertaken by diverse stakeholders and would be successfully completed within the proposed time.  Further the project also envisages establishment of a comprehensive and strong monitoring and coordination mechanism both at States and Centre and a robust governance structure to achieve the outcomes and objectives of the project.  Hence, in this context a few factors have been considered for extension of the project into the XII plan.

This was stated by Shri R.P.N.Singh, Minister of State in the Ministry of Home Affairs  in written reply to a question by Sh. Mangani Lal Mandal in the Lok Sabha today on27.11.12

Establishment of Cancer Institutes

Government of India has recognized 27 Regional Cancer Centres (RCCs) under the erstwhile National Cancer Control Programme, a list of which is annexed.

             Government of India launched a comprehensive National Programme for Prevention and Control of Cancer, Diabetes, Cardiovascular Diseases & Stroke (NPCDCS) in 2010 in 100 districts across 21 States.  Under the programme, Regional Cancer Centres (RCCs) and Government Medical College Hospitals across the country are eligible for receiving financial assistance uptoRs. 6.00 crore   (Rs. 4.80 crore from Central Government and Rs. 1.20 crore from State Government) for providing comprehensive cancer care services.

LIST OF REGIONAL CANCER CENTRES

Sl. No.	Name of State / Union Territory	Name of the Institution
1.	Andhra Pradesh	M.N.J. Institute of Oncology& Regional Cancer Centre, Hyderabad.
2.	Assam	Dr. B. Borooah Cancer Institute, Guwahati.
3.	Bihar	Indira Gandhi Institute of Medical Sciences, Patna.
4.	Chandigarh	Post Graduate Institute Medical Education & Research, Chandigarh
5.	Chhattisgarh	Pt. J.L.N Medical College &Dr. B. R. Ambedkar Memorial Hospital, Raipur
6.	Delhi	Dr.B.R.Ambedkar Institute  Rotary Cancer  Hospital, AIIMS,New Delhi
7.	Gujarat	Gujarat Cancer and Research Institute, Ahmedabad.
8.	Haryana	Post Graduate Institute of Medical Sciences, Rohtak.
9.	Himachal Pradesh	Indira Gandhi Medical College, Shimla.
10.	Jammu & Kashmir	Sher-i-Kashmir Institute of Medical Sciences, Srinagar.
11.	Jammu & Kashmir	Government Medical College, Jammu.
12.	Karnataka	Kidwai Memorial Institute of Oncology, Bangalore.
13.	Kerala	Regional Cancer Centre, Thiruvananthapuram.
14.	Madhya Pradesh	Cancer Hospital & Research Institute, Gwalior.
15.	Maharashtra	RashtrasantTukdoji Regional Cancer Hospital & Research Centre, Nagpur.
16.	Maharashtra	Tata Memorial Hospital, Mumbai.
17.	Manipur	Regional Institute of Medical Sciences, Imphal.
18.	Mizoram	Civil Hospital, Aizwal.
19.	Odisha	AcharyaHarihar Regional Cancer Centre, Cuttack.
20.	Puducherry	Jawaharlal Institute of Postgraduate Medical Education & Research
21.	Rajasthan	AcharyaTulsi Regional Cancer Treatment & Research Institute, Bikaner.
22.	Tamil Nadu	Govt. Arignar Anna Memorial Cancer Research Institute & Hospital, Kancheepuram.
23.	Tamil Nadu	Cancer Institute (WIA),Adyar, Chennai.
24.	Tripura	Civil Hospital, Agartala.
25.	Uttar Pradesh	Sanjay Gandhi Post Graduate Institute of Medical Sciences, Lucknow.
26.	Uttar Pradesh	Kamla Nehru Memorial Hospital, Allahabad.
27.	West Bengal	Chittaranjan National Cancer Institute, Kolkata.

This information was given by Minister for Health & Family Welfare Shri Ghulam Nabi Azad in written reply to a  question in the Rajya Sabha today on 27.11.12