Establishment of Innovative Park

The Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) has intended to set up an Innovation Complex in Ahmedabad, Gujarat in the 12th Plan. The wide functions of the Innovation Complex includes catalyzing innovation eco-system in the region, nurturing  platform technologies in the identified areas, incubating spin-offs and nurturing Micro Small and Medium Sector Enterprises (MSMEs) in the designated fields through innovative inputs etc. Funds will be allocated as per the provisions made for CSIR in the 12th Plan

 Minister of State for Planning, Science &Technology and Earth Sciences Dr Ashwani Kumar stated in Lok Sabha

Backward Regions Grand Fund

The on-line transfer and tracking of funds is currently being implemented in the Backward Regions Grand Fund Scheme administered by the Ministry of Panchayati Raj for  efficient and simple financial management system The Guidelines of the Scheme, inter-alia, specify that all funds will be transferred to the Consolidated Funds of State Governments. Those funds that are to be transferred to Panchayats and Municipalities by the State Governments will be transferred to their bank accounts, following the same stipulations as prescribed for the devolution of 12th Finance Commission Grants, namely, within 15 days of the release of funds to the Consolidated Fund.

At the State level, the funds will be directly deposited into the bank accounts of the Panchayat or Municipality concerned, as directed by the Task Force of the Ministry of Panchayat Raj to study the feasibility of super transfer of funds  through banks to Panchayats. using the mechanism of bank transfers suggested by the Task Force of the Ministry of Panchayati Raj to study the feasibility of rapid transfer of funds through banks to Panchayats. If the State Governments fail to transfer amount has to pay a penal interest @ equal to RBI bank rate.

SRK losing his sheen

The biggest Bollywood super star with unsuccessful a few releases, now scuffle with official at Mumbai cricket stadium to his credit and may losing shah Rukh brand sheen. In the last couple of years the actor has not signed any big endorsement to his portfolio. People feels controversies that surrounded him  and ageing factor reduces Shah Rukh Khan image. The major cola PepsiCo dropped him 2009 and got on board youth icon  Ranabir Kapoor .And Telecom major Airtel also did not renew contract with SRK.It is industry talk that he charges Rs.1.50 crore per day. As of now, a dozen of brand endorsement  Belmonte, Navratna, Dabur Sonachandi,LuxCozi, Lin pens ,Tag Heuer and Hyundai in his boutique.

Drive sensibly to reduce fuel bill

Car users have seen their fuel bills increasing significantly over the past couple of years. The petrol price in Hyderabad has move up from Rs. 50 a liter in January to Rs.75 today, a rise of approximately 54%. The Government would likely to give its stance to the oil marketing companies to hike prices once again as prevailing higher international prices as well as depreciation of the Indian rupee. In this a scenario, one must try to reduce fuel cost.

According to Auto experts every one can save up to 20% of fuel bill by driving sensibly .Drive sensibly, try to see correct pressure in tyres and use accelerator slowly, smoothly, avoid sudden brake. If you are supposed cross many junctions, signals, slow down your vehicle speed as signal seems to 100mitres ahead of you. If possible switch off and restart engine at signal .Shift higher gear once you touch the speed of 50 kilometers.

Welfare Measures for Distressed Overseas Indian Women Workers

The Ministry of Overseas Indian Affairs has issued instructions to the Head of Missions of 17 Emigration Check Required (ECR) countries for setting up shelter homes for Indian women in distress overseas. As per available information, Bahrain, Malaysia, Kuwait, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (Riyadh), Oman and United Arab Emirates (UAE) have shelter homes in operation for distressed Indian women workers.

The initial legal assistance to overseas Indian workers in deserving cases, including Indian women workers in distress, is provided from the Indian Community Welfare Fund (ICWF), which has been extended to all Indian Missions abroad w.e.f 24.03.2011.

The Ministry also runs a Scheme for providing legal/financial assistance to Indian women deserted by their overseas spouses. The objective of the scheme is to provide financial assistance to needy Indian women who were either deserted or divorced by their overseas spouses and help them in getting access to counselling and legal services through credible Indian women’s organisations/Indian community associations and NGOs empanelled with the Indian Missions/Posts. The limit of assistance is USD 3,000 per case in developed countries and USD 2,000 per case in developing countries as initial legal aid for documentation and preparatory work for filing the case.

This information was given by the Minister of Overseas Indian Affair, Shri Vayalar Ravi in a written reply in the Lok Sabha

School-Based Screening Program for Diabetes on Pilot Basis

The Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, Government of India has initiated a school-based screening program for diabetes on pilot basis in six Districts namely Nainital (Uttarakhand), Theni (Tamil Nadu), Nellore (Andhra Pradesh), Dibrugarh (Assam), Bhilwara (Rajasthan), Ratlam (Madhya Pradesh). Fund to each district has been released for the purpose. The screening is primarily focused on school children of 1st to 10th standards in the age group of 5 to 15 years. The screening programme is in progress in the above cited 6 Districts.

The School Health Programme (SHP) under the National Rural Health Mission (NRHM) as the public sector programme specifically focused on school going children and adolescents in the 6-18 years age group enrolled in Government and Government aided schools is already in place.

The SHP was launched to address the health needs of school going children. The Program at the National level has been developed to provide uniformity / guidance in implementation of operational framework for State initiatives. The National School Health Programme includes biannual health service provision through screening, health care and referral for disease, deficiency and disability. The main focus is to address the health needs of children, both physical and mental, and in addition, it provides for nutrition interventions, physical activities and counselling. Identified children, who require further service support, are connected with secondary and tertiary facilities within Public Health Infrastructure. Weekly supervised provisions of Iron-Folic acid tablets and biannual deworming is included.

Several studies have contributed to overwhelming evidence that indicates the increase in type 2 diabetes amongst children and adolescents. Major risk factors of diabetes are un-healthy diet, obesity and lack of physical exercise.

This information was given in written reply by the Union Minister for Health & Family Welfare Shri Ghulam Nabi Azad in Rajya

Special Package for Handloom Weavers

In his budget speech (2011-12), Union Finance Minister on 28.2.2011 had announced providing of Rs.3000 crore to NABARD, benefitting 15,000 cooperative societies and about 3 lakh handloom weavers.   Consequently, the Government has approved “Revival, Reform & Restructuring Package for Handloom Sector” having financial implication of Rs. 3884 crore on 24.11.2011. Of this Rs. 3884 crore, share of Government of India is Rs. 3137 crore and that of State Governments Rs. 747 crore. The Package covers loan waiver of 100% of principal and 25% of interest, which is overdue as on 31.03.2010 in respect of eligible individual handloom weavers and weavers cooperative societies.  Interest subsidy of 3% for 3 years is also extended with guarantee for the fresh loans sanctioned by the banks to individual weavers and the handloom cooperative societies covered by the loan waiver. The National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD) is the  implementing agency.

            The other handloom weavers, who are not benefited under the Revival, Reform & Restructuring Package, are provided financial assistance with subsidized credit, under the ‘Comprehensive Package for the Handloom Sector” with an outlay of Rs. 2362 crore.   This package addresses the twin needs of cheap credit and subsidized  yarn for this sector. Credit related interventions are operationalized through Integrated Handloom Development Scheme and these interventions are (i) Issuance of Weaver Credit Cards (ii) Interest Subvention @ 3% on fresh loan sanctioned for 3 years, (iii) Margin Money @ Rs.4200 per individual weaver (but  not for cooperative societies) and (iv) Credit Guarantee for 3 years.  The package also provides for supplying subsidized yarn with 10% price subsidy under Mill Gate Price Scheme with enhanced freight reimbursement rates to ensure that adequate cheap yarn is available to handloom sector in the country.

In addition to the above, five plan schemes of 11^th Plan are being continued during 2012-13 for the development of the handloom sector and welfare of handloom weavers. These are i) Integrated Handloom Development Scheme; ii) Handloom Weavers Comprehensive Welfare Scheme; iii) Marketing & Export Promotion Scheme; iv) Mill Gate Price Scheme; and) Diversified Handloom Development Scheme.

Strategic Reserve of Cotton to Secure Supplies

The Government of India has directed the Cotton Corporation of India to build a buffer stock of 10 lakh bales of cotton in order to meet the lean season requirements of the Textiles Industry. These buffer stocks would not only ensure availability of adequate raw material for the textiles industry in the months of June-September 2012 but also enable cotton farmers to receive reasonable prices for their produce. In pursuance of this decision Cotton Corporation of India has commenced commercial procurement operations in the States of Gujarat, Maharashtra & Andhra Pradesh.

This information was given by the Minister of State for Textiles, Smt. Panabaaka Lakshmi in a written reply in the Rajya Sabha

Steps to Stop Corruption at Immigration Centres

Several measures have been taken to facilitate the travellers and to prevent corruption by the immigration staff.  As far as the Immigration Check Posts (ICPs) managed by Bureau of Immigration are concerned, the Immigration Officers work in an open area and remain under constant view/watch of passengers and staff of other agencies.  As such there is hardly any scope for them to indulge in corrupt practice at Immigration Counters.

While replying to a question in the Rajya Sabha ,Shri Mullappally Ramachandran, Minister of State of Home Affairs said following measures have been taken to curb corruption in Immigration:-

i.        Entire Immigration Area has been kept under CCTV surveillance round the clock.

ii.      Constant briefing to all officers, including supervisory staff, is given during weekly meetings and training sessions. 

iii.    Immigration counters at arrival/departures are so positioned so that constant vigil can be maintained by supervising officers.

iv.    Close supervision is maintained by Inspector/ACP level officers over the immigration area.

v.      Surprise checks are carried out by the FRRO and senior officers including during night/peak hours.

vi.    Feedback forms have been provided at Immigration Counters and placed near exit gates of Immigration.

vii.  Contact details of the FRROs are available in the Website of BoI to register any complaints against the Immigration staff or to provide their suggestions for improvement of the working of the staff.

Indian nationals arriving as deportees from abroad on various grounds are examined for ascertaining the veracity /genuineness of the travel documents used; involvement of agents etc from security as well as human trafficking angle, modus operandi and route adopted by the passengers. This helps in identifying new trends   emerging in human trafficking.  The focus of examination is on confirming the nationality status of the person and genuineness of the travel document. The persons arriving as deportees for violation of only Visa rules are not examined deeply. Appropriate legal action is taken wherever made out without causing any undue harassment to any passenger by Immigration officials.

Counter Insurgency and Anti terrorism schools

  In order to  supplement the efforts of the states, 21 Counter Insurgency and Anti-terrorism (CIAT) Schools in the states viz. Assam, Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Orissa, West Bengal, Nagaland, Manipur and Tripura have been approved.The purpose of these schools is to up-scale the training capability of the states to fight against terrorism.

This was stated by Shri Jitendra Singh, Minister of State of Home Affairs in written reply to a question in the Rajya Sabha

Research on Epoch Making Social Thinkers

The University Grants Commission (UGC) has recommended the names of 24 personalities  who have been permitted by UGC to conduct research, under the scheme of Epoch Making Social Thinkers of India, namely Mahatma Gandhi, Pt. Jawaharlal Nehru, Mahatma Buddha, Dr. B.R. Ambedkar, Shri Aurobindo Ghosh, Dr. K.R. Narayanan, Swami Vivekanand, Dr, Zakir Hussain, Shri Guru Nanak Dev, Smt. Indira Gandhi, Netaji Subhash Candra Bose, Pt. Madan Mohan Malviya, Gurudev Rabindra Nath Tagore, Sardar Valabhbhai Patel, Shri Shankar Dev, Shri Sukafa, Shri Ramakrishna Paramhans, Shri Adi Shankaracharya, Shri Lala Lajpat Rai, Dr. S. Radhakrishnan, Shri Rajiv Gandhi, Pt. Iswara Chandra Vidyasagar, Shri Raja Ram Mohan Roy and Swami Dayanand Saraswati.

UGC has informed that 606 proposals for creating new centers under the scheme of Epoch Making Social Thinkers have been received and are being examined. This information was given by the Minister of State for Human Resource Development, Shri E. Ahamed, in written reply to a question in Lok Sabha,

Scheme for Naxal Affected Areas

Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA) is under implementation in Left Wing Extremism (LWE) districts.  The programme is monitored regularly.  From the year 2011-12, Planning Commission has increased the number of LWE districts from 35 to 60.  During 2011-12, the following provisions were made for 60 L.W.E districts.

·         New Primary Schools sanctioned                   244

·         New Upper Primary Schools sanctioned        280

·         New teachers sanctioned                                20369

·         Primary School building sanctioned               77

·         Upper Primary School building sanctioned    265

·         ACRs sanctioned                                            28138

·         Toilets sanctioned                                           1275

·         Separate girls toilet                                         21011 

·         Drinking water facilities                                 1037

Rashtriya Madhyamic Shiksha Abhiyan, a centrally sponsored scheme has been under implementation since 2009-10 with the vision to make secondary education of good quality available, accessible and affordable to all young persons in the age group 15-16 years with priority given to SC, ST , Minority concentration areas including naxal affected areas.  Special focus on micro planning, appointment of more female teachers, enrolment drives, special coaching classes for these areas are also envisaged under RMSA.

Saakshar Bharat, the new variant of National Literacy Mission has been launched on 8^th September, 2009 with the prime focus on adult non-literate women of rural areas.  A district which had adult literacy rate of 50 percent or below, as per 2001 census, is eligible for coverage under the Saakshar Bharat programme.  All 35 districts in the country which are most affected with left wing extremism are eligible for coverage under the Mission irrespective of their existing literacy rate.

            This information was given by the Minister of State for Human Resource  Development, Shri E. Ahamed, in written reply to a question in Lok  Sabha

Financial Assistance Limit for Deserted NRI Woman Increased

The Indian Missions/Posts namely the High Commission of India in London, the High Commission of India in Georgetown and Embassy of India in Doha (Qatar) had sought the enhancement of the amount of assistance which at $1500 per case was considered inadequate The  scheme has been revised with effect from 30th November’ 2011 whereby the limit of financial assistance under the scheme has been increased to US$3,000 per case in developed countries and US$2,000 per case in developing countries, to be released to the empanelled Legal Counsel of the applicant or Indian community association/women’s organization/ Non Government Organization concerned, as initial legal aid for documentation and preparatory work for filing the case.

This information was given by the Minister of Overseas Indian Affair, Shri Vayalar Ravi in a written reply in the Lok Sabha today.