I&B Ministry monitors progress of DigitizationLaunches Campaign regarding Digitization in the Print and Electronic Media68% of the Cable TV Digitization achieved

A recent review of Digitization progress by the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting has revealed that 68% of Cable TV Digitization has already been achieved in the 4 metro cities of Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata and Chennai. 

The Cable Television Networks (Regulation) Amendment Act 2011 has made it mandatory for switch over of the existing Analogue Cable Television Network to Digital Addressable System (DAS) by December 2014 in the entire country in 4 phases. In the first phase, 4 metro cities of Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata and Chennai are to be covered by 31^st October, 2012.  Towards complete switch over from analogue to digital only about six weeks are remaining. 

Ministry of Information and Broadcasting has been constantly reviewing the preparedness of the industry for the Digital switch over. 

Financial Restructuring of Prasar Bharati (Broadcasting Corporation of India) based on the Recommendations of the Group of Ministers on Prasar Bharati

The Union Cabinet today approved the proposal of the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting for financial restructuring of Prasar Bharati (Broadcasting Corporation of India). The proposal is based on the recommendations of the Group of Ministers (GoM) on Prasar Bharati (PB), constituted under the chairmanship of the Home Minister, to examine various issues pertaining to the functioning of Prasar Bharati.

On the basis of the recommendations of GoM, the Cabinet has given its approval for the following in order to improve the overall financial management of Prasar Bharati (PB):-

i. During the next five years from 2012-13 to 2016-17, Government non- Plan support will be made available to PB for meeting 100 per cent expenses towards salary and salary related expenses. All other operating expenses to be borne by PB out of internal revenue earnings.

ii. Plan capital support by the Government to PB will be in the form of grants-in-aid only and not in the form of loan.

iii. Accumulated interest on loan-in-perpetuity, interest on capital loan and penal interest thereon payable by PB to Government will be waived off.

iv. Loan-in-perpetuity and capital loans provided to PB will be converted into grants-in-aid.

v. Accumulated arrears of space segment and spectrum charges accrued to PB upto 31.3.2011 of Rs. 1349.54 crore, to be waived off.

vi. Property and Assets will be transferred on book value to PB as per provisions of Section 16(a) of the Prasar Bharati Act, 1990. Normal accounting principles will be followed to determine their future value; and

vii. Director General of Audit, Central Revenues (DGACR) will continue to be the nodal auditor of PB and will be assisted by qualified commercial audit staff for the audit of the annual accounts.

Background:

The Prasar Bharati (PB), the Public Broadcaster in the country, has been grappling with various financial and human resource/employee issues since its inception, which have adversely affected its functioning as an autonomous organization. In view of the problems being faced by PB, a GoM was constituted under the Chairmanship of the Hon'ble Home Minister on 7th March, 2006 to examine the issues of PB. The GoM was again reconstituted on 21.2.2011 which considered PB's future revenue earning potential given its public service broadcasting mandate, and made a number of recommendations for making PB a financially viable and sustainable organization.

Over 1.57 Lakh Personnel Added to the Health System During 2005-12

Ministry of Health and Family Welfare is playing an important role in bringing healthcare services to all, especially to the marginalized and vulnerable sections, living in rural, remote and difficult to access areas. This was stated by Shri Ghulam Nabi Azad in New Delhi yesterday.

Addressing the inauguration of MBBS Course in Hamdard Institute of Medical Sciences and Research at Hamdard Nagar, Shri Azad said that even though the responsibility for the delivery of the healthcare rests with the States, Government of India has been playing a guiding and supporting role to strengthen the efforts of State Governments. Through National Rural Health Mission, the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare has made an earnest to provide healthcare facilities living in the rural areas. Under the mission mode, during 2005-12, over 1.57 lakh personnel have been added to the health system. In addition to this, co-locating AYUSH services in the health facilities has resulted in the Indian Systems of Medicine playing an increasingly bigger role in the health care delivery to the masses.

Shri Azad said that the Hamdard National Foundation has been providing health care to the people through the Indian System of Medicine for decades. The Foundation is now expanding its horizon of health care and has stepped forward to establish the “Hamdard Institute of Medical Sciences & Research” from the current academic session 2012-2013. This step marks the fulfilment of the long cherished dream of late Janab Hakeem Abdul Hameed Saheb, the founder of Hamdard. Jamia Hamdard is recognized globally as a reputed centre for the Unani System and Hamdard products are renowned for their safety, quality and affordability.

Shri Azad hoped that this institution would distinguish itself in the service of the people of Delhi and neighbouring States and will add to the availability of quality human resources to meet the health needs of the state, region and country. He congratulated all the students of the first batch of MBBS course at Hamdard Institute of Medical Sciences & Research and conveyed his best wishes to all the faculty, staff and students of the college for a professionally satisfying career and prosperous life in the service of the country and humanity.

Those who addressed the inauguration programme included Dr. Kiran Walia, Minister of Social Welfare and Education, Government of Delhi, Saiyid Hamid, Chancellor, Jamia Hamdard, Najeeb Jung, Vice-Chancellor, Jamia Millia Islamia, Abdul Mueed, President Hamdard National Foundation, Dr. G.N. Qazi, Vice-Chancellor, Jamia Hamdard,

NSIC Empowering Women for Self Employment

 National Small Industries Corporation has launched specialised Incubation Program for Unemployed girls and Women to take up their own ventures. Speaking at the “12th Global Conference on “Trade Liberalization and its impact on Women Entrepreneurs, Dr. H. P. Kumar, CMD, NSIC stated that NSIC has set up Incubation Centres all over the country and invited young girls, aspiring Women Entrepreneurs to join the NSIC-Incubation program free of Cost. The NSIC Incubation program is a integrated support by way of providing hands on training on working projects, it provides necessary facilities for prospective entrepreneurs and start up companies to learn product manufacturing processes coupled with technology development and business development.

32 Women Employees From Railways Honoured For Outstanding Performances Railway Women’s Welfare Central Organisation (RWWCO) Organises Women’s Day Celebrations

Thirty two outstanding women employees of Railways were honoured on the occasion of Women’s Day celebrations organized by Railway Women’s Welfare Central Organization (RWWCO), an apex body of the chain of Women’s Welfare Organisations spread over all Indian Railways, here today. Shri Vinay Mittal, Chairman, Railway Board was the Chief Guest at the Award function. The programme was organised under the guidance of Smt. Poonam Mittal who is the President of RWWCO. Also present among others were Railway officials, staff and their families.

Speaking on the occasion, Shri Vinay Mittal said that RWWCO has always risen to the call of the society and the nation - be it environmental awareness, family welfare drives, disturbances on the borders or the natural calamities. He complimented the RWWCO for being one of the fore-runner voluntary organizations in the country today which is engaged in the task of welfare for railwaymen and their families through various need based socio-welfare activities. Shri Mittal said that the services of RWWCO will always be remembered for “supplementing and complementing” the national transporter’s role as an employer with a welfare centric approach. The Chairman, Railway Board said that “What makes their task special is that they have achieved all this along with their responsibilities as a home-maker and without any financial support from the Government”. Congratulating the outstanding Railway women employees who were felicitated on the occasion for their excellent performance, Shri Vinay Mittal said that they should continue the good work in future and strive to become role models and an inspiration for others.

Smt. Poonam Mittal, President, RWWCO said that the Hallmark of this year’s function is the felicitation of a few ladies from the rail-fraternity who brought laurels for the Indian Railways. The purpose is to boost the morale of those women, who show exemplary dedication, integrity and courage in discharge of their duties and who also work quietly in any other social field like hospital, school, sports, blood donation, family welfare programme, scouts & guides etc, she added. Smt. Poonam Mittal said that the motto of RWWCO is to promote and encourage welfare activities to foster a spirit of friendship, unity and understanding among railway employees and their families.

On this occasion a special issue of ‘Unmukta’ an in-house magazine of RWWCO was also released.

Three short plays for duration of 25 minutes each viz., Chhui Muee, Nanhi Ki Nahi and Do haath written by Ismat Khanum Chughtai and directed by Naseeruddin Shahwere were also staged at the Award function.

Import Duty on Power Equipment

The Union Minister of State for Power, Shri K.C.Venugopal, informed Lok Sabha today in a written reply that in order to create a level playing field to the domestic power equipment manufacturing industry vis-à-vis foreign vendors and promote self-sufficiency in this vital sector, Government has decided to levy Custom Duty @5%, Countervailing Duty (CVD) @ 12% (as applicable and equal to excise duty on domestic industry from time to time) & Special Additional Duty (SAD) @ 4% to be uniformly applicable to the imported equipment of all categories of Power generation projects, viz., Mega Power Projects (including UMPPs) and non-Mega Power Projects with effect from 19.07.2012, except for those projects which have already been granted final mega/provisional mega certificates.

He further informed that all the mega projects coming up during 12th Plan have been issued final/provisional mega certificate and will get the benefit of duty exemption. Thus it will not affect the tariff structure for projects coming up during 12th Plan. In subsequent years, the competition amongst domestic manufacturers is likely to have no major impact on cost of power.

Setting up of Regulatory Systems

Parliament has enacted Clinical Establishments (Registration and Regulation) Act 2010 for registration and regulation of the Clinical Establishments and for matters connected therewith or incidental thereto. The National Council for Clinical Establishments has been constituted and notified in the Gazette of India on 19-3-2012. The Clinical Establishments (Central Government) Rules 2012 have also been notified on 23-5-2012 under the abovementioned Act. The Act has come into force in the States of Arunachal Pradesh, Himachal Pradesh, Mizoram and Sikkim and Union Territories with effect from 1-3-2012. The draft State Model Rules have been circulated to all States for implementation of the Act in the States. Other States may also adopt this Act under clause (1) of Article 252 of the Constitution. The States of Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan and Jharkhand have adopted this Act. Other State Governments have been requested to adopt this Act.

Health is a State subject and it is primarily the responsibility of the State Governments to monitor and regulate private sector hospitals in the States.

The above information was given by the Union Minister for Health & Family Welfare Shri Ghulam Nabi Azad in a written reply in the Rajya Sabha on 7th September

Ban on Tobacco Products

The Directors of 14 Regional Cancer Centres have written letters to Government appealing for ban on sale of Gutkha and other tobacco products in the country. The aforesaid letters are part of the report on the contents of gutkha, tobacco, pan masala and similar articles manufactured in the country and harmful effects of consumption of such articles, prepared by National Institute of Health and Family Welfare (NIHFW), New Delhi in consultation with Ministry of Health & Family Welfare and submitted to Hon’ble Supreme Court in compliance with its directions in the matter of Ankur Gutka Vs Indian Asthma Society (SLP 16308/2007).

The States/UTs of Madhya Pradesh, Kerala, Bihar, Rajasthan, Maharashtra, Haryana, Chhatisgarh, Jharkhand, Gujarat, Chandigarh and Mizoram have issued orders/notifications for implementation of the provisions of 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, which prohibits the use of nicotine and tobacco in food products.

The responsibility of enforcement of the above regulations and action against the offenders lies with the Commissioners of Food Safety under the state governments, as per the provisions of Food Safety & Standards Act 2006. The information on illegal marketing and sale of gutkha, tobacco, pan masala and similar articles at higher prices is, therefore, not available with this Ministry. However, this Ministry has written to the Governments of the States/UTs to strictly implement the regulations.

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 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.

This Ministry has written to the Governments of all the States/UTs to strictly implement the Food Safety and Standards (Prohibition and Restrictions on Sales) Regulations, 2011 dated 1st August 2011.

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

Standard of Indian Universities

The standard of Indian Universities has not been declining in comparison to other Asian Universities. While there is no universally recognized international system of ranking of standards of higher educational institutions, many Indian higher educational institutions are comparable to the best institutions in the world and other Asian countries. The different ranking systems use different values, indices and parameters to rank higher educational institutions and some of these parameters are not relevant for Indian higher educational institutions and such comparisons cannot constitute the basis of benchmarking of Indian higher educational institutions.

The Government of India has taken several steps to improve the standard of Indian Universities. A substantial increase in Plan allocation has been made in XI Plan aiming at improvement of quality of higher educational institutions. During the Plan period, a large number of new institutions – Central Universities, Indian Institutes of Technology, Indian Institutes of Management, National Institutes of Technology, Indian Institutes for Science Education & Research, Schools of Planning & Architecture – have been established.

University Grants Commission (UGC), has been implementing a number of schemes aimed at improvement of quality of education in Indian Universities and has taken up various measures for educational reforms, such as introduction of semester system, regular updating of curricula and Choice Based Credit Systems (CBCS) etc, which have been implemented by most of the Central universities. The UGC has also issued Regulations on “Minimum Qualifications for Appointment of Teachers and other Academic Staff in Universities and Colleges and Measures for the Maintenance of Standards in Higher Education, 2010” for improving the standard of teaching in Indian Universities.

In order to reform higher education, legislative proposals for prohibiting unfair practices in higher educational institutions; for making accreditation mandatory and for regulating the entry and operations of foreign educational institutions, have been introduced in Parliament. Another legislation, to create an overarching body to regulate higher education holistically, keeping in mind the increasingly converging nature of disciplines and to explore the opportunities of knowledge creation that lie at the intersections of existing disciplines, has been introduced in Parliament.

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

Signle Entrance Exam for IITs

With a view to reducing the burden, in terms of time, finances and the stress caused in scheduling and preparing for multiple entrance examinations, on both, the students and parents, the Council of Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs) had, in its meeting on 14.09.2011, endorsed ‘in-principle’ the proposal of a Common Entrance Examination for admission to undergraduate programmes in Engineering.

Based on the discussions held amongst the various stakeholders, including those from the IIT system, it has been decided to hold a Joint Entrance Examination from the year 2013 for admission to the undergraduate programmes in engineering in two parts, JEE-MAIN and JEE-ADVANCED. Only the top 1,50,000 candidates (including all categories) based on the performance in JEE-MAIN will qualify to appear in the JEE Advanced examination. Admission to IITs will be based only on category-wise All Indian Rank (AIR) in JEE-ADVANCED, subject to condition that such candidates are in the top 20 percentile of successful candidates in Class XII examination conducted by their Boards in applicable categories. Admission to NITs will be based on 40% weightage for performance in Class XII Board marks normalized on percentile basis and the remainder 60% weightage would be given for performance in JEE-MAIN and a combined AIR would be decided accordingly.

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

Signle Entrance Exam for IITs

With a view to reducing the burden, in terms of time, finances and the stress caused in scheduling and preparing for multiple entrance examinations, on both, the students and parents, the Council of Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs) had, in its meeting on 14.09.2011, endorsed ‘in-principle’ the proposal of a Common Entrance Examination for admission to undergraduate programmes in Engineering.

Based on the discussions held amongst the various stakeholders, including those from the IIT system, it has been decided to hold a Joint Entrance Examination from the year 2013 for admission to the undergraduate programmes in engineering in two parts, JEE-MAIN and JEE-ADVANCED. Only the top 1,50,000 candidates (including all categories) based on the performance in JEE-MAIN will qualify to appear in the JEE Advanced examination. Admission to IITs will be based only on category-wise All Indian Rank (AIR) in JEE-ADVANCED, subject to condition that such candidates are in the top 20 percentile of successful candidates in Class XII examination conducted by their Boards in applicable categories. Admission to NITs will be based on 40% weightage for performance in Class XII Board marks normalized on percentile basis and the remainder 60% weightage would be given for performance in JEE-MAIN and a combined AIR would be decided accordingly.

This information was given by the Minister of State for Human Resource Development , Shri E. Ahamed in a written reply to a question in the Rajya Sabha today 0n 7th September

e-Governance in Panchayats

Under the National e-Governance Plan (NeGP), the Ministry of Panchayati Raj has formulated a project namely e-Panchayat Mission Mode Project (MMP) that addresses core aspects of Panchayats’ functioning viz. Planning, Monitoring, Implementation, Budgeting, Accounting, Social Audit etc. with the aim to make their functioning more efficient, accountable and transparent. Under the e-Panchayat MMP, 11 Core Common Software Applications (reduced from initial 12 due to merger of two Applications) namely, PRIASoft, PlanPlus, National Panchayat Portal, Local Governance Directory, Area Profiler, ServicePlus, Asset Directory, ActionSoft, Social Audit, Trainings Management and GIS, collectively constitute the Panchayat Enterprise Suite (PES). These PES Applications are based on open source.

State Governments have been regularly advised to adopt these Applications. Four of these Applications namely PRIASoft, PlanPlus, National Panchayat Portal and Local Governance Directory have been adopted by States and can be accessed at http://accountingonline.gov.in, http://planningonline.gov.in, http://panchayat.gov.in and http://panchayatdirectory.gov.in respectively. Six other Applications (except GIS which is in development stage) were also launched on 24th April, 2012 on the occasion of National Panchayat Day and are in the process of adoption by the States. A Training Plan for six months has been shared with all States/UTs to train officials on PES Application during this year.

PRIASoft (web based Panchayat accounting software) and PlanPlus (web based participatory Planning software) are the two important Applications under e-Panchayat MMP that foster transparency and accountability in Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs). PRIASoft has been adopted by sixteen States and one Union Territory upto 2011-12. States like Gujarat, Kerala, West Bengal and Karnataka having their own accounting softwares, have also been advised to map their respective software Applications with PRIASoft. PlanPlus has been adopted by twenty-three States upto 2011-12.

M/o Panchayati Raj deals only with State Governments and has been regularly advising for increased adoption of these Applications which would enhance transparency, accountability and credibility of the Panchayati Raj Institutions.

This information was given by the Minister of Panchayati Raj, Shri V. Kishore Chandra Deo in a written reply in the Rajya Sabha today on 5th September

Healthcare for Women in Minority Dominated Areas

Women residing in minority areas are as susceptible to various diseases as women residing in other areas irrespective of religious affiliations or minority status.

Government have initiated various programmes/schemes for improving the health of women in the country. These schemes, inter-alia include Janani-Shishu Suraksha Karyakram (JSSK) and Janani Suraksha Yojana (JSY). The Janani-Shishu Suraksha Karyakram (JSSK) entitles all pregnant women delivering in public health institutions in both rural and urban areas to absolutely free and no expense delivery including caesarean section; free diagnostics; free blood where required; free transportation to and fro between home and health facility as also, between institutions in case of referral. This facility is also available to sick neonates. The Janani Suraksha Yojana (JSY) is a safe motherhood intervention being implemented with the objective of reducing maternal and neo-natal mortality by promoting institutional delivery. JSY integrates cash assistance with delivery and post-delivery care to the eligible poor pregnant women. Other services provided to women free of cost in public health facilities include safe abortion, STI/RTI contraceptives & sterlization, etc. Women are also given focused attention under various disease control programmes like National Vector Borne Disease Control programme, Revised National Tuberculosis Control programme, National Leprosy Control Programme and National Blindness Control Programme.

The above information was given by the Union Minister for Health & Family Welfare Shri Ghulam Nabi Azad in a written reply in the Rajya Sabha today.