Constitutional Amendment bill passed with huge consensus in Rajya Sabha

Rajya Sabha passed 5 Bills and Lok Sabha2 bills during the week

The passing of the Constitution (One Hundred and Twenty Second Amendment) Bill, 2014 relating to Goods & Services Tax (GST) by huge consensus in the Rajya Sabha was the hallmark of the third week of Monsoon Session of Parliament. The amendments made by Rajya Sabha in the Constitution (One Hundred and Twenty Second Amendment) Bill, 2016 as passed by Lok Sabha and as reported by the Select Committee of Rajya Sabha, have been now laid on the Table of the Lok Sabha and will be taken up by the House next week.

            The Rajya Sabha passed five more Bills during the last week which included Institutes of Technology (Amendment) Bill, 2016; Benami Transactions (Prohibition) (Amendment) Bill, 2016; Indian Medical Council (Amendment) Bill, 2016; Dentists (Amendment) Bill, 2016, and National Institutes of Technology, Science Education and Research (Amendment) Bill, 2016. All these Bills have already been passed by the Lok Sabha. The Upper House, during the week, also held discussions on developments in States of Uttarakhand and Arunachal Pradesh leading to change in the Governments there and role of Governors in respective States, and also on alleged diversion of money from Employees Provident Fund to Stock Market.

            The Lok Sabha, during the third week of the session, passed the Enforcement of Security, Interest and Recovery of Debts, Loss and Miscellaneous Provisions (Amendment) Bill, 2016. It also voted in full the Supplementary Demands for Grants (General) 2016 – 17 and passed the relevant Appropriation (No 3) Bill, 2016. The House also held discussions on Sustainable Development Goals, and Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana.

During the forthcoming week of the Session, Lok Sabha will take up the Central Agricultural University (Amendment) Bill, 2016, the Employee's Compensation (Amendment) Bill, 2016, the Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Bill, 2016, the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill, 2016, and the High Courts (Alteration of Names) Bill, 2016. It will also consider the amendments made by Rajya Sabha in the Enemy Property (Amendment and Validation) Bill, 2016, as passed by Lok Sabha, after it is passed by Rajya Sabha.  The Mental Health Care Bill, 2013, after it is passed by Rajya Sabha, may also be taken up by the House.

In the Rajya Sabha, the Mental Health Care Bill 2013 and the Enforcement of Security Interest and Recovery of Debts Laws and Miscellaneous Provisions (Amendment) Bill, 2016 will be taken up. The Enemy Property (Amendment and Validation) Bill, 2016, as passed by Lok Sabha and as reported by Select Committee will be taken up by the Rajya Sabha. Time has also been allotted for the following Bills which are likely to be taken up by the House after passing in the Lok Sabha – the Central Agricultural University (Amendment) Bill, 2016; the Employee’s Compensation (Amendment) Bill, 2016; the Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Bill, 2016; and the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill, 2016, the High Courts (Alteration of Names) Bill, 2016.  Consideration and return of the Appropriation(No. 3) Bill, 2016  relating to Supplementary Demands for Grants (General) for 2016-17, as passed by Lok Sabha, will also come up before the House.

Introduction of New Train service between Vijaywada Dharmavaram (Tri-weekly)

            The Indian Railways, (as per Minutes provide by South Central Railway) going to introduces a Over-Night train viz. 17215/17216 Vijayawada-Dharmavaram (Tri Weekly service). 

            The abstract schedule including timings; composition, stoppages etc. of the train services to be introduced are as under:

17215 BZA-DMM		↓	STATION	↑	17216 DMM-BZA
23.10		D	VIJAYWADA	A	06.50
00.00	00.05	A/D	GUNTUR	A/D	05.40	05.45
05.45	05.50	A/D	NANDYAL	A/D	00.05	00.10
10.00	10.02	A/D	ANANTAPUR	A/D	19.00	19.02
10.45		A	DHARMAVARAM	D	17.50
EX-BZA: MON,WED & SAT					EX-DMM: TUE,THU & SUN
510 KM			DISTANCE	510 KM
44.08 KMPH			SPEED	39.46 KMPH

Primary Maintenance: Vijaywada (R/BPC).      OEM; Dharmavaram

Days of run:

            Ex-Vijayawada – Monday, Wednesday, & Saturday

            Ex-Dharmavaram – Tuesday, Thursday and Sunday.

One-way Distance:

510 Kms.

Stoppages:

Guntur, Narsaraopet, Vinukonda, Markapur Road, Giddalur, Nandyal, Dhone Gooty,Anantpur .

Composition of regular service:

            SLR=2, 3AC=2, 2AC=1, Sleeper=6 (Total= 11 COACHES)

Make‘Vanam-Manam’ a people's movement: APCM

Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu, in a teleconference, urged people to come forward and participate in large numbers in the ‘Vanam-Manam’ programme scheduled to take place on the 29th of this month.

“One crore saplings will be planted on the 29th. I urge 5 crore people to take part in this programme. Let us increase the green cover in AP by 50%. Join us to turn Andhra Pradesh into Haritha Andhra Pradesh”, the CM said.

The Chief Minister asked the team leaders to monitor plant growth on a regular basis. Besides this, he called for geo-tagging of saplings to protect them.

Appealing the business community and NGO’s to take part in the Vanam Manam programme, the CM asked them to lend support by donating ‘Tree Guards’ in order to protect the saplings and young plants from wind.

Works such as tree plantation, Panta Sanjeevani and construction of CC roads should go on without any pause and works of Neeru Chettu should pick up pace the CM said.

He called for proper utilization of material component funds of Rs. 635 crores granted to take up CC road construction, Panta Sanjeevani, Neeru Chetu. 

“Suitable plan should be drafted to utilise eight thousand crores sanctioned under NREGA. Horticulture works should be accelerated,” the CM suggested.
He later appealed to all the officials from the highest cadre to the lowest cadre to take responsibility to ensure smooth flow of the administration without any breaks at any level.

He advised the NGO’s to construct ‘Soak Pits’ in villages and towns to allow water to soak into the ground. Soak pits will help absorb groundwater and thereby increase its levels the CM said.

Calling for proper coordination among the villages and departments the CM ordered the officials to set up district and department dashboards to monitor their performances and to get real-time updates.

The CM asked the officials to search for other areas, besides command and noncommand area, which can be irrigated and is fit to implement NTR Jala Siri.

Expressing his disappointment on the slow pace of works in the construction of Anganwadi centers, Vermicompost plants, and individual household toilets, he instructed the officials to speed up the process and achieve the targets set under various schemes by the end of this year.

“There is nothing that a man cannot achieve. Officials and staff at all levels should work happily. Through the use of teleconference, video conference, and the internet, the administration is made easy and will help to deliver services to the public in a transparent manner,” the CM said.

The Chief Minister used the Chain metaphor to explain the working of the administration. He said that the slightest break in the chain will affect the whole administration and will bring the system to a standstill. 

The teleconference was attended by 4,600 officials, public representatives, and other officials.

APCM launches 100 Mee Seva centres

In order to provide public services to citizens in a more transparent way, Chief Minister of N.Chandra Babu Naidu ,launched 100 mee Seva centres. The Andhra Pradesh Government will have MeeSEVa centres in all panchayats.It is part of the national good governance initiative of  e Gov plan.

Cabinet approves amendment in the Benami Transactions (Prohibition) amendment Bill, 2015

The Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has given its approval for introducing amendments to the Benami Transactions (Prohibition) (Amendment) Bill, 2015 in Parliament.

The amendments aim to strengthen the Bill in terms of legal and administrative procedure so as to overcome the practical difficulties which may arise in the implementation of the provisions of the Bill when it becomes an Act.

The legislation is also intended to effectively prohibit benami transactions and consequently prevent circumvention of law through unfair practices. It empowers the Government to confiscate benami property by following due procedure. It therefore promotes equity across all citizens. However, those who declare their benami properties under income declaration scheme will get immunity under the Benami Act. 

Pavitrasangamam

Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu performed a puja at the Krishna-Godavari confluence point called the "Pavitrasangamam".  He told that this place will be developed as Tourist spot

Steps to Check Corporal Punishment in Schools

Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education (RTE) Act, 2009, prohibits ‘physical punishment’ and ‘mental harassment’ under Section 17(1) and makes it a punishable offence under Section 17(2). The National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) and the State Commissions for Protection of Child Rights (SCPCRs) have been entrusted with the task of monitoring children’s right to education under Section 31 of the RTE Act, 2009. The State Governments under their RTE Rules have also notified Block/District level grievance redressal agencies under the RTE Act. This Ministry has also issued Guidelines/Advisory dated 26.03.2014 under Section 35(1) of the RTE Act, 2009 to all the States and Union Territories for elimination of Corporal Punishment in Schools.

The Affiliation Byelaws of the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) empower the School Managing Committee to place an employee under suspension if charged with cruelty with any student or employee of the school. CBSE has also issued guidelines to schools for ensuring an atmosphere free from fear in each affiliated school.

Since majority of the schools are within the purview of the State Governments, no centralized data on corporal punishment is maintained by this Ministry. However, CBSE does receive sporadic complaints of corporal punishment against independent schools affiliated with it. CBSE received 10 such complaints during the year 2015, which included 4 from Madhya Pradesh and 1 each from Assam, Rajasthan, Haryana, Jammu & Kashmir, Delhi and Chhattisgarh. In the year 2016, there were 7 complaints, including 2 from Madhya Pradesh and 1 each from Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Tamil Nadu and Delhi. CBSE takes up such complaints with the concerned School Management Committee for appropriate action.

This information was given by the Union Human Resource Development Minister, Sh.Prakash Javadekar today in a written reply to a Lok Sabha question. 

Three State CM's at INNOPROM 2016

Pankaj Saran, Ambassador of India to the Russian Federation called on the three Chief Minister’s who are heading their delegations from their respective states.

Shri N. Chandrababu Naidu, Shri Devendra Fadnavis, and Smt. Vasundhara Raje, Chief Minister’s of Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra and Rajasthan respectively, embarked on a visit to Yekaterinburg to take part in this year’s INNOPROM 2017.

Ministry of Commerce and Industry Smt. Nirmala Sitharaman was also present.

India is the partner country for this year’s trade fair. Last year it was China, and Japan will be the partner country for the next year’s INNOPROM 2017.

Pankaj Saran, Ambassador of India to the Russian Federation gave a presentation on the Russian Economic and Political scene.

He said that India is important to Russia politically economically.

Later, the delegation from India moved to the opening ceremony of INNOPROM 2016.

A film describing this year’s theme of INNOPROM 2016, ‘Industry and Internet’ was screened.

The film highlighted that 3D printing and digital design are the emerging areas that the world is now moving to.

While Mr. Denis Manturov, Russian Trade and Industry Minister welcomed the gathering he mentioned that India is represented by 110 industrial establishments.

He said that 3000 delegates from China were present to take part in this year’s INNOPROM 2016, while participation from Italy was significant.

“There are 150 different events in the next four days. The World is now transitioning to a new industrial revolution. The fourth industrial revolution will happen by 2020 and the industrial sector will see 500 billion dollars,” the trade minister said.

Mentioning that the revolution in the industrial sector would transform industry and manufacturing sectors, he said that those countries that don't participate in this revolution will be left behind.

“This meet will give you a great platform for networking and exchange of business and ideas,” he concluded.
To mark India’s participation as a partner country, several Indian classical dance forms were performed.

Later the Minister for Commerce Smt. Nirmala Sitharaman addressed the gathering on behalf of the partner country, India.

Extending a warm welcome on behalf of Government of India, she said that by being a partner country India is underlining a deep relationship with Russia.

She mentioned to the gathering that in spite global slowdown India has registered a growth rate of 7.6 percent, and under the able leadership of Prime Minister Shri. Narendra Modi we hoped to achieve more growth rate this year.

Remarking that Russia is the largest importer of Indian engineering goods, she hoped that Indian industrialists will forge good relations with the industrialists from across the globe.

“Both our countries have decided to liberalize business travel between the two countries. We are committed to increasing our bilateral trade to thirty billion dollars by 2030. Investment needs to reach its potential in both the countries,” the Commerce Minister said.

She noted that while Indian investments in Russia amount to 8 billion, Russian investment in India is 3 billion and added that it could grow much more.

The Commerce Minister invited Russian business persons to come to India and showcase their products.

Later, Mr. Evgeny Kuivashev, Governor of Sverdlovsk Region addressed the gathering and invited the delegates to visit his province.

He recollected the words of the Father of the Nation, Mahatma Gandhi who said: “If you want to change the world you be that change”.

He added that there are a lot of opportunities in the sector such as Pharma, IT technology, Minerals etc for investments.

He wished that INNOPROM remains a memorable event.

“My province should remain in your memory,” he concluded.
500 speakers will participate in 150 events will participate in this year’s INNOPROM.

Finance, urbanization, IT, and manufacturing are the four forums for this year’s INNOPROM.

Later, a formal dinner was hosted by the Governor to the delegates.

IIT, Mumbai chooses khadi as their Convocation robe

IIT, Mumbai chooses Khadi as their Convocation robe. After Gujarat University now khadi has also made a niche in the hearts of authorities of premiere Indian Institute of Technology, Mumbai. Appeal and popularity of Khadi has fascinated them to place an order for 3,500 uttarias or angavastrams made of honey comb towel cotton Khadi for use by students at the time of Institute’s convocation. It is a significant development and this shows that Khadi is gaining ground in every sphere of life. IIT, Mumbai Director Prof Devang Khakhar said that Khadi is our national symbol and we have adopted Khadi to inculcate feeling of Nationalism in the students.

Solar Mamas

A group of about 30 “solar mamas” from Tanzania and a few other African countries demonstrated their skills in fabrication, repair and maintenance of solar lanterns and household lighting systems to the Prime Minister Narendra Modi. They also presented their honey-extraction and stitching practices and sung a song “we shall overcome”.

Barefoot College, Tilonia (Rajasthan) has been promoting and training rural women solar engineers (solar mamas) from Africa in fabrication, installation, use, repair and maintenance of solar lanterns and household solar lighting under Government of India supported programmes. They have set up a Barefoot women vocational training college in Zanzibar Islands of Tanzania and other countries in Africa for imparting solar electrification skills (training) and distributing solar kits to trainees. These colleges also support various entrepreneurial skills such as bee-keeping, tailoring, etc. The solar mamas have fabricated and installed solar kits, and now maintain these solar electrification systems in their communities

Improving Night Schools and Zilla Parishad Schools is our priority” – Javadekar.

Union HRD Minister visits Night School in Dadar, Mumbai

Close on the heels of assuming charge as the Human Resources Development Minister, Shri Prakash Javadekar on Saturday evening paid a visit to the Gopal Krishna Gokhale Night School in Dadar, Mumbai and interacted with the students studying there.

“Education is essential for upliftment,  I sincerely salute the spirit of these poor students, who are pursuing education in night schools, after putting in 8-10 hours of hard work during the day”  Shri Javadekar said.  He said education should be inclusive and no one should be left behind. He described night schools to be among the important institutions helping make education inclusive and asserted that Government’s top priority will be to improve the conditions of night schools and zilla parishad schools.

“After meeting you, my will to work for you has strengthened. PM Narendra Modi says work for the dailts, underprivileged and backward classes. We will study the problems of night schools and will do whatever is possible for them” Shri Javadekar said.   He added that since he himself has studied in a Zilla Parishad School, he is in a good position to  understand their problems and challenges  The Union Minister assured the students and the teachers that he would ask Maharashtra Education Minister Vinod Tawde to do his best to improve the infrastructure in nights schools and municipal schools.

School authorities told the minister that they have been having 100  per cent result for the last four years.  Mumbai, the commercial capital, has a well developed infrastructure of night schools, where over 15,000 students, aged 15 and above are enrolled for Class 8 upwards.  The city also boasts of many success stories in the form of night school students who went on to succeed as entrepreneurs, particularly in the hotel business.

Kharif crop sowing crosses 406 lakh hectare area

           The total sown area as on 8^th July, 2016 as per reports received from States, stands at 406.27 lakh hectare as compared to 431.82 lakh hectare at this time last year.

            It is reported that rice has been sown/transplanted in 81.93 lakh ha, pulses in 45.94 lakh ha, coarse cereals in 75.02 lakh ha, oilseeds in 82.28 lakh ha, sugarcane in 45.78 lakh hectare and cotton in 67.89 lakh ha.

             The details of the area covered so far and that covered during this time last year are given below:

                                                                                                                              Lakh hectare 

Crop	Area sown in 2016-17	Area sown in 2015-16
Rice	81.93	77.31
Pulses	45.94	36.44
Coarse Cereals	75.02	77.80
Oilseeds	82.28	101.15
Sugarcane	45.78	43.68
Jute & Mesta	7.43	7.61
Cotton	67.89	87.83
Total	406.27	431.82

Air Conditioned Coach developed for DEMU Train

Indian Railways has developed the first ever air conditioned coach (car)for its DEMU trains. Till now the existing DEMU trains consisted only of non-air conditioned coaches. The first ever AC coach has been manufactured at Indian Railways’ Chennai based Integral Coach Factory (ICF). Existing 8-coach DEMU train will have 2 such newly developed AC coaches. Soon such DEMU trains will be rolled out for passenger services. Integral Coach Factory (ICF) has planned to roll out 4 DEMU train sets each provided with two AC coaches. Further manufacture of these trains will be based on the feedback from users.

These air conditioned coaches are provided with 5 comfortable reclining cushioned chairs arranged in each row(2*3 confg) with total capacity to seat 73 passengers. The interior furnishing of these AC coaches is similar to that of intercity AC express train coaches. All AC coaches are equipped with environment friendly bio-toilets. Indian Railways presently run three type of DEMU trains namely: 6- coach DEMU train with 700 hp, 8- coach DEMU train with 1400 hp and 10- coach DEMU train with 1600 hp.