14.12.21

Nagaland firing incident proves high time AFSPA is repealed from NE: Irom Sharmila

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Rights activist Irom Sharmila, who was on a 16-year hunger strike against the Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA), feels the recent killing of civilians in firing by security forces in Nagaland should be an eye-opener to repeal the controversial security law from the northeast.

Sharmila said the AFSPA is not only an oppressive regulation, it tantamounts to gross violation of the basic Human Rights.

The AFSPA empowers security forces to conduct operations anywhere and arrest anyone without prior warrant. In the northeast, it is in force in Assam, Nagaland, Manipur (excluding Imphal Municipal Council Area) and some districts of Arunachal Pradesh, bordering Assam.

Assam adjudged third best in disease screening

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Assamachieved the feat of the third best performing state in the category of non-communicable disease and common cancers screening among northeast, hilly and tribal states. The state Health department team, headed by Assam National Health Mission (NHM) director DrLakshmanan S.

NHM Assam was awarded the third rank by the Union ministry of health and family welfare (MoHFW). The central function was held in Delhi in the presence of all states to celebrate the Universal Health Coverage Day, which was organized byMoHFW, GoI and supported by the National Health Systems Resource Centre (NHSRC), Jhpiego and the World Health Organization-India.

Odisha CM Naveen Patnaik launches 2500cr projects for Khurda, Cuttack

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Chief minister Naveen Patnaik on Monday launched projects worth Rs 2,500 crore for Cuttack and Khurda districts.

He launched the distribution of Biju Swasthya Kalyan Yojana (BSKY) cards for the two districts, raising the number of districts covered under the scheme to 26 out of 30. Attending a programme at Bali Jatra ground in Cuttack, Naveen said the BSKY reflects the commitment of the ‘s healthyOdishacampaign. “These BSKY cards will serve the people of Odisha like protective shields,” he said.

Regarding the redevelopment of SCB Medical College and Hospital in Cuttack as a world-class healthcare institution, he said this project will become a milestone in the field for the country.

Govt to ease building laws, says Tamil Nadu CM MK Stalin

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The will roll out deemed approvals for planning permission applications based on self-attestation. It will also launch a single-window system to facilitate planning permission for layouts and housing plots within 60 days.

Making the announcement on Monday, chief minister M KStalinsaid the government was prepared to revive the old laws pertaining to the housing and urban development department in tune with the latest technology and with the aim to simplify functioning of the construction sector. Amendments would be brought to the Town and Country Planning Act, 1971, based on the current urban Growth, he added. The government is poised to makeTamil Nadua slum-free state by 2031. Accordingly, 9.53 lakh houses would be constructed for the poor in the next one decade. So far, the Union Government has approved construction of 6.2 lakh housing units at a financial outlay of 31,179 crore, he said.

The M-sand policy document is already under preparation and will be ready shortly. We will be in a position to have a policy, which will be more sustainable and at the same time ensuring that the prices are kept at reasonable rates. Similarly, a sustainable mining policy is also being prepared, which includes assessing the total available mining capacity.

Kerala: WCD announces Rs 25,000 incentive for child labour alerts

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The Women and child development department has announced Rs 25,000 as incentive to persons giving information on children being used as labourers/workers.
According to the orders issued by the department, an incentive is being promised to any person providing information on children being used for labour. This is mainly aimed to ensure more public participation in the protection of children. The amount will be disbursed if the information passed is confirmed and found to be true. At the district level, information can be passed on to the district WCD officer or the child protection officer.

The informants identity will be kept secret, and the amount will be transferred to the their bank account once the information is verified.

New-age tech to track govt contract vendors

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Amid the kickbacks controversy, the government has decided to use new-age technology to ensure transparency in the tendering process. This is to track every authenticated vendor/contractor before allocating new projects.

Over the years, incomplete or pending public projects have resulted in several private firms being blacklisted from applying for government tenders. Yet, the same companies shift their base to other states to apply afresh for new projects and continue to misuse public funds without adequate expertise or track record, sources say.

Using crypto technology, theCentre for Smart Governancehas developed a vendor blockchain that will keep a chronological record of every vendor/contractor who has registered on theKarnatakae-procurement portal or in any other state, and intends to bid for a project.

The government plans to complete the repository of vendors registered on the e-procurement portal after securing their Consent. Once the vendor agrees to be part of the blockchain, all his records will be available to tender-inviting parties. It will also help the vendor prove his antecedents without having to run from pillar to post for a physical completion certificate and letter of recommendation from his previous employer, said the official.

The CSG will try to get on board other state governments and tender-inviting agencies across the country, so that more stakeholders will utilise the blockchain.

Telangana, AP spar over Dindi lift irrigation scheme in NGT

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and Andhra Pradesh are caught in a legal battle in National Green Tribunal over theDindiLift Irrigation Scheme (DLIS).

While Telangana says it is a drinking water supply scheme, AP filed a counter-affidavit asserting that it is an irrigation project taken up without seeking the environmental clearance (EC).

Telangana irrigation special chief secretary Rajat Kumar in an affidavit said: As on the present stage of construction, filling of the reservoirs, transporting and storing Infrastructure can only be utilised for drinking water and industrial purposes. A separate further plan under next phase as to development of irrigation- related infrastructure would specifically needs to be made.

Amaravati set to be Andhra Pradeshs judicial capital

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The governments decision to clear the proposal for construction of a new building forAP inAmaravatimay be an indication that chief minister YSJaganMohan Reddy is thinking of making it the statesjudicial capital.

Chief JusticePrashant Kumar Mishralaid the foundation stone for the construction of the additional building for the high court on Monday. The new building would come up on the north side of the present complex in three acres.

It may be recalled that the government withdrew the three capitals bills in the assembly last month. At the time, the chief minister said the bills would be reintroduced in a better format but did not elaborate.

The government has granted Rs 33.5 crore to construct the additional building at Nowluru in Amaravati, where the high court is functioning now. The shifting of the high court to Kurnool could have been a long and tedious process involving the nod of the central government, The Supreme Court and the President.

QR code to focus on organ donation

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As part of the ongoing nationwide campaign to pledge organs, theState Organ and Tissue Transplant Organisation(SOTTO) Goa and Student Council of Goa Medical College on Monday pitched in its support.
GMC dean and nodal officer of the transplant programme of Goa, Dr S M Bandekar released a quick response (QR code) to make a pledge as an organ donor.
A single donor can save eight lives through organ donation and the Quality Of Life of 75 persons can be improved through tissue donation.

Maharashtra has maximum beneficiaries under Atmanirbhar Bharat Rojgar Yojana

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As per Minister of State for Labour and EMPLOYMENT, Rameshwar Teli, funds disbursed under Atmanirbhar Bharat Rojgar Yojana (ABRY) amounts to 11 percent of Rs 2612 crores of Rs 22810, which was targeted to be spent till March 31, 2024.

Atmanirbhar Bharat Rojgar Yojana was rolled out during the covid-19 pandemic for generating jobs.

Maharastra has topped the list of states with highest number of beneficiaries.

Maharashtra is by Gujarat, and Karnataka.

Beneficiary Establishments

There are about 1,17,016 beneficiary establishments, under the scheme. It has benefitted 39,72,551 new employees. Central government has set a target to generate 5.85 million formal jobs by march 31, 2022. The Average time to process claims under the scheme was 7.7 days, which decreased from 11.5 days in 2019-20. In Maharashtra, there are 17, 524 beneficiary establishments. Gujarat has 12,379 beneficiary establishments which Karnataka has 8,024 beneficiary establishments.

Atmanirbhar Bharat Rojgar Yojana (ABRY)

This scheme was launched in October 2020 as part of Atmanirbhar Bharat package 3.0.

It was launched to incentivise employers and provide them social security benefits and restore the loss of employment amid the Covid-19 pandemic.

Under the scheme, central government reimburses 24-12 per cent for employees as well as employers for two years, for all new formal jobs which were created in enterprises with up to 1,000 employees.

This scheme is applicable for employees, who are earning less than Rs 15,000 in a month.

The scheme also extended benefits to the workers who had lost jobs during covid pandemic, during March 1, 2020 to September 30.

For enterprises with more than 1,000 workers, reimbursement is fixed to 12% of the employees contribution.