Tuesday, February 26, 2013
e-Governance of Panchayats
The Ministry of Panchayati Raj has been reviewing the implementation of the E-Panchayat Mission Mode Project (MMP) in
the review meetings which are held from time to time to monitor the progress of the Project.
Two important Applications under e-Panchayat Mission
Mode Project (MMP) that foster transparency and accountability
in Panchayati Raj Institutions are PRIASoft (web based Panchayat
accounting software) and PlanPlus (web based participatory
planning software).
Ministry of Panchayati Raj is implementing the e-Panchayat
Mission Mode Project (MMP) that addresses all core aspects of
Panchayats’ functioning viz. Planning, Monitoring,
Implementation, Budgeting, Accounting, Social Audit, etc. Under
e-Panchayat MMP, 11 Core Common Software Applications
(reduced from 12 due to merger of two Applications) are
envisaged which collectively constitute the Panchayat Enterprise
Suite (PES). Four of these Applications namely PRIASoft,
PlanPlus, National Panchayat Portal and National Panchayat
Directory (now renamed Local Governance Directory) have been
adopted by the States since two years. Six more Applications
namely Area Profiler, ServicePlus, Asset Directory, ActionSoft
Introduction of New Drug Policy
The government has notified the NationalPharmaceutical Pricing Policy, 2012 (NPPP-2012) where it has also been proposed to regulate and control the prices of National List of Essential Medicines- 2011.
The salient features of National Pharmaceutical Pricing Policy, 2012 (NPPP- 2012) are as under:
• The regulation of prices of drugs is on the basis of essentiality of drugs as under National List of Essential Medicines– 2011.
• The regulation ofprices of drugs is on the basis of regulating the prices of formulations only.
• The regulation of prices of drugs is on the basis of fixing the ceiling price of formulations through Market Based Pricing
(MBP).
The provisions under National Pharmaceuticals Pricing Policy- 2012 (NPPP- 2012), are to put in place a regulatory framework for pricing of essential drugs as per the strength and dosages as specified in National List of
Essential Medicines- 2011 which satisfy the priority healthcare needs to majority of the population.
Gender Budgeting
The Government has adopted Gender Budgeting based on the recommendations of the Expert Group on classification system of Government transactions constituted by the Ministry of Finance under the Chairmanship of the Chief Economic Advisor to
Government of India.
December, 2004 to establish a ‘Gender Budgeting Cell (GBC)’. The GBCs have been formed with the objective of influencing and effecting a change in the Ministry’s policies, programmes in a way that could tackle gender imbalances, promote gender equality and development. On 8th March 2007, the Ministry of Finance also issued a Charter for Gender Budget Cells (GBCs) outlining the composition of GBCs and their functions.
The following steps are being taken by the Government in the sphere of Gender Budgeting:
i. Since 2005, the Ministry of Womenand Child Development (MWCD) along with the Ministry of Finance has been pursuing with various Ministries/Departments for setting up of GBC As per information available, so far 56 Central Ministries/Departments set up GBCs.
ii. As part of the Union Budget, every year, since 2005-06, a Gender Budget Statement 20 is prepared by the Ministry of Finance, which reflects 30% and above allocations made for women by different Ministries / Departments. In
2012-13, an allocation of `88,142.80 crores in relation to 29Ministries/ Departments wasreported in the GB Statement.
iii. Further in order to strengthen the process of gender budgeting, the Ministry of Women and Child Development has been undertaking various capacity building measures for officials of Central, State Governments and various stakeholders. A Gender Budgeting Plan Scheme was launched during 2007-08 to this effect. The Ministry has also developed a Gender
Budgeting Handbook for Government of India Ministries &Departments and a Gender Budgeting Manual for Trainers. The Ministry has also undertaken one-to-one sessions with several departments to promote Gender
Budgeting.
Integrated Child Protection Scheme
The Government, in the Ministry of Women and Child Development,
has introduced in 2009-10, the Integrated Child Protection Scheme
(ICPS) for implementation throughout the country with the objective
of creating a protective environment for children, especially those in
difficult circumstances. The Scheme requires signing of Memorandum
of Understanding (MoU) with States/UTs before implementation. All
States and Union Territories, except Jammu & Kashmir, have signed
the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Central
Government for implementation of the Scheme. ICPS has not been
introduced in the State of Jammu & Kashmir as the State Government
has to amend its Juvenile Justice Act to bring it in line with the
provisions of the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children)
Act, 2000 enacted by the Central Government. The Ministry of
Women and Child Development has taken up the matter with the State
Government of Jammu & Kashmir to amend its JJ Act expeditiously.
NCL Among 50 Most Caring Companies
Northern Coalfields Ltd, a Mini Ratna company and subsidiary of Maha Ratna Company Coal India Ltd, has bagged the award of “50 Most Caring Companies of India” in the World Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) congress 2013 held in
Mumbai on February 18, 2013 on world’s CSR Day.
NCL’s Director (Personnel) Ms Shanti Lata Sahoo received the award on behalf of the company consisting of a trophy and a citation. The award was conferred on NCL for its good corporate citizenship and company’s endeavors to promote partnership between the Business and Social Welfare Sectors.
The World CSR Congress brings over 130 countries under one roof to unite the best and celebrate leadership in building
a better society and making better world.
The theme of Congress was “Possible to Do Well by Doing Good”.
Government Schemes to Fight Malnutrition
The Government has accorded high priority to the issue of malnutrition especially among children and women including young girls and is implementing several schemes/programmes through schemes/programmes
Development Services (ICDS),
National Rural Health Mission (NRHM),
Mid-Day Meal Scheme,
Rajiv Gandhi Scheme for Empowerment of Adolescent Girls (RGSEAG) namely SABLA,
Indira Gandhi Matritva Sahyog Yojana IGMSY
Indirect targeted as follows-
Targeted Public Distribution System (TPDS),
National Horticulture Mission,
National Food Security Mission,
Mahatma Gandhi National Rular Employement Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS),
Nirmal Bharat Abhiyan,
National Rural Drinking Water Programme etc.
schemes have potential to address one or other aspect of Nutrition.
The main schemes/programmes of Ministry of Women and Child Development which have a bearing on the nutritional status includes the Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) Scheme which provides a package of six services namely supplementary nutrition, pre-school education, nutrition & health education, immunization, health check-up and referrl
universalised with effect from 2008-09.
sanctioned Projects are 7076 and Anganwadi
(including Mini AWCs and Anganwadi on demand) are 13.71 lakhs. Against this there are 7025 operational projects and 13.31 lakh operational AWCs as on January 2013. The services are currently availed by 927.65 lakh beneficiaries which include 746.81 lakh children (6 months to 6 years) and 180.84 lakh pregnant and lactating mothers.
Rajiv Gandhi Scheme for Empowerment of Adolescent Girls (RGSEAG), or Sabla provides a package of services including health and nutrition to adolescent girls in the age 11- 18 years (with a focus on out-of-school adolescent girls) in 205 districts on a pilot basis. The scheme has two major components i.e. Nutrition and Non Nutrition Component. The beneficiaries in 2011-12 were 100.77 lakhs and during 2012-13 are 88.49 lakhs so far.
Indira Gandhi Matritva Sahyog Yojana (IGMSY), introduced in 2010, is a Conditional Cash Transfer scheme for pregnant and lactating (P&L) women to contribute to better enabling environment by providing cash incentives
health and nutrition to pregnant and nursing mothers.
scheme is being implemented initially on pilot basis in 53 selected districts. The beneficiaries in 2011-12 were 3.05 lakhs and during 2012-13 are 3.76 lakhs so far.
Department
by
scheme
Meal
day
Mid
The
Education and Literacy has a provision for providing hot cooked mid day meal to children studying in class I to VIII in Government, Government aided, local body schools as well as children studying in the National Child Labour Project (NCLP) schools, Education Guarantee Scheme (EGS), Alternative and
and
centres
(AIE)
Education
Innovative
Maqtabs supported under SSA etc. It is a world’s largest school feeding programme and covers more than 11 crore children in 12.63 lakh institutions in the country.
The National Rural Health Mission (NRHM) and under its umbrella, the Reproductive and Child Health Programme, seeks to improve the availability of and access to quality health care including Maternal and Child Health services particularly to rural population throughout the country. Some of the key steps undertaken through this programme
Promotion of institutional deliveries through Janani Suraksha Yojana ; Capacity building of health care providers in basic
Name Based Tracking of
and comprehensive obstetric care;
Pregnant Women; Antenatal, Intranatal and Postnatal care including Iron and Folic Acid supplementation to pregnant & lactating women for prevention and treatment of anaemia; Janani Shishu Suraksha Karyakaram (JSSK) ( launched on 1 st June, 2011) which entitles all pregnant women delivering in public health institutions to absolutely free and no expense delivery including Caesarean section ; Village Health and Nutrition Days in rural areas as an outreach activity, for provision of maternal and child health
Operationalisation of sub-centers, Primary Health Centers, Community Health Centres and District
providing 24x7 basic and comprehensive
services. So far, 8.8 lakh Accredited Social Health Activist (ASHAs) have been engaged to interface with the community, more than 5 lakh village health Sanitation and Nutrition Committees (VHSNCs) have been established,
medical units have been provided in 459 districts for delivery of health care.
Recently Government has approved the strengthening and restructuring of ICDS with special focus on pregnant and lactating mothers and children under three. The restructured and strengthened ICDS will be rolled out in three phases with focus on the 200 high burden districts for malnutrition during 2012-13 and additional 200 districts in 2013-14
districts from the special category States and NER and the remaining districts in 2014-15.
Additionally, Government has launched an Information, Education and Communication (IEC) Campaign
malnutrition for generating awareness on key nutrition issues with the pro-bono services of Shri Aamir Khan.
Monday, February 25, 2013
Restructured and Strengthened ICDS
In order to address various programmatic, management and institutional gaps and to meet administrative
operational challenges that had crept the ICDS over the years, Government approved the proposal for Strengthening and Restructuring of ICDS Scheme with an
allocation of Rs. 1,23,580 crore during 12th Five Year Plan. The Administrative Approvals in this regard have since been issued to the States/UTs.
The key features of Strengthened and Restructured ICDS inter-alia include addressing the gaps and challenges with
(a) special focus on children under 3 years and pregnant and lactating mothers;
(b) strengthening and repackaging of services including , care and nutrition counseling services and care of severely underweight children;
(c) a provision for an additional Anganwadi Worker cum Nutrition Counselor for focus on children under 3 years of age and to improve the family contact, care
counseling for P&L Mothers in the selected 200 high-burden districts across the country, besides having provision of link worker, 5% Anganwadi cum crèche centre;
(d) focus on Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE);
(e) forging strong institutional and
convergence particularly, at the district, block and village levels;
(f) introduction of Annual Programme Implementation Plan (APIP);
(g) improving Supplementary Nutrition including cost revision; and construction for provision
(h) buildings of Anganwadi centres; resources financial adequate allocating
(i) components including Monitoring and Information System (MIS) Training and use of Information and communication technology (ICT);
(j) to put ICDS in a mission mode etc., and
(k) revision of some financial norms etc.
Friday, February 22, 2013
Upsc mains 2012 result out civil Services Examination (lAS)
UPSC announced the result of Civil Services (IAS) exam written
(Mains) results today on 22nd February 2013. About 2674 candidates
qualified for the interview which is about 2.5 times the total vacancies
this year, listed as 1037 in the 2012 notification. Personality Test
(Interview) will commence from 4th March 2013. As the number of
vacancies is quite large, candidates have reason to be hopeful. All the
best.
Thursday, February 21, 2013
IAF Displays its Fire Power at IRON FIST2013
IRON FIST – 2013 was conceived as a visible demonstration of not only the deterrent and joint war fighting capabilities of the IAF but also a reaffirmation of IAF”s commitment to nation building through its more benign and non kinetic capabilities. February 22, 2013 would witness the Indian Air Force demonstrate its operational capabilities by day, dusk and night at the sprawling facility of the Pokharan Range, the largest air –to-ground weapons firing range for training in delivery of heavy armament, near Jaisalmer, in the arid Rajasthan Sector.
Showcasing more than 30 types of platforms and Weapons Systems amounting to a participation of about 230 aircraft, this Fire Power Display will demonstrate the day and night employability of air power by frontline fighter aircraft of the IAF including - Su-30 MKI, Mirage-2000, Jaguar, MiG-21,MiG-27, MiG-29 and Hawks. The transport aircraft would include – C130J, AN-32, Embraer and IL-76, while Mi-8, Mi-17 1V, the newly inducted Mi-17 V5 and Mi-35 Attack Helicopters will constitute the Rotary Wing ingredients. The Sarang Helicopter Aerobatic Display Team and low level aerobatics by SU-30 aircraft would be the added attraction to the event
The IAF would also be showcasing, for the first time, its Surface to Air Missile Systems like the shoulder fired IGLA, the vehicle mounted and mobile OSA-AK M and the longer range PECHORA. The exercise would also showcase its latest acquisition the Pilatus PC-7 Mk II basic trainer aircraft and Bambi Bucket Operations by Mi-17 V5 helicopter. The events at - Iron Fist intend to display various aspects of Fire Power like- Air Defence Operations, Counter Surface Force Operations, Urban Warfare, Combat Search Rescue Operations, Assault Approach and Landing, Combat Offloading and Short Take off by C-130 J at the Landing Strip prepared at the Range.
Being a display of armament delivery skills by pilots at the end of their training year, this year, for the first time, trainee pilots would be displaying their armament delivery skills flying the Hawk Aircraft. Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) and Light Combat Helicopter (LCH), two of the most prestigious indigenous projects would form a part of the display. In addition, IAF’s Parajumping Team, Akash Ganga, IAF’s Air Warrior Drill Team, Air Warrior Symphony Orchestra would also perform.
Aimed at providing the nation the reassurance that the IAF will deliver whenever called upon, a demonstration of this magnitude is being carried out for the first time by day, dusk and night. The exercise also aids commanders and planners to gain better insight into the potential and deployment capabilities of aerial weapons. Very few air forces in the world can achieve this feat.
Being the Supreme commander of the Armed Forces The Honble President of India would be the chief guest for the event . This year for the first time the Prime Minister of India would also witness this mega event along with the Defence Minister Shri A K Antony.
Monday, February 18, 2013
President presents Indira Gandhi Prize for Peace, Disarmament and Development to Ms Ela Ramesh Bhatt
The President of
India, Shri Pranab
Mukherjee presented
the Indira Gandhi
Prize for Peace,
Disarmament and
Development for the
year 2011 to Ms. Ela
Ramesh Bhatt of Self
Employed Women’s
Association (SEWA) at
Rashtrapati Bhavan
today (February 18,
2013).
Ms. Bhatt created
the Self Employed
Women’s Association
(SEWA) in 1972,
which has a
membership in excess
of 1.3 million. She
also founded the
SEWA Cooperative
Bank in 1974, which
has an outreach of 3
million women. These
simple figures speak
volumes of the
dedicated efforts of
Ms. Bhatt and her
team in successfully
bringing women out
of poverty into a life
of self-confidence and
esteem.
GAIL commissions Dabhol-Bengaluru gas pipeline
State-owned gas utility GAIL India Ltd on
Monday commissioned a Rs. 4,500 crore
pipeline carrying gas from the just
operationalised Dabhol LNG terminal into
Bengaluru that promises to change the
energy landscape of the region.
The 1,000-km pipeline will feed
industries at Belgaum, Dharwad, Gadag,
Bellary, Davanagere, Chitradurga,
Tumkuyr, Ramanagaram and Bengaluru
who have till now been using costlier
and polluting liquid fuels like naphtha
and diesel as feedstock.
Friday, February 8, 2013
Incredible India Promotes Mani Majra
Till last year Mani Majra a small town within the Union
Territory of Chandigarh, was known mainly for being a prosperous
suburb. After the release of the international film “Zero Dark Thirty,”
which was shot in Mani Majra, it has acquired the potential
to attract international tourists keen to see where the
film was shot. The film has received Five Oscar nominations.
India has Tough EMF Radiation Standards: Shri Milind Deora Consultative Committeee Meeting of Ministry of Communication and IT Held
India is one of the very few countries in the world having the toughest EMF Radiation Standards not only for Mobile Towers but also for Mobile handsets from 1st Septemebr’12. The subject of the meeting was Electro Magnetic Field (EMF) Radiation from Mobile Towers & Handsets.
The Department of Telecom gave a presentation on the subject, through which members was informed that based on the recommendations of the Inter Ministerial Committee constituted by DoT in the year 2010, the limiting reference levels of
Electromagnetic radiation from Mobile Towers has been reduced to 1/10th of the limit prescribed by the ICNIRP with
effect form 01.09.2012. It was also informed that the committee has also recommended adoption of Specific
Absorption Rate (SAR) limit to 1.6watt/Kg (averaged over 1 gm of tissue). Thus, all new designs of mobile
handsets are to comply with the SAR level of 1.6 Watt/Kg averaged over a mass of 1 gram tissue w.e.f. 1st September,
2012.
Monday, February 4, 2013
Launch of National programme for Universal Screening of Children
The National Rural Health Mission of the Ministry of Health
and Family Welfare, Government of India
will launch a new initiative of Child
Health Screening and Early Intervention
Services to provide comprehensive care
to all the children. The purpose of these
services is to improve the overall quality of
life of children through early
detection of birth defects, diseases,
deficiencies, development delays
including disability.
Early identification of select health
conditions and their linkage to care,
support and treatment, under
Child Health Screening and Early
Intervention Services
will help to achieve equitable child health
care. In the long run, the programme would
prove economical for the poor and
marginalized through
reducing out of pocket expenditure,
burden of diseases,
improving health
awareness among
community,
improving the
professionalism in
service delivery and
finally strengthening
the public sector
hospitals. This would
lead to promotion of
health among
children which is of
fundamental value to
the entire nation.
Criminal Law (Amendment) Ordinance, 2013 Promulgated (Legislative power of President under the Article 123)
Criminal Law (Amendment) Ordinance, 2013 Promulgated
The President of India has accorded his assent to the Criminal Law (Amendment) Ordinance, 2013 on 3rd February,
Read Full text http://pib.nic.in/newsite/erelease.aspx?relid=91979
--- CONSTITUTION OF INDIA ---
ARTICLE 123: Power of President to promulgate Ordinances during recess of Parliament
123. Power of President to promulgate Ordinances during recess of
Parliament.- (1) If at any time, except when both Houses of Parliament
are in session, the President is satisfied that circumstances exist
which render it necessary for him to take immediate action, he may
promulgate such Ordinances as the circumstances appear to him to
require.
(2) An Ordinance promulgated under this article shall have the same
force and effect as an Act of Parliament, but every such Ordinance-
(a) shall be laid before both Houses of Parliament and shall cease to
operate at the expiration of six weeks from the reassembly of
Parliament, or, if before the expiration of that period resolutions
disapproving it are passed by both Houses, upon the passing of the
second of those resolutions; and
(b) may be withdrawn at any time by the President.
Explanation.- Where the Houses of Parliament are summoned to
reassemble on different dates, the period of six weeks shall be
reckoned from the later of those dates for the purposes of this
clause.
(3) If and so far as an Ordinance under this article makes any
provision which Parliament would not under this Constitution be
competent to enact, it shall be void.
_87* * * * *
Bengaluru Gears up to Host Aero-India 2013
Aero India,
the largest Air
Show in Asia and
one of the world’s
most important
military aviation
exhibitions, is all
set to kick start at
Air Force Station
Yelahanka,
Bengaluru from
the 06 th February
to 10 th February
2013. This
biennial air show
and aviation
exhibition which
is organised by
the Defence
Ministry of India
along with the
Indian Air Force,
Defence Research
and Development
Organisation,
Department of
Space and the
Union Civil
Aviation Ministry
aims at
showcasing the
range of products
and services
offered by the
Indian Defence
Industry in the
international
market. It also
provides an
exposure to Indian
Armed Forces, R &
D personnel and
young engineers,
to the latest
technologies and
advancements in
the Aviation and
Aerospace
Industries.
Sunday, February 3, 2013
National Awards on e-governance
Saturday, February 2, 2013
Water 4 Crops
India and European Union have jointly launched an innovative project that
could transform into a good green business in the near future. The project,
named as ‘Water 4 Crops – India’ was formally launched here at the
International Crops Research Institute for the Semi Arid Tropics (ICRISAT).
The project is aimed at recycling and reuse of waste water that would be
collected from industries and households. Under the project, the ICRISAT,
along with its consortium partners - 22 partners from EU, 12 partners from
India and two investment partners - will be embarking upon recycling
treated waste water (grey water), stretching to a period of four years,
including two years of experimentation and validation.
The Union Department of Bio Technology and six EU countries contributed
Rs 40 crore each for the four-year project.
The Indian consortia include The Energy Research Institute (TERI), National
Environmental Engineering Research Institute (NEERI), Euro India Research
Centre, MS Swaminathan Research Foundation, SABMiller and Jain
Irrigation Systems Ltd.
“The consortium will be working on three types of industrial waste water
mainly from the Charminar Breweries of SABMiller in India in Andhra
Pradesh; Onion and Fruit Processing Plant at JISL, Jalgaon in Maharashtra;
and the sugar factory from Ugar Sugar in Karnataka,” Suhas P. Wani of
ICRISAT, who is leading the Indian consortium, told reporters here on
Tuesday.