'Committed to Constitution', are you kidding?: Sonia, Rahul among many late-comers on Day 1

How serious are our lawmakers about the Constitution and its maker Dr. B. R Ambedkar, could be gauged by strength of the House on the first day of the winter session? Members from both sides were absent from the Lok Sabha in this morning when it assembled to discuss an important topic of commitment towards the Constitution. 

“All want to score a political mileage, even Congress President Sonia Gandhi and Vice President Rahul Gandhi arrived late in the house so leave about Members of Parliament who were absent from the house in the very first day of session” said a Member of Parliament on condition of anonymity.

In the morning when session was about to begin Prime Minister Narendra Modi walked towards the opposition benches and talked to leaders of Congress, Biju Janta Dal (BJD), Trinmool Congress (TC), Samajwadi Party(SP) , JD(U) and CPM probably in the hope to melt some ice between both the sides. Modi also greeted members of NDA who were seen to be very eager to come in his notice.

In her speech while starting the discussion Speaker Sumitra Mahajan invokes the first President Rajendra Prashad to send the message of tolerance. However, the word intolerance is expected to be most frequently used word in the coming days of Winter Session. Sumitra Mahajan, quoted Rajendra Prasad saying, “We have communal differences, caste differences, language differences, provincial differences and so forth. It requires men of strong character, men of vision, men who will not sacrifice the interests of the country at large for the sake of smaller group and areas and who will rise over the prejudices which are born of these differences. We can only hope that the country will throw up such men in abundances” to send message loud and clear to Government as well as to political leaders.

Later, when Home Minister Rajnath Singh started the discussion from treasury side Congress and other opposition parties showed their intention by interrupting him frequently. Unfazed by them, Singh, used his speech by enumerating Policies and Programs started by the Government to send a message to Voters, who think the centre has failed them.

To fulfill election promise of “house for all by 2022” Government clears more than 2.25 lac houses for urban poor

Bihar’s result has forced Union Government to focus all its efforts in fulfilling the promises made by PM in Lok Sabha election campaign. Today while Union Cabinet has taken major decisions to push development agenda its Ministers have also asked officers to take fast decisions on pending proposals submitted by State Governments.  

In this connection Ministry of Housing & Urban Poverty Alleviation today approved construction of 2,28,204 houses for urban poor in five states of Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Tamil Nadu, Gujarat and Rajasthan for which the central government will provide an assistance of Rs.3,231 cr. Houses for urban poor sanctioned today was based on the proposals made by respective state governments. Proposals of Telangana, Tamil Nadu, Gujarat and Rajasthan were cleared as it is.

         

The inter-ministerial Central Sanctioning and Monitoring Committee (CSMC) chaired by Dr.Nandita Chatterjee, Secretary (HUPA) approved the housing projects after detailed presentations by respective states. Of the houses approved, 2,17,748 were for Economically Weaker Sections (EWS) under Affordable Housing in Partnership (AHP) and Beneficiary led Construction components of the Prime Minister’s Awas Yojana (PMAY). The rest are for Low Income Groups. Under these two components, central assistance @ Rs.1.50 lakh per each house will be provided.

         

Andhra Pradesh has been sanctioned 1,93,147 houses in 37 cities followed by Gujarat with 15,580 houses in 4 cities, Telangana - 10,290 in 10 cities, Rajasthan-6,255 in 10 cities,  and Tamil Nadu-2,932 houses in 5 cities. 

         

In the light of the experience of implementation of housing projects in the past, this time around the Ministry of HUPA has ensured availability of land for all the proposed projects with respective state governments providing land as their share of Affordable Housing in Partnership.

Under PMAY, 2 crore houses for urban poor are to be built by the year 2022 under which the central government will provide assistance in the range of Rs.1.00 lakh to Rs.2.33 lakh depending upon the model followed.

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After Paris attack India to fast track its crime and criminal tracking network system

Close on the heels of dastardly attack on innocent civilians by terrorists in Paris, India has decided to fast track its Project on Crime and Criminal Tracking Network & Systems and completed by  March 2017.

The decision was taken at an union cabinet on economic affairs meeting chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday.

Briefing reporters on the crucial decision Minister of State in Prime Minister Office Jitender Singh said "In light of views expressed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Paris attacks the decision was taken to fast track  and complete the implementation of Crime and Criminal Tracking Network & Systems by 2017."

Condeming the Paris attack, Modi had said: “The world must speak in one voice and act in unison against terrorism, without any political considerations,” he said. “We must isolate those who support and sponsor terrorism; and, stand with those who share our values of humanism.”

Modi stressed the need of an international legal framework and said world leaders should adopt what he called a “comprehensive convention on international terrorism without any delay.” He said cooperation on intelligence and counter-terrorism between nations should increase.

CCTNS aims at creating a comprehensive and integrated system for enhancing the efficiency and effectiveness of policing through adopting of principle of e-Governance and creation of a nationwide networking infrastructure for evolution of IT-enabled-state-of-the-art tracking system around 'Investigation of crime and detection of criminals'. An allocation of Rs. 2000 crores has been made for CCTNS Project including the operational and maintenance cost till 2022.

So far more than 11,000 police station have been brought under CCTNS. Singh said the Centre hopes to network 15,000 police stations by March 2017. 

On completition of project by 2017, 5000 supervisory officers will be deployed to monitor the system.

 (CCTNS) is a plan scheme conceived in the light of experience of a non-plan scheme namely - Common Integrated Police Application (CIPA). CCTNS is a Mission Mode Project under the National e-Governance

The CCTNS plas to make the police functioning citizen friendly and more transparent by automating the functioning of Police Stations, iprove delivery of citizen-centric services through effective usage of ICT, provide the investigating Officers of the Civil Police with tools, technology and information to facilitate investigation of crime and detection of criminals.

Also it is likely to improe police functioning in various other areas such as Law and Order, Traffic Management etc, facilitate interaction and sharing of Information among Police Stations, Districts, State/UT headquarters and other Police Agencies besides keeping track of the progress of Cases, including in Courts and reduce manual and redundant Records keeping.

Besides police departments, police stations and courts other who are being under CCTNS include scientific and technical organizations having databases required for providing assistance and information for investigation and other purposes e.g. Finger Print Bureaux, Forensic Labs etc.

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Inside Story: Why India’s most powerful bureaucrat lobby worried for its pay structure

 

Seventh pay commission is likely to submit its report on 19th of November. Reports are coming out that Central government employees and pensioners are likely to be disappointed as the Commission is expected to propose an approximate 15 per cent hike in salaries starting January 1, 2016. Last time in the 6th Pay Commission the average hike was around 35 percent.

As the news of possible hike in pay has come out, the section which feels most disappointed is India’s most powerful bureaucrat lobby. This has happened first time since the pay commission has started giving its recommendations to Finance Ministry.

Do you know why? The Answer is given by an allied service officer “It is the first time that a non-IAS, a Railway Accounts’ Service officer, is working as a secretary in the 7th Pay Commission. Before this, in the last six commissions, only IAS officers were appointed as Secretary Pay Commission. So they take care of demands and interests of their Cadre.” But this time as the possible structure of pay has come out through sources the clamor for hike and special treatment for IAS officers have been getting lauder and lauder. Meena Agarwal is the secretary of 7th Pay Commission and she is a Railway Accounts’ service officer. She will definitely look after interests of officers of allied services and not that of IAS officers” said the source further.

The recommendation, which will come into effect after getting a Cabinet nod, will impact 50 lakh central government employees and 54 lakh pensioners. “The 15 per cent salary hike likely to be recommended by the 7th Pay Commission will be much lower than the 35 percent hike employees got on the implementation of the 6th Pay Commission in 2008” said the source. A 15 per cent salary increase would push up the central government's salary bill by Rs 25,000 crore, which is 0.2 percent of India's GDP, according to Bank of America Merrill Lynch estimates.

 

This likely hikes in wages will boost the consumption-driven recovery in the domestic economy. Sales of affordable homes and consumer durables such as cars, two-wheelers and other electronic items are likely to pick up, said the analysts. However, salary hikes are also expected to stoke inflation and fiscal pressures. Pay Commissions are meant to review the salary structure of central government employees and are set up every 10 years.

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After onion & pulses, soaring price of tomatoes leave govt red-faced; common man suffers

After onion and pulses, this time tomatoes have worried the Union Government, which finally has come out with a new excuse, this time unprecedented rainfall in southern States.

Sources in the Consumer Affair Ministry said, “Marginal increase in the prices of onions in the past week and in the prices of tomatoes is largely on account of disruption of supplies from the Southern States which have witnessed severe, unprecedented rainfall over the last one week. These increases are expected to be temporary and normal supplies should resume soon.”s

“Prices of tomatoes is largely hitting to common people as its price is hovering around Rupees 40 to 60 per kg,” said a consumer Anil Kumar. Around 15 days back its price was around 20 to 25 Rupees per Kg. Onion prices have also been increased after a short respite. On the other hand, prices of pulses have still not reached to purchasing level of commoners said his wife Anita.

 “The arrivals of the new crops of tomatoes are expected to ease prices. There is a moderate increase in prices during September-December due to demand-supply mismatch. The Government is working closely with the State Governments to ensure that quick action is taken to prevent any abnormal increase in prices and to ensure adequate availability of essential commodities,” said a highly placed source in the Ministry.

A high-level review of the prices of essential commodities and their availability and measures required to be taken is scheduled to be held on 18.11.2015. Besides, reviewing the de-hoarding operations on pulses and steps taken by State Governments to improve the availability of Pulses at reasonable prices, the meeting is expected to also review the progress in the procurement of pulses aimed at building a buffer stock. 

Photo courtesy: fruitworldmedia.com

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Lesson learnt from Bihar: BJP to opt Smriti Irani's face as CM nominee in UP election

The rout in Bihar assembly election has forced BJP to consider and plan a new strategy for Utter Pradesh (UP) assembly election scheduled to be held in 2017.

According to a BJP source, Union HRD minister Smriti Irani might be the face of Party in coming assembly election. She is among a few, whose names are doing rounds. Considering the BJP’s Bihar debacle, reining of UP election is important for party’s future and that of Modi government at the Centre. The party has to increase its strength urgently at Rajya Sabha to give a push to its big-ticket reforms. The numbers in the Rajya Sabha can only be increased by the majority in State assemblies.

Sources aware of the developments taking place fast in the party especially after the Bihar drubbing said, “Irani’s name has been finalized to lead the forthcoming UP poll is almost confirmed, as parent organisation RSS has also given its consent to go ahead with the new strategy as it will serve two purpose for the party.

It will be a befitting reply to those who repeatedly asked questions about Chief Ministerial candidate and Irani as an orator and dexterous leader will steer the campaign in the right direction. In Bihar election, leaders of Mahagathbandhan used to taunt NDA alliance for not naming its candidate for the coveted post of Chief Minister.

Smriti Irani is amongst the firebrand leaders of BJP, who loves to lock horns with the opposition leaders especially if the leader belongs to Nehru-Gandhi dynasty. However, her name is sufficient to create ripples among oppositions in the state as well. “Her oratory skill is magnificent. She could face all odd questions and situation dexterously” said a local leader UP Singh of Allahabad.

“Party in the state is trying to have its own office in each district” said another leader of UP unit. On the directions of Central leadership, the party is trying to purchase land in each district to build its own office. In fact, in some districts units have closed land purchase deals and building process will start in coming days. In remaining district talks with interested parties are in advanced stage. By mid of next year, the party will have own offices in each district of the state.

Modi’s advice on gifts fails to cut ice; Diwali gives officials a free run for gifts

While campaigning before the 2014 Lok Sabha polls, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had assured many times to voters “Na Khaunga Na Kisi Ko Khane Doonga” (Will neither eat nor allow anyone to eat).

However, the corridors of power in Delhi tell a different story altogether ahead of Diwali. Probably, the ministries are unheard of Modi’s advice in coming Diwali festival is entirely different.

“Every third person in the corridor is carrying glittered package of sweets and other gifts along with his boss, who either visits the office of Officers to greet Diwali wishes with gift pack or visit the office of officers to hand over gift for Saheb” said a Class C employee on the condition of anonymity.

If you are an urbanite and have been living in state capitals, you might have experienced the gift culture prior to Diwali, a neo rich style of celebration to welcome Goddess Lakshmi. However, now this “culture of exchanging gifts has become a pre-festival tradition for Central Government Ministries and Offices” said another source who holds responsibility of a seat which does not fetch much gift during Diwali.

Bihar assembly drubbing for NDA have dampened the spirits of the BJP and allies’ Ministers at least for show off purpose but zeal in grade D, C and B services is still high and show no remorse while accepting gifts from visiting clients.

Some high rank officials don’t believe in this culture so less visitors could be seen in their waiting rooms during pre-festival day however some officers prefer to take such “wishes” at their residence to remain out of focus from scanning eyes of IB sleuths, who always roam in the corridors after Modi assumed office at South Block’s PMO.

Common citizens also have to bear the brunt of this gift culture in metros. feel burn of gifting culture especially in Metropolitans. “Long jam on roads on ‘Danteras’ and ‘Narkachturdsi’ has become a routine phenomenon for those who are living in Metros” said Naresh who works as carpenter in Steel Ministry and uses public transport to commute daily. 

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Amid scores of exit polls betting syndicate has revised its arithmetic, BJP no longer its favorite

After the fifth and final phase of Bihar Election, Punters have also revised it tally. Betting Syndicate is now seeing keys of Power in Bihar’s assembly will remain with Nitish Kumar who is also Chief Ministerial Candidate of “Mahagathbandhan” comprises of JD(U), RJD and Congress. On 16 of October, India Samvad had first published the report of Syndicate World where NDA alliance was the favorite among punters. The final figures for betting the world had come after making all permutation and computation combination.

Except one, all exit polls conducted by different agencies along TV channels in different phases of the election had showed a close fight between both the alliances which have locked their horn in Bihar’s battlefield. “The figure shown here for 6th of November is latest. Punters are putting their bets even at this time” said a source, who is aware of betting even at the time of writing this story.

“Betting in this method is entirely different from that of another method, where parties get a particular value and if predictions of punters come true, he gets ten times the money, he had betted.  Here, in this method, if a punter today put, suppose Rs 1000 on ‘no’ of NDA, it means he is predicting less than 114 seats for NDA in the final tally of assembly result. If it comes less than 114 seats, it means he will get Rs 2000 after the result declaration,” said a source who also offers this reporter to put some money in betting without any risk. 

 “It is not correct to say that seats allotted in punters’ world to parties or alliance get reflected in the final result of Election Commission, but it shows a trend of actual voting on ground,” said another punter. In support of his statement, he quoted election of last Delhi assembly election.  Aam Aadmi Party started with 20 seats and went up to 34 seats for betting game. But finally party proved all prediction wrong and got 67 seats in the assembly of 70 seats.

 

The gambling world has got its own network spread across one corner of India to another corner. The punters and bookies have their own method of calculations. Based of which predictions of each party comes and get known to each interested player by 12 o clock every day. In fact, gambling world starts betting from the afternoon and it goes on till midnight.

It is clear by seeing the table, how numbers of BJP is coming down while seats of RJD and JD(U) is 

constantly rising.

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Govt cautions app-based cab operators not to hire drivers with criminal antecedents

The Ministry of Road and Surface Transport has cautioned App and Web-based taxi operators and asked them to follow the government advisory prior hiring drivers.

In an advisory issued three days earlier, the Ministry has “advised not to hire any person who has been convicted within the past seven years of driving under the influence of drugs and alcohol or who has been convicted at any time for any cognizable offense under the Criminal Code of Procedure 1973.”

It has also asked operators not to sign any contract with any person as the driver who was charged with cases of fraud, sexual offenses, use of a motor vehicle to commit a cognizable offense, a crime involving property damage, and/or theft, act of violence or of acts of terror. 

Last month, a Delhi court had convicted Shiv Kumar Yadav, a driver with Uber, in the December 2014 rape case of a woman working with a finance company.

Advisory has also asked operators to hire only those people as drivers for fleets, who hold a Reserve Bank of India (RBI) KYC compliant bank account. The Ministry has issued a directive to the State Transport Department to give the licence to operate on demand transportation technology platform (commonly known as App or web-based taxi operation) to a person or to a company only when they adhere to the terms and conditions set in the advisory.

It has also asked its state counterparts to compel operators to maintain an accurate and up to date recodes of all of the drivers and driver vehicles from the state. Central Ministry in its advisory has also advised to “ensure that the on demand technology transportation aggregators web or mobile application to connect drivers to riders displays for the passenger a clear picture of the driver and a picture or description (including license plate number) of the vehicle and such other details that allows the rider to verify that the driver of the vehicle is person whose details the rider has received via the on-demand technology transportation aggregator” said a source who is aware of the details of circular. 

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Beware voters! 31% candidates with criminal records in 5th phase, max. from BJP

 Bihar Election Watch and Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR) has published its report for the fifth phase of Bihar Elections. According to their report, 827 candidates are in the fray in this phase. Out of these 254 (31%), candidates of different political parties and independent background have confessed having criminal cases against them in their affidavits submitted to Election Commission.

In these contestants, 193 candidates have charges related to murder, attempt to murder, communal disharmony, kidnapping and crime against women. 15 candidates have acknowledged that they are facing cases related to murder (Indian Penal Code Section 302).

Candidates with criminal backgrounds belong to almost all political parties and independent background. Main political parties to which they belong are CPI (ML)(L), Bahujan Samaj Party, Communist Party of India (CPI) Marxist, Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), Lok Janshakti Party (LJP), Indian Union Muslim League (IUML), Shiv Sena (SHS), Samajwadi Party (SP), and All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM).

According to the report, 16 candidates are facing cases related with crimes against women. Among these, contestants of Jhanjharpur and Supaul constituencies along with candidates of Jale constituency are from RJD and CPI(ML)(L) and have declared charges of IPC Section 376 along with others.

Section 376 is related with crimes of rape. 3 candidates have also declared cases relating to communal disharmony and they belong to BJP and SP. 7 candidates have stated cases of robbery and dacoity in their affidavits and 13 candidates are contesting with cases related with kidnapping.

BJP has fielded maximum candidates with criminal cases

The report states that BJP has fielded maximum candidates with criminal records in the coming fifth phase. Party wise breakups of candidates of criminal backgrounds are as following:

• 21 out of 38 candidates of BJP
• 11 out of 20 candidates of CPI
• 16 out of 55 candidates of BSP
• 13 out of 25 candidates of JD(U)
• 12 out of 26 candidates of SP
• 10 out of 20 candidates of RJD
• 7 out of 12 candidates of INC
• 21 out of 40 candidates of JAP(L)
• 12  out of 23 candidates of the CPI(ML)(L),
• 9  out of 13 candidates of CPI(M)
• 55 out of 262 Independent candidates

Now get your seat reservation status cleared 4 hrs before departure of train

New Delhi: After receiving many complaints regarding delay in publication of seat charts, Railway has asked its commercial offices to prepare a chart of reservations 4 hours before the departure of trains.

“This will facilitate a hassle free journey to passengers as they will be clear about the position of their reservation status,” said a source who is aware of the circular being issued to the offices of commerce.

To make the travel of passengers’ smooth, Railway has taken many steps in the past also. In Metropolitan cities, it has developed many stations as originating and terminating station. Like in Delhi, Anand Vihar, Nizamuddin and Saria Ruhilla have been developed as starting station beside New Delhi and Old Delhi Railway Stations. Many originating stations help to reduce not only congestions but also facilitates passengers to reach the stations.

“Reservation Charts of the trains should be prepared at least 4 hours before the scheduled departure of the train without fail. For this purpose, wherever required, the timings for the release of emergency quota can be adjusted accordingly” said the circular. This direction will be implemented from 1st of October.

“Delay in preparation of charts happens mostly because the movement of VIPs. Their request also comes at the last moment of departure of the train. To turn down the request of VIP is very difficult for the employees as it attract ire of important persons” said an employee of the commercial department on the condition of anonymity.

Along with this arrangement, Railway is considering another proposal under which, after preparation of reservation charts, the facility of reserving available vacant accommodation in the train or cancel the already booked ticket, which at present is available only at current counters of train originating station/identified roadside station, up to a specified time before departure of train, shall be made available on the internet and also at other PRS centres.

Will they pull out earbuds now?

Protest outraged by Dadri Lynching has reached its culmination with the open letter of Ex-Navy chief Admiral Laxminarayan Ramdas to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Pranab Mukherjee.  In his letter he writes "Today, as a veteran in my eighties, I am forced to hang my head in shame. Today, a Muslim has to prove his or her loyalty, and they are being repeatedly put in a situation where their places of worship are under attack, as indeed their eating habits, and other basic freedoms,"

 I do not want to create a controversy by digging the past of Mr. Ramdass. We all know his association with Aam Aadmi Party as internal ombudsman. I simply want to raise the issue why such type of feeling is erupting inside an Indian?

Before Ramdass, prominent poet and Bollywood personality Gulzar has openly supported the ‘way of protest’ of literature personalities to which leaders of Bhartiya Janta Party had criticised as “manufactured Protest”. Yesterday president of Bahrtiya Janta Party Amit Shah in an interview to a prominent Hindi Daily has said the “protest of poets and writers is restricted to Lutyens Delhi only.”

Surely flag bearers of right wing philosophy do not want to give much importance to Dadri and Muzaffarnagar incidences. But to a common men, loss of life hurts from inside. Whether it is life of Hindu or of Muslim. With minor differences from here and there physical anatomy of all human being are same. No matter he prayer Hindu Gods in Temples or pay respect in the form of “Namaz” in “Masjids”

I remember a friend of My Grand Father who was Muslim and use to live in old city of Allahabad. He used to visit our house daily in the morning and we (I along with my father, brother and sister) gave as much respect to him as to our grandfather. My mother always come in veil in front of him as she used to come to any other elders of our family. By giving this example I just want to emphasise the ethos and eidos of our society.

It is true incidence of clashes which are recurring in these days is the result of bad policies of past UPA government. To some extent they followed the policies of minority appeasement to save their seat of power at Centre. But it does not mean that members of majority lynch a man only because of rumours’ of beef eating. I have a faint memory of curfew being clamped in our locality owing to Hindu-Muslim riots in old part of Allahabad. As a child I along with friends used to visit non curfew bound areas to purchase daily house hold items, that too on double or triple time price. I could feel the pain of affected families in the clash bound areas.

The question which hound my mind is “will members of right wing thinking group will mend their way and allow to live members of other religions peacefully in our plural society.” As journalist I know this ideal situation will never ever come in reality but even then I have a dream that a day will come when evil forces of society will understand the values of life and will follow the path of coexistence. 

Railways to introduce centrally operated doors system in trains for passenger safety

While travelling on trains of Indian Railways, you must have seen or heard that passengers were pushed from moving trains by some miscreant elements, which resulted in loss of limbs or lives of passengers. Railway Ministry is going to fit its trains with doors which could be locked or open centrally. It will be like Metro trains being run in many cities now.

“Soon you will find metro like couches on tracks of Indian Railway. Ministry has planned to convert couches of trains in the line of Metro or low floor buses of Delhi Transport Corporation. These trains will have centrally operated electrical doors fitted on each couch and will move only after closing all the doors. Rail Coach Factory (RFC) has already made a prototype couch and tenders has been allotted to a party to manufacture such doors” said a source of Railway Board.  

As per the sources,  “these centrally operated couches have many benefits. It will stop accidental falling of passengers on running trains and will also deter thieves to steal any belongings of passengers. Cost of fitting four doors in a couch to Railway will be around Rs. 12 lacs”

“Tender to equip these doors in the couches which are being used by Railway presently will be open on coming 30 October” said another source who is supervising this project for Railway. “The pace with which are we are moving in this passenger friendly project will give one train fitted with all centrally operated door by the end of this financial year” according to the source.

Except Andhra and Tamil Nadu, no other states interested in Centre’s imported pulses scheme

New Delhi: If you are a resident of Delhi and ask your known ones living in other states about availability of subsidised Toor Dal in their neighbourhood, the answer in most cases will be a 'no.' Do you know why? Because their States’ Government had shown no interest in the Central Government’s scheme of imported pulses.

It is astonishing that except Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu, no other states have come forward to lift imported pulses to distribute in their states. However, Delhi is exceptional where arrangements are being made by Central Government also to distribute subsidised Toor Dal at Safal, Central bhandars and Nafed’s outlets.

Sources in the Consumer Affairs, Food and Civil Supply Ministry said, “After taking the decision to import pulses, Government of India, Department of Consumer Affairs (DoCA) had conducted several video conferences and sent communications to all the States asking them to indicate the quantity of pulses required by them.  However, barring Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu no States including Bihar had responded positively.”

Sources in the ministry hinted that “it is because of non-availability of fair distribution channels in the States.”  In the Public Distribution System (PDS) the ration shops normally deal with only rice, wheat, sugar and kerosene. The PDS shops does not sell pulses and other commodities. Only some States have distribution channels through Marketing Federations and Civil Supplies Corporations. 

It is notable that to rein the soaring pulses prices, Central Government has started a Price Stabilisation Fund (PSF) in the month of April this year. Along with this, it had also initiated steps to import pulses, especially Toor and Urad. However, later it decided to import only Toor Dal. Department of Consumer Affairs, Government of India (DoCA) had written letters to all State Governments seeking their requirement of pulses.

Even though no requests were received from any State, the Price Stabilisation Fund Management Committee (PSFMC) had taken a decision to import 10,000 MTs of Toor through MMTC Limited.  This decision was taken in the month of June in anticipation of price rise of pulses and to send a signal to the market forces that Central Government is willing to intervene in the market to stabilise the prices. “However the actual import has started in the month of September and owing to this effort of Government to send signals to hoarders could not yield any results” said a source.

BJP ruled states not interested in price control scheme & NDA continues to blame Nitish

At the peak of Bihar elections, the blame game is in full swing. Both the alliances are slapping charges at each other. Recently in Patna, Agriculture Minister Radha Mohan Singh and Consumer Affairs, Food and Civil Supply Minister Ram Vilas Paswan alleged that Nitish Kumar Government is not taking any interest in Price Stabilisation Fund (PSF) Scheme. According to them, an intervention in the market could be made to control the prices of Pulses. PSF was launched by the Central Government in the month of April this year.

 

However, in New Delhi, sources in the Agriculture Ministry did not agree with the charges levelled against Bihar Government. “It is not only Bihar which did not come forward with its proposal for market intervention to control the prices of Pulses. Even BJP ruled states have not shown any interest in PSF scheme launched by Central Government to control rising prices of pulses, onion and potato” said a source.

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'Make in India' but not Make for India, automakers follow double standards

New Delhi: Be cautious the next time you decide to buy a car since it looks like all the attention is focussed on 'Make in India' and not make for India. It has recently come to light that companies use high-end products during manufacturing to foreign nations, but rather inferior quality car body is supplied to the Indian customers.

The car manufacturers in India are using galvanized steel to make the body of cars which are meant for shipment. However, they do not provide same zinc coated steel body to their Indian consumers who also buy premium products manufactured in the country.

“Indian cars which usually use coated steel, give the look and feel of international cars but not all cars provide perforation warranties, which is the right of the customer” said Professor AS Khanna from IIT Mumbai, who has steered a study on corrosion in cars in Mumbai, which proved that out of the 500 odd cars surveyed, four major rusted areas are bonnet, boot, rocker and door panels.

“Zinc coated steel is a solution of this perforation. It is called galvanized steel which primarily has two distinct benefits—first, it protects the steel from corrosive attack acting as a continuous and lasting shield between steel and the atmosphere. Secondly, it acts as a galvanic protector, sacrificing itself slowly in the presence of corrosive agents” said a source of Heavy Industry Ministry on the condition of anonymity as he is not authorized to speak media.

Though, despite being aware of these facts Ministry is not issuing any instructions to car manufacturers which have manufacturing unit established in India. Prof Khanna also supported this by saying “Zinc is an amazing corrosion protector because of its sacrificial properties.”

He further said, “Apart from these, use of Galvanized Advanced High Strength Steels helps in the reduction of car body weight, emissions and improves safety performance along with fuel efficiency, which is in line with the requirement of the new age cars for Indian roads.”

Indian car makers use galvanized steel for the body panels, but only for the export models. Galvanized steel has been used for decades across Europe, North America, Japan, and South Korea for body panels. The wide use is mainly owing to the regulatory frameworks in the developed economies.

However “Indian Government is not issuing any such regulatory directions for the benefits of the Indian consumer, reasons best Known to either auto lobby or to the officials who deals with the auto sectors in the Ministry,” said the source from Ministry. 

The sixth largest car manufacturer in the world, India is a key market for the automotive sector. Steady economic growth and robust consumption trends make it one of the most attractive regions for auto companies to launch their products and align the designs with international models. 

Strange! Tuar Dal at 200 Government says it imports only for notional purpose

Every year when prices of pulses and Government announces import of that pulses, we normally think that measures taken by the Government fill the gap and demand difference and prices will come down. However Government logic behind import of pulses is altogether different.

“Import of pulses is only notional to send a stern massage to middlemen and hoarders and not to sell it to real buyers” said a highly placed source in the Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Civil Supplies.

Another source while explaining to meaning 'notional import' said “Government import pulses every year but to some extent only. It is the private player, who imports in bulk quantity and sell in the market comparatively less on margin as they fear that Government will export more quantity if sell on higher profit. This year owing to some reasons in commodity market private parties did not import Tuar Dal as they used to do in previous years.”

“This year Government is importing only 10000 tons of tur pulses, while daily demand of tur in the country is around 60000 tons. It is the private players who imports 30 to 40 million ton of pulses every years. Import by government only sends a message to middle man and hoarders who in turn normally lose their grip on hoarding and price. This year it has not happened” said another official from the Consumer Affairs department which actually advises to Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare Ministry on the timing and quantity of pulses import. 

It means if you are thinking that imported Tuar Dal (pulses) will stitch some holes in your pocket and give some respite to your monthly budget, surely you are mistaken.

The price of Tuar dal will continue to hover around present level till January next year, by the time, the new crop of pulses arrive in the market

 “Yes this time because of some delay in taking decisions, import process of pulses started late, compared to the UPA regime. However, late import is not the only reason for high price of tur and other pulses. Gap between demand and supply of pulses is always there. This year it has increased because of rain factor and reached to level of 4.5 million tons.

Congress has accused the government a few days ago for late import of pulses and said that this late import has resulted pulses dearer.  

Sudden closure of CGHS hospital OT leaves pregnant mothers in uncertainty

As the Health Minister is busy in Bihar CGHS beneficiary pregnant women are running pillar to post to get their baby delivered  

Minister of Health J P Nadda must be unaware about the problems being faced by pregnant women back home in Delhi, as he’s busy in Bihar election.

The maternity patients of Central Government Health Scheme (CGHS), a 40-bedded hospital situated in south Delhi are forced to get admitted in private empanelled hospitals at the last moment of their pregnancy, for the delivery of a baby.

Not only Maternity but Obstetrics, Paediatrics and Genecology patients are also forced to go other hospitals for their surgeries.

“This story will tell you the pain and agony suffered by pregnant women, who happen to be beneficiaries of CGHS and that too at the heart of the national capital. The only operation theatre (OT) of an important hospital has been closed for the last one month as the instrument used to give anaesthesia to patients has gone dysfunctional. One part of it is not working.” said a source, who is privy to the development leading to closer of the OT.

He further informed that “cost of damaged part is only Rs. 91,000. Sanctioning power additional directors is Rs 2 lakh, who sits in the hospital premises itself. File related to approval of purchase of part is lying in the ministry. ”

“Some patients of CGHS are not too wealthy to afford the cost incurred in private hospitals. That is why they prefer to get treated by government doctors posted at CGHS hospital. In a welfare state like ours health schemes run by government are of benevolent in nature, so no money is required to deposit during the treatment.” another CGHS employee, who does not want to be named, remarked.

Women, who are pregnant or have maternity related problems visits here. In case of pregnant women, after taking eight month of treatment from doctors, who are posted are being asked (even to mothers who are expected to deliver their babies normally as they fear that in case of an emergency OT will not be available) to go to either another government hospitals or to the private hospitals which are empanelled with CGHS. In new hospitals patients get step-motherly treatment, as they are not their regular patients. Even more, they are forced to deposit a big sum of money prior to any treatment in a private hospital, which is a big financial burden for the family of a patient.

In reply to a text massage regarding purchase of said damaged part, India Samvad received a text reply of Direction CGHS Dr. DC Joshi, “I have sent it to AD MSD for procurement action.”