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Insurance For Parents Of Special Children Soon 
If you're the parent of a special child who is either mentally challenged or autistic, or suffers from cerebral palsy or multiple disabilities, do insure yourself under a special scheme the ministry of social justice and empowerment will shortly launch.
By ugesh sarkar, Section News
When you're no longer there, the state will look after your child using the insurance money.
The scheme, called Asmita, to be launched by the National Trust the autonomous branch of the ministry that focuses on these four particular disabili- ties will provide life and acci- dent insurance cover to the par- ent or legal guardian of any child who falls in these categories.
Insurance companies have been asked to submit their bids by March 15. "We'll be working through the district collectors and var- ious NGOs working in this field, whom we are already in regu- lar touch with," said Atul Prasad, chief executive officer, National Trust. "We expect to launch in the next two months. "The premium will depend on the age of the parent. The older he/she is, the higher it will be," he added. "Since this is a group insur- ance policy, the premium will be much lower than if a person insures himself individually," said Sanjay Pande, Managing Director, Amicus Advisory. There are an estimated 22 lakh people suffering from these four forms of disability, accord- ing to National Trust statistics. Posted on Thu Mar 11, 2010 at 02:25:26 AM EST
137 Nursing Schools To Come Uup In 18 States
The Cabinet Thursday approved setting up of 137 General Nursing and Midwifery (GNM) Schools in at least 18 states to boost human resource in the health sector. The total cost will be Rs.1,370 crore.
By ugesh sarkar, Section News
'The schools will be opened in these states at a total cost of Rs.1,370 crore with a cost sharing pattern of 85:15 between the central government and states. The expenditure on the part of the central government would be Rs.1,164.50 crore and the states are to contribute Rs.205.50 crore,' the cabinet said in a statement. These schools will upgrade and strengthen human resource for health in high focus states like Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Himachal Pradesh, Jharkhand, Jammu and Kashmir, Madhya Pradesh, Orissa and all Northeastern states. 'This is expected to increase the availability of trained nursing manpower and improve the quality of nursing education in the backward and special category states of the country. This would also facilitate improvement in the quality of nursing services in the hospitals,' the cabinet added. Source: Sify.com 137 nursing schools to come up in 18 states Posted on Thu Mar 04, 2010 at 09:58:28 PM EST
Before Unique ID, Get Ready For Population Register Entry
Even before Indians begins to get the Unique Ide- ntification Number later this year, they would already find a place for themselves in the National Population Register (NPR), beginning next month.
By ugesh sarkar, Section News
The government had brought coastal villages under the reg- ister in the first phase of the plan launched last year after the 26/11 Mumbai attacks. The second phase will begin next month when enumerators list the houses where they will have to go during the 2011 Census. They will also carry a machine-readable form that they will have to fill, listing the names of people and their details across 16 other param- eters, right from their marital status, education and occupa- tion to their nationality, fin- gerprints, photograph and their present and permanent address. The government is mandat- ed to create the register under the Citizenship Act, which will have a list of all Indian resi- dents irrespective of their cit- izenship. Like the Unique Identity num- ber, the NPR does not entail issuance of a card except in coastal areas. It is estimated that the population register would cost the exchequer near- ly Rs 3,539 crore. According to the schedule approved by the home ministry, canvassing of information for the register will continue till September. In between, camps will also be put up to enable people who may have been missed out by enumerators to register themselves. "The list would then be made public so that people can point out errors, intentional or oth- erwise," a ministry official said. Source: Hindustan Times Before Unique ID, Get Ready For Population Register Entry Posted on Thu Mar 04, 2010 at 01:46:45 AM EST
Village In Bihar Gifts Oolice An Outpost
 But that was then. Ask for the Bariyarpur police outpost now and you will be directed to a twostorey concrete building. The outpost, which falls under Sakra police station, has two rooms on each floor and a lockup. Perhaps the first of its kind in the state, the structure is not merely a comfortable workplace for the 18 policemen, including the three sub- inspectors, deployed there. It is an edifice to the villagers' realisation that they were as much responsible for the men in khaki as these keepers of the law were for their safety. The villagers raised more than Rs 3 lakh for the concrete structure that replace the thatched, run- down building from which the outpost used to function. The Bariyarpur outpost, 35 km from the district headquarters, was set up in 1988 to keep local criminal gangs in check. However, the headquarters apparently never spared a thought for the infrastructure required. The situation worsened about five years ago after criminals massacred residents in the Sukki village nearby and more men were deployed at the outpost. Source: Mail Today By Giridhar Jha Village in Bihar gifts police an outpost Click On "Full Story" For More... (465 words in story) Full Story By ugesh sarkar, Section NewsPosted on Wed Mar 03, 2010 at 01:13:12 AM EST
Union Budget 2010: Crop Loan At 5 pc Interest For Farmers, Farm Credit Up By 16 pc
In a bonanza to farmers, the government today announced a subsidised five per cent interest rate on crop loans on timely repayment,while proposing a 15 per cent hike in credit made available for farm sector.
This would be as a result of Finance Minister proposing to hike to two per cent the interest subvention provided to farmers, giving them at an effective rate of five per cent per annum. Farmers get crop loan of up to Rs 3 lakh at 7 per cent. In his budget speech for 2010-11, Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee also allocated Rs 400 crore to raise farm production in the eastern parts of India, comprising Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Eastern UP, West Bengal and Orissa. "In the last budget, I provided an additional one per cent interest subvention as an incentive to those farmers who repay their short-term crop loan as per schedule. I propose to raise this subvention for timely repayment of crop loan from one per cent to two per cent for 2010-11," he said. Noting that banks are consistently meeting the targets set for agriculture credit flow in past few years, Mukherjee said that for 2010-11, target has been raised to Rs 3,75,000 crore from Rs 3,25,000 crore in the current year. Source: Economic Times Union Budget 2010: Crop loan at 5 pc interest for farmers, farm credit up by 16 pc Click On "Full Story" For More... (513 words in story) Full Story By ugesh sarkar, Section NewsPosted on Mon Mar 01, 2010 at 11:46:48 PM EST
Budget Highlights By Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee in Lok Sabha on Friday
Following are the highlights of the Budget speech for 2010-11 by Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee in Lok Sabha on Friday.
Click On "Full Story" For More... (671 words in story) Full Story By ugesh sarkar, Section NewsPosted on Fri Feb 26, 2010 at 01:06:17 AM EST
Rail Budget 2010-11 - Didi's Janata Express, No Increase In Fares, Freight
• Rs 4,411 crore set aside for expansion
• 54 new trains announced • 94 stations to be upgraded • New business model on anvil Railway Minister Mamata Banerjee today proposed no increase in passenger fares and freight rates while announcing a slew of concessions, including those for carriage of foodgrains, kerosene and fertiliser. Presenting her second budget for the UPA government she announced that there would be a reduction of Rs 100 per wagon in freight charges for carrying fertiliser, foodgrains for domestic consumption and kerosene. She promised of a new business model to encourage private investment along with social commitment but without privatisation. “Our objective is inclusive growth,” she said while presenting the Railway Budget for the year 2010-11, adding that her main consideration in this year's budget was social responsibility rather than mere commercial viability of projects. “We have set our goals in the Vision 2020 document and we will achieve it,” the minister said, referring to the document unveiled in December that has targeted making over 30,000 route kilometres or multiple lines against 18,000 route kilometres at present.  RAILWAY BUDGET AT A GLANCE Mamata also proposed to reduce the maximum limit of service charge on e-booking of tickets to Rs10 for sleeper class and Rs 20 for AC class. The present maximum charge is Rs 15 nd Rs 40 respectively. This is the seventh year in a row that passenger fares have not been raised. Announcing a slew of concessions for passengers, Mamata proposed free travel for cancer patients going for treatment in three-tier AC and sleeper class and continuance of concessions for students of madrassas and journalists. The minister said 101 new suburban services will be introduced in Mumbai and more services will be launched in Kolkata and Chennai. A special train, Sanskriti Express, to mark the 150th birth anniversary of Rabindranath Tagore will run across the country and also to Bangladesh. Special tourist trains called Bharat Teerth will be started on 16 routes, while six long-distance non-stop Duronto Express and four short-distance Duronto day trains will be introduced, the Railway Minister said. She also announced that the technicians of the regional film industry would get 75 per cent concession in second class sleeper and 50 per cent in higher classes in all trains while travelling for film production-related work. The benefit of 50 per cent concession to the spouse of accredited journalists has been extended to the companions of those who do not have a spouse. Their dependent children of up to 18 years of age would also get 50 per cent concession once a year. Source: The Tribune By Girja Shankar Kaura Rail Budget 2010-11 - Didi's Janata Express, No Increase In Fares, Freight Click On "Full Story" For More... (826 words in story) Full Story By ugesh sarkar, Section NewsPosted on Wed Feb 24, 2010 at 07:53:19 PM EST
Bihar To Work For The Settlement Of Nomadic Tribes
Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar said the State Government would work for the settlement of the members of nomadic tribes.
By ugesh sarkar, Section News
Kumar said that his government was ready for the uplift of marginalized and socially backward nomadic tribes. "I have already directed to conduct the census of nomadic tribes...the government will also try to settle the members of nomadic tribes on a permanent basis," Kumar said in an address at Maha-Dalit rally here on Sunday. He said a survey would be conducted to know the exact number of nomad community residing in the State, with efforts to settle them permanently. Meanwhile, the Dalits said that they turned up to voice their concerns to the provincial government. "We are from a low caste community, we don't have home and jobs. Our children are rickshaw and cart pullers and we came here to convey our concerns," said Sita Devi. Nomadic tribes refer to the people who are forced to live a wandering life. Source: news.oneindia.in Bihar to work for the settlement of nomadic tribes Posted on Mon Feb 22, 2010 at 09:22:56 PM EST
Bihar's Economic Miracle: Real, But Fragile
 When this column revealed in January that Bihar had averaged 11% growth in the last five years, many people asked “Do you really believe this?” I visited Bihar last week to check. My conclusion: Bihar’s economic boom is indeed real. But it is fragile and dependent on chief minister Nitish Kumar getting re-elected in the state assembly elections in October-November. If instead Lalu Prasad wins, all bets on Bihar are off. ( Watch: Budget: Time for tough action, says Swaminathan Aiyar ) Can we really believe Bihar’s data? The Central Statistical Organisation guides the states collecting and processing data, but does not check whether the job is done correctly. Cynics think Bihar’s notoriously manipulative politicians must have fudged the data for false publicity. The data show enormous swings in agriculture from year to year. Because of this, Bihar’s growth averaged 11% over the last five years, but only 8.3% over the last six years. Still, we can say that it has been growing at 8-11 Second, politicians are uninterested in fudging the state domestic product. No politician can win an election by claiming that economic growth is 11% rather than 6%: such statistics go over the head of voters, for whom personal experience is what matters. Bihar’s politicians did not fudge the data and then hold a press conference to announce record growth. Rather, I was the first to dig out the 11% story from the CSO data bank, and Bihar’s politicians were manifestly surprised to hear about it. Nitish Kumar is reported to have said, “If Swaminomics says so, I think it must be true.” Source: Economic Times By Swaminathan S Anklesaria Aiyar, Bihar's Economic Miracle: Real, But Fragile Click On "Full Story "For More... (801 words in story) Full Story By ugesh sarkar, Section NewsPosted on Sun Feb 21, 2010 at 11:11:14 PM EST
Japan Keen To Invest In Bihar's Buddhist Circuit
Japan is keen to invest and develop the Buddhist tourism circuit in Bihar, an official in the chief minister's office said here Friday.
By ugesh sarkar, Section News
Japan will invest in Bihar to improve the Buddhist circuit in the state, the official quoted Consul General of Japan Fuzio Samukawa as saying. The roads connecting the Buddhist holy shrines are in poor condition in the state and discourage foreign tourists from travelling to the region. Samukawa, who visited Bihar Thursday, told officials here that the Bihar government sought a loan from the Japan Bank for International Cooperation (JBIC) for constructing roads in the Buddhist circuit. JBIC has agreed to fund the construction of 481.20 km of four-lane roads. Samukawa said investment by Japan in the eastern parts of the country, including Bihar, is poor compared to the western parts. "The investments made by Japanese companies in the eastern states of Bihar, West Bengal and Orissa were very poor," he said. Source: Economic Times Japan keen to invest in Bihar's Buddhist circuit Posted on Fri Feb 19, 2010 at 01:38:54 AM EST
Bihar Govt Inreases Ex-Gratia Payment
Bihar government today enhanced the compensation amount of Rs 50,000 to Rs One lakh to the victims of terrorism, communalsim, caste riots and those killed during electioneering.
By ugesh sarkar, Section News
A decision to this effect was taken by a meeting of the state cabinet chaired by Chief Minister Nitish Kumar. Briefing newsmen, Cabinet Secretary Afzal Amannullah said that earlier the state government used to pay a compensation of Rs 50,000 under the above mentioned heads but the compensation amount had been been increased upto Rs one lakh from today. Amanullah said the term of Bhagalupr Riots Commission headed by a retired Judge of Patna high court Justice N N Singh had been extended by another six months. Source: PTI Bihar govt inreases ex-gratia payment Posted on Fri Feb 19, 2010 at 01:25:34 AM EST
Governance: RTI, Mum's The Word, The Centre Plans To Manacle The RTI Act
 “This is the only law that can turn India into a participatory democracy from an elective one. If amendments are introduced at this stage, it will create a huge problem in the understanding of the law and undermine it completely,” Gandhi told Outlook. “By including such exemptions, we can say that public information officers will find any application that threatens to unveil corruption as vexatious or frivolous.” Gandhi is also worried at the government’s efforts to change the definition of information and says that keeping file notings out (as is the case usually) would be disastrous. “I agree that this government gave the freedom to information. But to now take it back is disturbing.” According to him, despite several requests for the minutes of the meeting with the DOPT, the government had kept silent for five months. Finally, Gandhi released them unilaterally. Source: www.outlookindia.com By Saikat Datta Governance: RTI, Mum’s The Word, The Centre Plans To Manacle The RTI Act Click On "Full Story" For More... (434 words in story) Full Story By ugesh sarkar, Section NewsPosted on Tue Feb 16, 2010 at 01:54:06 AM EST
Online RTI Applications For NRIs!
To make it easy for NRIs to file RTI applications, the Ministry of Overseas Indian Affairs has asked government departments to provide a link on their websites for receiving online applications and appeals.
By ugesh sarkar, Section News
The ministry has written to Department of Personnel and Training, nodal department for RTI affairs and Ministry of External Affairs to make guidelines in this regard and make necessary changes in the Act. Its website has a link facilitating reception of online applications. According to the proposal mooted by the ministry, an NRI will now be able to deposit Rs 10 as RTI fee in the equivalent local currency at the Indian Mission abroad and send their application through email to the concerned public information officer informing about deposit of fee. "NRIs (Non-Resident Indians) are entitled to seek information from Ministries/Departments of Government of India/States under the RTI Act. Source: PTI Online RTI applications for NRIs! Posted on Sun Feb 14, 2010 at 10:20:22 PM EST
Fresh Rules To Discipline State Govt Employees
In an apparent bid to better work culture in its offices, the Bihar government has notified amended disciplining rules for its employees.
By ugesh sarkar, Section News
Sources said the amendments to the Bihar Government Servants (Classification, Control & Appeal) Rules, 2005 are aimed at removing the vagueness of the rules which helped public servants interpret them variously. While the 2005 Rules were silent about the implications of a `warning' awarded to a public servant, the Bihar Government Servants (Classification, Control & Appeal) Rules, 2010 makes it amply clear that if a government servant is awarded `warning' and it is entered into his/her character roll, the `warned' public servant shall be denied confirmation and promotion for the next one year. If the number of `warnings' to a government servant goes up to five, s/he shall be deemed to be fit for promotion only if his/her conduct has been extraordinary for at least three years and s/he has not been awarded any adverse remark during the five years after the expiry of the period of adverse effect of the fifth warning. The amended Rules have also defined various types of penalties -- censure, withholding of promotion, reduction to a lower pay-scale for a period not exceeding three years without cumulative effect, withholding of increments of pay without cumulative effect, withholding of increments of pay with cumulative effect etc -- and their implications on the career of a government official. "The amended Rules have left no scope for confusion," personnel and administrative reforms department principal secretary Dipak Kumar told TOI on Thursday. Source: Times Of India Fresh rules to discipline state govt employees Posted on Fri Feb 12, 2010 at 10:03:40 PM EST
Bihar PCC May be Reconstituted
A reconstitution of the Bihar Congress may be on the cards soon ahead of the assembly elections in the state this year amid reports that Chief Minister Nitish Kumar could advance the polls to May.
By ugesh sarkar, Section News
After Rahul Gandhi's just-concluded visit to the state, which is said to have evoked a good response, a section in the Congress is wanting that the party should put its best foot forward by making appropariate changes in the PCC. Party sources said the recent faux pas of mentioning caste against the names of the office-bearers of the newly- constituted PCC committee of the state, is one of the reasons for the revamp which is expected to take place soon. Speaker Meira Kumar, who is an MP from Sasaram in Bihar, was mentioned with her caste name in the PCC list bringing her office into an avoidable controversy. Source: PTI Bihar PCC may be reconstituted Posted on Fri Feb 12, 2010 at 10:03:04 PM EST
Bihar Mulls Bill To Rein In Private Coaching Centres
Bihar government on Wednesday brought warring students and owners of coaching institutes to the negotiation table as a prelude to the proposed legislation to monitor tuition trade in the state amidst sporadic incidents of arson and violence. Bihar will be the first state to introduce such a bill which most likely is to be tabled in the state legislature in the next session.
"We invited them to know their views and grievances so as to address the genuine ones among them through the proposed legislation," HRD principal secretary Anjani Kumar Singh, who along with Patna DM Jeetendra Kumar Sinha represented the government at the meet, said. The proposed legislation will provide for registration of all such institutes and government monitoring of the quality of education, fee structure and strength of students. It will also provide for a grievance redressal mechanism for stake holders, Singh said. Source: Times Of India By Faizan Ahmad Bihar mulls bill to rein in private coaching centres Click On "Full Story" For More... (295 words in story) Full Story By ugesh sarkar, Section NewsPosted on Wed Feb 10, 2010 at 10:36:20 PM EST
Special Courts For Corruption Cases In Bihar
Tightening noose around corrupt public servants in Bihar, the state government has decided to constitute special courts for hearing corruption cases against such officials under the Bihar Special Courts Act.
By ugesh sarkar, Section News
"The state cabinet approved rules for constitution of the special courts for corruption cases under the provisions of the Bihar Special Courts Act yesterday", official sources said today. The act, approved by the Centre after the state government ensured its passage in the state assembly in 2008, would empower the authorities to confiscate the assets accumulated by public servants which are disproportionate to their known sources of income. Politicians, bureaucrats and other persons who draw salary from the state exchequer have been defined as public servants in the act. Source: PTI Special courts for corruption cases in Bihar Posted on Wed Feb 10, 2010 at 10:27:52 PM EST
Several Bridges In Critical Stage
Around a dozen bridges on quite a few national highways (NHs) running through Bihar are in a critical stage, some needing urgent repair, and others total replacement by new ones. One is reminded of the title of Richard Attenborough's epic film 'A Bridge Too Far (1977)' due to the delay by the Union ministry of surface transport (MST) in giving its nod and sanction to their construction or repair.
The state's road construction department (RCD) minister Prem Kumar, during an all RCD ministers meeting held in Delhi on February 5, drew the attention of MST minister Kamal Nath to the condition of the bridges concerned. Kumar submitted a memorandum to him. The RCD here is hoping that Kamal Nath would do the needful. The bridges in question are Mahatma Gandhi Setu at Patna and Kursela bridge on NH-31 across the river Kosi, which need urgent repair. Then, there are Screw Pile bridges near Karaiya on NH-106, and in Sitamarhi Bazaar and near Pamra village on NH-104, which need urgent replacement, and the plying of heavy vehicles on them has been prohibited. Moreover, the bridge on NH-106 between its 124-28 km points also need replacement. That apart, the work on a few road over bridges (ROBs) also requires resumption, since the ongoing work has been stopped. The important ROB, in this connection, is on NH-31 near Chukti Dhala. Source: Times Of India Several bridges in critical stage Click On "Full Story" For More... (446 words in story) Full Story By ugesh sarkar, Section NewsPosted on Mon Feb 08, 2010 at 10:31:25 PM EST
Why You Will Have To Live With SMS Ads
Trai says the penalties for violating laws against illegal telemarketing are not stringent enough to keep advertisers at bay
Fed up of SMS ads offering the latest in real estate or promising to reduce power bills or the size of your waist? For now, you have no option but to keep hitting the delete button on your mobile phone. A regulatory dichotomy involving the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (Trai) and the department of telecommunications (DoT) is letting illegal advertisers trespass into consumers' mobile phones at will.  Trai says the penalties for violating laws against illegal telemarketing are not stringent enough to keep advertisers at bay. While DoT says it is "looking into the matter" of reinforcing Trai's powers, operators claim Trai is not even using whatever regulatory clout it has to check telemarketeers. The regulator's unsolicited commercial communication norm makes it mandatory for every telemarketeer to register with DoT and upload its database of mobile phone numbers on www.ndncregistry.gov.in. An unregistered telemarketeer caught advertising will have its connection cancelled. Trai also set up a National Do Not Call Registry (NDNCR) in 2007, allowing mobile phone users to request that their numbers be made unavailable to telemarketeers. deepti.b@livemint.com Source: Live Mint By Deepti Bhaskaran and Ishita Russell Why you will have to live with SMS ads Click on "Full Story" For More... (809 words in story) Full Story By ugesh sarkar, Section NewsPosted on Mon Feb 08, 2010 at 12:26:38 AM EST
Bihar CM For Centralised Procurement Of Arms, Ammunition
Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar on Sunday favoured centralised procurement of sophisticated arms, ammunition and equipment for state governments under the Centre-run modernisation of police force scheme.
Pointing out difficulties being faced by state administrators, Kumar said "procurement of arms, ammunition and equipment under central Modernisation of Police Force scheme should be done by MHA (Ministry of Home Affairs) and deliveries should be made to state governments. "It has been difficult for the state governments to go through the difficult procurement procedures for sophisticated equipment (which also include imported items)," he said at the Chief Ministers' Conference on Internal Security. The Chief Minister said large manufacturers are very often not interested in tenders for relatively small quantities floated by states. "Hence, the Central government should consider centralised procurement of such items." He also asked the Centre to consider grant of one-time 100 per cent financial assistance for construction of buildings for police stations located in Naxalism-affected districts which do not have their own buildings. Source: Zeenews.com Bihar CM for centralised procurement of arms, ammunition Click On "Full Story" For More... (478 words in story) Full Story By ugesh sarkar, Section NewsPosted on Sun Feb 07, 2010 at 11:07:04 PM EST
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