he Union Minister of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution Prof K V Thomas inaugurated a Cruise Passenger Facilitation Centre at the Cochin Port today.
The Facilitation Centre, covering an area of 1500 square meter has dedicated Customs and Immigration Counters, X-ray scanning machines, metal detectors, rest rooms and prayer rooms for the convenience of cruise passengers.
The Centre has been set up at a cost of nearly six crore rupees, of which the union Ministry of Tourism has contributed about five crore rupees.
The Cochin Port has emerged as a major hub of cruise tourism in recent years, hosting 44 luxury cruise vefssels and nearly 58,000 tourists last year alone.
The Facilitation Centre, covering an area of 1500 square meter has dedicated Customs and Immigration Counters, X-ray scanning machines, metal detectors, rest rooms and prayer rooms for the convenience of cruise passengers.
The Centre has been set up at a cost of nearly six crore rupees, of which the union Ministry of Tourism has contributed about five crore rupees.
The Cochin Port has emerged as a major hub of cruise tourism in recent years, hosting 44 luxury cruise vefssels and nearly 58,000 tourists last year alone.
The Centre is all set to bring a new legislation on Right to Privacy which is under active consideration of an expert group headed by Justice A P Shah. Addressing the 7th Annual Convention of Information Commissioners in New Delhi this morning, the Prime Minister said that the citizens' Right to know should definitely be circumscribed if disclosure of information encroaches upon someone's personal privacy. Expressing concern on possible infringement of personal privacy while providing information under the RTI Act, Dr. Manmohan Singh said that it is a complicated question to draw the line.
to think of or treat one thing as different from another (often + between ) It all depends on your concept of fiction and where you draw the line between fact and fiction. So at what point do we consider the foetus a baby? We've got to draw the line somewhere.
Saying that there has been some confusion about the implications of the recent Supreme Court order regarding the composition of the Central and State Information Commissions, the Prime Minister informed that the government has decided to go in review before the Supreme Court in this matter.
Emphasising that costs associated with providing access to information have to be minimized, Dr. Singh said that this could be achieved with better training of employees, greater use of technology and proactive disclosure of the maximum possible amount of information.
The Prime Minister reminded that RTI Act is one of the many steps that government has taken for stregthening the institutional architecture for curbing corruption, enhancing transparency and accountability in administration and improving delivery of services to the people. He said that other important legislations that are proposed include the whistleblowers protection Bill, the time-bount delivery of goods and services and redressal of grievances Bill and the Electronic Delivery of Services Bill which are currently under the consideration of Parliament.
Saying that there has been some confusion about the implications of the recent Supreme Court order regarding the composition of the Central and State Information Commissions, the Prime Minister informed that the government has decided to go in review before the Supreme Court in this matter.
Emphasising that costs associated with providing access to information have to be minimized, Dr. Singh said that this could be achieved with better training of employees, greater use of technology and proactive disclosure of the maximum possible amount of information.
The Prime Minister reminded that RTI Act is one of the many steps that government has taken for stregthening the institutional architecture for curbing corruption, enhancing transparency and accountability in administration and improving delivery of services to the people. He said that other important legislations that are proposed include the whistleblowers protection Bill, the time-bount delivery of goods and services and redressal of grievances Bill and the Electronic Delivery of Services Bill which are currently under the consideration of Parliament.
Labels: right to privacy, RTI
The Rangarajan Committee has recommended deregulation of the sugar sector, by giving freedom to mills to sell sugar in the open market. It also suggested revising the existing arrangement for providing better Fair and Renumerative Price (FRP) to sugar cane farmers at the time of cane purchase and payment of cane arrears accumulated over the years. The Panel headed by C. Rangarajan in its report released in New Delhi today recommended that farmers would be entitled to a 70 per cent share in the value of sugar and sugarcane by-products while the Sugar Mills would be entitled for 30 per cent. Mr. Rangarajan said, the FRP can be revised on a half-yearly basis and the revenue sharing mechanism should be based on that.
The Panel has suggested the scrapping of State Advised Price (SAP) for sugarcane. Mr. C. Rangarajan also said, the existing subsidies will continue and the 30,000 crore rupees of Sugar subsidy will be given to the State Governments.
The Panel also recommended that the cane area reservation be phased out and contracts between farmers and mills be allowed for competition in the market and for assured supply of cane in the interest of farmers and economic efficiency.
The Commitee also suggested for doing away with the system of levy sugar, under which the mills are required to sell 10 per cent of their production to the government at below market price for ration shops. The report was submitted to the Prime Minister today. Dr. Singh had set up an expert committee to examine issues related to decontrol of sugar sector in January this year. India is the world's top sugar consumer and biggest producer after Brazil.
The Panel has suggested the scrapping of State Advised Price (SAP) for sugarcane. Mr. C. Rangarajan also said, the existing subsidies will continue and the 30,000 crore rupees of Sugar subsidy will be given to the State Governments.
The Panel also recommended that the cane area reservation be phased out and contracts between farmers and mills be allowed for competition in the market and for assured supply of cane in the interest of farmers and economic efficiency.
The Commitee also suggested for doing away with the system of levy sugar, under which the mills are required to sell 10 per cent of their production to the government at below market price for ration shops. The report was submitted to the Prime Minister today. Dr. Singh had set up an expert committee to examine issues related to decontrol of sugar sector in January this year. India is the world's top sugar consumer and biggest producer after Brazil.
Labels: FRP, rangarajan, SAP, sugar
he Centre has sanctioned 4200 crore rupees to Uttar Pradesh under National Rural Health Mission, NRHM, for the current financial year 2012-13.
A proposal for sanctioning 350 crore has also been sent to the Centre for Action Plan-2 under NRHM. This was informed by Mr. Amit Kumar Ghosh, Mission Director NRHM at a state level meeting convened and chaired by Mr. Alok Ranjan, the acting Chief Secretary, in Lucknow yesterday.
Quoting official sources, AIR Correspondent from Lucknow reports that 1000 Basic Ambulances will be pressed into service for ferrying expecting mothers and newborn babies to hospitals. Besides, Queen Mary Hospital of Lucknow will be equipped with a 100-bed maternity ward.
The State government has decided to begin a drive from next month for health check up of approximately two crore students of one lakh schools of the state between class one to ten, under the 'Child Health Guarantee Scheme'. It has also decided sudden checking of projects run under NRHM besides routine monitoring.
A proposal for sanctioning 350 crore has also been sent to the Centre for Action Plan-2 under NRHM. This was informed by Mr. Amit Kumar Ghosh, Mission Director NRHM at a state level meeting convened and chaired by Mr. Alok Ranjan, the acting Chief Secretary, in Lucknow yesterday.
Quoting official sources, AIR Correspondent from Lucknow reports that 1000 Basic Ambulances will be pressed into service for ferrying expecting mothers and newborn babies to hospitals. Besides, Queen Mary Hospital of Lucknow will be equipped with a 100-bed maternity ward.
The State government has decided to begin a drive from next month for health check up of approximately two crore students of one lakh schools of the state between class one to ten, under the 'Child Health Guarantee Scheme'. It has also decided sudden checking of projects run under NRHM besides routine monitoring.
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Labels: home minstry, paksithan, Trade
Indian Sugar Mills Association, ISMA has hailed the recommendation of Rangarajan Committee to decontrol the sugar industry. ISMA Director General Abinash Verma said, the decontrol of the sector will be in the interest of all stakeholders, including farmers, millers and consumers. He said, the sugar decontrol will lead to a stable and predictable environment.
AIR correspondent reports that the current annual output of Indian sugar industry which is worth about 80,000 crore rupees can grow at double digits and double its worth to one lakh 60 thousand crore rupees over the next five to ten years. De-regulation is likely to reduce the cyclical trend of cane production too.
With consolidation and contracts between mills and farmers, there will be more sustained cultivation of cane across years. Also mills will be able to manage their cash flows better and reduce inventory costs, which in the past have led to delay in payment to farmers. Guaranteed payments to farmers and a fair return for their produce are more likely to reduce the volatility in cane acreage and consequently sugar production and prices.
AIR correspondent reports that the current annual output of Indian sugar industry which is worth about 80,000 crore rupees can grow at double digits and double its worth to one lakh 60 thousand crore rupees over the next five to ten years. De-regulation is likely to reduce the cyclical trend of cane production too.
With consolidation and contracts between mills and farmers, there will be more sustained cultivation of cane across years. Also mills will be able to manage their cash flows better and reduce inventory costs, which in the past have led to delay in payment to farmers. Guaranteed payments to farmers and a fair return for their produce are more likely to reduce the volatility in cane acreage and consequently sugar production and prices.
Labels: ISMA, rangarajan, sugar
Union Environment Minister Jayanti Natarajan has announced a one crore rupee package for world-famed Kaziranga National Park to tackle the situation arising there out of waves of flood and consequent death of animals.
The money has been sanctioned from the Tiger Reserve Fund for the world famous Park where a total 39 rhinos have been killed in and around it in less than 10 months.
Mrs. Natarajan, who reviewed the situation in the Park following the devastating floods and recent incidents of rhino poaching, also announced that five country boats and four speed boats would be immediately sanctioned to the Park to help in the rescue and protection of animals.
The union minister, who was accompanied by Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi, also stressed the need to strengthen the network between different agencies engaged in wildlife protection.
Referring to recent incidents of poaching in the Park, she said the Wildlife Crime Control Board was conducting an inquiry into the killings and necessary action would be taken after the submission of the report.
The involvement of militants in poaching has been established and the concerned department was taking steps accordingly.
Measures were also being taken to increase the number of forest guards to ensure increased vigil and patrolling in the Park.
There were plans to construct flyovers from Bokakhat to Jakhalabandha on NH 37 which runs through the Park to prevent killing of animals when they cross to the highlands in adjacent Karbi Anglong district during the floods.
The money has been sanctioned from the Tiger Reserve Fund for the world famous Park where a total 39 rhinos have been killed in and around it in less than 10 months.
Mrs. Natarajan, who reviewed the situation in the Park following the devastating floods and recent incidents of rhino poaching, also announced that five country boats and four speed boats would be immediately sanctioned to the Park to help in the rescue and protection of animals.
The union minister, who was accompanied by Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi, also stressed the need to strengthen the network between different agencies engaged in wildlife protection.
Referring to recent incidents of poaching in the Park, she said the Wildlife Crime Control Board was conducting an inquiry into the killings and necessary action would be taken after the submission of the report.
The involvement of militants in poaching has been established and the concerned department was taking steps accordingly.
Measures were also being taken to increase the number of forest guards to ensure increased vigil and patrolling in the Park.
There were plans to construct flyovers from Bokakhat to Jakhalabandha on NH 37 which runs through the Park to prevent killing of animals when they cross to the highlands in adjacent Karbi Anglong district during the floods.
Labels: Assam, flood, Forest and Environment Minister, rhinos
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