Death row convict Yakub Memon appeals to the Supreme Court again
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Yakub Memon, convicted in the 1993 Mumbai serial blasts, on Thursday moved the Supreme Court challenging the death warrant for his execution on July 30.
On Tuesday, Memon had filed mercy petition to Maharashtra Governor Ch Vidyasagar Rao . The move comes hours after the Supreme Court on Tuesday rejected his curative petition, the last legal remedy available to avoid execution of death sentence. A three judge bench headed by Chief Justice HL Dattu rejected Memon's plea, saying that the grounds raised by him do not fall within the principles laid down by the apex court in 2002 for deciding curative petitions.
Memon, in his plea, had claimed he was suffering from schizophrenia since 1996 and remained behind the bars for nearly 20 years. He had sought commutation of death penalty contending that a convict cannot be awarded life term and the extreme penalty simultaneously for the same offence. The apex court said, "The petitioner has raised certain grounds in the curative petition which would not fall within the principles laid down in the case of Rupa Ashok Hurra vs Ashok Hurra"
"Since none of the grounds stated in the curative petition would fall within the parameters indicated in the case of Rupa Ashok Hurra (Supra), the curative petition stands dismissed," the bench, also comprising T S Thakur and A R Dave, said.
The apex court had on April 9 this year dismissed Memon's petition seeking review of his death sentence which was upheld on March 21, 2013. President Pranab Mukherjee had earlier rejected his mercy petition in May 2014.
The Supreme Court, while upholding the death sentence to Memon, a chartered accountant by profession, on March 21, 2013, described him as the "driving spirit" behind the carnage that followed the communal riots of 1992.
The Supreme Court had also upheld the life sentence awarded to 23 others, including Yakub brother Essa, who was found guilty of conspiracy and allowing the use of his flat at Al-Hussaini building at Mahim for meetings to plan the blasts and storing arms and ammunition, and sister-in-law Rubina, who arranged finances and allowed her car to be used by terrorists for carrying co-conspirators, arms, ammunition and explosives.
Yakub was arrested on August 6, 1994 when he arrived at Delhi Airport from Khatmandu. He had claimed he felt remorse and wanted to surrender.
Yakub Memon, convicted in the 1993 Mumbai serial blasts, on Thursday moved the Supreme Court challenging the death warrant for his execution on July 30.
On Tuesday, Memon had filed mercy petition to Maharashtra Governor Ch Vidyasagar Rao . The move comes hours after the Supreme Court on Tuesday rejected his curative petition, the last legal remedy available to avoid execution of death sentence. A three judge bench headed by Chief Justice HL Dattu rejected Memon's plea, saying that the grounds raised by him do not fall within the principles laid down by the apex court in 2002 for deciding curative petitions.
Memon, in his plea, had claimed he was suffering from schizophrenia since 1996 and remained behind the bars for nearly 20 years. He had sought commutation of death penalty contending that a convict cannot be awarded life term and the extreme penalty simultaneously for the same offence. The apex court said, "The petitioner has raised certain grounds in the curative petition which would not fall within the principles laid down in the case of Rupa Ashok Hurra vs Ashok Hurra"
"Since none of the grounds stated in the curative petition would fall within the parameters indicated in the case of Rupa Ashok Hurra (Supra), the curative petition stands dismissed," the bench, also comprising T S Thakur and A R Dave, said.
The apex court had on April 9 this year dismissed Memon's petition seeking review of his death sentence which was upheld on March 21, 2013. President Pranab Mukherjee had earlier rejected his mercy petition in May 2014.
The Supreme Court, while upholding the death sentence to Memon, a chartered accountant by profession, on March 21, 2013, described him as the "driving spirit" behind the carnage that followed the communal riots of 1992.
The Supreme Court had also upheld the life sentence awarded to 23 others, including Yakub brother Essa, who was found guilty of conspiracy and allowing the use of his flat at Al-Hussaini building at Mahim for meetings to plan the blasts and storing arms and ammunition, and sister-in-law Rubina, who arranged finances and allowed her car to be used by terrorists for carrying co-conspirators, arms, ammunition and explosives.
Yakub was arrested on August 6, 1994 when he arrived at Delhi Airport from Khatmandu. He had claimed he felt remorse and wanted to surrender.
Swati Maliwal: My nameplate has been removed from DCW office
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A day after alleging LG Najeeb Jung for not allowing her from going to office, newly-appointed Delhi Commission for Women chief Swati Maliwal on Thursday said that her nameplate was removed. "Now my nameplate has also been removed from DCW office room, its a shameful act," Swati Maliwal said.
She maintained, "If given a chance I will make DCW one of the strongest women commission bodies in India and the world."
Swati Maliwal late on Wednesday tweeted, "LG sahab ne call karke bola hai ki kal se mujhe office nahi ana hai aur meri sari files wapis li ja rahi hain. DCW par kal tala laga diya jayega. (The LG called to say that I am not required to visit the DCW office from tomorrow and all my files are being taken back. DCW will be locked on Thursday)". The Anti-corruption Branch (ACB) of Delhi Police is already suffering from the running political tussle between L-G and the Aam Aadmi Party-led Delhi government. It has two chiefs but files are not moving.
Also, pleas for registration of complaints from the public have also fallen in number. Unfazed by L-G's strongly-worded letter nullifying her appointment, Maliwal on Wednesday went to meet sex workers at GB Road . She told reporters, "We covered four buildings and 100 brothels therein. I also held consultations with NGOs, Shakti Vahini and Delhi Aids Control Society. DCW will set up a committee to review the living conditions of sex workers in GB Road and forward its recommendations to the Delhi government." The AAP-led Delhi government also displayed open defiance as regards deposing Maliwal on L-G's orders.
Transport Minister Gopal Rai said, "Whatever L-G said (on revoking Maliwal's appointment) is not new. Such instances (L-G's intervention in government's works) have now become old. CM Arvind Kejriwal has taken the decision to appoint Maliwal as per the Constitution and law. If someone has a prob problem, we will discuss". A top official also said, "We will give appropriate reply to the L-G. Government will back Maliwal as DCW chief."
Maliwal appointment illegal: Jung
On Tuesday, in a letter to the Chief Minister's Office, Jung said the notification appointing Maliwal was illegal as it does not have his approval. Referring to a Home Ministry order, the L-G's office insisted that 'Government' meant the Lieutenant Governor of the National Capital Territory of Delhi appointed by the President and insisted that he was sole authority in deciding on major issues including appointment to top positions.
The letter pointed out Article 239 and 239 AA of the Constitution. Swati Maliwal is the wife of Aam Aadmi Party leader Navin Jaihind and has been an advisor to Kejriwal on public grievances and handles his Janta Samwad. She has been associated with the AAP chief since India Against Corruption (IAC) days.
A day after alleging LG Najeeb Jung for not allowing her from going to office, newly-appointed Delhi Commission for Women chief Swati Maliwal on Thursday said that her nameplate was removed. "Now my nameplate has also been removed from DCW office room, its a shameful act," Swati Maliwal said.
She maintained, "If given a chance I will make DCW one of the strongest women commission bodies in India and the world."
Swati Maliwal late on Wednesday tweeted, "LG sahab ne call karke bola hai ki kal se mujhe office nahi ana hai aur meri sari files wapis li ja rahi hain. DCW par kal tala laga diya jayega. (The LG called to say that I am not required to visit the DCW office from tomorrow and all my files are being taken back. DCW will be locked on Thursday)". The Anti-corruption Branch (ACB) of Delhi Police is already suffering from the running political tussle between L-G and the Aam Aadmi Party-led Delhi government. It has two chiefs but files are not moving.
Also, pleas for registration of complaints from the public have also fallen in number. Unfazed by L-G's strongly-worded letter nullifying her appointment, Maliwal on Wednesday went to meet sex workers at GB Road . She told reporters, "We covered four buildings and 100 brothels therein. I also held consultations with NGOs, Shakti Vahini and Delhi Aids Control Society. DCW will set up a committee to review the living conditions of sex workers in GB Road and forward its recommendations to the Delhi government." The AAP-led Delhi government also displayed open defiance as regards deposing Maliwal on L-G's orders.
Transport Minister Gopal Rai said, "Whatever L-G said (on revoking Maliwal's appointment) is not new. Such instances (L-G's intervention in government's works) have now become old. CM Arvind Kejriwal has taken the decision to appoint Maliwal as per the Constitution and law. If someone has a prob problem, we will discuss". A top official also said, "We will give appropriate reply to the L-G. Government will back Maliwal as DCW chief."
Maliwal appointment illegal: Jung
On Tuesday, in a letter to the Chief Minister's Office, Jung said the notification appointing Maliwal was illegal as it does not have his approval. Referring to a Home Ministry order, the L-G's office insisted that 'Government' meant the Lieutenant Governor of the National Capital Territory of Delhi appointed by the President and insisted that he was sole authority in deciding on major issues including appointment to top positions.
The letter pointed out Article 239 and 239 AA of the Constitution. Swati Maliwal is the wife of Aam Aadmi Party leader Navin Jaihind and has been an advisor to Kejriwal on public grievances and handles his Janta Samwad. She has been associated with the AAP chief since India Against Corruption (IAC) days.
Devyani Khobragade's plea of dual citizenship for kids rejected
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The Home Ministry has rejected IFS officer Devyani Khobragade's plea of dual citizenship for her children, who are American nationals, saying Indian law does not allow this. Khobragade, who was arrested in the US in 2013 when she was India's Deputy Consul-General in New York on visa fraud charges, had approached the Home Ministry officials recently and requested them to consider her plea of dual citizenship for her two daughters.
"We have conveyed to Khobragade that her children are not eligible for dual citizenship and hence her plea cannot be processed," a senior Home Ministry official said. Her daughters were born in India but took US citizenship as Khobragade's husband is an American national. The IFS officer is accused of suppressing this fact to her employer (Ministry of External Affairs). The children had Indian passport too.
After coming to know that Khobragade's daughters were having US passport, the MEA had revoked the children's Indian passports and they challenged this in the Delhi High Court. Government took the action as the provision of dual citizenship is only applicable to those children who were born outside India and as Khobragade's daughters were born in Mumbai, they are not covered by this provision.
Children of foreign diplomats, who are born in India, are also given dual citizenship till the period of their parents' service in India. Government had recently told the Delhi High Court that Khobragade obtained US and Indian passports for her two daughters in violation of law and without informing the MEA, which raises serious questions about her "trustworthiness and integrity".
"Devyani Khobragade's submission that the US passports were only used for travel to USA does not in any way dilute the gravity and seriousness of her misdemeanour and are blatant violations of Indian Passports Act," it had said.
The IFS officer's father Uttam Khobragade too wrote a letter to the Home Ministry with the request to consider the plea of dual citizenship for his grand daughters. The senior Khobragade even conveyed to the Home Ministry that its stand on the issue was "shocking", an official said, and termed the tone of his letter "very harsh".
The Home Ministry officials have suggested to Devyani that she can apply for the Overseas Citizenship of India card for her daughters.
The Home Ministry has rejected IFS officer Devyani Khobragade's plea of dual citizenship for her children, who are American nationals, saying Indian law does not allow this. Khobragade, who was arrested in the US in 2013 when she was India's Deputy Consul-General in New York on visa fraud charges, had approached the Home Ministry officials recently and requested them to consider her plea of dual citizenship for her two daughters.
"We have conveyed to Khobragade that her children are not eligible for dual citizenship and hence her plea cannot be processed," a senior Home Ministry official said. Her daughters were born in India but took US citizenship as Khobragade's husband is an American national. The IFS officer is accused of suppressing this fact to her employer (Ministry of External Affairs). The children had Indian passport too.
After coming to know that Khobragade's daughters were having US passport, the MEA had revoked the children's Indian passports and they challenged this in the Delhi High Court. Government took the action as the provision of dual citizenship is only applicable to those children who were born outside India and as Khobragade's daughters were born in Mumbai, they are not covered by this provision.
Children of foreign diplomats, who are born in India, are also given dual citizenship till the period of their parents' service in India. Government had recently told the Delhi High Court that Khobragade obtained US and Indian passports for her two daughters in violation of law and without informing the MEA, which raises serious questions about her "trustworthiness and integrity".
"Devyani Khobragade's submission that the US passports were only used for travel to USA does not in any way dilute the gravity and seriousness of her misdemeanour and are blatant violations of Indian Passports Act," it had said.
The IFS officer's father Uttam Khobragade too wrote a letter to the Home Ministry with the request to consider the plea of dual citizenship for his grand daughters. The senior Khobragade even conveyed to the Home Ministry that its stand on the issue was "shocking", an official said, and termed the tone of his letter "very harsh".
The Home Ministry officials have suggested to Devyani that she can apply for the Overseas Citizenship of India card for her daughters.
Both Houses of Parliament adjourned over Lalit Modi, Vyapam
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Proceedings in both the Houses of Parliament were paralysed on Wednesday as Opposition forced adjournments by creating uproar over the Lalit Modi and Vyapam scam of Madhya Pradesh.
In Lok Sabha, members of Congress and Left repeatedly stormed the Well, carrying placards and raising slogans against Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the government for not acting against External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj and Rajasthan Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje even as Speaker Sumitra Mahajan warned of action over the "unruly" behaviour. Displaying black ribbons, Congress members repeatedly raised placards with slogans such as:'Bade Modi meherban, toh chhote Modi pehelwan' (a Hindi idiom meaning that a small person is strong if supported by a powerful person) and 'PM chuppi todo' (PM, break your silence) and 'Modi ji 56 inch dikhao, Sushma, Raje ko turant hatao' (Show your 56 inch chest by removing Swaraj and Raje).
Mahajan disapproved of the action of the protesting members and warned that "in the event of disorderly conduct, I would be constrained to initiate appropriate disciplinary action against erring members".She said she has always provided "adequate" opportunity to all sections of the House to raise matters of topical interest and hoped that all the members would adhere to the set norms of etiquette and standards of behaviour.
Even Rajya Sabha, the Upper House of Parliament witnessed ruckus as the Opposition pressed for the resignation of Swaraj, Raje and Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan.
The Congress, the main Opposition in the Upper House, said it had submitted a notice under Rule 169, with its leader Ghulam Nabi Azad saying it wanted "action" and not just a discussion.
The Opposition appeared united in the attack. Congress members also trooped near the chairman's podium shouting slogans demanding the sacking of Swaraj. Party leader V. Hanumantha Rao even held a placard.
Congress leader Anand Sharma, who submitted the notice, said: "I have not asked for discussion...My motion is for suspension of business to discuss the prime minister's response to the demand for fixing accountability for a Union minister having clandestinely facilitated British travel documents (for Lalit Modi)."
Leader of the House and Finance Minister Arun Jaitley even accused the Opposition of doing politics of slogan-shouting as he pressed for starting the debate on the issue.
The Upper House saw repeated adjournments in the pre-lunch session, with two each in the Zero Hour and the Question Hour, as Opposition led by Congress continued the uproar demanding resignations of ministers and chief ministers.
Proceedings in both the Houses of Parliament were paralysed on Wednesday as Opposition forced adjournments by creating uproar over the Lalit Modi and Vyapam scam of Madhya Pradesh.
In Lok Sabha, members of Congress and Left repeatedly stormed the Well, carrying placards and raising slogans against Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the government for not acting against External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj and Rajasthan Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje even as Speaker Sumitra Mahajan warned of action over the "unruly" behaviour. Displaying black ribbons, Congress members repeatedly raised placards with slogans such as:'Bade Modi meherban, toh chhote Modi pehelwan' (a Hindi idiom meaning that a small person is strong if supported by a powerful person) and 'PM chuppi todo' (PM, break your silence) and 'Modi ji 56 inch dikhao, Sushma, Raje ko turant hatao' (Show your 56 inch chest by removing Swaraj and Raje).
Mahajan disapproved of the action of the protesting members and warned that "in the event of disorderly conduct, I would be constrained to initiate appropriate disciplinary action against erring members".She said she has always provided "adequate" opportunity to all sections of the House to raise matters of topical interest and hoped that all the members would adhere to the set norms of etiquette and standards of behaviour.
Even Rajya Sabha, the Upper House of Parliament witnessed ruckus as the Opposition pressed for the resignation of Swaraj, Raje and Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan.
The Congress, the main Opposition in the Upper House, said it had submitted a notice under Rule 169, with its leader Ghulam Nabi Azad saying it wanted "action" and not just a discussion.
The Opposition appeared united in the attack. Congress members also trooped near the chairman's podium shouting slogans demanding the sacking of Swaraj. Party leader V. Hanumantha Rao even held a placard.
Congress leader Anand Sharma, who submitted the notice, said: "I have not asked for discussion...My motion is for suspension of business to discuss the prime minister's response to the demand for fixing accountability for a Union minister having clandestinely facilitated British travel documents (for Lalit Modi)."
Leader of the House and Finance Minister Arun Jaitley even accused the Opposition of doing politics of slogan-shouting as he pressed for starting the debate on the issue.
The Upper House saw repeated adjournments in the pre-lunch session, with two each in the Zero Hour and the Question Hour, as Opposition led by Congress continued the uproar demanding resignations of ministers and chief ministers.
BJP returns Congress fire with sting video on Harish Rawat's aide
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The BJP returned the Congress fire over Lalitgate and Vyapam scams with a sting alleging that Uttarakhand Chief Minister Harish Rawat's personal secretary had negotiated a bribery deal for an alcohol licence. The BJP claimed the case was only the tip of an excise scam in the north Indian state, an allegation denied by Rawat.
Union Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, at a press conference in New Delhi, on Wednesday accused IAS officer Mohammad Shahid in Uttarakhand of negotiating with a middleman for liquor licences, a scam that she alleged went into crores. She also demanded Rawat's resignation over it.
"We have a video proof which shows the involvement of Uttarakhand's CM and his powerful close confidante in the scam," Sitharaman said. The sting video was shot by a local journalist in Dehradun, who said he conducted the operation in the last two months.
Rawat hit back, saying the IAS officer was not authorised to make the negotiations in this matter in the first place. "We need to check if the sting authentic. Personal secretary Shahid is a good, hard working officer. He is not authorised to frame policies on the matter," he said, adding that he will not even move the court over such an allegation.
The BJP counter-attack came shortly after Parliament was adjourned for the second day on Wednesday with the opposition demanding the resignation of Rawat's counterparts in Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan - Shivraj Singh Chouhan andVasundhara Raje - for their alleged involvement in the Vyapam and Lalit Modi scams respectively.
The BJP returned the Congress fire over Lalitgate and Vyapam scams with a sting alleging that Uttarakhand Chief Minister Harish Rawat's personal secretary had negotiated a bribery deal for an alcohol licence. The BJP claimed the case was only the tip of an excise scam in the north Indian state, an allegation denied by Rawat.
Union Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, at a press conference in New Delhi, on Wednesday accused IAS officer Mohammad Shahid in Uttarakhand of negotiating with a middleman for liquor licences, a scam that she alleged went into crores. She also demanded Rawat's resignation over it.
"We have a video proof which shows the involvement of Uttarakhand's CM and his powerful close confidante in the scam," Sitharaman said. The sting video was shot by a local journalist in Dehradun, who said he conducted the operation in the last two months.
Rawat hit back, saying the IAS officer was not authorised to make the negotiations in this matter in the first place. "We need to check if the sting authentic. Personal secretary Shahid is a good, hard working officer. He is not authorised to frame policies on the matter," he said, adding that he will not even move the court over such an allegation.
The BJP counter-attack came shortly after Parliament was adjourned for the second day on Wednesday with the opposition demanding the resignation of Rawat's counterparts in Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan - Shivraj Singh Chouhan andVasundhara Raje - for their alleged involvement in the Vyapam and Lalit Modi scams respectively.
Is this for real? Pakistan says India involved in Peshawar school massacre
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In an absurd attack, Pakistan on Thursday accused India of involvement in the deadly Peshawar school massacre which claimed 145 lives, including 132 school kids, last year. Pakistan reportedly blamed India for funding the Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan and arming them before the deadly attack on the military-run school in northwest Pakistan.
According to reports, Pakistan is preparing a dossier on India's role in supporting terrorism in Balochistan and Karachi. The dossier is likely to be carried by Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif's adviser on foreign affairs Sartaj Aziz when he is expected to meet Ajit Doval in Delhi next month. Sources said, both the nations are expected to take up 2007 Samjhauta train blast trial as well.
"Pakistan is likely to up the ante and raise issues that help them address their domestic constituency," an Indian official involved with the preparations of the meeting said. On July 13, Aziz held a press conference in Islamabad where he referred to alleged Indian interference while sources in the Pakistani establishment also said that the dossier with "solid evidence" has already been shared with some other countries.
"We would take up the alleged help being extended by India to Baloch rebels and in training those involved in recent blasts in Karachi," a Pakistani official said.
Pakistan has levelled baseless allegations against India in the past too. Recently, Pakistan said an "Indian spy drone " was shot down by the army along the Line of Control in Pakistan-administered Kashmir. India denied the claim, saying no such drone crashed or was shot down. India came down heavily on its neighbour saying that the drone was in fact a Chinese one, available commercially.
It reportedly relied on a fake British intelligence input to blame India for funding the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) and training its militants in "explosives, weapons and sabotage". British investigations found the allegation to be baseless and not on their records.
Pakistan has also blamed India for its "involvement" in Balochistan and "destabilizing" the province. Pakistan has repeatedly accused India of supporting Baloch rebels but has failed to provide any information or evidence.
On July 10 in Russian city of Ufa, Prime Ministers Narendra Modi and Nawaz Sharif held bilateral talks and issued brief joint statements that said the two countries agreed to cooperate with each other to eliminate terrorism, expedite the trial of the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks and hold a meeting of their National Security Advisors - among other steps to lessen tension.
In an absurd attack, Pakistan on Thursday accused India of involvement in the deadly Peshawar school massacre which claimed 145 lives, including 132 school kids, last year. Pakistan reportedly blamed India for funding the Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan and arming them before the deadly attack on the military-run school in northwest Pakistan.
According to reports, Pakistan is preparing a dossier on India's role in supporting terrorism in Balochistan and Karachi. The dossier is likely to be carried by Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif's adviser on foreign affairs Sartaj Aziz when he is expected to meet Ajit Doval in Delhi next month. Sources said, both the nations are expected to take up 2007 Samjhauta train blast trial as well.
"Pakistan is likely to up the ante and raise issues that help them address their domestic constituency," an Indian official involved with the preparations of the meeting said. On July 13, Aziz held a press conference in Islamabad where he referred to alleged Indian interference while sources in the Pakistani establishment also said that the dossier with "solid evidence" has already been shared with some other countries.
"We would take up the alleged help being extended by India to Baloch rebels and in training those involved in recent blasts in Karachi," a Pakistani official said.
Pakistan has levelled baseless allegations against India in the past too. Recently, Pakistan said an "Indian spy drone " was shot down by the army along the Line of Control in Pakistan-administered Kashmir. India denied the claim, saying no such drone crashed or was shot down. India came down heavily on its neighbour saying that the drone was in fact a Chinese one, available commercially.
It reportedly relied on a fake British intelligence input to blame India for funding the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) and training its militants in "explosives, weapons and sabotage". British investigations found the allegation to be baseless and not on their records.
Pakistan has also blamed India for its "involvement" in Balochistan and "destabilizing" the province. Pakistan has repeatedly accused India of supporting Baloch rebels but has failed to provide any information or evidence.
On July 10 in Russian city of Ufa, Prime Ministers Narendra Modi and Nawaz Sharif held bilateral talks and issued brief joint statements that said the two countries agreed to cooperate with each other to eliminate terrorism, expedite the trial of the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks and hold a meeting of their National Security Advisors - among other steps to lessen tension.
Russian Soyuz lifts new crew to International Space Station after 2-month delay
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A Russian Soyuz capsule carrying three new crew for the International Space Station arrived at the orbital outpost on Wednesday after a two-month launch delay, a NASA TV broadcast showed.
Veteran Russian cosmonaut Oleg Kononenko and rookie astronauts Kjell Lindgren with NASA and Japan's Kimiya Yui blasted off aboard a Russian Soyuz rocket at 5:02 p.m. (2102 GMT) from the Baikonur cosmodrome in Kazakhstan.
They arrived less than six hours later to begin a five-month mission aboard the station, a $100-billion laboratory that flies about 250 miles (400 km) above Earth.
The trio had been set to fly in May, but Russia delayed the mission after a botched launch of a similar Soyuz rocket on April 28. That accident stranded a Progress cargo ship in an orbit too low to reach the station.
Nine days later, the capsule, loaded with three tons of equipment and supplies, fell back into Earth's atmosphere and was incinerated.
Accident investigators determined that the Progress failed to separate properly from the Soyuz rocket's third-stage engine. The Soyuz returned to flight on July 3, successfully launching a replacement load of cargo to the station.
"We're confident in the rocket ... we're all very excited to launch," Lindgren, 42, told a pre-launch news conference.
Two U.S. companies that fly cargo to the station under contract with the U.S. space agency also lost capsules after recent failed launches. Privately owned SpaceX and Orbital ATK remain grounded following accidents last month and in October 2014, respectively.
A fourth station resupply line is operated by Japan, which is scheduled to fly again in August.
"It's certainly no fun to see several of the cargo vehicles undergo mishaps," Lindgren said. "It underscores the difficulty of this industry and ... how unforgiving the space environment is."
The arrival of Lindgren, Kononenko, 51, and Yui, 45, returns the space station to a full six-member crew for the first time in six weeks.
"We look forward to seeing them," U.S. station flight engineer Scott Kelly said during an inflight interview on Tuesday.
Kelly and Russia's Mikhail Kornienko are participating in the station's first year-long mission. Also aboard is veteran cosmonaut Gennady Padalka, the current station commander.
The Soyuz capsule arrived on Wednesday with just one pair of its power-producing solar arrays deployed. NASA mission commentator Kyle Herring said the glitch had no impact on the capsule's flight and docking.
A Russian Soyuz capsule carrying three new crew for the International Space Station arrived at the orbital outpost on Wednesday after a two-month launch delay, a NASA TV broadcast showed.
Veteran Russian cosmonaut Oleg Kononenko and rookie astronauts Kjell Lindgren with NASA and Japan's Kimiya Yui blasted off aboard a Russian Soyuz rocket at 5:02 p.m. (2102 GMT) from the Baikonur cosmodrome in Kazakhstan.
They arrived less than six hours later to begin a five-month mission aboard the station, a $100-billion laboratory that flies about 250 miles (400 km) above Earth.
The trio had been set to fly in May, but Russia delayed the mission after a botched launch of a similar Soyuz rocket on April 28. That accident stranded a Progress cargo ship in an orbit too low to reach the station.
Nine days later, the capsule, loaded with three tons of equipment and supplies, fell back into Earth's atmosphere and was incinerated.
Accident investigators determined that the Progress failed to separate properly from the Soyuz rocket's third-stage engine. The Soyuz returned to flight on July 3, successfully launching a replacement load of cargo to the station.
"We're confident in the rocket ... we're all very excited to launch," Lindgren, 42, told a pre-launch news conference.
Two U.S. companies that fly cargo to the station under contract with the U.S. space agency also lost capsules after recent failed launches. Privately owned SpaceX and Orbital ATK remain grounded following accidents last month and in October 2014, respectively.
A fourth station resupply line is operated by Japan, which is scheduled to fly again in August.
"It's certainly no fun to see several of the cargo vehicles undergo mishaps," Lindgren said. "It underscores the difficulty of this industry and ... how unforgiving the space environment is."
The arrival of Lindgren, Kononenko, 51, and Yui, 45, returns the space station to a full six-member crew for the first time in six weeks.
"We look forward to seeing them," U.S. station flight engineer Scott Kelly said during an inflight interview on Tuesday.
Kelly and Russia's Mikhail Kornienko are participating in the station's first year-long mission. Also aboard is veteran cosmonaut Gennady Padalka, the current station commander.
The Soyuz capsule arrived on Wednesday with just one pair of its power-producing solar arrays deployed. NASA mission commentator Kyle Herring said the glitch had no impact on the capsule's flight and docking.
Modi schemes: Rural infrastructure Part 6
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Dear Readers & Aspirants, We collected some important points in MODI schemes: Rural infrastructure and make it in PDF format. We Hope it will definitely help you for your SBI PO,IBPS,RBI assistant and many more upcoming Exams. All the Best My Dear Aspirants & Readers.
- Modi Schemes: Banking & Insurance Part 1
- Modi Schemes: Agriculture & Irrigation – Part 2
- Modi Schemes: Technology Part 3
- Modi Schemes: Environmental and Health Part 4
- Modi Schemes: Child and Women Empowerment Part 5
1. Sansad adharsh gram yojana
OBJECTIVE OF SAGY
• Leveraging the leadership, capacity, commitment and energy of the Members of Parliament (MP) to develop model Gram Panchayats.
• Engaging with and mobilizing the community for participatory local level development.
• Converging different government programmes and private and voluntary initiatives to achieve comprehensive development in tune with people’s aspirations and local potential.
• Building partnerships with voluntary organisations, co-operatives and academic and research institutions.
• Focusing on outcomes and sustainability
ACTIVITIES
ADARSH GRAM An Adarsh Gram should evolve out of people’s shared vision, using their capacities and available resources to the best extent possible, duly facilitated by the MP, theGram Panchayat, civil society and the government machinery. Naturally, the elements of an Adarsh Gram would be context specific. However, it is still possible to broadly identify the important activities.
They would include:
a. Personal development
i. Inculcating hygienic behaviour and practices
ii. Fostering healthy habits including daily exercise and games
iii. Reducing risk behaviour- alcoholism, smoking, substance abuse, etc.
b. Human Development
i. Universal access to basic health facilities consisting of health card, medical examination
ii. Total immunization
iii. Balancing the sex-ratio
iv. 100% institutional delivery
v. Improving nutrition status for all, with special focus on children, adolescent girls, pregnant women, and lactating mothers
vi. Strong focus on the special needs of Persons With Disability (PWD), especially children and women
vii. Universal access to education facilities up to Class X and retention
viii. Conversion of schools into ‘smart schools’. Smart schools will have IT enabled classrooms, e-libraries, web based teaching and will make all students e-literate required for providing quality education
ix. Adult literacy
x. E-literacy
xi. Village libraries including e-libraries
c. Social development
i. Activities for promotion of voluntarism like Bharat Nirman Volunteers
ii. Building the capacity of the people to fully participate and contribute to local development
iii. Activities for honouring village elders, local role models especially women, freedom fighters and martyrs
iv. Activities for violence and crime free villages such as:
a. Setting up Citizen Committees
b. Sensitization, especially of youth
v. Village sports and folk arts festivals
vi. Having a village song to instil a sense of pride among the people
vii. Celebrating ‘Village Day’
viii. Proactive steps for inclusion and integration of socially excluded groups, especially Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes.
d. Economic Development
i. Promoting diversified agricultural and allied livelihoods, including livestock and horticulture, through Organic farming
b. Soil health cards
c. Crop intensification such as SRI
d. Setting up of seed banks
e. Collection and value addition to Non Timber Forest Produce, Livestock development including Gobar Bank, cattle hostel
f. Livestock development including Gobar Bank, cattle hostel
g. Micro-irrigation
h. Agro-service centres
ii. Rural industrialization like:
a. Post-harvest technology applications
b. Micro-enterprises
c. Dairy development and processing
d. Food processing
e. Traditional Industries
iii. Skill Development of all eligible youth for self-employment and placement
iv. Village Tourism including eco-tourism All the above activities should focus
particularly on lifting households out of poverty, for which organising and federating women SHGs, providing employment to all workers, and bringing about financial inclusion are very important.
e. Environmental Development
i. Activities for a clean and green village consisting of:
a. Providing toilets in each household and in all public institutions and ensuring their proper use
b. Appropriate solid and liquid waste management
ii. Roadside plantations
iii. Tree plantation in accordance with local preferences in homesteads, schools and public institutions – including green walkways
iv. Social forestry
v. Watershed management especially renovation and revival of traditional water bodies
vi. Rainwater harvesting- rooftop as well as others
vii. Reducing local pollution of air, water and land
f. Basic amenities and services
i. Pucca houses for all houseless poor/poor living in kutcha houses
ii. Drinking water, preferably treated piped water with household taps
iii. Internal all weather roads with covered drains
iv. All weather road connectivity to the main road-network
v. Electricity connection to all households and street-lights including from alternative sources of energy, especially solar
vi. Pucca infrastructure for public institutions- Anganwadis, schools, health institutions, Gram Panchayat Office and libraries
vii. Civic infrastructure including community halls, buildings for SHG federations, playgrounds and burial grounds/ crematoria
viii. Village markets
ix. Infrastructure for PDS outlets
x. Micro mini banks /post offices/ATMs
xi. Broadband connectivity and Common Service Centres
xii. Telecom connectivity
xiii. CCTVs in public places
g. Social Security
i. Pensions for all eligible families- old age, disability and widow
ii. Insurance schemes like Aam Aadmi Bima Yojana
iii. Health insurance- RSBY
iv. PDS- universal access to all eligible households
h. Good Governance
i. Strengthening of local democracy through strong and accountable Gram Panchayats and active Gram Sabhas
ii. E-Governance resulting in better service delivery
iii. Provision of UIDAI cards to all
iv. Ensuring regular and punctual attendance of government and panchayat staff
v. Time bound service delivery in line with Department’s Citizens Charter
vi. Holding of Mahila Gram Sabhas before every Gram Sabha
vii. Holding of a Gram Sabha at least 4 times a year
viii. Holding of Bal Sabhas every quarter
ix. Proactive disclosure of all information pertaining to the implementation of the programme in the public domain and through wall-writing, notice boards in the local language. This should necessarily include the list of beneficiaries, item-wise budgets and expenditure.
x. Gram Panchayat acting as an information facilitation centre
xi. Timely redressal of grievances filed by people, such that: Grievances of all nature to be submitted to the Gram Panchayat / Charge Officer and dated receipt to be given
2. Grievances to be redressed within three weeks along with written reply
3. Institutionalization of regular open platforms for airing of grievances and
their redressal, coordinated by the Gram Panchayat
xii. Half yearly Social Audit of the programme implementation by the Gram Sabha facilitated by the Social Audit Units set up under MGNREGA
TIME LINE
Item of work Time from the———————————–date of launch
• Selection of Adarsh Gram————————————- One month
• Awareness generation on the scheme———————Two months
• Environment creation and social mobilisation————Three months
• Initialisation of First Stage activities————————-Three months
• Review of First Stage activities———————————Five months
• Completion of preparation of VDP—————————-Seven months
• Approvals and sanctions —————————————–Eight months
• Activities to begin ———————————————–Nine months
• Review of progress of VDP at Gram Sabha level and District Level–One Year
IDENTIFICATION OF ADARSH GRAM
A Gram Panchayat would be the basic unit.It will have a population of 3000-5000 in plain areas and 1000-3000 in hilly, tribal and difficult areas. In districts where this unit size is not available, Gram Panchayats approximating the desirable population size may be chosen. The MP would be free to identify a suitable Gram Panchayat for being developed as Adarsh Gram, other than his/her own village or that of his/her spouse. The MP will identify one Gram Panchayat to be taken up immediately, and two others to be taken up a little later. Lok Sabha MP has to choose a Gram Panchayat from within his/her constituency and Rajya Sabha MP a Gram Panchayat from the rural area of a district of his/her choice in the State from which he/she is elected. Nominated MPs may choose a Gram Panchayat from the rural area of any district in the country. In the case of urban constituencies, (where there are no Gram Panchayats), the MP will identify a Gram Panchayat from a nearby rural constituency. Primarily, the goal is to develop three Adarsh Grams by March 2019, of which one would be achieved by 2016. Thereafter, five such Adarsh Grams (one per year) will be selected and developed by 2024.
2. Deendayal Upadhyaya Gram Jyoti Yojana
The Union Cabinet, chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, today approved the launch of Deendayal Upadhyaya Gram Jyoti Yojana (DDUGJY) with components
–>To separate agriculture and non agriculture feeders facilitating judicious rostering of supply to agricultural and non-agricultural consumers in rural areas
–>strengthening and augmentation of sub transmission and distribution infrastructure in rural areas, including metering of distribution transformers/feeders/consumers.
The estimated cost of the scheme for above two components is Rs.43,033 crore which includes the requirement of budgetary support of Rs.33,453 crore from Government of India over the entire implementation period.
The Cabinet further approved, that the balance work relating to rural electrification as per CCEA’s approval in August, 2013 with the norms of the ongoing scheme of RGGVY in 12th and 13th Plans will get subsumed in DDUGJY as a distinct component for rural electrification, for which CCEA has already approved the scheme cost of Rs.39,275 crore including budgetary support of Rs.35,447 crore. This outlay will be carried forward to the new scheme of DDUGJY in addition to the outlay of Rs.43,033 crore.
The scheme would help in_
(i) Improvement in hours of power supply in rural areas,
(ii) Reduction in peak load
(iii) Improvement in billed energy based on metered consumption and
(iv) Providing access to electricity to rural households.
The process of sanction of projects shall commence immediately. After sanction of projects, contracts for execution of projects will be awarded by States Discoms / Power Departments. The projects shall be completed within 24 months from date of award.
3.Jyotigram Yojana scheme
INTIATIVE
Jyotigram Yojana is an initiative of the Government of Gujarat to ensure availability of 24-hour three phase quality power supply to rural areas of the state and to supply power to farmers residing in scattered farm houses through feeders having specially designed transformers.
The scheme was dedicated to the nation by President A. P. J. Abdul Kalam in 2006. Stockholm International Water Institute (SIWI) has commended the scheme saying Jyotigram scheme has radically improved the quality of village life, spurred non-farm economic enterprises, and halved the power subsidy in agriculture.Government of India is set to accept Gujarat’s Jyotigram project as a flagship scheme for the 12th five year plan .
Gujrat model
Government of India (GoI) is all set to accept Gujarat’s Jyotigram project as a flagship scheme for the 12th five year plan (2012-17) in the power sector for supplying round-the-clock, high-quality three-phase power to all villages. Commissioned in 2006, Jyotigram provides for a separate electric feeder for domestic use and a limited agricultural supply of nearly eight hours a day, continuous and of constant voltage.
A just-released Planning Commission draft titled Faster, Sustainable and More Inclusive Growth: An Approach to the 12th Five Year Plan, says that the separation of agricultural feeders in the country will enable villages to get 24 X 7 three-phased power for domestic uses, schools, hospitals and village industries”. As for the farm pump sets, which require much more power, they can obtain “eight hours or more of quality power on a pre-announced schedule”.
The project underlines
The program of feeder separation has to be carried through across the country. Gujarat has achieved very good results by combining feeder separation with an extensive watershed program for groundwater recharge. Punjab, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh have also moved forward in this direction. Feeder separation needs to be extended to all states, especially where groundwater is extensively used.
Dear Readers & Aspirants, We collected some important points in MODI schemes: Rural infrastructure and make it in PDF format. We Hope it will definitely help you for your SBI PO,IBPS,RBI assistant and many more upcoming Exams. All the Best My Dear Aspirants & Readers.
- Modi Schemes: Banking & Insurance Part 1
- Modi Schemes: Agriculture & Irrigation – Part 2
- Modi Schemes: Technology Part 3
- Modi Schemes: Environmental and Health Part 4
- Modi Schemes: Child and Women Empowerment Part 5
1. Sansad adharsh gram yojana
OBJECTIVE OF SAGY
• Leveraging the leadership, capacity, commitment and energy of the Members of Parliament (MP) to develop model Gram Panchayats.
• Engaging with and mobilizing the community for participatory local level development.
• Converging different government programmes and private and voluntary initiatives to achieve comprehensive development in tune with people’s aspirations and local potential.
• Building partnerships with voluntary organisations, co-operatives and academic and research institutions.
• Focusing on outcomes and sustainability
• Leveraging the leadership, capacity, commitment and energy of the Members of Parliament (MP) to develop model Gram Panchayats.
• Engaging with and mobilizing the community for participatory local level development.
• Converging different government programmes and private and voluntary initiatives to achieve comprehensive development in tune with people’s aspirations and local potential.
• Building partnerships with voluntary organisations, co-operatives and academic and research institutions.
• Focusing on outcomes and sustainability
ACTIVITIES
ADARSH GRAM An Adarsh Gram should evolve out of people’s shared vision, using their capacities and available resources to the best extent possible, duly facilitated by the MP, theGram Panchayat, civil society and the government machinery. Naturally, the elements of an Adarsh Gram would be context specific. However, it is still possible to broadly identify the important activities.
ADARSH GRAM An Adarsh Gram should evolve out of people’s shared vision, using their capacities and available resources to the best extent possible, duly facilitated by the MP, theGram Panchayat, civil society and the government machinery. Naturally, the elements of an Adarsh Gram would be context specific. However, it is still possible to broadly identify the important activities.
They would include:
a. Personal development
i. Inculcating hygienic behaviour and practices
ii. Fostering healthy habits including daily exercise and games
iii. Reducing risk behaviour- alcoholism, smoking, substance abuse, etc.
i. Inculcating hygienic behaviour and practices
ii. Fostering healthy habits including daily exercise and games
iii. Reducing risk behaviour- alcoholism, smoking, substance abuse, etc.
b. Human Development
i. Universal access to basic health facilities consisting of health card, medical examination
ii. Total immunization
iii. Balancing the sex-ratio
iv. 100% institutional delivery
v. Improving nutrition status for all, with special focus on children, adolescent girls, pregnant women, and lactating mothers
vi. Strong focus on the special needs of Persons With Disability (PWD), especially children and women
vii. Universal access to education facilities up to Class X and retention
viii. Conversion of schools into ‘smart schools’. Smart schools will have IT enabled classrooms, e-libraries, web based teaching and will make all students e-literate required for providing quality education
ix. Adult literacy
x. E-literacy
xi. Village libraries including e-libraries
i. Universal access to basic health facilities consisting of health card, medical examination
ii. Total immunization
iii. Balancing the sex-ratio
iv. 100% institutional delivery
v. Improving nutrition status for all, with special focus on children, adolescent girls, pregnant women, and lactating mothers
vi. Strong focus on the special needs of Persons With Disability (PWD), especially children and women
vii. Universal access to education facilities up to Class X and retention
viii. Conversion of schools into ‘smart schools’. Smart schools will have IT enabled classrooms, e-libraries, web based teaching and will make all students e-literate required for providing quality education
ix. Adult literacy
x. E-literacy
xi. Village libraries including e-libraries
c. Social development
i. Activities for promotion of voluntarism like Bharat Nirman Volunteers
ii. Building the capacity of the people to fully participate and contribute to local development
iii. Activities for honouring village elders, local role models especially women, freedom fighters and martyrs
iv. Activities for violence and crime free villages such as:
a. Setting up Citizen Committees
b. Sensitization, especially of youth
v. Village sports and folk arts festivals
vi. Having a village song to instil a sense of pride among the people
vii. Celebrating ‘Village Day’
viii. Proactive steps for inclusion and integration of socially excluded groups, especially Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes.
ii. Building the capacity of the people to fully participate and contribute to local development
iii. Activities for honouring village elders, local role models especially women, freedom fighters and martyrs
iv. Activities for violence and crime free villages such as:
a. Setting up Citizen Committees
b. Sensitization, especially of youth
v. Village sports and folk arts festivals
vi. Having a village song to instil a sense of pride among the people
vii. Celebrating ‘Village Day’
viii. Proactive steps for inclusion and integration of socially excluded groups, especially Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes.
d. Economic Development
i. Promoting diversified agricultural and allied livelihoods, including livestock and horticulture, through Organic farming
b. Soil health cards
c. Crop intensification such as SRI
d. Setting up of seed banks
e. Collection and value addition to Non Timber Forest Produce, Livestock development including Gobar Bank, cattle hostel
f. Livestock development including Gobar Bank, cattle hostel
g. Micro-irrigation
h. Agro-service centres
ii. Rural industrialization like:
a. Post-harvest technology applications
b. Micro-enterprises
c. Dairy development and processing
d. Food processing
e. Traditional Industries
iii. Skill Development of all eligible youth for self-employment and placement
iv. Village Tourism including eco-tourism All the above activities should focus
particularly on lifting households out of poverty, for which organising and federating women SHGs, providing employment to all workers, and bringing about financial inclusion are very important.
b. Soil health cards
c. Crop intensification such as SRI
d. Setting up of seed banks
e. Collection and value addition to Non Timber Forest Produce, Livestock development including Gobar Bank, cattle hostel
f. Livestock development including Gobar Bank, cattle hostel
g. Micro-irrigation
h. Agro-service centres
ii. Rural industrialization like:
a. Post-harvest technology applications
b. Micro-enterprises
c. Dairy development and processing
d. Food processing
e. Traditional Industries
iii. Skill Development of all eligible youth for self-employment and placement
iv. Village Tourism including eco-tourism All the above activities should focus
particularly on lifting households out of poverty, for which organising and federating women SHGs, providing employment to all workers, and bringing about financial inclusion are very important.
e. Environmental Development
i. Activities for a clean and green village consisting of:
a. Providing toilets in each household and in all public institutions and ensuring their proper use
b. Appropriate solid and liquid waste management
ii. Roadside plantations
iii. Tree plantation in accordance with local preferences in homesteads, schools and public institutions – including green walkways
iv. Social forestry
v. Watershed management especially renovation and revival of traditional water bodies
vi. Rainwater harvesting- rooftop as well as others
vii. Reducing local pollution of air, water and land
a. Providing toilets in each household and in all public institutions and ensuring their proper use
b. Appropriate solid and liquid waste management
ii. Roadside plantations
iii. Tree plantation in accordance with local preferences in homesteads, schools and public institutions – including green walkways
iv. Social forestry
v. Watershed management especially renovation and revival of traditional water bodies
vi. Rainwater harvesting- rooftop as well as others
vii. Reducing local pollution of air, water and land
f. Basic amenities and services
i. Pucca houses for all houseless poor/poor living in kutcha houses
ii. Drinking water, preferably treated piped water with household taps
iii. Internal all weather roads with covered drains
iv. All weather road connectivity to the main road-network
v. Electricity connection to all households and street-lights including from alternative sources of energy, especially solar
vi. Pucca infrastructure for public institutions- Anganwadis, schools, health institutions, Gram Panchayat Office and libraries
vii. Civic infrastructure including community halls, buildings for SHG federations, playgrounds and burial grounds/ crematoria
viii. Village markets
ix. Infrastructure for PDS outlets
x. Micro mini banks /post offices/ATMs
xi. Broadband connectivity and Common Service Centres
xii. Telecom connectivity
xiii. CCTVs in public places
ii. Drinking water, preferably treated piped water with household taps
iii. Internal all weather roads with covered drains
iv. All weather road connectivity to the main road-network
v. Electricity connection to all households and street-lights including from alternative sources of energy, especially solar
vi. Pucca infrastructure for public institutions- Anganwadis, schools, health institutions, Gram Panchayat Office and libraries
vii. Civic infrastructure including community halls, buildings for SHG federations, playgrounds and burial grounds/ crematoria
viii. Village markets
ix. Infrastructure for PDS outlets
x. Micro mini banks /post offices/ATMs
xi. Broadband connectivity and Common Service Centres
xii. Telecom connectivity
xiii. CCTVs in public places
g. Social Security
i. Pensions for all eligible families- old age, disability and widow
ii. Insurance schemes like Aam Aadmi Bima Yojana
iii. Health insurance- RSBY
iv. PDS- universal access to all eligible households
ii. Insurance schemes like Aam Aadmi Bima Yojana
iii. Health insurance- RSBY
iv. PDS- universal access to all eligible households
h. Good Governance
i. Strengthening of local democracy through strong and accountable Gram Panchayats and active Gram Sabhas
ii. E-Governance resulting in better service delivery
iii. Provision of UIDAI cards to all
iv. Ensuring regular and punctual attendance of government and panchayat staff
v. Time bound service delivery in line with Department’s Citizens Charter
vi. Holding of Mahila Gram Sabhas before every Gram Sabha
vii. Holding of a Gram Sabha at least 4 times a year
viii. Holding of Bal Sabhas every quarter
ix. Proactive disclosure of all information pertaining to the implementation of the programme in the public domain and through wall-writing, notice boards in the local language. This should necessarily include the list of beneficiaries, item-wise budgets and expenditure.
x. Gram Panchayat acting as an information facilitation centre
xi. Timely redressal of grievances filed by people, such that: Grievances of all nature to be submitted to the Gram Panchayat / Charge Officer and dated receipt to be given
2. Grievances to be redressed within three weeks along with written reply
3. Institutionalization of regular open platforms for airing of grievances and
their redressal, coordinated by the Gram Panchayat
xii. Half yearly Social Audit of the programme implementation by the Gram Sabha facilitated by the Social Audit Units set up under MGNREGA
ii. E-Governance resulting in better service delivery
iii. Provision of UIDAI cards to all
iv. Ensuring regular and punctual attendance of government and panchayat staff
v. Time bound service delivery in line with Department’s Citizens Charter
vi. Holding of Mahila Gram Sabhas before every Gram Sabha
vii. Holding of a Gram Sabha at least 4 times a year
viii. Holding of Bal Sabhas every quarter
ix. Proactive disclosure of all information pertaining to the implementation of the programme in the public domain and through wall-writing, notice boards in the local language. This should necessarily include the list of beneficiaries, item-wise budgets and expenditure.
x. Gram Panchayat acting as an information facilitation centre
xi. Timely redressal of grievances filed by people, such that: Grievances of all nature to be submitted to the Gram Panchayat / Charge Officer and dated receipt to be given
2. Grievances to be redressed within three weeks along with written reply
3. Institutionalization of regular open platforms for airing of grievances and
their redressal, coordinated by the Gram Panchayat
xii. Half yearly Social Audit of the programme implementation by the Gram Sabha facilitated by the Social Audit Units set up under MGNREGA
TIME LINE
Item of work Time from the———————————–date of launch
• Selection of Adarsh Gram————————————- One month
• Awareness generation on the scheme———————Two months
• Environment creation and social mobilisation————Three months
• Initialisation of First Stage activities————————-Three months
• Review of First Stage activities———————————Five months
• Completion of preparation of VDP—————————-Seven months
• Approvals and sanctions —————————————–Eight months
• Activities to begin ———————————————–Nine months
• Review of progress of VDP at Gram Sabha level and District Level–One Year
• Selection of Adarsh Gram————————————- One month
• Awareness generation on the scheme———————Two months
• Environment creation and social mobilisation————Three months
• Initialisation of First Stage activities————————-Three months
• Review of First Stage activities———————————Five months
• Completion of preparation of VDP—————————-Seven months
• Approvals and sanctions —————————————–Eight months
• Activities to begin ———————————————–Nine months
• Review of progress of VDP at Gram Sabha level and District Level–One Year
IDENTIFICATION OF ADARSH GRAM
A Gram Panchayat would be the basic unit.It will have a population of 3000-5000 in plain areas and 1000-3000 in hilly, tribal and difficult areas. In districts where this unit size is not available, Gram Panchayats approximating the desirable population size may be chosen. The MP would be free to identify a suitable Gram Panchayat for being developed as Adarsh Gram, other than his/her own village or that of his/her spouse. The MP will identify one Gram Panchayat to be taken up immediately, and two others to be taken up a little later. Lok Sabha MP has to choose a Gram Panchayat from within his/her constituency and Rajya Sabha MP a Gram Panchayat from the rural area of a district of his/her choice in the State from which he/she is elected. Nominated MPs may choose a Gram Panchayat from the rural area of any district in the country. In the case of urban constituencies, (where there are no Gram Panchayats), the MP will identify a Gram Panchayat from a nearby rural constituency. Primarily, the goal is to develop three Adarsh Grams by March 2019, of which one would be achieved by 2016. Thereafter, five such Adarsh Grams (one per year) will be selected and developed by 2024.
2. Deendayal Upadhyaya Gram Jyoti Yojana
The Union Cabinet, chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, today approved the launch of Deendayal Upadhyaya Gram Jyoti Yojana (DDUGJY) with components
–>To separate agriculture and non agriculture feeders facilitating judicious rostering of supply to agricultural and non-agricultural consumers in rural areas
–>strengthening and augmentation of sub transmission and distribution infrastructure in rural areas, including metering of distribution transformers/feeders/consumers.
The estimated cost of the scheme for above two components is Rs.43,033 crore which includes the requirement of budgetary support of Rs.33,453 crore from Government of India over the entire implementation period.
The Cabinet further approved, that the balance work relating to rural electrification as per CCEA’s approval in August, 2013 with the norms of the ongoing scheme of RGGVY in 12th and 13th Plans will get subsumed in DDUGJY as a distinct component for rural electrification, for which CCEA has already approved the scheme cost of Rs.39,275 crore including budgetary support of Rs.35,447 crore. This outlay will be carried forward to the new scheme of DDUGJY in addition to the outlay of Rs.43,033 crore.
–>To separate agriculture and non agriculture feeders facilitating judicious rostering of supply to agricultural and non-agricultural consumers in rural areas
–>strengthening and augmentation of sub transmission and distribution infrastructure in rural areas, including metering of distribution transformers/feeders/consumers.
The estimated cost of the scheme for above two components is Rs.43,033 crore which includes the requirement of budgetary support of Rs.33,453 crore from Government of India over the entire implementation period.
The Cabinet further approved, that the balance work relating to rural electrification as per CCEA’s approval in August, 2013 with the norms of the ongoing scheme of RGGVY in 12th and 13th Plans will get subsumed in DDUGJY as a distinct component for rural electrification, for which CCEA has already approved the scheme cost of Rs.39,275 crore including budgetary support of Rs.35,447 crore. This outlay will be carried forward to the new scheme of DDUGJY in addition to the outlay of Rs.43,033 crore.
The scheme would help in_
(i) Improvement in hours of power supply in rural areas,
(ii) Reduction in peak load
(iii) Improvement in billed energy based on metered consumption and
(iv) Providing access to electricity to rural households.
The process of sanction of projects shall commence immediately. After sanction of projects, contracts for execution of projects will be awarded by States Discoms / Power Departments. The projects shall be completed within 24 months from date of award.
(i) Improvement in hours of power supply in rural areas,
(ii) Reduction in peak load
(iii) Improvement in billed energy based on metered consumption and
(iv) Providing access to electricity to rural households.
The process of sanction of projects shall commence immediately. After sanction of projects, contracts for execution of projects will be awarded by States Discoms / Power Departments. The projects shall be completed within 24 months from date of award.
3.Jyotigram Yojana scheme
INTIATIVE
Jyotigram Yojana is an initiative of the Government of Gujarat to ensure availability of 24-hour three phase quality power supply to rural areas of the state and to supply power to farmers residing in scattered farm houses through feeders having specially designed transformers.
The scheme was dedicated to the nation by President A. P. J. Abdul Kalam in 2006. Stockholm International Water Institute (SIWI) has commended the scheme saying Jyotigram scheme has radically improved the quality of village life, spurred non-farm economic enterprises, and halved the power subsidy in agriculture.Government of India is set to accept Gujarat’s Jyotigram project as a flagship scheme for the 12th five year plan .
The scheme was dedicated to the nation by President A. P. J. Abdul Kalam in 2006. Stockholm International Water Institute (SIWI) has commended the scheme saying Jyotigram scheme has radically improved the quality of village life, spurred non-farm economic enterprises, and halved the power subsidy in agriculture.Government of India is set to accept Gujarat’s Jyotigram project as a flagship scheme for the 12th five year plan .
Gujrat model
Government of India (GoI) is all set to accept Gujarat’s Jyotigram project as a flagship scheme for the 12th five year plan (2012-17) in the power sector for supplying round-the-clock, high-quality three-phase power to all villages. Commissioned in 2006, Jyotigram provides for a separate electric feeder for domestic use and a limited agricultural supply of nearly eight hours a day, continuous and of constant voltage.
A just-released Planning Commission draft titled Faster, Sustainable and More Inclusive Growth: An Approach to the 12th Five Year Plan, says that the separation of agricultural feeders in the country will enable villages to get 24 X 7 three-phased power for domestic uses, schools, hospitals and village industries”. As for the farm pump sets, which require much more power, they can obtain “eight hours or more of quality power on a pre-announced schedule”.
A just-released Planning Commission draft titled Faster, Sustainable and More Inclusive Growth: An Approach to the 12th Five Year Plan, says that the separation of agricultural feeders in the country will enable villages to get 24 X 7 three-phased power for domestic uses, schools, hospitals and village industries”. As for the farm pump sets, which require much more power, they can obtain “eight hours or more of quality power on a pre-announced schedule”.
The project underlines
The program of feeder separation has to be carried through across the country. Gujarat has achieved very good results by combining feeder separation with an extensive watershed program for groundwater recharge. Punjab, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh have also moved forward in this direction. Feeder separation needs to be extended to all states, especially where groundwater is extensively used.
The program of feeder separation has to be carried through across the country. Gujarat has achieved very good results by combining feeder separation with an extensive watershed program for groundwater recharge. Punjab, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh have also moved forward in this direction. Feeder separation needs to be extended to all states, especially where groundwater is extensively used.
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