NEW DELHI, Mar 25: Minister for Telecommunications and IT Ravi Shankar Prasad today said the ‘Digital India’ initiative is fundamentally aimed at making the Government more people friendly and to bridge the gap between haves and have nots through digital empowerment.
Addressing the Third Web Ratna Awards ceremony here, Mr Prasad called for collective approach of related Government Departments to create a friendly outlook.
The Minister said the Government is shortly coming out with “Open Software Policy to further the process of transparency and credibility in Government administration.” The Department of Posts and Common Service Centers, with presence in nearly four lakh centers, are being deployed to further empower the less privileged people by digitalisation. He added that the reach of internet penetration in 30 crore households of the country is next only to China. With the figure estimated to touch 50 crore in a couple of years, India is all set to digitally transform the society. Web Ratna Awards have played a major role in recognising the noteworthy and sustainable initiatives in the realm of e-Governance for better delivery of information and services. At the same time, Web Ratna Awards have re-established itself as an important platform to disseminate information about such path breaking initiatives, encouraging others to customise and replicate the successful solutions. The Awards have contributed to the overall increase in quality and quantity of web presence of various Government departments across the country.
It has also created an atmosphere for further innovation in web-based services sphere, promoting and encouraging Government Departments/Ministries and States to come out with their best. E-Governance initiatives of Government Ministries and Departments across India were evaluated under various categories. Three awards- Platinum, Gold and Silver were presented in each category to the winners short listed from the nominations received under each category.
The categories included Citizen Centric Service, Open Data Champion, Outstanding Content, Innovative Use of Technology, Comprehensive Web Presence-Ministry and Comprehensive Web Presence-State/UT. Open Data Champion is a new addition to the awards.
It honours Ministries/Departments which have contributed datasets to India’s Open Government Data (OGD) Platform (data.gov.in).
In the Citizen Centric Service Category, Platinum went to Passport Seva Project, followed by National Safai Karmachari Finance Development Corporation and National Institute of Open Schooling, winning the Gold and Silver award, respectively. In the newly-instituted Open Data Champion category, Platinum was won by the Office of Registrar General and Census Commissioner.
The Planning Commission and Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation bagged the Gold Award, while the Silver was bagged by the Ministry of Water Resources. For Innovative Use of Technology, MKisan-Government of India Portal for Farmer Centric Services won the Platinum Award. Madhya Pradesh Commercial Tax Department and Department of Commercial Tax, Tamil Nadu won the Gold Awards. The Silver Award was won by E-Sahakar, an online Cooperative Society Process Management System of Maharashtra Government. In the Outstanding Content Category, Platinum Award was bagged by Ministry of External Affairs, followed by Ministry of Tribal Affairs, Kerala Tourism and Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region winning the Gold and Silver award respectively For Innovative Use of Technology, MKisan-Government of India Portal for Farmer Centric Services won the Platinum Award. Madhya Pradesh Commercial Tax Department and Department of Commercial Tax, Tamil Nadu won the Gold Awards. The Silver Award was won by E-Sahakar, an online Cooperative Society Process Management System of Maharashtra Government. For comprehensive Web Presence- Ministry, the Platinum was bagged by Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, Gold by Ministry of Health and Family Welfare and Silver by Controller General of Accounts.
For Comprehensive Web Presence -State category the Platinum award has been won by Maharashtra followed by Tamil Nadu and Uttarakhand in the Gold and Silver section respectively. (UNI)
‘Digital India’ initiative bridging gap between haves, have nots: Prasad
Tenure of Roma Wani extended
Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Mar 25: Governor N.N. Vohra, who is the President of the Indian Red Cross Society (IRCS) – J&K State Branch, has extended the tenure of Honorary General Secretary IRCS, Roma Wani, for a further period of one year with effect from March 11, 2015.
Bad weather hampered work of Poonch Campus: Naeem
Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Mar 25: Minister for Education, Naeem Akhtar while replying to a Calling Attention Notice by Dr. Shahnaz Ganai said that it is difficult to carry out construction activity in Poonch campus throughout the year due to bad weather conditions adding that the construction activities were further delayed for over three months owing to flood and then Assembly elections. He said an adverse cold climatic condition throughout the State has also hampered the construction activities.
He said that all the works at Poonch Campus (funded by the UGC) are being monitored by the University Works Department (UWD) of the University of Jammu adding that after proper tendering and fulfilling all codal formalities, the works have been allotted to eligible firms by the UWD. He further said that presently the Poonch campus is functioning in Government Degree College, Poonch.
While giving details of funds released by UGC and expenditure incurred, the Minister informed that Rs. 1.05 crore have been incurred on construction of academic block, out of released amount Rs. 1.38 crore while Rs. 14.24 lakh has been spent out of released amount of Rs. 2.77 crore for the construction of boys hostel.
He further informed that Rs. 2.57 crore has been incurred on construction of girls hostel, out of released amount of Rs. 2.69 crore while Rs. 18.83 lakh has been spent, out of released amount Rs. 50 lakh for basic infrastructure facilities.
Regarding the Doda Campus the Minister said that the campus is yet to be made functional due to non availability of funds to be sanctioned by the University Grant Commission, he added.
He said the former Vice Chancellor of University had detailed interaction with civil society and administration regarding land identification of land, however, no land has been identified for establishment of the campus.
The minister also informed that University authorities have decided to go slow with non-functional campuses that include Doda also, till the time the already functional campuses are properly streamlined.
Empower or wind up DDBs, establish Councils on LAHDC pattern: Tarigami
Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Mar 25: Stating that successive Governments have eroded the importance of the institution of District Development Boards (DDBs), CPM MLA, Mohd Yousaf Tarigami today asked the PDP-BJP Coalition Government to either wind up these boards or empower them. He also demanded establishment of Councils on the pattern of those in Leh and Kargil districts in order to meet the developmental aspirations of the districts particularly in hilly and tough terrain.
Participating in the discussion on the grants of Finance and Planning Department in the Legislative Assembly, Mr Tarigami said, “District Development Boards have lost their relevance and justice become burden on exchequer because decisions of these boards based on the suggestions of the members are not being taken seriously”.
“Instead of empowering these institutions by way of giving adequate powers and keeping sufficient funds at their disposal, the successive Governments preferred to ignore the decisions taken by these boards”, he regretted, adding “keeping this in view the new dispensation should either strengthen these institutions or wind them up permanently”.
Mr Tarigami also demanded establishment of Councils on the pattern of Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Councils in Leh and Kargil and said, “this step would go a long way in meeting the developmental aspirations of the districts particularly those having hilly and tough terrain”.
He also demanded implementation of Public Service Guarantee Act in the Labour Department and said, “keeping this department out of this Act’s purview amounts to depriving labour class of timely services”. He further demanded revision of Minimum Wages and fixation of Rs 15,000 per month for the labour class keeping in view the hike in the prices of essential commodities.
National Conference MLA, Ali Mohammad Sagar accused the Coalition Government of completely ignoring the sufferings of the victims of last year’s devastating floods and unemployed youth of the State.
“Though this Government has shown concern over the rehabilitation of flood victims in the Budget but it has not mentioned any specific measure which it is going to take to provide succor to the affected populace”, he said, adding “this indicates that bagging Assembly seats from the flood affected areas by exploiting the people after the devastating natural calamity was the only agenda of the People’s Democratic Party”.
“You have willfully chosen to ignore Rs 44,000 relief package recommended by our Government to the Centre”, he further said, adding “mere waiving of electricity tariff for six months and announcing some concessions in tax is not going to provide relief to the flood affected people”.
Welcoming the announcement of the Government that it would come up with white paper on financial position of the State, Mr Sagar, “we support your decision as facts would come to the fore before the people. Otherwise, you would continue to exploit the people by projecting wrong picture”.
He also lashed out at PDP-BJP Government for completely ignoring administrative units established by the previous Government and said, “in this way you are disrespecting the aspirations of the people”.
Congress Legislature Party (CLP) leader, Nawang Rigzin Jora said, “instead of coming out with specific policy to address the concerns of the State, the PDP-BJP Government has just tried to indulge in jugglery of words while presenting its roadmap for the State”, adding “there is hardly any sector, which has been given serious thought by this Government as if coming to the power was the only agenda of both these parties”.
Pointing towards Finance Minister, Haseeb Drabu, the CLP leader said, “you are talking about fiscal autonomy but you have not initiated any major step in this regard”, adding “unemployment and tourism promotion have also remained unaddressed in the roadmap of the Government for next one year”.
BJP MLA from Jammu West, Sat Sharma said that Government should adopt project specific approach so as to ensure their timely completion. He suggested the Finance Minister to make the officers accountable so that fate of the vital projects does not remain hanging for years together.
Referring to artificial lake project, he said, “this project was conceived only for the benefit of a senior Congress leader and when his ministry was changed the fate of project hanged in balance”.
Stressing on timely completion of all the major projects of Jammu, he said, “there is a long list of such projects and specific directions should be issued for their timely completion”.
RB, Save the Children launch ‘Stop Diarrhoea’ programme
Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Mar 25: The global partnership between RB and ‘Save the Children’ today launched a unique and ground-breaking programme to help eradicate child deaths from diarrhoea in India.
The innovative and sustainable ‘Stop Diarrhoea’ programme launched by ‘Save the Children’ in India, Pakistan and Nigeria is aimed at preventing, controlling and treating the killer disease.
Funded by RB, the ‘Stop Diarrhoea’ programme will for the first time fully implement the World Health Organisation and UNICEF 7-point plan to ensure comprehensive diarrhoea control. The partnership also unveiled two innovative new hygiene and sanitation products by RB (formerly known as Reckitt Benckiser) alongside the programme.
Each year 567,000 children under-five die needlessly from diarrhoea around the world, equivalent to 64 children every hour. In India 123, 668 children alone die every year due to the illness, the highest death rate in the world and it is estimated that 48% of Indian children below the age of five years are stunted, with diarrhoea being one of the main causes.
In an ambitious drive to help end this, ‘Save the Children’ and RB have committed to work with the Indian Government and other partners to implement the 7-point plan.
Thomas Chandy, Chief Executive of Save the Children India said, “Save the Children is delighted to continue its work with RB India. The partnership aims to develop and sustain hygiene behaviours in Indian communities, will which help reduce the devastating number of children dying each year in India due to diarrhoea.”
Nitish Kapoor, Chief Executive of RB India said, “We believe that together RB and Save the Children can make a critical step towards a better understanding of water, hygiene and sanitation, which in turn will help reduce the number of children dying from diarrhoea in India.”
Justin Forsyth, Chief Executive of Save the Children UK said, “This ground breaking innovative partnership between Save the Children and RB will harness the research and expertise of RB with Save the Children’s on the ground experience to stop children dying of diarrhoea.”
Protest held against Hurriyat leaders
Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Mar 25: The workers of Dogra Front and Shiv Sena, Jammu and Kashmir under the leadership of president Ashok Gupta took out a protest march from Rani Park to City Chowk against the hoisting of Pakistan Flag in Kashmir, today.
Burning the effigies of Hurriyat leaders and demanding their arrest as no FIR has been registered against Geelani, Yaseen Malik, Aaasiya Andrabi and other Hurriyat leaders.
While addressing, Gupta stated that instead of registering FIR against the Hurriyat people and the security which has been provided to these people, he demanded immediate withdrawal of security and arrest of these people under the TADA or PSA Act.
A very strong action should be taken against such kind of people which should send an extreme message among the pro Pakistan ideology so that nobody should have such kind of extremist view against India.
Other protesters present were Rinku, Suresh, Birbal, Sukhdev, Vijay , Bodh Raj and Kali Dass.
Govt has no time bound policy to overcome congestion in Jammu
Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Mar 25: Though burgeoning vehicular population has completely chocked Jammu city yet the Government does not have any time bound policy to overcome the problem.
This can be gauged from the reply given by the Minister Incharge Housing and Urban Development in response to the question of BJP MLA from Jammu East, Rajesh Gupta in the Legislative Assembly today.
Despite the alarming situation, the Minister simply said, “there is a proposal for establishment of multitier parking at Panjtirthi and Parade”. Interestingly, even previous Government made such statements on the floor of the House without any tangible results.
The Minister said that Government has hired the consultancy of M/s RITES India Limited for improving traffic mobility and removing traffic bottlenecks within the city. “The consultants have submitted a Comprehensive Mobility Plan for Jammu city which is being dovetailed in the Master Plan of Jammu to tackle the problem of vehicular congestion”, he added. However, he failed to specify the time-frame for completion of this exercise.
About the parking places, the Minister said that Housing and Urban Development Department has initiated the process for construction of multitier parking at General Bus Stand and near Van Bhawan opposite Hari Singh Park for 1300 cars and 75 buses. Interestingly, the tendering process for both these projects has yet not been completed till date.
India to become independent in GSLV in two years: Ex-ISRO Chief
BENGALURU, Mar 25: Former ISRO Chairman K Radhakrishnan today said the space agency will be ready to launch heavier satellites after the recent GSLV success and would stop launches from foreign shores in next two years. Delivering the 17th Convocation address at the Rajiv Gandhi Health University here, he said the country would be self-reliant in launching heavy satellites using GSLV technology with homegrown Cryogene engines. ‘The country will also be in a position to showcase its prowess in space launch technology to attract the market as need for better communication across the globe will increase,’ he said.
Dr Radhakrishnan said nanotechnology can lead to sea changes in delivery of health services and treatment of diseases like cancer in future. Nanotechnology had held great promise to astronauts survive longer in future ISRO launches. ‘Nanotechnology can help prolong the stay of an astronaut in space and at the same time bring several benefits in drug delivery and management,’ he said.
Karnataka Governor Vajubhai Vala, who is also Chancellor of the University, Minister for Medical Education Sharanaprakash Patil and Vice Chanelllor Dr K S Ravindranath were present. The Chancellor conferred Hon Doctorate on Dr C Vithal, former Medical Director of government-run Victoria Hospital, Dr M Gurappa, retired surgeon at Jayadeva Hospital, Dr N Rajeev Shetty, retired Director of Medical Education Department. Dr Mangala Gouri of Bangalore Medical College received the highest number of five gold medals during the convocation. (UNI)
1984 riots: CBI files closure report in case against Tytler
NEW DELHI, Mar 25: For the third time in a row, the CBI has filed closure report in a case against senior Congress leader Jagdish Tytler in connection with 1984 anti-Sikh riots in a Delhi court, which issued notice to the victim today.
The filing of the closure report by the investigating agency was protested by the victim’s counsel, who asked why was this done “secretly”.
CBI said it has conducted further probe in the case, as directed by a sessions court, and filed a closure report in the matter. In April 2013, CBI was directed by a sessions court to further investigate the case as it set aside its earlier closure report.
Tytler had earlier got clean-chit twice from the CBI which had closed the case.
The latest closure report was filed before Chief Metropolitan Magistrate who marked it to Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate (ACMM) Saurabh Pratap Singh Laler.
ACMM Laler issued notice for March 27 to the victim and complainant, Lakhvinder Kaur, whose husband Badal Singh was killed during the 1984 riots.
The court said “perusal of record revealed that the cancellation report was also filed earlier as regards accused Jagdish Tytler”.
“Accordingly, court notice be issued to Lakhvinder Kaur regarding present closure report in view of judgment of the Supreme Court…. For March 27,” the ACMM said.
Senior advocate H S Phoolka, representing the riot victims, expressed displeasure over the CBI’s move of filing the closure report.
“Why is it being done so secretly? Even the complainant has not been informed about it. It has been filed secretly. This shows an attempt has been made to get the closure report accepted by the court in hush-hush manner,” Phoolka said.
He said the closure report was filed on December 24, 2014 and he had come to know about it today itself and that too, unofficially through another lawyer, while the victim has not been informed till now.
The sessions court on April 10, 2013 had set aside CBI’s closure report giving clean chit to Tytler and ordered reopening of investigation into the killing of three persons.
CBI had earlier opposed the plea for further probe as the court found fault with the investigation by the agency which had not examined the available witnesses.
Court had directed CBI to also record the statements of witnesses, about whom it had come to know during the probe and who had claimed to be eye witnesses to the incident.
The court had said that CBI had an “obligation” to record the statements of three US-based persons, whose names were taken by an eye witness who had claimed that they too were present at the site.
The court’s 2013 order had come on a plea by the riot victims against the CBI giving a clean chit to Tytler and filing a closure report.
The victims had sought the court’s direction to the CBI to further probe the case to ascertain Tytler’s alleged role in the riots.
The CBI had, however, sought dismissal of the victim’s plea saying the probe has made it clear that Tytler was not present on November 1, 1984 at Gurudwara Pulbangash in North Delhi where three people were killed during the riots and was rather at Teen Murti Bhawan, where Indira Gandhi’s body was lying in state.
Tytler’s alleged role in the case relating to the killing of three persons — Badal Singh, Thakur Singh and Gurcharan Singh — near Gurudwara Pulbangash was re-investigated by the CBI after a court had in December 2007 refused to accept its closure report.
Another accused Suresh Kumar Paniwala, who faced trial for the offences of murder and inciting the mob during the riots, was acquitted by a Delhi court in 2014.
CBI had again given a clean chit to Tytler on April 2, 2009 claiming lack of evidence against him in the case pertaining to the murder of three persons on November 1, 1984, in the aftermath of the assassination of Indira Gandhi.
However, on April 27, 2010, a magistrate had accepted CBI’s closure report in the case against Tytler, saying there was no evidence to put him on trial.
The court had allowed CBI’s closure report saying Tytler was present at Teen Murti Bhawan and was not at the spot of crime and the agency’s contentions were justified by material, including visual tapes and versions of independent witnesses.
Some of the witnesses had alleged that during the riots, Tytler was instigating the mob to kill Sikhs, a charge strongly refuted by him. (PTI)
India’s municipalities weakest, need to build capacities:Naidu
NEW DELHI, Mar 25: India’s municipalities are the weakest in terms of funds and resources, Urban Development Minister Venkaiah Naidu said today and promised to explore the possibility of sharing revenue from the proposed GST besides other initiatives to build their revenue-generating capacity.
He expressed concern over the huge urban fiscal gap and emphasised the need for ensuring guaranteed and predictable flow of funds to urban local bodies to enable them to take up reconstruction initiatives.
Addressing a “National Workshop on Governance, Administrative Reforms and Capacity Building” here, he said the country’s municipalities are the weakest in the world in terms of access to resources, financial autonomy and revenue raising capability.
Quoting from a report of the McKinsey Global Institute, he noted that annual per capita income of all municipalities was only Rs 1,430 as against the expenditure commitment of Rs 6,030.
The government is giving priority to enhance required capacities through spending a specific share of cost of each scheme on capacity building, sharing of knowledge and information about best practices, promoting regional hubs for supporting capacity building of urban bodies, Naidu said.
Stressing on the need for predictable and guaranteed resource flows to urban local bodies, Naidu said he will explore the possibility with Finance Minister Arun Jaitley of earmarking a share of revenues from the proposed Goods and Services Tax (GST).
For the success of new urban initiatives, a set of urban reforms will be promoted which include e-governance, creation of a professional municipal cadre, integrated long term urban planning through City Development Plans, devolution of funds and functionaries to urban local bodies, double entry accounting and revision of Building Bye-laws others.
Urban reforms also include improving revenue collections, credit rating of municipalities, energy and water audits and 100 per cent collection, transportation and scientific disposal of municipal waste, the Minister said.
He said smart cities to be developed will be based on India-specific context with focus on bridging infrastructure deficit to enable inclusive and more livable cities. The smart cities seek to ensure efficient utilisation of human and physical resources for cities to drive economic growth.
Naidu emphasised that Public-Private-Partnership model is a crucial vehicle for mobilising huge order of resources required for building smart cities and bridging the huge infrastructure deficit in other urban areas. (PTI)