Union Minister of Social Justice & Empowerment Shri Thaawarchand Gehlot will inaugurate the week long Exhibition-cum-Fair “EKAM Fest” organised by National Handicapped Finance Development Corporation (NHFDC) under M/o Social Justice & Empowerment tomorrow evening at State Emporia Complex, Baba Kharak Singh Marg, New Delhi-1 . Union Minister for RT&H and MEME Shri Nitin Jairam Gadkari and Union Minister for Women and Child Development and Textiles Smt. Smriti Zubin Irani will grace the occasion. Ministers of State for SJ&E Shri Krishan Pal Gurjar, Shri Rattan Lal Kataria and Shri Ramdas Athawale will also be present.
EKAM Fest is an effort for promoting entrepreneurship and knowledge among Divyangjan community, generating awareness among society about potentialities of PwDs & providing a major marketing opportunity to PwDs entrepreneurs. NHFDC Foundation is making efforts for development of a brand and platform for marketing of products of these determined entrepreneurs. Accordingly, name of the brand has been arrived at Ekam (Entrepreneurship, Knowledge, Awareness, Marketing). The word Ekam also represents the inclusiveness, oneness and unity which appropriately describe the efforts being put in by NHFDC to develop the marketing platform and aggregation of the products through promotion of entrepreneurship, knowledge sharing, Awareness creation and marketing initiatives amongst the Divyangjan.
The week long Ekam Fest will also host a number of activities like cultural extravaganza including performances by Divyang artists and well known professionals. Additional highlights of the event will be astrological consultations and foot massage by Divyang professionals.
In the first Ekam Fest, Divyang Entrepreneur and Artisans from all over the country have been invited with representation from J&K to Puducherry and from Nagaland to Gujarat. The fest will see vibrant products of from J&K and NE with products ranging from handicraft, handloom, Embroidery work and dry fruits. During the Fair, around 80 Divyang Entrepreneur/Artisan and organizations from 18 States/UTs shall display their skills represented through their beautiful products, services and demonstration of skills. It will be an opportunity for all to encourage these products made with extra ordinary determination by the divyang craftspersons and entrepreneurs.
NHFDC also plans to start online marketing platform to promote online sales and roping in the big corporate houses. The Ekam Fest stalls will see the following broad products category:
1. Home Décor and Lifestyle 2. Textiles 3. Stationery and Eco Friendly products 4. Packed Food and Organic Products 5. Toys and Gifts 6. Personal Accessory –Jewellary, Clutch Bags
The new initiatives of NHFDC will be showcased in the Fest. A few are highlighted below: NHFDC Swavalamban Kendra (NSK): NHFDC has taken an initiative to establish PWD owned micro skill training Centers throughout the country for skill training of PwDs. These NSKs will have a capacity to provide quality skill training to around 120 PwDs per year NSK. The PwD owner of the NSK is expected to earn around Rs 20,000 per month.
Safe Cabs in Delhi and Indore: NHFDC has made arrangement with Sakha Cabs where the PwD owned commercial vehicles will be driven by the Women drivers to provide safe taxi option for the women, children and senior citizen commuters. Such Sfe cabs are already in operation at New Delhi and Indore Airport. The vehicles here are financed by NHFDC under its scheme.
Safe Drinking Water E Carts: NHFDC has recently agreed to finance E-carts fitted with RO water dispensing vending machines. These carts will sell water in paper glasses maintaining the hygiene. The carts will be supported in operation by Bharat Jal. The PwD owner is expected to earn Rs 10,000/- to Rs 15,000/- per month in the operation of these carts.
NHFDC is an Apex corporation under the aegis of Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities (Divyangjan), Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment and is working since 1997. It is registered as a company not for profit and provides financial assistance to the Divyangjan/Persons with Disabilities (Divyangjan/PwDs) for their economic rehabilitation and provides number of skill development programmes to empower them to grow & sustain their enterprises.
To empower the Divyang and marginalized groups of the society more closely, NHFDC has taken a step forward and established NHFDC Foundation, this year. Recognizing the absence of a connect with the market which hinders fair prices and volumes in sale of the unorganized tiny Divyang entrepreneurs, NHFDC Foundation is making efforts for development of a brand and platform for marketing of products of these determined entrepreneurs.
The Government has revolutionized the technology driven Public Finance Management System (PFMS) that has silently empowered India to be accountable , responsive and transparent. Smt. Sitharaman said this while addressing inaugural session at the 44th Civil Accounts Day function here today. Smt Sitharaman said that PFMS has saved Rs 1 lakh crore for the country.
The Finance Minister highlighted that the Public Financial Management System (PFMS) has now come to be recognized as a distinct brand in the field of public finance management at various multilateral and global fora. She stressed that these achievements are not merely symbolic but has had a real and lasting impact on public service delivery system.
Commending the role of Controller General of Accounts , Smt Sitharaman said that not only that it is making nation more efficient and transparent but also more effective in using its public finance. The Finance Minister further said that the job of CGA is unenviable as it is a constant challenge to keep up with technology while being efficient and progressive in outlook .
Speaking on the occasion, Dr. T V Somanathan, Secretary (Expenditure), emphasized that the Indian Civil Accounts Service Organization has proved its IT prowess by enabling PM-KISAN payments to over 8.46 crore beneficiaries directly into their bank accounts through Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) payments. He commended the service for the efficiency and accuracy with which it places expenditure and accounts data in the public domain for consumption of all stakeholders, at par with global standards.
Smt. Soma Roy Burman, Controller General of Accounts, stated that PFMS has evolved into a useful financial management tool for the government. She assured that the service would constantly strive to achieve new heights in the field of payments, receipts, accounting and internal audit by effective use of digital technologies, and improve fiscal reporting protocol as part of Government Integrated Financial Management System (GIFMIS) for more effective fiscal management.
On the occasion, the Finance Minister also presented the Civil Lekha Samman Awards to the Best Performing Pr. Accounts Offices and Best performing PAO/ZAO (CBDT) Unit . The function was attended by the Dr Ashok Lahiri , Member ,15th Finance Commission and Retired Controller General of Accounts and Indian Civil Service Accounts officers
About Indian Civil Accounts Service (ICAS) : The Union Government initiated a major reform in Public Financial Management in 1976. The Audit and Accounts functions were separated by relieving the Comptroller and Auditor General of his responsibility of preparation of Union Government accounts.
The accounting function was brought directly under the control of the Executive. Consequently, the Indian Civil Accounts Service (ICAS) was established. The ICAS was carved out from the Indian Audit & Accounts Service (IA & AS), initially through the promulgation of an Ordinance amending the C & AG’s (Duties, Powers and Conditions of Service) Amendment Act, 1976. Later on, the Departmentalization of Union Accounts (Transfer of Personnel) Act, 1976 was enacted by Parliament and assented to by Hon’ble President of India on 8th April, 1976.
The Act was deemed to have come into force with effect from 1st March, 1976. Accordingly, the ICAS is celebrating March 1 every year as the “Civil Accounts Day”.
Since its inception the Indian Civil Accounts Organization has steadily grown in stature and now plays an important role in strengthening of governance through excellence in the management of public finances of the Union Government. The mission of the organization is to administer an effective, credible and responsive system for budgeting, payment, accounting and pension disbursements.
The aim has been to provide a world class and robust Government –wide integrated financial information system. Besides, the organization has strived to develop a new paradigm of Internal Audit for improved transparency and accountability. The organization has accorded top priority to the promotion of professional integrity and competence through a dedicated and motivated work force.
The Indian Civil Accounts Organization has been committed to the leveraging of IT for enhancing the efficiency of the payment, accounting, internal auditing and financial reporting systems of the Government of India. The Public Financial Management System (PFMS), launched in 2009, is the flagship project of the organization show casing this aspect.
The Government has positioned the PFMS as a key decision support system not only for tracking of flow of funds to the last beneficiary or implementation level but also to ensure just –in –time release of funds through an effective management of fund float. The Government is looking at PFMS for facilitating effective monitoring and control of unspent balances or parking of funds to check blockade of Government money. In fact, PFMS is now being used as the core IT platform for regular activities of CGA, such as payments, receipts, accounting, expenditure control, management of provident fund and pensions etc.
The achievement of PFMS as the platform for digitization for payments, receipts accounting, tracking of scheme funds are as below: Number of Banks integrated: 362 PAOs on –boarded: 556/563 CDDOs on –boarded: 1392/1417 All Central Ministries (except Railway and Defence) integrated for payment and Accounting; over 1800 CS/CSS Scheme on–boarded
All 31 State Treasuries integrated 53 external domain systems integrated Over 27 lakh Programme Implementation Agencies registered FY 2019-20: 64 crore transactions, amounting to Rs. 19.64 lakh crores effected through PFMS DBT amounting to Rs. 1.53 lakh crore paid during FY 2019-20 so far The feather in the cap for PFMS is the implementation of Central Sector Scheme, PM –KISAN Yojana which was announced in the Interim Budget presented in Parliament in February 2019.
Till date the total amount of benefit paid is Rs. 49,250.77 crore through 24.63 crore transactions covering a total number of 8.12 crore farmers. On 2nd January, 2020 at Tumakuru, the Hon’ble Prime Minister has announced the release of an additional tranche of Rs. 12,000.00 crore to cover 6 crore farmers’ families.
As part of its core function the office of the Controller General of Accounts is responsible for Monthly Consolidation of the Union Government Accounts. A detailed analysis of the monthly trends of receipts, payments, deficit and its sources of financing is presented to the Union Finance Minister every month. The data can be accessed on the website http://www.cga.nic.in
Further, the Office of CGA is leveraging technology to provide flash figures of receipts, payments, and deficit to Ministry of Finance as a tool for quick management decision making. Daily flash figures are provided in the month of March, to enable monitoring of various financial parameters and targets. In tune with the development in best practices, CGA’s office also prepares Provisional Accounts of the Government of India within two months of completion of the financial year. This year has witnessed 25th anniversary of publication of provisional Accounts.
The Union Minister for Agriculture & Farmers’ Welfare, Rural Development & Panchayati Raj, Shri Narendra Singh Tomar has called for retention of talent in Agriculture.
Inaugurating the Pusa Krishi Vigyan Mela-2020 here today, he said India has a vast pool of agricultural scientists and specialists graduating from universities every year. “Government can provide funds, subsidies and incentives, but there has to be an interest in farming. For this agriculture has to be made a profitable venture; it should fulfil the nation’s needs, its share in GDP and exports should rise,” he added.
“Your purpose in career does not end with securing a cushy job or just remain engaged in education and research, but you should be a successful farmer in your area. Even those agriculturists retiring every year should remain involved in farming and inspire others. The farmer should remain alive in you. You may engage in farming in your kitchen garden in your spare time. It will keep you connected with agriculture as a profession,” said Shri Tomar.
Shri Tomar said the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has given priority to agriculture and set a target of doubling farmers’ income by 2022. In this direction, the Government has ensured one-and-a-half times MSP of input costs to farmers, assured Rs.6,000 annually to farmers covered under the PM-KISAN scheme and a loan of Rs.1,60,000 under Kisan Credit Card. The Prime Minister has ensured transparency in disbursal of benefits to farmers and now there is no role for middlemen and brokers. Besides, there will be no shortage of funds and budgetary support for agriculture, he said.
Shri Tomar said the Prime Minister yesterday launched the registration of 10,000 new Farmer Producer Organisations (FPOs) in order to promote cooperative farming. Budgetary provision of Rs. 6,600 crore has been made to provide each FPO a sum of Rs. 15 lakh for all farming related activities ranging from sowing, harvesting to distribution and marketing. For this purpose a Credit Guarantee Fund of Rs.1,500 crore has been created jointly by NABARD and NCDC.
Shri Tomar said geographic divisions and climate change pose a challenge to our agriculture community. He said the Ministry is in the process of organising a big conference in each of the eight zones. The Minister said field exhibitions on the patterns of Pusa Krishi Vigyan Mela should also be organised simultaneously. The Prime Minister has directed that a study on Pesticides be included as part of Agriculture curriculum.
Union Human Resource Development Minister Shri Ramesh Pokhrial ‘Nishank’ has said that to take forward the momentum of empowerment of girls and women through education, the Ministry of HRD will celebrate the International Women’s Day (IWD) in schools and colleges across the country.
He further said that the Government has launched a special theme-based focused campaign from 1st-7th March in the run up to the International Women’s Day on 8th March this year with Education being the theme on 1st March. Shri Pokhriyal further said that as a tribute to women, the celebration by HRD Ministry will continue throughout the year.
The HRD Minister has said that the Government has taken several game changing initiatives since 2014 for the education of the girl child. This is one of the reasons for the success of the scheme of Beti Bachao Padhao whereby the Gross Enrolment Ratio of girls across all levels of education is now higher than boys. At elementary level, GER is 94.32 % as against 89.28% for boys. At Secondary level, it is 81.32 % as compared to 78 %.
He has said that the HRD Ministry has decided to take further various activities to encourage female students to excel in their lives and establish that their gender is never a hindrance to excellence. UGC will conduct round table discussions and take up several other programmes on women empowerment on various themes in about 40 Central Universities around the country among several other activities to be taken up.
He exhorted the educational institutions to focus on women achievers during classroom instruction. Shri Nishank informed that to nurture the leadership qualities and confidence in girl students, the Ministry has decided to designate a girl student as class monitor “Main Hoon Monitor” for at least half of the academic school session of the year 2020-21 and beyond.
He further informed that a Self-Defence Olympiad will be organised for girls at school level on the lines of Yoga Olympiad. To ensure safety and security of girls, Self defence training is imparted to girls of class VI to XII belonging to Government Schools.
The Culture and Theatre Clubs in Colleges and Universities will be encouraged to organise nukkad natak, mime shows etc shows on women’s issues. The Minister also emphasized that all Colleges and Universities will prominently display Women Helpline Numbers at different places on their respective campuses.
Shri Nishank said that to motivate girl students, special morning assemblies will be organised once a week in schools throughout the year. He added that in these assemblies, talks on women achievers in different fields, role play, thought of the day, group songs on women empowerment, awards/recognition to the girl students who have performed well in different fields such as academics, sports, dance, music, arts, social service and novel areas will be included.
The Minister informed that the schools are also being requested to honor women faculty members and staff for their distinguished service for the organization. Educational institutions will also organize essay writing contests on prominent/inspirational women of the district where they are located.
He added that in higher educational institutions, the Gender Studies Cells in coordination with UGC will conduct seminars on gender bias and stereotyping, gender equality and women’s right.
Ministry of HRD is continuously working to provide secure and conducive environment for girls’ education under Beti Bachao Beti Padhao movement of Government of India.
To encourage enrollment of girl students in the schools Ministry of HRD constructed gender segregated toilets in elementary and secondary schools within one year from 15.08.2014 to 15.08.2015 under Swachh Vidyalaya initiative. Now all government schools have gender segregated toilets for girls and boys.
Beside this Ministry of HRD has taken various steps to promote education among girls. Under the newly launched Integrated Scheme of School Education-Samagra Shiksha, effective from the year 2018-19, provision has been made to upgrade the existing Kasturba Gandhi Balika Vidyalayas (KGBVs) from upper primary level upto senior secondary level in convergence with the erstwhile Girls Hostel Scheme.
KGBVs are residential schools for girls belonging to disadvantaged groups such as SC, ST, OBC, Minority and Below Poverty Line (BPL). As on December, 2019, 4881 KGBV were operational as compared to 3593 on 30th September,2014. KGBVs currently have an enrolment of 6.18 lakh girls while enrolment stood at 3.52 lakh girls as on 30th September, 2014.
The University Grants Commission (UGC) in association with WCD Ministry has decided to establish ten (10) Chairs in different universities in the name of Eminent Women personalities in various fields. Women Studies Centres with special focus on most marginalised and disadvantaged women in the society are being set up in Universities and Colleges.
For supporting single girl child in higher education , Swami Vivekananda Single Girl Child Scholarship for Research in Social Science was started in 2014-15.
UGC has provided support for eight exclusive women universities. The All India Council for Technical Education is implementing the PRAGATI scholarship scheme for assistance of girls pursuing technical education.
About Curative Petition: The concept was first evolved by the Supreme Court of India in Rupa Ashok Hurra vs. Ashok Hurra and another case (2002) on the question whether an aggrieved person is entitled to any relief against the final judgement/order of the Supreme Court, even after the dismissal of a review petition.
The court used the Latin maxim “actus curiae neminem gravabit”, which means that an act of the court shall prejudice no one. It’s objectives are twofolds- avoid miscarriage of justice and to prevent abuse of process.
Related Constitutional provisions: The concept of the curative petition is supported by Article 137 of the Indian Constitution.
It provides that in the matter of laws and rules made under Article 145, the Supreme Court has the power to review any judgement pronounced (or order made) by it. Such a petition needs to be filed within 30 days from the date of judgement or order.
Procedure: A curative petition may be filed after a review plea against the final conviction is dismissed.
It can be entertained if the petitioner establishes that there was a violation of the principles of natural justice, and that he was not heard by the court before passing an order.
It must be rare rather than regular. A curative petition must be first circulated to a Bench of the three senior-most judges, and the judges who passed the concerned judgment, if available. Only when a majority of the judges conclude that the matter needs hearing should it be listed before the same Bench.
The Bench at any stage of consideration of the curative petition can ask a senior counsel to assist it as amicus curiae (Friend of the court). A curative petition is usually decided by judges in the chamber unless a specific request for an open-court hearing is allowed.
The data: The National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB), though, has only been collecting separate data on sedition cases since 2014. In 2014, there were 47 cases of sedition but that number increased to 70 in 2018 (the latest year with available data).
Compared to other offences, sedition remains a rare crime (it accounts for less than 0.01% of all IPC crimes).
But within India, some parts are emerging as sedition hotspots. Assam and Jharkhand, for instance, with 37 sedition cases each, account for 32% of all sedition cases between 2014-2018.
In 2018, there were 1,182 cases registered under UAPA. And almost all these cases (92%) were concentrated in five states (Uttar Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir, Assam, Jharkhand and Manipur).
What is Sedition? Sedition, which falls under Section 124A of the Indian Penal Code, is defined as any action that brings or attempts to bring hatred or contempt towards the government of India and has been illegal in India since 1870.
Kedarnath Singh vs State of Bihar: Section 124A has been challenged in various courts in specific cases. The validity of the provision itself was upheld by a Constitution Bench in 1962, in Kedarnath Singh vs State of Bihar.
That judgment went into the issue of whether the law on sedition is consistent with the fundamental right under Article 19 (1) (a) which guarantees each citizen’s freedom of speech and expression.
The Supreme Court laid down that every citizen has a right to say or write about the government, by way of criticism or comment, as long as it does not “incite people to violence” against the government established by law or with the intention of creating public disorder.
Why sedition law should be repealed? Sedition leads to a sort of unauthorised self-censorship, for it produces a chilling effect on free speech. It suppresses what every citizen ought to do in a democracy — raise questions, debate, disagree and challenge the government’s decisions. Sedition systematically destroys the soul of Gandhi’s philosophy that is, right to dissent.
What are KVKs- “farm science center”: A Krishi Vigyan Kendra (KVK) is an agricultural extension center in India.
Usually associated with a local agricultural university, these centers serve as the ultimate link between the Indian Council of Agricultural Research and farmers, and aim to apply agricultural research in a practical, localized setting. All KVKs fall under the jurisdiction of one of the 11 Agricultural Technology Application Research Institutes (ATARIs) throughout India.
Activities: KVKs provide several farm support activities like providing technology dissemination to farmers, training, awareness etc.
To achieve these, KVKs undertake: Farm advisory service. Training programme for different categories of people. Training programme for the extension functionaries. Front line demonstration. On farm testing.
Key findings: None of the drinking water samples randomly collected from across Delhi conforms to the ISO standards of purity in one or more requirements
All the drinking water samples drawn from Delhi were non-conforming in one or more requirements as per IS 10500:2012 [specification for drinking water]. One of the main reasons for contamination in Delhi was leaking pipes.
Background: On January 13, the court ordered the pollution control board and the BIS to conduct a random check of water quality in Delhi and submit a report in a month.
What next? The court has asked the BIS to suggest measures to improve water purity and asked it for reports on the samples taken from the other cities.
Background: A petition filed has urged the court to direct the Centre to order the National Investigation Agency (NIA) to find out the “anti-national forces” behind the agitations and to probe the role of People’s Front of India (PFI) which is allegedly “funding, motivating and supporting the protests”.
About NIA: It acts as the Central Counter Terrorism Law Enforcement Agency. It is empowered to deal with terror related crimes across states without special permission from the states. Established under the National Investigation Agency Act 2008. Governing Body: Ministry of Hime Affairs.
Jurisdiction: A State Government may request the Central Government to hand over the investigation of a case to the NIA, provided the case has been registered for the offences as contained in the schedule to the NIA Act. Central Government can also order NIA to take over investigation of any scheduled offense anywhere in the India.
Composition: Officers of the NIA are drawn from the Indian Police Service and Indian Revenue Service.
Special NIA Courts: Various Special Courts have been notified by the Central Government of India for trial of the cases registered at various police stations of NIA under Section 11 and 22 of the NIA Act 2008. Any question as to the jurisdiction of these courts is decided by the Central Government.
These are presided over by a judge appointed by the Central Government on the recommendation of the Chief Justice of the High Court with jurisdiction in that region. Supreme Court of India has also been empowered to transfer the cases from one special court to any other special court within or outside the state if the same is in the interest of justice in light of the prevailing circumstances in any particular state.
The NIA Special Courts are empowered with all powers of the court of sessions under Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 for trial of any offense. An appeal from any judgement, sentence or order, not being an interlocutory order, of a Special Court lies to the High Court both on facts and on law. State Governments have also been empowered to appoint one or more such special courts in their states.
Set up by the Sangeet Natak Akademi as one of its constituent units in 1959.
In 1975, it became an independent entity and was registered as an autonomous organization under the Societies Registration Act XXI of 1860, fully financed by the Ministry of Culture, Government of India.
Bharat Rang Mahotsav, or the ‘National Theatre Festival’, established in 1999, is the annual theatre festival of National School of Drama (NSD), held in New Delhi, today it is acknowledged as the largest theatre festival of Asia, dedicated solely to theatre.
Key facts: ICGS Varadis the fifth in the series of seven offshore patrol vessels, being constructed by Larsen and Toubro as a part of their 2015 contract with the Union Ministry of Defence.
The vessel is the first major defence ship to clear all the sea trials in one single sea sortie, creating a record of sorts in the Indian shipbuilding industry.
The ICGS Varadwill be deployed at Paradip in Odisha, under the operational control of the North-Eastern Region’s Coast Guard. ICGS Varad will be deployed for the surveillance of India’s Exclusive Economic Zone.