Committee report on expediting disciplinary proceedings

The Government is considering a set of proposals to cut the time taken to penalise delinquent Government officials including sacking of officials found to be involved in corruption.

The Government had appointed a three member Committee of Experts to examine and suggest measures to expedite the process involved in Disciplinary/Vigilance Proceedings. The Committee has made a number of recommendations aimed at reducing time taken in conducting and concluding disciplinary proceedings against government servants. In its Report, the Committee has recommended :

· Creation of panels of Inquiry Officers from amongst both serving and retired government servants and enhancement of remuneration for conducting inquiries;

· Prescribing a time limit of two months for completion of minor penalty disciplinary inquiries and 12 months for major penalty disciplinary inquiries;

· Dispensing with second stage consultation with CVC;

· Dispensing with consultation with UPSC in minor penalty disciplinary cases;

· Setting up of Vigilance Commissions with statutory status in the States;

· Introduction of Plea-Bargaining in major penalty disciplinary inquiries;

· Major penalty of compulsory retirement to include cut in pension/gratuity;

· Amendment of Article 311 of the Constitution to provide for dismissal from service on charges of corrupt practices after beginning of trial in a competent court;

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List of black listed NGO’s

The Women & Child Development Ministry has blacklisted certain NGOs for their unwarranted activities.  The Minister of Women & Child Development Smt. Krishna Tirath recently stated in Lok Sabha that once blacklisted, an NGO is not eligible for any financial assistance from the Ministry and the Ministry does not maintain details of welfare activities undertaken by such NGOs.

 

            The list of blacklisted NGOs is as follows:-

 

LIST OF NGO`S BLACK LISTED BY  MINISTRY OF WOMEN AND CHILD DEVELOPMENT
Name of Implementing Agency / Address	Scheme	Remarks
D.N. Memorial Sewa Samiti, 76/338, Kuli Bazaar, Kanpur (UP)	Min. of WCD Ujjawala	Order Attached
Assocation of Tribals Welfare Development Dimapur, Nagaland Reg. No. : RS2522 Dt. 14/01/1994	STEP
Rural Development Organisation Thanga Awang Laikai, Bishnupur, District Manipur	Swawlamban	Min. of Home Affairs (NE Division) has indicated that both the Organisations indulged in undesirable activities and misutilized Government funds.
Loktak Khangpok Fisherman Welfare Assocation Thanga, Bishnupur District Manipur	Swawlamban
Hira Moti Garmodaya sansthan Ahuja Bazaar, Kaushambi, Uttar Pradesh	Swawlamban	The govt. of UP has intimated that the organization could not produce any document/records for inspection.  Hence, the functioning of the organization cannot be rated as genuine.
Bhartiya Bal Evam, Mahila Kalyan Samiti 320, Chander Nagar, Near Washing Line Rae Bareli, Uttar Pradesh	Swawlamban	The District Magistrate, Raebareli has responded saying that neither of the two organizations are genuine and as such have not been recommended for financial assistance
Mahila Kalyan Evam Bal Vikas Samiti Moh. Raipur, P.O. Ahiyapur District - Rae Bareli, Uttar Pradesh	Swawlamban
Late Bansilal Rathod Educational Society Nasik Maharashtra	Swawlamban	Mahila Arthik VIkas Mahamandal (MAVIM), Mumbai has intimated that the performance of the organization has not been satisfactory as it charged Rs. 500/- from each beneficiary towards training fees and also did not disburse stipened amount to the trainees.  The Corporation has further recommended black -listing of the said organization.
Vedic Shiksha Samiti 621/21 Azad Garh , Behind Bmal Hospital, Near Bus Stand Delhi Bye Pass Rohtak, Haryana	Swawlamban	The Haryana Women Development Corporation has black Listed both these organizations vide their letter No. WDCII-2004/2692/2794 dated 5.8 .2004 and No. WDCII- 2004/2058-2958 dated 9.8.22004 on account of misutilization and embezzlement of funds released to them.
Community Development Society 621/21 Azad Ghar, Behind Bmal Hospital, Near Bus Stand Delhi Bye Pass Rohtak, Haryana	Swawlamban
The Society for Professionals Initiative in Development Patna	Min. Of Labour	Not Submitted the Project Report. the office/ where about of the NGO is not traceable. The NGO Corr. Address - Dr. Rakesh C Jha, Secretary Society for Professionals and Initiative in Development, 4 Anand Apartment , Bailey Road Patna - 800 023, Bihar Phone : 0612-283138
Mata Balak Pratishthan, Nasik Maharashtra	Min. of WCD Swawlamban	The MAVIM , Mumbai has intimated that the performance of the organization has not been satisfactory in as much as it has charged Rs. 500/- from each beneficiary towards training fees and has also not disbursed stipned amount to the trainees.

 

This information is also available on Ministry’s website i.e. http://www.wcd.nic.in.

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Election Commission on Paid news during elections

The Election Commission has been receiving various complaints/references regarding “Paid News” and advertisements on TV/Cable Channels networks owned by political parties or their functionaries/office bearers during the process of elections, thus disturbing the level playing field, as these are not reflected in the candidate’s election expenses account. The Commission vide its guidelines issued on 8th June 201o, 23rd September 2010 and 18th March, 2011 has already put in place a mechanism to deal with the problems of “Paid News”.
However, in order to bring better uniformity in dealing with such instances even when no consideration of cash and kind is involved in extending campaign publicity to candidates, the Commission has issued guidelines to the Chief Electoral Officers of all the States/UTs on 16th August 2011, for dealing with candidates’ advertisements on TV/Cable channels owned by political parties or their functionaries/office bearers during elections.
The guidelines are available on the Commission’s website www.eci.nic.in under hyperlink http://eci.nic.in/eci_main/index.asp. These will have immediate effect.
Election Commission of India
New Delhi , 19th August , 2011

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only 2324 Train accident claims during last decade

During April 1, 2000 to March 31, 2011, a total of 2324 claims for compensation for death/injury in train accidents under Section 124 of the Railways Act, 189 have been decreed by the Railway Claims Tribunal and paid by the Railways and 594 claims are pending for want of award of decree. Compensation is given after a claim filed by the claimant in the Railway Claims Tribunal is decreed by the Tribunal in favour of the claimant. Compensation in the remaining cases will be paid by the Railways after these cases are decreed by the Tribunal and decree so awarded is satisfied by the Railways. Extant instructions do not provide for giving employment to the dependents of those deceased in Railway accidents.
However, Railways in exception to the rules, purely as a humanitarian gesture, have provided employment in Group ‘D’ categories only in such cases. As per available information up to August 16, 2011, a total of 264 persons have been provided employment in cases of accidents connected with the Railways and a total of 112 cases are pending as on August 16, 2011 for employment on account of verification of credentials, disputed cases etc. Employment can be given only after proper verification of claimants and settlement of disputes etc.

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Mobile tower radiation status in India

The Minister of State for Communication and Information Technology, Shri Milind Deora today informed Rajya Sabha in written reply to a question that the recent study report of the International Agency for Research on Cancer under WHO, released in May-June 2011, has established a relation between mobile radiation and glioma, a malignant form of cancer.
The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), a part of World Health Organization (WHO), in its press release dated 31st May 2011 has classified radiofrequency electromagnetic fields as possibly carcinogenic to humans (Group 2B), based on an increased risk for glioma, a malignant type of brain cancer, associated with wireless phone use.
Subsequently, WHO in its Fact Sheet No. 193 of June 2011, has stated that there are some indications of an increased risk of glioma for those who reported the highest 10% of cumulative hours of cell phone use, although there was no consistent trend of increasing risk with greater duration of use. The researchers concluded that biases and errors limit the strength of these conclusions and prevent a causal interpretation. Based largely on these data, IARC has classified radiofrequency electromagnetic fields as possibly carcinogenic to humans (Group 2B), a category used when a casual association is considered credible, but when chance, bias or confounding cannot be ruled out with reasonable confidence.
WHO has further stated that a large number of studies have been performed over the last two decades to assess whether mobile phones pose a potential health risk. To date, no adverse health effects have been established as being caused by mobile phone use. WHO will conduct a formal risk assessment of all studied health outcomes from radiofrequency fields exposure by 2012.
The Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) under the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare has initiated a prospective cohort study in Delhi & National Capital Region to examine whether use of mobile phone is associated with neurological disorders, reproductive dysfunctions and promote cancer in Indian population.
DoT has adopted the International Commission on Non-ionization Radiation Protection (ICNIRP) guidelines for limiting reference levels of Electromagnetic radiation from Mobile towers and incorporated the requirement in Access Service Licenses vide amendment dated 4 November 2008.
DoT, vide letter dated 8th April 2010, has directed all Cellular Mobile Telephone Service (CMTS)/Unified Access Service (UAS) licensees for compliance of the reference limits/ levels prescribed by ICNIRP by way of self certification of their Base Transmitting Station (BTS) for meeting the Electro Magnetic Field (EMF) radiations norms. All new BTS sites start radiating only after self certificate has been submitted to relevant Telecom Enforcement, Resource & Monitoring (TERM) Cells of Dot.
The TERM Cell tests up to 10% of new BTS sites randomly at its discretion. Additionally, the BTS sites against which there are public complaints, are also being tested by TERM Cell. If a site fails to meet the Electro Magnetic Radiation criterion, there is a provision of levy of a penalty of Rs.5 lakh per BTS. Service providers must meet the criterion within one month of the report of TERM cell in such cases, after which the site is to be shut down. The self-certifications have been submitted by the telecom service providers for more than 6,50,400 BTSs certifying that the radiation levels are within the prescribed norms. TERM Cells have already started the testing of BTS radiation and so far more than 4100 BTSs have been checked and found to be radiating within the prescribed levels.
With regard to mobile handsets, DoT has also adopted ICNIRP guidelines imposing basic restrictions in terms of SAR (Specific Absorption Rate) value limiting to 2W/Kg (averaged over 10g tissue) in the frequency range of 10 MHz to 10 GHz and have taken following steps for compliance of SAR value for mobile phones:
• Indigenous manufacturers of mobile handsets have been instructed to comply with ICNIRP guidelines and furnish self-certificate.
• Mobile handsets manufacturers have been instructed to indicate the level of radiation on the product itself and to clearly communicate the potential danger of mobile phone radiation and exposure.
• To regulate indigenous as well as imported mobile phone, Bureau of Indian Standard (BIS) has been requested to frame standards for all mobile phones under BIS Act 1986.
All major manufacturers publish the SAR value for mobile phones in the user manual and on its company website. No cases have been reported to DoT regarding mobile handsets having radiation more than the limits prescribed by ICNIRP.

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SP/AT
(Release ID :74835)

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Kisan Call Centres

Kisan Call Centres function from 6.00 AM to 10.00 PM on all days throughout the year. They receive calls through the toll-free number 1800-180-1551. Call Centre agents reply farmers’ queries instantaneously by using their own expertise as well as by referring to reference material available with them. They also browse Kisan Knowledge Management System data base for answering farmers’ queries in local language. If some of the queries cannot be answered by the Call Centre agents, such calls are referred to experts. Call Centre agents record the details of every call in terms of farmer’s details, query asked, reply given etc.
Funds for organising sensitisation programmes for Kisan Call Centre agents are being provided to respective Nodal Agencies. Each Nodal Agency is required to organise 6 programmes of one day duration each in a year involving all the call centre agents as well as the experts. The State Governments have been requested to get directly involved in a big way in implementation of this scheme. Detailed instructions in this regard have been issued.
This information was given by Shri Harish Rawat, Minister of State for Agriculture and Food Processing Industries in written reply to a question in the Lok Sabha today.

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Naxal Violence has reduced comparatively

The level of Naxal violence and attack on security forces have declined this year. The year 2011 (up to August 15) has recorded 1128 incidents of naxal violence and killing of 93 security personnel compared to 1429 incidents of violence and killing of 218 security personnel during the corresponding period of 2010.
No operation codenamed ‘Operation Greenhorn’ has been launched by Government of India. However, anti-naxal operations are carried out by the security forces in the Naxal affected states on a continuous basis. At present, 71 Battalions of Central Armed Police Forces, 01 Nagaland India Reserve Battalion and 09 Commando Battalion for Resolute Action(CoBRA) have been deployed in Naxal affected states to assist state forces in anti-Naxal operations. Drones are not likely to be deployed in anti-Maoist operations.

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Dope test List of Dope Control Centre

Dope test List till 2008 only.. what about 2009 – 2010 – 2011…  even in parliament incomplete information is provided, read the below press release..

The Dope Control Centre (DCC) was established under the aegis of Sports Authority of India (SAI) in 1990.  They conducted in-competition and out of competition dope tests.  The details of the tests conducted by the DCC along with number of adverse analytical findings are given in the table below. The results received from the Dope Control  Laboratory were forwarded to the concerned National Federations and Indian Olympic Association for further necessary action. The Minister further stated that a decision has been taken to de-merge Netaji Subhash National Institute of Sports, Patiala, from Sports Authority of India so as to enable it to function independently in the sphere of   sports coaching.           The number of Nutritionist, Sports psychologists and qualified medical practitioners  in SAI is  1, 3 and 5 respectively.

 

            The Sports Minister said that awareness and educational programmes  on doping have been run throughout the year by all the concerned agencies.  Athletes are provided with list of banned substances published by World Anti Doping Agency (WADA) from time to time and also apprised about the effects of such medicines.

 

            Further, in the aftermath of the recent doping incidents, the Government has taken the following steps to curb the menace of doping in sports:-

 

i)                    Increasing the frequency of testing of Core probables undergoing training at various centres for London Olympics, 2012

ii)                  Surprise checking of rooms of Athletes, Coaches and Support Personnel at  training institutes and surprise collection of samples.

iii)                Distribution of educational materials related to dope related issues amongst Sportspersons, Coaches & Support Personnel

iv)                Increase in Seminar/Workshops/Teaching Sessions with Athletes and Coaches.

v)                  Closer surveillance and vigilance on Coaches and Support Personnel through their Employers.

 

List of sportspersons tested positive by Dope Control Laboratory.

 

Sl.No.	Year	Total number of samples	Total number of positive	% Positive
1	1991	240	12	5.00
2.	1992	191	00	0.00
3.	1993	213	03	1.41
4.	1994	319	37	11.60
5.	1995	303	46	15.18
6.	1996	150	18	12.00
7.	1997	247	42	17.00
8.	1998	533	22	4.13
9.	1999	422	18	4.27
10.	2000	493	59	11.97
11.	2001	584	23	3.94
12.	2002	1411	47	3.33
13.	2003	2231	82	3.68
14.	2004	2036	72	3.54
15.	2005	1621	39	2.41
16.	2006	1681	60	3.57
17.	2007	1006	44	4.37
18.	2008 (Sept.)	1086	46	4.24
	Total	14767	670	4.54

 

 

            This was stated by Shri Ajay Maken, Minister of State (I/C) for Youth Affairs & Sports, in the Lok Sabha today, in a written reply to a question by Shri Manish Twari.

 

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Reserve Stocks of Foodgrains

The Government has a policy of maintaining minimum stock of foodgrains in the Central Pool under the buffer stock norms for foodgrains for each quarter of the year as under:

(in lakh tons)

	1st January	1st April	1st July	1st October
Rice	138.00	142.00	118.00	72.00
Wheat	112.00	70.00	201.00	140.00
Total	250.00	212.00	319.00	212.00

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