We The State - Issue 42 Vol 2

We
he State
J ULY 14 TO J ULY 20, 2014
Vol-02. Issue-42. Bhopal. Monday Page-12 Price-5/-
POSTAL REGD. MP/BHOPAL/4-323/2013-15
Published simultaneously from Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh
Online edition availble at wethestate.com and wethestate.blogspot.in
2
FM tried to woo
states where
polls are due in
1 year
3
It is budget for
rebuilding
nation: CM
4
Basic health
facilities not
available to
tribes in
Chhattisgarh
11
MP budget
focuses on
agriculture,
health,
education
10
Rail
budget
7-9
Key
Features of
Budget
2014-2015
Budget to boost household saving
How we look it !
Budget
Special
Budget
Special
resenting the Union Budget
2014 on July 10, Finance
Minister Arun Jaitley announced a
series of changes and schemes. Though
status quo has been maintained in the
income tax rate in the country, the per-
sonal income tax exemption limit was
raised from Rs. 2 lakh to Rs. 2.50 lakh.
In a bid to boost household savings,
Finance Minister raised the 80C
exemption limit to Rs. 1.5 lakh from
earlier Rs. 1 lakh. In the time, when
common man of the country is bur-
dened by double digit inflation rate,
this exclusion comes as a boon. Most
importantly, the salaried class will be
benefited the most. Currently, people
get exemptions under Sections 80C,
80CC and 80CCC of the Income-Tax
Act. Exemptions are given for invest-
ments in tax saving instruments such
as the public provident fund, national
savings scheme, unit-linked insurance
plans and equity-linked savings
schemes. Jaitley announced a number
of measures to encourage households to
save more, hoping to reverse a decline
in financial savings that has created
serious economic imbalances.
This is significant as over the years,
more people have invested in gold in
the country, resulting in higher imports
of the yellow metal. Higher savings will
reduce the current account deficit, help
lower interest rates and make funds
available for infrastructure develop-
ment. The household sector's financial
savings started declining from 2011-12
as economic growth fell to 6.7 per cent
from 8.9 per cent a year before, hurting
investor sentiment.
High inflation also contributed to
the shift away from financial savings
as real interest rates turned negative.
The share of financial savings in total
savings declined to 7.1 per cent in
2012-13 from 12 per cent in 2009-10,
while the portion that went into physi-
cal assets such as gold increased to 14.8
per cent from 13.2 per cent in 2009-10
on account of uncertainty in the mar-
ket. Jaitley raised the income tax
exemption limit by Rs 50,000,
increased the annual ceiling under the
public provident fund scheme by Rs
50,000 and reintroduced the Kisan
Vikas Patra for unbanked savings. The
Modi government also proposed to
launch the National Savings
Certificate with insurance cover to pro-
vide additional benefits for the small
saver besides introducing a special
small savings instrument to cater to
the requirements of the girl child's edu-
cation and marriage.
Senior citizens received a special
gift from the side of the Finance
Minister. The exemption limit has been
increased to Rs. 3 lakh for senior citi-
zens. Earlier it was Rs. 2.5 lakh.
New Delhi
P
Budget measures
can improve
economic outlook
In a challenging economic environment, Arun J aitley has
presented the Union Budget 2014-15 which mainly targets to
maintain fiscal prudence. Further, thebudget has laid down var-
ious measures which can improvetheeconomic outlook of the
country. The government has taken a number of measures to
improveeconomic outlook. Someof themare:
1. FDI cap in defencehiked to 49 percent: Increasein FDI limit
would play acrucial rolein ramping up defenceproduction in
India.
2. FDI cap in insurancesector hiked to 49 percent: Thecom-
positecap in theInsurancesector is proposed to beincreased up
to 49 percent with full Indian management and control.
3. Allocation for defencesector enhanced: Thegovernment has
allocated an amount of Rs 2.29 lakh crorefor thecurrent finan-
cial year.
4. PSU banks recapitalization: While preserving the public
ownership, retail sharesales for PSU banks would bedonein a
phased manner.
5. Support to infralending: Thebanks will bepermitted to raise
long termfunds for lending to infrastructuresector.
6. Boost for realty sector: To encouragedevelopment of smart
cities, requirement of thebuilt up areaand capital conditions for
FDI has being reduced from50,000 sqmt to 20,000 sqmt. This is
apositivenews for theentirerealty sector
7. Allocated Rs 1000 crorefor irrigation scheme: Thegovern-
ment has proposed to initiatetheschemePradhan Mantri Krishi
SinchayeeYojana. Further, it has set asideasumof Rs 1,000
crorefor this purpose.
8. New ship building policy on theanvil: A comprehensivepol-
icy will beannounced to promoteIndian ship building industry
in thecurrent financial year.
9. Ten-year tax holiday provided to power companies: The
budget has extended the10 year tax holiday to theundertakings
which begin generation, distribution and transmission of power
by March 31, 2017. This is positivefor power sector
10. Thrust on smart cities: Thegovernment has provided asum
of Rs 7060 crorein thecurrent fiscal for thecritical activity. This
will benefit thecement sector
11. Focus on AffordableHousing: Thebudget has allocated Rs
4,000 crores for NHB with aview to increasetheflow of cheap-
er credit for affordablehousing to theurban poor segment.
12. Development of Ports: Sixteen new port projects arepro-
posed to beawarded this year with afocus on port connectivity.
13. Allocation for road building plan viaNHAI: Thebudget has
proposed investment in National Highway Authority (NHAI)
and State Roads of an amount of Rs 37,880 crores, which
includes Rs 3,000 crores for theNorth East. During thecurrent
fiscal, atarget of national highway construction of 8500 kmis
set.
14. Inclusion of slumdevelopment in the list of Corporate
Social Responsibility (CSR) activities: Themovewould encour-
ageprivatesector to contributemoretowards this activity. 15.
Revival of SEZs: TheGovernment has shown their commitment
to revivetheSpecial Economic Zones (SEZs).
16. Boost to manufacturing sector: Themoveof bringing down
the limit of Rs 100 crore to Rs 25 crore of investment on
machinery for theeligibility of 15 percent investment allowance
to manufacturing sector is avery positivestep. It will encourage
themanufacturers to invest morein machinery which can push
theoverall growth in this sector.
2
JULY 14 TO JULY 20, 2014 (MP & CG) Budget Special
Priority to
key health
initiatives in
the budget
ith an aim to ensure health for all,
Finance Minister Arun Jaitley promised
to take up on priority key health initia-
tives of providing free drugs and free
diagnostic services, besides earmarking Rs 500 crore
to set up four more AIIMS-like institutes in the
country. Jaitley said the government has also decid-
ed to set up 15 model rural health research centres
in states for better health care facilities in rural
India. The minister also proposed to add 12 govern-
ment medical colleges, where dental facilities would
also be provided. At present, 58 government medical
colleges have been approved.
In order to achieve universal access to early
quality diagnosis and treatment to TB patients, two
National Institutes of Ageing will be set up at
AIIMS, New Delhi and Madras Medical College,
Chennai. A national level research and referral
Institute for higher dental studies would be set up in
one of the existing dental institutions, Jaitley said.
In a bid to discourage tobacco use, excise duty has
been hiked on cigarettes, tobacco products like
gutkha and even sugary aerated drinks. Jaitley
increased excise duty on cigarettes in the range of 11
per cent to 72 per cent and said similar hikes would
be proposed on cigars, cheroots and cigarillos.
Health Minister Dr Harsh Vardhan had been push-
ing for higher taxes on tobacco products since he
took over the ministry as tobacco use imposes huge
health costs on the country. However, in the entire
budget speech, Jaitley did not mention anything
about National Rural Health Mission (NRHM),
which is a project started in 2005 by the UPA-1 gov-
ernment.
Jaitely also did not mention anything about
National Health Assurance Mission, BJPs flagship
healthcare scheme. President Pranab Mukherjee
had mentioned this scheme during his
Parliamentary address last month and referred to it
as accessible, affordable, and effective.
The FM failed to increase GDP allocation on
healthcare, which a lot of experts were demanding
before the budget session. This year the budget allo-
cation to the health and family welfare sector is Rs
224.12 billion which is less than what the UPA gov-
ernment had allocated (Rs 373 billion) in 2013-14.
Drug testing in India will become expensive with
service tax levy. This is going to be negative for the
pharma sector. Jaitley also failed to mention any-
thing about health insurance in particular as well as
medical tourism which brings in a lot of foreign
exchange to the country.
FM tried to woo states where
polls are due in 1 year
Provide Muslim children access
to mainstream education
run Jaitleys maiden budget aimed at
overhauling the crumbling economy
seems to have a strong political mes-
sage too. The Finance Minister has
tried to woo states where either polls are due in
the next one year or where BJP has a personal
interest. Following the footsteps of UPA by
expanding AIIMS beyond Delhi, Jaitley in his
budget proposed to create such institutions in
Andhra Pradesh, West Bengal, Vidarbha
(Maharashtra) and Poorvanchal (Uttar
Pradesh). While in Andhra, BJP has an alliance
with Telugu Desam Party (TDP), election is due
this year in Maharashtra.
Jaitley also announced setting up of five
more IITs in Jammu, Chhattisgarh, Goa,
Andhra Pradesh and Kerala. Moreover, five
IIMs would be set up in the states of Himachal
Pradesh, Punjab, Bihar, Odisha and
Maharashtra. The list of states is more or less
on the expected lines as in ten out of four states
BJP has to go for polls. More so, in
Chhattisgarh, Goa and Punjab BJP is part of
the government.
Similarly, Jaitley issued Rs 100 crore for the
development of Metro rail projects in
Ahmedabad and Lucknow. BJP has a direct
interest in both the cities. BJP has its govern-
ment in Gujarat and union Home Minister
Rajnath Singh is the sitting MP from Lucknow.
In poll bound J&K, the government has
announced Rs 500 crore for displaced Kashmiri
migrants and Rs 50 crore for Pashmina produc-
tion programme in the state. The sum of Rs 200
crore has been issued for upgrading indoor and
outdoor stadiums in both in Jammu and
Kashmir Valley. The Minister also proposed to
establish Agriculture Universities in Andhra
Pradesh and Rajasthan and Horticulture
Universities in Telangana and Haryana. Apart
from the tie-up with TDP in Andhra, BJP has a
government in Rajasthan. Haryana is also
scheduled to go for election this year. The budg-
et 2014 also includes setting-up of mega textile
clusters at Varanasi, Bareilly, Lucknow, Surat,
Kuttch, Bhagalpur, Mysore and one in Tamil
Nadu with a sum of Rs 200 crore. Interestingly,
in six out of seven places BJP has its own MPs.
The government has also proposed to take
up Ultra Mega Solar Power Projects in
Rajasthan, Gujarat, Tamil Nadu and J&K. BJP
has its government in Rajasthan and Gujarat
while J&K is going to poll soon.
In the budget, the Finance Minister doled
out a handsome amount for north-eastern
states. He proposed Rs 1000 core rail connectiv-
ity in north-eastern region. The budget also has
a proposal of setting up a Sports University in
Manipur. A sum of Rs 100 crore has been set
aside for development of organic farming in the
region. Recently, Prime Minister Narendra
Modi on the floor of the House had stressed on
transforming the whole of north-eastern region
into an organic state. The message is clear,
whether his critics like or not Jaitleys budget is
political correct!
A
W
MUMBAI: Muslim acade-
micians and social activists
from Mumbai are not
impressed with finance minis-
ter Arun Jaitley's budgetary
allocation of Rs 100 crore for
madrassas. They feel that pro-
viding Muslim children access
to mainstream education is a
better way of helping the com-
munity, rather than focusing
on religious education.
"You don't need to huddle
Muslims in a corner. The uplift
of the community lies in giving
children admission to regular
schools where they will enjoy a
regular education," says
Zeenat Shaukat Ali, professor
of Islamic Studies at St
Xavier's College, Mumbai. She
said the Sachar Committee
Report shows only 4% of
school-going Muslim kids go to
madrassas. "While it is impor-
tant to modernize madrassas
so they are not run by regres-
sive clergy, the government
can't stop at madrassas and
must provide schools, colleges,
engineering and medical insti-
tutions in Muslim-dominated
areas," says activist Feroze
Mithiborwala. Shakil Ahmad,
advocate and human rights
activist, feels Rs 100 crore for
the modernization of madras-
sas is 'tokenism'.
Govt to set up national
sports academies
To encourage sports in
India, the government will set
up a National Sports
Academy, finance minister
Arun Jaitley said.
"The government will set
up National Sports Academies
for different sports in differ-
ent parts of India," he said
while presenting the budget.
He said Rs 200 crore will
be set aside to upgrade indoor
and outdoor stadium in
Jammu and Kashmir to inter-
national standards.
Jaitley also said that a
sports university will be set
up in Manipur. For this, Rs
100 crore will be provided in
the current financial year.
3
It is budget
for rebuilding
nation: CM
Budget takes a step forward
on PMs key schemes
NEW DELHI: Narendra Modi-led NDA
government's maiden budget took a step for-
ward on several of the Prime Minister's key
schemes. Giving direction to Modi's vision of
building multiple smart cities in India,
Jaitley said the government will aim to spend
Rs 7060 crore for 100 smart cities.
Jaitley said, "The Prime Minister has a
vision of developing one hundred 'Smart
cities' as satellite towns of larger cities and
by modernising the existing mid-sized cities."
Looking to harness the demographic divi-
dend, Jaitley said that government will work
on skill development of youth. The govern-
ment announced the launch of a national
Multi-Skill programme called Skill India.
Stating that the government is committed to
endeavour to have housing for all by 2022,
Jaitley said, "We will extend additional tax
incentive on home loans to encourage people,
especially the young, to own houses."
Moving towards NDA government's
'Swachh Bharat Abhiya', Jaitley said,
"Swachh Bharat Abhiyan, the need for sani-
tation is of utmost importance." With focus on
river linking study, Jaitley said, "We will
allot Rs 100 crore to fund the river linking
study." "The government also proposes to
allocate Rs 2037 crore to clean up Ganga," he
said. Jaitley also said that the government
will set up an NRI fund to boost Ganga's
clean up. "The Mission is being launched
because a substantial amount of money has
been spent in the conservation and improve-
ment of the river Ganga but the efforts have
not yielded desired results because of the lack
of concerted effort by all the stakeholders," he
said. Jaitley announced several initiatives for
strengthening energy sector.
Budget proposals will help
create 5-8 million jobs
Bhopal: Reacting to the Union Budget, Chief Minister
Shivraj Singh Chauhan has described it as
the budget for rebuilding the nation. He
said that it is an effort to balm the wounds
given by the UPA government. Chauhan
said that the budget seeks to lay founda-
tion of powerful, rich and glorious India.
He said that attention has been paid in
the budget to everything be it internal
security or rural and urban development
or infrastructure development. Special attention has been
paid to farmers and poor in the budget. The Chief Minister
said that the budget has started the process of bringing a
new dawn in the lives of women and girls. The budget will
have far-reaching consequences.
Balanced and bold budget: Maya Singh
Women and Child Development Minister Maya Singh
has said the budget has benefited all sec-
tions of society. Apart for vision of nation-
al development, glimpses of infrastruc-
ture development are also seen in it. She
said that the courage shown by Modi gov-
ernment to deal with challenges posed by
decrepit economy of last 10 years and give
relief to common people is praiseworthy.
This is best budget under present situa-
tion.
The Minister said that the budget will prove a new lease
of life for upliftment of weaker sections of society. Adequate
provisions have also been made in the budget for betterment
of farmers and unemployed people. Concern for safety of
women has been shown for the first time in budget. Decision
to allocate Rs. 100 crore for Beti Bachao, Beti Badhao Yojana
and inclusion of a special chapter in school syllabus for end-
ing discrimination between men and women is also praise-
worthy.
Maya Singh said that the budget has given relief to all
including health and agriculture sectors and senior citizens.
Concern for development of health sector in north-eastern
states is a proof that Modi government is targeting develop-
ment of entire country. She described measures to end infla-
tion in the budget as a symbol of governments willpower.
Best possible budget: Rajendra Shukla
Energy and Public Relations Minister
Rajendra Shukla said that there could not
have been a better budget under present
circumstances. Far-reaching measures
have been taken in the budget to bring
back on track the haywire economy keep-
ing in view interests of all sections of soci-
ety. In fact, this budget will pave way for
making India a major economic power in
coming 4 years. The Minister said that apart from adequate
and well considered measures for betterment of economys
backbone agriculture and farmers, the budget has also made
concrete provisions for accelerating pace of industrial and
manufacturing activities. Besides, prices of general and
essential goods like steel, edible oils, soap, TVs, computers,
mobiles, solar lamps, shoes, packed food etc. have been
reduced whereas tax on harmful tobacco products has been
increased. Major benefit has been given to middle class by
increasing home loan limit, Section 80 C and exemption from
income tax limit.
inance Minister Arun
Jaitley has fulfilled
the promise made by
Prime Minister
Narendra Modi during his
election campaigns about cre-
ating new jobs for the one
million youth who are added
to Indias workforce every
month. During his budget
speech in Parliament, Jaitely
said, India today needs a
boost for job creation and the
manufacturing sector needs a
push in this regard.
Data released by NSSO
recently showed that 76 mil-
lion jobs were created, of
which employment in agricul-
ture sector declined by 6 mil-
lion but rose by 17 million in
industry.On the basis of
measures proposed in the
2014 budget, experts expect
that the proposals will help
create 5-8 million jobs in the
next three-four years in vari-
ous fields. The government
has also announced that soon
seven new industrial cities
will be made. This will gener-
ate new job opportunities for
the youth. The government
will also simplify the rule for
opening new private banks
and several are slated to
come up in the next few
years. Soon, there are likely
to be new openings in sectors
like power, transport, infra-
structure, etc. The growth in
the infrastructure and con-
struction sector is necessary
to revive the economy and
generate jobs for millions of
youth. For instance, the gov-
ernment has extended the 10-
year tax holiday to the power
companies which commence
generation, distribution and
transmission of power by
March 31, 2017.
Similarly, the budgetary
announcement has provided
necessary incentives for
REITS which will be a boost
for realty sector. Sixteen new
port projects are proposed to
be awarded this year with a
focus on port connectivity.
During his election cam-
paigns, Modi had promised
that he will develop 100 new
smart cities. Jaitley has allot-
ted Rs 7,060 crore in the cur-
rent fiscal year for this proj-
ect. Even this will help gener-
ate new jobs in various sec-
tors.
In another major move,
the limit of foreign direct
investment (FDI) has
increased from 26 per cent to
49 per cent in insurance and
defence sectors. This will also
boost the Indian employment
market in the future.
For the betterment of
youth, government also
announced Skill India pro-
gramme. It will equip youth
with skill with an emphasis
on entrepreneurship as well
as employability.
Jaitley said that Shyama
Prasad Mukherji Rurban
Mission will be launched to
deliver integrated project-
based infrastructure in rural
areas, which will also include
development of economic
activities and skill develop-
ment. A National Rural
Internet and Technology
Mission for services in vil-
lages and schools, training in
IT skills and E-Kranti for
government service delivery
and governance scheme has
also been proposed.
F
Basic health facilities not available
to tribes in Chhattisgarh
Few takers for humanities stream
in higher secondary classes
4
JULY 14 TO JULY 20, 2014 (MP & CG)
Chhattisgarh Explore
Central and local authorities fail-
ures are responsible for the gloomy
performance of the health sector in
Indian state of Chhattisgarh, accord-
ing to the most recent report produced
by the local Social Watch coalition. The
governments must be held accountable
for the fulfillment of this
Constitutional and basic right, but the
citizens also have the responsibility to
monitor its implementation, activist
said while they released the study
recently.
The figures that picture the pitiful
situation of Chhattisgarh health sector
are due to the lack of governance and
good management, said Vishal Nayak
at the launching ceremony of the
Health Watch Report in Raipur. The
unavailability of basic health facilities
dedicated to the poor tribes shows the
half hearted work done by the govern-
ment and the lack of infrastructure
and human resources, Nayak added.
On the other hand, several institutions
were created to ensure the quality of
health care and effective participation
of citizens in implementing the servic-
es, but they all are not working at the
groundroots level. On the occasion of
release of this report, Dr Dalla, former
secretary of the Red Cross Society,
challenged the government authorities
for not working against the Sickle Cell
anemia.
Half of the patients of this illness
live in Central India, and
Chhattisgarh tops the list of the most
affected states. Chhattisgarh Social
Watch played an important role in
monitoring this disease and others
such as Balod eye, Dairia and dengue.
Trade unionist Arun Kumar Sukla
warned that doctors, officers and the
whole system break the common
patients trust every day due their neg-
ligence and greed.
Dinesh Marotia, an environmental
economist, recommended the abolish-
ment of the Public-Private Partnership
(PPP) in the health sector. Dr Biplava
Bandhopadhyay said that the PPP sys-
tem reveals the governments will to
get rid of their own responsibilities.
The monitoring efforts should be con-
verted into a mass movement, accord-
ing to social activist Gautama
Bandhopadhyaya and Dr Rama Kant
Srivastava, Secretary of the
Progressive Writers Association.
Chhattisgarh Social Watch coalition
includes several civil society organiza-
tions such as CART, SAMRTHAN,
CASA, CARE and Chetna Child.
RAIPUR
Are science, maths and com-
merce the only streams where a stu-
dent can have a great future? With
fewer takers for humanities stream
in class XI, students seemunaware
of the prospects. With conventional
parents wanting their kids to take
admission in medical, engineering
or commerce stream, humanities has
not been able to make a significant
mark among students.
Kaanger Valley Academy's
executive director Kulmoni
Mohanty said, "We have not yet
introduced humanities streamin our
syllabus owing to lack of interest
among students and their parents for
the stream. Not many opt for it."
Delhi Public School's (Bhilai)
principal Prashant Vashist said, "We
have been providing geography as
an optional subject for all students
in all streams. A student opting for
science can have geography as an
optional subject. But we have not
introduced humanities streamin our
curriculum. Students have not
shown enough zeal. We have kept
the option open for introducing it."
Parents hardly want to get
experimental when it comes to their
kid's future. Shilpa Agrawal, mother
of a class XI student said, "Opting
for humanities streamis not some-
thing I would suggest for my kid.
There doesn't seemmuch scope for
it in future. It would be better if he
aims for becoming a doctor or engi-
neer."
Some schools have, however,
got humanities for students who
have set their goals already. NH
Goel World School's vice principal
Prem Sahu said, "Students go for
humanities if they have already
planned to go into law, administra-
tive services and other fields differ-
ent fromthe typical ones. We started
offering this streamsince last year
and number of students has
increased in this session."
Principal of Delhi Public
School, Raipur, Raghunath
Mukherjee said that the schools
plans to introduce humanities from
this session. Payal Sen, a class XI
student said, "My school didn't have
humanities stream, lest I would have
taken it. But my parents thought that
I could do better if I opt for science
and become a doctor."
Raipur
RAIPUR: In an attempt to pro-
vide food in a very reasonable
rate, a total of 152 Annapurna
Dal Bhat Centres are currently
being run in Chhattisgarh. Such
centres are being run by various
social organizations, Gram
Panchayats women self-help
groups and social workers in var-
ious parts of the state.
A total of 24 such centres are
being run in Raipur District,
where as 22 in Sarguja District,
21 in Bilaspur, 18 in Durg, 11 in
Raigarh, 9 in Kanker, seven in
J anjgir-Champa, six in J ashpur, 5
each in Korba, Rajnandgaon,
Kawardha, Korea and Dhamtari,
4 in Bastar, three in
Mahasamund and 2 in
Dantewada. According to official
information, at present, Dal Bhat
centres are functioning at differ-
ent public places including bus
stands, railway stations, hospitals
and court premises.
For the 152 Dal-Bhat centres, the
300 tonnes of rice has been allot-
ted for the month of J uly 2014.
Under the Annapurna Dal-bhat
scheme, over 20,000 people are
taking stomachful of food at Rs
5 on daily basis in Chhattisgarh.
Aimed at providing food to the
poor and needy people on cheap
rate at Rs 5, the Food and Civil
Supplies department had started
this scheme in 2004. The Food
Department supplies rice at Rs 2
per kg, 10 kg gramat Rs 5 per
kg, 10 kg Dal at Rs 10 per kg
and 5 kg Amrit salt free of cost
to these Dal Bhat centres, as per
their eligibility. During the cur-
rent financial year, a target is set
to open 50 new Dal-bhat centres
in the state.
The Food Security Act in
Chhattisgarh makes foodgrains
mandatory for all students living
in hostels or ashrams, meals
through Dal Bhat centres or take-
home rations through panchayats
for destitutes and homeless per-
sons, besides making special
provisions for emergency or dis-
aster-affected persons.
The Act also includes meals for
pregnant women and lactating
mothers and children fromsix
months to six years through
anganwadis, mid-day meal for
children of 6-14 years in school
and supplementary nutrition for
malnourished children. These
groups now have a right to food
entitlements and officials will be
penalised for any failure.
Dal Bhat centres provide
meals to the poor
5
Bhopal
Assembly witnesses noisy
scenes over PEB scam
Govt recommends CBI
probe into deans death
Bhopal: The Madhya Pradesh
Assembly witnessed noisy scenes and
three adjournments as the members of
the main opposition Congress continued
to disrupt the reply of Chief Minister
Shivraj Singh Chouhan over the state's
Professional Examination Board
(MPPEB) scam and kept pressing for a
Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI)
probe. Soon after the proceedings began,
Chouhan was about to begin his reply
when Congress member Ramniwas
Rawat raised point of order asserting
that the discussion on the adjournment
motion could not be carried over to the
next day. He cited certain rules in this
regard. This evoked sharp reactions from
the treasury bench members who alleged
that the Opposition member was going
against the Speaker's arrangement who
had allowed that the Chief Minister could
reply today after it was disrupted a day
earlier. Parliamentary Affairs Minister
Narottam Mishra and Urban
Administration Minister Kailash
Vijayvargiya pointed out that adjourn-
ment motions were debated for 2-3 days
when the previous Congress regime was
in power. Vijayvargiya stressed that the
Madhya Pradesh Vidhan Sabha had
always upheld traditions even if there
were no rules in this regard.
Meanwhile, Leader of the Opposition
Satyadev Katare said the Opposition was
ready to listen to the Chief Minister's
reply but his speech should concern the
points raised by the Opposition. He said
the Leader of the House has made certain
allegations during the previous regime
and demanded that the CBI be recom-
mended to probe it also along with the
MPPEB scam.
hough state govern-
ment has stoutly
opposed a CBI probe
into the MPPEB scam despite
widespread outrage, it has
swiftly recommended for a
probe by the premier investi-
gating agency into the mystery
suicide of Jabalpur medical
college dean Dr D K Sakalley
last week. Home minister
Babulal Gaur made this
announcement in the assembly
on Thursday.
Dr Sakalley, who was also
HoD of forensic department of
the college, was seen rushing
out of official residence in
flames July 4 morning,
screaming for help. But before
he could be taken to hospital
by neighbours, he succumbed
on the way as he had by then
suffered more than 90% burns.
Dr Sakalley was on the inves-
tigating committee probing
multi-layered Madhya
Pradesh Professional
Examination Board scam and
his death had raised many
questions. Congress MLA
Sachin Yadav raised the mat-
ter in the House during a call
attention motion. It was dur-
ing the reply that Gaur prom-
ised to get the case investigat-
ed by an agency that the
House deemed appropriate.
When the Congress asked for a
CBI inquiry, Gaur immediate-
ly agreed to it.
CM should take
sanyas: Katare
uring a discussion on
cut-motion on budget
proposals, leader of
Opposition Satyadev Katare
stormed into the House with a
saffron robe, a ghanta and
kamandal. Displaying objects
in the House, he announced
they were meant for chief min-
ister Shivraj Singh Chouhan,
who announced last week he
would take sanyas if a single
charge of corruption is proved
against him. During sanyas,
he would require all these
stuff, said Katare.
He raised issue of irregu-
larity in appointment of the
chief minister's niece Ritu
Chouhan as a
deputy collector by
MP Public Service
Commission and
said, "Minister of
state for general
admi ni s t r at i o n
department, Lal
Singh Arya, has
admitted to irregu-
larities in appoint-
ment of the CM's
niece. Chief
Minister must now
keep his words and
take sanyas." Since
chief minister
Chouhan was not
present in the
assembly, Katare
suggested the
items be sent to
him.
Meanwhile, minister for
legislative affairs Narottam
Mishra entered into an alter-
cation with Congress, most of
which was inaudible in the
ruckus.
Mishra said Congress was
stooping low to get publicity
and media coverage. Katare
said he tabled documents to
prove irregularities in the
House and waited for two days
for the government to react.
After Lal Singh Arya admitted
there were lapses in the appli-
cation form of Ritu Chouhan,
the leader of Opposition said it
was time for the CM to step
down.
D
T
Dr D K Sakalley
16-07-2014- Wednesday-Shravan Mah
Krishnapaksh-Panchami
Positive directions -North and West
Bad time 12:31 pm to 2:12 pm
Good time 5:47 am to 9:09 am
and 10:50am to 12:30 pm and 3:53 pm
to 7:14 pm
17-07-2014-Thursday-Shravan Mah
Krishnapaksh-Shasthi
Positive directions-North and West
and 10:50 am to 2:11 pm and 5:34pm to
7:14 pm
18-07-2014- Friday -Shravan Mah
Krishnapaksh-Saptami
Positive direction-North and East
Bad Time 10:50amto 12:41pm
Good time 5:48 amto 10:49 am
and 12:42 pmto 2:12 pmand 5:34 pmto
7:14 pm
19-07-2014- Saturday -Shravan Mah
Krishnapaksh-Ashtami
Positive directions-North and East
Bad time 9:10 am to 10:50am
and 12:31 pm to 5:34 pm
20-07-2014- Sunday - Shravan Mah
Krishnapaksh-Navami
Positive directions-North and East
Good time 7:29 am to 12:31 pm
and 2:12 pm to 3:53 pm
21-07-2014- Monday -Shravan Mah
Krishnapaksh- Dashmi
Positive directions- South and East
Bad time 7:29 am to 9:10 am
and 9:11 am to 10:51 am and 2:12 pm
to 7:14 pm
22-07-2014-Tuesday-Shravan Mah
Krishnapaksh-Ekadashi
Positive directions-South and East
Good time 9:10 am to 2:12 pm
By AACHARYA SARVESH
E-Mail: acharya.sarvesh@yahoo.com
Mobile: 9826609192
General Vastu tips
The air should enter
the building from
North-East
The direction of Fire
is South-East. The
Kitchen, fireplace,
geysers etc. should
be placed only in
this direction
The water from the
toilets and
bathrooms, too,
should be drained
out in the North-East
The Septic tanks or
the flow of sewer
systems should be
towards North-West
ASTROLOGY
6
Editorial
Jaitley plans tech-driven
second green revolution
Dilip Ojha
o meet this ambitious
plan, the FM has
planned for a technolo-
gy-driven second Green
Revolution that would focus on
higher productivity, including a
Protein revolution.
Setting aside Rs 50 crore for
development of indigenous cattle
breeds, an equal amount was also
set aside by himto start a Blue
Revolution in inland fisheries.
Though farming contributes one-
sixth to the national GDP, farm-
ers say it is not a paying activity.
This is despite the fact that India
ranks among the top three in the
world for production of cereals,
cotton, vegetables, fruits, milk
and eggs. A slew of measures
have been planned by the gov-
ernment to benefit farmers by
increasing competition and inte-
grating markets. While a nation-
al market has been planned,
states will be consulted to change
APMC Acts to develop Farmers
Markets so that farmers can sell
their produce directly. J aitley has
also planned to make farming
profitable for which investment
in agro-technology development
and modernization of existing
agri-business infrastructure
would be stepped up. Even wage
opportunities through MGNRE-
GA would be provided through
works that are more productive,
asset creating and substantially
linked to agriculture and allied
activities. As part of overhauling
the subsidy regime, J aitley said
that a new urea policy would be
formulated to benefit farmers.
The Finance Minister also laid a
stress on warehousing facilities
for agriculture produce to
increase their shelf life. For this,
scientific warehousing infra-
structure would be built at a cost
of Rs 5,000 crore. Also, climate
change acts adversely to produc-
tion and to meet this challenge a
National Adaptation Fund of
Rs 100 crore will be spent. Lack
of research has also had an
adverse effect on production,
however, there is only one agri-
cultural institute in Pusa, New
Delhi, which does research on
increasing output. The govern-
ment has planned to establish
another two institutions on the
same lines in Assam and
J harkhand with Rs 100 crore
being allocated for it. Apart from
that, agriculture universities in
Andhra Pradesh and Rajasthan
and horticulture universities in
Telangana and Haryana have
been proposed with Rs 200
crore. Another major issue, food
security, was addressed by
J aitley by plans of restructuring
FCI, reducing transportation and
distribution losses and improv-
ing the Public Distribution
System. To provide grains to
poor when there is a decline in
agriculture production, the gov-
ernment will undertake open
market sales to keep prices under
control. A 24-hour television
channel, Kisan TV, would be set
up for Rs 100 crore to dissemi-
nate real time information to the
farmers information regarding
new farming techniques, water
conservation, organic farming,
etc. In order to benefit landless
farmers, who have to depend on
local moneylenders, finance to 5
lakh joint farming groups of
Bhoomi Heen Kisan through
NABARD will be provided.
T
Dilip Ojha
ven before the jubilation on the
return of Keralas 46 nurses from
the conflict-hit Iraq, the states
media reported another interesting story: a
girl getting ready to leave for Iraq and how
she is worried if she will be prevented by the
immigration officials from boarding the
plane in Kochi.
The terror that the nurses who returned
went through is no deterrence for this girl
because her socio-economic conditions are
quite dismal. She has paid a hefty sumfor
this job and if she doesn't take it up, her fam-
ily will not only be able to make both the
ends meet, but will also be in a terrible debt
trap. Although the girls who returned from
Iraq have reportedly said that they would
never go back, they also dont conceal that
their relief would soon turn into a nightmare
at home. All of themhave educational loans
and the hefty agency fees that they paid for
the jobs, to pay back and if they dont start
working abroad again, they would be in trou-
ble. Some of them are apparently facing
action by banks fromwhich they have taken
the loans. The 46 girls might tide over the
situation easily because many of themhave
been offered jobs in Middle East, but what
goes unnoticed is that there are thousands
who are in similar socio-economic condi-
tions. The state churns out thousands of
nurses every year, who get a pittance as
salary. Some of them brave risks and go
overseas - like the nurses who went to Iraq
did - while a large number of themfan out
into different parts of India to take up jobs in
private hospitals. Indias private hospital
industry will collapse if the state stops pro-
ducing these nurses.
In recent times, the financial and occu-
pational hardship faced by the nurses came
into media focus in May 2012 when they
went on spontaneous strikes in different
parts of India. In places such as Mumbai,
Chennai and several towns in Kerala, the
hospitals found it difficult to function
because the nurses were out on the streets
demanding better salaries and better working
conditions. Except in rare cases, nurses are
paid extremely poor salaries and are subject-
ed to bonded conditions in most of India. It
is almost a routine practice across the coun-
try to bond themfor a few years at very poor
salaries. To ensure that they remain bonded
and silent, the hospitals retain their educa-
tional certificates.
In India, there is a 50 percent gap
between the demand and supply of nurses
because most of hemultimately leave the
country. The demand for the nursing courses
among the girls of Kerala is by-and-large
because of of such a brain-drain. With a few
years of work in India, they can manage jobs
abroad - mostly to Gulf, north American and
western European countries; but nobody
warns themabout the impending dangers as
they faced in Iraq. India needs a large num-
ber of nurses - according to a WHO calcula-
tion, 2.4 million in 2012 itself - to improve
its healthcare standards; but the country is
treating themshabbily and losing themout to
the rest of the world. Its hight time that uni-
form guidelines and rules ensured better
working conditions and salaries for them.
Impending dangers no deterrence for nurses getting pittance in India
Finance
Minister Arun
Jaitley carried
forward the
plan of a 4%
growth in
agriculture
which was set
by UPA, but
was not
realised during
the past two
regimes.
E
7
JULY 14 TO JULY 20, 2014 (MP & CG) Features of Budget
Key Features of Budget 2014-2015 Key Features of Budget 2014-2015
Key Features of Budget 2014-2015 Key Features of Budget 2014-2015 Key Features of Budget 2014-2015
THE CURRENT ECONOMIC SITUA-
TION AND THE CHALLENGES
Decisive vote for change represents the
desire of the people to grow, free them-
selves fromthe curse of poverty and use the
opportunity provided by the society.
Country in no mood to suffer unemploy-
ment, inadequate basic amenities, lack of
infrastructure and apathetic governance.
Challenging situation due to Sub five per
cent growth and double digit inflation.
Continued slow-down in many emerging
economies a threat to sustained global
recovery.
Recovery seen with the growth rate of
world economy projected at 3.6 per cent in
2014 vis--vis in 2013.
First budget of this NDA government to
lay down a broad policy indicator of the
direction in which we wish to take this
country.
Steps announced are only the beginning
of the journey towards a sustained growth
of 7-8 per cent or above within the next 3-4
years along with macro-economic stabiliza-
tion.
Growing aspirations of people will be
reflected in the development strategy of the
Government led by the Prime minister Shri
Narendra Modi and its mandate of Sab ka
Saath Sab ka Vikas.
Need to revive growth in manufacturing
and infrastructure sectors.
Tax to GDP ratio must be improved and
Non-tax revenues increased.
Deficit and Inflation
Decline in fiscal deficit from5.7% in
2011-12 to 4.5% in 2013-14 mainly
achieved by reduction in expenditure rather
than by way of realization of higher rev-
enue.
Improvement in current account deficit
from4.7 % in 2012-13 to year end level of
1.7% mainly achieved through restriction
on non-essential import and slow-down in
overall aggregate demand. Need to keep
watch on CAD.
4.1 per cent fiscal deficit a daunting task
in the backdrop of two years of low GDP
growth, static industrial growth, moderate
increase in indirect taxes, subsidy burden
and not so encouraging tax buoyancy.
The government is committed to achieve
this target. Road map for fiscal consolida-
tion outlines fiscal deficit of 3.6 % for
2015-16 and 3 % for 2016-17.
Inflation has remain at elevated level
with gradual moderation in WPI recently.
The problemof black money must be
fully addressed.
Bold steps required to enhance econom-
ic activities and spur growth in the econo-
my.
Administrative Initiatives
Sovereign right of the Government to
undertake retrospective legislation to be
exercised with extreme caution and judi-
ciousness keeping in mind the impact of
each such measure on the economy and the
overall investment climate.
A stable and predictable taxation regime
which will be investor friendly and spur
growth.
Legislative and administrative changes
to sort out pending tax demands of more
than
4 lakh crore under dispute and litigation.
Resident tax payers enabled to obtain on
advance ruling in respect of their income-
tax
liability above a defined threshold.
Measures for strengthening the
Authority for Advance Rulings.
Income-tax Settlement Commission
scope to be enlarged.
National Academy for Customs &
Excise at Hindupur in Andhra Pradesh.
The subsidy regime to be made more tar-
geted for full protection to the marginal-
ized, poor and SC/ST.
New Urea Policy would be formulated.
Introduction of GST to be given thrust.
High level committee to interact with
trade and industry on regular basis to ascer-
tain areas requiring clarity in tax laws is
required to be set up.
Convergance with International
Financial Reporting Standard (IFRS) by
Adoption of the new Indian Accounting
Standards (2nd AS) by Indian Companies.
Setting up of Expenditure Management
Commission to look into expenditure
reforms.
Employment exchanges to be trans-
formed into career centres. A sumof ` 100
crore provided .
ECONOMIC INITIATIVES
Foreign Direct Investment (FDI)
Government to promote FDI selectively
in sectors.
The composite cap of foreign investment
to be raised to 49 per cent with full Indian
management and control through the FIPB
route.
The composite cap in the insurance sec-
tor to be increased up to 49 per cent from26
per cent with full Indian management and
control through the FIPB route.
Requirement of the built up area and
capital conditions for FDI to be reduced
from50,000 square metres to 20,000 square
metres and fromUSD 10 million to USD 5
million respectively for development of
smart cities.
The manufacturing units to be allowed to
sell its products through retail including
Ecommerce
platforms.
Bank Capitalization
Requirement to infuse `.2,40,000 crore
as equity by 2018 in our banks to be in line
with Basel-III norms
Capital of banks to be raised by increas-
ing the shareholding of the people in a
phased manner.
PSU Capital Expenditure
PSUs will invest through capital invest-
ment a total sumof 2,47,941 crores in the
current financial year.
Smart Cities
A sumof ` 7060 crore is provided in the
current fiscal for the project of developing
one hundred Smart Cities
Real Estate
Incentives for Real Estate Investment
Trusts (REITS). Complete pass through for
the purpose of taxation.
A modified REITS type structure for
infrastructure projects as the Infrastructure
Investment Trusts (INVITS).
These two instruments to attract long
term finance from foreign and domestic
sources including the NRIs .
Irrigation
1000 crore provided for Pradhan
Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojna for assured
irrigation.
Rural Development
Shyama Prasad Mukherji Rurban
Mission for integrated project based infra-
structure in the rural areas.
500 crore for Deen Dayal Upadhyaya
GramJ yoti Yojana for feeder separation to
augment power supply to the rural areas.
14,389 crore provided for Pradhan
Mantri GramSadak Yojna(PMGSY) .
More productive, asset creating and with
linkages to agriculture and allied activities
wage employment would to be provided
under MGNREGA.
Under Ajeevika, the provision of bank
loan for women SHGs at 4% to be extend-
ed to another 100 districts.
Initial sumof ` 100 crore for Start Up
Village Entrepreneurship Programme for
encouraging rural youth to take up local
entrepreneurship programs .
Allocation for National Housing Bank
increased to ` 8000 crore to support Rural
housing.
New programme Neeranchal to give
impetus to watershed development in the
country with an initial outlay of ` 2142
crores.
Backward Region Grant Fund (BRGF)
to be restructured to address intra-district
inequalities.
Scheduled Caste/Scheduled Tribe
An amount of ` 50,548 crore is proposed
under the SC Plan and 32,387 crore under
TSP.
For the welfare of the tribals Van
Bandhu Kalyan Yojna launched with an
initial allocation of ` 100 crore.
Senior Citizen & Differently Abled
Persons
Varishtha Pension Bima Yojana (VPBY)
to be revived for a limited period from15
August, 2014 to 14 August, 2015 for the
benefit of citizens aged 60 years and above.
A committee will to examine and recom-
mend how unclaimed amounts with PPF,
Post Office, saving schemes etc. can be
used to protect and further financial inter-
ests of the senior citizens?
Government notified a minimumpen-
sion of ` 1000 per month to all subscriber
members of EPScheme. Initial provision of
` 250 crore.
Increase in mandatory wage ceiling of
subscription to ` 15000. A provision of `
250 crore in the current budget.
EPFO to launch the UniformAccount
Number Service for contributing members .
Scheme for Assistance to Disabled
Persons for purchase/fitting of Aids and
Appliances (ADIP) extended to include
contemporary aids and assistive devices.
National level institutes for Universal
Inclusive Design , Mental Health
Rehabilitation
and a Centre for Disability Sports to be
established.
Assistance to State Governments to
establish fifteen new Braille Presses and
modernize ten existing Braille Presses.
Government to print currency notes with
Braille like signs for visibly challenged per-
sons.
Women & Child Development
Outlay of ` 50 crores for pilot testing a
scheme on Safety for Women on Public
Road Transport.
Sum of 150 crores on a scheme to
increase the safety of women in large cities.
Crisis Management Centres in all the
districts of NCT of Delhi this year govern-
ment and private hospitals.
A sumof ` 100 crore is provided for
Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao Yojana, a
focused scheme to generate awareness and
help in improving the efficiency of delivery
of welfare services meant for women.
School curriculumto have a separate
chapter on gender mainstreaming.
Drinking Water & Sanitation
20,000 habitations affected with arsenic,
fluoride, heavy/ toxic elements, pesticides/
fertilizers to be provided safe drinking
water through community water purifica-
tion plants in next 3 years
Swachh Bharat Abhiyan to cover
every household with sanitation facility by
the year 2019.
Health and Family Welfare
Free Drug Service and Free Diagnosis
Service to achieve Health For All
Two National Institutes of Ageing to be
set up at AIIMS, New Delhi and Madras
Medical College, Chennai.
A national level research and referral
Institute for higher dental studies to be set
up.
AIIMS like institutions in Andhra
Pradesh, West Bengal, Vidarbha in
Maharashtra and Poorvanchal in UP. A pro-
vision of ` 500 crores made.
12 new government medical colleges to
be set up.
States Drug Regulatory and Food
Regulatory Systems to be strengthened by
creating new drug testing laboratories and
strengthening the 31 existing State labora-
tories.
15 Model Rural Health Research
Centres to be set up for research on local
health issues concerning rural population.
A national programme in Mission Mode
to halt the deteriorating malnutrition situa-
tion in India to be put in place within six
months.
EDUCATION
School Education
Government would strive to provide toi-
lets and drinking water in all the girls
school in first phase. An amount of ` 28635
crore is being funded for Sarv Shiksha
Abhiyan(SSA) and 4966 crore for
Rashtriya madhyamic Shiksha Abhiyan
(RMSA).
A School Assessment Programme is
being initiated at a cost of ` 30 crore.
500 crore provided for Pandit Madan
Mohan Malviya New Teachers Training
Programme to infuse new training tools
and motivate teachers.
100 crore provided for setting up virtual
classrooms as Communication Linked
Interface for Cultivating Knowledge
(CLICK) and online courses.
Higher Education
J ai Prakash Narayan National Centre for
Excellence in Humanities to be set up in
MP.
500 crore provided for setting up 5 more
IITs in the J ammu, Chhattisgarh, Goa,
Andhra Pradesh and Kerala.
5 IIMs in the States of HP, Punjab, Bihar,
Odisha and Rajasthan.
Simplification of norms to facilitate edu-
cation loans for higher studies.
Information Technology
Pan India programme Digital India to
with an outlay of ` 500 crore to be launched.
Programme for promoting Good
Governance to be launched .A sumof `
100 crore provided.
Information and Broadcasting
100 crore allocated for 600 new and
existing Community Radio Stations.
Film& Television Institute, Pune and
Satyajit Ray Film& Television Institute,
Kolkata are proposed to be accorded status
of Institutes of national importance and a
National Centre for Excellence in
Animation, Gaming and Special Effects to
be set up.
100 crore is provided for Kisan TV, to
disseminate real time information to the
farmers on issues such as new farming tech-
niques, water conservation, organic farming
etc.
Urban Development
Vision of the Government is that 500
urban habitations to be provided support for
renewal of infrastructure and services in
next 10 years through PPPs
Present corpus of Pooled Municipal
Debt Obligation Facility facility to be
enlarged to 50,000 Crore from` 5000 crore.
Cont. on Next Page
8
100 crore provided for Metro Projects in
Lucknow and Ahemdabad.
Housing
Extended additional tax incentive on
home loans shall be provided to encourage
people, especially the young, to own hous-
es.
Mission on Low Cost Affordable
Housing anchored in the National Housing
Bank to be set up.
Asumof ` 4000 crores for NHB fromthe
priority sector lending shortfall with a view
to increase the flow of cheaper credit for
affordable housing to the urban poor/EWS/
LIG segment is provided
Slumdevelopment to be included in the
list of Corporate Social Responsibility
(CSR) activities to encourage the private
sector to contribute more.
Minorities
A programme for the up gradation of
skills and training in ancestral arts for
development for the minorities Up grada-
tion of Traditional Skills in Arts, Resources
and Goods to be launched.
An additional amount of ` 100 crores for
Modernization of Madarsas .
AGRICULTURE
Government to establish two more
Agricultural Research Institute of excel-
lence in Assamand J harkhand with an ini-
tial sumof 100 crore.
An amount of ` 100 crores set aside for
Agri-tech Infrastructure Fund.
200 crore provided to open Agriculture
Universities in Andhra Pradesh and
Rajasthan and Horticulture Universities in
Telangana and Haryana.
A scheme to provide every farmer a soil
health card in a Mission mode will be
launched.
100 crore has been provided for this pur-
pose and additional ` 56 crores to set up 100
Mobile Soil Testing Laboratories across the
country.
To meet the vagaries of climate change a
National Adaptation Fund with an initial
suman amount of ` 100 crore will be set up.
A sustainable growth of 4% in
Agriculture will be achieved.
Technology driven second green revolu-
tion with focus on higher productivity and
including Protein revolution will be area
of major focus.
To mitigate the risk of Price volatility in
the agriculture produce, a sum of ` 500
crore is provided for establishing a Price
Stabilization Fund.
Central Government to work closely
with the State Governments to re-orient
their respective APMC Acts.
Sum of ` 50 crores provided for the
development of indigenous cattle breeds
and an equal amount for starting a blue rev-
olution in inland fisheries.
Transformation plan to invigorate the
warehousing sector and significantly
improve post-harvest lending to farmers.
Agriculture Credit
To provide institutional finance to land-
less farmers, it is proposed to provide
finance to 5 lakh joint farming groups of
Bhoomi Heen Kisan through NABARD .
A target of ` 8 lakh crore has been set for
agriculture credit during 2014-15.
Corpus of Rural Infrastructure
Development Fund (RIDF) raised by an
additional 5000 crores fromthe target given
in the InterimBudget to ` 25000 crores .
Allocation of ` 5,000 crore provided for
the Warehouse Infrastructure Fund.
Long TermRural Credit Fund to set up
for the purpose of providing refinance sup-
port to Cooperative Banks and Regional
Rural Banks with an initial corpus of 5,000
crore.
Amount of ` 50,000 crore allocated for
Short TermCooperative Rural Credit .
Sum of ` 200 crore for NABARDs
Producers Development and Upliftment
Corpus (PRODUCE) for building 2,000
producers organizations over the next two
years.
Food Security
Restructuring FCI, reducing transporta-
tion and distribution losses and efficacy of
PDS to be taken up on priority.
Government committed to provide
wheat and rice at reasonable prices to the
weaker sections of the society.
Government when required will under-
take open market sales to keep prices under
control.
INDUSTRY
Central Government Departments and
Ministries to integrate their services with
the e-
Biz -a single window IT platform- for serv-
ices on priority by 31 December this year.
100 crore provided for setting up a
National Industrial Corridor Authority.
Amritsar Kolkata Industrial master plan-
ning to be completed expeditiously.
Master planning of 3 new smart cities in
the Chennai-Bengaluru Industrial Corridor
region, viz., Ponneri in Tamil Nadu,
Krishnapatnam in Andhra Pradesh and
Tumkur in Karnataka to be completed.
Perspective plan for the Bengaluru
Mumbai Economic corridor (BMEC) and
Vizag- Chennai corridor to be completed
with the provision for 20 new industrial
clusters.
Development of industrial corridors with
emphasis on Smart Cities linked to trans-
port connectivity to spur growth in manu-
facturing and urbanization will be acceler-
ated.
Proposed to establish an Export promo-
tion Mission to bring all stakeholders under
one umbrella.
Apprenticeship Act to be suitably
amended to make it more responsive to
industry and youth.
Micro Small and Medium Enterprises
(MSME) Sector
Skill India to be launched to skill the
youth with an emphasis on employability
and entrepreneur skills.
Committee to examine the financial
architecture for MSME Sector, remove bot-
tlenecks and create new rules and structures
to be set up and give concrete suggestions
in three months.
Fund of Funds with a corpus of 10,000
crore for providing equity through venture
capital funds, quasi equity, soft loans and
other risk capital specially to encourage
new startups by youth to be set up.
Corpus of ` 200 crore to be set up to
establish Technology Centre Network .
Definition of MSME to be reviewed to
provide for a higher capital ceiling.
Programme to facilitate forward and
backward linkages with multiple value
chain of manufacturing and service delivery
to be put in place.
Entrepreneur friendly legal bankruptcy
framework will be developed for SMEs to
enable easy exit.
A nationwide District level Incubation
and Accelerator Programme to be taken up
for incubation of new ideas and necessary
support for accelerating entrepreneurship.
Textiles
50 crore is provided to set up a Trade
Facilitation Centre and a Crafts Museumto
develop and promote handloom products
and carry forward the rich tradition of hand-
looms of Varanasi.
Sum of 500 crore for developing a
Textile mega-cluster at Varanasi and six
more at Bareilly, Lucknow, Surat, Kutch,
Bhagalpur and Mysore.
20 crore to set up a Hastkala Academy
for the preservation, revival, and documen-
tation of the handloom/handicraft sector in
PPPmode in Delhi.
50 crore is provided to start a Pashmina
Promotion Programme (P-3) and develop-
ment of other crafts of J ammu & Kashmir.
INFRASTRUCTURE
An institution to provide support to
mainstreaming PPPPs called 4PIndia to be
set up with a corpus of ` 500 crores.
Shipping
11635 crore will be allocated for the
development of Outer Harbour Project in
Tuticorin for phase I.
SEZs will be developed in Kandla and
J NPT.
Comprehensive policy to be announced
to promote Indian ship building industry.
Inland Navigation
Project on Ganges called J al Marg
Vikas to be developed between Allahabad
and Haldia.
New Airports
Scheme for development of new airports
in Tier I and Tier II Cities to be launched.
Roads sector
Sector needs huge amount of investment
along with debottlenecking frommaze of
clearances.
An investment of an amount of ` 37,880
crores in NHAI and State Roads is proposed
which includes ` 3000 crores for the North
East.
Target of NH construction of 8500 km
will be achieved in current financial year.
Work on select expressways in parallel
to the development of the Industrial
Corridors will be initiated. For project
preparation NHAI shall set aside a sumof `
500 crore.
Energy
100 crore is allocated for a new scheme
Ultra-Modern Super Critical Coal Based
Thermal Power Technology.
Comprehensive measures for enhancing
domestic coal production are being put in
place.
Adequate quantity of coal will be pro-
vided to power plants which are already
commissioned or would be commissioned
by March 2015.
An exercise to rationalize coal linkages
to optimize transport of coal and reduce
cost of power is underway.
New & Renewable Energy
500 crores provided for Ultra Mega
Solar Power Projects in Rajasthan, Gujarat,
Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh and Laddakh.
400 crores provided for a scheme for
solar power driven agricultural pump sets
and water pumping stations.
100 crore provided for the development
of 1 MW Solar Parks on the banks of
canals.
A Green Energy Corridor Project is
being implemented to facilitate evacuation
of renewable energy across the country.
Petroleum & Natural Gas
Production and exploitation of Coal Bed
Methane reserves will be accelerated.
Possibility of using modern technology
to revive old or closed wells to be explored.
Usage of PNG to be rapidly scaled up in
a Mission mode.
Proposal to develop pipelines using
appropriate PPPmodels.
Mining
Changes, if necessary, in the MMDR
Act, 1957 to be introduced to encourage
investment in mining sector and promote
sustainable mining practices.
FINANCIAL SECTOR
Capital Market
Ongoing process of consultations with
all the stakeholders on the enactment of the
Indian Financial Code and reports of the
Financial Sector Legislative Reforms
Commission (FSLRC) to be completed.
Government in close consultation with
the RBI to put in place a modern monetary
policy framework.
Following measures will be taken to
energize Capital markets:
Introduction of uniformKYC norms and
inter-usability of the KYC records across
the entire financial sector.
Introduce one single operating demat
account
Uniformtax treatment for pension fund
and mutual fund linked retirement plan
BANKINGAND INSURANCE SECTOR
Banking
Time bound programme as Financial
Inclusion Mission to be launched on 15
August
this year with focus on the weaker sections
of the society.
Banks to be encouraged to extend long
termloans to infrastructure sector with flex-
ible structuring.
Banks to be permitted to raise long term
funds for lending to infrastructure sector
with minimumregulatory pre-emption such
as CRR, SLR and Priority Sector Lending
(PSL).
RBI to create a framework for licensing
small banks and other differentiated banks.
Differentiated banks serving niche inter-
ests, local area banks, payment banks etc.
are contemplated to meet credit and remit-
tance needs of small businesses, unorgan-
ized sector, low income households, farm-
ers and migrant work force.
Six new Debt Recovery Tribunals to be
set up.
For venture capital in the MSME sector,
a ` 10,000 crore fund to act as a catalyst to
attract private Capital by way of providing
equity , quasi equity, soft loans and other
risk capital for start-up companies with
suitable tax incentives to participating pri-
vate funds to be established.
Insurance Sector
The pending insurance laws (amend-
ment) Bill to be immediately brought for
consideration
of the Parliament.
The regulatory gap under the Prize Chits
and Money Circulation Scheme (Banking)
Act, 1978 will be bridged.
Small Savings
Kissan Vikas Patra (KVP) to be reintro-
duced.
A special small savings instrument to
cater to the requirements of educating and
marriage of the Girl Child to be introduced.
A National Savings Certificate with
insurance cover to provide additional bene-
fits for the small saver.
In the PPF Scheme, annual ceiling will
be enhanced to `.1.5 lakh p.a. from`.1 lakh
at
present.
DEFENCE & INTERNAL SECURITY
A further sumof ` 1000 crore to meet
requirement for One Rank One Pension.
Capital outlay for Defence increased by
` 5000 crore including a sumof ` 1000 crore
for accelerating the development of the
Railway systemin the border areas.
Urgent steps would also be taken to
streamline the procurement process to make
it speedy and more efficient.
100 crore is provided for construction of
a war memorial in the Princes Park, which
will be supplemented by a War Museum. I
amallocating a sumof ` 100 crore for this
purpose.
100 crore is provided to set up a
Technology Development Fund for
Defence.
Internal Security
3000 crore is provided in the current
financial year for modernization of state
police forces.
Adequate allocation for Additional
Central Assistance for Left Wing Extremist
Affected districts.
2250 crore provided to strengthen and
modernize border infrastructure.
990 crore allocated for the socio eco-
nomic development of the villages along
the borders.
A sumof ` 150 crore ear-marked for the
construction of Marine Police Station,
J etties and for the purchase of boats etc.
50 crores provided for construction of
National Police Memorial.
CULTURE & TOURISM
200 crore provided to build the Statue of
unity(National project).
Facility of Electronic Travel
Authorization (e-Visa) to be introduced in
phased manner
at nine airports in India.
Countries to which the Electronic Travel
authorisation facility would be extended
would
be identified in a phased manner.
500 crore provided for developing 5
tourist circuits around specific themes.
100 crore provided for National Mission
on Pilgrimage Rejuvenation and Spiritual
Augmentation Drive (PRASAD).
200 crore provided for National Heritage
City Development and Augmentation
Yojana (HRIDAY).
100 crore provided for Archaeological
sites preservation.
Sarnath-Gaya-Varanasi Buddhist circuit
to be developed with world class tourist
amenities to attract tourists fromall over the
world.
Cont. on Next Page
9
Water Resources and cleaning of Ganga
100 crore provided for Detailed Project
Reports for linking of rivers.
2037 crores provided for Integrated
Ganga Conservation Mission NAMAMI
GANGE.
100 crore provided for Ghat develop-
ment and beautification at Kedarnath,
Haridwar,
Kanpur, Varanasi, Allahabad, Patna and
Delhi.
NRI Fund for Ganga will be set up.
Science and Technology
Government to strengthen at least five
institutions as Technical Research Centres.
Development of Biotech clusters in
Faridabad and Bengaluru.
Nascent agri-biotech cluster in Mohali to
be scaled up. In addition, two new clusters,
in Pune and Kolkata to be established.
Global partnerships will be developed
under Indias leadership to transformthe
Delhi component of the International
Centre for Genetic Engineering and
Biotechnology (ICGEB) into a world-
leader in life sciences and biotechnology.
Several major space missions planned
for 2014-15.
Sports and Youth Affairs
200 crore provided for upgrading the
indoor and outdoor sports stadiums in
J ammu and Kashmir Valley to international
standards.
100 crore provided for sports university
in Manipur.
India to start an annual event to promote
Unique sports traditions in the Himalayan
region games.
100 crore provided for the training of
sports women and men for forthcoming
Asian games.
A Young Leaders Programme with an
initial allocation of ` 100 crore to be set up.
North Eastern States
100 crore provided for development of
organic farming in North Eastern States.
1000 crore provided for development of
rail connectivity in the North Eastern
Region.
To provide a strong platformto rich cul-
tural and linguistic identity of the North-
East, a new 24x7 channel called Arun
Prabha will be launched.
Andhra Pradesh and Telangana
Government committed to addressing
the issues relating to development of
Andhra Pradesh and Telangana in the AP
Re-organization Act, 2014. Provision made
by various Ministries/Departments to fulfill
the obligation of Union Government.
NCT of Delhi
200 crore for power reforms and ` 500
crore for water reforms to make Delhi a
truly World Class City.
50 crore provided to solve the long term
water supply issues to the capital region.
Construction of long pending Renuka Dam
to be taken up on priority.
Andaman and Nicobar Island and
Puducherry
150 crore provided to tide over commu-
nication related problems of the Island.
188 crore to Puducherry for meeting
commitments for Disaster preparedness.
Displaced Kashmiri Migrants
500 crore provided to support displaced
Kashmiri migrants for rebuilding their
lives.
Himalayan Studies
100 crore provided to set up a National
Centre for Himalayan Studies in
Uttarakhand.
BUDGET ESTIMATES
Mandate to be fulfilled without compro-
mising fiscal consolidation.
Non-plan Expenditure of ` 12,19,892
crore with additional provision for fertilizer
subsidy and Capital expenditure for Armed
forces.
5,75,000 crore Plan expenditure
increase of 26.9 per cent over actuals of
2013-14.
Plan increase targeted towards
Agriculture, capacity creation in Health and
Education, Rural Roads and National
Highways Infrastructure, Railways network
expansion, clean energy initiatives, devel-
opment of water resources and river conser-
vation plans.
Total expenditure of `.17,94,892 crore
estimated.
Gross Tax receipts of ` 13,64,524 crore
estimated.
Net to centre of ` 9,77,258 crore estimat-
ed.
Fiscal deficit of 4.1% of GDP and
Revenue deficit of 2.9% estimated.
New Statement to separately show plan
allocation made for North Eastern Region.
Allocation of ` 53,706 crore for North East
Regions.
Allocation of ` 50,548 crore under SCSP
and 32,387 under TSP.
Allocation for women at ` 98,030 crore
and for children at ` 81,075 crore.
TAX PROPOSALS
Ambitious Revenue Collection Targets
in InterimBudget. Proposed tax changes
factored in the Budget Estimates 2014-15
Measures to revive the economy, pro-
mote investment in manufacturing, ration-
alize tax provisions to reduce litigation,
address the problemof inverted duty struc-
ture in certain areas. Tax reliefs to individ-
ual tax payers.
DIRECT TAXES PROPOSALS
Personal Income-tax exemption limit
raised by 50,000/- that is, from` 2 lakh to
2.5 lakh in the case of individual taxpayers,
below the age of 60 years. Exemption limit
raised from` 2.5 lakh to ` 3 lakh in the case
of senior citizens.
No change in the rate of surcharge either
for the corporates or the individuals, HUFs,
firms etc.
The education cess to continue at 3 per-
cent.
Investment limit under section 80C of
the Income-tax Act raised from` 1 lakh to `
1.5 lakh.
Deduction limit on account of interest on
loan in respect of self occupied house prop-
erty raised from`.1.5 lakh to `.2 lakh.
Conducive tax regime to Infrastructure
Investment Trusts and Real Estate
Investment Trusts to be set up in accor-
dance with regulations of the Securities and
Exchange Board of India.
Investment allowance at the rate of 15
percent to a manufacturing company that
invests more than ` 25 crore in any year in
new plant and machinery. The benefit to be
available for three years i.e. for investments
upto 31.03.2017.
Investment linked deduction extended to
two new sectors, namely, slurry pipelines
for the transportation of iron ore, and semi-
conductor wafer fabrication manufacturing
units.
10 year tax holiday extended to the
undertakings which begin generation, dis-
tribution and transmission of power by
31.03.2017.
Income arising to foreign portfolio
investors fromtransaction in securities to
be treated as capital gains.
Concessional rate of 15 percent on for-
eign dividends without any sunset date to
be continued.
The eligible date of borrowing in foreign
currency extended from 30.06.2015 to
30.06.2017 for a concessional tax rate of 5
percent on interest payments. Tax incentive
extended to all types of bonds instead of
only infrastructure bonds.
Introduction of a Roll Back provision
in the Advanced Pricing Agreement (APA)
scheme so that an APA entered into for
future transactions is also applicable to
international transactions undertaken in
previous four years in specified circum-
stances.
Introduction of range concept for deter-
mination of arms length price in transfer
pricing regulations.
To allow use of multiple year data for
comparability analysis under transfer pric-
ing regulations.
To remove tax arbitrage, rate of tax on
long termcapital gains increased from10
percent to 20 percent on transfer of units of
Mutual Funds, other than equity oriented
funds.
Income and dividend distribution tax to
be levied on gross amount instead of
amount paid net of taxes.
In case of non deduction of tax on pay-
ments, 30% of such payments will be disal-
lowed instead of 100 percent.
Government to review the DTC in its
present shape and take a view in the whole
matter.
60 more Ayakar Seva Kendras to be
opened during the current financial year to
promote excellence in service delivery.
Net Effect of the direct tax proposals to
result in revenue loss of `.22,200 crore.
INDIRECT TAXES PROPOSALS
To boost domestic manufacture and to
address the issue of inverted duties, basic
customs duty (BCD) reduced on certain
items.
To encourage new investment and
capacity addition in the chemicals and
petrochemicals sector, basic customs duty
reduced on certain items.
Steps taken to boost domestic production
of electronic items and reduce our depend-
ence on imports. These include imposition
of basic customs duty on certain items
falling outside the purview of IT
Agreement, exemption from SAD on
inputs/ components for PC manufacturing,
imposition of education cess on imported
electronic products for parity etc.
Colour picture tubes exempted from
basic customs duty to make cathode ray
TVs cheaper and more affordable to weak-
er sections.
To encourage production of LCD and
LED TVs below 19 inches in India, basic
customs duty on LCD and LED TV panels
of below 19 inches reduced from10 percent
to Nil.
To give an impetus to the stainless steel
industry, increase in basic customs duty on
imported flat-rolled products of stainless
steel from5 percent to 7.5 percent.
Concessional basic customs duty of 5
percent extended to machinery and equip-
ment required for setting up of a project for
solar energy production.
Specified inputs for use in the manufac-
ture of EVA sheets and back sheets and flat
copper wire for the manufacture of PV rib-
bons exempted frombasic customs duty.
Reduction in basic customs duty from10
percent to 5 percent on forged steel rings
used in the manufacture of bearings of wind
operated electricity generators. Exemption
fromSAD of 4 percent on parts and raw
materials required for the manufacture of
wind operated generators.
Concessional basic customs duty of 5
percent on machinery and equipment
required for setting up of compressed bio-
gas plants (Bio-CNG).
Anthracite coal, bituminous coal, coking
coal, steamcoal and other coal to attract 2.5
per cent basic customs duty and 2 per cent
CVD to eliminate all assessment disputes
and transaction costs associated with testing
of various parameters of coal.
Basic customs duty on metallurgical
coke increased fromNil to 2.5 percent in
line with the duty on coking coal.
Duty on ship breaking scrap and melting
scrap of iron or steel rationalized by reduc-
ing the basic customs duty on ships import-
ed for breaking up from5 percent to 2.5
percent.
To prevent mis-use and avoid assess-
ment disputes, basic customs duty on semi-
processed, half cut or broken diamonds, cut
and polished diamonds and coloured gem-
stones rationalized at 2.5 percent.
To encourage exports, pre-forms of pre-
cious and semi-precious stones exempted
frombasic customs duty.
Duty free entitlement for import of trim-
mings, embellishments and other specified
items
increased from3 percent to 5 percent of the
value of their export, for readymade gar-
ments.
Export duty on bauxite increased from
10 percent to 20 percent.
For passenger facilitation, free baggage
allowance increased from `.35,000 to
45,000.
To incentivize expansion of processing
capacity, reduction in excise duty on speci-
fied food processing and packaging
machinery from10 percent to 6 percent.
Reduction in the excise duty from12
percent to 6 percent on footwear of retail
price
exceeding ` 500 per pair but not exceeding
` 1,000 per pair.
Withdraw concessional excise duty (2
percent without Cenvat benefit and 6 per-
cent with Cenvat benefit) on smart cards
and a uniformexcise duty at 12 percent.
To develop renewable energy, various
items exempted fromexcise duty.
Exemption to PSF and PFY manufac-
tured fromplastic waste and scrap includ-
ing PET bottles fromexcise duty with effect
from29th J une, 2010 to 7th May, 2012.
Prospective levy of a nominal duty of 2
percent without Cenvat benefit and 6 per-
cent with Cenvat benefit on such PSF and
PFY.
Concessional excise duty of 2 percent
without Cenvat benefit and 6 percent with
Cenvat benefit on sports gloves.
Specific rates of excise duty increased
on cigrettes in the range of 11 per cent to 72
per cent.
Excise duty increased from12 percent to
16 percent on pan masala, from50 percent
to 55 percent on unmanufactured tobacco
and from60 percent to 70 percent on gutkha
and chewing tobacco.
Levy of an additional duty of excise at 5
percent on aerated waters containing added
sugar.
To finance Clean Environment initia-
tives, Clean Energy Cess increased from50
per tonne to `.100 per tonne.
Service tax
To broaden the tax base in Service Tax,
sale of space or time for advertisements in
broadcast media, extended to cover such
sales on other segments like online and
mobile advertising. Sale of space for adver-
tisements in print media however would
remain excluded fromservice tax. Service
provided by radio-taxis brought under serv-
ice tax.
Services by air-conditioned contract car-
riages and technical testing of newly devel-
oped drugs on human participants brought
under service tax.
Provision of services rules to be amend-
ed and tax incidence to be reduced on trans-
port of goods through coastal vessels to pro-
mote Indian Shipping industry.
Services provided by Indian tour opera-
tors to foreign tourists in relation to a tour
wholly conducted outside India to be taken
out of the tax net and Cenvat credit for serv-
ices of rent-a-cab and tour operators to be
allowed to promote tourism.
Service tax exempted on loading,
unloading, storage, warehousing and trans-
portation of cotton, whether ginned or
baled.
Services provided by the Employees
State Insurance Corporation for the period
prior
to 1st J uly 2012 exempted, fromservice
tax.
Exemption available for specified micro
insurance schemes expanded to cover all
life micro-insurance schemes where the
sumassured does not exceed `.50, 000 per
life insured.
For safe disposal of medical and clinical
wastes, services provided by common bio-
medical waste treatment facilities exempt-
ed.
Tax proposals on the indirect taxes side
are estimated to yield `.7525 crore.
24X7 customs clearance facility extend-
ed to 13 more airports in respect of all
export goods and to 14 more sea ports in
respect of specified import and export
goods to facilitate cargo clearance.
Indian Customs Single Window Project
to facilitate trade, to be implemented.
The scheme of Advance Ruling in indi-
rect taxes to be expanded to cover resident
private limited companies. The scope of
Settlement Commission to be enlarged to
facilitate quick dispute resolution.
Customs and Central Excise Acts to be
amended to expedite the process of dispos-
al of appeals.
10
adhya Pradesh has got its due
and DV Sadananda Gowda gave
Bhopal many reasons to cheer for in
his maiden Railway Budget on
Tuesday, but Indore has been largely
overlooked with only introduction of a
new train Indore-Jammu Tawi
Express via Bhopal. Bhopal being the
state capital enjoys advantage of its
geographical location which falls in
the New Delhi-South corridor.
Major tourist, industrial and tribal
areas of Madhya Pradesh still don't
figure on India's railway map. Tourist
havens such as Maheshwar, Mandu,
Bandhavgarh, Panna, Omkareshwar,
Shivpuri and industrial areas such as
Pithampur and even former Union
minister Arjun Singh's backyard
Sidhi, are yet to see a railway line
cutting through. Tribal areas
such as Dhar,
Jhabua, Alirajpur, Badwani,
Khargone and Dindori also remain
untouched by one of the world's
biggest railway networks. "It is ironic
that even though now NDA govern-
ment is at the Centre, the state, bar-
ring Bhopal, has largely been ignored.
Jabalpur being the west-central rail-
ways headquarters has received noth-
ing, which is really unfortunate. As
far as MP is concerned, the budget is
a failure," said Himashu Khare, mem-
ber of zonal railway users' consulta-
tive committee. Three-time MP from
Jabalpur constituency, Rakesh Singh
of MP had always maintained that
UPA didn't support him in his initia-
tives. "What about it now? With 27
out of 29 MPs from the state hailing
from the ruling party, it is really sur-
prising how the state has been given a
raw deal in the budget. Only surveys
aren't enough," said Khare. "Tribals of
Dhar, Alirajpur and Jhabua have been
waiting for two railway lines since
2008. The foundation was laid by
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and
the project was scheduled for comple-
tion by 2011," said Pawan
Jain Gangwal of Indore-
Dahod-Chhota
Udaipur-
Dhar Railway Lao Mahasamiti.
Despite being given smaller perks
than state capital Bhopal, Indore
fared slightly better than Jabalpur.
The city will get services and facilities
equivalent to A-1 grade railway sta-
tions.Indore railway station will get
WiFi access along with battery-
equipped cars for elderly and special-
ly-abled citizens. It will also have
escalators to make travel easy for pas-
sengers. Sadananda Gowda also
announced survey for Indore-
Jabalpur-New Delhi line, which will
be conducted along Narmada River.
The city was really looking forward to
this announcement. The Budget was a
major disappointment for passengers
of Patna Express, which runs only
twice a week. It was expected that the
train would be made a daily. The
ambitious Indore-Dahod railway track
remains distant dream. The 210-km
Indore-Dahod and 157-km Chhota
Udaipur-Dhar railway line was to be
built at a cost of over Rs.
1200
crore.
M
Bhopal gets its due but MPs tribal,
tourist areas still neglected
Rail
budget
Indore
NEW DELHI: True to its promise,
the Modi government's maiden rail
budget shunned populism. Railway
minister Sadanand Gowda resisted
the temptation of announcing new
projects, choosing to rather com-
plete pending ones.
Gowda outlined his approach by
declaring not to take up any new
rail line project and ordering only
28 surveys for new lines, doubling
of lines and gauge conversion proj-
ects that are commercially viable.
It's a significant departure from the
trend of announcing a large number
of line surveys and other projects to
please political constituencies.
The minister took a swipe at the
UPA for "mismanaging" the rail-
ways, pointing out that only one of
the 99 new line projects sanctioned
in the past 10 years had been com-
pleted. Four such projects have
been stuck for 30 years.
"The more projects we add, the
thinner we spread our resources
and the longer it takes to complete
them. If this trend continues, many
more thousands of crores will be
spent for hardly any returns,"
Gowda said.
"I am sure my esteemed predeces-
sors were aware of this precarious
situation, but they fell prey to the
lure of claps in the House when
they announced these projects,"
said Gowda, declaring that the rail-
ways will now set timelines for
ongoing projects. A project manage-
ment group, comprising government
and railway officials as well as pro-
fesionals, will be set up to overcome
delays, he said.
The Railway Budget proposed a
major revamp of the passenger
reservation facility by transforming
it into a next generation e-ticketing
system, supporting 7200 tickets per
minute and allowing 1.20 lakh
users simultaneously.
DV Sadananda Gowda said ticket
booking through mobile phones and
post offices will also be popularised.
"Railway reservation system will be
revamped into a next generation e-
ticketing system. We will improve
the system capabilities in e-ticket-
ing to support 7200 tickets per
minute as against 2000 tickets per
minute and allow 1.20 lakh simul-
taneous users at any point in time,"
the minister said.
He said efforts will also be made to
provide facility of buying platform
tickets and unreserved tickets over
the internet.
Gowda shuns populism in rail budget
11
MP budget focuses on
agriculture, health, education
Emphasising on the agriculture, education,
health and investment sectors, the Madhya
Pradesh Government on Tuesday presented the
2014-15 Budget of Rs 1,17,040.99 crore, with an
estimated closing balance of Rs 76.89 crore.
While presenting his maiden Annual Financial
Statement, the Minister said, Total revenue
receipts during the fiscal are expected to be Rs
1,03,493.16 crore, of which Rs 39,989.88 crore
will come from state taxes. Revenue expen-
diture shall be Rs 99,013.81 crore. This will
enable the regime to achieve revenue surplus
of Rs 4,479.35 crore. Fiscal deficit is estimat-
ed to be Rs 13,425.48 crore, he said.
The Minister said Centre made efforts to
implement Goods and Services Tax from time to
time and was apprised over apprehensions on
its enforcement in the present format. He expressed sat-
isfaction that the Centre has taken an initiative to
consult all state governments and evolve a consensus in this
context. The Madhya Pradesh government on Tuesday pro-
posed no new taxes in the budget for 2014-15, that projects a
fiscal deficit of Rs 13,425 crore.
Presenting the budget in the state Assembly here, Finance
Minister Jayant Malaiya said that 34 implements
used in agriculture have been exempted from tax.
Besides, butter, flush doors, ceramic and vitrified tiles have been made
cheaper, he said. The fiscal deficit was at 2.98 per cent of the Gross
Domestic Product
(GDP) and it was
well within the pre-
scribed limits, he
said. The Minister
also proposed to end
taxes imposed on
transportation of
tendu leaves and
pointed out that this
would cause a rev-
enue loss of Rs 3
crore. He said that
for rationalisation of
VAT, its rate has
been reduced from 13
per cent to 5 per cent.
This would apply to many things, including thermal insulators used for industrial
input, computer scanners and X-ray films, he said. Chief Mnister Shivraj Singh
Chauhan said adequate funds have been earmarked for all sectors including agricul-
ture, irrigation, infrastructure, rural development, power, drinking water etc.
Provision has also been made in the budget for Narmada-Gambhir Link Project after
Narmada-Kshipra Link Project. Funds have also been earmarked for starting light
metro train in Bhopal, Indore and Jabalpur.
Bhopal: Addressing Hind Rakshak organisations
Punyodaya Prakalp programme held in Indore recently to
commemorate former Education Minister late Laxman
Singh Gaud, Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chauhan said
that students of general category poor families will also
be given scholarships now. State government will allow
no hurdle in childrens education. Every necessary facili-
ty will be provided to help thembrighten their future.
The Chief Minister distributed free books to school-
children on behalf of Hind Rakshak organisation.
Chauhan lauded Hind Rakshak organisations Punyodaya
Project. He said that this will be a great help in studies of
needy children. Remembering late Laxman Singh Gaud,
he said that he was one of the best Education Ministers of
the state. Education world was given a new direction dur-
ing his tenure. He said that state government is commit-
ted to brighten future of every single child. There is no
lack of talent in children. They can reach their destina-
tions easily if given opportunities.
School opened in building
built with corruption money
Chauhan dedicated for a government school and
anganwadi a palatial building confiscated under Anti-
Corruption Act at Indore. This is first instance of confis-
cated property under anti-corruption campaign in the state
being dedicated for public use in the state. The Chief
Minister said that no corrupt person will be spared in the
state and the government will confiscate property earned
through corruption and put it to public use. The Chief
Minister said that the best Anti-Corruption Act in the
country has been formulated in Madhya Pradesh. Under
the Act, cases are being registered against public servants
involved in corruption and financial irregularities. The
cases are being tried by special court within stipulated
time-limit of one year. On being found guilty, assets of
convicted government employees are being confiscated.
He said that such sfunction is the occasion of dedicating
such a property to people. He said that Chief Minister,
Ministers, MLAs, officers and employees are covered by
the definition of public servant.
The Chief Minister inaugurated a government school
and anganwadi centre in the confiscated building. He
himself admitted Satish Mahadev in the school and Rakhi
Upadhyay in anganwadi. The Chief Minister greeted
newly admitted children and distributed text-books to
them. It is noteworthy that Lokayukta Organisation had
acted against Sub Engineer National Rural Employment
Guarantee Scheme, Dewas Arvind Tiwari under Anti-
Corruption Act and presented a case in the court, which
ordered to seize the concerning property.
Students of general category poor
families also to get scholarships
State government stands
for poor and needy: CM
Bhopal: Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chauhan has said that
state government stands for the
poor and needy. Every possible
effort is being made to make
their life easier. Availability of
basic needs of food, clothes,
houses, education and health
are state governments respon-
sibilities. State government is
discharging this responsibility
with commitment and dedica-
tion. It is making available food
grains on subsidised rates,
interest-free housing loans, fishermens credit cards, accident insur-
ance scheme benefit, fish markets, housing, free treatment and edu-
cation. Funds paucity will not be allowed in talented students educa-
tion. He urged the audience to take pledge to ensure that every child
goes to school. Chauhan was addressing a state-level Muchhuwara
Diwas function at Samanvay Bhavan.
The Chief Minister said that all should be treated equally in soci-
ety. Natural resources are meant for all. Some people are able to
avail their benefits and some not. The state government is realising
taxes from those who are taking benefit of resources and spending for
welfare of the poor to ensure social justice. The process will continue.
Efforts will continue to ensure that all people lead respectable life.
He assured to make efforts to include fishermens community in
scheduled tribes. Fishermens Welfare and Fisheries Development
Minister Su Kusum Mahdele said that the state government is fulfill-
ing Antyodaya concept. A number of fishermens welfare works have
been undertaken during last 10 years. New livelihood opportunities
have been created.
12
Owned Printed and Puplished byM.M. Baig. Printed at lucky, 267, Pragati Nagar, Shahanshah garden, Bhopal (MP) and published from H.No. 101, A Sector Indrapuri BHEL, Ward No. 63, Dist. Bhopal- 462021, M.P.
Tele/FAX 0755-4292545, Mob. 9425029901 email-editor@wethestate.comRNI No. MPENG/2012/46415 Editor: M.M. BAIG- Responsible for selection of News & Articles under PRB Act, Subject to Bhopal jurisdiction
Nation
Persons with severe disabilities living on the margin: Gehlot
he Union Minister of Social J ustice and
Empowerment Thaawar Chand Gehlot recently
inaugurated the 13th National Meeting of the State
Commissioners for Persons with Disabilities to
review implementation of PWD Act here. The
Minister extensively interacted with the State
Commissioners from32 States/UTs throughout the
day. TheMinister in his address said that themeeting
provides an important forumfor exchanging views
and experiences and understanding of crit-
ical issues on implementation of theAct.
Gehlot also went through the minute
details of theimplementation status across
States and observed that theproportion of
persons with disabilities belonging to
Scheduled Castes at 2.45% was higher
than theoverall proportion of 2.1% of the
total population. He asked the State Commissioners
to pay particular attention to thepeoplewith disabili-
ties living in therural and remoteareas and thevul-
nerabledisadvantaged group. TheMinister was par-
ticularly concerned about persons with
severedisabilities living on themargin and
observed that a huge proportion (43.15%)
of persons with disabilities is yet to be
issued disability certificates. Heset atarget
of covering 70% eligible persons to be
given disability certificate within six
months and 100% within oneyear. Gehlot
emphasized that aSpecial Recruitment Driveshould
beconducted in all theStates to fill up thebacklog of
reserved vacancies for persons with disabilities. He
highlighted theneed for implementation of theprovi-
sions in theAct to allot land on preferential basis at
concessional rates to persons with disabilities for
house, setting up of abusiness, factories etc and said
that this is important for their all round economic
empowerment.
TheMinister emphasized on ensuring barrier free
access to public places for persons with disabilities in
a time bound manner. He also informed that he has
recommended to theFinanceMinistry to doublethe
existing exemption limit in IncomeTax in respect of
persons with disabilities.
T
-S. Mani
Email: sastrymani@hotmail.com
New Delhi
MMS of Metro commuters
prepared from CCTV footage,
uploaded on Internet
New Delhi: Dont be surprised if
you see yourself on YouTube one of
these days. Either the Delhi Metro
Rail Corporation (DMRC) or the
Central Industrial Security Force
(CISF) is making MMS of Metro com-
muters with the help of footage from
CCTV cameras installed inside Metro
stations. These videos have now been
uploaded on YouTube and various
pornography websites.
Footage from CCTV cameras
installed at the platform and inside
the metro trains are being misused to
create these videos. But it is as yet
unclear whether it is the DMRC offi-
cials or the CISF personnel posted at
the stations who are involved this mis-
chief. A few obscene videos formed
from recordings inside Delhi Metro
stations have become a hit on mobile
application WhatsApp. It is shocking
to see, that the videos have also made
their way to dozens on pornography
sites and already attracted more than
a thousand views. There are two types
of control rooms to monitor the
footages from the CCTV cameras
installed at the platforms and in the
trains. One is the station control room
at each metro station and the other is
the centralised control room, from
where all the videos are being moni-
tored. 'Both CISF and DMRC have
access to the control rooms of Delhi
Metro footages,' said Rajeev, DG
(CISF).
A DMRC spokesperson said, 'Only
authorised persons of DMRC can go
inside the control room as Delhi Metro
is a high security zone. The officials
are not permitted to take the videos
outside the control room.' The question
remains, who then uploaded the
videos on social networking websites
and tagged them using key words such
as Delhi Metro kissing MMS, and cou-
ple making love in Delhi Metro.

We The State - Issue 42 Vol 2

Uploaded by

Document Information

Copyright

Available Formats

Share this document

Share or Embed Document

Sharing Options

Did you find this document useful?

Is this content inappropriate?

Copyright:

Available Formats

We The State - Issue 42 Vol 2

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

We

You might also like