Launch of SKILL INDIA Campaign on 15th July, 2015

Launch of SKILL INDIA Campaign on 15th July, 2015

On the occasion of the first ever World Youth Skills Day on 15^th July 2015, the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE) will launch the SKILL INDIA Campaign.  On this historic occasion, Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has consented to be the Chief Guest for the event to be held at Vigyan Bhawan, New Delhi. Announcing this here today, the Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Skill Development and Entrepreneurship Shri Rajiv Pratap Rudy has said that during the function, the Prime Minister will formally launch the “National Skill Development Mission”, unveil the new “National Policy for Skill Development and Entrepreneurship 2015”, and roll out on all-India basis the Ministry’s flagship scheme, “Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikash Yojana - PMKVY” – the pilot phase of which has already begun.

He said, the National Mission will converge, coordinate, implement and monitor skilling activities across India. It will also be a vehicle to achieve the objectives of the National Policy for Skill Development and Entrepreneurship 2015, which will provide policy direction and guidance to all stakeholders in the skill development and entrepreneurship ecosystem. Shri Rudy said, thePradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana (PMKVY), the Ministry’s flagship, demand-driven, reward-based skill training scheme will incentivise skill training, by providing financial rewards to candidates who successfuly complete approved skill training programmes. PMKVY will skill 24 lakh youth, across India, over the next one year. For the first time, the skills of young people who lack formal certification, such as workers in India’s vast unorganised sector, will be recognised through an initiative known as ‘Recognition of Prior Learning’ (RPL), who will have a chance to be assessed and certified for the skills that they already possess. 10 lakh youth will be certified under PMKVY’s RPL category over the next one year.  

He said, the launch of the Skill India Campaign is an important milestone towards achieving the objective of skilling with Speed, Scale and Standards accross the country. This event would bring together key stakeholders including Central Ministries/Departments, State Governments, leading Industry Bodies, and trainees. Partnerships with all these these stakeholders is vital to ensure that Skill India, is a success.

MSDE has initiated a range of cross-sectoral partnerships, across Ministries and Departments to scale up skill training efforts. Till date Eight cross-sectoral, overarching MoUs have been signed between MSDE and other key Ministries including (Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, Ministry of Defence, Ministry of Steel, Ministry of Mines, Department of Chemicals and Petrochemicals, Department of Fertilisers and Department of Pharmaceuticals). In addition to this, two tri-partite MoUs have been signed between NSDC, NSDF and National Thermal Power Corporation (NTPC) as well as Power Grid Corporation of India Ltd.

These MoUs seek to:

·        Leverage existing government infrastructure to deliver skill training programmes

·        Mobilize CSR funds of Public Sector Undertakings (PSUs) to support skilling

·        Upgrade equipment of ITIs and NSDC/SSC affiliated training providers

·        Promote and scale up apprenticeship training in PSUs

·        Incentivize hiring of NSQF certified personnel

·        Promote adoption of ITIs by PSUs, including provision of technical and resource support

·        Introduce vocational courses in schools run by Ministries/PSUs

·        Establish ‘Centres of Excellence’ for high quality skill training

·        Align training programmes to NSQF and mobilize workforce for Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL)

·        Scale up skill training programmes, for Persons with Disabilities

Shri Rajiv Pratap Rudy said, widespread awareness and mobilisation drives have been initiated, parallel to the event to ensure that the message of Skill India, reaches out to every part of the country. All States/Union Territories have been roped in to organise functions at State/District headquarters in the presence of their Chief Ministers, in order to increase awareness of World Youth Skills Day.

The national event is also being telecast live across more than 10000 ITIs, NSDC training centres, select Nehru Yuva Kendras, and some educational institutions in all States/Union Territories in India.

With a view to focus on the most important stakeholder – India’s youth – trainees will be felicitated at the Skill India launch at Vigyan Bhawan, at Industrial Training Institutes (ITIs) and NSDC training centres, across the country.  

A ‘Skill Loan’ initiative will be launched at the event, where loans from Rs 5,000-1.5 lakhs will be available to more than 34 lakh youth of India, who seek to attend skill development programmes, over the next five years. Financial constraints will no longer be a hindrance to accessing skill training programmes.

The entire idea of celebrating World Youth Skills Day on a large scale is to underscore the significance of skilling, vocational education and entrepreneurship amongst the youth of the country and make them feel that by skilling, re-skilling, and upskilling, they shall become an integral part of the growth story of India, besides carving out a career trajectory for themselves.

The majority of India’s vast population is of working age. Urgent and effective action to Skill India is critical to capture the demographic potential of India’s youth, so that they can contribute productively to the economy. Recognising the centrality of skills to overall socio-economic development within and across nation-states, the United Nations, at its General Assembly in November 2014, declared 15^th July as World Youth Skills Day. The resolution, endorsed by all UN regional groups, seeks to generate greater awareness and stimulate discussion on the vital role of skill training, in giving youth access to employment and sustainable livelihood pathways.

Presentation made at the Press Conference of Environment Minister

Presentation made at the Press Conference of Environment Minister

          A PowerPoint presentation was made at the Press Conference of Minister of State of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Shri Prakash Javadekar.  The Press Conference was held at National Media Centre here today.  

          Following is the text of the Presentation:

TOWARDS MORE GREEN

Ø      Unlocking Rs. 38,000 crore through CAMPA bill for more afforestation.

Ø      14^th Finance Commission has given 7.5% weightage for forest cover and has provided for nearly Rs. 55,000 crore for afforestation.

Ø      National Forest Policy being revised to ensure more greening, improving forest quality with participation of tribals and forest dwellers.

Ø      Forest fires reduced by 15%

Ø      Forest stocking (volume) in our forests have stabilized in the backdrop of negative trend earlier.

Ø      Effective National Afforestation Programme on 75,000 ha of degraded land.

Ø      More than 20,000 ha added to the forest area for reforestation while approving projects.

Ø      New guidelines are being prepared to make 1, 00, 000 Joint Forest Management Committees more effective.

Ø      New plan on anvil for improving fodder and water in Protected Areas.

Ø      New scheme for Green Credit on anvil.

Ø      PPP for afforestation on degraded forest land.

Ø      14 States have submitted their Perspective plans for Green India Mission out of which 6 have already been approved.

BETTER WILDLIFE MANAGEMENT

Ø      Wildlife growth robust

v     Tiger      2, 226 (70% of the world’s tiger population).

v     Lions           523   (24% growth)

v     Rhino      2, 889 (2401 in kaziranga)

v     Elephants 30, 000 +

Ø      3 new tiger reserves, one in Bor, Maharashtra and Rajaji and Pilibhit in, Uttarakhand.

Ø      4 Tiger Protection Force and 1 Rhino Protection Force sanctioned.

Ø      30 poachers killed in encounter in a continuous drive against poaching.

Ø       Burnt confiscated wildlife articles. State inventory ordered.

Ø      4 villages and 651 families relocated from 4 protected areas.

Ø      Collaboration of NTCA & WCCB towards an online tiger/ wildlife crime tracking/ reporting system in Tiger Reserves.

Ø      NBWL reconstituted and decided on 225 proposals laying stringent environmental conditions.

Ø      222 Eco-Sensitive Zones approved for providing effective buffer zone for wildlife areas after scientific evaluation and public consultation.

BETTER ANIMAL WELFARE

Ø      Animals in Circuses banned.

Ø      Grants for Gaushalas and Shelters for stray animals including Dogs

Ø      Manza banned.

Ø      Streamlining National Institute of Animal Welfare.

Ø      New Diploma and Degree courses in Animal Welfare to be launched.

PRESERVING BIO-DIVERSITY

Ø      NAGOYA Protocol ratified.

Ø      Access benefit guidelines issued.

Ø      National Mission on Himalayan Studies established.

v     This will remove data deficit on glaciers, landslides, sustainable methods of building roads and tunnels, weather and other related issues.

EFFECTIVE POLLUTION CONTROL

Ø      Mandated 24x7 monitoring of pollution for 3206 highly polluting industries. They have to fix such devices on effluent discharge points and on chimneys.

Ø      Many industries have installed these devices. Others have furnished bank guarantees.

Ø      Comprehensive Air Quality Index launched in 11 cities. Everyday bulletin at 5 PM on 8 parameters; PM-10, PM-2.5, SOX, NOX, O3, LEAD (PB), CO, NH3.

Ø      PSUs supporting AQI expansion in 66 cities.

Ø      3-months action plan prepared in 3 meetings of concerned state governments and other agencies for NCR Airshed.

Ø      Environmental norms for Cement industry made more stringent and notified.

Ø      Environmental norms for Sand, stone-crushing, brick-kiln, fertilizers, chemicals, pharmaceuticals, paper and pulp, paint, distilleries and other sectors are being reviewed.

Ø      Non-complying 124 industries closed.

Ø      New standards for Sewage Treatment Plant issued.

Ø      Sugar, Textile, Tanneries and distilleries mandated Zero Liquid Discharge.

Ø      Black Liquor Discharge successfully prohibited.

Ø      SOPs prepared for inspections.

Ø      Harmonised system proposed for Red, Orange and Green categories based on pollution potential of Air, Water and Hazardous Waste.

FOR SWACHH BHARAT

Ø      Following New Rules notified for Public Consultation

v     New Hazardous Waste Rules

v     New Solid Waste Rules, including Construction Waste Rules

v     New E-Waste Rules

v     New Plastic Waste Rules

v     New Bio-Medical Waste Rules

Ø      This will ensure scientific waste management at all levels and are open for consultations till 31^st July on our website – www.moef.nic.in

CLEAN WATER AND RIVERS

Ø      Top priority given for cleaning water by stopping industrial pollution in rivers/water bodies.

Ø      New norms for STPs notified.

Ø      Bio-remediation taken up for drains joining Ganga.

Ø      Mini-lab for major Ghats to monitor bathing water quality at important Ghats along Ganga.

Ø      8 Water Quality Monitoring Stations are active and 113 more planned.

Ø      Special drive to address water pollution issues in every state.

ENFORCEMENT BEGINS

Ø      64 polluting and non-complying industries on the banks of Ganga and 61 industries throughout the country were closed. 

Ø      Units are allowed to be reopened only after complying with the pollution norms.

Ø      11 units in U.P and 7 units in Delhi are closed for producing plastic carry bags below 40 microns.

Ø      Technology-based monitoring system being expanded for forest appraisal, wildlife management and pollution control.  Drones, electronic surveillance, camera traps, 24x7 pollution monitoring devices, geo-mapping being increasingly used.   

Ø      Various committees went into the urgent issues

v     Landfill in Mumbai

v     Lake pollution in Bengaluru

v     River pollution in Pune

v     Industrial pollution in Khargon.

v     Illegal Slaughter houses in U.P and Telangana.

THIS IS JUST A BEGINNING

PROCESSES MADE TRANSPARENT

Ø      Online process started for Environmental, Forest, Wildlife and Zoo approvals.  More than 3, 200 projects submitted online.

Ø      Access to previous EIA reports granted.

Ø      Compendium of all OMs/Notifications.

Ø      Standard TORs for all 39 sectors are prepared which will avoid the delay of 1 year.

Ø      Education and industrial complexes are exempted from EC with more stringent environmental standard conditions.

Ø      GIS-based decision making for forest approvals.

DECENTRALISATION

Ø      Approvals for 40 ha and below are delegated to Regional Empowered Committees consisting of the State officials, scientists, experts and MoEF&CC officials.

Ø      Mineral beneficiation sanctioning power of State SIAA increased from 2 million tonnes to 5 milliontonnes.

Ø      REC authorized to decide on Category A projects on the state borders and within 5 kms.

Ø      State Environment Impact Assessment Authorities to decide on the projects of

v     Distilleries up to 60 mld per year.

v     Irrigation Projects up to 10, 000 ha.

Ø      Biomass energy projects up to 15 MW.

PUBLIC PARTICIPATION

Ø      Doors opened for more public participation.

Ø      Urban Forest (Nagari Vanodyan Yojana) launched.

Ø      Social forestry, agro forestry and Joint Forest Management to be made more effective through public participation.

Ø      ‘Fresh air my birthright’ campaign to be launched ín 20 cities.

Ø      Save water and energy campaigns to be encouraged with peoples’ participation.

Ø      School Nursery programmes to be launched soon.

Ø      Environmental syllabus and skilling courses. 

Ø      Workshop of 125 voluntary organizations and civil society groups held.

IMPROVING WORK CULTURE

Ø      Doors of the Ministry opened for common people.

Ø      Motivational workshops held in June 2014.

Ø      3 Chintan Shivirs for officers organized in Bengaluru, Bhopal and Guwahati.

Ø      3-day conclave of States’ Environment and Forest Ministers & Pollution Control Boards and concerned officers held in Delhi in April 2015.

REVAMP OF LAWS

Ø      CAMPA Bill introduced.

Ø      A Bill for higher penalties for violations is circulated for consultation.

Ø      EP Act, 1986, Forest Conservation Act 1980 and Indian Forest Act 1927, Water and Air Acts, as also Wildlife Protection Act will be revised to address the sensibilities of effective environment protection and ensuring development without destruction. 

Ø      Consultation with stakeholders on High Level Empowered Committee under TSR Subramanian is near completion.

CLIMATE CHANGE: A PROACTIVE INDIA

Ø      India played an effective and proactive role at Lima to bring developing world together and arrive at a consensus that Paris agreement will be based on the principles of UNFCCC wherein equity, CBDR and Polluter to Pay principles are bed rocked into it.

Ø      India is taking ambitious pre-2020 actions and is asking developed world to walk the talk.

Ø      India has proposed separate brainstorming sessions to sort out contentious issues such as pre-2020 action, finance, technology, legal nature of agreement and differentiation before Paris.

Ø      Preparation for Indian INDCs is on track.

POLICY BASED DECISIONS

Ø      Decentralisation of power to the States and RECs.

Ø      Defence projects within 100 kms of LAC, border roads by Army, ITBP, BSF, SSB and roads in 117 Left-Wing Extremism affected districts given general approval without compromising on the environmental conditions.

Ø      To fast-track linear projects, the permissions to start work are given after Stage-I clearance.

Ø      Irrigation with command area less than 2, 000 ha will not require EC and powers up to   10, 000 ha are delegated to the RECs.

Ø      Upgradation and strengthening of existing roads in forests is allowed for the convenience of tribals and forest dwellers.

MAJOR PROJECTS OF PUBLIC INTEREST APPROVED (Indicative list)

Ø      Project Sea Bird of Indian Navy at Karwar pending since 2011.

Ø      ChhatrapatiShivaji statue at Arabian Sea off Mumbai coast.

Ø      EC has been granted for more than 100 MTPA of coal production.

Ø      Damancherla Power Project in Nalagonda district, Telangana.

Ø      82 Goa mines sanctioned for reopening after SC’s approval.

Ø      Approval for Sand mines’ auction by Punjab government.

Ø      Immediate transfers of ECs for coal mines auctioned by Coal Ministry.

Ø      TOR for Bengaluru airport expansion. 

Ø      Chennai Port Mega Terminal pending since 2012.

Ø      Four-laning of National Highways approved for Gwalior-Shivpuri, Siluk-Dambuk road to Trans-Arunachal highway in Arunachal, Gondia-Seoni NH-7; Mumbai-Goa road,   NH-50 Nasik-Pune,Ludhiana-Talwandi NH-95, Panchkula-Yamunanagar NH-73.

Ø      Strengthening of Ropar-Doraha road NH-1, Sikar to Bikaner NH-11, Jalandhar-Amritsar and Amritsar-Tarn Taran.

Ø      Six-laning of Jaipur-Ajmer Ring Road.

Ø      Koderma-Tilaiya broad gauge line, Guna-Etawah broad gauge line, Sabroom-Agartala broad gauge line,Haridas-Paradip new broad gauge line in Cuttack, JNPT broad gauge line for DFCCIL.

Ø      Transmission lines in Chandwa-Gaya, Korba-Jabalpur, Ambasa-Gandacherra in Tripura, Bareilly-Kashipur, Mugaliachhap-Bhopal, Sasaram-Daltonganj, Paranbati II to Koldam in Himachal Pradesh,Dharamjaigarh-Jabalpur. 

Ø      Irrigation projects – Gunjwani, KariwaliDhariwali (Maharashtra)

Ten things to know about the #GST Bill

The Goods and Services Tax is one of the main items on the finance agenda of the BJP government. Finance Minister Arun Jaitley has said that it can raise India’s GDP by one to two per cent.As the Lok Sabha takes up the GST Bill, here is your cheat sheet to the debate:

1	Officially, the Constitution (One Hundred and Twenty-Second Amendment) Bill 2014.
2	It was introduced in the Lok Sabha on December 19, 2014 by Finance Minister Arun Jaitley.
3	The Bill seeks to amend the Constitution to introduce a goods and services tax (GST) which will subsumes various Central indirect taxes, including the Central Excise Duty, Countervailing Duty, Service Tax, etc. It also subsumes State value added tax (VAT), octroi and entry tax, luxury tax, etc.
4	The Bill inserts a new Article in the Constitution make legislation on the taxation of goods and services a concurrent power of the Centre and the States.
5	The Bill seeks to shift the restriction on States for taxing the sale or purchase of goods to the supply of goods or services.
6	The Bill seeks to establish a GST Council tasked with optimising tax collection for goods and services by the State and Centre. The Council will consist of the Union Finance Minister (as Chairman), the Union Minister of State in charge of revenue or Finance, and the Minister in charge of Finance or Taxation or any other, nominated by each State government.
7	The GST Council will be the body that decides which taxes levied by the Centre, States and local bodies will go into the GST; which goods and services will be subjected to GST; and the basis and the rates at which GST will be applied.
8	Under the Bill, alcoholic liquor for human consumption is exempted from GST. Also, it will be up to the GST Council to decide when GST would be levied on various categories of fuel, including crude oil and petrol.
9	The Centre will levy an additional one per cent tax on the supply of goods in the course of inter-State trade, which will go to the States for two years or till when the GST Council decides.
10	Parliament can decide on compensating States for up to a five-year period if States incur losses by implementation of GST.