Cyber Gram and Hamari Dharohar

Cyber Gram and Hamari Dharohar

A pilot project namely “Minority Cyber Gram ” was launched in February, 2014 for imparting Digital Literacy in a minority dominated village Chanduli in Alwar district, Rajasthan in association with an organization namely Digital Empowerment Foundation. The village has 1300 households. Two per family (2600 persons) including non minorities in the village were selected for Digital Literacy. The project has been completed and so far 2890 persons have benefited from the programme. After the success of the pilot project, Ministry has mainstreamed the Cyber Gram Programme within the scheme of Multi-sectoral Development Programme (MsDP) from 2014-15, and guidelines were issued to all State Government/ UT administration.

‘Cyber Gram’ has been launched as an initiative under Multi-sectoral Development Programme(MsDP) to provide hands on training in computers to the students of minority communities and enable them to acquire basic Information and Communication Technology (ICT) skills; become digitally literate; actively participate in knowledge based activities; access financial, social and government services and use internet for communications. The initiative covers students of Class VI to Class X belonging to notified minority communities residing in minority concentration areas. Under the initiative, training of 3,71,657 students of Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal, Tripura and Rajasthan have been approved so far, with the total cost of Rs.57.79 crore. The proposal of Maharshtra has been in-principal approved.

To improve the compliance and implementation of projects in States, the Government has made a provision of robust mechanism for monitoring of the programme. The monitoring of the programme is done through

(1) Committees constituted at different levels starting from Blocks to the Centre

(2)       Independent agency/qualified monitors

(3)    Conferences at national, regional, sate and district levels and visits of officials to the project sites.

Under cybergram initiative of Multi-sectoral Development Programme, there is no provision for purchase of equipments. Hence no funds for purchase of equipment for implementation of cybergram initiative of MsDP has been sanctioned to States/UTs.

There is no proposal to conduct performance audit of the Cybergram initiative under MsDP separately.

“The Scheme Hamari Dharohar was launched during the year 2014-15. The scheme aims to preserve rich culture and heritage of minorities through selective intervention under the overall concept of Indian culture. Under this scheme during the year 2015-16, following two projects have been selected and approved:

-Organization of the international iconic exhibition „The Everlasting Flame‟, to preserve the rich heritage of Parsi Community of India. The Programme includes three international exhibitions namely “The Everlasting Flame: Zoroastrianism in History and Imagination”, “Threads of Continuity” and “Painted Encounters— Parsi Traders and the Community”, to be hosted at the National Museum, Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts (IGNCA) and National Gallery of Modern Art (NGMA) at New Delhi during 19th March to 29th May, 2016.

Merger of Ministries

Merger of Ministries

The Ministry of Overseas Indian Affairs (MOIA) has been merged with the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA). Administrative arrangements of the merger are currently underway.

A decision was taken to merge the two Ministries to bring better synergy for realising the objectives of bringing Indian Diaspora closer to India. Most policies, programmes, schemes and initiatives of MOIA were being implemented through MEA and Indian Missions/Consulates abroad. Matters pertaining to Indian nationals abroad, their welfare and protection are also taken up by MEA and the Indian Missions abroad. MEA handling the Overseas Indian Affairs would bring in more efficiency in handling matters related to Indian Diaspora. The merger is also in accordance with the Government’s objective of maximum governance with minimum government.

The Ministry of Overseas Indian Affairs was entrusted all matters relating to overseas Indians, comprising Persons of Indian Origin (PIOs) and Non-Resident Indians (NRIs), excluding matters specifically allotted to other Departments.

MOIA had been handling issues described in part (c) since 2004. However, the policies, programmes and initiatives, schemes of MOIA could not be implemented efficiently, due to MOIA’s dependence on MEA and Indian Missions abroad, and duplication in the functions of the two Ministries. MOIA was also a small Ministry which did not have the institutional mechanisms to attain the objectives that it was set up for.

One representation was received from the Government of Kerala about the decision to merge MOIA with MEA. Our response to the Kerala State Government stated that the decision to merge the two Ministries was taken to further deepen our engagement with our Diaspora, to synergize our resources and to enhance the efficiency with which we address issues pertaining to the Indian Community abroad. 

Remittances by Non Resident Indians (NRIs)

Remittances by Non Resident Indians (NRIs)

According to the World Bank Migration and Remittances Factbook, 2016, India is the top recipient of remittances in the world for the year 2015.

As per information received from the Reserve Bank of India, the amount of Remittances (i.e., private transfers) to India in last two years is as under:

Year	Amount (US $ Billion)
2013-14	69.6
2014-15	69.8

Department of Industrial Policy & Promotion formulates FDI policy across various sectors, including investments from Non Resident Indians (NRIs). FDI policy covers remittances for investment in various sectors. As per information received from DIPP to facilitate investment by  Non Resident Indians /Persons of Indian Origin (PIOs) extant FDI policy was amended in November 2015 to provide following:

a)    Investment made by NRIs, PIOs and OCIs under Schedule 4 of FEMA (Transfer or Issue of Security by Persons Resident Outside India) Regulations on non-repatriation basis is deemed to be domestic investment at par with the investment made by residents.

b)  The special dispensation of NRIs is also available to companies, trusts and partnership firms, which are incorporated outside India and are owned and controlled by NRIs.

c)    NRIs have special dispensation for investment in Construction development and Civil Aviation sector.

Government signs MoU on conservation of birds of prey

Government signs MoU on conservation of birds of prey

The Government has signed ‘Raptor MoU’ - a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on conservation of birds of prey in Africa and Eurasia. The ‘Raptor MoU’ extends its coverage to 76 species of birds of prey, out of which 46 species, including vultures, falcons, eagles, owls, hawks, kites, harriers, etc. also occur in India

The MoU has been signed on March 7, 2016 at the Convention on Migratory Species Office in Abu Dhabi by the Ambassador of India to the UAE, Shri T.P Seetharam. India has become the 56th signatory State to sign the ‘Raptor MoU’ that was concluded on October 22, 2008 and came into effect on November 1, 2008. The ‘Raptor MoU’ is an agreement under Article IV paragraph 4 of the CMS and is not legally binding.

The Union Cabinet, in its meeting, held on December 30, 2015 had approved the proposal of the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change to sign the MoU, also called ‘Raptor MoU’, on Conservation of Migratory Birds of Prey in Africa and Eurasia, with the Convention on Conservation of Migratory Species (CMS), or Bonn Convention, under the auspices of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP). The CMS aims to conserve migratory species throughout their range. India had become a party to the CMS since November 1, 1983. 

Project ‘Mausam’ of M/O Culture aims to explore Multi-Faceted Indian Ocean ‘World’

Project ‘Mausam’ of M/O Culture aims to explore Multi-Faceted Indian Ocean ‘World’

Project ‘Mausam’ is the initiative of Ministry of Culture which is to be implemented by the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) as the nodal agency with research support of the Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts (IGNCA) and National Museum as associate bodies. This project aims to explore the multi-faceted Indian Ocean ‘world’ – collating archaeological and historical research in order to document the diversity of cultural, commercial and religious interactions in the Indian Ocean – extending from East Africa, the Arabian Peninsula, the Indian Subcontinent and Sri Lanka to the Southeast Asian archipelago.

It also aims to promote research on themes related to the study of Maritime Routes through international scientific seminars and meeting and by adopting a multidisciplinary approach. It aims to encourage the production of specialized works, as well as publications for the general public with an attempt at promoting a broader understanding of the concept of a common heritage and multiple identities.

Project ‘Mausam’ is not aimed to counter China’s Silk Route strategy. Instead it focuses on monsoon patterns, cultural context, maritime trade routes and coastal landscapes and examines key processes and phenomena that link different countries along the Indian Ocean littoral as well as those that connect the coastal centers to their hinterlands.

Project ‘Mausam’ was launched in the 38th Session of World Heritage Committee meeting which was held at Doha, Qatar in June, 2014. Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) in collaboration with State Govt. of Kerela organized a National Conference on Project ‘Mausam’ in Kochi in November, 2014. Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts (IGNCA) has constituted an Academic Committee and is organizing lecture series. 

Setting up of Centres of National School of Drama

Setting up of Centres of National School of Drama

On the basis of the recommendations made by the Broad Based Committee for opening up of 5 regional centres across the country, NSD Society proposed to establish 5 regional centres one each at Kolkata, Mumbai/Goa, J&K, North-East beside upgrading the existing Regional Resource Centre (RRC), Bengaluru to a full-fledged regional centre. These regional centres were to be established in consultation with the concerned State Governments, who were required to provide accommodation for the purpose. Only the Government of Karnataka has allotted land for the purpose at Bengaluru. NSD has started one year teaching training programme in the Bengaluru Chapter commencing from academic session 2014-15. In addition, under consolidation of Out-reach Programme in the North-East Region, NSD has opened its Centres in Sikkim and Tripura. 

Standards certification for products and services concerning health, safety, and environment to be made mandatory

Standards certification for products and services concerning health, safety, and environment to be made mandatory

New BIS Bill provides compensation to the consumers if the goods and services do not conform to the standards

Self-declaration of conformity of the Standards introduced along with stringent penalty provisions for violation for ease of doing business

Bureau of Indian Standards Bill, 2016 passed by the Parliament yesterday, is a major step forward in ensuring high quality products and services in the country. The provisions in new Bureau of Indian Standards Bill, will promote a culture of quality of products and services through mandatory certification and also through voluntary compliance of Indian standards. The Bill was passed by Rajya Sabha yesterday after getting the nod of Lok Sabha on 3rd December, 2015. Some of the salient features of the bill are:

• The Bill empowers the Government to bring any article, process or service, which it considers necessary from point of view of health, safety, environment, prevention of deceptive practices, security etc, under the mandatory certification regime.  This will help consumers to get quality products and will also help in preventing import of sub-standard products;
• In order to supplement ease of doing business by limiting unnecessary field inspections, the Bill has provisions for self-declaration of conformity of the Indian Standards for certain categories. Simultaneously stringent penalty provisions have been made for violation of compliance to the standards which include imprisonment up to two years or with fine up to ten times of the value of goods produced or sold, or with both.
• As per provisions of the bill, BIS can now order recall of products, not confirming to the standards, in addition to cancellation of the license of the manufacturer.
•  BIS can also order compensation to the consumers in case goods and services do not conform to the standards.
• The Bill empowers the Government to implement mandatory hallmarking of precious metal articles such as Gold and Silver.
•  As the service sector in the country has grown and now become major part of the economy, so to ensure quality of kea services such as health services, education services now services and systems have also been included under the standardization regime in addition to articles and processes.
•  The Bill positions the Bureau of Indian Standards as the National Standards Body.