PENSION PLAN OS SOME STTES WORRY BABUS

Pension plan of some states worry babus

New Delhi : Several top bureaucrats, during their interaction with PM Narendra Modi on Saturday, flagged their concerns over freebies announced by parties during assembly elections. Officials said the announcements made by state governments like Punjab, Delhi, Telangana, Andhra Pradesh and West Bengal are unsustainable, and some solutions need to be found. Several parties are offering free power, burdening the state exchequer, as such doles must be provided for in the Budget. It also limits their ability to allocate more funds for crucial social sectors like health and education.

Even BJP promised free LPG connections and other sops for voters in UP and Goa during the recent polls, reports Dipak Dash.

Central government officials are worried over the “unsustainable” impact of the shift to the old pension system in states like Chattisgarh and Rajasthan, although it was not specifically mentioned in the meeting.

Model tenancy law gets Cabinet nod, to serve both owners & tenants

Model tenancy law gets Cabinet nod, to serve both owners & tenants

Dipak.Dash@timesgroup.com

New Delhi:03.06.2021

More than six years after it was first mooted by the Centre, the Union cabinet on Wednesday approved the Model Tenancy Act which aims to protect the interests of both tenants and landlords.

The government expects this model law, which states can adopt and enact, will open up a large number of residential and commercial properties for rental purposes as the legal framework will eliminate the fear of owners losing their properties.

While announcing that states have the option to adopt the policy, housing and urban affairs minister Hardeep Singh Puri said he expects BJP-ruled states to roll it out and that other states would also do so as it benefits the common man. He said the policy, once notified by the states, will cover urban and rural areas. The model law lays out the norms for establishing separate rent authorities, courts and tribunals in every district to protect the interests of owners and tenants.

The model Act says that the rent and duration of tenancy will be fixed by mutual consent between the owner and tenant and there has to be a written agreement. It suggests that the security deposit for residential properties won’t be for more than two months’ rent and for commercial properties, it can’t be more than that of six months.

For revision of rent, landlords need to give a written notice three months in advance and the new rent will be on mutual consent.

Full report on www.toi.in

அனுப்புனர் முகவரி வேண்டாம் அஞ்சல் துறை அறிவுறுத்தல்

அனுப்புனர் முகவரி வேண்டாம் அஞ்சல் துறை அறிவுறுத்தல்

Added : ஏப் 10, 2021 22:33

சென்னை:'மத்திய ஊழல் கண்காணிப்பு ஆணையத்துக்கு அனுப்பப்படும் தபால்களில், அனுப்புனரின் பெயர், முகவரியை எழுத கட்டாயப்படுத்த வேண்டாம்' என, தபால் பதிவு ஊழியர்களுக்கு, அஞ்சல் துறை அறிவுறுத்தியுள்ளது.

'பொதுநலன் சார்ந்த புகார்' என்று கடித உறையின் மேல் தலைப்பிட்டு அனுப்பப்படும் தபால் களை பதிவு செய்வதற்கான வழிமுறைகளை, அஞ்சல் துறை வெளியிட்டுள்ளது. இதன்படி, 'மத்திய, தலைமை ஊழல் கண்காணிப்பு கமிஷனருக்கு அனுப்பப்படும் புகார் தொடர்பான பதிவு அல்லது விரைவு தபால்களை, அனுப்புனரின் பெயர், முகவரி, மொபைல் எண் மற்றும் மின்னஞ்சல் முகவரியின்றி பதிவு செய்யலாம்.

'இந்த புகார் தபால்களை பதிவு செய்யும்போது, அனுப்புனரின் தகவல்களை கட்டாயமாக எழுத, ஊழியர்கள் நிர்ப்பந்திக்க வேண்டாம். தபால்களை, சாப்ட்வேரில் பதிவு செய்யும் போது, அனுப்புனரின் பெயர், முகவரிக்கான பகுதியில், பொதுநலன் சார்ந்த தகவல் உள்ள தபால் என்பதை, பி.ஐ.டி.பி.ஐ., என, பதிவிட வேண்டும்' என, அஞ்சல் துறை அறிவுறுத்திஉள்ளது.

Mask is medicine until vaccine: Modi

Mask is medicine until vaccine: Modi

27/06/2020

LUCKNOW : Prime Minister Narendra Modi asked Indians on Friday to wear masks and maintain social distancing until a Covid-19 vaccine is not found, adding that the battle for “lives and livelihood” would not stop until it was won.

Speaking at the launch of the Atma Nirbhar Uttar Pradesh Rojgar Abhiyan over video conference, Modi also attacked opposition parties over their handling of past crises while lauding UP for its “hard work” in saving lives during the pandemic. The state job campaign, aimed at creating employment and infrastructure, is part of the ‘Garib Kalyan Rojgar Abhiyan’ that the PM launched on June 20 for 116 districts in six states. p5

Centre gave ₹6,600cr in three months to TN for fighting virus, says FM

Centre gave ₹6,600cr in three months to TN for fighting virus, says FM

Govardan.D@timesgroup.com

Chennai:  26.06.2020

Union finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Thursday said the Centre has given ₹6,600 crore to Tamil Nadu for buying medical equipment and accessories for fighting Covid-19. Her announcement has come as a surprise as chief minister Edappadi K Palaniswami has been repeatedly urging the Centre to release funds to help the state fight the pandemic.

“We have given ₹6,600 crore to TN for buying ventilators, medical equipment and accessories including masks. This has been given to the state so far in the first three months of this financial year,” Nirmala Sitharaman told a virtual rally organized for BJP workers in Tamil Nadu from New Delhi about achievements of the BJP government’s first year in its second term. I have not heard those numbers (₹6,600 crore), a senior state finance department official told TOI.

CM’s relief fund got ₹378cr: EPS

Since I did not listen to what Nirmala Sitharaman spoke at the rally, it will be difficult for me to comment on that,” he said.

Sitharaman’s announcement though could set off a political debate in the state, the CM in a statement on June 7 had said the state government has sanctioned ₹4,333 crore towards efforts to fight the pandemic. In addition, CM’s Relief Fund received ₹378.96 crore from corporates and individuals among others, Palaniswami has said.

In her address at the virtual rally, Sitharaman also said that 1.22 crore women in Tamil Nadu have received ₹610 crore at ₹500 a month for April and May directly through their Jan Dhan accounts. Since the lockdown, around 47,000 MSMEs in Tamil Nadu received ₹1,937 crore as “emergency credit” loan to restart their operations, while an additional ₹4,352 crore has been sanctioned to MSMEs under the collateral free credit guarantee scheme, she said.

கம்ப்யூட்டர் இல்லையெனில் அலுவலகம் வர வேண்டும்

Added : ஜூன் 17, 2020 22:33

வீட்டிலிருந்தபடியே பணிகளை மேற்கொள்வதில் சிரமம் இருந்தால், அலுவலகம் வந்து பணிபுரிய வேண்டும் என, லோக்சபா செயலகம், ஊழியர்களுக்கு சுற்றறிக்கை அனுப்பியுள்ளது.

கொரோனா வைரஸ் பரவல் காரணமாக, ஊரடங்கு அமல்படுத்தப்பட்ட நாளிலிருந்தே, பார்லி., செயலகத்திற்கு, அதிகாரிகள் மற்றும் அலுவலர்கள் முழுமையாக வர முடியாத நிலை இருக்கிறது.இதையடுத்து, வீட்டில்இருந்தபடியே பணி செய்யும் நடைமுறை அறிமுகப்படுத்தப்பட்டு, அனைத்து அலுவல்களும், இ- - அலுவலகம் வாயிலாக கண்காணிக்கப்பட்டு வருகின்றன.

இதற்காக லோக்சபா செயலகம் சார்பில் அனுப்பப்பட்டுள்ள சுற்றறிக்கையின் விபரம்:ஒவ்வொரு ஊழியரும், இ- - அலுவலகம் வாயிலாகவே பணிகளை மேற்கொள்ள வேண்டும். ஒவ்வொரு நாளும், சமர்ப்பிக்கப்பட்ட பணிகளின் அடிப்படையில், ஊழியர்கள் மதிப்பிடப்படுவர்.குறிப்பிட்ட நாளில், ஒரு ஊழியர், எந்தவொரு பணியையும் செய்யவில்லை எனில், அந்த நாளில், அவர், 'ஆப்சென்ட்' என்றோ அல்லது விடுமுறை எடுத்துக் கொண்டார் என்றோ, கணக்கில் எடுத்துக் கொள்ளப்படுவார்.வீட்டிலிருந்தே பணிகளைச் செய்ய, தேவையான 'கம்ப்யூட்டர், இன்டர்நெட்' வசதிகள் இல்லையென்றால், அந்த ஊழியர்கள், அலுவலகத்திற்கு வர வேண்டும்.இவ்வாறு, அந்த அறிக்கையில் கூறப்பட்டுள்ளது.

- நமது டில்லி நிருபர் -

Continue free grain scheme, urge 10 CMs

Continue free grain scheme, urge 10 CMs

Record Buy Of Wheat At 382L Tonnes

Sidhartha@timesgroup.com

New Delhi:  18.06.2020

Government procurement of wheat has scaled a new peak with purchases this year topping 382 lakh tonnes, with the 390 lakh tonnes mark now in sight with two weeks to go for the season to end. The development comes at a time when at least 10 state chief ministers have approached the Centre to continue the scheme to provide 5kg grains to the poor for free to help them combat the dislocation caused by Covid 19.

Additional 5kg of free foodgrains under the PM Garib Kalyan Yojana are available only up to this month, prompting CMs cutting across party lines pitching for an extension of three months, sources told TOI. From BJP-ruled Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh and Assam to Congress-ruled Punjab and Rajasthan or Bihar, where BJP has a coalition with Nitish Kumar’s JD(U), states want additional grains as several migrant workers have returned home for want of work. A final decision on the issue is expected to be taken over the next few days. But the procurement numbers are expected to provide a much-needed comfort to the Centre, given that stocks are near a record high of around 970 lakh tonnes, almost two-and-a-half times the buffer requirement at the start of July.

While there were fears that the lockdown may impact procurement, which was delayed and will only end at the last week of June, Food Corporation of India and the state government machinery have ensured a near-glitch free operation, while also ensuring that sufficient stocks were available across the country to meet the requirement of twice the quota of grains for the 80 crore poor covered by the PM Garib Kalyan Yojana.

With less than a fortnight to go, FCI is expecting Uttar Pradesh, which has been one of the laggards in procurement, to purchase around three-four lakh tonnes, while another another two lakh tonnes are expected from Rajasthan, which is set to scale a new peak. Madhya Pradesh, which has for the first time beaten Punjab in wheat procurement, may buy another one lakh tonnes, sources said.

With less than a fortnight to go, FCI is expecting UP to purchase around 3-4 lakh tonnes of wheat, while another 2 lakh tonnes are expected from Rajasthan, which is set to scale a new peak

Number of recovered patients exceeds active cases for the first time

Number of recovered patients exceeds active cases for the first time

Sushmi.Dey@timesgroup.com

New Delhi:11.06.2020

For the first time since the Covid-19 outbreak surfaced in India, the number of recovered patients has exceeded the total active cases with the health ministry on Wednesday recording 1,33,632 active cases, whereas 1,35,205 people have been cured so far, taking the total recovery rate to 48.99%.

“The recovery figures are reflecting better clinical management and timely detection enabled by ramped up testing and hospital infrastructure across the country,” a senior official said. The number of samples tested by ICMR crossed 50 lakh on Wednesday. In the last 24 hours, ICMR tested 1,45,216 samples and has continued to ramp up testing capacity to detect infected persons.

However, new cases continue to rise amid easing of restrictions which were imposed under the lockdown. India reported close to 10,000 new instances of the infection in the last 24 hours till 8 am on Wednesday, pushing the cumulative case load to over 2.7 lakh. The return of migrants to their homes has also increased reporting of cases though the numbers are not a runaway trend as of now.

“Most cases are mild to moderate and will recover in home quarantine or maximum with oxygen support. Our focus is to reduce mortality and for that we need to take care of the elderly and those with co-morbidities,” the official said.

Full report on www.toi.in

HALE & HEARTY: An old man who successfully fought coronavirus being felicitated after his recovery at an Indore hospital

மத்திய அரசு ஊழியர்களுக்கு புதிய வழிகாட்டுதல்கள் வெளியீடு

மத்திய அரசு ஊழியர்களுக்கு புதிய வழிகாட்டுதல்கள் வெளியீடு

Updated : ஜூன் 09, 2020 12:11 | Added : ஜூன் 09, 2020 12:05

புதுடில்லி: கொரோனா தொற்று பாதிப்பு அதிகரித்து வருவதை அடுத்து மத்திய அரசு ஊழியர்கள், அலுவலகங்களில் கடைப்பிடிக்க வேண்டிய புதிய வழிகாட்டுதல்களை மத்திய அரசு வெளியிட்டுள்ளது.

இந்தியாவில் கொரோனா தொற்று பாதிப்பு வேகமாக அதிகரித்து வருகிறது. பல்வேறு துறைகளை சேர்ந்த ஊழியர்களுக்கு கொரோனா பாதிப்பு உறுதியாகியுள்ளது. சிலர் கொரோனா தொற்றால் உயிரிழந்துள்ளனர். எனவே பணியில் உள்ள ஒவ்வொரு ஊழியரும் தங்களை தாங்களே பாதுகாத்து கொள்வதுடன், மற்றவர்களுக்கு பரவாமல் தடுக்கவும், மத்திய அரசு அலுவலகங்களில் கொரோனா தடுப்பு நடைமுறைகளை பின்பற்ற அறிவுறுத்தப்பட்டுள்ளனர்.

மத்திய பணியாளர் நலன் துறை அமைச்சகம் சார்பில் வெளியிட்டுள்ள வழிகாட்டுதல்கள்:

1. கொரோனா அறிகுறி இல்லாதவர்கள் மட்டுமே அலுவலகத்திற்கு வர வேண்டும். லேசான அறிகுறி அல்லது இருமல் அல்லது காய்ச்சல் உள்ளவர்கள் வீட்டிலேயே இருக்க வேண்டும்.

2. கட்டுப்படுத்தப்பட்ட மண்டலங்களில் வசிக்கும் அதிகாரிகள்/ ஊழியர்கள் அலுவலகத்திற்கு வர கூடாது. கட்டுப்படுத்தப்பட்ட மண்டலம் மாறும் வரை வீட்டில் இருந்தே பணியாற்ற வேண்டும்.

3. ஒரு நாளில் 20க்கும் மேற்பட்ட அதிகாரிகள் அல்லது ஊழியர்கள் அலுவலகத்திற்கு வர கூடாது. பட்டியல் அதற்கேற்ப மாற்றியமைக்கப்படும். மற்ற ஊழியர்கள் வீட்டில் இருந்தே பணிபுரிய வேண்டும்.

4. ஒரே அறையில் பகிர்ந்து கொள்ளும் செயலர் மற்றும் துணை செயலர்கள், மாற்று நாட்களில் வருவதுடன், சமூக இடைவெளியை பின்பற்ற வேண்டும்.

5. ஒரு பிரிவில் ஒரே நேரத்தில் 2 ஊழியருக்கு மேல் இருக்க கூடாது. மேலும் குறிப்பிட்ட நேரத்தில் அலுவலகத்தில் 20 ஊழியர்கள் மற்றும் அதிகாரிகளுக்கு மேல் இருக்க கூடாது. காற்றோட்டம் இருக்கும் வகையில் ஜன்னல்களை திறந்து வைக்க வேண்டும்.

6. அலுவலகத்தில் உள்ளேயும் முகக்கவசம் அணிந்திருக்க வேண்டும். அலுவலக வளாகத்திற்குள் முகக்கவசம் அணியாமல் இருப்பது கண்டறியப்பட்டால் கடுமையான நடவடிக்கை எடுக்கப்படும்.

7. பயன்படுத்தபட்ட முகக்கவசம் மற்றும் கையுறைகளை கவனமாக மஞ்சள் நிற பயோ கழிவுகள் தொட்டியில் மட்டுமே போட வேண்டும். பயன்படுத்தப்பட்ட முகக்கவசத்தை திறந்தவெளியிலோ, மற்ற குப்பைகளோடு வீசியெறிந்தால் கடுமையான நடவடிக்கை எடுக்கப்படும். தூய்மை பணியாளர்களிடம் மருத்துவ கழிவுகளை கையாள்வது குறித்து பொது பிரிவு அறிவுறுத்த வேண்டும்.

8. நேரடி சந்திப்பு, கூட்டம் மற்றும் ஆலோசனைகளை முடிந்தளவு தவிர்க்க வேண்டும். அதிகாரிகள், ஊழியர்கள், ஆலோசனைகள் நடத்த போன், இண்டர்காம், வீடியோகால் போன்றவற்றை பயன்படுத்த வேண்டும்.

9. அதிகாரிகள் தங்கள் அறைகளில் இருந்து வீடியோ கால் செய்யலாம். வழக்கமாக கூடும் இடத்தில் இருந்து வீடியோ கால் செய்வதை முடிந்தவரை தவிர்க்க வேண்டும். தேவையான சாதனங்களை பொது பிரிவில் இருந்து பெற்று கொள்ளலாம். தங்களது கணினி மூலம் வீடியோ கான்பரன்சில் இணைந்து கொள்ளலாம்.

10. அரை மணி நேரத்திற்கு ஒருமுறை கைகளை கழுவுவது நோய் தொற்று பரவுவதை தடுக்க உதவும். எனவே அலுவலகத்தின் முக்கியமான இடங்களில் கைகளை கழுவ சானிடைசர்களை வைத்திருக்க வேண்டும்.

11. அடிக்கடி தொடக்கூடிய எலெக்ட்ரிக் சுவிட்சு, கதவு கைப்பிடி, லிப்ட் பட்டன்கள், கழிப்பறை சாதனங்கள் உள்ளிட்டவற்றை ஒருமணி நேரத்திற்கு ஒருமுறை 1% சோடியம் ஹைபோகுளோரைடு பயன்படுத்தி சுத்தம் செய்ய வேண்டும். ஊழியர்கள் கீபோர்டு, மவுஸ், போன்கள், ஏசி ரிமோட் உள்ளிட்டவற்றையும் எத்தனால் சார்ந்த கிருமிநாசினியால் சுத்தம் செய்ய வேண்டும்.

12. நடக்கும் போதும், அமரும் போதும் 1 மீட்டர் இடைவெளியை பின்பற்ற வேண்டும். பார்வையாளர்களுக்கு போடப்பட்டுள்ள நாற்காலிகள் உரிய சமூக இடைவெளி நடைமுறைகளுடன் போடப்பட்டிருக்க வேண்டும்.

13. அனைத்து அதிகாரிகளும், ஊழியர்களும் இந்த வழிகாட்டுதல்களை தவறாமல் பின்பற்ற வேண்டும். கொரோனா தொற்றை கட்டுப்படுத்த அனைத்து அதிகாரிகளின் ஒத்துழைப்பு அவசியம். இவ்வாறு அதில் தெரிவிக்கப்பட்டுள்ளது.

Cabinet sets up Secretaries’ group to attract investment

Cabinet sets up Secretaries’ group to attract investment

Every Ministry will have a project development cell

04/06/2020, SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT,NEW DELHI

The Union Cabinet on Wednesday approved the setting up of an empowered group of secretaries (EGoS) and project development cells (PDCs) in Ministries and departments for attracting investments to India, said Information and Broadcasting Minister Prakash Javadekar.

Speaking at a press briefing after the meeting, Mr. Javadekar, referring to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, said: “We know the world’s situation. Industries are thinking to diversify their investments in different localities, so to ensure that investment is enhanced in India, an EGoS has been formed. And simultaneously in every Ministry, there will be a project development cell. This will make India a more investor-friendly destination and we will also hand-hold the new industries.”

$5 trillion economy

He added that the two decisions would help domestic industries and lead to direct and indirect employment.

The government said the decisions taken at the Cabinet meeting, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, would “reinforce India’s vision of becoming a $5 trillion economy by 2024-25”.

The EGoS would be chaired by the Cabinet Secretary and would include the Secretary of the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade as member convener and the NITI Aayog CEO, the Commerce Secretary, the Revenue Secretary and the Economic Affairs Secretary as members. The Secretary of the Department concerned would be co-opted, depending on the project.

Stay more vigilant than ever against virus: PM

Stay more vigilant than ever against virus: PM

01/06/2020

“Apart from that, certain decisions taken by the Centre would also contribute to the development of our rural areas as economic centres and contribute to their self-reliance,” Mr. Modi said.

He commended the Railways, which has been under fire for the facilities provided to inter-State workers on Shramik Special trains taking them home. “Indian Railways has been working to get people home. They have worked round-the-clock for it,” he said. He singled out several philanthropic individuals, who on their own contributed to relief work during the lockdown.

“Those who serve are positive, vital and confident, and it was a pleasant discovery for me on how Indians across the country have pitched in to serve,” he said.

The Ayushman Bharat universal health insurance scheme clocked over 1 crore beneficiaries last week, a fact marked by Mr. Modi.

“For our poor, medical help is expensive and a choice has to be made between sinking further into poverty and not getting the required treatment. I am happy that over 1 crore beneficiaries, 80% of whom are from rural areas, and 50% of whom are women, got help under the scheme. Our honest tax payer also needs to be commended as it is through his/ her taxes that all these welfare programmes are funded,” the PM said. Mr. Modi reiterated that the phasing out of the lockdown cannot be seen as an end to COVID-19, but that social distancing and other measures should be followed.

Now, get PAN allotment through your Aadhaar

Now, get PAN allotment through your Aadhaar

Facility promised in the 2020 Budget

29/05/2020, SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT,NEW DELHI

Instant PAN allotment is now available for anyone who has a valid Aadhaar number and a mobile number registered with that Aadhaar. The facility, promised in the 2020 Budget speech, was formally launched by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Thursday.

The trial version of the facility has been available since February 2020, and almost 6.8 lakh instant PANs, with a turnaround time of about 10 minutes, have already been allotted, according to a Finance Ministry statement.

The process is paperless and an electronic or e-PAN is provided free of cost. Applicants are required to provide their Aadhaar number on the e-filing website of the Income Tax Department, and then submit the OTP received on the linked mobile number. A 15-digit acknowledgement number is generated and the e-PAN can be downloaded. All PANs are required to be linked to Aadhaar by June 30.

No need to shut entire office building, states health ministry’s workplace guidelines

No need to shut entire office building, states health ministry’s workplace guidelines

New Delhi: As India entered the fourth phase of its nationwide lockdown with relaxations and offices and working places opening, the Union ministry of health and family welfare has issued guidelines on preventive and response measures to contain the spread of Covid-19 in workplace settings.

According to the guidelines there is no need to close the entire office building and stall work in other areas of the office, and work can be resumed after disinfection as per laid down protocol if there are one or two cases of coronavirus reported. The disinfection procedure will be limited to areas visited by the patient in the past 48 hours.

The ministry however, said that if there is a larger outbreak, the entire building will have to be sealed for 48 hours for thorough disinfection. All the staff will work from home till the building is adequately disinfected and is declared fit for re-occupation.

The ministry said if any individual is found to be suffering from symptoms suggestive of Covid-19, it must be immediately reported to the concerned central or state health authorities as well as on the helpline number 1075.

“A risk assessment will be undertaken by the designated public health authority (district RRT/treating physician) and accordingly further advice shall be made regarding management of case, his/her contacts and need for disinfection,” said the health ministry. 

Centre warns States against diluting curbs

Centre warns States against diluting curbs

Follow benchmarks in declaring infection zones: Ministry

19/05/2020, SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT,NEW DELHI

Safety marks: Railway officials stamping a Delhi returnee for ‘home quarantine’ in Secunderabad.Nagara Gopal

The Union Home Ministry has asked the States not to dilute the restrictions imposed by the Ministry in fresh guidelines, asserting that certain other activities may be prohibited or other restrictions imposed as deemed necessary on the basis of a ground-level analysis of the situation.

In a letter to all States, Union Home Secretary Ajay Bhalla said despite widespread relaxations in lockdown restrictions under the revised guidelines, the States and Union Territories could not dilute the restrictions imposed in the Ministry’s guidelines.

“They may prohibit certain other activities or impose restrictions, as deemed necessary on the basis of ground level analysis of the situation,” it said.

Further, it was communicated that States must take into consideration the benchmarks and thresholds indicated in the revised guidelines issued by the Health Ministry, while delineating zones at local level.

It has also been urged to give wide publicity to the Centre and respective State guidelines at local level for the convenience of the public.

Considerable relaxations were allowed in the MHA guidelines for Lockdown 4.0 that will be in force till May 31. Schools, malls, metro and air services remain suspended while special trains have been allowed.

Work from home may stay for govt. staff

Work from home may stay for govt. staff

Draft paper moots staggered attendance and variable hours as a matter of policy

15/05/2020, SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT,NEW DELHI

Post lockdown, the Union government will continue staggered and variable work hours for its employees with the Personnel Ministry floating a draft consultation paper on best work-from-home practices.

The Department of Personnel and Training may provide the option of work from home to eligible officers and other employees for 15 days a year as a matter of policy, the paper said.

The department asked the Ministries and departments to send in their suggestions by May 21.

“Extra protocol for all VIP and Parliament matters”, which require utmost attention, is among the proposals. An employee working from home cannot process “classified papers/files”.

“As per instructions of the Ministry of Home Affairs, no classified information shall be handled through e-office. Therefore, classified files shall not be processed in e-office during work from home,” the draft paper said.

The National Informatics Centre (NIC) may evaluate the existing security protocol for remote access of classified file and information in consultation with the Home Ministry and propose suitable guidelines and the standard operating procedures (SOP) for handling classified information in e-office, it said.

“Till the time, classified files shall be processed on standalone computers only as specified in the Central Secretariat Manual of Office Procedure (CSMOP).”

There are 48.34 lakh Central government employees.

PM announces ₹20 lakh crore economic stimulus package

PM announces ₹20 lakh crore economic stimulus package

It will focus on self-reliance; lockdown to continue with significant changes

13/05/2020, NISTULA HEBBAR,NEW DELHI

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday said a new-look Lockdown 4.0 beyond May 17 was in the offing, while announcing an economic stimulus package for ₹20 lakh crore (estimated at 10% of the GDP), with a clearly defined leap towards economic reforms that will, in his words, lead to Atmanirbhar Bharat, or a self-reliant, resilient India.

This amount includes packages already announced at the beginning of the lockdown, incorporating a slew of measures from the RBI and the payouts under the Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Yojana.

‘Relook at systems’

Addressing the nation on television, Mr. Modi said the whole world was reeling from the crisis engendered by the COVID-19 pandemic, as was India. In this crisis, however, India had had an opportunity to look at systems and institutions that were in existence before the crisis hit and how they crumbled. “We have been hearing for many years that the 21st century will be India’s century and this crisis is, I believe, one that carries a message, that we have to move forward not just to combat the crisis but to prevail,” the Prime Minister said. “That can happen when we are self-reliant.”

Ramped-up capacity

He gave the example of India’s ramped-up capacity in producing Personal Protection Equipment (PPE) kits and N-95 masks required by medical personnel and frontline health workers to illustrate his point that India could achieve this.

“When the first case hit us, we didn’t produce either of these things. Now, within weeks we have the capacity to produce 2 lakh of PPE and 2 lakh of N95 masks everyday,” Mr. Modi said.

Clarifying that by self-reliance he did not mean insularity and suspicion of the world as in the past, but embracing the world in the spirit of Vasudheva Kutumbakam (the world is one family).

“Self-reliance in this sense is neither exclusionary nor isolationist, it is for helping the world, with our actions. In the past whenever we have acted it has impacted the world in a positive way — be it solving the Y2K riddle in 1999 or our campaigns against open defecation, tuberculosis and polio,” Mr. Modi said.

He said that the new edifice of this self-reliant India would be based on the five pillars of the economy, infrastructure, demography, technologically driven systems and to strengthen demand and supply chains, with the supply chains being based on local sourcing.

‘Lockdown 4.0 in new form, with new rules’

‘Lockdown 4.0 in new form, with new rules’

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

New Delhi:  13.05.2020

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday confirmed that there would be a fourth phase of lockdown, but said its contours would be very different from the rules that shaped the three national lockdowns since March 25, with the last scheduled to end on May 17.

“Lockdown 4.0 will be completely different and will have new rules. I am confident that we will, while fighting the virus by following the rules, move forward,” Modi said, adding the new rules, based on the suggestions from chief ministers, would be announced before May 18.

The remark was seen as an indication that the new anti-coronavirus protocol will allow for accelerated exit from the lockdown to facilitate resumption of economic activity and normalcy.

The PM said ways had to be devised to ensure the virus didn’t set India back. “Experts and scientists are unanimous that the virus will be part of our life for a long time to come. But we cannot let ourselves be hostage to it. We will wear masks and follow the two-yard distancing norm, but will not give up the pursuit of our goals,” he said.

Exit from lockdown may come with a containment strategy

Modi’s reference suggests that exit from the lockdown will come alongside a containment strategy which will seek to identify, contain and prevent hotspots. The experimentation with businesses being allowed to open with reduced staff strength and social distancing is seen to have delivered encouraging results and more relaxations will follow.

The country has already seen the first steps to restore mass transport and the possibility of metro and air services being reopened soon is very likely. The home ministry guidelines are expected to allow more services to function and these will almost certainly include expanded delivery of non-essentials by e-commerce companies.

Modi's comments are also seen in the light of his message to chief ministers on Monday that graded opening of the economy will continue apace alongside vigorous containment efforts. On Tuesday, he said life could not be held hostage to coronavirus and there was a need to work towards targets while exercising due caution.

PM Raises Stimulus Size To 10% Of GDP

PM Raises Stimulus Size To 10% Of GDP

Will Total ₹20L Cr; Goes ‘Vocal For Local’

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

New Delhi:  13.05.2020

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday said the government would unveil a Rs 20 lakh crore package to help nurse the economy back to health and also unleash a new set of reforms focussed on land, labour, liquidity and legal frameworks that would power India’s push for self-reliance.

Addressing the nation a day after he had held detailed deliberations with chief ministers and days before Lockdown 3.0 ends, the PM said the mega package would be announced over the coming days by finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman even as he strongly identified the theme of “atmanirbhar Bharat (self-reliant India)” that he said wouldn’t be a self-absorbed vision but would rather make the country a part of global supply chains — seen as part of the overall strategy to attract foreign companies planning to shift from China.

Modi said the package, which includes measures already announced by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) and the finance ministry, would be equal to 10% of the country’s gross domestic product (GDP). The RBI had announced support equal to 3.2% of GDP and the Garib Kalyan Yojana unveiled by Sitharaman on March 26 accounted for 0.8% of GDP.

The PM’s speech included a promise that new reforms wouldn’t ignore migrant labour and those whose livelihoods had been hit hard by Covid-19 and a call to be “vocal for local” .

There was a specific reference to “rediwalas and thela walas (street vendors)”, part of the flow of migrants leaving cities in droves in the face of the pandemic’s economic impact, along with references to cottage industry, MSME, middle class, industries and other sectors.

Economy doesn’t need incremental steps but a quantum jump: Modi

Outlining the need for bold steps, the PM said the economy did not need incremental steps but a quantum jump and added this was one of the “five pillars” of a selfreliant India. The others are infrastructure, a tech-driven system that delivers on the dreams of a modern India, demography that is vibrant and demand that is fed by supply chains capable of meeting the needs of a growing nation. He added that this includeed a rational tax system.

Aware that the unprecedented lockdown had hurt people’s earnings,Modi sought to buoy spirits by saying though the threat was unparalleled, there was no room for tiredness, being defeated or dispersing in the face of the disease. He said no goal was impossible and India had the means and will to set targets and meet them.

Highlighting their contribution to the country and the suffering they have had experienced, Modi said the package would also focus on empowering the poor, labourers, migrants and others from both organised and unorganised sectors.

To put the overall package in context, the government had announced a package equivalent to 4% of GDP during the global financial crisis in 2008-09. The Rs 20 lakh crore package compares with Germany’s 10.7% of GDP and more than the 9.7% of GDP package unveiled by France to tackle the impact of Covid-19 on their economies. Several experts had called for a big stimulus which the government seems to have accepted except that it will be split into several components.

Modi underlined the importance of strengthening all stakeholders in the supply chain to increase, as well as fulfil, demand and made a strong pitch for local manufacturing and local products. He said the crisis had taught the country of the importance of local manufacturing, local market and local supply chains. “All our demands during the crisis were met ‘locally’. Now, it’s time to be vocal about local products and help these local products become global,” Modi said as he called for a self-reliant India.

The PM said self-reliance would prepare India for tough competition in the global supply chain, and it was important that the country won this competition. He said the same theme had been kept in mind while preparing the package. “It will not only increase efficiency in various sectors but also ensure quality,” he added.

Modi said the definition of selfreliance had undergone a change in the globalised world and clarified that when the country talked about self-reliance, it was different from being self-centred. He said India’s culture considered the world as one family, and progress in India was part of, and also contributed to, progress in the whole world. He said the world trusted that India had a lot to contribute towards development of the entire humanity.

Full report on www.toi.in

A girl watches PM Modi’s address to the nation at her home in Bikaner on Tuesday

FULL COVERAGE: P 2-16

More curbs to go, but lockdown may stay, PM hints at CMs meet

More curbs to go, but lockdown may stay, PM hints at CMs meet

‘Need To Reduce Spread, Increase Public Activity’

Akhilesh.Singh@timesgroup.com

New Delhi:12.05.2020

Prime Minister Narendra Modi indicated that steps to open the economy would continue to be pursued in line with relaxations announced so far even as efforts to reduce incidence of Covid-19 continue apace and social distancing norms are followed.

Modi hinted that a more graded relaxation of the lockdown could be on its way during a lengthy interaction with chief ministers on Monday. “I am of the firm view that the measures needed in the first phase of lockdown were not needed during the second phase and, similarly, the measures needed in the third phase are not needed in the fourth,” an official release quoted the PM as saying.

“We have a twofold challenge — to reduce the transmission rate of the disease and to increase public activity gradually, while adhering to all the guidelines,” he said.

PM Modi at the video conference with CMs on Monday

Didi, Thackeray favour extension of lockdown

The long interaction, where all CMs spoke, saw some in favour of continuing with the lockdown beyond May 17. Given the focus on containment, the lockdown may not be called off even as more easing of curbs, particularly in green areas, is on the anvil.

While West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee complained about the Centre’s “unilateral” actions, she like other CMs such as Uddhav Thackeray and Nitish Kumar favoured extension of the lockdown. Kumar expressed reservations on resumption of train services. Kerala CM Pinarayi Vijayan said states should be allowed to decide on public transport while Odisha CM Naveen Patnaik suggested that there should be broad lockdown principles. Thackeray expressed concern over reports of a second wave of infection in China.

Sources said the PM was very conscious about the need to continue all efforts to contain the disease so that gains of the lockdown were not lost and also referred indirectly to the need to concentrate on problematic areas.

“We now have a reasonably clear indication as to the geographical spread of the pandemic in India, including the worst affected areas. Moreover, over the past few weeks, officials have understood operating procedures in a time such as this, right up to the district level,” Modi said, suggesting that the disease tracking mechanism was gaining experience and becoming more effective.

Full report on www.toi.in

Govt approves indigenous antibody detection test

Govt approves indigenous antibody detection test

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

New Delhi:  11.05.2020

The government has approved an indigenous antibody detection test for Covid-19, which will enable health authorities to do surveillance testing to see how much of the population has been exposed to coronavirus infection. Once these antibody test kits are manufactured indigenously, it will reduce India’s dependence on countries like China for testing kits.

The National Institute of Virology (NIV) in Pune has developed and validated the indigenous IgG ELISA test ‘Covid Kavach Elisa’ for antibody detection for Covid-19. While real-time RT-PCR is the frontline test for clinical diagnosis of SARS-CoV-2, robust antibody tests are critical for surveillance to understand how much of the population has been exposed to infection.

An official statement said, “NIV’s competent scientific team successfully isolated the SARS-CoV-2 virus from laboratory-confirmed patients in India. This, in turn, has paved the way for the development of indigenous diagnostics for SARS-CoV-2.”

The indigenous antibody test will eliminate the need for low-quality Chinese kits — recently, Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) had to return about 500,000 such kits after they malfunctioned, with variable results.

According to official sources, the test was validated at two sites in Mumbai and was “found to have high sensitivity and specificity”. “In addition, the test will have the advantage of testing 90 samples together in a single run of 2.5 hours. Moreover, ELISAbased testing is easily possible even at the district level as the ELISA kit has inactivated virus,” a source said. This will make it easier to distribute kits at the panchayat level.

The ELISA (enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay) test is used to detect antibodies in the blood for a wide variety of infections, particularly HIV. India has a history of being able to successfully combat HIV-AIDS. With the new indigenous antibody test, India will be able to use the existing infrastructure.

The statement said the test had the advantage of having much higher sensitivity and specificity as compared to the several rapid test kits which have recently flooded the Indian market. Health minister Harsh Vardhan said, “The robust indigenous IgG ELISA test for antibody detection developed by ICMR-NIV, Pune will play a critical role in surveillance of proportion of the population exposed to SARSCoV-2 coronavirus infection.”

The test will have the advantage of testing 90 samples together in a single run of 2.5 hours. ELISA-based testing is easily possible even at the district level as the kit has inactivated virus

OFFICIAL SOURCE