‘35.95 lakhs women farmers covered under MKSP’
| Date :24-Jul-2019 |
NEW DELHI:
A TOTAL of 35.95 lakh women farmers have been covered under the centrally-sponsored Mahila Kisan Sashaktikaran Pariyojana (MKSP) in 24 States, Union Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar said on Tuesday. Tomar also said in Lok Sabha that a total number of 84 MKSP projects have so far been sanctioned for implementation with a target of coverage of 33.81 lakhs women farmers. “As on March 31, 2019, a total of 35,97,743 mahila kisans (women farmers) have been covered in 30,807 villages,” he said during Question Hour. The Minister said that a total central allocation of Rs 847.48 crore has been made towards implementation of the approved projects, out of which an amount of Rs 570.26 crore has already been released. Tomar said that the agriculture Ministry is continuously working to create awareness about the project through the State Rural Livelihoods Missions. “The benefits of taking up sustainable practices in Agriculture, Non-Timber Forest Produces (NTFP) and livestock are discussed in Self Help Groups meetings,” he said. The Minister said that the learning from practices adopted under MKSP are now being scaled up by Rural Livelihoods Missions of States and Union Territories as a universal intervention under their DAY NRLM Annual Action Plans (AAPs).
272 foreigners, NRIs conferred Padma awards since 1954: Govt AS many as 272 foreigners, Non- Resident Indians, Overseas Citizens of India and Persons of Indian Origin have been conferred Padma awards since its inception in 1954, the Government said on Tuesday. Minister of State for Home Affairs Nityanand Rai told the Lok Sabha that any person without distinction of race, occupation, position or sex is eligible for the Padma awards. Serving Government servants, including those working with public sector undertakings, except doctors and scientists, are not eligible for the awards.
Lok Sabha passes Bill to amend Motor Vehicle Act LOK Sabha gave its nod to a Bill which seeks to weed out corruption, improve road safety and usher in use of technology to regulate traffic, as the Government assured the House that rights of the States will not be taken away. The Motor Vehicles (Amendment) Bill, 2019, was passed by a voice vote. Several amendments moved by Opposition members were also rejected by voice vote. Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari said he is here “not to show any dream” but to fulfil promises made on better, smoother roads and latest transport technology. While several members cutting across party lines supported safety and traffic violation aspects of the Bill, they at the same time accused the Centre of trying to take away State’s powers with certain provisions of the draft law.
‘Govt has no official estimation of black money in country’ THE Government said there is no official estimation of black money in the country, however, it has taken several concrete steps to crack down on illicit funds. “There is no official estimation of black money in the country,” Minister of State for Finance Anurag Singh Thakur said in a written reply in Parliament. In 2014, the BJP-led Government came to power with a thumping majority and one of the key poll promised was to bring back black money stashed abroad. Also, one of the key objectives enlisted by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in the November 8, 2016, high-value note ban or demonetisation was to curb the ill-gotten money. Thakur was responding to a query on estimation of total black money in the country and the reasons behind such amount generation. On asked whether it was a fact that black money was increasing due to lack of alertness by the G vernment, Thakur said “No”. He said the Government has taken several concrete steps to crack down on black money.
Parlt approves Govt’s FY20 Budget PARLIAMENT gave its approval to Modi-2.0 Government’s maiden budget with Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman saying tax proposals aim at redistribution of funds to bring more equitable development. The Appropriation (No 2) Bill, 2019 and the Finance (No 2) Bill, 2019 -- cleared by Lok Sabha last week -- were returned by the Rajya Sabha on Tuesday after voice vote. This completed the three stage Parliamentary approval process, which also included a debate on the general budget and working of some of the ministries. Replying in a four-hour debate on the two bills, Sitharaman justified raising tax on petrol and diesel by Rs 2 per litre each saying inflation was at rock bottom and the move would not add any significant burden on prices. Almost the entire Opposition boycotted the debate, demanding that Prime Minister Narendra Modi should make a statement on US President Donlad Trump’s claim of him seeking mediation on Kashmir issue. She also justified slapping of 10 per cent import duty on newsprint, which the newspaper industry has criticized as backbreaking, saying the move would give domestic paper producers a level playing field.