India celebrates 67th Independence Day on August 15, 2013. The World Bank has signed an agreement with the Indian government to provide a 100 million US dollar loan to help low-income families secure housing loans. The Finance Ministry said that the agreement was signed in New Delhi by Department of Economic Affairs Joint Secretary Nilaya Mitash, NHB Chairman and Managing Director RV Verma and World Bank (India) Operations Advisor Michael Haney. The objective of the project is to provide access to sustainable housing finance for low-income households to purchase, build or upgrade their dwellings, the release added. The Rajya Sabha on 13 August 2013 passed Registration of Births and Deaths (Amendment) Bill, 2012, under which marriages solemnized in India irrespective of the religion of the persons getting married will have to be compulsorily registered. The Registration of Births and Deaths (Amendment) Bill, 2012, was passed by a voice vote after a brief discussion. Through this bill, the Union government is providing a platform to the states, which are free to frame their own rules in accordance with their requirements. The government does not favour compulsory registration in cases of live-in relations. The Bill is set to protect the women from unnecessary harassment in matrimonial and maintenance cases. It also seeks to provide evidentiary value in the matters of custody of children, right of children born from the wedlock of the two persons whose marriage is registered and the age of the parties to the marriage. Ministry of Information and Broadcasting on 14 August 2013 unveiled the second phase of comprehensive multi-media initiative Glimpses of the India Story. The initiative captures the journey of the country’s development through various programmes and policies launched by the UPA government during the last ten years. The programmes of the UPA include Direct Benefits Transfer, Aadhar, Food Security, Real Estate regulation and Land Acquisition Bill. The content of the initiative reiterates the commitment of the government to the people. Ministry of Information and Broadcasting has taken an initiative to inform the people about the measures taken by the UPA Government during last 10 years which empowered them, brought a silent resolution and developed a basic structure based on rights. The Cabinet on14th August, has approved the proposal for setting up of the Tax Administration Reform Commission. The Commission will review the application of tax policies and laws in the context of global best practices and recommend measures to strengthen the capacity of the tax system in the country. It will consist of a Chairman, two full time members and four part-time members. Government has cleared a proposal for continuation of its skill development initiative scheme during the 12th Plan. It aims to train around 25 lakh youth under the scheme during the period. The Cabinet Committee on Skill Development has cleared a proposal in this regard with certain changes under which incentive at the rate of three thousand rupees would be paid to vocational training providers for ensuring placement of at least 70 per cent trainees per batch at a minimum salary of 6,000 rupees per month. Per hour per trainee expenditure allowed under the scheme has also been increased from 15 to 20 and 25 rupees. The scheme will have an outlay of 2000 crore rupees. Housing and Urban Poverty Alleviation Minister Dr Girija Vyas on Aug 14, 2013 introduced the Real Estate (Regulation and Development) Bill, 2013 in the Rajya Sabha. It intends to regulate and promote the real estate sector in the country. Once enacted, an Appellate Tribunal will be set up to protect the interest of consumers. The Rajya Sabha on Aug 14, 2013 passed the National Waterway (Lakhipur-Bhanga Stretch of the Barak River) Bill, 2013, by voice vote. It is estimated that the inland water transport traffic to the tune of 12.45 lakh tonnes is likely to be carried on the proposed national waterway after its full development by 2018-19. The traffic is expected to be handled at four terminals - Lakhipur, Karimganj, Silchar and Badarpur.
Posted on: Fri, 16 Aug 2013 06:04:13 +0000
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