Governance Community

Another significant decision aimed at enhancing service delivery in remote towns came on Tuesday, when the chief minister urged the group of ministers to prepare to offer governance at the doorstep. In the coming days, people living in remote locations may get the opportunity to host cabinet ministers for lunch, as Yogi has directed that officials contact directly with state residents and spend time with them to obtain feedback on the government’s performance and unmet expectations. On the basis of feedback from poor families at the bottom of the pyramid, the policy will be framed or adjusted. To ensure the success of the programme, the council of ministers has been divided into 18 groups, each led by a cabinet minister. The teams will be dispersed across the 18 divisional commissionerates. A total of 53 ministers, including the chief minister, make up the Council of Ministers. Before the next assembly session is called, the first round must be finished. The team will be required to spend three days in each division and at least 24 hours in each district. They will collect feedback from residents, elected representatives, party organisations, and affiliated outfits during their visit. During their stay, the ministers will examine the work done and milestones accomplished by their own department in the division. “Visiting some villages is a must and a major portion of the tour will be spent with the village population. Ministers will find out if benefits of welfare schemes are reaching them with complete transparency or not. Their expectations will be noted down, and a report will be prepared,” said a personal staff member of one the ministers who has been deputed in western UP. Lunch or refreshments would be served to the ministers in slums or at the home of a Dalit family. The report will be presented to the office of the chief minister for further action. Source: TNN

Telangana’s government inaugurated its first space-tech framework on Monday, April 19, with the goal of making the state a “globally recognised one-stop destination for space technology.” In keeping with the Union government’s recent reforms, the framework aims to foster private participation in the space industry. The event was the first of its kind in India, and it was hosted on Metaverse. Telangana’s Minister for IT and Industries, KT Rama Rao, noted that space technology is the state’s next emphasis area, and that with national reforms enabling increasing private sector participation in the spacetech industry, Telangana will be “supporting the innovation that is bound to occur.” For the inaugural ceremony, a space-themed metaverse setting was created, along with custom avatars of the important dignitaries. Attendees joined the event using standard avatars on the site and engaged with neighbouring participants while simultaneously watching the proceedings — exactly as they would at a physical event. The blockchain technology for the event was developed by Hyderabad-based tech firm Gamitronics, and the metaverse platform was established by PartyNite. The occasion was attended by Amitabh Kant, CEO of NITI Aayog, Somanath S, Chairman of ISRO, and Dr. Pawan Goenka, Chairman of IN-SPACe. At the end of the event, an NFT collection was opened, with revenues going to support one of the state government’s technology-enabled social impact projects.

On Tuesday, Union Home and Cooperation Minister Amit Shah stated that “we must all accept professionalism and embrace all principles of corporate governance in a cooperative spirit.” In his address to the national convention on cooperative policy here, he stated that Prime Minister Narendra Modi has set the cooperative sector the goal of ‘Sahakar se Samridhi’ by creating a separate Ministry for Cooperation. “If we are able to do this, then in the coming 20-25 years, we can take the cooperative sector to new heights and create a situation in which the cooperative sector should have a large share in the country’s development,” he added. “We have to accept professionalism and embrace all principles of corporate governance with a cooperative spirit and while creating an economic model for rural development and providing employment to the poor people, so that they can live a dignified life, cooperatives to play a huge role,” the Minister said. He also stated that for a large portion of the country that is economically backward, cooperative is the only model that can make 80 crore people financially prosperous in the country. Describing that only cooperatives can achieve equitable profit distribution, where the entire profit goes to the stakeholders and management costs are kept to a minimum, cooperatives are the only way to achieve this. Shah also stated that there are many models in our country, such as IFFCO and Amul, that have maintained the cooperative spirit while following in the footsteps of corporate governance. “There are about 8,55,000 cooperatives running in the country today, 1,77,000 are credit societies, another 700,000 are cooperative societies, 17 are national-level cooperative unions, 33 are state cooperative banks, there are more than 63,000 active PACS and more than 12 crore members, and today around 91 per cent of the villages have presence of cooperatives,” he said. Describing the need for a new cooperative policy, the Minister also stated that the impediments that exist must be removed by making new provisions, new policies, and harmonisation, and this can only happen if a cooperative policy is developed to meet all of today’s needs in a holistic manner. He also stated that a completely updated cooperative policy will be prepared within the next eight to nine months. Computerisation of the entire cooperative sector and modernisation and professionalism will also have to be brought in the working of big cooperative societies, he further said, adding that after the brainstorming in this two-day discussion will make a new policy. Source: IANS

SEBI, the capital markets regulator, set up a committee on Monday to review and make recommendations for improving governance norms at stock exchanges and other market infrastructure institutions (MIIs). The news comes amid allegations of corporate governance failures at the NSE, with various issues surfacing following a SEBI order revealing the presence of a ‘Himalayan yogi’ who influenced the exchange’s previous MD and CEO Chitra Ramkrishna’s decisions. Apart from that, Ramkrishna had discussed with the yogi various internal confidential information, including as the NSE’s financial and business strategies, dividend scenario, and financial outcomes, and even consulted him on the exchange’s employee performance appraisals. According to a statement, G Mahalingam, a former whole-time member of SEBI, would chair the six-member committee. MD and CEOs of stock exchanges NSE and BSE, as well as depositories NSDL and CDSL; J N Gupta, MD of Stakeholders Empowerment Services; Aarti Nihalani, Partner, Oliver Wyman; Sandip Bhagat, Partner, S&R Associates; and Uttam Bagri, former chairman, BSE Brokers Forum are the other members of the committee. The committee’s mandate includes offering recommendations on how to increase the role of MIIs’ governing boards and committees. In addition, the panel will examine the requirements for the appointment, role, and responsibility of board directors and Key Managerial Persons (KMPs), as well as the development of appropriate metrics for monitoring various aspects of MII and KMP operations. The committee will also improve accountability and transparency, evaluate the policy on the safekeeping and sharing of information held by MIIs, and revisit the governing board’s and KMPs’ codes of conduct and ethics. Source: PTI

Prime Minister Narendra Modi stated on Tuesday that poverty can be eradicated through empowering people and aligning their power with good governance. On Tuesday, the Prime Minister virtually addressed the ‘Grih Pravesham’ of nearly 5.21 lakh Pradhan Mantri Awaas Yojana-Gramin beneficiaries in Madhya Pradesh. “When a hardworking government and the aspirations of the common man join hands, then growth and progress always remain limitless. Poverty is eliminated when poor people get empowered while their strength is aligned with good governance,” PM Modi stated. He also said that around 5.21 lakh Madhya Pradesh families have received ‘pucca houses,’ which will “mainly empower the state’s women” and “open a world of opportunities for the poor.” “This scheme is a step toward the empowerment of the poor and gives them hope for a bright future filled with possibilities. The 5.21 lakh homes also signify empowerment of women in Madhya Pradesh,” PM Modi said. Furthermore, the Prime Minister stated that the programme to provide underprivileged people with pucca houses is not solely a government initiative. PM Modi said, “It is a commitment to give hope to the poor.” “It is the first step to give courage to the poor to come out of poverty. When poor people have a roof over their head, they can focus on educating their children,” he said adding that despite the COVID pandemic, the government has ensured that the construction of ‘pucca houses’ continues without any hindrance. “These houses are special because they include amenities like gas connection under Ujjwala Yojna, LED bulb connection under Ujala Yojna, toilets under Swachh Bharat Abhiyan, and water supply under the Har Ghar Jal Yojna,” PM Modi said, highlighting the key features of the houses given under the Pradhan Mantri Awaas Yojana-Gramin scheme. Traditional celebrations with conch, light, flowers, and rangoli were also held in the new houses erected under the plan in Madhya Pradesh during the ceremony. Source: ANI

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Australian counterpart have reaffirmed their steadfast commitment to providing humanitarian aid to Afghans, despite the deteriorating humanitarian situation in Afghanistan. “Leaders reiterated their firm commitment to provide humanitarian assistance to the Afghan people, in view of the deteriorating humanitarian situation, and also reaffirmed calls on those in positions of power throughout Afghanistan to adhere to counter-terrorism commitments and human rights, in accordance with 2593,” according to a joint statement released after the India-Australia virtual summit on Tuesday. Last year, the United Nations Security Council Resolution 2593 was passed, which mandates that Afghan territory not be used for terrorist sanctuary, training, or financing, and asks for coordinated action against all terrorist groups. The two leaders also reiterated their call for the protection of women’s and girls’ rights, as well as their full involvement in public life, in their joint statement. “They agreed that long-term peace and stability in Afghanistan require a broad-based and inclusive government,” according to the statement. This joint statement follows the UN Special Political Mission in the country’s mandate being renewed, with a focus on priorities ranging from humanitarian relief coordination to human rights monitoring and dialogue facilitation. The adopted agreement extends the mandate of the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) for another year, but with a shift in priority tasks. Seven months after the Taliban took control of Afghanistan, the mission’s priority has shifted to managing humanitarian aid, providing outreach and good offices for dialogue, and promoting good governance and the rule of law. Members also urged Afghan political actors and stakeholders – including competent authorities as needed – to work with UNAMA to carry out its mandate and ensure the safety, security, and freedom of movement of its personnel. Source: TOI

S Jaishankar, the External Affairs Minister, will make a statement in the Rajya Sabha on Tuesday about the situation in Ukraine and the status of Indian students being evacuated as part of Operation Ganga. In the second part of Parliament’s Budget Session, the Opposition slammed the government for delaying the rescue of students trapped in the conflict zone and criticized the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) for releasing “vague” advisories. Chairman M. Venkaiah Naidu praised the federal and state governments for rising to the challenge of evacuating Indian students. Later, around zero hour, members expressed concern about the future of students from Ukraine. Ravindra Kumar, a TDP MP, said that now that the students’ safety and security had been assured, the government should take the required steps to protect their future by consulting all stakeholders. “Students who returned from Ukraine owing to the war are in a really terrible situation,” Congress MP K.C. Venugopal said. Their future is a major concern for their family. “The government must explain what steps it is taking to accommodate medical students who were compelled to return from Ukraine midway through their degree,” he said. On February 24, the Indian government began Operation Ganga to bring back trapped Indians in Ukraine. Prime Minister Narendra Modi sent four central ministers, Kiren Rijiju, Hardeep Singh Puri, Jyotiraditya Scindia, and General VK Singh, to coordinate rescue operations in various countries. In more than 80 special evacuation flights, India has been able to rescue over 20,000 stranded citizens. Buses and trains carried Indians to Ukraine’s western borders, where they were flown back to India through Bucharest, Budapest, Suceava, and Warsaw. Over 600 students were evacuated from Sumy, and the last group was taken back to India via Poland. Meanwhile, India has decided to relocate its embassy in Ukraine to Poland for the time being. “In view of the rapidly deteriorating security situation in Ukraine, including attacks in the western parts of the country,” the Ministry of External Affairs said, “it has been decided that the Indian Embassy in Ukraine will be temporarily relocated to Poland.” On Monday, the second part of the Budget session began and will end on April 8. In addition to conducting legislative work, the Rajya Sabha is expected to spend more than 64 hours debating issues of public importance. Source: ANI

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) was victorious in four of the five states after a high-octane electoral battle. The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) won a historic victory in Punjab, receiving the state’s largest mandate in recent years. Yogi Adityanath, the Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh, has also written history by returning to power. Since 1985, the BJP has been the first party to retain power in the state. In Uttarakhand, Manipur, and Goa, the party is returning to power. Despite the fact that CM Pushkar Singh Dhami lost his seat, the party was able to overcome anti-incumbency. Three Independent candidates and the Maharashtrawadi Gomantak Party, which extended its support to the saffron party despite a pre-poll arrangement with the TMC, helped the BJP gain a majority in Goa. “The overwhelming majority voted against the BJP, but their votes were split among many parties, which gave the BJP the opportunity to win 20 seats,” said Congress leader P Chidambaram. Congress is in the midst of its worst crisis ever, following a resounding rejection in every state: The Congress, which ruled the country in 2004 and even nine states in 2014, today governs only two states: Rajasthan and Chhattisgarh. Many veterans, including those represented by the G-23, felt this was a case of “we told you so.” Ghulam Nabi Azad, a member of the CWC, remarked, “I am shocked, my heart is bleeding to see our defeat in state after state.”

In Punjab, Arvind Kejriwal’s Aam Admi Party won by a landslide, while the BJP bucked the trend in Uttar Pradesh, where it faced a tough fight from Akhilesh Yadav’s Samajwadi Party. In Goa, Manipur, and Uttarakhand, the BJP is also leading. In Punjab, the Aam Aadmi Party has a significant lead, with close to 90 seats in the 117-seat assembly. With 13 members, the ruling Congress is in second place. As the counting of votes began the third hour on Thursday, both the Congress’s top leaders in Punjab, Chief Minister Charanjit Singh Channi and state unit boss Navjot Singh Sidhu, were trailing. Former Chief Minister Amarinder Singh loses his seat in the Patiala Urban constituency. The BJP appears to have successfully combated anti-incumbency in Uttar Pradesh, winning over 250 seats. The Congress and the Aam Aadmi Party are tied for second place. Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath of Gorakhpur and SP chief Akhilesh Yadav of Karhal were among the leaders. In the 403-member legislative assembly, 202 votes are required for a majority. The BJP has extended its lead in Uttarakhand, with the Congress trailing in the hill state, according to election trends. As per the latest trends as of 10:57 a.m., the BJP is leading in 44 seats and the Congress in 21 in the Uttarakhand assembly elections. According to the most recent trends available, the BJP was leading in 19 of Goa’s 40 Assembly seats, while the Congress was leading in 11. So far, Chief Minister Pramod Sawant has a 448-vote lead in the Sanquelim Assembly seat. In Manipur, polls reveal that the BJP is in the lead. In the Manipur elections, the BJP is leading in 24 seats, while the Congress is leading in 12.

Andhra Pradesh Governor Biswabhushan Harichandan stated on Monday that the state government has been working tirelessly for the past three years to ensure decentralised and inclusive governance, adding that in line with that goal, the state government has begun restructuring districts. On the first day of the budget session, the Governor told the joint session of the AP State Legislative Assembly and Council that in addition to the existing 13 districts, 13 more are being constructed, and the new system will begin functioning on April 2 in Ugadi. The Governor noted the country and the state have gone through a difficult period in the last two years owing to the Covid-19 pandemic in his one-hour speech, which began at 11 a.m. Bifurcation-related stress, five years of policy paralysis from 2014 to 2019, an economic slowdown from 2014 to 2019, a year of economic depression from 2019 to 2020, and two years of Covid-19 pandemic have all had a significant impact on the state’s budget, according to him. “The government’s steadfast commitment for extending support to farmers, women, underprivileged, marginalised and vulnerable groups has ensured, even during these excruciatingly difficult times, rural consumption and spending and the economy as a whole does not take a nosedive,” he said. Because of the government’s effective intervention, the state’s GSDP increased by 0.22 percent in the fiscal year 2020-21. In contrast, the country’s GDP fell by 7.3 percent over the same period. In the fiscal year 2021-22, the State GSDP increased by 9.91 percent at constant prices over the previous year. According to him, the State economy is expected to rebound to pre-Covid levels following a year of sluggish growth. At current prices, the state economy is expected to increase 16.82 percent in 2021-22, according to advanced estimates. With a growth rate of 15.87 percent, per capita income has risen to Rs 2,04,758 from Rs 1,76,707 last year. The government has adopted the 11th PRC, reaffirming the state’s commitment to the welfare of government employees. He mentioned how the proper implementation of Navarathnalu was made possible by directly providing cash support to beneficiaries’ bank accounts without any leakages. It made a big difference in the lives of the citizens of the state. The Governor went on to describe how the village and ward secretariats, as well as the volunteer system, are paying off handsomely. He went into detail about the state’s efforts to raise educational standards through the Nadu-Nedu programme, for which the government is spending Rs 15,000 crore. The Governor discussed the government’s efforts to help farmers and improve the farm sector through a variety of programmes including YSR Rythu Bharosa-PM Kisan, free crop insurance, zero-interest loans, e-cropping, and in-time input subsidies. According to the Governor, the Covid-19 pandemic had a negative fiscal impact. “While revenues were constrained, the expenditure had gone up due to Covid mitigation measures,” he said.