Governance Community

In a joint meeting on Wednesday held between the Delhi Pollution Control Committee (DPCC) Engineers and Green Marshals and Delhi’s Environment Minister Gopal Rai, it was concluded with the decision of starting the anti-dust campaign from 7th October 2021. The campaign initiated by the Delhi Government will start effectively from today and will continue till October 29. In a recent move, Rai had launched the ‘Advanced Green War Room’ and ‘Green Delhi App’ for people in Delhi to send their complaints and concerns regarding 10 different kinds of pollution during the winter season. Rai told India TV, “Last year the anti-dust campaign showed good results. This time it will be run in a more systematic manner. We had a meeting with all government construction agencies on September 14 and with private agencies on September 17. In the meeting, we discussed the 14-point agenda.” This notice will be given on any irregularity because no explanation comes in two days, then a penalty will be imposed as per the National Green Tribunal (NGT) guidelines of 2016. During the campaign, thirty-one teams consisting of 17 DPCC and 14 Green Marshals will go to the ground from today to monitor the areas with their respective vans. Source: India Today.

After the continued friction between Chirag Paswan and Pashupati Paras regarding using the name Lok Janshakti Party, the Election Commission (EC) allocated separate party names and symbols to these two leaders. Days after barring Chirag Paswan and Pashupati Paras from using the name of Lok Janshakti Party or its symbol, the ‘bungalow’. While issuing separate letters to Paswan and Paras, the poll panel announced the name ‘Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas)’ and election symbol ‘Helicopter’ to the Chirag Paswan Group. On the other hand, the commission allotted ‘Rashtriya Lok Janshakti Party’ as party name for Paras group and election symbol as ‘Sewing Machine’. In the coming by-election, these two parties are asked to use the newly allotted symbol and party names only if any candidate from these parties will participate in the election. In an Interim order on October 2, the election commission barred both factions from using the name of Lok Janshakti Party or its symbol until the dispute between them did not settle down. The interim order was signed by Chief Election Commissioner Sushil Chandra and fellow Election Commissioners Rajiv Kumar and Anup Chandra Pandey. Source: thewire.in

A senior BJP Leader, Devendra Fadanvis, publicly stated that ups and downs are part of politics. BJP is very optimistic about getting another chance to form a government in Maharashtra again. This statement in public by Fadanvis, while addressing a gathering of Mathadi workers in Navi Mumbai on the occasion of the 88birth anniversary of labour leader late Annasaheb Patil, the former chief minister, raised the concern for a speedy resolution of issues concerning head loaders. He also said issues of Mathadi workers would have been solved by now if his government had been in power. As the leader of the opposition, he said in the assembly that we all should keep working together towards solving the issues of Mathadi workers. Source: economictimes.com

Based on a report by India Today, according to sources, it has been revealed that the International Community has denied the acceptance of the forceful Taliban government as it has not fulfilled the criteria of inclusivity as promised. “International community will not recognize any power that comes by force. Another demand was of an inclusive government, even that’s not fulfilled. As many as 14 ministers are proscribed terrorists,” the sources told India Today. They added further, “Pakistan was involved in the government formation, the ISI chief was in Kabul just before the government was formed.” Speaking about the QUAD Summit, it has been notified that new initiatives on COVID-19 vaccines, climate change and new emerging technology will be unfolded in due course of time. The US has ruled out India’s inclusion in the trilateral military alliance of the United States, Australia and the United Kingdom, known as AUKUS. On the possibility of the dilution of the QUAD’s agenda, sources said, “No comparison between Quad and AUKUS. The Quad approach is not a politico-military initiative. AUKUS is military in nature.” On the US saying it will allow only fully vaccinated to travel to America from November, sources said, “The US has been more liberal, we have administered well over 800 million vaccines. We are pushing for mutual recognition of vaccination certificates to partner countries. CoWin platform is an open-source digital platform. It provides full details – QR code.” Source: India Today

Member of NITI Aayog Dr. V K Paul on Friday said that the discussion of the Indian Government is going on with the vaccine manufacturers Moderna and Pfizer on various issues, including indemnity waiver. He added, “We are in touch with Moderna and Pfizer. The discussion is on hold as it is a process of negotiationand dialogue. We are seeking solutions on contractual and commitment issues. The process, for now, is ongoing”. Before this, in June, the US-based biotechnology company, Moderna, announced that India had granted permission for its COVID-19 vaccine to be imported into the country for restricted and emergency usage. Whereas Pfizer had not even applied for the and emergency use authorization in the country. Source: zeenews.india.com

Uddhav Thackeray announced that the Maharashtra Government is ready to extend full support if the Union Minister of States for Railways Rohasaheb Danve takes the initiative to launchthe Mumbai NAGPUR Bullet train project. Thackeray said,” We need to focus on public welfare keeping aside politics, as the people also expect the same from us as leaders. We, therefore, have to meet the public’s expectations as far as possible. He added that I am giving my word that full support from our side will be provided if the States Railway Minister takes the Mumbai-Nagpur bullet train project initiative. Source: ndtv.com

Kerala is moving a step closer towards achieving sustainability by installing solar panels in all government schools. The plan has been initiated by the Thiruvananthapuram City Corporation. The idea will benefit schools as they will now have to spend less money on electricity bills. The Corporation had earlier planned to turn all government buildings into solar-powered ones. This new development comes hand in hand with their previous plan. The discussions on the project with the Kerala State Electricity Board (KSEB) and other stakeholders have already begun. Initially, the state government has launched a Pilot Project to check the functioning of the plan. They intend to install solar panels in one of the schools to verify the smooth working of the project before implying it everywhere. In Kerala, schools are gearing up to welcome students by November, so they aspire to launch the pilot project before that. Earlier this month, the Assembly complex was completed under the Corporation’s Smart City project. In addition, solar panels have been installed at the Government College for Women at Vazhuthacaud, the Public Library and the Kerala University Library at Palayam, and the Government Central High School at Attakulangara. Source: The Hindu

Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the Defence Offices Complexes at Kasturba Gandhi Marg and Africa Avenue in New Delhi today. He also visited the Defence Office Complex at Africa Avenue and interacted with the army, navy, air force and civilian officers. Addressing the gathering, the Prime Minister said that in today’s inauguration of complexes, India has taken another step in developing the nation’s capital according to needs and aspirations of a new India in the 75th year of India’s independence. He lamented the fact that for a very long time the defence related work was being conducted from hutments constructed during the Second World War which were made keeping in mind horse stable and barracks needs. “This new defence office complex will strengthen the efforts of making the working of our defence forces convenient and effective”, he said. The PM said these modern offices built at KG Marg and Africa Avenue will go a long way in effectively carrying out all the work related to the security of the nation. This is a big step towards the construction of a modern defence enclave in the capital. He appreciated the inclusion of attractive artefacts by Indian artists in the complexes as symbols of Aaatmnirbhar Bharat. “The complexes reflect the modern form of diversity of our culture while preserving the vitality of Delhi and environment”, he said. The Prime Minister stressed the role of modern infrastructure in the government’s focus on ease of living and ease of doing business. “The ongoing construction work of Central Vista is going on with this thought only”, said the Prime Minister. Enumerating the efforts of new constructions as per the aspirations of the capital, the Prime Minister said that many constructions like residences for people’s representatives, Efforts to preserve Baba Saheb Ambedakar’s memories, many bhawans, memorials for our martyrs are enhancing the glory of the capital today. The Prime Minister said that these defence office complexes are the manifestation of changing work culture and priorities of the government. Optimal and proper use of available land with various departments of the government is one such priority, he said. The Prime Minister informed that these defence office complexes are constructed in 13 acre land parcels unlike earlier times when five times more land was used for similar complexes. The Prime Minister also highlighted that in next 25 years i.e. ‘Azadi ka Amrit Kaal’ productivity and efficiency of the government system will be supported by such efforts. Availability of a common central Secretariat, connected conference hall, easy connectivity like metro etc will help a great deal in making the capital people-friendly. Source: Press Information Bureau

A statement came from Raghuram Rajan, former Governor of Reserve Bank of India (RBI), on privatization. The government might also opt for improved governance and better rules instead of just opting for privatization of public sector undertakings (PSUs). This statement came in the form of a question asked by Rajan during a Panel interaction at the clubhouse on 11 September. “Why don’t we focus on improved governance?”. Rajan said, better governance and better rules can do as much as privatization. While opening the core public undertakings to private sectors, an exemplary approach has been suggested on privatization by Raghuram Rajan as he insists on having adequate regulations to protect the public interest. Source: Moneycontrol.com

The first phase of the data analysis-based version of MCA21, which was India’s first missionmode e-governance project, got virtually launched on Monday, by Anurag Thakur, minister of state for finance corporate Affairs. The new MCA21 version 3.0 will be implemented in two phasesand is expected to be launched by October 2021. In the first phase, there are revamped websites, new email services for MCA officers, and two new modules, namely, eBook and e-consultation. MCA2.0 V3.0 was a part of this year’s budget plan. It also leverages the use of new technologies for streamlining the corporate compliance and stakeholders’ experience. Here, MCA21 is an online portalfor the Ministry of corporate affairswhich is making all the company-related information accessible to different stakeholders and the general public. The MCA 21 was initially launched in 2006. Under the MCA21 the e-consultation module will facilitate virtual public consultation of proposed amendments and new legislation, which will be introduced by MCA at a specific time interval. It will also use Artificial Intelligence for compiling, grouping, and categorizing comments/inputs received from the stakeholders and it will create an analytical report for quick policy decision making. Source: thehindubusinessline.com