Governance Community

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

Ludhiana: Under the urban development and Smart City Mission, the government has purchased new fire fighting equipment for the city of Ludhiana. Cabinet Minister Bharat Bhushan Ashu dedicated the modernised and advanced fire fighting and rescue infrastructure on 11th September 2021. The minister said the state government had spent Rs 3.28 crore on purchasing hi-tech equipment, including new mini-fire tenders, materials and emergency lights under the Smart City scheme. He also said that four fabricated Tata Yodha fire tenders with a cost of Rs 88.64 lakh had been purchased to cover interior and narrow areas of the city. The innovations and equipment include: Water and foam will be used in the mini-tenders to douse the flames. Hi-tech pumping system has been installed in four vehicles. Two Royal Enfield bullet motorcycles equipped with advanced firefighting technology have also been purchased Three life detectors of Rs 66.02 lakh have also made available.The detectors have a sensor that would sense human beings buried under debris in collapsed buildings and help save precious lives. 10 battery-operated combi tools of Rs 69.50 lakh have also been provided to the Fire Brigade Department. Five portable and inflatable emergency lights have been bought at a cost of Rs 11.74 lakh. In addition, these lights are based on the petrol engine system. Five thermal imaging cameras of Rs 41.79 lakh have been provided to the fire brigade. The cameras would help to see through smoke and monitor the fire’s spread and would assist in making better planning to control the fire, especially major hotspots. Five aluminium fire fighting suits of Rs 51 lakh have also been purchased for firemen to handle any incident easily with more stay near high temperature. Ludhiana now ranks 37th on the list of Smart City rankings in the country. Source: The news has been published by Tribune News Service with edits and inputs from the ArdorComm News Network team

Dehradun, Uttarakhand: Dehradun District Magistrate R Rajesh Kumar took stock of various bus service related arrangements while riding in a Smart City Limited bus from ISBT to Tehsil Chowk. During the ride, he interacted with the public and received suggestions from them to improve the bus service and related arrangements. He instructed for an online ticket payment system using QR code and to make the announcement system more effective. Kumar instructed the officers of Smart City Limited to arrange better first aid and masks so that people without masks could use them. He instructed to ensure adherence to COVID protocols in the bus. He said that various public service schemes by the government should be communicated on screens on smart city buses. He also directed to reserve some seats for women, specially-abled and senior citizens in the bus. The District Magistrate sought suggestions from the passengers to make the bus services better. He was suggested to start bus services in other routes in the district. He also saw the traffic signals installed by the Smart City at ISBT and Smart CCTV cameras installed for traffic control/security, which are being controlled from the Smart City Control Room located at IT Park. He asked to make the electric buses run by Smart City double-decker and prepare an action plan to provide more smooth traffic to the commuters. In view of the heavy vehicular traffic at ISBT, he asked to strengthen the traffic signals further so that the pedestrians are not inconvenienced in any way. Source: The article has been published by ANI.

Railways issued tenders last month for the construction of rail arcades to engagetravellers. In a recent developmental initiative the Indian Railways has envisioned a plan to build small city centre hubs at railway stations in major cities. These hubs will contain shopping plazas and food courts for the entertainment of the travellers. The first two smart city centres are proposed to be built in Bangalore and Chandigarh. The state-run Indian Railways Station Development Corporation Ltd (IRSDC) issued tenders last month to develop the small city centre that will let residents of the two cities and travellers “to engage, use the facilities and spend quality time”. According to the tender, potential bidders will not be allowed to sell beef, pork or alcohol at these centres.The proposed arcade zone for KSR Bengaluru railway station will be spread across 15,550 square feet while Chandigarh railway station’s arcade will be half this size, 7,500 sq ft. “The space is to be developed as an experience zone with presence of brands,” said the tender document issued by IRSDC, the dedicated company set up by the government to upgrade railway stations. The construction and setting of the Rail Arcades is a part of a larger plan to monetize the national carrier’s land parcels and railway stations in a bid to shore up its falling revenue. The IRSDC is also working to transform railway station areas into a ‘Railopolis’, a mini smart city hub with mixed- use development. Source: The story has been published from Hindustan Times with a few edits by the ArdorComm NewsNetwork team.

Unison of the whole parties backing the government was seen in the parliament, for government’s efforts to evacuate the Indians who are stranded in Afghanistan, and also for ensuring the safety of those who are waiting to get back to their homeland soon. This was witnessed at a meeting convened to brief them on the ongoing issue of the Indians stranded in Afghanistan. As the situation seems fluidafter the Taliban has taken over Afghanistan and yet the roles of Afghan leaders and groups aren’t clear. India has opted for the “wait and watch’ position until the new dispensation of leadership takes place in Afghanistan. The foreign minister S Jaishankar stated the meeting of floor leaders of all political parties with an opening remark in the parliament on the Afghan situation. He stated that ap[propriate steps are being taken to bring back Indians as well as those interested in coming to India, and the road ahead. Following which foreign secretary Harsh V Shringla gave a detailed presentation on the matter. Source: theeconomictimes.com

Prayagraj: Due to the rise in cases of power theft in the city, the government has decided to revamp the power distribution lines. The electricity department has decided to lay the Low-tension (LT) line which is responsible for supplying electricity to every house, underground in the city.  The power department has already performed a survey to find the areas where the cases of power theft are at an all-time high. They will lay the LT line first in the areas will high number of power theft cases. In the revamped scheme by the central government, the installation of aerial bunch conductors will take place to curb the theft of electricity even in villages with less than thousand residents. Superintendent engineer Ashutosh Srivastav is currently the nodal officer responsible for revamping power distribution in the city. According to chief engineer Vinod Kumar (Prayagraj Division) of Purvanchal Vidyut Vitran Nigam Limited, a proposal will be drafted by the state power department and will be sent to the Center through the state government. According to TOI, “All the attempts are being made to minimize the loss of poweer—12% in urban and 15% in rural areas—so that the consumers get uninterrupted power supply. For this, the entire set up, from the substation to wires, transformers etc., would be revamped so that there is a minimum flaw in the power line and the work would be completed within 2025”, said the chief engineer. The power department may also start the installation of smart meters in urban homes of the city. Source: Times of India

From the date of the launch of Sovereign Gold Bond (SGB) in 2015, the government has collected Rs 31,290 crore. This was informed in the parliament on Monday by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman. The main objective of the gold bonds was to create an alternative financial asset and also an investment substitute for purchasing or holding physical gold.  In this respect, Nirmala Sitharaman said, ‘It was the response of the public in respect of the SGB scheme which resulted in a collection of Rs, 31,290 crores in 2015-16”. These bonds have been issued on payments in Indian Rupees and dominated on grams. Issued on the behalf of the government of India by the Reserve bank of India and have a sovereign guarantee. Currently the limit for the investment of 4 Kg per fiscal year, for individuals and 20 kg per fiscal year for Hindu Undivided Families, trusts, and similar entities. The ceiling for this will be counted based on the financial year and it will include SGB purchases during the trading in the secondary market, as the finance minister stated. With that, the ceiling on investment will not include the holding as collateral by the banks and financial institutions.  Source: economictimes.com

According to its electoral promise, to appoint aspirants belonging from all castes as temple priests, the DMK government on Saturday appointed 24 trained ‘archakas’, belonging to various communities as priests in the shrine. The appointment orders were handed over by chief minister M K Stalin, the orders were of the Hindu religious charitable Endowments Department for 75 personals making appointments to 208 positions in various segments. The appointments also include 24 aspirants who completed their training in the state-run center for becominga priest in Hindu temples with 34 others as well, who had completed their training in ‘pathshala’ as ‘archaka’.  Also, these 208 appointments include “Bhattacharyas, “Odhuvars” Poojaris, and technical and office assistant. They were all recruited after due process, said the government.  In this recruitment we can see, Bhttacharyas who are Vaishanaite priests, Odhuvars who are trained in Tamil Devotionalhymns composed by Shaivite saints which also include Appar and Manikavasagar in praise lord of shiva. Source: theeconomictimes.com