Insights Daily Current Events, 01 June 2015
NCSC seeks explanation from IIT-M
The National Commission for Scheduled Castes has sought an explanation from the Indian Institute of Technology-Madras for derecognising the Ambedkar-Periyar Study Circle.
- If the IIT-M is found to be in violation of the law, especially the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, the commission could instruct the police to register an FIR.
Why?
Recently, the IIT-M de-recognised the study circle on the premise that it had violated guidelines while organising a meeting in which some literature — critical of the Narendra Modi government and with potential to spread hatred among communities — was circulated.
About National Commission for Scheduled Castes:
It is a constitutional body established with a view to provide safeguards against the exploitation of Scheduled Castes. To promote and protect their social, educational, economic and cultural interests, special provisions were made in the Constitution.
Background:
- In order to ensure that the safeguards provided to SCs and STs are properly implemented, the Constitution on its inception provided for appointment of a special office under Article 338 of the Constitution to investigate all matters relating to the safeguards provided for Scheduled Castes & Scheduled Tribes and report to the President about the working of these safeguards. In pursuance of this provision a Special Officer known as the Commissioner for Scheduled Castes & Scheduled Tribes was appointed for the first time on 18th November, 1950.
- A proposal was mooted for amendment of Article 338 of the Constitution (46th Amendment) by replacing the single member Special Officer by multi-member system. The first Commission for SC & ST came into being on August, 1978.
- The setup of the Commission of 1978 underwent change in 1987 and it was named as National Commission for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes. This Commission being a National Level Advisory body played the role of adviser on major policy and developmental issues relating to SCs/STs
- Later, through the 89th Amendment of the Constitution it was decided to have a separate National Commission for Scheduled Castes & separate National Commission for Scheduled Tribes. This came into effect in 2004.
- Thus, the erstwhile National Commission for SCs & STs was bifurcated into two different Commissions.
Functions of the commission:
- To investigate and monitor all matters relating to the safeguards provided for the Scheduled Castes under this Constitution or under any other law for the time being in force or under any order of the Government and to evaluate the working of such safeguards;
- To inquire into specific complaints with respect to the deprivation of rights and safeguards of the Scheduled Castes;
- To participate and advise on the planning process of socio-economic development of the Scheduled Castes and to evaluate the progress of their development under the Union and any State;
- To present to the President, annually and at such other times as the Commission may deem fit, reports upon the working of those safeguards;
- To make in such reports recommendations as to the measures that should be taken by the Union or any State for the effective implementation of those safeguards and other measures for the protection, welfare and socio-economic development of the Scheduled Castes; and
- To discharge such other functions in relation to the protection, welfare and development and advancement of the Scheduled Castes as the President may, subject to the provisions of any law made by Parliament, by rule specify.
The Commission consists of a chairperson, a vice-chairperson and three other members. They are appointed by the President by warrant under his hand and seal. Their conditions of service and tenure of office are also determined by the president. The commission presents an annual report to the president.
Sources: The Hindu, Wiki.
Kolkata-Dhaka-Agartala bus trial run today
The trial run of the much-awaited Kolkata-Dhaka-Agartala bus service will begin on June 1st.
- The service is aimed at easy movement of people of two Indian States separated by Bangladesh.
This is the first bus service to connect the two north-eastern States through Bangladesh. The Dhaka-Kolkata service was introduced in 1999 and the one between Dhaka and Agartala in 2003.
It had been sought for long by the people of Tripura and other adjoining States for travelling through Bangladesh without changing vehicles. It takes nearly three days to travel from Kolkata to Agartala, the capital of Tripura, a 1,650-km distance by land. Now, the journey will take less than 24 hours. The two countries recently completed a trial run of the Dhaka-Shillong-Guwahati service.
Sources: The Hindu.
Govt. issues controversial land ordinance for third time
President Pranab Mukherjee recently re-promulgated for the third time the Land Ordinance that prescribes processes for acquisition of land for public projects.
- Despite Opposition protests, the Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister had recommended to the President the re-issuance of the ordinance on the ground that it was necessary for maintaining continuity and providing a framework to compensate people whose land had been acquired.
- The ordinance will now have to be laid before both Houses of Parliament and shall cease to operate at the expiration of six weeks from the date of reassembly if it is not converted into law.
Important provisions in the Right to Fair Compensation and Transparency in Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement (Amendment) Ordinance, 2015:
- Land shall be acquired up to 1 km on both sides of designated railway lines or roads for industrial corridor.
- Government shall undertake a survey of wasteland and arid land and maintain a record.
- A provision is included for providing employment to project affected families.
- Hearings to be held in districts where land acquisition takes place.
- Courts won’t need government nod to take cognisance of offence under CrPC.
- ‘Five year’ clause for completion of project on acquired land will be augmented and amended by the length of the project. No acquisition will be transferred to private persons.
- Under section 33 compulsory employment clause shall be inserted.
- Land acquired for Hospitals, Educational Institutions and other Social Projects will not come under definition of Industrial Corridor.
- Government to ensure before notification land acquired would be bare minimum required for a project.
- Infrastructure projects including projects under public private partnership where the ownership of the land continues to vest with the Government, appropriate governments are empowered to take steps for exemption from “Social Impact Assessment” and “Special Provisions for Safeguarding Food Security”. In addition acquisition for such projects are exempted from the “Consent” provisions of the Act as well.
Sources: The Hindu, PIB.
Memorandum of Understanding between India and Sweden on cooperation in the field of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises
The Union Cabinet, chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, recently gave its approval for signing of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between India and Sweden on cooperation in the field of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises.
Details:
- The objective of the MoU is to promote cooperation between the Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises of the two countries.
- It provides a structured framework and enabling environment to the Micro, Small and Medium Enterprise (MSME) sector of the two countries to understand each other’s strengths, markets, technologies, policies etc.
- It also contains an agreement between the two countries to enable their respective MSMEs to participate in each other’s trade fairs/exhibitions and to exchange business delegations, to understand policy and explore markets so that joint ventures, tie-ups, technology transfer etc. could take place.
- It does not contain or involve any financial, legal or political commitment on the part of either party. In no case does it attract any financial liability on the part of the Government of India.
Sources: PIB.
MoU between India and Bangladesh
The Union Cabinet recently gave its approval for signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Bangladesh on prevention of human trafficking especially trafficking in women and children: rescue, recovery, repatriation and reintegration of victims of human trafficking.
The salient features of the MoU:
- To strengthen cooperation to prevent all forms of the human trafficking, especially that of women and children and ensure the speedy investigation and prosecution of traffickers and organized crime syndicates in either country;
- enumeration of preventive measures that would be taken to eliminate human trafficking in women and children and in protecting the rights of victims of trafficking; and
- repatriation of victims would be done as expeditiously as possible and the home country will undertake the safe and effective reintegration of the victims.
Sources: PIB.
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