Bio-metric ID for ESIC Employees

The Employees’ State Insurance Corporation (ESIC) issues two bio-metric Pehchan Cards under the IT Project ‘Panchdeep’ to the Insured Persons covered under the ESI Scheme. One card is for use of the Insured Person and another one for use by his family. The card has a unique ten-digit Insurance Number, name, date of birth, address and photograph of Insured Person and his family. The reverse side of the card contains a magnetic strip and ESI Corporation’s Hologram. The Insurance Number of the Insured Person is embedded in the magnetic strip.

The card contains only the Insured Person’s Number which is embedded in the magnetic strip. The remaining details are stored in the central database servers installed at the Data Centre in Rohini, Delhi and are updated from time to time. The Bio-metric card is used to access the central database containing all the data like family details, medical history of Insured Person and his family.

This information was given by Minister of Labour and Employment Shri Mallikarjun Kharge in reply to a written question in the Rajya Sabha today.

Source: pib

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Attacks on RTI Activists

There have been reports in the media that some persons have been killed or attacked allegedly for exercising their right under the RTI Act, 2005.

Data is not centrally maintained. However, media has reported that Sh. Ramesh Agrawal, a green activist, who was exercising right to information, was shot at on 7th July, 2012 in Chhattisgarh.

The framework of existing laws such as Indian Penal Code, Criminal Procedure Code etc. is considered adequate to provide for safety and security to all citizens, including RTI activists. Further, RTI Activists and whistle blowers will also get protection under the “Whistle Blowers Protection Bill, 2011” passed by the Lok Sabha on 27.12.2011 and is presently in the Rajya Sabha.

Maintenance of law and order and providing safety and security for all citizens is primarily the subject matter of State Government concerned. Government of India has drawn the attention of State Governments to the reports appearing in the media about the victimization of people, who use RTI to expose corruption and irregularities in administration. The States have been requested that if any such instance comes to their notice, it should be promptly inquired into and action taken against the offenders.

This was stated by Sh. V. Narayanasamy, Minister of State in the Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions and Minister of State in the Prime Minister’s Office in the Rajya Sabha today.

Source:pib

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Increasing Cost of Internet Access

The cost of accessing Internet is not fixed by the Government. The tariff for internet services are governed by the Telecom Tariff Order(s) issued by Telecom Regulatory Authority of India from time to time.

However, the Government has decided to levy a uniform licence fee as 8% of “Adjusted Gross Revenue(AGR)” on all Internet Service Providers in phased manner, in two steps starting from 01.07.2012.

This decision for imposing Uniform Licence Fee for various Telecom Service Providers was taken in the interest of ending arbitrage in the licence fee, ensuring simplicity & transparency, expanding licence fee base and ensuring a level playing field between different services, with due consideration of the revenue receipts of the Government and the growth of Telecom services in the country.

This was stated by Shri Milind Deora, the minister of State in the Ministry of Communication and Information Technology in response to a question in Lok Sabha today.

Source:pib

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Setting up of Educational Institutions

Education, being in the Concurrent List, creation of new institutions is the responsibility both of Central and State Governments. Central Government is creating new institutions, wherever required, depending on resources. Several programmes and schemes initiated by the Government have led to creation of fresh intake capacity in higher education. These include Scheme of Model Degree Colleges in 374 identified Educationally Backward Districts, 16 new Central Universities, 08 Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs), 07 Indian Institute of Management (IIMs), 10 National Institute of Technology (NITs) etc. Consequent to passing of the Central Educational Institutions (Reservation in Admission) Act, 2006, the Central Government has increased the intake capacity in all Central Educational Institutions (CEI) to an extent of 54%.

The Gross Enrolment Ratio(GER) in higher education has increased from 12.4% in 2007-08 to 15% in 2009-10. The Government aims to achieve a GER of 30% in higher education by 2020.

This information was given by the Minister of State for Human Resource Development, Dr. D. Purandeswari, in written reply to a question in Lok Sabha today.

Source:pib

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BIO-Metric ID for Industrial Workers by ESIC

The Employees’ State Insurance Corporation (ESIC) issues two bio-metric Pehchan Cards under the IT Project ‘Panchdeep’ to the Insured Persons covered under the ESI Scheme. One card is for use of the Insured Person and another one for use by his family. The card has a unique ten-digit Insurance Number, name, date of birth, address and photograph of Insured Person and his family. The reverse side of the card contains a magnetic strip and ESI Corporation’s Hologram. The Insurance Number of the Insured Person is embedded in the magnetic strip. The card contains only the Insured Person’s Number which is embedded in the magnetic strip. The remaining details are stored in the central database servers installed at the Data Centre in Rohini, Delhi and are updated from time to time. The Bio-metric card is used to access the central database containing all the data like family details, medical history of Insured Person and his family. This information was given by Minister of Labour and Employment Shri Mallikarjun Kharge in reply to a written question in the Rajya Sabha today. Source:pib

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Complimentary Railway Card Pass Facility Extended to ‘Civilian’ Recipients of ‘Chakra’ Awardees

 The Ministry of Railways has decided that the civilian recipients of gallantry awards of Chakra series (namely Param Vir Chakra, Maha Vir Chakra, Vir Chakra, Ashok Chakra, Kirti Chakra and Shaurya Chakra) will also be provided 1st /2nd Class AC Complimentary Card passes on the lines as admissible to Defence awardees.  The procedure and other conditions for issue of such Card Passes to civilian Chakra awardees will remain the same as applicable to Defence awardees.

          As per extant policy, Ministry of Railways provides 1st Class/2nd AC Complimentary Card passes to Defence personnel recipients of gallantry awards of Chakra series and to widows of posthumous gallantry awardees of Chakra series viz. Param Vir Chakra, Maha Vir Chakra, Vir Chakra, Ashok Chakra, Kirti Chakra and Shaurya Chakra.  The Card Pass entitles them life-long free rail travel in 1st Class/2nd AC Class along with one companion in same class over all India Railways except Metro Railway/Kolkata.  From now on, this facility will now be available to both civilian and Defence personnel recipients of Chakra Awards.


Source:pib

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ON LINE VERIFICATION OF CASTE CERTICATE FROM AUGUST

 State minister for social justice Shivajirao Moghe on Monday announced that an online system to speed up verification and issuing of caste certificates will be started by the end of August this year. The certificate is required during admission for schools, colleges for reserved seats, elections and while availing government schemes.

Addressing a news conference here, Moghe said, "The application procedure for caste certificate and its verification is on the same lines as the passport issuing system. The social justice office will hire some people on contract basis to receive documents required for caste certificate, and to process and verify and issue the certificates."

Citizens, who need the caste certificates, will apply online and furnish scanned copies of the documents required to be submitted. If all the documents are in order, the certificate will be issued but if there are doubts, the person concerned would be asked to come to the designated office with original copies of the documents for further verification.

Every district has a caste certificate verification committee, which verifies the certificate on the basis of documents submitted after their authenticity. Moghe said, "The caste certificate verification process is time-consuming and we wish to reduce it and make the procedure error-free."

The social justice department has also decided to select needy people through draw of lots for disbursing loans offered by various development corporations constituted for backward classes. These people are economically underprivileged and have limited resources.

Moghe said the government provides financial assistance to those people who can start their own businesses. "But, the procedure for selection is affected by corruption and favouritism and genuine people usually do not get the benefits of government schemes. The draw of lots from the needy people will eliminate favoritism," he said.

Courtesy:TOI

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