SC verdict on Noida Extension

INS Vishal

India has finally set the ball rolling for the construction of its largest-ever warship, the 65,000-tonne aircraft carrier INS Vishal.
Just before PM Narendra Modi left for China, the Manohar Parrikar led DAC cleared a flurry of long-pending projects for ultra-light howitzers, medium-transport aircraft, light utility helicopters worth over Rs.25,000 crore, out of which a minor amount of Rs.30 crore was sidelined for the indigenous aircraft carrier-II (IAC-II). But its potential is huge, and very significant for a country that is vying with China for the same strategic space in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR).
Carrier battle groups are the final word in raw power projection around the globe, capable of travelling 600 nautical miles a day with their supersonic fighters and missiles as well as accompanying destroyers, frigates and submarines. Officials said there were three main reasons for the DAC's green signal to the commencement of work for INS Vishal, which is likely to have nuclear propulsion for greater endurance as well as CATOBAR (catapult assisted take-off but arrested recovery) configuration for launching fighters as well as heavier aircraft. All Indian carriers till now have had angled ski jumps for fighters to take off under their own power in STOBAR (short take-off but arrested recovery) operations, which limits operations to only fighters like MiG-29Ks.
The first obviously is the increasing presence of the Chinese Navy in the IOR, coupled with its assiduous at tempts to establish logistical bases in the region. “After inducting its first carrier Liaoning in 2012, China is building four carriers, two conventional and two nuclear-powered. The latter will be over 90,000-tonne super carriers like the American Nimitz class ones,“ said an officer.
Two, the 56-year-old INS Viraat will retire early next year, leaving India with only one operational aircraft carrier INS Vikramaditya. The 40,000-tonne IAC-I or INS Vikrant, being built at Cochin Shipyard, will be ready for induction only by 2018-2019. “It will take well over a decade to build INS Vishal. Its size, propulsion, its aircraft etc will have to be finalized before the construction can actually begin,“ he added.

Foxconn in Maharashtra?

In yet another achievement for the Make-in-Maharashtra campaign, Chinese electronics major Foxconn has expressed interest in investing in the state with plans to manufacture advanced electronic and digital gadgets.
Foxconn founder Terry Gou in his presentation before CM Devendra Fadnavis expressed the company's wish to come up with investments for solar-powered data server storage facilities, mobiles, tablets and television sets. Fadnavis also expressed his wish to adopt Henan province's airport-led development model for the state.
“Detailed plan on proposed investments in Maharashtra for 2015-17, too was presented by Foxconn. Had a discussion on it.Looking forward to collaborate,“ Fadnavis tweeted from China. “In a rare gesture, Foxconn put up banners to welcome Fadnavis,“ sources said.

SC restricts photos

The Supreme Court ruled that advertisements issued by the government to highlight its achievements could only carry the photos of three constitutional functionaries: the President, the Prime Minister and the Chief Justice of India. But it refused to place any curbs on ad spending during election seasons.
The court issued the orders on two PILs that drew its attention to the alleged misuse of public funds to project individual functionaries of the government or a political party .The petitioners argued such ads, in the garb of communicating with the people, sought to confer undue political advantage, crediting specific individuals as being responsible for various government achievements and progressive plans. They had urged the court to curb excessive spending on such ads during election time.
The court had set up a three-member committee, headed by Madhava Menon, ex-director of the National Judicial Academy in Bhopal, to suggest ways to end this practice. The other members were ex-Lok Sabha Secretary General TK Viswanathan and senior advocate and now Solicitor-General Ranjit Kumar.
The panel had suggested that such ads should not mention the party in power, attack the opposition, carry any party logo, try to influence public support to a party or have links to websites of politicians. It suggested limiting such spending on poll time and had said only photos of the President, PM, CMs or governors should be published.

USTTAD

AIIMS to get Rs.1,500 crore upgrade

The health ministry has drawn up a major plan for massive upgradation of All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) by injecting nearly Rs.1500 crore over the next three years to expand and improve the infrastructure as well as services at the country's premier health institute.
The detailed plan, chalked out by the health ministry , include making all patient-related services online. Starting from the registration process to seeking appointments for consultation with doctors and even prescription and appointments for diagnostics will be made online.
Besides, the blueprint outlines major expansion of the institute's physical infrastructure. A new out patient department (OPD) is expected to be made functional by 2018-19, for which an outlay of Rs.573 crore has been earmarked. The ministry also plans to build a new private ward and a new hostel block at a cost of around Rs.92 crore and Rs.32 crore respectively. The expansion plan also includes augmentation of various departments such as mother and child care, AIIMS trauma centre, departments of rheumatology , emergency medicine and others. The idea is to manage the increasing footfall and demand for healthcare at AIIMS in a better way , an official said. “Everyone understands the importance of the institute in providing care to patients from across the country . While we have envisaged civil infrastructure and capacity expansion, we also want to address the time management at both the patient as well as doctor's end,“ he said. Government estimates show 30,000-40,000 patients visit AIIMS' OPD every day .
The three-year plan will be implemented in phases and a lot of work has already begun.
The institute has already started linking the Unique Health Identification number, which is assigned to patients during registration, with Aadhar and also giving appointments online. Within one year, the government plans to make the whole process, including doctor consultation and appointments for diagnostics, online. At a later stage, it also plans to make available all patient related records online.
Construction of the new OPD is expected to begin by end of this year.

Child labour law amended

The Union Cabinet approved a ban on employment of children below 14 years, with a caveat that children can pursue family businesses, entertainment and sports activities after school or in vacations. The penalty provisions for employing a child have been increased to jail term of three years and fine of up to Rs.50,000.
Children can be employed only in non-hazardous family enterprises, TV serials, films, advertisements and sporting activities (except circuses) on the condition that it would be only after school hours.
The decision has been slammed by child rights activists as retrograde, advocating a complete ban saying it was in contravention with the Right to Education Act.
A new definition of adolescent has also been introduced to further prohibit employment of those aged 14-18 years in hazardous jobs, a government statement said. The amendments to the Child Labour Act has, however, relaxed the penal provisions for parents, who were earlier subjected to same punishment as applicable to the employer of the child.
The amendment bill, approved by the Union Cabinet chaired by PM Narendra Modi, provides that there would be no punishment for parents or guardians in case of first offence, while a maximum penalty of Rs.10,000 can be levied in case of subsequent offences.
The current law prohibits employment of children, aged below 14 years, only in 18 specified occupations and 65 processes and regulates the conditions of working of children in other occupations processes.
The new bill provides that employment of children below 14 years will be prohibited in all occupations and processes. Besides, the age of prohibition of employment will be linked to age under Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education Act, 2009. The new provisions are part of the official amendments to the Child Labour (Prohibition & Regulation) Amendment Bill, 2012.
The bill also provides for constitution of Child and Adolescent Labour Rehabilitation Fund for one or more districts for the rehabilitation of the child or adolescent rescued. Thus, the Act itself will provide for a fund to carry out rehabilitation activities, said the official statement.
On the exceptions made in the new laws proposed, it said: “While considering a total prohibition on the employment of child, it would be prudent to also keep in mind the country's social fabric and socio-economic conditions.“ It added: “In a large number of families, children help their parents in their occupations like agriculture, artisanship etc. While helping the parents, children also learn the basics of occupations.“
Therefore, it said, striking a balance between the need for education for a child and the reality of the socioeconomic condition and social fabric in the country , the Cabinet has approved that “a child can help his family or family enterprise, which is other than any hazardous occupation or process, after his school hours or during vacation“.