From: Press Information Bureau Ministry of I&B <pib.kolkata@gmail.com>
Date: Fri, May 7, 2010 at 3:03 PM
Subject: Releases..............pt5
Press Information Bureau
Government of India
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Planning Commission
Sudha Pillai Takes over as Member Secretary Planning Commission
New Delhi: May 7, 2010
Sudha Pillai has been appointed as Member Secretary of the Planning Commission in the rank of Minister of State. The 1972 batch Kerala Cadre IAS officer started her career as Sub-Divisional Magistrate in Thiruvananthapuram.
Born at Shimla, Pillai was educated in Chandigarh.
She finished her B.A. Honours degree at the age of 18 years and topped the Punjab University, securing the University Gold Medal. She brought laurels to her family and friends by not only bagging gold medal again in Master of Arts in Psychology from the same University - but breaking an eight year record. Her quest for the knowledge did not stop at this level and she completed her Masters degree in Public Administration from Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University in US. Securing second rank in the IAS exam, she was originally allotted to Punjab cadre. After shifting to Kerala, she learnt Malayalam on the job, with the same passion for not only improving her day to day functioning but for understanding and empathizing with the people of Kerala. She is proficient in French, English, Hindi and Punjabi.
Married to the Home Secretary Shri G.K. Pillai, she has held important positions in her State Cadre as well as the Centre. During her stint in Kerala as an IAS Officer she was District Collector Thiruvananthapuram, Chairman and Managing Director of Kerala Finance Corporation, Principal Secretary Finance. In all these positions her performance was commendable.
At the Centre she has served in the Ministries of Industry and Corporate Affairs, Panchayati Raj and Mines. Before being elevated as Member Secretary Planning Commission, she was Secretary Labour & Employment and Secretary Planning Commission. During 1991, she was closely involved with the reforms agenda of the Government and worked on the amendment to the MRTP Act. She worked on several landmark legislations subsequently – notably – Panchayats Extension to Scheduled Areas Act 1996, Social Security for the Unorganised Workers 2008. In April 2008 she also introduced a unique smart card based health insurance scheme for BPL workers called RSBY which has recently been commended in the Budget Speech and extended to NREGA workers.
Painting is for her a serious hobby. She has made several ceramic murals, including a series on the Tree of Life. Other areas of interest are listening to Ghalib and reading.
dm/pk/raj/dk/kol/14:53 hrs.
Press Information Bureau
Government of India
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Ministry of Defence
Now on, Bro to Focus on Building Strategic Assets: Antony
New Delhi: May 7, 2010
The Defence Minister Shri AK Antony has asked the Border Roads Organisation (BRO) to focus on building strategic roads and other infrastructure including tunnels and airfields on the borders. Addressing the BRO's Golden Jubilee function here today, Shri Antony said, "though demand has been growing from various states to involve the BRO, there is a limit to which it can stretch its resources and manpower." "BRO has an important role in developing the border infrastructure and in executing construction of roads, bridges and airfields in remote and far-flung areas," he added.
Shri Antony said there is a turnaround in Government policy towards building assets in inaccessible border areas. He said earlier the thinking was that inaccessibility in far flung areas would be a deterrent to the enemies. Describing such school of thought as 'incorrect approach', he said, Government is now taking a number of measures to upgrade roads, tunnels and airfields etc in the border areas.
The Defence Minister assured liberal grants and the most contemporary earthmovers and heavy machinery available anywhere to help the BRO achieve its targets and build roads in the northern Himalayan borders, the world's most difficult and inhospitable terrain. "I urge all the concerned ministries, other organisations and state governments to extend every possible support to help the BRO in fulfilling its mandate," he said.
Shri Antony further said that this premier Inter-Services Organisation functioning under the Ministry of Defence was "an extended family" of the Armed Forces and it would obviously "give rise to friction in such a mixed family." "There is no room for bickering," Shri Antony observed, adding that outstanding issues would be "resolved amicably."
Speaking on the occasion, the Minister of State for Defence Dr. MM Pallam Raju commended the large casual workforce engaged by the BRO, numbering almost one lakh men and women. Dr. Raju said the government is seized of the issue, and a social security scheme is on the anvil for the welfare of the labourers "who face the vagaries of weather."
A special postal cover and a souvenir 'Reflections' was released on the occasion. The Chief of Air Staff and Chiefs of Staff Committee Air Chief Marshal PV Naik, Chief of Army Staff General VK Singh, Defence Secretary Shri Pradeep Kumar, BRO Director-General, Lt General MC Badhani and Engineer-in-Chief, Lt General AK Nanda were also present.
dm/pk/raj/dk/kol/14:53 hrs.
Press Information Bureau
Government of India
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Ministry of Housing and Urban Poverty Alleviation
Definition of Economically Weaker Section
New Delhi: May 7, 2010
The Minister of State in the Ministry of Urban Development Shri Saugata Roy has said that the Government has recently revised the income ceiling in respect of Economically Weaker Sections (EWS) from the earlier limit of 'upto Rs. 3300' to 'upto Rs. 5000'.
In a written reply in the Lok Sabha today he said, the revised income ceiling is applicable to Interest Subsidy for Housing the Urban Poor Scheme (ISHUP) and Housing and Urban Development Corporation (HUDCO) loans. The upper ceiling of Rs. 3300/- per month for EWS will, however, continue to from the basis for calculation of affordability and subsidy, as also arriving at Equated Monthly Installments (EMIs) by the Primary Lending Institutions (PLIs) under the Scheme, within overall subsidy ceiling prescribed for ISHUP. This Ministry does not maintain data of households falling in different income segments.
ad/db/dk/kol/14:53 hrs.
Press Information Bureau
Government of India
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Ministry of Housing and Urban Poverty Alleviation
Pending Project Proposals Under Bsup and Ihsdp
New Delhi: May 7, 2010
The Minister of State in the Ministry of Urban Development Shri Saugata Roy has said that no project proposals from States and Union Territory Administrations, which are in accordance with guidelines of Basic Services to Urban Poor (BSUP) and Integrated Housing and Slum Development Programme (IHSDP) –components of Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission (JNNURM) are pending with the Union Government in respect of States/Union Territories having balance against the 7-year Mission Period allocation indicated by the Planning Commission.
He was answering a written question in the Lok Sabha today.
ad/db/dk/kol/14:54 hrs.
Press Information Bureau
Government of India
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Ministry of Housing and Urban Poverty Alleviation
Rajiv Ratna Awas Yojana
New Delhi: May 7, 2010
The Minister of State in the Ministry of Urban Development Shri Saugata Roy has said that Government of National Capital Territory of Delhi has reported that 'Rajiv Ratna Awas Yojana' is the title assigned to the houses constructed under the Basic Services to the Urban Poor (BSUP) component of the Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission (JNNURM).
In a written reply in the Lok Sabha today he said, a total of 7900 dwelling units under the Scheme are complete and are likely to be allotted very soon. The identification and finalization of eligible beneficiaries is reported to be under process.
ad/db/dk/kol/14:54 hrs.
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Palash Biswas
Pl Read:
http://nandigramunited-banga.blogspot.com/
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