Financial Assistance to NGOs for rehabilitation

Under the Assistance to Disabled Persons for Purchase/Fitting of Aid and Appliances Schemes, assistance is provided to the needy disabled person in procuring and fitment of aids and appliances for their physical, social and psychological rehabilitation.

Under Deen Dayal Disabled Rehabilitation Scheme, funds for the welfare of persons with disability are provided to the non-Governmental Organisations for projects like Special Schools for Disabled, Vocational Training Centres, Half Way Homes, Community Based Rehabilitation Centres, Early Intervention Centres for Disabled, Rehabilitation of Leprosy Cured Persons, etc.

During the years 2006-07, 2007-08 and 2008-09, grants-in-aid of Rs. 71.15 Crores, Rs. 90.46 Crores and Rs. 90.53 Crores were released to 764, 785 and 673 number of NGOs respectively under the Scheme of Assistance to Disabled Persons for Purchase/Fitting of Aid and Appliances and Deen Dayal Disabled Rehabilitation Scheme to Non Governmental Organisaitons of different States.

Several measures are in place for effective monitoring of the utilization of the allocated funds in the disability sector, which includes inspection and review of the functioning of the grantee, obtaining their periodic progress report, audited statement of accounts, utilisation certificates etc.

This information was given by Shri. D. Napoleon, the Minister of State for Social Justice & Empowerment, in a written reply to a question in Lok Sabha today.

Functioning of DRDO

The report of Dr. P Rama Rao Committee is currently under examination with the Government. The recommendations of the committee are for realigning of external interfaces of Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) with other Departments for better functioning of DRDO. The recommendations also deal with restructuring of organisation and empowerment of work centres through decentralisation.

The Government will take action on the recommendation once the examination of the report of the Dr. Rama Rao Committee is complete.

This information was given by Defence Minister Shri AK Antony in a written reply to Shri Pradeep Majhi and Shri Bhartruhari Mahtab in Lok Sabha today.

Broadband Subscribers

The Government has planned to set up about 1 lakh Common Service Centres (CSCs) to provide Government services including access of broadband connectivity to citizens in rural areas.

As on 31st October 2009, there are about 7.19 million broadband subscribers in the country. The Government has planned to expand broadband coverage to connect every Gram Panchayat to broadband network by May 2012.

For promoting the growth of broadband, the steps taken/being taken by the Government are as under:

Indian Telegraph Act 1885 has been amended to enable provision or USOF support for broadband connectivity to rural and remote areas.

An agreement has been signed by USOF with BSNL for providing wire-line broadband connections in and around 28,000 villages/rural locations over a period of 5-years, i.e., by 2014. The subsidy disbursement is for broadband connections, Customer Premises Equipment (CPE), computer/computing devices, setting up of kiosks for public access to broadband services. The estimated subsidy flow is Rs. 1500 crores.

This reply was given by Shri Gurdas Kamat, Minister of State for Communications and Information Technology in Lok Sabha today.

Grant of advance increments to Stenographers

No.18/44/88-Estt.(Pay) I

Department of Personnel & Training
Estt.(Pay I) Section
***

New Delhi, the 7th December, 2009

OFFICE MEMORANDUM

Subject:- Grant of advance increments to Stenographers in Subordinate Offices for acquiring higher speed in short-hand - Acceptance of Award of BOA - regarding.

In accordance with the provisions contained in the Ministry of Finance (Department of Expenditure) O.M.No.7(31)E-Ill(A)/75, dated 4.10.1975 and this Department's 0.M of even number dated 148.1969, Stenographers (Ordinary Grade)in Subordinate Offices in the pay scale of Rs.1200-2040 (pre-revised)were granted one or two advance increments respectively on qualifying shonhand speed test at 100 or 120 wpm, both at recruitment stage and while in sewice. It was clarified vide OM dated 14.8.1989 that these advance increments will not count as pay for allowances and as emoluments for pension/gratuity.

2. A demand was raised by the Staff Side in the National Council (JCM) that the OM dated 14.8.1989 may be withdrawn and the advance increments granred to Stenographers (Ordinary Grade) in Subordinate Offices be treated as pay for all purposes. The demand of the Staff Side was referred to the Board of Arbitrarion in CA Ref. No.5 of 2004 which gave the following Award on 16,92005:

'The advance increment sanctioned to the Stenographers in the Subordinate Offices as an incentive for passing the speed test of 100 w.p.m and 120 w.p.m. should be treated as pay for all purposes."

3. The question of implementation of the above Award has been considered in consultation with the Ministry of Finance and the President is pleased to accept the Award in CA Reference No.5 of 2004. Accordingly, it has been decided that the advance increments granted to the Stenographers (Ordinary Grade) in Subordinate Offices in terms of the provisions contained in Ministry of Finance's OM dated 4.10.1975 shall be treated as pay for all purposes. Past cases dec~aed otherwise may be regulated accord~ngly. This Department's OMS dated 14.8.1989 and 30.1.2001 shall be treated as amended to thls extent.

4. In so far as the persons sewing in the Indian Audit and Accounts Department are concerned, these orders issue after consultation with tni Comptroller and Auditor General of India.

5. Ministry of Finance etc, are advised to bring the above decision to the notice of all concerned under them for their proper actionlguidance.

Setting up of New ESI Hospitals

ESI Corporation has accorded, in principle, approval for opening up of the following new hospitals:-
1. ESI Hospital, Tirunelveli, Tamil Nadu
2. ESI Hospital, Baddi, H.P.
3. ESI Hospital, Bhiwadi, Rajasthan
4. Super speciality Hospital, Sanath Nagar, Hyderabad
5. ESI Hospital, Peenya, Karnataka
6. ESI Hospital, Manesar, Haryana
7. ESI Hospital, Gurgaon, Haryana

The list of dispensaries sanctioned by ESI Corporation in various States is given below :-

ESI DISPENSARY SANCTIONED UNDER ESI SCHEME IN NEWLY IMPLEMENTED GEOGRAPHICAL AREAS

1 Jaggaiahpet, Krishna Distt. Andhra Pradesh
2 Sri Kalahasthi, Chittoor Distt. (ANDHRA PRADESH)
3 Kurmannapalem, Distt.- Visakhapatnam Andhra Pradesh.
4 Sullarpet, Nellore, Andhra Pradesh
5 Shamshebad , Andhra Pradesh
6 Gantyado, Andhra Pradesh
7 Koheda, Hayathnagar, Andhra Pradesh
8 Gopichettipalayam, Chennai, Tamil Nadu.
9 Bhilai Area /Centre, Chhattisgarh
10 Korba Area /Centre, Chhattisgarh
11 Mobile Dispensary, Tohana area, Haryana
12 Kuazmunda Sundergarh Distt. Orissa
13 Duburi, Jaipur Distt. Orissa
14 Nainital area, Nainital, Uttrakhand
15 Bhagwanpur, Distt. Hardwar, Uttrakhand
16 Roshnabad Industrial Area (SIDKUL,) Uttrakhand
ESI DISPENSARIES APPROVED IN EXISTING IMPLEMENTED AREAS

17. Diagnostic Centre Jeedimetla (Andhra Pradesh)
18 Auto Nagar, (Andhra Pradesh)
19 Industrial Estate, Vishakpatnam (Andhra Pradesh)
20 Gantyada (ANDHRA PRADESH) 21 Pedagantyada (ANDHRA PRADESH)
22 Kohalgaon (Bhagalpur), Bihar
23 Barauni, (Begusarai), Bihar
24 Bihata, Patna, Bihar
25 Raipur, Chhattisgarh
26 Wazirpur, Delhi
27 Pappan Kala, Delhi
28 Korlim, (Goa)
29 Faridabad, Haryana
30 Manesar (Haryana) .
31 Hissar Industrial State (Haryana)
32 Mobile Dispensary Bhondsi Gurgaon ( Haryana)
33 Hissar ( Haryana)
34 Murthal (Haryana)
35 Khank, Bhiwani, Haryana
36 Samba, ( Jammu)
37 Samba, ( J&K),
38 Andoguidy, Karnataka
39 Mylom, Kerala
40 Vilakudy, (Kerala)
41 Ashramam, Kollam, Kerala
42 Jhazsuguda ( Orissa)
43 Arryankuppum, ( Pudducherry)
44 Reddipalayam, Pudduicherry
45 Alwar No. I, (Rajasthan)
46 Bhiwadi (Rajasthan)
47 Meenambakkam (Tamil Nadu)
48. Ambur, Tamil Nadu
49 Virudh nagar (Tamil Nadu)
50 Agartala, Tripura
51 Agra, U.P.
52 Udhamsingh Nagar (Uttrakhand )
53 Chinhat, Lucknow, U.P.

There is no fixed time frame for the commissioning of the new hospitals. After the allotment of the land by the State Government, construction work starts and once the construction is complete, the hospital is commissioned.

After approval, dispensaries can be started by the State Government from the rented premises.

In order to increase coverage under ESI Scheme in the country, the ESI Corporation prepares a phased programme for implementing the scheme in new areas every year in consultation with the State Governments. During the year 2008-09, the scheme was implemented in 46 areas covering additional 70,427 employees and during the year 2009-10, it is proposed to extend the scheme to 50 new areas to cover 1.16 lakh additional employees. During the year 2009-10, upto 30-11-2009, the ESI scheme has been extended to 33 new areas covering 69,466 additional employees.

This information was given by the Minister of State for Labour and Employment Shri Harish Rawat in a written reply in the Lok Sabha today.

Super Speciality Hospitals of ESIC

Employees' State Insurance Corporation proposes to up grade the various specialities in some hospitals and provide modern equipments as per the requirements of each Hospital. ESIC is running one super speciality hospital at Kollam in Kerala. Another Super Speciality Hospital is proposed at Sanath Nagar, Hyderabad, for which construction is in progress.

In super speciality hospitals, the facilities likely to be made available are Cardiology, Cardio-thoracic Vascular surgery, Gastro-enterology, Nephrology, Paediatric surgery in the first phase. Later on, as per requirement further super speciality facilities can be added. In addition, in different ESI Hospitals, super speciality services such as Cardiology, Nephrology are being developed as per requirements

This information was given by the Minister of State for Labour and Employment Shri Harish Rawat in a written reply in the Lok Sabha today.