1. The Central government is working on a plan to launch a One Nation One Ration Card scheme for beneficiaries, especially migrant workers, to access the Public Distribution System from any PDS shop across the country. 2. Top 10 things that Modi said during his Mann ki Baat address 3. In a sign of resistance against developed countries led by the US and Japan, which are pushing for free flow of data across borders, India Friday refused to become a signatory to the Osaka declaration on digital economy that was signed by 24 countries and groupings. 4. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has decided to not give party tickets to the family members or relatives of elected Member of Parliaments (MPs) to contest the upcoming by elections. 5. Shah, on Friday, had said Article 370, which provides special status to Jammu and Kashmir, was “temporary in nature” and “not permanent”.
OPINION : 02/07/2019 : 1844.
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1. The Central government is working on a plan to launch a One Nation One Ration Card scheme for beneficiaries, especially migrant workers, to access the Public Distribution System from any PDS shop across the country.
2. Top 10 things that Modi said during his Mann ki Baat address
3. In a sign of resistance against developed countries led by the US and Japan, which are pushing for free flow of data across borders, India Friday refused to become a signatory to the Osaka declaration on digital economy that was signed by 24 countries and groupings.
4. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has decided to not give party tickets to the family members or relatives of elected Member of Parliaments (MPs) to contest the upcoming by elections.
5. Shah, on Friday, had said Article 370, which provides special status to Jammu and Kashmir, was “temporary in nature” and “not permanent”.
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Ref : 1. Government to launch ‘One Nation One Ration Card’ : IE.
*The Central government is working on a plan to launch a One Nation One Ration Card scheme for beneficiaries, especially migrant workers, to access the Public Distribution System from any PDS shop across the country.
Union Minister for Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution Ram Vilas Paswan chaired a meeting on the scheme Thursday with food secretaries and other officials of state governments, Food Corporation of India (FCI), Central Warehousing Corporation (CWC) and State Warehousing Corporations (SWCs).Speaking to The Indian Express, Paswan said: The target is to complete the formalities of the scheme in one year. The availability of PoS (Point of Sale) machines need to be ensured at all PDS shops to implement the scheme. PoS machines are available at all PDS shops in various states, like Andhra Pradesh, Haryana and a few other others, but 100 per cent availability is required to provide the benefit across the country.
Paswan said the scheme is aimed at providing freedom to beneficiaries, as they will not be tied to one PDS shop, reduce their dependence on shop owners and curtail corruption. He said the biggest beneficiaries will be migrant workers who move to other states to seek better job opportunities.
According to a statement from the Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution, which will implement the scheme, the Integrated Management of PDS (IMPDS), under which beneficiaries can avail their share of food grain from any district, is operational in Andhra Pradesh, Gujarat, Haryana, Jharkhand, Karnataka, Kerala, Maharashtra, Rajasthan, Telangana and Tripura.
In Thursday s meeting, the other states assured that they would implement IMPDS at the earliest. Addressing the meeting, Paswan said the work done by the Department of Food and Public Distribution is a lifeline for 81 crore beneficiaries, with 612 lakh tonnes of food grains stored in warehouses of FCI, CWC, SWCs and private godowns for distribution annually. Around 78 per cent of Fair Price Shops have so far been automated by installing electronic PoS devices, he said.
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Ref : 2. Roll out ‘one nation, one ration card’ in a year, Centre tells states, UTs
The Centre has given a one-year deadline till June 30, 2020 to all states and Union Territories to roll out the ‘one nation, one ration card’ scheme under which beneficiaries can obtain food grains at subsidised rates from any ration shop in any part of the country.Speaking about the same, Food Minister Ram Vilas Paswan said 10 states are already providing portability of Public Distribution System (PDS) entitlements.
The 10 states are Andhra Pradesh, Gujarat, Jharkhand, Haryana, Karnataka, Kerala, Maharashtra, Rajasthan, Telangana, and Tripura.
"By next June 30, 2020, ‘one nation, one ration card’ should be implemented without fail in the entire country. We have written letters to the state government to fast track the implementation of this system," Paswan told media people. "The new mechanism will ensure no poor is deprived of PDS entitlement if that person shifts from one place to another. The system will also help remove fake ration card holders."
The ‘one nation, one ration card’ is one of the 100-days agenda of the new Modi government, Paswan said, adding that there are 11 states which can easily implement the PDS portability systems. He also said that Point of Sales (PoS) machines have been added in the ration shops of these states.
Explaining this new system, the Food Minister said that the beneficiaries were required to show their Aadhaar cards to buy food grains at subsidised rates at the ration shop. However, he added that only ration cards can also be shown if the beneficiaries wanted to get their PDS entitlement only from a registered ration shop.
As many as 22 states have 100 per cent PoS coverage, which makes the implementation of the new system easy, he said.
The food ministry will issue several guidelines related to the new system, a senior Food Ministry official said, PTI reported.
The guidelines will focus on issues like if one person from a family shifts to another state, he/she won’t buy ration for the entire family in one go. The official said that in such cases, the maximum limit of buying will be fixed.
Besides speaking on this scheme, Paswan also announced the distribution of fortified rice under the PDS on a pilot basis in one district each in 15 states from October-November.
Rice grown in Kharif season of 2019 will be fortified with iron, folic acid, vitamin A and B12 at the milling stage as per the standards fixed by the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI), he added.
The Food Ministry also said that the Centre has given a six-month deadline to all the states to automate the operations of their food grain depots in order to minimise storage losses.
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Ref :3. Mann ki Baat: 10 things PM Modi said in first radio address after landslide win.
During his address, Modi asked citizens for ideas to conserve water, congratulated the voters for being a part of the largest polling exercise in the world and also highlighted the importance of democracy.
Here are the top 10 things that Modi said during his Mann ki Baat address
* "Mann ki Baat is like a mirror for the society. The program personifies the New India Spirit and shows the talent and strengths of 130 crore Indians. In the letters that are addressed to me under the programme people never ask for themselves. Instead, they talk about the larger interest of our nation and society," the prime minister said, welcoming the listeners to the programme after a three-month break. THis last address was aired in February before the polls began.
* PM Modi also reminisced about his trip to Kedarnath during polls and hit out at critics for politicising it. "I was asked why I visited the holy site. People had apprehensions, made it a political issue. The journey was undertaken to give me an opportunity to meet my inner self. I want to tell you that perhaps in that solitary cave, I got an opportunity to fill the vacuum caused due to the long gap of Mann Ki Baat," he said.
* In his address, Modi also remembered the ordinary citizens who fought against Emergency. ""When Emergency was imposed, resistance against it was not just in political circles or politicians; the movement was not limited to the jails. There was frustration in people. They wanted to reclaim democracy. During Emergency, every citizen felt that something essential was taken away from them."
* Democracy, Modi said, is a part of our culture and heritage. "Emergency made people realise the importance of democracy. And this is why the people of the country sacrificed an election to safeguard the principles of democracy." Adding that we tend to take democracy for granted, PM Modi said, "We need to keep reminding ourselves that we have earned democracy through years of devotion and great efforts."
* Congratulating the voters for completing the largest ever election in the world, Modi said, "More than 61 crore people exercised their franchise in this polls. The scale of the election was immense. It tells us about the faith people have in our democracy. The voter base in India is twice the population of America." He also mentioned the efforts undertaken by Election Commission, security officials and staff associated with the polling process.
* Prime Minister Modi also mentioned the water scarcity issue faced by India today. "Saving water will save the nation. Community efforts will result in positive results. There is no fixed formula to resolve the issue. In different parts, different methods may be adopted but the aim is the same- to conserve every drop of water. When we all will come together, the impossible will be possible. Jan Jan judega, jal bechega," he added.
* During the address, the prime minister also made an appeal to the citizens, asking them for ideas on conserving water. Making three requests to people, Modi said, "Pledge to save every drop of water and spread awareness on water preservation; suggest traditional means for water preservation; and share details of NGOs, individuals or organisations working on water preservation."
* Listing out steps to conserve water, PM Modi said, "There is a need for public awareness program to save water. Use #JanShakti4JalShakti to upload your content relating to water conservation. Inform people about innovative campaigns, problems associated with conservation among other things." He also invited film celebrities, sports personalities, media, social organisations to participate in the initiative.
* PM Modi also urged citizens to devote some time to reading. "I urge you all to talk about the books you read, on the ‘Narendra Modi Mobile App. Let us have discussions on the good books we read and why we liked the books," he said.
* On Yoga Day celebrations, PM Modi said, "The awareness of holistic health care has increased the greatness of Yoga Day. People of varied generations enthusiastically joined the celebrations on June 21. Yoga ensures that society is made up of healthy minds and sympathetic souls."
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Ref : 4. G-20 Osaka summit: India refuses to sign declaration on free flow of data across borders : Shubhajit Roy : IE.
In a sign of resistance against developed countries led by the US and Japan, which are pushing for free flow of data across borders, India Friday refused to become a signatory to the Osaka declaration on digital economy that was signed by 24 countries and groupings.While a majority of G-20 countries signed off on the launch of Osaka track , an overarching framework promoting cross-border data flow with enhanced protections launched by Japan Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, India was joined by South Africa and Indonesia in keeping away.
Seated between US President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping at a meeting on digital economy, Abe underscored the importance of his Data Free Flow with Trust concept a move spearheaded by Japan that calls for the creation of international rules enabling free movement of data across borders.
India is hedging its bets :
As trade wars roil global markets, the Osaka move on data signals that digital economy matters now to world leaders at the geopolitical level. Still building a framework to harness its data economy potential, India is hedging its bets on the issue. Even if it means breaking ranks with strategic partners the US and Japan.
The issue of data for development was flagged by India at the BRICS leaders meeting Friday, which Foreign Secretary Vijay Gokhale said had emerged as a major issue in international rule-making.
Gokhale, who briefed reporters after the BRICS meeting, said India believes that the discussions and negotiations pertaining to data should be held within the context of the World Trade Organisation (WTO). Data is a new form of wealth, the Foreign Secretary said, adding that the WTO is framing international rules on this issue.
Sources said this issue has become a major point of discord between major developed countries in the G-20 on one side, and India and China on the other side.
India's position was articulated at the recent G-20 ministerial meeting in Tsukuba city in Japan on June 8 and 9, when Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal conveyed India's concerns over playing catch-up in this technological frontier.
"We believe all nations should appreciate that the digital divide within and across nations is a serious impediment for developing countries to benefit from Digital Trade. Capacity constraints in developing countries, can be overcome with timely support of training and creation of digital infrastructure. This is important for facilitating a level playing field in the digital economy for all countries to take equitable advantage of data free flow," he had said.
The Osaka initiative, introduced in a speech at this year's World Economic Forum and one of Abe's pet projects at the G20, seeks to standardise rules in global movement of data flows with better protection in personal information, intellectual property and cybersecurity.
Abe said digitally driven economies can spark innovation and encourage economic growth. But in order to do so, there needs to be a reliable set of rules for the free flow of data.
Trump lent his support to Abe's plan, saying the free flow of data is an integral part of the American digital economy's success, along with strong privacy and intellectual property protections, and access to capital and innovation.
"The digital economy is a crucial driver of economic growth. At the same time, as we expand digital trade, we must also ensure the resilience and security of our 5G networks", Trump said, taking a subtle dig at Chinese telecommunications giant Huawei. "This is essential to our shared safety and prosperity."
But Xi defended China's policy. Effective governance should promote collecting, analyzing and applying data, and all of the countries must individually manage data with order, he said.
Although Abe had initially hoped to highlight the digital push at the G20 summit, it was later downgraded to a secondary event. The decision was made to avoid ostracizing countries still on the fence, a senior Japanese government official was quoted as saying by Japan Times.
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NOTE :
BJP won't give tickets to family members of elected MPs in byelections : IT
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has decided to not give party tickets to the family members or relatives of elected Member of Parliaments (MPs) to contest the upcoming by elections.
In fact, the BJP would now give the tickets to hardworking party workers and help them win the byelections.
The decision was taken at a BJP core group meeting which was held recently.
A total of 12 seats in Uttar Pradesh are going to bypolls where some of the family members of elected MPs have already planned to contest the polls.
After the party was apprised of the matter, it decided to not give tickets to the family members or relatives of the elected MPs.
The party has, however, decided to field hardworking BJP workers.
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OPINION :
Kashmiri Pandits welcome Amit Shah's statement on ‘temporary’ Article 370 : The Week
An organisation of Kashmiri Pandits said it was time for the provision to scrapped
PTI By PTI June 30, 2019 09:19 IST
HIGHLIGHTS :
One-third of Kashmir is not with us; Nehru responsible for it: Amit Shah
Modi govt has zero tolerance policy towards terror: HM Shah
Amit Shah concludes Kashmir visit, stresses zero tolerance on militancy
Kashmiri Pandits have welcomed Union Home Minister Amit Shah's statement on Article 370 of the Constitution where he calls the provision “temporary in nature”.
They further said the time was ripe for the provision to scrapped.
In a statement in Jammu on Saturday, Panun Kashmir, an organisation of migrant Kashmiri Pandits, said they have complete faith in the abilities of Shah to deliver a mortal blow to the sponsors of terrorism in the Valley and under Shah the Kashmiri Pandits would finally be rehabilitated in their more than 5,000-year-old home.
Shah, on Friday, had said Article 370, which provides special status to Jammu and Kashmir, was “temporary in nature” and “not permanent”.
“The expression of the home minister in the Lok Sabha is a statement of truth and most heartening. We say Article 370 has to go eventually and the time is now. This article was instrumental in creating alienation in a section of Kashmiri Muslims and encouraged Pakistan to sponsor terrorism in the state,” the Panun Kashmir statement read.
It said Amit Shah's “terrorism would be crushed in Kashmir” statement indicates the right strategy for the region.
“Terror and talks cannot go together. The policy has paid dividends as Pakistan is virtually isolated and bankrupt and is begging for talks,” it said, adding the Pandits have been the “worst victims” of Pakistan-sponsored terrorism resulting in their exodus.
“It is time to make a comprehensive plan for their permanent settlement in Kashmir in accordance with their wishes and aspirations,” it said.
Panun Kashmir also welcomed the decision of the United Nations Human Rights Council to drop “Kashmir” from the regular reporting list and the United Nations Security Council's decision to offer non-permanent Security Council seat to India through the Asia-Pacific Group.
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