#New ‘Scam’ In Kerala? Multi-Million Dollar Loan Taken From World Bank For Flood-Relief Goes ‘Missing’ : Nov 19, 2019 : M R Subramani : Swarajya : PMO INDIA - REPORT CARD.
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##Chief Minister of Kerala Pinarayi Vijayan photographed in Delhis Kerala house. (Ramesh Pathania/Mint via Getty Images)
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#But Thomas Isaac, the state Finance Minister, has admitted that the money has gone towards ‘routine’ expenses like salaries and pensions among other commitments.
#While questions are being raised over the legitimacy of such a fund diversion, the government is unapologetic, saying there is no ‘stamp of exclusivity’ on such monies.
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#World Bank HQ
On 28 June this year, the World Bank, Government of India and the Kerala government signed a $250 million (Rs 1,789 crore) loan agreement for a Resilient Kerala Programme that will help the southern state in its reconstruction, besides managing floods and other disasters.
The loan was granted to the state to tackle various problems it faced, after floods and landslides in 2018 led to widespread destruction. Barring three districts, the rest of the state was affected by the flood and landslides.
In the worst flood in almost 100 years Kerala witnessed, lives, properties and infrastructure were badly affected. At least 5.4 million people were affected, while nearly 1.5 million were displaced.
When the loan agreement was signed, the World Bank said that the programme would strengthen Kerala’s institutional and financial capabilities to protect the assets and lives of poor and vulnerable groups through an inclusive and participatory approach.
During the signing of the loan, Sameer Kumar Khare, Additional Secretary in the Department of Economic Affairs in the Union Finance Ministry, said the programme would identify key areas of policy and institutional strengthening to maximise the impact.
The loan landed directly in the state’s treasury as it was deposited into its consolidated fund. But the Opposition alleges that it has gone missing now. The controversy figured in the state Assembly last week.
Congress member of the Legislative Assembly, V D Satheesan, raised the issue of the World Bank loan ‘disappearing’, in the House. He alleged that the amount from the global financial agency, which had been parked under a separate head, had ‘vanished’.
He also alleged that the amount had been spent on meeting expenses on salaries and pensions.
In his response, Kerala Finance Minister Thomas Isaac said: “There is no such practice of tying up a parcel of money and stamping it with a seal of exclusivity.”
Expressing surprise over the allegations, Isaac said the money that came into the Consolidated Fund was not ‘distinguishable’ from the money already in it.
He further said that it was, however, not ‘improper’ to use the World Bank money for ‘ways and means’ requirements, adding that it was a ‘routine’ procedure.
He assured the House that the money would be ‘available’ whenever the need for the World Bank fund ‘arose’.
Opposition leader Chennithala pointed out that Isaac had admitted using the funds for routine expenses and he should come clean on the accounts.
Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan said the World Bank money would be ‘released’ when reconstruction works agreed to in the agreement begin.
The issue was that Kerala had received the fund from the World Bank in September and, according to Satheesan, no money was available under the head to park World Bank money.
Officials, too, have confessed that the loan was credited into the state government's account in September and it has been ‘spent’.
The Vijayan government is stressed on the finance front and it has to honour the bills submitted for various welfare and development programmes in the state.
A sort of financial crisis has set in, so much so that the state government has been forced to spend from the World Bank loan. Fortunately, for the Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPM)-led government in Kerala, the World Bank loan came in at a time when it was trying to raise more resources.
Kerala is facing financial problems because of a shortfall in revenue collection, forcing it to set up a six-member panel to explore new avenues of resource mobilisation.
At least 52 per cent of Kerala’s committed expenses of Rs 1.27 lakh crore goes towards salaries, pensions and interests payments.
Despite the financial crunch, the state government recently announced the setting up of a commission to revise wages. In the Budget for the current fiscal, Kerala’s fiscal deficit is estimated at Rs 26,291 crore.
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1. #Lower House is connected to the ground while Upper House can see far ahead says PM Modi : 19 Nov, 2019 : Dainik Bhaskar
#Lower House is attached to the ground, the Upper House can see the future, says the PM
#Whenever it has been about good of the nation, Rajya Sabha has risen to the occasion: PM Modi
#Rajya Sabha has seen many historic moments, it has made history also and has seen history being made as well. It is a far-sighted house: PM Modi
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2. #This ‘far-sighted’ House witnessed ‘glorious’ withdrawal of Article 370: PM Narendra Modi in Rajya Sabha : 19 Nov, 2019 : TOI
#Hailing the triple talaq bill as human empowerment, PM Modi underlines the milestone decisions of his government that are taken in the upper house of the Parliament
#The Rajya Sabha gives an opportunity to people away from electoral politics to contribute to the country and its development, says PM Modi
#We can never forget the role of the Rajya Sabha when bills related to Articles 370 and 35(A) were passed: PM Modi
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3. #PM Modi Highlights Rajya Sabha’s Importance, Says ‘it’s Permanent And Eternal’ : 19 Nov, 2019 : Republic
PM Modi says Rajya Sabha is eternal and the house is supportive, not a secondary house
PM Modi says that the upper house is the soul of the federal structure of India
Marking the Rajya Sabha's 250th session, Prime Minister Modi addresses the house in a special session
=======================================================================
#(Borge Brende is the President and Member of the Managing Board, World Economic Forum.)
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At the World Economic Forum Annual Meeting 2018 in Davos, Prime Minister Narendra Modi in his opening address spoke about the transformative impact of technology not only on an individual’s life, their work and their behaviour, but also on international politics and the economy. While the Prime Minister has launched and implemented several forward-looking initiatives to solve the problems of access to finance, starting businesses and energy access among others, the Fourth Industrial Revolution presents a tremendous opportunity for India to bypass traditional phases of development and improve the quality of life of its citizens by overcoming infrastructural and other barriers through technology.
This message is consistent with that of many world leaders. Realizing these opportunities and challenges, the Forum is working closely with the decision-makers to harness the transformative power of the Fourth Industrial Revolution for the benefit of society. The Forum established the Centre for the Fourth Industrial Revolution Networkin 2017 to co-design creative solutions to address the challenges associated with emerging technologies. Headquartered in San Francisco, in close proximity to the world’s leading technology companies, start-ups, investors, venture capital firms and academic institutions, the network aims to help shape the development and application of new and emerging technologies in the global public interest while simultaneously minimizing their risks.
One of the many areas that technology can have a tremendous impact is agriculture. The Indian economy is significantly dependent on the agricultural economy as over 60% of the population is directly or indirectly engaged. The agriculture sector will play an important role not only in promoting economic growth, but also in ensuring India’s food security, which will have the dual objective of fighting poverty and raising farmers’ income.
Stakeholders of modern agriculture require considerable amount of high-quality, temporally relevant data. The data is critical for the stakeholders in optimizing their functions while also reducing costs, thereby improving efficiencies in the entire agricultural value chain. While the rapid emergence of machine learning algorithms represent a tremendous opportunity to leapfrog in formulating solutions to some of the most intractable challenges, proper collection and use of data from the internet of things, the right reward structure for the owners of the data, and ethical use of such algorithms need to be ensured. Blockchain with its secure and distributed architecture, smart contracts and tokens represents an opportunity to develop these solutions in a human-centric way so that the Fourth Industrial Revolution doesn’t benefit just the few but everyone.
This project, the largest drone mapping effort in the history of India, will pilot innovative approaches to capturing and sharing new forms of data in ways that ensure safety and privacy while distributing benefits across society. The project will coincide with India’s new drones policy and showcase how drones can help tackle some of society’s toughest challenges. This is a new model that can be scaled up across India and globally. By empowering farmers with technology, we have the potential to raise agricultural productivity per unit of land, ensure that agriculture growth responds to food security needs and help reduce rural poverty.
This is the 35th year since the beginning of a very strong relationship between the World Economic Forum and India. In the intervening decades, India has opened its market, become a nuclear power, reached high levels of growth, and lifted hundreds of millions of people out of poverty.
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JAY HIND
JAY BHARATHAM
VANDHE MATHARAM
BHARAT MATHA KI JAY.
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#OPINION : 19/11/2019 : 1960.
#New ‘Scam’ In Kerala? Multi-Million Dollar Loan Taken From World Bank For Flood-Relief Goes ‘Missing’ : Nov 19, 2019 : M R Subramani : Swarajya : PMO INDIA - REPORT CARD.
#M.R. Subramani is Executive Editor, Swarajya. He tweets @mrsubramani
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Snapshot :
#The World Bank had lent Kerala $250 million to reconstruct its infrastructure post the 2018 floods.#But Thomas Isaac, the state Finance Minister, has admitted that the money has gone towards ‘routine’ expenses like salaries and pensions among other commitments.
#While questions are being raised over the legitimacy of such a fund diversion, the government is unapologetic, saying there is no ‘stamp of exclusivity’ on such monies.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
On 28 June this year, the World Bank, Government of India and the Kerala government signed a $250 million (Rs 1,789 crore) loan agreement for a Resilient Kerala Programme that will help the southern state in its reconstruction, besides managing floods and other disasters.
The loan was granted to the state to tackle various problems it faced, after floods and landslides in 2018 led to widespread destruction. Barring three districts, the rest of the state was affected by the flood and landslides.
In the worst flood in almost 100 years Kerala witnessed, lives, properties and infrastructure were badly affected. At least 5.4 million people were affected, while nearly 1.5 million were displaced.
When the loan agreement was signed, the World Bank said that the programme would strengthen Kerala’s institutional and financial capabilities to protect the assets and lives of poor and vulnerable groups through an inclusive and participatory approach.
During the signing of the loan, Sameer Kumar Khare, Additional Secretary in the Department of Economic Affairs in the Union Finance Ministry, said the programme would identify key areas of policy and institutional strengthening to maximise the impact.
The loan landed directly in the state’s treasury as it was deposited into its consolidated fund. But the Opposition alleges that it has gone missing now. The controversy figured in the state Assembly last week.
Congress member of the Legislative Assembly, V D Satheesan, raised the issue of the World Bank loan ‘disappearing’, in the House. He alleged that the amount from the global financial agency, which had been parked under a separate head, had ‘vanished’.
He also alleged that the amount had been spent on meeting expenses on salaries and pensions.
In his response, Kerala Finance Minister Thomas Isaac said: “There is no such practice of tying up a parcel of money and stamping it with a seal of exclusivity.”
Expressing surprise over the allegations, Isaac said the money that came into the Consolidated Fund was not ‘distinguishable’ from the money already in it.
He further said that it was, however, not ‘improper’ to use the World Bank money for ‘ways and means’ requirements, adding that it was a ‘routine’ procedure.
He assured the House that the money would be ‘available’ whenever the need for the World Bank fund ‘arose’.
Opposition leader Chennithala pointed out that Isaac had admitted using the funds for routine expenses and he should come clean on the accounts.
Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan said the World Bank money would be ‘released’ when reconstruction works agreed to in the agreement begin.
The issue was that Kerala had received the fund from the World Bank in September and, according to Satheesan, no money was available under the head to park World Bank money.
Officials, too, have confessed that the loan was credited into the state government's account in September and it has been ‘spent’.
The Vijayan government is stressed on the finance front and it has to honour the bills submitted for various welfare and development programmes in the state.
A sort of financial crisis has set in, so much so that the state government has been forced to spend from the World Bank loan. Fortunately, for the Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPM)-led government in Kerala, the World Bank loan came in at a time when it was trying to raise more resources.
Kerala is facing financial problems because of a shortfall in revenue collection, forcing it to set up a six-member panel to explore new avenues of resource mobilisation.
At least 52 per cent of Kerala’s committed expenses of Rs 1.27 lakh crore goes towards salaries, pensions and interests payments.
Despite the financial crunch, the state government recently announced the setting up of a commission to revise wages. In the Budget for the current fiscal, Kerala’s fiscal deficit is estimated at Rs 26,291 crore.
========================================================================
NOTE: Media Coverage : PMINDIA
#Lower House is attached to the ground, the Upper House can see the future, says the PM
#Whenever it has been about good of the nation, Rajya Sabha has risen to the occasion: PM Modi
#Rajya Sabha has seen many historic moments, it has made history also and has seen history being made as well. It is a far-sighted house: PM Modi
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2. #This ‘far-sighted’ House witnessed ‘glorious’ withdrawal of Article 370: PM Narendra Modi in Rajya Sabha : 19 Nov, 2019 : TOI
#Hailing the triple talaq bill as human empowerment, PM Modi underlines the milestone decisions of his government that are taken in the upper house of the Parliament
#The Rajya Sabha gives an opportunity to people away from electoral politics to contribute to the country and its development, says PM Modi
#We can never forget the role of the Rajya Sabha when bills related to Articles 370 and 35(A) were passed: PM Modi
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3. #PM Modi Highlights Rajya Sabha’s Importance, Says ‘it’s Permanent And Eternal’ : 19 Nov, 2019 : Republic
PM Modi says Rajya Sabha is eternal and the house is supportive, not a secondary house
PM Modi says that the upper house is the soul of the federal structure of India
Marking the Rajya Sabha's 250th session, Prime Minister Modi addresses the house in a special session
=======================================================================
REFLECTION : PMINDIA
#Making technology work for 1.3 billion Indians : October 09, 2018 : Borge Brende : Reflection : PMINDIA.
========================================================================-
At the World Economic Forum Annual Meeting 2018 in Davos, Prime Minister Narendra Modi in his opening address spoke about the transformative impact of technology not only on an individual’s life, their work and their behaviour, but also on international politics and the economy. While the Prime Minister has launched and implemented several forward-looking initiatives to solve the problems of access to finance, starting businesses and energy access among others, the Fourth Industrial Revolution presents a tremendous opportunity for India to bypass traditional phases of development and improve the quality of life of its citizens by overcoming infrastructural and other barriers through technology.
This message is consistent with that of many world leaders. Realizing these opportunities and challenges, the Forum is working closely with the decision-makers to harness the transformative power of the Fourth Industrial Revolution for the benefit of society. The Forum established the Centre for the Fourth Industrial Revolution Networkin 2017 to co-design creative solutions to address the challenges associated with emerging technologies. Headquartered in San Francisco, in close proximity to the world’s leading technology companies, start-ups, investors, venture capital firms and academic institutions, the network aims to help shape the development and application of new and emerging technologies in the global public interest while simultaneously minimizing their risks.
#India is among the countries that are at the forefront of creating future-oriented technology policies, and is demonstrating innovative ways to harness the power of technology.
India is among the countries that are at the forefront of creating future-oriented technology policies, and is demonstrating innovative ways to harness the power of technology for the individual as well as for human society. To further its success in this capacity, the Centre for the Fourth Industrial Revolution India has been developed in partnership with the Government of India and will serve as a trusted space for the government, leading companies, academia, civil society and international organizations to co-design, test and scale-up policy frameworks, industry standards, norms and guidelines for governing Fourth Industrial Revolution technologies. If 1985, when the Forum hosted the first India Economic Summit, was an inflection point for us in India, today is another important one with the launch of the centre.One of the many areas that technology can have a tremendous impact is agriculture. The Indian economy is significantly dependent on the agricultural economy as over 60% of the population is directly or indirectly engaged. The agriculture sector will play an important role not only in promoting economic growth, but also in ensuring India’s food security, which will have the dual objective of fighting poverty and raising farmers’ income.
Stakeholders of modern agriculture require considerable amount of high-quality, temporally relevant data. The data is critical for the stakeholders in optimizing their functions while also reducing costs, thereby improving efficiencies in the entire agricultural value chain. While the rapid emergence of machine learning algorithms represent a tremendous opportunity to leapfrog in formulating solutions to some of the most intractable challenges, proper collection and use of data from the internet of things, the right reward structure for the owners of the data, and ethical use of such algorithms need to be ensured. Blockchain with its secure and distributed architecture, smart contracts and tokens represents an opportunity to develop these solutions in a human-centric way so that the Fourth Industrial Revolution doesn’t benefit just the few but everyone.
#The data is critical for the stakeholders in optimizing their functions while also reducing costs, thereby improving efficiencies in the entire agricultural value chain.
The centre will engage with the Government of Maharashtra and the private sector to map all the agricultural lands in an entire district using drones. These maps will have multiple uses, including crop health assessment, generation of prescription maps with location-based fertilizer recommendations, inspection of irrigation and other infrastructure, soil analysis, and crop volume assessment and prediction. Additionally, the project envisions collecting field-wise crop data from various sources on a periodic basis and integrating it on a common platform. Such data would then be published to relevant stakeholders through standardized interfaces/APIs.This project, the largest drone mapping effort in the history of India, will pilot innovative approaches to capturing and sharing new forms of data in ways that ensure safety and privacy while distributing benefits across society. The project will coincide with India’s new drones policy and showcase how drones can help tackle some of society’s toughest challenges. This is a new model that can be scaled up across India and globally. By empowering farmers with technology, we have the potential to raise agricultural productivity per unit of land, ensure that agriculture growth responds to food security needs and help reduce rural poverty.
#If the 20th century was shaped by political superpowers, much of the 21st century will be led by technology superpowers.
If the 20th century was shaped by political superpowers, much of the 21st century will be led by technology superpowers, shaping the future of business, society and possibly even human nature.For a very long time, the use of technology was limited to the more affluent members of society. The Fourth Industrial Revolution offers countries the opportunity to use technology to build a more inclusive and sustainable society. For a country like India, it will also play a pivotal role in shaping the global Fourth Industrial Revolution agenda in a responsible, scalable and inclusive manner. With its scale and diversity, any proof of a successful model can be replicated in other economies, affecting billions of people.This is the 35th year since the beginning of a very strong relationship between the World Economic Forum and India. In the intervening decades, India has opened its market, become a nuclear power, reached high levels of growth, and lifted hundreds of millions of people out of poverty.
#Our collective destiny is, in a way, dependent on India’s destiny, and a bit of India is in all of our futures.
India today is the one of world’s fastest-growing economies, it isthe sixth-largest with a growing middle class and an unprecedented demographic advantage. We are proud that the Forum has been a part of this journey and aidedin India’s globalization process. We have no hesitation in saying that our collective destiny is, in a way, dependent on India’s destiny, and a bit of India is in all of our futures.========================================================================
JAY HIND
JAY BHARATHAM
VANDHE MATHARAM
BHARAT MATHA KI JAY.
========================================================================
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