Current Affairs Assam – January 2018 e-Magazine
January 31
Rs 32 cr earmarked for Global Investors’ Summit
The Assam Government is ready with a Rs 32-crore budget to host the Global Investors’ Summit on February 3 and 4, which will be the biggest ever such summit in the entire North East.
The Ministry of Power has agreed to provide required power from the National Grid for industries to be set up in the State to overcome the problem of power shortage faced by Assam.
Assam Industries and Commerce Minister Chandra Mohan Patowary said that of the budget of Rs 32 crore, the Ministry of Commerce has provided Rs 10 crore and the State Government is also seeking sponsorship from the Public Sector Undertakings like the Oil India Limited (OIL) and Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC).
Apart from industrialists from all over the country, foreign delegates including delegations from the ASEAN countries have accepted the invitation of the State Government to participate in the meet. There would be multi sectoral seminars by countries like Laos, Japan and Bangladesh. State Government is expecting more investments in Hydrocarbon, tourism and pharmaceutical sectors.
The Minister said that as a prelude to the Summit, the State Government organized road shows in 14 countries, while, such shows were also organized in places like Kolkata, Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru and Chennai.
Minister admitted that though the State is facing power shortage, India now has surplus power in the National Power Grid. He said that the State Government already held talks with the Ministry of Power in this regard and the Ministry is ready to provide required power to the industries. The Government is also hopeful that the process of laying of a new pipeline from Barauni to Assam to bring in gas would start soon.
Salaries of SC, HC judges hiked
Supreme Court and High Court judges have got a nearly three-fold salary hike with President Ram NathKovind giving nod to a The High Court and Supreme Court Judges (Salaries and Conditions of Service) Amendment Bill, 2018 passed by Parliament in this regard.
The Chief Justice of India will now get a monthly salary of Rs 2.80 lakh, up from the present Rs 1 lakh. Similarly, judges of the Supreme Court and chief justices of high courts will draw a monthly salary of Rs 2.50 lakh, up from the current Rs 90,000, according to the Act notified by the Law Ministry.
The judges of high courts, who get Rs 80,000 per month now, will get Rs 2.25 lakh per month, the Bill states.
The judges salary hike, which is in line with the recommendations of the 7th Pay Commission for officers of all-India services, will come into force retrospectively from 1 January 2016.
NE security scenario much better now: President Ramnath Kovind
President RamnathKovind that the Northeast has also witnessed an improvement in the security situation. Addressing the joint session of the Parliament, the President said that to accelerate the pace of development of this area, the Northeast Special Infrastructure Development Scheme has been sanctioned recently, with 100 per cent Central assistance. Under this scheme, projects relating to drinking water supply, energy, education and health will be completed.
To strengthen electricity transmission and distribution network in the North-eastern states, the government has sanctioned schemes worth Rs 10,000 crore in the last three years.
In Mizoram, a hydroelectric power project, constructed at a cost of Rs 913 crore, was dedicated to the nation recently.
“Last year, the longest river-bridge of the country ‘Dhola-Sadiya Bridge’ was dedicated to the nation. This bridge has reduced the distance between Assam and Arunachal Pradesh by 165 km,” he said, adding “my government is also striving to enhance road connectivity in the Northeast.”Work on the Agartala-Akhaura rail link, which will connect India and Bangladesh, is progressing rapidly,” Kovind said.
“The Shillong-Tura road project was dedicated to the people in December last year. This road will improve connectivity in the entire Northeastern region,” the President said.
“My government has also decided to develop the Barak River as the National Waterway-16,” he said.
“Lives of lakhs of people in the tribal areas, especially in the Northeastern region, are dependent on bamboo industry. Inclusion of bamboo in the category of tree had adversely affected livelihoods associated with it. Keeping in mind these difficulties, my government has excluded bamboo from the category of tree. This has now provided freedom to cut, transport and use bamboo,” the President stated.
India’s President’s address to the Parliament
- Article 87 of the constitution provides two instances when the President specially addresses both Houses of Parliament. The President of India addresses both the Rajya Sabha and the Lok Sabha at the beginning of the first Session after each general election when the reconstituted lower house meets for the first time. The President also addresses both the houses at beginning of the first session of each year.
- The address is a statement of government policy, which has to be approved by the Cabinet. The President highlights the legislative and policy activities and achievements during the preceding year and gives a broad indication of the agenda for the year ahead.
- The address is followed by a motion of thanks moved in each House by ruling party MPs, followed by discussions that last up to three or four days and conclude with the Prime Minister replying to the points raised during the discussion.
- After the PM’s reply, MPs vote on the motion of thanks and some may move amendments to the address. The amendments may emphasise or add issues addressed by the President or highlight those that did not find mention. Changes proposed by MPs are not passed in Parliament. Since 1952, only three amendments proposed by MPs have been passed during the vote on the address, all in the Rajya Sabha.
