(Premium) Gist of Press Information Bureau: January 2014

Premium - Gist of Press Information Bureau: January 2014

COMMITTEES OF STATE FOOD SECRETARIES TO BE SET UP FOR SPEEDY IMPLEMENTATION OF FOOD SECURITY ACT

The Center has proposed a committee of State Food Secretaries under the chairmanship of Union Food Secretaries to short out issues of sharing expenditure towards intra-State transportation and handling of foodgrains, margins to fair price shop dealers and other implementation issues to ensure speedy implementation of National Food Security Act(NFSA).

Besides this another committee at the Ministerial level has been proposed to sort out issues of finance and other infrastructure to provide all required assistance on priority basis for the implementation of the Act. This was disclosed by Prof K.V.Thomas, Minister of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution to the media persons here today while briefing about the deliberations of the State Food Ministers’.

Shri Thomas said that most of the states informed today that they have already started preparations for launching the scheme under the Act and 50 percent States are expected to rollout the Act by this year end. He said that in today’s meeting States have been again assured that their foodgrains allocation will be protected at the average of annual off take for the last three years and other concerned will be addressed as per the provisions of the Act. The meeting was attended by 22 States Food Ministers out of 28 States. But senior officials from all States and Union Territories were present. The meeting resolved that time bound programme will be prepared for correct identification of beneficiaries, issuing of new ration cards, setting of grievance redressel authorities at the district and state levels will be taken up, existing distribution system should be strengthened. Door-step delivery of foodgrains will be taken up and computerization of TPDS will be completed in a time-bound manner. It was also decided that State Governments will ensure timely completion of the storage capacities sanctioned under Private Entrepreneurs Guarantee (PEG) scheme. Since coverage under NFSA has been delinked from poverty estimates and therefore the hitherto followed system of APL and BPL beneficiaries would no more be relevant. Hence it was also decided that States/UTs should devise appropriate mechanism for distribution of subsidized sugar, within the quotas fixed for each State.

CABINET DECIDES TO WITHDRAW ORDINANCE AND BILL RELATING TO REPRESENTATION OF PEOPLE’S ACT

Having regard to the various concerns, which have been expressed in relation to the validity and advisability of the proposed Ordinance seeking to amend the Representation of People‘s Act, the Cabinet has decided to withdraw the proposal for promulgating the Ordinance as well as the Bill.

NATIONAL POLICY ON UNIVERSAL ELECTRONIC ACCESSIBILITY

The Union Cabinet today approved the National Policy on Universal Electronic Accessibility that recognizes the need to eliminate discrimination on the basis of disabilities as well as to facilitate equal access to electronics and Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs). This policy has been prepared after incorporating comments and suggestions from various stakeholders.

The policy will facilitate equal and unhindered access to electronics and ICTs products and services by differently abled persons (both physically and mentally challenged) and to facilitate local language support for the same.

This shall be achieved through universal access to electronics and ICT products and services to synchronize with barrier free environment and preferably usable without adaptation. Differently abled persons all over the country will benefit from this policy.

The following strategies are envisaged for the implementation of the policy:

  • Creating awareness on universal electronics accessibility and universal design.
  • Capacity building and infrastructure development.
  • Setting up of model electronics and ICTs centres for providing training and demonstration to special educators and physically as well as mentally challenged persons.
  • Conducting research and development, use of innovation, ideas, technology etc. whether indigenous or outsourced from abroad.
  • Developing programme and schemes with greater emphasis for differently abled women/children.
  • Developing procurement guidelines for electronics and ICTs for accessibility and assistive needs.

Background

India ratified the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD) in 2007 which, among other things, says that “State Parties shall take appropriate measures to ensure to persons with disabilities, access on an equal basis with others, to the physical environment, to transportation, to information and communications, including ICTs and systems and to other facilities and services open or provided to the public”.

Many countries who are signatories to UNCRPD have legislation policy or a framework to ensure equality for those with disability. Electronics and ICTs are key enablers in mitigating barriers faced by differently abled persons and in helping them to provide better opportunities for livelihood.

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