The Gist of Press Information Bureau (PIB): May 2015

The Gist of Press Information Bureau: May 2015

Youth Policy

The National Youth Policy 2014 defines the age of youth as persons between the age 15-29 years. The National Youth Policy 2014 seeks to define the vision of the Government of India for the youth of the country and identify the key areas in which action is required to enable youth development and to provide a framework for action for all stakeholders. The Policy identifies eleven specific priority areas for action, as under:

  • Education.
  • Employment and Skill Development.
  • Entrepreneurship.
  • Health and Healthy Lifestyle.
  • Sports.
  • Promotion of Social Values.
  • Community Engagement.
  • Participation in Politics and Governance.
  • Youth Engagement.
  • Inclusion.
  • Social Justice.

The action for implementation of the Policy is required to be taken by concerned Ministries/Departments from their own budgetary allocations. No separate funds have been allocated for implementation of the Policy.

14th Finance Commission (FFC) Report

Article 280 of the Constitution of India requires the Constitution of a Finance Commission every five years, or earlier. For the period from 1st April, 2015 to 31st March, 2020, the 14th Finance Commission (FFC) was constituted by the orders of President on 2nd January, 2013 and submitted its report on 15th December, 2014. The Finance Commission is required to recommend the distribution of the net proceeds of taxes of the Union between the Union and the States (commonly referred to as vertical devolution); and the allocation between the States of the respective shares of such proceeds (commonly known as horizontal devolution).

With regard to vertical distribution, FFC has recommended by majority decision that the the States’ share in the net proceeds of the Union tax revenues be 42%. The recommendation of tax devolution at 42% is a huge jump from the 32% recommended by the 13th Finance Commission. The transfers to the States will see a quantum jump. This is the largest ever change in the percentage of devolution. In the past, when Finance Commissions have recommended an increase, it has been in the range of 1-2% increase. As compared to the total devolutions in 2014-15 the total devolution of the States in 2015-16 will increase by over 45%. FFC has taken the view that tax devolution should be primary route of transfer of resources to States. It may be noted that in reckoning the requirements of the States, the FFC has ignored the Plan and Non-Plan distinction; it sees the enhanced devolution of the divisible pool of taxes as a “compositional shift in transfers from grants to tax devolution”.

Keeping in mind the spirit of cooperative federalism that has underpinned the creation of National Institution for Transforming India (NITI), the Government has accepted the recommendation of the FFC to keep the States’ share of Union Tax proceeds (net) at 42%. In recommending horizontal distribution, the FFC has used broad parameters of population (1971) and changes of population since, income distance, forest cover and area. The Finance Commission is also required to recommend on ‘the measures needed to augment the Consolidated Fund of a State to supplement the resources of the Panchayats and Municipalities in the State on the basis of the recommendations made by the Finance Commission of the State’.

FFC has recommended distribution of grants to States for local bodies using 2011 population data with weight of 90% and area with weight of 10%. The grants to States will be divided into two, a grant to duly constituted Gram Panchayats and a grant to duly constituted Municipal bodies, on the basis of rural and urban population. FFC has recommended grants in two parts; a basic grant, and a performance grant, for duly constituted Gram Panchayats and municipalities. The ratio of basic to performance grant is 90:10 with respect to Panchayats and 80:20 with respect to Municipalities.

Outbreak of H1N1 Seasonal Influenza and the steps taken by Government of India

India, as also other parts of the world, were affected by Influenza A H1N1 pandemic in year 2009 and 2010.The number of reported cases in 2009 were 27236 and in 2010 the cases were 20604. The number of deaths in 2009 were 981 and in 2010 the deaths increased to 1763. Influenza is caused by Virus of three types A, B and C. It is the type A virus which has caused major Pandemics and Epidemics across the globe. This is because Influenza A type of virus has the tendency to undergo mutation against which the affected population may not have sufficient immunity. The Subtypes of Influenza A virus include H1N1, H2N2 and H3N2. While declaring the pandemic to be over in August 2010, WHO had conveyed that the pandemic H1N1 virus would continue to circulate as a seasonal influenza virus for some years to come. In the current year, from January 1 till February 22, 2015 the number of cases reported by the States are 14673. The number of deaths for the same period are 841.

In order to prevent the outbreak government has taken following steps :

  • States have been provided guidelines on screening, risk categorization of patients, clinical case management and ventilator management. The drug Oseltamivir is required for treating Influenza A H1N1. In addition, to prevent transmission of the disease to the healthcare workers who come in contact with patients, N-95 masks and Personal Protective Equipment are required.

  • The laboratory network of Integrated Disease Surveillance Programme and Indian Council of Medical Research comprising 21 laboratories across different parts of India is providing free testing facilities for Influenza A H1N1.

  • It has been confirmed, both by National Institute of Virology (under ICMR) and National Centre for Diseases Control, (Delhi) that the cases of Influenza A currently being reported are of H1N1. In other words, it is the same virus of 2009 and there is no mutation in the virus.

  • As per information gathered from the State Governments, it appears that many of the deaths may be attributed to the co-morbid conditions of the Influenza A H1N1 affected patients. Such persons are immuno-compromised and consequently more vulnerable. In this category are the patients with diseases such as cancer, diabetes, tuberculosis, other respiratory diseases etc.

  • To increase awareness of the general public, the States have been undertaking massive Information -Education -Communication (IEC) campaign using different media. The campaign focus is on how to prevent the transmission of the disease as also on the action to be taken with the onset of symptoms such as cough, fever etc. The Central Government is also supplementing the IEC efforts of the States.

Vision Document 2015 to Promote Food Processing Industries

In order to promote food processing industries, increase level of processing and exploit the potential of domestic and international market for processed food products, Vision Document 2015 was prepared by the Ministry of Food Processing Industries, which envisaged trebling the size of investment in the processed food sector by increasing the level of processing of perishables from 6% to 20%, value addition from 20% to 35% and share in global food trade from 1.5% to 3% by 2015. To achieve these targets, an investment of Rs. 100,000 crore was required by the year 2015. Out of which, the share of Government was Rs.10,000 crore.

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