India's National Action Plan on Climate Change

National Missions

National Solar Mission: The NAPCC aims to promote the development and use of solar energy for power generation and other uses with the ultimate objective of making solar competitive with fossil-based energy options. The plan includes:

• Specific goals for increasing use of solar thermal technologies in urban areas, industry, and commercial establishments;
• A goal of increasing production of photovoltaics to 1000 MW/year; and
• A goal of deploying at least 1000 MW of solar thermal power generation.
  Other objectives include the establishment of a solar research center, increased international collaboration on technology development, strengthening of domestic manufacturing capacity, and increased government funding and international support.

National Mission for Enhanced Energy Efficiency: Current initiatives are expected to yield savings of 10,000 MW by 2012.  Building on the Energy Conservation Act 2001, the plan recommends:

• Mandating specific energy consumption decreases in large energy-consuming industries, with a system for companies to trade energy-savings certificates;
• Energy incentives, including reduced taxes on energy-efficient appliances; and
• Financing for public-private partnerships to reduce energy consumption through demand-side management programs in the municipal, buildings and agricultural sectors.

National Mission on Sustainable Habitat: To promote energy efficiency as a core component of urban planning, the plan calls for:

• Extending the existing Energy Conservation Building Code;
• A greater emphasis on urban waste management and recycling, including power production from waste;
• Strengthening the enforcement of automotive fuel economy standards and using pricing measures to encourage the purchase of efficient vehicles; and
• Incentives for the use of public transportation.

National Water Mission: With water scarcity projected to worsen as a result of climate change, the plan sets a goal of a 20% improvement in water use efficiency through pricing and other measures.
National Mission for Sustaining the Himalayan Ecosystem: The plan aims to conserve biodiversity, forest cover, and other ecological values in the Himalayan region, where glaciers that are a major source of India’s water supply are projected to recede as a result of global warming. 
National Mission for a “Green India”: Goals include the afforestation of 6 million hectares of degraded forest lands and expanding forest cover from 23% to 33% of India’s territory.
National Mission for Sustainable Agriculture: The plan aims to support climate adaptation in agriculture through the development of climate-resilient crops, expansion of weather insurance mechanisms, and agricultural practices.

National Mission on Strategic Knowledge for Climate Change: To gain a better understanding of climate science, impacts and challenges, the plan envisions a new Climate Science Research Fund, improved climate modeling, and increased international collaboration.  It also encourage private sector initiatives to develop adaptation and mitigation technologies through venture capital funds.
Other Programs
The NAPCC also describes other ongoing initiatives, including: 

• Power Generation: The government is mandating the retirement of inefficient coal-fired power plants and supporting the research and development of IGCC and supercritical technologies.
• Renewable Energy: Under the Electricity Act 2003 and the National Tariff Policy 2006, the central and the state electricity regulatory commissions must purchase a certain percentage of grid-based power from renewable sources.
• Energy Efficiency: Under the Energy Conservation Act 2001, large energy-consuming industries are required to undertake energy audits and an energy labeling program for appliances has been introduced.

Implementation
Ministries with lead responsibility for each of the missions are directed to develop objectives, implementation strategies, timelines, and monitoring and evaluation criteria, to be submitted to the Prime Minister’s Council on Climate Change. The Council will also be responsible for periodically reviewing and reporting on each mission’s progress. To be able to quantify progress, appropriate indicators and methodologies will be developed to assess both avoided emissions and adaptation benefits.
Read the full National Action Plan on Climate Change (pdf)
Transcript of Indian Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh's Speech (June 30, 2008)

Current News

Green India Mission draft document released, national consultation to follow

 

a LUK aT THE GOVT ScHEMES

Micro Legal Literacy Scheme : Orissa

Details of Micro Legal Literacy Scheme

Particulars	Description
Name of the Scheme	Micro Legal Literacy Scheme
Sponsored by	State Government
Funding Pattern	The funding pattern is managed by the State Government of Orissa.
Ministry/Department	Law
Description	Micro Legal Literacy scheme is an initiative of Orissa State Legal Service Authority. Under this scheme one team have been built for the effective result. They are 1. A Judicial Officer, optional, 2. Two panel lawyers, preferably one from A panel and another from B panel, 3. One lawyer from the area where the micro legal literacy camp is being organized. 4. Councilor or the ward member of the area, 5. Social workers 6. Educationalist. Under this scheme, different camps are arranged to give proper information to the targeted people. This camps have been arranged in different places, they are, Jails, Hospitals, Melas, Festival places, Religious places, Schools, Colleges, Labour colonies, Market places, Pilgrim places and tourist spot. Hutments and slums. A minimum of 4 micro legal literacy camps shall be conducted in a month. A sum of Rs.2000 may be permitted to be spend by each team for conducting one camp.
Beneficiaries	Individual,Women,Children,
Benefits
Eligibility criteria	Children, Women, Labourers, Remand prisoners or convicts, patients etc. are eligible for this scheme.
How to Avail	To avail this scheme, one can contact to the District Authorities or Taluk Legal Services Committees, concerned Department.
Validity of the Scheme
Introduced On	01 / 01 / 2008
Valid Upto	01 / 01 / 2011
Reference URL	http://www.oslsa.in/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=55&Itemid=57

Aam Aadmi Bima Yojana

Aam Aadmi Bima Yojana (AABY), from 2^nd October 2007, covering the death and permanent disability for the benefit of rural landless households as detailed below:

(i) The scheme provides for insurance of head of the family or an earning member of the family of rural landless household between the age of 18 to 59 years against natural death as well as accidental death and partial/permanent disability. The annual premium payable per member is Rs.200, of which 50% shall be paid by the Central Government and the remaining 50% by the State Government. The main features and benefits of the AABY Scheme in nutshell are as under:

FEATURES:

Eligibility	Rural Landless Households
Age Group	18-59 years
Premium	Rs.200/- per member. 50% by Central Government and remaining 50% by State Government
Nodal Agency	State Government

BENEFITS:

Natural Death	Rs.30,000/-
Accidental Death	Rs.75,000/-
Total permanent disability	Rs.75,000/- (loss of two eyes or two limbs or loss of one eye and one limb in accident)
Partial permanent disability	Rs.37,500/- (loss of one eye or one limb in an accident)
Scholarships	Two children of the beneficiaries studying in 9th to 12th Standard will get Rs.300/- per quarter per child

(ii) Creation of a fund of Rs.1000 crore to be operated by LIC for meeting the liability of Central Government towards its share of premium payment. As per the National Sample Survey, the number of rural landless households in the country is 1.5 crore. It is expected that in the first year approx. 70 to 80 lakh of rural landless households would be covered under the scheme requiring an expenditure of Rs.70-80 cr by the Central Government towards its share of 50% premium. With a 8% per annum return expected on the Rs.1000 crore fund, the amount would be sufficient to meet the liability of premium payment.

(iii) A separate Rs.500 crore fund will be created for the purpose of providing scholarships to children of beneficiaries. This will make available Rs.40 crore for the full year at 8% per annum return. This amount would suffice for the coverage of 3,33,000 children of the beneficiaries.

This Scheme would extend the benefit of life insurance coverage as well as coverage of partial and permanent disability to the head of the family or an earning member of the family of rural landless households in the States and also educational assistance to their children studying from 9^th to 12^th standard as an extended benefit.

Rashtriya Swasthya Bima Yojna (RSBY)

Image via Wikipedia

What is Rashtriya Swasthaya Bima Yojna (RSBY)?
Rashtriya Swasthaya Bima Yojna is a Central Government Scheme announced by the Prime Minister
Manmohan Singh on the previous year’s Independence Day (August 15, 2007). It is a new health
insurance scheme for the Below Poverty Line (BPL) families in the unorganized sector. It was
formally launched on October 1, 2007.
What is the objective of this Scheme?
The objective of RSBY is to provide the insurance cover to below poverty line (BPL)
households from major health shocks that involve hospitalization.
Is it being implemented all over the country?
There is a five year plan for rolling out the RSBY which allows each participating state to
contract 20 per cent of their respective districts each year. By April 1, 2008, almost every
large state government has expressed its intention of joining the scheme and fifteen States
(Delhi, Rajasthan, Gujarat, Haryana, Bihar, Uttrakhand, Kerala, Punjab, Chhatisgarh,
Karnataka, Maharashtra, Tamilnadu, Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal and Jharkhand) have
already issued advertisements.
Three states – Delhi, Haryana and Rajasthan – have begun enrollment. More than 6000 smart
cards have been issued to the beneficiaries till 31.3.2008. The MoU has also been signed with
the State of Punjab on 8.4.08.
Should State be allowed only 20 percent of the districts in the first year? Is
there any timeframe given to the States to submit their proposals to
implement the scheme?
As per the guidelines each State has to take up 20% of the districts each year in the next five
years. However, the Central Government would consider additional districts if slots become
available on account of inability of other States in furnishing their proposals. As of now, no
time frame has been fixed but it would be done in due course.
Who is bearing the cost of running this Scheme? How does it work? 
The majority of the financing, about 75 per cent, is provided by the Government of India
(GOI), while the remainder is paid by the state government. State governments engage in a
competitive bidding process and select a public or private insurance company licensed to
provide health insurance by the Insurance Regulatory Development Authority (IRDA). The
technical bids submitted must include a number of elements as per GOI requirements. The
insurer must agree to cover the benefit package prescribed by GOI through a cashless facility
that in turn requires the use of smart cards which must be issued to all members. This
requires that a sub-contract be arranged with a qualified smart card provider. The insurer
must also agree to engage intermediaries with local presence such as NGOs etc. in order to
provide grassroots outreach and assist members in utilizing the services after enrolment. The
insurer must also provide a list of empanelled hospitals that will participate in the cashless
arrangement. These hospitals must meet certain basic minimum requirements (e.g., size and
registration) and must agree to set up a special RSBY desk with smart card reader and trained
staff. The list should include public and private hospitals.
The financial bid is essentially an annual premium per enrolled household. The insurer is
compensated on the basis of the number of Smart Cards issued, i.e. households covered. Each
contract is specified on the basis of an individual district in a state and the insurer agrees to
set up an office in each district where it operates. While more than one insurer can operate in
a particular state, only one insurer can operate in a single district at any given point in time.
The hardware and software specifications laid down by GOI imply inter-operability across
districts and states.

Source--http://docs.google.com/gview?a=v&q=cache:tYwz46IgKz0J:pib.nic.in/archieve/flagship/faq_rsby.pdf+Rastriya+Swasthya+Bima+Yojna&hl=en&gl=in&sig=AFQjCNHJ538hyjY4NvpHi18SDMIqQiq9yQ

Shastri's 105th birth anniversary today,Govt names flagship scheme after Mahatma

Image by Ch-eeee-tos via Flickr

The Centre's flagship National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (NREGA) will be named after Mahatma Gandhi. An announcement to this effect by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh is expected on Friday, on the occasion of Gandhi Jayanti. The decision to name the NREGA after Mahatma Gandhi was taken at a meeting of the union cabinet. Government sources said the cabinet has approved the move in principle.

October 2 is celebrated as Gandhi Jayanti but it's also the birth anniversary of another great Indian leader. Former Prime Minister Lal Bahadur Shastri shares his birthday with Mahatma Gandhi. Today is his 105th birth anniversary. Shastri joined Gandhiji's Civil Disobedience Movement in 1930 and also participated in the Quit India Movement. Shastri joined Nehru's cabinet as the Railways and Transport Minister in 1952 and after the death of Nehru, he became the Prime Minister of India in 1964. He died in 1966.

Panchayati raj

The Panchayat is a South Asian political system mainly in India, Pakistan, and Nepal. "Panchayat" literally means assembly (yat) of five (panch) wise and respected elders chosen and accepted by thevillage community. Traditionally, these assemblies settled disputes between individuals and villages. Modern Indian government has decentralised several administrative functions to the village level, empowering elected gram panchayats. Gram panchayats are not to be confused with the unelected khappanchayats (or caste panchayats) found in some parts of India.^[1]

Panchayati raj

The term ‘panchayat raj’ is relatively new, having originated during the British administration. 'Raj' literally means governance or government. Mahatma Gandhi advocated Panchayati Raj, a decentralized form of Government where each village is responsible for its own affairs, as the foundation of India's political system. His term for such a vision was "Gram Swaraj" (Village Self-governance).

It was adopted by state governments during the 1950s and 60s as laws were passed to establish Panchayats in various states. It also found backing in the Indian Constitution, with the 73rd amendment in 1992 to accommodate the idea. The Amendment Act of 1992 contains provision for devolution of powers and responsibilities to the panchayats to both for preparation of plans for economic development and social justice and for implementation in relation to twenty-nine subjects listed in the eleventh schedule of the constitution.

The panchayats receive funds from three sources – (i) local body grants, as recommended by the Central Finance Commission, (ii) funds for implementation of centrally-sponsored schemes, and (iii) funds released by the state governments on the recommendations of the State Finance Commi

ssions.^[2]

In the history of Panchayati Raj in India, on 24 April 1993, the Constitutional (73rd Amendment) Act, 1992 came into force to provide constitutional status to the Panchayati Raj institutions. This Act was extended to Panchayats in the tribal areas of eight States, namely Andhra Pradesh, Bihar, Gujarat, Himachal Pradesh, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Orissa and Rajasthan from 24 December 1996.

The Act aims to provide 3-tier system of Panchayati Raj for all States having population of over 2 million, to hold Panchayat elections regularly every 5 years, to provide reservation of seats for Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes and Women, to appoint State Finance Commission to make recommendations as regards the financial powers of the Panchayats and to constitute District Planning Committee to prepare draft development plan for the district.

Powers and responsibilities are delegated to Panchayats at the appropriate level :-

• Preparation of plan for economic development and social justice.
• Implementation of schemes for economic development and social justice in relation to 29 subjects given in Eleventh Schedule of the Constitution.
• To levy, collect and appropriate taxes, duties, tolls and fees.

Village level (panchayat)

Panchayati Raj is a system of governance in which gram panchayats are the basic units of administration. It has 3 levels: village, block and district. At the village level, it is called a Panchayat. It is a local body working for the good of the village. The number of members usually ranges from 7 to 31; occasionally, groups are larger, but they never have fewer than 7 members.

The block-level institution is called the Panchayat Samiti. The district-level institution is called the Zilla Parishad.

Gram panchayat

Gram sabha is constituted by all members of a village over the age of 18 years.The Gram Sabha elects the Gram Panchayat a council of elected members taking decisions on issues key to a village's social, cultural and economic life: thus, a Gram Panchayat is also a village's body of elected representatives. The council leader is named Sarpanch in Hindi, and each member is a Gram Panchayat Sadasya or Panch. The panchayat acts as a conduit between the local government and the people. Decisions are taken by a majority vote (Bahumat). It is said that in such a system, each villager can voice his opinion in the governance of his village.^{[citation needed]} Decisions are taken without lengthy legal procedures and the process remains for the most part transparent.^{[citation needed]} Panchayat is an ancient Indian word that means means Five Persons ( Headman ). Since its inception, Panchayat has come a long way, it is currently included in the constitution of the Government of India.

Intermediate level panchayat

Also known as Block Panchayat, this is the panchayat set at the block or tehsil level for a group of grama panchayats in States where the total population exceeds 20 lakh. Block level panchayat is not advisable for many States like Kerala.

District level panchayat

This is the panchayats at the district level. Every district in the States where panchayat raj is implemented will have a District or Zilla Panchayats.

CIVIL SERVICES BILL 2009

CIVIL SERVICES BILL 2009: THE SILENT CIVILIAN COUP

India's first Prime Minister's self-confessed biggest failure is now set to become complete surrender. In the 21st century, instead of putting in place a contemporary and responsive bureaucratic set up, India is on the verge of making its dysfunctional colonial babudom that Nehru wanted to dismantle but could not, even more unaccountable and powerful than it was during the Raj.

So dangerous is going to be the result of a proposal under consideration that it is surprising that there are no voices being raised against it. Perhaps that itself is an indication of the power and reach of India's babus even today.

Let us get some basic things straight. This country is meant to governed by political leaders who are chosen by the people, the real sovereigns, to whom they are accountable. In effect, Chief Minister are CEOs of their states while the PM is the CEO of the whole nation. All organs of the government, including the IAS and IPS that are about to give a fatal punch to this fundamental concept, are no more than changeable instruments that exist solely to assist these CEOs to do their jobs efficiently and effectively.

As it is, thanks to the colonial bureaucracy that frustrated and defeated even a tall leader like Nehru, these CEOs have only a very small pool of talent from which they can select individuals who can faithfully execute their plans and projects. Unlike in modern countries like the US, a PM cannot, for example, appoint a Cabinet Secretary of his choice; he has to pick from less than half a dozen IAS officers who fall in that seniority bracket. The same constraint is faced by CMs in states. They all have to appoint generalist babus of the IAS cadre alone to head the secretarial support staff in all departments. Due to this constraint that will be unacceptable in any modern and responsive administration anywhere in the world, over time, the IAS cadre has become extremely powerful.

As things stand today, all that an individual has to do is get through one Civil Services exam. After that, he need not do anything at all. The system has been systematically sabotaged in such a manner that he will rise to a very high rank and retire a very rich man. Unless he does something criminally unacceptable and is caught and convicted, he is set for life. There is no pyramid; it has been turned into a vertical cylinder. And the very few who do not reach the rank of Additional Secretary are assured many other usurped and lucrative alternative options, including in the public sector.

In addition, having successfully sidelined the military and other professions and cadres from all top positions in the government, the babus - and that includes IPS officers who think they are IAS guys in uniform and not the cops that they are meant to be - are now all set to push even politicians aside. As it is, most politicians, having never worked a day in their lives in a result-oriented organisation, are led by the babus who make them take most decisions that the babus want. So much is the control execised by these babus that, often, decisions pushed through against their wishes are simply not implemented till the minister changes, after which in any case they do not need to be. All this and more will get exposed if the notings on files are made available under the RTI. That is why they are opposing that proposal so strongly.

See the trick and the dysfunctional aberration here? Babus wield the real power already; they compel politicians to take most decisions due to their written recommendations which, unless a minister is well-informed and strong, are accepted. But, the babus don't want to be held accountable for them in any manner. The accountability has to rest with the political decision making authority alone.

There is no doubt that responsibility and accountability of the government has to rest with leaders chosen by people to lead them. If that be so, then, it logically follows that such leaders should have the freedom to choose and appoint the secretarial staff and professionals to help them do so. Unfortunately, over the years, politicians have not covered themselves with glory and some have actually gone berserk in misusing their powers.

The deterioration in the quality of political leadership is a matter of serious concern and measures need to be taken to correct it. But that should be done by politicians at the political end. However, what the unresponsive bureaucracy that is effectively not accountable to anyone, is trying now is insidious and dangerous. In the garb of "insulating" IAS and IPS officers from politicians, it is taking the country backwards in colonial time. Let no one be under any illusion that if the proposed Civil Services Bill 2009 is passed, bureaucrats, who are essentially no more than secretarial support staff to leaders, will become even more powerful than the leaders chosen by the people.

The world has not yet seen "collective dictatorship" of the kind that India is in the danger of being taken over by. If this bill goes through, India's colonial bureaucrats, including those in khakis, will go almost totally beyond the pale of control of even the elected, and will become the nation's real rulers without being answerable to its people in any manner whatsoever.

Look at some proposals included in the bill:

• A new Civil Public Service Authority (CPSA) will be established to "professionally manage" civil services (IAS and IPS) and serve the interests of babus and citizens. The CPSA will aid and advise the government in all matters concerning the organisation, control, operation and management of public services and servants. It will also frame public service codes to facilitate babus in discharging official duties with competence and accountability, care and diligence; responsibility, honesty, objectivity and impartiality; without discrimination and in accordance with the law.
  
• The rank of the Chairman of the CPSA will be equivalent to the CEC and he will be appointed by a committee comprising the PM, HM, Leader of the Opposition and a Supreme Court Judge. The Cabinet Secretary will be the convener of the CPSA.
• The Cabinet Secretary, Chief Secretaries and DGPs will selected out of a panel by the PM/CM, HM and the Leader of the opposition.
• The new rules also give enough importance to performance parameters of officers considered for top posts.
• All bureaucrats will have fixed tenure of three years and will have to be compensated for inconvenience and harassment if moved out earlier.
• If the government deviates from these norms, it will have to inform the Parliament about the reasons for doing so.
  
• These rules apply only to IAS and IPS officers only. Civil servants of other 'inferior cadres' will remain under the thumbs of these cadres as before.

Can you see what is being cleverly slid in?

• The taking away of powers of appointment from the PM/CM and involving the Leader of the Opposition in the process will simply erode executive authority and eventually ensure that the political leadership will be left with no choice but to pick the senior most officer declared eligible for the job by the CPSA. This means that even when people vote out a government because it has failed to deliver, the new government will be forced to work with the same permanent team of not-accountable-to-anyone babus who ran the failed administration that was rejected by the people. What is this going to lead to, as even an uneducated person can tell you? Even more sloth, unaccountability and colonial arrogance of the sort not seen for 62 years.
• As of now, the only real power that political leaders have over babus is that of transfer, particularly to lucrative appointments, because babus have already played havoc with organisational hierarchy to ensure promotions up to the near-top level, irrespective of performance (this talk of changing the system of evaluation is no more than a red herring to hijack control). If tenures are fixed at three years, the above-the-government CPSA is empowered to question it, the government has to give reason to the Parliament for moving someone out early and the concerned official has to be compensated for it, then it means that a political leader will invariably be stuck with the same failed officials (even politically inconvenient ones, rightly or wrongly) till their tenures are over. As a result, these already unaccountable officials will become the real masters wherever they are, without being answerable to any body and without any fear whatsoever of anyone other than their equally unaccountable cadre superiors.
• Presently, the Cabinet Secretary is the senior most bureaucrat who reports to the PM and who can be appointed and removed by India's CEC at will. After the bill is passed, the Chairman of the CPSA will become the Supreme Leader of India's bureaucrats, the babus' Ayatollah, as it were. He will not only be totally out of control of the government but will actually become a superior, independent authority that can question any decision of the political leadership in the states and the Centre in all matters concerning postings, promotions and issuance of orders in accordance with the law.

In short, what India's colonial bureaucrats are attempting now is a silent but deadly civilian coup. IAS and IPS, the anachronistic and dysfunctional cadres that belong to the 19th century, have already grown overwhelmingly powerful in the last sixty two years by infiltrating into and usurping control of all the powerful wings of the government and quasi government organs and bodies. This regression has led to a situation where they are now not willing to submit even to the ultimate people-empowered authority of the political leadership.

The Civil Services Bill 2009 is, in sum, nothing but a cleverly concealed attempt designed to take away most of the few remaining powers that politicians exercise over India's bureaucrats belonging to the IAS and IPS, and make them the de facto rulers of this country, accountable to no one at all. If the bill goes through, India's democracy will effectively be dead in a few years.

MORAL OF THE STORY
You and I may keep voting politicians in and out of power. That will not effect the government at all. No matter who is in power and who is out, the real writ that will prevail will be of India's civil servants; that autonomous tail will wag all political dogs voted to power by the people of this country.