Ticket Examiner and RPF staff authorised to take action against smoking in trains & at stations

Press Information Bureau

Government of India

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ESIC Model Dispensary Inaugurated at Okhla

EXPANSION OF ESIC HOSPITALS IN DELHI

 

New Delhi : November 6, 2009

 

The Union Minister of Labour & Employment Minister, Shri Malliarjun Kharge inaugurated the ESIC Model Dispensary at Okhla Industrial Area in New Delhi today. The Minister of State for Labour & Employment, Shri Harish Rawat and Smt. Kiran Walia, Minister of Health & Family Welfare, Government of NCT of Delhi were present on the occasion.

 

This is the first fully air-conditioned ESIC Dispensary in India with the state of the art equipment and a modern diagnostic centre, with separate Ayurveda and Homeopathy options available to the ESI beneficiaries. The Model Dispensary is expected to provide good quality health care services to the large workforce in and around Okhla Industrial Area.

 

Speaking on the occasion, Shri Mallikarjun Kharge announced that the capacity of major hospitals in Delhi region would be expanded in a phased manner. In this context he informed that a decision has been taken to increase the number of beds in Basai Darapur Hospital from 600 beds to 1000 beds, in Okhla from 150 beds to 250 beds and in Rohini from 151 beds to 270 beds. Besides this, he said, Beds for the ESI beneficiaries are being reserved in different hospitals of the Capital. He said that there is an extensive network of 32 fulltime ESI dispensaries in the Capital. This Network also includes one Mobile dispensary, two Diagnostic Centres, 10 Ayurvedic wings and 23 Yoga facilities, the Minister informed.

 

Speaking on the occasion Shri Harish Rawat said that in the recent past, the ESI Corporation has started the process of upgrading of ESIC Hospitals for providing better medical services to the beneficiaries. The steps for upgradation include the setting up and starting of Medical Colleges, Nursing Colleges, Dental Colleges and other para-medical schools in ESI Hospitals. Shri Rawat said that in the first phase, it is proposed to set up about a dozen Medical Colleges and Post Graduate Medical Sciences and Research Institutes in the existing ESI Hospitals by ESIC.

 

The Employees State Insurance Corporation runs a unique social security scheme which has the feature of an insurance organization as well as service provider for health related needs of the insured persons under the scheme. The Corporation has the largest team of medical and para-medical personnel in India and also has one of the largest medical infrastructures in the world. It has huge infrastructure of 144 Hospitals, 42 Hospitals Annexes, 1397 ESI Dispensaries, 1753 Panel Clinics, 795 Branch/Pay Offices and 51 Regional/Sub-Regional/Divisional Offices.

 

VBA/RS  /spandey

 

Press Information Bureau

Government of India

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Election Commission of India

 

Bye Election to Lok Sabha/State Legislative Assembly, 2009 – Deployment of CPFs

 

 New Delhi : November 6, 2009

 

Reports have appeared in a section of the press in the state of Kerala about some statements of the Chief Minister and others that the Central police forces deputed by the ECI in that state for the conduct of bye-polls will be "confined to the barracks" and will not be deployed at the polling stations on the day of the poll. This is not correct. The Central Police Forces shall not be confined to the barracks. They shall stand guard at the polling stations on the day of the poll to ensure free and fair election in accordance with Commission's instructions.

 

The Commission invariably decides to draft and depute central police forces wherever elections are conducted, on the basis of various inputs that it receives from multiple sources including its observers and the assessment of ground realities. Based on this assessment of requirements, the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) is asked to provide the requisite police forces. Once these forces are deputed to the Commission, then it is the Commission which decides as to where and the manner in which the forces shall be deployed for conduct of free and fair polls, which is a mandate of the Constitution to the Commission.

 

Once drafted by the Commission, all police forces whether state or central, stand deputed to the Election Commission of India.

 

This is a time-tested practice. For the conduct of bye-elections to the 32 Assembly Constituencies (ACs) on 7th November 2009 too, central police forces have been deployed in Assam (2 ACs), West Bengal (10 ACs), UP (11 ACs and 1 PC), Rajasthan (2 ACs) and Kerala (3 ACs). In Kerala, the central forces have been deployed in all the three ACs of Allepey, Ernakulum and Kannur.

 

Actual district deployment plan is finalized by the Commission's Observer in-charge of the constituency in consultation with the District Election Officer (DM) and the SP. Once finalized by the Commission's Observer, the plan cannot be modified or deviated from, without prior written approval of the Observer. The Commission's instructions specify that unless the deployment of central police forces as are envisaged in the plan is implemented on the ground and the Central Police Forces station themselves at the assigned polling station, the poll shall not commence.

 

 

 

The Constituency deployment plan of central police force has been finalized by the Observers in the case of bye-elections to Alleppey, Ernakulum and Kannur. It shall be ensured by the DEOs, the SPs and the Observers that the central police forces have reached their assigned polling stations by the evening of 6th November for the polls to proceed smoothly from 7th morning. After the poll is over, the Central Police Forces will escort the EVMs back to the strong room and guard the strong room.

 

The Commission has made all arrangements for a free and fair poll. While an observer each has been deputed to Allepey and Ernakulum, in Kannur there are two observers of the ECI. The additional enrolment of voters and deletions have been field verified by door to door visit and the list of registered voters who were found to be absent, shifted or dead during such verification have been identified polling station wise. The polling station wise list of such voters has been given to the presiding officers and they have been trained to undertake a rigorous identification of any voter turning up for casting of vote from this list. Arrangements are in place for the poll day, to apprehend and take necessary penal action against the offenders. All sensitive polling stations shall have a static observer (Micro-observer) observing the poll proceedings from inside the polling station and reporting against any vitiation of the poll process.

 

The Election Commission of India would like to make it abundantly clear that it would spare no efforts, as it always does, for ensuring a free and fair poll in all the 32 Assembly Constituencies and one Lok Sabha Constituency in the 7 states which are going to poll on 7th November 2009.

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RM/spandey

 

 

Press Information Bureau

Government of India

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Defence Minister to leave for Japan on Saturday

 

New Delhi : November 6, 2009

 

Defence Minister Shri AK Antony will be leaving for Japan on Saturday on an official visit at the invitation of his Japanese counterpart, Mr. Toshimi Kitazawa. This will be the first visit of a Cabinet Minister to Japan after the taking over of the new DPJ led Government in Japan.

 

During the visit the Defence Minister will be meeting his Japanese counterpart to review the on-going defence related interactions between both the countries and to explore ways to enhance such exchanges to the mutual benefit. The conduct of joint exercises between Armed Forces of both the countries and exchange of students in the defence training institutions of both the countries would also be discussed with the Japanese side. In addition, possibilities of coordination of efforts in anti-piracy operations in the Gulf of Aden and other maritime security challenges are also likely to be discussed.

 

The Defence Minister will be accompanied by the Defence Secretary, Scientific Adviser to Raksha Mantri and senior officials from the Armed Forces. The Minister will return home on November 10, 2009.

 

The bilateral security and defence cooperation between India and Japan are guided by the Joint Statement issued by the Defence Ministers of both sides during the visit of the then Defence Minister, Shri Pranab Mukherjee to Japan in May 2006 and the Joint Declaration on Security Cooperation between Japan and India which was issued during the visit of PM, Dr. Manmohan Singh to Japan in October 2008.

 

NA/Samir/GC  /spandey

 

 

Press Information Bureau

Government of India

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Main recommendations/suggestions of the all India Conference of CAT

 

New Delhi : November 6, 2009

 

Main recommendations/suggestions made by the All India Conference of Central Administrative Tribunal (CAT), hold in New Delhi on November 1, 2009 are as under:

 

(i) To approach the Central Government to consider amending Article 227(4) of the Constitution which would facilitate appeals against the orders of the Tribunal before the Hon'ble Supreme Court of India directly as is done in respect of Armed Forces Tribunal as was the position before the L. Chandra Kumar Judgment in 1997.

 

(ii) It was indicated that Central Government may issue more notifications under Section 14(2) of the Administrative Tribunals Act bringing more institutions within the purview of the CAT, as it has expertise to deal with service matters.

 

(iii) More autonomy was suggested to be extended for the Tribunal. Powers similar to those vested in Chief Justices of High Courts, under Article 229 are urged to be conferred on the Chairman, CAT. In terms of the amendment in the Administrative Tribunals Act (Sub Section 3 of Section 8) the conditions of service of the Chairman and Members are the same as applicable to the Judges of High Courts. Officers and employees of the Tribunal may be allowed scales of pay, of their counter parts in High Courts.

 

(iv) A decision was taken to approach the appropriate authority to take a view whether a general guideline can be issued to authorize CAT to hear and dispose of cases of the State Govt. employees where there exists no State Administrative Tribunal.

 

(v) Creation of posts in a few grades essentially required for the smooth functioning of the Tribunal was also recommended. The DOP&T have been urged to take immediate steps in this behalf without adhering for any alternate like matching/saving etc. as these are required in order to make this institution more effective and result oriented.

 

(vi) Issue relating to creation and relocation of the Benches was also discussed but deferred since the matter requires a study and views of all the Benches. A few in-house administrative and financial matters were also discussed and deliberated upon.

 

The Conference was inaugurated by the Hon'ble Chief Justice of India Shri Justice K.G.Balakrishnan. The Union Minister for Law and Justice Dr. M.Veerappa Moily and the Minister of State for Personnel, Public Grievances & Pensions Shri Prithviraj Chavan also participated in the inauguration session of the Conference. Dr. Justice Mukundakam Sharma, Judge of the Supreme Court of India delivered a talk on 'Service Law'.

 

RS/SR  /spandey

 

 

Press Information Bureau

Government of India

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Workshop on recent trends in phonosurgery

 

New Delhi : November 6, 2009

 

The ENT and Head Neck Surgery Department of Army Hospital (Research & Referral), New Delhi has organised a workshop on recent trends in phonosurgery. The workshop will be held on 07-08 Nov 2009 and will be inaugurated by Lt Gen NK Parmar, Director General Armed Forces Medical Services.

 

The workshop will be attended by eminent faculty and delegates from all over the country. The key feature of this workshop is demonstration of all types of surgery on vocal cords with Hands On workshop to train delegates on use of CO2 Laser and laryngeal frame work surgery under expert guidance.

 

 

Samir/SK  /spandey

 

 

Press Information Bureau

Government of India

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Engagement of licensed porters in railways

 

New Delhi : November 6, 2009

 

The Ministry of Railways has issued certain guidelines regarding pregnant women candidates appearing for the licensed porter assignment. It has been decided that the pregnant women candidates appearing for physical ability test for licensed porters are to be treated as temporary unfit and given an opportunity to present themselves at a later date after being certified as fit to carry heavy loads by a Government doctor.

 

It has also been decided that ladies working as Licensed Porters may be debarred from working during the period they are in family way till such time, they are given clearance by the Government doctor for lifting of heavy loads. For the period the pregnant ladies are debarred from working, they will not be entitled to any compensation in this regard.

 

In a separate circular, the Ministry of Railways has also decided that the transfer of badge of deceased/medically unfit licensed porter is permitted in favour of son/adopted son, daughter/adopted daughter, wife/husband (as the case may be) or near relative that includes brother/brother's son or wife's brother only.

 

AKS/HK/LK/TR  /spandey

 

 

 

 

 

Press Information Bureau

Government of India

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Ticket Examiner and RPF staff authorised to take action against smoking in trains & at stations

 

New Delhi : November 6, 2009

 

Travelling Ticket Examiner (TTE) and Asstt. Sub-Inspector of Railway Protection Force (RPF) have now been authorized to take action against person found smoking in trains and at railway stations. The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, as per its notification of dated 15.9.2009, has included the Travelling Ticket Examiner/Chief Ticket Inspector/Ticket Collector/Officer not below the rank of Ticket Collector or equivalent rank not below the rank of Assistant Sub-Inspector of Railway Protection Force in Railways as person authorized to take action against smoking at public place.

 

As per the Prohibition of Smoking in Public Places Rules 2008, the law imposes strict ban on the smoking at public places like auditoriums, hospitals, health centres, parks, hotels, pubs, Governments offices, courts, educational institutions, libraries, roads, shopping centres, malls, theaters, stadiums, bus stops, railway stations, coffee stations, bars, airport lounges etc.

 

 

AKS/HK/LK/TR/spandey