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Cabinet Approvals on 20th September 2017

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The Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has made approvals for different category on 20th Sept. 2017.
1.Cabinet approves introduction of the Dentists (Amendment) Bill, 2017 
Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, as union cabinet chairman has given  approval for beginning of the Dentists (Amendment) Bill, 2017 in Parliament subject to modifications of drafting or significant nature, if any, as may be considered necessary by the Legislative Department by amending the Dentists Act, 1948 (16 of 1948).
Some modification in the provisions of the Dentists Act, 1948 with regard to:-

  1. the Membership  of  the Dental Council of India under clause (f) of  section 3
  2. the Membership  of  State  and  Joint  State Dental Councils under clause (b) of section 21 and clause (b) of section 23 of the said Act.

Background:
As per the existing Act, it was required to have the representation of dentists registered in Part B as Central Government nominees in the Dental Council of India and the election of four/ two members from Part B to the State/ Joint State Dental Councils.  However, it has lost relevance.
Benefits of this amendment
The Cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, approved the amendment to decrease redundancy of the provisions, so that their representation does not remain mandatory any more, it added.
2.Cabinet approves revamped ‘Khelo India’ programme
A revamped ‘Khelo India’ scheme has been approved by union cabiner. There may be 1,000 selected athletes will receive an annual scholarship of Rs5 lakh each for eight years under this scheme.
The cost under this scheme will be Rs1,756 crore between 2017-18 and 2019-20, will also promote 20 universities across India as hubs of sporting excellence.
Purpose of this Scheme:-
The revamped Khelo India programme would be expected the entire sports system, including infrastructure, community sports, talent identification, coaching for excellence, competition structure and sports economy,” according to an official statement.
Aims at mainstreaming sport :-
The program aims to cover about 200 million children in the age group of 10-18 under a massive national physical fitness drive.
The new scheme will focus on encourage the talents and connecting rural India to global games.
3.Cabinet apprised of the progress under National Health Mission and decisions of the Empowered Programme Committee and Mission Steering Group of NHM 
The Union Cabinet has been apprised of the progress under National Health Mission (NHM). The Cabinet was also approved  the decisions of the Empowered Programme Committee (EPC) and Mission Steering Group (MSG) of NHM.  National Rural Health Mission (NRHM) and National Urban Health Mission (NUHM) became two sub-missions under the overarching NHM.
 The progress under NHM:-
i.Under NHM including accelerated decline in maternal mortality rate( MMR), infant mortality rate(IMR), under-5 mortality rate(U5MR) and total fertility rate (TFR).
ii.The progress also has taken in respect of various disease control programmes like TB, Malaria, Leprosy etc.
iii.The cabinet noted that the rate of decline in under-5 mortality has nearly doubled since NHM was originally launched as National Rural Health Mission (NRHM) in 2005.
vi.The increase in the programme management budget ceiling under NHM, including monitoring and evaluation, from theexisting 6.5% to 9% of the total annual work plan per year for bigger states and from 11% to 14% for smaller states and Union territories.
v.The proposals under Menstrual Hygiene Scheme for Adolescent girls to – (i) increase the budget support from Rs.8 to Rs.12 for a pack of 6 sanitary napkins for the first year for the 19 States that are yet to take up the scheme and thereafter at the existing rate of Rs 8 for a pack of 6 sanitary napkins
4.Cabinet approves Rationalization/Merger of the Government of India Press (GIPs) and their modernization
i.Cabinet approves rationalization/merger and modernization of 17 Government of India Presses (GIPs)/Units into 5 Government of India Presses (GIPs) at below places
1.Rashtrapati  Bhavan , Minto Road and Mayapuri in New Delhi
2.Nashik in Maharashtra
3.Temple Street in Kolkata, West Bengal
ii.The merger of 17 government presses into five units which will be modernized by monetizing their surplus land. Land measuring 468.08 acres of the other merged Presses will be given toLand & Development Office, Ministry of Urban Development.
iii.The Government of India Text Books Presses (GITBPs) at Chandigarh, Bhubaneswar and Mysuru will be returned  their 56.67 acres land to the respective State Governments.
5.Cabinet approves Extension of time period of the Scheme “Special Industry Initiative for J&K” (Sll J&K) – Udaan 
i.The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs has approved the proposal of the Ministry of Home Affairs extension of time period for  Scheme “Special Industry Initiative for J&K” (Sll J&K)- Udaan upto 31st December2018 without any modification and cost escalation from 2016-17.
ii.Udaan is a national integration scheme with the goal to mainstream J&K youth with rest of the country. The scheme not only provides skill enhancement and job opportunity but also connects these bright youths from the J&K with the vibrant corporate sector of India.
6.Cabinet approved a proposal to transfer three India Tourism Development Corp. hotels to the state governments of Rajasthan, Karnataka and Arunachal Pradesh.
i.Finance Minister Arun Jaitley  informed Cabinet approves transfer of Hotel Jaipur Ashok, Jaipur and Lalitha Mahal Palace Hotel, Mysore, units of India Tourism Development Corporation Ltd (ITDC) to Government of Rajasthan and Government of Karnataka, respectively .
ii.As per disinvestment policy of the Government of India, it has been decided to lease/sub-lease the ITDC hotels/ properties jointly with the States and where States have not agreed to the proposal of leasing/sub-leasing, the properties may be returned back to the States at their officially valued price.
iii.CCEA has also decided that ITDC would disinvest its 51% equity shares in M/s Donyi Polo Ashok Hotel Corporation Ltd., the joint venture company running Hotel Donyi Polo Ashok, Itanagar, in favour of the Government of Arunachal Pradesh.
7.Cabinet approves Productivity Linked Bonus for Railway Employees Payment 
i.Union approves to pay Productivity Linked Bonus (PLB) equivalent to 78 days wages to eligible non-gazetted railway employees (excluding RPF/RPSF personnel) before Dussehra/Puja holidays for the financial year 2016-17.
ii.The financial implication of payment of 78 days’ PLB to railway employees has been estimated to be Rs. 2,245.45 crores. The wage calculation ceiling prescribed for payment of PLB is Rs. 7,000/- p.m. The maximum amount payable per eligible railway employee is Rs. 17,951 for 78 days.