Cabinet Approvals on 19th September

On September 19, 2018, the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs, chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi approved the following:

Cabinet approved equity infusion of RCF in Talcher Fertilizers Ltd for Talcher Project in Odisha
On September 19, 2018, the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs, chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi approved proposal of setting up a Coal Gasification based fertilizer project in Talcher Fertilizer Ltd. (TFL) by Rashtriya Chemicals & Fertilizers Limited (RCF).

• The proposal was offered by the Department of Fertilizers.
• The equity investment by RCF is worth Rs. 1033.54 crore.
• This project will ensure huge investment in the fertilizer sector from the Government through PSUs and better production of urea.

Background:
♦ TFL, a Joint Venture company of GAIL, RCF, CIL and FCIL.
♦ The Talcher fertilizer project is at Talcher, District Angul, Odisha.

Cabinet approved enhancement of Honorarium to Anganwadi Workers (AWWs) and Anganwadi Helpers (AWHs) and AWHs Under Anganwadi Services (Umbrella ICDS Scheme)
On September 19, 2018, the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs, chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has approved the following:
Enhancement of honorarium to Anganwadi Workers/Anganwadi Helpers (AWWs/AWHs) and
Performance linked incentive to AWHs under Umbrella Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) Scheme.
i.This would have a total cost of Rs. 10,649.41 crore (GoI Share) for the period from 01.10.2018 to 31.03.2020.
ii. This will benefit nearly 27 lakh AWWs/AWHs.
iii. According to the new rates:

• Anganwadi Workers will get : Rs.4,500/-,
• Anganwadi Worker at Mini-AWC will get : Rs.3,500/-,
• Anganwadi Helper will get : Rs.2,250/- (with monthly performance linked incentive of Rs.250/- )

iv. The enhanced rate of honorarium and performance linked incentive would be effective from 1st October, 2018.
About ICDS:
Anganwadi Services (ICDS) aims at holistic development of children under the age of six years and its beneficiaries are children of this age group and Pregnant Women & Lactating Mothers.

Cabinet approved construction of 205.5 Km new line of Indore (Mangaliyagaon) — Budni
On September 19, 2018, the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs, chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi approved construction of new line between Budni to Indore (Mangaliyagaon) with approximate length of 205.5 Km.
Objective:
Development of backward area and reduction in travel time from Indore to Jabalpur and Mumbai.
Key Points:

• The total cost of project is : Rs. 3261.82 crore.
• It will reduce distance by 68 Kms.
• It will generate direct employment during construction for about 49.32 Lakhs man-days.
• In this project, 10 New crossing stations and 7 new halt stations are proposed to be constructed.
• The new line will serve Sehore, Dewas and Indore districts and a direct link from Budni to Indore.

National Parks in Madhya Pradesh:
Kanha Tiger Reserve, Madhav National Park, Panna National Park, Bandhavgarh National Park.

Cabinet approved ASHA Benefit Package
On September 19, 2018, the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs, chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi approved ASHA Benefit Package w.e.f. October, 2018.

• Eligible ASHAs and ASHA facilitators will be enrolled in social security schemes like Pradhan MantriJeevanJyotiBimaYojana and Pradhan Mantri Suraksha BimaYojana.
• Under National Health Mission for ASHAs, the incentives has been increased to Rs. 2000/-per month from Rs. 1000/- per month.
• These would entail an expenditure of Rs.1224.97 crore for two years 2018-19 and 2019-20.

Targets:
65% of the ASHA beneficiaries would be nrolled in social security schemes by 31^st March 2019, and by 30th October, 2019-100 %  of ASHAs and ASHA facilitators have been targeted.
ASHA:
♦ Full form: Accredited Social Health Activist.
♦ Under National Rural Health every village in the country will be provided with an ASHA.

Cabinet approved Revised Cost Estimate of Dam rehabilitation and Improvement Project
On September 19, 2018, the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs, chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi approved the Revised Cost Estimate of Dam Rehabilitation and Improvement Project (DRIP) partially funded by World Bank.
Objective:
To improve safety and operational performance of 198 Dams.
Key Points:
i. The revised cost stands at Rs. 3466 crore.
ii. The initial total cost of the project was : Rs. 2100 crore.
iii. Out of Rs.3,466 crore:

• Rs.2,628 crorewill be funded by the World Bank
• Rs.747 crore will be funded by DRIP States / Implementing Agencies (IAs) and
• Rs.91 crore to be funded by Central Water Commission (CWC).

iv. The Centre also approved extension of 2 years from 1^st July, 2018 to 30^th  June, 2020.
Background:
♦ The project covers 7 Indian states namely:
♦ Kerala, Madhya Pradesh, Odisha, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Jharkhand (Damodar Valley Corporation) and Uttarakhand (Uttarakhand Jal Vidyut Nigam Limited).
World Bank:
Headquarters: Washington D. C., USA.