Recent Approvals by Central government – August 10 2017

Following developmental initiatives have been undertaken by various Ministries of Union Government in August 2017.

Government sets up Institutional Mechanism to help realize full potential of Textile Sector

On August 10, 2017, Union Government announced that it has set up institutional mechanisms including a task force, an inter-ministerial synergy group and a steering committee to realise the full potential of textile sector.

• Task Force: The task force would steer follow-up action on various outcomes of Textiles India 2017 for growth of the sector. Chaired by the textiles secretary, the task force will comprise representatives from the department of industrial policy and promotion, consumer affairs, department of heavy industry, representatives of partner and focus states of Textiles India 2017, export promotion councils, textiles associations and representatives from consumer associations.
• Inter-Ministerial Group: The inter-ministerial synergy group on man-made fibre (MMF) chaired by the textiles secretary will formulate policy interventions to enhance the growth and competitiveness of MMF industry in the country. The group comprises senior officers from ministry of petrochemicals, department of heavy industries and Association of Synthetic Fibre Industry, among others.
• Steering Committee: The steering committee has been set up to oversee implementation of a Knowledge Network Management System (KNMS) to facilitate exchange of knowledge among academia, farming community and the industry on the productivity of natural fibres and diversification of their by-products.

Ten Namami Gange Project of Rs.2000 cr approved

National Mission for Clean Ganga has approved ten projects in Bihar, West Bengal and Uttar Pradesh to the tune of about Rs 2,033 crore.

• Eight of the ten projects pertain to sewage infrastructure and treatment, one to ghat development and one to Ganga Knowledge Centre.
• These projects were approved in the 5^thmeeting of the Executive Committee of National Mission for Clean Ganga.
• All projects will be funded 100 per cent by the Central Government.
• A project to establish Ganga Monitoring Centres in five riparian Ganga states has also been approved at an estimated cost of Rs 46.69 crore.

Medium-Term Expenditure Framework Statement laid in Parliament

The Medium-term Expenditure Framework (MTEF) Statement was laid in Parliament

About Medium-Term Expenditure Framework:

• The MTEF is a vertical expansion of the aggregates of the expenditure projections in the fiscal framework presented along with the Annual Financial Statement and Demands for Grants.
• The objective of the MTEF is to provide closer integration between Budget and the Fiscal Responsibility and Budget Management (FRBM) Statements. It provides medium term perspective to the fiscal management and furthers the Government’s commitment towards fiscal consolidation.
• MTEF Statement that was laid in Parliament on August 10, 2017, sets forth a three-year rolling target for the expenditure indicators with specification of underlying assumptions and risks involved.
• To give a focus to the expenditure pattern and projections of the Government a scheme-wise projection in respect of some selected schemes which include all Centrally Sponsored Schemes and some Central Sector Schemes is also annexed with this year’s MTEF statement.
• It is expected that these projections will provide a focus to the spending departments and also give a general direction to the fiscal management of the entire country.

1000 Pradhan Mantri Bahrtiya Janaushadhi Pariyojana kendras to be opened in UP

Union Government and the State Government of Uttar Pradesh signed Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for opening 1000 Pradhan Mantri Bhartiya Janaushadhi Pariyojana (PMBJP) Kendras in the State.

Details about Memorandum of Understanding (MoU):

• Signing ceremony was presided over by Union Minister of State for Road Transport and Highways, Shipping and Chemicals and Fertilizers, Mansukh Lal Mandviya.
• The Bureau of Pharma PSUs of India (BPPI), under Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers, signed the MoU on behalf of Government of India with State Agency for Comprehensive Health and Integrated Services (SACHIS) representing Government of Uttar Pradesh.
• These 1000 stores will be opened in government hospitals and community health centres, so that more and more poor and marginalized sections of society can get benefit of this scheme.
• Under the PMBJP scheme, more than 600 medicines and 150 surgical and other medical items are being made available at affordable rates at Janaushadhi Kendras opened across the country.

Improvement of 44 Economic corridors under Bharatmala

On august 10, 2017, Minister of State for Road Transport and Highways and Shipping Mr. Radhakrishnan informed Lok Sabha that Ministry of Road Transport and Highways has done comprehensive and scientific study of traffic flow across the country and identified 44 Economic Corridors of aggregate length of 26,200 km for development or improvement under Bharatmala Pariyojana.

• 9,000 km of Economic Corridors is proposed to be developed under the first phase of the project.
• These corridors carry high volume of traffic.
• Bharatmala is an ambitious road and highways project of the Narendra Modi government.