NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi today unveiled a string of labour reforms, including measures to end 'Inspector raj', asserting that ease of doing business is "essential" to ensure 'Make-in-India' campaign is successful.

He dedicated a number of schemes under Shramev Jayate (work alone triumphs) programme, which includes portability through universal account number for employee provident fund, single window portal to enable doing business with labour ministry and labour inspection scheme in central sphere.

Modi said these steps exemplified his government's approach of "minimum government and maximum governance".

Elaborating on steps to end the Inspector raj — harassment by officials, Modi said a transparent labour inspection scheme is being developed to check arbitrariness.

While so far the units for inspection were selected locally without any objective criteria, the new scheme envisages that serious matters will be covered under the mandatory inspection list.

A computerised list of inspections will be generated randomly on predetermined objective criteria and complaints-based inspection will also be determined centrally based on data and evidence. There will also be provision of emergency list for inspection of serious cases.

"We have replaced 16 forms (which factory owners had to fill) with one form, which is available online. Now computer draw will decide which inspector (labour) will go for inspection to which factory and he will have to upload his report online in 72 hours.

"These facilities are what I call minimum government, maximum governance. I have been hearing about 'Inspector raj' since childhood," Modi said. 

Noting that it is the responsibility of the government to simplify processes for doing trade, the Prime Minister said, "Ease of business is the first and foremost requirement if 'Make In India' has to be made successful. Ease of business is the priority for Make In India." 

Inaugurating the 'Pandit Deendayal Upadhyay Shramev Jayate Karyakram' organised by the Labour Ministry, Modi also reached out to 4.2 lakh ITI students through SMS as he greeted the achievers with ITI degrees in various fields, hailing the undergraduate technical course.

Besides the ITI students, about one crore EPFO subscribers also got SMSes regarding portability through UAN and about 6.50 lakh establishments and 1,800 inspectors got SMSes about Unified Labour Portal which, the government believes will make for a transparent and accountable Labour Inspection Scheme.

The Prime Minister said this event is different from other launches as the message has reached to the stakeholders at the same time.

Laying emphasis on skill development in Apprenticeship Protsahan Yojana that he launched, the Prime Minister said the country has huge potential to provide manpower to the world, which will require this by 2020.

Presently there are 2.82 lakh apprentices undergoing training against 4.9 lakh seats.

An initiative to revamp the apprenticeship scheme has been undertaken and the particular scheme will support one lakh apprentices during the period up to March 2017.

Reaching out to the working class, he said that he is keen that Rs 27 thousand crore lying unclaimed in PF accounts are given back to their claimants arguing that if mobile subscribers get connectivity everywhere they go, why cannot migrating labour force can continue to get PF benefits.

"I have to give back this money to the poor. This Rs 27 thousand crore belongs to the poor," he said even as he took a dig at this critics for questioning his vision.

"Those who ask what is Modi's vision won't be able to see this because the power of their spectacles has gone up just looking for a vision," he said.

Stressing that the government functions on trust and not doubt, he said that this was the vision behind his government's decision allowing self certification of documents by enterprising youths, who had to run from pillar to post earlier to get their documents attested by officials.

Exhorting people to accord respect to labour and consider labourers as 'Shramyogi', he said that society can develop only if the dignity and honour of labour is restored in social life vis a vis other white collared jobs.

Noting that it is ironical that while an unemployed graduate in some other course is respected, those from ITIs are looked down upon and they are hesitant to identify themselves due to it.

"We have not considered labour respectable. We treated it as downgrade," he said, adding that a compassionate approach will ensure that "Shram Yogi" becomes "Rashtra Yogi" and "Rashtra Nirmaata".

Modi made a strong pitch for understanding and appreciating labour issues through the perspective of the labourers, so that they could be resolved with compassion.

The Prime Minister lauded the efforts of the Ministry of Labour and Employment in launching a series of schemes simultaneously, which took into account the interests of workers as well as the employers. He said the Shram Suvidha Portal has simplified compliance of 16 labour laws, through a single online form.

Modi said that transparent Labour Inspection Scheme for random selection of units for inspection would end undue harassment of the "Inspector Raj," while ensuring better compliance.

The Prime Minister said the initiative of appointing National Brand Ambassadors of vocational training would instill pride and confidence in ITI students.

Lauding e-governance as easy, effective and economical governance, he said that it will also boost transparency. — PTI

Finance Secretary Mayaram shifted to Tourism Ministry 

NEW DELHI: In first major Secretary-level shuffle by the Narendra Modi government, Finance Secretary Arvind Mayaram has been transfrred out of the Finance Ministry to a low-profile Tourism Ministry.

Mayaram, who was senior most among the four Secretaries in the Ministry of Finance with dual roles as Finance and Economic Affairs Secretary, was appointed by the previous government and has one-full year before he retires on October 31, 2015.

He has now been made the Tourism Secretary. He has been replaced by his batchmate from 1978-batch Rajiv Mehrishi who currently is the Chief Secretary of Rajasthan. Mehrishi retires in August-end and will have just about 10 months at Ministry of Finance.

In all, 20 new appointments were made yesterday, one-third being at the Secretary level.

Anil Swarup, a 1981 batch IAS officer of Uttar Pradesh cadre, has been appointed as the new Coal Secretary. Swarup, who is Additional Secretary in the Cabinet Secretariat, has been Officer on Special Duty in the Ministry of Coal and will take over as Coal Secretary when incumbent S K Srivastava retires on October 31.

In orders issued yesterday, Mayaram, a 1978-batch IAS officer belonging to Rajasthan cadre, was made the Tourism Secretary in place of Parvez Dewan on his retirement at month end.

In his place, Rajiv Mehrishi, an IAS officer of the same batch as Mayaram and from the same state, was appointed Secretary, Department of Economic Affairs in the Ministry of Finance.

Ministry of Finance has four Secretaries— Economic Affairs, Expenditure, Revenue and Financial Services. The senior most among the four is designated Finance Secretary.

Presently, Ratan P Watal, a 1978 batch IAS officer from Andhra Pradesh is Expenditure Secretary while 1980-batch IAS officer of Rajasthan cadre Gurdial Singh Sandhu is the Financial Services Secretary. Shaktikanta Das, an IAS officer of 1980 batch from Tamil Nadu cadre, is Revenue Secretary.

Mayaram's transfer was part of the first major Secretary- level reshuffle undertaken by the Modi government.

The Appointments Committee of Cabinet has approved appointment of Swarup as Officer on Special Duty in the Ministry of Coal in the rank and pay of Secretary, a press release issued today by the Department of Personnel and Training said.

Alok Rawat, a 1977 batch IAS officer of Sikkim cadre, has been appointed new secretary in the Department of Administrative Reforms & Public Grievances and Department of Pensions and Pensioners Welfare. Rawat is presently Secretary in Ministry of Water Resources, River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation, it said.

Prabhu Dayal Meena, a 1980 batch IAS officer of Madhya Pradesh cadre, has been appointed as Secretary in the Department of Ex-Servicemen Welfare.

Meena, who is presently Special Secretary in Department of Land Resources, will replace Sangita Gairola, who retires this month-end, the release said.

Anuj Kumar Bishnoi, a 1981 batch IAS officer of Uttar Pradesh cadre, has been appointed as Secretary, Ministry of Water Resources, River Development & Ganga Rejuvenation.

Bishnoi is presently Additional Secretary in the Department of Defence.

Ashok Kumar Angurana, a 1980 batch IAS officer of Jammu and Kashmir cadre, has been appointed as Secretary in Ministry of Panchayati Raj. Angurana is presently working as Managing Director, TRIFED, Ministry of Tribal Affairs.

The government has appointed Vinod Agrawal, a 1980 batch IAS officer of Jharkhand cadre, as Secretary in National Commission for Scheduled Castes (NCSC). Agrawal is presently working as Advisor, Inter State Council Secretariat under the Ministry of Home Affairs. — PTI

NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court on Thursday refused to restrain coal companies, which were directed to wind up mining operations in six months after their coal block allocations were cancelled by it, from extracting coal during this period and selling it in the market.

A bench headed by Chief Justice H.L. Dattu said, the apex court had granted six months’ time to wind up their operations and the companies cannot be restrained from excavating coal during this period.

“If they want to excavate coal, no one can stop them. They have been given six months’ time. Why should court direct them not to extract coal during this period,” the bench said.

The court’s observation came when advocate M.L. Sharma, on whose plea the apex court had earlier cancelled 214 out of 218 coal blocks allocation, submitted that the companies are extracting three to four times more coal per day as they have to wind up the operations within six months.

He submitted that the companies should be restrained from doing so, but the apex court refused to entertain his plea.

On September 24, the apex court had quashed the allocation of 214 coal blocks allocated since 1993, terming it as “fatally flawed” and had allowed the Centre to take over operation of 42 such blocks which are functional.

It had asked Coal India Limited (CIL) to fill the void and take over the operation of the 42 functional blocks, saying that the cancellation of these blocks will take effect only after six months from March 31, 2015.

The apex court had given the time after it was submitted by the Attorney General that the Centre and CIL need some time to adjust to the changed situation and move forward. — PTI

MANESAR (Haryana): With China reacting sharply to government’s plans to construct a border road in Arunachal Pradesh, Home Minister Rajnath Singh on Thursday sent a strong message, asserting that no one can warn India.

“Today no one can give warning to India. We are a very powerful country,” he told reporters on the sidelines of a function in Manesar.

Singh was asked about China’s strong reaction to plans to construct a road network along McMahon line from Mago-Thingbu in Tawang to Vijaynagar in Changlang district of Arunachal Pradesh to match China’s infrastructure development.

“There is a dispute about the eastern part of the China-India border. Before final settlement is reached, we hope that India will not take any action that may further complicate the situation,” Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesman Hong Lie had said in Beijing.

The Home Minister on Thursday said India and China should sit together to resolve the border dispute.

The government is taking a number of steps for improving infrastructure along the Sino-Indian border, especially in Arunachal Pradesh and Jammu and Kashmir.

Forces of the two countries were locked in a stare-down at Chumur in Ladakh for a fortnight beginning September 11, which clouded the Chinese President Xi Jinping’s three-day India visit.

For days, soldiers of the Chinese PLA and Indian Army personnel were engaged in an eyeball-to-eyeball confrontation in the area.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi raised the matter twice with the Chinese President. Tension erupted when some Chinese workers crossed over with equipment to build a road up five kilometre deep inside the Indian territory. A marathon flag meeting between the two armies facilitated an end to the crisis.

The Home Minister on Tuesday reviewed the prevailing situation along the 3,488 km-long border with China and steps being taken to stop incursions in future. — PTI

ISLAMABAD: In the wilderness for a long time, former military ruler General Pervez Musharraf has made an anti-India rant by saying Pakistan needs to "incite" those "fighting" in Kashmir.

"We have source (in Kashmir) besides the (Pakistan) army ... people in Kashmir are fighting against (India). We just need to incite them," the 71-year-old retired general, who is currently on bail in a treason case, told a TV channel.

Musharraf, who had grabbed power in 1999 soon after the Kargil conflict, said the army is ready for war (with India) and lakhs of people in Pakistan are willing to go and fight for Kashmir. India should not be under the illusion that Pakistan will not hit back, he added.

"In Kashmir, we can fight with the (Indian) Army from both the front and back ... We are Muslims. We will not show the other cheek when we are slapped. We can respond tit for tat," he said, while commenting on the recent firing along the Line of Control and International Border.

He said external aggression happens only when the country remains internally weak. "If we remain strong internally, no one can dare to target us." Musharraf also said (Narendra) "Modi is anti-Muslim and anti-Pakistan. He has not changed. The problem is with us...

We are running to attend his (Modi) inauguration, we should keep our dignity." The former president also termed the Most Favoured Nation (MFN) granted to Pakistan by India as "a joke".

Musharraf, who was forced to resign in 2008 after his supporters lost, returned to Pakistan in 2013 after over four years of self-exile but faces a slew of cases.

Currently, he is on bail in four criminal cases while the treason case is going on in a special tribunal. — PTI

SRIHARKOTA: Scripting another success in India's space programme, ISRO today launched its third navigation satellite IRNSS 1C on board its PSLV rocket from here in the wee hours, moving closer to setting up its own navigation system on par with the GPS of the US.

IRNSS 1C is part of the series of seven satellites Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) is planning to launch to put in place what is called the Indian Regional Navigation Satellite System. Today's launch marked the first time that India has conducted four orbital launches in a year.

Lifting off from the First Launch Pad of the spaceport exactly at 1.32 AM, the rocket painted a golden brush of flames in the night sky and 20 minutes later successfully placed the 1,425.4 kg weighing satellite in the intended orbit.

ISRO had aimed to launch the satellite into a sub-Geosynchronous Transfer Orbit with a 284 km perigee (nearest point to Earth) and 20,650 km apogee (farthest point to Earth) with an inclination of 17.86 degree with respect to the equatorial plane.

"PSLV C26 has precisely placed IRNSS 1C in its orbit," ISRO Chairman K Radhakrishnan said, describing the successful launch.

Being developed by India, IRNSS is designed to provide accurate position information service to users in the country as well as the region extending up to 1,500 km from its boundary, which is its primary service area.

The IRNSS system, which would ultimately have seven satellites and ground stations, was targeted to be completed by 2015 at a total cost of Rs 1420 crores, ISRO sources said.

Present in the Mission Control Room was Minister of State for Science and Technology Jitendra Singh, who congratulated the scientists on the successful launch.

"I thank you for making me witness this historic moment.

As India moves forward to become a world leader, I am sure in the 21 century, any leadership role should be based on scientific foundation and I am glad in the area of space we have emerged as world leaders," he said.

This was the seventh time ISRO was using an XL version of the PSLV rocket for its missions.

The mission life of the satellite is 10 years. The launch of PSLV 26 carrying IRNSS 1C was actually scheduled on October 10 but the countdown was postponed following some technical reasons. — PTI

Ebola escalation could trigger major food crisis

UNITED NATIONS: The global famine warning system is predicting a major food crisis if the Ebola outbreak continues to grow exponentially over the coming months, and the United Nations still hasn't reached over 7,50,000 people in need of food in West Africa as prices spiral and farms are abandoned.

On the eve of World Food Day on Thursday, UN agencies and non-governmental organizations are scrambling to scale up efforts to avert widespread hunger.

"The world is mobilising and we need to reach the smallest villages in the most remote locations," Denise Brown, the UN World Food Program's regional director for West Africa, said in a statement Wednesday. "Indications are that things will get worse before they improve. How much worse depends on us all."

WFP has said it needs to reach 1.3 million people in need in hardest-hit Liberia, Sierra Leone and Guinea.

So far, the UN agency has provided food to 534,000 people, and it expects to reach between 600,000 and 700,000 this month, Bettina Luescher, WFP's chief spokesperson in North America, told AP. "And we are working hard to reach and scale up to 1.3 million eventually."

WFP is providing food to patients in Ebola treatment centers, survivors of the virus who have been discharged, and communities which have been quarantined or have seen widespread transmission, including the families of those affected. It is also helping with logistics and is managing the UN Humanitarian Air Service between the three affected countries and nearby Dakar, Senegal and Accra, Ghana to help humanitarian workers rapidly deploy to the field.

"We are assessing how families are coping as the virus keeps spreading," Luescher said. "We expect to have a better understanding of the impact of the Ebola outbreak on food availability and farming activities by the end of October."

WFP said its first survey using mobile telephones showed that people living in the Kailahun and Kenema districts of Sierra Leone - where most Ebola cases have been reported - are finding it harder to feed their families than people in other parts of the country and are resorting to more desperate measures to cope.

More than 80% of people in those areas said they ate less expensive food, and 75% reported that they have reduced the number of daily means and were serving smaller portions.

Kanayo Nwanze, president of the UN International Fund for Agricultural Development, said Monday that up to 40% of farms have been abandoned in the worst-affected areas of Sierra Leone and there are already food shortages in Senegal and other countries in West Africa because regional trade has been disrupted.

He said preliminary reports suggest that "trade volume in these markets is half of what it was at this time last year."

Andrea Tamburini, CEO of the non-governmental organization Action Against Hunger which operates in the hardest-hit West African countries, said in an interview Wednesday that his two main concerns are the spike in food costs and the shortage of manpower due to restrictions on movement. This has led to farmers abandoning their crops to seek refuge in locations considered less exposed to the Ebola virus, he said.

The UN Food and Agriculture Organization said that in Lofa County, the worst affected rural county in Liberia, the price of food and other commodities increased from 30% to 75%, just in August.

Action Against Hunger said the price of cassava - a key staple - increased by almost 150% in the Liberian capital, Monrovia, during the first week in August.

Tamburini said his organization will be running a survey to watch malnutrition rates but giving farmers "seeds and tools will definitely be there as a first step."

The Famine Early Warning Network known as FEWS NET said in an Oct. 10 report that if the number of Ebola cases reaches 200,000-250,000 by mid-January, large numbers of people in the three worst-affected countries would face moderate to extreme food shortages.

FEWS NET said that in this scenario, traders' fears of contracting Ebola and restrictions on movement would severely disrupt the availability of food on local markets, contribute to a significant drop in household incomes, and lead to food shortages at local markets.

"Contingency planning for an expanded emergency food assistance response is urgently needed given that the size of the food insecure population could be two to three times higher than currently planned," it said.

FEWS NET was created in 1985 after devastating famines in East and West Africa by the US Agency for International Development. It provides analysis to help government decision-makers and relief agencies plan for and respond to humanitarian crises. — AP

Indian-American woman appointed to key US Justice Dept post

WASHINGTON: Indian-American Vanita Gupta, a top lawyer from American Civil Liberties Union, has been appointed to head the civil rights division of the US Justice Department, becoming the first South Asian to hold this post.

President Barack Obama is expected to nominate Gupta to serve as the permanent Assistant Attorney General of Civil Rights in the coming months.

“Vanita has spent her entire career working to ensure that our nation lives up to its promise of equal justice for all,” said Attorney General Eric Holder after he announced that Gupta will serve as Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General and Acting Assistant Attorney General for the Civil Rights Division.

Gupta succeeds Molly Moran, who will become Principal Deputy Associate Attorney General.

She begins at the department on Monday, October 20.

“Even as she has done trailblazing work as a civil rights lawyer, Vanita is also known as a unifier and consensus builder. She has a knack for bridging differences and building coalitions to drive progress,” Holder said.

Gupta, who was most recently the Deputy Legal Director of ACLU, has expertise on federal and state policing issues, immigration, and criminal justice reform.

She started her career with the NAACP Legal Defence and Educational Fund and has been active in supporting South Asian communities, including serving on SAALT’s Council of Advisors.

South Asian Americans Leading Together (SAALT) applauded her appointment. “We look forward to working with her in the months and years ahead to address the range of civil rights issues that continue to face our nation,” said Suman Raghunathan, executive director of SAALT.

Over her career, Gupta has earned a reputation for working closely and collaboratively with law enforcement, departments of corrections and across the political spectrum to advance smart policing and criminal justice reforms.

Through her work with the ACLU, she has been involved in reform initiatives around the country pertaining to federal and state policing, sentencing, drug policy and criminal law.

Her recent work has focused on building a bipartisan consensus to end overreliance on incarceration.

Gupta began her career as a lawyer with the NAACP Legal Defence and Educational Fund.

In addition to her work with the ACLU and NAACP Legal Defence Fund, she has taught civil rights litigation and advocacy clinics at New York University School of Law.

She received a B.A., magna- cum- laude, from Yale University and J.D. from New York University School of Law. — PTI