PM invites views from the people, on decision taken regarding currency notes of Rs. 500 and Rs. 1000

PM invites views from the people, on decision taken regarding currency notes of Rs. 500 and Rs. 1000

The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, has invited views from the people, on the recent decision taken by the Union Government regarding currency notes of Rs. 500 and Rs. 1000.

People can submit their views through a survey consisting of 10 questions, which is available through the Narendra Modi App. Sharing the link to this survey, the Prime Minister tweeted today that he wants a first-hand view from the people, regarding this decision.

The ten questions in the Survey are as follows:

1. Do you think that black money exists in India? a. Yes b. No

2. Do you think the evil of corruption and black money needs to be fought and eliminated? a. Yes b. No

3. Overall, what do you think about the Government's moves to tackle black money?

4. What do you think of the Modi Government's efforts against corruption so far? Scale of 1 to 5 - outstanding, very good, good, ok, useless

5. What do you think of the Modi Government's move of banning old Rs 500 & Rs 1000 notes? a. Great move in the right direction b. Good move c. Will make no difference

6. Do you think demonetisation will help in curbing black money, corruption & terrorism? a. It will have an immediate impact b. There will be impact in medium to long term c. Minimal impact d. Don't know

7. Demonetisation will bring real estate, higher education, healthcare in the common man's reach a. Completely Agree b. Partially Agree c. Can’t say

8. Did you mind the inconvenience faced in our fight to curb corruption, black money, terrorism and counterfeiting of currency? a. Not at all b. Somewhat, but it was worth it c. Yes

9. Do you believe some anti-corruption activists are now actually fighting in support of black money, corruption & terrorism? a. Yes b. No

10. Do you have any suggestions, ideas or insights you would like to share with PM Narendra Modi?
This survey is in sync with the Prime Minister's vision of participative governance and directly seeking the views of the people of India on key policy and execution matters.

The Prime Minister has sought answers on very pointed and direct aspects of the decision of 500 and 1000 rupee notes ceasing to be legal tender. He has also sought feedback from the people on how to make the implementation stronger.

The Prime Minister's core beliefs of direct engagement with people are yet again on full display in the survey.

PIB

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Supreme Court: Government Welcomes Court Decision on 66A

Government Welcomes Court Decision on 66A

Press Information Bureau,
Government of India
Ministry of Communications & Information Technology

24th March, 2015

Following is the text of the statement made by the Union Minister for Telecom & IT, Sh Ravi Shankar Prasad on Supreme Court judgement on section 66-A of IT act:

“The Union Government welcomes Hon’ble SC’s decision on 66A. When the UPA Govt came out with draconian provisions under 66A, BJP in opposition firmly opposed it and said that ’66 is unacceptable in current form’. BJP resolutely stood up against the censorship and blocking on social media done by UPA Govt.

Once in Govt, it took its opposition to the draconian provisions of 66A on record in Court Proceedings. New Affidavits filed by NDA Govt in Hon’ble Supreme Court clearly show the marked difference in the approach from UPA Govt.

NDA Govt, in what can be dubbed as a landmark moment in India’s Internet history, has accorded the same amount of freedom of speech and expression that a citizen of India is granted in normal life under our constitution by our founding fathers .

After detailed discussion with the Central Government at the highest possible level, the Central Government filed an Affidavit before the Hon’ble Supreme Court making its stand absolutely clear that the Government respects the freedom of speech and expression. The relevant paragraphs are verbatim quoted:

A. “This counter affidavit is being filed only for the purpose of assisting this Hon’ble Court and to satisfy this Hon’ble Court that the impugned Sections of the IT Act neither seeks to curtail nor the Central Government desires any interpretation which seeks to curtail any of the fundamental rights guaranteed to the citizens including the right under Article 19(1)(a) i.e. fundamental right to free speech and expression.

B. This counter affidavit seeks to point out the necessity and desirability of the provisions which are challenged in these petitions and to bring it on record that the usage of cyber space either by social media or otherwise is not even remotely intended to be curtailed either totally or partially at instance of Union of India.

C. Central Government encourages beneficial use of cyber space and the Act only seeks to regulate the use of cyberspace which would fall within any of and/ or all categories stipulated under Article 19(2) of the Constitution of India.

D. That the penal provisions of the Act can never be interpreted so as to take within its sweep political debate, any form of honest decent, decent humour, political satire etc. With a view to avoid possibility of any misconstruction of the expressions used in the penal provisions of the Act, the Central Government has prepared an advisory / guidelines to be strictly followed by law enforcement agencies which would ensure that the honest and legal use of cyber space does not result into any harassment to any citizen of the country.”

Thus in a layman’s language, the Government absolutely respects the right to freedom of speech and expression on social media and has no intention of curbing it. Only reasonable restrictions apply on social media, as they do in routine normal day to day life in the physical world under Article 19 (2) of the constitution of India. We will have to understand that we cannot set a different standard of Public Morality for Speech & Expression in Cyberspace from Speech in other mediums and in the Public Domain
It is important to understand that Section 66A is in several parts and only a portion of it deals with issues which can raise question of freedom of speech and expression.

During the course of oral submissions also, it was categorically pointed out that the Central Government shares the anxiety that expressions like “grossly offensive” etc. referred above may be abused at some local level. The Central Government, therefore, requested the Hon’ble Supreme Court that the said expressions be read confined to Article 19(2) of the Constitution only and to ensure that no right of any citizen is scuttled, the said phrases be narrowly tailored by the Hon’ble Supreme Court itself to obviate any possibility of any abuse of any law enforcing agency to scuttle the free speech and expression of the citizens.

There can be no parallel of our stand on this matter with that of the previous UPA regime. We have in writing confirmed that we stand for freedom of speech and expression, while the previous UPA Govt tried to make this law an instrument to curb dissent, satire and anything else which did not suit it. “

I have myself set an example by standing up for free speech and rights of a teenager recently arrested at the complain of Azam Khan for posting on Twitter and Facebook.

https://twitter.com/rsprasad/status/578921257376165888

https://www.facebook.com/RaviShankarPrasadOfficial/photos/a.10150653350208329.407036.68315058328/10153108500593329/?type=1&theater

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Modi Government is committed to increase employment opportunities

Union Government is Committed to Protect the Interests of Workers: Sh Narendra Singh Tomar

The Union Government is committed to protect the interests of the workers in the country. The Union Minister of Labour & Employment, Steel and Mines, Shri Narendra Singh Tomar said this while chairing a discussion on Bill for participation of Workers in Management here today. He said that to protect the interests of the workers, proper steps will continue to be taken in future. Shri Tomar said that conducive environment will be created simultaneously for working of industrial establishments to generate more jobs, as the government is committed to increase employment opportunities.

Shri Tomar said that this meeting was convened to build a consensus on finalising the content of the Workers’ participation in Management Bill, 1990. He said, “There had been attempts in the past to formulate schemes for workers’ participation in varying forms but the schemes were mainly to be implemented on a voluntary basis.” He further added that adopting the participation of workers at apex level should remain voluntary for industry and not statutory.

The meeting aimed to get feedback from the management of leading CPSUs and apex Employer’s Organisations like CII, FICCI, CIE, ASSOCHAM and Trade Unions for arriving at a consensus on the issue of workers participation in management at the board/ apex level.

Present on the occasion were Secretary, Ministry of Labour and Employment, Smt. Gauri Kumar, senior officials of various central ministries, representatives of the CPSUs and central trade unions.

Source: PIB

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Union Government may stop Cash and Jewellery details of Central Staff

Union Government may stop Cash and Jewellery details of Central Staff under Lokpal Act…

Government  may withhold cash, jewellery details of babus: Times of India

NEW DELHI: In what could bring relief to nearly five million Central government employees, the Narendra Modi government has decided to amend the Lokpal and the Lokayukta Act to give itself a statutory power to withhold certain information from the public.

All Central staff, as per the latest order of the Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT), have to declare their assets and liabilities, both movable and immovable, as well as those of their spouses and dependents latest by September 15. All these information would then be put up by the respective ministries on their website accessible to everyone.

A number of representations received by the government from officials expressed fear that putting details of movable assets such as jewellery and cash in hand and bank would pose a security threat to them and their dependents, leave their children vulnerable to kidnapping and ransom demands. For instance, an official said he has put all savings in general provident fund which has accumulated to Rs 75 lakhs over a period of time. Putting this information in the public domain would leave him and his family members vulnerable.

Sources said the amendments proposed only gives the government the statutory power to withhold information related to officials’ movable assets only, such as his cash in hand or bank and jewellery owned by him or his family members. The government will not be empowered to hold back information on immovable assets: house or land owned by him.

The amendment also makes it clear that it will have no impact on the current asset declaration guidelines. The officials will have to continue declaring all their assets – movable and immovable as per the previous directive. Only difference the proposed amendment will make is to ensure certain information is not made public.

The DoPT is working on the proposed amendment and has already taken a view from the law ministry to bring in the required changes. Any fresh amendment will not impact the current declaration deadline of September 15 which is applicable for all employees.

Once these declarations are received by the government, it is for the respective ministries to put them up on its website accessible to all, except those related to the movable assets for which an amendment is required to implement it.

Source: Times of India

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