Union Government launched Progress Panchayat to reach out to minority community

Union Government launched Progress Panchayat to reach out to minority community Progress Panchayat: A programme to reach out the minority community and publicize the various welfare measures The Union Government on 29 September 2016 launched Progress Panchayat. This Panchayat is aimed at reach out the minority community and publicize the various welfare measures taken by the NDA government for their betterment.  The programme was kick started by Union Minister of State for Minority Affairs (independent charge) Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi from Mewat region of Haryana. The programme will be organized in 100 places across the country in the coming days where Union Ministers will interact with people about the several schemes. During the programme, the government will also seek feedback and suggestions from the people for better implementation of the welfare schemes.

Railways Ministry launches various Railways Services

Railways Ministry launches various Railways Services Railways Minister Suresh Prabhakar Prabhu on 29 September 2016 launched various Railways Services and dedicated them to the nation. These Railways services are: • Liberalised station to station special freight rates policy. • Policy providing sub quota of 33% to women within reserved categories for the allotment in catering units. • Policy giving preference to local domicile holders for commercial licenses at stations. • New system of allocating vacant berths after final charting to wayside stations. • Launch of the new tag Train at a Glance 2016 and new Time Table effective from 1 October 2016. Liberalised station to station special freight rates policy • Existing as well as new traffic shall be eligible. • Concession shall be granted up to a maximum of 30 percent on the incremental traffic over and above the benchmark NTKM. • Concession shall be in the form of percentage discount over the Normal Tariff Rate (NTR). It should be ensured that the concessional freight should not be less than the NTR of Class 100. • Concession shall be admissible to Block rake, two/multi point rake, Mini Rake etc. • Concession may be granted for retention of traffic also up to maximum of 15 percent. • STS scheme will be applicable for all terminals namely goods sheds, sidings, ports, CRTs, PFTOs etc. • Commodities excluded from STS are - All commodities with classification below Class-100,  All commodities under Main Commodity Head Coal & Coke, Iron ore, Military traffic, POL and RMC. Policy providing sub quota of 33% to women for the allotment in catering units • A Sub Quota of 33 percent for women in allotment of the reserved catering units was introduced in order to extend economic empowerment for women. • This will ensure allotment of minimum 8 percent stalls to women at A1, A, B & C category station and minimum 17 percent allotment at D, E and F category station. • There are approximately 8000 Minor Catering Units over Indian Railways. • Under this provision, Railways shall ensure that women participation does not fall below a specific level. Policy giving preference to local domicile holders for commercial licenses at stations • In compliance of Budget Announcement 2016-17, a process of giving weightage to district Domicile Holders for commercial licenses at stations is being proliferated at all stations over Indian Railways. • It would help to build local ownership and rural empowerment along with socio-economic development. • The weightage to district domicile holders is being proliferated for allotment of Catering Units at all categories of stations. • It will ensure protection of livelihood of the small vendors. • The allotment of Minor Units over Indian Railways will ensure local ownership and will also promote regional / local cuisine, which is always a preferred choice. Transfer of vacant berths for optimal utilisation of berths • This facility of transfer of berths remaining vacant after second charting at the train originating station to the next and subsequent stations will clear the way for the waitlisted passengers at such stations. • The PRS system will automatically allot vacant berths available at the originating stations after preparation of second chart to the subsequent stations where waitlisted passengers are available. • The passenger will get SMS on his registered mobile indicating the coach and berth number allotted. • This will help passengers boarding at road side stations to get confirmed berths. • The TTEs will be able to allot vacant berths on board after departure of the train only upto the next station where quota is available for the train. • At present about 3 lakh berths per year go unutilised while there may be demand at intermediate stations.

Patna High Court quashes Bihar Prohibition of Liquor Act

Patna High Court quashes Bihar Prohibition of Liquor Act Patna High Court on 30 September 2016 quashed Bihar government notification completely banning liquor in the state. The court said that the notification is ultra vires to the Constitution. A division bench of the court comprising Chief Justice Iqbal Ahmed Ansari and Justice Navaniti Prasad Singh quashed the 5 April 2016 notification of the state government to stop consumption and sale of alcohol in the state. The court in its verdict said that the notification is ultra vires to the Constitution, hence not enforceable. The same bench had on 20 May 2016 reserved its order on a batch of writ petitions filed by Liquor Trade Association and many individuals challenging the liquor law which has stringent penal provisions. Ultra vires means beyond one's legal power or authority. If an act requires legal authority and it is done with such authority, it is characterised in law as intra vires. The Nitish Kumar-led Grand Secular Alliance government had first banned the manufacture, trade, sale, consumption of country-made liquor since 1 April 2016, but later imposed a blanket ban on all types of liquor including foreign liquor in the state. In August 2016, the liquor law was made more stringent after the Assembly passed the Bihar Excise and Prohibition Bill with voice vote. Under this law, all adult members of the family could be arrested if liquor was found stored in any household. It also called for collective fines on villages and localities which are found repeatedly breaking prohibition law.

International Translation Day

International Translation Day observed across the world 30 September: International Translation Day The International Translation Day was on 30 September 2016 observed across the world with the theme Translation and Interpreting: Connecting Worlds. This is the annual event for the translation community and event is marked with a series of dedicated events, seminars and symposiums across the world. Background • The Day was established in 1953 by the International Federation of Translators (FIT). • It is celebrated every year on 30 September on the feast of St Jerome, the Bible translator who is considered the patron saint of translators. • In 1991, FIT launched the idea of an officially recognised International Translation Day to show solidarity of the worldwide translation community in an effort to promote the translation profession.