-
Concept Paper on a comprehensive revision of Companies Act, 1956 issued.
-
An expert committee appointed to suggest amendments to the new companies Bill to make it more effective.
-
An Investor Education and Protection Fund set up to protect the interests of the small investors
-
A new system developed to lodge online complaints by investors and depositors against companies.
-
A special cell created to monitor and target the vanishing companies as also to ensure all possible remedial measures.
-
Ambitious e-governance initiatives launched to re-position the Ministry of Company Affairs as an organization capable of fulfilling the stakeholders’ aspirations.
-
Electronic filing of company documents initiated through an interactive and paperless registration process on Internet.
-
Simplified Exit Scheme 2005 launched to enable the defunct companies get their names struck off the Registrar of Companies through a simplified procedure.
*****
-
-
The long pending revision of royalty on major minerals (other than Coal, Lignite and Sand for stowing) and Dead Rent notified.
-
Out of 188 Reconnaissance Permits for a total area of 2,54,307 sq. kms, 23 reconnaissance permits granted for an area of over 34,642 sq. km during 2004-05.
-
The Government approved NALCO’s second phase expansion proposal at a cost of Rs. 4,091.51 crore.
-
On the completion of expansion project, NALCO’s Bauxite mining capacity will increase from the present 48 lakh tons to 63 lakh tons, of Alumina production from 15.75 lakh tons to 21 lakh tons and of Aluminium production from 3.45 lakhs tons to 4.60 lakh tons.
-
NALCO earned highest ever net profit of Rs. 1,222.33 crore during the year 2004-05 with an all time record sales turnover of Rs.4,437.97 crore.
-
Mineral Exploration Corporation Ltd. (MECL), made a net profit of Rs. 244 lakh after a gap of 14 years and added 4232 million tons of mineral reserves to the national inventory during 2004-05.
-
Hindustan Copper Ltd. (HCL), another loss making PSU, made a net profit of Rs.52.07 crore against a projected loss of Rs. 67.67. It has re-commissioned its Khetri Mine.
-
Emphasis being laid on modernization of land, aerial and marine survey systems of the Geological Survey of India (GSI) through acquisition of the latest technology.
-
GSI covered 2,958.50 sq. km. area by specialized thematic mapping, 13,876 sq. km. by geochemical mapping and 6,978 sq. km. by ground geophysical mapping.
-
GSI led the XXIII Indian Antarctica Expedition and also declared by the Government a nodal agency on landslide studies.
-
Besides other minerals, GSI added 2,987 million tons of coal and 98 million tons of lignite to national mineral inventory.
-
GSI took up post Tsunami studies in Andaman group of islands and recorded nearly 6,500 aftershocks.
-
IBM during the year inspected 2238 mines, pointed out 2251 violation cases, rectified 1125 cases and approved 586 mining plans and schemes.
*****
-
Record tourist arrival and foreign exchange earnings increased from Rs. 16,429 crore to Rs. 21,828 crore
-
India declared amongst top 5 tourism destinations amongst 134 countries by the leading tourists journal of USA.
-
‘Incredible India campaign’ awarded ‘PATA Gold award’.
-
India appointed chairperson of WTO task force to draw strategy for rehabilitation of tourism in Tsunami affected areas.
-
The country also assigned the role of lead country for tourism in BIMSTEC region.
-
Revival of tourism in J & K taken up as one of the top priorities and a special package for tourism revival in the state.
-
Boost to rural tourism with 31 rural sites identified to develop as rural tourism and get benefited economically.
-
Incentives provided for augmenting budget accommodation for domestic tourist through budget proposals.
-
Initiatives launched in the sphere of Medical Tourism and Cruise Tourism in partnership with the private sector to make India emerge as a major global hub.
-
Setting up of Conference centres to increase India’s share in the growing business of Meetings, Incentives, Conferences and Events (MICE) segment.
-
Night Bazaars to provide healthy cultural entertainment and a unique shopping experience to the tourists.
-
A scheme embarked on to design and produce world class souvenirs to give glimpses of Indian handicrafts.
-
Infrastructure upgradatation in Buddhist circuits taken up in a big way.
-
To expedite creation of world-class tourism infrastructure in the country, State Governments being pursued to set up single window clearance system.
-
Atithi Devo Bhavah”- campaign re-instilling a sense of responsibility towards tourists and re-enforcing the confidence of foreign tourist towards India as a preferred holiday destination.
*****
FOOD, PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION & CONSUMER AFFAIRS
|
DEPARTMENT OF FOOD AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION
-
Decentralised procurement implemented in 10 States/UTs, including non-traditional States like Bihar, Assam, Jharkhand, Tamil Nadu and Karnataka resulting in the procurement of an additional sixteen lakh MT of foodgrains and considerable saving in freight.
-
Storage and transit losses came down from 1.26 per cent during 2000-01 to 0.91 per cent during 2004-05.
-
13 lakh MT of godown space de-hired.
-
National Policy on Bulk Handling, Storage and Transportation of Foodgrains under implementation.
-
Legislation on Negotiable Warehouse Receipts to increase liquidity in rural areas through banking sector under consideration.
-
Identification of additional 50 lakh Antyodaya Anna Yojana households at the ‘risk of hunger’ started while 33.22 lakh households issued special ration cards.
-
Guidelines issued for issue of ration entitlement slips to migrant labour, displaced persons and homeless, besides coverage of ‘AAY left-outs’ for BPL cards.
-
FCI Bonds worth Rs. 4023 crore floated at an average rate of 7.14 per cent.
-
To improve the efficiency of FCI, a study by Mckinsey instituted.
-
Food subsidy contained at Rs. 25,774 crore in 2004-05, despite expansion of Antyodaya Anna Yojana (AAY), freezing of Central Issue Price and increased off take under TPDS and various welfare schemes.
-
Tuteja Committee Report on revitalization of sugar industry submitted which is under the consideration of the Government.
-
Import of raw sugar under Advance Licence Scheme allowed to ensure availability of sugar for domestic consumption and the period of fulfilment of export obligation of white sugar out of the imported raw sugar raised to 36 months from 24 months.
-
As on February 28, 2005, a total of Rs. 11,872.5 crore paid towards cane arrears, leaving a balance of Rs. 1,754.57.
-
A total of Rs. 408.6 crore paid as buffer subsidy to sugar mills to defray the carry-over cost and liquidation of cane arrears, besides disbursing Rs. 78.08 crore towards reimbursement of internal transport and freight charges on export of sugar.
-
The rate of interest for advance to sugar sector reduced by two percentage points below the prevailing bank rate of 6.9 per cent in order to ease the liquidity of enterprising sugar mills.
-
The statutory minimum price of sugarcane fixed at Rs. 74.5 per quintal for the year, 2004-05, Rs. 1.5 per quintal more than the previous sugar year, 2003-04.
DEPARTMENT OF CONSUMER AFFAIRS
-
A National Consumer Helpline inaugurated. The helpline (Toll free telephone No. 1600-11-4000) guides, informs and advises consumers regarding consumer related problems.
-
Antyodaya Anna Yojana cardholders exempted from payment of the stipulated fee for filing cases in the district forum of consumer court for cases up to Rs. one lakh.
-
A Standing Committee constituted for promotion of consumer causes and for highlighting consumer interest to the forefront of all operations in Government, public and private sectors.
-
A Consumer Activist Group set up within the Department comprising senior officials and experienced persons.
-
Three Committees constituted for preparing a module for consumer clubs, for drafting a National Consumer Policy and for suggesting a suitable mechanism for handling consumer complaints.
-
Computerisation of consumer forums in the country completed at a cost of Rs. 48.64 crore.
-
An amount of Rs. 10.2 crore released to three State Commissions of Uttaranchal, Chhattisgarh and Jharkhand and for 53 newly created district forums of 12 States for strengthening infrastructure facilities.
-
The value of derivatives trading in all the commodities increased from Rs. 1,30,214 crore in 2003-04 to Rs. 5,00,000 crore in 2004-05.
*****
DEPARTMENT OF WOMEN AND CHILD DEVELOPMENT
|
Share with your friends: |
