Manmohan has been unable to deliver on economic front: Yechury
Nashik: Senior CPM leader Sitaram Yechury has accused Prime Minister Manmohan Singh of having failed to rein in sharp slowdown in the economy and alleged that multiple scams during the UPA’s rule have worsened the situation. “The Prime Minister himself is an economic expert but there is no economic progress in the country. During his long tenure, the gap between poor and rich widened,” Yechury said here last night in Pawan Nagar locality, while addressing a public meeting organised by the Left front. “Following various scams, economic conditions have worsened…its unfortunate that we are facing such conditions,” he said. Yechury claimed people want a “good” government at the Centre and “not led by leaders like Rahul Gandhi and Narendra Modi, who indulge in politics keeping an eye on elections”. Former CPM MP Nilotpal Basu, MLA Narsayyaa Adam, CITU leader D L Karad and other leaders attended the meeting. (PTI)
Centre asks states to strictly implement anti-tobacco law
Thiruvananthapuram: The Union Health Ministry has directed states to strictly implement the central rules to discourage consumption of cigarette and other tobacco products and act against advertising them directly or indirectly. A letter in this regard has been sent to Chief Secretaries and DGPs of all states by secretary to the Union Health Ministry, according to official sources here. The Centre’s direction came in the wake of the Supreme Court upholding the rules framed on the basis of The Cigarette and Other Tobacco Products (prohibition of advertisement and regulation of trade and commerce, production, supply and distribution) Act 2003. Implementation of some of the rules formulated under the legislation were stayed by the Mumbai High Court. However, the Supreme Court through an order in July this year set aside the High Court order. The letter recalled that section 5 of the Act has prohibited all forms of advertisements (direct, indirect and surrogate) and banned sale of tobacco products to persons below 18 years of age. Stating that the Centre and states are bound to “rigorously” implement the rules, the Chief Secretaries and DGPs have been asked to give instructions in this regard to officials of Home, Health and Local Self Government departments. (PTI)
Centre moves SC for modification of order on Aadhar card
New Delhi: The Centre on Friday moved the Supreme Court seeking modification of an earlier order which said Aadhar card is not mandatory and no person should be deprived of any government schemes for want it. A bench headed by Chief Justice P Sathasivam said that the plea of the Centre would be taken up for hearing on October 8. “We seek modification of the order which said that Aadhar card is not mandatory,” Solicitor General Mohan Parasaran, appearing for the Centre, said, adding that the order may come in the way of various welfare schemes. Earlier, the Supreme Court had said that the Aadhar card, being issued by Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI, was not mandatory for availing any government services and nobody should be deprived of any such facilites for the want of the card. It had asked the Centre not to issue it to illegal immigrants as it would legitimise their stay. Centre had also told the court that the Aadhar card was optional and that it has not made it mandatory for the citizens. The apex court had passed the earlier order while hearing a batch of pleas against decisions of some states to make Aadhar cards compulsory for a range of activities including salary, PF disbursals and marriage and property registrations. The petitioners had contended that the scheme was complete infraction of Fundamental Rights under Articles 14 (right to equality) and 21 (right to life and liberty) and even as government claims it to be voluntary but it is not so. (PTI)
Azad for better coordination between medical bodies
New Delhi: Health Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad on Friday stressed on better coordination between different medical bodies to weed out the problem of duplicate registration and other malpractices. “There is greater need for better cooperation and coordination between the Medical Council of India and State Medical Councils so that issues relating to duplicate registration, malpractice and ethical issues are dealt with more efficiently,” Azad said. Though state councils have on-line registration software, much needs to be done to implement online registration system and prepare a live, real time register at the national level by integrating state and national registers, he said in his message to the inauguration function of National Conference of Network of State Medical Councils which he could not attend. The Minister asked the Medical Council of India and all the State Medical Councils to focus their energies on starting work in this important area at the earliest. (PTI)