friday, 14th June, 2013

HEADLINES

• Decision on food ordinance bill deferred

NATIONAL NEWS

• Action plan to unlock Rs. 7 lakh crore investments stuck in projects
  • Faced with prospects of a continued decline in economic activity, a tumbling rupee and falling investor interest, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh directed the fast-tracking of infrastructure projects and unlocking of Rs. 7 lakh crore worth bank funded projects stuck for various reasons and lack of clearances at the Central and State level in a bid to investment sentiment.
  • Dr. Singh, who chaired a meeting on the issue, directed the constitution of a Project Monitoring Group within the Cabinet Secretariat for monitoring all such projects
  • This cell would be in the nature of a Project Monitoring Group for all large projects, both public and private and would pro-actively pursue them so that these investment projects are commissioned on time

• Cabinet clears mental health care bill
  • The Union Cabinet on Thursday cleared the Mental Health Care Bill, 2013 that makes access to mental health care a right of all persons. Such services should be affordable, of good quality and available without discrimination, it said. The proposed law decriminalises suicide.
  • The Bill, in consonance with international laws, has the provision of Advance Directives — described as a progressive and far-sighted step. No person who has recorded an Advance Directive to State that he or she should not be admitted to a facility without consent can be so admitted.
  • A rights-based Bill also has a provision wherein a person with mental illness can appoint a nominated representative to take decisions for him or her. Under the provisions of the Bill, government has an obligation to provide half way homes, community caring centres and other shelters for mentally ill people. This has been planned under the District Mental Health Programme in the 12th Plan.
  • The Bill tries to address the needs of the families and caregivers, and the needs of the homeless mentally ill. It provides for setting up Central and State Mental Health Authorities, which would act as administrative bodies, while the Mental Health Review Commission would be a quasi-judicial body to oversee the functioning of mental health facilities and protect the rights of persons with mental illness in mental health facilities.
  • The Bill provides right to confidentiality and protection from cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment, in addition to right to live in a community and legal aid. It bans the electric-convulsive therapy without anaesthesia and restricts psychosurgery

• India pakistan to start dialogue soon
  • With the newly elected Nawaz Sharif government assuming office in Pakistan, India hopes to take forward dialogue with Islamabad and is not averse to the possibility of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh visiting Pakistan as and when relations show a credible and substantive progress.
  • India will also look forward to Pakistan implementing its earlier decision of moving toward according the Most Favoured Nation (MFN) status to India when the Commerce Secretaries meet

OPINION/EDITORIALS

• Article on Judicial appointments commission
• Article on internet annonymity
• Editorial on inequalities
• Article on same sex marriage