
No utilisation certificate, WB police funds withheld: Govt
Tired of too many ads? go ad free now
This, it said, was on account of unspent balances and non-submission of utilisation certificates by the state govt.
In reply to a question by BJP MP Samik Bhattacharya in RS, Mos (home) Nityanand Rai said Bengal govt, as of July 31 this year, had an unspent balance of Rs 12.5 crore from the funds released to it under the central scheme 'assistance to states and UTs for modernisation of police' (ASUMP). Also, the state was yet to submit a utilisation certificate.
Sharing data on the allocation and release of funds to Bengal, Rai said no funds were released in 2021-22, 2023-24 and 2025-26 (so far), despite allocations ranging from Rs 12.2 crore to Rs 28.9 crore. There was a release of Rs 6.5 crore in 2024-25 and Rs 54 lakh in 2022-23, with the latter approved as special grant under the home ministry contingency reserve.

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


Indian Express
3 minutes ago
- Indian Express
UP Cabinet okays UK scholarship scheme, setting up of 3 new universities
The Uttar Pradesh Cabinet on Thursday gave the go-ahead for a scholarship scheme under which five meritorious students from the state will pursue master's degree at reputed universities in the United Kingdom every year, and setting up of three new private universities in Muzaffarnagar, Mathura and Barabanki districts. The decisions were taken during a Cabinet meeting chaired by Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath in Lucknow. The proposed scholarship programme, Bharat Ratna Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee-Chevening Uttar Pradesh State Government Scholarship Scheme in partnership with the UK's Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO), will be rolled out for the next three years, and will cover the students' stay and travel for studying at top UK institutions of higher studies such as universities of Oxford, Cambridge, Edinburgh, and the Landon School of Economics and Political Science (LSE). The scheme will be renewed or extended thereafter, state Higher Education Minister Yogendra Upadhyaya said. The government has cleared the proposal to sign a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the FCDO and the funding will be equally shared by the two, Upadhyaya added. The scheme will cover tuition, and scholarship fees, and round-trip economy class air fare, the minister said. The selection process of students for the scholarship programme will be conducted as per the MoU and the scheme will come into effect from the 2025-26 academic year. The scholarship will cost the state exchequer nearly £19,800 ( Rs 23 lakh) for each student and the state government has already cleared Rs 2 crore for the current financial year, it is learnt. The Cabinet granted an intent letter for the establishment of Vedanta University in Muzaffarnagar under the Uttar Pradesh Private Universities Act, 2019. The proposed university will be set up on 23 acres of land at Hussainpur Bopada village in Khatauli tehsil. The Cabinet also okayed the establishment of KD University in Mathura and Bodhisattva University in Barabanki under the Uttar Pradesh Private Universities Act, 2019, which regulates and facilitates the establishment and incorporation of private universities across the state. The Cabinet has cleared the promulgation of the 'Uttar Pradesh Private Universities (Third Amendment) Ordinance, 2025' to officially include the new university under the Act and issue it the operational licence. In another decision, the Cabinet approved the proposal to allow the use of funds of the Uttar Pradesh Finance Commission for distribution of flags under the 'Har Ghar Tiranga' campaign on the occasion of Independence Day. Nearly 60 lakh national flags costing nearly Rs 12 crore will be distributed during the campaign, which began on August 2 and will continue till August 15. The flags will be made by women self-help groups (SHGs) associated with the State Urban Livelihoods Mission. It has also been decided to organise special cleanliness drives and other activities, called 'Swachh Nagari – Jhanda Nagari'. The Cabinet also approved the proposal to include a member each from the SC/ST and OBC communities into the working council of King George's Medical University (KGMU), Lucknow. The appointments will be made on seniority basis and one person at a time on rotation basis. Funds for reviving 1750 hand-pumps, which have become defunct, were also given approval. In yet another decision, the Cabinet approved an amendment to Section 305(1) of the Uttar Pradesh Municipal Corporation Act, 1959, related to permissions and renewal durations for aerial signage and advertisements. The amendment proposes increasing the validity period for advertising licences from two years to 15 years. The new rule, to be implemented through the UP Municipal Corporation (Regulation of Signs and Advertisements) Rules, 2025, is expected to attract larger investments and innovations in the urban advertising sector. It will also reduce the frequency of tender processes and offer greater revenue stability for municipal corporations across the state. Following the Cabinet approval, the UP Municipal Corporation (Amendment) Ordinance, 2025, will be promulgated to formalise this change. — With PTI inputs


Time of India
18 minutes ago
- Time of India
Greater Bengaluru amendment bill gets nod, Election Commission can now prepare voters' lists
1 2 Bengaluru: The state cabinet Thursday approved a series of legislative proposals ahead of the monsoon session, including a key amendment to Greater Bengaluru Act (GBA), a new law targeting the Devadasi system, and significant changes to minority education rules. A major decision was the approval of Greater Bengaluru (Amendment) Bill, 2025, which enables the Karnataka State Election Commission (SEC) to prepare electoral rolls for polls to the five newly constituted municipal corporations in Bengaluru. The move follows a formal request earlier this month from the SEC seeking powers to draw up the list. In a policy shift, the cabinet cleared changes to the Karnataka Educational Institutions (Recognition of Minority Educational Institutions Terms and Conditions) Rules, 2014, removing the requirement that non-Muslim minority institutions must have at least 50% students from the respective religious community to retain their minority status. This applies to both colleges and technical institutions. You Can Also Check: Bengaluru AQI | Weather in Bengaluru | Bank Holidays in Bengaluru | Public Holidays in Bengaluru The cabinet approved a landmark legislation — the Karnataka Devadasi (Prevention, Prohibition, Relief and Rehabilitation) Bill, 2025 — which seeks to outlaw the Devadasi system, ensure justice for Devadasi women, and protect their children. The bill declares the practice illegal and proposes the formation of vigilance and implementation committees at the taluk, district, and state levels to initiate legal action. The bill guarantees relief and rehabilitation to Devadasi women, including access to healthcare, housing, and other welfare measures. It also provides for the rights of their children, such as access to healthcare, maintenance, and property. Notably, the bill says children of Devadasis will not be forced to declare the name of their father in official documents. "The field for the father's name is not mandatory for submission of any application," the bill states. In another structural reform, the Urban and Rural Planning Directorate will be upgraded into a commissionerate. This will involve amendments to the Karnataka Urban Development Authority Act, 1987, and the newly enacted Mysuru Urban Development Authority Act, 2024. In support of female education among minority communities, the cabinet approved Rs 87.6 crore for the construction of 15 new women's hostels. This is part of a revised project estimated to cost Rs 398.3 crore. The cabinet also cleared amendments aimed at strengthening the functioning of child welfare bodies. The changes include setting the minimum age for the chairperson at 40 years, and 35 years for members, along with raising the minimum required experience in child welfare from 5 to 10 years. Other reforms include defining quorum requirements and mandating enhanced training for members. The govt also gave the green light to a digital socio-educational survey of the state's population to be conducted by the State Backward Classes Commission. Aadhaar authentication will be compulsory for the exercise. The survey will rely on electoral rolls previously used during the internal survey for Scheduled Castes sub-quota. Stay updated with the latest local news from your city on Times of India (TOI). Check upcoming bank holidays , public holidays , and current gold rates and s ilver prices in your area.


Time of India
18 minutes ago
- Time of India
Naidu announces Rs 25,000 annual aid for handloom families
Vijayawada: Chief minister N Chandrababu Naidu emphasised that the coalition government's goal is to double the income of handloom artisans in the state. He announced that each handloom family would receive financial assistance of Rs 25,000 annually under the "Nethanna Bharosa" scheme. The chief minister, along with HRD and IT minister Nara Lokesh, visited a 'weaversshala' in Mangalagiri on Thursday to mark the celebration of National Handloom Day. CM interacted with the artisans and inspected their products. Addressing the gathering, the chief minister explained that the government is committed to fulfilling every promise made before the elections. He said the government resolved to implement welfare schemes notwithstanding financial constraints. The chief minister said that 200 units of free electricity for handlooms and 500 units for power looms will be provided starting from August. "This scheme will benefit 93,000 families with handlooms and 50,000 families with power looms, costing the government Rs 190 crore annually. The TDP was the first to introduce pensions for weavers at the age of 50, benefiting 92,724 families. By increasing social pensions to Rs 4,000, government is spending Rs 546 crore annually solely on weavers' pensions," said Naidu. The chief minister praised handloom weavers' contributions to Indian culture and tradition, which have gained global recognition centuries ago. He highlighted the unique skills of weavers in various regions like Mangalagiri, Dharmavaram, and others, mentioning historical anecdotes and the role of handloom in the freedom movement. The chief minister also announced reimbursement of the 5% GST on handloom products, costing Rs 15 crore annually, and the establishment of a thrift fund with Rs 5 crore, benefiting 5,386 artisans. The NDA government supports weavers in all aspects, with master weavers and artisans achieving a turnover of Rs 1,375 crore, said CM. He added that a handloom museum will be set up in Amaravati and industrialist Suchitra Ella has been appointed as an advisor to promote the products on a global scale. Four out of nine awards received by the state in the (ODOP) One District-One Product category were for the handloom sector. New handloom clusters are being established under the National Rural Livelihood Mission, benefiting 11,374 women weavers, the CM said. The chief minister said that prominent weavers' leader Pragada Kotaiah's birth anniversary will be celebrated as an official programme. Naidu emphasised the inseparable relationship between the TDP and handloom workers, recalling initiatives by former chief minister NTR and the significant number of families dependent on the handloom sector. He outlined various welfare schemes for different communities, including free electricity, financial assistance and subsidies, with a commitment to spending Rs 2 lakh crore on backward classes over the next four years. The chief Minister criticised the previous YSRCP government for oppressing backward classes and pledged to work for their welfare until his last breath. He said TDP gave key positions to backward class leaders in the party. Stay updated with the latest local news from your city on Times of India (TOI). Check upcoming bank holidays , public holidays , and current gold rates and s ilver prices in your area.