Latest news with #DPB
Time of India
28-07-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Gujarat MPs, boards must expedite MPLAD works:
Gandhinagar: The district planning board and MPs need to be more proactive in implementing the member of parliament local area development (MPLAD) scheme, says Mahiti Adhikar Gujarat Pahel (MAGP), an organisation working to promote transparency and accountability. Earlier this month, MAGP released a report stating that only 4.2% of funds under the MPLAD scheme were used by 26 Lok Sabha MPs of Gujarat in the past year, and not a single work was completed in 14 of the 26 Lok Sabha constituencies. "We have written to each of the 26 MPs, asking them to recommend that the Union ministry of statistics and project implementation must create a mobile application, where each MP can track the status of the works recommended by them," said Pankti Jog of MAGP. You Can Also Check: Ahmedabad AQI | Weather in Ahmedabad | Bank Holidays in Ahmedabad | Public Holidays in Ahmedabad She added that MAGP has also recommended to the MPs that the district planning board must provide a status report of MPLAD scheme projects every month at the district coordination committee meeting, in which MPs are members. Official data shows that each of the 26 MPs have made recommendations under the MPLAD scheme, but implementation has been lagging. Jog said that once a recommendation is made by the MP, the DPB sends it to the department concerned for technical sanction. After the technical sanction is received, it is referred back to the DPB for financial sanction, after which the DPB sends it to the concerned implementing agency. "According to prescribed guidelines, this process ought to be completed in a period of 45 days, but we have observed that this does not happen," Jog said.
India Gazette
07-07-2025
- India Gazette
Goa: Taj Cidade de Goa launches waterproof loungers at its rooftop bar
Dona Paula (Goa) [India], July 7 (ANI): The Taj Cidade de Goa launched waterproof loungers at its rooftop bar, Dona Paula Bay (DPB), catering to domestic and international tourists, as well as locals in Goa, to ensure that rain does not interrupt the guest experience. Vivek Batra, the General Manager of the Goa Taj Hotel, highlighted how the area has been quite iconic, and upgrades were made to the rooftop bar to ensure that rain and monsoon do not interrupt the guest experience. 'Absolutely, you can't get it better, and this is a complete rooftop bar, and to be covered and have this type of a panoramic view, I don't think any place in Goa provides you with this type of a view and this type of experience. So definitely, I'm very, very excited to actually have this new kid on the block,' Batra told ANI on Sunday while highlighting its features. 'DPB has been existing, and it is becoming very iconic. So what we have done is that because of the rain, it should not interrupt, and that's why we have this now in place, which is completely covered, and you can come over. It's become an all-season bar,' he added. One of the guests at Dona Paula Bay highlighted how she enjoys India's monsoons and how the rooftop bar allows her to party all night, saying there is a lack of options otherwise in the state. 'It's beautiful. The monsoon is nice. Everything is very green. The space on the rooftop is very beautiful. I like it. I'm enjoying it here. It is actually my third monsoon (in India). It's a beautiful place. I like the drinks and food and what I like the most as a Russian citizen is that the party go through all night from 6 PM to 6 AM. Basically, in India or Goa, you have struggled to find a place to hang out at night, so you can do it here,' Debra, one of the guests, said. According to an official statement from the Taj Hotels, the DPB is built to withstand the monsoon. 'Thoughtful design choices include retractable roofing, rain curtains, waterproof loungers, and cosy fire-heater tables for when the temperature dips. Plants native to the region frame the venue, creating a lush, monsoon jungle aesthetic that contrasts beautifully with the sleek architecture,' the statement read. Taj Cidade de Goa, nestled at Dona Paula, already enjoys a reputation for merging heritage with contemporary hospitality. With DPB, the property adds another feather to its cap -- giving Goa a rooftop bar experience that can finally be enjoyed year-round. The opening night featured a mix of India's most seasoned travellers and international guests, mingling with Goan glitterati and top city locals. Influencers in linen, couples on holiday, rain-loving regulars -- all drawn in by the allure of Goa's latest 'it' spot. (ANI)
Hindustan Times
28-05-2025
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
An effective, credible Data Protection Board
Earlier this year, the ministry of electronics and information technology (MeitY) sought public feedback on the draft rules for the implementation of the Digital Personal Data Protection Act. At present, stakeholder feedback is being considered, and the final rules await imminent enforcement. Thus, it is important to understand the effectiveness of the institutional framework of the Data Protection Board (DPB) established under the Act and operationalised through the rules. DPB, an enforcement and adjudicatory body, will receive complaints from individuals and references from the government, conduct inquiries, and impose penalties on organisations failing to comply with the Act's provisions. The draft rules prescribe the operational procedures for the implementation of the Act, but it is limited by the design envisaged under the Act. The lean institutional design and narrow scope of powers will constrain what the rules can achieve. Yet, there are three key aspects that can enhance the performance of DPB that can be brought about through the rules. First, the effective functioning of DPB requires designing an institution with adequate independence and functional autonomy, sufficient expertise and capacity, and necessary accountability measures. Institutional independence is based on several factors, but a great deal can be achieved through how its members are selected and appointed. The proposed rules empower the Union government to establish a selection committee to recommend DPB members, including its chairperson. The committee selecting the chairperson will be led by the Cabinet Secretary and have the secretaries of legal affairs and MeitY as well as two government-appointed experts. Similarly, the selection committee for DPB members will be headed by the MeitY secretary and have the secretary of legal affairs and two government-nominated experts. The composition of such selection committees is often skewed towards serving Union government officials. While the involvement of the executive is inevitable, a lack of diversity in the selection committee can result in partisan and biased appointments. A more diverse selection committee could include members from the legislative, judiciary, civil society, and other stakeholder groups. This would align better with principles of impartiality and ensure the much-needed diversity of stakeholder perspectives. There are enough examples of this, such as the selection committees for members and chairs of the Competition Commission of India and the Central Information Commission, among others. Institutional independence is vital for public trust and effective governance, and the selection and appointment processes are foundational to this. Second, the need for transparency in appointments, as well as the proceedings and functioning of DPB, cannot be overstated. The selection committees will evaluate candidates based on qualifications in data governance, dispute resolution, information technology, and the digital economy, as required by the Act. They will assess the integrity and practical experience of candidates too. To ensure transparency, the committee's recommendations and a brief justification of each candidate's eligibility should be made public. Predictability and certainty in dispute resolution will guide stakeholder decisions on approaching DPB. It will also allow the study of trends, effectiveness, and critically analyse DPB's performance. One way to ensure this is to impart maximum transparency to the resolution process. This can be done by publishing orders and findings of DPB and their reasoning and rationale. Periodic guidance on complex issues relating to data privacy and how DPB may respond to concerns relating to any emerging technology would be invaluable but is potentially outside the scope of the board's current design. The rules could also provide for the disclosure of minutes of meetings to promote transparency in the decision-making process. Third, DPB should not suffer delays in appointments and resolution of complaints. Delayed appointments in the statutory bodies affect enforcement of the law and impede policy decisions. They also lead to backlog of appeals and complaints from the public, resulting in a trust deficit and erosion of confidence in the institutional grievance redressal mechanism. To ensure this doesn't happen, it would be useful for the rules to stipulate that appointments with respect to any future vacancy should be made prior to the date of the vacancy to maintain smooth operation of the board. There is considerable potential for improving the institutional design of DPB through the draft rules to create a more independent, transparent, and reliable body. Institutions responsible for protecting core fundamental constitutional values, such as the right to privacy, must be independent to ensure effectiveness and credibility, and strengthen the trust of civil society, the market, and industry. Gangesh Varma and Yaqoob Alam work with Technology and Policy Practice at Saraf and Partners, a law firm. The views expressed are personal.
