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Indian Express
5 hours ago
- Politics
- Indian Express
Derek O'Brien writes: 79 suggestions for the Union government on 79th I-Day
As India celebrates its 79th Independence Day, here are 79 suggestions for the Union government. Unemployment 1. Reduce unemployment. Eight out of 10 unemployed are youth. 2. Create jobs for the youth. Youth unemployment is over 15 per cent. 3. Introduce urban employment guarantee schemes. 4. Increase wages of rural workers— real average annual growth is just 0.2 per cent. 5. Increase the female Labour Force Participation Rate. Among youth, this is around half that of men. 6. Boost skill training. Only 4 per cent of the youth workforce have formal vocational training. Health 7. Remove 18 per cent GST on health and life insurance. 8. Increase spending on public healthcare, currently less than 2 per cent of GDP. 9. Strengthen AIIMS. Over 18,000 positions are vacant in AIIMS hospitals. 10. Provide free medical and psychological treatment for acid attack survivors. Education 11. Restart discontinued minority scholarship schemes like the Maulana Azad National Fellowship. 12. Stop partisan changes to NCERT textbooks 13. Provide quality education to ST kids. A third of Eklavya schools are non-functional. Children 14. Bring down student suicides. 15. Eradicate child labour. 16. Fight drug addiction among children. 1.5 crore children aged 10-17 are addicted. 17. Focus on child health. Two out of five children up to five years of age are stunted. 18. Bring down number of zero-food children. Three out of 10 infants aged between six and 11 months are classified as such. Gender 19. Pass stronger laws for time-bound resolution of cases of crime against women. 20. Amend the Women's Reservation Bill, delink it from the census and delimitation. 21. Harmonise punishment for sexual violence against transgender persons with penalties under the BNS for women. 22. Legalise same-sex marriage. 23. Criminalise marital rape. Federalism 24. Make cess and surcharge a part of the divisible pool, to be shared with states. 25. Resolve ongoing unrest in Manipur. 26. Stop using the ED as a political weapon. Its conviction rate is 0.25 per cent. 27. Stop Hindi imposition. 28. Give full statehood to J&K. 29. Stop squeezing non-BJP states for funds. Bengal alone is owed over Rs 15,000 crore under MGNREGA and PMAY-G. Policy 30. Admit demonetisation was a failure. 31. Roll back Agnipath and bring back permanent recruitment in the Armed Forces. 32. Introduce a framework to reduce financial frauds, which increased by 97 per cent between 2020 and 2024. 33. Introduce a national elder care policy with support services and pension. 34. Ensure a five-year cooling-off period before retired judges can take up any other constitutional post. 35. Increase the judiciary's strength. Over five crore cases are pending across courts. 36. Delink MGNREGS payment from Aadhaar, which makes over 28 per cent of MGNREGS workers ineligible. 37. Strengthen RTI and include institutions like PM CARES under its purview. 38. Improve data privacy. The DPDP rules have not been framed. More than 81 crore citizens' data was leaked in 2023. 39. Improve press freedom, in which India is ranked 161 out of 180. 40. Strengthen the Armed Forces. There are 1.09 lakh vacancies in paramilitary forces. 41. Strengthen banking access. One in five Jan Dhan accounts is inactive. 42. Increase PM Kisan funds to Rs 12,000 43. Stop manual scavenging. Between 2014 and 2023, 736 people died cleaning sewers and septic tanks. 44. Reduce plastic pollution. 3.5 million tonnes of plastic waste is generated each year. 45. Build dedicated legislation for AI. Do not wait to take the cue from other countries. 46. Withdraw the SIR exercise in Bihar. 47. Implement a national bail reform policy to reduce the undertrial population. 48. Conduct the census, due since 2021, in 2026 instead of 2027. 49. Standardise gig/contract worker rights, including social security. 50. Increase the wages of MGNREGS and ASHA workers. Economy 51. Reduce poverty. Four out of five people earn less than Rs 171 a day. 52. Improve GDP growth, which was at a four-year low in 2024-25. 53. Increase value added by manufacturing. Manufacturing GVA was at 4.5 per cent in FY 2025, lower than FY 2013. 54. Reduce agriculture household debt. The average outstanding loan per agricultural household is over Rs 74,000. 55. Strengthen MSMEs. Between 2020 and February 2025, over 75,000 MSMEs were shut down. 56. Boost industrial growth, which in June was at its lowest in 10 months. 57. Create high-value jobs. Forty-six per cent of the workforce is in agriculture. 58. Reduce household indebtedness. Household savings touched a 50-year low in 2022-23. 59. Reduce per capita external debt, which rose by 132 per cent in 2014-2025. Infrastructure 60. Develop air connectivity. Of 619 routes operationalised under UDAN, only half are currently operational. 61. Improve internet access. Over 21,200 villages don't have internet connections. 62. Expand expressways. Twenty-five per cent of Bharatmala project isn't yet awarded. 63. Boost railway safety. There are over one lakh vacancies in the railways. 64. Expand KAVACH. In four years, it was installed in just 2 per cent of rail routes. 65. Ensure road safety. About half of unnatural and untimely deaths are due to road accidents. 66. Improve infrastructure. Work for only eight per cent of Amrit Bharat stations has been completed. Parliament 67. Give more time to the Opposition. Seventy per cent is used by the government. 68. Appoint a deputy speaker of the Lok Sabha. The post has been vacant since 2019. 69. Have a fixed parliamentary calendar with a minimum 100 days of sittings. 70. Stop bulldozing bills. The 500-plus-page Income Tax Bill was passed in under five minutes in the Lok Sabha this week. 71. Stop mass suspension of MPs — 146 were suspended in one session in 2023. Bad Laws 72. Repeal CAA. 73. Ban anti-conversion laws. 74. Scrap sedition and the UAPA law, which has a conviction rate under 3 per cent. 75. Repeal the Waqf (Amendment) Act. 76. Criminalise marital rape. For the Prime Minister 77. Answer a question in Parliament. 78. Hold a press conference. 79. Visit Manipur The writer is MP and leader, All India Trinamool Congress Parliamentary Party. Research credit: Ayashman Dey, Chahat Mangtani, Dheemunt Jain, Varnika Mishra
The Hindu
2 days ago
- Climate
- The Hindu
A.P. CM calls for urgent flood precautions in view of heavy rain
Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu on Wednesday reviewed the heavy rainfall situation in the State at a meeting with Ministers and senior officials, calling for urgent flood precautions, efficient use of incoming water resources and round-the-clock monitoring of the situation to safeguard lives and property. 'We must stay ahead of the situation and protect lives,' Mr. Naidu emphasised at the meeting. In a key directive, Mr. Naidu ordered that up to 4 tmc ft of incoming floodwaters be diverted daily to fill Somasila and Kandaleru reservoirs, rather than allowing the water to flow into the sea. The officials reported significant inflows from the upper catchments such as Mylavaram into Budameru and Velagaleru streams, which are being discharged into the Krishna River. ₹40 crore for Budameru–Velagaleru utility tunnel Mr. Naidu sanctioned ₹40 crore for the Budameru–Velagaleru utility tunnel and instructed that the Budameru Diversion Channel be completed on a war-footing. With meteorological officials forecasting continued heavy rainfall in the coming days, the Chief Minister instructed officials to monitor flash flood situations in the streams and tributaries of the Krishna and issue timely alerts to the downstream villages and low-lying areas. According to the Water Resources Department, the inflows into the Krishna may touch 5 lakh cusecs by Thursday. Currently, 3.09 lakh cusecs are being released through 35 gates of the Prakasam Barrage, with an additional 5,000 cusecs being diverted into canals. The gates at the upstream Nagarjunasagar and Pulichintala dams have also been lifted. Mr. Naidu asked the respective district administrations to prepare for carrying out evacuations in the vulnerable areas and clear stagnant water from roads and drains. Meanwhile, floodwaters from Kondaveeti Vagu and Paala Vagu are being pumped into the Krishna. Mr. Naidu ordered immediate removal of silt and water hyacinth from the canals to ensure smooth water flow and reinforcement of the embankments of canals and tanks to prevent breaches. Calling the rains an opportunity for groundwater recharge, the Chief Minister asked the panchayati raj and forest departments to identify suitable trenching locations and take up digging works under the MGNREGS to maximise rural water retention. With reservoirs and rivers brimming, Mr. Naidu asked the officials to stay alert, maintain direct communication with farmers, and provide real-time updates to the people. Home Minister V. Anitha, Water Resources Department Minister Nimmala Ramanaidu, Chief Secretary K.S. Vijayanand, and the officials of the disaster management, agriculture, and water resources departments attended the meeting.
Time of India
2 days ago
- Business
- Time of India
Funds generated for labour welfare not enough: Report
Lucknow: Funds for the welfare of the labourers in Uttar Pradesh could not be generated to the desired extent, said the CAG report focused on the welfare of building and other construction workers released on Tuesday. Examining the efficiency with which the UP govt has implemented UP building and other construction workers rules 2009, the CAG evaluated the performance of the labour department during the 2017-22 period. The department supervises the working of the building and other workers' welfare boards. The report pointed out that the state did not establish a mechanism to identify potential employers through constant monitoring of real estate and construction activity. According to the report, out of the Rs 1,523 crore that was raised as a bill towards cess payments, only Rs 343 crore could be recovered till January 2023. The state, though, while responding to its query, said that an amount of Rs 872 crore was realised while recovery of the remaining money is underway. Another anomaly noticed was the inconsistency of the identity cards issued to the registered workers and the lack of uniformity of rates for calculating the construction cost across 75 districts of the state. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like The Most Beautiful Women In The World Undo As of March 2022, there were 1.44 crore registered workers, out of which only 50% renewed their memberships. It was also found that 23.33 lakh beneficiaries involved in mining, MGNREGS, and brick kilns were ineligible to draw the benefits doled out by the board. Recommendations made to the govt for improving the scenario include updating and revising the 2009 rules, the constitution of an expert committee, and ensuring timely benefits to workers who attain the age of 60. Responsibilities should be assigned to registering officers for verifying registration certificates and ensuring timely registration of establishments. The registration of eligible workers with the board and the submission of the required return forms was also deemed crucial. 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 silver prices in your area.
Time of India
2 days ago
- Business
- Time of India
Not enough funds for labour welfare in UP: CAG
Lucknow: Funds for the welfare of the labourers in Uttar Pradesh could not be generated to the desired extent, said the CAG report focused on the welfare of building and other construction workers released on Tuesday. Examining the efficiency with which the UP govt has implemented UP building and other construction workers rules 2009, the CAG evaluated the performance of the labour department during the 2017-22 period. The department supervises the working of the building and other workers' welfare boards. The report pointed out that the state did not establish a mechanism to identify potential employers through constant monitoring of real estate and construction activity. According to the report, out of the Rs 1,523 crore that was raised as a bill towards cess payments, only Rs 343 crore could be recovered till January 2023. The state, though, while responding to its query, said that an amount of Rs 872 crore was realised while recovery of the remaining money is underway. Another anomaly noticed was the inconsistency of the identity cards issued to the registered workers and the lack of uniformity of rates for calculating the construction cost across 75 districts of the state. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Your Finger Shape Says a Lot About Your Personality, Read Now Tips and Tricks Undo As of March 2022, there were 1.44 crore registered workers, out of which only 50% renewed their memberships. It was also found that 23.33 lakh beneficiaries involved in mining, MGNREGS, and brick kilns were ineligible to draw the benefits doled out by the board. You Can Also Check: Noida AQI | Weather in Noida | Bank Holidays in Noida | Public Holidays in Noida | Gold Rates Today in Noida | Silver Rates Today in Noida Recommendations made to the govt for improving the scenario include updating and revising the 2009 rules, the constitution of an expert committee, and ensuring timely benefits to workers who attain the age of 60. Responsibilities should be assigned to registering officers for verifying registration certificates and ensuring timely registration of establishments. The registration of eligible workers with the board and the submission of the required return forms was also deemed crucial. 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 silver prices in your area.
News18
3 days ago
- Politics
- News18
Mahua Moitra questions delay in resuming MGNREGS work in West Bengal
New Delhi, Aug 12 (PTI) Trinamool Congress MP Mahua Moitra on Tuesday wrote to the rural development ministry asking why an order of the Calcutta High Court to resume MGNREGS work in West Bengal has not been implemented. In her letter, the Lok Sabha member pointed out that the high court had on June 18 directed the Centre to implement the 100-day job guarantee scheme MGNREGA prospectively in West Bengal from August 1. She also shared the letter in a post on X. 'Given the extremely precise and clear directions of the HC, I would most respectfully ask the Ministry as to why this inexplicable delay in implementing the order is occurring? Almost 10 days since the deadline of August 1, 2025 has passed and the Ministry is in clear contempt of court," Moitra said in the letter. 'Under the circumstances, I humbly request you to look into the matter immediately and give us a clear timeline as to when the order will be implemented in its entirety and MGNREGS work will resume in Bengal," she said. In a written reply in Lok Sabha on July 22, Rural Development Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan had said that the high court's order to resume Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS) in West Bengal is being 'studied" by his ministry. According to the ministry, the release of funds to West Bengal under MGNREGS has been stopped since March 9, 2022, as per Section 27 of the MGNREG Act, 2005, due to non-compliance with directions of the central government. The high court in its order said the Centre is empowered to impose special conditions, restrictions and regulations, which have not been imposed in other states, so as to ensure that no irregularity occurs when the scheme is being implemented in West Bengal. Allowing the Centre to continue its enquiry into the allegations of irregularities in some districts of the state, a division bench presided by Chief Justice TS Sivagnanam directed that the scheme be implemented prospectively with effect from August 1. PTI AO ZMN view comments First Published: August 12, 2025, 19:45 IST Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
