doping scandal

The Anti Doping Rules of National Anti Doping Agency (NADA) became operational from 1st January 2009. NADA is responsible for sample collection work of athletes for dope analysis during the National Level competitions. Until 30.6.2011, NADA has collected 6607 samples of sportsperson out of which 242 have been returned positive for dope substances. Out of the 242 positive cases, sanctions have been imposed on 135 cases by the Anti Doping Disciplinary Panel since January 2009. In the recent doping incidents in Netaji Subhash National Institute of Sports, Patiala, 8 athletes were found positive in dope testing. This was stated by Shri Ajay Maken, Minister of State (I/C) for Youth Affairs & Sports, in the Rajya Sabha today, in a written reply to a question by Shri Tariq Anwar.

The Minister further stated that the Government has appointed Justice Mukul Mudgal, retired Chief Justice of the High Court of Punjab & Haryana, as a one member Committee on 07.07.2011 to enquire into all the aspects of the issues relating to prevalence of Doping. The terms of reference of the inquiry Committee are as under :-

I. To determine the facts and circumstances leading to large scale recent incidents of alleged doping in Athletics discipline.

II. To examine reasons for such large scale prevalence of doping and modus operandi involved, including availability of the prohibited substances in and around training camps/competitions.

III. To enquire into the role to agencies involved, if any.

IV. To suggest remedial measures to improve the protocols of dope testing and its integrity and promotion so that such lapses, if any, do not happen in future.

V. Any other issues.

In addition, the Sports Minister disclosed that the Government has taken the following corrective measures through NADA to curb doping in sports:-

I. Increased frequency of testing of Core probables undergoing training at various centres for London Olympics, 2012

II. Surprise checking of rooms of Athletes, coaches and Support Personnel at training institutes and surprise collection of samples.

III. Distribution of educational materials related to dope related issues amongst Sportspersons, Coaches & Support Personnel

IV. Increase in Seminar/Workshops/Teaching Sessions with Athletes and Coaches.

V. Closer surveillance and vigilance on Coaches and Support Personnel through their Employers.

domestic violence act implemetation

The Central Government feels the need to impart training to First Class Judicial Magistrates and Metropolitan Magistrates to deal with the cases under the Domestic Violence Act ,2005 through National/State Judicial Academies. Replying to a question in Rajya Sabha today the Minister of Women and Child development Smt. Krishna Tirath Stated that the Act is implemented by the State Governments/UT Administrations .The minister observed that the Government does not have definite information about the time taken by the magistrates in disposing off the cases but It is likely that judicial process may not be completed within the stipulated period of sixty days from the date of its first hearing in all the cases. But the increasing number of cases registered under the Act shows that more and more aggrieved persons are accessing reliefs and services under the provisions of the Act. Smt. Tirath revealed that as per National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) data, total of 5788, 5643 and 7802 cases were registered under the PWDVA, 2005 during 2007, 2008 and 2009 respectively. The Protection of Women from Domestic Violence Act, 2005 (PWDVA, 2005) came into force w.e.f 26.10.2006. The Minister stated that Andhra Pradesh has witnessed highest no. of cases in the year 2009 under this Act in the nation which stands at 2710 .

According to the figures tabled in the house total 203804 cases of all types of crimes against women were reported in the year 2009.The crimes included dowry deaths, physical assault and harassment at workplaces. However majority of complaints received by NHRC relate to atrocities on women by the police.

She stated that the advisories issued to state governments emphasise on gender sensitization of the police personnel, minimizing delays in investigation, improving the quality of investigations and setting up ‘Crime against Women Cells’ in districts where these do not exist. States have also been advised to increase the overall representation of women in police forces.

irrigation potential under bharat nirman

Creation of irrigation potential of 10 million hectares was targeted under Bharat Nirman during the four years i.e., during the period from 2005-06 to 2008-09.  Further, creation of 3.5 million hectare of irrigation potential has been targeted under Bharat Nirman in the next two years i.e., 1.75 million hectare each during 2009-10 and 2010-11.

As per the information received from the State Governments, irrigation potential of 1.93 million hectare and 1.85 million hectare has been created during the years 2008-09 and 2009-10 respectively.  During the year 2010-11, creation of 0.81 million hectare of irrigation potential has so far been reported by the States, the information is still awaited from few States. 

Water being a State subject, Planning and implementation of water resources projects are undertaken by respective State Governments as per their own priorities.  However, central assistance is provided to the States for early completion of the projects.

river water disputes-puncchi comission

The proposal for setting up a standing tribunal for all Inter State River Water Disputes is at conceptual stage at present. The Punchi Commission on Centre State Relations has inter alia made following recommendation on water disputes:-

(i) The Tribunal should be a multidisciplinary body presided over by a Judge. 

(ii)  It should follow a more participatory and conciliatory approach. 

(iii) The statute should prescribe a time limit for clarificatory or supplementary orders. Appeals to the Supreme Court should be prescribed under the statute; and in the long run; and Reference to a Tribunal should be invariably linked with constitution of inter-State River Boards charged with an integrated watershed approach towards inter-State rivers.

(iv) The initiating party must indicate the efforts it has made in resolution of its grievances before a River Board. 

(v) The Government of India must indicate the stand it took before the Board and in case a Board has not been constituted the reasons for not having constituted one as well as the likely timeframe in case the process is underway.

These recommendations of Punchi Commission on Centre State Relations are under consideration of Inter State council.

The National Water Policy 2002 provides that the water sharing / distribution amongst the States should be guided by a national perspective with due regard to water resources availability and needs within the river basin.

The shares of the basin states in a river basin are normally decided either by agreement among the basin states or by decisions of a tribunal and are given effect to by themselves. In certain cases regulatory bodies with participation of representatives of the concerned basin states are also established to facilitate the implementation of terms of agreement /decision of Tribunal.

Tourism parks

Development and promotion of tourism including the identification of new tourism destinations and setting up of Mega Tourism Parks for holding the tourists for a longer period as well as adopting public – private partnership model for their development are primarily the responsibility of the State Governments/Union Territories (U.T) Administrations.

Assistance from Ministry of Tourism to State Governments/U.T. Administrations in these activities may include services of consultants and financial assistance under its Plan Schemes as per the scheme guidelines, inter-se priority and subject to availability of funds. The projects to be funded by the Ministry of Tourism (MOT) are decided in consultation with the States/UTs.

MOT has appointed a National Level Consultant (NLC) to develop action plans for setting up of Tourism Parks and integrated development of tourist destinations/circuits in consultation with States/UTs.

MPLADS accountability

The Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Statistics and Programme Implementation Shri Srikant Kumar Jena has said that complaints regarding non-implementation of MPLADS works by the district authorities have been received in the Ministry from time to time.

In a written reply in the Lok Sabha today he said, in a federal set up, State Government Authorities take disciplinary action against District Collectors of the State Government. The information on the number of District Collectors against whom action for dereliction of duty in implementation of MPLADS works is available only at the State Level, since the disciplinary authority is the State Government.

He said, the MPLADS guidelines stipulate that completion of the work should generally not exceed one year. However, some district authorities have not adhered to the time frame, for implementation of MPLADS works, as stipulated in the guidelines. Apart from a regular review of the physical & financial performance of the MPLAD Scheme held at the State/UT Government and the district levels, the Ministry conducts two review meetings every year with the nodal Secretaries of the State/UT Governments. As on 30.6.2011, cumulative percentage of utilization of funds is 90.69%

Per capita income

Per Capita Income at the national level, which was Rs. 24,143 in the year 2004-05, stands at Rs. 54,835 in the year 2010-11, showing an increase of more than 120%. The details of State/UT-wise per capita income (Net State Domestic Product at factor cost) at current prices, for the years 2004-05 to 2009-10, as compiled and provided by the Directorates of Economics & Statistics of the States, are given in the table at Annex.

In a written reply in the Lok Sabha today he said, the per capita income of several States is more than the national average. However, the regional imbalance and disparity among various States and UTs in the country is largely due to historical difference in initial conditions, natural resource endowments, level of industrialization and differences in human capital indicators viz. education, health, etc. Per capita income is only an indicator of the disparity and not the cause.

The Minister said, the Government has been taking several measures to increase the per capita income of States in a balanced manner.  The Eleventh Five Year Plan (EFPY) takes cognizance of the disparities among States, regions within States. One of the basic objectives of the development planning in India is to reduce economic inequalities and raise the level of economic development in the country in a balanced manner. With a view to bring down disparities, the EFPY monitors 13 out of 27 monitorable national targets state-wise. The policy instruments in this regard include plan and non-plan transfer of resources from the Centre to the States favouring less developed states, establishment of public sector units, tax incentives for setting up of private industries in the backward regions, etc. A number of programmes have been initiated to reduce income disparity between States. These include Backward Regions Grant Fund (BRGF), Hill Area Development Programme/ Western Ghats Development Programme, etc.