The Government will shortly launch a skill development program -Pravasi Kaushal Vikas Yojana - targeted at Indian youth seeking employment overseas. Prime Minister Narendra Modi said this in his keynote address after inaugurating the main convention of the Pravasi Bhartiya Divas celebrations along with his Portuguese counterpart Dr Antonio Costa in Bengaluru. Mr Modi said, the government's effort is to provide maximum facilitation and ensure least inconvenience to the workers who seek economic opportunities abroad.
"Yeh Pravasi Kaushal Vikas Yojna, Bharat se bahar jane wale log ek value added awastha mein jaye, jiske karan ek naya vishwaas paida ho, is disha mein hum pryaas kar rahein hai aur isse mujhe lagta hai gareeb tapke ke log, jo chhote chhote kaam karne ke liye ja rahe hai, unko zyada laabh hoga. Our motto is "Surkashit jaye, prashikshit jaye, vishwas ke saath jaye."
The Prime Minister said, the government wants to turn brain drain into brain gain and the support of NRIs is very important in it. He said, NRIs and Persons of Indian Origin have made outstanding contributions to their chosen fields. Mr Modi said, remittance of close to 69 billion dollars annually by overseas Indians makes an invaluable contribution to the Indian economy. Mr Modi also thanked NRIs for supporting the government's move against black money and corruption.
The Prime Minister said, the government wants to turn brain drain into brain gain and the support of NRIs is very important in it. He said, NRIs and Persons of Indian Origin have made outstanding contributions to their chosen fields. Mr Modi said, remittance of close to 69 billion dollars annually by overseas Indians makes an invaluable contribution to the Indian economy. Mr Modi also thanked NRIs for supporting the government's move against black money and corruption.
"Humne bhrashtachaar ke khilaaf, kaale dhan ke khilaaf, corruption aur black money ke khilaaf ek bhaut bada beeda uthaya hai. Corruption aur kaale dhan ko smaapt karne mein bharat sarkar ki neetiyon ko jo samarthan Pravasi Bharityon ne diya hai uske liye main aapka abhinandan karta hun, aapka dhanyawaad karta hun."
The Prime Minister urged the overseas Indian community to convert their Persons of Indian Origin cards to Overseas Citizens of India cards by 30th June this year.
On the last day of the event tomorrow, President Pranab Mukherjee will confer the Pravasi Bhartiya Samman and address the valedictory ceremony.
On the last day of the event tomorrow, President Pranab Mukherjee will confer the Pravasi Bhartiya Samman and address the valedictory ceremony.
After the inauguration of the convention a Chief Minister's session took place where Chief Ministers of Assam, Chhattisgarh, Karnataka, Maharashtra and Puducherry shared their thoughts on various aspects including investment and trade. They urged the NRIs to invest their states.
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Amidst no sign of reconciliation in Samajwadi Party, party patriarch Mulayam Singh Yadav today asserted that he is still the party's National President. Talking to reporters in New Delhi, Mr. Yadav said the National Convention called by Ramgopal Yadav on 1st of this month, where Akhilesh Yadav was made Party chief, was illegal. He said Ramgopal Yadav was expelled from the party on 30th of December and he had no right to call a convention.
Mr Mulyam Singh also said, Akhilesh Yadav is the Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh and Shivpal Yadav is the state President. Mulayam Singh alongwith Shivpal Yadav arrived in National Capital today and is expected to meet Election Commission tomorrow to stake claim over party's cycle symbol. Our correspondent reports that Mulayam Singh also visited party headquarters in Lucknow raising hopes among the workers that all will be well in the party soon.
"Party workers were once again filled with hope earlier today when Mulayam Singh had made a visit to the party HQs at Lucknow and said to them that everything will be alright soon. When Mulayam reached Delhi, he again gave hints of reconciliation saying that Akhilesh is his son and there is no controversy. But now the vertical spit seems inevitable as the swords have come out between rival groups of SP and all hopes seem to have evaporated giving a gloomy look on the faces of followers of the party. On the other side, the Akhilesh camp is also not ready to budge from its stand and bent upon to go into polls only with Akhilesh in the supreme command. Merajuddin, AIR News, Lucknow."
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In Uttar Pradesh, BSP Chief Mayawati today released the fourth and final list of 101 candidates for the Assembly seats in the upcoming elections of the state. The party has now declared 401 nominees out of 403 seats, as only two more names are to be announced. Mayawati fielded 12 more Muslim candidates this time to ensure Dalit-Muslim consolidation in a bid to wrest power from Samajwadi Party which is already in turmoil.
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The Urban Development Ministry has approached the Election Commission seeking its approval to continue the advertisement campaign under the Swachh Bharat Mission in view of Model Code of Conduct in five poll bound states. In a letter to the Commission, Joint Secretary in the Ministry and Mission Director, Praveen Prakash has requested for a No-Objection Certificate to carry on the advertisements which aim for a clean India by October 2019. The Ministry has been running various communication campaigns under the mission in all the States on television, radio, print media and outdoor media.
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The News Services Division of All India Radio in its weekly bilingual live phone-in programme “PUBLIC SPEAK” tomorrow will bring you a discussion on “PAANCH RAJYON MEIN CHUNAV AUR MATDATAON KI JAGRUKTA”. This can be heard on FM Gold Channel and additional frequencies from 9.30 p.m. Listeners can ask their questions to the experts sitting in the Studio on Toll Free Telephone No: 1800-115767 (Repeat 1800-115767). You can also ask questions on telephone number: 011: 2331-4444 (Repeat 011: 2331-4444) and post queries on our Twitter handle @airnews alerts by #tag Askair. This programme will also be available on Doordarshan DTH.
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Hitting out at the Congress for opposing demonetisation, Finance Minister Arun Jaitley today said Party Vice President Rahul Gandhi was looking for ways to disrupt Parliament. In a Facebook post, Mr Jaitley said there was a marked difference in the approach of the Prime Minister and his opponents. He said, Prime Minister Narendra Modi is being futuristic to create a technology-driven cleaner economy whereas the Congress has adopted a political position, opposing technology, change and reforms.
Mr. Jaitley said, the period of pain and inconveniences is getting over and the economic activity is being restored. He said, demonetisation is obviously disruptive as are all reforms as they change the retrograde status quo.
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The Government has asked banks to obtain the Permanent Account Number, PAN, or Form-60, in case of nonavailability of the PAN, from all bank account holders by February end this year. The Central Board of Direct Taxes issued a notification in this regard today and informed about amendment in Income Tax rules. However, this rule will not apply to Basic Savings Bank Deposit Accounts, which are zero balance savings accounts, including Jandhan accounts. It further said that the banks and post offices had also been mandated to submit information in respect of cash deposits from 1st April to 8th November 2016 in accounts where the cash deposits during the demonetisation period exceeds the specified limits.
Last month, the RBI had mandated that no withdrawal shall be allowed from the accounts having substantial credit balance or deposits if PAN or Form No.60 is not provided in respect of such accounts.
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The General Anti-Avoidance Rule, GAAR, will kick in from the 1st of April this year, said the Central Board for Direct Taxes today. GAAR was part of the 2012-13 Budget speech of the then Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee to check tax evasion and avoidance. During the 2015 Budget presentation, Finance Minister Arun Jaitley announced that its implementation will be delayed by 2 years.
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Petrol pumps across the country will not receive payments on HDFC and Axis Banks' card swipe machines from midnight tonight. These banks are reportedly charging one percent transaction fee on payments at petrol pumps. President of All-India Petroleum Dealers' Association Ajay Bansal told AIR that they have received notices from these banks in this regard and they will not be able to operate their machines from midnight tonight. Mr. Bansal said petrol pump dealers are not in a position to pay the extra charges as their margins are already less. He said the association has urged the Centre to sort out the issue as it want to help the government in the digital and cashless drive.
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Union Agriculture Minister Radhamohan Singh today said besides farmers, poor and middle class people have been largely benefited by demonatisation. After inaugurating the first Digi-Dhan Mela of Bihar in Patna today Mr. Singh said housing has now become affordable and interest rates have been slashed due to demonitisation. Our correspondent reports that a large number of people benefited during Digi-Dhan Mela.
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Union Minister for Urban Development and Information Broadcasting M. Venkaiah Naidu has said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi's vision is to transform the country as an economic super power by eliminating poverty. He said peoples' participation is important in attaining the PM's vision. Mr Naidu said social organisations should take the responsibility in improving the living conditions of the poor. The Minister along with Supreme Court Judge, Justice J. Chalameswar inaugurated Muppavarapu Knowledge Centre at SBT-Atkur in Krishna district of Andhra Pradesh.
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Prime Minister Narendra Modi will be on a two-day visit of Gujarat from tomorrow to inaugurate the 8th edition of 'Vibrant Gujarat Global Summit' and a slew of other initiatives. Ahead of the opening of the four-day 'Vibrant Summit' on January 10 at Mahatma Mandir in Gandhinagar,Mr Modi will inaugurate four different projects tomorrow.
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In Iraq, at least 11 people were killed and dozens injured after a suicide bomber blew up a car at the entrance of Baghdad's main Jamila vegetable market today. Interior Ministry spokesman said, a soldier at the gate of the market opened fire on the suspect vehicle but the terrorist blew up his car. No body has claimed responsibility for the attack.
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Roberto Bautista Agut captured his fifth ATP singles title defeating Danill Medvedev 6-3, 6-4 in the final of the Chennai Open today. Agut remained solid from the baseline while Medvedev paid the price for little mistakes against a superior opponent, who kept the strokes under control.
The Indian pair of Rohan Bopanna and Jeevan Nedunchezhiyan captured men's doubles title defeating India's Divij Sharan and Purav Raja 6-3, 6-4. Bopanna and Jeevan won the first set 6-3. Raja-Sharan fought back in the second set but failed in turning games in their favour.
