The Tamil Nadu Cabinet has recently decided to revert to Indirect Elections to the posts of Mayors of Corporations and chairpersons of municipalities and town panchayats.
74th Constitutional Amendment Act created 3 offices in Urban Local Bodies Viz
Town Panchayat for a transitional area between a rural and urban area
Municipalities for a small urban area
Municipal Corporations for a large urban area
The members to these offices are elected directly by the people.
The state legislature may provide for the manner of election of the chairpersons of these three offices.
It is also having powers to provide a representation of the members – MLAs/MPs, persons having special knowledge in Municipal administration, Chairperson of the committees.
The State Election Commission is vested with the power to conduct elections to these offices.
Pradhan Mantri Kisan Maan-Dhan Yojana (PM-KMY)
It is a new central sector scheme.
Under this Scheme, a minimum fixed pension of Rs.3,000/- is provided to the eligible small and marginal farmers, on attaining the age of 60 years.
It is a voluntary and contributory pension scheme, with entry age of 18 to 40 years.
The beneficiary is required to make a monthly contribution of between Rs.55/- to Rs.200/- to the Pension Fund, depending on the age of entry into the Scheme.
Central Government will contribute equally to the beneficiary’s contribution.
The pension fund is managed by the Life Insurance Corporation of India (LIC).
The beneficiary may exit from the scheme voluntarily or on failure of contribution or on demise.
On exit, the beneficiary will receive his/her accumulated share and the Government’s contribution will be deposited in the LIC Fund.
After the subscriber’s death, the spouse or heir shall be entitled to receive 50% of the pension as family pension, provided he/she is not already an SMF beneficiary of the Scheme.
On the death of the subscriber during the period of contribution, the spouse shall have the option of continuing the Scheme by paying regular contribution.
It aims to cover around 3 crores Small and Marginal Farmers.
Jallianwala Bagh Trust Bill
Jallianwala Bagh National Memorial (Amendment) Bill, 2019 has been passed by the Parliament recently.
The Jallianwala Bagh National Memorial trust was first set up by then Congress President Motilal Nehru in 1920.
In accordance with the amendment, the trust will no longer have the congress president as a member.
The leader of the opposition in the Lok Sabha or the leader of the single largest opposition party in case there is no Leader of opposition will be a member.
It also amends that a nominated trustee may be terminated before the expiry of the period of five years by the Central Government.
Jansankhya Sthirtha Kosh
Jansankhya Sthirtha Kosh (National Population Stabilization Fund) is an autonomous body under Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.
It implements the Prerna scheme, Santushi Scheme and National Helpline for providing information on family planning.
Prerna Scheme is for delaying marriage, childbirth and spacing.
It recognizes and awards couples who have broken the stereotype of early marriage, early childbirth and repeated child birth.
In order to become eligible for award under the scheme, the girl should have been married after 19 years of age and given birth to the first child after at least 2 years of marriage.
The couple will get additional award if birth of the 2nd child takes place after at least 3 years of the birth of 1st child and either parent voluntarily accept permanent method of family planning within one year of the birth of the 2nd child.
The amount of award is given in the form of National Saving Certificate (NSC).
It is meant only for BPL families.
Santushti Scheme invites private sector gynaecologists and vasectomy surgeons to conduct sterilization operations in Public Private Partnership mode.
According to this Scheme, an accredited private Nursing Home/ Hospital can sign a tripartite MOU between the State Health Society as 1st party, accredited private health facility as 2nd party and JSK as the third party.
Upon signing the MOU the private hospitals/nursing homes shall be entitled to incentive by JSK whenever it conducts 10 or more Tubectomy/Vasectomy cases in a month.
The accreditation is done by the district and approved by the State Health Society.
Indira Gandhi Peace Prize
The Indira Gandhi Prize for Peace, Disarmament and Development for 2019 will be conferred on renowned naturalist and broadcaster Sir David Attenborough.
It is the prestigious award accorded annually by Indira Gandhi Memorial Trust.
Individuals or organisations in recognition of efforts towards promoting international peace, development and a new international economic order, scientific discoveries used for the larger good of humanity and enlarging the scope of freedom will be awarded.
