Spotlight on aam aadmi, again
The UPA’s last budget is expected to have overwhelming schemes for the agriculture and social sectors and would be about Rs 2,40,000 crore. With this, the government expects to keep fiscal deficit within 3 per cent limit as prescribed by Fiscal Responsibility and Budget Management Act.
The social sector ministries like HRD, Women and Child Development and Ministry of Health and Family Welfare is expected to get a hike ranging from 10 to 23 per cent but allocation of departments like that of Atomic Energy may be reduced by 2-3 per cent.
While the rural sector is likely to be the emphasis of Finance Minister P. Chidambaram’s last budget this time, the agenda would clearly be the 2009 polls, budget experts said. Government flagship programmes like Sarva Siksha Abhiyan, National Rural Employment Guarantee Programme, Bharat Nirman, Rural Health Mission and Jawaharlal Nehru Urban Renewal Mission would get additional funds for the next financial year, officials said.
Government sources said the Finance minister may announce a scholarship scheme for students, especially for those from the weaker sections, an agriculture loan waiver scheme, additional financial incentives for BPL families and women and children.
Some relief for income tax payers can also be expected. The government is also expected to allocate money for implementation of the Sixth Pay Commission recommendations likely to be submitted to the government in the first week of April.
Already, the Planning Commission has allocated funds for implementation of the Pay Commission recommendations in the state governments’ annual plan.
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“Partition is one of the deepest wounds in our life,” say octogenarians
Thane: They have seen the journey of free India, encompassing its lows and highs over the years. On India's 75th Independence Day, two octogenarians, a man and a woman, who hails from Sindh, now in Pakistan, revisit the partition story. They were merely seven to eight years old, when India was divided and tell us how they lost their childhood, the trauma they face from the event, and gradually being accepted as Indians.
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Allahabad HC lawyers take out Tiranga Yatra
Tiranga Yatra of Allahabad High Court Bar Association organised to mark the 75th Independence Day was flagged off by the Chief Justice of Allahabad High Court along with some other judges on Sunday. On the occasion, Chief Justice Rajesh Bindal along with Justice Manoj Kumar Gupta, Justice Piyush Agarwal and Justice Manju Rani Chauhan handed over the national flag to the bar association.
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BJP won't think of allying with Nitish Kumar in future: RK Singh
Union minister Raj Kumar Singh on Sunday asserted that Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar has burnt his bridges with the BJP and any attempts at a realignment in the future will be met with opposition. "Will other regional leaders like Mamata and KCR accept his leadership? His party is number three in Bihar and unlikely to win even 10 seats in the 243-strong assembly on its own," Singh said here.
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Pune police increase wait time at signals to decongest traffic
To decongest and monitor traffic jams, the Pune traffic police department has now extended signal waiting time for commuters at main chowks in the city. The waiting time which was 90 to 120 seconds has now increased to 150 to 180 seconds. On some roads, the ongoing work of Pune Metro project is leading to traffic jams, whereas due to potholes commuters are already facing difficulties.
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Rainfall likely in Pune till August 16
As per India Meteorological Department, there are chances of rainfall in the state, including Pune, till August 16. Head of the weather forecasting department at IMD Pune, Anupam Kashyapi, said that monsoon is likely to remain active over Maharashtra for the next few days as well. More depressions this year in Arabian Sea For the first time since 1891, Arabian sea saw depression, both in July and August this year.
