The Hindu : National : Steps for continuity in space, atomic energy policies

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Friday, Oct 12, 2007
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Steps for continuity in space, atomic energy policies

P. Sunderarajan

Chiefs of two top departments likely to get extension in service

NEW DELHI: Union Minister and Cabinet spokesperson Priyaranjan Dasmunsi said on Thursday said the government wanted to ensure effective implementation of plans and programmes of vital national importance in space application and atomic energy.

Toward this objective, the Cabinet has approved a proposal to extend the services of Chairman, Space Commission, who is also the -Secretary, Department of Space; and Chairman, Atomic Energy Commission, who is also the Secretary, Department of Atomic Energy. Their retirement age would be extended to 66 years, if needed in the public interest.

Chaired by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, the Cabinet meeting also cleared a package of incentives for scientists and engineers in the two departments to overcome the problem of high attrition rates.

The professional update allowance for them would be increased. It would be now Rs.10,000 per year for scientists and engineers in the pay scales of Rs.7,450-Rs.11,500 to Rs. 12,000-Rs.16,500; Rs.20,000 per year for those in the payscales of Rs.14,300-Rs.18,300 to Rs.18,400-Rs.22,400; and Rs.30,000 per year for those in the payscales of Rs.18,400-Rs.22,400 with a special pay of Rs.2,000 to Rs. 24,050-Rs.26,000 with a special pay of Rs. 2,600.

Two increments would be given to scientists on promotion to the payscale of Rs.18,400-Rs. 22,400 to remove pay anomaly. Awards for excellence would be instituted. The stock of housing for scientists and engineers would be increased.

The Cabinet also cleared a proposal to amend the air service agreements with Denmark, Norway and Sweden to provide for greater trade, investment, tourism and cultural exchanges with these countries.

A major highlight of the amendments would be that the designated airlines of the three countries as also India would now be able to decide the fares based on commercial considerations. They would be able to operate code share flights, including third country code share.

The amendments would also remove a section in the agreement that required advance agreements between the designated airlines about their operational details and bring aviation security and safety standards as per the model standard clauses applicable in India.

The Cabinet also approved a budgetary support of Rs.63.2 crore to 12 Central public sector enterprises for liquidating their outstanding statutory dues, salary and wages up to June end. The enterprises are the HMT Limited, the HMT (Watches) Limited, the HMT (CW) Limited, the Hindustan Photo Films Limited, the Tunghabadra Steel Products Limited, the NEPA Limited, the Bharat Wagon Engineering Company Limited, the Hindustan Cables Limited, the Andrew Yule and Company Limited, the Instrumentation Limited, the National Instruments Limited and the Triveni Structurals Limited.

It also approved a package for winding up the Bharat Yantra Nigam Limited, Allahabad, which is the holding company for the Tunghabadra Steel Products Limited, the Triveni Structurals Limited, the Richardson and Cruddas Limited, the Bharat Heavy Plate and Vessels Limited, the Bharat Pumps and Compressors Limited, and the Bridge and Roof Company Limited.

Loan waiver

The package consists of waiver of government loan of Rs.1.1 crore, waiver of interests accrued on the loan, writing down of the share capital of the BYNL to the tune of Rs.2.31 crore, voluntary retirement scheme for the employees, and transfer of its liabilities and assets among the subsidiaries and transfer of shares held by it in its subsidiaries to the government.

Further, the Cabinet cleared the signing of an extradition treaty with Australia, gave ex-post facto approval for the agreement signed last month with Bulgaria for promotion and protection of investments and gave its nod for an agreement with Poland in the field of health and medicine.

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