The Hindu : New Delhi News : Delhi Cabinet approves food for poor scheme

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Wednesday, Feb 13, 2008
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Delhi Cabinet approves food for poor scheme

Staff Reporter

Setting up of SEZ and special courts for trial of economic offences also approved

Cabinet has also recommended summoning of the Budget Session from March 17
The development of these SEZs would be considered on uncultivated, barren land

NEW DELHI: “Aap ki Rasoi”, a one-time-a-day food scheme for the poor, has been approved by the Delhi Cabinet as part of its “Bhagidari” initiative.

At a meeting chaired by Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit, the Cabinet also approved a policy for establishment of knowledge-based Special Economic Zones and gave its nod for setting up of ten Common Special Courts exclusively for trial of economic offences. Apart from this, the Cabinet has also recommended summoning of the Budget Session of the Assembly from March 17 to April 4.

Addressing the media following the meeting, Ms. Dikshit said that to remove hunger and thirst from Delhi it had been decided to provide at least one nutritious meal to the poor, who would include street children, destitute children and beggars, during lunch hours from 12 p.m. to 3 p.m.

Under the programme, the Government would make available its night shelters and “rain baseras” to individuals, organisations and non-government organisations who would bring cooked food and ensure distribution to deserving persons. For this ambitious initiative, Ms. Dikshit said the Government would soon invite applications for this purpose.

The Chief Minister said the Cabinet had also approved a policy for establishment of knowledge based, pollution-free, IT-enabled services Special Economic Zones. In this, she said, proposals would be received from specific sectors such as electronic hardware and software including information technology enabled services, Nano technology, bio-technology, gems and jewellery, non-conventional energy including solar energy, handicraft, fashion and garments (without dying) and higher technical educational institutes for providing world-class manpower.

The development of these SEZs would be considered on uncultivated and barren land in Narela, Dwarka, Baprola, Najafgarh, Bakarwala and Ghoga, she said, adding that the proposals must conform to the prescribed land use in the Master Plan of Delhi.

Stating that the IT-enabled services SEZ would not require environment clearance, she said, the Delhi Government would provide basic amenities such as sufficient water and power for the units. With this, she hoped that Delhi would become a knowledge-hub and knowledge capital of South Asia. “The Union Government would be approached for issue of necessary notification in this regard,” she added. The Chief Minister also announced that ten Common Special Courts, meant exclusively for trial of economic offences relating to custom and central excise, would be set up in Delhi.

Different categories

Being set up under the directive of the Union Ministry of Finance, these courts will handle cases relating to the Customs, Central excise, income tax and sales tax. For this, she said, 101 posts in different categories have been sanctioned. The new posts would entail an annual financial implication of Rs.1.6 crore.

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