The Hindu : Front Page : Rs. 29.81-cr. package for Bhagalpur victims

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Friday, Jun 13, 2008
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Rs. 29.81-cr. package for Bhagalpur victims

Special Correspondent

Cabinet approves Rs. 678-crore scheme for preparation of Indian team for 2010 Commonwealth games

10 centres of the Sports Authority of India to be upgraded to international standards
Rs. 234.3 crore scheme for development of information system on water resources

NEW DELHI: The Union Cabinet on Thursday cleared a Rs. 29.81-crore relief and rehabilitation package for the victims of the communal riots which broke out in Bhagalpur, Bihar in October 1989.

This brings the payment of ex gratia to the victims on a par with the package announced earlier for the victims of the anti-Sikh riots of 1984.

Announcing the decision, Finance Minister and Cabinet spokesperson P. Chidambaram said that in respect of those killed, the next of kin would be paid an ex gratia at Rs. 3.5 lakh a victim. Each of the injured would get Rs. 1.25 lakh.

In the case of the dead, the ex gratia would be in addition to the amount paid by the State government, while in the case of the injured, the sum paid by the State government would be deducted. In all, 844 people were killed and 22 injured.

The Cabinet also gave its nod for a memorandum of agreement between the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy and Canada’s National Institute of Renewal Energy at the University of Saskatchewan and approved the signing of an agreement with Syria for avoidance of double taxation and prevention of fiscal evasion in relation to taxes on income.

The Cabinet’s Committee on Economic Affairs approved a Rs. 678-crore scheme for the preparation of the Indian team for the 2010 Commonwealth games, to be held in Delhi, to maximise India’s medal tally.

Steps would be taken to institutionalise a system for preparation of elite sportspersons for prestigious international competitive events, including qualifying championships for major international events, provide state-of-the-art training to them and develop a system of selection of sportspersons based on performance monitoring.

Specifically, the scheme would involve upgrading 10 centres of the Sports Authority of India to international standards in terms of training facilities, and procurement of sport science and medical equipment for SAI Centres to provide state-of-the-art sport science back-up and medical facilities for the sportspersons.

Comprehensive and intensive training and exposure would be provided both within and outside the country for 305 days a year to 1,286 medal probables.

The scheme would be implemented over three years. Of the total amount, Rs. 375 crore would be spent on training and exposure, Rs. 85 crore for upgrading the SAI centres and Rs. 218 crore for providing sport science back-up and medical facilities.

The CCEA also cleared a Rs. 234.3-crore scheme for development of an information system on the water resources of the country with a view to ensuring its better management and faster resolution of water disputes. All information, barring the sensitive and classified, would be placed in the public domain. The scheme would be fully operational by 2011-end.

Victims hail package

K. Balchand writes from Patna:

Survivors of those killed in the Bhagalpur riots in 1989 on Thursday welcomed the UPA government’s decision to grant compensation to them and those injured in the frenzy. “What we lost was irreparable but the compensation will help us tide over our problem to some extent. We’ll never get back our kin but at least we’ll be in a position to survive in a better way.”

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