Government considering a fine of Rs. 20,000 for smoking in public places

The Central Government is giving serious thoughts about imposing fines ranging from Rs. 200 to Rs. 20,000 for smoking in public places.

The government has decided to impose strict laws to curb the menace of smoking, which causes deadly diseases like cancer and heart attack. The proposal is likely to be presented during the winter sessions of the Parliament. An expert committee, chaired by the former Chief Secretary of Delhi administration, Ramesh Chandra, was formed in this regard. The committee has submitted its report and recommendations to the Ministry of health and sanitation last week.

The recommendations presented by the Committee include –
 

Breaking the cigarette packs and sale of one or two cigarettes should be banned.

The minimum age of smokers must be raised from 18 to 25.

Smoking in public places must be declared as criminal offence and violators must be made to pay penalty of Rs. 200 to Rs. 20,000.

Penalty amount for manufacturers who do not print the statutory warning message on the packets must be raised from Rs. 5000 to Rs. 50,000.

Advertisements of tobacco products must be prohibited at the place of sale.

It was found that nearly 70% of the cigarettes sold at retail outlets are from broken packets. Smokers, instead of buying the entire packet, purchase one or two cigarettes from the shops.

There is a general feeling that the Government must pay similar attention to the alcohol problem too.

Source: Govtenews

Gazette Notification regarding minimum pension of Rs.1000/- pm under EPS,1995

Gazette Notification regarding minimum pension of Rs.1000/- pm under EPS,1995

REGD. NO. D. L.-33004/99

The Gazette of India
EXTRAORDINARY
PART II—Section 3—Sub-section (i)
PUBLISHED BY AUTHORITY

No. 429] NEW DELHI, TUESDAY AUGUST 19, 2014/SRAVANA 28, 1936

MINISTRY OF LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT

NOTIFICATION

New Delhi, the 19th August, 2014.

G.S.R. 593 (E).—In exercise of powers conferred by section 6A, read with Sub-section(1) of Section7 of the Employees’ Provident Funds and Miscellaneous Provisions Act, 1952 (19 of 1952), the Central Government hereby makes the following Scheme, further to amend the Employees’ Provident Funds Scheme, 1995, namely:-

1.
(1) This Scheme may be called the Employees’ Pension (Second Amendment) Scheme, 2014.

(2) It shall come into force on and from the 1st day of September, 2014.

2. In the Employees’ Pension Scheme, 1995(hereinafter referred to as the principal Scheme), in paragraph 12, after sub-paragraph (7), the following sub-paragraph shall be inserted, namely:-
“(7A) The monthly member’s pension including any relief payable to any existing or future member under this paragraph shall not be less than one thousand rupees for the financial year 2014-15.”.

3. In the principal Scheme in paragraph 15, for the words, brackets and figures “sub-paragraphs (2) to (5) of paragraph 12, as the case may be,”, the word and figures “paragraph 12” shall be substituted.

4. In the principal Scheme, in paragraph 16,-
(a) in sub-paragraph (2), in clause (a), after sub-clause (iv), the following sub-clause shall be inserted, namely:-
“(v) in all the cases, where the monthly widow pension including relief, if any, is less than one thousand rupees per month, the amount of monthly widow pension in such cases shall be enhanced to one thousand rupees per month for the financial year 2014-2015.”;
(b) in sub-paragraph (3), for clause (b), the following clause shall be substituted, namely:-

“(b) Monthly children pension for each child shall be equal to 25 per cent of the amount admissible to the widow of the deceased member as monthly widow pension payable under clause (a) of sub-paragraph (2):
Provided that the minimum monthly children pension including relief, if any, for each child of the deceased member shall not be less than two hundred and fifty rupees per month for the financial year 2014-2015.”;
(c) in sub-paragraph (4), for clause (a), the following clause shall be substituted, namely:-

“(a) if the deceased member is not survived by any widow, but is survived by children falling within the definition of family or if the widow pension is not payable, the children shall be entitled to a monthly orphan pension equal to 75 per cent of the amount of the monthly widow pension as payable under clause (a) of sub-paragraph (2):

Provided that the minimum monthly orphan pension including relief, if any, for each orphan shall not be less than seven hundred and fifty rupees per month for the financial year 2014-15.”.

[F. No. R-15025/3/2007.SS-II/Pt.II]

ARUN KUMAR SINHA,Addl. Secy.

Foot Note.- The Employees’ Pension Scheme, 1995 was published in the Gazette of India vide notification number G.S.R. 748(E), dated the 16th November, 1995 and was lastly amended vide notification number G.S.R. 80(E), dated the 14th February, 2013.

Source: http://www.labour.nic.in/upload/uploadfiles/files/latest_update/what_new/5400645038fa3MinimumPensionofRs.1000.pdf

Demand for one-rank one-pension to be considered: Rajnath Singh

Demand for one-rank one-pension to be considered: Rajnath Singh

BHUJ: The demand for granting one-rank one-pension to paramilitary personnel would be considered, Home Minister Rajnath Singh said today.

The Home Minister’s assurance came during an interaction with jawans of Border Security Force during a visit to the frontier district of Kutch along the India-Pakistan border.

Singh also inaugurated the integration of a Gujarat government project – Bhaskaracharya Institute for Space Applications and Geo informatics (BISAG) – with the BSF.

The Home Minister was briefed about the details and utility of BISAG and need for dedicated, encrypted channel for paramilitary forces.

Singh also addressed some BSF jawans live through BISAG and interacted with them. Some of the jawans telephonically made requests regarding increase of air courier services in the Northeastern region and Jammu and Kashmir and regarding time-bound promotions.

Yesterday, the Home Minister visited BSF Mooring place (Satish) Koteshwar where he was briefed about issues concerning border areas, creek and coastal security.

Source: http://economictimes.indiatimes.com