Category Archives: News
GDP growth slows to 7.7 pc in April-June qtr of 11-12
India’s economy grew by just 7.7 pc in the first quarter of the 2011-12 financial year, compared to 8.8 pc growth in the same three-month period last fiscal, which was mainly due to the poor performance of the manufacturing sector.
The government has projected overall economic growth in the current fiscal at around 8.5 percent, while the Reserve Bank has projected the growth to moderate to 8 percent from 8.5 percent in FY’11.
In the latest data released by the government on Tuesday, GDP growth for the April-June quarter of the 2010-11 fiscal has also been revised downward to 8.8 percent from the earlier provisional estimate of 9.3 percent.
During the quarter ending 30th June 2011, growth in the manufacturing sector dipped to 7.2 percent from 10.6 percent in the corresponding period of 2010-11.
In addition, the mining and quarrying sector grew by just 1.8 percent during the quarter under review, as against 7.4 percent growth in the first quarter of the previous fiscal.
However, farm output showed an improvement, expanding by 3.9 percent during the quarter under review, compared to 2.4 percent in the corresponding three-month period last fiscal.
Furthermore, the trade, hotels, transport and communications segments grew by 12.8 percent in the quarter under review, up from 12.1 percent in the year-ago period.
The services sector, including insurance and real estate, grew by 9.1 percent in the June quarter this year, compared to 9.8 percent expansion in the corresponding period last year.
The Planning Commission has estimated GDP growth at 8-8.3 percent in the 2011-12 financial year.
The Indian economy expanded by 8.5 percent in the 2010-11 fiscal.
Govt & hospital to frame scheme for free treatment to poor: SC
Private hospitals getting subsidised land cannot run away from its responsibility to give free treatment to economically weaker section of society, the Supreme Court said today while asking them to work out a mechanism with Delhi govt for ensuring this.
A bench comprising Justices R V Raveendran and A K Patnaik pulled up some of the hospitals for not giving free treatment to the poor.
“Why are you not doing so. Why did you agree to terms and conditions of lease agreement for taking land. If you cannot do so then pay the market value of the land to the government. We know how much money you make,” the bench said.
It asked the hospitals to sit with government authorities to sort out the issue and work out a scheme to treat the poor patients 25 percent outdoor and 10 percent indoor free of cost.
In the meantime, the court said that patients from government hospitals be referred to such private hospitals which would provide free treatment.
The court was hearing a bunch of petitions filed by ten hospitals challenging a Delhi high court order directing them to provide free treatment to the poor.
The state government told the court that out of 37 such hospitals 27 are giving treatment to poor patients.
Hazare sets three conditions to end fast
Anti-corruption activist Anna Hazare, who is on a hunger strike for the tenth day on Thursday, has set three conditions to the government in order to end his fast.
The 74-year-old Gandhian wants the government to begin discussion on Lokpal from Friday in the Parliament, including the issue of inclusion of lower bureaucracy.
“I can consider ending my fast, if there is consensus on three issues we have raised,” Hazare informed the gathering in Ramlila Maidan on Thursday.
Hazare’s three demands to the Prime Minister includes, citizen’s charter, Lokayuktas in all States with Lokpal powers and inclusion of lowest to highest bureaucracy under the ambit of the Bill.
“If there is agreement on all these three issues then I can consider ending my fast but not protest,” he said.
Amid continuing deadlock between government and Team Anna Hazare on Lokpal, the Gandhian on Thursday wrote to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on the issue.
“Anna has written a letter to the Prime Minister and a response is awaited. Once Anna gets the reply, he will brief you,” activist Manish Sisodia told Hazare’s supporters.
However, the contents of Hazare’s letter were not disclosed by Sisodia. The letter was sent through senior Maharashtrian leader and Union Minister Vilasrao Deshmukh, who met the Gandhian who is on his tenth day of his fast.
Following Singh’s speech, Lok Sabha on Thursday unanimously appealed to Hazare to end his hunger strike as his life was “much too precious”.
The Prime Minister had on 23rd August reached out to him with an appeal for ending fast and a promise that his Jan Lokpal Bill could be considered by Parliament along with the government draft.
Need to collectively find credible solution to corruption: PM
PM asks Hazare to adopt more rational approach on Lokpal
Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh has asked ex Chief Justice of India JS Verma to use his good offices to urge Anna Hazare and his supporters to adopt a more rational approach with regard to his demand for a strong Lokpal.
Singh said that nothing should be done to undermine Parliamentary democracy. This came in the wake of the deadlock between Team Anna and the government over the Lok Pal issue.
Responding to a letter from former Chief Justice J S Verma, Singh asserted that it is only after “due deliberation” that a law can be passed that not only meets the aspirations of the people but is also “practical and effective”.
Virtually rejecting the August 30 deadline set by Hazare for passage of the Jan Lokpal Bill, he said, “It is the bounden duty of Parliament to pass a law only after its members have had reasonable time and opportunity to hear a wide range of public opinions and apply their minds to its various provisions.”
