IT rules finalized after due discussion, PMI to HRC

Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik has announced a special scheme to provide financial support to the orphans.The scheme named as "Aashirbad", is meant to offer financial support to the orphan children, who have lost both their parents, or either of the earning parents or the single parent. Under the scheme, different slabs of financial support, the maximum being Rs. 2500 per month, have been envisioned for such children in distress who been orphaned on or after the 1st of April 2020.

-Permanent Mission of India to the United Nations and other International Organizations in Geneva has responded the concerns raised by Special Procedures Branch of the Human Rights Council regarding India’s new IT Rules. In a letter, the Permanent Mission clarified that the IT rules finalized after due discussion with various stakeholders. It informed that the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology and Ministry of Information and Broadcasting undertook broad consultations in 2018 with various stakeholders, to prepare the draft Rules. An inter-ministerial meeting had discussed in detail the comments received in detail and the Rules were finalized accordingly. The Permanent Mission of India highlighted that India's democratic credentials are well recognized. It said the right to freedom of speech and expression is guaranteed under the Indian Constitution and independent judiciary and robust media are part of India's democratic structure.

-Employees' Provident Fund Organization (EPFO) has added around 12.76 lakh net subscribers during April this year. Despite the second wave of COVID-19 pandemic, the month registered an increase of 13.73 percent net subscribers addition as compared to the previous month during which around 11.22 lakh net subscribers were added to the payroll.The recently published provisional payroll data of EPFO  reflects that the number of exits in the month of April, 2021 have declined by over 87 thousand and rejoining has increased by over 92 thousand subscribers as compared to March.Of the 12.76 lakh net subscribers added during April, around 6.89 lakh new members have come into the social security coverage of EPFO for the first time.Around 5.86 lakh net subscribers exited and then rejoined by changing their jobs within the establishments covered by EPFO and choose to retain membership through transfer of funds rather than opting for final settlement.

-In Jammu and Kashmir, as the spread of COVID-infection has shown considerable declining trend, the authorities on unday passed orders to permit a few more activities in eight districts of the Union Territory.These eight districts are Jammu, Samba, Kathua, Reasi and Udhampur in Jammu Division and Shopian, Ganderbal and Bandipora in Kashmir valley.There will be no weekend curfew in these districts. However, daily night curfew will continue to exist from 8 pm to 7 am. All outdoor shops and trades are permitted to open on all days, only from 7 am till 7 pm.The market associations will have to fully cooperate with the local administration in ensuring strict compliance to the COVID appropriate behaviour 50 per cent of the Shops in the indoor shopping complexes / Malls can open subject to a roster to be issued by concerned Deputy Commissioners. All Government and private offices can function without any restrictions subject to strict adherence to Covid appropriate behavior.

-Government has announced establishment of five Divyangta Khel Kendras in different parts of country.Social Justice and Empowerment Minister Thaawarchand Gehlot has said the decision has been taken looking at the interest towards the sports among the Divyangjan and their good performance in Paralympics.He said, one such facility will be opened in Ahmedabad. Gehlot was virtually addressing the Samajik Adhikarita Shivir for distribution of aids and assistive devices to Divyangjan in Jamnagar.The Minister informed that the central government has released 8.06 crore rupees fund to Gujarat under Scholarship program benefitting 2808 beneficiaries. He said, 709 Railway stations, 10,175 Bus Stations and 683 websites have been covered under Sugamya Bharat Abhiyan.He added that work on the National Mental Health Rehabilitation Center in Sehore, Madhya Pradesh, has been started by CPWD.