Nearly Rs 7995 crore electoral bonds sold till Nov 30

Social Justice and Empowerment Minister Dr. Virendra Kumar on Monday launched a National Helpline Against Atrocities in New Delhi. The Helpline is now available round the clock on toll-free number 14566 across the country. The service is available in Hindi, English, and regional language of the State and Union Territories. It will ensure proper implementation of the Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989. It can be accessed by making a voice call either from a mobile or landline number of any Telecom Operator across the country. The Prevention of Atrocities Act was enacted with a prime objective view of preventing atrocities on members of Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes. The objective of the helpline is to build informed awareness about the provisions of the Law that are aimed at ending discrimination and providing protection to all. 

-The government has said nearly 7995 crore rupees electoral bonds have sold till  November 30 in 18 phases since its launch on 2nd January 2018. In a written reply in Lok Sabha, the Minister of State for Finance Pankaj Chaudhary  on Monday said the State Bank of India has been authorized to issue and encash the electoral bonds under the Electoral Bank Scheme, 2018. He said around 7975 crore rupees electoral bonds have been redeemed so far. The Minister said the Electoral Bond Scheme is, in fact, an unprecedented step towards cleansing the process of funding political parties and a major improvement over conventional practice of funding the political system through donations in cash. Mr. Chaudhary said the purchaser is allowed to buy electoral bonds only on due fulfillment of all the extant instructions regarding KYC norms issued by RBI and by making payment from a bank account.

-Minister of State for Health Dr. Bharati Pawar has said that more than 81 thousand Health and Wellness Centres have been operationalized in the country so far. Chairing the Universal Health Coverage Day, 2021 ceremony in New Delhi, Dr. Pawar said, one lakh ten thousand Health and Wellness Centres will be completed by end of March next year. She said, building a resilient healthcare system forms the foundation of the Prime Minister’s vision of Atmanirbhar Bharat. The Minister said, Sabka Saath, Sabka Vishwas, and Sabka Prayas have helped in fighting the Covid pandemic. She also expressed her gratitude and appreciation to all the healthcare workers for their exemplary work during the challenging times of the COVID pandemic.

-The Government has paid a total amount of Rs1.39 lakh crore as interest till 2020-21, on the Oil bonds. Replying to a question in the Rajya Sabha, Petroleum and Natural Gas Minister Hardeep Singh Puri said, between 2005 and 2010, over Rs 1.48 lakh crore worth Oil bonds were issued. On these bonds, he said, over 80 thousand crore rupees were paid towards interest by the Government between 2013 and 2021.   Puri said, total payout on the oil bonds is likely to be Rs  3.20 lakh crore which include principal amount of 1.48 crore and an interest amount of Rs  1.71 lakh crore..

-Enforcement Directorate has provisionally attached immovable and movable assets worth over Rs eight crore belonging to Ex-legislature Ateeq Ahmad and his wife in a money laundering case. The asset consists of land property in Jhunsi, Phulpur in Prayagraj and balances in bank accounts. The agency had initiated money-laundering investigation on the basis of several FIRs filed at various Police stations against Ateeq Ahmad and others for criminal offences related to murder, extortion, cheating, forgery and land grabbing. During investigation under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act, it is revealed that Ateeq Ahmad through the criminal activities earned money in cash and deposited it in his and his relative's bank accounts. It has also been noticed that funds are being credited in their accounts from various firms and companies being run by his aides. The agency said, it has also been revealed during investigation that these funds have been further utilized for the acquisition of land property in the name of his wife.