Cabinet approves amendment to Lokpal and Lokayukta Bill

The Union Cabinet on Wednesday approved amendments to Section 44 and consequential amendments of the Lokpal and Lokayuktas Act, 2013 by introducing the Lokpal and Lokayuktas (Amendment) Bill, 2016 in Parliament.

“The approved amendments will address concerns and apprehensions expressed by different categories of public servants and addresses the difficulties being faced in implementing the provision of section 44 of the Lokpal and Lokayuktas Act, 2013. The amendments are in line with one of the recommendations of the Standing Committee,” stated an official release issued post the Cabinet briefing.

The Cabinet also okayed amendments to the Maternity Benefit Act, 1961 by introducing the Maternity Benefit (Amendment) Bill, 2016 in Parliament.

The maternity benefit Act 1961 protects the employment of women during the time of her maternity and entitles her of a ‘maternity benefit’.

The government said that the move will benefit 1.8 million women workforce in the organised sector.

The Cabinet also gave its approval for financial support to BHEL for a research and development project for the development of Advanced Ultra Super Critical Technology for thermal power plants.

“The project will enable Indian industries to design, manufacture and commission higher efficiency coal fired power plants with indigenously developed technology and manufacturing processes.

This will be the first time large power plant equipment will be manufactured with advanced technologies, but without any Technological Collaboration/ Licensing Agreement with foreign companies,” stated a release said.

It also approved the introduction of pension and post-retirement medical schemes as part of superannuation benefits for the employees of Food Corporation of India (FCI) as per guidelines of Department of Public Enterprises (DPE).

The financial implication of this would be about ₹134.4 crore at present level of salaries of the employees, a press release stated.

The Cabinet, which was chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, also gave its approval for transfer of land belonging to the Indian Institute of Soil & Water Conservation (IISWC) Research Centre at Chandigarh to the Haryana Urban Development Authority (HUDA) for construction of 60 meters Peripheral Master Road in Mansa Devi Complex (MDC),

It also granted its nod for the signing and ratification of an economic cooperation agreement between India and Croatia. This was done because the previous such agreement expired in November 2009.

A MoU between India and South Africa for cooperation in the field of tourism was also approved by the Cabinet. It was signed on July 8.