NEW INITIATIVES BY IR DURING 2014-15
- Meghalaya got its first rail connectivity with the completion of the new Dubhnoi- Mendipathar line in August 2014. A new route from Mendipathar in Meghalaya to Guwahati in Assam, got connected by rail in November, 2014.
- The Rail Coach Factory, Rae Bareli is presently functioning completely on solar power. A 30 kw solar plant has been commissioned, on the roof top of Rail Bhawan at New Delhi and provision of solar plants at other Railway buildings is being expedited , preferably under the public-private partnership (PPP) model.
- Bengaluru and New Delhi Railway Stations have been provided Wi-Fi broadband facilities An MoU and an Action Plan have been signed between the Government of India and People’s Republic of China, for enhancing technical cooperation in the railway sector.
RECENT INITIATIVES TO BOOST INDUSTRIAL GROWTH
- Make in India: The Make in India programme is aimed to facilitate investment, foster innovation, enhance skill development, protect intellectual property, and build best-in-class manufacturing infrastructure. Information on twenty-five sectors has been provided on a web portal along with details of FDI policy, National Manufacturing Policy, intellectual property rights, and the Delhi-Mumbai Industrial Corridor and other National Industrial Corridors. An Investor Facilitation Cell has been created in ‘Invest India’ to guide, assist, and handhold investors.
- E-Biz Project: Under the project a Government to Business (G2B) portal is being set up to serve as a one-stop shop for delivery of services to the investors and address the needs of the business and industry from inception through the entire life cycle of the business. The process of applying for industrial licence (IL) and industrial entrepreneur memorandum (IEM) has been made online and this service is now available to entrepreneur on 24×7 basis at the E-Biz website. Other services of the central government are being integrated on top priority.
- Skill development: After the setting up of a new Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship to promote skill and entrepreneurial activities, work is being undertaken on setting up common norms for skill training across central ministries/ departments. Thirty- one industry/employer-led Sector Skill Councils (SSCs) are now operational and these have been aligned with the twenty-five sectors of ‘Make in India’. To create a common standard for skills training and certification in the country efforts are on to align the National Council for Vocational Training (NCVT), school boards, and the University Grants Commission (UGC).
- Labour- sector reforms: A Shram Suvidha portal has been launched for online registration of units, filing of self-certified, simplified, single online return by units, introduction of a transparent labour inspection scheme via computerized system as per risk-based criteria, uploading of inspection reports within seventy-two hours and timely redressal of grievances. A Universal Account Number has been launched facilitating portable, hassle- free and universally accessible Provident Fund accounts for employees. The Apprentices Act, 1961 has been amended so as to make it flexible and attractive to youth and industry and an Apprentice Protsahan Yojana to support micro small and medium enterprises (MSME) in the manufacturing sector in engaging apprentices has been launched.
