CENTRE PLANS INDEX TO RANK STATES ON EASE OF DOING AGRI-BUSINESS

NEW DELHI: The government on Tuesday told the Lok Sabha that it planned to introduce an index that will rank states on the ease of doing agri-business, as part of its focus on the sector. This is the first time an index, essentially a ranking, is being launched, that is based on processes that farmers have to negotiate. Minister of state for agriculture Parshottam Rupala confirmed that the index will be launched soon. “The government has been reorienting the agriculture sector by focusing on an income-centredness which goes beyond achieving merely the targeted production. The income approach focuses on achieving high productivity, reduced cost of cultivation and remunerative price on the produce, with a view to earn higher profits from farming,” the minister said.

A concept note containing parameters for developing an index has been circulated to all states and Union Territories. The concept is to treat “farming not solely as a production-oriented activity carried out to achieve food security for the country, but as a business activity carried out by the farmer as an entrepreneur”.

Aadhaar data won’t help identify dead bodies: UIDAI

NEW DELHI: The Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) on Tuesday informed the Delhi high court on Tuesday that it was not feasible for them to use the Aadhaar biometrics for identification of dead bodies and also it is a violation of the Aadhaar Act. A bench of Chief Justice Rajendra Menon and Justice V Kameswar Rao was told that the SC, in the Aadhaar judgment delivered last year, had stated that biometrics can be used only for specific purposes that have been mentioned in the Act.

Rail line in Jharkhand to open after 18 months

NEW DELHI: Eighteen months after railway closed 41-km-long Chanderpura-dhanbad stretch due to the raging fire in India’s biggest coalfields in Jharkhand’s Jharia district, the section will be opened for passenger trains saving about an hour for passengers travelling through Jharkhand. Railway board has given approval to resume operation on this section following safety inspection. Annually, train operations have accounted for the movement of 12 million tons of freight and 10 million passengers in the Chanderpura-dhanbad section.

Denied mobile phone, Class 2 student kills self in Bengal

MIDNAPORE: A Class 2 student in West Bengal’s Burdwan district hanged himself after his parents took away a mobile phone he used to play games, police said. The body of Bobby Paswan (9) was found hanging at his house in the Mukundapur Colliery area under the Andal police station early on Sunday.

Church issues guidelines to check sexual abuse

KOCHI: A body of catholic bishops in Kerala has come out with guidelines to protect minors and vulnerable adults in church-run institutions from any form of sexual exploitation or abuse and proposed action against the accused. In a 16-page document, the Kerala Catholic Bishops’ Council emphasised that there should be zero tolerance towards sexual assault or harassment, asserting that such incidents should be reported to both the church and civil authorities.

J&K militants’ rehabilitation policy under review: Kumar

JAMMU : The surrender-cum-rehabilitation