|
Year End Review
Ministry of Home Affairs
1. Repeal of POTA
Parliament has passed the Prevention of Terrorism (Repeal) Bill, 2004. Alongside, the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Amendment Bill, 2004 has also been passed, incorporating provisions for dealing with various facets of terrorism.
2. Situation in Jammu & Kashmir
Overall security scenario has improved significantly. The lower level of violence has resulted in revival of tourism giving a major boost to the economy. The Kashmir valley saw the arrival of about 2.7 lakh tourists upto September 2004, the highest so far in 15 years of turmoil in the State. Amarnath Yatra went incident free and a record number of 400,000 pilgrims had darshan this year at Sri Amarnathji Shrine. With improvement in the security scenario, Government has decided to reduce troops in Jammu & Kashmir.
3. Restoration of normalcy in Manipur
The law & order situation in Manipur witnessed deterioration due to the alleged rape and killing of a PLA activist by Assam Rifles on 11th July, 2004. The situation was continuously reviewed by Government of India and adequate timely help was provided to the State Government to restore normalcy. The situation is now under control. A Unified Headquarter has been set up in Manipur for coordinated operations by security forces against militant outfits. A five member Committee headed by Justice Jeevan Reddy, a former judge of the Supreme Court has been set up to review the provisions of the Armed Forces(Special Powers) Act, 1958.
4. Ceasefire/suspension of operations in the North East.
The existing ceasefire between the Government of India and the NSCN(I/M) has been extended upto 31st July, 2005. Top NSCN(I/M) leaders have arrived in India for further talks.
The existing ceasefire with one faction of the United People’s Democratic Solidarity(UPDS) led by Shri Horensing Bey, General Secretary has been extended upto 31.07.2005.
The existing ceasefire with the Dima Halam Daogah (DHD), a militant outfit in Assam has been extended upto 31.12.2004.
The existing ceasefire with a faction of the National Liberation Front of Twipra (Nayanbasi Group) has been extended upto 31st December, 2004.
An agreement for suspension of operations between security forces and Achik National Volunteer Council (ANVC), a militant outfit in Meghalaya, has been entered into and is valid upto 22.01.2005.
5. Naxalism
Chief Ministers’ Conference on Naxalism was held at Hyderabad on 21.9.2004. It was inter alia decided to pursue a coordinated approach and conduct a peace dialogue to strengthen peace and reduce reliance of naxal groups on armed struggle, accelerate development activities in naxal areas and sustained & effective police action wherever required. A Task Force on Naxalism was constituted in the MHA on October 7, 2004, under the Chairmanship of Special Secretary to deliberate upon the entire gamut of steps needed to deal with the naxalite situation. During its first meeting held on November 9, 2004, the Task force took some important decisions including prompt and regular exchange of information/actionable intelligence, regular interaction among nodal officers of the naxal affected States and neutralizing funding channels available to naxalite outfits.
6. Law on Communal Violence
The Home Ministry is working at a fast pace on formulating a draft law on communal violence. An approach paper has been finalized. The proposed law is expected to focus on the procedure of investigation and trial of the crimes related to communal violence, relief and rehabilitation measures and mechanism for speedy control of law and order in the affected areas.
7. Disaster Management
Norms for CRF and NCCF have been amended enhancing the quantum of assistance for relief employment and cattle care. Norms have also been amended to provide agricultural input subsidy to farmers other than small and marginal farmers. Earlier, this subsidy was admissible only in the case of small and marginal farmers.
8. National Integration Council
It has been decided to reconstitute the National Integration Council. A notification in this regard is expected to be issued shortly.
9. Classical Languages
A notification creating a new category of ‘Classical Languages’ and declaring Tamil as a ‘classical language’ has been issued.
10. Promotion of Hindi
A software for learning Hindi through Kannada, Malayalam, Tamil and Telugu has been launched. The learner can learn free of cost and online Prabodh, Praveen and Pragya courses which are available on the website of the Department of Official Language.
11.Reconstitution of Kendriya Hindi Samiti
Kendriya Hindi Samiti has been reconstituted under the chairmanship of the Prime Minister. The Committee brings about coordination in the work and programmes relating to the development and propagation and progressive use of Hindi for official purposes being implemented by various Ministries/Departments of the Government of India.
12.Liberalisation of Visa Policy for Pak Nationals.
Government liberalized visa regime for the following categories of Pak nationals on 17.09.2004:
Accredited Journalists
Academicians and Professors
Medical Doctors accompanying patients for treatment at
leading/reputed hospitals in India.
Individuals invited to participate in seminars and cultural and literary functions.
These categories of persons are to be issued Multiple Entry Visa without prior reference and may also be exempted from police reporting. Heads of Mission have been empowered to use their discretion to grant permission to visit up to 12 places as against the existing 3 places to the above categories of Pak nationals.
All Pakistan nationals above the age of 65 are exempted from Police Reporting.
13.Visa Facilitation Centre for Foreigners
A new visa facilitation centre was made operational on 4.10.2004 at Jaiselmer House for providing better environment and facilities to foreigners seeking services related to visa.
14. Modernisation of Immigration Checkposts
Delhi Airport modernization has been carried out by replacing dumb terminals which do not have any memory and storage capacity with intelligent PCs at the immigration counters and by upgrading the servers in August, 2004. Modernization of Cochin Airport has also been completed. Twelve Passport Reading Machines (PRMs) have been installed at Delhi Airport for faster immigration clearance. Modernization of Cochin Airport has also been completed
State Emblem
The State Emblem of India (Prohibition of Improper Use) Bill has been introduced in Parliament. This is a self-contained legislation regulating the use of the State Emblem.
|
