Apr 22, 2022 | Business
The Department of Food and Public Distribution (DFPD) received the prestigious Prime Minister’s Award for Excellence in Public Administration, 2020 for its scheme ‘One Nation One Ration Card’ (ONORC). Hon. Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi conferred the Prime Minister’s Awards for Excellence in Public Administration on the occasion of 15th Civil Services Day in New Delhi on 21.04.2022. The award was presented under the category Innovation (General)-Central.
The landmark plan of ONORC is a countrywide innovation that allows all NFSA beneficiaries, particularly migrant beneficiaries, to claim either full or part foodgrains from any Fair Price Shop (FPS) of choice in the country through existing ration card with biometric/Aadhaar authentication in a seamless manner. The system also allows their family members back home, if any, to claim the balance of foodgrains on same the ration card.
(Secretary Sudhanshu Pandey (2nd from left), Joint Secretary S. Jagannathan (centre), and other officials of the Department of Food and Public Distribution, with the PM Award Trophy and Scroll- 2020.)
The Department is also collaborating with other Ministries/Departments i.e. National Health Authority (NHA), Ministry of Housing and Urban Development (MoHUA), Ministry of Labour and Employment (MoLE), and Department of Agriculture and Farmer Welfare (DoAFW), etc. to leverage the large volume of the ONORC database for deepening the outreach of citizen-centric government schemes across the country.
The ONORC which was started initially in 4 States in August 2019 was swiftly rolled out in a very short span of time in 32 States/UTs by December 2020. Since then, progressively in a phase-wise manner, the ONROC plan is presently enabled in 35 States/UTs up to Feb 2022 seamlessly covering nearly 77 Crore beneficiaries (almost 96.8% of NFSA population) in the country.
ONORC has made food subsidies portable to NFSA beneficiaries during the COVID-19 pandemic, particularly migrants, which allowed them to avail the benefit of subsidised foodgrains with flexibility from any of the nearly 5 lakh Fair Price Shops in the country during the lockdown period. Since the inception of the ONORC plan in August 2019, so far more than 65 Crore portability transactions have been recorded in the States/UTs, delivering nearly 121 LMT foodgrains through both inter-State and intra-State portability transactions equivalent to about Rs. 36,000 Crore in food subsidy. As a key indicator, presently a monthly average of about 2.7 Crore portability transactions (including regular NFSA and PM-GKAY foodgrain transactions) are being recorded in the States/UTs under ONORC. A high volume of about 58 Crore portability transactions has been done by the beneficiaries during the COVID-19 period (from April 2020 till date).
A specially customized Android Mobile App on ONORC is also available in 13 languages and has been downloaded nearly 20 lakh times. Besides, a 5-digit ‘14445’ toll-free number for migrant NFSA beneficiaries is also available in most States/UTs under ONORC.
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Apr 1, 2022 | International
On March 30, 2022, the Vice Chief of Defence Staff, Lieutenant-General Frances Allen, and Acting Judge Advocate General, Colonel Robin Holman, provided an update on military justice reform efforts underway at the Department of National Defence (DND) and Canadian Armed Forces (CAF).
March 31, 2022 – Ottawa, Ontario – Department of National Defence
On March 30, 2022, the Vice Chief of Defence Staff, Lieutenant-General Frances Allen, and Acting Judge Advocate General, Colonel Robin Holman, provided an update on military justice reform efforts underway at the Department of National Defence (DND) and Canadian Armed Forces (CAF).
This builds on the culture change briefing that Chief, Professional Conduct and Culture (CPCC), Lieutenant-General Jennie Carignan, and the Acting Chief of Military Personnel (CMP), Major-General Lise Bourgon provided last week, and the supports to survivors briefing that was provided in December by Lt.-Gen. Carignan and Dr. Denise Preston, Executive Director of the Sexual Misconduct Response Centre.
These briefings are in line with the Government’s ongoing commitment to providing regular updates to Canadians on the efforts underway to address conduct and culture change. The Pathways to Progress web tracker outlines key efforts planned or underway in the near term to effect conduct and culture change.
During the update, the DND and the CAF confirmed that the approvals necessary to begin the implementation roll-out of critical Bill C-77 components, which will be known as Victims’ Rights and Summary Hearing Implementation, were received last week. Steps towards implementation for June 20, 2022 were outlined. The regulations and policies developed to support the implementation and operationalization of the Declaration of Victims’ Rights were heavily informed by the many consultations undertaken with members of It’s Not Just 20K (previously known as It’s Not Just 700), the Ontario Office for Victims of Crimes, and current and former individual Defence Team members.
Also highlighted was the stand-up of the External Comprehensive Reviews Implementation Committee (ECRIC) to effectively coordinate and oversee the complex work required to implement many varied and often overlapping recommendations received from independent reviews, studies and reports.
Col. Holman provided an update on the work underway to implement the interim recommendations made in October 2021 by the former Justice Louise Arbour. The final report of the independent review led by Madame Arbour is expected this spring. Col. Holman also highlighted work on a number of other initiatives in progress to support military justice reform.
At last week’s update, Lt.-Gen. Carignan highlighted the conclusion of the Conduct and Culture Consultation, which included 279 sessions, totalling over 435 hours, and attracted nearly 9,000 participants. These consultations have helped to define the culture needed as a healthy and respectful workplace where everyone is treated with dignity and respect. Lt.-Gen. Carignan also confirmed that a report will be shared in the coming months on what was heard during the consultation process and it will be key in how DND and the CAF develop a culture change strategy.
Lt.-Gen. Carignan also spoke to initiatives underway to promote diversity and inclusion in the Defence Team, particularly inclusive leadership and performance measurement. She confirmed that work is underway to incorporate inclusiveness into performance-management processes for all military members and public service employees in 2022-2023.
Maj.-Gen. Bourgon highlighted multiple initiatives within the CMP and Military Personnel Command having a positive impact on the lives of military members and the overall DND workplace, including: changes to education and training, recruitment efforts, retention, gender inclusive ranks, and the integration of inclusiveness into general/flag officer selection processes. More information on these initiatives can be found here: Spotlight on culture change initiatives for military personnel – Canada.ca
The DND and the CAF are committed to ensuring positive and enduring cultural change. This is critical to supporting Defence Team members and to achieving operational success in support of Canada and Canadians.
“I am deeply committed to leading meaningful progress, and I know that up and down the ranks of our institution, there are people stepping up to lead deep and transformational culture change. Together, we are working to create an institutional culture that enables every member of our team to reach their full potential in an environment where they feel safe, protected, and respected.”
The Honourable Anita Anand, Minister of National Defence
“By making substantive, fundamental changes to the military’s culture and its justice system — and by doing it right — we will build the foundation necessary to succeed in creating a new and more positive space for our people.”
Lieutenant-General Frances Allen, Vice Chief of the Defence Staff
Daniel Minden
Press Secretary
Office of the Minister of National Defence
Phone: 613-996-3100
Daniel.Minden@forces.gc.ca
Media Relations
Department of National Defence
Phone: 613-996-2353
Toll-Free: 1-866-377-0811
Email: mlo-blm@forces.gc.ca
Mar 24, 2022 | Business
As per the existing instructions, pensioners/family pensioners residing in an area not covered by CGHS have the option to avail Fixed Medical Allowance (FMA) of Rs. 1000/- per month in lieu of OPD facility under CGHS. The pensioners/family pensioners can change the option from FMA to OPD facility under CGHS or vice versa once during their life time. Department of Pension & Pensioners’ Welfare, Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions, GoI, has now issued instructions laying down the procedure and time-line for change of option by the pensioners/family pensioners for availing OPD facility under CGHS or Fixed Medical Allowance.
As per these instructions, if a pensioner/family pensioner in receipt of FMA, intends to avail the OPD facility under CGHS, he/she may apply to the concerned pension disbursing bank for discontinuation of FMA. The pension disbursing bank shall discontinue the payment of FMA and issue a certificate to this effect within three working days from the date of receipt of application. Thereafter, the pensioner can apply to the concerned CGHS authorities for issue of CGHS card after paying requisite CGHS contributions, if not already paid and the CGHS authorities will, issue a provisional CGHS card to the pensioner/family pensioner within four working days from the date of completion of all formalities and deposit of contributions by the pensioner/family pensioner, till issue of a regular CGHS Card.
If a pensioner/family pensioner, who is availing CGHS/medical facility for both IPD and OPD, intends to avail FMA while residing in a non-CGHS area or on shifting of residence from a CGHS area to a non-CGHS area, he can apply to the CGHS authorities for surrender of OPD facility under CGHS. The CGHS authorities will make necessary endorsement on the CGHS card and issue a certificate within four working days from the date of receipt of application, that the pensioner/family pensioner is not availing OPD facility. Thereafter, the pensioner/family pensioner can submit an application to the Head of Office along with a copy of the surrender certificate for issue of a revised pension payment authority for payment of FMA. The revised Pension Payment Authority will be issued within two months from the date of submission of application by the pensioner/family pensioner. The payment of FMA in such cases will be made from the date of issue of the surrender certificate by the CGHS authorities.
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