Nov/21/2011

SEWA to provide solar lanterns and energy-efficient stoves to its members

International Finance Corporation (IFC), a member of the World Bank Group, is helping India’s Self Employed Women’s Association (SEWA) provide energy-efficient cook stoves and solar lanterns to more than 200,000 of its members in Rajasthan and Gujarat over the next three years.

IFC will guarantee a loan from local banks to SEWA members by signing a memorandum of understanding with SEWA. The project is subject to regulatory approvals. It is in line with IFC’s clean-growth strategy and will also help to reduce greenhouse-gas emissions. It will also serve to demonstrate a self-sustaining business model that could also be introduced in other parts of Asia and in Africa.

“This is one of the world’s largest clean-energy projects aimed at the $5 trillion market of consumers, distributors, and entrepreneurs that forms the base of the economic pyramid,” said IFC, CEO Lars Thunell. “By expanding the availability of energy-efficient cook stoves and lanterns, we can help low-income households increase savings and cut expenses for firewood, kerosene and electricity.”

SEWA, a trade union registered in 1972, is an organisation of poor, self-employed women workers. These are women who earn a living through their own labour or small businesses. Unlike workers in the organized sector, they do not obtain regular salaried employment with welfare benefits. SEWA’s main goals are to organize women workers for full employment and self reliance. SEWA organizes women to ensure that every family obtains full employment.

“This project, called Hariyali, is in continuation of our long-standing with IFC. Hariyali will provide green livelihoods to poor rural women members. SEWA’s self-employed women work in the informal sector, spend 35 per cent of their income on fuel, and walk long distances for firewood spending precious time unproductively. Often our members suffer from forced starvation. There was dire need for an alternative energy initiative,” said SEWA Director Reema Nanavaty. SEWA’s membership of 1.3 million women comes from across nine States of India.

The project is expected to generate carbon credits by reducing greenhouse-gas emissions. The credits, which will be shared among SEWA members, will also help generate income for them

U.P. Assembly passes resolution to split state into four parts

Amidst din, the Uttar Pradesh Assembly on Monday passed a controversial resolution on splitting the state into four parts by voice vote minutes after which the lower house was adjourned sine die.

Chief Minister Mayawati, who had announced the proposal recently to split the state into Purvanchal, Paschim Pradesh, Bundelkhand and Awadh Pradesh, presented the resolution saying that it was being forwarded to the Centre.

As soon as the proposal was passed by voice vote amidst noisy scenes, Speaker Rajbhar adjourned the House sine-die.

The Opposition, which wanted to bring no confidence motion against the state government, criticised the move to pass the resolution by voice vote and then adjourning the Assembly.

Alleging that BSP government ignored Baba Saheb’s (Bhim Rao Ambedkar) Constitution and adjourned the House sine-die, Leader of Opposition Shivpal Singh Yadav told reporters that “The government should have discussed the no-confidence motion and go for voting“. He also accused the Speaker of acting as a BSP member.

About state’s reorganisation, SP said that people of the state were against splitting the state.

CLP leader Pramod Tiwari said his party favoured constitution of state reorganisation commission before taking the decision to split the state so that resources division and other issues could be considered.

In the House of 403, BSP had 220 members (after six of its members have been disqualified recently), SP had 89, BJP 48, Cong 20, RLD 10, independent 9, RSP one.

Earlier, the Winter Session of the Uttar Pradesh Assembly started on a stormy noted with BJP members jumping into the well of the House while SP members started slogan shouting against the government and waved placards.

Parliamentary Affairs Minister Lalji Verma said the BSP government had full majority in the House but opposition members did pay heed to him.

Amidst din, Speaker Sukhdeo Rajbhar adjourned the question hour till 12.20 pm.

When the House met again, in the presence of Ms. Mayawati, who was not present during question hour, the SP and BJP members jumped into the well demanding discussion on no-confidence motion.

Amidst din, hurling of paper balls on the Speaker and alert marshalls trying to catch them, vote on account for the first four months of 201213 was passed by the House.

Tiwari alleged that BSP government acted against democracy and SP and BJP had helped the party in the job.

“Both SP and BJP jumped into the well. No confidence motion could not be brought from the well. They should have stood in their place for discussion on the motion”, Tiwari said.

Terming proposal of division of state as mere “election stunt”, BJP Leader Om Prakash Singh said that Centre should not accept the proposal.

Advocating for a reorganisation commission, Mr. Singh said that as UP’s proposal was passed without discussion and debate it should not be accepted at any cost.

Rastriya Lok Dal (RLD) leader Kokab Hamid said the state government was not serious about splitting the state and the way the proposal was passed showed the same.

SP and BJP will be meeting Governor BL Joshi later in the day to register their protest against the BSP government.

In a bid to outsmart rivals ahead of the Assembly elections, Mayawati had last week announced her plans to bring a resolution in the House for carving out four new states.

The Chief Minister, who had earlier written a letter for reorganisation of the state to the Prime Minister maintaining that it was not in the jurisdiction of the state, had said that the decision has been taken after proper consideration to mount pressure on the Centre.

This demand is also in keeping with the aspirations and ambitions of these regions, she had claimed.

Ms. Mayawati’s move is seen as an attempt by her to cash in on the sentiments in favour of small states in the western and eastern regions and the Bundelkhand area of the state during the Assembly elections.

Bar Council, 50, gearing for jubilee

BCI will urge government to revoke old laws and simplify existing legislation

The Bar Council of India (BCI) will celebrate its golden jubilee in a fitting manner in Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Chennai and other State capitals over a year beginning December.

The BCI was formed in 1961 as a regulatory body for the legal profession governed by the Indian Advocates Act. It has powers to enquire into professional misconduct and initiate disciplinary action against erring members. It has control over the State Bar Councils also.

When the silver jubilee was celebrated in 1986, the total number of advocates in the country was around three lakh. However, in the last 25 years, with the BCI streamlining legal education, there has been a tremendous growth, particularly after it took the initiative to establish law schools in various States. Now, there are about 13 lakh advocates and the BCI is controlling and regulating over 900 colleges imparting three and five-year law courses.

Celebrations panel

For the historic occasion, BCI Chairman Ashok K. Parija has constituted a golden jubilee ceremony committee comprising members Satish Abarao Deshmukh, S. Prabakaran and T.S. Ajith, representing Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu and Kerala respectively.

Mr. Prabakaran, who will be the chairman of the committee, toldThe Hinduthat the celebrations would commence next month with the inaugural event in New Delhi, followed by functions in Mumbai, Kolkata and Chennai, where there are chartered High Courts, each with great historical significance. Similar functions would be held in other State capitals and other places where High Courts and High Court Benches are functioning. Seminar, lectures and special moot court competitions for law students would be held.

Asked about other plans, he said the BCI would request the Union government to repeal all old laws and simplify the existing ones for the benefit of the common man. The Law Commission recommendations in this regard must be accepted.

No compromise on autonomy

The BCI would not allow its autonomy to be eroded and would request the government that the HRD Ministry proposal to have control over the legal profession be dropped. It would also request the judiciary to ensure more transparency in judicial appointments.