◇ It recommends guidelines for the minimum standards of relief to be provided to persons affected by disaster. ◇ It recommends, in cases of disasters of severe magnitude, relief in repayment of loans or grant of fresh loans on concessional terms to the persons affected by such disasters. ◇ It exercises the general superintendence, direction and control of the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF). This force has been constituted for the purpose of specialist response to a threatening disaster situation or disaster. ◇ It authorises the concerned department or authority to make the emergency procurement of provisions or materials for rescue or relief in any threatening disaster situation or disaster. In such case, the standard procedure requiring inviting of tenders is deemed to be waived. 5.3K09:59 PM◇ It prepares an annual report on its activities and submits it to the central government. The centralgovernment causes it to be laid before both Houses of Parliament
STATE DISASTER MANAGEMENT AUTHORITY
◇ Every state government should establish a State Disaster Management Authority (SDMA) for the state. An SDMA consists of a chairperson and other members, m not exceeding nine. ◇ The Chief Minister of the state is the ex-officio chairperson of the SDMA. The chairperson of theState Executive Committee is the ex-officio member of the SDMA. ◇ The other members, not exceeding eight, are nominated by the chairperson of the SDMA. Thechairperson of the SDMA designates one of the members as the vice-chairperson of the SDMA. ◇ The chairperson of the State Executive Committee acts as the m ex-officio chief executive officer of the SDMA
STATE DISASTER MANAGEMENT AUTHORITY
◇ To lay down the state disaster management policy. ◇ To approve the State Plan in accordance with the guidelines laid down by the NDMA. ◇ To approve the disaster management plans prepared by the departments of the government of the state.◇ To lay down guidelines to be followed by the departments of the government of the state for thepurposes of integration of measures for prevention of disasters and mitigation in their developmentplans and projects and provide necessary technical assistance thereof. ◇ To coordinate the implementation of the State Plan. ◇ To recommend provision of funds for mitigation and preparedness measures. ◇ To review the development plans of the different departments of the state and ensure thatprevention and mitigation measures are integrated therein. 5.2K07:19 PM◇ To review the measures being taken for mitigation, capacity building and preparedness by thedepartments of the government of the state and issue such guidelines as may be necessary.
CO-OPERATIVE SOCIETIES
◇ The 97th Constitutional Amendment Act of 2011 gave a constitutional status andprotection to co-operative societies. ◇ In this context, it made the following three changes in the constitution: • It made the right to form co-operative societies a fundamental right (Article191). • It included a new Directive Principle of State Policy on promotion of co-operative societies (Article 43 B2). • It added a new Part IX-B in the onstitution which is entitled “The Co-operative Societies
NUMBER AND TERM OF MEMBERS OF BOARD AND ITS OFFICE BEARERS
◇The board shall consist of such number of directors as may be provided by the state legislature. But, the maximum number of directors of a cooperative society shall not exceed twenty-one. ◇The state legislature shall provide for the reservation of one seat for the Scheduled Castes or the Scheduled Tribes and two seats for women on the board of every co-operative society having members from such a category of persons. ◇The term of office of elected members of the board and its office bearers shall be five years from the date of election. ◇The state legislature shall make provisions for co-option of persons having experience in the field of banking, management, finance or specialization in any other related field, as members of the board. But, the number of such co-opted members shall not exceed two (in addition to twenty-one directors).4.8K07:49 PM◇The functional directors of a co-operative society shall also be the members of the board and such members shall be excluded for the purpose of counting the total number of directors (that is, twenty-one.
OFFICIAL LANGUAGE
◇ Part XVII of the Constitution deals with the official language in Articles 343 to 351. ◇ Its provisions are divided into four heads :- • Language of the Union, • Regional languages, • Language of the judiciary and • texts of laws and Special directives
REGIONAL LANGUAGES
◇For the time being, the official language of the Union (i.e., English) would remain the link language forcommunications between the Union and the states or between various states. ◇ But, two or more states are free to agree to use Hindi (instead of English) for communication between themselves. Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh and Bihar are some of the states that have entered into such agreements. ◇The Official Languages Act (1963) lays down that English should be used for purposes of communication between the Union and the non-Hindi states (that is, the states that have not adopted Hindi as their official language). Further, where Hindi is used for communication between a Hindiand a non-Hindi state, such communication in Hindi should be accompanied by an English translation.
PROTECTION OF LINGUISTIC MINORITIES
Constitution makes the following provisions: ◇ Every aggrieved person has the right to submit a representation for the redress of any grievance to any officer or authority of the Union or a state in any of the languages used in the Union or in the state, as the case may be. This means that a representation cannot be rejected on the ground that it is not in the official language. ◇ Every state and a local authority in the state should provide adequate facilities for instruction in the mother-tongue at the primary stage of education to children belonging to linguistic minority groups. The president can issue necessary directions for this purpose. ◇ The president should appoint a special officer for linguistic minorities to investigate all matters relating to the constitutional safeguards for linguistic minorities and to report to him. The president should place all such reports before the Parliament and send to the state government concerned.
ORGANISATION
◇ The CVC has its own Secretariat, Chief Technical Examiners’ Wing (CTE) and a wing of Commissioners for Departmental Inquiries (CDIs). ◇ Secretariat: The Secretariat consists of a Secretary, Joint Secretaries, Deputy Secretaries, Under Secretaries and office staff. ◇ Chief Technical Examiners’ Wing: The Chief Technical Examiners’ Organization constitutes the technical wing of the CVC. It consists of Chief Engineers (designated as Chief Technical Examiners) and supportingengineering staff. The main functions assigned to this organization are as follows: (i) Technical audit of construction works of Government organizations from a vigilance angle (ii) Investigation of specific cases of complaints relating to construction works 3.8K08:28 PM(iii) Extension of assistance to CBI in their investigations involving technical matters and for evaluationof properties in Delhi. (iv) Tendering of advice/ assistance to the CVC and Chief Vigilance Officers in vigilance cases involving technical matters. ◇ Commissioners for Departmental Inquiries: The CDIs function as Inquiry Officers to conduct oral inquiries in departmental proceedings initiated against public servants.
LANGUAGE OF THE JUDICIARY AND TEXTS OF LAWS
The constitutional provisions dealing with the language of the courts and legislation are as follows: ◇ Until Parliament provides otherwise, the following are to be in the English language only: (a) All proceedings in the Supreme Court and in every high court. (b) The authoritative texts of all bills, acts, ordinances, orders, rules, regulations and bye-laws at the Central and state levels. ◇ However, the governor of a state, with the previous consent of the president, can authorize the use of Hindi or any other official language of the state, in the proceedings in the high court of the state, but not with respect to the judgements, decrees and orders passed by it. In other words, the judgements, decrees and orders of the high court must continue to be in English only (until Parliament otherwise provides).5.4K08:30 PM◇ Similarly, a state legislature can prescribe the use of any language (other than English) with respect tobills, acts, ordinances, orders, rules, regulations or bye-laws, but a translation of the same in the Englishlanguage is to be published. • The Official Languages Act of 1963 lays down that Hindi translation ofacts, ordinances, orders, regulations and byelaws published under the authority of the president aredeemed to be authoritative texts. Further, every bill introduced in the Parliament is to be accompanied.by a Hindi translation. Similarly, there is to be a Hindi translation of state acts or ordinances in certain cases.