Govt May Take Ordinance Route For Coal, Insurance Reforms

According to media reports, the Union Cabinet may take the ordinance route to implement reforms the insurance and coal sectors. The government could not table these Bills in the Rajya Sabha due to the uproar that opposition created on the issue of ‘ghar wapasi.’

Minister of State for Finance Jayant Sinha also hinted in this regard. “We need the skills and the expertise that foreign insurance companies provide. So we have to really think through the different alternatives. We need to ensure that the product and services (related to insurance) are available to all the people of India… We will have to consider all possibilities right now because the fact is that the country needs more investment in the insurance sector,” he said when asked whether the government would look at the ordinance route.

Another minister said, “Skepticism will be there. But the intention of the government will be clear (if an ordinance is issued).”

The Coal Mines (Special Provisions) Bill, 2014, has already been passed by the Lok Sabha.