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As the Indian government wants to scale up PM Narendra Modi’s ambitious ‘<keyword id="2517872" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="Swachh-Bharat-Abhiyan">Swachh Bharat Abhiyan</keyword>’ and invest around Rs 2.23 lakh crore by October 2019, it may levy cess from the common man even to provide basic sanitation. 
 
The government is mulling over levying 0.5% cess on petrol, diesel and telecom services, a 1% cess on accumulated waste produced by mineral generation plants and a 0.5 percentage point increase in service tax. 
 If everything falls in place, this could be announced during <keyword id="6360189" type="COMPANY" weightage="20" keywordseo="Union-Budget">Union Budget</keyword> on February 29. 
 
This recommendation was given by a sub-group of chief ministers on Swachh Bharat set up by Niti Aayog. 
 
"The sharing pattern of funds for this programme between the Centre and states may be in the ratio of 75:25, while for hilly states it may be kept at 90:10," said the sub-group. 
 Under the <keyword id="63500" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="Cleanliness-Drive">cleanliness drive</keyword>, the government wants to construct household toilets, community and public toilets and scientific waste management. 
 
(Image: Thinkstock)

Tax Alert! You could soon be paying cess for the Swachh Bharat Abhiyan!

<a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/searchresult.cms?query=Narendra+Modi">Prime Minister Narendra Modi</a> taunted the <a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/searchresult.cms?query=Congress">Congress party</a> in the Rajya Sabha, saying it is above criticism like death. 
 Modi equated the <keyword id="1575" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="Congress">Congress</keyword> with death and said no one criticises Congress as no one blames death. 
 
"Death is a blessing. It's above criticism. No one criticises death. People say someone died of cancer, he died of old age. The cancer and old age is blamed but not the death. Sometimes I feel Congress is also blessed (like death), whenever we criticise Congress, media says opposition is under attack," Modi said. 
 
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en">
	
		When we criticise the Congress, it is reported as - criticism on Opposition, not criticism on Congress. Congress never gets a bad name: PM
	— PMO India (@PMOIndia) <a href="https://twitter.com/PMOIndia/status/707486169525649408">March 9, 2016</a></blockquote>
 
 
He hit out at Congress saying, “Today you are looking at my work through a microscope. Wish you had used even binoculars on yourself.” 
Meanwhile, Modi listed out the achievements, schemes and initiatives taken up by his <a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/searchresult.cms?query=bjp">BJP-led NDA government</a>. 
 
 
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en">
	
		Let us pass those bills passed in the Lok Sabha as soon as possible and give impetus to India's progress: PM <a href="https://twitter.com/narendramodi">@narendramodi</a> in Rajya Sabha
	— PMO India (@PMOIndia) <a href="https://twitter.com/PMOIndia/status/707488449306054656">March 9, 2016</a></blockquote>
 
 
Modi said his government focussed on three aspects-Transparency, Accountability and Decentralisation-for good governance. 
 
 
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en">
	
		We have focussed on policy-driven governance and given an importance to transparency: PM <a href="https://twitter.com/narendramodi">@narendramodi</a> in the Rajya Sabha
	— PMO India (@PMOIndia) <a href="https://twitter.com/PMOIndia/status/707489151260565505">March 9, 2016</a></blockquote>
 
 
He mentioned about his schemes including, <a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/searchresult.cms?query=sanitation">sanitation</a>, <a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/searchresult.cms?query=education">education</a>, those related to farmers and agriculture, banking, etc and praised his own government. 
 
 
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en">
	
		Cleanliness is becoming a mass movement. For first time Parliament debated on it. Govt may be criticised but issue is being discussed: PM
	— PMO India (@PMOIndia) <a href="https://twitter.com/PMOIndia/status/707497796836790272">March 9, 2016</a></blockquote>
 
 
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en">
	
		The biggest beneficiaries of MUDRA bank are SC/ST, OBC communities and women: PM <a href="https://twitter.com/narendramodi">@narendramodi</a> in the Rajya Sabha
	— PMO India (@PMOIndia) <a href="https://twitter.com/PMOIndia/status/707495131461623809">March 9, 2016</a></blockquote>
 
 
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en">
	
		Effective or last mile delivery is what we are working on: PM <a href="https://twitter.com/narendramodi">@narendramodi</a> in the Rajya Sabha <a href="https://t.co/Iy8hu3Nre5">https://t.co/Iy8hu3Nre5</a>
	— PMO India (@PMOIndia) <a href="https://twitter.com/PMOIndia/status/707491763741544449">March 9, 2016</a> 
	&#xa0;</blockquote>

Narendra Modi sneers Congress in Rajya Sabha, goes gaga over his own govt’s schemes and proposals

The report on how <keyword id="2312336" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="Swachh-Bharat-Mission">Swachh Bharat Mission</keyword> was successful is out and states that cities in eastern and southern part of India did better than northern and western India. 
 The <keyword id="3246333" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="Swachh-Sarvekshan">Swachh Sarvekshan</keyword> survey that gauged the impact of <keyword id="63500" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="Cleanliness-Drive">cleanliness drive</keyword> in 73 cities stated that Mysuru remained the cleanest of all, followed by Chandigarh and Tiruchirapalli. 
 However, <keyword id="6354814" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="prime-minister-Narendra-Modi">Prime Minister Narendra Modi</keyword>’s Varanasi constituency was among the 10 dirtiest cities and Dhanbad ranked the worst. 
 
A first such survey was done in 2014, which was a 476-city survey. Then also, Karnataka’s Mysuru had emerged as the winner. 
 
If we compare the two analysis, cities that have improved include Visakhapatnam, Surat, Rajkot and Gangtok. 
 
Meanwhile, the 10 dirtiest cities include Ghaziabad and Meerut. 
 
In Delhi, South and North Delhi Municipal Corporation improved rankings and were at 47 to 43, respectively. 
 
Tamil Nadu’s Chennai ranked 37 in comparison to its fourth position in 2014. 
 
(Image: Indiatimes)

Swachh Sarvekshan spells bad news for Modi’s Varanasi, Mysuru emerges cleanest of all

Providing relief to SEZ units and developers, the <keyword id="47209" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="Finance-Ministry">Finance Ministry</keyword> today said they will be entitled to refund of the Swachh Bharat cess, a levy imposed by the government from November last year to fund its cleanliness drive. 

	"The SEZ Unit or the Developer shall be entitled to refund of the Swachh Bharat Cess paid on the specified services on which ab-initio exemption is admissible but not claimed," the Central Board of Excise and Customs said in a notification.
 

	It has also specified a formula for calculating refund due to SEZ units and developers. 
 Government had imposed 0.5 per cent Swachh Bharat cess on taxable services from November 15, 2015. With the imposition of the cess, <keyword id="6355686" type="COMPANY" weightage="20" keywordseo="Service-tax">service tax</keyword> rate has gone up from 14 per cent to 14.5 per cent. The cess is levied only on the portion of taxable services (after abatement) and will go towards <keyword id="6357455" type="EVENT" weightage="20" keywordseo="Funding">funding</keyword> of the Swachh Bharat scheme, a pet project of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The concessions provided to the Special Economic Zones (SEZs) is expected to generate some interest of investors in them. Investors have been losing interest in these zones for various reasons including global economic slowdown, imposition of minimum alternate tax (MAT) and dividend distribution tax ( <keyword id="375780" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="DDT">DDT</keyword>). 

	Many business houses have surrendered SEZs while the government on its part has given more time to some developers to execute the projects. 
	 
	(Image credit: BCCL)

Finance Ministry to refund Swachh Bharat cess paid by SEZs

APIndian workers construct a wall in front of a slum ahead of U.S. President Donald Trump's visit, in Ahmadabad, India, Monday, Feb. 17, 2020.<ul class="summary-list"><li>India erected a brick wall so that President Donald Trump wouldn't see a slum as his motorcade drove through the city of Ahmedabad on Monday.</li><li>The wall is 1,640 feet long and seven feet high, according to news reports, and now conceals the homes of some 2,000 people.</li><li>Trump <a href="https://www.insider.com/trump-india-visit-photos-modi-2020-2">landed in Ahmedabad on Monday</a> and drove past the wall on his way to <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/trump-mispronounce-indian-cricket-legends-tendulkar-kholi-names-2020-2?r=US&amp;IR=T">speak at the "Namaste Trump" rally</a> at the Sardar Patel Stadium.</li><li>An Ahmedabad official said the wall was "part of a beautification and cleanliness drive," while a resident of the slum said the Indian government "wants to hide the poor."</li><li><a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/?hprecirc-bullet">Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories</a>.</li></ul>India hastily built a brick wall so that Donald Trump wouldn't have to see a slum as his motorcade passed through the city of Ahmedabad on Monday.Authorities earlier this month commissioned a 500-meter (1,640-feet) long, seven-foot high brick wall along a road near the Sardar Patel Stadium in Ahmedabad, <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/another-wall-goes-up-for-trump-this-time-in-india-2020-2">Reuters reported</a>.Trump <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/trump-mispronounce-indian-cricket-legends-tendulkar-kholi-names-2020-2">spoke at the stadium</a> as part of India's "Namaste Trump" rally on Monday morning.REUTERS/Al DragoPresident Donald Trump, first lady Melania Trump and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrive for a "Namaste Trump" event during Trump's visit to India, at Sardar Patel Gujarat Stadium, in Ahmedabad, India, February 24, 2020.The new brick wall obscured the homes of 2,000 people living in the slum, <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/india-builds-wall-along-slum-ahead-of-trump-visit-2020-2?r=US&amp;IR=T">according to the Associated Press (AP)</a>."Apart from security reasons, the wall is also part of a beautification and cleanliness drive," said Bijal Patel, mayor of the Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation, according to the AP."Whenever ministers visit the area, they hide it with temporary green curtains," <a href="https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/av/world-asia-india-51543035/how-trump-got-his-wall-in-india">a resident of the slum told the BBC.</a> "They are building a wall this time. The curtains are taken down eventually, but this wall will remain.""Poverty and slums are the reality of our life, but Modi's government wants to hide the poor," Parvatbhai Mafabhai, a 30-year resident of the slum, told Reuters.AP Photo/Ajit SolankiFILE - In this Feb. 18, 2020, file photo, a woman looks at a wall painted with portraits of U.S. President Donald Trump and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi.Forty-five families living in a separate slum near the Sardar Patel Stadium were supplied with eviction notices in advance of Trump's visit, <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/feb/21/trump-got-his-wall-indian-city-beautify-visit">The Guardian reported</a>. Stray dogs, cats, and monkeys were also cleared from the area.Trump did not mention his trip through the city to the stadium when he spoke to the 100,000 Indians gathered there.Trump visited the Taj Mahal after his speech. He is to meet with India's prime minister, Narendra Modi, and president, Ram Nath Kovind, on Tuesday to discuss bilateral relations.<ul class="read-more-links"><li>Read more:</li><li><a href="https://www.insider.com/trump-india-visit-photos-modi-2020-2">Trump kicked off his India visit with roaring crowds, a stop at Gandhi's home, and a massive rally</a></li><li><a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/trump-mispronounce-indian-cricket-legends-tendulkar-kholi-names-2020-2">Trump struggled to pronounce the names of India's two most famous sports stars at a rally to kick off his visit there</a></li><li><a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/national-security-adviser-believes-russia-helping-sanders-not-trump-2020-2?r=US&amp;IR=T">Trump asks if Democrats will launch an investigation into whether 'Russia, Russia, Russia' helped Sanders win the Nevada Caucus</a></li><li><a href="https://www.insider.com/trump-blamed-russian-interference-intel-on-democrats-2020-2">Trump called reports of Russian interference 'rumors,' while Sanders' campaign claimed it could be a leak meant to damage his candidacy</a></li></ul> <h3>NOW WATCH: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/presidential-debate-entertaining-problem-democratic-trump-reality-tv-show-2019-9">How networks treat the Democratic debates like reality TV</a></h3>

India hastily erected a 7-foot wall so that Trump wouldn't have to see a slum on his way to a rally

Two years ago, on May 26, the <a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/searchresult.cms?query=BJP&amp;sortorder=effectivedate">Bharatiya Janata Party</a> (<keyword id="14666" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="BJP">BJP</keyword>) stormed to power in New Delhi after a landslide victory in the 2014 general elections, trumping <a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/searchresult.cms?query=congress&amp;sortorder=effectivedate">Congress</a> to its worst ever defeat. 
 
The Modi-wave, back then, worked in favour of the saffron party, which also played-up the development plank and won the trust of majority of the 1.2 billion Indian population. 
 
Cut to 2016, the BJP, which suffered few blows in state and civic polls and a momentous win in Assam, is celebrating two years in office, and also preparing itself for next three years. 
 
<a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/searchresult.cms?query=prime+minister+narendra+modi&amp;sortorder=effectivedate">Prime Minister Narendra Modi</a>, in these two years, took steps to transform India into a manufacturing hub with his ‘<a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/searchresult.cms?query=make+in+india&amp;sortorder=effectivedate">Make in India</a>’ scheme, shook up a cleanliness drive with ‘<a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/searchresult.cms?query=swachh+bharat+abhiyan&amp;sortorder=effectivedate">Swachh</a><a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/searchresult.cms?query=swachh+bharat+abhiyan&amp;sortorder=effectivedate"> Bharat </a><a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/searchresult.cms?query=swachh+bharat+abhiyan&amp;sortorder=effectivedate">Abhiyan</a>’ and promoted yoga that is now being celebrated as ‘<a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/searchresult.cms?query=international+yoga+day&amp;sortorder=effectivedate">International Yoga Day</a>’ on June 21. 
 
He was also mocked at various instances for several foot-in-the-mouth comments from his ministers, his Kerala-Somalia comments, rigged history, suit-boot ki sarkar, etc. 
 
Modi is also often attacked for his foreign trips. A man who was denied a visa to the US owing to Gujarat riots, has now visited the country thrice in two years and is now scheduled for a fourth trip soon. 
 
Apart from meeting global leaders, Modi, who sports a French beard and is famous for his Khadi kurtas, also befriended <a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/searchresult.cms?query=global+ceos&amp;sortorder=effectivedate">global CEOs</a>, assuring them of ease of doing business in India and cutting red tapism. 
 During these two years, Modi met many global CEOs, who are now eying India and are setting up offices. <keyword id="6354427" type="CITY" weightage="20" keywordseo="Apple">Apple</keyword> looks India as a bright spot and even Google and <keyword id="10387" type="CITY" weightage="20" keywordseo="Microsoft">Microsoft</keyword> are increasing their number of offices in the country, which is pegged to be one of the fastest growing economies of the world. 
 
Here is a list of the top 10 global CEOs whom Modi met over the last two years and gave them all reasons to come and invest in India. 
 
(Images: Indiatimes, PIB)

These are the 10 global CEOs Modi befriended in last two years

Municipal Corporations have been trying to encourage people to use toilets across India, but they have failed every time. But now <keyword id="50451" type="COMPANY" weightage="80" keywordseo="Ahmedabad-Municipal-Corporation">Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation</keyword> (<keyword id="6358378" type="CITY" weightage="80" keywordseo="AMC">AMC</keyword>) has come up with an innovative idea; it has decided to pay one <keyword id="6355302" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="80" keywordseo="Rupee">rupee</keyword> to people who use the nearest public toilets, promoting cleanliness drive cross the city. 
 As per a <keyword id="6356641" type="CITY" weightage="80" keywordseo="times-of-india">Times of India</keyword> report, this innovative idea was first implemented in Darechowk, <keyword id="18568" type="COMPANY" weightage="80" keywordseo="kathmandu">Kathmandu</keyword> <keyword id="12266" type="COUNTRY" weightage="80" keywordseo="Nepal">Nepal</keyword>); the state started paying people to pee at the right spots and it worked very well for them. No wonder this encouraged AMC to try it out in Ahmedabad too. 
	 

	The AMC would initially implement the scheme in 67 nuisance spots in the city. Once successful, the scheme would come into force across all public toilets in the city. "The whole motive of the scheme is to popularize the <keyword id="6355373" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="public-toilet">public toilet</keyword>. We plan to generate revenue through advertising," said a senior AMC official. On Thursday, the <keyword id="6355940" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="80" keywordseo="Standing-committee">standing committee</keyword> of the Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation has taken up the proposal for consideration. The AMC sanitary department plans to motivate people to use toilets through advertising the scheme near open defecation sites. The corporation is even planning to impose heavy fines on offenders. 
	 

	Standing committee chairman Pravin Patel said: "We are going to implement this project because people near 67 pay and use toilets are found defecating in the open. Some even defecate on footpaths and pose a major public health risk. Our move will encourage people to use public toilets and AMC officials will also explain their family to do the same." 
	 

	"There are around 300 public toilets in the city out of which the service will be available in 67 public toilets. Most of them are located near slum areas," Patel added. 
	 

	The government and health workers have been trying to encourage people to use toilet. This would help to combat the spread of diseases, like diarrhea and typhoid which kills many children each year. 
	 

	Moreover, lack of toilets poses threat to women safety. They go to fields in early mornings or late nights to attend the nature’s call, leaving themselves vulnerable to sexual assault or predation by big cats.

	 
	(Image: Indiatimes)

Now, pee in Ahmedabad’s public toilets to make a quick buck!

More than 12,000 people in <keyword id="6357713" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Uttar-Pradesh" source="Orion">Uttar Pradesh</keyword>'s <keyword id="576481" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Firozabad-district" source="Orion">Firozabad district</keyword> are suffering from <keyword id="6398743" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="viral-fever" source="Orion">viral fever</keyword>, according to the state health department officials. Four more deaths have been reported from the district in the past 24 hours, taking the toll to 114 that includes 88 children. The deaths have continued despite widespread fogging and door-to-door surveys to drain out stagnant water and to check the spread of vector-borne diseases. <keyword id="12080003" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="veer-pal" source="Orion">Veer Pal</keyword>, a daily wager, who lost his five-year-old son due to lack of treatment on Sunday, told reporters, that a private hospital in the city had demanded Rs 30,000 in advance to start treatment. "I requested them to start treatment and give me time to arrange money, but they refused. Later, I took my child to the <keyword id="3849448" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="firozabad-medical-college" source="Orion">Firozabad Medical College</keyword>, where staff refused to admit my child as beds were not available. I arranged for a private taxi to take him to Agra, but my son died on the way," he said. Chief Medical Superintendent (CMS) of Firozabad Medical College, Hansraj Singh, said that no official complaint was made in the matter. Chief Medical Officer (CMO) Dinesh Kumar Premi said there are 64 active camps in the district and 4,800 people, including those with fever, are undergoing treatment there. According to the health department officials, 578 cases of dengue have been confirmed in Firozabad so far. A few cases of malaria, scrub typhus - a bacterial illness spread by larval mites, leptospirosis, another bacterial disease spread through the urine of infected animals, have also been reported. Diarrhoea has also emerged as a threat for children. Additional Director of the health department, A.K. Singh, said that over 100 teams of health staff are conducting door-to-door surveys to identify patients and provide them with medicines and required assistance. "There is no shortage of platelets or required medicines at the government centres. Additional ambulances have been arranged to take patients to hospital," he asserted. "Civic body teams are carrying out special cleanliness drives in the affected areas and all the recent deaths are being investigated," Singh added. SEE ALSO: <a target="_blank" class="c-link c-message_attachment__title_link" href="https://www.businessinsider.in/education/news/neet-exams-tamil-nadu-will-table-a-bill-seeking-exemption/articleshow/86157693.cms">Stalin will table a bill seeking exemption from NEET exams in Tamil Nadu</a> <a target="_blank" class="c-link c-message_attachment__title_link" href="https://www.businessinsider.in/tech/news/apple-watch-series-7-release-date-price-features-and-everything-we-know-so-far/articleshow/85450261.cms">Apple Watch Series 7 release date, price, features and everything we know so far</a>

Uttar Pradesh's Firozabad district reports 12,000 cases of viral fever with four new deaths

<ul><li>Man vs Wild, will be featuring India's Prime Minister <keyword id="6354477" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Narendra-Modi">Narendra Modi</keyword>. </li><li>The episode will air at 9 pm on Discovery. </li><li>Narendra Modi is the third world leader to feature on the show. Before him, American's <keyword id="15962" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Barack-Obama">Barack Obama</keyword> and Russia's <keyword id="43440" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Vladimir-Putin">Vladimir Putin</keyword> appeared with Bear Grylls.</li></ul>Man vs Wild, will be featuring India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi on August 12. The episode will air at 9 pm on Discovery. The host of the show, Bear Grylls, recently shared the promo. In the 45 seconds, long promo PM Narendra Modi can be seen welcoming Grylls in India. The show has been shot in the Jim Corbett National Park and will throw light on wildlife conservation, highlighting issues related to environmental change. The program will be aired in 180 countries. Adventurer and television presenter Edward <keyword id="7966954" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Michael-Grylls">Michael Grylls</keyword>, popularly known as Bear Grylls, will appear in the program along with Modi. Conservation The show Man vs Wild was first aired as "Born Survivors" in 2006. Grylls who is a former soldier turns into a survival instructor who explores the least hospitable places and documents the process. In its previous episodes, Grylls ate anything that could provide him nutrition. He also once wore the skin of a seal to fetch fish in freezing water. However, the show which features Modi might not be as ‘wild’. Grylls is also infamously known for drinking his own urine on the show. This is when he can’t do something else which he does, which is squeezes water out of elephant dung for drinking. However, Modi may not be seen doing any of this. My upbringing does not allow me to take a life: Modi Modi will soon be seen expressing his views on conservation of nature. He will also be seen at the Himalayas where he speaks about cleanliness drive in addition to reminiscing his own youth. A video, giving a sneak peek of the episode, was released on Friday. In the show, gives Modi an improvised version of a spear as a safeguard against potential attack by a tiger. Modi says: "My upbringing does not allow me to take a life. However, I will hold it (the spear) since you insist." The world waits to Modi on Man vs. Wild The news of Prime Minister Narendra Modi making an appearance on popular <keyword id="6669397" type="COMPANY" weightage="20" keywordseo="discovery-channel">Discovery Channel</keyword>'s show "Man vs Wild" erupted the Twitter. The Tourism Ministry on Sunday updated the Incredible India website to boost wildlife tourism. The website that earlier featured pictures and videos of mostly monuments and tourist spots, now showcases landscapes, waterfalls and tiger reserves. Pictures from Jim Corbett National Park, Ranthambore National Park and other national parks now feature on the home page of Incredible India.

PM Narendra Modi is featuring on Discovery's Man vs. Wild today. Here's what we know about it

New Delhi, Mar 22 () The "evolving" insolvency law is a kind of "Swachhata drive" to clean up non-performing assets as well as put companies in the hands of capable and credible people, according to IBBI chief M S Sahoo. Around 3,600 companies have been admitted under the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code (IBC) so far. While acknowledging that the Code is still evolving, Sahoo said authorities are conscious of the emerging needs. "As and when they find a problem, they try to address it as expeditiously as possible. The insolvency professionals, creditors, NCLT, IBBI -- all are on a steep learning curve. The Supreme Court has been settling matters at a quick pace. I believe the road to success is always under construction," he told in a recent interview. Sahoo is the chairperson of the Insolvency and the Bankruptcy Board of India (IBBI), a key authority in implementing the Code. A case is taken up under the Code only after approval from the National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT). When asked about the enduring benefits of the Code, which came into force in 2016, the IBBI chairperson said, "This is another kind of Swachhata (cleanliness) drive to clean up NPAs (non-performing assets) and to put companies in the hands of capable and credible people". "This reinforces the rule of law by treating every company on the same level-playing field, irrespective of its size or the influence of the people behind them. Repayment of loan is no more an option, but an obligation," he noted. With the IBC in place, as the Supreme Court puts it, the defaulter's paradise is lost, Sahoo emphasised. The Code provides for a time-bound and market-linked resolution of stressed assets. If the resolution does not happen, the company concerned goes into liquidation. "Failing is succeeding in Silicon Valley. An entrepreneur should not be stuck up in a business if he is failing to deliver," Sahoo said. On whether the success of IBC is not just in numbers, the IBBI chief said that given the behavioural change, the performance should be seen in totality. It should be seen in terms of "what happens under the IBC, what happens on account of the IBC and what happens in the shadow of the IBC," he said. "190 companies were rescued, while 780 companies were referred for liquidation. Thus, the number of companies getting into liquidation is four times that of companies being rescued. These 190 companies, however, had assets, which is four times of the assets of the 780 companies. "Thus, asset rescued is four times compared to those referred to liquidation. Importantly, of the companies rescued, one-third were under BIFR or defunct. Of the companies that proceeded for liquidation, three-fourths were under BIFR (Board for Industrial and Financial Reconstruction) or defunct," he said. RAM HRS

Insolvency law a 'Swachhata drive' against non-performing assets: IBBI chief

<ul class="summary-list"><li><keyword id="719382" type="COMPANY" weightage="60" keywordseo="Airbnb">Airbnb</keyword> will require wait times of 24 hours between bookings at all its properties, to limit possible <keyword id="1754604" type="PERSON" weightage="60" keywordseo="coronavirus">coronavirus</keyword> transmissions.</li><li>The 24-hour policy is part of its new "cleaning protocol," starting May, which will offer guidance on how to keep rooms clean, right down to the specific cleaning products it deems most suitable.</li><li>It's a challenging time for the property-rental giant, which secured $1 billion from investors earlier this month as it attempts to manage a massive, coronavirus-induced reduction in global travel.</li><li>CEO Brian Chesky has remained bullish about the firm's business prospects, claiming there will be "a huge amount of business on the other side" once the pandemic has subsided.</li><li>An Airbnb spokesperson told Business Insider that its guidance represents "the best way for hosts to show guests that they take cleanliness and sanitization seriously."</li><li><a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/?hprecirc-bullet">Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories</a>.</li></ul>Airbnb will require wait times of 24 hours between bookings at all its properties to limit possible coronavirus transmissions.According to <a href="https://news.airbnb.com/our-enhanced-cleaning-initiative-for-the-future-of-travel/">a company statement</a> published Monday, this rule is recommended by the CDC and will form part of a new "cleaning protocol" for hosts, which will offer detailed guidance on how to keep rooms clean during the coronavirus pandemic. This forms part of a broader cleanliness drive it calls its "enhanced cleaning initiative.""The guidance will include specific information on <keyword id="8763838" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="covid-19">COVID-19</keyword> prevention, such as the use of personal protective equipment, like masks and gloves for hosts or their cleaners, as well as disinfectants that are approved by regulatory authorities," the statement read."Hosts can commit to keeping their home empty for a set period in between stays, with no activity other than cleaning," it added.In a statement sent to Business Insider, a company spokesperson said: "We have seen signals that the COVID-19 pandemic will shape consumer needs both and preferences in the short and long term, and heard feedback from our host community that they care about and want more resources."We believe that enrolling in our enhanced cleaning initiative, with guidance and resources provided by Airbnb, is the best way for hosts to show guests that they take cleanliness and sanitization seriously."Unsurprisingly, the property-rental giant is currently facing challenging times, having <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/airbnb-could-out-of-cash-in-year-due-to-coronavirus-2020-4?r=US&amp;IR=TIR=T">secured $1 billion from investors</a> earlier this month as it attempts to manage a massive, coronavirus-induced reduction in global travel.Airbnb CEO Brian Chesky has remained bullish about the firm's business prospects. He claimed last month that there'll be "<a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/airbnb-ceo-brian-chesky-says-his-companys-business-will-recover-2020-3?r=US&amp;IR=TIR=T">a huge amount of business on the other side</a>" once the pandemic has subsided.Chesky pointed to Airbnb's fortunes in Puerto Rico after it was devastated by Hurricane Maria in 2017. Thousands more property managers on the island were offering accommodations via Airbnb than they were before the storm hit.It's possible that Airbnb's sudden embrace of detailed guidance is a reaction to criticism it received at the start of the coronavirus crisis.Last month, the firm was criticized by property hosts who felt its cancellation policies weren't clear amid the inevitable slew of cancellations caused by the coronavirus pandemic. This criticism led it to <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/airbnb-paying-hosts-250-million-to-cover-coronavirus-cancellations-2020-3?r=US&amp;IR=TIR=T">establish a $250 million fund</a> to cover hosts' costs.Read the original article on <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/airbnb-24-hours-between-rentals-limit-covid-spread-2020-4">Business Insider</a>

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