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New Delhi, The Centre on Saturday said that all states except Tamil Nadu have availed benefits of "Special Assistance to States for <keyword id="112324" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="capital-expenditure">Capital Expenditure</keyword>". The scheme is aimed at boosting capital expenditure by the state governments, who are facing a difficult financial environment this year due to the shortfall in tax revenue arising from the Covid-19 pandemic. According to <keyword id="9291953" type="COMPANY" weightage="20" keywordseo="the-ministry-of-finance">the Ministry of Finance</keyword>, capital expenditure has a <keyword id="10421981" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="higher-multiplier-effect">higher multiplier effect</keyword>, enhancing the future productive capacity of the economy, and results in a higher rate of economic growth. "Therefore, despite the adverse financial position of the <keyword id="6357307" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="Central-Government">central government</keyword>, it was decided to extend a special assistant to the state governments in respect of capital expenditure, in the financial year 2020-21," "The scheme has got very warm response from the state governments. So far capital expenditure proposals of Rs 9,879.61 crore of 27 States have been approved by the Ministry of Finance." As per the statement, an amount of Rs 4,939.81 crore has already been released to the states as the first instalment under the scheme. "The capital expenditure projects have been approved in diverse sectors of economy like, 'Health, Rural Development, Water Supply, Irrigation, Power, Transport, Education, <keyword id="111319" type="COMPANY" weightage="20" keywordseo="Urban-development">Urban Development</keyword>'." Besides, the scheme has three parts of which the first covers the north-eastern region. "Under this part, Rs 200 crores is allocated to seven north-eastern states. In view of higher population and geographical area, Assam has been allocated Rs 450 crores under the scheme," The second part of the scheme for all other states that are not included in part-I. "An amount of Rs 7,500 crores is earmarked for this part. This amount has been allocated amongst these states in proportion to their share of central tax as per the interim award of <keyword id="9256069" type="COMPANY" weightage="20" keywordseo="the-15th-finance-commission">the 15th Finance Commission</keyword> for the year 2020-21," In addition, the third part of the scheme is aimed at pushing various citizen-centric reforms in the states. "Under this part, an amount of Rs 2,000 crores is earmarked. This amount will be available only to those states who carry out at least 3 out of the 4 reforms specified by the Ministry of Finance in its letter dated 17th May, 2020 regarding reform linked additional borrowing permissions." Accordingly, the four reforms are - 'One Nation One Ration Card, Ease of doing Business Reform, Urban Local Body pr Utility Reform and Power Sector Reform'. SEE ALSO: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/stock-market/news/top-stocks-to-watch-irctc-hdfc-bank-tcs-tvs-motor-dalmia-bharat-ultratech-acc-ambuja-and-others/articleshow/79672813.cms">Top stocks to watch — IRCTC, HDFC Bank, TCS, TVS Motor, Dalmia Bharat, UltraTech, ACC, Ambuja, and others</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/tech/mobile/news/best-smartphones-of-2020-in-india/slidelist/79675101.cms">Best smartphones of 2020 in India</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/india/news/reports-suggest-that-tata-adani-and-hinduja-group-are-interested-in-air-india-divestment-plan/articleshow/79675955.cms">Last date for Air India divestment plan nears — reports suggest that Tata, Adani and Hinduja Group are interested</a>

All states except Tamil Nadu availed special capital expenditure scheme: Centre

<ul class="summary-list"><li>Singapore is the world's sixth Blue Zone, according to Dan Buettner, a journalist who popularized the term.</li><li>In the Netflix series "Live to 100," Buettner shows how the country is designed to encourage its residents to live healthier.</li></ul>Singapore is the world's sixth Blue Zone, according to Dan Buettner, a journalist and researcher who popularized the use of the term to describe regions in the world <a href="https://www.insider.com/worlds-5-blue-zones-people-live-longest-lives-2023-3">where people live longer and healthier lives</a>.People living in these regions have several <a href="https://www.insider.com/blue-zone-residents-longevity-secrets-traits-2019-12" rel="">common</a> traits that allow them to achieve longevity, including eating a <a href="https://www.insider.com/eat-more-carbs-less-meat-live-longer-blue-zones-diet-2022-12" rel="">plant-based diet</a>, moving regularly, and living with purpose.The original five Blue Zone regions include <a href="https://www.insider.com/okinawa-blue-zone-and-its-longevity-secrets-2023-9">Okinawa in Japan</a>, <a href="https://www.insider.com/ikaria-greece-blue-zone-and-its-longevity-secrets-2023-9">Ikaria in Greece</a>, <a href="https://www.insider.com/blue-zone-lifestyle-sardinia-nicoya-longevity-rest-social-happy-hour-2023-8">Sardinia in Italy, Nicoya in Costa Rica</a>, as well as <a href="https://www.insider.com/blue-zones-loma-linda-vegetarian-diet-community-rest-2023-9">Loma Linda in California</a>.Unlike the original five, which developed organically through traditions and practices that have flourished for years, Buettner describes Singapore as a "manufactured city," in the Netflix documentary "<a href="https://www.netflix.com/sg/title/81214929">Live to 100: Secrets of the Blue Zones</a>." Life expectancy in Singapore stands at 80.7 years for men and 85.2 for women, based on the <a href="https://www.singstat.gov.sg/find-data/search-by-theme/population/death-and-life-expectancy/latest-data">latest government data</a> for 2022. In contrast, the average life expectancy in the country was just 65 years old in 1960, per data from the <a href="https://data.worldbank.org/indicator/SP.DYN.LE00.IN?locations=SG" target="_blank" rel="noopener">World Bank.</a>Here's how policies rolled out by the government — involving housing, transportation, and hawker centers — have all come together to create what Buettner calls a "Blue Zone 2.0" in this tiny Southeast Asian city-state.<h2>1. Public housing</h2><div type="image" title="A HDB estate consists of a few similarly-designed apartment blocks clustered together. They also have shared communal facilities, such as playgrounds, gardens, and fitness corners." height="3024" width="4032" msid="103648775" hostid="261" sizebytes="1371898"></div>Over 80% of Singapore's residents live in high-rise <a href="https://www.insider.com/singapore-hdb-flat-tampines-farmhouse-wabi-sabi-japanese-home-tour-2023-4">public-housing apartment blocks</a>. Built by the Housing Development Board, these public housing apartments are colloquially known as <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/singapore-hdb-flat-woodleigh-bto-modern-scandinavian-home-tour-photos-2023-7">HDB flats</a>.In Singapore, these estates are <a href="https://www.hdb.gov.sg/community/creating-vibrant-places/your-community-spaces" target="_blank" rel="noopener">intentionally designed to encourage social interaction</a> among its residents. Each HDB estate typically consists of a few identical apartment blocks clustered together. Dedicated communal spaces such as playgrounds, fitness corners, and community gardens can be found on the estates.<div type="image" title="A playground at one of the HDB estates in Singapore. A little girl is playing on the monkey bars." height="1531" width="2042" msid="103648777" hostid="261" sizebytes="478402"></div>Despite the highly urbanized setting, these shared spaces give people from all walks of life a chance to get to know each other."Loneliness is largely a function of environment," Buettner told <a href="https://fortune.com/well/2023/08/29/singapore-sixth-blue-zone-longevity-secrets-dan-buettner/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Fortune</a>. "If you live in a cul de sac in the suburbs, and especially if you don't like your neighbors, you're very unlikely to serendipitously run into someone and have a conversation."In Singapore, the government also has a <a href="https://www.hdb.gov.sg/residential/buying-a-flat/understanding-your-eligibility-and-housing-loan-options/flat-and-grant-eligibility/couples-and-families/proximity-housing-grant-families">proximity housing grant</a> that encourages couples buying resale apartments on the open market to live with or near their parents or children.This scheme is a way that the government is tackling the problems of an aging population."By 2030, 25% of our population — one in four — will be above 65," Chan Heng Chee, ambassador-at-large at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Singapore, told Buettner in the Netflix documentary. Under this policy, these home buyers can receive up to 30,000 Singapore dollars, or $22,000, in grants if they live with their parents or children.If the house that the couple is buying is within four kilometers, or about two and a half miles, of where their parents or children live, they can receive up to SG$20,000 in grants.This scheme is also available for singles, although the maximum grant amount they can receive is halved."If children look after their parents, it means people don't get sick that often," Chan added.<h2>2. Transportation</h2><div type="image" title="A subway platform in a Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) station in Singapore." height="2933" width="3911" msid="103648780" hostid="261" sizebytes="786734"></div>Singapore has a well-connected public transport system that's being used by nearly half the country's <a href="https://www.singstat.gov.sg/modules/infographics/population">5.6 million population</a>, in contrast to the US average of 5%, Buettner said in the Netflix documentary.There are only around <a href="https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/politics/12-per-cent-of-car-owning-households-in-singapore-have-2-cars-less-than-3-per-cent-own-3-or-more">471,000 households that own cars in Singapore</a>, and that's due to the high prices of cars in the country. On average, a car in Singapore can cost <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/singapore-car-price-expensive-us-tesla-toyota-audi-honda-mercedes-2022-6">five times</a> the amount it retails for in the US."People reach the trains and buses using bike lanes and protected walkways paid for by the car taxes, and often pass through one of the island's 350 parks," Buettner said in the show.This, as he explains, encourages people to walk — and get that bit of physical movement daily that they need to stay healthy.<h2>3. Hawker centers</h2><div type="image" title="A hawker center in Singapore." height="3024" width="4032" msid="103648781" hostid="261" sizebytes="1045180"></div>Singapore's hawker centers are known for selling <a href="https://www.insider.com/singapore-hawker-stall-nasi-lemak-best-food-changi-photos-review-2022-4">cheap and delicious meals</a> under one roof. "In the past decades, Singapore's food environment wasn't all that healthy," Buettner says in the Netflix documentary. "They had junk food, they had lots of oil and sugar in their food, but they were able to take steps to change their environment so it was easier to make the healthier choice."In an effort to get the population to eat healthier, the government introduced a <a href="https://www.healthhub.sg/live-healthy/211/make_healthier_choice">"Healthier Choice" symbol</a> to denote healthier food options so that consumers can make better-informed choices.The layout of hawker centers also encourages people in the community to come together."You share tables and you're interacting with the stall user, interacting with the person next to you," Buettner told Fortune. "The chances you're going to run into an old friend or make a new friend are exponentially higher."

Singapore is the world's 6th Blue Zone — and a look at its urban planning helps explain why

The <keyword id="499463" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Union-Ministry-of-Road-Transport-and-Highways" source="Orion">Union Ministry of Road Transport and Highways</keyword> (<keyword id="375113" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="morth" source="Orion">MoRTH</keyword>) is all set to roll out a new ₹7,270 crore <keyword id="12179033" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="State-Support-Programme" source="Orion">State Support Programme</keyword> for Strengthening <keyword id="87280" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Road-Safety" source="Orion">Road Safety</keyword> to help realise the vision of 'Zero road fatalities on Indian roads.' The centrally-sponsored six-year programme will be implemented in 14 states that are now contributing to 85 per cent of the total road fatalities in the country. While MoRTH will lend a budgetary support of Rs 3,635 crore, an amount of Rs 1,818 crore will be secured as loan each from the World Bank and the <keyword id="50190" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Asian-Development-Bank" source="Orion">Asian Development Bank</keyword>. Of the total cost, Rs 6,725 crore will be disbursed to the 14 states based on their performance while MoRTH will use Rs 545 crore for capacity building activities. The scheme will incentivise state governments to drive road safety interventions at the grassroots level with the main objective of curbing road accidents and achieving a reduction in fatalities, the MoRTH said in a concept note circulated to the target states. The target states under the scheme are Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Karnataka, Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Gujarat, Bihar, Telangana, West Bengal, Odisha, Haryana and Assam. "This is an output and outcome-driven scheme wherein the performance of the states will be assessed on 11 mandatory and three elective indicators (road safety interventions). The grants will be distributed to the states based on the Key Performance Indicators," top official sources told PTI. The preliminary project report prepared by MoRTH says the Motor Vehicle Amendment Act (2019) was brought in as an important intervention to achieve the fatality reduction target. "To leverage the strengthened law, it is necessary to have focused interventions in the related areas of road safety like road engineering, enforcement, road safety advocacy and media campaigns and efficient emergency response systems. The states need to be supported to act on result-oriented strategies. Hence the new scheme," the sources said. India reported about 1.51 lakh road deaths in 4.49 lakh accidents in the year 2019. Of the total deaths, the 14 identified states accounted for 1,27,379. The number of fatalities remained consistent over the last five years. In 2020, 1.32 lakh road deaths were recorded across the country, with the Covid-19-induced lockdown resulting in the reduction in number. The new scheme targets to reduce the fatality rate by 30 per cent by March 2027. Cyclists, two and three-wheeler riders and pedestrians have been identified as 'vulnerable road users' who comprised about 54 per cent of road traffic deaths in India. Under the new scheme, performance-based indicators have been proposed with the aim of reducing the impact of road accidents on these vulnerable users. An Integrated Road Accident Database (IRAD) will be rolled out in all states by 2022-23 and applied for identifying and rectifying all black spots on state highways and major district roads. Road safety audit will be made mandatory on state highways and urban roads by the end of the scheme period. From 2022-23, MoRTH will launch a 'Challenge Round' every year to provide incentives to states on additional road safety interventions and also to promote competition among states. "The grant of Rs 7,270 crore will only meet partial fund requirement for the scheme. States are expected to make their own budgetary allocations and also implement projects in Public-Private Partnership mode," MoRTH told the states. Independent Verification Agencies will scrutinise the states' achievements, based on which the Central grant will be released. Some of the other major interventions mooted under the scheme are: Installation of speed management devices on urban roads in cities with a population of over four lakh, state highways and national highways for increased enforcement, a unique number for reporting accidents, development of dedicated lanes for two-wheelers on state highways and urban roads and identification of priority corridors. State Education Boards will be required to introduce a chapter on road safety for classes 6-9 in 2022-23 and up to class-12 the next year on. Deployment of Advance Traffic Management System, campaigns on vehicle safety and driver training, establishment of a Command and Control (Data) Centre for ambulances, establishment of automated vehicle fitness centres are some of the other initiatives planned under the scheme. SEE ALSO: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/india/news/highlights-of-prime-minister-narendra-modis-speech-at-the-unga-today/articleshow/86510462.cms">Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi makes his points on China, Afghanistan and Pakistan at the United Nations General Assembly</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/thelife/personalities/freshworks-ceo-girish-mathrubootham-shares-someone-said-i-will-be-nothing-but-a-rickshaw-puller/articleshow/86507840.cms">WATCH: "Someone said I am good enough to be a rickshaw puller," shares Freshworks CEO Girish Mathrubootham in a candid chat</a>

Union Ministry of Road Transport and Highways to roll out ₹7,270 crore support programme for 14 states

Mumbai, Jun 19 () Small Industries Development Bank of India (Sidbi) on Friday said it has signed a pact with the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs for implementation of the PM Street Vendor's AtmaNirbhar Nidhi (PM SVANidhi). PM SVANidhi is a central scheme fully funded by the ministry with the objective to facilitate working capital loan to street vendors, thus enabling them to emerge self-reliant after the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and revive their livelihood activity through formal access to credit. Sidbi will be the implementation partner for the scheme and will set up a project management unit, a release said. It will give access to the scheme through a customised digital platform and will integrate the institutional ecosystem and build capacity value chain. The development finance institution will facilitate credit guarantee to lending institutions through Credit Guarantee Fund Trust for Micro and Small Enterprises (CGTMSE). Microfinance institutions (MFIs) shall be on-boarded on the CGTMSE platform for the first time for the scheme, Sidbi said. The platform shall also be integrated with the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) and the Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) to enable the processes envisaged in the scheme, it said. "We are pleased to play a role in this important national endeavour to help millions of street vendors across the country whose livelihood activities have been disrupted due to the coronavirus outbreak. "We shall carry out deep engagement with the entire lending community and urge them to actively participate to make this scheme a success," Sidbi Chairman and Managing Director Mohammad Mustafa said. The scheme includes an initial working capital of up to Rs 10,000, interest subsidy on timely/early repayment at the rate of 7 per cent, monthly cashback incentive on digital transactions and higher loan eligibility on timely repayment of the first loan. Under this scheme, commercial banks, regional rural banks, small finance banks, co-operative banks, non-banking financial companies, MFIs and self-help groups will be able to provide credit. This scheme will target street vendors/hawkers vending in urban areas, as on or before March 24, 2020, including the vendors of surrounding peri-urban and rural areas. HV HRS

Sidbi signs pact with urban affairs ministry for implementation of PM SVANidhi

Inventors and designers in <keyword id="3658" type="COUNTRY" weightage="20" keywordseo="India">India</keyword> could have a <a href="http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-in-school/niti-to-open-applications-for-atal-new-india-challenge-tomorrow/article23676243.ece">chance</a> to win upto Rs 1 crore if they win the <keyword id="2746648" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="100" keywordseo="Atal-Innovation-Mission">Atal Innovation Mission</keyword> (AIM) challenge. The Atal New India Challenge is part of <keyword id="2665691" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Niti-Aayog">NITI Aayog</keyword>, and will not only offer money, but provide mentorship for the winning ideas. Participants have been invited to present their design-ready products, that will be assessed on three verticals - capability, intent and potential to productise technologies. The prospective innovators will have the option of applying their product to any of the 17 identified focus areas that include smart mobility, predictive maintenance of rolling stock and waste management. Once an idea has been shortlisted for AIM, the person responsible will be supplemented with mentorship and incubation facilities as per the requirements of the project. The end goal is to ensure wider deployment for the product. The mission is being implemented in cooperation with five other ministries, including <keyword id="2290680" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="Ministry-of-Agriculture-and-Farmers-Welfare">Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare</keyword> as well as the <keyword id="6472060" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="ministry-of-housing-and-urban">Ministry of Housing and Urban</keyword> Affairs. Some of the people at the event will be SS Ahluwalia, Minister of State and <keyword id="125928" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Rajiv-Kumar">Rajiv Kumar</keyword>, Vice-Chairman of NITI Aayog. This seems to be a step forward in an attempt to turn India from an <a href="http://pubdocs.worldbank.org/en/476891464698315724/Philippe-Aghion-PAPER.pdf">imitating</a> nation into an innovating country.

NITI Aayog to open applications for Atal Innovation Mission for MSMEs, startups and inventors in India

PM Narendra Modi’s office has asked all government departments to spot unutilised land, especially in developed government colonies, so that it can be transformed into <keyword id="932911" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="affordable-housing-projects">affordable housing projects</keyword>. This move will help boosting the government’s efforts to fulfil the BJP's poll promise of providing affordable housing for all by 2022. 
 
Also read: <a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/markets/economy/infra-status-to-affordable-housing-gives-bathware-industry-reasons-to-cheer/articleshow/57513614.cms">Infra status to affordable housing gives bathware industry reasons to cheer</a> 
 For the promise to turn into reality, the government wants to build a land bank, since most of the times <keyword id="4391328" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="housing-project-plans">housing project plans</keyword> fail to get executed because of scarcity of land. 
 
By asking government offices to identify such pieces of land, the <a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/markets/economy/PMO-to-look-into-reasons-for-Indias-bad-performance-in-ease-of-doing-business-list/articleshow/55225454.cms">PMO</a> hopes to add land packets to its land bank, after which state governments can send proposals to buy land for housing projects. 
 
Also read: <a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/Dubais-realty-sector-was-strong-despite-economic-slowdown/articleshow/49692314.cms">Lessons for India: This is how Dubai’s realty sector was strong despite economic slowdown</a> 
 "The <keyword id="6365387" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="100" keywordseo="PMO">PMO</keyword> is monitoring the progress closely. Our experience is that some states are performing better than others because they already have their beneficiary lists ready and land availability is no problem there. So now directives have gone to all ministries to prepare a list of colonies where new houses can be built," a senior government official told <a href="http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/politics-and-nation/pmo-seeks-to-spot-vacant-lands-to-push-affordable-housing/articleshow/58055915.cms">ET</a>. 
 
Since government colonies already have basic amenities, and there won’t be issues of delayed approvals, the <a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/yourmoney/spending/Indian-Govts-ambitious-urban-development-plan-gets-Rs-25000-crore-push/articleshow/54828024.cms">urban development </a>ministry is trying to identify land within these colonies. 
 
Also read: <a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/indians-pay-too-much-interest-on-home-loans-reveals-study/articleshow/57936834.cms">Indians pay too much interest on home loans, reveals study</a> 
 
Across 30 states and Uts, the Centre has so far approved housing projects worth Rs 90,000 crore, with construction of 16.42 lakh affordable houses. Out of all the states, Tamil Nadu is leading the initiative with 2.27 lakh houses, followed by Andhra Pradesh (1.94 lakh houses) and Madhya Pradesh (1.81 lakh houses). 
 
"With this initiative we hope to tell the states, you have this land available at a certain place. Now send us a proposal because even if it is central land we will get the approvals done. This will hopefully increase the pace of implementation," the official added. 
 
Also read: <a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/under-construction-flat-tax-relief/articleshow/52673323.cms">Your under-construction flat could finally provide you some relief</a> 
 
(Image source 99Acres)

All government departments directed to spot vacant lands for more affordable housing projects

With Indore, Surat, Vadodara and <keyword id="42774" type="COMPANY" weightage="20" keywordseo="Udaipur">Udaipur</keyword> emerging among the top ones implementing the projects, BJP-ruled states are outperforming others in embracing the Centre's <keyword id="513113" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="smart-city">Smart City</keyword> mission with five cities. 
 Ahead of the completion of two years of the mission in June, these cities have achieved an Investment Conversion Ratio (<keyword id="869068" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="ICR">ICR</keyword>) of 90 per cent and above, according to an analysis of the implementation of smart city projects, according to a news report by the <keyword id="6367495" type="COMPANY" weightage="20" keywordseo="PTI">PTI</keyword>. 
 
ICR indicates the percentage of funds currently being used at the ground level for implementing the projects as against the funds approved by the Centre. 
 The <keyword id="6696781" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="Urban-development-ministry">Urban Development Ministry</keyword> has approved smart city plans of 60 cities so far. 20 cities announced for the mission in January last year, followed by 13 in May and another 27 in September. 
 
Indore, Surat, and Udaipur were among the first batch of 20cities announced in January last year. Nagpur and Vadodara, despite being selected in September last year, got into top league within a short span, an official said. 
 
The first batch of 20 cities, with a total approved investment of Rs 48,064 crore, is sto achieve an ICR of 49 per cent by June this year. The ICR of the 13 announced in May is about 4 per cent and 21 per cent in the case of 27 cities announced in September, according to a news report by the PTI. 
 
A total investment of Rs 1,31,762 crore has been approved for the 60 cities. 
 
The performance of first batch in implementation of smart city plans is encouraging, though some of them, particularly, the southern cities need to pick up momentum, an official said. 
 The southern cities are Kochi (<keyword id="28504" type="CITY" weightage="20" keywordseo="Kerala">Kerala</keyword>), <keyword id="60510" type="COMPANY" weightage="20" keywordseo="Visakhapatnam">Visakhapatnam</keyword> (<keyword id="37102" type="COMPANY" weightage="20" keywordseo="Andhra-Pradesh">Andhra Pradesh</keyword>), Davanagere (<keyword id="6354780" type="ENTERTAINMENT" weightage="20" keywordseo="Karnataka">Karnataka</keyword>), Coimbatore (<keyword id="20154" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="tamil-nadu">Tamil Nadu</keyword>), <keyword id="6361499" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Belagavi">Belagavi</keyword> (Karnataka) and Chennai (Tamil Nadu). 
 <keyword id="94836" type="CITY" weightage="20" keywordseo="Kakinada">Kakinada</keyword> in Andhra Pradesh, however, is progressing well with an ICR of 55 per cent, according to a news report by the PTI.

BJP ruled states are implanting
Smart City mission better than others

Are you tired of carrying ‘n’ numbers of cards as soon as you leave your house? The government has come out with a solution. The <keyword id="162100" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="80" keywordseo="Ministry-of-Urban-Development">Ministry of Urban Development</keyword> has launched a NCMC model to enable seamless travel by metros and other transportation systems across the country. 
 
You can use the same card based on the Smart National Common Mobility Card (NCMC) model for shopping as well. This card does away with the need for carrying separate cards for banking and transit requirements. 
 
<a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/searchresult.cms?query=Urban+Development+Minister+M+Venkaiah+Naidu+">Urban Development Minister M Venkaiah Naidu</a> has approved the 'EMV Open Loop Card with stored value' for this initiative. 
 
Earlier, Naidu had set up a committee chaired by the additional secretary in the ministry to find an inter-operable mobility card that can be used across different transport systems in India and which can also be used as a <a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/searchresult.cms?query=credit+or+debit+card+">credit or debit card</a> as well. 
 This committee had representatives of <keyword id="6373306" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="60" keywordseo="National-Informatics-Centre">National Informatics Centre</keyword> (NIC), <keyword id="1306047" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="40" keywordseo="Centre-for-Development-of-Advance-Computing">Centre for Development of Advance Computing</keyword> (C-DAC), <keyword id="59330" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="80" keywordseo="Bureau-of-Indian-Standards">Bureau of Indian Standards</keyword> (BIS), National Payment Corporation of India (NCPI) and the <a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/searchresult.cms?query=Ministry+of+Finance">Ministry of Finance</a>. 
 
After studying different models used across the world, the committee has recommended the EMV Open Loop Card with stored value. 
 
This Smart Common Mobility Payment Card addresses the deficiencies associated with other cards being used in <a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/searchresult.cms?query=Singapore+">Singapore</a> and other countries. This card meets travel needs based on stored value of money. The card can be used for travelling by any means of transport and also enables account based retail applications. 
 Globally, there is no nationwide common card except in <keyword id="6356662" type="COUNTRY" weightage="60" keywordseo="Singapore">Singapore</keyword> where in inter-operability is confined to the city only. The committee has therefore recommended the EMV Open Loop Card with stored value for use across the country. 
 The ministry has decided to task the <keyword id="394949" type="CITY" weightage="60" keywordseo="National-Payments-Corporation">National Payments Corporation</keyword> of India with indigenous development and management of clearing and settlement of payments, simulating cards, terminals and network, a support base of vendors for providing certified tools, cards, terminals and other services, in line with the <a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/searchresult.cms?query=%27Make+in+India%27+">'Make in India'</a> initiative. 
 
(Image: Indiatimes)

Now travel anywhere within India using the same card!

<keyword id="6696781" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="Urban-development-ministry">Urban Development Ministry</keyword> today announced it would launch a mobile App for citizens to post their complaints about <keyword id="56059" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Garbage">garbage</keyword> pile-up in their areas and seek timely redress of their grievance. Named '<keyword id="3232838" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="Swachh-City-Solutions">Swachh City Solutions</keyword>', the proposed mobile and web-based application will be developed in partnership with an NGO 'Janaagraha' Centre for Citizenship and Democracy, to ensure timely and effective implementation of the <keyword id="2312336" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="Swachh-Bharat-Mission">Swachh Bharat Mission</keyword> objectives in 4041 statutory towns in the country. 

	A Memorandum of Understanding to the effect was signed today between the Ministry and the NGO 'Janaagraha' here. 
 

	The application is likely to become operational by April and will give citizens access to the latest technology to lodge their complaint and actively participate in keeping their cities clean. 
 

	Speaking on the occasion, UD Ministry Joint Secretary Praveen Prakash said, "Through this App, the government is providing the citizens with a platform to express their concerns regarding their areas and build community participation and consensus towards maintaining the cleanliness in their cities." 
 

	Prakash, who is also the Mission Director for Swachh Bharat said "The App will also enable municipal officials/field engineers to see each complaint and update the status of the resolution along with photos, hence building accountability in the system by ensuring timely grievance redressal." 
 

	Citizens will have features that will allow them to view complaints posted nearby, and show support by 'Voting up' on various complaints. 
 The App, in addition to enabling the creation of a community around complaints, leading to community participation and faster complaint resolution, will also enable the Ministry to rate and rank the 4041 <keyword id="6374279" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="Urban-local-bodies">urban local bodies</keyword> (ULBs) in India, based on their efficiency of redressing citizen grievances. The application aims at realising the vision of Swachh Bharat Mission towards a clean and <keyword id="1459267" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="Garbage-Free-India">garbage free India</keyword> by 2019. 
	 
	(Image credits: Reuters)

Swachh City Solutions App for garbage free India by April

It’s a welcome move by <a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/searchresult.cms?query=Home+Minister+Rajnath+Singh+">Home Minister Rajnath Singh</a> who would soon propose that the 100 'Smart Cities' should be developed as 'Safe Cities' with the help of the latest security equipment like CCTVs, command control centers, patrol cars, aerial surveillance and more women cops. 
 
The 100 <a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/searchresult.cms?query=%E2%80%98Smart+Cities%E2%80%99+">‘Smart Cities’</a> project announced by the <keyword id="71" type="POSITION" weightage="80" keywordseo="Prime-Minister">prime minister</keyword> last month is the part of a government flagship programme. 
 <keyword id="6355121" type="PERSON" weightage="80" keywordseo="Rajnath-Singh">Rajnath Singh</keyword> will make a proposal to the <a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/searchresult.cms?query=Urban+Development+Ministry+">Urban Development Ministry</a> that the former's 'Safe City' project should be combined with the Rs 48,000 crore 'Smart Cities' concept so that the 100 cities could be made smart as wells as safe from crime or terror. 
 The present 'Safe City' project of the MHA covers only seven metros - Delhi, Mumbai, Hyderabad, Chennai, Kolkata, Bengaluru and Ahmedabad. The MHA now proposes to cover all 100 'Safe Cities' under the concept in association with the <keyword id="6696781" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="80" keywordseo="Urban-development-ministry">Urban Development Ministry</keyword>. 
 
Rajnath Singh chaired a meeting in this regard with MoS Home <a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/searchresult.cms?query=Kiren+Rijiju">Kiren Rijiju</a>, the <keyword id="123228" type="POSITION" weightage="60" keywordseo="Director-General">Director General</keyword> of <keyword id="3043518" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="40" keywordseo="Bureau-of-Police-Research-and-Development-NR-Wasan">Bureau of Police Research and Development NR Wasan</keyword> and MHA <keyword id="230912" type="POSITION" weightage="60" keywordseo="security-advisor">Security Advisor</keyword> <keyword id="3043517" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="40" keywordseo="K-Vijay-Kumar">K. Vijay Kumar</keyword> on Monday. "The smart cities need to be safe cities as well. We are planning to propose the same for planning in advance," Rijiju told ET. 
 
Last month, the <a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/searchresult.cms?query=%E2%80%98Smart+Cities%E2%80%99+">Prime Minister</a> had announced names of 98 cities which will be specially developed as 'Smart Cities' as part of a government flagship project, with one nomination of a city pending from Uttar Pradesh and J&amp;K each. 
 "The idea is that MHA and <keyword id="81069" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="60" keywordseo="UD-ministry">UD Ministry</keyword> should not work in isolation on each of its projects and it is better that MHA works with UD on the latter's project rather than planning for the safety of the cities subsequently," a MHA official said. 
 
The 'Smart City' concept involves promoting mixed land use in area based developments, housing and inclusiveness, creating walkable localities, promoting a variety of transport options and giving an identity to the city based on its main economic activity. 
 
(Image: Indiatimes)

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