Best of PIB: 28 Dec 2016

Fresh guidelines for implementation of Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal) Act, 2013 by WCD Ministry

• Details of implementation will form a part of the annual report
• Enquiry of cases must be completed within 30 days and within 90 days from the date of the complaint
• The departments/ministries must protect the complainant from any kind of victimization
• The ministries/departments must submit a monthly progress report to ministry of Women and Child Development

Cabinet approves International Solar Alliance Agreement

• The cabinet has approved the agreement
• The agreement was kept open at the Marrakesh Meet for the countries to sign
• So far 25 countries have signed the agreement

       Important points about ISA (general info)

• Was launched in November 2015 (at Paris Climate Meet-CoP 21)
• It’s HQ is located at NISE campus at Gurugram
• Ensure the solar light to the households by 2022
• Originally the idea was to form a group of 120 countries falling between Tropic of Cancer and Tropic of Capricorn to harness the solar energy
• Over the period of time many more countries have shown the interest –France is one such example

CCEA approves Road Connectivity Project for Left Wing Extremism (LWE) Affected Areas-Scheme

• Will be implemented under PMGSY (Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana) in 44 districts affected by left wing extremism
• The fund sharing will be the same as in case of PMGSY (C:S::60:40)
• The ministry of Rural Development will be the implementing ministry
• Under PMGSY-Major District Roads (MDR) are not usually covered but under this scheme an exemption has been made (the NH and SHs will not be covered)

       Points about PMGSY (general info)

• Launched in 2000
• To provide connectivity in all the habitations with a population over 500 as per census 2001 (250 in case of Special Category States)

Financial Redressal Agency (FRA)

• Will be an agency to take care of grievances of consumers against all the Financial Service Providers (FSP)
• Recommended by FSLRC (Financial Sector Legislative Reforms Committee-Headed by Justice Srikrishna)
• Setting up announced by the Finance Minister in the Budget of 2016-16
• Design of FRA
• Cases to be resolved through mediation
• Theremedies awarded by the FRA may include
• Directionsto the FSP to take remedial steps
• Paymentof compensation
• To ensure the robustness of the system the FRA has to disclose and undergo review
• Further appeals will be at SAT (Securities Appellate Tribunal)

        Points about FSLRC (general info)

• Set up by the finance ministry in 2011 (submitted report in 2013), to comprehensively review and redraw the Indian Financial System and headed by Justice B N Srikrishna
• The report observed that current regulatory architecture is fragmented and is fraught with regulatory gaps, overlaps and inconsistencies

        Recommendations

• Establish FRA (Financial Redressal Agency) to address consumer complaints against the financial companies across
• Establish five new regulating agencies namely UFA (Unified Financial Agency), FSAT (Financial Sector Appellate Tribunal), FRA, DMO (Debt Management Office) and Resolution Corporation (to take care of insolvency related to financial institutions)
• Set up DMO and FSAT to hear appeals against regulators