Delhi Confidential: Past forward
Communications and Information Technology Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad continues to be the Information & Broadcasting Minister.
For the Directorate of Audio & Visual Publicity, it seems, Communications and Information Technology Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad continues to be the Information & Broadcasting Minister, a charge he held in the previous NDA government. A newspaper advertisement about the Communication and IT Ministry’s Web Ratna Awards function, twice mentioned Prasad as I&B Minister, with his picture and then in the text. The government’s publicity arm could certainly do with some updation of its information bank.
Slowing down
He may have categorically denied any rethink on the decision to have 85 per cent coverage for warnings on tobacco products from April 1, but less than 24 hours after Health Minister J P Nadda left for China, there are indications that his ministry is all set to postpone the implementation of the October notification in this regard. The reason being offered is that the matter is being investigated by the the Committee on Subordinate Legislation. An officer described the move as a “forgone conclusion”. However, no announcement is likely before the Health Minister returns from China.
Standing out
Among the national film award recipients whose names were announced on Tuesday is a six-minute animation film called Komal dealing with child sex abuse. The film was made by the Childline India Foundation, an NGO which is almost entirely funded by the Ministry of Women and Child Development, for the implementation of its integrated child protection scheme. The film won an award in the category of best educational film.
Some continuity
Some things stay on despite the change of names. So while Planning Commission is now NITI Aayog, the room and the staff, including the peon, of former member Arun Maira has been inherited by full-time member Bibek Debroy. The continuity did not end there. At an event in the city, the two gentlemen were also seen wearing the same cut and colour of half sleeve jacket standing next to each other.
Court compliment
BJP MP Meenakshi Lekhi appeared in the Supreme Court on Wednesday on behalf of a group of officers in a case related to lowering of age for commanding officers in the Army. During the hearing, as Lekhi sought to intervene, Justice T S Thakur indulgently told her to proceed, saying she too was “in full command”. At some other point during the hearing, the judge observed that like the Army, the age profile of Parliament was also getting younger. Lekhi, one of the younger faces of Parliament, nodded in agreement.
Source:: Indian Express
