SC panel issues notice to evict 600 acres of Panchami lands

Chennai:

More than 5,000 acres of Panchami lands (Depressed Classed Assigned lands) have been occupied by other communities in eight districts of Tamil Nadu and action has been initiated to get them back, according to Vice-Chairman of National Commission for Scheduled Castes L Murugan.

Murugan, who is conducting a hearing of cases pertaining to atrocities against Scheduled Castes at State Guest House, told Express that notice has been served to people of other communities occupying 600 acres of Panchami land to vacate it.

As per law, the Panchami land, which came into being after Madras government passed the Government Orders 1010 and 1010A dated  September 30, 1892, could not be sold, or mortgaged to anyone.

Dalit activists claim that despite the act, panchami lands meant for dalits have vanished. And what is more there has also been a fall in the dalit owners of such lands.

On Dalits in the State being forced to approach the courts to register even First Information Reports pertaining to cases linked to Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, Murugan said that this attitude of officials should be changed. “According to new amendment to the act, if officer is neglecting his duty file FIRs under the Prevention of Atrocities Act, action can be taken against the official, he said.

Murugan said that he is hearing eight case and one of them pertains to a murder case in Puducherry where in the Director General of Police, Puducherry is being summoned.

Murugan said that he along with director of Adi Dravidar Welfare reviewed the implementation of schemes for Scheduled Castes. He said that he will be reviewing the schools and college hostels run by the Adi Dravidar Welfare department.

writingonblog uncensored: TN health drink Neera to be showcased in global fo...

writingonblog uncensored: TN health drink Neera to be showcased in global fo...: Chennai: Neera, a health drink prepared from the sap of Coconut palm, is likely to be showcased in the World Food India 2017 platform in...

TN health drink Neera to be showcased in global food expo

Chennai:

Neera, a health drink prepared from the sap of Coconut palm, is likely to be showcased in the World Food India 2017 platform in New Delhi, according to Tamil Nadu agriculture minister R Doraikannu and agriculture secretary Gagandeep Singh.

This comes after the government permitted the sales and marketing of the Neera, considered to be a health drink for persons suffering from diabetes as it has low glycemic index (GI).

The GI is a measure of how quickly and how high a particular food item raises the blood sugar level by releasing glucose into the blood stream.

Addressing a World Food India 2017 roadshow, organised by Confederation of Indian Industry, Gangandeep Singh said that the state is planing to market the drink globally and plans are on to set up Neera processing units with help from Coconut Development Board,

Singh said that government will allow only coconut growers associations, cooperative societies and coconut growers federations to extract neera using ‘anti-fermentation liquid’ (AFL).

Interestingly, Union Minister for Food Processing Industries Harsimrat Kaur Badal had said that World Food India Summit, to be held in New Delhi from November 3 to 5, will have a special section where in such natural health drinks like Neera and other products will be popularised globally

writingonblog uncensored: Two more mega food parks to be set up in Villupura...

writingonblog uncensored: Two more mega food parks to be set up in Villupura...: Chennai: Tamil Nadu is likely to have two more mega food parks in Villupuram and Krishnagiri by availing funds from the Centre under the...

Two more mega food parks to be set up in Villupuram, Krishnagiri

Chennai:

Tamil Nadu is likely to have two more mega food parks in Villupuram and Krishnagiri by availing funds from the Centre under the Kisan Sampada Yojana, according to Tamil Nadu Agriculture Minister R Doraikannu and state agriculture secretary Gagandeep Singh.

Talking to Express on the sidelines of World Food India 2017 roadshow, both the minister and the secretary said that the state is preparing a project report for setting up mega foodpark in Villupuram and Krishnagiri districts under the just announced Kisan Sampada Yojana.

Land has been identified to set up Mega Food Park in Villupuram. The process is on to identify land in Krishnagiri, they added. This comes as Ministry of Food Processing Industry has accorded ‘in-principle’ approval on January 3, 2017 to Ratnatray Mega Food Park Pvt. Ltd. for setting up of a Mega Food Park at Village Akkarai Sengapally, Annur Taluka, in Coimbatore district.

This comes as Union Food Processing Industries Minister Harsimrat Kaur Badal urged the state to avail funds under Kisan Sampada Scheme. The scheme has Rs 6,000 crore outlay and the focus is on mega food parks, integrated cold chain and value addition infrastructure as well as creating infrastructure for agro-processing clusters.

The mega food park aims at providing a mechanism to link agricultural production to the market by bringing together farmers, processors and retailers so as to ensure maximizing value addition, minimizing wastage, increasing farmers’ income and creating employment opportunities particularly in rural sector, said Badal. She said all the 42 mega food parks, taken up during Congress regime, will be completed in the next two years

Meanwhile, Doraikannu and Singh said that there is also a proposal to set up banana processing plant in Tuticorin and Theni districts. “We will be seeking funds from the Centre in this regard,” he said.

Singh said that the government is planning to set up fish processing plants in Cuddalore and Nagapattinam. This comes as lot of the catch in these two areas are being sent to neighbouring Kerala to be processed and exported. Already a fish processing plant is being set up in Thiruvallur on Sipcot land by a priate firm Monsoon Bounty.

The state government is also setting up terminal market complex in Melur in Madurai and Navalur near Sriperumbudur, said Singh.

writingonblog uncensored: TN health Minister evades taxes worth Rs 14 cr

writingonblog uncensored: TN health Minister evades taxes worth Rs 14 cr: Chennai: Tamil Nadu Health Minister Vijaya Bhaskar is believed to have evaded taxes worth Rs 14 crore as Income Tax recorded his stateme...

TN health Minister evades taxes worth Rs 14 cr

Chennai:

Tamil Nadu Health Minister Vijaya Bhaskar is believed to have evaded taxes worth Rs 14 crore as Income Tax recorded his statements after questioning him for two hours.

Emerging from the Director General of Income Tax (Investigations) building after being grilled by Income Tax officials for two hours, the minister accepted that the stone crusher unit attached in  100 acre land belongs to him.

While he did not mention about evasion of taxes, it is learnt from sources that it could be around Rs 14 crore. The minister also hit out at the allegations made by the media. “There has been no press release. But the media has been spreading lies. The blue metal company was alleged to be run by a cook Subbiah. Subbiah is a sub-contractor and not a cook. He is a respectable man and has a son who works abroad,” the minister said.

He also said that Income Tax department is well within its powers to attach his property under the new rules. “I am a law abiding citizen. I have been cooperating despite being in a position of power,” he said.

“They had summoned me to appear on 4.30pm. I reached there by 5.30 pm. For two hours they questioned me,” he said.

He also said that the blue metal company is functioning within the rules. “There are 120 stone crushers in the area. It is one of the traditional form of business in that area. I am also one of the entreprenuers. Everything is within the rule,” the minister said.

“Once the inquiry is over in the next six months. I will get back my property after undergoing due processes. I have been paying value added tax, income tax and sales tax for the property,” he said.