e-Governance & IT/ITeS Policy-2015 given approval

Various important decisions were taken in the State Cabinet meeting held at Chief Minister’s office on Thursday including approval to the Rajasthan Laws Repealing Bill, 2015, proposed amendment in the RTE Act, 2009 and e-Governance and IT/ITeS Policy 2015. The meeting was presided over by Chief Minister Smt. Vasundhara Raje.

Talking to media persons after the cabinet meet, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Shri Rajendra Rathore said the state government had undertaken a comprehensive review of laws with a view to remove incoherent and redundant laws and a committee had been constituted to review such laws. The committee, after consultation with all administrative departments had identified 60 Principal Acts and 187 Amending Acts which are no longer needed. To repeal such obsolete Acts, the draft of ‘Rajasthan Laws Repealing Bill, 2015’ was given approval by the state cabinet on Thursday. The Bill will be tabled in the next session of the State Assembly.

Shri Rathore said the Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education (Rajasthan Amendment) Bill, 2015 was also given approval by the cabinet. He said amendment in section 8, section 16, section 21, section 24 and 29 of RTE Act, 2009 has been proposed in this Bill. The amendments will ensure achievements of class appropriate learning level by every child of the age 6-14 years. Provision has been made in the amendment bill that if a child has not achieved appropriate level in a class, the child may be held back in that class, provision has also been made to ensure that teachers perform their duties. The amendment in section 21(2) of the RTE Act, 2009 will enable School Management Committees to monitor teachers if they are performing their duties well or not.

The Parliamentary Affairs Minister informed that to achieve the target of e-Governance and make Rajasthan the best IT destination and IT hub, the ‘Rajasthan e-Governance and IT/ITeS Policy-2015’ was given approval by the Cabinet. He said the objectives of the IT Policy – 2015 is to establish 7 smart cities in Rajasthan by 2020, to provide employment to 5 lakh people in IT sector by 2025, positioning Rajasthan as best IT Investment Destination, positioning and branding Jaipur as IT and ITeS Hub in North-West India, to increase the current investment in IT/ITes sector by 10 times, to increase the IT turnover to Rs. 50,000 crore and to increase IT exports from Rajasthan to Rs. 5000 crores. Besides this the policy aims to make to individuals (at least one female) in every household e-literate, establishing complete participatory & transparent open governance along with citizen centric IT and e-Governance for the people of Rajasthan.

Shri Rathore informed that under the IT Policy-2015 provisions have been made to provide benefits of investment subsidy and employment generation subsidy. The Manufacturing Enterprises investing up to Rs. 5 crores, Rs. 5 crores to Rs. 25 crores and more than Rs. 25 crores will be given 30%, 60% and 70% investment subsidy respectively in VAT and CST deposited for 7 years. He said Manufacturing Enterprises investing up to Rs. 5 crores, from Rs. 5 crores to Rs. 25 crores and more than Rs. 25 crores to be given employment generation subsidy of 20%, 10% and 10% respectively in VAT and CST deposited for 7 years. The Enterprises shall be given 50-50 percent exemption from payment of Electricity Duty and Land Tax for 7 years.

The state cabinet also gave nod to the draft of The Rajasthan Police (Amendment) Bill, 2015. By amending section 60 of Rajasthan Police Act, 2007 provision shall be made as any person found drunk or incapable of taking care of himself or causes obstruction, inconvenience, danger or damage to people on road or any open place and public place shall be liable to a fine of Rs. 500 for the first time, fine of Rs. 5000 for the subsequent two offences and fine of Rs. 10,000 for every subsequent offence after the conviction of third offence. Provision of imprisonment of not exceeding 8 days has also been made. Currently the Rajasthan Police Act, 2007 provides fine of Rs. 50 along with imprisonment of not exceeding 8 days to such person found drunk or riotous or who is incapable of taking care of himself.

The state cabinet also decided to review the abolition of posts of lecturer and senior teacher in Urdu subject and revive the posts according to the requirements if needed.

Jaipur, 03 September 2015