Swavalamban Scheme, a co-contributory Scheme, was launched, in September, 2010 to encourage people from the unorganized sector to voluntarily save for their retirement. The Central Government would contribute a sum of Rs.1,000 in each New Pension System (NPS) account opened under the Scheme where the subscriber is able to save Rs. 1,000 to Rs.12,000 during a financial year. This scheme is open to those citizens of India who are not part of any statutory pension/provident fund scheme. The target beneficiaries of Swavalamban Scheme are:

(i) Co-contribution scheme beneficiaries of State Governments.

(ii) Aanganwaadi workers.

(iii) Construction workers.

(iv) Occupational classes like weavers, fishermen, farmers, dairy workers etc.

(v) Beneficiaries of services from various NGOs.

(vi) Beneficiaries of micro credit from MFIs, nationalized banks etc.

The benefits of the Swavalamban Scheme have been extended from three years to five years for subscribers enrolled during 2010-11, 2011-12 and also for the subscribers enrolled during 2012-13.

The Scheme has been approved by the Government.

The scheme has already been launched on 26.09.2010.

The scheme is likely to benefit around 70 lakh workers from the unorganized sector by the year 2016-17.

This information was given by the Union Labour & Employment Minister Shri Mallikarjun Kharge in reply to a written question in the Lok Sabha today.

-PIB

The Ministry of Labour & Employment is responsible for constitution of Wage Boards for working journalists and non-journalist newspaper employees as per the provisions of the Working Journalists and Other Newspaper Employees (Conditions of Service) and Miscellaneous Provisions Act, 1955.

Under the Act, the Government of India constituted two wage boards (Majithia Wage Boards), one for working journalists and other for non-journalist newspaper employees in 2007. The Wage Boards submitted their report on 31.12.2010.

The Government accepted the recommendations of the Majithia Wage Boards and accordingly notified it vide S.O. No. 2532(E) dated 11/11/2011. The Wage Boards, inter-alia, recommended for implementing the pension scheme for the newspaper employees alongwith some other recommendations in Chapter XXI of the report. However, the Government has not accepted the proposal as this was beyond the mandate of the Wage Boards.

This information was given by the Union Labour & Employment Minister Shri Mallikarjun Kharge in reply to a written question in the Lok Sabha today.

Some allegations regarding running of resettlement schemes for Ex-servicemen by the officials of the Directorate General of Resettlement have been made by some individuals / agencies. The allegations are regarding availing of multiple benefits by some ESM in connivance with the officials of DGR.

These allegations were investigated by an In-house Enquiry Committee which submitted its report. The matter has been handed over to Serious Fraud Investigation Office (SFIO) under the Ministry of Corporate Affairs for a detailed investigation against the officials mentioned in the report of the In-house enquiry committee. However, to ensure more transparency in the functioning of the DGR`s organization, necessary instructions have been issued.

This information was given by Minister of State for Defence Dr MM Pallam Raju in a written reply to Shri Hamdullah Sayeed in Lok Sabha today.

-PIB

At present, there are 24 Sainik Schools in the country. In-principle approval has been given to set up three new Sainik Schools in Sambalpur (Orissa), Sagar (Madhya Pradesh) and Chittoor (Andhra Pradesh) respectively.

Sainik Schools admit boys in Classes VI and IX. Their age should be 10-11 years for Class VI and 13-14 years for Class IX as on 1st July of the year in which admission is sought. Admissions are made strictly in the order of merit on the basis of an Entrance Examination held once a year. The Entrance Examination consists of a written examination followed by an interview of shortlisted candidates. Admission is further subject to the candidates being found medically fit according to the same medical standards prescribed for entry to National Defence Academy.

This information was given by Minister of Defence Shri AK Antony in a written reply to Shri N. Balaganga in Rajya Sabha today.

-PIB

Married Accommodation Project (MAP) has been undertaken by Ministry of Defence for providing adequate residential/married accommodation for the defence personnel.

Under the project, a total of 198881 Dwelling Units (DUs) are being constructed in four phases, at an estimated cost of Rs.17357.97 Cr. Presently, 53957 DUs have been constructed out of a total of 57875 DUs under Phase-I of the project. Phase-ll of the project involving construction of 69992 DUs has also begun. In order to ensure that the balance of 71014 dwelling units of MAP Phase-Ill and Phase-IV also get completed expeditiously, Phase- Ill and Phase-IV have been merged. The total number of DUs proposed to be constructed is based on assessment of requirement.

The deficiency in married accommodation have been identified and construction has been undertaken under the Married Accommodation Project (MAP) on priority. MAP is only for serving defence personnel and is not meant for retired personnel.

This information was given by Minister of Defence Shri A K Antony in a written reply to Shri Partap Singh Bajwa in Lok Sabha today.

-PIB