CABINET DECISIONS

28.12.2005

 

1.       Proposal to amend the Orissa Co-operative Societies Act., 1962.

 

 

                        Elections in 5,933 out of 7,808 functional Primary Cooperative Societies and 60 out of 146 functional Central Cooperative Societies had been completed prior to commencement of the Orissa Cooperative Societies (Amendment) Act, 2004 on 27.12.2004.

 

                        Elections in the remaining Cooperative Societies are required to be held in accordance with the provisions of the Orissa Cooperative Societies (Amendment) Act, 2004 in which a new reservation policy was introduced for reservation of seats for the weaker sections in the Managing Committees of Cooperative Societies and in keeping with the provisions of the Orissa Cooperative Societies (Elections to the Committees) Amendment Rules, 2005 enforced on 14.07.2005.

 

                        The Cabinet, in their meeting held on 30.06.2005, had approved the proposal for extension of the statutory period from 03.07.2005 by a further period of six months upto 02.01.2006.  Thus, the total statutory period having been extended by forty-two months specified Under Section 28(2) (g) (iv) of the Orissa Cooperative Societies Act, 1962 was extended upto forty-eight months, that is, till 02.01.2006, by promulgation of an Ordinance.

 

                        The State Legislature had also approved the Orissa               Co-operative Societies (Amendment) Bill, 2005 and the Ordinance was replaced by the Orissa Cooperative Societies (Amendment) Act, 2005.

 

                        The Registrar-cum-Chief Electoral Officer of Cooperative Societies had issued instructions to all the concerned authorities to start the election process in the remaining Co-operative Societies and to complete the elections by 02.01.2006.

 

                        Meanwhile, one Shri Sangram Keshari Samal and another challenged the provisions of the Orissa Cooperative Societies (Amendment) Act, 2004 before the Hon’ble High Court in WP(C)No.9514/2005.

 

                        One Shri Bijay Kumar Majhi and seven others have also challenged the provisions of the Orissa Cooperative Societies (Elections to the Committees) Amendment Rules, 2005 before the Hon’ble High Court in WP(C) No. 10301/2005.

 

                        Due to the Interim Order dt.31.08.2005 not to issue  Notification for the election passed by the Hon’ble High Court in WP(C) No.10301/05, the election process could not be started by the Registrar.

 

                        The Cabinet decided to extend the statutory period last extended w.e.f. 03.07.2005 to 02.01.2006 by another six months, that is, from 03.01.2006 to 02.07.2006 by promulgation of an Ordinance since the State Legislature is not in session.  Thus, the statutory period will be extended from forty-eight months to fifty-four months.

 

 2.    Constitution of the Commission to enquire into the Regional Imbalances in the State and to recommend the necessary remedial measures – Extension of time.

 

                        The Cabinet approved the proposal to extend the term of the Commission for a period of one year with effect from 20.8.2005 as follows:

 

                        The Extension of the term of the Commission would be beneficial for the upliftment of the people of different Districts/ Blocks/ areas in the State thus maintaining Regional balance and eradicating imbalance.

 

                        Within extended period of one year, the commission would collect data from different Departments, 30 Districts and 314 Blocks on different development indicators.  Besides, the commission will make District visits and also visit other States and hold discussion with different persons.  Accordingly the report will be drafted and submitted to the Government.

 

3.     Transfer of subject matter “Linguistic and Religious Minority” from Home Department to Minority and Backward Classes Welfare Department.

           

                        With a view to avoid duplicity and to expedite decision making, the Cabinet decided to transfer the subject matter “Linguistic and Religious Minority” from Home to the Department of Minority and Backward Classes Welfare so that all matters relating to Religious Minorities can be looked after by one Department dedicated to welfare of Minorities.

 

4.          Prorogation of the Sixth Session of the Thirteenth Orissa Legislative Assembly.

 

The Cabinet accorded post-facto approval to the prorogation of the Sixth Session of the Thirteenth Orissa Legislative Assembly.

 

The Sixth Session of the Thirteenth Orissa Legislative Assembly which was commenced on 21.11.2005 adjourned sine-die on 8.12.2005.  His Excellency The Governor of Orissa has prorogued the Session on 23.12.2005 in anticipation of approval of the Cabinet.

 

            The above order of the Governor of Orissa was notified vide Parliamentary Affairs Department Notification No.8322 dated 27.12.2005.   The Cabinet accorded post-facto approval to the same.

 

5.   Creation of new irrigation potential in all the Districts.

         

 

          The Cabinet decided that in order to create new irrigation potential in all districts of the State 50,000 irrigation spot sources, namely, energized dug-wells, bore-wells, , shallow tube wells and river lift points will be promoted with NABARD assistance under RIDF during the next 3 years.

---