Govt nod to GoM demands
The government on Thursday accepted all the 22 recommendations of the group of ministers (GoM) on Bhopal gas tragedy. The recommendations included an enhanced compensation, extradition of former UCC CEO Warren Anderson and filling a curative petition in the Supreme Court.
The Cabinet has decided that ex-gratia of Rs 10 lakh would be given to the kin of each killed in the tragedy, Rs 5 lakh to those who suffered permanent disability, Rs 2 lakh each to people who suffered cancer and total renal failure and Rs 1 lakh to those with temporary disability. The ex-gratia would benefit 45,000 affected people and the amount would be paid after adjusting the compensation already paid, Ms Ambika Soni said. The government also announced various packages for rehabilitation and other measures, taking the total spending to Rs 1265.56 crore.
Ms Soni said, the Cabinet decided that additional material in support of the request for “extradition of Mr Anderson” may be put together by concerned agencies and the external affairs ministry would thereafter press the request with the US government.
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Decision on rupee symbol off
New Delhi, June 24: The rupee’s entry into the elite club of currencies with their own symbols will take longer with the government on Thursday deferring a decision on the issue.
The Cabinet was to finalise the symbol on Thursday, but the matter was deferred after finance minister Pranab Mukherjee asked for more time to go through the short-listed signs, sources said.
The issue was on the agenda of the Cabinet, which met under the chairmanship of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh here, but was deferred, sources said.
The government has shortlisted five designs. Finance minister Pranab Mukherjee had said that “in the ensuing year, we intend to formalise a symbol which reflects the Indian ethos and culture.” —PTI
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