State takes over samadhis, brindavans

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The state government has proposed to bring samadhis and brindavans which have risen to the stature of religious places of worship under the control of the Hindu religious and charitable endowment department.

Introducing the Bill, Tamil Nadu Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments (Amendment) Act, 2012, in the Assembly on Tuesday HR & CE minister M.S.M. Anandam said samadhis and brindavans established to perpetuate the memory of famous gurus, sadhus or saints were being worshipped as a places of public religious worship in the state.

These acquired the status of religious institution owning vast properties besides attract large number of worshippers and are not governed by the HR & CE Act of 1959.

Barring a few, most of the samadhis and brindavans are not covered under any law. Though a few samadhis and brindhavans are registered under the Tamil Nadu Societies Registration Act, 1975, they are not effectively controlled under the said Act.

Therefore, for effective supervision to bring those institutions under the control of HR & CE department, the government has decided to include samadhis and brindavans and other institutions established or maintained for religious purpose, where there is public religious worship under the definition of the term “religious institution” in clause (18) of the Section 6 of the said Act and to bring suitable amendment to clause (15) of Section 6 of the said Act to define “person having interest” in such religious institution, Mr Anandan said.

He explained that religious institution meant a math, temple or specific endowment.

E-services directory just a click away

In order to simplify access to online services offered by various state government departments, chief minister Jayalalithaa on Tuesday announced that all the services of the government departments would soon be available through an Online Demonstrative Services Directory on government website.

In a suo motu statement in the House, she said that the directory would contain details of the online services, website address, links to services, user guide and service status at one location.

“So the need for the public to visit government offices to avail of the benefits will come down,” she said.

At present, the government departments are offering various services through their websites. “Since it is difficult to remember address of various sites, it is decided to simplify the access by releasing the directory on the website,” she said.

To ensure government scheme reaches the people quickly, Ms Jayalalithaa said that a software to monitor and track implementation of government schemes would also be created.

“The monitoring application software will help officials keep track of the schemes in a time bound manner,” she said.

To protect the government sites from hackers, she said the government would take steps conduct safety audits for the sites in a phased manner

Separate state act to avoid stamp duty delay

Chief minister Jayalalithaa on Tuesday announced that the state government would enact a state Stamp Act to replace the Indian Stamp Act 1899 to avoid delay in effecting changes in stamp duty under the Central law.

In a suo motu statement in the Assembly, Ms Jayalalithaa said that since the Central Act is being followed in the state, any changes to be made in the Act in the interest of the people should be passed in the Assembly first and then sent for Presidential consent.

“To avoid the delay, a separate Stamp Act for the state will be enacted soon,” she said adding that states like Maharashtra, Karnataka, Kerala and Gujarat have enacted a separate law.

The chief minister said in this fiscal year, her government would take steps to construct 17 integrated sub registrar office complexes to house 27 sub registrar offices besides constructing 48 own building offices.

She said the building would be constructed at a cost of Rs 41.70 crore. She also said own buildings would be constructed for 16 commercial taxes offices in the state at a cost of Rs 12.50 crore.

Bill moved to amend vat for consumers’ benefit

A bill to provide for appropriation of money out of the consolidated fund of the state for the services and purposes of the financial year commencing April 2012 was tabled in the Assembly on Tuesday by finance minister O. Panneerselvam.

The bill seeks Rs 1.28 lakh crore to meet the grants made by the Legislative Assembly for the year and the expenditure charged on the consolidated fund for the year, he said.

Meanwhile, commercial taxes minister C. Ve. Shanmugam introduced a bill to further amend the Tamil Nadu Value Added Tax (VAT) (sixth amendment) Act, 2006, to give effect to certain tax concessions announced to benefit consumers.

Also, the amendment would facilitate further revenue mobilisation for implementing welfare and developmental programmes more vigorously.

The government had announced concessions for insulin, handmade locks, agricultural implements, vegetable oils, splints and veneers for matches and electrically operated two-wheelers. The amendment will come into force from April, 1, 2012.

Zoological park TO COME UP in udayagiri fort

Chief minister on Tuesday announced setting up of a zoological park under the forest department at the famous Udayagiri Fort in Kanyakumari district, at a cost of Rs 15 crore.

Making a statement under rule 110 in the Assembly, she said that the park would come up on 22.5 acres of land and house 26 wild animals.

Ms Jayalalithaa also announced allocation of over `39 crore towards plantation of teak saplings with a view to meeting the demand of teakwood and generate revenue for the government.

With felling of teak trees in sanctuaries and certain other notified areas banned, the government had taken up teak plantation drive on the Cauvery riverbed in 2003-04 over a span of 16,050 hectares at a cost of Rs 21.39 crore, she said.

“Following the success of this scheme and keeping in mind the demand besides generating revenue for the government, teak (saplings) will be planted in over 19,075 hectares and Rs 39.49 crore will be allocated for this purpose,” she said.

She proposed to allocate a sum of Rs 3.60 crore for the maintenance of the existing trees.

She announced formation of a Tamil Nadu Forest Uniform Service Recruitment board in the likes of the Uniform Service Recruitment Board for the police.