Cabinet nod to bring PM under Lok Pal

Discussions on Insurance Regulatory Authority Bill and the housing policy, which were listed in the agenda for today’s Cabinet meeting, could not be taken up for want of time. Sources in the Government said that they would now be taken up in the next meeting. The Union Cabinet, it is learnt, has decided to incorporate within the Lok Pal Bill most of the recommendations made by the standing committee set up by the previous government. Thecommittee had submitted its report on May 9 last.

The Cabinet also decided to incorporate within the Bill the recommendations of the Ethics Committee on Public Life, the Privileges Committee and the Committee headed by former Union Minister C Subramaniam.

After assuming office, Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee had asked a group of ministers to look into various aspects of the recommendations made by these committees.

The Cabinet, sources pointed out, has also approved the upgradation of 1,200 posts of nurses working in seven Central Government institutions. These would be of the level of deputy nursing superintendents, assistant nursing superintendents, ward sister and staff nurses. The decision is likely to cost the exchequer Rs 213.43 lakh.

The decision, made in pursuance of an agreement reached between the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare and Delhi Nurses Union on May 16 this year, is likely to meet the long-standing demands of the nurses.

The Union Cabinet tonight also gave its go-aheadto the proposal to allow the Oil India Limited to acquire 20 per cent participating interest in TOTAL’s Oman Block-4 with maximum financial commitment of Rs 37.83 crores during the initial period of exploration.

It also approved the proposal to augment the paid-up capital of the Exim Bank every year out of the budgetary allocation.