By: D.K Choudhary
Lok Sabha Clears Maternity Benefits (Amendment) Bill, 2016 To Raise Maternity Leave to 26 Weeks
i. The Maternity Benefit (Amendment) Bill, 2016 was passed by the Lok Sabha by voice vote on March 10, 2017 that will benefit about 1.8 million women working in organized sector.
ii. The bill seeks to increase the maternity leaves to 26 weeks by amending the Maternity Benefits Act, 1961 that provides for 12 weeks of maternity leave.
iii. The Bill will be applicable to the establishments that hire at least 10 or more people. The entitlement will be for only up to first 2 children. For third child, the entitlement will be for only 12 weeks.
iv. The Labour and Employment Minister Bandaru Dattatreya moved the bill for consideration and passage in Lower House.
President of India inaugurates the 12th CII-Exim bank conclave on India Africa Project Partnership
President Pranab Mukherjee has inaugurated the two day 12th CII-EXIM Bank Conclave on India Africa Project Partnership on March 9, 2017 in New Delhi.The first conclave has held in 2005.
♦ The Conclave was organized by the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) in partnership with the EXIM Bank of India with the support of the Ministry of External Affairs and the Ministry of Commerce & Industry, Government of India.
♦ Objective : To discuss cooperation in Trade, Regional Integration & Infrastructure Development, Finance & Consultancy, Mining & Minerals, Agriculture & Agro-Processing, Power & Alternative Energy, Healthcare, Small & Medium Enterp
rises, Human Capital Development and People-to-People Contacts
♦ More than 400 international delegates, including over 30 Ministerial level delegates, from 37 African countries, participated in the conclave.
India & Africa Relationship :
i. Over the years, 2,915 projects worth $327.12 billion have been discussed.
ii. During the 11th edition , 381 projects worth about $70.49 billion were discussed leading to many landmark India-Africa business and project partnerships
iii. The India-Africa partnership is a stellar example of multi-pronged South-South Cooperation, straddling the traditional and emerging areas of cooperation alike.
iv. India-Africa bilateral trade volumes grew from $28.9 billion in 2007-08 to $56.7 billion in 2015-16.
Africa :
♦ Africa is the world’s second-largest and second-most-populous continent.
♦ It contains 54 fully recognized sovereign states (countries), nine territories and two de facto independent states with limited or no recognition
♦ Algeria is Africa’s largest country by area, and Nigeria by population
