Bill On Free Elementary Education Imminent

The Union government proposes to introduce a series of new bills in Parliament aimed at making the right to free elementary education a fundamental right, attracting private investment in national highways and creating a regulatory commission for the power sector.

At present, free universal education upto the age of 14 finds mention in the directive principles of the Constitution. The Deve Gowda government has, however, decided to satisfy a long-felt need by making it a fundamental right. This would imply a huge growth in budgetary allocation for the education sector which also finds mention in the United Fronts basic minimum services programme.

Besides, several other bills are expected to be introduced to replace ordinances on issues like depository-related laws and special courts for trial of offences relating to securities transactions. The two ordinances which created the telecom regulatory authority and the insurance regulatory authority are also likely to be replaced by bills. The government will also move a chemical weapons convention bill to ratify the United Nations-sponsored convention which seeks prohibition of further development and production of chemical weapons, a halt to their stockpiling and use and the eventual destruction of existing chemical weapons.

The government has also decided to formalise its earlier promise to protect researchers, breeders and farmers of plant varieties and encourage the development of novel plant varieties, besides ensuring availability of quality seeds and planting material. This will be done by moving the plant varieties protection bill in parliament. A second amendment is proposed on electricity laws to create a regulatory commission for the power sector both at the Centre and state levels. The government also plans to introduce the sick industrial companies (special provisions) amendment bill to enact new laws to deal with industrial sickness in place of the existing Act. The Indian Coffee Act will also be amended to grant 100 per cent free sale quota to coffee growers.

The government also proposes to amend the controversial Delhi Rent Act in order to balance the interests of both landlords and tenants. The Prasar Bharati bill and the Indian broadcasting bill are also slated to be introduced, although hectic lobbying by some media organisations may result in the latter being deferred to the monsoon session.

Two bills to enlarge the share capital of the Export-Import (Exim) Bank of India and the National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development have also been proposed. Exim Banks share capital is expected to be raised from Rs 500 crore to Rs 2,000 crore, enabling it to expand its export promotion activities abroad. Another important bill that will be introduced is the agriculture workers bill, which seeks to provide improved service conditions and welfare measures for landless labourers.

Several important ordinances are also awaiting Parliamentary approval, including those on the Industrial Reconstruction Bank of India, Income-Tax Act (second amendment) and the Lokpal bill.