The Union Cabinet on Wednesday approved purchase of new Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) with voter verifiable slips to replace the old machines from 2000 to 2005. The meeting chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi also approved the bills for protection and rights of Transgender persons and amendment to prohibition of benami transactions.
Cabinet has approved the purchase of 550000 Ballot Units and 545000 Control Units during 2016-17, at “a tentative cost of Rs77007- and Rs93007- respectively per unit from M/s Bharat Electronics ltd and M/s Electronics Corporation of India ltd”.
“This would facilitate phasing out of obsolete Electronic Voting Machines procured during the years 2000-2005, enabling Election Commission to replenish the stock, with view to meeting the requirement of conducting General Elections to lok Sabha and some of the State Assemblies due in the year 2019,” said the official statement.
Cabinet also approved the tabling of Benami Transactions (Prohibition) (Amendment) Bill, 2015 and Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Bill 2016.
“Through this Bill the Government has evolved a mechanism for their social, economic and educational empowerment. The Bill will benefit a large number of transgender persons, mitigate the stigma, discrimination and abuse against this marginalised section and bring them into the mainstream of society. It will lead to greater inclusiveness and will make the transgender persons productive members of the society,” said the statement on objectives of the transgender persons protection and rights bill.
Cabinet approved the incorporation of Sagarmala Development Company (SDC) under the Companies Act, 2013. “SDC will be under the administrative control of the Ministry of Shipping. It will provide equity support to the project Special Purpose Vehicles (SPVs) and funding support to the residual projects under the Sagarmala Programme. SDC will be incorporated under the Companies Act, 2013, with an initial Authorized Share Capital of Rs1,000 Crore and a Subscribed Share Capital of Rs90 Crore,” said the statement.