Rs 10,328 cr outlay for quota implementation

In the wake of Supreme Court's nod to the OBC quota in central educational institutions, the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs today gave its 'in-principle' approval to an outlay of Rs 10,328.20 crore required for the 54 per cent capacity expansion in these institutions to implement the quota, as has been recommended in the Oversight Committee's report.

The amount would be utilised for infrastructure development in the central universities and management and technical institutions like the IITs and IIMs.

The 54 per cent increase in seats will keep the general seats at the same proportion when the 27 per cent OBC quota is implemented.

Out of the Rs 10,328.20 crore outlay, an amount of Rs 4,107.91 crore will be of recurring nature, while the remaining amount of Rs 6,220.29 crore will be non-recurring expenditure, Finance Minister P Chidambaram said.

Gujarat riot victims to get compensation

Four years after coming to power, the UPA government has decided to compensate the victims of 2002 Gujarat riots. The Union Cabinet today cleared three levels of compensation for the riot affected families. The total liability of the Union government will be Rs 333 crore.

The victims whose residential properties had been damaged would get an additional ex gratia of 10 times the amount given by the state. However, the state's compensation will be deducted from the Centre's payments. The additional liability will come to Rs 262.44 crore.

Finance Minister P Chidambaram said 1,169 people died during the 2002 riots in Gujarat. Their families will be provided with an ex gratia compensation of Rs 3.5 lakh per head. This compensation will be in addition to the money already given by the Gujarat government. The Centre will spend Rs 40.91 crore for this purpose.