CCS meets amid tension at Indo-Pak border, takes several important decisions

New Delhi: The Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) met here on Wednesday as tension continues at the India-Pakistan border. The meeting was chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. During the CCS meet, NSA Ajit Doval informed the PM and others about at least 12 terror new launch pads across LoC. They have come up after Army's surgical strikes last week. Doval, reportedly, also shared the inputs gathered by various intelligence agencies after Army's daring surgical strike. Situation has been tense at India-Pakistan border since the September 18 attack at an army camp in Uri town of Jammu and Kashmir which left 19 soldiers dead. India blamed Pakistan based Jaish-e-Mohammad militant group for the attack. The relations between the two neighbouring nations further deteriorated after the Indian Army on September 28 night carried out surgical strikes to destroy terrorist launch pads across the Line of Control in Pakistan-administered Kashmir.

• MoU between India and African-Asian Rural Development Organisation (AARDO)

During the meeting, Union Cabinet gave its approval for the signing of Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between India and African-Asian Rural Development Organisation (AARDO) for capacity building programmes in the rural development sector. "The MoU for the triennium 2015-2017 is being signed under which capacity building programmes for AARDO member countries will be organised every year during the triennium at various institutions of excellence in India," an official statement here said.

• Approval for the signing of MoU between India and the EU

The Union Cabinet also gave its approval for the signing of Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between India and the European Union in the field of water resources.

• Approves proposal for transfer of land from IARI to the VCI

The Cabinet approved the proposal for transfer of two acres of land from the Indian Agricultural Research Institute (IARI) to the Veterinary Council of India (VCI). "Transfer of land will be on lease basis for a period of 99 years at a total lease rent of Rs 8,01,278/- @ Re 1 per sq metre per year," an official statement said.

• Cabinet approves amendments to the HIV and AIDS (Prevention and Control) Bill

Last but not the least, the Cabinet on Wednesday approved amendments to the HIV and AIDS (Prevention and Control) Bill, 2014, which was drafted to safeguard the rights of people living with and affected by the Human Immunodeficiency Virus. The provisions of the bill seek to address HIV-related discrimination, strengthen existing programmes by bringing in legal accountability and establish formal mechanisms for inquiring into complaints and redressing grievances. The proposed law aims to prevent and control the spread of HIV and AIDS, prohibits discrimination against affected persons, provides for informed consent and confidentiality with regards to their treatment, places obligations on establishments to safeguard rights of persons living with HIV arid create mechanisms for redressing complaints.