Date:20/12/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/12/20/stories/2008122060261200.htm

National

Cabinet clears amendment Bill to define minorities

P. Sunderarajan

NEW DELHI: The Union Cabinet on Friday decided to move an official amendment to the Constitution 103rd (Amendment) Bill to provide for a definition of minorities.

The amendment is expected to enable Jains to get minority status.

Home Minister and Cabinet spokesman P. Chidambaram said the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Social Justice and Empowerment came out with several recommendations for changes in the Bill, which was introduced in the Lok Sabha in 2004. The official amendment was a follow-up action. The Bill related to providing constitutional status to the National Commission for Minorities.

Chaired by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, the Cabinet meeting also cleared a proposal of the Department of Space for the development of technology for semi-cryogenic engines for future space transportation systems.

The advanced propulsion technology was presently available only with the U.S. and Russia. The new technology would be developed at an estimated cost of Rs. 1,798 crore and the entire chain of designing, fabricating and testing of it was expected to be completed in six years.

The new technology was expected to reduce the cost of launch operations and at the same time make them more eco-friendly. Storable liquid stages of PSLV and GLSV engines, which were being used, released some harmful products in the environment.

On the other hand, the semi-cryogenic engines, which would use liquid oxygen and kerosene, were expected to be less polluting.

The propellants for the engines would also be safer to handle and store, as they were non-toxic and non-corrosive.