The Cabinet today approved the public procurement policy to boost micro, small and medium enterprises. The policy aims at purchasing 20 percent of their products by Government agencies.

Briefing reporters after the Cabinet meeting, the Information and Broadcasting Minister Mrs. Ambika Soni said that all Central Ministries, departments and Public Sector undertakings to use the products prepared by these industries will be notified.

Giving the salient features of the policy, the Minister for Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises Mr. Veerbhadra Singh said four percent of the goods purchased will come from the enterprises owned by scheduled castes and scheduled tribe entrepreneurs.

He, however, made it clear that the products have to compete on the price front and quality.

The Cabinet gave its nod to the proposal for seeking directions to achieve convergence and synergy under the centrally sponsored scheme National Mission on Education. 

It will be brought about through information and communication technology and national knowledge network. 

Briefing reporters the Information and Broadcasting Minister Mrs. Ambika Soni said that the proposal paves the way for providing to 572 university level institutions including private universities besides providing connectivity to over 25 thousand colleges and two thousand polytechnics. 

She said that NIC has been entrusted to conduct a feasibility study for connecting the colleges and polytechnics on optical fiber. 

The Minister added that the target is to provide connectivity and high quality e-content to the students at college and university level across the country. 

In yet another decision, the Cabinet approved the proposal of the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting for pursuing the Prasar Bharati Amendment Bill, 2010 pending in the Rajya Sabha for its enactment. 

It also approved the action taken on the recommendations made by the Standing Committee on Information Technology in the 18th Report on Prasar Bharati Amendment Bill, 2010. 

The official Amendments to the Bill will be moved in the Rajya Sabha. It makes the status of employees recruited between 23rd of November, 1997 till 5th May, 2007 on deemed deputation to the Corporation till their retirement.