With cancer emerging as a major public health challenge in India, the Centre has cleared a 4,697-crore rupee proposal of the Health Ministry to strengthen tertiary care facilities. This was decided at the meeting of the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs, CCEA, chaired by Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh in New Delhi yesterday.

A total of 20 State Cancer Institutes, SCIs are proposed to be set up in as many states along with 50 tertiary cancer care centres in different parts of the country. The CCEA also approved the implementation of the Human Resource Development and Capacity Building Scheme in the Ministry of Water Resources, with a total outlay of 351 crore rupees during the 12th Plan period.

In another major, decision, the CCEA has also given its approval for four laning of the Kaithal Rajasthan border section of National Highway in the state of Haryana under the National Highways Development Project, Phase IV.

The CCEA also approved the launch of the Rajiv Awas Yojana as a Centrally Sponsored Scheme to be implemented in Mission mode during 2013-2022.