ARJUNA AWARDS TO BE PRESENTED TOMORROW
The President of India, Shri K.R. Narayanan will present the Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna Award, Dronocharya Awards, Arjuna Awards and Maulana Abul Kalam Azad Trophy for the year 1999, tomorrow. The Government of India gives four categories of awards for sports excellence:
Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna Award: This award was instituted by the Government in 1991-92. This award is given for the most spectacular and outstanding performance in the field of sports by a sportsperson/team in a year. Only one award is given under the scheme. The award consists of a medal, a scroll of honour and a cash prize of Rs. 3 lakh. Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna Award for this year will be presented to Shri Dhanraj Pillai for Hockey (Men).
Dronacharya Award: The Dronacharya Award, instituted in 1985, honours eminent coaches who have successfully trained sportspersons or teams and enabled them to achieve outstanding results in international competitions. The awardee is given a statuette of Guru Dronacharya, a scroll of honour and a cash prize of 2.50 lakh.
Arjuna Award: The Arjuna Award, instituted in 1961 is the highest national recognition of distinguished sportspersons. It is given for outstanding performance by sportspersons during the year for which it is given and the preceding three years. The scope of the award has been enlarged to include such sportspersons also as have made life-time contribution to their discipline. The awardee is given a bronze statuette of Arjuna, a scroll of honour and a cash prize of Rs. 1.50 lakh. From the year 1995, the award is given in these three categories: Olympic/Asian/Commonwealth Games, and Cricket; Indigenous Games; Physically handicapped Category.
Maulana Abul Kalam Azad Trophy: Maulana Abul Kalam Azad Trophy, instituted as a Running Trophy in 1956-57, is awarded annually to the university which has given best allround performance in the year. The university receives a replica of the Trophy and a cash award of Rs. 1 lakh which is to be utilised for acquiring sports equipment. Guru Nanak Dev University, Amritsar will receive this trophy for the year 1999.
‘17A’
STATE-OF-THE-ART MAX–XL BASED ON C-DOT TECHNOLOGY LAUNCHED
MANOHAR JOSHI VISITS INSTRUMENTATIONS LIMITED PLANT
Shri Manohar Joshi, Minister of Heavy Industries and Public Enterprises has launched the production of the latest main telecom exchange "MAX-XL" based on C-DoT technology having state-of-the-art features such as voice, moving images and bulk data packet high speed transmissions in Kota during his visit to Instrumentation Limited factory premises on Saturday.
Shri Joshi who went around the manufacturing facilities in the factory had first hand information of constraints faced by this company which is planning to enhance its output after introduction of its revival scheme. The Minister took keen interest in its Hi-tech electronics manufacturing facilities for Telecom, control instrumentation and Railway Signaling. He took special note of possibilities of enhancement of output and the support needed from Government of India.
The Heavy Industries Minister held discussions with management and workers and was apprised of constraints of lack of working capital. Various measures like placement of orders from DoT for telecom exchanges, equipment for Railway signaling and C & I system for power utility were discussed by him. Later, Shri Joshi also met employees unions and associations and took note of the difficulties faced by them, particularly, regarding wages and paucity of fund for production inputs and assured support of the Government of India for growth and restructuring of this PSU inline with the Government policy.
‘19’
JCI UNDERTAKING MSP IN RAW JUTE & MESTA FOR JUTE GROWING STATES
JUTE GROWERS OF WEST BENGAL AND BIHAR TO BENEFIT
Jute Corporation of India Limited is presently undertaking Minimum Support Operation in raw jute and Mesta through its 171 jute purchase centres distributed in 7 jute growing States.
These centres are buying raw jute and mesta at the minimum support rates decided by the Government of India which is Rs. 785/- per quintal for TD-5 grades in the markets of Assam and Meghalaya, Rs. 800-816 per quintal for different markets of Bihar, Rs. 810- Rs. 848 per quintal for different markets of West Bengal, Rs. 756 per quintal for the markets of Tripura, Rs. 822 per quintal for the markets of Orissa and Rs. 767 per quintal for Bimli Middle grade in the markets of Andhra Pradesh.
The Jute Growers are advised to bring their jute to the nearest JCI Purchase Centres to take the benefit of Minimum Support Operation.
'17B' PM TO INAUGURATE NATIONAL CONFERENCE ON SMALL SCALE INDUSTRIES
COMPREHENSIVE POLICY PACKAGE ANNOUNCEMENT EXPECTED
The first ever National Conference on Small Scale Industries being organised by Ministry of Small Scale Industries and Agro and Rural Industries is slated to be held on the 30th and 31st of August, 2000 at Vigyan Bhavan. The Conference is to be inaugurated by the Prime Minister Shri Atal Behari Vajpayee at 1100 hrs. in the Plenary Hall. The Prime Minister is expected to announce a comprehensive policy package for the SSI sector on this occasion. The National Awards to outstanding entrepreneurs and for quality products for small scale industry would be given to 25 Awardees from across the country.After the formal inauguration, there shall be three presentations on the first day. These shall be on (i) Credit Guarantee Scheme by Shri N. Venkat Subramanian, CEO of Credit Guarantee Trust, (ii) Scheme for Technology Upgradation of SSIs by Shri S.K. Tuteja, Additional Secretary & Development Commissioner (Small Scale Industries) and (iii) WTO and its impact on SSIs by Shri R.P. Agarwal, Joint Secretary, Ministry of Commerce.
On the second day i.e., 31st August, 2000 the 45th meeting of the SSI Board will be held. The SSI Board is an all India body comprising of representatives of Central Government Ministries, Banks, all State Governments and SSI Associations. This body advises Government on all policy related matters relating to the development of small scale industries. The Board meeting will be followed by a presentation on Avenues in Biotechnology for SSIs. The presentation will be made by Dr. (Mrs.) Manju Sharma, Secretary, Department of Biotechnology, Government of India.
The Ministry of SSI, A&RI came into being as a full-fledged Ministry from October 1999. The establishment of a ful-fledged Ministry reflects the commitment of Government towards all-round development of SSIs. In the past ten months major initiatives have been taken by the Ministry, which include operationalisation of a Credit Guarantee Scheme, national projects on technology upgradation on toys, stone, neem and aromatic/medicinal plants. The National Conference is a continuation of these efforts. All State Governments have been invited to attend this conference which will provide a valuable forum for exchange of views between Central Government, State Governments, Financial Institutions and SSI Associations.
The SSI sector in India has been contribution 40 per cent of the total industrial production of the country and accounts for seven per cent of the GDP. The 32 lakh SSI units all over the country provide employment to 177 lakh people, producing over 8,000 products which range from day-to-day items to sophisticated hi-tech items such as aircraft components. Thirty-five per cent of India’s export is from SSIs.
During the past decade, the small scale sector has been consistently outperforming large industry on virtually every parameter, be it growth rate in production or employment generation. A small investment of Rs. 1,00,000 in a small unit generates job for four persons. The small scale sector has been exceeding employment targets set for it all through the nineties.
The WTO Agreements impact significantly on the business environment for small units. Many of them will have to face competition form imports. The Ministry has take on this challenge. A major programme for education and generating awareness has been taken up. As part of this, 28 Workshops for SSI entrepreneurs have been conducted all over the country. Alongside, the Ministry will focus on upgrading technology, improving access to credit and supporting marketing efforts of SSIs. The conference will deliberate on these issues. The recommendations made by various delegates and invitees to the conference will be complied and will form an input towards policy making.
'24' DTO TO START CELLULAR MOBILE SERVICE BY MARCH 2001
TENDER TO BE FLOATED SOON FOR 15 LAKH LINES OF GSM EQUIPMENT
The Department of Telecom Operations (DTO) will start the Cellular Mobile Service in some of the cities by March 2001 and later all over the country. The decision was taken by the Telecom Commission in its recent meeting. The Cellular Service will be based on GSM technology which will be used to cover rural areas and provide village public telephones (VPTs). For this purpose DTO will float a tender for supply and installation of about 15 lakh lines of GSM equipment on a turn key basis shortly.
It is expected that most of the cities and towns as well as considerable areas in the villages will be covered by this Mobile Service by March 2002. This will help the Department to meet its objective of providing ‘Telephone on Demand’ and covering all the villages by telecom facilities by the end of March 2002.
'24'
GOVERNMENT SIGNS US$ 62 MILLION LOAN AGREEMENT WITH WORLD BANK ON TELECOM SECTOR REFORM PROJECTGovernment has signed a Loan Agreement with the World Bank for the "Telecommunications Sector Reforms Technical Assistance Project". It has a component of World Bank loan to the tune of US$62 million and Indian Government contribution of US$10 million.
The Project components consists of Automation of Spectrum Management and Monitoring System (ASMMS) for Wireless Planning and Coordination (WPC) Wing; capacity building in Department of Telecommunications (DoT) Headquarters for licensing and policy functions; capacity building for Telecom Engineering Centre (TEC) to forecast new technologies and services to support formulation of new policies and capacity building for Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI)/Telecom Disputes Settlement Appellate Tribunal (TDSAT) to undertake their regulatory responsibilities, sector regulation, development and adaptation of new tariff and interconnection regime, competition in long distance and international services etc.
The Telecom Sector Reform Project is expected to bring a number of benefits. The automation and modernisation of spectrum management will result in more efficient use of this scarce resource, faster assignment of frequencies and more effective monitoring of unauthorised operations. The strengthening of TEC will provide better support to DoT for policy and licensing functions. TRAI/TDSAT component of the project will result in better regulation of the telecom sector.
'15'
BOTH AGRICULTURAL CROP FAILURE AND GLUT SHOULD BE INSURED: PATIL
The Union Minister of State for Finance, Shri Balasaheb Vikhe Patil has appealed to the farming community to consider insurance cost as an essential input which would take care of various hazards faced by them. He was addressing the delegates at an International Seminar on Agriculture and Insurance, here today. "Agricultural insurance should benefit farmers in such away that he can go for more productive practices and take calculated risks", Shri Patil said.
Shri Patil said that agricultural insurance should not stop at only insuring the standing crop but also should look beyond In order to provide security to farming as an occupation. This is because a farmer is exposed to risks like personal accident, illness etc. apart from the threat to his assets and produce from the vagaries of nature, he said. The Minister suggested that the insurance companies should think of introducing a "Key Person Insurance" for the farming community so that the bread-earning member is protected from uncertainties. Shri Patil also suggested that there is a case to insure farmers against production gluts as well. He said that a well-developed agricultural insurance programme can be a very useful tool for effective implementation of agricultural policies and for stability in the agricultural production. Under insurance protection, more and more farmers can take up agricultural activities and thus contribute to higher growth in GDP. He stressed on the need to improve rural penetration by way of forging appropriate linkages among rural institutions such as primary cooperative societies, banks and insurance companies.
Shri Patil also said that the advent of new varieties of seeds, fertilizers and technologies of farming has made agriculture capital intensive and so unless proper insurance coverage is given farmers may not adopt these technologies as they are apprehensive about the yield. The Minister also said that the National Agricultural Insurance Scheme launched by the Prime Minister last year has been drafted in such a way that it would be economically viable over a period of time and General Insurance Corporation (GIC) is making efforts to secure reinsurance coverage for the new scheme. He expressed hope that the Seminar will help Indian insurance companies to refine their products of agricultural insurance so that it becomes an important tool in the development of the agricultural economy.
Speaking on the occasion, Special Secretary (Insurance) Shri P.K. Banerjee said agricultural insurance helps in stabilizing production and reducing the risk of loan default. He also said that there is a need to devise innovative schemes so that agricultural insurance becomes self-sustaining.
‘13’
SCIENCE ACADEMIES AGREEMENT ON GM CROPS
Science Academies around the world have agreed that genetically modified crops can be introduced into commercial agriculture only after assessing their safety and agronomic advantages. After discussing various aspects of transgenic plants and world agriculture in depth these academies in a report also agreed that to improve food production and to reduce the environmental impacts, scientific discoveries and new technologies must be utilised in a proper and responsible way.
These seven academies i.e. from United States, U.K., China, India, Brazil, Mexico and the third World academy of sciences feel that food production can be increased through the use of genetic modification technologies that make the crop more nutritious, storage-stable, health-promoting and beneficial to consumers in developing and industrialised countries alike. The report was released recently in London after a draft agreement on this was approved at a meeting of these Academies.
The report further says that co-operative efforts between private and public sectors are essential, especially in the developing world, for evolving new transgenic crops to benefit the consumer. Public health regulatory systems are needed for monitoring the impacts of transgenics. The academies recommended that the GM technologies should be adopted by both the developed and developing nations with adequate bio-safety regulations.
Bio-safety guidelines in India are exhaustive and adequate to assess the risks if any to the environment including human and animal health from the use of GM crops. No genetically modified crop has yet been commercially introduced in the country. Open field trial is not authorized before the assessment of the information obtained on the risks involved. The materials are tested in laboratories and contained in green house conditions for generating additional safety information.
For the present, genetically modified crops of cotton, tobacco, tomato potato, brinjal, cauliflower, cabbage and mustard have been permitted to undergo field trials in Indian environment conditions.
‘7’
PRESIDENT’S ASSENT TO THREE BILLS
The President has given his assent to the Madhya Pradesh Reorganisation Bill, 2000, the Uttar Pradesh Reorganisation Bill, 2000 and the Bihar Reorganisation Bill, 2000. With this, these three Bills have been notified in the Gazette of India as the Act Nos. 28, 29 and 30 of 2000 respectively. These three Acts shall come into force from a date to be notified by the Government of India in the Gazette of India in consultation with these States.
The Madhya Pradesh Reorganisation Act 2000, seeks to carve out a separate State of Chattisgarh from the existing State of Madhya Pradesh. It provides for the territories of the two States and makes the necessary supplemental and incidental provisions relating to representation in Parliament and in the State Legislatures, distribution of revenues, apportionment of assets and liabilities, management and development of water resources and other matters. Under the Act, the existing High Court of Madhya Pradesh at Jabalpur will be bifurcated and a separate High Court of Chattisgarh set up in the new State. The reorganisation of existing State of Madhya Pradesh meets the democratic aspirations of the people of Chattisgarh.
The Uttar Pradesh Reorganisation Act, 2000 seeks to form a new State of Uttaranchal out of the existing State of Uttar Pradesh. The Act provides for the territories of the two States and makes the necessary supplemental and incidental provisions relating to representation in Parliament and in the State Legislatures, distribution of revenues, apportionment of assets and liabilities, management and development of water resources and other matters. The Act also contains a Clause for the continuance of the present level of ceilings on land holding, as applicable in the existing State of Uttar Pradesh, in the new State of Uttaranchal. The existing High Court of Allahabad, which has a Bench at Lucknow, will stand reorganised with a new High Court of Uttaranchal in the new State. The reorganisation of the State of Uttar Pradesh will meet the democratic aspirations of the people of Uttaranchal.
The Bihar Reorganisation Act , 2000, seeks to reconstitute the existing State of Bihar into two separate States. The carved out State will be called Jharkhand. It shall comprise the tribal belt of Bihar. It provides for the necessary supplemental and incidental consequential actions relating to representation in Parliament and in the State Legislatures, distribution of revenues, apportionment of assets and liabilities, management and development of water resources and other matters. To give effect to the implementation of the Act, the Government of India has set up a Unit in Planning Commission under direct charge of the Deputy Chairman, Planning Commission, to deal exclusively with matters relating to the development of the rest of Bihar following the formation of the State of Jharkhand as most of the industries and power generating plants would go away to the new State of Jharkhand and the remaining State of Bihar would be left with the vast rich landmass prone to natural calamities like floods and drought. The existing Patna High Court will stand reorganised. Accordingly, the existing Bench of Patna High Court at Ranchi would be converted and enlarged into a new High Court called the Jharkhand High Court. The setting up of new State will meet the democratic aspirations of the people of Jharkhand.
'8'
GOVERNMENT FOR STUDENT- CENTRED HIGHER EDUCATION
The Union Education Secretary Shri M. K. Kaw ( Higher and Secondary Education) has said that the future policy framework of higher education should be student-centred with focus on quality of teaching. Shri Kaw was speaking at the conference of State Secretaries of Higher Education here today. Shri Kaw said, the governance of the educational system should be less cumbersome and dilatory, more open and flexible, more autonomous and independent and less susceptible to political manipulations. He said, there are a variety of institutions in the higher education scene now with widely varying levels of performance.
Shri Kaw said, we should give freedom to academic innovations by creating as many deemed universities and vocational training institutes as possible and the courses should be more flexible, modular and open ended. He said, there should be a constant process of curriculum reform and renewal. Shri Kaw said, there should be networking of teaching, research and corporate systems so as to synergise their functioning. Every student should go through a core composite programme of life coping, value oriented skills and competencies. On resource front, the secretary said, there should be greater external and internal generation including fee restructuring , cost-reduction, alumni and community participation and corporate involvement. Shri Kaw said, there is a need to incorporate information technology in all the courses.Talking about the teachers, the secretary said, the university and college teachers have progressed a great deal in terms of emoluments and perquisites.
The one day conference is being attended by State Higher Education Secretaries, the Chairman of the University Grants Commission Chairman of the All India Council of Technical Education, representatives of IGNOU, NCERT, NIEPA, Vice Chancellors of several Universities and senior officials of the Ministry of Human Resource Development.
'39' PROCUREMENT OF RICE AND WHEAT DURING JULY, 2000
Procurement of rice for the Central Pool during the month of July, 2000 was 6.29 lakh tonnes as against 5.22 lakh tonnes in July, 1999. Similarly, the procurement of wheat during the month of July, 2000 was 1.33 lakh tonnes as against 0.09 lakh tonnes in the corresponding period of last year. With this, the progressive procurement of rice and wheat as on July 31, 2000 was 166.58 lakh tonnes and 162.87 lakh tonnes against 116.72 lakh tonnes and 141.33 lakh tonnes respectively in July, 1999.
The stock of rice and wheat in the Central Pool, as on July 1, 2000 was 144.90 lakh tonnes and 277.57 lakh tonnes as against the buffer stocking norms (as on 1st July) of 100.00 lakh tonnes and 143.00 lakh tonnes respectively.
The Food Corporation of India has been maintaining adequate stock levels of foodgrains and sugar in North-Eastern region. As on July 24, 2000 the Corporation had stocked about 2.61 lakh tonnes of foodgrains in North-Eastern States as against 2.13 lakh tonnes at the end of July last year.
A quantity of about 10.78 lakh tonnes of foodgrains has been evacuated from northern region last month which included about 8.82 lakh tonnes from Punjab.
'35'
PRESS NOTEBye-election to Rajya Sabha from the State of Sikkim
A vacancy has occurred in the Council of States (Rajya Sabha) due to the death of sitting member Shri K. G. Bhutia on 12.8.2000 who was elected from the State of Sikkim and whose term of office otherwise would have been upto 23rd February, 2006. In order to fill the above said vacancy, the Commission has decided to hold bye-election to the Council of States as per the following schedule.
SCHEDULE
1 Issue of Notification 04.09.2000 (Monday)
2 Last date for filing nominations 11.09.2000 (Monday)
3 Scrutiny of nominations 12.09.2000 (Tuesday)
4 Last date for withdrawal of 14.09.2000 (Thursday)
candidature
5 Date of Poll 21.09.2000 (Thursday)
6 Counting of Votes 21.09.2000 (Thursday)
7 Completion 25.09.2000 (Monday)
Hours of poll 9.00 AM to 2.00 PM
‘18’
SHRI TRIPATHY REVIEWS BOKARO STEEL PLANT PERFORMANCEThe Minister of Steel, Shri B.K. Tripathy has said that Bokaro Steel Plant will show better fiscal performances following introduction of value added products, various cost reduction and economic measures. Areas of concern in the plant are declining net sale realisation, stock accumulation, high ash percentage in indigenous coal, increase in price of imported coal and power tariff hike. He felt the need of expeditious modernisation of Cold Rolled Mill for which Steel Authority of India Limited (SAIL) would spend Rs.65 crore to take up Phase I work. The Minister went on a two-day visit to Bokaro Steel Plant and reviewed the plant’s work. on Saturday and Sunday
Shri Tripahty inaugurated recently modernised Hot Strip Mill of the plant. He commended the efforts made by the plant to improve its performance and exhorted the employees to achieve still higher standard. He discussed the problems of the plant with the union leaders and the senior officials of the plant. Addressing the officials, Shri Tripahty said that there is still scope for improvement. Conditions in the plant can be further improved with suitable cost reduction measures, in-house manufacturing of various spare parts used in the plant and right-sizing of manpower.
Shri Tripathy also laid the foundation stone for Lord Jagannath Temple Complex to be constructed in Bokaro Steel City. He visited Bokaro General Hospital, the most modern medical centre in the north-eastern region.
'15'
STATE BANK OF PATIALA EXTENDS RS. 1500 MILLION LOAN TO NTPC
National Thermal power Corporation Ltd. (NTPC), today signed an agreement with State Bank of Patiala for raising a long term loan of Rs. 1500 Million to part finance their ongoing power generation capacity expansion programme.
Shri A. K. Batra, Managing Director of the Bank congratulated NTPC on its commendable all-round performance and the role in improving power generation in the country. Shri Batra said that the Bank has also committed substantial loans for other important infrastructure projects such as procurement and distribution of LNG in the country.
State Bank of Patiala is one of the strongest banks of the country and finds mention among the top one thousand banks of the world
'31'
The Union Minster for Health and Family Welfare Dr. C.P. Thakur will release 1).A Veterinary supplement on 'Indian Pharmacopoeia', 2). 'Guidelines on good laboratory Practices' on the 30th August on the occasion of the Drugs Consultative Committee (DCC) Meeting which is to be held on 30-31 Aug.2000. The DCC is an Advisory committee constituted under Section 7 of the Drugs & Cosmetic Act. All State Drug Controllers are members of DCC.
Various issues pertaining to uniform implementation of provisions of the Drugs Act &Rules in the country are to be deliberated. The DCC would also endeavour to formulate technical as well as enforcement guidelines in respect of specific areas of drug manufacture, storage and distribution etc.
'16'
Shri Omar Abdullah, Minister of State for Commerce & Industry, while underlining the importance of domestic investment in contributing to sustainable industrial growth, has said that competition among local industries was essential not only for supporting innovation but was also imperative for promoting exports. Speaking at the Conference on "Consumer Markets in India: The Second Phase of Consumer Demand" in Mumbai today, the Minister said that while the emphasis on foreign direct investment (FDI) remains, there has to be strong commitment to make domestic investment equally competitive and productive to face global competition. The conference was organised by the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI).
Highlighting the role of consumer goods industry in generation of employment, Shri Abdullah said that the manufacture of consumer goods leads to faster growth of employment both direct and indirect. It tends to be more labour intensive than basic industrial projects or infrastructure and calls for far-less capital, he said. The secondary effect on employment is also very significant, he added.
Stating that the government had freed the consumer goods sector from all controls, particularly after the major shift in 1991 when all licensing was done away with in this sector, Shri Abdullah informed the gathering that dividend balancing with regard to the group of 22 consumer goods items has also been done away with. "We welcome not only capital and technology associated with the consumer goods sector but also employment and exports it can generate", the Minister emphasised.