NATIONAL INSTITUTE FOR THE ORTHOPAEDICALLY HANDICAPPED

    The National Institute for the Orthopaedically Handicapped was set up at Calcutta as an autonomous society in April, 1982 for promoting education, training and rehabilitation of the handicapped, Orthopaedically Handicapped Children and adults suffering from a wide range of disabilities which limit their mobility, muscular co-ordination and manipulative ability.

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    The total value of mineral production (excluding atomic & minor minerals) in the country during May, 2000 has increased to Rs. 3382 crore from 3229 crore in April, 2000. The contribution of coal is the highest at Rs. 1497 crore (44%). Next in the order of importance are - petroleum (crude) Rs. 941 crore, natural gas (utilised) Rs. 389 crore, iron ore Rs. 186 crore, limestone Rs. 111 crore and lignite Rs. 86 crore. These six minerals together contributed about 95 percent of the total value of mineral production.

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RAIL FREIGHT TRAFFIC IN MAY

    During May 2000, the Railways transported 40.07 Million Tonnes (MT) of revenue earning goods. This was 2.62 MT more than the goods transported during the same period last year.

    In May 2000 the Railways transported 19.32 MT of coal, 3.20 MT of Raw Materials, 1.00 MT of Iron and Steel, 1.04 MT of Iron Ore Export, 3.96 MT of cement, 2.41 MT of foodgrains, 2.17 MT of Fertilizers and 3.05 MT of POL and 3.92 MT of other goods which include 0.79 of containerised goods.

    Minister for Environment and Forest Thiru T.R. Baalu has urged the private sector to discharge its environmental responsibility. Inaugurating the South Asian Forum on Environmental Cooperation between Government and the Private sector here today, Thiru Baalu said that the corporate sector has the wherewithal to take over the stewardship of the environment, to match its role in the economy.

    "While the Government will offer opportunities for growth, the private sector must ensure that the environmental concerns of the Government are safeguarded in the activities," he said.

    Stating that our environmental problems emanate from the rapid development efforts, which we have been making since the last few decades, the Minister emphasised the need for bringing about a more comprehensive approach and focussed attention to our environmental problems.

    Thiru Baalu said that private sector has to take initiative to identify products and services that can be tested on the scale of mass and energy intensity, re-use, conservation and toxicity. "Some market-based instruments could help reduce the cost of environmental protection and stimulate environmentally sound technological changes, which is turn could reduce the pressure on resources." The private sector thus can be a powerful engine for generating resources, the Minister added.

    Thiru Baalu pointed out that renewable energy sources have attracted global attention of partners, policy makers, economists and environmental activists as the viable option to achieve sustainable development. Carbon free energy technologies are evolving from a stage of experimental curiosity to one of commercial necessity. All these developments are indeed a good augury for our Region, which is endowed with renewable energy sources in plenty, he said.

    Delivering his address on ‘Impact of Development on Environment - Challenges and Opportunities’, the Secretary, Ministry of Environment and Forest, Thiru Vishwanath Anand called for change in the attitude of private sector towards environment as this sector is very important component of civil society and can provide solutions to several of environmental challenges.

    "This would require structural changes not only in the way the accounting and reporting of performance of private enterprises is done but also in the curriculum of management education", he said.

    Thiru Anand pointed out that technologies developed in industrialised countries are not the only ones that are suitable for us. The developing countries require development and dissemination of technologies which are appropriate for our conditions. The efficacy of technology transfer is closely linked to absorptive capacity as well as transaction costs.

    Expressing concern at unstructured development, which is threatening the quality of air and water, Thiru Anand said that unsustainable development patterns entail enormous end-of-the-pipe mitigation costs, which will reduce surpluses required for future development needs.

    "We generate huge quantities of waste in our urban and industrial sectors, which are severely impacting on the environment. Because of civic facilities being severely strained, our ability to manage our municipal waste and provide for adequate low cost sanitation is suffering. This is having an impact on our water bodies which are getting increasingly polluted both with effluent and municipal waste. This has serious epidemiological consequences for our populations", he stated.

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    The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet has approved that Shri S. B. Mohapatra, IAS (Orissa: 67), Additional Secretary and Financial Adviser in the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, will hold the additional charge of the post of Chairman & Managing Director, India Trade Promotion Organisation (ITPO) till further orders.

    All computerised branches of nationalised banks in the country will receive direct taxes in places where the one-by-six scheme of income tax department is available. 2089 additional branches will now collect direct taxes in 133 places from the first of next month in addition to 8448 branches of nationalised banks which are already collecting direct taxes like income tax, wealth tax, etc.

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    A committee of Non Governmental Organisations will be formed in the Department of Women and Child Development for proper co-ordination and harmonious implementation of the government schemes. This was disclosed by the Minister of state for Women and Child Development Smt. Sumitra Mahajan while addressing the annual function of the Mahila Dakshata Samiti here today. This, she said, will provide a forum for regular interface with the social organisations. Appreciating the role of the NGOs Smt. Mahajan said a meeting of the voluntary organisations will be called soon.

    Central Government has declared Iron ore Mining industry as a public utility service under the Industrial Disputes Act, 1947 for six months with immediate effect.

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    The Union Civil Aviation Minister, Shri Sharad Yadav said that sincere efforts will continue for the upgradation and development of the various infrastructure facilities at different airports. He said that Airports Authority has drawn long term plans to meet challenges posed by ever increasing air traffic by employing modern technology. The most important programme is International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) recommended Communication Navigation Surveilliance/Automated Traffic Management (CNS/ATM) programme which will result in considerable improvement in navigation of air traffic. Under this programme Satellite based systems will be evolved and air traffic control services will be automated. The Minister was addressing the Consultative Committee Meeting of the Ministry of Civil Aviation which discussed the working of Airports Authority of India (AAI) here today.

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    The Commerce and Industry Minister, Shri Murasoli Maran, has approved 45 cases of Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) of about Rs.1465.00 crore, on the recommendations of the Foreign Investment Promotion Board (FIPB). The proposals cover various sectors like export of ferrous products, drugs, diamond jewellery, publishing of Walt Disney comic books for children, computer software development for export, establishment of power project, shipping agency, internet, website related services, cellular mobile telephone services, manufacture of crushing machinery and Non-Banking Financial Companies (NBFC) activities. A list of proposal is attached.