‘19’

GOVERNMENT TO PROMOTE AND DEVELOP HANDLOOM INDUSTRY FOR THE GLOBAL MARKET: KASHIRAM RANA

    Explaining about the increased employment opportunities as a result of dereservation of garments sector, Shri Kashiram Rana said that it would lead to increased investments in turn leading to more employment opportunities. The dereservation would mean that large-scale investment would be possible in the garment sector and there will in fact be better opportunities for employment in this sector, the Minister further said. The garment sector is highly labour intensive and is modular in nature and the fears expressed in certain quarters that there is a likelihood of shrinking of employment opportunities especially in the decentralised sector as a result of dereservation of garment sector are totally unfounded. Even the Ministry of Small-Scale industry and Agro and Rural Industries in their comments on the draft National Textile Policy have stated that dereservation of garment sector would not affect employment adversely.

    Outlining the thrust areas of the new Textile Policy Shri Rana said that the strategic thrust will be on maximising employment opportunities, earning maximum foreign exchange and to make the industry more competitive and for this the Government plans to revitalise the institutional structures on a cotinuous basis.

'5'

HOME MINISTER STRESSES THE IMPORTANCE OF CENSUS FOR PLANNING

    The Home Secretary in his address said that in the context of the growing emphasis on Panchayati Raj System, the Census Statistics have assumed special significance. Moreover, with changed situation in areas of socio-economic development, the Census Operation has become more important for accurately registering these changes and shifts. This will help the planning process. In his welcome address, The Registrar General of Census, Shri J.K. Banthia told the Conference that the Census work has started with all care and sincerity in all the States and the Union Territories including Jammu & Kashmir, where there were some minor problems initially. An audio visual presentation of the Census Operation was also made on the occasion.

    This is a unique concept developed by NSIC where under one umbrella discussion could lead to final agreement resulting in mutual cooperation. Techmart India 2000 will be the centre stage for those associated with the small scale sector and interested in keeping abreast with the latest technological developments in the Indian small sector. In Techmart India 2000 the special theme area has been created on Software and Electronics industries, Machine tools and Automobile ancillaries and Agro and Food processing units.

    The NSIC was established in 1955 by the Government of India with a view to promote, aid and foster the growth of small-scale industries in India.

    Shri Naidu said that India had a vast reservoir of native skills and its artisans and craftsmen are known all over the world. There is need to give an impetus to indigenous technology, he said. He expressed the hope that the exhibition would provide a platform for rural artisans to showcase their products in the urban market.

    Shri Naidu called for organising such exhibitions throughout the country. He said collective efforts of both the State Governments and the Centre would be necessary. He admired the work done especially by women’s self-help groups in the rural areas.

    Speaking on the occasion, the Rural Development Secretary, Shri Arun Bhatnagar said that efforts would be made to arrange such exhibitions on a wider scale throughout the country in a cost-effective manner. Discussions with the State Governments would be held in this regard.

    The Director General of CAPART Shri Rangan Dutta said that SARAS-2000 being held in the IITF, was the largest show spread over an area of 50,000 sq. feet and with products from over 500 districts and 70 voluntary organisations.

    Releasing the document to mark the Children's Day, Dr. Joshi said that it has also made a number of major recommendations for the qualitative improvement at different stages of school education and for the effective implementation of the framework. He said, the document responding to many new societal and pedagogical changes, remains well within the broad parameters of the National Policy of Education framed in 1986 and revised in 1992. Some of the new concerns that lay the foundation of the new framework include building a cohesive society based on pillars of relevance, equity and excellence; inculcating and nurturing a sense of pride in being an Indian, patriotism and nationalism tempered with the spirit of "World as one family", as well as universalising elementary education and linking education with life skills, Dr. Joshi said.

    The Director, NCERT, Shri J.S. Rajput said adoption of suitable implementation of strategies for the orientation, participation and accountability of teachers, parents, community and managers of the system are also incorporated in the framework.

    The Secretary, Secondary and Higher Education Shri M.K. Kaw released a journal on 'Value Education' brought out by the NCERT.

    The NCERT organised a community singing programme aimed at promoting emotional oneness, patriotism and tolerance to mark the Children's Day. Ten thousand school children took part in the community singing "Aao Mil Kar Gayen". Dr. Joshi appreciating the programme said such endeavours will help promote national integration and love for one's country.

'16'

OMAR ABDULLAH UNDERLINES NEED FOR INCLUSIVE AND EQUITABLE GLOBALISATION

    The IITF has, Shri Abdullah said, achieved tremendous success over the years and has come to occupy a special position in the world calendar of events. It has played a pioneering role in bringing the 'Fair Culture" to India, the Minister added. The Fair has brought India closer to other countries in the world as it has helped in establishing closer contacts between the trading communities, governmental organisations and premier institutions since early 80's, he said. The Fair has served as an index of India's manifold exploits which was depicted in the range of quality products and technologies displayed all over the Pragati Maidan, the Minister said. "I am happy that the IITF invigorates the spirit of global integration as an apt forum for exchange of information, for striking business deals, trade transactions, technology transfers and awareness generation, he said. Further, the Minister said that a commendable feature of the Fair was the congregation of product and technology-specific displays and hoped that people would take advantage of such events in full measure and get to know that state-of-the-art technologies and options.

    Referring to ASPAT 2000, the Minister said that this year Asia Pacific Region would have an enlarged focus since the Asia Pacific Millennium Fair, 9^th in the series of such events was coinciding with IITF-2000. The Fair seeks to portray the advancements made by countries in the Asia Pacific region especially India's neighbouring countries under a broad theme "Technology-the Key to Development". This year, over 5200 companies from 23 countries are taking part in the IITF and ASPAT 2000 which includes national pavilions of Azerbaijan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Brazil, Cambodia, Germany, Indonesia, Iran, Japan, Kazakhistan, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Malaysia, Maldives, Myanmar, Nepal, Pakistan, Russia, Sri Lanka, South Korea, Thailand, UAE, UK and Vietnam.

    The Minister also reaffirmed the government's commitment to spearhead and strengthen the small-scale industry which, he said, had shown resilience and had faced the challenges from big manufacturers and MNCs. Contributing to about 50 per cent of the country's total exports in providing employment to over 15 million people, the small-scale sector today manufactures over 75,000 products, Shri Abdullah said. "We have made sincere efforts in our fiscal and industrial policies to take India ahead in all spheres so that the country can propel itself into the next millennium with a touch of optimism", he said.

    Speaking on the occasion, Shri Prabir Sengupta said that the policies of the government had helped India to sustain an export growth rate of about 22 per cent in the first six months of the current fiscal year. While stating that IITF affords a cost-effective reach for the Indian market and the Fair provides a reliable litmus to entrepreneurs to test market their products, Shri Sengupta underlined the need for the states to encourage the establishment of regional trade centres on the lines of IITF. In her welcome address, Smt. Jha said that ITPO was committed to providing continuous support for the furtherance of the Indian industry. Shri Ravi Sawhney also spoke on the occasion while Shri K.T. Chacko, Executive Director, ITPO proposed the vote of thanks.

'8/8A'

INTERNATIONAL CHILDREN'S ASSEMBLY AND INTEGRATION CAMP MARK THE CHILDREN'S DAY

    The Minister for Human Resource Development, Dr. Murli Manohar Joshi inaugurated here today an Integration Camp and International Children's Assembly organised by the National Bal Bhavan to mark the Children's Day. Children from Mongolia, Uzbekistan, Khazak Republic, Kyrghyz Republic and Nepal took part in the Assembly to forge the innovative theme of progress, prosperity and personality development. Dr. Joshi also opened an exhibition of creative art and craft pieces made by the children of Bal Bhavans.

    Addressing the assembly, Dr. Joshi said, organising of the assembly is a fitting tribute to Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru whose birthday is observed as Children's Day. He said, such endeavours will help in contributing to world peace and friendship. He said India believes that the world is one family and will strive for a world free of tension and violence. The children constitute the future talents of our country and the teachers must salute them, Dr. Joshi said.

    The Chairman of the National Bal Bhavan Shri Ajay Singh said, more Bal Bhavans are being opened in Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Sikkim and North Eastern States.

    Later, a group of children of the National Bal Bhavan along with Dr. Joshi met the Prime Minister, Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee at his residence to seek his blessings on the Children's Day. Another group of children accompanied by the Minister of State for Women and Child Development, Smt. Sumitra Mahajan also met Shri Vajpayee. The Prime Minister took time to interact with the children and wished them well on the Children's Day.

    A visit to the National Rail Museum at Chanakyapuri in New Delhi has always been a fascinating experience for school children. But, today it was something more for over 2000 school children who reached there to participate in the On-The-Spot Painting Competition organised by the Railway Women’s Welfare Central Organisation (RWWCO) to commemorate the Birth Anniversary of Pt. Jawaharlal Nehru.

    The children in three age groups, viz upto 9 years, 9 to 12 years and 12 to 15 years sitting in the steamy environs enjoying a comfortable sunny November morning on the green lawns of the Museum, had every opportunity to run their imagination wild and capture it on a piece of paper. It was a sight to see the children captured in various moods giving shape to their dreams on the subject of "Railway in Community –Expressions of Young Mind".

    There was a festive mood all around the Rail Museum. Apart from the Painting Competition, there was a Magic Show, Joy Rides, Balloons, Rangolis made with flowers and other activities. All these made the day a really very special one for the young children. For the President of the RWWCO, Mrs. Madhur Narain and her fellow office bearers, it was a day when they felt enthralled in the company of the tiny tots drawn from over two hundred schools in New Delhi. Their plans to provide the children with some memorable moments on the birth Anniversary of their beloved Chacha Nehru were successful.

'24'

SHRI TAPAN SIKDAR LAUNCHES "DATA POST-2001"

    The Minister of State for Communications, Shri Tapan Sikdar launched "Data Post-2001" – a new product service introduced by the Business Development Directorate of the Department of Posts (DoP) here today. The Data Post Services are a part of the revenue generating activity of Business Development Directorate of the DoP. The product envisages collecting and maintaining comprehensive data on households and business houses which would be of interest to direct marketing companies.

    Speaking on the occasion, Shri Sikdar said that the Directorate is framing a very strict schedule for the project and will be in a position to market comprehensive and authentic addressee databases on households and business offices to corporates interested in direct mailing in Bangalore and Hyderabad. He said that the Postal Department has tied up with two well known organisations to bring this product out. These are Telecommunications Consultants India Limited (TCIL) and M/s Ogilvy One Worldwide. While TCIL will be providing the technological support M.s Ogilvy One will be carrying out the marketing of the new product.-

    The concept of Data Post is comparatively new to Indian market, although some private organisations have developed Databases and are putting them for commercial use. In the current market scenario direct marketing has assumed great importance. The absence of organised customer information/database is the main hurdle which corporates face in their direct marketing plans. It is here that DoP has seen a great business opportunity and has come forward to bridge the gap by developing a reliable household and business database. Use of this on behalf of clients will enable them to target the required customer segment and develop Customer Relationship Management (CRM) programme.

    A survey conducted by the DoP a year ago on Database Services in the country-showed that most companies offering Database Services offer unreliable or out of date information, and almost all companies raise doubts about not being sure if the mailers were actually mailed. Though corporates would like to use direct mail to send targeted information to prospective clients on their products they were not able to effectively do so due to the unreliability of existing database services and the lack of authenticity. The survey showed that advertisers were well inclined towards DoP as a collector and maintainer of Database Services. There was a high confidence level in the correctness of data that would be compiled and maintained by DoP. There was a feeling by respondents of the survey that the quality of the lists maintained by DoP would be better in terms of size, authenticity and currentness. Besides, there was the added advantage of absolute confidence that the mailing of the advertising material would actually be done.

    Earlier, the Minister released a Special Postage Stamp on Children’s Day 2000. The Stamp seeks to underline the country’s responsibility and commitment to meeting the needs and fulfilling the rights of children

    The Secretary, DoP, Shri B.N.Som and other senior officials were present on the occasion.

'32'

JAGMOHAN STRESSES NEED FOR PROMOTING ENVIRONMENT FRIENDLY BUILDING TECHNOLOGIES

    Minister for Urban Development and Poverty Alleviation Shri Jagmohan has emphasised the need for sensitising the public about the sustainable, cost effective and environment friendly building materials and technologies which are energy saving and yet aesthetic, durable and affordable. Inaugurating the HUDCO (Housing and Urban Development Corporation Ltd.) Build-Tech Pavilion at the Indian International Trade Fair – 2000 here today, Shri Jagmohan said that disaster resistant building technologies should also be promoted in the country, specifically in the disaster prone areas such as Latur, Jabalpur, Uttarkashi, Chamoli, Orissa etc.

    The Minister appreciated the extensive demonstration being made in the pavilion highlighting the use of cost effective technologies for rain-water harvesting, effective solid waste management, use of non-conventional energy sources etc. The pavilion also highlights the products and services offered by various housing finance institutions and innovative building materials manufacturers.

    Minister of State for Urban Development and Poverty Alleviation Shri Bandaru Dattatraya, Secretary, Department of Urban Employment and Poverty Alleviation Shri S.S. Chattopadhayay and Chairman and Managing Director of HUDCO Shri V. Suresh were also present on the occasion.

18

    The Office of the Development Commissioner for Iron & Steel (DCI&S) has allocated 3.24 lakh tonnes of iron & steel to State Small Scale Industries Corporations during the first three quarters of this financial year. For the first quarter, it allocated 88020 tonnes, for 2^nd quarter 111660 tonnes and for the third 124620 tonnes. These allocations are made on the basis of requirements placed by this sector and availability indicated by SAIL, TISCO, IISCO & VSP. In addition to this, pig iron is also allocated to different foundry associations. DCI&S allows rebates on lifting up materials against allocations to SSICs for the benefit of the small scale units.

    The Office of the Development Commissioner for Iron & Steel carries out this major function of allocation of Pig Iron & Steel to the designated priority sectors which include State Small Scale Industries Corporations, Defence, Engineering Export Promotion Council (EEPC) and North Eastern States.

'16'

INDO-US TRADE STATISTICS

(In US $ millions)

* Calendar year

'24'

INDO-SWEDISH WORKING GROUP IN TELECOM PROPOSED

   India and Sweden have proposed setting up a joint working group on telecom. This was the outcome of a meeting between the Minister of Communications, Shri Ram Vilas Paswan and the Swedish Minister of Industry, Employment and Communications, Ms Mona Sahlin in Stockholm late last evening. The delegation, both from Government and industry accompanying the Minister also participated in the talks. The meeting identified specific areas of cooperation between the two countries.

    Shri Paswan said that Sweden was among the world leaders in the area of cellular telephony and with the opening of the cellular service in India, there was scope for cooperation, sharing of experience and also investment in India. The Minister said that Sweden can set up demonstration and pilot projects in India to demonstrate wireless application for industry, Government and more importantly in rural areas. Shri Paswan briefed the Swedish Minister on the proposed Convergence Bill and said that there was need to look at issues such as licensing and regulatory models and identify best practices. M-commerce and governance would also form part of the cooperation between both the countries.

    Ms Sahlin complimented India for its far reaching reforms both in the IT and telecom sectors. She said that it could form a basis for expanded trade and cooperation between India and Sweden. Ms Sahlin said that Sweden would take over the Presidency of the European Union (EU) next year and agreed that as a follow up of the Prime Minister, Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee’s address at the Indo-EU Summit at Lisbon, an Indo-EU initiative in telecom could form a part of the business agenda coordinated by the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII). Both the Ministers discussed the possibility of providing training to the large telecom work force in India.

    Shri Paswan also met the Director General, National Post and Telecom Agency of Sweden, Mr. Nils Gunnar Billinger. During the meeting, the relationship of the Regulator with the Government, the powers of the Regulator, interconnection, 3-G wireless system, calling party pays (CPP) and the EU position on convergence were identified as areas for exchange of views between the two countries.

    Earlier, at a luncheon meeting hosted by Vice Minister of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Mr. Sven-Eric Soder, specific proposals relating to joint projects in third countries in South Asia were discussed. Mr. Soder informed Shri Paswan that the Asia Department of the Ministry has been asked to prepare a plan to promote industrial cooperation and economic exchange between the two countries with telecom as one of the focus areas.

    During a visit to the Headquarters of Ericsson, Shri Paswan and the delegation viewed presentation on 3-G, WCDMA and other new technologies and application of wireless. A presentation on the future of wireless was also made. Shri Paswan met the top management team of Ericsson who said that it would increase its presence in India. As a first step, the wireless business for mobile telephony would be merged with the GSM operation to improve support for India. Second, a special effort to develop the software centre in India would be launched. This would entail increasing the strength of the current centre from 150 to 700 software engineers. Third, Ericsson would recruit engineers and train them for 3-G application for international assignments of Ericsson. Fourth, Ericsson would develop demonstration projects and pilot projects in India which would demonstrate new technology and new application of wireless telephony.

    Shri Paswan and the delegation are now in Finland on the last leg of their European tour.

    The Minister for Rural Development, Shri M. Venkaiah Naidu said that there is a urgent need to convert Land Resource Conservation in a mass movement. Inaugurating the National Land Resources Conservation Week 2000 here today, he said that today we are engaged in perhaps one of the greatest challenges of our times. India’s land and water resources are under immense pressure. The country shares only 2 per cent of the world’s geographical area, but supports more than 16 per cent of human population and 10 per cent of the world’s livestock. The resultant overstraining of land resources and disappropriate human and animal population is a major cause of widespread land degradation and non-sustainability of the ecosystem.

    Shri Naidu pointed out that the destruction of forest wealth through reckless exploitation by contractors, the expansion of irrigation without adequate concern for the treatment of catchment, drainage or for the dangers of water-logging and salinity in the command areas, improper agricultural practices on marginal land etc. have all caused considerable land degradation.

    He further said that in a country like India with its diverse and multi-faced society, its rich and varied culture, myriad languages, customs and traditionsl and its democratic political system it would neither be possible nor desirable for government alone to reserve for itself the entire responsibility or authority of effort towards ensuring sustainable development. NGOs have been instrumental in creating awareness at the grassroots level, in the mobilization of the community into self-help groups, in the implementation of numerous projects for forestry, watershed management, wasteland development and eco-regeneration, advancement of appropriate and environmentally sound technology and other people’s participatory activities. He expressed the hope that a meaningful and interactive partnership with NGOs and the rural communities is essential if sustainable use of land and water is to be ensured.

    Underlining the need of Watershed Development Programmes and Rain Water Harvesting, Shri Naidu said that it is desirable that the beneficiaries of these programmes are provided with the basic needs such as rural roads, rural drinking water supply, sanitation, housing etc. and necessary provision be linked as an integral part of the Watershed Development Programmes.

    Shri Venkaiah Naidu also gave prizes to the winners of the quiz competition on Land Resource Management on this occasion.

    The visiting World Bank President, Mr. J.D.Wolfensohn has assured India of its all out financial support to the implementation of poverty alleviation programmes including the health improvement schemes. When he has called on the Union Minister of Health and Family Welfare,

    Dr. C.P.Thakur, here today, he assured that India's request for financial assistance to all the health and family welfare projects will be considered favourably.

    Second phase of National Leprosy Elimination Programme, Extension of Revised National Tuberculosis Control Programme covering the 65 crore people, National Disease Surveillance Programme and Capacity Building of Food and Drugs Programme of the Department of Health with the projected outlay of Rs.1000 crore are the four new projects for which World Bank's assistance has been sought for, during this meeting. Dr. Thakur has detailed about the implementation of the Enhanced Malaria Control Programme and a National Blindness Control Programme to the visiting World Bank delegation. Under the World Bank funded Blindness Control Programme about 1 crore 10 lakh cataract eye surgeries have been performed during the last five years. Request has been made for extension of this programme for one more year from the ensuing month of March, 2001.

    As per the October 2000 nation-wide survey on National AIDS Control Programme 3.7 million AIDS/ HIV cases are in the country, of which 75 percent are men and 80 per cent of the total cases are due to the sexual behaviour. National AIDS Control Policy and National Blood Policy have been finalised and they will be submitted to the Cabinet for the final approval. Prime Minister is to convene all the Captains of Industry on the World AIDS Day i.e. on 1^st December, next month, to focus on prevention of HIV transmission from mother to child very aggressively all over the country, especially in all the coastal States and the North Eastern States.

    In consonance with the National Population Policy 2000 Department of Family Welfare has chalked out the three special Reproductive Child Health Programmes for the Tribals, Adolescents, and Urban Slum Population with an outlay of 600 million US $ to be implemented during the next three years, for which World Bank Assistance has been solicited. Immunisation Strengthening Programme will be introduced as pilot projects during the next three years in all the districts and cities where routine immunisation coverage is 85 percent and more. Vaccination of Hepatitis 'B' will be included in the Immunisation Programme in these pilot project areas.

    Secretary, Family Welfare, Shri A.R. Nanda, Secretary, ISM&H,

    Smt. Shailaja Chandra, DGHS, Dr. S.P.Agarwal, Additional Secretary and Project Director NACO, Shri J.V.R. Prasada Rao and Additional Secretary, Shri G.R.Patwardhan are among others who participated in the deliberations of the meeting held between World Bank delegation and Union Health Minister, Dr. C.P.Thakur.

'28'

POWER MINISTER MEETS WORLD BANK PRESIDENT CALLS FOR EXTENDING LOANS TO HYDROPOWER SECTOR

    The Minister for Power, Shri Suresh Prabhu held a meeting with the visiting the World Bank President Mr. James D. Wolfensohn, here today. The Power Minister appraised the World Bank President about the massive power sector reform programme, to restructure the sector and establish a regulatory mechanism for setting rational and fair tariffs in order to enable the creation of healthy viable power utilities. Shri Prabhu said the World Bank has played a very active and helpful role in the development of the power sector in the past and the World Bank should support the National Thermal Power Corporation (NTPC) in its efforts to set up new power plants using energy efficient and environment friendly technologies as NTPC will continue to play a major role in the capacity addition programme in the coming decade.

    The Minister said while earlier loans by the World Bank were extended to NTPC the outreach of the loaning facility will have to be extended to other generating, transmission and distribution entities. He said, special emphasis have to be given to speedy development of hydropower sector and called on the World Bank to consider funding the hydro sector preferably for river projects where survey and investigation works are at an advanced stage. These projects do not require submergence and population displacement the Minister emphasised.

    Shri Prabhu also said some of the reforming states feel that the World Bank should give them structural adjustment loans to tide over the additional financial liabilities during the restructuring phase and it is heartening to note that the World Bank has already taken an initiative in this regard. The World Bank may also consider making available a special assistance programme to the power Finance Corporation (PFC) for accelerated the agreed power reforms in the state sector. The Government and the World Bank should adopt some degree of flexibility in the approach to restructuring with regard to ground realities, which vary across regions and States.

    After listening to the views put forward by the Minister, Mr. Wolfensohn said he has come to the conclusion that the power sector in India was in capable hands and that he would now be able to leave India with full satisfaction about this.

'8A'

    A group of about 50 poor children were taken around Rail Museum and India Gate here today by the Minister of State for Women and Child Development, Smt. Sumitra Mahajan, marking the Children's Day. 20 children came from Katha, Katha Khazana, an NGO in the slums of Govindpuri and the rest came from Seva Bharti, another NGO in the slums of Dilshad Garden. The children were given caps and gas balloons and were given a joy ride in the Toy Train with the Minister.

Later, the children came with the Minister to India Gate, where they took photographs with Smt. Mahajan and had ice cream with her. She also had an interaction with the children giving them the pride of joy on the occasion of Children's Day.

'27'

A PEOPLE’S MOVEMENT NEEDED TO CONSERVE LAND RESOURCES

   In the last few decades, land in India has been subject to ceaseless onslaughts leading to major degradation. The relentless pressure of an increasing human and cattle population, the destruction of forest wealth, diversification of agriculture activities, expansion of irrigation, water logging, salinity, water and wind erosion and alkalinity have all put pressure and caused considerable land degradation. A meaningful and interactive partnership with NGOs and the rural communities is essential to create awareness, to ensure people’s participation if sustainable use of land and water is to be ensured. This was stated by Shri M. Venkaiah Naidu, Minister for Rural Development at the inaugural function of the National Land Resources Conservation Week 2000 here today.

    Shri Naidu said that per capita availability of land declined from 0.89 hectares in 1951 and 0.37 hectare in 1999 and is projected to slide down to 0.19 hectare by 2035. As far agricultural land is concerned the per capita availability of land has declined from 0.48 hectare in 1951 to 0.16 hectare in 1991 and is likely to decline further to 0.08 hectare by 2035.

    Shri Naidu said that on the one hand Agricultural Science & Technology has enabled the country to achieve self-sufficiency , on the other hand the emphasis on intensive use of inputs in certain areas has created several problems relating to sustainability of agriculture. The country is losing over 5 billion tonnes of top soil annually. The world over attention has now shifted to sustainable agriculture. The unprincipled use of scarce and precious natural resources has to be stopped if our objective of sustainable agricultural development is to be met. Quoting the Vedas he said "Invoke the Earth upon which foliage and trees are firmly held, unthreatened, the Earth which is equipped with all good tings in a stable environment of harmony."

    Presiding over the function Shri Sripad Y. Naik, Minister of State for Agriculture said that in the race between food production and population growth our search for ever higher productivity is placing great strain on the natural resource base that supports agriculture. The overuse of chemicals to intensify crop production poisons both people and animals, as well as pollutes water and soil resources.

    Shri Naik said experience has taught us that only a holistic approach which involves the local communities, whose basis of survival is at stake, in the management of their common resources will make development truly sustainable. The National Agriculture Policy has stressed the need for promoting technically sound, economically viable, environmentally non-degrading and socially acceptable use of the country’s natural resources – land, water and genetic endowment – to ensure sustainable development of agriculture. The watershed approach is the key to conservation of moisture and integrated development of rainfed areas and has been accorded the highest priority by the Central Government. A watershed development fund has been established at NABARD with a corpus of Rs. 200 crores for the benefit of hundred priority districts, he added.

    Shri Naik said that organic manures and bio-fertilizers will be encouraged in optimal combination with chemical fertilizers to ensure nutrient balance in the soil and thereby a more sustainable agriculture. For developing sustainable agriculture all efforts will be made to ensure that scientific and development community through the Research Extension Systems adapt, tailor and improve indigenous technologies for wider diffusion. Sustainable and environmentally-sound agricultural production is the task to be achieved in partnership with different sections of society including governments, research institutions, Farmer Organizations, NGOs, grassroot practitioners, agro-industry and the media.

    Shri Bhaskar Barua, Secretary Agriculture said that there is a need of brown revolution ( soil conservation) for sustaining green, white, blue and rainbow revolutions. Smt Rita Sharma, Joint Secretary invoked the slogan " Khet Ki Mitti Khet Mein, Khet Ka Pani Khet Mein, Gaon Ki Mitti Gaon Mein and Gaon Ka Pani Gaon Mein".

    At the function participants of Quiz competition were awarded cash awards of Rs. 10,000/-, Rs. 7,500/- and Rs. 5000/-. Similarly, six winners of debate competition on the subject "Our land and our future" were also awarded by Rural Development Minister. Shri Naik released " Revamped guidelines of National Watershed Development Project for Rainfed Areas" and Watershed Development Project in shifting Cultivation Areas in addition to releasing a cassette of documentary films and a calendar. A watershed Katha with folk melodies of Meghalaya, Tamil Nadu, Punjab, Gujarat and Madhya Pradesh was organised. At the end of the function classical Nritya Natika "Vasundhra" was also organised.

    "Let me begin by congratulating the Expert Committee, headed by Justice V.R. Krishna Iyer, for preparing ‘The Children’s Code Bill 2000’ which was presented here today. Indeed, there could not be a more appropriate occasion for this than Children’s Day.

    I have had a look at the ‘Children’s Code Bill’. It is a comprehensive document that examines existing Indian laws in the light of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, to which India is a signatory.

    In order to further our collective obligation as a nation to the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child and, if I may say, more importantly, in order to fulfil our obligation to the children of this country, we need to tailor our existing laws in accordance with its provisions.

    The Government’s task in this regard has been greatly facilitated by the recommendations of the Committee headed by Justice Iyer. I thank him, as well as other members of the team. I also thank UNICEF for the assistance rendered by them in this task.

    The issues dealt with by the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, as well as ‘The Children’s Code Bill 2000’, are essentially problems that have been around for many decades – not only in India and other developing nations, but also in developed countries.

    Enacting laws to deal with these problems would amount to looking for new solutions to old problems. We really do not need new laws; in fact, we have enough laws on our Statute Book. What we need is to make suitable amendments to these laws so that they become relevant to the times and can be implemented with minimum obstacles.

    The High Powered Committee has done precisely this. It has tried to incorporate the provisions of the rights of the child as enshrined in the UN Convention into the laws of the land, without proposing radical changes. In a sense, what has been proposed is a comprehensive Code that spells out a child’s right to survival, growth, protection and development.

    Government will take full note of the proposed Code that seeks to facilitate the implementation of provisions, many of which already exist in the Constitution of India, contained in the UN Convention.

    As is well known, nearly two decades before the UN adopted the Convention on the Rights of the Child in 1992, India had framed a National Policy on Children in 1974. That policy reinforced the Indian State’s commitment to the survival, growth, development and protection of children, and led to the implementation of several policies and programmes, many of them specifically focused on the girl child.

    However, while a lot has been achieved through these programmes, a lot more no doubt remains to be done.

    We share problems related to the survival, development and protection of children with many other countries. In some cases, the reasons why these problems continue to persist are the same. In others, customary practices and social beliefs indigenous to India or the region come into play.

    For instance, exploitation of children as cheap labour and child prostitution are problems that transcend geographical barriers. On the other hand, problems like female foeticide exist in India and need to be seen in the context of social realities in the region.

    Therefore, to deal with some of the problems, countries have to forge common action programmes and act in a concerted manner. At the same time, we in India are committed to fighting and eradicating customary practices and social beliefs that militate against gender equality and thus deny a child his or her right to not only survival, but also development and protection from exploitation.

    I may add that we have come a long way as a nation in eradicating social evils and gender bias. We have to, however, cover further ground and conquer new frontiers of emancipation and empowerment – of the girl child and, thus, of women.

    Friends, each age of human development across the world has had its own impact – some positive, others negative.

    Globalisation has no doubt fetched economic growth for individual nations and opened the doors to immense possibilities. At the same time, free market competition has had a negative impact manifested in the form of exploitation of children for cheap labour.

    It is no secret that in many developing countries teenaged children are employed to produce goods that, because of their low labour cost, can compete on the price front. Media have reported extensively about products bearing well-known brand names being produced in factories that remind us of the sweatshops of the industrial revolution.

    Similarly, it is no secret that wide scale child prostitution more often than not results from developing countries vying with each other to attract tourist traffic from developed countries, in the process choosing to shut their eyes to a horror that should shame us all.

    Surely countries can collectively act on these fronts and not succumb to the lure of easy economic gains which at best can fetch transient benefits while scarring children for the rest of their lives.

    The point I seek to stress is that laws adopted by individual countries can be effective only when there is higher level of international cooperation and collaboration to uphold the rights of the child. And this cooperation and collaboration has to extend to fighting poverty.

    For, so long as every fourth person in the world is poor, exploitation shall continue to manifest itself in many forms, especially exploitation of children and denial of basic human dignity to the child.

    Friends, our Government has listed nutrition, health and education as its priority tasks. We have been laying greater emphasis on the growth and development of the girl child and her empowerment through education.

    Despite fiscal constraints, we have increased our spending on the social sector. We shall pursue our agenda to further improve the lot of children, irrespective of their social or economic status and their gender identity.

    In these efforts, ‘The Children’s Code Bill 2000’ will be a valuable input. Indeed, Government, as I have already said, shall take full notice of your proposals while formulating legal provisions for the survival, growth, development and protection of children.

    I thank you once again for your endeavour."

'33'

    The minister lauded the role of BRO for constructing roads in the border areas especially during Kargil conflict and suggested that this organisation if possible should devote for road construction in the non-border areas also.

'33'

    Shri Yogendra Narain suggested to set up a research organisation for this department which will monitor and suggest measures for the maintenance of roads already constructed and this should be fully computerised on the American pattern. Shri Narain asserted that there should be no laxity in the maintenance of roads which have to bear pressure of heavy equipments of defence forces and a specification of the construction of roads should be upgraded which should meet the international standards. The Defence Secretary promised that there will be no shortage of fund provided BRO gives proposal and sticks to the time frame for construction.