FINANCE MINISTRY ACTION PLAN TO EMPOWER WOMEN

   Public sector banks will now be expected to earmark at least 2 per cent of their net bank credit for women and raise it to 5 per cent in about five years time. This is part of an Action Plan approved by the Finance Minister, Shri Yashwant Sinha for strengthening Credit Delivery to Women particularly in the Tiny and SSI sector.

    A number of initiatives will now be taken by the Public Sector Banks to ensure that women in the country have easier access to bank finance. Under this 14-Point Action Plan, prepared by the Banking Division, Department of Economic Affairs, Ministry of Finance after detailed consultations with Department of Women and Child Development, Department of Small Scale Industries & Agro and Rural Industries, National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development, Small Industries Development Bank of India, Reserve Bank of India and public sector banks, banks will create necessary environment by simplifying procedural formalities in bank finance and offering updated information, guidance and other credit related services to women entrepreneurs. The specialized branches for women will cater predominantly to the requirements of women entrepreneurs in an integrated manner. It will be ensured that each district of the country has at least one specialized branch for women. Apart from other banking functions, these branches would act as a center for women which offers inter-alia library facilities, credit related counseling and information on various schemes/programmes.

    This plan also outlines a number of measures including Redefining of Banks’ Policies/Long term plans, setting up women’s cells and designating an officer in each branch exclusively to handle flow of credit to women, simplification of existing procedural formalities, orientation of bank officers/staff on gender concerns, publicity campaign for creating awareness about credit facilities, Entrepreneruship Development Programmes for Women, motivational strategies to enthuse bank staff to achieve targets for women, a proper data collection and monitoring system, involving Non Government Organisations, Self Help Groups and Women’s Cooperatives and setting up Mahila Rural Cooperative banks on the lines of Mahila Urban Cooperative banks for assisting women in semi-urban and rural areas.

    The above measures are expected to overcome the hurdles being faced by women in accessing bank finance, which will contribute to empowerment of women in the country by making them more self-reliant and economically independent.

    Stressing that IT-enabled services would soon be one of the major constituents of exports from India, the Union Minister of State for Commerce and Industry, Shri Omar Abdullah, has called for big efforts to harness IT enabled services exports from the country. The IT Task Force, set up by the Prime Minister Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee has targetted US $ 50 billion of IT software and services exports from India by the year 2008. Out of this, IT enabled services would account for US $ 15 billion (Rs.69,000 crore), Shri Abdullah said after visiting the state-of-the-art Call Centre facility of Air Infotech at Gurgaon. The on-site visit of the Minister was organised by the Electronics and Computer Software Export Promotion Council (ESC) as part of its strategy to spread IT (Information Technology) culture among states and to leverage the competitive advantages of states for enhancing India's software and services exports. Shri Abdullah said that considering the importance of IT-enabled services, the government had identified IT enabled services as a thrust area, the global market size of which was estimated to be over US $ 800 billion. He further remarked that this area presented enormous opportunities for India, particularly with reference to development of entrepreneurs in the small enterprises, massive employment generation and IT diffusion in second-tier cities across India.

   The Government is working out modalities for enacting a fresh batch of electoral reforms. It intends to introduce in the current session of Parliament a Bill seeking to extend the current constitutional embargo and undertaking a fresh delimitation of electoral constituencies up to the year 2026 and simultaneously undertake readjustment and rationalisation of electoral constituencies, including those reserved for the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes, based on the population census for the year 1991, without affecting the number of seats allocated to States in the legislative bodies. The recommendations on electoral reforms contained in the 170^th Report of the Law Commission and the suggestions of the Election Commission of India have been received by the Government. The electoral reforms are an ongoing process and can be carried out only after evolving political consensus. The Government intends to continue interaction with the political parties on various proposals to carry forward the process of electoral reforms.

    The licence fee for chambers in the Supreme Court of India has been fixed provisionally as under:

    The present provision of number of seats reserved for the Scheduled Castes in the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly and in the House of the People from that State are on the basis of the delimitation of Parliamentary and Assembly Constituencies in the state done by the Delimitation Commission under the provisions of the Delimitation Act, 1972 and by the Election Commission under the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes Orders (Amendment) Act, 1976. Under the existing constitutional provisions, as were subsequently made by the Constitution (Forty-second Amendment) Act, 1976, no change in the number of seats reserved for the Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes is permissible until the relevant figures of the first census taken after the year 2000 have been published.

    A number of provisions already exist in law to prevent corrupt and criminal elements from entering electoral arena or from adversely affecting the election process. Section 8 of the Representation of the People Act, 1951, contains provisions for disqualifying a person on conviction for certain offences. The Election Commission of India, which has been entrusted the task of superintendence, direction and control of elections, has held the view that it is conscious of the fact that in the eyes of law, a person may not be assumed to be innocent unless proved guilty. However, this may not be so in the eyes of the general public. According to the Election Commission, Parliament and State Legislatures are apex law-making bodies and should be composed of persons who enjoy high reputation in the eyes of the general public and should be perceived by them to be persons of integrity. A person who is charged of a serious offence, and a court of law is prima facie satisfied and has, after weighing the evidence before it, framed charges against it, should not become a potential law-makers by being permitted to contest elections. On April 29, 2000, the Election Commission of India convened a meeting of recognised national and State political parties. One of the items in the agenda included "criminalisation of politics". There was no consensus over the proposals of the Election Commission that (a) the law may be simplified by amending Section 8 of the Representation of the People Act, 1951 to provide that any person convicted of an offence by a Court of law and sentenced to imprisonment for six months or more should be debarred from contesting elections for a period totalling the sentence imposed plus an additional six years, and (b) that any person who is accused of any offence punishable with imprisonment for five years or more should be disqualified, even when his trial is pending, provided that the competent Court of Law has taken cognisance of the offence and framed the charges against him. Recently the Delhi High Court by its judgement of November 2, 2000 in the CWP No. 7257 of 1999 (Association for Democratic Reforms Vs. Union of India and others) has directed the Election Commission to secure to the voters the following information pertaining to each of the candidates standing for elections to Parliament and to the State Legislatures, and the parties they represent:

    The Government is bringing forward an amendment in the Companies Act through the Companies (Second Amedment) Bill, 1999. The gist is as under:

'9A'

50 STOLEN ANTIQUES RECOVERED DURING THE LAST THREE YEARS

    Measures have been taken by the Archaeological Survey of India in concert with the enforcing agencies like the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence, Central Bureau of Investigation, Customs and the State Governments to check the theft of antiquities by intensifying checking at customs exit points, as well as by strict enforcement of the Antiquities and Art Treasures Act, 1972. Armed Guards have also been deployed at the selected centrally protected monuments and museums under the Archaeological Survey of India.

    The number of case of thefts reported during the last three years, State-wise are : Andhra Pradesh-1; Delhi-1; Gujarat-1; Karnataka-1; Madhya Pradesh-9; Rajasthan-13; Tamil Nadu-1 and Uttar Pradesh-4.

    The number of antiquities recovered during the last three years, State-wise is as follows : Madhya Pradesh-40; Rajasthan-3 and Uttar Pradesh-7.

    This information was given by the Tourism and Culture Minister Shri Ananth Kumar in a written reply in the Lok Sabha today.

'44'

MINES SECRETARY STESSES ON GEOLOGICAL PROSPECTING AND A SIMPLE UNIVERSAL RESERVE CLASSIFICATION FOR MINERALS

   Indian Precambrian shield is known to host a wide array of geological formations with exciting mineralogical possibilities. This has generated tremendous interest in multi-national mining companies all over the world. In the last four years, 79 reconnaissance permits covering an area of 105,000 sq. kms. have been granted. Aerial prospecting in a large part of this area has been completed and the data is under process. The Mines Secretary Shri Dipak Chatterjee said this today in his keynote address in the Regional Seminar on the Implementation of United Nations Classification for Reserves/Resources: Solid Fuels and Minerals (UNFC) at Agra. The seminar has been organised by the Federation of Indian Mining Industries. Shri Chatterjee said that since the liberalization of Indian mineral sector in 1993, sincere efforts are being made to expedite geological prospecting to attract private investment – domestic as well as foreign.

‘27’

RAJYA SABHA

ENACTMENT OF LEGISLATION TO ADMINISTER FOOD LAWS UNDER A SINGLE AUTHORITY

    The Union Minister for Agriculture Shri Nitish Kumar while replying questions in Rajya Sabha said that Food Processing Sector generates maximum employment in comparison to any other industry. It provides employment to 54000 persons on an expenditure of Rs. 1000 crore.

    The Government has taken a number of policy initiatives to promote the growth of processed food sector in the country which include inter alia provision of financial assistance in the form of soft loan and grant to private industries, public sector undertakings, non-government organizations, cooperatives etc. Such assistance is also provided for creation of infrastructure facilities.

    Department of Food Processing Industries (DFPI) organized four Regional Seminars at Calcutta, Mumbai, Bangalore and Lucknow to elicit regional inputs towards formulation of National Food Processing Policy. In these seminars, there was a general consensus that apart from formulation of a national policy on food processing, an appropriate development oriented legislation be conceived as the present enactments are impeding the growth of the sector. Accordingly, an Approach Paper towards formulation of a Processed Food Development Act has been prepared and circulated to various Central Government Departments, State Governments, Industry Associations, Research & Development Organizations and Experts. We will have to produce quality products and maintain uniform quality standards to meet the challenges of globalisation.

    The growth in Fruit & Vegetable Processing Sector, during the year 1997-98, showed a negative trend. Though detailed reasons for this trend have not been reported, one of the apparently discernible factors to which the negative growth could be attributed is levying of excise duty on these products as against the zero duty in the preceding year. Shri Nitish Kumar informed that a case has been taken up with the Finance Minister in this regard.

    The Minister said that all measures to prevent dumping of imported food products in the country will be taken. The Government has already imposed a 100 per cent import duty on cutmeat and 60 per cent excise on the import of powdered milk.

‘27’

RAJYA SABHA

EFFICIENCY AND QUALITY OF AGRICULTURAL EDUCATION NEEDS IMPROVEMENT – DR. DEBENDRA PRADHAN

    Expressing concern among different stake-holders about the quality of education to be imparted, Minister of State for Agriculture Dr. Debendra Pradhan while inaugurating a two day National Symposium on "Accreditation for Quality Assurance in Agricultural Education" here today said that they would like to have assurance of adequate skills and entrepreneurship development that would enable the graduates to be globally competitive and serve as instruments in accelerating agricultural growth. Our country needs new breed of technology agents who are able to meet the challenges of the new Millennium. In order to achieve these objectives the improvement of quality of the higher agricultural education is a pre-requisite.

    Recognizing the international trend of quality assurance in education, the ICAR decided to establish a National Board on Accreditation under the Agricultural Human Resource Development project. The Board has the authority to regulate norms and standards of higher agricultural education as well as policies on university governance, course curricula and personnel and financial matters. This Board, established in 1996, has developed new accreditation procedures involving Self-Study to be conducted by the institutions and the validation of such reports by the Peer Review Teams. Agricultural University officials and faculty have already been sensitized about the new accreditation process through a series of regional training workshops.

    Dr. Pradhan said that in a record time, the new procedure has been operationalized and four participating AHRD project universities namely: Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Tamil Nadu Veterinary and animal Sciences University, CCS Haryana agricultural University and Acharya N. G Ranga Agricultural University, have completed the process of accreditation. It is a matter of happiness that 8 more agricultural universities have applied for accreditation during the next year. Planning is also in progress to ensure that all universities are accredited under the new procedure within next three years.

    He said that we are presently concerned about proliferation of institutions including opening of new universities/colleges at the National Level. A Manpower Need Assessment Study is in progress and in future we must not allow and support any institution which is established without the approval of the Accreditation Board. The most pressing need is to improve the existing institutions rather than to open new ones. There is need to optimize and improve efficiency and quality with limited resources. This is possible only when we have integrated approach to higher agricultural education.

ALL INDIA CONSUMER PRICE INDEX FOR AGRICULTURAL AND RURAL LABOURERS DROPS

   The All-India Consumer Price Index for Agricultural and Rural Labourers (Base 1986-87 = 100) for October, 2000 decreased by one point over the previous month to stand at 305 for Agricultural Labourers and at 307 for Rural Labourers.

    Point to point rate of inflation based on CPI-AL and CPI-RL, decreased from (-) 1.30 % and (-) 0.65% in September 2000 to (-) 3.17% and (-) 2.54%, during October, 2000 respectively. Respective rates of inflation during October, 1999 were 3.62% and 3.28%.

    The Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) has initiated a number of steps to help enhance the value and volume of exports of herbals. These will also help in introducing new herbal formulations in the market. The strategy is to standardise and scientifically validate some of the therapeutics of the herbals and develop agro-technologies for the cultivation of the endangered species.

GOVERNMENT KEEN TO LIQUIDATE OUTSTANDING STATUTORY DUES OF CPSU WORKERS AS SOON AS POSSIBLE

    The Prime Minister informed the Rajya Sabha today that the amount of outstanding statutory dues to workers of defaulting Central Public Sector Undertakings has been reduced. Replying during Question Hour, Shri Atal Behari Vajpayee said that the government is trying to liquidate the entire outstanding amount as soon as possible.

    The Minister of State for Finance (Expenditure, Banking & Insurance), Shri Balasaheb Vikhe Patil has said that the Government is reviewing the existing pension schemes in order to bring about reforms in the pension sector. "With a view to providing focused attention to this topic, the Department of Economic Affairs’ initiation and co-ordination of efforts in this regard has been entrusted to the Capital Markets and External Commercial Borrowings Division. As we are aware, various central government departments and state governments are already engaged in several studies and initiatives on the topic of pension reforms. As such, it is opportune to co-ordinate our efforts for comprehensive and sustainable reforms in terms of developing appropriate pension alternatives within a forward looking regulatory framework", Shri Patil said. He was addressing the ‘Capacity Building Conference of ADB on Pension System Reforms in South Asia’, here today.

    Shri Patil said that internationally, the trend is towards a unified system i.e. government employees integrated into the same system as for the rest of the population. At the same time, the Minister remarked, the practice of government guaranteeing returns on pension products is being gradually abandoned since this may be inconsistent with reforms that are market determined. Shri Patil noted that some countries have moved towards providing funded pension schemes managed by the private sector. However, while funded schemes may relieve fiscal burden, such schemes do not necessarily solve demographic problems of an ageing population, he cautioned. It is also generally felt that pension reforms should include such investment policy steps that encourage contractual savings and help in the deepening of capital markets, he added.

    The Minister said that it is essential to ensure that the country’s social support system, which necessarily includes pensions, is consistent with macro-economic stability in general and fiscal sustainability in particular. "The prospects of better returns within acceptable risk profiles, improved service and appropriate tax incentives, rather than government guarantees, could be part of the strategy towards expanding coverage. In the longer run, public, private sector and unorganized sector employees could belong to a combination of mandatory defined benefit plans, employer-based defined contribution schemes with portable accounts. The legal framework for pension schemes may also need to be reviewed", Shri Patil said.

    The conference would cover pension reforms in India, Pakistan and Nepal. The focus will be on the role of private sector in pension reforms, governance and regulatory issues in pension reforms and international experience.

RAJYA SABHA

STORAGE SPACE FOR GRAIN IN FCI

    The FCI has a total storage capacity of 26.64 million tonnes (owned & hired/covered area plinth (CAP) against the total stocks of 22.71 million tonnes as on October 1, 2000.

    Storage capacity of FCI increases or decreases depending upon the trend of procurement and offtake in the producing/consuming States. Field Officers of FCI under delegated powers, hire/dehire storage capacity whenever considered necessary in any States. FCI also hires additional storage capacity from various agencies like Central Warehousing Corporation (CWC), State Warehousing Corporations (SWCs), State Agencies and private parties. Additional Storage capacity is also created by construction of godowns at strategic locations by FCI at micro level under the Five Year Plans.

    In view of the comfortable stock position of foodgrains the Government have decided to allocate foodgrains under Targetted Public Distribution System (TPDS) for Below Poverty Line (BPL) families on the basis of projected population as on March 1, 2000 instead of present base of 1995. It has also been decided to give foodgrains at BPL rate to (i) the welfare institutions catering to the needs of destitute men, women and children @ 5 Kg per head, per month and (ii) for all welfare schemes of the Government including Food for Work programme, apart from resorting to open sale of wheat. A decision has also been taken to dispose off 30 lakh tonnes of rice in the open market. Rice above one and two years old will be offered to State Governments @ Rs. 950/- per qtl. FCI is to supply wheat for export at a price now lower than the Central Issue Price for BPL category.

    This information was given by the Minister of State for Consumer Affairs Food and Public Distribution, Shri Sriram Chauhan in a written reply today in the Rajya Sabha.

RAJYA SABHA

SALE OF PADDY IN VILLAGES OF PUNJAB

    As per a report from the Government on Punjab, the entire paddy brought by the villagers in the mandis which conform to the specifications laid down by Government of India has been purchased by the Government procurement agencies including Food Corporation of India and millers at Minimum Support Price (MSP) or above MSP. The paddy which does not conform to the laid down specifications has been purchased by millers below MSP.

    As on November 20, 2000 a total quantity of 86.06 lakh tonnes of paddy was purchased by FCI and the State agencies. During the corresponding period last year. 82.52 lakh tonnes of paddy was purchased by FCI/State Agencies. The millers/Traders have purchased 23.54 lakh tonnes of paddy upto November 20, 2000.

    This information was given by the Minister of State for Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution, Shri Sriram Chauhan in a written reply today in the Rajya Sabha.

‘27’

RAJYA SABHA

CENTRAL HELP TO WEST BENGAL IN WAKE OF RECENT FLOODS

    The State Government of West Bengal had submitted a memorandum indicating the extent of damage due to unprecedented heavy rains during September, 2000, at approximately Rs.5666.00 crores and the State’s requirement of assistance at Rs. 1487.00 crores.

    Details of Central assistance provided to the State are release of entire Central share of Calamity Relief Fund amounting to Rs.75.83 crores for 2000-01 and release of Rs.422.43 crores s revenue deficit grant. Upto 20 per cent of the fund released under Accelerated Rural Water Supply Programme (ARWSP) can be spent on Sub-Mission projects/schemes. During current year, against the allocation of Rs. 78.95 crores under ARWSP, first instalment of Rs.38.90 crores has been released. Further, under ongoing sub-Mission Projects a sum of Rs. 20 crores has been released. Rs. 7.00 crores released to take up emergent repair of flood damages.

    An additional allocation of 87,080 tonnes of rice at BPL rates made for distribution to flood affected families at the rate of 20 Kg. Per family. 10,000 kilo litres kerosene oil has been dispatched to the State Government. Disinfectants and other medicines have been supplied by the Department of Health including 1000 tonnes of bleaching powder.

    Damaged Railway lines have already been restored for passenger as well as freight trains. NH-31, 34 & 35 restored to the traffic w.e.f 6.10.2000. 50 drilling rigs are available in the State for Rural Water Supply Programme.

    This was stated by Union Minister for Agriculture Shri Nitish Kumar in reply to a question of Shri Nilotpal Basu, MP here today in Rajya Sabha.

    The Minister for Petroleum & Natural Gas, Shri Ram Naik, informed the Lok Sabha in a written reply today that there are twenty-six sedimentary basins in India besides deep waters in East Coast, West Coast and Southern tip of India. Several of these are being explored for hydrocarbons. Of these, in the basins where reserves have been established, the quantity of the balance recoverable reserves of crude oil as on 1.4.2000 are 937.72 Million Metric Tonnes (MMT).

    Shri Ram Naik, Minister for Petroleum & Natural Gas, has lauded ONGC-Videsh Limited, a subsidiary of ONGC and the Indonesian National Oil Company, Pertamina for their joint efforts in taking quick actions to concretise specific cooperation to set a milestone, in a very short time. ONGC Videsh Limited (ONGC-VL) and Petamina signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU), at a function held here, last night. The MOU seeks to provide a platform for ONGC-VL and Pertamina to jointly pursue oil and gas projects in Indonesia, India and other countries.

    The Investiture Parade of the Railway Protection Force was held at the RPF Parade Grounds, Daya Basti, here today. The Railway Minister, Ms.Mamata Banerjee was the Chief Guest. Speaking on the occasion, the Minister said that the RPF will be made a well equipped and motivated force to ensure total safety for Railway property and passengers. She called upon the RPF to dedicate itself fully to the job assigned to them. Ms.Mamata Banerjee assured the Personnel of the Force that she will do everything possible to improve their service conditions. She added that the setting up of an RPF Training Academy at Kharagpur is under the active consideration of the Railways. She announced a grant of Rs. 30 lakhs for the RPF on the occasion.

    The Minister of State for Railways, Shri Digvijay Singh was present on the occasion. The Railway Board Chairman, Shri Ashok Kumar,Members of the Board and other Senior Officials also attended.

    Ms.Mamata Bannerjee presented Medals to Shri S.C.Pandey, Deputy Inspector General, Railway Board and Shri K.P.O.Nair, Assistant Security Commissioner, who won the President's Police Medal for distinguished service. Shri Pandey was awarded the President's Medal on the occasion of Independence Day 1999 and Shri Nair on the occasion of Republic Day,2000. Thirty other RPF Officials were also awarded Medals on the occasion in recognition of their winning the Police Medal and Fire Service Medal for meritorious service. Various RPF Units took part in the colourful parade. The participation of the dog-squad was among its major highlights.

    When the traffic density reaches one lakh or more Train Vehicle Units (TVUs) at a level crossing, it is considered for replacement with Road Over/Under Bridges on a cost sharing basis. On this consideration, there are 1108 level crossings on Indian Railways which require replacement.

    Construction of Road Over/Under Bridges is a joint venture of the Railways with the State Government/Local Authorities where the cost is shared by both. Construction of bridges across Railway tracks is normally done by the Railways and approaches are constructed normally by the State Government/Local Authorities.

    After the formalities like preparation of General Arrangement Drawing jointly with the State Government, advance action for acquisition of land if any, by the State Government, commitment of sharing of the cost and undertaking for closure of level crossings etc. are completed, the work qualifying on cost sharing basis shall be considered for inclusion in future Works Programme of the Railway.

    This information was given by the Minister of State for Railways, Shri Digvijay Singh in a written reply to a question by Shri T.T.V.Dhinakaran in the Lok Sabha today.

    Total money owed to the Railways by the State Electricity Boards and Power Houses till the end of September, 2000 is Rs.1761.18 crore. The Railways have undertaken a series of measures to recover the dues. Among them are the implementation of various schemes for 'Prepayment of Freight' for carriage of coal booked to the State Electricity Boards/Power Houses w.e.f. 1.10.1996. The Zonal Railways are closely monitoring those State Electricity Boards and Power Houses which fail to observe the conditions of 'Prepayment of Freight' as also payment of current freight. Regular meetings are held with senior officials of such State Electricity Boards and Power Houses to get the dues paid. The Railways have also approached the Ministries of Power and Finance and Chief Ministers of concerned State Governments at various levels urging early steps for clearance of the dues.

    This information was given by the Minister of State for Railways, Shri Digvijay Singh in a written reply to a question by Shri D.V.G.Shankar Rao in the Lok Sabha today.

   The President, Shri K.R. Narayanan and the Prime Minister, Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee have paid tribute to Guru Teg Bahadur on his Martyrdom Day.

   At a special meeting of the General Council of the World Trade Organisation (WTO) held in Geneva, on 22^nd November, India joined a vast majority of WTO members in protesting against the Appellate Body’s decision to invite amicus curiae (literally meaning "friends of the court") briefs* in the case relating to "European Communities -- Measures affecting Asbestos and Products Containing Asbestos ".

    Approximately 23,115 Primary Weavers Cooperative Societies are registered with different State Governments. Government of India does not maintain the State-wise average production of Cooperative Societies. However, as per the latest Handloom census the average production in the Handloom households is 3.66 meters per weaver per day.

    The European Union has already released exceptional flexibilities amounting to 3500 tonnes and has also agreed to release balance exceptional flexibilities of 4500 tonnes for the year 2000. The additional quantities of 8000 tonnes have already been distributed for exports.

    The production and exports of textile items has been showing a positive growth during the last five years except the year 1998-99. During the year 1998-99, the production of cotton yarn and cloth (cotton and blended) declined as compared to the previous year, due to a variety of reasons including recession in the domestic and international markets. The textile industry being very diverse, complex and widely dispersed industry, there may always be some units, at any given point of time, working unsatisfactorily.

   The order dated 30.06.2000 for Compulsory use of Jute Packaging was extended from time to time and was valid upto 31.10.2000 or until further orders whichever is earlier. Keeping in view of large size of jute crop, quantity of production of Foodgrains and Sugar, the impact of introduction of 50 kg. Bags etc., the Government considered and approved the reservation under JPM Act, 1987 for the balance period of jute year 2000-2001 as follows:-

    The Prime Minister Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee has expressed profound grief over the demise of the noted freedom fighter, poet and journalist Shri Naresh Mehta. In a condolence message, the Prime Minister said that Shri Mehta earned several awards and sammans for his creative writings during his life time. Shri Mehta will be remembered for his contribution to country’s freedom struggle, Hindi literature and Journalism, the Prime Minister added.