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Rs. 63 CRORE RELEASED FOR WEST BENGAL BY RURAL DEVELOPMENT MINISTRY
Certain Districts of West Bengal were recently affected by floods. Keeping in view the gravity of the situation and in pursuance of the Prime Minister’s directions to extend all possible assistance to the flood-affected areas, the Minister of Rural Development, Shri M. Venkaiah Naidu, ordered immediate release of the Second Instalment of funds under the Employment Assurance Scheme, the Jawahar Gram Samridhi Yojana and the Indira Awas Yojana to the nine affected districts of the State. An amount of Rs. 63.26 crore has been released to the government of West Bengal under these three Programmes, by way of advance release of 2nd instalment, waiving the requisite procedures. This includes a sum of Rs. 20.90 crore under the Indira Awas Yojana, Rs. 23.85 crore under the Jawahar Gram Samridhi Yojana and Rs. 18.51 crore under the Employment Assurance Scheme.The Union Minister of Rural Development, Shri M. Venkaiah Naidu, has also reviewed the position in regard to the funds available with the Government of West Bengal under different Programmes of the Ministry. As per available information, the expenditure incurred by the State this year is Rs. 130.35 crore against the total available funds of Rs. 524.87 crore, which works out 24.84%. During the year 1999-2000, the overall utilisation of funds has been about Rs. 465.80 crore, out of total available funds of Rs. 870.34 crore, i.e., 53.25%. The State could not draw Rs. 231 crore during the year 1999-2000. The Union Minister of Rural Development has, accordingly, addressed a letter to the Chief Minister of West Bengal, requesting him to review the position and to take necessary steps so that, with the efforts of both the Central and State Governments, the benefits under different Programmes of the Ministry of Rural Development reach the people of the State.
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ACTION PLAN TO REMOVE URBAN-RURAL DIVIDE: NAIDU
The Rural Development Minister Shri M. Venkaiah Naidu has called for chalking out a joint action plan to remove the urban-rural disparities in the country. Inaugurating the one day state revenue secretaries conference here today he stressed that there will be no politicisation in development work and the centre and the states should work together for improving the conditions in rural areas. He regretted that despite efforts by successive governments, rural areas were still lacking in basic infrastructure and conditions must be improved for higher economic growth.Shri Naidu stressed on optimum utilisation of land resources. He said problems regarding distribution of surplus land and allotment of Government land to the weaker sections should be removed. The question of consolidation land holdings should be addressed on priority for enhanced productivity. There is need for effective utilisation of funds as allocation for rural development is among the highest after defence.
The Minister underlined the need for distribution to farmers of Pattedar Pass-books providing all information regarding land which would be a very powerful instrument in the hands of the rural community. Along with computerisation of land records, the measure would promote empowerment of the farmers and elimination of corruption at the cutting edge level of governmental systems. He indicated that the centre would be willing to provide help in this regard.
Shri Naidu pointed out that since land is a State subject, the Centre’s role would be that of a facilitator. There is need for frequent interactions with the States. The present conference is a step in that direction, he said.
Earlier, Minister of State for Rural Development Smt. Rita Verma informed the meeting that a National Level Committee had been constituted under the Chairmanship of Secretary, Rural Development to look into all areas relating to consolidation of land holdings and updating of survey data and record of rights and maps through technological upgradation. The Administative Staff College of India, Hyderabad, was assigned to conduct an indepth study of the problem in 10 States and its report is under examination, she said.
'11' FM PRIVATIZATION ON SCHEDULE The operation of FM Radio Broadcasting by Private Agencies in 40 cities by 108 channels in the country is going to be as scheduled. It will be recalled that further to the decision taken in July, 1999 to issue licenses to private agencies, auction by open bidding had taken place and a sum of Rupees 37 crores have been received from the 29 selected companies as advance license fee. The final bid amount in aggregate was in excess of Rupees 400 crores during the first year.
The letters of intent were issued by the Ministry between the 2nd and 4th of August, 2000 and the licensees were to apply for frequency allocation and SACFA clearance within three months of that date. The licensees were also to furnish a bank guarantee and to sign an agreement with the Ministry by 15th October, 2000. However, after receiving the letter of intent and the draft license agreement, some the applicants expressed difficulties in respect of a few provisions stipulated in the Agreement, and sought clarification /modification for the same. Since the last date for furnishing the bank guarantee (15th October, 2000) had been nearly reached, a meeting was taken by the Information and Broadcasting Minister on Thursday, 12th October, 2000 with the concerned private sector operators where the various apprehensions expressed by the private operators were removed and the required clarifications were also furnished by the officials. The private operators requested that another one month be given to them to furnish the bank guarantee and sign the agreement with the Ministry.
For commencing private FM channel operation, the private operators have to apply for frequency allocation and SACFA clearance by 2nd November, 2000 (that is within three months of the issue of letter of intent by the I&B Ministry). It was decided by the Minister that this date will not be disturbed and time extension for furnishing bank guarantee and signing the license agreement with the Ministry was extended only upto October 30, 2000 ( that is by fifteen days). Thus, even though the private operators have been given fifteen additional days to furnish the bank guarantee, they will have to adhere to the already envisaged time schedule and apply for frequency allocation as per the original stipulated date of November 2, 2000. The licensees will also have to make the stations operational with in twelve months from the date of earmarking of the frequency by the WPC.
As per clarifications and agreement reached during the meeting with the Minister of Information and Broadcasting, the modified Proforma License Agreement was sent to all the applicant companies on 12th October itself. Out of 26 companies, which were issued letters of intent, three of them have already furnished the required bank guarantee and signed the license agreement on 13th of October, 2000.
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FAMILY WELFARE IS BACK ON TOP OF NATION’S POLITICAL AGENDA : SAYS A. RAJA, MOS FOR HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE
The Union Minister of State for Health and Family Welfare, Shri A Raja has said that the family welfare programme is back on top of nation’s political agenda. Inaugurating a two-day 22nd Annual Conference of Association of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists of Delhi, here today, the Minister said that national socio-demographic goals formulated in the National Population Policy – 2000 are to be achieved in a decade. His Ministry has fully recognised the pivotal role of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists in handling the ever increasing health care burden of women of reproductive age groups.
Government has decided to reorient the programmes of reproductive child health with the objective to improve the quality, coverage, effectiveness and access to the services. It is here that Government has recognised the role of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists who have immense contribution to the cause of women health. He has called upon the medical professionals to participate in the Government’s endeavour of implementing the National Population Policy pertaining to the women’s health care programmes, empowerment of women and catering to the unmet needs of Family Welfare Services and Contraceptive Technology.
Shri A.R. Nanda, Secretary, Family Welfare in his speech has said that about 15 per cent of maternal deaths in India occur due to abortion. He has stressed that the Doctors have subtle role to see that the couples delay first birth. He has requested them not to perform the sex determination test of the babies in the womb since it results in the infanticide of the female child. He has also urged them to help the government’s sex education and population programme reach the adolescents which will ultimately regulate their fertility behaviour.
Shri J.A. Chowdhary, Secretary, Health has said that free noon meal scheme in Tamil Nadu led to the increased enrolment of girls in the schools which in turn brought down the infant mortality rate and maternal mortality rate which is the lowest in the country. He has urged the other States to follow the example of Tamil Nadu.
Dr. P.K. Dave, Director, AIIMS said that the Government policy initiatives will definitely improve the women’s health.