‘7’

   About 4,54,859 persons received free legal aid and advice in law courts throughout the country during the period from October 1999 to June 2000. During the same period, about 15,651 Lok Adalats were held and 8.69 lakh cases settled.

'24'

   A Telecom Reform Project, amounting to US$ 72 million, has been launched with the assistance of the World Bank. Out of the US$ 72 million, the World Bank assistance component is of US$ 62 million and the Government of India component is US$ 10 million. This Project will be implemented in phases and final completion of the project is slated by December 2004.

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    Indian Tourism Development Corporation (ITDC), a Government undertaking has bagged duty free shops tender for the next five years. In response to the Airport Authority of India's latest global tenders for the existing duty free shops at the international airports in Delhi, Mumbai, Calcutta, Chennai and Thiruvananthapuram the India Tourism Development Corporation was declared the highest bidder followed by Weitnauer Singapore Pvt. Ltd. The ITDC offered 29 per cent of the minimum guarantee turnover of $ 125 million over five years to the Airport Authority of India by

'20'

SHRI RAM NAIK RECEIVES DIVIDEND CHEQUE OF RS. 7.2 CRORE FROM BRPL

   The Minister for Petroleum & Natural Gas, Shri Ram Naik, received a cheque of Rs. 7.2 crore as dividend paid by oil PSU, Bongaigaon Refinery & Petrochemicals Limited (BRPL) against Government holding in the company. The dividend cheque was presented to the Minister by Shri B.K. Gogoi, CMD, BRPL, here today, in the presence of Shri E. Ponnuswamy, Minister of State for Petroleum & Natural Gas and Dr. S. Narayan, Secretary, Ministry of Petroleum & Natural Gas, besides other Senior Officers of the Ministry and BRPL. This amount represents dividend of 30% of its profit after tax. during the year 1999-2000.

    National Mineral Development Corporation (NMDC) has produced 67 lakh tonnes of iron ore during this fiscal which is 5 per cent more than the target. It has also exceeded its target by 24 per cent by producing 19171 carats of diamond during these 6 months. Out of this, Bailadila Sector has contributed 49.83 lakh tonnes and Donimalai Sector 17.30 lakh tonnes. This was revealed in a Half Yearly Review Meeting of the company taken today by the Minister of Steel Shri Braja Kishore Tripathy.

    The Post-Graduate Medical Education Regulations have been revised in tune with the advances taking place in the field of Medical Education and Medical Technology across the world. The Regulations called "Post Graduate Medical Education Regulations, 2000" were notified by the Medical Council of India after getting approval from the Central Government. These Regulations have been revised after a gap of 29 years.

    A clause has been added in the new Regulations for allowing non-teaching institutions in Government sector to start PG courses. In the earlier Regulations, the medical colleges recognised for running MBBS courses were only eligible to start the PG courses.

    Under the new Regulations, the training period for Super-Speciality courses has been fixed as 3 years after MD/MS. According to old Regulations, it was 2 years after MD/MS. The selection process of Post-Graduate students has also been dileneated. Now, the students can be admitted either on the basis of competitive test conducted by State Governments or other Competent Authority at both State level and Centre level or on the basis of individual performance at MBBS examination. Earlier, the students were selected strictly on the basis of merit judged on the basis of academic record in the Under-Graduate course. Keeping in view the importance of Post-Graduate Medical Education, the Teacher-Student ratio has also been revised. Some of the P.G. courses like Bio-Statistics, Immunology and Allergy, Emergency Medicine etc. were deleted from the earlier regulations as these have already been included in the other related specialities. Some of the courses have been combined into one speciality like Dermatology/STD/Leprosy and Cardio-Thoracic Surgery/Vascular Surgery etc. New specialities like diploma in Marine Medicine and super spcialities like DM Neo-Natology, Neuro-Radiology have been added to list of courses for which PG training can be given.

INDIA TO SET STANDARDS FOR IMPORTED GOODS: SHRI SHANTA KUMAR

    With globalisation and signing of WTO Agreement there is a need to regulate the quality of goods coming to India. Government is thinking of a scheme to ensure the standards of goods that alone would be allowed to be imported into the country in order to protect the consumer from buying sub-standard products in the name of globalisation. This was stated here today by Shri Shanta Kumar, Minister of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution while talking to press persons after inaugurating an International Training Programme on Standardisation and Quality Systems, organised by the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS).

    Shri Murasoli Maran, Union Minister of Commerce & Industry, today approved 26 cases of Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) of about Rs 196.00 crore.. The proposals cover various sectors like micro credit in rural areas, software consultancy and supply, incubation services in the IT sector, Tourism, machine tools and electrical appliances. A list of proposals cleared is given below. Earlier, the Foreign Investment Promotion Board had submitted its recommendations for the Minister's clearance.

    Union Minister of Textiles, Shri Kashiram Rana today inaugurated the Exhibition-cum-sale counter of products of National Textiles Corporation (NTC) and British India Corporation (BIC), in Udyog Bhavan Complex. The different types of products being produced by the two Corporations including woollen, polyester, cotton, etc. are on display and sale for the general public. The Exhibition-cum-sales outlet is likely to continue upto 10^th November 2000.

‘5’

    The Union Home Minister, Shri L.K. Advani has said that the situation in Kashmir valley is fast returning to normalcy. India is determined to defeat Pakistan in the proxy war it has unleashed in Kashmir. Shri Advani was addressing the 39^th Raising Day of the Indo-Tibetan Border Police, here today.

    The Inter-governmental Negotiating Board (INB) of the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control met in Geneva from 16^th to 21^st October, 2000. Mr. CELSO AMORIM, Permanent Representative of Brazil to the UN, was unanimously elected as the President of the INB. Six regions of the WHO are represented on the Bureau by India from South East Asia region, Australia from Western Pacific, Iran from Eastern Mediterranean, South Africa from Africa region, Turkey from European region and USA from the America region. India also is the Regional Coordinator for the countries in the SEA region in the INB.

‘43’

NEW INITIATIVES TO BE TAKEN FOR RAPID RURAL DEVELOPMENT OF NORTH-EASTERN STATES

    The Rural Development Minister, Shri M. Venkaiah Naidu has called for chalking out a joint action plan for rapid development of North-Eastern States. Shri Naidu said that the Ministry is particularly sympathetic to the special needs for the region and will strive to help in all possible ways. He emphasized that the fund allocation has nearly doubled since 1999-2000. The total budget allocation for the North-

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CENTRE ORDERS PAYMENT OF VARIABLE DEARNESS ALLOWANCE TO WORKERS

    The Central government has ordered the payment of variable Dearness Allowance in cash to workers employed in stone mines with effect from October 01,2000. The order have been issued following the average consumer price index number reaching 435.83 (Base 1982-100) calculated on the basis of average for 6 months period ending on 30.6.2000. The rates of Variable Dearness Allowance will be :-

The minimum piece rate wages showing the basic rate and variable Dearness Allowance payable w.e.f. 1-10-2000 to employees employed in Stone Breaking or Stone Crushing shall be as under :-

• per 2.831 cubic metres (100 cubic feet).

** per truck load of 5.662 cubic metres (200 cft.)

It has been further clarified that :-

1. The basic minimum piece-rate of wages are inclusive of wages payable for the weekly day of rest.
2. The minimum rates of wages are applicable to employees employed by contractors also.
3. Where the prevailing rates of wages based on contract or agreement or otherwise are higher than the notified rates under the Act, the higher rates should be protected and treated as the minimum rates of wages for the purpose of this notification.
4. The employer shall not make any deduction whatsoever from the aforesaid piece-rate of wages on account of the cost of explosives, detonator, removal of soil, de- watering charges etc. The employer will supply material for blasting, drilling of holes and de-watering facilities.

'7'

       The President of India is pleased to appoint Shri Justice Vikramajit Sen, Additional Judge of the Delhi High court, to be a Judge of the Delhi High Court, with effect from the date he assumes charge of his office.

'20'

LPG NOW AVAILABLE ON DEMAND THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY: RAM NAIK

    Shri Ram Naik, Minister for Petroleum & Natural Gas, said that the Marketing Public Sector Undertakings under his Ministry have released 1.27 crore new LPG domestic connections during the last one year, thereby liquidating the entire waiting list and the connections would now be available across the counter on demand. The Minister was proud of gifting this kind of 'Diwali Gift' for the Indian women, more particularly the non-urban folk. The Minister made this announcement while addressing a Press Conference, here today.

    Following is the uncorrected text of the statement of the Petroleum Minister:-

    "On the eve of Diwali I am indeed happy to announce that Marketing Public Sector Undertakings under Petroleum Ministry have given 1.27 crore new LPG Domestic Connections during last one year. The entire waiting list stands liquidated and the connections would now be available across the counter. This is in a way a ‘Diwali Gift" for the women of India.

    During the fifty years since LPG was introduced in India, 4.12 crore connections were given. The enrolment and liquidation of waiting list was constrained by inadequate availability of LPG and lack of infrastructure. In December, 1999, the waiting list of LPG connections was around 1.10 crore. Housewives were put up to considerable hardship due to long waiting list and non-availability of LPG. We, therefore, decided to launch a special drive to clear all the pending LPG waiting list across the country by December, 2000. I am indeed happy that the efforts of all the LPG Marketing Public Sector undertakings namely Indian Oil Corporation Limited, Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Limited, Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited and IBP Company Limited in this regard to achieve this target have borne fruits. When we reviewed the progress in June, 2000, we found that it would be possible to advance the liquidation period from December, 2000 to September, 2000. I am indeed proud that the entire waiting list has now been liquidated. Between January, 2000 and October 2000 there have been additional registrations for LPG connections. This waiting list has also been liquidated. Hence domestic connections are now available across the counter all over the country from all dealers.

    For achieving this feat, the Government has allowed an increase in the extension of area of operation of the existing LPG distributors by way of setting up Extension counters from 15 – 30 kms in the plains and 50 - 70 kms. in the hills and also revised the LPG refuel sales ceiling limits. Considerable investments in infrastructure like new bottling plants were also made. The above programme along with Double Bottle Connection (DBC) releases has also resulted in procurement of around 2.30 crore cylinders which in turn required around 4.11 lakh tons of steel for their manufacture. Demand for 1.30 crore pressure regulators and 2.30 crore valves has been generated. In addition, an additional enrolment would have provided for supply of around 1.27 crore gas stoves for utilizing the LPG connections.

    Considering that there is no justification for giving subsidy of LPG as well as Kerosene for the same customer, Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas had also formulated a scheme for release of additional LPG connections over and above the normal entitlement in lieu of surrender of corresponding Kerosene allocation. The states opting for the above scheme have to surrender the corresponding average per capita consumption of SKO in the State for the number of families to which LPG connections would be released.

• Avoid subsidising the same customer for both LPG and SKO,
• Alleviate womenfolk from the drudgery of cooking the food with the traditional and inconvenient fuel,
• Reduce pollution and pollution related ailments, and
• Promote eco-friendly fuel.

    During the year 1999-2000, the States of Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra and Rajasthan have opted for the above scheme. A total number of 11.8 lakh connections were released under the scheme and 8,975 MTs of Kerosene have been surrendered by the States under the above scheme.

    During the current year the State Govt of Punjab has also opted for this scheme against release of 5 lacs (Urban – 3 lacs & Rural – 2 lacs) LPG connections. It is expected to be launched shortly.

    Consequent upon liquidation of the LPG waiting list in the urban sector and increasing non-availability of traditional fuels, it is planned to introduce LPG in smaller towns / rural areas through development of new LPG distributorships to cater to these areas. For this purpose, the marketing plan has been formulated by the oil industry with a thrust on meeting the demand in these areas. It is envisaged to set up 540 exclusive rural distributorships out of 2,873 new distributorships being set up.

    The discretionary allotments of Petrol Pump dealerships / LPG distributorships / Kerosene dealerships had been stopped by the Government in 1996. Government have been receiving representations from various corners for allotment of dealerships / distributorships on compassionate grounds under the discretionary quota. After realising the need for the same the Government have once again decided to revive the policy of discretionary quota which will be restricted to the following two categories of persons :

a. Dependants of Defence / Para Military / Police personnel, who were killed in action or persons permanently disabled while performing their duties and have not been suitably rehabilitated;

b. Dependents of Central / State Government employees who are killed or permanently disabled while performing their duties and have not been suitably rehabilitated.

    The allotments under this quota will be made by the Petroleum Minister based on the recommendations of a Committee set up under the Chairmanship of Director (Marketing) IOC with Directors (Marketing) of HPCL, BPCL and Director (Petroleum), IBP Co. Limited, as Members and the Executive Director, Oil Co-ordination Committee as the Member Secretary. The Guidelines on discretionary allotments have been framed.

    Under this category, I propose to consider some cases which, to my mind, deserve very sympathetic consideration.

    One such case that has recently come to my notice where a family of a soldier, who made supreme sacrifice for the nation in 1965 Indo-Pak war, but it has not been suitably rehabilitated so far.

    There is one case where an officer of paramilitary forces was killed during Kargil operations in Kashmir while discharging his duties but the family has not been suitably rehabilitated so far.

    Similarly, there are cases of civilian officers who have lost their lives in terrorist attack etc. while discharging their duties whose families have not been suitably rehabilitated so far and merit sympathetic consideration".