The Prime Minister, Shri I.K. Gujral, has greeted the people on the occasion of Makar Sankranti and Pongal. In a message, on the occasion, the Prime Minister has said:

    "My heartiest greetings to the people on the occasion of Makar Sankranti and Pongal. These festivals are expressions of joy and gaiety. They establish and strengthen bonds of harmony and understanding. People also observe these occasions as expressions of gratitude towards Mother Nature for good harvest."
 
 

    India has emerged as the world's leading exporter of cotton yarn with exports touching a record figure of US $ 1501.50 million (i.e. $ 1.5 billion or Rs.5330 crores) in 1996-97. Exports of cotton yarn have in fact increased five-fold in rupee terms since 1991 terms having increased from Rs.989.02 crores to Rs.5330.17 crores in 1996-97. During the current year 1997-98 (April-November) exports of cotton yarn from India have already reached US $ 1101.73 million (i.e. US $ 1.1 billion or Rs. 3957.54 crores). Yarn exports during April-November 1997 have shown an increase of 17% in dollar terms and 19% in rupee terms over the corresponding period of 1996.

    The government has been following a pragmatic approach in the matter of exports of cotton yarn by prescribing quantitative ceilings on a year-to-year basis. The annual ceiling for export of cotton yarn is fixed after careful consideration for all relevant factors such as production and domestic demand of raw cotton, production and prices of cotton yarn, requirement of yarn for the decentralised sector etc.

    With regard to safeguards for the decentralised sector, hank yarn in certain counts is not permitted to be exported except under advance licensing scheme and the 100% export oriented units (EOUs) scheme. Further, to ensure greater compliance of the Hank Yarn Packing Notification, fulfilment of hank yarn obligation has been made a condition prior to exports of cotton yarn by all categories of exporters.

    Exports in the textile sector as a whole (including handicrafts, jute and coir) during April-November 1997 are valued at US $ 7945.10 million (i.e. $ 7.9 billion or Rs.28708.66 crores) showing an increase of 5.6% in dollar terms and 8.8% in rupee terms. The target for the year 1997-98 is US $ 13360 million (i.e. $ 13.3 billion). The percentage growth of textile exports in dollar terms during 1997-98 (April-November) is the highest in the case of cotton yarn ( 17.2%), followed by man-made textiles (15.4%), cotton fabrics and made-ups of handlooms (14.3%), wool & woollens (10.4%), handicrafts (8.9%) and cotton fabrics and made-ups of man-made and powerloom varieties (6.4%). Even in respect of readymade garments, rate of deceleration has been contained at minus 1.4% in dollar terms as against nearly minus 9% at the beginning of the financial year. In rupees terms readymade garments exports in April-November 1997 have shown an increase of 3.1% at Rs.10798.33 crores (i.e. US $ 2.9 billion).

    The use of Wooden Sleepers on mainline railway tracks has been eliminated completely. However, for some minor scattered locations such as suburban sections of Central and Western Railways in Mumbai area, where it is not possible to use concrete sleepers wooden sleepers are still in use. For sub-urban sections also, a new design of concrete sleepers is under development.

    Besides, requirement of wooden special turnouts and bridges has been brought down from 75,000 cubic metres per year to 45,000 cubic metres per year. This will further reduce following the efforts to augment the production capacity of concrete sleepers. Efforts are underway to find suitable alternatives to wooden bridge sleepers.

    The overall requirement of wooden sleepers on Indian Railways has reduced from a peak level of 3.75 lakh cubic metres per year during 1980 to 45,000 cubic metres annually at present.This is in line with the existing policy of the government for conservation of forest wealth to maintain ecological balance.

    Tamil Nadu has reported 61% utilisation of funds under Jawahar Rozgar Yojana (JRY) and a physical performance of 70.76% during the current fiscal so far. All the 28 districts have sent their proposals under the scheme and the Centre has released the second instalment of funds in all the cases.

    The State has spent about 61.52% on Employment Assurance Scheme (EAS). The State Government has an unspent balance of Rs.9948.59 lakh. In terms of physical performance the State has generated 304.14 lakh mandays of employment. So far only 1 out of the 14 districts, where the scheme is underway in the State, has sought the second instalment and the Ministry of Rural Areas & Employment has since released Rs.110 lakh to it.

    On Indira Awaas Yojana Tamil Nadu has been released 65% of the funds and has reported 50% physical achievement of the target so far. The Ministry has since released the second instalment for the scheme to all the District Rural Development Agencies (DRDAs).
 
    The State has reported 61.97% utilisation of funds on the Integrated Rural Development Programme (IRDP). Of the 96675 beneficiaries, the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes accounted for 47.26%, women 42.48% and the physically handicapped 1.49%. IRDP is being implemented in all the 28 districts of the State. All of the them have received the second instalment of funds. Tamil Nadu is the only State to have achieved this distinction.
 
 

        (i) is in occupation of an immovable property exceeding a specified floor area;
        (ii) is the owner or lessee of a motor vehicle;
        (iii) is a subscriber to a telephone;
        (iv) has incurred expenditure on foreign travel.

    2. The above provision applies to persons who have hitherto not filed a Return of Income. It may be clarified that the new law applies only to persons residing in the following cities and towns :-

        1. Mumbai
        2. Delhi (including Gurgaon, Faridabad, Ghaziabad & NOIDA)
        3. Chennai
        4. Calcutta
        5. Bangalore
        6. Ahmedabad
        7. Kanpur
        8. Jaipur
        9. Ludhiana
      10. Hyderabad
      11. Pune
      12. Chandigarh
 
    3. For persons residing in cities other than those mentioned above, Return of Income should be filled if their income exceeds Rs.40,000/-.
 
 
 

    The government vide Public Notice No. 64/1997-2002 dated 12.01.1998 has made Synthetic and Rayon Export Promotion Council (SRTEPC) as the monitoring agency for export of yarn, fabrics and made-ups of man-made fibre not under quota restriction. This has been done in view of the fact that SRTEPC is the nodal agency for export promotion of synthetic and rayon products.

    Export of above was earlier being monitored by Cotton Textiles Export Promotion Council (TEXPROCIL). The TEXPROCIL shall, however, continue to monitor export of all other fabrics and made-ups which are not under quota restriction.
 
 

    Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) has issued a Policy Circular clarifying that claims of Diamond REP Licence, Gem REP Licences, Refund of Terminal Excise Duty and Deemed Export Duty Drawback, pertaining to 1992-97 period, which were filed late, will be considered. Such claims will be considered where such applications are received after the expiry of the last date, but within 6 months from the prescribed last date. However, such applications shall be considered after imposing a late cut @ 25% on the entitlement due to the exporter.

    It has also been clarified that if the exporters could not file their claims for Special Import Licence (SIL) for total entitlement due to them, then their request for issue of supplementary SIL will also be considered as per the conditions given in Policy circular No.33 dated 12.01.1998.
 
 

    India and Greece have agreed to consider simplification of tourism visa formalities and to explore the possibilities of setting up of joint ventures in the tourism sector. An agreement to this affect was signed here today. Minister for Tourism Shri Srikanta Kumar Jena and Minister for Foreign Affairs of Greece Shri Theodoros Pangalos signed the agreement in the presence of Prime Minister, Shri Inder Kumar Gujral and visiting Greece President Shri Constantinos Stephanopoulos.

    Some of the other features of the agreement are; promotion and increasing tourism exchanges between the countires; exchange of information and know-how, cooperation for the development of tourist relations, facilitation of exchanges of tour operators, travel agents and other organisation involved in tourism promotion, and to explore the possibilities of human resource development in tourism.

     The Tourism Cooperation Agreement between India and Greece has its own significance. Greece is an important emerging tourist market for India. Greek tourists have a good awareness about Indian Tourism product, its history, culture and beauty. Presently, the annual arrivals from Greece to India is 5567 (1996) and there has been a steady growth in the arrival figures. Greece is also a growing economy and the disposable income of the Greek tourists is on the increase.

    Greece & India can share the experience and knowledge of preservation of their tourist resources and development of tourism in their respective counties. Both the countries are predominently tourist destination offering products like history, culture, beaches, monuments adventure and various other kinds of tourist pttractions.

    So far 25 Tourist Cooperation Agreements (including Greece) have been signed between India and other countries with the purpose of widening the links of friendship and mutual promotion of tourism between the Contracting Parties.
 
 

    A record coverage of pulses is expected this year. As against a coverage of 104 lakh hectares during 1996-97, the figure is expected to touch 115.72 lakh hectares.

    There is also an increase in the area under oilseed crops during the current rabi season. As against about 94.95 lakh hectares during the corresponding period of 1996-97, this year the coverage so far is about 95.71 lakh hectares.

    This information was given by senior officials from the states of Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Bihar, Maharashtra, Gujarat, Karnataka and Tamil Nadu who attended a meeting called by the Agriculture Secretary, Shri Kamal Pande here. The meeting reviewed the coverage of rabi crops and their production.

    The state governments are taking-up a major programme of summer oilseeds and they expect the Rabi/Summer oilseed area to reach about 108 lakh hectares. Under rapeseed mustard which is the major rabi oilseed, area coverage is 66 lakh hectares. Under sunflower, the area covered is 10.13 lakh hectares. According to the assessment available more area will be covered by Sunflower during the current rabi/summer season. Oilseeds and pulses which are mainly rainfed, have tended to benefit from the rains in early November.

    Although the untimely rains and weather conditions were congenial for various pests and diseases for oilseeds and pulses, the Agriculture Ministry and the State Governments have intensified their pest and disease surveillance. For both oilseeds and pulses, subsidy on pesticides and weedicides has been provided. Rapid Roving Surveys are being undertaken by technical experts of the Central and State Governments and Agriculture Universities. Preventive and protective pest and disease control measures have been launched. There is no shortage of pesticides and weedicides.

    State governments have been asked to organise special squads to ensure good quality of pesticides. They have also been advised to take follow-up action, to reach the targetted production level of 106 lakh tonnes of oilseeds and 90 lakh tonnes of pulses.
 
 

    The two-day first National Consultancy Congress will begin here on January 15 on the theme 'Globalisation and Consultancy Opportunities'. The Consultancy Development Centre a registered society under the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research is hosting the Congress. The Congress, first of its kind in the country, aims at synthesising ideas and evolving policies which will strengthen the consultancy capabilities in the country.

    Eminent consultants of renowned organisagtion, Representatives of ESCAPA, funding institutions, R & D organisations,, academic institutions, industry and the Government will participate in the congress. Delegates from China and Pakistan are also joining the meet.

    The Congress will deliberate on various issues like States of Consultancy, role of government and promotional agencies, global trends, quality management systems for consultancy and role of the consultancy in Technology managemegnt. Some sessions will be devoted to identify emerging areas and evaluate the potential for export of consultancy services. It will also focus on topics i.e. information technology, environment and competitive edge.
 
 

    The Centre for Health Education Bureau, an IEC Wing of DGHS in the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare has adopted a unique way to evolve communication strategies on health issues. The Bureau organised a competition among the students of College of Arts in Delhi University and National Institute of Fashion Technology to generate a slogan or an illustration on any health issue to be used as a campaigning tool in future publicity programmes of the Ministry. More than 60 students participated in the competition and four health issues were thrown open for competition. They are healthy life-style, good nutrition, environmental protection and personal hygiene. Interestingly, majority of the students opted for the theme of no-smoking. From the College of Arts, Amlyan Dutta bagged the first prize worth Rs. 4,000/- while Sonal Goel took the second prize, Swami Anand Tirath settled for the third prize. In the NIFT, Ms. Rolika Gupta took the first prize, Mohan Kumar and R.P. Bhargav won the second and third prizes respectively.

    According to the Bureau, with people's active participation, this cost effective method of evolving future campaigning strategies will boost the IEC activities. Similar competitions are also being planned by the State Health Education Departments and at all India level.