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    Shri Krishan Kant Vice President of India has conveyed goods wishes to the people on the occasion of Id-ul-Fitr. In a message he has said : "On the pious and the solemn occasion of Id-ul-Fitr, I offer my sincere greetings and good wishes to the people of India, especially to my Muslim brethern. The month of Ramzan culminating in Id-ul-Fitr is a period of cleansing through the rigorous observance of fast. It affords to the devout an opportunity to purify mind and body and re-affirm the spiritual link of the human soul with Almighty. Id-ul-Fitr reminds us to mankind's spiritual unity which transcends all barriers and divisions. This is also a time to give alms and contemplate the welfare of those less fortunate than us and the poor. The underlying piety, compassion and feeling of brotherhood have universal validity and are uniquely relevant for our times. On this day, let us pledge our undying commitment to peace, harmony and spiritual oneness of all mankind."
 
 

    During the month of December 1997, the Foreign Investment Promotion Board (FIPB) approved three proposals in the Consumer Industries Sector. The first was from M/s Pepsico India Holdings for increasing its foreign equity from the existing US $ 255 million to US $ 405 million by M/s Pepsico Incorporated USA, in its existing activity of manufacturing and marketing of soft drinks agro-products and exports. The second proposal approved was from M/s Novartis Enterprises Pvt. Ltd Mumbai for the project in Maharashtra for the manufacture of specialised nutritional food products with foreign investment of Rs. 49 lakhs by Novartis Nutrition AG, Berne, Switzerland and employment potential of 300 persons. The third proposal was from M/s Chain Yi International Trading Pvt. Ltd., Chennai for foreign investment of Rs. 99 lakhs by M/s Su Shza Chung and La Ching Feng, Taiwan for a fish export project.
 
 

    The Desert Development Programme (DDP) is currently being implemented in 227 blocks spread over seven States. They are Andhra Pradesh, Gujarat, Haryana, Rajasthan, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu & Kashmir and Karnataka. The total area covered is 4,57,432 square kilometers. DDP is hundred per cent Centrally-sponsored in case of the hot sandy areas. But in the hot non-sandy arid areas, the cost is shared by the Centre and the States concerned in the ratio of 75:25. Area development is undertaken only on the basis of watershed of about 500 hectares each covering all categories of land. The District Rural Development Agencies (DRDAs)/Zila Parishads (ZP) select the villages or watersheds for development and the agencies for implementing the watershed programme. The programme provides an opportunity to the people inhabiting the affected areas to conserve their scarce natural resources and build up new resource base such as fuel and fodder plantation, pasture, water harvesting and land improvement works. The Centre has allocated Rs.70 crore during 1997-98 for DDP.
 
 

    State health machineries are being geared up to accomplish elimination of leprosy by 2000 AD, as the country observes Anti-Leprosy Day on the 30th of January. Governments of Maharashtra and Orissa have decided to conduct intensive leprosy search under the Modified Leprosy Elimination Campaign from tomorrow. While the State of Tamil Nadu has already implemented such campaign other states will follow the same in the month of April 1998. Extensive training programmes for health workers are also being organised. During the campaign, mass public awareness will be created for leprosy and complete health manpower will be provided orientation training. Thereafter they will be used to search new and hidden cases by house to house visit. In addition a large number of volunteers of NSS, Scouts, Village Heath Guides, Dais and School Teachers will be sensitized on facts of leprosy and availability of free Multi Drug Therapy (MDT).

    Public Awareness will be carried out through all the media before and during the search period. All the suspected patients identified will be examined again and on confirmation will be provided free MDT. Such a campaign is desirable for a disease like leprosy due to multiple reasons like availability of free and effective drug, weak nature of the bacilli, wrong belief and practices prevalent in the society about leprosy, ignorance of many health workers on facts of leprosy, strong unjustified stigma associated with the disease, simple method of confirmation of the disease needing no sophisticated equipment, manifestation of the disease on visible parts that can easily be identified. Leprosy is widely prevalent in India and in 1997 there were about 5.41 lakh patients with prevalence rate of 5.75 per 10000 population. The disease is unevenly distributed through out the country with Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Orissa, West Bengal and Madhya Pradesh accounting for 63 per cent of the country's caseload. It has been reduced in a big way in Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh and Maharashtra because of the MDT.

    Realising the magnitude of the burden, the National Leprosy Control Programme started in 1955 was later renamed as National Leprosy Eradication Programme (NLEP)in 1983, with an aim to achieve arrest of the disease activity in all the known leprosy cases by the year 2000 AD. After the WHO resolution of 1991, the objective of the programme was redefined to achieve the elimination of leprosy by the end of the century, thus reducing the case load to 1 or less per 10000 population. The programme (NLEP) got a boost in 1993-94, when World Bank send an agreement to provide an assistance of Rs.302 crore for a period of six years. Now with this the whole country has been brought under MDT which is being implemented through 490 District Leprosy Centres. The World Bank assistance is being used for extension of MDT services in uncovered area, strengthening of existing services, health education and training activities, manpower development, disability and ulcer care including reconstructive surgery. During the year 1996-97, a total of 4.82 lakh patients have been detected and 5.14 lakhs have been cured with MDT.

    Now based on WHO recommendation, the duration of MDT has been reduced from 24 months to 12 months for Multibacilliary Patients from November 1997. Single dose, Rifampicin-Ofloxacin-Minocycline (ROM) treatment for single lesion patients has been introduced from January 1998. With the support of WHO and other international agencies it is feasible to eliminate leprosy by 2000 AD, thus bringing down the case load to less than 1 / 10000 population.
 
 

    Shri Krishan Kant, Vice President of India inaugurated the exhibition "Cultural Portraits of India" featured by Ms. Lindsay Hebberd, an American photographer, here today. Ms. Lindsay Hebberd has travelled the length and breadth of the country for over 11 years to put together this Exhibition, which will be seen for the first time in India. The exhibition covers a broad range of subjects that include : landscapes, people, daily life, religion, the arts and architecture. Ms. Lindsay has called her effort "a labour of love" to pay tribute to India in the 50th Anniversary of India's Independence. The exhibition will subsequently be premiered in Hawai in March 1998 and travel across the United States.
 
 

    The Delhi Government has initiated action against 42 Fair Price Shops for violation of wheat control order. Action is also being contemplated against the beneficiaries of the possible diversion of wheat meant for Fair Price Shops to the open market. This emerged at a meeting taken today by Shri B.K. Taimni, Secretary, Ministry of Food with Delhi Government officials to review the prices of wheat and wheat flour (atta) prevailing in Delhi currently. Shri Taimni expressed concern over the prevailing retail prices of wheat in Delhi in the month of January which varied between Rs. 7.50 per kg to Rs. 8 per kg. even when there was sufficient quantity of wheat in the market and the whole sale prices decreased marginally. He urged the Delhi government to enforce strict vigilance on the movement of wheat stocks and have periodic cheeks by enforcement agencies. He also suggested to increase the number of mobile shops selling atta especially on holidays to ease the situation.

    The centre had allocated 63330 tonnes of wheat to Delhi Government during January, comprising 2.24 tonnes for BPL population, 38.16 tonnes for the above poverty line section and an additional allocation of 22.93 tonnes. The offtake in January stood at 61000 tonnes. About 15000 tonnes was allotted for open sale to be continued till March this year.
 
 

    Largest ever Tourism Exhibition showing various facets of Indian Tourism begain at Pragati Maidan today. Inaugurating the exposition, Secretary Tourism said that the Government has decided to give very high priority to Tourism in view of its' great potentional for economic and social development. He said that the Department of Tourism is working on a aggresive strategy to exploit this potential fully and while doing so cultural aspects will be given due importance as it is inter-linked with Indian Tourism.

    He asked the travel and tourism industry to be more competitive to provide best available facilities to not only foreign tourists but also domestic travellers. Welcomming the participants Director General Tourism Shri Ashok Pradhan said that by organising such a large exposition first time in the country efforts have been made to bring together various segments of the tourism services and product under one roof. He said that exposition respresents unified face of this most vibrant and dynemic industry. He expressed the hope that it would be a show-case of Indian Tourism in its generic sense and would be a regular feature from next year onwards.

    The exposition being organised by the Department of Tourism has 200 participants from different segments of Tourism and Travel Industry. 10 participants from foreign countries have also set-up their booths in the exposition. A large number of delegates including travel-writers have confirmed their visits to see the exposition which in turn will publisise Indian Tourism products all over the world. The exposition will also provide a rich glimpses of some little known facets of Indian travel tourism to the common man and to people from travel Industry. A number of seminar and workshops would be organised during the exposition to provide a platform for interaction between the tourists and people from travel industry.
 
 

    Foreign Technology Approvals during January-September 1997-98 stood at 463. During the same period in 1996-97 the figure was 592. During January - September 1997-98 there were 1228 Foreign Investment Approvals (including Euro-issues) worth Rs.43320 crore whereas the figures for the same period in 1996-97 were 1156 approvals worth Rs.26890 crore. The actual FDI inflow for January - September 97-98 was Rs.9393 crore and for the same period in 1996-97 it was Rs.5985 crore. Euro-issues alone during the same period stood at 9 (Rs.4498 crore) in 1997-98 and at the same figure in 1996-97 but worth only Rs.3750 crore.
 
 
 

    The President, Shri K R Narayanan and the Prime Minister, Shri I K Gujral have greeted the people on the auspicious occasion of Idu'l Fitr. The following is the text of the President's message : "On the auspicious occasion of `Idu'l Fitr, I offer the traditional greetings of `Id Mubarak' to all fellow citizens. May this day instil in us, a sense of tolerance and brotherhood and pride in the composite culture of India." The Prime Minister, Shri I K Gujral, in his message said : "I greet the people, specially our Muslim brothers and sisters on the auspicious occasion of Idu'l Fitr. I hope the celebra- tions will bring joy and happiness to all."
 
 
 

    The Rail India Technical and Economic Services Limited (RITES), a public sector undertaking under the Ministry of Railways, has signed a contract with the Vietnam Railways for the supply of 150 passenger coach bogies of Integral Coach Factory Design. The contract was signed by Shri Ravi Kaul, Director technical of the company. The value of the contract is Rs.8.2 crores. This is the first time that the Indian rail coach bogies are being supplied to vietnam. The contract is in line with the evolving diversification by RITES wherein the company offers total package contracts involving supply of rolling stock,its spares,training, transfer of technology, operation and maintenance support to various railway systems world wide. RITES has already accomplished successfuly the job of supplying 10 metre gauge diesel locomotives to bangladesh Railways , maintenance, operation of services, training, upgradation of maintenance facilities for diesal locomotives and passenger coaches in Nepal and supply of air conditioned coaches to Vietnam. The company has also secured contracts for supply of diesel locomotive spare parts to Peru and Chile. The company has consolidated its export services alongwith transfer of technology and its adaptability to local environment.
 
 

    The Railways earned Rs.14675.14 crores fdrom freight traffic during the first none months of the current financial year ending December 1997 as mompared to Rs.12133.19 crores during the corresponding period of the previous year. This represented an increase of 20.95 per cent. The tatal freight traffic during the period was 314.25 million tonnes. Of the total earnings, Rs.7013.69 crores came from transportation of coal, Rs.676.96 crores from raw material to steel plants, Rs.910.49 crores from iton ore for export, Rs.1209.30 crores from fertilisers, Rs.1822.91 crores fdrom Petroleum Oil and Lubricant (POL) and rs.1121.87 crores from other goods whuich included Rs 243.95 crores from containers service. The average earnings per million tonnes was Rs.46.70 crores. It was Rs.45.76 crores per million tonnes of coal, Rs.24.33 crores per million tonnes of raw material for steel plant, Rs.106.74 crores per million tonnes of finished iron and steel from steel plants, Rs.36.17 crores per million tonnes of iron ore for export, Rs46.14 per million tonnes of cement, Rs.48.39 crores per million tonnes of foodgrains, Rs.32.32 crores per million tonnes of fertilisers, Rs. 80.52 crores per million tonnes of POL and Rs.41.409 crores per milion tonnes of other goods. The earnings per net Tonne Kilometre in paise were 69.42 paise.
 
 

    In the 5th India-Philippines Joint Commitee Meeting held in Manila lno 20th-21st January, `1998, the Philippines agreed to support India's plea for becoming a member of APEC(Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation)and ASEM (Asia Europe Meeting ). Both sides have also agreed to set a target of US $ 500 million for bilateral trade between the two countries by 2000 AD, projecting a substantial increase in the volume of two-way trade from its present level of around US $ 199.47 million. The Inkdian lkdelegation at the meeting was led by kthe Commerce Secretary, Shri P.P. Prabbu. Both sides appreciated the remarkable growth of bilateral trake between India and the Phlippines in 1997-98 despite the recent currency probnlems in East Asia.

    According to available data fdor april-October 1997, India's exports to Philippines at US $ 166.63 million have registered dan increase 61%over the same period last year. It was agreed that both countries would diversify their respective basket of exports in order to achieve continued growth and to this end, lists lof preferred commodities of exports fodr both countries were exchanged. A major breakthrough has been achiefed in lthe supply of agriculture commodities including rice and meat with the Philippines side agreeing to lconsider import of Indian origin rice and origin rice and to allow indian suppliers a lefel playing field vis-a-vis certain preferred exporters as was the case in the past, while in the case of meat, the Philippines has agreed to accredite more agencies from India (at present, only one agency is accredited) which would open up prospects fdor higher exports in future, the Philippines also indicated the likelihood of tariff on gems and jewellery coming down to qero-level, which is significant in view of the fact that India had been pursuing the matter of reduction of duty in this sector. It has also been agreed that Philippines would consider the issue of multiple visa including visa from third countries to businessmen from India favourably at an early date in order to facilitate interacion among business communities of both sides.

    Introduction of fast-track registration procedures for Indian manufacturers in the pharmaceutical sector who have registered with the US and EU would lalso be considered nby the Phlippines - a step which would greatly facilitate exports of bulk drugs from India. Further, in the railways sector. the Philippine side have agreed to favourably consider proposals offered by RITES for their major projects including rehabilitation of coaches, and hydrographic survey oif the economic zones in the Philippines. In addition, both sides have agreed to enhance cooperation in lthe areas of small and medium enterprises (SMEs), non-conventional energy, kagricultural sciences and technology, mankufacture of herbal medicines and formultions, and in textile design and fabric exports through ITPO and NIFT.

    In order to promote Philippine products in the Indian market, the Phlippines will participate in some of the major Fairs and Exhibitions to nbe held in india. During his stay, shri Prabhu had a useful interaction with the Philippines Secretary of Trads and Industry-- Minister Mr.C.Baucista when possibilities of greater economic cooperation between the two countries were discussed. Besides Shri Prabhu, the Indian delegation includec Dr. Surajit Mitra, Joint Secretary (East Asia), Ministry of commerce, and senior Indian representations It was agreed that a mid- term review would be held regarding implementation of the decision taken at the joint Working Group Meeting. .