ACTION PLAN FOR HOUSING FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS IN BUILDING 2 MILLION HOUSES

    Now that the construction of 20 lakh houses for Economically Weaker Sections (EWS) and Low Income Group (LIG) has been launched, the Ministry of Urban Affairs and Employment has advised the National Housing Bank (NHB) and Housing Financial Institutions to draw up their own subsidy elements involved.

    The National Housing Bank (NHB) has been advised to consider involving other housing financial institutions besides the 26 already recognised by it to strengthen and handle financing of EWS and LIG housing schemes. The NHB should work out clearly the regionwise actions to be taken by Housing Financial Institutions located in different regions. The NHB should also undertake the detailed exercise to strengthen capability of housing financial institutions to raise required resources for 2 million housing – 7 lakhs in urban areas and 13 lakhs in rural areas. The NHB should also adopt innovative instruments for mopping up domestic resources as well as resources from various international sources. Besides, Housing Financial Institutions should consider assistance for acquisition of land, its assembly and infrastructure in addition to extending assistance for housing finance.

    As for National Cooperative Housing Federation (NCHF), the Ministry of Urban Affairs and Employment has given it the task to work out the distribution of target with the State Apex Housing Cooperative Federation of each State. NCHF would further monitor translation of this target down to city and district levels. It would also expore the possibility of interfacing with the developers and builders in each State for ensuring their participaiton through appropriate partnership programmes.

    The Housing and Urban Development Corporation (HUDCO) would be participating in the new Housing Scheme under Savings-cum-Insurance linked Housing Scheme for the poor.
 
 

PUBLIC SECTOR MECL ADOPTS LONG-TERM STRATEGIES
FOR A TURN-AROUND
    The Public Sector Mineral Exploration Corporation Limited (MECL) under the Ministry of Mines expects to start making profits from the current financial year after having incurred constant losses since the year 1990-91. Working on a revival plan based on the recommendation of an expert Committee, MECL has already reduced losses drastically in the current financial year and had earned cash profit in the previous year.
 
    In a turn-around strategy adopted by the Company, MECL is entering into various MOUs with several Indian and Multi-national Companies for exploration activities on a long-term basis. Efforts are also on for obtaining the services of large overseas Exploration Companies by taking their equipment and technology, mainly in drilling so that it can keep pace with the time and modernise its operations.

    MECL is also finalising a long-term exploration strategy with the Coal and Lignite Sector where it is proposed to limit drilling depth to 600 metres for coal and around 300 metres for lignite since mining at greater depth may not be required in the near future and thereby improving the drilling productivity and exploration of larger areas in a short span of time, making more blocks available for investment/exploitation.

    MECL is also obtaining prospecting leases so that exploration result if found to be advantageous could go for joint venture with other Companies for exploration/exploitation of minerals thereby giving regular income to the Company.

    Diversification is also being planned, mainly in commercial mining, where efforts made to take up jobs in coal mining and mining of other selected minerals. The Company also proposes to join hands with Maharashtra State Mining Corporation.

    Another area of diversification is of coal sampling and analysis where MECL has been engaged as a third party agency for sampling of washed coking coal for SAIL Plants for supplies from CCL Bihar Coalfields. This activity shall be extended to power sector as well in near future.

    The Company is also undertaking sale of manufactured drilling accessories and has already got order from Geological Survey of India whereas other buyers are also looking for supplies from MECL.
 
 

COMPOSITE FEE ON NATIONAL PERMITS TO BE PAID ON ANNUAL BASIS.
    The Transport Development Council, the apex body which advises Government on Road and Inland Water Transport, has recommended that composite fee on national permits should be paid on annual basis and the period of validity of such permits should be reckoned on day-to-day basis from the date of issue of the permits to the operator. State Governments were advised to open bank accounts at each Regional Transport Offices from where the permits are issued so that the composite fee in favour of the State concerned could be deposited. The Council in its 28th meeting held here has stressed that the Central Road Fund, to be shared equally between the Centre and the States, should be augmented. The meeting also approved a proposal to tax the appreciated value of land in an area due to road development and utilisation of this tax entirely for the purpose of development of National Highways.

    Rejecting the demand of the All India Motor Transport Congress (AIMTC) to waive the prerequisite period of one year of driving experience on a light motor vehicle for issue of driving license for heavy motor vehicles, the Council recommended that facilities for training of drivers should be improved and driving standards strictly enforced. Commending the State Government of Uttar Pradesh for strictly unloading over-loaded vehicles on the roads, the Council exhorted all the State Governments to vigourously implement the provisions of the Motor Vehicles Act in respect of off-loading excess load and imposing penalties to act as a deterrent to over-loading. The council urged upon State Governments to enact legislation for control of ribbon development along the State Highways.

    The meeting agreed to widen the scope of the existing scheme of Central assistance for purchase of pollution testing equipment by providing financial assistance to the States/UTs for procurement of devices for testing fitness of vehicles. The Council also recommended promotion of multi-axle vehicles through fiscal incentives and set up a committee to consider inter -netting of all RTOs in the States and the Ministry of Surface Transport .

    The meeting was presided over by the Minister of Surface Transport, Dr. M. Thambi Durai and was attended among others by the Transport Ministers of Assam, Delhi, Goa, Haryana, J&K, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal and Lt. Governor of Andaman & Nicobar islands.

 
 

DR. M.S. SWAMINATHAN CALLS FOR REDUCING GLOBAL INEQUITIES THROUGH INFORMATION AND COMMUNIATION TECHNOLOGY
    Noted scientist Dr. M.S. Swaminathan today called for reducing the ever-widening global inequities through the fast advancing revolution in the information and communication technology. He said any step taken world-wide should be human welfare oriented and contribute to narrowing down the chasm between the industrialised world on the one hand and the developing and under-developed nations on the other. Otherwise, all the advancement that the world is now witnessing today in the information and communication technology will be of no consequence. Dr. Swaminathan was inaugurating here the 49th conference and congress of the International Federation for Information and Documentation (FID), hosted by the Indian National Scientific Documentation Center (INSDOC).

    Dr. Swaminathan said the income disparities are getting sharper and sharper by the year in the world pointing out the fact that 20% of world’s population has access to over 84% of the resources while the poorest 20% has access to less than four per cent. In Asia, where over 50% of the world’s poor live, the job opportunities are not increasing at the same rate at which wealth is created leading to what he termed as "jobless growth". He said that unless the new emerging information and communication infrastructure is able to contribute to the job creation, the issue of increasing income disparities is bound to effect Asia’s future. He urged the conference to debate this and find solutions, as we usher in the new millennium.

    The President of the International Federation for Information and Documentation, Dr. Martha B. Stone in her address said that we should be prepared to meet the challenges that would be posed by the fast developing changes in the information and communication technology. She said, it is critical to understand and to document in a quantifiable manner the impact of information and communication technologies on our global society. We must also understand fully the impact of policy decisions taken to meet the challenges of this new information society. And finally we must understand how the availability of this information can be put to move the society forward. All this must be understood before we can proceed with clarity of purpose into the 21st century, the knowledge-based era, she said.

    In the three day conference with the theme ‘Towards the new information society of tomorrow: innovations, challenges and impact’, about 1000 professionals from 70 countries will interact and exchange views on the most important topics related to information, documentation and libraries.
 
 
 

FDI FOR MANUFACTURE OF ALCOHOL – A CLARIFICATION
    Considering the concerns expressed in some quarters about Foreign Direct Investment(FDI) being permitted upto 100 per cent for the manufacture of alcohol, the Ministry of Industry has clarified that the only case where 100% FDI for manufacture of potable alcohol has been permitted till date relates to that of M/s.Seagram Company Limited, Canada, which was approved in 1993. Subsequent to this, no other proposal has so far been approved with 100 per cent FDI for manufacture of alcohol.
 
 
FDI FOR MANUFACTURE OF CIGARETTES – A CLARIFICATION
    Attention is drawn to the Ministry of Industry’s Press Note No.11(1998) in which it was mentioned that proposals for manufacture of cigarettes with Foreign Direct Investment(FDI) up to 100% shall be considered by the Foreign Investment Promotion Board(FIPB) subject to the provisions relating to compulsory licensing under the Industries(Development & Regulation) Act, 1951.

    It is further clarified that the existing guidelines for the consideration of FDI proposals by FIPB do not stipulate any ceiling on the extent of foreign equity participation inter-alia in sectors pertaining to consumer non-durables, which include cigarettes. However, as there has been no precedent of 100 per cent FDI approval in cigarettes so far, it was felt necessary to clarify the position as stated above for lending greater transparency in decision making. The only proposal received so far for 100 per cent FDI for manufacture of cigarettes is that of M/s.Rothmans of Pall Mall(International) Limited, UK. Even this proposal is only for initial 100 per cent FDI with subsequent divestment of at least 26 per cent equity to Indian public/Indian partners. The said proposal came up for preliminary consideration by FIPB on 5th September, 1998 and the Board has not so far taken any view on the proposal. In any case, in terms of the project cost envisaged, the final decision on this proposal would require the approval of the Cabinet Committee on Foreign Investment(CCFI).
 
 

MTNL STEPS FOR GREATER CUSTOMER SATISFACTION
 
    Mahanagar Telephone Nigam Limited (MTNL) lays emphasis on consolidation of growth, enhancing customer access, increasing customer convenience and bringing about greater customer satisfaction. The following measures have been taken in the pursuit of the above goal :  
 
INDIAN OIL PAYS 50% DIVIDEND FOR 1997-98
 
     A dividend cheque of Rs. 177.42 crore was presented to the Union Minister for Petroleum & Natural Gas, Shri V.K. Ramamurthy, by Indian Oil Chairman, Mr. M.A. Pathan, today as the GovernmentÆs share of Indian Oil CorporationÆs dividend for the year 1997-98. The Government of India has an equity holding of Rs. 354.84 crore in Indian Oil representing 91.14% of the total equity holding. Indian Oil had declared a dividend of 50% for the year 1997-98 amounting to Rs. 194.66 crore.

    Mr. Pathan and the Board of Directors also presented a cheque for Rs. 0.5 crore to the Minister as Indian OilÆs contribution to the Prime MinisterÆs National Relief Fund. The rate of dividend has been progressively increased from 6% in 1966-67 to 22%  in 1990-91 and to 33% in 1991-92 and 40% thereafter. It has been enhanced to 50% for 1997-98. This is the 32nd consecutive year of dividend declaration by Indian Oil.

    The corporation registered excellent performance in all key areas identified by the MoU for 1997-98 and is confident of achieving the targets set for 1998-99 with its sustained focus on customer service, technology upgradation, business development and diversification.
 
 

ADOPT VILLAGES FOR BANISHING ILLITERACY, DR. M.M. JOSHI TELLS THE PRIVATE SECTOR
    The Minister for Human Resource Development and Science and Technology, Dr. Murli Manohar Joshi has urged the private sector to adopt villages and help in the Government’s endeavour to universalise education and in the national literacy campaign. He said, more industrial houses should come forward and follow the example of some philanthropic industrialists and not merely go for the commercialisation of schools and educational institutions. He said, the industry must set apart a certain percentage of their turnover for research development and closely associate not only with leading institutions but also with a large network of national laboratories where excellent scientists and facilities are available. Dr. Joshi was delivering the convocation address at the Thapar Institute of Engineering and Technology, at Patiala today.

    Dr. Joshi noted that some industrial houses in the country have been contributing for education and other philanthropic purposes. But taking the size of our country and the requirements, we still need more such industrial houses to contribute to setting up of new institutions and strengthening the existing institutions and universities. They can also help in a variety of other ways by donating equipment and instruments, setting up new laboratories, by endowing chairs for faculty appointments and by creating student fellowships and scholarships.

    Speaking about the achievements of his Government, Dr. Joshi said that significant progress has been made in science and technology and other areas. The recent nuclear explosions at Pokhran has established India as a credible nuclear weapon state. The launch of the remote sensing satellite IRS-1D using the polar satellite launch vehicle designed and build in India has heralded a technological self-reliance in the launching of satellites. The Government has recognised that the future lies in mastering information technology and India has the requisite potential to emerge as a global giant in this field . The achievement in super computers is also laudable with the unveiling of PARAM 10000, which can perform hundred thousand million mathematical operations per second. Such technological capability currently exists only with USA and Japan.

    Turning to international scene, Dr. Joshi said that prosperous nations are constantly on the look out for markets in order to sustain their prosperity and affluence. India is no doubt a big market. There is no harm in this and it is not as simple as that. Developed economies also need market for their commodities they do not need or which they wish to discard. As a case, he cited the strong movement against smoking in the rich countries but they do not wish to give up trade of cigarettes and , therefore, the product is being pushed and promoted in developing countries. The same is the case with pharmaceuticals. A large quantity of pharmaceuticals and chemicals banned in developed countries is being sold in the third world and hence we should be cautious about this.

    He lauded the Thapar Institute of Engineering and Technology for having built a reputation of very high standard in training and research. Some of the programmes of the Institute, particularly training the youth from rural and semi-urban areas in getting gainful employment. This useful service should be emulated by other institutions, Dr. Joshi stated.
 
 

WHITE PAPER ON ISI ACTIVITIES, SAYS HOME MINISTER
H.M. ADDRESSES THE MEMBERS OF THE CONSULTATIVE COMMITTEE
OF THE HOME MINISTRY
    On a demand made by the members of the Consultative Committee of Parliament attached to the Home Minstry, Union Home Minister, Shri L.K. Advani stated here today that a White paper on ISI activities in India will be prepared for presenting before Parliament.

    The subject of the Consultative Committee’s meeting today was Pakistan Sponsored terrorism in the country. Members expressed their views on the subject after a presentation was made by the Home Ministry on the awesome dimensions of the menace in the country. During the discussions all members of the Committee, rising above party affiliations, unanimously called upon the Union Home Minister to take all possible steps to counter such activities and also present to the people of the country the real state of affairs in this regard.

    Shri Advani informed the Members that several steps have been taken by the Government in recent months which include border fencing, intesification of border patrolling, supply of equipments for effective observations by day and night, increase in the number of border Nakas as well as ensuring effective working of the intelligence machinery, sensitising and alerting the State Governments regarding movements of Pak ISI agents, anti-national elements and insurgents. In addition, Government have been apprising friendly countries about the cont6inuing support in terms of equipment, arms and training given by Pakistan to terrorists in India.

    The Home Minister further said that as a result of the steps taken to check terrorist activities, the situation in J&K had improved. During the current year alone, 18 ISI modules have been smashed in the country and a large number of terrorists either apprehended or killed. More than 47,700 weapons of different kinds have been recovered.

    21 MPs from the Parliament were present in the Meeting. S/Shri Chandra Shekhar Sahu, Mohan S. Delkar, Nakli Singh, Aditya Nath, Mufti Mohd. Sayeed, Prithviraj D. Chavan, Somnath Chatterjee, G.M. Banatwalla, Arif Mohd. Khan, Dr. Jayants Rongpi, W. Rajkumar, T.R. Baalu from Lok Sabha and S/Shri Rajnath Singh ‘Surya’, Narendra Mohan, Devi Prasad Singh, Debabrata Biswas, Kuldip Nayyar, Nabam Rebia, Prof. Vijay Kr. Malhotra, B.P. Singhal and Arun Shourie from Rajya Sabha attended the meeting.