Of these, 34 housing projects are in Andhra Pradesh, two in Assam, five in Bihar, 24 in Gujarat, 7 in Himachal Pradesh, 12 in Haryana, 2 in Jammu and Kashmir, 35 in Kerala, one in Meghalaya, 8 in Maharashtra, one in Manipur, 32 in Madhya Pradesh, 16 in Orissa, 6 in Rajasthan, 68 in Tamil Nadu, 4 in Uttar Pradesh, 7 in West Bengal and one each in Andaman and Nicobar Islands and Delhi.

    During 1997-98, 579 housing projects with a loan amount of Rs.1628.33 crore were sanctioned. In 1996-97, 790 housing projects with a total loan of Rs.1308.78 crore were approved. In 1995-96, 700 housing projects with a total loan of Rs.991 crore were cleared.

    HUDCO is Centre's agency for provision of financial assistance to States for social housing scheme.
 
 

    Born on 1^st of March, 1926. Dr. Hazarika was Member of Assam Legislative Assembly from 1967-72 and president of Assam Sahitya Sabha in 1993. He got Padmashri Award in 1977 and Sangeet Natak Akademi Award in 1987. In 1987 he also received Man of the Year Award and Indira Gandhi Award and Assam’s Man of the year Award .

    He has published three collections of songs and nursery rhymes for which he received an award in 1977. He published "Sundarar Na Diganta" (Anthology) and was Editor of monthly journal "Amar Pratinidhi" and a member of Editorial Board of Bharat Prativa (Monthly), Calcutta.

    He has been a Member of Assam Film Development Council and the Central Board of Film Certification.
 
 

    Significant modifications have been made in the Exim Policy to meet the growing needs of the trade and make it export friendly. Some of the important initiatives taken to harness the export potential of diamond industry are: (i) Private/public bonded warehouses have been permitted in Export Processing Zones (EPZs)/Domestic Tariff Area (DTA) for import, supply and re-export of rough diamonds and precious and semi-precious stones. Besides import and re-export of cut and polished, precious and semi-precious stones is also permitted with a minimum value addition of 5%; (ii) Permission has been given to Export Processing Zones (EPZs)/Export Oriented Units (EOUs) to supply unsuitable or broken, cut and polished diamonds, precious and semi-precious stones or rough diamonds upto 5% of the value of import or indigenously procured goods to the DTA against valid REP or GEM REP or Diamond Imprest Licence on payment of appropriate duty; (iii) Export of rough diamonds has been permitted with 95% replenishment against relevant Bill of Entry in the name of exporter; (iv) Overseas companies with branch offices in India with an average annual diamond turnover of not less than Rs.150 crores during the preceding three licensing years, have been made eligible to obtain bulk licence for import and sale of rough diamonds.

    With a view to encouraging the modernisation and upgradation of machinery and equipment in the gems & jewellery industries, the threshold limit of the CIF value of the Capital Goods for zero import duty under the Export Promotion Capital Goods (EPCG) scheme has been brought down from the earlier level of Rs.20 crores to Rs.1 crore only. The Gem & Jewellery Export Promotion Council (GJEPC) has been interacting with the Research and Development Wing of the multinational companies dealing in diamonds and has been disseminating the latest available information on latest technological developments in the processing of rough diamonds to all its members. The Indian Diamond Institute, Surat which has been promoted by GJEPC and Ministry of Commerce has also been imparting training to the diamond industry in the use of new technologies and processes.
 
 

• All major handloom concentrated States may set up a separate Department of Handlooms. State Handloom Corporations and Apex Societies should be revitalised by providing suitable rehabilitation package.

• A National Handloom Credit Fund with a Corpus of atleast Rs. 500 crores may be set up for providing credit to the weavers outside the cooperative fold.

• NABARD may consider waiving the provisions with regard to the guarantee cover in respect of limits sanctioned. Loss Guarantee Scheme may be introduced to protect the interest of the Banks. The Credit for trading in yarn may also be re-financed at 9.5% interest rate.

• All State Governments may exempt Hank Yarn and Handloom products from any tax, including sales tax, entry tax and octroi.

• Marketing complexes including handloom haats and permanent exhibition sites at village, sub-division, district and town level in large numbers may be set up by the Central/State Governments or their agencies.

• A comprehensive project package for development of exportable products should be developed.

• A calamity Relief Scheme may be introduced to provide support for purchase of handlooms and other accessories, subsidy on purchase of Hank Yarn under Hank Yarn Subsidy Scheme, enhanced availability of credit, ensured buy-back of production and to provide immediate relief under various ongoing schemes of the State Governments.

• Welfare schemes may include all handloom workers and not just weavers. Coverage of Handloom workers under the Welfare Schemes of the Handlooms should be substantially stepped up both in cooperative and outside the cooperative fold.

Special thrust under ongoing schemes of handlooms sector may be given for overall development of North-Eastern States, by providing additional financial input, where required.

    Through a number of schemes launched by the Government at the beginning of 8^th Plan, weavers producing janata type cloth were to enhance their skills, develop new products for the requirement of both indigenous markets and exports. The Government is actively considering to continue the Market Development Assistance in a modified form for some more time to help marketing of handlooms indigenously.

    This was stated by the Union Textile Minister, Shri Kashiram Rana, in a written reply in the Rajya Sabha today.
 
 

Others - Export Promotion Councils

    The policy of the Government is to balance the interests, on the one hand of the cotton growers so as to ensure adequate remuneration to them, and on the other, those of the cotton consumers particularly those in the decentralised sectors, including handloom weavers. Exports of cotton are allowed only after taking into account or relevant factors including the production, availability, likely demand and estimated surplus, as well as domestic and international prices etc.

    This was stated by the Union Minister of Textiles, Shri Kashiram Rana in the Rajya Sabha today.
 
 

    Concentrated efforts are being made by the Government to redress the grievances of exporters of handicrafts item by taking up their issues with the concerned authorities. The progress of actions taken is being reviewed periodically at high level meetings.

    For promotion of export of handicrafts and carpets, Export Promotion Council for Handicraft (EPCH) and Carpet Export Promotion Council (CEPC) are already in existence.

    This was stated by the Union Minister of Textiles, Shri Kashiram Rana in a written reply in the Rajya Sabha today.
 
 

    This information was given by the Union Minister of State for Health and Family Welfare Shri Dalit Ezhilmalai in Lok Sabha today, in a written reply to the question of Shri Jagdambi Prasad Yadav.
 
 

    This information was given by the union minister of state for Health &Family welfare, Shri Dalit Ezhilmalai in LokSabha today in his written reply to the question of Shri Shankar Prasad Jaiswal & Shri A C Joshi.
 
 

    In the present form of PDS/TPDS in which non-BPL population is also extended the benefit of subsidised foodgrains, if the quantum of foodgrains for families BPL is increased from 10 kg. to 15 kg. per family per month, the additional requirement of foodgrains will be about 36 lakh metric tonnes. The additional subsidy required is estimated to be about Rs. 2150 crore per annum. The year to year stock position of foodgrains in Central Pool as well as the budgetary constraints at present may not permit increase of entitlement for BPL population from 10 kg. to 15 kg. per family per month, he added.
 
 

    Giving a overview of the electronics and information technology sector, Shri Gupta said that his Department has drawn up a plan to train about 50,000 engineering graduates per year to secure them post graduate diploma in software and make them professional in information technology. This, he said would be done by network virtual, involving the IITs, Indian Institute of Sciences, Microsoft and other institutions. He also disclosed that a capital venture fund would soon be set up to give a fillip to this programme. Initially, the fund would start with a corpus of 100 crore rupees. The computer education in schools will also be strengthened to provide for electronic governance. More technology parks will also be set up involving the private sector. He pointed out that information technology cannot reduce unemployment but will certainly offer greater self-employment opportunities. Through IT we can do better and our industries can become efficient.

    Turning to export of software, Shri Gupta said that we are doing very well in this regard and it is expected to reach the 2.5 billion dollar mark by the end of this financial year. It wold reach the level of 10 billion dollar by the end of the 9^th Plan and within a decade reach a staggering level of 50 billion dollars.

    The ER&DCI’s, Noida unit is a joint project of the Government of India and the UP Government. It caters to the needs of Northern States and promotes state-of-the-art scientific research, design and development systems for the growth of electronics and IT industry in the region. The foundation stone laid for the new architectural building has been christened "Anusandhan Bhavan". Shri S. Mukhopadhyay, the Director General of ER&DCI said that it is currently developing Natural Language processing techniques like machine aided translation, bilingual interfaces etc. This will act as a major facilitator in bridging the gap between man and machines, enhancing penetration of computer in all sectors of the society. He said the Anusandhan Bhavan will have in-house modern R&D facilities in the design and development of security systems, solar energy systems, embedded systems, computer aided circuits simulation, machine aided translation, computer communications and networking, software application development etc. It will also have the provision for software development on IBM mainframe S-390, AS-400 and Sun work stations etc.
 
 

Giving details, Dr. Jatiya said that some of the welfare measures to be effected out of these additional funds include opening of new hospitals/dispensaries, enhancement of scale of benefit etc. With regard to the Minimum Wages Act, 1948, some amendments are under active consideration of the Government and they are in advance stage of finalisation. The proposed amendments would reduce the period of revision of minimum wages, enhance the amount of compensation, provide for compounding of offences, secure redressal of grievances of workers and ensure more decentralised mechanism in implementation of the law.
 
 

    This was stated by the Minister of State for Surface Transport, Dr. Debendra Pradhan in a written reply to a question from Dr. Y. Lakshmi Prasad in the Rajya Sabha today.

    He said that these rivers have been recommended by the National Transport Policy Committee as being suitable for development as National Waterways and techno-economic feasibility studies have been conducted on these rivers.

    The Minister said that Cherla-Rajahmundry stretch of river Godavari was found to have potential for development as navigable route. Development of Krishna river was not found economically viable. Backwaters of Mahanadi river were found to be feasible for development of navigable route for transportation of Talchar coal through Brahmani/Mahanadi river system, he added.
 
 

    A National campaign had been launched through the mass media like. Doordarshan, AIR and Print Media on the national networks and regional channels to create awareness among the general public. Greater emphasis is being given to creating awareness in rural areas through folk media, local troops, street plays etc. An intensive programme had been taken up to provide information and counselling services through centres run by NGOs. This includes the setting up of the National AIDS Telephone Hotline. A number of NGOs have been given financial and technical support to take up targetted intervention programmes among high risk behaviour groups such as sex workers, intravenous drug users, truckers, street children, migrant labour etc. A National Plan has been launched for education and sensitisation of youth through a school based programme. College youth are being sensitised through the NSS activities. For non-student and rural youth, programmes are being launched through the Nehru Yuvak Kendras. The Directorate of Field Publicity is being utilised for interpersonal communication through its field publicity units.

    This information was given by the Union Minister of State for Health & Family Welfare, Shri Dalit Ezhilmalai in Lok Sabha today in his written reply to the question of Shri Gordhanbhai Javia.
 
 

    The revival of Gorakhpur plant of FCI has not been found techno-economically feasible. However, KRIBHCO has submitted a proposal for a new ammonia-urea plant at the existing site at an estimated cost of Rs. 1371 crore. The restart of RCF'’ Trombay-I urea plant requiring major repairs has not been found techno-economically viable and the company has decided not to operate this plant.

    Regarding chemical plant of Hindustan Insecticide Ltd. (HIL) in Delhi, the Minister said that all efforts are being made by HIL to relocate it at a suitable site in one of the five designated states i.e. Haryana, Punjab, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh and Himachal Pradesh. The plant had been closed down w.e.f. 30.11.96 in compliance of orders of the Supreme Court.
 
 

    A Dance Drama "Manavta Look Within" will be presented by Smt. Sonal Man Singh on the occasion. The function will commence at 7.00 P.M. An exhibition on the topic of Human Rights is also being organised at the foyer of the Srifort Auditorium. It will be opened to the public from 5.00 P.M. onwards. An Audio-Visual programme on the evolution of the Concept of Human Rights in India will be presented, prepared by Smt. Irpinder Bhatia.

    An All India Essay Competition on the subject of Human Rights for school children of Secondary and Higher Secondary classes in English, Hindi and Urdu languages was organised by National Council of Education Research and Training. The winners of All India Essay Competition will be awarded prizes by the Prime Minister in the function.

    A National Committee under the Chairmanship of Union Home Minister was set up in November, 1997 and a National Plan of Action was prepared to commemorate the 50^th Anniversary of UDHR. The National Action Plan was sent to all the States and UTs to draw similar Action Plan at their level to celebrate the occasion in a befitting manner. It aimed at propagating awareness of respect for human rights and also to act as a catalyst to enhance the awareness about the promotion and protection of human rights amongst the various sections of the society.

    A special logo of UDHR was released by the Union Home Secretary on 5^th March, 1998. The logo has a message "All Human Rights for All". A commemorative postage stamp was also released to mark the occasion on the International Women’s Day, 8^th March, 1998.

    Different Ministries and Departments of the Central Government have been requested to review the national legislation under their administrative charge to bring them in conformity with the international standards and treaties. The Department of Posts has come out with postal stationery having the logo of celebration with the message. The Railways have printed the logo on their railway reservation ticket in order to give mass propagation to this universal message. Workshops and Seminars have been organised by different Ministries and Departments of Central Government on various topics of Human Rights during the year.
 
 

    No proposal to ban these organisations has been received from the State Government so far.

    The Central Government has sensitised the State Government in this regard. Action as per law is being taken against any person/organisation found indulging in unlawful or militant activities. The Government is also closely monitoring possible ISI linkage with some of these organisations.

    The information was given by Union Home Minister, Shri L.K. Advani today in reply to a written question in Lok Sabha by Dr. Jayanta Rongpi.
 
 

    However, total arrest, in connection with militant activities in Jammu & Kashmir during the current year is 1119.

    Government have adopted a well co-ordinated and multi-pronged approach for tackling the militancy which interalia includes strengthening the border management, neutralizing plans of militants by proactive steps against them in the hinterland, as also setting up of outposts of Security Forces and constituting village Defence Committees, gearing up intelligence machinery, modernisation and upgradation of police with advance/sophisticated weapons and communication system.

    This information was given by Union Home Minister, Shri L.K. Advani today in reply to a written question in Lok Sabha by Shri Rampal Singh and Shri Mohan Rawale.
 
 

• Deployment of more troops, sanctioned by Govt. under the expansion plan, and there by reducing inner Border Out Posts gaps for better border management and vigilance;

• Out posts, patrolling and naka duties have been intensified;

• Intensifying patrolling on the border/creek area on vehicles, horse, camel and boats;

• Construction and manning of more numbers of Out Post Towers;

• Use of modern gadgets and Night Vision Devices to check infiltration;

• Proposed construction/erection of border securing fencing, flood light and border road in the stretch of Rann area adjoining Barmer distt. In Rajasthan for better domination and effective check or crossing by miscreants, smugglers and militants;

• Upgradation of Intelligence net work; and

• Conduct of frequent co-ordination meeting with locals.