Addressing the meeting, Secretary, Rural Areas & Employment, Dr. P.L. Sanjeeva Reddy emphasised that the training has to be aimed at enhancing the technical, organisational, managerial and social capacity for efficient resource allocation. He stressed on the utility of training for Self- Help groups, user groups village level functionaries, members of Gram Panchayats, Project Implementing Agencies, members of Watershed Committees; Block, District and State level functionaries and the trainers themselves.

    The meeting, convened yesterday, had the objective of assessing the training needs at various levels in the states and evolve training modules for watershed functionaries. After identifying a uniform syllabus, training cost and organisations for training, a workable schedule is to be drawn up for conducting these training programmes in the states on a continuous basis. This meeting was a result of the emphasis laid on the urgency for empowering development agents both within the Government and in the voluntary sector in providing training in technical, social and organisational skills in an unconventional manner.

   The meeting was attended by Shri Anna Saheb Hazare, Shri Anil Shah and other representatives from Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs); officials from State Governments implementing the Drought Prone Area Programme (DPAP) and Desert Development Programme(DDP); officials from the Ministry of Agriculture along with senior officials from the Ministry of Rural Areas & Employment.
 
 

    The projects identified are in the areas of, food security, sustainable plant genetic resource management, nuclear medicine, development of new generation of vaccines, herbal product development, mirror site for genomic research, design, development, fabrication and airworthiness testing of light transport aircraft, establishment of a National Botanical garden both for recreation and research purposes, language computing, medical electronics, tapping ocean thermal energy, a programme on thalassemia, rheumatic fever, technology for the visually handicapped, land slide management and biodiversity characterisation. A number of scientific agencies and departments would come together for the implementation of these projects. Some more projects are also to be identified soon under this Mission.

     The main objective of this Mission is to complete these programmes in three years so that it will have a visible impact on socio-economic status of the country as also benefit the poor.

    Those who attended the meeting include the Secretary, Department of Science and Technology, Prof. V.S. Ramamurthy, Secretary, Department of Biotechnology, Dr. Manju Sharma, Secretary, Department of Electronics, Shri Ravindra Gupta, Secretary, DSIR and DG, Council of Scientific and Industrial Research, Dr. A. Mashelkar and Secretary, Department of Ocean Development, Dr. Muthunayagam .
 
 

At present reservation counters are available at Indira Gandhi International Airport, New Delhi, Domestic Airport Calcutta, International Airport, Sahar, Mumbai and International Airport, Chennai.

This information was given by Minister of State for Railways, Shri Ram Naik in the Lok Sabha today.
 
 

The train number 5013A/5014 A that runs from Delhi to Ram Nagar has been named after Corbett National Park. The Railway Ministry has reiterated its commitment to conservation of environment and forests by naming the Howrah-Kathgodam Express as Bagh Express. In the 1999-2000 Railway budget also the Ministry has proposed a number of steps to promote and protect environment. The Minister in his budget speech has stressed on afforestation of railway lands and ban of sale of cigarettes in railway stations and running trains.
 
 

    Dr. Jatiya stated that the proposed amendment will includes the offence be made cognizable one, more stringent and deterrent penalties and onus proof of age of a child be on the employer etc. About the timing of the introduction of the above amendment, Dr. Jatiya stated that no definite time has been fixed for introducing the above changes.
 
 

    The indices of Industrial Production for the Mining, Manufacturing and Electricity sectors for the month of January, 1999 stand at 108.0, 139.5 and 130.8 respectively, with the corresponding growths of -4.5%, 2.6% and 4.5% compared to the month of January 1998. The cumulative growths during

    April-January, 1998-99 over the corresponding period of 1997-98 in these three sectors have been -1.2%, 3.5% and 6.5% respectively, with the overall growth in the general index being 3.3%.

    Eleven out of seventeen two-digit industry groups have shown positive growth during the month of January, 1999 as compared to the corresponding month of the previous year. Paper & Paper Products and Printing, Publishing & Allied Industries have shown the highest growth of 16.6% followed by 15.9% for Leather and Leather & Fur products and 12.7% in rubber, Plastic, Petroleum & Coal Products. On the other hand, wood and Wood Products; Furniture and Fixtures have shown a growth of -10.8% followed by a growth of -7.7% both in Textiles Products (including Wearning Apparel) and Cotton Textiles.

    As per Use-based classification, the growth in January, 1999 as compared to January, 1998 is 9.8% in Capital goods
followed by 6.8% in the Intermediate goods where as Basic goods recorded a negative growth of 0.4%. The Consumer durables and Consumer non-durables have recorded growth of -2.2% and -1.0% respectively, with the overall growth in Consumer goods being -1.3%.
 
 

    Doordarshan will telecast live 11 matches of World Cup 1999 which includes 5 first phase matches of India, 3 Super Six Matches involving India Plus fist and second semi finals and final of the World Cup Cricket 1999.
 
 

    The provision of the said Constitution Amendment has not yet been extended to six States of Arunachal Pradesh, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland and the Union Territories of Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Lakshawadeep. In these States and Union Territories, no municipality exists.

    Meanwhile, the provision of the Constitution (74^th Amendment) Act, is yet to be extended to Scheduled Areas in eight States as the comments from some of the States having Scheduled Areas on the report of the Committee set up by the Ministry of Urban Affairs and Employment to this effect have not yet been received. Comments from five States have since been received and the remaining three States of Bihar, Andhra Pradesh and Rajasthan are yet to respond. The Ministry of Urban Affairs and Employment has taken up the matter at the level of Chief Ministers of these three States for early submission of their comments so that the Government may take a decision to extend the provision of the 74^th Amendment Act for improving civic administration in urban conglomerations of these Schedule Areas.
 
 

    Thermal Stations have registered an average PLF of 69.8 per cent during February. Hydel generation during this period exceeded the programmed generation by 37 percent in Central Sector and 6.6 percent in State Sector.

    Seven stations of NTPC performed at PLF exceeding 90 % with three of them recording PLF exceeding 100 %. In addition seven stations in State Sector including four from APSEB performed at PLF exceeding 100 %.

    NHPC generated 401 MUs against 331 MU targeted, an excess of 21%, significant stations which have performed are Uri and Salal. BBMB generated 798 Mus target of 516 MU, an excess of 55 % with all its stations performing in excess to their programmed generation.

Details of Generation are given below :

Central Sector State Sector
 

    Lubricants market share of IOC in 1992-93 was 48%. With the start of process of deregulation of lubricants in April, 1993 and entry of a large number of multi-national companies in Indian lube market, the market share of IOC was affected. However, with the aggressive marketing strategy, IOC has reversed the downward trend and has increased its market share to 42%.

    This information was given by Shri Santosh Kumar Gangwar, Minister of State for Petroleum and Natural Gas in a written reply in the Rajya Sabha today.
 
 

    As per IX Five Year Plan (1997-2002) document, the projected demand of Petroleum Products for 1999-2000 and 2000-2001 are likely to be 93.67 MMT and 99.07 MMT respectively.

    As per IX Plan sub-group on refining, the percentage of demand that is expected to be met by indigenous production and imports are given below:-
 

    The export of petrol and Naphtha in the next year or two would, interalia, depend upon the overall demand and supply position in the country and the prevailing market conditions.

    This information was given by Shri Santosh Kumar Gangwar, Minister of State for Petroleum and Natural Gas in a written reply in the Rajya Sabha today.
 
 

    Shri Mathur urged the State Governments to tie up all necessary arrangements like identification of purchase centres by state agencies and FCI, stocking of gunny bags, arranging transport facilities etc. for smooth mandi operations so as to avoid distress sale by farmers. In the States of Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradash, decentralised procurement will be commenced from this year, and the State Governments will procure wheat to the extent of their PDS requirements. Subsidy for conducting these operations will be passed on to these State Governments, instead of FCI as done earlier. Surplus stocks procured beyond PDS requirements would be handed over to FCI for the Central Pool.

    The highest ever procurement in the past remains at 128 lakh tonnes procured in 1994-95 season.
 
 

Financial restructuring, which includes capital injection of Rs.922 crore in the form of compensation, subordinated loan, equity and contribution by Indian Airlines and its employees. Of this, Rs.475 crore is to be provided by the Government.

Fleet Planning.

Route Rationalisation.

Human Resource Management

Government of India                 -             49.0%

Indian Airlines Employees         -             10.6%

Public                                     -               40.4%

            Total                           -              100.0%

The recommendations are still under consideration of the Government.

Indian Airlines earned revenue of Rs.2522.55 crore by carrying 6.36 million passengers during the financial year 1997-98.

The expenditure incurred under major heads for the financial year 1997-98 is as below :

Particulars                                                            (Rs.Crore)

Pay & Allowances including PF & Gratuity             694.19

Aircraft Fuel                                                          648.40

Aircraft Maintenance being material                       517.41

Consumed and outside repairs

Landing and Navigational Charges                         164.27

Insurance                                                              56.23

Food Services and other passenger                       88.76

Amenities

Booking Agency Commission                             202.89

Depreciation & Obsolescence                           299.54

    The fresh instructions have been given in response to the appeal of the Chief Minister of Gujarat, Shri Keshubhai Patel, to the Textile Minister as the former apprehended that the prices of cotton could fall further with the arrivals of fresh cotton, especially Kalyan variety, in the market. The Chief Minister urged Shri Rana to intervene in the matter and advise CCI to accelerate its procurement in order to save the farmers from distress.

    It may be mentioned here that 45 lakh bales of cotton are expected to come into the market in the year 1998-99 as against 43.16 lakh running bales last year. The area under cotton cultivation has also gone up to 16.97 lakh hectares in the year 1998-99 as against 15.19 lakh hectares last year. Out of the 45 lakh bales expected this year, 35 lakhs are estimated to be of Shankar crop, 8 lakh of Kalyan (V797), 50,000 bales of Digvijay variety, 50,000 of Wagad and around 1 lakh bales of the rest. Already 27 lakh bales have arrived in the market which have been predominantly of the Shankar variety. The 8 lakh bales of Kalyan variety are going to start now and CCI had been geared up to step up its purchases for this particular variety especially in the Saurashtra region where most of this variety comes.

    CCI had purchased 1,78,654 bales in the year 1997-98 and has already purchased 1.18 lakh bales in the current year. The purchases are likely to go on till 15^th of May this year. The endeavour of CCI would be to maintain the prices of cotton at the current levels in the market. However, the minimum support price (MSP) of these varieties announced by the government for this year has been Rs 1370 per quintal for Kalyan as against Rs 1265 last year and Rs 1670 per quintal for Shankar as against Rs 1565 last year.