Shri Vajpayee while reiterating his government’s commitment to implement co-operative sector reforms as part of second generation economic reforms, said that the dual control of authority over co-operative banks would be removed by bringing them under Banking Regulation Act. He also said that the cooperative reforms are not only economic in nature, but also called for firm and far-reaching political, administrative and economic initiatives. The Prime Minister stressed on the need to de-politicise and democratise the cooperative sector and reduce the interference of Government in the functioning of cooperatives.

    Shri Vajpayee also promised that his Government was taking necessary steps to ensure speedy implementation of all welfare and development programmes such as creating additional post-harvest storage and marketing facilities for food-grains, vegetables and fruits, by launching national movement for watershed development, RIDF, etc. as promised in the budget. In order to bring uniformity in the functioning of credit cooperatives all over the country, Shri Vajpayee said that a model Bill has been suggested to State Governments so as to make the registrar of cooperative societies a facilitator and not interference. He also said that the guidelines for the implementation of revamped RIDF will be implemented in the month of June. Shri Vajpayee indicated that the guidelines for the disbursal of loans for creating additional post harvest storage capacity and for modernising the existing ones. He urged NABARD and other associated institutions to rectify the flaws in the credit supply system so that the farmers can get much needed loans at reduced interest rates.

    Speaking on the occasion, Shri Som Pal, Minister of State for Agriculture compared NABARD with a loving and caring mother for nurturing and developing the cooperative credit structure. He said that cooperative credit structure has played a significant role in development of rural economy and in the process some of them have also become sick and required rehabilitation package.

    The Punjab State Cooperative Bank and the Punjab Land Development Bank won the top honours for the second consecutive year among the 30 different banks which won the awards.
 
 

    The Seminar will discuss qualities in the environment which may bring value to the community. It will also discuss measures for fostering the attractiveness and functional utility of the community of Delhi as a place to live and work, preserving the character and quality of our heritage by Maitaining the integrity of those areas which have a discernible character or are of a special historical significant. It will also suggest measures for protecting certain public investments in the area. Prevention of bad design and encouragement of good design and raising the level of community expectations for the quality of its environment in the next millennium . The eminent experts of urban development and civic administration will take part in the Seminar.

    The Delhi Urban Art Commission was set up on May 1,1974 under the Delhi Urban Art Commission Act, 1973 as an autonomous organisation under the Ministry of Urban Development. It advises the Central Government, Delhi Development Authority (DDA), Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) and New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC) and render consultancy services to professional agencies and individuals associated with all-round sustainable urban development.
 
 

    Bethune School, the first recognised government institution for the education of girls in Bengal, was founded by John Elliot Drinkwater Bethune in 1849. Education of women as a subject was close to his heart and by virtue of his committed work he soon became the President of the Council of Education. His noble efforts found support from Pandit Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar, the great social reformer, who also possessed a similar vision.

    The initial years were full of adversities and it was mainly the efforts of Pandit Vidyasagar, who was the Secretary of the school, that ensured the survival of this institution. That J.E.D. Bethune was a true visionary is evident from the fact that he not only focussed on women's education at a time when education was the privilege of men-folk, but also promoted education through mother tongue where English was the preferred medium those days.

    This historical institution has withstood the test of time and led the way for the whole of Bengal in the field of women's education. The school has produced many prominent students. Kadambini Ganguly, the first lady doctor of Bengal and Chadramukhi Bose, the first lady graduate, were students of this institution. The progress of Bethune Collegiate School can be measured in terms of the achievements of its students. In later years, Suchitra Mitra, the renowned Rabindrasangeet maestro, Ila Mitra, the famous politician, Asima Chatopadhayay, eminent scientist, Shova Sen, famous theatre personality and Polly Guha, the eminent designer brought glory to the school. This dignified institution is one of the most successful Government schools of Bengal.

    The First Day Cover alongwith the information sheet is available on sale at all Philatelic Bureaux/Counters and at selected Post Offices.
 
 

    The potential for producing large quantity of desired planting material through tissue culture is enormous and it is now being widely applied for improvement of crop species and forest tree species. Tissue culture also allows the regeneration of transformed novel plants from genetically engineered cells, thus making it an essential component of Plant Biotechnology. There is a growing demand for economically important crops raised through tissue culture. The farmers and State Departments show a keen interest in taking up tissue culture raised plants which not only promise a higher yield but also are disease free plants which are true-to type-with desired characteristics. Yield is predictable in these which is essential for perspective planning.

    The two Micropropagation Technology Parks at NCL, Pune and TERI, New Delhi gave provided millions of plants to the users. Over 50 lakhs plantlets have already been produced and planted for field demonstrations covering an area of approx. 4500 hectares.

    For enhancement of food productivity and environmental protection as well as for retention of soil fertility, it is becoming increasingly important to develop new formulations of biocontrol agents for insect and pest control. Blue green algae for rice and rhizobial fertilizers for leguminous crops have already found application in the farmer’s field. New technology packages for these such as flexibioreactors, coir dust based blue green aglae, production of rhizobium fermentor strains for chickpea, rajmash, moongbean etc. are becoming popular amongst farmers.

    Commercial application of research conducted in the laboratories of the Department of Biotechnology is also showing a rapid increase. Technologies for controlling the insect in cotton, i.e. Nuclear Polyhydro Virus (NPV), chrysopa, trichogramma and trichoderma, developed through the efforts of the Department of Biotechnology’s research have been taken up by 4-5 companies for large scale production. Technologies for mass production of VAM fungi developed for the first time in the country by the scientists can be applied to all crops including cereals, pulses and vegetables and forestry. The technology has been taken up by M/s Cadila Pharmaceuticals Ltd., Ahmedabad for large-scale production. Tissue Culture technology for Teak has been transferred to an International Co., in UK. The Micropropagation Parks are also taking up turn keys projects with State Governments.
 
 

Amount of loan:
 
    No minimum or maximum limit.

Promoters’ contribution:

    Minimum of 20% of the project cost.

Debt-equity ratio:

    Maximum of 1.5 : 1

DSCR:

    Minimum 1.3

Rate of interest:
 

• Rupee loan:

• Foreign Currency loan:

Period of Interest Reimbursement:
 
    Interest reimbursement of 5% as also cover for exchange fluctuation not exceeding 5% p.a. will be available during the period of loan as specified in the Letter of Intent or as may be specified in the loan document. In case of subsequent extension of the repayment period, reimbursement towards interest/exchange fluctuation will not be available for the extended period.

Upfront Fee:

    1% of the loan amount plus tax, payable at the time of execution of loan documents.

Period of loan:

    To be decided on the basis of projected cast flow. However, the repayment period, including the moratorium, shall not exceed 8 years.

Security:

    First charge on the entire fixed assets of the borrowing company with a minimum FACR of 1.5 besides the personal/corporate guarantee of promoters/ group and pledge of promoters’ shareholdings, as may be decided on the merits of the case.

                                        (NB: This is the last of the releases in the TUFS series)
 
 

    Notable among these are a major review of Land Rights in Bihar including review of the antiquated land related laws – the Bihar Tenancy Act, 1885. An analysis is also being undertaken of the rosters relating to reservation in a sample of Government Department, Public Sector Companies and Banks in the context of the relevant orders of the Department of Personnel. Action has also been initiated on reviewing False Caste Certificates.

    The Commission has been particularly active in regard to the tragic events in Jehanabad District of Bihar with visits to the caste-strife torn villages of Shankarbigha and Narayanpur by the Chairman and Vice-Chairman of the Commission and submission of detailed reports by them to the Central and the State Governments based on such on-site inspections and meetings with district and State level senior officials and the Chief Minister and Governor.