‘23’
LESS RAIL ACCIDENTS IN 1998-99
    The number of rail accidents has shown a decreasing trend during 1998-99 compared to the previous year. In 1998-99, total 388 accidents occurred in place of 393 in 1997-98. Out of 388 accidents, 24 were collisions, 292 derailments, 67 level crossing accidents and 5 cases of fire in trains. Thirty five collisions occurred in 1997-98.

    Indian Railways have taken a number of steps to bring down the number of accidents and to improve the safety record. This has resulted in gradual reduction in number of accidents from 2131 in 1960-61 to 388 in 1998-99. Train accidents per million train kilometers, which is an internationally accepted index of measuring the safety performance has also reduced from 5.5 in 1960-61 to 0.58 in 1997-98.
 
 
 

'31'
NATIONAL AIDS CONTROL PROGRAMME 1998-99
    During the last financial year of 1998-99 , Thirty four lakh fifty seven thousand and eighty (34,57,080) samples were screened all over the country and eighty five thousand and three hundred and twelve (85,312) were found to be HIV positive, as per the reports received from States/Union Territories, on National AIDS Control Programme.

    During the corresponding period of 1998 out of thirty two lakh ninety thousand two hundred and thirty eight (2,90,238) samples, seventy four thousand nine hundred and sixty were found to be HIV positive.
 
 

'31'
INCIDENCE OF MALRIA ON THE DECREASE
    The epidemiological situation of malaria in the country has shown a decrease by 31.83 per cent in total malaria cases during the year ended March,1999 as compared to the corresponding period of 1998.

    The name of the National Malaria Eradication Programme (NMEP) has been changed to National Anti-Malaria Programme w.e.f. 24th March, 1999.
 
 
 

'24'
TCIL BAGS LETTER OF INTENT FROM KYRGYZ TELECOM
    Telecommunications Consultants India Limited (TCIL) has bagged the Letter of Intent from Kyrgyz Telecom for installation of telecom access network in Osh city, Kyrgyzstan. The project, costing Rs.4 crore, will be implemented on a turn-key basis. The contract has earned recognition for TCIL as well as Indian High Technology capability for the first time in the Central Asian region. TCIL will be enlarging its activities to various other countries of the Central Asia and East European region beginning with the awarding of this prestigious contract.

    TCIL a prestigious public sector undertaking of the Government of India has carved out a niche for itself in the highly competitive global telecom market. TCIL's operations have spread worldwide in over 44 countries offering total telecom solutions with a variety of projects in Middle East, South-East Asia, Africa and Europe.

    Starting with a modest equity of Rs.1 million TCIL has built up a net worth of Rs2.4 billion. Currently, with a annual turnover of Rs.6.5 billion, TCIL has plans to raise this to Rs.12 billion by the year 2005, spreading its presence to all other regions of the globe.
 
 

'31'
SAFE MOTHERHOOD
    In India, more than one lakh women die annually due to pregnancy related problems. In other words maternal mortality in the country is 40 to 50 times more as compared to the developed countries. According to one estimate, on an average one woman dies for every 200 to 250 pregnancies and this ratio varies widely from State to State. Pregnancy below 18 years of age has higher risk of maternal and child death and disability.

    The major causes of maternal mortality are ante and post parturm haemorrage anaemia, toxaemia, abortion, sepsis and others. This is mainly due to a large number of deliveries being conducted at home and lack of referral facilities for high risk pregnancies. A large number of these cases are preventable through maternal care.

    Low social status of women compounded with lack of education, cultural misconceptions and limited access to safe motherhood services are some of the causes of high maternal mortality and morbidity in the country. Hospital based data also reveal that States like Kerala, Goa, Tamil Nadu, Maharashtra and Andhra Pradesh which have relatively better socio-economic and education status have lower MMR than the other States.

    In order to improve the health status of women, the Centre has launched the Child Survival and Safe Motherhood Programme (CSSM). This programme aims at reducing maternal mortality morbidity and while ensuring child survival. The safe motherhood package of the CSSM helps for early registration.
 
 

'32'
26TH MEETING OF CENTRAL COUNCIL OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT BEGINS
JETHMALANI CALLS FOR PRIVATE PARTICIAPTION FOR IMPROVING URBAN INFRASTRUCTURE
    The Union Minister for Urban Development Shri Ram Jethmalani has called for participation of private sector in providing municipal services, devolution of greater functions and responsibilities to urban local bodies, improved financial relationship between States and Municipalities and strengthening of planning processes. Inauguratingthe 26th meeting of the Central Council of Local Government and Urban Development, which is meeting after a gap of five year, here today, Shri Jethmalani expressed his concern over the total deterioration of services provided by the municipalities and other local bodies in various fields like drinking water supply, drainage, sewerage, sanitation , garbage collection and maintenance of parks. He called for private participation in improving urban infrastructure and municipal services to make life in urban areas environmentally sustainable.

    Talking of deteriorating urban environment Shri Jethmalani said that there were shortages of 33 million houses. An amount of Rs.150,000 was needed to replenish the shortage of housing. Over and above, Rs.250,000 crores were required to cover efficient provision of municipal services as also urban infrastructure in the country. This, Shri Jethmalani said, could not be accomplished in view of acute financial crunch facing the nation. In this connection, Shri Jethmalani said that both the Central and State Governments were able to garner about Rs.40,000 crores. In addition, they would be able to obtain loan assistance from the World Bank and other donor agencies amounting to Rs.10,000 crores. The only way of shortfall between the demand and the supply for providing the basic services in urban areas could be made good was by associating the private sector for improving the urban infrastructure. Minister said that it was time that no further delay could be brooked in improving the conditions of urban infrastructure facilities in the country.

    Shri Jethmalani was happy to note that the task of planning for economic development and social justice has been entrusted to municipalities under the Constitution (74th Amendment) Act, 1992. Now the municipalities needed to be strengthened further to perform these functions efficeintly.

    Shri Jethmalani urged the States and Union Territories, Ministers and Secretaries in charge of Local Self-Government and Urban Development to bring about property tax reforms. He informed them that a modal guidelines on property tax reforms as prepared by his Ministry has already been circulated to all the States and Union Territories for their immolation. As for the taxation of Central Government properties by the local bodies, the Minister of Urban Development informed the representatives of States and Union Territories that this matter has since been referred to the 11th Finance Commission.

    Shri Jethmalani advised the States and Union Territories to appoint State Finance Commission for further devolution of financial powers to their local bodies. He told them that the States and Union Territories which have not appointed finance commissions so far would do so at the earliest to give effect to the Constitution (74th Amendment) Act, 1992 . He also urged them to make the municipal personal more responsive to the people. In this regard , Shri Jethmalani said that staff at the cutting edge who were directly involved in such matters needed to be provided adequate training. Shri Jethmalani also mentioned that a modal Citizen Charter compiled by his Ministry for various municipal services that has been circulated to the States and Union Territories should be adopted by them to provide better framework for meeting the challenges of urbanisation.

    The Central Council of Local Government and Urban Development was constituted in 1954 under Article 263 of the Constitution of India. It is plenary Advisory Council. Ministers and Secretaries in charge of Local Bodies and Urban Development in States and Union Territories are Members of the Council. Besides, several Ministries and Departments of the Government of India also form part of the Council. The last meeting that is 25th meeting of the Central Council of Local Government and Urban Development was held in May 1994.

    Today’s meeting is initiated to take stock of the follow-up action of Constitution (74th Amendment) Act, 1974 to make the local bodies efficient in its discharge of duties for improving a sustainable urban environment.
 
 
 

'16'
APICOL TO LOOK AFTER TEA DEVELOPMENT ACTIVITIES IN ORISSA
    The Tea Board has conducted a technical survey in which following states have been declared as non-traditional areas suitable for cultivation of Tea in the country.
  1. Arunachal Pradesh, 2. Manipur, 3. Meghalaya, 4. Mizoram, 5. Nagaland and 6. Karbi Anglong Autonomous Hill District of Assam, North Cachar Hills of Assam, Southern District of Tripura, Orissa, Sikkim, Kumaon and Garhwal Regions of Uttar Pradesh, Idukki district of Kerala, Kodagu District of Karnataka and Kodaikanal District of Tamil Nadu.
    The preliminary surveys conducted by Tea Board from time to time are indicative of the fact that certain areas in Keonjhar, Kalahandi, Phulbani and Rayaganda Districts of Orissa State are suitable for Tea cultivation subject to availability of artifcial irrigation in dry months.

    The Developmental activities of Tea in the state are now being looked after by the Agricultural Promotion and Investment Corporation of Orissa (APICOL). The proposals when received from APICOL will be accommodated under Tea Board’s New Area Development Scheme for which an outlay of RS. 2.50 crores has been provided in the 9th Plan proposals of the Board.
 
 

‘23’
THREE PERSONS KILLED IN THE DERAILMENT OF BRAHMAPUTRA MAIL
    4056 UP Delhi-Dibrugarh Brahmaputra Mail, met with an accident at 6.25 a.m. today on May 18,1999 between Altagram and Dhipguri station in the New Jalpaigudi-New Bongai Gaon section in West Bengal. Ten coaches next to the train engine got derailed, out of which five coaches capsized blocking through communication. According to preliminary information, three persons have been killed while 15 persons have been injured. The Railway Accident and Medical Relief van has reached the site in the morning itself alongwith a team of doctors. Senior railway officials have also reached the spot. The relief operations are continuing in full swing at the accident site. The injured have been shifted to hospitals in Jalpaigudi.

    The Railway Minister, Shri Nitish Kumar has expressed deep condolences over the death of some passengers. He is also in constant touch with the accident site so as to monitor the relief operations. An inquiry into the accident will be conducted by Commissioner of Railway Safety. Two senior officials from Railway Board are also rushing to the site of the accident. The traffic in the affected section is expected to be restored by tomorrow morning. Emergency information booths have been opened up for information to the public. The telephone numbers are:

Delhi station            -    3962389

New Delhi station    -    3344128
 
 

'34'
CIVIL SERVICES EXAMINATION, 1999
    In partial modification of the Commission’s Notice for Civil Services Examination, 1999 as published in the Employment News/Rozgar Samachar and some other prominent daily newspapers on 12th December, 1998 it is hereby notified for the information of candidates that the number of vacancies to be filled on the result of the Civil Services Examination, 1999 is likely to be around 400 instead of 620 as notified earlier. This vacancy position may undergo further change. Candidates appearing at the Civil Services (Preliminary) Examination,’99 may please note the above-mentioned change in the number of vacancies.
 
 
 
'25'
FIVE ROAD PROJECTS ON NORTH-SOUTH AND EAST-WEST CORRIDORS AWARDED
    Contracts for five road projects for four/six laning on North-South and East-West corridors have been awarded by the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI). These projects total to a length of 63 kms and cost about Rs. 200 crore. The five projects are: 4-laning of Jallandhar bypass on NH-1 in Punjab, 4-laning of Nagpur-Adilabad Section of NH-7 in Maharashtra, 6-laning of Hyderabad-Bangalore Section of NH-7 (near Devanhalli) in Karnataka, 4-laning of Hathipalli-Hosur section of NH-7 in Tamil Nadu and construction of four lane Rail over Bridge on Karur bypass on NH-7 in Tamil Nadu.

    While M/s Birla GTME, New Delhi have bagged the Jallandhar bypass project, M/s Oriental Structural Engineers Ltd., New Delhi bagged the Maharashtra project, M/s Bhageeratha Engineering Co., Kochi has been awarded the Karnataka project, M/s Patel Engineering Co. Ltd., Mumbai was given the Hathipalli-Hosur project. The joint venture of M/s P.T. Sumber Mitra Jaya, Indonesia and M/s Punj Lloyd Ltd., New Delhi bagged the Rail over Bridge on Karur bypass. In all, 58 tenders were received for these packages.

    The tender conditions for these packages provide for bonus for early completion. A ‘Dispute Review Expert’ will be appointed to sort out expeditiously any dispute between the contractor and the employer. The work on these projects will be supervised by the respective State Public Works Departments on behalf of NHAI with the assistance of consultants, appointed by the Highways Authority. These consultants will be mainly responsible for maintaining quality of construction.