The Sikkim Chief Minister, Shri Pawan Chamling, who presided over the function, said the establishment of the new branch of the G.B. Pant Institute in the state would satisfy the need of research scientists and students in making in-depth studies of environmental problems in the Himalayan region. He also said it would help researchers and students to make in depth studies of environmental aspects in the Himalayan areas.
 
 

    During the 1998-99, detailed project reports for 56 schemes at a total estimated cost of Rs.66.32 crores were approved by the Ministry. Besides, Rs.21.83 crore s was released to various State Governments.

    Launched in 1993-94, the AUWSP scheme has improved its performance since then. So far, more than Rs.118 crores has been released by the Centre as its share to the States. The State Governments are implementing more than 258 schemes of AUWSP at a total estimated cost of over Rs.252 crores.

    The AUWSP is a Centrally Sponsored scheme initiated with the objective of solving the drinking water problems in small towns having a population less than 20,000 as per 1991 Census. Considering the water scarcity and the narrow revenue base of the small towns, the scheme is funded by the Central and State Governments in equal ratio.
 
 
 

    Elaborating on the Swarn Jayanti Gram Swarozgar Yojana, which is a holistic programme for creating self employment opportunities for the rural poor, Shri Baba Gouda Patil said that the new programme emphasises on activity clusters, group approach, establishment of forward and backward linkages, monitoring of performance and recovery of loans. Linkage with banks is important. He expressed concern that in spite of requests, a number of States are yet to institute necessary statutory measures towards recovery of bank loans and the systems in place for recovery of loans are not working very effectively. He urged the State Secretaries to look into the matter and ensure that the right atmosphere is created. Together the administration and banking sector can be of great service to the rural poor, he added.

    The Minister requested the participants to ensure that the money under the restructured Jawahar Rozgar Yojana now called Jawahar Gram Samridhi Yojana, is utilised effectively for development of rural infrastructure at the village level as per the felt needs of the Gram Sabha. Development of rural infrastructure is best done by Village Panchayats who were closest to ground reality.

    Shri Patil said that as a consequence of the restructuring of programmes, Employment Assurance Scheme will be the single Wage Employment Programme and therefore, there is a responsibility on both the Centre and the States to ensure that it is used effectively to provide the critical wage employment opportunities to the rural poor. Henceforth, the programme is going to be allocation driven and it is necessary that funds under this programme are utilised for creation of essential wage employment, he added. The Minister emphasised that the State Governments have a special role to play in strengthening the DRDAs which involves not only providing a separate budget head but also suitable personnel policies including a fixed tenure.

    As far as Panchayati Raj is concerned, Shri Patil said that the Finance Minister in his Budget Speech had stated that 20% of the funds under the Wage Employment Programme will be given subject to the State Governments having set up elected and empowered panchayats. As a result, it is necessary that all State governments take necessary steps for development of these institutions as envisaged in the Constitution. Referring to the announcement of the year 1999-2000 as the "Year of the Gram Sabha", the Minister said that Gram Sabhas should prepare the Plan for development work, exercise social audit effectively and integrate the marginalised sections of the village community.

    Referring to the housing sector Shri Baba Gouda Patil said that capital should be inducted into this sector along with the induction of Science & Technology and gradually transferring the role of Government from that of 'provider' to 'facilitator' for creation of sustainable and wholesome rural human settlement. He mentioned the decision to set up a National Rural Housing and Habitat Mission along with the launch of a Credit-Cum-Subsidy Scheme, provision of up-gradation of houses under Indira Awas Yojana, setting up of Rural Building centres and innovative Scheme for Rural Housing and Habitat Development. The Minister said that the target of construction of houses under Indira Awas Yojana during the current financial year has been raised to 13 lakh houses from about 10 lakhs during 1998-99.

    Addressing the participants of the two day gathering, Secretary, Rural Development, Shri P.R. Dasgupta elaborated on the restructuring and revamping of a number of programmes of the Ministry. He also emphasised the importance of Information, Education and Communication(IEC) to make the programmes participatory with increasing role given to the people.
 
 

    It may be noted that IRS-P4, launched by India’s Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle, PSLV-C2 on May 26, 1999 from Sriharikota, carries two instruments – Ocean Colour Monitor (OCM) and Multifrequency Scanning Microwave Radiometer (MSMR). OCM is a solid state camera used to collect data on chlorophyll concentration, detect and monitor phytoplankton blooms and obtain data on atmospheric aerosols and suspended sediments in water. In operates in eight spectral bands – visible and near-Infra Red region – of the electromagnetic spectrum. OCM provides a spatial resolution of 350 metres and a swath of 1420 km, and is capable of covering the whole country ever two days.

    After calibration and validation, data from OCM will be made available regularly to several user institutions in the country for measurement of phytoplankton and assessment of their distribution, detection of algal blooms and their dynamism, identification of potential fishery zones, delineation of ocean currents and eddies, observation of pollution and sediment inputs into the coastal zone and their impact on marine food, etc.

    It may be recalled that the MSMR was switched on and tested a day after the launch i.e. May 27, 1999. The data is being received regularly and currently validation exercises are progressing at National Remote Sensing Agency, Hyderabad. Data from MSMR, which operates in four microwave frequencies, is useful for deriving sea surface temperature, wind speed, cloud water vapour content and atmospheric water vapour content over the oceans.

    All systems on board the satellite are working normally. The satellite is being monitored and controlled by ISTRAC stations located at Bangalore, Sriharikota, Lucknow, Mauritius, Bearslake in Russia and Biak in Indonesia. Another station at Weilheim in Germany is providing support for the initial phase of the mission.

    In the last few days, fine tuning of the IRS-P4 orbit was carried out by firing 11 Newton and 1 Newton thrusters on board to achieve a perfectly sun synchronous polar circular orbit 727 km above and to adjust the local time of equator crossing, precisely to 12:00 noon local time.
 

KITSAT and DLR-TUBSAT Functioning Well

    All systems on board the Korean KITSAT-3 launched along with IRS-P4 on board PSLV-C2, are also functioning normally. The communication link tests are now being carried out. Two of the three solar panels which are stowed on the body of the satellite are planned to the deployed after the subsystems checks are completed by Korean scientists.

    All subsystems on board the German DLR-TUBSAT, which was also flown piggyback on board the PSLV, are functioning well according to the satellite controllers. The 16 mm camera on board the satellite has also been switched ON and the first pictures received by the German scientists.
 
 

    The field work of EC, which was to start in March 1998, could not be taken up simultaneously in all the States due to various problems like natural calamities, initial resistance by the teachers to take up this work etc. However, it had now been completed in all States/UTs except Andhra Pradesh. The provisional results based on the quick manual tabulation have been released by CSO for all States/UTs where field work has been completed except West Bengal. The provisional results in respect of West Bengal state is under finalisation/examination.

    The State/UT wise results in respect of (a) number of enterprises (agricultural and non- agricultural) with the characteristics like, without premises, without power, perennial, private, and having hired employment, and (b) number of persons usually working and hired employees in these enterprises by sex, and presented in tables I to IV.

    The important features of the provisional results in respect of 30 States/UTs are given in following Statement.
 
 

    Note : totals may not tally due to rounding.

    States excluded are Andhra pradesh and West Bengal
 

Enterprises

    The total number of enterprises in 30 States/UTs as mentioned above is 237.82 lakh. The annual growth rate of enterprises based on all the States/ UTs for which data have been released except for Assam and J&K declined from 2.64% (1980-90) to 2.23% (1990-98). As per EC-90 the share of enterprises in respect of these 30 States/UTs (except J&K) was 79.05%. Among the States the maximum growth rate (5.63%) has been observed in Nagaland followed by Sikkim (4.06%) and Orissa (3.58%). Among the UTs it is maximum in Pondicherry (4.31%), followed by Dadra & Nagar Haveli (4.26%) and Delhi (4.03%). The growth rate has been found to be negative in Arunachal Pradesh (-0.15%) and almost negligible in Lakshadweep (0.13%).

    Out of the total enterprises, 134.23 lakh enterprises, constituting 56.44%, are located in rural areas. As per Economic Census 1990, the share of rural enterprises in these States/UTs except J&K, was 56.50%. Among the States, the maximum growth rate per annum is in Kerala (5.21%) followed by Nagaland (4.74%) and Orissa (3.81%). Among the UTs, growth rate is maximum in Dadra and Nagar Haveli (4.05%) followed by Pondicherry (3.96%) and Daman & Diu (3.13%). The growth rate is negative in Chandigarh (-5.98%). Lakshadweep (-1.58), Arunachal Pradesh (-1.20%) and Sikkim (-0.18%). The overall growth rate of enterprises in rural areas during the period 1990-98 is 2.22% per annum.

    In urban areas, the number of enterprises is 103.60 lakh, which is 43.56% of the total enterprises. The growth rate of enterprise in urban areas is maximum among the States in Sikkim (10.61%), followed by Nagaland (6.59%) and Manipur (3.78%). Among the Uts, the growth rate is maximum in Dadra & Nagar Haveli 94.99%) followed by Andaman & Nicobar Islands (4.86%) and Pondicherry (4.47%). Negative growth rate of enterprises in urban areas has been observed only in Kerala (-2.50%). The overall growth rate of enterprises in urban areas during the period 1990-98 is 2.23% per annum.

    Out of total enterprises 28.71 lakh (12.07%) are engaged in agricultural activities. As per Economic Census 1990, the share of agricultural enterprises in respect of these States/UTs except J&K,was only 8.75%. The concentration of agricultural enterprises is mainly in rural areas (10.85%) whereas in urban areas the share of agricultural enterprises is only 1.22% of total enterprises.
 

Workers

    The total number of workers usually working in all enterprises is 650.45 lakh. The growth rate based on all the States/UTs for which data have been released except Assam and J&K declined from 2.68% (1980-90) to 1.30% (199-98). As per EC-90 the share of workers in respect of these 30 States/UTs 9except J&K) was 80.32%. Among the States it is maximum in Nagaland (5.10%) followed by Assam (3.35%) and Sikkim (3.04%). Among UTs, the growth rate is maximum in Dadra & Nagar Haveli (10.03%) followed by Pondicherry (5.35%) and Daman & Diu (5.16%). Negative growth rate of workers has been observed in Arunachal Pradesh (-2.11%), Bihar (-1.08%) Mizoram (-0.05%) and Lakshadweep (-0.30%).

    Of the total persons usually working in all enterprises, 293.02 lakh (45.05%) are working in rural areas. The growth rate of workers of these States/UST (except J&K) in rural areas over the period 1990-98 is 1.62% per annum which is quite higher in comparison to overall growth rate of workers. Among the States, Nagaland shaving maximum growth rate (4.74%) per annum followed by Assam (4.44%) and Kerala (4.22%). Among the UTs it is maximum in Dadra & Nagar Haveli (11.02%) followed by Daman & Diu (8.92%) and Pondicherry 96.13%). The growth rate of workers in rural areas has been found to be negative in Arunachal pradesh (-2.37%), Bihar (-1.58%), Madhya Pradesh 9-0.85%), Chandigarh (-4.79%), and Lakshadweep (-2.24%).

    The number of workers usually working in urban areas is 357.43 lakh which constitutes 54.95% of total workers. The growth rate of workers of these States/UTs (except J&K) in urban areas over the period 1990-98 is only 1.16% against the overall growth rate of workers of 1.37%. Among the States, the maximum growth rate of 7.64% has been observed in Sikkim followed by Nagaland (5.33%) and Himachal Pradesh (3.19%). Among the UTs, it is maximum in Dadra & Nagar Haveli (5.19%) followed by Delhi (5.12%) and Pondicherry (5.07%). The growth rate of workers in urban areas is negative in Arunachal Pradesh (-1.63%), Bihar (-0.59%), Orissa (-0.11%), Kerala (-2.88%) and Daman & Diu (-0.21%).
 

NORTH EASTERN REGION

    The combined growth rate of enterprises of all the seven States of North Eastern (NE) region viz. Arunahal Pradesh Assam, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland and Tripura, over the period 1990-98 is 2.09% per annum which is slightly below the overall growth rate of enterprises. Nagaland tops the list in terms of growth rate of enterprises not only in NE region but also among the 30 States/UTs. The sector wise (rural & urban) growth rates of enterprises have revealed that the trend in rural and urban areas is diametrically opposite when compared for the same 30 States/UTs. The growth rate of enterprises in rural areas is much low (1.59%) in comparison to the same in urban areas 93.11%). However, the growth rate of workers in NE region is 2.96%, which is quite high in comparison to combined growth rate of workers of 30 States/UTs. This is mainly due to higher growth rate of workers in rural areas (3.86%) per annum.
 
 
 

    The services offered include assistance to injured animals, rehabilitation, sterilisation programmes, assistance in handling rabid animals, disposal of carcasses and general information/assistance on animal care.

    Commenting on the occasion, Smt. Maneka Gandhi has said, "Easy Animal Aid" is an endeavour to take forward the campaign for animals rights and give momentum to a movement respecting all life on this earth, which is a small but crucial part of India's growing environmental awareness".

    How will "Easy Animal Aid" work? All that the caller needs to do is to dial 9622-069069. The message is then relayed by Easy Call to the organisation that is best equipped to respond, in terms of geographical proximity as well as infrastructure and kind of services available.

    The technology behind the idea comes from Easy Call's "Single Response Number (SRN) facility. The SRN facility as the name suggests offers callers a single number - in this case 9622 069069 - that is easy to remember, and that they can call to report any matter pertaining to animals in need of assistance, 24 hours a day, a 365 days a year.

    This service, which is initially being launched in Delhi, will over a period of time be extended to about 10 other cities.

    The following organisations in Delhi will be associated under the banner of the 24 hour helpline :
 

• People for Animals - Delhi
• Circle of Animal Lovers
• Friendicos
• Sanjay Gandhi Animal Care Centre
• Jeev Ashram
• People for Animals - Guragon

    However, the Minister observed that though the barrage is almost complete, the Government of Uttar Pradesh has not so far started the construction work for connecting the old Eastern Yamuna canal with the new barrage. The Government of Uttar Pradesh is also yet to start the work on the reconstruciton/remodelling of the existing Eastern Yamuna Canal from its present capacity of 4000 cusec to its new capacity of 7,350 cusec. The Hon.’ble Minister also visited the old Tajewala Head works as well as part of Western Yamuna Canal system. The Minister stated that after the construction of the new barrage, the Western Yamuna Canal will have a higher capacity and will be able to irrigate an additional area of about 3 lac hectares in Haryana during kharif season. Similarly, an additional area of about one lac hectares will be brought under kharif irrigation in Uttar Pradesh.

    The total estimated cost of the barrage project is Rs. 35 crores, which is being funded under World Bank-aided Water Resources Consolidation Project of Haryana. A part of the cost is also proposed to be met by the Accelerated Irrigation Benefits Programme of the Government of India.
 
 

    The Minister was accompanied by Shri Vijay Goel, ex.Member of Parliament from Chandni Chowk constituency. He aügreed to the demands of the residents of Naya Bazar Railway colony for provision of a Community Hall with modern facilities. He felt that the community toilets, in this colony should be thoroughly repaired urgently. Speaking to the residents after inspection of the colonies, Shri Naik said that parks and play grounds would be developed in these colonies where playing facilities would be provided for children. The Minister has asked the concerned Railway authorities to prepare an action plan for redressal of the problems of railway colonies.