The Memorandum of Understanding provides for associating foreign partners in the equity of the proposed Joint Venture Company. The Company, to begin with, will try to participate in the Optical Fibre Cable Network tenders of Indian Railway under the right of way. Both the Public Sector Undertakings (PSUs) have also agreed to explore possibilities of enhancing mutual synergies by devising suitable strategies.
 
 

    The new agreement envisages among other things exchange of scientists, research workers and trainees between the two countries. There will also be exchange of scientific and technical information, organising of joint seminars, conferences and special courses and implementation of joint research programmes in industry, agriculture and other fields. The other areas identified for cooperation include developing servicing facilities for sophisticated instruments, standardisation and calibration facilities for quality control, popularisation of science among the masses, forecasting and assessment of resources and technological needs for the coming millennium.

    In his initial remarks during the talks between the two delegations, Dr. Joshi underlined the importance of coming together of underdeveloped and developing countries to enhance not only economic but also scientific and technical cooperation among them. The Myanmar Minister said this agreement will go a long way in strengthening ties between the two neighbours in many fields. He said India has a lot offer from which Myanmar can benefit both economically and technically. U. Thaung expressed keen interest in medicine, fisheries and remote sensing.

    Later, while talking to newsmen after the signing ceremony, Dr. Joshi said that with the visit of U. Thaung the two countries would be entering into a new phase of collaboration in science and technology. The cooperation with Maynmar needs to be strengthened in view of the regional significance of Myanmar as a neighbour and as a member of ASEAN. While referring to the forthcoming world Science Congress, Dr. Joshi said that science has a value system and it must be recognised. He said there can be no international regulatory mechanism as far as science is concerned.

    The Indian delegation consisted of Heads of a number of scientific departments including Science and Technology, Electronics, Biotechnology, Ocean Development and Council of Scientific and Industrial Research.

    U. Thaung visited Calcutta before coming to Delhi where he went to the science city and was felicitated by the Confederation of Indian Industries.
 
 

    The freesale quotas are meant only for internal consumption and with enough stocks of sugar in hand, Government is in a position to release further substantial quantities of sugar additionally in case the requirement so dictates.
 
 

• there should be an existing computer system which is owned by the assessee and used for the purposes of his business or profession;
• such existing computer system should be a non-Y2K compliant computer system;
• the assessee should incur the expenditure wholly and exclusively in respect of such non-Y2K compliant computer system so as to make such computer system Y2K compliant computer system;
• the expenditure should have been incurred during the period 1.4.1999 to 31.3.2000;
• the assessee should furnish along with the return of income the report of an Accountant in the prescribed form certifying that the deduction has been correctly claimed in accordance with the provisions of this section. (The Central Board of Direct Taxes have notified the prescribed Form and rule in this regard vide S.O. No.479(E) dated 23.6.1999).

    As regards the expenditure incurred prior to 01.04.1999, the revenue expenditure will be allowed deduction in full and the capital expenditure will be eligible for depreciation at the prescribed rates.
 
 

    Speaking on the occasion, Shri Sompal stated that the production of wheat is estimated to be 73.5 million tonnes and rice production is likely to be 84.48 million tonnes. The production of oilseeds and pulses is assessed to be 25.38 million tonnes and 15.3 million tonnes respectively. The likely production of sugarcane would be about 290 million tonnes.

    Stating that Rashtriya Krishi Bima Yojana, which was launched recently by the Prime Minister Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee, would cover all the crops for which yield data is available, Shri Sompal said that availability of reliable and timely agricultural statistics is therefore of paramount importance for the implementation of the scheme. The number of crop cutting experiments would also be increased in order to arrive at realistic assessment of ‘threshold yield level’ in particular areas, he added.

    Addressing the gathering, Secretary, Department of Agriculture & Cooperation, Shri Bhaskar Barua said that a remote sensing satellite IRS-P6 specially designed for agricultural purposes would be launched in the year 2003. This would greatly help in strengthening the system for collection of agricultural statistics.

    Speaking on the occasion, Secretary, Department of Statistics & Programme Implementation, Shri R.S. Mathur emphasised the need for easily accessible databases in the agricultural sector and their correct analysis and interpretation. Observing that although a system of collection of agricultural statistics is in vogue, Shri Mathur stated that there is a growing discontent among the users regarding qualitative and quantitative aspects of the results.
 
 

    The Samaj Sadan will be built on a plot of land measuring 1.5 acres having covered area of 2146 square metres. It will have a Barat Ghar for 150 persons, auditorium with a capacity of 250 seats, table tennis hall, library , gymnasium, three nursery craft rooms, crèche and cooperative store. A separate tube-well with underground sump and terrace tank will ensure an uninterrupted water supply and help maintain greenery in the area.

    Speaking on the occasion Shri Jagmohan said that Sadiq Nagar would be developed as a modal colony with all open areas between successive rows of quarters as a green belt, open areas opposite Kendriya Vidayala and adjacent to Samaj Sadan site with large scale of tree plantation with active cooperation of the residents. The Minister Said that development of green areas and mass plantation would provide refreshing breathing space with healthy natural ambience in otherwise polluted environ of the National Capital Territory. He said that cumulative effect would be better civic amenities with attendant cleanliness and sanitation. Shri Jagmohan lauded the efforts of Central Public Works Department (CPWD) for removal of the jhuggi dwellers at the site of Samaj Sadan and their relocation elsewhere.
 
 

    All Orders of the CVC under Section 8 (1) (g) of the CVC Ordinance 1999 which empower the CVC to exercise superintendence over the vigilance administration of the organisations within the purview of the CVC are in the public domain. All these orders are available on the web and can be accessed. The organisations include the Ministries of the Government of India, all Government of India Departments, Public Sector Undertakings and Nationalised Banks. Earlier there used to be a lot of delay in the CVC’s instructions being circulated to the large number of Government organisations. Even if, the CVC sent the instructions to the Secretaries to the Government or the Head of the Organisations or the Chief Executives of the Banks and Public Sector Undertakings, by the time the instructions percolated to the operational level, there was enormous delay.

    By the CVC now being on the web, this delay has been reduced at one stroke. Further, there are important orders like the Special Chapter on Banks in the Vigilance Manual, which are also now available on the web. It will, therefore, be possible for all Government organisations within the purview of the CVC to access all these orders without waiting for formal circulation departmentally or through their organisation.

    Any interested member of the public who would like to look into the issue of checking corruption or function of CVC can also access the information available at the web site. One of the reasons behind the CVC’s initiative is to being in greater transparency in the operation of the CVC and empower the public who are ultimately going to be the effective force to check corruption in public life.

    Another advantage of the web is that public also can directly approach the CVC with their complaints regarding corruption in the organisations within the purview of the CVC apart from the normal channel of applications on paper. The CVC will be monitoring the response of the public to the web, especially complaints so that the information technology is used as also an instrument to improve the quality of governance by checking corruption.