‘46’
MUTUAL BENEFIT SOCIETIES TO HAVE FIXED NET OWNED FUND
    All Nidhis or Mutual Benefit Societies will have a total of Net Owned Fund and preference share of not less than Rs.25 lakhs as against the 20th October 1997 notification requiring the total of Net Owned Fund and preference share capital not being less than Rs.10 lakhs.

    The existing companies are required to satisfy this requirement before December 31, 2002 under a notification issued under the Companies Act, 1956 on December 7,1998. The fresh directions of the Department of Company Affairs will have to be followed mandatorily by the existing companies. These companies have been given time upto December, 2002.

    The October, 1997 and the revised notifications were issued under Section 637A of the Companies Act, 1956 to companies which are known as Nidhis or Mutual Benefit Societies as defined under Section 620A of the said Act.
 
 

‘5’
CHEQUES OF RS. 18.5 LAKHS PRESENTED TO HM FOR KARGIL VICTIMS
    Two different Organisations presented cheques of Rs.18.5 lakhs to Union Home Minister, Shri L.K. Advani for Army Welfare Fund, here today. The Organisatins who gave their contributions for the Kargil Victims are Apollo Tyres Ltd and Bulb Manufacturers & Traders Associations, Delhi.

    On behalf of Apollow Tyres Ltd., its Chairman Shri O.S. Kanwar presented a cheque of Rs.11 lakhs while Shri P. Hore presented a cheque of Rs.7.5 lakhs on behalf of Bulb Manufacturers and Traders Association, Delhi.
 
 

‘5’
NO ACTION ON ANONYMOUS OR PSEUDONYMOUS COMPLANITS-CVC
    The Central Vigilance Commission (CVC) has directed all Departments and Organisations under its purview not to take any action on anonymous or pseudonymous complaints. This decision has been taken to check the blackmailers who psychologically pressurise and demoralise the honest public servants who are mostly on the verge of their promotions.

    The CVC has instructed that anonymous/pseudonymous complaints must be filed. On the other hand it has made adequate measures to safeguard the complainants. It is to ensure that those who are afraid to reveal their identity because of fear of consequences of the powerful elements and other important sources, who were resorting to anonymous/pseudonymous complaint route, are provided a channel of communication against the corrupt public servants. These measures are:

  • With the above measures in hand, there is very little possibility that genuine cases of corruption will not be brought to the notice of the appropriate authorities.
    •
     
    '11'
    SHRI MAHAJAN CONDOLES THE DEATH OF SHRI JANARDHAN THAKUR
        The Union Minister for Information and Broadcasting Shri Pramod Mahajan expressed deep shock at the demise of Shri Janardan Thakur, a veteran journalist and former editor of ‘The Free Press Journal’. In his condolence message, Shri Mahajan said that Shri Thakur was a highly respected journalist whose contribution to the growth of journalism is commendable. In his death, the world of journalism has lost a great professional. His death is a personal loss to me. I express my heartfelt condolences to the bereaved family.
     
     
    '11'
    SHRI MAHAJAN CONDOLES THE DEATH OF SHRI RAJENDRA KUMAR
        The Union Minister for Information and Broadcasting Shri Pramod Mahajan has mourned the death of legendary actor Rajendra Kumar. In his condolence message Shri Mahajan said the death of Shri Kumar has taken away a great film personality from our midst. Shri Kumar’s contribution to cinema as an actor, director and producer testify to his creative brilliance. The world of cinema is poorer by his death further said the Minister.

        The Minister of State for Information and Broadcasting Shri Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi also condoled the passing away of Shri Rajendra Kumar. In his condolence message Shri Naqvi said that the death of veteran actor Shri Kumar who swayed the emotions of millions of cinegoers, is a great loss for film industry. His noted films like Mother India, Dil Ek Mandir, Gehra Daag, Arzoo and others will be remembered for long.
     
     

    '8'
    INDIA AND CAMEROON TO COOPERATE IN EDUCATION
        India and Cameroon have decided to cooperate in the field of Education. The Minister of Education of Cameroon Mr. Charles Etoundi today met the Human Resource Development Minister, Dr. Murli Manohar Joshi to discuss possibilities of cooperation in the field of Education. Mr. Etoundi said that he was very impressed with the ‘Praveshotsav’ in a Garhi block of Banswara District. He also appreciated the local capacity at community level, flexibility of structure and the NGOs playing complementary role in various educational projects. During his visit to India, the Minister for Education, Cameroon visited Lok Jumbish Project, Urban Creche programme, Praveshotsav and similar other programmes to get insight into the community management strategies and institutional aspects of projects.

        The HRD Minister Dr. Murli Manohar Joshi offered cooperation in the field of Education and Science and Technology. He also offered to train Cameroon teachers in India.

        Earlier, the Chairman cum Managing Director of Educational Consultants India Ltd. (Ed.CIL) informed the delegation that Ed. CIL had a number of projects in neighbouring countries in Africa e.g. Rwanda, Tanzania and Botswana. Secretary, Education Shri M.K. Kaw gave them a brief idea about the schemes like modernisation of Madarsas, Early Childhood Education, Para Schools, National Literacy Missions etc. The Minister for Education, Cameroon was accompanied by Mr. Yakouba Yaya, National Director of Primary and School Education and Mr. Peter Delahaye, Unicef Representative.
     
     

    '16'
    HEGDE INAUGURATES WTO CENTER AT IIFT
        Shri Ramakrishna Hegde, the Union Commerce Minister while inaugurating the WTO Center at the Indian Institute Of Foreign Trade called on the Indian Industry to benchmark themselves against International competition to be able to scout for and adopt ' best practices' to attain a level of efficiency which will enable them to face competition from anywhere. Shri Hegde was speaking at the 33rd Annual Convocation and Inauguration of the 14th Masters Program In International Business in New Delhi here today.

        Shri Hedge hoped that the documentation center on WTO matters at the IIFT would ensure more research on the WTO and related issues especially benefiting India and other developing countries. Shri Hedge also released a WTO newsletter on the occasion.

        Speaking on the occasion Shri P.P.Prabhu, the Commerce Secretary focussed on the Internationalisation of business education, which has become a reality. He said that the self-committed mistake of distinguishing between domestic and international business management education has been realised and the challenge of crossing over to universalisation of content, process and technology of it is being squarely met. The Commerce Secretary further said that in major business schools all over the world, including IIFT, the ultimate objective of such an approach encompasses creating awareness of socio-economic-political environment, understanding and developing competency in subject areas, developing skills to use management tools and delivering such knowledge and competence through technology-efficient system at affordable cost.

        Shri Prabhu also complemented the IIFT for successfully restructuring the MPIB curriculum and hoped for forging ahead and retaining leadership of international business management education in India. The trimester system in both the years in the Masters Program In International Business gives the students time to be fully occupied in academic pursuits and acquire information and competence in a large number of courses. The Commerce Secretary said that since it's inception in 1964,the Institute has traversed a long distance, learning on the way from the events, concepts and aspirations of the business, governments and students, involvement and creativity of the participants.
     
     

    '32'
    SUSPENSION OF PUBLIC HEARING
        Public hearings held every Thursday in Nirman Bhavan by the Minister of Urban Development has been suspended with immediate effect. This has been done due to announcement of dates of general elections and coming into being of code of conduct.
     
     

    '15'

    APPELLATE TRIBUNAL FOR FORFEITED PROPERTY
    HOLDS CAMP AT BHUBANESHWAR
        The Appellate Tribunal for Forfeited Property constituted under the Smugglers and Foreign Exchange Manipulators (Forfeiture of Property) Act, 1976 (SAFEMA) and Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, 1985 (NDPS) with its headquarters at New Delhi will for the first time, be holding a camp office at Bhubaneshwar (Orissa) for hearing of appeals under the said Acts in the premises of Nalco Guest House, Nalco Nagar, Chandersekharpur, Bhubanshwer (Orissa), from 12th July, 1999 to 15th July, 1999. It is for the information of the general public that any urgent matters under the said Acts can be brought before the Tribunal during the said camp office in Bhubaneshwar (Orissa). However, routine matters of filing of appeals etc. will continue to be attended in its main office in Loknayak Bhawan, New Delhi.