The Commerce Secretary called on the Indian manufacturers and exporters who are exporting to the neighbouring and ASEAN countries to take advantage of the economic recovery which had started in the region besides using the inherent strengths available in the Indian economy while working on the strategies for increasing their exports to these countries. While doing so, our exporters need to be focussed and become competitive to take these advantage and new initiatives for exports, Shri Prabhu said.

    Later, replying to a suggestion to have mandatory stringent quality controls, the Commerce Secretary clarified that a Compulsory Certification as per world standards might not be feasible now as quite a substantial amount of exports comes from small enterprises which may find it difficult to change over immediately. However, the Indian Industry should slowly and steadily ensure that our image in the overseas markets is not spoiled Shri Prabhu added. On the question of difficulties faced by manufactures due to a continued increase in the prices of various inputs, the Commerce Secretary observed that since many inputs were outputs for some other industries, a balancing in the various sub-sectors of Manufacturing was required.

    The Commerce Secretary assured the exporters that the government would continue to interact with all the Export Promotion Councils for the regular interface between the Government and the industry.
 
 
 

The Commerce Minister Shri Ramakrishna Hegde informed the gathering of exporters that the Government has made substantial progress in liberalizing the export-import trade and all steps are being taken to remove the bottlenecks including those relating to infrastructure, export credit, procedural hurdles and intra-sector rivalries. The Commerce Minister while applauding the progress made by the Punjab exporters welcomed suggestions from them to help formulate simplified export promotion schemes.

    The Commerce Minister further hoped that the computerization work in DGFT, once complete by the year-end, would reduce unnecessary interactions between exporters and DGFT while ensuring transparency and speed. Shri Anil Swaroop, the Export Commissioner informed the exporters that ones DGFT and customs are inter-connected the drawback claims could be settled much faster.

    Shri Hegde appreciated the progress made by Ludhiana entrepreneurs and emphasised the need for creating better export-related facilities in Ludhiana. Later, talking to a group of industrialists at the Confederation Of Indian Industry (CII) in Chandigarh, Shri Hegde congratulated CII for establishing the center and suggested them to have an exhibition complex where corporate India could showcase the best of their products on a continued basis.
 
 
 

    During the month DLW, ICF and WAP have exceeded their targets of production of locos, coaches and axles respectively and the CLW and RCF have attained the targeted production.
 
 

    These rules are applicable to buy-back of equity shares or other specified securities of a Priviate Ltd. Company and Unlisted Public Limited Company not listed on any recognised stock exchange. The company may buy-back its shares from existing shareholder on a proportionate basis through private offers and by purchasing securities issued to the employees of the company pursuant to scheme of stock option of sweat equity.

    Under these rules , for passing a special resolution under Sub-section (2) of Section 77A of the Companies Act, 1956, explanatory statement to be annexed to the notice for the general meeting pursuant to Section 173 of the Companies Act will contain disclosures as specified in Schedule 1.

    The Company which has been authorised by a special resolution shall, before the buy-back of shares file with the Registrar of Companies a draft letter of offer containing particulars in Schedule II. The company shall also file along with the letter of offer a declaration of solvency.

    The letter of offer shall be dispatched immediately after filing with Registrar of Companies but not later than 21 days from its filing with Registrar of Companies.

    The company shall immediately after the date of closure of the offer open a special bank account and deposit therein, such sum, as would make up the entire sum due and payable as consideration for the buy-back in terms of these rules.

    As for general obligation of the company, the company shall ensure that the letter of offer should contain true factual and material information; the company shall not issue any shares by way of bonus till the date of the closure of the offer under these rules; the company shall confirm in its offer the opening of separate bank account testifying the availability of funds earmarked for this purpose and pay the consideration only by cash or bank draft or by pay order; the company shall not withdraw the offer once the draft letter of offer has been filed with the Registrar of Companies; and the companies shall not utilise any money borrowed from banks or financial institutions for buying-back shares.

    The company , after the completion of the buy-back under these rules, will file with the Registrar a return in the Form as specified.

    As for extinguishment of certificate, the company shall extinguish and physically destroy the share certificates bought back in the presence of the company’s secretary within 7 days from the date of acceptance of the shares. The company shall furnish a certificate to the Registrar of companies duly verified by two-whole time Directors including Managing Director and Company Secretary in whole-time practice, certifying compliance of these rules within 7 days of the extinguishment and destruction of the certificates. The company shall also maintain a record of share certificates which have been cancelled and destroy within 7 days of buy-back of share.

    The company shall maintain a Register of shares bought back by the company in the Form as specified.

    This Rule has been framed under the Companies (Amendment) Act, 1999, to enable Indian companies to compete with multi-national companies. Indian companies have been allowed to buy-back their own shares and securities under certain conditions with suitable safeguards. Directors of the company will ensure that the Solvency certificate is issued and ensure its compliance. A company which has not complied with provisions of Sections 159, 207 and 211 of the Companies Act, 1956, will not be eligible to buy-back its shares.
 
 
 

    The Conference will address issues pertaining to the implementation of the restructured poverty alleviation programme - Swarnjayanti Gram Swarozgar Yojana (SGSY). This is a comprehensive programme covering all aspects of self employment such as organisation of the poor into Self Help Groups, training, credit, technology and marketing etc. Regarding Jawahar Gram Samridhi Yojana(JGSY) which like SGSY, has been launched w.e.f. 1.4.99 with the objective of creation of demand driven community level village infrastructure including durable assets at the village level and assets to enable the rural poor to increase the opportunities for sustained employment. Regarding this scheme, the Project Directors conference would discuss the release of central allocation for 1999-2000 to the States and Union Territories, training of panchayat members and functionaries and difficulties faced by the implementing agency.

    Issues regarding the implementation of the new initiatives under Rural Housing launched w.e.f. 1.4.99 like Credit-cum-Subsidy Scheme, conversion of unserviceable kutcha houses into pucca/semi pucca houses, rural building centres, innovative stream for rural housing and habitat development etc. would be discussed at the 3 day conference. Other items on the agenda include DRDAs, guidelines for Rural Housing and National Social Assistance Programme(NSAP). Monitoring of Rural Development Programmes would also form part of the agenda.
 
 

    According to the National HIV Testing Policy all blood units are being tested mandatorily by one HIV test. However, since this is a single Elisa, Rapid, Simple test, it is not sufficient to confirm the HIV status of a person. A series of 3 tests is essential to confirm the HIV status of a person.

    The National HIV Testing Policy also states that where the donor wants to know his results he should be referred to an accessible HIV Testing Centre where facilities for supplemental confirmatory test with pre and post-test counselling are available. It has also been the experience that revealing the results of the HIV test to a blood donor at the blood bank adversely affects the voluntary blood donation progrmme.

    While it is proposed to set up counselling facilities for blood banks, the purpose is to increase voluntary blood donation and not for conducting confirmatory tests and doing the following counselling.

    NACO has therefore sought clarifications from the Government of Delhi on their proposed plan and would give its advice accordingly.
 
 

    The Rs.1 lakh Jagjivan Ram Kisan Puraskar for developing innovative technology in agriculture has gone to Shri G.N. Raju Yadav of Krishna District, Andhra Pradesh for his innovative farming practices for increasing production of cereals and horticultural crops and for making improved seed varieties available to his fellow farmers. He introduced many new varieties and improved practices for rice, groundnut and black gram and achieved highest prductivity in the region. He obtained record production of mango, coconut, tomato and roses. He developed profitable cropping system for the region by introducing summer black gram as a bonus crop after rice and groundnut.

    The best institution awards for 1998 has gone to Central Soil Salinity Research Institute (CSSRI), Karnal, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University (TNAU), Coimbatore and Project Directorate on biological control, Bangalore. This award is given on the basis of preceding 10 years' performance of the institution and each award carries a cash prize of Rs.1 lakh. The CSSRI, Karnal has made its mark by developing and popularising saline soil reclamation package which has been extended to about 8 lakh hectares of degraded land. The salt tolreant varieties of rice, wheat, mustard and gram developed by the institute have helped resource poor farmers. Research on prevention and control of water logging and salinity in canal commands and development of guidelines for use of saline water are another significant contributions.

    TNAU has played significant role in sustaining Green Revolution and setting the pace for women empowerment through 50 per cent enrolment for girl students. The university has also made significant contribution towards entrepreneurship development and introduction of commercial agriculture besides releasing 76 crop varieties. The Project Directorate of biological control,

    Bangalore has done pioneering work in developing integrated pest management modules for various crops and mass production technologies for various bio-control agents.

    The Rs.1 lakh Rafi Ahmed Kidwai award for the triennium 1996-98 has gone to Dr. Madan Mohan from International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (ICGEB), New Delhi and Dr. Shyam Prakash, IARI, New Delhi, in the category of Crop Improvement. Dr. K.V. Peter and Dr. K.V. Sadanandan from Indian Institute of Spices Research, Calicut have got this award jointly for improving the productivity of black pepper and cardamom. The award for Natural Resource Management has gone jointly to Dr. P.R. Gajri and Dr. V.K. Arora of PAU, Ludhiana and Dr. Gurbachan Singh of NRC Agro-forestry, Jhansi. Other recipients of this prestigious award are Dr. S.K. Shakya, PAU, Ludhiana, Dr. S.M. Totey, NII, New Delhi, Dr. Khub Singh & Dr. R.P. Mishra (jointly), NIAN&P, Bangalore and Dr. Samir Bhattacharya, Vishva Bharati University Santiniketan.

    The Vasantrao Naik Award which is given for outstanding contribution in the area of Water Conservation & Dryland Farming and which carries a cash prize of Rs.1 lakh has been bagged by Dr. H.S. Sen and his associates Dr. S.K. Ambast and Dr. N.K. Tyagi, all three from Central Soil and Salinity Research Institute, for their work on rain water management.

    One of the two Panjabrao Deshmukh Woman Agricultural Scientists Awards for 1998 have gone to Dr. (Mrs) M.J. Ratnambal of CPCRI, Kasargod, Kerala for her research work on ginger & turmeric. Another award has gone jointly to Dr. Shailaja Hittalmani, University of Agricultural Sciences, Bangalore for significant research work in rice and Dr. Sukhada Mohandas, IIHR, Bangalore for work on bio-fertilizers. The award carries cash prize money of Rs.50,000.

    The ICAR Young Scientist Awards to provide incentive to young scientists for original research and carrying prize money of Rs.25,000 each have gone to Dr. T.R. Sharma, HPKV, Palampur jointly to Dr. A.J. Prabakaran, DOR, Hyderabad & Dr.(Mrs) Sangeeta Srivastava, IISR, Lucknow, Dr. C. Srinivasa Rao, IISS, Bhopal, Dr. (Mrs) Ravinder Kaur, IARI, New Delhi, Dr. (Mrs) Anuradha Sane, CPCRI, Dr. Sultan Singh, IGFRI, Jhansi, Dr. S.V. Rama Rao, Project Directorate Poultry, Hyderabad, Dr. Priyabrat Swain, CIFA, Bhubaneshwar, Dr. V.R. Kiresur, UAS, Regional Research Station Bijapur.

    One of the 4 Outsanding Exention Scientist/Worker Awards for the Triennium 1996-98 have gone to Dr. S.K. Rout, Training Organiser, Krishi Vigyan Kendra, Kendrapara (Orissa), for significant contribution in developing farming community through Institute Village Linkage Programme. Dr.(Mrs) Indu Grover, CCS Haryana Agricultural University Hissar, for her work towards
technical impowerment of women, Sri R.Sudhakar, KVK, Rajahmundry, (Andhra Pradesh) for popularising Palmyrah-Fibre Seperator machine and Dr. D. Thyagarajan, Tamil Nadu Veterinary & Animal Science University, Chennai, are other receipents of this award. The award carries a cash prize of Rs.25,000.

    The four Hari Om Ashram Trust Awards from the bienniual 1997-98 have been shared by 9 scientists. The award in Crop Science has gone jointly to Dr. Balram Sharma, Dr. M.C. Tyagi & Dr. S.K. Mishra, all from IARI, New Delhi. The award for Horticulture has gone jointly to Dr. P.S. Naik and Dr. D. Sarkar of CPRI, Simla. In Resource Management the award has going jointly to Dr. C.L. Acharya and Dr. O.C. Kapur and in Animal Sciences jointly to Dr. B.P. Singh, Dr. R.V. Singh & Dr. S. Malik.

    Seventeen Jawaharlal Nehru Awards have gone to 19 scientists for high quality research during Ph.D. These are Dr. T. Makesh Kumar, Dr. Supriya Chakrabory, Dr. N. Geetha, Dr. J.K. Kaushik, Dr. K. Nirmal Babu, Dr. R. Richard Kennedy, jointly to Dr. K.S. Nirmala & Dr. V.S. Korikanthimath, Dr. Tapan Adhikari, jointly to Dr. M.S. Nagaraja, & Dr. S.P. Datta, Dr. J.P. Singh, Dr. Matthew Prasad, Dr. A.K. Samanta, Dr. V.M. Shingatgeri, Dr. Pronab Dhar, Dr. (Mrs) Shoji Joseph, Dr.(Mrs) Ranjitha Puskar, Dr. Pushpa Bharati. This award carries a cash price of Rs.10,000 each.
 
 

    Speaking of the relevance and importance of KVIC programmes for the poor, weaker sections, and the tribals all over the country, especially in the rural areas, the Minister suggested that KVIC should play an important role in implementing the Government’s policies for rural industrialization. He also suggested integration of KVI Sector with the main stream of our National Planning. At the same time, we should try our level best to make the KVI Sector more effective, the Minister added.

    In the areas of rural industrialization, the Minister said, the contribution of KVIC should form part of identifying and developing cluster of villages and rural industries, opening better avenues by developing marketing network for its products, in addition to strengthening the input of science and technology for better quality and productivity.

    The Industry Minister directed the KVIC Board to consider liberalizing pattern of funding of the backward and rural areas especially in tribal belt and North East Region.

    The Minister informed the Board that KVIC has been allocated Rs.1993 crore during the IX Five Year Plan. In view of the colossal task of employment and rural economic development entrusted to KVIC, although this sum looked inadequate, the Minister hoped that the banking sector would also come forward to supplement the requirements of rural artisans through the organizational network of KVIC. Besides, various Ministries and Departments of Government of India would support KVIC. As for the Ministry of Industry it would extend the appropriate policy support both positive and pro-active to the KVIC, the Minister added. The Minister also made an appeal to the State Governments for their active involvement in the KVIC programmes and their successful implementation. He also hoped that the new Board would, work out measures overcoming the constraints and accelerate the growth of this sector.

    The KVIC Board is meeting after a gap of 5 years. The last such meeting was held in 1994 by the Union Industry Minister.
 
 

    The rebate shall be allowed only at the sales centres run by the Khadi and Village Industries Commission (KVIC), Khadi and V.I. Boards and registered KVI institutions.

    The rebate on sale of khadi, khadi related items, Polyvastra will be paid to the Government departments, autonomous bodies including Cooperatives, Undertakings under the control of Central and State Governments.

    The trading institutions which are engaged in marketing of Khadi would be given the rebate only after audit.

    This policy announcement will boost the sale of khadi and also give direct benefit to the general public.