Latest Releases

'25'

PRADHAN PRESENTS RS. ONE CRORE CHEQUE TO PM`s NATIONAL DEFENCE FUND The Minister of State for Surface Transport, Dr. Debendra Pradhan presented a cheque of Rs. One Crore as contribution to the National Defence Fund to the Prime Minister, shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee here today. The money has been contributed by the employees of the Ministry of surface Transport, Autonomous Bodies and Public Sector Undertakings under the Ministry, Port Trusts and Dock labour Unions. The Secretary of the Ministry, Shri R. Vasudevan was present during the handing over of the cheque.

Earlier, The Minister of Surface Transport and Railways, Shri Nitish Kumar had met the Prime Minister on the 17^th of last month and presented him with a cheque of Rs. 15 Crore being the contribution of the PSUs and Port Trusts under the Surface Transport Ministry towards the National Defence Fund.

'19'

23^RD INDIA INTERNATIONAL GARMENT FAIR GETS UNDERWAY THIS FRIDAY
Q1 GARMENT EXPORTS UP 5.3 PER CENT AT US $ 1.25 BILLION Over 175 exporters from all over the country are slated to participate in the 23^rd India International Garment Fair (IIGF) which gets underway in the capital on the sixth of this month. The export award function for garment exports, which constitute more than 40 per cent of the country’s textiles exports and have already notched up export figures of nearly US $ 1.25 billion in the first quarter of this financial year, would also held alongwith the inauguration of the fair.

IIGF is an annual event, which is organised by the Apparel Export Promotion Council (AEPC) under the aegis of Ministry of Textiles. Shri Shyamal Ghosh, Secretary, Ministry of Textiles would inaugurate the fair and also give away the export awards.

Exports of readymade garments have continued to record impressive growth in recent years, especially in light of the overall export scenario, having touched the figure of US $ 5.2 billion in the year 1998-99 which was up 7 per cent (in dollar terms) over the previous year. The target for 1999-2000 has been pegged at US $ 6 billion and the Council expects that, as in the past, good business would be generated at the Fair, which would facilitate achieving of the target for the year.

It may be noted that exports of readymade garments for the country during the period April-June 1999 went up by 5.3 per cent (in dollar terms) and over 10 per cent (in rupee terms) recording figures of US $ 1245.4 million (Rs. 53550.4 crores) as against exports worth US $ 1182.6 million (Rs. 48592.5) during the period April-June,1998.

The Government intends to give a renewed thrust to the exports of garments from the country by bringing about a quantum improvement in the quality and quantity of garments produced in the country. The recently launched Technology Upgradation Fund Scheme (TUFS) of the Ministry of Textiles aims at upgrading and modernising the machinery being used for the manufacture of textiles in the country. The garment sector is expected to take the maximum advantage of the scheme, which provides five per cent interest reimbursement on the loans taken by entrepreneurs for the purpose of modernising their plants and acquiring state-of-the-art or near state-of-the-art technology.

In this context, the 23^rd IIGF, this year assumes greater significance as it is expected to open new vistas of opportunity for Indian exporters in the new millennium.

'17'

KVIC TO LAUNCH SARVODAYA BRAND VILLAGE INDUSTRY PRODUCTS The Khadi & Village Industries Commission (KVIC) will launch Sarvodaya brand village industry products. To begin with, Honey, Pickles and Agarbatti will be launched as village industry products under Sarvodaya brand at four places. First marketing launch will be at Mumbai on August 9, 1999, followed by Bangalore on August 11, 1999, New Delhi on August 14, 1999 and Ernakulam on August 16, 1999. In the second phase, soaps and spices will be launched under the Sarvodaya brand.

The launch of Sarvodaya brand of village industry products by KVIC follows the recommendations by an Expert Committee on marketing constituted by the Commission. The Sarvodaya, as an umbrella brand has been registered for various village industry products.

The Sarvodaya brand name is expected to help in creating distinct image for village industry products and provide the cutting edge for marketing of these products as well as positioning them in the market vis-à-vis with other competing brands.

The marketing of Sarvodaya brand village industry products by KVIC will step up employment in the North-East and other economically backward areas.

APURVA CHANDRA APPOINTED ON HDPE BOARD

Shri Apurva Chandra, Deputy Secretary in the Ministry of Surface Transport has been appointed as part-time Official Director on the Board of Directors of Hooghly Dock and Port Engineers Limited (HDPEL), Calcutta. HDPEL is a public sector undertaking under the Ministry of Surface Transport. He replaces Shri R.Mukundan who has joined as Officer on Special Duty to the Minister of Surface Transport, Shri Nitish Kumar.

EMERGING MEASURES BEING TAKEN TO REPAIR JAISALMER FORT

Unusually heavy rains in Jaisalmer during the last few days has reportedly led to damage some portions of the lower fortification wall and two out of a total number of ninety one bastions of Jaisalmer Fort . Although the road between Jodhpur and Jaisalmer has been breached, a party of engineering staff has been despatched to Jaisalmer on the directions of the Director General, Archaeological Survey of India to take up emergency measures to avoid any further damage. Repair works will also be taken up on priority. The Superintending Archaeologist, Jaipur Circle and the Superintending Archaeological Engineer from A.S.I, Headquarters, New Delhi have also been directed to proceed immediately to Jaisalmer. The Archaeological Survey of India is also in constant touch with the district administration in the matter.

‘7’

CD OF UPDATED MANUAL OF ELECTION LAWS FOR SALE The Compact Disk (CD) of updated Manual of Election Laws Volume I and II launched by the Union Law, Justice and Company Affairs Minister Shri Ram Jethmalani on July 20,1999 has been put on sale by the National Informatics Centre (NIC) at its sales counter of its marketing wing here. The CD of Election Laws has been compiled by NIC. The address of Sales Counter is : The Executive Director, NICSI, A-Block, CGO Complex, Lodhi Road, New Delhi 110003 with Phone No. 4364052. E-mail No. is < nicsi@hub.nic.in > . The other no. for enquiry only is : NIC Computer Cell , Ministry of Law, Justice and Company Affairs, Room No. 406c , ‘A’ Wing, Shastri Bhavan, New Delhi, Phone No. 3381630 and E-mail No. is < aksingh@hub.nic.in> .

The CD which costs around Rs.1800/- will now sale for Rs.340/-only. This has been done at the instance of the Law Minister Shri Ram Jethmalani to enable people concerned with elections of the Lok Sabha and State Assemblies to get easy access to Election Laws. The CD has been readied keeping in view the forthcoming midterm elections to the Lok Sabha and General Elections to some of the State Legislative Assemblies.

The Manual of Election Laws broadly embodies the Acts of Parliament, Rules and Orders under the Constitution, Law relating to removal of disqualification, , Statutory Rules and Orders relating to Election Laws.

Some of the important Acts, Rules and Orders embodied in the Manual of Election Laws are : extracts from the Constitution, the Indian Penal Code, the States Reorganisation Act, 1956, the Government of Union Territories Act, 1963, the Government of National Capital Territory of Delhi Act, 1991, the Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989; the Representation of the People Act, 1950, the Representation of the People Act, 1951, the Jammu and Kashmir Representation of the People (Supplementary) Act, 1968, the Delimitation Act, 1972, the Parliament (Prevention of Disqualification) Act, 1969 and various Acts of State Legislatures (Relating to removal of disqualification) ; the rules relating to election laws such as Registration of Electors Rules, 1960 and the Conduct of Election Rules 1961, and the Delimitation of Council Constituencies Orders, the authorities to accept petitions about corrupt practices.

‘46’

CHANGE OF INDUSTRIAL ACTIVITY CODE IN 1998-99 The Government permitted 27 companies to change their industrial activity code under the Companies Act 1956 during 1998-99. These were 14 companies in Delhi, 5 companies in Maharashtra, 2 companies in Madhya Pradesh and one each in Haryana, Gujarat, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Uttar Pradesh and West Bengal.

Fourteen companies in Delhi that changed their industrial activity code were New Marketing (P) Ltd. from manufacture of fabricated metal projects to securities dealing activities, Suvaerna Marketing (P) Ltd. from wholesale trade in wood, paper, leather, ceramics and metals to securities dealing activities, Sunvin Trading and Investment (P) Ltd from renting or leasing of machinery and equipment securities dealing activities, Sikha Mercantiles (P) Ltd. from wholesale trade in wood, paper ,leather, chemicals, ceramics to securities dealing activities, Immediate Portfolio and Securities (P) Ltd. from health and medical services to securities dealing activities, Prime Mercantile (P) Ltd. from wholesale trade in wood, paper, leather, chemicals, ceramics and metals to securities dealing activities, Ocean Ispat (P) Ltd. from whole sale trade not elsewhere classified to securities dealing activities , Abloom Trade Links (P) Ltd. from wholesale trade not elsewhere classified to securities dealing activities, GMK Builders (P) Ltd from real estate to securities dealing activities, Juhie (India) (P) Ltd. from wholesale trade in wood, paper, leather, chemicals , ceramics and metals to securities dealing activities, Media Holdings (P) Ltd. from wholesale trade not elsewhere classified to securities dealing activities, Dhruv Commerce (P) Ltd. from wholesale trade not elsewhere classified to securities dealing activities, Pareek Overseas (P) Ltd. from wholesale trade not elsewhere classified to securities dealing activities and Rolls and Shafts (I) (P) Ltd. from wholesale trade not elsewhere classified to securities dealing activities.

The 5 companies that changed their industrial activities code in Maharashtra are Pragati Marketing (P) Ltd. from securities dealing activities to wholesale trade in medicines, Weizmann Ltd. from wholesale trade in agriculture , food, animals and textiles to other commission agents, Chandrali Investments (P) Ltd. from securities dealing activities to wholesale trade in textiles, Powai Traders (P) Ltd. from wholesale trade not elsewhere classified to securities dealing activities and Poise Securities and Exchange Ltd. from education, science and research services to securities dealing activities.

The company that changed its industrial activity code in Uttar Pradesh is Amroha Trade Fin Ltd. from other credit/loan activities to financial leasing. In Madhya Pradesh , Sensex Capital markets Ltd. changed from other securities dealing activities including brokers to business consultancy and PACL India Ltd. from plantations not elsewhere classified to real estate activities. In Haryana, United Leasing and Industries Ltd. changed from manufacture of industrial machinery in food and textiles to embroidery work other than by hand. In Gujarat, Wellworth Overseas Ltd. changed from other credit activities to wholesale trade in wool, leather and metals. In Tamil Nadu, ShriRam Gen.Fin. (P) Ltd. changed from other credit activities to business consultancy. In Karnataka, International Commerce Ltd. changed from other securities dealing activities including brokers to wholesale trade in goods, not elsewhere classified and in West Bengal , Anisha Enterprises (P) Ltd. changed from securities dealing activities to wholesale trade in miscellaneous goods not elsewhere classified.

'42'

HINDI CONSULTATIVE COMMITTEE OF COAL MINISTRY MEETS TODAY Addressing the Hindi Consultative Committee meeting held here today, Union Minister of State for Coal Shri Dilip Ray informed the members that for good performance of coal Ministry, the Ministry received "Indira Gandhi Rajbhasha Shield" for the years 1990, 1991, 1995 and 1996 and promised that like previous year progress in Hindi language usage will further be improved.

The members of the consultative committee were further informed that Eastern Coalfields Ltd. has also been awarded ‘Indira Gandhi Rajbhasha Shield’ for the year 1994-95 and that strenuous efforts are being made to achieve the prescribed norms of Rajbhasha department for the year 1999-2000.

Coal Ministry has decided to publish a yearly magazine "Koyla Ratna" on the occasion of Golden Jubilee Year of accepting Hindi as official language of the Union. The first edition will be published as "Swaran Jayanti Visheshank". Special programmes to promote Hindi by Ministry and all subsidiary companies are being taken. During the year-long programme from September 14, efforts will be made to do maximum work in Hindi in all offices. Seminars and workshops will be organised to promote the use of Hindi.

Secretary Coal Shri S.S Boparai urged all to specially encourage non-Hindi personnel to speak and write Hindi inspite pronunciation flaws and small errors.

The meeting discussed in detail the progress of Hindi language in Northern Coalfields Limited.

A "Smarika – Brief introduction of Shri Balkrishan Sharma (Naveen)", a famous Modern Poet, edited by Padmshri Dr. Laxmi Narain Dubey, member of Hindi consultative committee was also presented to the Minister Shri Dilip Ray.

Before the start of the meeting all the members of the consultative committee observed two minutes silence to pay homage to the Martyrs of Kargil.

'3'

TOP LAWYERS CONTRIBUTE TOWARDS NATIONAL DEFENCE FUND Top lawyers of the Supreme Court including Attorney General, Soli Sorabjee have contributed towards National Defence Fund and Central Army Welfare Fund. The Supreme Court Bar Association has received a contribution of Rs. 15.5 lakh from the lawyers.

Shri Soli Sorabjee and Senior Advocates Shri K K Venugopal, Shri Dipankar Gupta have contributed Rs. 2.5 lakh each. Senior Advocates Shri Ashok Desai, Shri K Parasaran have contributed Rs. 2 lakh each. Senior Advocates, Shri K N Bhatt, Shri U R Lalit and Shri Rakesh Dwivedi have donated Rs. 1 lakh each while Senior Advocates Shri V R Reddy and Shri C S Vidyanathan, Additional Solicitor General of India have contributed Rs. 50 thousands each.

'3'

K. SUBRAHMANYAM COMMITTEE INVITES INPUTS Government has constituted a 4- Member Committee vide its order No. 361/6/4/99-TS dated 29^th July, 1999 under the Chairmanship of Shri K. Subrahmanyam, with the following terms of reference:

To review the events leading upto the Pakistani aggression in the Kargil District of Ladakh in Jammu & Kashmir; and

To recommend such measures as are considered necessary to safguard national security against such armed intrusions.

The Committee started work from the date of its constitution. While it will be interacting in the discharge of its mandate with the Armed Forces and all other concerned Governmental agencies and Departments, both at the Central and State levels, it will also welcome inputs from the public based on reliable and authentic information pertaining to events leading upto the Pakistani aggression in the Kargil District of Ladakh in Jammu & Kashmir or relevant thereto. Such inputs may be sent in writing to the Officer on Special Duty (P), the National Security Council Secretariat, which will be servicing the Committee as stipulated in the above-mentioned Government order, at 3^rd Floor, Sardar Patel Bhavan, Parliament Street, New Delhi - 110001. Since the Committee is to submit its report by 31^st October 1999, all such inputs may be furnished as early as possible and positively by 15^th September 1999.