PRIME MINISTER'S APPEAL TO REALISE DREAMS OF FREEDOM STRUGGLE MESSAGE ON 57TH ANNIVERSARY OF QUIT INDIA MOVEMENT
"Today is the 57th anniversary of the Quit India Movement, which wrote one of the glorious chapters in the history of India's Freedom Struggle. It marked the final phase of the struggle against the British colonial rule. Under the inspiring leadership of Mahatma Gandhi, who gave the stirring slogan "Do or Die" at the special session of the AICC in Bombay on August 8-9, 1942, tens of millions of Indians plunged into mass action serving the quit notice on the alien rules.
Many patriots became martyrs in this movement, in which all its top leaders along with tens of thousands of ordinary volunteers suffered prolonged prison terms. The momentum generated by this movement inexorably forced the British to quit India, making our Motherland independent on August 15, 1947.
As the nation observes this historic day, we bow
our heads in remembrance and gratitude to all the heroes and martyrs of
the Quit India Movement. I appeal to all my countrymen to imbibe their
patriotism, idealism and spirit of sacrifice for the cause of the Motherland.
Armed with these qualities, let us pledge to serve a 'Quit India notice
on poverty, illiteracy, unemployment, corruption and all forms of sectarianism.
Let us rededicate ourselves to the mission to make India a strong, self-confident,
prosperous and peaceful nation, worthy of the lofty dreams of our Freedom
Struggle".
This is sought to be done in order to expand the production base of the Corporation. Also, efforts are being made to manufacture aids and appliances with greater economic efficiency.
The proposal has been sent to the Planning Commission
for their approval.
The Central Government has now decided to give effect to the above mentioned revision of fees with effect from August 10,1999 instead of July 6,1999. For this purpose, another Notification has been issued on August 6,1999 (GSR No:578(E)), namely the Companies (Fees on Applications )Amendment Rules, 1999.
All Individuals and Companies are requested kindly to note that these revised rates will come into effect from August 10,1999 instead of July 6,1999.
A copy of the Amendment Notification has also been
placed at the Web page of the Department of Company Affairs at the Internet
Address : http:/www.nic.in/dca.
Speaking on the occasion the Union Minister for Information
and Broadcasting Shri Pramod Mahajan said that song Vande Mataram has played
a historical role in freedom struggle and its launching by Master Ankur
symbolises the culmination of nationalistic sentiments among the people
of the country. Paying tributes to Sqdrn. Leader Ajay Ahuja, the Minister
said that the nation is proud of its brave sons who sacrificed their life
for the cause of the motherland. Present on the occasion were also Shri
Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi the Minister of State for Information and Broadcasting
Shri Y.N. Chaturvedi, Secretary, Ministry of Information and Broadcasting
and Shri R.R. Shah CEO, Prasar Bharati Corporation.
Organized by India Trade Promotion Organization (ITPO), the 7-day Exhibition at Port Louis, Mauritius is intended to target entire sub-Sahara region, using Mauritius as a spring board for Indian products and services. Mauritius enjoys duty-free and quota-free facilities for exports to the European Union (EU) under the Lome Convention and preferential treatment to other African nations.
There will be two Seminars on transfer of technology
and investment promotion and joint ventures during the Indexpo, ’99.
The Minister will return on August 14, 1999.
In an appeal issued today to the fellow railwaymen, Shri Ram Naik called upon them to re-dedicate themselves to the safety of the vast passenger community. He also called upon them to concentrate all their efforts towards safe running of trains leaving no room for human error by strictly following safety rules and regulation. Shri Ram Naik expressed confidence that railwaymen will rise to the occasion and do their best to bring glory to the Indian Railways, the lifeline of the nation. He said that the need of the hour is to restore the confidence of the Nation in Indian Railways.
The complete text of the appeal is as follows :
" The nation has been shocked by a very tragic and gruesome railway accident at Gaisal, one of the worst accidents in the history of Indian Railways. The accident resulted in loss of 289 precious lives including Jawans of Armed Forces. Owing moral responsibility, Head of our Railway Family, Shri Nitish Kumar resigned from the Cabinet and Hon’ble Prime Minister has reluctantly accepted his resignation. This is only the second time in the last 50 years that a Railway Minister has owned moral responsibility. Shri Nitish Kumar has set an example of a very high standard of accountability in public life. Deeply concerned with the rising trend of accidents in the last few years, Government has promptly decided to set up a one man Judicial Commission headed by a retired judge of Supreme Court to go into the causes which led to this unfortunate accident and suggested measures to prevent them in future. No doubt, Commission would try to finish its job expeditiously and submit its report. However, the show must go on ; the Railways have to continue their uninterrupted run as the lifeline of the nation. As you know, Hon’ble Prime Minister Shri Atal Behari Vajpayee has now entrusted me with the responsibility of Railway Ministry.
Members of Railway fraternity, I have had the privilege of working with you for the last 17 months as your Minister of State. It has made me aware of our strengths and weaknesses. Unfortunately, the recent accident has been caused by human failure more than by shortage in technological inputs, inviting adverse criticism of the work culture prevalent in the Railways. In these circumstances, may I call upon you to concentrate all your efforts towards safe running of trains leaving no room for human error. I would appeal to you all to re-dedicate yourselves to the safety of the vast passenger community which is more to us than mere clients. Promise to yourself that you strictly follow the rules and regulations laid down for safe operations of the trains and would not adopt any short cuts. A vigilant and committed railwayman is the call of the nation. We shall respond to it with all our ability and strengthen the faith of countrymen in our ability to deliver.
Let us rise as one man to restore the confidence
of the Nation."
Shri Prabhu suggested to the State Environment and Forests Ministers from Mizoram, Nagaland, Meghalaya and Manipur present at the seminar, that they should set-up Bamboo Cells in their Forest Departments on the lines of the cell set-up by the Union Environment and Forests Ministry.
The Bamboo is one of the most gifted plants found in forests, as also homesteads. About 50 genera and thousand species of bamboo occur in the world. India has over 130 species of bamboo occurring over 8.96 million hectares of forest area. This constitutes 11.71% of the total 75.62 million hectares of the forest areas in the country.
Due to the shrinkage in extent and the alarming decrease in density, the supply of industrial wood from forests have been greatly reduced and there is an urgent need to look for alternative sources to meet the demands of a growing economy. In this search bamboo emerges to be a very ideal naturally renewable alternative. Bamboo is often referred to as the "poor man’s timber."
In his concluding remarks the Minister said there is an immediate need for the rejuvenation of the bamboo resource production and management. More emphasis needs to be laid on adequate investments and improvement of planting stock, including proper selection, conservation and improvement of genetic resources, matching the planting stock with the site and end use.
The seminar has been jointly organised by the Environment
and Forests Ministry and the United Nations Industrial Development Organisation
(UNIDO). The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the Food and
Agriculture Organisation (FAO) and the International Network are also supporting
it for Bamboo and Rattan (INBAR) on which India is a member.
Under the liberalised Scheme, the Food Corporation of India has been authorised to release wheat to Roller Flour Mills, traders and consumers on demand subject to the condition that the minimum stock to be lifted is 10 tonnes. Consumers may approach District Managers of FCI who have been authorised to undertake instant sales on receipt of payment. The issue prices under Open Market Sale Scheme (OMSS) are as under:-
(Rs. Per qtl.)
North Zone
690
South Zone
747
West Zone
725
East Zone
748
The Government has informed all the State Governments
about the liberalised scheme and also directed the Food Corporation of
India to monitor the offtake of wheat and ensure that the scheme is operated
in a consumer friendly manner.
This is a policy-level strategic Workshop where Directors of Health Services of all States and Union Territories, Regional Directors of Health and Family Welfare, Senior Level Policy Officers from Planning Commission, Ministries of Human Resources Development, Rural Development, Food Processing Industries, Agriculture and Health & Family Welfare, Bio-Medical Experts in Food, Nutrition & Health etc. would participate.
The meeting is being organised for the first time
where the problems of undernutrition/PEM and micronutrient deficiencies
are to be discussed. Appropriate strategies for implementation of the various
progammes will figure in the deliberations.
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