All meetings will be held in New Delhi and the time will be 10.30 a.m. on the days of meeting. The first meeting, scheduled for 29.9.99, will consider the Northern Region comprising Chandigarh, Delhi, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu & Kashmir, Madhya Pradesh, Punjab, Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh and the second meeting scheduled for 30.9.99 will deal with the Western Region consisting of Gujarat, Maharashtra, Dadra & Nagar Haveli, Daman & Diu, Goa and Lakshadweep. The meeting on 6.10.99 will take up the Southern Region which includes Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Kerala, Pondicherry and Tamil Nadu and the problems of investors in the Eastern Region consisting of Bihar, Orissa, Sikkim, West Bengal, North East States(Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland and Tripura) and Andaman & Nicobar Islands, will be considered in the meeting to be held on 7.10.99.

    The foreign collaboration approval holders are requested to send their problems and suggestions to Joint Secretary/Director (SIA), Department of Industrial Policy & Promotion, Ministry of Industry, Udyog Bhawan. The fax Nos. are 301 1034 and 301 5245.

    The FIIA was set up in August, 1999 in pursuance of the announcement in the Union Budget for 1999-2000. The Authority will provide a proactive one stop after care service to foreign investors by helping them obtain necessary approvals, sort out operational problems and meet with various government agencies to find solutions to problems.
 
 

    Kalki R. Krishnamurthy occupies a special place in the history of Tamil literature and journalism. He founded the magazine Kalki, in 1941 and served as its editor till he passed away in 1954. In a short life of 55 years (1899-1954) Krishnamurthy had to his credit a number of short stories, novels, patriotic and reformist writings which were all marked by nobility and humour. He cut short his academic career and courted imprisonment during the Non-cooperation Movement. During the Freedom struggle, he took active part as a loyal follower of Gandhiji and Rajaji and fought against social evils like child marriage and untouchability. Krishnamurthy also translated Gandhiji's autobiography into Tamil.

    Kalki was the first writer of Tamil prose to take it to the masses. He evolved a lucid, simple style of writing at a time when it was considered fashionable to write in a scholarly, academic and unreadable manner. His modern classics have been translated into several Indian languages, besides English, German and Russian. Kalki was posthumously awarded the Sahitya Akademi award for his inspiring novel based on the Freedom Movement, 'Alai Osai', but it was through his stirring historic romances, Parthiban Kanavu, Sivakamiyin Sapatam and Ponniyin Selvan that he captured the hearts and imagination of millions of Tamil readers who eagerly awaited the weekly arrival of the magazine Kalki.

    The First Day Cover alongwith the information sheet is available on sale at all Philatelic Bureaux/Counters and at selected Post Offices.
 
 

    To begin with, the history of Law Commission in perspective during the last 300 years or more in Indian history, especially since 1834 when the first Law Commission was established under the Charter Act of 1833 under the Chairmanship of Lord Macaulay has been put on website. The 1834 Law Commission had recommended codification of the Penal Code, the Criminal Procedure Code and a few other matters. There is a special emphasis on 15^th Law Commission set up with effect from September 1,1997 under the Chairmanship of Shri Justice B.P. Jeevan Reddy. There is a broad mention of the 14 reports that the Commission has recommended so far to the Government. The last such report relates to Reforms of the Electoral Laws.

    The Law Commission has also decided to put all the 170 reports on the website of INTERNET submitted by it to the Government since 1955, when the first Law Commission of independent India was set up under the then Attorney General of India Shri M.C. Setalvad.

    The proposal to put all the reports on the website of the INTERNET is intended to benefit members of the Bar, Bench, legal professionals in general, professionals in the corporate sector, law faculties of the Universities and law students with the latest in the process of updating and rationalising of Indian Laws to make them in tune with the emerging globalisation of Indian economy and its social ethos.
 
 

    TERI has been granted an approval for Rs. 2.75 crore for its project on renewable energy technologies in rural areas through non-governmental organisations in the states of Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh. The goal of the project is to adopt a decentralised approach to dissemination of renewable energy technologies, involving local communities in the decision making process. It also aims to promote socially relevant renewable energy technologies, so that they contribute to overall rural development. The project will be taken-up in the districts of Jabhua in Madhya Pradesh and Dehradun in Uttar Pradesh. The project will run till May 2003.

    The AIIH & PH has received a grant of Rs. 8.83 crore for a water quality project in the state of West Bengal. The project seeks to provide arsenic-free safe drinking water and purposeful mitigation of Arsenicosis through community action in 400 villages in the state.
 
 

    The Institutions may invite de-recognition under Section 17 of the RCI Act if they don't comply with the standards set by the Council.

    The Rehabilitation Council of India is a statutory body under the Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment to regulate the training of the rehabilitation professionals by prescribing standards of education for various kinds of disabilities. Those interested in details are advised to get in touch with the Secretariat of the Council in Delhi.
 
 

    Some publications of the Geological Survey of India (GSI) have also been kept at the Facilitation Centre for reference purposes only.

    The Information and Facilitation Centre was set up by the Department of Mines following the Government's policy towards a more transparent, effective and responsive administration.
 
 

    It is clarified in this regard that the Ministry of Environment and Forests has only withdrawn the no objection certificate issued by it, for the establishment of a Regional office of WWF–International, for the Tiger Conservation Programme. The Tiger Conservation Programme, which was already operating in India prior to the grant of the no objection certificate for the establishment of the Regional office, is in no way affected by the action of the Ministry of Environment & Forests. This programme could continue to operate as it was prior to September 30,1998.

    During the current financial year the Ministry of Environment & Forests has allocated Rs. 82 crore for central assistance to State Governments and Union Territories under various schemes for wild life conservation. In addition another Rs. 4 to 5 crore have also been provided for the Eco-Development Programme under the schemes of the National Afforestation Eco-Development Board (NAEB). Irrespective of availability of funds from the non-government sector, the Central government stands committed to ensure that the Tiger Conservation Programme does not suffer due to shortage of resources.
 
 

    The Corporation has posted 22 per cent growth in Net Profit at Rs.140.65 crore during the financial year 1998-99 compared to Rs.115.80 crore during the previous year 1997-98. The turnover stood at Rs.684.77 crore as against Rs.606.25 crore during 1997-98, registering a growth of 12.95 per cent.

    CONCOR has been regularly paying dividend since 1991-92. During the year 1998-99, CONCOR declared a final dividend of Rs.29.25 crores @ 45 per cent as against 20 per cent declared during 1997-98.
 
 

    In the second phase of polling, Jammu Lok Sabha seat has the distinction of having the maximum number of 22 contestants. Close on its heels is Salem in Tamil Nadu where 21 candidates are fighting the election followed by Madras North with 20 contestants and Madras Central having 18. In total contrast, Banswara (SC) constituency in Rajasthan is witnessing a straight fight between the Congress and Janata Dal (United) candidates. 14 constituencies are having triangular contests. In other constituencies the number of contestants varies between 16 and 4.

    The Saturday's poll will decide the electoral fortunes of several prominent leaders from various political parties. They include Lok Sabha Speaker Sh. Mohana Chandra Balayogi who is locked in a five-cornered contest in Amamlapuram (SC) constituency in Andhra Pradesh. Other prominent leaders in the fray in the state are the Congress leader Sh. P. Siva Shankar and former Union Minister Sh. Umareddy Venkateswarlu of TDP, both contesting from Tenali. Among other key contestants are Union Minister Sh. Bandaru Dattatarya (BJP) from Secundrabad, All India Majilis Ithedul Muslimeen leader Sultan Salahuddin Owaisi from Hydrabad, former Union Minister Sh. K.Yerrannaidu (TDP) from Srikakulam and Congress leader Sh. T. Subbarami Reddy from Visakhapatnam.

    In Karnataka, former Prime Minister and Janata Dal (S) leader Sh. H.D. Deve Gowda is contesting from Hassan. Other notable politicians in the state include former Chief Ministers and Congress leaders Sh. M. Veerappa Moily contesting from Mangalore and Sh. S. Bangarappa from Shimoga. The former Maharaja of Mysore Sh. Srikantadatta N. Wodeyar (INC) is in fray in Mysore and state BJP leader Sh.Baba Gouda Patil in Belgaum.

    The one-day poll in Kerala will decide the fate of Congress leader Sh. K. Karunakaran who is opposed by eight candidates including the late Marxist leader Namboodaripad's son Sh. E.M. Sreedharan of CPI(M) in Mukuddapuram constituency. Other important Congress leaders are Prof. P.J. Kurien contesting from Idukki and Sh. P.C. Chacko from Kottayam where his expected major opponent is Sh. Suresh Kurup of CPI(M) . Among other key contestants are JD (S) leader Sh. C. M. Ibrahim who is battling for Calicut seat with six contestants including Sh. K. Karunakaran's son Sh. K. Muraleedharan of Congress. The Muslim League leader Sh. G.M.Banatwala is trying to make his entry to the Lok Sabha from Ponnani and the state BJP leader Sh. O.Rajagopal from Trivandrum 13 women candidates are contesting from 11 constituencies in the state. Four of them are fighting as Independent candidates.

    Among the important leaders contesting in Madhya Pradesh are the Congress leader and fromer Union Minister Sh. Madhav Rao Scindia from Guna, state PCC Chief, Sh. Radha Kishan Malviya from Shajapur (SC), Union Minister for Labour, Dr. Satyanarayan Jatiya (BJP) from Ujjain (SC) and the Chief Minister's brother Sh. Laxman Singh (INC) from Rajgarh.

    In Maharashtra, former Chief Minister Sh. Manohar Joshi (Shiv Sena) is trying to enter the national political scene from Mumbai North Central while Janata Dal (S) leader and former Union Minister Prof. Madhu Dandawate is locked in a three-cornered contest with Shiv Sena leader Sh. Suresh Prabhakar Prabhu besides a congress nominee in Rajapur constituency. Union Minister for Railways Sh. Ram Naik (BJP) is contesting from Mumbai North. Other prominent contestants in the state include the Congress leaders Sh. Murli Deora from Mumbai South, Sh. A.R.Antule from Aurangabad and Sh. Sunil Dutt Ragunath from Mumbai North West where he is opposed among others by Sh. Madhukar Raghunath Sirpotdar of Shiv Sena. .

    The former Union Minister Sh. Rajesh Pilot is contesting from Dausa in Rajasthan as a Congress nominee. Other prominent Congress leaders contesting in Rajasthan in the second phase include Smt. Girja Vyas from Udaipur and Sh. Jagat Singh, son of former Union Minister Natwar Singh from Bharatpur constituency. Union Minister Smt. Vansundhara Raje is contesting as a BJP candidate from Jhalawar seat.

    In Tamil Nadu, voters on Saturday will decide the electoral fortunes of several former Union Ministers. They include Sh. Murasoli Maran (DMK) contesting from Madras Central, Sh. T.R.Baalu (DMK) from Madras South, Sh. K.V. Thangka Balu (INC) from Arakkonam, Sh. M. Thambiduria (AIADMK) from Krishnagiri, Sh. R. Prabhu (INC) from Nilgiris and Sh. K. Ramamurthy ( TRC) from Salem. Among the prominent leaders in the fray is also Sh. S.S. Thirunavukkarasu (AIADMK) from Chengalpattu, In Jammu & Kashmir, state BJP leader Prof. Chaman Lal is contesting from the Udhampur Constituency.

    One lakh 78 thousand polling stations have been set up for the second phase of voting. Electronic voting machines ( EVMs) are being used in 16 constituencies spread over seven states. In Maharashtra , EVMs will be used in five seats in Mumbai. In Andhra Pradesh, Kerala, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Tamil Nadu, the EVMs will be used in two constituencies each while in Karnataka voting will be through EVMs only in one constituency.