PIB Press Releases


		5th December, 2003


		Ministry of Agro & Rural Industries Phenomenal growth in Indian Handmade Paper export There has been phenomenal growth in the export market for Indian Handmade Paper and its products, especially in the developed countries like the United States of America, European countries, Australia etc............................. Ministry of Home Affairs Security organisations in the country must maintain constant vigil for thwarting enemy designs to destabilize the nation - says Advani The Deputy Prime Minister, Shri L.K. Advani has called upon security organizations to maintain constant vigil to counter any challenge and thwart enemy designs to destabilize the country............................. Ministry of Human Resource Development Notification banning advertisements on infant food to be effective from 1st January 2004 The Government has notified that the amendments to the Infant Milk Substitutes, Feeding Bottles and Infant Foods (Regulation of production, Supply and Distribution) Act, 1992 would come into force from 1st January 2004............................. Ministry of Food Processing Industries Assistance to FPIs in southern States Ministry of Food Processing Industries extended financial assistance of Rs. 155.04 lakh to Andhra Pradesh and Rs. 47.95 lakh to Karnataka during 2002-03 for implementation of major schemes in these States............................. Ministry of Human Resource Development Indiresan Committee recommends outcome-based funding of IITs The P.V. Indiresan Committee on the changing of the funding pattern for the IITs has submitted its report............................. Ministry of Human Resource Development Centre writes to UP, Bihar, Jharkhand & Orissa to step up Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan Government is implementing a comprehensive programme called Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA) covering the entire country and addresses the needs of 192 million children in 11 lakh habitations............................. Ministry of Human Resource Development Agro-based Vocational Courses to be introduced at higher secondary level The existing scheme of vocationalisation of the secondary education is being revised to make it modular in nature and competency based............................. Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food & Public Distribution Modernisation of FCI godowns The Government has approved the 'Project Integrated Information System for Foodgrains Management in FCI' at an estimated cost of Rs. 97.66 crore to be implemented in three phases for computerisation and networking of Depots, field offices and headquarters of FCI............................. Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food & Public Distribution Food subsidy Government of India had released Rs. 24,176.45 crore as food subsidy during 2002-2003. The food subsidy during the year 2000-2001 and 2001-2002 stood respectively at Rs. 12010 crore and Rs. 17494 crore............................. Ministry of Tourism & Culture Exhibition on Archives and the Indian Decorative Arts The Minister for Tourism and Culture, Shri Jagmohan today inaugurated the exhibition on 'Archives and the Indian Decorative Arts (1850-1950)' at the National Archives of India here today............................. Ministry of Rural Development Funds to Maharashtra, Tamilnadu and Madhya Pradesh for computerisation of land records Ministry of Rural Development has released funds to the State governments of Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu and Madhya Pradesh under centrally sponsored scheme for Computerisation of Land Records............................. Ministry of Chemicals & Fertilizers ECL not to privatise coal mines in Salampur area Eastern Coalfields Ltd. (ECL) is not planning to handover five coal mines in Salampur area to private parties............................. Ministry of Chemicals & Fertilizers CIL earns Rs. 2865.50 crores during 2002-2003 The Lok Sabha was informed today that Coal India Ltd. (CIL) which incurred loss of Rs. 1414.47 crores in 2000-01 increased its profit to Rs. 2865.50 crores during 2002-2003............................. Ministry of Agriculture Accelerated sowing of oilseeds and pulses Reports of accelerated sowing of rabi oilseeds and rabi pulses, particularly rapeseed & mustard in northern India continue to come in............................. Ministry of Steel Increase in price of Steel The price of Steel has been on the increase for the last eighteen months in the country............................. Ministry of Steel National Steel Policy under preparation A Committee has been set up under the chairmanship of the Development Commissioner for Iron and Steel to formulate National Policy on Steel............................. Ministry of Commerce & Industry Shri Lakshmi Chand takes over as Secretary (IPP) Shri Lakshmi Chand (IAS:1969) has taken over as Secretary, Department of Industrial Policy & Promotion (DIPP), Ministry of Commerce & Industry............................. Ministry of Tribal Affairs Inclusion of castes Union Minister for Tribal Affairs, Shri Jual Oram informed the Lok Sabha today in a written reply that the forty (40) Castes/groups are included in the list of Scheduled Tribes in West Bengal............................. Ministry of Tribal Affairs Tribal Cooperative Socities in different States Union Minister for Tribal Affairs, Shri Jual Oram informed the Lok Sabha today in a reply to a question from Shri K. P. Singh Deo that 12 States have established State Tribal Development Cooperative Corporations............................. Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment CARA to host International Meet on adoption A three- day International Meet on Adoption is being organised by the Central Adoption Resource Agency, CARA, from 8th to 10th December 5, 2003 in New Delhi............................. Ministry of Textiles Import of Chinese silk fabrics Import of silk fabrics from China has increased from 766 MT in 2001-02 to 3290 MT in 2002-03 with corresponding value of Rs.84.29 crore and Rs.191.52 crore respectively............................. Ministry of Agriculture DMS takes steps to increase sale of milk The sale of milk supplied by the Delhi Milk Scheme (DMS) has decreased as a result of increase in prices with effect from 1st March this year............................. Ministry of Rural Development NIRD to establish Rural Technology Park - Kashiram Rana National Institute of Rural Development (NIRD) is establishing a Rural Technology Park for hastening the development of the remote and backward areas and people through technology transfer............................. Ministry of Coal Coal shortage to be met by imports and domestic production The Planning Commission has projected that against the estimated demand for coal by the end of the Tenth Plan (2006-07) of 460.50 million tonnes (M.T.)............................. Ministry of Human Resource Development and Science & Technology Dr. Joshi offers technology for upgradation of paper industry Union Human Resource Development and Science & Technology Minister, Dr. Murli Manohar Joshi today offered technological assistance from the scientific laboratories to the pulp and paper industry to make them competitive and more environment friendly............................. Ministry of Railways Rail tunnel through Pir Panjal The work of construction of new line from Udhampur to Baramulla is already in progress............................. Ministry of Railways Double-stack container trains A feasibility study is in progress for the movement of double stack containers to and from the ports on the west coast, namely Kandla, Pipavav and Mundra............................. Ministry of Railways Rail projects in A.P. with ADB Loan Asian Development Bank (ADB) has approved a loan of US$ 313.6 million to finance the Rail Sector Improvement Projects............................. Ministry of Railways Light weight coaches Indian Railways had entered into a contract in October 1995 with M/s Linke-Hoffman-Busch (LHB) Germany (now M/s Alstom-LHB) for the Transfer of Technology (TOT) to manufacture light weight............................. Ministry of Railways Use of old unused tracks The materials, released from main link track renewals which still have residual service life, are re-used for laying track in gauge conversion and secondary renewal, where it can meet the requirement............................. Ministry of Railways Recommendations of Passenger Amenities Committee The important observations/suggestions made by the Passenger Amenities Committee relate to removal of encroachments from railway land and generation of revenue from surplus land............................. Ministry of Railways Auxiliary Warning System in Railways It has been planned to adopt Train Protection and Warning System (TPWS), a variant of Auxiliary Warning System (AWS).............................