Tag: Features

Radha Kant Bharati
The Nalanda Mahavihara (ancient Nalanda University) had been a great seat of learning for about eight hundred years (from 5th century to 13th century A. D.). At the very beginning it was a monastic institution accommodating thousands of travelling monks coming from different regions. During their stay at Nalanda monastery the Buddha’s Dhamma and Vinaya based on ‘Pariyatti’ and ‘Patipatti-dhammasasanam’ etc. senior monks gave their sermons while the junior monks attended. This was the beginning of the ancient Nalanda Mahavihara. This monastic establishment developed and ultimately it became the foremost University unparalleled in the world. This reputation was so furthered that it came to be known as the ‘University of Universities.”
Actually the Nalanda Mahavihara had not only been a great seat of learning. But it also became a great centre of culture and civilization. This was a fact that Buddhism was studied here in all its branches. But the comparative study of non-Buddhism thoughts and culture too had been studied here thoroughly. Thus it became a centre not only for Buddhist culture, but also of the Indian culture.
The name and fame of this University spread throughout Asia. Scholars from different parts of Asia specially from China, Tibet, Korea, Mangolia, Bhutan, Indonesia, Central Asia and the like came here for studying.
Gradually there was exchange of scholars between several countries. Buddhist monks from Nalanda went to Korea, China and Tibet. Tibetan scholars too came to Nalanda to enhance their knowledge of Buddhism as well as Indian culture. Thus, the monk-scholars of Nalanda Mahavihara served as the apostles.
Geographically speaking, Nalanda can be spotted on tourist map of India as one of the best archaeological sites that we Indians can be proud of. The ruins of famed University were found in Bargaon situated near the Nalanda Railway Station of Bakhtiyarpur-Rajgir branch line of the Eastern Railway. If one goes to trace the place today, one comes across partially excavated ruins of the ancient University of Nalanda with a number of villages around having variety of Buddha images in different forms.
Although, Francis Buchanan had earlier seen the place in 1812, but could not identify it. Regular excavations started in 1915 and with the untiring efforts on Pandit Hiranand Shastri for two decades, the mighty and majestic Nalanda resurfaced from the womb of earth. It is now locally known as “Khandahara” (ruins) of Nalanda.
Like Bodhisattva, Mahavihara was born and reborn with the word ‘NAVA’ preceding the nomenclature through the dedication of Ven. Bhikshu Jagadish Kashyap in 1951. It was nourished and looked after well by his worthy successors.
Students and scholars from India and foreign countries are seen engrossed in their studies, meditation, and spiritual elevation. A good reference library, several important publication of the Institute, digital edition of the Tripitakas, indepth study of Buddhism with the help of original Parakrita Sanskrit texts, decipherment and study of old and obscure scripts are some of the commendable achievements of the Nava Nalanda Mahavihara.
This resurgence is also marked by taking over the Xuanzang (popularly known as Huensang) Memorial which seems to vibrate with the saintly and scholarly sentiments of the great Chinese pilgrim. His contribution towards understanding and furtherance of Buddhist thought in the world is as meritorious as of any Indian Buddhist Acharya who went abroad with the torch of India’s great heritage. The great Nalanda is now transformed into an attractive tourist spot where an impressive life size bronze statue of Xuanzang has been installed in the beautiful surrounding with lush green large lawns, fountain and pond.
Nalanda was an example of the Guru-Shishya parampara, a great Indian tradition. The authority of the Guru (teacher) over the Shishya (student) was absolute, and yet dissent was permitted in academic matters. The tradition, although going back thousands of years, flourished at Nalanda more than elsewhere.
Describing the Guru-Shishya relationship, I-Tsing says” “He (Shishya) goes to the teacher at the fist watch and at the last watch in the night. First the teacher bids him to sit down comfortably selecting some passages from Tripatakas, he gives a lesson in a way that suits the circumstances and does not leave any fact or theory unexplained. He inspects his pupil’s moral conduct, and warns him of defects and transgressions. Whenever he finds his pupil at fault, he makes him seek remedies and repent. The pupil rubs the teacher’s body, folds his clothes and sometimes sweeps, the apartment and the yard. Then having examined the water to ensure there are no insects in it, he gives it to his teacher. Thus, if there is anything to be done, he does all on behalf of the teacher.”
It is, therefore, not surprising that the students and the teachers wore the same yellow robes whose details are available in the Buddhists texts, “wrapped round the loin and reaching below the knee”. Food was simple and ‘satvik’. According to Shaoman Hwui Li, the author of “the Life of Hiuan Tasan”, all the provisions were contributed by two hundred house-holders from about a hundred villages situated around the Nalanda University.
The fall of Nalanda at the hands of the Turks is a story too deep for tears. Like Nero, Bakhtiar Khilji, its destroyer in 1205 A. D. laughed while Nalanda burnt. The city of knowledge, which took several centuries to build, took only a few hours to be destroyed. Legend has it that when some monks fell at the feet of the invader to spare at least its world-famed library, Ratnabodhi, he kicked them and had them thrown in the fire along with the books. The monks fled to foreign lands, citizens became denizens and Nalanda was relegated to a memory.
Thus ended the story of Nalanda till it was retold first by Hamilton and later by Alexander Cunningham. The excavation started in 1915 and continued for twenty years. Yet much remains to be done. At the Nava Nalanda Mahavihara, which stands close to this ancient site, Sakyamuni seems to be beckon all men of knowledge to restore the glory of the great centre of culture and learning.
However, the Governments initiative has been already taken for the revival of Nalanda. Now the Parliament has passed Nalanda University Bill. Accordingly the Central and State Government started the work for making Nalanda an academic institution of world class.

Read more / Original news source: http://manipur-mail.com/the-great-nalanda-past-and-present/

 

Dr. H. R. Keshavamurthy, Director (M&C), Press Information Bureau, Kolkata.

In order to focus attention on the urgency and importance of population issues in the context of overall development strategy, 11th July is observed as World Population Day, every year since 1989. Theme for this year is, ‘Adolescent Pregnancy’, in the hope of creating a world where every pregnancy is wanted, every childbirth is safe, and every young person’s potential is fulfilled.
Adolescence is a decisive age for girls around the world. What transpires during a girl’s teenage years shapes the direction of her life and that of her family. For many girls in developing countries, the mere onset of puberty that occurs during adolescence marks a time of heightened vulnerability: leaving school, child marriage, early pregnancy etc. Adolescent girls are less likely than older women to access sexual and reproductive health care, including modern contraception and skilled assistance during pregnancy and childbirth. Many are poor, have little control over household income, have limited knowledge about sexual and reproductive health issues, and lack the ability to make independent decisions about their health.
Adolescent pregnancy brings detrimental social and economic consequences for a girl, her family, her community and her nation. Many girls who become pregnant drop out of school, drastically limiting their future opportunities. A woman’s education is strongly correlated to her earning potential, her health and the health of her children. Thus, adolescent pregnancy fuels the intergenerational cycle of poverty and poor health. The younger a girl is when she becomes pregnant, whether she is married or not, the greater the risk to her health. Married adolescents may feel social pressure to bear a child and thus not seek family planning services. Unmarried adolescent girls face a different type of social pressure of fearing judgment or dealing with a socially-unacceptable pregnancy.
About 16 million girls under age 18 give birth each year. Another 3.2 million undergo unsafe abortions. Almost 90 per cent of the pregnant adolescents in the developing world are married. But for many of these girls, pregnancy has little to do with informed choice and is often a consequence of discrimination, rights violations (including child marriage) or inadequate education.
Adolescent pregnancy is an important health issue with the youngest mothers facing higher risk of maternal complications, death and disability along with their children. It is also an issue of human rights with the adolescent pregnancy often resulting in an abrupt end of childhood, a curtailed education and lost opportunities. So, we must provide all adolescents with age-appropriate, comprehensive education on sexuality.
This is especially important to empowering young women to decide when and if they wish to become mothers. In addition, we must provide comprehensive sexual and reproductive health services that cover family planning and the prevention and treatment of sexually transmitted infections, including HIV. Maternal health services that women need must be guaranteed.
Adolescent pregnancies put newborns at risk. The risk of death during the first month of life is fifty percent higher among babies born to adolescent mothers. The younger the mother is the higher risk for the baby. Fifteen per cent of all unsafe abortions in low- and middle-income countries are among adolescent girls aged 15-19 years. In 2008, there were an estimated 3.2 million unsafe abortions in developing countries among girls aged 15-19 and adolescents are more seriously affected by complications than are older women. Unsafe abortion is responsible for about 13 per cent of all maternal deaths, with adolescents disproportionately affected.
Young people aged 15 to 24 accounts for 41 per cent of new HIV infections worldwide. Adolescent girls are at far greater risk of contracting HIV than adolescent boys. Young women make up 64 per cent of all new infections among young people worldwide.

According to 2001 census data, there are 225 million adolescents, which comprise nearly one-fifth (22%) of India’s total population. Of the total adolescent population, 12% belong to the 10-14 years age group and nearly 10% are in the 15-19 years age group. This age group comprises of individuals in a transient phase of life requiring nutrition, education, counseling and guidance to ensure their development into healthy adults. Following data on adolescents from various national surveys call for focused attention with respect to health for this age group;
· More than half of the girls in the 15-19 age group are anaemic – 56% (NFHS-3)
· Over half (58%) of Indian women are married before they attain 18 years of age (NFHS-3)
· 16% of girls aged 15-19 have already begun child bearing and 12% have had a live birth
· Only 14% of women in the 15-19 age group have received complete ANC
· 62% of currently married adolescents have had complications during pregnancy 52% of women in the 15-19 age group have delivered at home
· 8.3% of all pregnancies in this age group result in spontaneous abortions
· 45% of all maternal deaths take place among the15-24 age group and Neo-natal Mortality Rate(NMR) is as high as 54/1000 among those in the age group of 15-19 years.
· Neo-natal Mortality Rate among rural adolescents is as high as 60/1000.
· 50% higher risk of infant deaths among mothers aged below 20 years (NFHS-3)
· Only 66.2% of pregnant girls below 20 years of age have been given or purchased iron and folate tablets as part of antenatal care (NFHS -3)
· 6000 adolescent mothers die every year due to anemia (NFHS -3)
· 47 per cent girls in this age group are underweight (NFHS -3)
Accordingly Government of India has accorded priority to Adolescent Health in the RCH-II programme. The Programme Implementation Plan (PIP) of Adolescent Reproductive and Sexual Health (ARSH) focuses on reorganizing the existing public health system in order to the service needs of adolescents. Steps are being taken to ensure improved service delivery for adolescents during routine sub-centre clinics and ensure service availability on fixed days and timings at the PHC and CHC levels. Outreach activities in tune with this have also been initiated in some states. A core package of services includes preventive, promotive, curative and counselling services. Adolescent-friendly services are to be made available for all adolescents – married and unmarried, girls and boys – during the clinic sessions, but not denied services routine hours. All States have incorporated this into their State PIPs. There are close to 3000 adolescent friendly health clinics across District Hospitals, CHCs and PHCs. Efforts are underway to ensure availability of trained staff at these clinics as well as in routine OPDs. Medical Officers and ANM/LHV/Counsellors have been trained on offering adolescent friendly health services across the country. This network needs to be expanded and strengthened to increase access to quality services for adolescents.
The Ministry of Health & Family Welfare has also rolled out a new scheme for the Promotion of Menstrual Hygiene among Adolescent Girls in the age group of 10-19 years in Rural areas. This programme is aimed at ensuring that adolescent girls (10- 19 years) in rural areas have adequate knowledge and information about hygiene and the use of sanitary napkins. This scheme has been launched in 25% of Districts in the country i.e. 152 districts across 20 States in the first phase.
Further, the School Health Programme has been launched to address the health needs of school going children and adolescents in the 6-18 year age groups in the government and aided schools. This is the only public sector programme specifically focused on school age children. Its main focus is to address the health needs of children, both physical and mental, and in addition, it provides for nutrition interventions, promotes physical activities and counseling. This preventative and curative service provisions have long fetched dividend in the future MCH and RCH profile. Components of School Health Programme include screening and early management of disease, disability and common deficiency, supplementation, health education and health promoting schools. Health service provision through screening, health care and referral specifically for general health, assessment and follow up of Anaemia /Nutritional status, visual acuity, dental check up, common skin conditions, heart defects, physical disabilities, learning disorders, behavior problems. Basic medicines are being made available for common ailments prevalent among this age bracket. Bi-annually supervised schedule for de-worming, as per national guidelines is being followed. Fixed day immunisation coupled with education about the issue, as per national schedule has been included in the package of service. Referral service connectivity from primary, till super specialist health facilities has been initiated.
To conclude, the actions to meet adolescents’ sexual and reproductive health needs would protect their rights and help prevent girls from having too many children too early in life, which threatens the health of mothers and children and strains young families’ limited resources. Preventing unintended adolescent pregnancies and investing in girls’ education, health and rights have powerful ripple effects in other areas of their lives. Educated young women offer a powerful boost to their families’ well-being, contributing to increased household income and savings, better family health and improved opportunities for future generations.
(PIB Features.) July 11th is World Population Day.

Read more / Original news source: http://manipur-mail.com/world-population-day-focus-on-adolescent-pregnancy/

The Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment is implementing a number of schemes for development of Scheduled Castes and National Scheduled Castes Finance and Development Corporation (NSFDC) is playing an important role in economic development of the target group. The Corporation is active at National level and provides financial assistance ranging from 30,000/- to 30 lacs to entrepreneurs belonging to scheduled castes for setting up their own business ventures. NSFDC also provides 100% grant for skill development training programmes and also provide education loans to students for pursuing higher studies. The Corporation has assisted more than 8.50 lakh beneficiaries by providing loan of more than 2500 crore in last twenty four years.
In the rapidly changing scenario in the World, empowerment of masses does not end with providing financial assistance for starting any business activity, but also involves inclusion of weaker sections in all spheres of development. Good education is one of the foremost requirements for getting employment or starting a self-employment venture. The youth of today needs financial assistance to follow their dreams of getting quality education and livelihood earning skills. The Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment assists the target-group by giving post-matric scholarships and national overseas scholarship for pursuing higher studies. As the present day education has become an expensive affair particularly if one is to study away from his/her home by staying in hostels, there is a need to fill the gaps in scholarship amount and the actual expenditure. NSFDC is playing a major role in meeting this requirement. Its Educational Loan Scheme has been drafted in such a manner so as to cover all items of expenditures and provide wide coverage of courses. Getting education from foreign universities by the students is also possible through NSFDC’s Educational Loan Scheme.
Further, it is very essential for young persons to be well trained in their chosen area of occupation. Self-employment or wage employment requires exhaustive skill development training. The Government has established number of institutions in the country for imparting these trainings. In this endeavour, NSFDC has entered into partnership with many of such training institutions and are imparting short-term skill training programmes for the educated unemployed youth belonging to scheduled castes. All the expenses of such courses are being met by NSFDC. NSFDC also provides stipend of Rs.1,500/- per month to these trainees for meeting miscellaneous expenses.
In the present business environment – schemes of providing finances for self-employment venture – care should be taken that forward and backward linkages to the business
activity undertaken with financial assistance from NSFDC are available so that beneficiary can increase their business in future by these linkages. The investment in the business should be sufficient to generate enough income, so as to make beneficiaries financially independent. The fund requirement should be met completely, so that beneficiaries need not look for supplementing their requirement from other sources. State Channelizing Agencies should also provide guidance to beneficiaries for running their business successfully and adopt an attitude of holding the hand of the beneficiary for a longer time. Efforts should also be made to bridge the gap between the rural, urban and semi-urban youth belonging to scheduled castes, in all fields.
The need of the hour is for better methods and approaches to ensure the effectiveness of various programmes and schemes for the economic development of masses belonging to scheduled castes.
(PIB Feature).
Inputs from the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment.

Read more / Original news source: http://manipur-mail.com/nsfdc-playing-important-role-in-economic-dev-of-target-group/

Dr. H. R. Keshavamurthy
Director (M&C), Press Information Bureau, Kolkata.
The State Election Commissions constituted under Part IX and Part IXA of the Constitution of India have functions, responsibilities and authority to conduct elections to Panchayats and Urban Local Bodies at par with the Election Commission of India. However, the institutions of State Election Commissions have not been strengthened to the extent of the Election Commission of India. This strengthening is central to conducting free, fair and regular elections to the Local Self Governments.
An initiative in this direction was the setting up of a Task Force by the Ministry of Panchayati Raj to suggest measures for strengthening the institution of the State Election Commissions. The Task Force submitted its Report on 14th October, 2011. The Standing Committee of State Election Commissioners gave their views on 9th December, 2011. Some of the important recommendations given by the Standing Committee as accepted by Ministry of Panchayati Raj are:
The State Election Commission (SEC) should be authorized under Law to notify the dates to conduct elections, enforcement of codes of conduct, filing of nomination, withdrawal of nomination, scrutiny, final list of candidates etc. The SEC shall appoint polling personnel either by itself or by delegated authorities. SECs should be given the status of a High Court Judge. They should also have the salary, allowances, perquisites and all serving/retirement benefits of a High Court Judge.
The tenure of SEC should be for five / six years or upto 65 years of age whichever is earlier and without any provision for extension.
Personnel from Public Sector Undertakings and Central Government offices located in the State should be drafted for conducting Panchayat elections and in view of the law and order issues, sometimes encountered during the Panchayat elections, central paramilitary forces as in the case of Assembly and Parliamentary elections may be deployed.
SECs should have the flexibility to utilize funds as per their priorities without having to seek approval of the Finance Department of the State Government in every instance. In case of elections, the freeze on non-plan expenditure enforced in the months of February and March should not be applied to SECs and funds of SECs should not lapse at the end of the financial year, as in the case of government departments, as this causes serious difficulties for elections organized in April and May.
In 12th Five Year Plan, the State Election Commissions should be given a grant from the proposed scheme of Panchayat Shashaktikaran Abhiyan (PSA) if the following conditions are satisfied at least by the second year of the Plan: The State Election Commissioner must be full time; He should have a tenure of five / six years or up to 65 years of age whichever is earlier; There should be no provision for extensions; The protection given to the SEC under Article 243K must be available under the state law or rules governing the State Elections Commissions; the SEC must have the status of a High Court Judge.
Allocations for SEC including expenditure on conduct of local self body elections and on administrative expenses should be clearly provided in the States’ main budget, since the period when general election is due is known in advance and SECs should have the flexibility to divert funds between different heads of accounts while incurring election-related expenditure. They should have the flexibility for procurement etc. similar to ECI norms.
Release of funds from Central Finance Commission can be recommended if the conditions like the structure of SEC recommended above and also the following conditions: Panchayats and Municipalities should not be superseded en masse; There must be at least one third reservation for women: Constitution of State Finance Commission; Both direct and indirect elections should be through SECs.
The SECs should call for Observers for elections to Panchayats and Municipalities from the Government of India through Ministries of Panchayati Raj, Urban Development and DoPT who shall work under the supervision and control of the SECs, as is the case with the Election Commission of India.
SECs should be vested with powers for delimitation of wards, reservation of seats and their rotation. The policy of delimitation should, however, rest with the State Government.
Some of the states like West Bengal, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Madhya Pradesh, Karnataka, Arunachal Pradesh, Haryana, Jharkhand, Maharashtra, Odisha, Punjab, Sikkim, and Uttarakhand have already given the status of High Court Judge to the State Election Commissioners. It is heartening to see that a State like Mizoram which was not required to have State Election Commission to conduct elections to Village Councils and District Councils has now constituted a State Election Commission and has vested these powers with it.
In order to strengthen the Pahchayati Raj system and also to address critical gaps that constrain it, Ministry of Panchayati Raj has formulated the Scheme, Rajiv Gandhi Panchayat Sashaktikran Abhiyan (RGPSA) which will be implemented during the Twelfth Five Year Plan period. RGPSA aims to enable States to strengthen their Panchayati Raj systems in their context by choosing from among a menu of activities. States would have access to funds on the basis of perspective and annual plans prepared under the scheme. States would be required to fulfill the following essential conditions for accessing to funds:
Regular elections to panchayats or urban local bodies under the superintendence of SEC
1/3 reservation for women in panchayats or other local bodies
Constitution of State Finance Commission(SFC) every five years and placement of Action Taken Report (ATR) on the recommendations of the SFC in the state Assembly
Constitution of District Planning Committees in all districts
RGPSA will provide performance linked funds from 2014-15 onwards. Activities that would be supported under RGPSA include: Strengthening of State Election Commission; Administrative and Technical Support at the Gram Panchayat level; Construction /renovation of Gram Panchayat Buildings; Capacity Building and Training of Elected Representatives and Functionaries; Institutional Structure for Training at State, District & Block level; E-enablement of Panchayats, etc.
The funding of RGPSA for State plans is envisaged on a 75:25 sharing basis by the Central and State Governments respectively. For NE States, the ratio will be 90:10. Gross Budgetary support of Rs. 6437 crore has been allocated by the Planning Commission for 12th Five Year Plan period, out of which Rs. 6200 crore is proposed to be spent as Central share for Rajiv Gandhi Panchayat Sashaktikaran Abhiyan. The schemes of Rashtriya Gram Swaraj Yojana(RGSY), e-Panchayat, Panchayat Empowerment and Accountability Incentive Scheme(PEAIS) and Panchayat Mahila Evam Yuva Shakti Abhiyan (PMEYSA) will be subsumed in RGPSA from 2013-14.
(PIB Features.)

Read more / Original news source: http://manipur-mail.com/rajiv-panchayat-sashaktikaran-abhiyan-will-bolster-election-commissions/

M.V.S. Prasad, Joint Director, PIB, Chennai
With inputs from ISRO.

With the launch of IRNSS-1A satellite, India has joined a select group of nations with indigenously developed navigation systems. India’s first dedicated navigational satellite the IRNSS-1A developed by the ISRO was successfully put into orbit on the night of 1st July 2013.This is the first of the seven satellites of the Indian Regional Navigation Satellite System (IRNSS).
Overview of Indian Regional Navigation Satellite System (IRNSS)
IRNSS is an Independent regional navigation satellite system being developed by India. It is designed to provide accurate position information service to users in India as well as the region extending up to 1500 Km from its boundary, which is its primary service area. The Extended Service Area lies between primary service area and area enclosed by the rectangle from Latitude 30 degree South to 50 degree North, Longitude 30 degree East to 130 degree East.
IRNSS will provide two types of services, namely, Standard Positioning Service (SPS) which is provided to all the users and Restricted Service (RS), which is an encrypted service provided only to the authorized users. The IRNSS System is expected to provide a position accuracy of better than 20 metres in the primary service area.
IRNSS consists of a space segment and a ground segment. The IRNSS space segment consists of seven satellites, with three satellites in geostationary orbit and four satellites in inclined geosynchronous orbit. Thus, IRNSS satellites revolve round the earth at the height of about 36,000 km from the earth’s surface.
IRNSS ground segment is responsible for navigation parameter generation and transmission, satellite control, ranging and integrity monitoring and time keeping. Applications of IRNSS include land, sea and air navigation, disaster management, vehicle tracking and fleet management, integration with mobile phones, provision of precise time, mapping, navigation aid for hikers and travelers, visual and voice navigation for drivers. It can track people or vehicles and can be of immense use in disaster situations like the recent one in Uttarakhand. Even the Railways may find it useful to track its wagons. Apart from India, its benefits would extend to a range of 1500 km in the region.
IRNSS-1A
The satellite is based on ISRO’s I1K satellite bus and has two solar panels with Ultra Triple junction solar cells that together generate about 1660 Watts of electrical power. A rechargeable Lithium ion battery of 90 Ampere-Hour capacity is also part of the power system of the satellite. Sun and Star sensors as well as gyroscopes provide orientation reference for IRNSS-1A. Special thermal control schemes have been designed and implemented for some of the critical elements such as atomic clocks of the satellite.
The Attitude (orientation) and Orbit Control System (AOCS) of IRNSS-1A maintains the satellite’s orientation and its propulsion system consists of a Liquid Apogee Motor (LAM) and 12 thrusters. After injection into the circular geosynchronous orbit, the satellite will be located at 55 degrees East longitude with an inclination of 29 degrees with respect to the equator. The mission life of IRNSS-1A is about ten years.
IRNSS-1A was built at ISRO Satellite Centre, Bangalore with important contributions from VSSC, LPSU, IISU and Laboratory for Electro-Optics Systems (LEOS). The payloads of IRNSS-1A were developed by Space Applications Centre (SAC), Ahmedabad.
Payloads
IRNSS-1A carries two types of payloads – a navigation payload and a ranging payload. The navigation payload of IRNSS-1A will transmit navigation service signals to the users.
This payload will be operating in 1.5 band (1176.45 MHz) and S band (2492.028 MHz). A highly accurate Rubidium atomic clock is part of the navigation payload of the satellite.
The ranging payload of IRNSS-1A consists of a C-band transponder which facilities accurate determination of the distance to the satellite (ranging). IRNSS-1A also carries Corner
Cube Retro Reflectors for laser ranging.
The other mission, launch of IRNSS 1B navigational satellite will be decided based on the performance and in-orbit testing of IRNSS-1A.
(PIB Features.)

Read more / Original news source: http://manipur-mail.com/indias-first-dedicated-navigational-satellite-irnss-1a/

 

H. C. Kunwar
Deputy Director (Media & Communication), PIB, New Delhi.
The Indian Railway added another feather in its cap with the historic milestone of connecting Kashmir Valley with the Jammu region. The Prime Minister dedicated the newly constructed railway line between Banihal (Jammu region) – Qazigund (Kashmir valley) section and flagged off the first DEMU train from Banihal through the Pir Panjal tunnel- the longest transportation tunnel of India, from Banihal Railway
station on 26th June 2013. On commissioning of this section, the first rail link has
been established between the Jammu Region and Kashmir Valley providing all weather connectivity with significantly reduced travel time through the Pir Panjal mountains.
This is an alternative connection between the two regions for the Jawahar Tunnel too, which is often snow bound during the winter months. With this section the distance between Banihal-Qazigund section has been reduced to 17.7 kms by railway line instead of 35 kms long road length. With the completion of this section the Kashmir Valley has come a step closer to being connected to the remaining Indian Railway network, signifying the dedication and resolution of Northern Railway in providing rail connectivity to the farthest corners under its jurisdiction.
Ircon International Ltd., a PSU under the Ministry of Railways, has been the principal executing agency for Northern Railway to execute the work of Dharam-Qazigund Section of USBRL Project through an agreement signed in 2004 which includes planning, survey, design and construction of the entire project. The Kashmir Valley railway is a 119 km long modern railway line that became completely operational in October 2009. So far it is an island railway, not yet connected to the Indian Railway network. It connects Baramula in
the western part of Kashmir to Qazigund at the other end of the Valley, via Srinagar.
The extension of this railway line beyond the Pir Panjal mountains in to the Jammu region provides connectivity between the new railway section Qazigund-Banihal.
On 28th December, 2012, the first trial run train was operated on this section which is 17.7 kms long, of this 6.5 km is on cutting and embankment including bridges.
This section mostly consists of a 11.2 km long, Tunnel T-80 which pierces through the Pir Panjal range, providing a direct rail connection between the Kashmir Valley and Jammu region. About 11,78,500 cubic meters of earthwork in cutting and filling has been done.
The maximum depth of cutting on this section is 15.20 meters and maximum height of embankment is 16.70 meters. 39 bridges have also been constructed in this section which include two major bridges, 30 minor bridges and 7 Road Over Bridges/Road Under Bridges.
The total expenditure of Rs. 1691.00 cr. has been incurred by the railways to complete this section.
Pir Panjal Railway Tunnel (Tunnel T-80) has been provided the State of the Art systems with CCTV
cameras at every 62. 5 m, linear fire detection system, fire fighting system with fire hydrants at every 125 m, emergency telephone with communication to control room at every 250 m, fire extinguishers and fire alarm at every 250 m, air quality monitoring system at every 500 m, escape route signs to guide the shortest escape route in emergency at every 50 m, emergency lighting and normal lighting and public address system. A 3.0 m wide road along the track for rescue and maintenance purpose has been constructed with a 772.0 m long escape tunnel to provide additional escape route. Tunnel ventilation system has been provided which consists of 25 fans along the tunnel, installed in the ceiling of tunnel in groups of 5 each.
Falling in difficult and mountainous terrain, the State of Jammu & Kashmir has always been a challenge to transportation providers. Other factors which increase the difficulty in providing modes of mass transportation is that the area is geologically unstable, prone to tremors and earthquakes, with deep gorges alternating steep between rocky mountains. For any construction activity, the weather is quite inclement too. Long months of incessant rains and heavy snow can put life on hold for many. But there is a positive fall out of this difficulty too. The residents of these areas have evolved fine traditions in handicrafts in the periods of being home bound and have made established themselves as the finest craftsmen in the world.
Northern Railway has worked in these circumstances and has created the most modern railway line in the Kashmir Valley which provides economical, all weather connectivity. This is something the residents appreciate, especially when other facilities grind to a halt in deep snow. While building this railway line, Northern Railway have to cope with the difficult terrain, geology and the weather. Since it was found to be imperative to complete this railway line at the earliest, construction was started simultaneously at
different sites and as the stretch in the Kashmir valley rail link was completed before the rail link which
would connect it to the remaining Indian Railway network, all rolling stock and other equipments required
for construction and running of trains was transported by road and reassembled once it had reached there.
But the result is gratifying.
The commissioning of this section would help realize about 114 year old dream of connecting Jammu region with Kashmir valley. It was Maharaja Pratap Singh who first explored the possibility of connecting Jammu to Kashmir Valley with a Railway Line way back in 1898.
(PIB Feature).

Read more / Original news source: http://manipur-mail.com/pir-panjal-railway-tunnel-gate-way-to-kashmir-valley/

 

Director CBI Ranjt Sinha said during a function of the Integrated Investigative Capacity Building and Operational Planning for Asian Big Cat Related Crimes for South Asia that, “ Admired and revered for their beauty and vitality, the five species of big cats include tigers, lions, leopards, jaguars, and snow leopards. All are endangered, mainly due to habitat loss, poaching, and dwindling populations of their prey. India is the only place in the world where both lions and tigers reside. The Tiger – Lord of the Indian Jungles, evokes royalty, majesty and power. With its position at top of the ecological pyramids, the tiger is the symbol of India’s wealth of wildlife. The Harappan seals from the Indus valley civilization, dating back to 2500 BC, depict a man sitting on a tree angrily addressing a tiger waiting for him below. It symbolises our culture. The tiger is India’s national animal. Tiger is also symbol of wilderness and well-being of the ecosystem. By conserving and saving tigers the entire wilderness ecosystem is conserved. It is not an exaggeration to say that saving tiger amounts to saving the ecosystem which is crucial for man’s own survival. The saga of the Tiger in India follows more like a moon-waxing and waning – at times fascinating, distressing, and, more recently, a bit comforting.
India has the maximum number of tigers along with its source areas amongst the 13 tiger range countries in the world. India, with a population of 1.2 billion people, is home to about more than half of the world’s Tigers. One can imagine the dimensions of human-animal conflict. Amidst a welter of pressures including the loss and fragmentation of habitat, large scale and organized poaching fostered by an ugly international demand, unregulated mining in tiger landscapes, loss of connectivity between source areas and ever increasing demand on our forests for developmental projects continue to challenge the efforts to save the tiger. Presently, the country’s 1706 tigers are scattered across a fragmented system of 43 reserves which are under the governance of seventeen different state governments. The Challenge to protect these is formidable.
The Indian government has always accorded Tiger protection top priority and Project Tiger, one of the world’s most successful conservation programmes launched in 1973, has brought the species back from the brink of extinction. This unique project is unparalleled not only in the scale of implementation and but also in its coverage of the diverse habitats. In spite of its outstanding record, the Project and its strategy proved to be inadequate in the face of galloping growth of illegal trade.
In the early 90s, a poaching spree had threatened to undermine the Project. The tragic stories of complete loss of tigers in Ranthambore Tiger reserve in the year 1997 shocked the nation. When the tragedy of the tiger continued to unfold in 2005, this time in Sariska Tiger reserve, the nation was jolted into action. In fact, CBI’s investigation revealed the activities of a highly organized and extensive network of poachers actively operating in Sariska during 2002 to 2005. I am happy that these case studies are being presented to the participants of this programme. Considering the urgency of the situation, Project Tiger has been converted into a statutory authority — National Tiger Conservation Authority — by providing enabling provisions in the Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972 through an amendment in 2006. In its present dispensation as NTCA, the Project strives to streamline scientific modules of conservation and co-opt communities as responsible stakeholders. People versus animals is being replaced by people for animals and animals for people approaches to life and development. The Government of India constituted another statutory body, the Wildlife Crime Control Bureau in 2007 to complement the efforts of the state governments and other law enforcement agencies of the country. It is heartening to note that NTCA is also raising, arming and deploying of Special Tiger Protection Force (STPF). With this multi agency framework, I sincerely hope we may succeed in conserving our wildlife heritage.
India has nearly 6.5% of the world’s known wildlife species, and is one of the mega diverse countries of the world. The global demand for wildlife and its products puts at risk the mega diversity of the country. The most insidious and the immediate threat to the tiger is the illegal trade in its bone and other parts of its body. Wildlife trade is now well entrenched and widespread in India. The low risk of detection, huge profits and numerous cross border trade routes has made illegal trade an increasingly attractive business. The changing market dynamics and the lifestyles make the existing regulatory regimes inadequate in dealing with the wildlife crimes assuming organized status. It calls for coordinated actions in combating the wildlife related crimes including building capacity for scientific and professional investigation along with other measures.
Illegal wildlife trading networks have cross border linkages. To effectively counter this threat we need greater coordination between the intelligence agencies and enforcement agencies transcending national boundaries. India has a Memorandum of Understanding with Nepal on controlling trans-boundary illegal trade in wildlife and conservation, apart from a protocol on tiger conservation with China and Bangladesh. The process is on for bilateral protocol with Bhutan and Myanmar. A sub-group on tiger and leopard conservation has been constituted for cooperation with the Russian Federation. A Global Tiger Forum of Tiger Range Countries has been created for addressing international issues related to tiger conservation. World Bank’s Global Tiger Initiative is engaged in efforts to curtail international demand for tiger parts and other wildlife through consumer campaigns that link up the loss of the tiger to larger issues of ecological devastation and biodiversity loss. The problem of demand is one of the most daunting and complex issues facing tiger conservation. 8.0 Central Bureau of Investigation is the principal investigation
agency of the nation and it has evolved into a multi-faceted, multi-disciplinary law enforcement agency, its role expanding from the corruption cases to other cases viz. – cyber crimes, organized crime including wildlife crimes, narcotics, arms trafficking, arts and antiquities cases, counterfeiting of currencies etc. CBI maintains a robust incident response capability and possesses ability to adjust to emerging and evolving circumstances created by new threats. Over the years, CBI has acquired sufficient expertise in investigation of cases having inter-State and international ramifications and organized crimes. Investigations into Sariska, provided the Bureau an opportunity to bring the notorious criminals involved in organized wildlife trade to book. We are happy to be part of this noble mission of protecting the Tiger, the greatest living symbol of our natural world. 9.0 In conclusion, let me reiterate that the training programmes of this sort will help the law enforcement and conservation officers of the region to come together and forge robust and far reaching partnerships to combat illegal wildlife trafficking. It is significant that representatives of eight South Asian nations and China are taking part in this Interpol and TRAFFIC initiative. I would like to express my sincere appreciation to INTERPOL for taking measures not only to ensure Capacity Building of member countries in this highly specialized area but also to enhance coordination and cooperation and in promoting international cooperation in countering organized wildlife crime. I am confident that all the participants will find this programme a very valuable learning experience. I trust that this training will add value to our efforts in South Asia to conserve and protect the precious wildlife.”

Read more / Original news source: http://manipur-mail.com/cbi-environmental-crime-programme/

L. C. Ponnumon, Media & Communication Officer, PIB, Cochin.
Cochin Shipyard Limited (CSL) launched the third Fast Patrol Vessel (FPV) named ‘ABHINAV’ being built for the Indian Coast Guard (ICG). The vessel is the third in a series of 20 numbers Fast Patrol Vessels contracted by Cochin Shipyard Limited for the Indian Coast Guard. The contract was signed in 2010 with delivery of the last vessel slated for 2017. The vessels are being built under the dual classification requirements. The 50 metre x 7.6 metre x 4.65 metre vessels have a designed speed of 33 knots. The primary role of the vessel include fisheries protection and monitoring, patrol within Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) and coastal patrol , anti smuggling, search and rescue operations and for anti piracy operations. The vessels have a secondary role of providing communication link and escort convoys during hostilities and war time.
These high speed Fast Patrol Vessels, though small in size are extremely complex and technologically challenging.
The ships are propelled by water jets to attain a speed of 33 knots. The high speed boats are weight sensitive and extensive use of Aluminium in the super structure has been made. Cochin Shipyard has developed special techniques to ensure high quality welding and fabrication of Aluminium structures.
Cochin Shipyard presently has 25 ships on order consisting of 20 Fast Patrol Vessels, 3 Offshore Support ships for Indian and foreign owners, 1 Buoy Tender vessel for the Department of Lighthouses and Lightships and the Prestigious Aircraft Carrier for the Indian Navy. Cochin Shipyard Limited has entered into the high niche technological area of Offshore Support Vessels for the oil industry incorporating high end technology like clean design, electric propulsion, comfort class notation, etc. Since 2005 Cochin Shipyard Limited has built and delivered 40 ships for owners based at various parts of the world viz Bahamas, Norway, Netherlands, Greece, USA and Saudi Arabia. Apart from this Cochin Shipyard Limited has delivered four Anchor Handling Tugs and two Platform Support Vessels to Shipping Corporation of India. In the year 2012-13 Cochin Shipyard Limited delivered six Offshore Support Ships, for various international and domestic owners.
Recently, Cochin Shipyard Limited entered into a contract with Cochin Port Trust for setting up of an international Ship Repair facility at the Cochin Port Trust premises. This new facility is expected to help shipyard to increase its market share in the repair of small and medium ships. The first ship for repair in the Cochin Port Trust repair facility was docked on 25 May 2013. The yard has also identified other expansion plans for growth.(PIB Features.)With Inputs from Cochin Shipyard Limited.

Read more / Original news source: http://manipur-mail.com/third-fast-patrol-vessel-abhinav-launched/

M.V.S. Prasad Joint Director, PIB, Chennai
The Indian dairy sector has acquired substantial growth momentum from 9th Plan onwards as a result of which the country now ranks first among the world’s milk producing nations, achieving an annual output of about 130 million tonnes. This represents sustained growth in the availability of milk and milk products for our growing population. Dairying has become an important secondary source of income for millions of rural families and has assumed the most important role in providing employment and income generating opportunities particularly for marginal and women farmers. The per capita availability of the milk has reached a level of 290 grams per day by the year 2012, which is more than the world average of 284 grams per day. Most of the milk in the country is produced by small, marginal farmers and landless labourers.
About 14.78 million farmers have been brought under the ambit of 1,48,965 village level dairy corporative societies up to March 2012. Farmers of marginal, small and semi-medium operational holdings (area less than 4 ha) own about 87.7% of the livestock. India is endowed with the largest livestock population in the world. It accounts for about 57.3 per cent of the world’s buffalo population and 14.7 per cent of the cattle population.
Animal husbandry and dairying play an important role in national economy and in socio-economic development of the country.
These activities play a significant role in generating gainful employment in the rural areas, particularly among the landless, small and marginal farmers and women, besides providing cheap and nutritious food. Livestock are the best insurance for farmers against vagaries of nature like drought and other natural calamities. Several measures have been initiated by the Government to increase the productivity of milch animals, which has resulted in increasing the milk production significantly.
National Dairy Plan
In order to meet the rapidly growing demand for milk with a focus to improve milch animal productivity and increase milk production, the Government has also approved National Dairy Plan Phase-1(NDP-1) in February, 2012 with a total investment of about Rs. 2242 crore to be implemented upto 2016-17. NDP-1 will help to meet the projected national demand of 150 million tonnes of milk by 2016-17.
This is envisaged through productivity enhancement, strengthening and expanding village level infrastructure for milk procurement and provide producers with greater access to markets. NDP-1 would focus on 14 major milk producing states – Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, Haryana, Gujarat, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Bihar, West Bengal, Maharashtra, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Orissa and Kerala which account for over 90% of the country’s milk production.
A total sum of Rs.79.00 crore has been released to NDDB upto 31-12-2012, for implementation of the scheme.
Dairy Entrepreneurship Development Scheme
A modified scheme namely Dairy Entrepreneurship Development Scheme (DEDS) was launched on 1-9-2010, for promoting private investment in the dairy sector. The Scheme aims at increasing investment in dairy sector for increasing milk production in the country apart from helping in poverty reduction through self employment opportunities. It is being implemented through NABARD and provides financial assistance to the bankable projects through Commercial, Cooperative, Urban and Rural Banks with a back ended capital subsidy of 25% of the project cost for general category and 33.33% of the project cost for SC & ST beneficiaries as Central assistance subject to norms of the scheme.
Farmers, individual entrepreneurs, group of unorganized and organized sector are eligible to benefit under this. Group of organized sector includes self-help groups, dairy cooperative societies; district level Milk Unions, State Milk Federation, etc.
Since inception, NABARD has disbursed an amount of Rs.251.20 crore to the beneficiaries for sanctioning 62,046 dairy units upto 31st December, 2012. Further, the Government has released an amount of Rs.140 crore to NABARD during 2012-13 for the implementation of the scheme, out of which NABARD has released back ended capital subsidy of Rs.127.13 crore for establishment of 32,749 dairy units upto 31-12-2012.
Assistance to Cooperatives
This Scheme was started during the year 1999-2000, with the objective to rehabilitate the sick dairy Cooperative Milk Union at the district level and Milk Federations at the State level. The Scheme is being implemented on 50:50 sharing basis between the Government and the State Government concerned through NDDB. The rehabilitation plan is prepared by National Dairy Development Board (NDDB) in consultation with the concerned State Milk Federation/ District Milk Union. Each rehabilitation plan is prepared in such a manner that the net worth of the sick Cooperative will become positive within a period of seven years from the date of its approval.
Since inception, the Department has approved 42 rehabilitation projects for the sick Milk Unions at a total cost of Rs.310.91 crore with the Central share of Rs. 155.64 crore upto 31-12-2012 in the States of Madhya Pradesh, Chattisgarh, Haryana, Karnataka, Uttar Pradesh, Kerala, Maharashtra, Assam Nagaland, Punjab, West Bengal and Tamil Nadu. A total sum of Rs. 120.64 crore as central share has been released to the sick Cooperative Milk Unions upto 31st December, 2012.
(PIB Features.)
With inputs from the Ministry of Agriculture.

Read more / Original news source: http://manipur-mail.com/dairy-development/

MNS: Son of Limhel Haokip, Tintong Haokip was born on 1872 at Lamlap village,Tamenglong District of Manipur. When he was only 25 years old he established a village called Laijang ( now re- named as Tamenglong Town) and became a great chief of the region.
The imposition of the colonial rule and forced raise of labour corps by the then British Government forced Tintong Haokip and Kukis to take up arms in the defence of their rights and land.
In the Kukis chiefs Meeting at Jampi village (March 1917) Tintong was appointed as Commander in chief and Enjakhup Kholhou Deputy Commander of the Kuki army.
Tintong and Enjakhup raised and trained Kuki sepoys in different villages of Manipur,Nagaland and Assam to fight against the mighty British by using their self made Muzzle loading gun and laying different deadly traps in the jungles of Manipur during 1917-1919.
A Meitei man Chinga kham Sanachauba Singh and his followers were collaborator with the Kukis in burning down the the Ithai forest station in 21st December 1917.
The war between Kukis and British was so intense that Robert reid,the then Governor of Assam termed it as”the most serious event in the history of Manipur”.
According to L.W Shakespears 86 Kuki villages were burnt down,112 villages surrendered and 15 villages were abandoned and
altogether 1570 guns were captured from the Kukis of Manipur and
Burma.On the British side 80 sepoys,2 British officers and 28 Assam Rifles were killed by the Kuki sepoys.And 18 Government rest houses were also burnt down by the Kukis.About 478 persons died from different injuries and infections. Tintong’s own village Laijang was also burnt down and 28 of his villager and sepoys killed by the British troop in the battle of Laijang.
Tintong was later captured and imprisoned in Imphal, Kohima and Sadiya(Assam) jails by the British Government.
On his released from Sadiya jail Tintong settled at a village
called Saioh which is about 35 Kms from Imphal in the Imphal- Jiibam road.There he died in the year 1939 and was buried in simple Kuki Traditional way.
A village named after him”Tintong Laijang” has been established at Imphal-Jiribam Road and his Grandson Doumang Haokip took chiefship of the village.
Recently an autonomous District Council(ADC) Constituency has been also opened after the village which is called “Tintong Laijang constituency” in the, Senapati Dristict of Manipur.

Read more / Original news source: http://manipur-mail.com/abstract-of-the-book-tintong-haokip-laijangpa-by-vumkhoneh-haokip/

Dr. H.R.Keshavamurthy
Director (M&C), Press Information Bureau, Kolkata. Former Director of Animal Husbandry
Animal protein in the form of milk, butter, cheese, egg, meat, fish to name a few, form an important part of the food basket of each family depending on their economic status and regional preferences. For instance we find fish in every meal in Bengal and percentage of chicken consumers has risen sharply in recent years with improved purchasing power of people. This is due to various developmental, welfare initiatives of government and also increased growth in animal husbandry, dairying and fisheries sector.
Animal husbandry, dairying and fisheries activities play an important role in national economy and in socio-economic development of the country. These activities contribute to the food basket, nutrition security and house-hold income of the farmers and play a significant role in generating gainful employment in the rural areas, particularly among the landless, small and marginal farmers and women, besides providing cheap and nutritious food.
Livestock are the best insurance for farmers against vagaries of nature like drought and other natural calamities.
Farmers of marginal, small and semi-medium operational holdings (area less than 4 ha) own about 87.7% of the livestock making development of livestock sector more inclusive in nature. India is endowed with the largest livestock population in the world. Livestock production and agriculture are intrinsically linked, each being dependent on the other, and both crucial for overall food security. According to estimates of the Central Statistics Office (CSO), the value of output from livestock sector at current prices was about Rs.4, 59,051 crore during 2011-12 which is about 24.8% of the value of output from total agricultural and allied sector at current price and 25.6% at constant prices (2004-05). The value of output of milk was Rs.3, 05,484 crore in 2011-12, which is higher than the value of output of paddy and wheat. The value of output from meat group at current prices in 2011-12 was Rs.83, 641 crore and Rs.17,803 crore from eggs.
As Agriculture, including Animal Husbandry, Dairying and Fisheries is a State subject, the emphasis of the central govt has been on supplementing efforts of the State Governments in the development of these sectors. Assistance to the State Governments is provided for the control of animal diseases, scientific management and up gradation of genetic resources, increasing availability of nutritious feed and fodder, sustainable development of processing and marketing facilities and enhancement of production and profitability of livestock and fisheries enterprises under various centrally sponsored and central sector schemes.
Realizing the potential of this sector, central budgetary outlay for this sector has increased manifold in the last decade. An amount of about Rs.11,313 crore including Rs.5,403.88 crore under Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana and National Mission for Protein Supplements was allocated for animal husbandry, dairying and fisheries sector during 11th Plan, in addition to budgetary support under state plans. During the Eleventh Plan, Government initiated several new programmes /schemes improve Veterinary Hospitals and Dispensaries, and for strengthening the efforts for animal disease control. To meet the shortage of fodder, several new components were incorporated in the Feed and Fodder scheme. Further, Dairy Entrepreneurship Development Scheme was initiated, with the objective of increasing investment in dairy sector for increasing milk production in the country while creating self-employment opportunities. An allocation of Rs.14, 179.00 crore during 12th Plan which includes an amount of Rs.7,628 crore for Animal Husbandry, Rs 4,976.00 crore for Dairy Development and Rs.2,483.00 crore for the Fisheries sector has been provided.
India ranks first among the world’s milk producing nations, achieving an annual output of about 127.9 million tonnes of milk during 2011-12. Most of the milk in the Country is produced by small, marginal farmers and landless labourers and is used for both self consumption and to generate income. In order to meet the rapidly growing demand for milk with a focus to improve milch animal productivity and increase milk production, the Government approved National Dairy Plan Phase-I(NDP-I) in February, 2012 with a total investment of about Rs.2242 crore to be implemented from 2011-12 to 2016. NDP-I will help to meet the projected national demand of 150 million tonnes of milk by 2016-17 from domestic production. The strategy involves increasing the genetic potential of bovines, producing required number of quality bulls, producing superior quality frozen semen and adopting adequate bio-security measures. In order to improve productivity of animals by genetic improvement, the existing scheme relating to development of bovines and dairy development are being merged to a new scheme, National Programme for Bovine Breeding and Dairy(NPBBD) which will be implemented along with the National Dairy Plan (Phase-I).
In fisheries sector, a major initiative has been taken by Government of India by launching National Fisheries Development Board (NFDB) as a special purpose vehicle to achieve sustainable development of fisheries sector through integration of wide array of activities. NFDB would be strengthened by integrating all schemes relating to fisheries development under it and enhancing investment for the sector.
The Livestock sector also contributes to export in spite of the fact that limited number of livestock enterprises function in the country on commercial basis. Total export earnings from livestock, poultry and related products were Rs.33,417 crore during 2011-12 as compared to Rs.25,409 crore during previous year i.e. 2010-11 with a growth of about 31.5%. Total export earnings from fisheries products have also shown steady increase and reached to Rs.16,597.23 crore during 2011-12 compared to Rs.12,901.47 crore during 2010-11 with a growth of about 28.65%.
All these focused initiatives of the Government is expected to speed up national GDP growth, generate additional employment opportunities, improve the food basket and nutritional level of people in the country. Ultimately Food Security of the country will be bolstered.
(PIB Features.)

Read more / Original news source: http://manipur-mail.com/development-in-animal-husbandry-sector-aids-national-food-security/

 

Dr. H. R. Keshavamurthy, Director (M&C), Press Information Bureau, Kolkata.
In India, we have a pluralistic health care delivery system where the Government provides opportunity to every recognized medical system to develop and be practiced with a view to provide integrated and holistic health care services. That is why there is a peaceful co-existence of Allopathy with Ayurveda and Siddha, which are traditional and indigenous systems of medicine with Unani which originated from Persia and Homoeopathy which is from Germany.
AYUSH is the acronym for Ayurveda, Yoga & Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha & Sowa, Rigpa, and Homoeopathy. AYUSH systems of medicines are a group of Indian systems of medicine and Homeopathy. Ayurveda is the oldest system practiced since more than 5000 years, whereas Homeopathy is being practiced since last 100 years. These systems are being practiced in the country with diverse preferences of people and infrastructural facilities. Ayurveda is more prevalent in the states of Kerala, Maharashtra, Himachal Pradesh, Gujarat, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Delhi, Haryana, Punjab, Uttarkhand, Goa and Orissa. The practice of Unani System could be seen in some parts of Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Jammu & Kashmir, Bihar, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Delhi and Rajasthan. Homoeopathy is widely practiced in Uttar Pradesh, Kerala, West Bengal, Orissa, Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra, Punjab, Tamil Nadu, Bihar, Gujarat and the North Eastern States and the Siddha system is practiced in the areas of Tamil Nadu, Pondicherry and Kerala.
Recently recognized Sowa Rigpa system of medicine is among the oldest surviving health traditions of the world with a living history of more than 2500 years. It has been in vogue and practiced in Himalayan regions throughout particularly in Leh and Laddakh (J&K) Himachal Pradesh, Arunachal Pradesh, Sikkim, Darjeeling, etc. Sowa-Rigpa is effective in managing chronic diseases like Asthma, Bronchitis, Arthritis, etc. the basis theory of Sowa-Rigpa is explained in terms of (i) The body and the mind as the locus of treatment; (ii) Antidote, i.e. the treatment; (iii) The method of treatment though antidote; (iv) Medicines that cure the disease; and lastly (v) Pharmacology. Sowa-Rigpa emphasizes the importance of the five cosmological physical elements in the formation of the human body, the nature of disorders and the remedial measures. There are few educational institutes of Sowa Rigpa in UP and Karnataka.
AYUSH services are provided by public, private and voluntary sector organizations and the range of their distribution varies from state to state. All these medical systems are being utilized in the national health care delivery system, each to its potential and availability in different parts of the country. Although “health” is a state subject, the Central Government has transformed the health sector by providing huge amounts of additional financial resources, equipment and machinery, manpower and material as well as training and technical aid to facilitate the State Governments in provisioning of comprehensive healthcare services, particularly for the marginalized and vulnerable sections of the population in the remotest areas; development of human resources and tertiary care facilities; encouraging health research and for promotion and integration of the Indian Systems of Medicine among other things.
Mainstreaming of AYUSH, including Homoeopathy has been one of the important strategies envisaged under the National Rural Health Mission. During the last four years grant-in-aid amounting to Rs 553.00 crore has been given to the State / UT Governments for mainstreaming of AYUSH under the NRHM .As a result new AYUSH facilities have been set up in 803 Primary Health Centres, 113 Community Health Centres, 24 District Hospitals and up-gradation done in 379 Exclusive AYUSH hospitals and 415 Dispensaries. Department of AYUSH has also supported the setting up of six 50 bedded Integrated AYUSH Hospitals at Mizoram, Manipur, Tripura, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu & Kashmir and Uttarakhand and five 10 bedded Integrated AYUSH hospitals at Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, Meghalaya, Nagaland and Sikkim. A total number of 11,478 AYUSH doctors and 4,894 AYUSH para-medics have been appointed on contract basis at Primary Health Centres and Community Health Centres under NRHM across the country.
The Government of India has also made sustained efforts for growth and development of human resources in all traditional medicine systems. A highly commendable infrastructure in the form of 496 medical colleges offering quality education to 37,234 UG and 3,311 PG students and over 7 lakh 20 thousand registered AYUSH medical practitioners now exist in the country. Department of AYUSH implemented various schemes in the eleventh plan for development of all the four core areas of education, research, drug development and health care delivery.
During 12th plan period stress is likely to be given on Integration of AYUSH systems in health care delivery and their incorporation in National Health Programmes through co-locating such facilities at sub-centres and primary health care centres. Some of the new initiatives which are under consideration during 12th Plan include, setting up of a National Commission for Human Resource in; Referral hospitals in 8 National Institutes to provide world class treatment facilities; a National Institute of Medicinal Plants ;Research and Quality Control Laboratories in 8 National Institutes; a Central Drugs Controller for AYUSH drugs to facilitate standardization of ASU products; 5 Hi-Tech Quality Control Labs under the Research Councils at regional levels; setting up of a Homoeopathic Medicines Pharmaceutical Corporation Limited to provide facilities for manufacturing of Homoeopathic medicines and to set up an All India Institute of Homoeopathy to fulfill the emerging interest of scientists for research in homoeopathy.
In fact, all the systems of medicine should be geared up by utilizing their unique strengths and proven abilities to contribute to need based health planning. Importance of traditional systems of medicine vis a vis conventional streams can be seen in the epoch making statement of Mahatma Gandhi, ‘Homeopathy ….. cures a larger percentage of cases than any other method of treatment and is beyond doubt safer and more economical and most complete medical science. (PIB Features.)

Read more / Original news source: http://manipur-mail.com/mainstreaming-of-ayush-under-national-rural-health-mission/

Dr. H. R. Keshavamurthy, Director (M&C), Press Information Bureau, Kolkata.
Awareness about health care programmes and facilities is the essence for the success of any health care initiative which is closely linked with human development. The Government launched the National Rural Health Mission in 2005 to provide accessible, affordable and quality health care to rural population. One of the key components of the Mission is to provide every village with a trained female community health activist called ASHA or Accredited Social Health Activist.
ASHA is selected from the village itself and is accountable to it. ASHA acts as a bridge between the ANM and the village. She is accountable to the Panchayat. She is an honorary volunteer, receiving performance-based compensation for promoting universal immunization, referral and escort services for RCH, construction of household toilets and other healthcare delivery programmes. She facilitates preparation and implementation of the Village Health Plan along with Anganwadi worker, ANM, functionaries of other Departments and Self Help Group members.ASHA works as an interface between community and the public health system. ASHA is the first port of any health related demands of deprived sections of the population, especially women and children who find it difficult to access health services in rural areas. ASHA programme is expanding across states and has been successful in bringing people back to public health system, increasing the utilisation of out-patient services, diagnostics facilities, institutional deliveries and in-patient care.
ASHAs are central feature of National Rural Health Mission (NRHM) community based health care delivery. They are widely accepted as the most visible face and one of the most successful components of NRHM. Till date more than 8.85 lakh ASHA workers have been selected, trained and deployed across the country. ASHAs perform the role of facilitation, activism and community level care. Their work includes counselling on improved health practices and prevention of illness and complications and appropriate curative care or referrals for pregnant woman, newborn, ill children as also for malaria, tuberculosis and other conditions. Other than this, ASHAs have also been engaged in the social marketing of products such as sanitary napkins and spacing contraceptives. To enable ASHAs to perform these roles, most states have established the institutional structures required for training and support. What more needs to be done is strengthening these structures to perform effectively.ASHAs are effective in reaching about 70 percent of the population with their services but a substantial 30 percent still remain unattended. A training booklet has been disseminated to state governments to help ASHA in reaching marginalised populations in her area. Incentive package for ASHAs has been increased and payments are being streamlined.
ASHA facilitators are an integral part of the ASHA programme and are to be deployed before the selection of ASHA. An intensive induction training programme of 23 days in 5 episodes is given to the ASHA worker. After a period of six months of her functioning in the village she is sensitised on HIV/AIDS issues including Sexually Transmitted Diseases, Reproductive Tract Infections, prevention and referrals. She is also trained in new-born care. The Central Government bears the cost of training, incentives and medical kits. The remaining is funded through central assistance given to state governments under this programme. Over 7.99 lakh ASHAs have been provided drug kits so far. These kits contain Generic AYUSH and allopathic formulations for common ailments which are replenished from time to time. Most states are also in the process of distributing an equipment kit to ASHAs for providing home-based new-born care.
An evaluation study commissioned by the Planning Commission has revealed that more than 65 percent beneficiaries are visited by ASHA once in 15-30 days. 80 percent beneficiaries have confirmed delivery of free drugs by ASHA. 65 percent beneficiaries have opted for institutional delivery and 60 percent of women availed antenatal care services in government facility proving the significant role of ASHA in motivating pregnant woman for utilisation of antenatal care from public health care facilities. 56 percent of couples reported use of contraception of which 88 percent availed from government health counters.ASHA has also played an important role in educating patients from the households visited by them to go for treatment of chronic diseases in public health institutions instead of private health facilities. Evaluation study has also pointed out the need to improve payment of compensation to ASHAs and also to provide advance money for emergency transport. The new initiatives are:- Establishing an ASHA database in all states; Introducing a system for outcome monitoring; Introducing handbook for ASHA facilitators; and Setting up ASHA grievance redressal mechanism.In a separate evaluation study in Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand it has been pointed out that there is a great urgency to speed up establishment of support structures and implementation of the programme. All these states will benefit a great deal while having a skilled ASHA at the community level to promote maternal, new-born and child health and family planning.
(PIB Features.)

Read more / Original news source: http://manipur-mail.com/asha-the-new-hope-of-health-care-delivery-in-rural-india/

 

Amit Guin
Around fifty-five kilometers from the capital of the Eastern state of West Bengal, Kolkata, and with river Hooghly flowing on its west, is located a Special Economic Zone in Falta.
With the setting up of the SEZ in the district of South 24 Parganas, the place became well connected by a developed network of roads, two ports and an international airport. Along with 24-hours water supply, uninterrupted power supply, FSEZ offers a truly supportive environment by providing simplified procedures for investors.
This facelift to Falta happened after the Government conceived the Special Economic Zones (SEZs) Policy in 2000. Hindsight suggests that the Government started working towards the sole goal of rectifying the shortcomings of the EPZ model as it was not able to give a fillip to export promotion because of various roadblocks, namely, multiplicity of controls and clearances, absence of world-class infrastructure, and an unstable fiscal regime. It was then, when the ideation of SEZ came into being. The new Policy aimed at making SEZs the engines for economic growth complemented by quality infrastructure, attractive fiscal package – both at the Centre and State level. After working on various loose ends, a comprehensive Special Economic Zones Act, 2005, was passed by the Indian Parliament in 2005, which provided for simplification of procedures and for single window clearance on matters relating to central and state governments. The new Act envisaged generation of additional economic activity, promotion of exports of goods and services, promotion of investment from domestic and foreign sources, creation of employment opportunities and development of infrastructure facilities.
Coming back to the Falta Special Economic Zone, it needs to be stated that this SEZ, which was approved by the Government in 1984, has since then, left a remarkable mark in the local area of its set-up in terms of direct as well as indirect employment, emergence of new activities, change in the consumption pattern and social life, and positive changes in human development facilities such as education, healthcare among others.
The Falta SEZ is home to four unique units, namely, Vikram Solar Private Limited, J V Gokal & Company Private Limited, Carbide Cutting Tools Private Limited and Cheviot Company Limited. These units are unique, because apart from helping in employment generation and engaging the local population, they are engaged in producing eco-friendly and biodegradable products, along with undertaking a number of green initiatives.
Established in the year 2006, Vikram Solar is into the manufacturing and sale of solar photovoltaic modules and systems that can produce clean and green energy, hence leading to sustainable environmental development. It also engages itself in a continuous process of improving environmental performance and developing systems by providing appropriate training to the employees. In the year 2010, the Vikram Group of Industries launched a Rs. 100 crore 25 MW solar photovoltaic module manufacturing plant at FSEZ. Vikram Solar is unique for its green products and is the only company in India to use Electroluminescence Test for cells before using in the Modules.
A company known for its high woman employability, J V Gokal & Co. Pvt. Ltd. is a sixty-year-old tea exporting company in India. It expanded its operation in Falta in 2006. Touted to be among the top five tea exporter company from India, it involves 80 per cent women in value added tea packaging jobs.A manufacturer and exporter of industrial cutting tools, Carbide Cutting Tools Pvt. Ltd. is established in the FSEZ with 125 employees working for the production of drills, endmills and various other special tools. The company’s annual turnover for the April-March 2012 period was Rs. 18.06 crore, all of which is from CCT’s works at FSEZ. CCT has one of the best designs and quality benefiting from world class research and development from OSG Japan. The end users of its products include the likes of Boeing, Honda, General Motors, L&T, Ashok Leyland and Tata among others.
Cheviot Company Limited is one of the leading manufacturers and exporters of fine jute yarn. In 2003, the company set up a 100 per cent Export Oriented Unit in FSEZ. The company uses traditional jute yarn to manufacture superior quality industrial fabrics. Cheviot has a state-of-the-art manufacturing facility, with all its products being eco-friendly and biodegradable.
The M L Dalmiya & Company Ltd. developed IT/ITES SEZ is located in Bantola. The Green Tech Park is an IT park which is located in a remote location at the Bantola SEZ. It houses IT major Cognizant’s office, which officially inaugurated its operations in the Green Tech Park in January 2011. The SEZ facility here is spread over an area of 20 acres. Cognizant, here, is committed to providing its associates with a best-in-class, healthy and safe work environment. It has also engaged in a number of green initiatives, which includes encouraging its employees to dispose their e-waste responsibly.
The Manikanchan SEZ, located close to the Kolkata Airport is one of the first SEZ providing world class infrastructure to the exporters of gems and jewellery. Spread over an area of five acres, it is also home to Shree Ganesh Jewellery House (I) Ltd. The company has large state-of-art manufacturing facilities in Manikanchan SEZ. It employs around 600 employees at their plants located in the SEZ. The Jewellery House has won the Gems & Jewellery Export Promotion Council’s Outstanding Performance of Exports from EOU/SEZ-Plain Gold Jewellery for five consecutive years from 2007 to 2012.
Government has been successful in achieving of what it had thought of in the Special Economic Zones Act.
The overwhelming response to the SEZ scheme is evident
from the flow of investment and creation of additional employment. The SEZ scheme has generated tremendous response amongst investors, both in India and abroad. In addition to earning of foreign exchange and development of infrastructure, SEZs have also created a significant local area impact in terms of direct as well as indirect employment, emergence of new activities, changes in consumption pattern and social life, human development facilities such as education, healthcare etc., as in the case of Falta SEZ, and many alike.
(PIB Features.)

Read more / Original news source: http://manipur-mail.com/sezs-creating-infrastructure-changing-landscape/

 

Amit Guin
Hemant Kanwar was suffering from post-polio residual paralysis in the left lower limb. He was not able to walk steadily and had to rely on others to take him from one place to other. Being unemployed, he also had to face problems when appearing for job interviews. Facing severe problems even to accomplish his day-to-day activities, Hemant consulted the doctors of Pandit Deendayal Upadhyaya Institute for the Physically Handicapped (PDUIPH). Somewhere in March this year, he received a Knee Ankle Foot Orthosis (KAFO) from the Delhi-based Institute. Now, after wearing an orthosis on his left leg, he feels a drastic change in his life. With orthosis, walking became much easier for Hemant. He is ecstatic that now he does not have to rely on others for support. He looks and sounds confident as he can now commute to different places through public transport systems such as buses among others. He says that the best thing after this surgery is the fact that he gained immense amount of confidence as now there was no mental apprehension of falling down while walking. And now he is employed with a Multi- National Company as an Operations Administrator, where he has to perform desk jobs as well as attend various meetings and conferences in different places. Each time he takes a walk without any physical support, he thanks PDUIPH.
Set up in 1976 as an organisation to empower persons with disabilities under the Disability Division of the Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment, PDUIPH provides out-patient clinical services in physical therapy, occupational therapy and speech therapy, apart from providing social, psychological and vocational counseling services to persons with disabilities.
It is known that India is home to a large number of disabled persons from the low-income group. Large number of disabled persons cannot have access to various benefits of the new technologies and appliances as they are unable to purchase them. Paying heed to these concerns, the Government of India decided to make the Scheme of Assistance to Disabled Persons for Purchase/Fitting of Aids/Appliances (ADIP) of the Government of India more accessible and more user-friendly, so that the needy are not deprived of aids and appliances, which are essential for them. PDUIPH provides prosthetic, orthotic and other rehabilitation aids under ADIP scheme at minimum costs.
Take the case of eight-year-old Tisham Ali. Tisham suffered from hip disarticulation since birth. Belonging to a poor family, Tisham’s disability was haunting his family a lot. His father, who does a private job, was told by someone to take his child to PDUIPH. After being examined by rehabilitation professionals in the Institute, Tashim’s father was advised that his child had congenital limb deficiency and that he should be given hip disarticulation prosthesis. The prosthesis was made in the Prosthetic & Orthotics workshop which helped Tashim to walk comfortably without support. The prosthesis, which was light in weight and aligned properly, helped Tashim to execute his daily activities – right from going to school to playing with friends – easily.
The ADIP Scheme provided by the Institute helps disabled persons like Hemant and Tashim by bringing suitable, durable, scientifically-manufactured, modern, standard aids and appliances within their reach. The primary objective of the Scheme is to assist lower-income disabled persons in procuring sophisticated, modern, standard aids and appliances that can promote their physical, social and psychological rehabilitation, by immensely reducing the effects of disabilities and enhance their economic potential. The Scheme also include under its umbrella, medical/surgical correction and intervention, which is essential before fitment of aids and appliances. It is to be noted that a disabled person should be certified by a registered medical practitioner that he/she is disabled and fit to use prescribed aid/appliance, so that he/she can be eligible for assistance under ADIP Scheme.
The Institute for the Physically Handicapped (IPH) provides all types of prosthetic and orthotic devices; mobility aids like tricycles, wheelchairs, crutches walking sticks and walking frames/rotators; all types of surgical footwears and MCR chappals; special mobility aids for visually disabled people with muscular dystrophy or cerebral palsy like adapted walkers; and various types of hearing aids, under the ADIP Scheme to the disabled individuals. An occupational therapist, Jitendra Kumar was facing difficulties in standing, walking and performing his daily activities due to his shortened lower limb. After an assessment in IPH, an extended lower limb prosthesis was designed, fabricated and fitted to him. With the help of the prosthesis, Jitendra is able to drive vehicles, and he has become fully independent. He is now leading a successful life and contributing to the society by rehabilitating patients and person with disabilities.
In this manner, the Institute for the Physically Handicapped improves and enhances the quality of life of the disabled persons. It also gives them confidence to face the everyday challenges of their life. It also helps the disabled persons become earning members of their family, hence making them achieve economic self-dependence and also be able to live and pursue their activities with dignity.
(PIB Features.)

Read more / Original news source: http://manipur-mail.com/institute-for-the-physically-handicapped-making-life-move/

 

Sapna
Field Exhibition Officer, DAVP Chandigarh.
Television and Films are the most popular medium of entertainment and information dissemination. In both, rural and urban India the impact created by cinema and television programmes on public mind is massive and ineffaceable in many respects. Fashions and life-styles shown in films become popular overnight. Exposure to smoking in movies promotes tobacco as normal and associates it with style and glamour.
A qualitative analysis of TV and Film contents shows that movies are an obsession. India produces more than 900 films a year in different languages watched by over 188 million viewers every year. Satellite television has increased the outreach to a much larger audience. There are dozens of movie channels that telecast movies round the clock. The entertainment channels also show movies and reach 60-70% of the cable and satellite audience. Films and film-based programmes account for 25% to 30% of programming content and are the key viewership drivers for all general entertainment channels.
It is pointed out by many scientific studies that the electronic images depicting smoking and tobacco use promotes the harmful and deleterious habit of smoking among youngsters, who happen to be the most vulnerable segment of the society. The role of motion pictures in promoting tobacco has been clearly reflected in many studies. Since in India and other such underdeveloped countries the literacy rate is too low so for most of these people, what is seen is often believed and followed. Hence, mass media and movies are an unfortunate but very powerful tool in the hands of tobacco companies.
The instances of females consuming tobacco in movies has also increased in India pointing towards a specific market expansion strategy by tobacco companies using movies as a vehicle. Studies suggest that the tobacco companies specifically position their products to attract female smokers from all segments, strata and age groups of society. The tobacco companies’ communications targeting females is carefully designed for younger women stressing on female camaraderie, self confidence, freedom, and independence; cigarette brands for older women are tailored to address the needs for pleasure, relaxation, social acceptability, and escape from daily stresses. In many movies, the female leads are shown smoking in style, which is seen emulating by many young girls. Beauty, success, emotional and physical toughness, independence and rebelliousness have often been associated with female smoking. In many instances even the cigarette brand has been deliberately shown at the subliminal level.
A survey depicts that seventy nine of the hundred and ten movies analyzed, presented smoking or tobacco with glamour and style. A sizeable number of movies related tobacco with stressful situation and thereby projecting tobacco as a panacea to all kinds of stress and tension. The false association of tobacco as a stress reliever has been created in sixty one of the hundred and ten movies analyzed. The association of tobacco with stress is factually and scientifically incorrect. There are no medical studies to even point that tobacco reduces stress. The association of tobacco with stress only promotes the tobacco industry marketing theme that smoking/tobacco reduces stress. It’s a scientific fact that tobacco is the major cause of hypertension and increased the chances of an infraction many folds.
False association of tobacco and smoking with glamour, bravery, success, stress etc. needs to put to an end immediately if the tobacco control efforts have to succeed and if millions of lives are to be saved.
The promotion of harmful substances like tobacco through mass media is undeniably against the established research of science’ against the direction provided by the Indian constitution and has the regrettable ability to degenerate the young people and hence the future of India and any civilization of the world.
In conclusion, the role of TV and movies as vehicles for promoting tobacco use has become even more important to be checked as other forms of tobacco promotion are constrained. This investment is part of a wider and more complex marketing strategy to support pro-tobacco social norms, including product placement in mass media, sponsorship and other modalities. Not only the tobacco traders but many of the film producers, directors and actors have also opposed ban on screening tobacco in films.
New Notification for Movies, TV Programmes Displaying Tobacco Products
With effect from 14.11.2011

In 2003, WHO conducted a study on the portrayal of tobacco in Indian cinema and its impact on youth audience before implementation of the Cigarettes and other Tobacco Products (Prohibition of Advertisement and Regulation of Trade and Commerce, Production, Supply and Distribution) Act, (COTPA) in 2003. Further in 2004 (post COTPA ), a second study titled on “Tobacco In Movies and Impact on Youth” documented changes in Bollywood’s tobacco imagery. This research found the following:
Key Findings
WHO study (2003)
Study by Burning Brain Society supported by WHO/MoH (2005)
Total tobacco containing movies
76% 89%
Lead character smoking
40.9% 75.5%
Tobacco brands/product placement and visibility
15.7% 41.0%
The Government had enacted the COTPA with the objective to protect the present and future generation from the adverse effects of tobacco usage and second hand smoke, through imposing progressive restriction.
As per Section – 5 of the Act, all forms of advertisement (direct, indirect/surrogate) promotion and sponsorship of tobacco products is prohibited. However, it was observed that when the advertising, promotion and sponsorship ban went into force, tobacco companies developed new marketing strategies to circumvent the law through depiction of tobacco use scenes and brand placement of tobacco products in movies.
The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW) has notified the rules for Cigarettes and other Tobacco Products (Prohibition of Advertisement and Regulation of Trade and Commerce, Production, Supply and Distribution) [second amendment rules] 2011. The rules were notified after consultation and taking into account the views of Ministry of Information and Broadcasting to make it more practical and implementable.

As per the Rules, all the old movies and TV programmes i.e. produced before the 14th November, 2011 displaying tobacco products or its use would have to mandatorily display:-
a. anti-tobacco health spots or messages of minimum thirty seconds duration each at the beginning and middle of the film or the television programme.
b. anti-tobacco health warning as a prominent scroll at the bottom of the screen during the period of such display.
And such programmes will be telecasted at such timings that are likely to have least viewership of minors.
For new films and TV programmes a strong editorial justification for display of tobacco products or their use shall be given to Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) along with UA certification, and it will be accompanied by the following:
a. A disclaimer, of minimum twenty seconds duration, by the concerned actor regarding the ill- effects of the use of such products, in the beginning and middle of the film or television programme;
b. anti-tobacco health spots or messages, of minimum thirty-second duration each at the beginning and interval of the film or the television programme;
(contd next col)

c. anti-tobacco health warning as a prominent scroll at the bottom of the screen during the period of such display;
There will be a representative of MoHFW in the CBFC.
In order to restrict blatant display of tobacco brands in old films and TV programmes these rules make it mandatory to crop /mask display of brands of cigarettes or any other tobacco product or any forms of product placement, close-ups and for new films and TV programmes such scenes should be edited/blurred by the producer prior to screening. The ban is on display of tobacco product or its usage also.
(PIB Features.)
31st May – World No Tobacco Day

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Sarita Brara
Nearly six million people across the world die because of direct or indirect use of tobacco every year and the figure could go up to eight million by 2030 unless urgent action is taken says WHO. In India one out of 10 Indian adults dies of tobacco related diseases and Tobacco is cause for 1.5lakh cancers, 4.2 million heart diseases, and 3.7 million lung diseases every year. Our country has one of the highest rates of oral cancer.
According to Tobacco Intervention Initiative statistics, 4300 lakh tobacco is consumed in the form bidis, chewing tobacco, gutka and snuff and smoking cigarettes. Fourteen crore men and 4 crore women are addicted to tobacco in India according to official figures. Over half of the male population around 57 per cent in the age group 15-49 years uses tobacco in some form and over one tenth of women in this age group also use tobacco. More than 5,000 youth in our country take to tobacco use every day.
The health ministry estimates that by 2020, tobacco will be responsible for 13% of all deaths in India and says that without any intervention, more than 38.4 million bidi smokers and 13.2 million cigarette smokers are likely to die prematurely. Second-hand smoke also remains a big problem. The misconception about certain tobacco products being safe also encourages many to consume tobacco in one or another form.
India launched the National Tobacco Control Programme in the 11th five year plan. It has ratified the WHO convention on tobacco control which recommends several strategies to reduce the demand and supply of tobacco. India was among the first few counties to set up a chain of tobacco cessation clinics at the district level. Several legislations are also in place for reducing tobacco usage and manufacture. These include Regulations of the Food Safety and Standards (Prohibition and Restrictions on Sales) Regulations of 2011, made under the Food Safety and Standards Act and Cigarette and other Tobacco Products (Packaging and Labelling) Amendment Rules, 2012.
As per the Regulations of the Food Safety and Standards (Prohibition and Restrictions on Sales) Regulations of 2011, made under the Food Safety and Standards Act, gutka, zarda, pan masala, gul, bajjar and such other toxic and addictive forms of chewing tobacco are mandated to be banned by various states.
Although 24 states and five union territories have so far banned gutka and paan masala containing tobacco, there is a question mark over the implementation of the ban. Whether it is the capital Delhi or other town where the ban is in place, gutka is being either sold openly or clandestinely in different names and pouches which is the people addicted to are even willing to pay a higher price.
The Supreme Court had last month sought compliance reports from all state governments that have banned the sale and manufacture of gutka and paan masala containing tobacco.
According to the new Cigarette and other Tobacco Products (Packaging and Labelling) Amendment Rules, 2012, notified on September 27, 2012, all tobacco product packs in the country are to carry new pictorial warnings which focussed in detail the portion of the human body affected by tobacco use.The health ministry had also for the first time inserted the word ‘Warning’ in the new pictorial warnings and mandated that this word be printed in ‘red’ colour along with the messages – ‘Smoking kills’ and ‘Tobacco kills’.
The new notification makes it mandatory for all tobacco makers both smoking forms and smokeless to maintain pictorial warnings in the states format and also to place the health warning in at least 40 per cent of the principal display area of the tobacco package.
At recent consultations several government and non-governmental organisations called for a complete ban on advertising, promotion and sponsorship of tobacco products in the country. The consultation was by HRIDAY (Health Related Information Dissemination Amongst Youth) and Voluntary Health Association of India (VHAI) in collaboration with the Health and Family Welfare ministry and the WHO Country Office for India. It was felt that despite the regulations, tobacco advertising, promotion and sponsorship is very rampant and youth-centric. The urgent need to strengthen the existing provisions of COTPA and a multi-sect oral and inter-governmental synergy was stressed to effectively implement a complete ban.
Advertising of tobacco products is restricted under the Cigarettes and Other Tobacco Products (Prohibition of Advertisement and Regulation of Trade and Commerce, Production, Supply and Distribution) Act, 2003, (COTPA).
It is also established that a majority of smokers as many as 70 per cent desire to quit, but only 30 per cent of them actually try each year, and only 3 to 5 percent actually succeed in quitting, states WHO.
The theme of this year World No Tobacco Day is: Ban tobacco advertising, promotion and sponsorship.A comprehensive ban of all tobacco advertising, promotion and sponsorship is required under the WHO Framework Convention for Tobacco Control (WHO FCTC) for all Parties to this treaty within five years of the entry into force of the Convention. Evidence shows that comprehensive advertising bans lead to reductions in the numbers of people starting and continuing smoking. Statistics show that banning tobacco advertising and sponsorship is one of the most cost-effective ways to reduce tobacco demand and thus control its usage.The objective of 2013 campaign is also drive local, national and international efforts to counteract tobacco industry efforts to undermine tobacco control, specifically industry efforts to stall or stop comprehensive bans on tobacco advertising, promotion and sponsorship.
Of the six million people who die of tobacco related diseases every year globally more than 600 000 are non-smokers dying from breathing second-hand smoke.The ultimate goal is to contribute to protect present and future generations not only from these devastating health consequences, but also against the social, environmental and economic consequences of tobacco use and exposure to tobacco smoke.
So until all forms of consumption of tobacco cease through regulations and laws the goal of tobacco free India cannot be fulfilled. There is therefore a need for all stake holders in public health to coordinate their effort for everyone to emphatically say No To Tobacco.
(PIB Features.)
31st May – World No Tobacco Day

Read more / Original news source: http://manipur-mail.com/say-no-to-tobacco/

Rohit Kapoor
Once blue chip Central Public Sector Enterprises (CPSEs) like BSNL, Air India, Hindustan Cables Ltd and Fertiliser Corporation of India today stand testimony as to how not changing with the changing times and technology could change their fate and turn them into sick units.
However, there has been always a silver lining in this regard as the government has been relentlessly making efforts to revive maximum number of sick public sector units (PSUs) to take the country’s growth engine forward. This was possible with the help of revival packages provided by the government to these units.
With this aim, the Government set up the Board for Reconstruction of Public Sector Enterprises (BRPSE) in December 2004 to advise the government, inter-alia, on the measures to restructure/revive, both industrial and non-industrial CPSEs.
Since then cases of around 67 sick CPSEs have been referred to BRPSE up to October 2012, out of which the Board has made recommendations in respect of 62 cases, while returning five cases to the concerned ministries for further examination.
No wonder, there has been significant improvement in the overall condition of these enterprises since 2004. In comparison to 90 sick CPSEs in March 2005, there were 66 sick PSUs in March 2012. As per the BRPSE recommendations, of these cases, 45 were accepted for revival by the Government.
Most of the remaining cases are awaiting nod for revival while in case of 45 cases accepted for revival, 14 have already turned around including Bharat Pumps and Compressors, Cement Corporation of India, HEC, Andrew Yule and MECON and making profits while others have been infused with revival packages.
The companies for which revival packages have been approved include Hindustan Shipyard, HMT and Scooters India.
As the CPSEs operate under dynamic market conditions, it is quite natural to see ups and downs in their performance.
As far as the reasons for losses and sickness in CPSEs are concerned it varies from enterprise-to-enterprise. While in some cases, the cause is historical. In case of textile companies which were taken over from private sector on socio-economic considerations could not be modernised quickly.
Likewise other enterprises in the engineering and refractories sector too failed to modernise. Still others like some consumer goods companies and the new ones, turned sick over the years on account of inadequate job orders, high man-power cost, lack of finance, technological obsolescence, high input costs and competition from cheap imports.
In addition, other problems common to most sick and loss-making PSUs have been poor debt-equity structure, weak marketing strategies and slow decision-making process.
As one such policy initiative, the Sick Industrial Companies (Special Provision) Act, 1985 (SICA) brought the CPSEs under its purview in 1991 (made effective from 1992). Under the provisions of the SICA, CPSEs with at least five years of registration whose accumulated losses are equal to or have exceeded their net worth may be referred to the BIFR. During the last twenty years — between 1992 and 2011, 63 CPSEs have been referred to BIFR.
The government has made several attempts to overcome “sickness” in these CPSEs through various policy initiatives.
The strategies for revival/restructuring of sick CPSEs include financial restructuring involving investment by the government in the form of equity participation, loans, waiver of debt etc and business restructuring which includes change of management, hiving off viable units from CPSEs for formation of separate company and closure of unviable units, besides formation of joint ventures.
The other strategies include manpower rationalisation by shedding excess manpower and introduction of voluntary retirement schemes.
The contribution of each and every company is significant as CPSEs are considered as the backbone of the economy and are equal partners in the nation building.
As on March 31, 2012, there were 260 CPSEs in the country. These companies contributed Rs 1.6 lakh crore to the central exchequer by way of taxes, duties, interest on loans and dividend, amounting to 21.4 per cent of government’s revenue receipts.
(PIB Features.)

Read more / Original news source: http://manipur-mail.com/nursing-sick-units-back-to-health/

M.V.S. Prasad
Joint Director, PIB, Chennai
It is well known that the small farmers do not have the economic strength to retain the produce with themselves till the market prices are favourable. There has been a felt need in the country to provide the farming community with facilities for scientific storage so that wastage and produce deterioration are avoided and also to enable it to meet its credit requirement without being compelled to sell the produce at a time when the prices are low. A network of rural godowns will enable small farmers to enhance their holding capacity in order to sell their produce at remunerative prices and avoid distress sales. Accordingly, Gramin Bhandaran Yojana, a capital investment subsidy scheme for construction / renovation of rural godowns was introduced in 2001-2002.
The main objectives of the scheme include creation of scientific storage capacity with allied facilities in rural areas to meet the requirements of farmers for storing farm produce, processed farm produce and agricultural inputs; promotion of grading, standardization and quality control of agricultural produce to improve their marketability; prevention of distress sale immediately after harvest by providing the facility of pledge financing and marketing credit; strengthen agricultural marketing infrastructure in the country by paving the way for the introduction of a national system of warehouse receipts in respect of agricultural commodities stored in such godowns and to reverse the declining trend of investment in agriculture sector by encouraging private and cooperative sectors to invest in the creation of storage infrastructure in the country.
The project for construction of rural godowns can be taken up by individuals, farmers, groups of farmers/growers, firms, non-Government organizations (NGOs), Self Help Groups(SHGs), companies, corporations, co-operatives, federations and agricultural produce marketing committees in the country.
Location
Under the scheme, the entrepreneur will be free to construct godown at any place, as per his/her commercial judgment except that it should be outside the limits of Municipal Corporation area. Rural godowns constructed in the food parks promoted by the Ministry of Food Processing Industries shall also be eligible under the scheme for assistance.
Size
Capacity of a godown shall be decided by an entrepreneur. However, Subsidy under the scheme shall be restricted to a capacity of minimum 100 tonnes and maximum 30,000 tonnes. Rural godowns of smaller size upto 50 tonnes capacity will also be eligible for subsidy under the scheme as a special case based on viability analysis. In hilly areas, rural godowns of smaller size upto 25 tonnes capacity will also be eligible for subsidy.
Conditions for Scientific Storage
Godowns built under the scheme shall be structurally sound on account of engineering considerations and functionally suitable to store the agricultural produce. The entrepreneur may obtain a licence to operate the godown, if required by the State Government concerned, under the State Warehousing Act or any other relevant laws.
(contd next col)
Gramin Bhandaran Yojana
The rural godowns of 1,000 tonnes capacity and more should get accreditation from Central Warehousing Cooperation (CWC).
Credit Linked Assistance
Subsidy under the scheme is linked to institutional credit and will be available to only such projects as are financed by commercial banks, Regional Rural Banks, state cooperative banks (SCBs), State Co-operative Agricultural and Rural Development Bank (SCARDBs), Agricultural Development Finance Companies (ADFCs), North Eastern Development Finance Corporation (NEDFI), Urban Cooperative Banks etc. Loan to the entrepreneurs from banks for the construction of godowns would carry an adequate long-term repayment period.
Assistance under the scheme shall be available on capital cost of construction of godown including the cost of allied facilities like boundary wall, internal road, platform, internal drainage system, weighing, grading, packaging, quality certification, warehousing facilities which are functionally required to operate the godown.
Pledge Loan Facility
The farmers keeping their produce in the godown shall be eligible to avail pledge loan on hypothecation of their produce. The terms and conditions governing pledge loans, rate of interest, period of pledge, amount etc. will be as per the guidelines issued by RBI/NABARD and as per normal banking practices followed by the financial institutions.
Subsidy
Rate of subsidy shall be:-
(a) 33.33% of the capital cost of the project for SC/ST entrepreneurs and their cooperatives and in case of projects located in North – Eastern States, hilly areas subject to a maximum ceiling on subsidy of Rs.3.00 crores.
(b) 25% of the capital cost of the project to all categories of farmers, agriculture graduates and cooperatives subject to a maximum ceiling on subsidy of Rs.2.25 crores.
(c) 15% of the capital cost of the project to all other categories of individuals, companies & corporations etc., subject to a maximum ceiling on subsidy of Rs.1.35 crores.
(d) 25% of the capital cost of the project for renovation of godowns of cooperatives with assistance from NCDC.
Capital cost of the project for the purpose of subsidy under the scheme shall be calculated as follows:
a) For godowns up to 1000 tonnes capacity – project cost as appraised by financing bank or actual cost or Rs.3500/- per tonne of storage capacity, whichever is lower;
b) For godowns exceeding 1000 tonnes capacity – project cost as appraised by bank or actual cost or Rs.1500/- per tonne of storage capacity, whichever is lower.
Subsidy shall be released through NABARD for projects financed by commercial, cooperative banks and RRBs. It will be kept in the Subsidy Reserve Fund Account of the financing bank and shall be tax free.
(PIB Features.) With inputs from the Ministry of Agriculture.

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