Tag: Features

O. P. Sharma
Mahatma Gandhi, a symbol of non-violence, truth and moral values paid a 4-day historical visit to strategic and sensitive Jammu and Kashmir State during a crucial period in first week of August, 1947 and played a pivotal role.
This was his life’s first and the only short visit in Kashmir which gave some turning points to course of events on the eve of Independence as well as thereafter by providing much-needed healing touch to the people in this sensitive and strategic border State.
The Father of the Nation always had his hand on the pulse of the people and his gospel of non-violence, truth and sincerity of purpose had already won the hearts of masses in Jammu and Kashmir as elsewhere in the country.
The visit was at a very momentous period on August 1-4, 1947 and had much historic importance for Jammu and Kashmir as well the entire country. It was a significant event then in 1947, but a spotlight on it now is also of much relevance for the people in this part of the country. Gandhiji’s message of peace and harmony has always stood the test of time and is so still very much relevant in our time now.
Historical Visit
The Indian National Congress leadership: Gandhiji, Pt Jawaharlal Nehru, Maulana Azad, Sardar Patel and other stalwarts had been source of inspiration and ideology during the movement in Jammu and Kashmir for attainment of responsive and democratic governance in place of the monarchy. The struggle in Kashmir was spearheaded by Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah who stood by the high principles of peaceful method and uphold the Hindu-Muslim unity at all cost. The Sheikh was imprisoned at the time of the Mahatma’s visit.
On August 1, 1947, Gandhiji reached Srinagar, the summer capital of Jammu and Kashmir State, to an affectionate welcome and grand reception by Begum Akbar Jehan wife of Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah and about 500 women social and political activists. He freely met the masses in Kashmir then. The Mahatma did not address any public rally during his three days stay in Srinagar but held two prayer meetings during which he gave expression to his ideas, impressions and idealism and at the same time highlighted the supremacy of the masses.
Significant Observations
Gandhiji made some famous observations which assumed historical significance: First, the Amritsar Treaty of 1846 under which Kashmir was given to Maharaja Gulab Singh was termed by him as “a sale deed”. He admired the masses for their exemplary role during the freedom movement as also in maintaining exemplary Hindu-Muslim unity at a time when there were dark clouds of strife and observed that he saw “a ray of hope” in Kashmir despite communal frenzy elsewhere on the sub-continent. Gandhiji also frowned on illumination when strategic Gilgit area was reverted back by the British to the J&K ruler and curiously observed and prophesied that Gilgit area will be ultimately “snatched”. His word proved true in less than a year as Gilgit was annexed by Pakistan.
Complex Situation
After enactment of Indian Independence Act by British Parliament on July 17, 1947, the Paramount powers of the Crown over rulers of Indian States was to lapse from August 15, 1947 and Lord Mountbatten called upon the princely States to join either of the Dominions- India or Pakistan- by deadline of Independence Day (August 15, 1947). There was pressure on the ruler from Muslim League led by Mohammad Ali Jinnah who propounded two-nation theory while the people of Kashmir led by Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah totally rejected the two-nation theory. The Maharaja of J&K State was unable to take decision in this complex situation.
The J&K State’s then Prime Minister, Ram Chand Kak, was removed within a short while after Gandhiji’s meeting with Maharaja Hari Singh during the visit.
Mahatma Gandhi was all praise for the tallest leader of Kashmir, Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah for his adherence to communal harmony, deep concern for down-trodden masses, democratic aspirations and nationalistic views. The Sheikh and his party, while firmly rejecting the two-nation theory, had consciously sided with the ideals of peace, progress, democracy and secularism.
During this visit to Jammu and Kashmir, Maharaja, Hari Singh and Maharani Tara Devi, cordially invited Gandhiji to the Palace and had an elaborate meeting. He was affectionately accorded traditional welcome with Arti and tilak by the Royal couple and also then young prince, Dr Karan Singh. Later, the details have been recorded by Dr. Karan Singh in his book titled “Heir Apparent”. Gandhiji during his visit also had met a number of delegations and preached his ideas and ideology both in Kashmir and Jammu..
Mahatma Gandhi wrote one report on this visit and sent it to Pt Jawaharlal Nehru with a request to show it to Sardar Vallabbhai Patel as well.
Subsequent events have amply proved Gandhiji right in many respects. The relevance of Gandhi’s message and teachings still have much relevance and significance for tackling the real problems still facing the people. By adhering to Gandhian ways, the solution to all issues can be found and permanent peace, progress and prosperity attained. Mahatma Gandhi’s 4-day visit on August 1-4, 1947 to Jammu and Kashmir forms a proud chapter of our history.
The Indian people are without Mahatma Gandhi, Father of the Nation, for the past 65 years but Gandhiji’s ideals still are like beacon light for not only the nation but the entire world.
On the birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi, it is time to re-dedicate ourselves to the lofty ideals and high principles of moral values for making the country including Jammu and Kashmir, a strong, secular country based on socio-economic justice.
(PIB Features)

Read more / Original news source: http://manipur-mail.com/mahatmas-historic-visit-to-jammu-and-kashmir/

Dr. K. Parameswaran ,Assistant Director, PIB, Madurai.
It was as if the sun had risen at night in Sitraruvipatti, a settlement hamlet in Vellimalaipatti Kottampatti block of Madurai District. The hamlet is situated in the foothills of the evergreen Alagarkovil reserve forest, about 39 kms from Madurai.
For Ayyavu, a small and marginal farmer and others, last September seventh was a day to be remembered for ever. They were literally “thamaso ma gamaya” – led from darkness to light – thanks to solar lighting systems.
When the solar lights were switched on, the loudest claps and cheers came from the children who had assembled there, probably because they can now bid good-bye’ to Kerosene lamps!
All the residents of Sitaruvipatti are small and marginal farmers who are actively engaged in agriculture – especially vegetable farming and horticulture. There are 30 children in the hamlet. Amongst them 20 walk to school about four kms away daily. Hither to they could use only kerosene lamps for pursuing their studies at home after dusk.
Through the coordinated efforts put in by the National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (Nabard), Indian Overseas Bank (IOB) and Selco Solar- an enterprise founded by Harish Hande, a Magsaysay Award winner for 2011 – Solar Home lighting has been introduced in this remote hamlet. In a glittering function, solar lighting system was inaugurated by Shri S.Natarajan, DGM, Nabard, Madurai. He requested more banks should come forward to finance solar systems in remote rural areas.
Shri R. Shankar Narayan, AGM, NABARD, Madurai said that IOB has financed the solar lighting system with 40% Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) subsidy under the Government’s Jawaharlal Nehru National Solar Mission (JNNSM). The Nabard channelised the subsidy, while 10% of the investment was provided by beneficiary contribution.
In order to optimize the exploitation of solar power and to promote commercial marketing of solar accessories, the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE), has evolved the JNNSM. As per the guidelines, the units could be located both in urban and rural areas and the models could be home lighting systems or inverter based systems capable of handling general AC loads. Beneficiaries are eligible for assistance under the scheme by way of 40% capital subsidy.
Release of loan shall be made directly to the manufacturers approved by MNRE. After loan sanction including subsidy, the bank shall approach NABARD for release of capital subsidy. On receipt of subsidy from NABARD, the bank shall disburse the loan directly to the manufacturers who will install the lighting systems as per MNRE approved specifications.
(PIB Features.)

Read more / Original news source: http://manipur-mail.com/sun-shines-even-at-midnight-in-sitraruvipatti-hamlet/

Alok Deshwal ,Deputy Director (Media & Communication)
Motilal Nehru (6th May, 1861 – 6th February, 1931) was one of the most eminent figures of modern India. He was associated with the Indian National Congress in its early years and after he was elected to the Provincial Legislative Council in 1910 his sphere of public activity both inside and outside the legislature increased considerably.
He supported the Home Rule Movement started by Smt. Annie Besant and was elected President of the Allahabad branch of the Home Rule League.
Shri Motilal Nehru was appointed a member of the Congress Enquiry Committee to enquire into the events of the Jallianwala Bagh massacre. This brought him into close contact with Mahatma Gandhi. He made a forceful Presidential address before the annual session of the Indian National Congress held in Amritsar in 1919 highlighting the Jallianwala Bagh incident.
He played a prominent role in the non-cooperation movement led by Mahatma Gandhi in 1921.
The decision to participate in the movement brought about a radical change in the lifestyle of Shri Motilal Nehru and he totally gave up the western way of living and started wearing simple khadi clothes which had become the symbol of Gandhian nationalism in India. He also gave up his legal practice at the call of the Mahatma.
Shri Motilal Nehru was a member of the committee which prepared the report on the national situation after the suspension of the non-cooperation movement and this report is a detailed and illuminating account of the non-cooperation movement and the manner in which the British Government sought to crush it. It is a valuable record of a very significant phase of the freedom movement in India.
With the collapse of the non-cooperation movement in 1922, it was necessary that a new direction be given to the popular desire for freedom from the British rule. Shri Motilal Nehru, in association with Shri C.R. Das and other nationalist leaders, met this need by organising the Swaraj Party.
Shri Motilal Nehru made a pioneering attempt to draft a Constitution for free India, with the provision of adult franchise.
The report prepared on the initiative of a sub-committee under the chairmanship of Shri Motilal Nehru constituted by the All Parties Conference came to be known as the Nehru Report which was released by the All India Congress Committee in 1928. This Report represented a pioneering effort by the nationalist leadership under the able guidance of Shri Motilal Nehru to create a constitutional design for an independent and democratic India and it anticipated the key features of the Constitution prepared in 1950 after the Independence of India.
Shri Motilal Nehru presided over the Calcutta Congress in December 1928 and his presidential speech was a clarion call for unity among the different nationalist groups and this Congress gave one year to the British to accept the demand of Dominion Status. His role in institution building – as Congress President in 1928 and as an elected legislator – are especially relevant in today’s multi-party parliamentary democracy.
The years 1929-1931 saw a very crucial phase of the Indian freedom struggle in which Shri Motilal Nehru played a significant role.
The Indian National Congress passed the Complete Independence resolution at its Lahore session in December 1929 followed by a mass Civil Disobedience Movement. Despite his ill health Shri Motilal Nehru travelled to Jambusar in Gujarat to demonstrate his moral support for the salt satyagraha initiated by Gandhiji.
The popular movement spread all over the country. As a result, most Congress leaders and workers were put in jail. Shri Motilal Nehru had to shoulder the responsibility of the Congress President till he was also arrested on 30 June and jailed. His health further deteriorated in jail. In view of his ill health he was released on 8 September 1930, a few months before he passed away on 6 February 1931.
Shri Motilal Nehru did not live to see the day when India became free but the leading role which he played in the national politics during the early stages of the Gandhian movement ensured that British rule over India would come to an end before long.
He had grown up as an admirer of British values and institutions but as the exploitative character of the British rule unfolded before his eyes he became a strong adversary of the Raj. He plunged into the struggle for freedom with a rare sense of commitment and love for his country. Shri Motilal Nehru, occupies a very special place in the history of the struggle for freedom in India.
He was a stalwart of the freedom struggle in more ways than one. As draftsman of the Nehru Report of 1928 he laid the foundation stone for a democratic system with adult suffrage, cultural and religious rights for all. In celebrating his memory we also rededicate ourselves to a common legacy created through a selfless public life.
(PIB Features.)

Read more / Original news source: http://manipur-mail.com/motilal-nehru/

Ashok Handoo
Electricity is one of the prime requirements for any country to develop. Without it, infrastructural bottlenecks accentuate, causing hurdles in growth across the board. Industries, Agriculture, services and in fact every walk of life need electricity to move forward. With this in view, India has been making all efforts to generate as much electricity as possible from different sources. These include Hydro, thermal, nuclear and even non conventional sources like solar and wind energy.
The country is facing acute power shortage and its per capita consumption is one of the lowest. 75 % of the electricity is generated by burning coal and natural gas. If we continue to bank on our coal reserves so heavily these are estimated to last just for another 40 years. Besides, burning of coal raises environmental issues which should be avoided to the extent we can. Twin challenges of power and clean environment have to be met squarely.
It is in this backdrop that the government of India has made energy generation through non-conventional sources one of its top priorities. Creation of a separate Ministry of new and renewable energy is a testimony to this effort. Because of these efforts generation from renewable sources of energy has trebled since 2005 from 5 to 15 GW. By 2022 it should reach 40 GW. According to an estimate, Potential of power generation through renewable sources of energy in the country is 150 GW. A lot more needs to be done therefore.
As of now, electricity generation from renewable sources of energy is only 3.5%. It is likely to increase to 10% by 2022.
Jawaharlal Nehru National Solar Mission, launched on the 11th January, 2010 by the Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh is a major initiative in the field of giving a boost to utilisation of non-conventional sources of energy. The Mission has set the ambitious target of deploying 20,000 MW of grid connected solar power by 2022 . It is aimed at reducing the cost of solar power generation in the country through long term policy; large scale deployment goals; aggressive R&D; and domestic production of critical raw materials, components and products. The Mission will create an enabling policy framework to achieve this objective and make India a global leader in solar energy.The 11th Five Year Plan witnessed an impressive progress in research and development and deployment in renewable energy sector. Ministry of new and renewable energy has sponsored 169 R&D projects in the area of solar energy, bio-energy and hydrogen and fuel cells with a total outlay of about Rs.525 crore. Renewables contributed to nearly 14,660 MW power during the 11th Plan and they will become more important in future.
The Ministry is providing subsidy of 30% of the benchmark cost of the solar photovoltaic (SPV) systems. It is also providing subsidy for installing solar lanterns, home lights and small capacity PV plants through NABARD, Regional Rural Banks and other Commercial Banks. Banks also extend credit facility to the beneficiaries at usual commercial rates to meet the rest of the cost. Upto 31st March, 2012 over nine lakh five thousand solar lanterns, eight lakh sixty two thousand solar home lights and about eight thousand solar water pumping systems have been installed in the country. During 2011-12, the Ministry sanctioned a project for installation of standalone SPV power plants aggregating to 8740 kWp capacity in 4115 schools and 9 examination centers. During the current financial year, a project for installation of 560 SPV water pumping systems in six districts of Bihar has been sanctioned. A Plan has also been prepared for increased exploitation of various renewable energy sources in the country during the 12th Plan .
The 12th Plan proposals envisage 29,800 MW grid-interactive and 3267 MW off-grid power generation capacity addition from various renewable energy sources and deployment of 7 lakh biogas plants, 35 lakh cook stoves, 8.5 lakh solar cookers and 80.5 lakh solar thermal energy systems in the country . Twenty million solar lighting systems and 20 million sq. solar thermal collector area is envisaged by 2022.
Efforts are also on to promote wind power through private sector investment by providing fiscal and promotional incentives such as concessional import duty on certain components of wind electric generators and excise duty exemption to manufacturers. 10 years tax holiday on income generated from wind power projects is also available.
Besides, loans for installing windmills are available from Indian Renewable Energy Development Agency (IREDA) and other Financial Institutions. Technical support is provided by the Centre for Wind Energy Technology (C-WET), Chennai. The Government had announced a Generation Based Incentive (GBI) during 11th Plan period.
Efforts are being made to continue the GBI scheme in 12th Plan.National Tariff Policy was amended mandating State discoms to have a solar RPO of 0.25% by 2013 reaching 3% by 2022. The Government has already implemented a scheme to procure 1000 MW of solar power and supplying it to State discoms after bundling with equivalent capacity of thermal power.
Even generation of power from garbage and municipal solid waste is also being given due attention. The 16 megawatt project installed at Okhla in New Delhi is the only such project in operation in the country. The project, commissioned in May this year, has so far generated about 24 million units (kWh) of electricity. Projects on energy from municipal solid wastes (MSW) are being taken up by the Municipal Corporations in public private partnership mode by tying up with selected private companies.
The need to tap new and renewable sources of energy to meet energy requirements of the country and protect the environment from greenhouse gases can hardly be overemphasised. Fortunately, there is abundance of solar energy available in most parts of the country. Ladakh, for instance has bright sunshine for 300 out of 360 days a year. No wonder it is one of the focus areas of the ministry in exploiting solar energy. What matters is to tap it for electricity generation or for other useful purposes. To make it affordable and cost effective, sincere efforts have to be made and suitable policies formulated. A total of around 1000 MW capacity solar power plants have been installed in the country in last two years and if this trend continues, the country will indeed achieve the target of 20000 MW by 2022. Alongside, due attention has to be paid to provide quality product and service to develop confidence among the users. PIB Features

Read more / Original news source: http://manipur-mail.com/renewable-energy-an-important-source/

Project Arrow is an initiative to transform India Post into a vibrant and responsive organization and to make a visible and positive difference in postal operations to benefit the customers. It has been launched with objective of modernizing the post and makes visible, tangible and noteworthy differences in the post office operations that matter to “Aam Aadmi”.
In specific terms, Project Arrow entails comprehensive improvement of the core operations of the Post Offices as well as the ambience in which postal transactions are undertaken. Enhancing the quality of services in ‘core areas’ envisages focus on Mail Delivery, Remittances, Savings Bank and Office service Levels. This is helping the Department of Posts to emerge as a one-stop shop for retail products and offer a single window facility for banking, money remittances and other financial products and services including social and civic initiatives. At present Monitoring of performance ‘Core Operations’ is done in 15,584 Post Offices and ‘Look & Feel’ has been improved in 1,843 Post offices.
Project Arrow will benefits Customers through – Direct communication with the outside world and development benefits in rural areas; Simpler and faster Money transactions through instant money order; ‘Local Citizens’ Forums’ formed who decide the performance norms for the respective post offices; Online public grievance handling and Monitoring through Video Conferences ensured sustainability and higher performance.
The Project Arrow experience is a working model for ushering in an integrated and lasting improvement in the postal system and awarded with “Prime ministers’ award for Excellence in Public Administration for 2008-2009” in 2010.
In the future it is proposed to include 3,000 more computerized post offices for monitoring of ‘Core Operations’ under Project Arrow Phase-VI during 2012-13 and later complete all 24,000 computerized Post offices during 12th Plan.
‘Look & Feel’ activity is proposed to be undertaken in 400 more Post offices during the financial year 2012-13 and expand in 2,500 post offices during 12th Plan in addition to existing 1843 post offices.
(PIB Features.)
Inputs from the Department of Posts.

Read more / Original news source: http://manipur-mail.com/project-arrow/

B. Narzary
Additional Director General(Media & Communication), PIB, New Delhi.
The Pradhan Mantri Swasthya Suraksha Yojana (PMSSY) aims at correcting the imbalances in the availability of affordable healthcare facilities in the different parts of the country in general, and augmenting facilities for quality medical education in the under-served States in particular. The scheme was approved in March 2006.
The first phase in the PMSSY has two components – setting up of six institutions in the line of AIIMS; and upgradation of 13 existing Government medical college institutions.
It has been decided to set up 6 AIIMS-like institutions, one each in the States of Bihar (Patna), Chattisgarh (Raipur), Madhya Pradesh (Bhopal), Orissa (Bhubaneswar), Rajasthan (Jodhpur) and Uttaranchal (Rishikesh) at an estimated cost of Rs 840 crores per institution. These States have been identified on the basis of various socio-economic indicators like human development index, literacy rate, population below poverty line and per capital income and health indicators like population to bed ratio, prevalence rate of serious communicable diseases, infant mortality rate etc. Each institution will have a 960 bedded hospital (500 beds for the medical college hospital; 300 beds for Speciality/Super Speciality; 100 beds for ICU/Accident trauma; 30 beds for Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation and 30 beds for Ayush) intended to provide healthcare facilities in 42 Speciality/Super-Speciality disciplines. Medical College will have 100 UG intake besides facilities for imparting PG/doctoral courses in various disciplines, largely based on Medical Council of India (MCI) norms and also nursing college conforming to Nursing Council norms.
In addition to this, 13 existing medical institutions spread over 10 States will also be upgraded, with an outlay of Rs. 120 crores (Rs. 100 crores from Central Government and Rs. 20 crores from State Government) for each institution.
These institutions are Government Medical College, Jammu, Jammu & Kashmir, Government Medical College, Srinagar, Jammu & Kashmir, Kolkatta Medical College, Kolkatta, West Bengal, Sanjay Gandhi Post Graduate Institute of Medical Sciences, Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, Institute of Medical Sciences, BHU, Varanasi, Uttar Pardesh, Nizam Institute of Medical Sciences, Hyderabad, Andhra Pradesh, Sri Venkateshwara Institute of Medical Sciences, Tirupati, Andhra Pradesh, Government. Medical College, Salem, Tamil Nadu, B.J. Medical College, Ahmedabad, Gujarat, Bangalore Medical College, Bangalore, Karnataka, Government Medical College, Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, Rajendra Institute of Medical Sciences (RIMS), Ranchi and Grants Medical College & Sir J.J. Group of Hospitals, Mumbai, Maharashtra.
In the second phase of PMSSY, the Government has approved the setting up of two more AIIMS-like institutions, one each in the States of West Bengal and Uttar Pradesh and upgradation of six medical college institutions namely Government Medical College, Amritsar, Punjab; Government Medical College, Tanda, Himachal Pradesh; Government Medical College, Madurai, Tamil Nadu; Government Medical College, Nagpur, Maharashtra, Jawaharlal Nehru Medical College of Aligarh Muslim University, Aligarh and Pt. B.D. Sharma Postgraduate Institute of Medical Sciences, Rohtak.
The estimated cost for each AIIMS-like institution is Rs. 823 crore. For upgradation of medical college institutions, Central Government will contribute Rs. 125 crore each.
In the third phase of PMSSY, it is proposed to upgrade the following existing medical college institutions namely Government Medical College, Jhansi, Uttar Pradesh; Government Medical College, Rewa, Madhya Pradesh; Government Medical College, Gorakhpur, Uttar Pradesh; Government Medical College, Dharbanga, Bihar; Government Medical College, Kozhikode, Kerala; Vijaynagar Institute of Medical Sciences, Bellary, Karnataka and Government Medical College, Muzaffarpur, Bihar.
The project cost for upgradation of each medical college institution has been estimated at Rs. 150 crores per institution, out of which Central Government will contribute Rs. 125 crores and the remaining Rs. 25 crore will be borne by the respective State Governments.
It is hoped that consequent to the successful implementation of PMSSY, better and affordable healthcare facilities will be easily accessible to one and all in the country.
(PIB Features.)
With inputs from the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare.]

Read more / Original news source: http://manipur-mail.com/pradhan-mantri-swasthya-suraksha-yojana/

The Prime Minister, Dr. Manmohan Singh, addressed the Full Planning Commission meeting in New Delhi today.
Following is the text of the Prime Minister’s opening remarks at the meeting :
“I welcome you to this meeting which has been convened to consider the draft Twelfth Five Year Plan.We ended the Eleventh Plan with some notable achievements. The economy grew at an average annual rate of 7.9 percent. This is commendable for a period which saw two global crises – one in 2008 and another in 2011.
Poverty declined twice as fast between 2004-05 and 2009-10 than it did in the previous ten years.Agriculture grew at 3.3 percent per annum in the Eleventh Plan, much faster than the 2.4 percent observed in the Tenth Plan.
These are positive features. However, we must also recognise that the Twelfth Plan is starting in a year when the world economy is experiencing difficulties and our economy has also slowed down.These short term problems present a challenge, but they should not lead us to undue pessimism about our medium term proposals.
The economy has gained many strengths. Our immediate priority must be to orchestrate a rebound in the second half of the current year. We should then try to accelerate growth to reach around 9 percent by the end of the Plan period.
This will yield a target growth rate of around 8.2 percent over the Twelfth Plan. This is lower than the 9 percent originally projected, but some downward revision is realistic given the state of the world economy.As the Plan document points out, our objective is not just growth of GDP, but growth that is inclusive and also sustainable. The Schedule Castes /Schedule Tribes, Other Backward Classes, and the minorities must all participate fully in the growth process. The Plan has many elements designed to ensure this outcome.
The most important area for immediate action is to speed up the pace of implementation of infrastructure projects. This is crucial for removing supply bottlenecks which constrain growth in other sectors. It will also boost investor sentiment to raise the overall rate of investment.The infrastructure ministries must set ambitious targets for their sectors over the Twelfth Plan. We need close to a trillion dollars of investment in infrastructure and we have to work hard to achieve this.I will personally review the performance of the infrastructure Ministries compared with targets at the end of the first six months. I hope that out of this review we can define an agenda for improved implementation.Turning to the longer term policy agenda, the Plan can be seen as consisting of three broad components.One is the set of Government programmes aimed at achieving specific sectoral objectives. The Plan contains ambitious programmes in health, education, water resource management, infrastructure development, and a number of programmes aimed at strengthening the processes of inclusiveness, most notably the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Programme, the PMGSY, the IWDP and the National Rural Livelihoods Mission.Considerable resources are being allocated for these programmes. We need to pay much greater attention to making sure that these programmes are also delivering results on the ground, particularly for the Schedule Castes/Schedule Tribes and the weaker sections. Some of the changes in the Centrally Sponsored Schemes suggested by the Chaturvedi Committee will help to improve effectiveness.
The second component relates to macro economic balances. To achieve the target of 8.2 percent growth we need to revive investment in the economy. The investment environment is therefore critical.Our fiscal deficit is too high and is attracting adverse comment from analysts. It must be brought down over the medium term to release domestic resources for productive deployment in the economy.
Because export prospects are not very encouraging, the Plan projects a current account deficit of 2.9 per cent of GDP. This must be financed mainly through Foreign Direct Investment and Foreign Institutional Investment flows, so that reliance on external debt is contained. I believe we can attract the financing we need provided our fiscal deficit is seen to be coming under control and the growth momentum is regained.
The third key component of the Plan is the set of policies which can improve performance in individual sectors. Let me mention a few key sector priorities.
Health, education, and skill development are key sectors which enhance human capability and can contribute hugely to the objective of promoting inclusive growth. They have been given high priority in the Twelfth Plan.
Agricultural growth must be accelerated to about 4 percent.
Manufacturing must grow much faster than it has, to generate the employment growth we need.
Infrastructure development is vital. It needs a combination of public investment and Public Private Partnerships.
Energy is a difficult area where our policy needs a comprehensive review. We are energy deficient and import dependence is going up. It is vital for our energy security that we increase domestic production and also increase energy efficiency. Rational energy pricing is therefore critical. Our energy prices are out of line with world prices. The recent increase in diesel prices is an important step in the right direction.
Water is another area where problems of scarcity and the challenges of effective resource management are likely to expand in the years that lie ahead.
Urbanisation is a new challenge which we must address.
The central message of the Plan is that we can achieve our objective provided we put in place policies that will take care of our weaknesses. The Plan for the first time introduces alternative scenarios.
Scenario one is called “Strong Inclusive growth”. It presents what is possible if the policy actions outlined in the Plan are substantially implemented. One can expect a number of virtuous cycles to start operating, leading to positive results on both growth and inclusion. This is the scenario we should aim at.Scenario two is called “insufficient action”. It describes a state of partial action with weak implementation.
The virtuous cycles that reinforce growth in Scenario I, will not kick in, and growth can easily slow down to 6 to 6.5 percent. Inclusiveness will also suffer.
This is where we will end up if we make only half-hearted efforts and slip in implementation. It is my sincere hope that we do not do so.
Scenario three is called “policy logjam”. It reflects a situation where for one reason or another, most of the policies needed to achieve Scenario 1 are not taken. If this continues for any length of time, vicious cycles begin to set in and growth could easily collapse to about 5 percent per annum, with very poor outcomes on inclusion.
I urge everyone interested in the country’s future to understand fully the implications of this scenario. They will quickly come to an agreement that the people of India deserve better than this.
I believe we can make Scenario one possible. It will take courage and some risks but it should be our endeavour to ensure that it materialises. The country deserves no less.”

Read more / Original news source: http://manipur-mail.com/pm-at-planning-commission-meeting/

The Marine security network will get a boost with the setting up of a Remote Operating Station (ROS) at Kochi as part of the Coastal Radar Network. This is being developed by Defence Public Sector Undertaking, Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL) for the Indian Coast Guard.
A Regional Operating Centre (ROC) at Mumbai and Remote Operating Station (ROS) at Porbandar as part of the Coastal Radar Network has also been set up.
The Chain of Static Sensors project being steered by the Indian Coast Guard, finds it’s origin in the recommendations made by the Group of Ministers (GoM) on reforming the National Security system post Kargil conflict. After detailed Inter Ministerial Deliberations it was decided that the Indian Coast Guard would implement this ambitious project. In order to define the project requirement for the Phase-I of the project, a detailed vulnerability Gap analysis and feasibility study was undertaken by the Indian Coast Guard along with other stake holders, viz. DGLL, Indian Navy, concerned State Governments etc. Accordingly, the phase-I was conceptualized to provide real­ time surveillance cover upto 25 nautical miles around the areas of high sensitivity and traffic density along our coast line.
Post 26/11 terrorist attacks in Mumbai, there was an emergent need to strengthen our Coastal Security apparatus. Accordingly, this project was progressed on a fast track. Considering the Strategic Nature of the Project and with an aim to develop indigenous capabilities in the field, it was decided to implement this project through BEL. The contract for this turnkey project was concluded with BEL, Bangalore in Sep 2011 at a cost of Rs.601.75 Crores with an implementation schedule of 12 months and 18 months for the mainland and the island sites, respectively.
The project envisages integration of high end surveillance gadgets viz. Frequency Diversity Radar, Electro Optic sensors (CCD Day Camera, LLTV and Thermal Imagers), VHF sets and Met equipment on lighthouses and masts erected on DGLL land at 36 locations in mainland, 06 locations in Lakshadweep & Minicoy Islands and 04 in Andaman & Nicobar Islands. The data generated by the Static Sensors will flow over a robust hierarchal network architecture, connecting Coast Guard District Headquarters (Regional Operating Stations) and Regional Headquarters (Remote Operating Centers) to Coast Guard Headquarters (Control Center) at New Delhi. The sensor data generated from this network would be further supplemented with the AIS data from the National Automatic Identification System (NAIS) Chain of DGLL/MoS and interfaced with the Vessel Traffic Management Systems of the major ports, Fishing Vessel Monitoring System, Long Range Identification and Tracking (LRIT) and National Command Communication Control and intelligence Network (NC3I) of Indian Navy.
The project of Chain of Static Sensors aims at preventing undetected intrusion by monitoring the movement of vessels plying along our coastline. The project would also aid in enhancing the efficacy of Search and Rescue (SAR) operations coordinated by the Coast Guard. The sensor data generated by the Coastal Surveillance Network would also be shared with other maritime agencies via the National Command Communication Control and intelligence Network NC3I network to generate a comprehensive Maritime Domain Awareness (MDA). The project of Chain of Static Sensors, is the first of its kind both in terms of expanse and strategic implications. Despite the inherent complexities of the project, involving multi agency coordination at all levels, the project has progressed as per the stipulated time lines.
Upon completion of the Phase-I, it is planned to take up Phase-II of the project, wherein, 38 additional Remote Radar sites would be established. 21 sites of the VTMS Gulf of Kutch and Gulf of Khambhat would also be integrated during the Phase II.
During the Phase-II, the Static Radar Chain is also proposed to be supplemented by 08 Mobile Surveillance Systems. Upon integration of the Phase-I and Phase-II, the Chain of Static Sensors would provide near gap free electronic surveillance of the entire Indian coast line upto the 25 nautical miles from the Coast.
(PIB Features.)
Inputs from the Ministry of Defence.

Read more / Original news source: http://manipur-mail.com/cluster-of-coastal-radar-network/

The Marine security network will get a boost with the setting up of a Remote Operating Station (ROS) at Kochi as part of the Coastal Radar Network. This is being developed by Defence Public Sector Undertaking, Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL) for the Indian Coast Guard.
A Regional Operating Centre (ROC) at Mumbai and Remote Operating Station (ROS) at Porbandar as part of the Coastal Radar Network has also been set up.
The Chain of Static Sensors project being steered by the Indian Coast Guard, finds it’s origin in the recommendations made by the Group of Ministers (GoM) on reforming the National Security system post Kargil conflict. After detailed Inter Ministerial Deliberations it was decided that the Indian Coast Guard would implement this ambitious project. In order to define the project requirement for the Phase-I of the project, a detailed vulnerability Gap analysis and feasibility study was undertaken by the Indian Coast Guard along with other stake holders, viz. DGLL, Indian Navy, concerned State Governments etc. Accordingly, the phase-I was conceptualized to provide real­ time surveillance cover upto 25 nautical miles around the areas of high sensitivity and traffic density along our coast line.
Post 26/11 terrorist attacks in Mumbai, there was an emergent need to strengthen our Coastal Security apparatus. Accordingly, this project was progressed on a fast track. Considering the Strategic Nature of the Project and with an aim to develop indigenous capabilities in the field, it was decided to implement this project through BEL. The contract for this turnkey project was concluded with BEL, Bangalore in Sep 2011 at a cost of Rs.601.75 Crores with an implementation schedule of 12 months and 18 months for the mainland and the island sites, respectively.
The project envisages integration of high end surveillance gadgets viz. Frequency Diversity Radar, Electro Optic sensors (CCD Day Camera, LLTV and Thermal Imagers), VHF sets and Met equipment on lighthouses and masts erected on DGLL land at 36 locations in mainland, 06 locations in Lakshadweep & Minicoy Islands and 04 in Andaman & Nicobar Islands. The data generated by the Static Sensors will flow over a robust hierarchal network architecture, connecting Coast Guard District Headquarters (Regional Operating Stations) and Regional Headquarters (Remote Operating Centers) to Coast Guard Headquarters (Control Center) at New Delhi. The sensor data generated from this network would be further supplemented with the AIS data from the National Automatic Identification System (NAIS) Chain of DGLL/MoS and interfaced with the Vessel Traffic Management Systems of the major ports, Fishing Vessel Monitoring System, Long Range Identification and Tracking (LRIT) and National Command Communication Control and intelligence Network (NC3I) of Indian Navy.
The project of Chain of Static Sensors aims at preventing undetected intrusion by monitoring the movement of vessels plying along our coastline. The project would also aid in enhancing the efficacy of Search and Rescue (SAR) operations coordinated by the Coast Guard. The sensor data generated by the Coastal Surveillance Network would also be shared with other maritime agencies via the National Command Communication Control and intelligence Network NC3I network to generate a comprehensive Maritime Domain Awareness (MDA). The project of Chain of Static Sensors, is the first of its kind both in terms of expanse and strategic implications. Despite the inherent complexities of the project, involving multi agency coordination at all levels, the project has progressed as per the stipulated time lines.
Upon completion of the Phase-I, it is planned to take up Phase-II of the project, wherein, 38 additional Remote Radar sites would be established. 21 sites of the VTMS Gulf of Kutch and Gulf of Khambhat would also be integrated during the Phase II.
During the Phase-II, the Static Radar Chain is also proposed to be supplemented by 08 Mobile Surveillance Systems. Upon integration of the Phase-I and Phase-II, the Chain of Static Sensors would provide near gap free electronic surveillance of the entire Indian coast line upto the 25 nautical miles from the Coast.
(PIB Features.)
Inputs from the Ministry of Defence.

Read more / Original news source: http://manipur-mail.com/cluster-of-coastal-radar-network/

Amit Guin
At a time when the bilateral trade in goods between India and the European Union was € 40 billion, when India exported € 3.8 billion worth of services to EU, and when EU was India’s largest source of foreign direct investment; or in short when there were healthy trends in bilateral trade and investment between the two, the seeds of a High Level Trade Group (HLTG) were sown during the 2005 India-EU Summit to explore ways to give further boost to trade and investment between the duo. Different platforms were thought over during the brainstorming discussions by the HLTG. It was commonly agreed upon during the discussions that only after the removal of non-tariff obstacles to trade could the dream of strong trade ties be built. It was finally recommended that a broader platform for expanded trade ties be inculcated through the negotiations of a broad-based Bilateral Trade and Investment Agreement (BTIA).
The India-EU BTIA talks have since then discussed issues related to trade in goods and services, sanitary & phyto-sanitary measures, intellectual property rights, technical barriers to trade, dispute settlement, customs and trade facilitation and procurement among others.
But from the period when the negotiations for BTIA started in June 2007 till today, the economic scenario has worsened and become gloomier for both India and the European Union.
With the Eurozone economy forecast to shrink by 0.3 per cent in 2012, and with the European Commission crystal gazing zero growth for the current year for all the 27 Member States and 1.3 per cent growth for the coming year, the picture is all dispirited for the European Union. On the other hand, India’s economy is projected to grow by 6-7 per cent, much below the norm of 9 per cent.
Hence, in this scenario when the global economy is on a boil, the BTIA could make them strengthen their positions and help regain the confidence lost both domestically and internationally.
It is to be noted that the bilateral trade between India and EU in 2011-12 stood at USD 109.87 billion which increased from USD 90.62 billion during 2010-11. The India-EU BTIA is paramount owing to the fact that it will give a projected leapfrog of € 150 billion to the bilateral trade by the year 2015. Added to this is that the fructification of the trade agreement would slash duties on over 90 per cent of the bilateral trade. Along with helping in more job creation, the trade agreement would also let EU to have a greater say in the Asia’s commercial sphere.
But the road ahead is not so flowery as it seems to be. There are enough hurdles for the negotiators to cross so that the agreement sees the light of the day.
A major issue which is of concern to India is related to the safeguard clause introduced for the Mode 4 (the supply of a service by nationals of one Member, through the presence of natural persons of the Member in the territory of any other Member) quota which would substantially puncture the expected gains from this. Hence, India seeks that for the movement of natural persons for providing services under Mode 4 to happen, the safeguard clause should be removed to 20 per cent threshold beyond which the clause could operate. At the same time, in Mode 1 (cross-border trade), India needs to be declared as data secure in order to provide access. According to a study done by Boston Consulting Group, it is expected that because of Mode 1, there would be over six million jobs and a generation of revenue worth USD 170 billion by 2020 in India.
Another roadblock is the reduction of duties on automobiles, wines and spirits. In the automobile sector, EU has sought for tariff cuts from the existing 60 per cent. In the case of wines and spirits, EU is looking for further reduction in duties from the existing 150 per cent. A middle road could be arrived through a mutually acceptable duty cut.
India has also conveyed her concerns regarding Sanitary and Phyto-sanitary (SPS), Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) and Non-Tariff barriers (NTBs).
Keeping in mind the levels of economic development, India has asked EU to eliminate tariffs on at least 5 per cent more tariff lines and 5 per cent more trade volume than what India does.
This will help India take deeper revenue cuts on account of duty elimination/reduction. But EU has flagged difficulties in achieving asymmetry of more than 4 per cent. India has sought the elimination of NTBs as it is of the opinion that mere reduction in tariffs will not pave the way for increased trade.
At the same time, India has stated that its exports to EU have been hampered by EU’s SPS measures, which had its impact on the exports of agricultural and food products, and also by TBT, which had grossly affected the exports of industrial products. India is of the opinion that strong SPS and TBT measures will also help in developing a framework for looking into the causes of NTBs faced by Indian exporters, while at the same time duly respecting each other’s legitimate public policy objectives.
The India-EU FTA has also impacted the Indian pharmaceutical industry. It is well-known that Indian pharmaceutical industry obliges to World Trade Organisation’s (WTO) Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS). But, now EU is asking India to adopt intellectual property protection standards more than what is under TRIPS. India has clearly conveyed to the EU that India will limit any agreement to its existing laws and to obligations under TRIPS. India has clearly stated that it cannot go beyond the same.
Negotiations, which commenced on June 28, 2007 at Brussels, and carried out as per the mandate received from the Trade & Economic Relations Committee, have been held fourteen times in all. Apart from these deliberations, officials from both the ends have continuously engaged in sector-specific inter-sessionals, digital video conferences to iron out the issues.
Along with these interactions, India and EU have engaged each other through India-EU Joint Commission and its Sub-Commissions (on trade, economic cooperation and development cooperation) to mull over contemporary issues relevant to trade and commerce. (PIB Features.)

Read more / Original news source: http://manipur-mail.com/india-eu-btia-negotiations-what-is-india-asking-for/

The country level tiger population, estimated once in every four years using the refined methodology, has shown an increasing trend with a population estimate of 1706, lower and upper limits being 1520 and 1909 respectively in the recent all India estimation (2010), as compared to the last country level estimation of 2006, with an estimate of 1411, lower and upper limits being 1165 and 1657 respectively.
Initiatives Taken by the Government
Legal Steps
Amendment of the Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972 for providing enabling provisions towards constituting the National Tiger Conservation Authority and the Tiger and Other Endangered Species Crime Control Bureau.
Enhancement of punishment in cases of offence relating to a tiger reserve or its core area.
Administrative Steps
Strengthening of antipoaching activities, including special strategy for monsoon patrolling, by providing funding support to Tiger Reserve States, as proposed by them, for deployment of antipoaching squads involving ex-army personnel/home guards, apart from workforce comprising of local people, in addition to strengthening of communication / wireless facilities.
Constitution of the National Tiger Conservation Authority with effect from 4.09.2006, for strengthening tiger conservation by, interalia, ensuring normative standards in tiger reserve management, preparation of reserve specific tiger conservation plan, laying down annual audit report before Parliament, constituting State level Steering Committees under the Chairmanship of Chief Ministers and establishment of Tiger Conservation Foundation.
Constitution of a multidisciplinary Tiger and Other Endangered Species Crime Control Bureau (Wildlife Crime Control Bureau) with effect from 6.6.2007 to effectively control illegal trade in wildlife.
The in-principle approval has been accorded by the National Tiger Conservation Authority for creation of five new tiger reserves, and the sites are:, Pilibhit (Uttar Pradesh), Ratapani (Madhya Pradesh), Sunabeda (Orissa) and Mukundara Hills (including Darrah, Jawahar Sagar and Chambal Wildlife Sanctuaries) (Rajasthan) and Satyamangalam (Tamil Nadu). Final approval has been accorded to Kudremukh (Karnataka) for declaring as a Tiger Reserve. Besides, the States have been advised to send proposals for declaring the following areas as Tiger Reserves: (i) Bor (Maharashtra), (ii) Suhelwa (Uttar Pradesh), (iii) Nagzira-Navegaon (Maharashtra), (iv) Guru Ghasidas National Park (Chhattisgarh), (v) Mhadei Sanctuary (Goa) and (vi) Srivilliputhur Grizzled Giant Squirrel / Megamalai Wildlife Sanctuaries / Varushanadu Valley (Tamil Nadu).
The revised Project Tiger guidelines have been issued to States for strengthening tiger conservation, which apart from ongoing activities, interalia, include funding support to States for enhanced village relocation/rehabilitation package for people living in core or critical tiger habitats (from Rs. 1 lakh/family to Rs. 10 lakhs/family), rehabilitation/resettlement of communities involved in traditional hunting, mainstreaming livelihood and wildlife concerns in forests outside tiger reserves and fostering corridor conservation through restorative strategy to arrest habitat fragmentation.
A scientific methodology for estimating tiger (including co-predators, prey animals and assessment of habitat status) has been evolved and mainstreamed. The findings of this estimation/assessment are bench marks for future tiger conservation strategy.
An area of 34070.46 sq. km. has been notified by 17 Tiger States as core or critical tiger habitat under section 38V of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972, as amended in 2006.
Financial Steps
Financial and technical help is provided to the States under various Centrally Sponsored Schemes, viz. Project Tiger and Integrated Development of Wildlife Habitats for enhancing the capacity and infrastructure of the States for providing effective protection to wild animals.
International Cooperation
India has a bilateral understanding with Nepal on controlling trans-boundary illegal trade in wildlife and conservation, apart from a protocol on tiger conservation with China.
A protocol has been signed in September, 2011 with Bangladesh for conservation of the Royal Bengal Tiger of the Sunderban.
A sub-group on tiger/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.
During the 14th meeting of the Conference of Parties to CITES, which was held from 3rd to 15th June, 2007 at The Hague, India introduced a resolution along with China, Nepal and the Russian Federation, with directions to Parties with operations breeding tigers on a commercial scale, for restricting such captive populations to a level supportive only to conserving wild tigers. The resolution was adopted as a decision with minor amendments.
Further, India made an intervention appealing to China to phase out tiger farming, and eliminate stockpiles of Asian big cats body parts and derivatives. The importance of continuing the ban on trade of body parts of tigers was emphasized.
Based on India’s strong intervention during the 58th meeting of the Standing Committee of the CITES at Geneva from 6th to 10th July, 2009, the CITES Secretariat has issued a notification to Parties to submit reports relating to compliance of Decisions 14.69 and 14.65 within 90 days with effect from 20.10.2009 (Progress made on restricting captive breeding operations of tigers etc.).
Reintroduction of Tigers
As a part of active management to rebuild Sariska and Panna Tiger Reserves where tigers have become locally extinct, reintroduction of tigers / tigresses have been done.
Special advisories issued for in-situ build up of prey base and tiger population through active management in tiger reserves having low population status of tiger and its prey.
Creation of Special Tiger Protection Force (STPF)
The policy initiatives announced by the Finance Minister in the Budget Speech of 29 February, 2008, interalia, contains action points relating to tiger protection. Based on the one time grant of Rs. 50.00 crore provided to the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) for raising, arming and deploying a Special Tiger Protection Force, the proposal for the said force has been approved by the competent authority for 13 tiger reserves. Rs. 93 lakhs each has been released to Corbett, Ranthambhore & Dudhwa Tiger Reserve for creation of STPF during 2008-09.
Since then, the guidelines of the STPF have been revised for deploying forest personnel in place of Police as an option-II, with scope for involving local people like the Van Gujjars. During the year 2010-11 and 2011-12, an amount of Rs. 270 lakhs has been provided to the Similipal Tiger Reserve for raising, arming and deploying the STPF. The States of Karnataka and Maharashtra have already deployed the STPF.
In collaboration with TRAFFIC-INDIA, an online tiger crime data base has been launched, and Generic Guidelines for preparation of reserve specific Security Plan has been evolved.
Recent Initiatives
Implementing a tripartite MOU with tiger States, linked to fund flows for effective implementation of tiger conservation initiatives.
Rapid assessment of tiger reserves done.
Special crack teams sent to tiger reserves affected by left wing extremism and low population status of tiger and its prey.
Chief Ministers of States having tiger reserves affected by left wing extremism and low population status of tiger and its prey addressed for taking special initiatives.
Steps taken for modernizing the infrastructure and field protection, besides launching ‘M-STrIPES’ for effective field patrolling and monitoring.
Steps taken for involvement of Non-Governmental Experts in the ongoing all India tiger estimation.
Initiatives taken for improving the field delivery through capacity building of field officials, apart from providing incentives.
Action initiated for using Information Technology to strengthen surveillance in tiger reserves.
The second round of country level tiger status assessment completed in 2010, with the findings indicating an increase with a tiger population estimate of 1706, lower and upper limits being 1520 and 1909 respectively, as compared to the last country level estimation of 2006, with an estimate of 1411, lower and upper limits being 1165 and 1657 respectively.
The second round of independent assessment of Management Effectiveness Evaluation of Tiger Reserves done in 2010-11 for 39 tiger reserves based on globally used framework.
Increase in the allocation for Project Tiger with additional components.
Providing special assistance for mitigation of human-tiger conflicts in problematic areas.
As an outcome of the fourth Trans-border Consultative Group Meeting held in New Delhi, a joint resolution has been signed with Nepal for biodiversity / tiger conservation.
Regional Offices of the National Tiger Conservation Authority sanctioned at Nagpur, Bengaluru and Guwahati.
Launching of Phase-IV tiger reserve level monitoring.
(PIB Features.)
Inputs from the Ministry of Environment & Forests.

Read more / Original news source: http://manipur-mail.com/saving-the-tiger/

The country level tiger population, estimated once in every four years using the refined methodology, has shown an increasing trend with a population estimate of 1706, lower and upper limits being 1520 and 1909 respectively in the recent all India estimation (2010), as compared to the last country level estimation of 2006, with an estimate of 1411, lower and upper limits being 1165 and 1657 respectively.
Initiatives Taken by the Government
Legal Steps
Amendment of the Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972 for providing enabling provisions towards constituting the National Tiger Conservation Authority and the Tiger and Other Endangered Species Crime Control Bureau.
Enhancement of punishment in cases of offence relating to a tiger reserve or its core area.
Administrative Steps
Strengthening of antipoaching activities, including special strategy for monsoon patrolling, by providing funding support to Tiger Reserve States, as proposed by them, for deployment of antipoaching squads involving ex-army personnel/home guards, apart from workforce comprising of local people, in addition to strengthening of communication / wireless facilities.
Constitution of the National Tiger Conservation Authority with effect from 4.09.2006, for strengthening tiger conservation by, interalia, ensuring normative standards in tiger reserve management, preparation of reserve specific tiger conservation plan, laying down annual audit report before Parliament, constituting State level Steering Committees under the Chairmanship of Chief Ministers and establishment of Tiger Conservation Foundation.
Constitution of a multidisciplinary Tiger and Other Endangered Species Crime Control Bureau (Wildlife Crime Control Bureau) with effect from 6.6.2007 to effectively control illegal trade in wildlife.
The in-principle approval has been accorded by the National Tiger Conservation Authority for creation of five new tiger reserves, and the sites are:, Pilibhit (Uttar Pradesh), Ratapani (Madhya Pradesh), Sunabeda (Orissa) and Mukundara Hills (including Darrah, Jawahar Sagar and Chambal Wildlife Sanctuaries) (Rajasthan) and Satyamangalam (Tamil Nadu). Final approval has been accorded to Kudremukh (Karnataka) for declaring as a Tiger Reserve. Besides, the States have been advised to send proposals for declaring the following areas as Tiger Reserves: (i) Bor (Maharashtra), (ii) Suhelwa (Uttar Pradesh), (iii) Nagzira-Navegaon (Maharashtra), (iv) Guru Ghasidas National Park (Chhattisgarh), (v) Mhadei Sanctuary (Goa) and (vi) Srivilliputhur Grizzled Giant Squirrel / Megamalai Wildlife Sanctuaries / Varushanadu Valley (Tamil Nadu).
The revised Project Tiger guidelines have been issued to States for strengthening tiger conservation, which apart from ongoing activities, interalia, include funding support to States for enhanced village relocation/rehabilitation package for people living in core or critical tiger habitats (from Rs. 1 lakh/family to Rs. 10 lakhs/family), rehabilitation/resettlement of communities involved in traditional hunting, mainstreaming livelihood and wildlife concerns in forests outside tiger reserves and fostering corridor conservation through restorative strategy to arrest habitat fragmentation.
A scientific methodology for estimating tiger (including co-predators, prey animals and assessment of habitat status) has been evolved and mainstreamed. The findings of this estimation/assessment are bench marks for future tiger conservation strategy.
An area of 34070.46 sq. km. has been notified by 17 Tiger States as core or critical tiger habitat under section 38V of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972, as amended in 2006.
Financial Steps
Financial and technical help is provided to the States under various Centrally Sponsored Schemes, viz. Project Tiger and Integrated Development of Wildlife Habitats for enhancing the capacity and infrastructure of the States for providing effective protection to wild animals.
International Cooperation
India has a bilateral understanding with Nepal on controlling trans-boundary illegal trade in wildlife and conservation, apart from a protocol on tiger conservation with China.
A protocol has been signed in September, 2011 with Bangladesh for conservation of the Royal Bengal Tiger of the Sunderban.
A sub-group on tiger/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.
During the 14th meeting of the Conference of Parties to CITES, which was held from 3rd to 15th June, 2007 at The Hague, India introduced a resolution along with China, Nepal and the Russian Federation, with directions to Parties with operations breeding tigers on a commercial scale, for restricting such captive populations to a level supportive only to conserving wild tigers. The resolution was adopted as a decision with minor amendments.
Further, India made an intervention appealing to China to phase out tiger farming, and eliminate stockpiles of Asian big cats body parts and derivatives. The importance of continuing the ban on trade of body parts of tigers was emphasized.
Based on India’s strong intervention during the 58th meeting of the Standing Committee of the CITES at Geneva from 6th to 10th July, 2009, the CITES Secretariat has issued a notification to Parties to submit reports relating to compliance of Decisions 14.69 and 14.65 within 90 days with effect from 20.10.2009 (Progress made on restricting captive breeding operations of tigers etc.).
Reintroduction of Tigers
As a part of active management to rebuild Sariska and Panna Tiger Reserves where tigers have become locally extinct, reintroduction of tigers / tigresses have been done.
Special advisories issued for in-situ build up of prey base and tiger population through active management in tiger reserves having low population status of tiger and its prey.
Creation of Special Tiger Protection Force (STPF)
The policy initiatives announced by the Finance Minister in the Budget Speech of 29 February, 2008, interalia, contains action points relating to tiger protection. Based on the one time grant of Rs. 50.00 crore provided to the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) for raising, arming and deploying a Special Tiger Protection Force, the proposal for the said force has been approved by the competent authority for 13 tiger reserves. Rs. 93 lakhs each has been released to Corbett, Ranthambhore & Dudhwa Tiger Reserve for creation of STPF during 2008-09.
Since then, the guidelines of the STPF have been revised for deploying forest personnel in place of Police as an option-II, with scope for involving local people like the Van Gujjars. During the year 2010-11 and 2011-12, an amount of Rs. 270 lakhs has been provided to the Similipal Tiger Reserve for raising, arming and deploying the STPF. The States of Karnataka and Maharashtra have already deployed the STPF.
In collaboration with TRAFFIC-INDIA, an online tiger crime data base has been launched, and Generic Guidelines for preparation of reserve specific Security Plan has been evolved.
Recent Initiatives
Implementing a tripartite MOU with tiger States, linked to fund flows for effective implementation of tiger conservation initiatives.
Rapid assessment of tiger reserves done.
Special crack teams sent to tiger reserves affected by left wing extremism and low population status of tiger and its prey.
Chief Ministers of States having tiger reserves affected by left wing extremism and low population status of tiger and its prey addressed for taking special initiatives.
Steps taken for modernizing the infrastructure and field protection, besides launching ‘M-STrIPES’ for effective field patrolling and monitoring.
Steps taken for involvement of Non-Governmental Experts in the ongoing all India tiger estimation.
Initiatives taken for improving the field delivery through capacity building of field officials, apart from providing incentives.
Action initiated for using Information Technology to strengthen surveillance in tiger reserves.
The second round of country level tiger status assessment completed in 2010, with the findings indicating an increase with a tiger population estimate of 1706, lower and upper limits being 1520 and 1909 respectively, as compared to the last country level estimation of 2006, with an estimate of 1411, lower and upper limits being 1165 and 1657 respectively.
The second round of independent assessment of Management Effectiveness Evaluation of Tiger Reserves done in 2010-11 for 39 tiger reserves based on globally used framework.
Increase in the allocation for Project Tiger with additional components.
Providing special assistance for mitigation of human-tiger conflicts in problematic areas.
As an outcome of the fourth Trans-border Consultative Group Meeting held in New Delhi, a joint resolution has been signed with Nepal for biodiversity / tiger conservation.
Regional Offices of the National Tiger Conservation Authority sanctioned at Nagpur, Bengaluru and Guwahati.
Launching of Phase-IV tiger reserve level monitoring.
(PIB Features.)
Inputs from the Ministry of Environment & Forests.

Read more / Original news source: http://manipur-mail.com/saving-the-tiger/

Jiten Yumnam
Two interesting sequential events marks end of August 2012. The formation of Sub Group and finalization of Terms of Reference between the Governments of India and Bangladesh on 28 August 2012 for joint surveys to assess the impacts of proposed 1500 MW Tipaimukh Dam over Barak River in Manipur comes just a day ahead of India offering Bangladesh a grant of US dollar 200 Million out of one Billion US dollar stipulated aid just a day later.
One wonders why the grant decision has to come around the time of finalizing the terms of agreements on Tipaimukh Dam joint surveys. Under the terms of reference, each country is envisaged for assessments in their respective sides. No one knows the contents of the terms of agreements, except some media reporting that Bangladesh has been offered a handsome stake in Tipaimukh Dam project. One is also left at lurch if and how Bangladesh will and can ever accept a stake in Tipaimukh dam, which will cause irreparable multifaceted social and environmental devastations, not just in Manipur, Assam, Mizoram but also in Bangladesh. One also wonders if Bangladesh will ever conduct an honest, participatory and holistic impact assessment, at least in their side, and if their assessment would be subjected to fabrications, manipulations and exclusions to please India. Further as to who will monitor the authenticity of the assessment reports, both in India and Bangladesh, and who will arbitrate, if ever there are frauds and complaints? Interesting days lies ahead.
The recent sub group formation between India and Bangladesh was highly conspicuous by the non recognition for participation of indigenous communities to be affected by the proposed Tipaimukh Dam in Manipur and further downstream in Assam despite the fact that there has been long standing calls from indigenous communities of Manipur to ensure their rightful participation in any decision making processes on Tipaimukh dam or for that matter, any other mega development initiatives affecting their land and resources.
For long, speculations are rife of compromise deals and agreements on Tipaimukh dam between India and Bangladesh. Many further speculates its’ just a matter of time and politics. Diplomatic relations between India and Bangladesh has grown after the election of pro India Sheikh Hasina Led Awami League Government in Bangladesh in 2009 and since then, bilateral discussions and possible negotiations over Tipaimukh dam seems to happen at a much more rapid pace. Views, positions and interests on Tipaimukh dam continues to be fast defined and redefined everywhere in the changing political contours The question is whether the two countries only can decide on the fate for Tipaimukh dam, when the land, water, forest and resources belong to the indigenous peoples of Manipur.
Will it be reasonable for the two countries to decide on the proposed destructive dam when the maximum impacts, loss of forest, submergence of agricultural field, displacement of villages, loss of livelihood and future of peoples, environmental devastations are to be borne by the people of Manipur?
Bangladesh for that matter would embark on illogical steps to take contradictory positions on water rights issues and indeed would be committing a severe blunder by succumbing helplessly to India’s pressures and its carrot and stick policies, if ever there is. While still reeling on severe water shortages and other serious social, environmental and other impacts due to Farakka Barrage and diversion of Teesta Waters, Bangladesh should refrain from adopting a compromising approach and position on Tipaimukh dam for some inconsequential economic and political gains.
Such steps would only be committing injustice for its own people depending on the Surma and Kushiara Rivers and also for the indigenous peoples of Manipur, Mizoram and Assam depending on the Barak Rivers and its Tributaries.
Memories are still fresh of Bangladesh official team who came down to Manipur in June 2012 last for spot assessment of Tipaimukh dam site receiving criticisms from civil societies of Manipur.The proposed construction of Tipaimukh dam has encountered serious controversies in Manipur and beyond. Civil societies of Manpur, Assam and Mizoram has long been demanding the revocation of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed with the Government of Manipur, the National Hydroelectric Power Corporation (NHPC) and Satluj Jal Vidyut Nigam Limited (SJVNL) on 28 April 2010,
reaffirmed on 22 October 2011 without the consent of the indigenous peoples of Manipur and all those who will be affected by Tipaimukh dam project in Mizoram, Assam and further down in Bangladesh. The two dam developers, NHPC and SJVNL to be involved in Tipaimukh Dam has extremely poor environmental, social, accountability and human rights records from its previous projects, viz, Teesta V (Sikkim), Subansiri HEP (Arunachal Pradesh) and Loktak Project (Manipur).
The environment clearance for proposed Tipaimukh dam construction cleared by the Ministry of Environment and Forest of the Government of India on 24 October 2008[5] despite objections of the affected villages in all the five public hearings held for the proposed dam at Tamenglong, Keimai, Mizoram, Tipaimukh and Churachandpur districts from 2004 till March 2008 also has been rejected by affected communities. The environment clearance also came despite the reality that nearly ten million trees and 27,000 bamboo columns are envisaged to be felled over an area of more than 300 Square Kilometres of forest land in Churachandpur and Tamenglong Districts of Manipur. Forest has been the crucial source of water, culture, tradition, food, medicinal plants and economy.
Indigenous peoples rights and the right to Free, Prior and Informed Consent as outlined in the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, 2007 has been violated by the MoU for Tipaimukh Dam in 2010, by environmental clearance in 2008 and in sub group formation between India and Bangladesh in August end 2012.
For each country, India and Bangladesh, to undertake surveys in their own sides under the said terms of agreements of the Sub Group can be highly dangerous. If ever there has to be a survey and impact assessment, it has to be a cumulative and holistic impact assessment based on participatory, transparent and fair process with due recognition of participation of indigenous peoples and local experts. There’s clear cut guidelines and recommendation from the World Commission on Dams concerning impact assessment. One has to put on record that India has yet to conduct a holistic impact assessment and that the Environment Impact Assessment prepared for proposed Tipaimukh Dam is condemned widely for misinformation and undermining the rich biodiversity, natural and cultural heritage of Manipur, for neglecting the social, cultural, health, geological and seismic impacts and for the exclusivity and lack of transparency in such studies, if ever has been held.
One also wonders as to how the two countries can ignore other international processes on decision making on water rights and developmental processes impacting indigenous peoples’ rights. For instance, the UN Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination which had come out strongly in 2007 and on 2 September 2011, recommending the Government of India to fully respect indigenous peoples rights over their land and resources and also to take their free, prior and informed consent before any decision on proposed Tipaimukh dam[8]. India’s democratic claims will be rendered meaningless if it continues to disregard the voices, opinions of its peoples involuntary impacted by its unsustainable and destructive development policies and projects? What purpose will it serve for India to be at the UN Security Council as Veto wielding permanent member if it continues to ignore the recommendations of the body which it intends to serve?
Tipaimukh dam construction decision making processes is quite interesting in a way that the Government of India and the dam developers tends to rely on the entire state machineries and it’s not surprising that the military units operating under the Armed Forces Special Powers Act, 1958 and deployed to counter insurgents in Manipur are openly favoring Tipaimukh Dam construction and the marked catchment area and all approach roads to Tipaimukh Dam site are fully militarized, which will only aggravate the human rights violations in a conflict afflicted, politically contested and unresolved places like Manipur.
Communities affected by Tipaimukh dam has long been objecting proposed Tipaimukh Dam, especially after suffering failed promises and traumatic experiences from NHPC’s Loktak Multipurpose Hydroelectric Projects, which still continues to remain unresolved. Affected communities expressed severe opposition to all the five environmental public hearings held for Tipaimukh Dam and indeed, the Public Hearing at Keimai village on 26 March 2008 cannot be held due to massive community protest. Of Late, communities resolved and protest rallied against Tipaimukh dam construction on 14 March 2012 at Nungba town on International Rivers Day.
All affected peoples along Barak River should be rightfully involved in all decision making process on the proposed dam with due recognition of their inherent rights. A holistic impact assessment, such as on the socio, economic, environmental, cultural, health and human rights due to the proposed Tipaimukh Dam in all portion of the river in Manipur, Mizoram, Assam and in Bangladesh should be conducted with due participation of all affected peoples. Till then, the MOU signed between the Government of Manipur, the National Hydroelectric Power Corporation, the Satluj Jal Vidyut Nigam Limited on 28 April 2010, reaffirmed on 22 October 2011 should be revoked. Further, the Environmental Clearance granted by the Ministry of Environment and Forest of the Government of India should be revoked. Given the extensive forest areas to be submerged to the tune of more than 300 Square Kilometres of Forest areas, all processes for granting forest clearance should be suspended immediately. The Government and the dam developers should take the free prior and informed consent of all affected peoples as recommended by the UN CERD Committee specific on Tipaimukh dam. The recommendations of the World Commission on Dams, 2000, UNCERD and provisions of UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples resources should be fully adhered to in its entirely.
Any decision on Tipaimukh Dam construction cannot be bilaterally decided only by India and Bangladesh as the land, rivers, forests and resources in Manipur belongs to indigenous peoples of Manipur, and hence, their rightful rights to involve in all decision making processes affecting their land. The people of Manipur cannot accept any secretive and compromise deals between India and Bangladesh for Tipaimukh Dam construction and will continue to strive for defense and protection of their land for survival of coming generations notwithstanding arbitrary decisions forged elsewhere on its behalf. Bangladesh likewise, should also be cautious from falling into the carrot and stick policies of India, as this can led to conflict within itself. Bangladesh might do best avoiding grants and aids with strings attached. Diplomacies works best with peoples and not in absence of them.

Read more / Original news source: http://manipur-mail.com/high-tipaimukh-dam-negotiations-sans-peoples/

Jacob Abraham ,Deputy Director, PIB, Thiruvananthapuram.
A landmark-in-the-making in the Indian IT scenario of India, Technocity of Thiruvananthapuram is fast evolving into the hub of global convergence with the expected arrival of big-time brands of the industry to set up their production centers, training campuses, development institutions and assorted other initiatives in the picturesque technopolis in the Pallippuram area of Thiruvananthapuram district.
“Our schedules are in the right track with enquires pouring in from across the world seeking info on investment potential and possibilities”, observes CEO-Technopark. “Mentored and nurtured by TeamTechnopark, Technocity, when it takes its final shape, will be a valuable asset to the State as also to the nation”, adds Sr. Manager-Business Development.
The shaping up process of Technocity is currently in progress, with the masterplan ready for take off, offering state-of-the-art infrastructure facilities for intending investors. Technocity, when fully commissioned will be an integrated IT township, spread across about 432 acres, which includes not just space for IT/ITES firms but also residential, commercial, hospitality, medical and educational facilities. The project will be a self-dependent satellite city, which would not strain the resources and infrastructure of the city of Thiruvananthapuram.
The units in Technocity will include a wide variety of companies engaged in a range of activities, such as Embedded Software Development, Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP), Process Control Software Design, Engineering & Computer-aided Design Software Development, IT Enabled Services (ITES), Process Re-engineering, Animation and e-business. The firms will include domestic companies as well as subsidiaries of multi-national organisations.
Technocity provides all the infrastructure and support facilities needed for IT/ITES and electronics companies to function as well as for their employees to enjoy world-class lifestyles. In addition, Technocity, like Technopark, will provide business incubation facilities.
Techno city will have up to 25 million square feet of built-up space within multiple buildings for its tenant organisations.
Technocity is being developed as an Integrated Township and it will include residential space, commercial space, retail facilities, multiplexes, hospitals and schools. This will enable employees in the companies at Technocity to enjoy a world-class lifestyle within walking distance of their offices.
Thiruvananthapuram is connected to the National Internet Backbone and Technocity will be serviced by a variety of bandwidth providers, including Reliance Infocomm, Bharti Airtel, Videsh Sanchar Nigam and Asianet Dataline, through fibre optic lines in the Campus.
Tata Consultancy Services Ltd(TCS) are in the process of setting up Asia’s largest training centre which can train and accommodate 16,000 employees at any time in 82 acres of land already allotted to them. TCS already has their Global Learning Centre operational from Technopark Phase I. The Software Development Centre to accommodate around 10,000 professionals are getting ready in Technopark Phase I.
Infosys is in the process of setting up their next development centre in the 50 acres SEZ land allotted to them. Infosys already operates from Technopark Phase-I and Phase II. The third Software Development Block as well as the multi-level car park building is getting ready in the Phase II Campus.
Technocity will host at least two important educational and research institutes: The Indian Institute of Information Technology & Management–Kerala (IIITM–K) and The Asian School of Business (ASB) which has already started operations for its campus in Technocity, while IIITM-K is in the process of setting up their campus in the 10 acres of land allotted to them. Technopark is developing a 50 acre Special Economic Zone in Technocity.
Technopark was set up under the auspices of Electronics Technology Park, Kerala, an autonomous body under the Department of Information Technology Government of Kerala. The park is home to over 240 companies employing more than 32000 professionals. Technopark’s aim was to create infrastructure and provide support required for the development of high technology companies.
The park is growing steadily both in size and employee strength. Park centre, Pampa and Periyar were the only buildings in the beginning. The total land available with Technopark is about 771.54 acres. The land available with Technopark for phase one, phase two and phase three is about 326.54 acres leaving the rest of the land to Technocity. Technopark has periodically added new buildings such as Nila, Gayathri and Bhavani. With the inauguration of the 850,000 sq.ft. Thejaswini in February, 2007, Technopark became the largest IT Park in India. It has become the single largest source of employment in Kerala, with over 32000 people working directly in 240 companies in the facility itself and creating Rs. 2000 crore turnover with export earnings of Rs. 1977.32 crore during 2010-11.
(PIB Features.

Read more / Original news source: http://manipur-mail.com/technocity-a-major-landmark-in-indias-it-scenario-2/

Jacob Abraham, Deputy Director, PIB, Thiruvananthapuram.
A landmark-in-the-making in the Indian IT scenario of India, Technocity of Thiruvananthapuram is fast evolving into the hub of global convergence with the expected arrival of big-time brands of the industry to set up their production centers, training campuses, development institutions and assorted other initiatives in the picturesque technopolis in the Pallippuram area of Thiruvananthapuram district.
“Our schedules are in the right track with enquires pouring in from across the world seeking info on investment potential and possibilities”, observes CEO-Technopark.
“Mentored and nurtured by TeamTechnopark, Technocity, when it takes its final shape, will be a valuable asset to the State as also to the nation”, adds Sr. Manager-Business Development.
The shaping up process of Technocity is currently in progress, with the masterplan ready for take off, offering state-of-the-art infrastructure facilities for intending investors. Technocity, when fully commissioned will be an integrated IT township, spread across about 432 acres, which includes not just space for IT/ITES firms but also residential, commercial, hospitality, medical and educational facilities. The project will be a self-dependent satellite city, which would not strain the resources and infrastructure of the city of Thiruvananthapuram.
The units in Technocity will include a wide variety of companies engaged in a range of activities, such as Embedded Software Development, Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP), Process Control Software Design, Engineering & Computer-aided Design Software Development, IT Enabled Services (ITES), Process Re-engineering, Animation and e-business. The firms will include domestic companies as well as subsidiaries of multi-national organisations.
Technocity provides all the infrastructure and support facilities needed for IT/ITES and electronics companies to function as well as for their employees to enjoy world-class lifestyles. In addition, Technocity, like Technopark, will provide business incubation facilities.
Techno city will have up to 25 million square feet of built-up space within multiple buildings for its tenant organisations.
Technocity is being developed as an Integrated Township and it will include residential space, commercial space, retail facilities, multiplexes, hospitals and schools. This will enable employees in the companies at Technocity to enjoy a world-class lifestyle within walking distance of their offices.
Thiruvananthapuram is connected to the National Internet Backbone and Technocity will be serviced by a variety of bandwidth providers, including Reliance Infocomm, Bharti Airtel, Videsh Sanchar Nigam and Asianet Dataline, through fibre optic lines in the Campus.
Tata Consultancy Services Ltd(TCS) are in the process of setting up Asia’s largest training centre which can train and accommodate 16,000 employees at any time in 82 acres of land already allotted to them. TCS already has their Global Learning Centre operational from Technopark Phase I. The Software Development Centre to accommodate around 10,000 professionals are getting ready in Technopark Phase I.
Infosys is in the process of setting up their next development centre in the 50 acres SEZ land allotted to them. Infosys already operates from Technopark Phase-I and Phase II. The third Software Development Block as well as the multi-level car park building is getting ready in the Phase II Campus.
Technocity will host at least two important educational and research institutes:
The Indian Institute of Information Technology & Management–Kerala (IIITM–K) and The Asian School of Business (ASB) which has already started operations for its campus in Technocity, while IIITM-K is in the process of setting up their campus in the 10 acres of land allotted to them. Technopark is developing a 50 acre Special Economic Zone in Technocity.
Technopark was set up under the auspices of Electronics Technology Park, Kerala, an autonomous body under the Department of Information Technology Government of Kerala. The park is home to over 240 companies employing more than 32000 professionals. Technopark’s aim was to create infrastructure and provide support required for the development of high technology companies.
The park is growing steadily both in size and employee strength. Park centre, Pampa and Periyar were the only buildings in the beginning. The total land available with Technopark is about 771.54 acres.
The land available with Technopark for phase one, phase two and phase three is about 326.54 acres leaving the rest of the land to Technocity. Technopark has periodically added new buildings such as Nila, Gayathri and Bhavani. With the inauguration of the 850,000 sq.ft. Thejaswini in February, 2007, Technopark became the largest IT Park in India. It
has become the single largest source of employment in Kerala, with over 32000 people working directly in 240 companies in the facility itself and creating Rs. 2000 crore turnover with export earnings of Rs. 1977.32 crore during 10-11.(PIB Features.)

Read more / Original news source: http://manipur-mail.com/technocity-a-major-landmark-in-indias-it-scenario/

PIB Mumbai Feature.
India’s gems and jewellery industry is a bright star of the economy, and one of the important foundations of the country’s export-led growth. It is a leading foreign exchange earner and one of the fastest growing sectors, which accounted for 14 per cent of India’s total merchandise exports during FY 2011-12. The industry has registered a remarkable growth over the last four decades, with exports growing from US$ 28 million in 1966-67 when the Gem & Jewellery Export Promotion Council ( GJEPC) was established, to US$ 42.84 billion in FY 2011-12.
Diamonds account for 54 per cent of the total export basket of the industry, with gold jewellery contributing 38 per cent and coloured gemstones and others contributing 1 per cent each, whereas rough diamond contributes 4 per cent of the total share. The industry is a truly global one, with both suppliers and buyers from many different countries.
The UAE ( 44 per cent), Hong Kong ( 25 per cent) and USA ( 12 per cent) are among the major buyers, while Belgium, which accounts for 21.55 per cent of all imports of raw materials, is by far the major supplier.Diamonds : Undisputed Leadership A major contributor to the creditable performance of the industry is the massive diamond manufacturing sector, which employs nearly one million people across the country. India exported cut and polished diamonds worth US$ 23.30 billion in 2011-12.
The industry has grown from its small origins in the ‘50s and has established itself as the world’s largest manufacturing centre of cut and polished diamonds for the last many years, contributing 60 per cent of the world’s supply in terms of value, 85 per cent in terms of volume. Eleven out of every 12 diamonds set in jewellery worldwide, are processed in India, mainly around Mumbai, Surat and Jaipur. This feat has been possible due to various factors.
At the forefront is the skill of the Indian artisan. The relentless efforts of Indian entrepreneurs, who took on the daunting task of setting up this industry, has contributed to its growth in no small measure. Indian diamantaires have gone on to create a marketing network worldwide, which is truly mind-boggling. Added to this is the strong financial base of the industry and support of financial institutions of the country.
Today, after creating a niche for itself in the diamond world with small diamonds, India is developing skills for cutting and polishing larger stones and fancy cuts. Indian diamond polishing factories are on a par with the world’s best and are at the cutting edge of technology using laser machines, computerized yield planning machines, advanced bruiting lathes, etc.
Jewellery: Brilliant Impact
In the recent past, it is in the jewellery sector that India has made a brilliant impact, emerging as the fastest growing jewellery exporter in the world, averaging a growth of nearly 15-20 per cent each year over the last decade. Exports of gold jewellery in 2011-12 touched US$ 16.5 billion from just US$ 486 million in 1994-95.
However, the development of the branded jewellery segment is still in its rudimentary stage, mainly because the traditional jewellery has been dominated by home grown retail enterprises or the concept of the family jeweller.
The Hall Marking of jewellery introduced by the Bureau of Indian Standards to institutionalize global bench marking in quality assurance and to prevent against frauds will go a long way in building a reliable Brand India.
A few Indian jewellery brands are marking their global footprints, having entrenched themselves in the domestic market.
The Gem & Jewellery Export Promotion Council
The Gem & Jewellery Export Promotion Council, set up by the Ministry of Commerce and Industry in 1966, has played a significant role in the evolution of the industry to its present stature by effectively moulding the scattered efforts of individual exporters into a powerful engine driving the country’s export-led growth. Today, the Council has 5,300 members spread all over the country.
The Council undertakes direct promotional activities such as organizing joint participation in international jewellery shows, sending and hosting trade delegations, and sustained image building exercise through advertisements abroad, publications, audio visuals/corporate literature, members’ directory, etc.
It also directly aids intra-regional investments by encouraging co-operation and joint ventures in jewellery manufacturing, especially in the various EPZs/SEZs created by the Ministry of Commerce which offer special facilities for Foreign Direct Investments in Jewellery units through foreign collaborations and partnerships.
The Government, recognizing the the inherent strengths of this sector in terms of its employability potential has taken major initiatives to strengthen institutional linkages. Enhancing the skill levels of the workers commensurate with the requirement of the industry tops the agenda and two such centres are being set up at Domjur in West
Bengal and Khambat in Gujarat.
The Government is also encouraging global partnerships and collaborative ventures for adopting a diversified approach in the jewellery sector. A collaboration with the Antwerp World Diamond Centre has also been sought to strengthen skills in diamond and gem stones grading, certification, research and development, cutting and polishing and setting up state-of-the –art training centres in India.
India International Jewellery Week & India International Jewellery Show
The Gems & Jewellery Export Promotion Council, in its endeavour to promote India as the “Innovation & Design Destination” for jewellery, presents the India International Jewellery week (IIJW). It is a five day extravaganza of 32 shows brought together major jewellery designers of India. IIJW is an initiative to showcase India’s finest in jewellery, be it design or innovation supported by top of the line craftsmanship, technology and quality, to customers around the globe.
The Jewellery week is followed by the India International Jewellery Show, which has grown significantly to become the second largest Jewellery Expo in the Asia –Pacific region.
It has acquired the reputation of being the most prominent sourcing show in India, evincing great participation from exhibiters, exporters, buyers and trade visitors.
The 29th edition of the India International Jewellery Show, which was inaugurated by the Union Minister for Commerce & Industry, Mr.Anand Sharma on August 23, has attracted participation of over 800 exhibitors with 1800 stalls, with exclusive country pavilions of Thailand, Israel, Turkey, Belgium and UAE.
The India International Jewellery Show represents an amalgam of the ingenuity of handcraft, skill, technology, innovation and creativity of our brilliant minds truly making India.

The global market for Gems and Jewellery today is over USD 100 billion with jewellery manufacturing dominated by a handful of countries, namely- Italy, China, Thailand, USA and India. Although India is the global factory of cutting and polishing diamonds, the trading hubs are located in the bye lanes of Antwerp and Belgium where this trade is shared by Jews and Gujarati’s. The setting up of the Diamond Bourse in Mumbai –amongst the largest bourses in the world, at par with international standards is expected to ensure India’s strategic shift as a leading diamond trading market in Asia. The vision is to make India the Global Jewellery Hub and world’s one stop destination for diamonds, gems, gold and jewellery, in the years to come.

Read more / Original news source: http://manipur-mail.com/indias-gems-jewellery-industry-a-dazzling-success-story/

I seek the indulgence of the House to make a statement on issues regarding coal block allocations which have been the subject of much discussion in the press and on which several Hon’ble members have also expressed concern.
2. The issues arise from a report of the Comptroller and Auditor General which has been tabled in Parliament and remitted to the Public Accounts Committee. CAG reports are normally discussed in detail in the Public Accounts Committee, when the Ministry concerned responds to the issues raised. The PAC then submits its report to the Speaker and that Report is then discussed in Parliament.
3. I seek your indulgence to depart from this established procedure because of the nature of the allegations that are being made and because I was holding the charge of Coal Minister for a part of the time covered by the report. I want to assure Hon’ble Members that as the Minister in charge, I take full responsibility for the decisions of the Ministry. I wish to say that any allegations of impropriety are without basis and unsupported by the facts.
4. Allocation of coal blocks to private companies for captive use commenced in 1993, after the Coal Mines (Nationalisation) Act, 1973 was amended. This was done with the objective of attracting private investments in specified end uses. As the economy grew in size, the demand for coal also grew and it became evident that Coal India Ltd. alone would not be able to meet the growing demand.
5. Since 1993, allocation of captive coal blocks was being done on the basis of recommendations made by an inter-Ministerial Screening Committee which also had representatives of State governments. Taking into account the increasing number of applicants for coal block allocation, the Government, in 2003, evolved a consolidated set of guidelines to ensure transparency and consistency in allocation.
6. In the wake of rapidly growing demand for coal and captive coal blocks, it was the UPA I Government which, for the first time, conceived the idea of making allocations through the competitive bidding route in June 2004.7. The CAG report is critical of the allocations mainly on three counts. Firstly, it states that the Screening Committee did not follow a transparent and objective method while making recommendations for allocation of coal blocks.

8. Secondly, it observes that competitive bidding could have been introduced in 2006 by amending the administrative instructions in vogue instead of going through a prolonged legal examination of the issue which delayed the decision making process.
9. Finally, the report mentions that the delay in introduction of competitive bidding rendered the existing process beneficial to a large number of private companies. According to the assumptions and computations made by the CAG, there is a financial gain of about Rs. 1.86 lakh crore to private parties.
10. The observations of the CAG are clearly disputable.
11. The policy of allocation of coal blocks to private parties, which the CAG has criticised, was not a new policy introduced by the UPA. The policy has existed since 1993 and previous Governments also allocated coal blocks in precisely the manner that the CAG has now criticised.
12. The UPA made improvements in the procedure in 2005 by inviting applications through open advertisements after providing details of the coal blocks on offer along with the guidelines and the conditions of allotment. These applications were examined and evaluated by a broad based Steering Committee with representatives from state governments, related ministries of the central government and the coal companies. The applications were assessed on parameters such as the techno economic feasibility of the end use project, status of preparedness to set up the end use project, past track record in execution of projects, financial and technical capabilities of the applicant companies, recommendations of the state governments and the administrative ministry concerned.
13. Any administrative allocation procedure involves some judgment and in this case the judgment was that of the many participants in the Screening Committee acting collectively. There were then no allegations of impropriety in the functioning of the Committee.
14. The CAG says that competitive bidding could have been introduced in 2006 by amending the existing administrative instructions. This premise of the CAG is flawed.
15. The observation of the CAG that the process of competitive bidding could have been introduced by amending the administrative instructions is based on the opinion expressed by the Department of Legal Affairs in July and August 2006. However, the CAG’s observation is based on a selective reading of the opinions given by the Department of Legal Affairs.
16. Initially, the Government had initiated a proposal to introduce competitive bidding by formulating appropriate rules. This matter was referred to the Department of Legal Affairs, which initially opined that amendment to the Coal Mines (Nationalisation) Act would be necessary for this purpose.
17. A meeting was convened in the PMO on 25 July 2005 which was attended by representatives of coal and lignite bearing states. In the meeting the representatives of state governments were opposed to the proposed switch over to competitive bidding. It was further noted that the legislative changes that would be required for the proposed change would require considerable time and the process of allocation of coal blocks for captive mining could not be kept in abeyance for so long given the pressing demand for coal. Therefore, it was decided in this meeting to continue with the allocation of coal blocks through the extant Screening Committee procedure till the new competitive bidding procedure became operational. This was a collective decision of the centre and the state governments concerned.
18. It was only in August 2006 that the Department of Legal Affairs opined that competitive bidding could be introduced through administrative instructions. However, the same Department also opined that legislative amendments would be required for placing the proposed process on a sound legal footing. In a meeting held in September, 2006, Secretary, Department of Legal Affairs categorically opined that having regard to the nature and scope of the relevant legislation, it would be most appropriate to achieve the objective through amendment to the Mines & Minerals (Development & Regulation) Act.
19. In any case, in a democracy, it is difficult to accept the notion that a decision of the Government to seek legislative amendment to implement a change in policy should come for adverse audit scrutiny. The issue was contentious and the proposed change to competitive bidding required consensus building among various stakeholders with divergent views, which is inherent in the legislative process.
20. As stated above, major coal and lignite bearing states like West Bengal, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Orissa and Rajasthan that were ruled by opposition parties, were strongly opposed to a switch over to the process of competitive bidding as they felt that it would increase the cost of coal, adversely impact value addition and development of industries in their areas and would dilute their prerogative in the selection of lessees.
21. The then Chief Minister of Rajasthan Smt. Vasundhara Raje wrote to me in April 2005 opposing competitive bidding saying that it was against the spirit of the Sarkaria Commission recommendations. Dr. Raman Singh, Chief Minister of Chhattisgarh wrote to me in June 2005 seeking continuation of the extant policy and requesting that any changes in coal policy be made after arriving at a consensus between the Central Government and the States. The State Governments of West Bengal and Orissa also wrote formally opposing a change to the system of competitive bidding.
22. Ministry of Power, too, felt that auctioning of coal could lead to enhanced cost of producing energy.
23. It is pertinent to mention that the Coal Mines Nationalisation (Amendment) Bill, 2000 to facilitate commercial mining by private companies was pending in the Parliament for a long time owing to stiff opposition from the stakeholders.
24. Despite the elaborate consultative process undertaken prior to introducing the amendment Bill in Parliament, the Standing Committee advised the Ministry of Coal to carry out another round of discussions with the States. This further demonstrates that the decision to seek broader consultation and consensus through a Parliamentary process was the right one.
25. The CAG report has criticised the Government for
not implementing this decision speedily enough. In retrospect, I would readily agree that in a world where things can be done by fiat, we could have done it faster. But, given the complexities of the process of consensus building in our Parliamentary system, this is easier said than done.
26. Let me humbly submit that, even if we accept CAG`s contention that benefits accrued to private companies, their computations can be questioned on a number of technical points. The CAG has computed financial gains to private parties as being the difference between the average sale price and the production cost of CIL of the estimated extractable reserves of the allocated coal blocks. Firstly, computation of extractable reserves based on averages would not be correct. Secondly, the cost of production of coal varies significantly from mine to mine even for CIL due to varying geo-mining conditions, method of extraction, surface features, number of settlements, availability of infrastructure etc. Thirdly, CIL has been generally mining coal in areas with better infrastructure and more favourable mining conditions, whereas the coal blocks offered for captive mining are generally located in areas with more difficult geological conditions. Fourthly, a part of the gains would in any case get appropriated by the government through taxation and under the MMDR Bill, presently being considered by the parliament, 26% of the profits earned on coal mining operations would have to be made available for local area development. Therefore, aggregating the purported financial gains to private parties merely on the basis of the average production costs and sale price of CIL could be highly misleading. Moreover, as the coal blocks were allocated to private companies only for captive purposes for specified end-uses, it would not be appropriate to link the allocated blocks to the price of coal set by CIL.
27. There are other important technical issues which will be gone into thoroughly in the Ministry of Coal`s detailed response to the PAC and I do not propose to focus on them.28. It is true that the private parties that were allocated captive coal blocks could not achieve their production targets. This could be partly due to cumbersome processes involved in getting statutory clearances, an issue we are addressing separately. We have initiated action to cancel the allocations of allottees who did not take adequate follow-up action to commence production. Moreover, CBI is separately investigating the allegations of malpractices, on the basis of which due action will be taken against wrongdoers, if any.
29. From 1993 onwards, successive governments continued with the policy of allocation of coal blocks for captive use and did not treat such allocations as a revenue generating activity. Let me reiterate that the idea of introducing auction was conceived for the first time by the UPA Government in the wake of increasing demand for captive blocks. Action was initiated to examine the idea in all its dimensions and the process culminated in Parliament approving the necessary legislative amendments in 2010. The law making process inevitably took time on account of several factors that I have outlined.
30. While the process of making legislative changes was in progress, the only alternative before the Government was to continue with the current system of allocations through the Screening Committee mechanism till the new system of auction based competitive bidding could be put in place. Stopping the process of allocation would only have delayed the much needed expansion in the supply of coal. Although the coal produced thus far from the blocks allocated to the private sector is below the target, it is reasonable to expect that as clearances are speeded up, production will come into effect in the course of the Twelfth Plan. Postponing the allocation of coal blocks until the new system was in place would have meant lower energy production, lower GDP growth and also lower revenues. It is unfortunate that the CAG has not taken these aspects into account.
31. Let me state emphatically that it has always been the intention of Government to augment production of coal by making available coal blocks for captive mining through transparent processes and guidelines which fully took into account the legitimate concerns of all stakeholders, including the State Governments. The implicit suggestion of the CAG that the Government should have circumvented the legislative process through administrative instructions, over the registered objections of several state governments including those ruled by opposition parties, if implemented would have been undemocratic and contrary to the spirit of the functioning of our federal polity. The facts speak for themselves and show that the CAG’s findings are flawed on multiple counts.32. This, in short, is the background, the factual position and the rationale of government’s actions. Now that the report of the CAG is before the House, appropriate action on the recommendations and observations contained in the report will follow through the established parliamentary procedures.

Read more / Original news source: http://manipur-mail.com/pms-statement-on-coal-blocks/

Th.Ranjit
Imphal, Aug 25: The released of ‘ 1.5 crore worth coins of different denominations of ‘ 1, ‘ 2 and ‘ 5 recently bythe SBI to the public is a welcome step. With this good gesture of SBI, thepublic feels that the scarcity of coins in day-to-day monetary transactions at hotels, stationeries, groceries, vegetable markets, paandukans, etc.will be over. But,on the contrary, though the release of coins is hardly 10 days, there is no improvement in the situation of coin problems in the city.
The purpose of SBI to keep the circulation of coins going seems to be thwarted by traders of coins, who earn hefty interest of 20% through exchange of coins with notes from the public.
Until and unless these particular traders engaging in coins business are booked and controlled, public will continue to suffer for long, and even SBI pours crores of rupees there will be no much benefit to the general public.In this regards,the attention of the concernedauthorities are drawn for early solution.

Read more / Original news source: http://manipur-mail.com/check-the-money-lenders-of-coins-check-the-coin-traders/

Wage Disbursal Scheme under MGNREGS
Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act was notified in the remaining 274 districts of India from 1st April, 2008. The Act is now effective in the entire rural areas of the country covering 638 districts and has been renamed “The Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA)”. The objective of the Act is to provide for the enhancement of livelihood security of the households in rural areas of the country by providing at least one hundred days of guaranteed wage employment in every financial year to every household whose adult members volunteer to do unskilled manual work.
The scheme of disbursement of NREGS wages through post offices is operational in 19 postal Circles of the country (except Delhi, J&K and Tamilnadu Circles). Till 31st March, 2012, 5.59 crore MGNREGS accounts have been opened in post offices and wages amounting to Rs. 7,860 crore have been disbursed to MGNREGS beneficiaries during 2011-12 through 98,491 post offices across the country.
Main Features of Payment of Wages through Post Offices
Payment to be made through Savings Bank accounts of post offices (zero balance workers wage account).
Disbursement of wages within the prescribed time frame.
Provision for advance deposit of one month’s wage in the Head Post office of the District Headquarter.
Co-ordination meetings between Department and State Government authorities.
Data Collection for Rural Consumer Price Index
A mechanism has been worked out to calculate and disseminate the consumer price index with the help of data being collected for 1,181 villages through selected post offices throughout the country. The first set of consumer price indices was brought out in February 2011. India Post is thus playing a crucial role in providing Infrastructural support to enable the concerned government departments to design and implement policies to improve the well being of all the citizens of India.
Mail Network Optimization Project
Department of Post had initiated Mail Network Optimization Project in March 2010 with a view to streamline mail operations and to improve the quality of mail related services offered to the people. It involved optimization of the erstwhile mail network, standardization of processes and development of an effective performance monitoring system. As part of this project, the operational network for Speed Post and other categories of mail has been restructured leading to optimized network and simplified operations.
Speed Post is a premium product offered by the Department with time bound delivery and tracking facility. As part of the project, a major emphasis has been laid on providing complete tracking information for Speed Post items on the website (www.indiapost.gov.in) for the benefit of the people using Speed Post. As a result, in the last two years, the number of items having complete tracking information on the website has gone up from 63 lakhs to 2.78 Crores per month. Speed Post transit has improved by more than a day on an average across the network.
A comprehensive online monitoring system for Speed Post operations has been developed and performance of operational units is monitored in terms of Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) on a day-to-day basis.
(PIB Features.)
Inputs from the Department of Posts.

Read more / Original news source: http://manipur-mail.com/utilization-of-postal-network/

M.V.S. Prasad Joint Director, PIB, Chennai.
Bioinformatics is attaining greater significance in the life sciences research and industry and hitherto unexplored areas of biology. Research in biotechnology, which is highly knowledge and capital intensive, has generated a deluge of information in this decade. To make use of this information effectively, there is a need for high speed and large bandwidth network.
Towards this end, the Department of Biotechnology has successfully established a high-speed and high-bandwidth network in the form of Virtual Public Network (VPN) named as BIOGRID INDIA. Eleven nodes have been established in the first phase, which are actively pursuing bioinformatics activities such as human resource development and R&D in bioinformatics besides, dissemination of biotechnology information to researchers in the country. This resource sharing helps in enhancing the value and usefulness of the BTIS, the only true resource sharing network in India.
BTISnet in a Nutshell
BTISnet a potential scientific network in the country comprises of more than 165 institutions having capable human resources and state of art infrastructure to carry out intensive research in bioinformatics and computational biology. More than 100 subject specific databases are currently available on the BTISnet.
Centres of BTISnet are networked and now some of them are being networked through National Knowledge Commission network. Eight new centres have been added to the BTISnet. NEBInet which comprises of 27 bioinformatics centres in North East states has opened up great opportunities in biotechnology for the North East Region of the country. Through this network it is now much simpler to generate and implement programs like biotech hubs, overseas associateship etc. Three major consortium projects on bioinformatics in TB, rice and mango have shown excellent progress during the last year.
Centres of Excellence
Six Centres of Excellence in Bioinformatics and Computational Biology have been established as part of BTISnet. These Centres are well equipped with state of art infrastructure to support research. Each centre is responsible for developing a database in the identified thrust areas. Some of these efforts have received international recognition. The CoE at the Bose Institute, Kolkata is specialising in the areas like genome analysis, regulatory RNA stem cells, genomics and structural bioinformatics. The CoE at JNU, New Delhi is a part of the School of Computational and Integrative Sciences, with a major objective of development of human resource through teaching and research in the frontier area of computational biology, bioinformatics and systems biology.
The CoE at Madurai Kamaraj University, Madurai is specialising in the areas like structural bioinformatics, proteomics, data mining and computer aided drug design. The Centre at the University of Pune, conducts M.Sc. course in bioinformatics. The Centre has developed 3 major databases namely viral protein structural database, antigen antibody genomics and viral genome resources.
R&D
The bioinformatics centres are being extensively used for intensive research by the hosts and neighbouring institutions. In addition scientists at bioinformatics centres have carried out research in gene analysis, protein structure prediction and engineering, modelling, macromolecular assembly, evolutionary biology, developing tools for peptide vaccine, new tools for data mining etc.
The Department of Biotechnology is also supporting long-term teaching programs on bioinformatics and BIOGRID will be useful in sharing teaching materials, to deliver lectures through video conferencing-virtual classrooms besides synergizing research in biotechnology and bioinformatics. The mirror sites of internationally recognized genomic databases such as Protein Data Bank (PDB), Plant Genome Data Banks, Databases of European Bioinformatics Institute (EBI) and public domain bioinformatics software packages are also available on the BIOGRID. The advantage of mirroring these databases in India is to provide unhindered mining of high quality data from well established primary and secondary information sources. The BTISnetwork will act as a knowledge pathway for discoveries in biotechnology and bioinformatics.
(PIB Features.) with inputs from the Dept. of Biotechnology.

Read more / Original news source: http://manipur-mail.com/biotechnology-information-network/