Daily News Notes

· The Plenary Session of the fifth IBSA Summit of the three leading emerging economies of three different continents are meeting to take in to account the trilateral meeting of Foreign Ministers and forums on various topics like Commerce, Women and Child Development, economic cooperation, sustainable development and climate change. An agreement for setting up of a Diplomatic Academy will be signed after the Summit.
· Expressing concern over the public ignorance of the Centralized Public Grievances Redress And Monitoring System at large, the government has emphasised upon having a well developed grievance redressal machinery to meet the expectations of common man and bring transparency in its workings, and thus all the ministries and departments at the Centre and State, need to publicise it widely, so that people could use this online facility. Citizens charter is the most visible part of a department and it must reflect its commitment and services as a mirror, also it is the first interface between the citizen and the department where a citizen learns about the services, procedures and outcomes of a particular organization.
· The Prime Minister's Employment Generation Programme (PMEGP), will continue in the 12th Five-Year Plan (2012-17) with double fund allocation. The scheme was launched in 2008, with the objectives of this scheme are to generate employment opportunities in rural as well as urban areas of the country through setting up of new self-employment ventures or projects or micro enterprises and implemented through state Khadi Village and Industries Commission with the involvement of banks. Till now 1.36 lakh projects assisted, which have generated 13.16 lakh employment.
· The Centre has finalised a developmental action plan ('Saranda Action Plan', named after Jharkhand's Naxal-hit Saranda district) in Naxal affected districts particularly in eastern India. According to the plan, immediate priority is to distribute solar lanterns and bicycles, construction of prefab houses for BPL families under the Indira Awas Yojana and bridges with the help of Army and special water supply - handpump schemes, and the fund will be met out of the Integrated Action Plan fund. The police and security forces have liberated the thick forest area recently from the naxals after ‘Operation Anaconda’ was carried out successfully.
· Following the Chief Minister's recent ultimatum to maoists to lay down arms within seven days, in West Bengal, the crucial meeting with the group of mediators to initiate discussions with the moists to restore peace in Jungle Mahal has begun after three days of her ultimatum. The Chief Minister indicated that operations of joint force will resume in Jhangalmahal if violence are not stopped.
· India has signed a deal with a Sri Lankan firm worth over 300 crore rupees to procure 80 fast-interception craft, FIC, will be deliver in 3 yrs, and will equip in Navy's Sagar Prahari Bal, SPB which is being raised after the 26/11 terror attacks in Mumbai. FICs are small boats, with a crew of five to seven sailors at top speeds of 40 to 50 knots, and are equipped with light machine guns. These 80 FICs in addition to the 15 similar boats being acquired from French shipyard Chantier Naval Couach, three of which have already been inducted. After 26/11, several steps have been taken to boost coordination in intelligence-sharing and operational matters, with fully-networked joint operation centres being set up in different locations. With 1,000 well-armed personnel, the SPB will be tasked with the protection of naval and other assets, bases and harbours on both west and east coasts.
· The Government has taken a series of measures to check adulteration in petroleum products which includes automation of retail outlets, monitoring of movement of tank trucks(asked to install GPS based vehicle tracking system) and introduction of smart card schemes as the consumption of petroleum products has increased by around 3% in the last fiscal and oil marketing companies are suffering a loss of 272 crore rupees daily on the sale of domestic LPG, diesel and PDS kerosene.
· Following an agreement with the State Government late last evening to resolve their issues, the Telangana Teachers Joint Action Committee has pulled off from the ongoing General Strike for statehood for Telangana after 35-day strike.
· Israel has begun the phased release of 477 Palestinian prisoners in exchange for its captive soildier Gilad Shalit.
· China's economic expansion slowed during the third quarter(from 9.5 to 9.1%) of the year as government measures to control inflation hurt growth.
· The Buddh International Circuit at Greater Noida(track length:5.14km, width:18-20m,turns:16,avg speed:210kph,deginer:Hermann Tilke) for India's first Formula One race was unveiled today.
· North Eastern Region should boost its economy by utilizing its ample opportunities for international trade with the neighbouring countries(china, Myanmar and Bangladesh) thus could realize India’s Look East Policy, said by Union Minister for Development of North Eastern Region, Paban Singh Ghatowar.