Daily News Notes: 15th Feb, 2012

• ·         Dr. Manmohan Singh said that the country needs a minimum two per cent growth in food production to meet its demand in 2020-21 thus a strong agriculture sector is necessary for India's food security. He called for paying special attention to the needs of rain-fed farming as these areas contribute more than 80 per cent of oil seeds and pulses grown in the country. Meanwhile, Minister of State for Agriculture and Food Processing stressed the need to minimize the use of harmful agrochemicals pesticides in the agriculture sector as environment and health are badly affected due to excessive use of harmful pesticides in this sector. The Minister said farmers should use Bio fertilizers to increase the productivity of their crops.
• ·         Rural Development Minister, Jairam Ramesh said that around 10 million toilets will be made in the 12th 5-Year Plan under Nirmal Gram Yojana to make the country open air defecation free. The Minister said that Panchayats have to play an important role in making the country open air defecation free in next 10 years.
• ·         Delhi has undertaken one of the biggest co-ordinated mock drills today, to check the alertness and preparedness of various public agencies, if an earthquake of high magnitude rocks the national capital. A number of simulated situations like collapse of flyovers, crack in metro pillars, damage to hospitals and collapse of residential buildings due to an earthquake measuring 7 on the Richter scale were created. Officials from all the important Emergency Support Functionary departments like police, MCD, DMRC, Health department, Delhi Jal Board and Food and Civil Supplies co-ordinated with senior officials of all the nine districts to make the drill a success.
• ·         The Civil Aviation Ministry has constituted a three Member Committee to examine the recommendations of Justice Dharmadhikari Committee on various HR issues after the merger of the two national carriers Air India and Indian Airlines. [Committee over committee…. Is it justified??]
• ·         State owned National carrier Air India would no longer enjoy exclusive privilege on all bilateral air traffic rights as the government allowed (under Air Service Agreements with various countries) all Indian carriers to use these rights.
• ·         In Madhya Pradesh, the online registration of farmers for the wheat procurement for minimum support price ends today. The e-procurement system is being launched in the state to ensure transparency in the entire process of wheat procurement. Codes have been provided to all the registered farmers. Before the start of wheat procurement each farmer will be alerted through SMS about the date of procurement, the quantity of wheat to be bought from him and his procurement centre. The payment of farmer will be deposited directly in his bank account.
• ·         Assam contributed more than 50 percent of the country’s total tea production in 2011. Assam has achieved the record of producing second highest tea in its 180 years old history. Assam has around 1 lakh small tea gardens. The annual turnover of this industry is Rs 5000 crore and it employs over 10 lakh people. Tea Board of India has already announced a slew of measures for the benefit of the small tea growers.
• ·         In Assam, popular spring festival of the Mishing tribe Ali-Ai-Ligang is being celebrated with traditional gaiety and religious fervour today. It is mainly an agricultural festival. On this day, the Mishing people start sowing paddy in the field ritually. Community feasting, ploughing and fishing are the main attraction of the festival.
• ·         The 42nd All India Police Science Congress began in Gangtok, the capital of Sikkim. It is aimed at suggesting measures and remedies to improve the structure and functioning of police forces across the country. In pursuance of the recommendations made by the conference of Inspector General’s of Police held in 1958, the first All India Police Science Congress was held in Patna in August, 1960. Following its enormous success, it was felt that the Congress should be made an annual feature. A small State like Sikkim has been chosen as a venue for the Congress this time since the organizer Bureau of Police Research of Development intends to outreach the States who have not been given a chance to host it so far.
• ·         The United Nations General Assembly will vote tomorrow on a new resolution calling on Syrian President Bashar Al-Assad to put a stop to deadly attacks on civilians. Russia and China are expected to oppose the new text but it cannot be vetoed in the 193-nation General Assembly. The resolution has been drawn up by Saudi Arabia and Qatar, was given to member nations yesterday.
• ·         The European Union, Norway and Switzerland have welcomed the discharge of former Maoist combatants who have chosen voluntary retirement scheme in Nepal. They, however, noted the allegations of financial irregularities and emphasized that the payments the former combatants receive must remain theirs alone to invest in their future.