Daily News Notes: 13th March, 2012

· The Government has adopted a multi-pronged strategy to extend banking facilities to hitherto unserved areas. Reserve Bank of India (RBI) in their Branch Authorization Policy for opening of Branches in unbanked rural centres, has advised all Scheduled Commercial Banks (SCBs) that while preparing their Annual Branch Expansion Plan, they should allocate at least 25 per cent of the total number of branches proposed to be opened during a year in unbanked Rural (Tier 5 and Tier 6) centres. Further, based on the announcement in budget 2010-11, over 73.000 villages having population above 2000, have been identified for extending banking services by March, 2012. However, by January, 2012, over 62,000 villages have been covered by bank branches or business correspondents. These habitations were allocated to Public Sector Banks, Regional Rural Banks, Private Sector Banks and Cooperative Banks.
· The leader of the Lok Sabha, Mr. Pranab Mukherjee informed the House that Centre is concerned about Tamilians living in Sri Lanka. He said that “A resolution is likely to come in the Human Rights Commission in Geneva. The date has not yet been fixed. And traditional position of India has always been that we normally do not support any country specific resolution. But what view on this issue will be taken, will be determined as and when the date is finalised of the meeting of Human Rights Commission.”
· The Centre proposes to formulate a National Livestock Policy to increase cattle population in the country. Under the policy, the States will be provided guidelines to implement specific programmes and aims at providing food and livelihood security to cattle farmers to improve their socio-economic status. It also aims at ensuring a clean environment for them.
· India has the potential to produce about one million tonnes of dry seaweed. This is the outcome of a study conducted by the Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute. The government has agreed to provide financial aid for seaweed cultivation through the National Fisheries Development Board.
· Political Updates: (1.) In Uttarakhand, Congress leader Vijay Bahuguna will be sworn-in as new Chief Minister. (2.) In Manipur, present Chief Minister, Okram Ibobi Singh has been re-elected as the leader of the Congress Legislature party of Manipur. (3.) Outgoing Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister and BSP president Mayawati today filed her nomination for the Rajya Sabha.
· The Chairperson of National Commission for Women, Mamta Sharma emphasized the need of better education to women for their empowerment. The commission honored twenty women for their outstanding work symbolizing indomitable spirit of fighting against adversities and dedicated their lives to work for rights of women. During the programme a report called, Understanding Gender Equality in India 2012 has also been released.
· In Arunachal Pradesh, the Government convened a high-level meeting at Itanagar yesterday to find ways and means to control forest fire at the hill top around the Capital region. The fire in the hills around Itanagar, the only source of potable water to the entire capital region continued since last two days, causing alarm. In the meeting, the officials agreed on the fact that forest fire, mostly triggered by human, is a serious threat that needs to be tackled collectively. It evolved that almost all the forests and hills around the state capital are parts of a wildlife sanctuary making these as Protected Areas (PA). However, due to lack of awareness and other circumstances like population growth, migration and extension of the state capital, settlements have been coming up within these protected areas. With human settlements, activities of jhum cultivation have been growing fast resulting in setting up of fire to clear jungles.
· The report on the State of Indian Agriculture placed by the Government to the Lok Sabha yesterday. This is the first time such a report has been brought out. The report highlights the fall in contribution of agriculture to the overall Gross Domestic Product (GDP), which has gone down to 13.9 per cent. It notes that this trend is expected in the development process of any economy. Yet, agriculture forms the backbone of development, as 52 per cent of India’s work force is still engaged in agriculture for its livelihood and is important for food security and inclusive growth. The report highlights the major steps taken in the recent years for improving crop production and productivity: (1.) Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana – helped in increasing public investment in agriculture and allied sectors; (2.) National Food Security Mission (NFSM) and the National Horticulture Mission (NHM) - helped in achieving record production of cereals, pulses, oilseeds, fruits, vegetables and spices during the last two years; (3.) Bringing Green Revolution in Eastern India (BGREI) - helped to increase the productivity of the cropping system mainly rice, wheat, maize, pulses through promotion of innovative production technologies and agronomical practices addressing the underlying key constraints of different agro-climatic sub regions. On the impact of the MGNREGS on agriculture and farm labour: (1.) Positive side - contributed toward water conservation and water harvesting structures, drought proofing and tree plantation, flood control, micro and minor irrigation works and land development; (2.) Negative side - led to a substantial increases in the wage rates of agricultural labourers, reduced the availability of labor for agricultural operations and increased the cost of cultivation. The report cautions that water scarcity will intensify in future with increase in population and demand for food, and the current water use practices cannot be sustained over the long run. The report also focuses on the problems of imbalanced use of fertilizers, deteriorating soil health and the threats posed by climate change and highlight the recent measures initiated to tackle these issues. On farm credit, the report says that while the overall credit to agriculture has been growing phenomenally, yet the biggest challenge remains in terms of increasing access to credit, particularly for the bottom 40 percent. The report calls for wide-ranging reforms in agricultural marketing. [read it full: http://agricoop.nic.in/SIA111213312.pdf]
· The Government has set up seven Zonal Cultural Centres (ZCCs) for preservation, promotion and dissemination of the traditional folk arts and culture in the country. The ZCCs have been carrying out various activities and organizing programmes at the national, zonal and local levels in accordance with their aims and objectives.
· The Central Drugs Standard Control Organization (CDSCO) has investigated the matter regarding drug trials on patients without their consent by the doctors of Mahatma Gandhi Medical College and Mental Hospital (MGM), Indore and found that 11 clinical trials had conducted during the period Jan, 2008 to Oct, 2010. As per the Drugs and Cosmetics Rules and Good Clinical Practice Guidelines, mentally challenged and mentally differently able persons, who are incapable of personally giving consent, are considered vulnerable subjects. However, there is no prohibition under the said rules and guidelines that clinical trials cannot be conducted on such patients. The Government has no proposal to stop drug trials on patients as it considers such trials are vital for establishing safety and efficacy of a new drug and research in the area of drug discovery leading to newer, safer and more efficacious drugs.
· The incidence of Acute Respiratory infections in children under 3 years of age shows a declining trend, with 11.4% in 2007-08 (16.6 % in 2002-04). Various measures taken by govt. are: (1.) Promotion of Infant and Young Child Feeding practices including exclusive breastfeeding for first 6 months: Breastfeeding is known to have a protective effect against common childhood illnesses; (2.) Vitamin A supplementation to children 6 months- 5 years: Vitamin A reduces the severity of respiratory infections in children especially those with malnutrition and with Vitamin A deficiency; (3.) Drugs required for treatment of all ARIs including Bronchitis are being funded under NRHM to be provided free of cost to the children treated at health facilities.
· The Infant Mortality Rate (IMR) in the country has shown a steady decline from 53 per 1000 live births (SRS 2008) to 47 per 1000 live births (SRS 2010).
· Underlined that considering the importance and potential of alternate source of oil and gas, the Minister of Petroleum and Natural Gas said that the Shale Gas Policy is proposed to be announced tentatively by 31.03.2013. In this regard, a MOU was signed between India and US Government on Shale Gas Resources in November, 2010 which provides for the technical and foreign investment from US in India. Accordingly, United States Geological Survey (USGS) carried out Shale Gas resource assessment in 3 Indian basins (KG, Cauvery and Cambay) in January, 2012. The task of identification of areas and assessment of Shale Gas potential in Damodar and Sohagpur sedimentary basins is also in their survey list.
· Demand for organic food items is on the rise during the last few years. Thus the Government is providing incentives to cultivators of organic food products under the "National Horticulture Mission".
· Environment & Forests Minister said that it is regularly monitoring the emissions of harmful gas from the Okhla Waste-to-Energy Plant. Levels of oxides of Nitrogen (NOx) and Hydrochloric acid mist (HCl) are found to be within the standards, as prescribed in the Municipal Solid Waste (Management and Handling) Rules, 2000. However, on four occasions out of ten, levels of Particulate matter (PM) exceeded the standard of 150 mg/Nm3.
· Incidents of damage to crops and human lives by wild animals like elephant, leopard, wild boar, blue bull, monkey, etc. are reported from States/Union Territories of the country including Himachal Pradesh. In this regard, Ministry of Environment & Forest said that as the subject to availability of budget, the Central Government supplements/provides financial assistance to the State/Union Territory Governments under the Centrally Sponsored Schemes of “Integrated Development of Wildlife Habitats”, “Project Elephant” and “Project Tiger” to make payment of ex-gratia relief to the victims in incidents of damage to crops and human lives by wild animals.
· In a major initiative to enhance the understanding of critical issues associated with the digitalization process, the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting has for the First time launched a Facebook account on the subject. This will facilitate exchange of information and clarifications on a wider canvass of public participation, covering a whole gamut of public concerns. The facebook account carries answers to some of the frequently asked questions and provides links to other connected organizations.
· The first fully private airport in India to be built entirely with private capital will become operational in Karaikal, an enclave of Puducherry near Nagapattinam, in another two years, its developers told the media in Coimbatore. Aimed at tapping the rich recreational and spiritual tourism potential of the region, the project will bring air connectivity to pilgrim centres including Velankanni, Nagore and various temple towns. Karaikal, incidentally, also has a sea port built on a public-private partnership. “Though the ministry of civil aviation has given sanction for 14 Greenfield airports across the country, ours is the only 100% private airport. The other 13 airports cleared follow the public-private-partnership model,’’ Super Airport Infrastructure Pvt said.
· A friendly cricket match series (2-one day match) between the Indian Air Force and Afghanistan Air Force teams is being held. The Indian Air Force won the first match.
· Israel and Palestinian militia in Gaza have agreed to end the violence in Gaza strip. The move follows a ceasefire brokered by Egyptian officials after four days of violence. The Palestinians have agreed to stop launching rockets at southern Israeli cities while Israel agreed to stop targeting militants in air strikes. 23 Palestinians were killed. Meanwhile, Government officials and missile experts in Israel have praised the performance of Iron Dome, an Israeli-made system designed to shoot down short-range rockets like those fired from Gaza. Iron Dome has been rolled out over the past year.
· Bitter wrangling between the US and Russia dominated a high-level meeting of the 15- nation UN Security Council on Syria. Their dialogues: (1.) US Secretary of State said that while America believes firmly in the sovereignty and territorial integrity of nations, that this council should not stand silent when governments massacre their own people, threatening regional peace and security in the process. (2.) Russian Foreign Minister said while Russia agrees that Syrian authorities bear a huge share of responsibility, opposition fighters and extremists including al-Qaeda are also responsible for the violence in Syria.