Daily News Notes: 30th March, 2012

· Last day of Budget session: The first part of Budget session in the Lok Sabha witnessed the passage of Appropriation Bill, Vote on account and presentation of Railway Budget and the Union Budget. The proceedings of the house was disrupted over the issues of alleged bribe offer to the Army Chief and carving out separate state of Telengana. The house also condemned Team Anna’s remarks on members of Parliament. The Lok Sabha has been adjourned for the day on Telengana issue. The House will now meet on the 24th of next month after recess.
· Army Chief General V K Singh today said that the defence sector is committed to reduce dependance on foreign firms for equipment acquisition. He said that 70 per cent of the required equipment is imported and this trend needs to be reversed. The army chief asserted that the primary mission of the defence system is to ensure territorial integrity of the country. He stressed the need for greater research in joint ventures for the use of innovative technology. Gen Singh made it clear that the defence system does not have any extra territorial ambitions.
· The NTPC’s SIMHADRI 4th Unit based at Visakhapatnam has been synchronised successfully with the Southern Power Grid adding 500 mega watt (MW) of additional power. Thus, the total power generation from this coal based thermal power plant has touched 2000 MW. The 5000 crore Rs. projects of 3rd and 4th Units of Simhadri began in way back 2007.
· The National Green Tribunal today said that the environment clearance granted to Posco's mega steel project in Odisha in January 2011, will remain suspended till the Environment Ministry renews it afresh. Court pointed out that MoU signed between the Odisha government and Posco, states that the project is for production of 12 million tonnes of steel per annum (MTPA) but the environment impact assessment report has been prepared only for 4 MTPA steel production in the first phase.
· Rajasthan is today celebrating its 63rd foundation day. On 30th March 1949 Rajasthan was formed after merger of 22 princly states.The process of merger was continued till 1956.Today Rajasthan is the biggest state of the country and entrepreneurship of Rajasthani's is well accepted all around the globe.
· Himachal Chief Minister Prem Kumar Dhumal on Thursday disclosed that the World Bank has agreed to provide a $200 million loan to the State for undertaking a “carbon-smart growth” and in order to enable it become the country's first ‘carbon-neutral State' by 2020. The project aims at sustainable management of natural resources and heritage, with focus on forests, wildlife, wetlands, livestock, mining, fisheries, waste disposal, and architecture and cultural heritage. Himachal Pradesh had signed a pact with the World Bank last year for harnessing carbon credits to generate carbon revenue amounting to Rs. 20 crore for 20 years under the “Bio Carbon Projects” in 10 districts of the State. Mr. Dhumal also launched a signature campaign in a separate function and appealed to the people to observe Earth Hour along with the whole world on Earth Day, on the call given by the World Wildlife Fund, by switching off lights on Saturday between 8.30 p.m. and 9.30 p.m.
· The Minister of Communications and Information Technology launched India’s Open Government Platform (OGPL). Jointly developed by India and the US, OGPL is a software platform which aims to provide enhanced public access to government data and documents, and spur citizen engagement and interface with the Government. The OGPL combines and expands the best features of the India’s “India.gov.in” and the U.S. “Data.gov” sites. Such a platform would have a significant impact on improving governance, enhancing accountability and generating greater collaborations between India and the US. Shri Sam Pitroda, Adviser to Prime Minister on Public Information Infrastructure and Innovations spoke about the need for democratizing information and improving governance by creating new tools and platforms such as the OGPL. National Informatics Center Director General Dr. B. K. Gairola, spoke about the role of NIC as the technical partner on this project. The India-US OGPL technical team further demonstrated the key features of the OGPL which include: [1.] The ability to publish government data, documents, and processes from multiple departments within a government; [2.] An internal workflow process for approvals and management of datasets; [3.] The ability to create data-rich community spaces around topics of national priorities; [4.] Cloud/ Host-based operation at multiple levels of government, with the ability link data from federal, central, state, district, municipal, and local levels; [5.] Open source architecture to allow software developers to develop applications and new features to view, compare and use Government data; [6.] Enhance access and use of government data to foster innovation; improve delivery of government services for interested countries and cities around the world; and promote government transparency, accountability, and public participation.
· A number of schemes have been undertaken by the Government of India to improve survival and status of girl children in the country. While programmes for improvement of nutrition benefit all children including girl children, like the Integrated Child Development Scheme, National Rural Health Mission, Mid-day meal scheme etc., specific interventions for girl children include implementing the Pre-Natal Diagnostic Techniques (Prohibition of Sex Selection) Act, 1994, pilot cash transfer scheme of ‘Dhanlakshmi’, setting up a Sectoral Innovation Council for improving child sex ratio, and the pilot scheme ‘Sabla’ for a comprehensive intervention for adolescent girls in the age group of 11-18, with a focus on out of school girls in select 200 districts of the country. A number of states are also implementing their own schemes to incentivise the birth of a girl child and encourage families to place a premium on her education and development through Conditional Cash Transfer schemes (CCTs). Some of these are the Laadli Scheme of Delhi Govt., Mukhya Mantri Kanya Suraksha Yojna of Bihar Govt., Bhagyalakshmi Scheme of Karnataka, Ladli Lakshmi Yojna of MP, Balika Samridhi Yojna of Gujarat and Himachal Pradesh, Balri Rakshak Yojana in Punjab and Kanyadan scheme of Madhya Pradesh.
· A number of welfare schemes for women have been undertaken by the Government of India. The details of such schemes under implementation by Ministry of Women and Child Development are as: [1.] Rajiv Gandhi National Creche Scheme for the Children of Working Mothers (RGNCS) provides day care facilities to the children in the age group 0-6 years from families with monthly income of less than Rs.12000/-. In addition to being a safe space for the children, the crèches provide services such as supplementary nutrition, pre-school education and emergency health care, etc. [2.] CENTRAL SOCIAL WELFARE BOARD provides Family Counselling Centres, Awareness Generation Programme and Condensed courses of education for women; [3.] NATIONAL MISSION FOR EMPOWERMENT OF WOMEN (NMEW): It is a Centrally Sponsored Scheme sanctioned in April 2011 and acts as an umbrella Mission with a mandate to strengthen inter-sectoral convergence and facilitate the process of coordination of all the women’s welfare and socio-economic development programmes across Ministries and Departments; [4.] WORKING WOMEN’S HOSTEL (WWH) Scheme envisages provision of safe and affordable hostel accommodation to working women, single working women, women working at places away from their home-towns and for women being trained for employment. The scheme has been revised recently; [5.] SUPPORT TO TRAINING AND EMPLOYMENT PROGRAMME (STEP) for Women was launched as a Central Sector Scheme during 1986-87. It aims at making a significant impact on women by upgrading skills for self and wage employment. This also includes wage labourers, unpaid daily workers, female headed households, migrant labourers, tribal and other dispossessed groups, with special focus on SC/ST households, women headed households and families below the poverty line; [6.] RASHTRIYA MAHILA KOSH (RMK): Credit is provided to the poor women beneficiaries through Intermediary Microfinancing Organisations (IMOs) working at grass root level such as NGOs, Women Federations, Co-operatives etc. by following a client friendly, simple, without collateral, for livelihood and income generation activities, housing and micro-enterprises; [7.] Women’s Empowerment and Livelihood Programme in Mid-Gangetic PlaIn (WELP) also called Priyadarshini is being implemented with assistance of International Fund for Agricultural Development in Uttar Pradesh & Bihar. It aims at holistic empowerment of vulnerable groups of women and adolescent girls in the project area through formation of Women’s Self Help Groups (SHGs) and promotion of improved livelihood opportunities. Over 1,00,000 households are to be covered under the project and 7,200 SHGs will be formed during the project period ending 2016-17. The beneficiaries are expected to be empowered to address their political, legal and health issues through rigorous capacity building. National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development is the lead programme agency for implementation of the programme which became effective in December 2009; [8.] Indira Gandhi Matritva Sahyog Yojana (IGMSY) is a Conditional Cash Transfer scheme for pregnant and lactating (P&L) women introduced in the October 2010 to contribute to better enabling environment by providing cash incentives for improved health and nutrition to pregnant and nursing mothers. It addresses short term income support objectives with long term objective of behaviour and attitudinal change. The scheme attempts to partly compensate for wage loss to P&L women both prior to and after delivery of the child. The beneficiaries are paid 4000/ in three instalments per P&L women between the second trimester till the child attains the age of 6 months on fulfilling specific conditions related to maternal and child health; [9.] SWADHAR GREH SCHEME: The scheme had been administering Swadhar scheme since 2001 for Women in difficult circumstances. Under the Scheme, temporary accommodation, maintenance and rehabilitative services are provided to women and girls rendered homeless due to family discord, crime, violence, mental stress, social ostracism. Another scheme with similar objectives/target groups namely Short Stay Home (SSH) was being implemented by Central Social Welfare Board. Being similar in objectives and target groups, both the schemes have been merged to Swadhar Greh scheme with revised financial parameters; [10.] UJJAWALA is a comprehensive scheme for prevention of trafficking and rescue, rehabilitation and reintegration of victims of trafficking for commercial sexual exploitation. Funds are released to NGOs as the scheme is being implemented mainly through NGOs.
· Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has informed that as on 31^st December, 2011, a total amount of around Rs. 2481.39 crores in 11249844 accounts is lying as unclaimed deposits with the Scheduled Commercial Bank (SCBs). RBI in its circular in 2008 & 2011 directed the banks to play a more proactive role in finding the whereabouts of the account holders, whose accounts have remained inoperative and has provided detailed guidelines to the banks dealing with inoperative accounts. Banks have been advised to make an annual review of accounts in which there are no operations for more than one year. RBI hasalso adivsed the banks to display the list of unclaimed deposits/inoperative accounts which are inactive/inoperative for ten years or more on their respective website.
· The Government has initiated a process of introducing advanced security features in the Indian banknotes of all denominations to check the menace of fake currency. The acquisition of security features is made following the eight stage acquisition process recommended by the Banerjee Committee and accepted by the Government to promote transparency and accountability.
· The production of pulses has increased by 28.45% in 2010-11 as compared with 2006-07. The National Food Security Mission-Pulses (NFSM-Pulses) being implemented in 468 districts of 16 major pulses growing States covering about 98% of pulses area of the country was revamped from 2010-11 with the merger of pulses component of Integrated Scheme of Oilseeds, Pulses, Oil palm & Maize (ISOPOM). Further, Accelerated Pulses Production Programme (A3P) was initiated under NFSM-Pulses for active promotion of technologies among the farmers in major pulses growing States. Under NFSM-Pulses scheme, assistance is being provided for seed production and distribution, Integrated Nutrient Management, Integrated Pest Management, Weedicides, improved farm implements, assistance for increased water use efficiency through distribution of sprinklers, pipeline for carrying water to the fields and pump sets etc. In 2009-10, the top four states producing pulses were Madhya Pradesh (29 per cent of total production), Maharashtra (16 per cent), Uttar Pradesh (13 per cent) and Andhra Pradesh (10 per cent). Together with Karnataka, Rajasthan, Gujarat, Chhattisgarh, Bihar, Orissa and Tamil Nadu, these states account for 96 per cent of the total production of pulses and form the focus of the government’s pulses programmes. Looking at average productivity in two five-year periods 2000-01 to 2004-05 and 2005-06 to 2009-10, two of the major pulses producing states had impressive growth of more than 33 per cent in the average yield per hectare — Andhra Pradesh and Gujarat. But Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Bihar and Tamil Nadu saw a decline in the average yield per hectare by seven to eight per cent.
· The 18-month old girl from West Bengal, reported as a polio case in a section of media earlier this month, has tested negative for polio. The child Sumi Naskar was admitted to a hospital in Kolkata earlier this month from where she was picked up by the polio surveillance network for investigation. As part of surveillance for polio, any child less than 15 years of age who suddenly develops floppiness or weakness or paralysis in any part of the body is investigated thoroughly. These cases are called Acute Flaccid Paralysis (AFP) cases. Polio is one of the several causes of AFP and not the only cause for AFP. In 2012 so far, around 9,000 AFP cases have been investigated by NPSP with the support of local health authorities. All the stool samples of these AFP cases have tested negative for polio. India has not reported any case of polio since 13 January 2011 and has been struck off the list of countries with active endemic wild polio transmission in February 2012. But the job is not yet done. As the risk of polio persists, the surveillance for polio continues to be of the highest sensitivity, detecting and investigating all cases of AFP to rule out polio.
· Minister, Science & Technology and Earth Sciences flagged-off a 200 km test-run of a fully loaded TAVERA (a regular diesel vehicle) on neat (B100) “microalgal biodiesel” from CSIR Headquarters, New Delhi. The “microalgal biodiesel” was produced from a marine microalgal strain cultivated in a solar saltpan. The endeavour is the outcome of an ambitious project initiated in April 2010 under the CSIR-New Millennium Indian Technology Leadership Initiative (CSIR-NMITLI) by the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) in collaboration with the Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES) that seeks to develop a scalable process for production of biofuel from marine microalgae. In an important milestone achieved last year, the TAVERA (a regular diesel vehicle) under full load condition was successfully test-driven on B20 biodiesel prepared from mats of marine microalgae found growing naturally in the west coast of India. The test-run on neat (B100) microalgal biodiesel is yet another significant advancement. With growing demand of liquid fuels for transportation purpose and concerns around fossil fuels, the CSIR-NMITLI project is of much importance. However, considerable efforts will be required to move up the learning curve to make such fuel available on large scale at affordable price.
· Hotel and Tourism sector is declared as high priority sector and Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) upto 100%, under the automatic route is permitted in ‘Hotels & Tourism Sector’. FDI equity flows from April 2008 to January 2012 in the this sector accounted to be around Rs.11,110/- cr from 1901 Hotel & Tourism Projects. The FDI has been allowed with an objective to encourage investments in the hotel sector in India and to create job opportunities in hospitality sector.
· The Minister of State for Communications & Information Technology informed that Section 43A of the amended Information Technology Act, 2000 establishes a legal framework for data privacy protection in India. The Information Technology (Reasonable security practices and procedures and sensitive personal data or information) rules, 2011 notified on 11.4.2011, mandates ‘body corporates’ to implement ‘reasonable security practices’ for protecting ‘sensitive personal information of individuals. The rules mandates that body corporate must provide policy for privacy and disclosure of information, so that user is well aware of the type of personal data collected, purpose of collection and usage of such information. The rules also specify mode of collection of information, disclosure of information, transfer of information and reasonable security practices and procedures. Certain media reports have appeared on changes in Google’s privacy policy. The new Google Privacy Policy provides information to the end users as to how their personal information is collected, for which it is collected, processed and secure. France’s independent privacy watchdog, the CNIL (nationale de I’informatique et des libertes) stated that the changes made do not comply with European law. Another report states that European Union (EU) feels the new privacy policy makes it impossible to understand which purposes, personal data, recipients or access rights are relevant to the use of a specific service. It may be mentioned that Privacy is a fundamental right in Europe. However, rectification of conflict between Google, an US Company and European Directive on Data Protection is not within the purview of Government of India.
· Ministry of Agriculture has intensified implementation of various schemes/programmes to make Indian Agriculture climate resilient by embedding and mainstreaming various adaption measures. Notable among these schemes/programmes are Macro Management of Agriculture, Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana, National Food Security Mission, National Horticulture Mission and National Mission on Micro Irrigation. Further, Ministry of Agriculture has been implementing National Network Project on Climate Change and has also launched National Initiative on Climate Resilient Agriculture for studying impacts of climate change on Indian Agriculture. Also, agro produce has not registered any decline due to climate change and advancement of the seasonal cycle period. On the contrary, production of food grain has reached a record level of 244.78 million tonne during 2010-11. During the same period, country has also witnessed highest ever production in wheat, pulses, oilseeds and cotton.
· With average fertilizer consumption at 144.14 kg per hectare India is using much less quantities of chemical fertilizers compared to other developing countries. But imbalanced use of chemical fertilizers coupled with low addition of organic matter and neglect of micro and secondary nutrients over the years has resulted in nutrient deficiency and deterioration of soil health in many parts of the country, particularly in the intensively cultivated Indo-Gangetic plains. For this, Government is promoting Integrated Nutrient Management advocating soil test based balanced and judicious use of chemical fertilizers in conjunction with organic sources of nutrients for improving soil fertility. Fertilizer companies, including cooperatives have taken up various activities under National Project on Management of Soil Health & Fertility for creating awareness. They have taken up trainings and field demonstrations on soil test based balanced use of fertilizers.
· In the hour-long meeting, Hu Jintao and Dr Singh declared 2012 as the year of India-China friendship. They also expressed satisfaction that the two countries are on course in achieving the 100 billion trade target set for 2015. Dr Singh invited Chinese investments in India, particularly in infrastructure and manufacturing sectors, two areas where Beijing is strong but has felt stymied by New Delhi's rules and procedures.. The two leaders also decided to expand consultation to include West Asia, Central Asia and Africa. In Central Asia, China has been spectacularly successful in its sourcing of hydrocarbons and India is also actively scouting for opportunities. In Africa too, both countries are looking for opportunities in the minerals and hydrocarbons sectors. On the border issue, they agreed that the current mechanism of Special Representative-level talks should continue and meantime, both sides must ensure peace and tranquillity on the border.They unveiled a host of initiatives to bolster cultural and people-to-people contacts, including setting up of a media forum to promote better public perception of their bilateral relationship. Despite Tibetan refugees trying to disrupt the visit of the Chinese President at every possible opportunity, senior officials from Beijing mourned the death of a protester after he immolated himself. China welcome the commitment of the Indian government in recognising Tibetan Autonomous Region as an inalienable part of China and in not allowing anyone to engage in pro-Tibetan independence activity.
· The BRICS countries - India, China, Russia, Brazil and South Africa - have signed two agreements to push intra-country trade in their local currencies and to set up a development bank. It is aimed at reducing the demand for fully convertible currencies like dollar, euro and pound for transactions among BRICS nations. This will also help reduce the transaction costs of intra-BRICS trade. In the Joint Delhi Declaration adopted after the summit, the leaders underlined that dialogue was the only way to resolve issues related to Iran and Syria. Expressing deep concern over the situation in Syria, the leaders called for an immediate end to all violence and violations of human rights. On Iran, the BRICS leaders voiced concern over the situation emerging around its nuclear programme and said, it cannot be allowed to escalate into conflict as it could have disastrous consequences which will be in no one's interest. The declaration said, the immediate priority at hand is to restore market confidence and get global growth back on track. It also called for a more representative international financial architecture.
· Undeterred by the U.S. threat of sanctions on the Iran-Pakistan gas pipeline, Islamabad has decided to explore the Russian option to render financial services to the project after the state-owned Industrial and Commercial Bank of China (ICBC) developed cold feet. Russia has offered to fully finance the project — estimated to cost $1.5 billion — if Pakistan awards it to Gazprom without bidding. Gazprom has been eyeing a role in the Iran-Pakistan pipeline for some years now but its insistence on joining the project without bidding requires sidestepping the Public Procurement Regulatory Authority rules by Pakistan. Pakistan and Russia have a Joint Working Group on Energy Cooperation — one of the many components of an emerging relationship that seeks to break away from the past that saw Islamabad align with the U.S. to create and promote the mujahideen against the Soviet occupation of Afghanistan. Russia has also evinced interest in the Turkmenistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan-India gas pipeline and CASA-1000, the Central Asia-South Asia electricity bridge.
· The Arab Summit in Baghdad ended with a call to the Syrian regime to immediately and fully implement Kofi Annan’s six point peace plan to end the violence in the country. Developments in Iran, Palestine, Sudan and the repercussions of Arab Spring figured prominently in the deliberations. The Arab leaders called for practical solutions to the crisis in Syria but stopped short of asking the President Bashar al-Assad to step down. They also asked the Syrian opposition to stand united. Iraqi President Jalal Talabani told in sdthe summit that Iraq was supporting the Syrian's right to choose their ruling system, but without any foreign intervention. Tunisian President Moncef Marzouki said a Yemen like solution is the best option for Syria. Arab League Chief Nabil al-Araby said the Arab leaders must listen to the voices of the people in the wake of Arab Spring. Only 10 Arab heads of state from the 22-member Arab League, took part in the summit.
· Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez has returned home from Cuba after a five-day round of radiation therapy and says the cancer treatments are going well. Mr. Chavez has said the radiation treatments are intended to prevent any new cancer threat after a surgery last month that removed a second tumour from his pelvic region. He had another tumour removed from the same location in an earlier operation in June.
· India's Leander Paes and his Czech partner Radek Stepanek have stormed into the finals of the Men's Doubles category in the Miami Open Tennis tournament at Florida.
· The one-off Twenty20 match between India and South Africa will be played in Johannesburg today. MS Dhoni will lead a 15-member Indian squad for the one-off Twenty20 International. The BCCI and Cricket South Africa (CSA) have agreed to make this T20, an annual affair, marking 150 years of collaboration between the two countries. The Cup has been named as 'The Friendship Cup'. South African all rounder Jacques Kallis will be honoured during this match.