Daily News Notes: 7th to 9th September, 2012

· Dr. Verghese Kurien, the Father of the White Revolution, passed away. He was the architect of India’s White Revolution, which helped India emerge as the largest milk producer in the world. He was also the founder Chairman of the National Dairy Development Board -NDDB, the Gujarat Co-operative Milk Marketing Federation -GCMMF, and the Institute of Rural Management -Anand-IRMA. The people will never forget Dr. Kurien-along with his brand-Amul and the Taste of India. Dr. Kurien was conferred with many prestigious awards including Padmashri (1965), Padmabhushan (1966), Krishi Ratna (1986), Padma Vibhushan (1999) and Ramon Magsaysay Award for Community Leadership (1963).
· The Vice President of India has congratulated the Department of Space and members of Indian Space Research Organisation on the successful launch of ISRO’s 100th satellite PSLV-C21 from Satish Dhawan Space Centre, Sriharikota. The third wholly commercial launch with no Indian satellite was a textbook mission as ISRO's Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle placed in orbit French spacecraft SPOT 6 and Japanese micro satellite PROITERES. Since 13 years after the PSLV went commercial this is the third time that the launch vehicle has exclusively carried foreign satellites. This is also the first time that France has chosen an outside launch for SPOT. The previous five SPOT satellites went up on aboard earlier versions of European Ariane rocket.
· Health Minister has informed that Thiomersal used as preservative in multi-dose vaccine vial contains ethyl mercury which is safe as per the Global Advisory Committee on Vaccine Safety (GACVS) of WHO. The Thiomersal containing vaccine Universal Immunization Programme (UIP) are (i) Diphtheria, Pertussis, Tetanus (DPT) (ii) Tetanus Toxiod (TT) (iii) Hepatitis B and (iv) Pentavalent vaccine (DPT + Hepatitis B + Haemophilus influenzae type B). Further he informed that the total number of deaths following immunization in the country (AEFI) during the last one decade is 644.
· Health Minister has informed that at present, there are no regulatory standards in place for ingredients of cigarettes in our country. Further, the Hon`ble Supreme Court has held that “Since pan masala, gutka or supari are eaten for taste and nourishment, they are all food within the meaning of the (Prevention of Food Adulteration) Act.” As such, by virtue of the regulation issued under the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006, Gutkha products are food products containing tobacco and nicotine and their manufacture, sale or storage is not permitted. By virtue of the same regulation, Pan Masala, if it contains tobacco and nicotine, cannot be manufactured or sold. The Governments of Madhya Pradesh, Kerala, Bihar, Rajasthan, Maharashtra, Haryana, Chhatisgarh, Jharkhand, Gujarat, Chandigarh and Mizoram have so far issued orders/notification to enforce the ban on sale of Gutka and Pan Masala containing tobacco/nicotine in their states in accordance with this regulation. Also, MoHFW has initiated the process of setting up of tobacco testing laboratories and has identified four regional testing labs and one apex lab for testing contents and emissions of all tobacco products.
· Health Minister has informed that, as per 2011 census data, the percentage decadal growth of the Indian population during 2001-2011 has registered the sharpest decline since Independence. It declined from 23.87 per cent in 1981-1991 to 21.54 per cent for the period 1991-2001, a decrease of 2.33 percentage points. For 2001-11, the decadal growth has decreased to 17.64 per cent, a decline of 3.90 per centage points. Further, Government has adopted the National Population Policy in February 2000 which provides for holistic approach for achieving population stabilization. The policy affirms the commitment of Government towards voluntary and informed choice and consent of citizens while availing of reproductive health care services. The key interventions for population stabilization include the following: [1.] A new scheme has been launched to utilize the services of ASHA to deliver contraceptives at the doorstep of beneficiaries. ASHA is charging a nominal amount from beneficiaries i.e Re 1 for a pack of 3 condoms, Re 1 for a cycle of Oral Contraceptive Pills (OCPs) and Rs.2 for a pack of one tablet of Emergency Contraceptive Pill (ECPs) ; [2.] Enhancement of compensation packages for accepters and providers of sterilization services; [3.] Introduction of a National Family Planning Insurance Scheme to cover any mishap that may occur due to sterilization; [4.] Government of India has introduced short term Intrauterine Contraceptive Device (IUCD), Cu IUCD 375; [5.] Promotion of male participation through Non Scalpel Vasectomy methods.
· Minister of Panchayati Raj has informed that his Ministry is implementing e-Panchayat Mission Mode Project (MMP) that addresses core aspects of Panchayats’ functioning viz. Planning, Monitoring, Implementation, Budgeting, Accounting, Social Audit etc., with the aim to make their functioning more efficient, accountable and transparent. In so far as providing ICT infrastructure, including computers to Panchayats under this MMP is concerned, the States have been advised to utilize available funds from other sources (diversion of funds) such as 13th Central Finance Commission Grants, Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS), Backward Region Grant Fund (BRGF), Rashtriya Gram Swaraj Yojana (RGSY) etc. Further he informed that, imparting computer education at village level is not sought to be achieved through this Mission Mode Project.
· The government has assigned the work of finding out the amount of black money stashed by Indians in the country and abroad to 3 institutes. They institutes will also suggest ways to tackle the menace of black money. These institutes are expected to complete their study by the end of 2012. These institutes are: [1.] National Institute of Public Finance and Policy; [2.] National Institute of Finance Management; [3.] National Council for Applied Economic Research.
· Telecom subscriber base fell to 945 million in July from 965 million a month ago, the first ever decline in India. The biggest loss in user base came from Reliance Communications, followed by Tata Teleservices, Uninor, Videocon, Loop and MTNL. Further, TRAI has asked telecom companies to de-activate international calling facility in pre-paid numbers and restore it only after a subscriber gives his consent. The telecom regulator has been getting complaints from consumers about receiving calls and SMSes from international numbers informing them about winning prizes or lottery, thus prompting them to call a particular number to claim the prize or lottery money.
· The RBI asserted that it will not permit mobile network operators to offer cash-out or mobile wallet service. RBI is concerned because of security issues related to the quality of flow, Anti-Money Laundering rules and Know Your Customer rules. As per RBI, mobile wallet is basically an e-money product and therefore permitting mobile network operators provide this facility may bypass banking regulations. However, RBI allows transactions if mobile network operators operate their services as business correspondents of banks.
· Taking a suo motto cognizance of media reports, the National Human Rights Commission, NHRC, has issued notices to the District Magistrate and Superintendent of Police of 24 Parganas district of West Bengal in connection with the allegations that a woman was forced to sell her three little daughters for 155 rupees as they did not have food for some days. The NHRC also observed that the media report, if true is a serious issue of violation of human rights to live with dignity.
· After hanging fire for nearly four years, the much-awaited Hyderabad IT Investment Region (ITIR) is all set to become a reality with high-powered committee headed by the Union cabinet secretary finally giving in-principal approval to the mega project. Straddling 202 sq kms or 50,000 acres (nearly five times the 10,000-acre ITIR projects cleared for Karnataka and Orissa), the Hyderabad ITIR is slated to catapult the city into India’s largest knowledge hub in the coming years. Estimated to suck in investments of over Rs 15,000 crore in just internal and external infrastructure over the next 25 years, the mega project is expected to send Andhra Pradesh’s IT, ITeS revenues soaring to a whopping Rs 2,35,000 crore, a fivefold jump over the existing Rs 50,000 crore, and boost 10 times the state’s fledgling electronic hardware manufacturing industry from Rs 8,000 crore revenue to over Rs 80,000 crore. The Andhra Pradesh government also hopes the project will create lakhs of direct and indirect jobs, taking up the total direct employment number in the sector to 15 lakh from existing 3 lakh and send indirect employment figure zooming from 12 lakh to 50 lakh, an official said. It will be a combination of production units, public utilities, logistics, environment protection mechanism, residential areas and administrative services and will include special economic zones, industrial parks, free trade zones, warehousing zones, export oriented units, growth centres and existing industrial estates.
· India has signed a Joint Communiqué on the establishment of Diplomatic Relations between India and Niue. Niue (or, Rock of Polynesia) is an island country in South Pacific Ocean with population of ~1400. The country is also known as the world’s first “Wi-Fi nation”, in which free wireless Internet access is provided throughout the country. Since 2002, India has stepped up its cooperative relations with all nations in pacific island region and is actively engaged as a 'Dialogue Partner' of the Pacific Island Forum (a regional group of Pacific Island countries).
· The Ministry of Environment & Forests hosted the ASEAN-India Environment Ministers’ Meeting on September 7, 2012 at New Delhi. The meeting unanimously adopted the ‘New Delhi ASEAN-India Ministerial Statement on Biodiversity’ whereby both sides agreed to enhance awareness among all stakeholders, strive towards mainstreaming biodiversity concerns into development processes, and to strive towards enhancing priority in terms of resource allocation and mobilization for biodiversity conservation. Both sides also agreed to work together for conservation and management of flagship species and enhancing conservation management & sustainable utilization of Coastal and Marine biodiversity. The statement further agrees to take preparatory national work as a sound and informed basis for ratifying the Nagoya Protocol on Access and Benefit Sharing. The meeting called upon The 11th Conference of Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) to discuss issues relating to biodiversity & livelihoods regularly and recommend concrete actions, considering the critical linkages of biodiversity with livelihoods and poverty alleviation.
· A new liberalized visa agreement between India and Pakistan is being signed in Islamabad. Exemption from Police reporting, longer stay and visa on arrival for senior citizens (more than 65 years), specific time limit for issuing visa, introduction of pilgrim and business visas are the highlights of the agreement. Also, for the first time Group tourist visas (10 to 50 people) have been brought in. Further, External Affairs Minister of India & Pakistan have also co-chaired the Joint Commission Meeting, which was revived in 2005 after a pause of 16 years.
· Minister of Overseas Indian Affairs has informed that the government has signed Social Security Agreements with various countries to safeguard the interests of the persons of Indian origin living and working there, and to provide them with all eligible benefits to which they are entitled. He said that the government has concluded Social Security Agreements with Belgium, France, Germany, Switzerland, Luxembourg, The Netherlands, Denmark and South Korea. Presently, the government is negotiating the Social Security Agreements with Australia, Japan and the United Kingdom. Talks have been completed with Austria, Canada, Portugal and Sweden but the agreements are yet to be signed.
· Canada has snapped diplomatic ties with Iran, closed its embassy in Teheran and said it will ask Iranian diplomat in Canada to leave the country. The Canadian Foreign Minister cited Teheran’s nuclear program, its support for the Syrian regime, threats against Israel and the concern for the mission’s safety as important factors for the decision. Canada views the Government of Iran as the most significant threat to global peace and security in the world. Meanwhile, Britain, France and Germany gave a call for new sanctions against Iran over its nuclear program.
· The Palestine Authority President Mahmoud Abbass has said he will go ahead with his plans to press for a full member status for Palestine at United Nations and its affiliates. Palestine has the support of 120 member bloc of Non Aligned Movement-NAM, the Organization of Islamic Co-operation-OIC and the Arab League in its fresh bid to enhance its stature in the league of nations. The US and Israel are opposed to any such move and said it is an attempt by the Palestinian leadership to sidetrack the peace process which has been kept on hold for over two years. Palestine currently has an Observer status at the UN forums with no voting rights.
· The fifth seeded Indo-Czech duo (India's Leander Paes and his Czech partner Radek Stepanek) have lost the Men's Doubles title clash of the US Open Tennis tournament in New York. They were defeated to the second seeded Bryan brothers - Bob and Mike - of America. The Bryan brothers had earlier bagged the US Open Men's Doubles title in 2005, 2008 and 2010. In other results, World Number One Victoria Azarenka of Belarus and American Serena Williams have booked the Women's Singles final.