Daily News Notes: 13th April, 2012

· Vaisakhi, Bihu and Puthandu Pirappu are being celebrated today across the country. These festivals reaffirm the unity among the citizens and contribute towards nation’s progress. In Punjab, a religious and traditional fervour is everywhere to celebrate the seasonal religious harvest and historical festival of Vaisakhi. In Assam, Rongali Bihu, harvest festival is being celebrated which also marks the beginning of the Assamese New Year.
· Government has received representations for allowing convergence of Member of Parliament Local Development Scheme (MPLADS) with Panchyat Yuva Krida Aur Khel Abhiyan (PYKKA) and the Urban Sports Infrastructure Scheme (USIS). “Funds from MPLADS can be converged with PYKKA with the objective of creating more durable assets. MPs may recommend under MPLADS, works such as Development of playfields only of fixed and durable nature under PYKKA including leveling of playgrounds in hilly areas, construction of boundary wall, etc. in villages and blocks from out of the shelf of PYKKA projects if otherwise eligible under MPLAD Scheme. Similarly, in the urban areas, convergence with the USIS will also be permissible for creation of durable sports assets such as multi-purpose sports halls, athletic tracks, football, hockey turf, etc. as per the provisions of guidelines on MPLADS. This will be subject to the provision of the USIS for creation of urban sports infrastructure, amended from time to time.”
· In a bid to broaden educational reform to improve technical education and prepare students for the workforce of tomorrow, AICTE chairman Dr S.S Mantha announced that it is deploying microsoftlive@edu as one solution amongst many such initiatives with IT majors and Industries to more than 10,000 technical colleges and institutes throughout India. Live@edu is the first step in AICTE’s deployment of Microsoft cloud computing for education, making it Microsoft’s largest cloud customer ever. This will expand students’ access to high-quality technical education and collaboration.
· The total approximate earnings of Indian Railways on originating basis during the financial year 2011-12 were Rs. 104278.79 crore compared to Rs. 94670.76 crore during fiscal 2010-11, registering an increase of 10.15 per cent.
· National Backward Classes Finance and Development Corporation (NBCFDC) under the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment has achieved a distinction of being the recipient of Standing Conference of Public Enterprises (SCOPE) Meritorious Award for the year 2010-11 for the Best Managed Public Sector Enterprise (PSE). NBCFDC was setup in the year 1992 as a company Not for Profit to promote economic and developmental activities for the benefit of Backward Classes living below double the poverty line. The Corporation provides financial assistance by way of soft loans for self employment and income generating activities in various sectors like Agriculture and Allied activities, Small business/Artisan &Traditional Occupation etc. The Corporation has also given emphasis on women empowerment and has designed special scheme for women “New Swarnima” under term loan and “Mahila Samriddhi Yojana” under Micro Finance scheme through SHGs.
· In Jharkhand, the five member Shah Commission constituted by the central Government has arrived at Ranchi to investigate complaints of illegal mining in the state. About 20 iron-ore mines are at present closed in the state due to renewal of lease.
· In Haryana, the silver jubilee celebrations of seven zonal cultural centres, ZCC of India begins today. The theme of four day celebrations is "Maati Ke Rang". The festival would be full of all colours of Indian culture and reflect our traditions heritage and various forms of arts. Hundred of artists and artisans have come from various regions to showcase their talent and art forms. It is pertinent to recall, the zonal cultural centres have been envisioned and conceptualized by the former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi, who realised that culture is the most suitable tool that can be used as the base of national integration.
· The Bombay High Court has ruled that wild animals (including Tiger) should be treated as government property for all purposes and any damage caused by them should be compensated by the Government.
· The Karnataka government informed the Karnataka High Court that it has decided to withdraw its [government's] decision announced in the State Budget that hoisting Kannada flag in all government offices, schools and colleges on November 1 every year will be made compulsory. Thus, the government accepts that no other flag other than the national flag can be hoisted and saluted by the State during official functions.
· If the psychological trauma of the people of Jammu and Kashmir in the last six decades is to end, a settlement to the disputes arising out of the division of different parts of the erstwhile princely State between India and Pakistan should apply on both sides of the Line of Control, according to a key recommendation of the Group of Interlocutors (Dileep Padgaonkar, Radha Kumar and M.M. Ansari) for Jammu and Kashmir. The group identifies three aspects to the harmonisation of relations across the LoC: [1.] ensuring the same quantum of political, economic and cultural freedoms obtains in all parts of the erstwhile princely State; [2.] expansion of trade and travel; [3.] resolution of the water-sharing issue. Noting that the situation on the Pakistani side of the LoC was rather different from that on the Indian side, the final report of the group points to the lack of freedoms and autonomy in Azad Jammu and Kashmir and the Northern Areas or Gilgit-Baltistan. A large number of legal and constitutional reforms and changes on the ground will be required on the Pakistani side if the same political, economic and cultural freedoms are to be offered across the LoC. However, the report adds, the 2009 Gilgit-Baltistan reforms package brought the Pakistani side of the State closer towards harmonising relations with the Indian side. On easing trade and travel, the report referred to the recommendation of the Prime Minister's Working Group on Strengthening Relations across the LoC on opening more cross LoC routes and relaxation of restrictions on who could travel to include pilgrims, medical patients and tourists, if necessary, unilaterally by India. At the same time, the report noted that the group had received a number of memoranda from traders' associations and from travellers on the bureaucratic difficulties in promoting trade and travel. Some other important recondations are: [1.] Banking facilities should be provided on both sides of the LoC and the barter system done away with; [2.] customs checks should be swift, especially for perishable items; [3.] Scanners should be used to clear trucks to save on time consumed in checking every item. Trucks should be allowed to go directly to their destinations, or alternatively transport depots should be created in areas adjacent to the LoC; [4.] setting up of consultative committees with members from each legislature on both sides, along with experts, to facilitate activities in areas such as agriculture, environment protection, tourism, exchange visits, and medical relief measures during epidemics and natural disasters.
· India today said that it will allow Foreign Direct Investment, FDI from Pakistan, paving the way for industries from the neighbouring country to set up businesses in the growing Indian market. Also, RBI and State Bank of Pakistan are in favour of opening branches in each other's territory. The Commerce and Industry Minister also said that India-Pakistan Business Council will be set up soon, to be co-Chaired by both the countries. On multiple entry business visas, Mr. Sharma said, there will soon be a formal signing of agreement, which will be for one year initially. At present, India and Pakistan are engaged only in trade of goods, which has recently been liberalised.
· In Punjab, the Integrated Check Post ICP at Attari-Wagah border between India and Pakistan was inaugurated by the Union Home Minister. Spread over an area of about 130 acres in Attari, the ICP has been constructed in a span of two years at a cost of nearly 150 crore rupees, this much awaited check post is expected to boost trade between India and Pakistan five times more in the coming years. It will also give a fillip to people to people ties between the neighbouring countries. Pakistan is having a similar ICP at their own side at Wagah. This technologically equipped Integrated Check Post is having a dedicated cargo and passenger terminals for smooth transition under one roof. Salient features of ICP Attari are as under: [1.] X-ray baggage scanners, DFMD’s/HHMD’s and modern amenities like health services, child care and prayer room, have been provided for the convenience of passengers; [2.] Dedicated Cargo Terminal building; [3.] Passenger terminal building; [4.] A helipad has also been provided.
· India has noted with serious concern the attempted rocket launch (seen by many as a banned test of long-range missile technology) by North Korea. It said, the attempt violates the United Nations Security Council, UNSC 1874 Resolution and will adversely impact peace and stability in the Korean Peninsula. Meanwhile, North Korea has admitted that the launch of its long range rocket has failed as a satellite planned to send into the space has not entered into the orbit. The US, Japan and South Korea say it flew only for a short time before breaking up and crashing into waters off the Korean Peninsula and now they are conducting a search operation to retrieve the fallen objects. The UN Security Council is due to meet later in the day to discuss the launch.
· British Prime Minister David Cameron met Myanmar's President Thein Sein in the capital Naypytaw on the first visit by a Western leader in half a century. During his one-day visit, the British premier was also due to meet opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi in Yangon. His five-day Southeast Asian tour has also included visits to Indonesia and Malaysia.
· Two days after the Nepal government took control of Maoist army cantonments, combatants and weapons, Prime Minister Baburam Bhattarai declared that the situation of “one state, two armies” had ended. Dr. Bhattarai also asserted that there was now an environment to promulgate the Constitution within the stipulated deadline of May 27. Meanwhile, in a statement, India “welcomed the agreement reached on 10 April 2012 in the constitutionally mandated Army Integration Special Committee (AISC) on taking forward the process of integration and rehabilitation of the former Maoist combatants in consonance with the past Agreements”.
· In a setback for efforts to end a tax dispute between the U.S. and Switzerland, a Swiss court announced that Credit Suisse could not turn over account data of its American clients to the U.S. tax authorities because doing so would violate the terms of a 1996 tax treaty between the two countries. The United States is investigating Credit Suisse and 10 other Swiss banks on suspicions that they helped Americans evade taxes.
· International Cricket Council, ICC released the test cricket rankings in Dubai today. India retains its third ranking behind England and South Africa.