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Combined Medical Services Examination on 18th January, 2004 Vajpayee chariperson for 2-day inter-state council meeting

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28, Aug 2003

Thiruvananthapuram Rajdhani Express to stop at Udupi

The Ministry of Railways has issued orders granting halt at Udupi station for 2431/2432 bi-weekly Thiruvananthapuram-Hazrat Nizamuddin Rajdhani Express with prospective effect from October 6, 2003, for a period of six months on an experimental basis. Accordingly, 2431 hiruvananthapuram-Hazrat Nizumuddin Rajdhani Express will stop at 0823 hours every Wednesday and Friday at Udupi and 2432 Hazrat Nizamuddin-Thiruvananthapuram Rajdhani Express halt at Udupi station at 1524 hours every Monday and Wednesday.

Report of the inter-ministerial task force on convergence of securities and commodity derivatives markets

With the abolition of prohibition on forward trade in all the commodities at the beginning of the current year, the commodity derivatives market has been totally liberalized. There is an upsurge in the interest in this market. The participants in other financial markets, particularly securities, look forward to the new emerging opportunities offered by this market. However, there are some regulatory barriers to permit them to benefit from this opportunity. Ramamoorthy Committee set up by SEBI to look into certain issues relating to fruitful cooperation between these two markets were specifically asked to examine the possibilities of i) securities brokers participation in the commodities markets; ii) utilization of infrastructural facilities of stock exchanges by commodity exhanges; and iii) stock exchanges as well trading in commodities derivatives. While the committee endorsed the first two issues, on the third issue, it opined that it could be taken up for consideration at a future date as the two markets mature further.

The issue of convergence of securities and commodity derivative markets was discussed at various levels in the Government. The idea of convergence of markets, institutions, players and regulators has been proposed by the Finance Minister in a communication to the Minister of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution, in response to which an inter-ministerial Task Force was constituted under the Charimanship Wajahat Habibullah, Department of Consumer Affiars, with other members drawn from Department of Economic Affairs, Department of Consumer Affairs (DCA), Department of Company Affairs, Forward Markets Commission (FMC) and SEBI. The securities exchanges and commodities exchanges were invited to give their views on the subject. The views received from them were considered and discussed in the meetings of the Task Force before drafting the Report.

The Report is being placed on the FMC and DCA websites for wider disssemination (www.fmc.gov.in and www.fcamin.nic.in ). The Task Force proposes to visit a few commodity exchanges and the National Stock Exchange to have on-the-spot understanding of the issue. A panel discussion on the subject will also be held in the National Conference of commodity Exchanges being organised by FMC in Mumbai on September 2, 2003. Interested persons are requested to offer their views and comments before the final Report is submitted to the Government.

Participating approach in developmental activities in the need of the hour-Kashiram Rana 4th Editor's conference on social sector issues inaugurated

Project proposals cleared to connect 40,000 habitations with 67,000 km rural roads
National awards for Best Performing Panchayat

Kashiram Rana, Union Minister for Rural Development urged the media to focus more on Rural Development on making people realise that they are themselves the agents of development and change. Inaugurating Fourth Editor’s Conference on Social Sector Issues here today, Rana emphasised to inculcate amongst them the feeling of community ownership of assets and build in them a confidence that they should not be dependent on Government initiatives alone but participate fully in the development process, and in the operation and maintenance of rural infrastructure.

Rana said, Ministry of Rural Development is one of the largest Ministries in terms of budgetary allocation; as against the Ninth Plan allocation of Rs.42,874 crore, the Tenth Plan allocation of funds for Rural Development Ministry is Rs.76,774 crore. This increase is part of the Government’s commitment to set apart a major share of funding for rural development sector.

The Ministry of Rural Development has made concerted effort to strengthen the Panchayati Raj Institutions by giving them a key role in implementing of various rural development programmes such as Sampoorna Grameen Rozgar Yojana, (SGRY) Swajaldhara, Hariyali and the Total Sanitation Campaign. Ministry has been pursuing with the States to strengthen the Panchayati Raj Institutions by exhorting them to hold elections and devolve administrative and financial powers to such elected bodies. As a result of continuous efforts, except for Jharkhand and Pondichery, all States have had their elections to the Panchayati Raj bodies. U.V. Krishnam Raju, Minister of State for Rural Development, M. Shankar, Secretary, Rural Development and P. Mohan Das, Secretary, Rural Water Supply were also present there.

Rana informed to mark the celebration of ten years since the passing of the Constitution (73rd Amendment) Act, the Ministry of Rural Development has launched in 2003 National Awards to the Best Performing Panchayats. The award will be given to 6 District Panchayats, 12 Intermediate Panchayats and 50 Gram Panchayats, to be selected on the basis of their performance and implementation of Hariyali, Swajaldhara, Sanitation, SGRY, water harvesting programmes of the Ministry and performance in the areas of Health and Family Welfare, Education and tax collection etc. The amount of award will be Rs.30 lakh each for District Panchayats, Rs.20 lakhs each for Intermediate Panchayats and Rs.10 lakhs each for Gram Panchayats.

Listing out various initiatives taken by Ministry of Rural Development Rana said that rural roads are vital to economic growth and poverty alleviation in rural areas, in December, 2000, Government of India launched a major initiative-Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana, (PMGSY) with the objective of providing connectivity to all unconnected habitations with a population of more than 1,000 persons by the year 2003 and for habitations with population of 500 by the year 2007. Project proposals for Rs, 9,000 crore have been cleared so far aiming to connect about 40,000 habitations with road works of about 67,000 kms. Out of these 15,000 road works have been already completed. For this programme, the Xth Plan allocation if Rs,12,500 crores as against Rs.5000 crores during the IXth Plan. Considering the size of investment required to meet the target, which is Rs.60,000 crores, external funding avenues and further resource generation are constantly being explored.

Drinking water, housing, sanitation are basic elements for dignified existence. The Department has been mandated to provide potable drinking water to all villages by the year 2004. Special efforts are being made to provide safe drinking water in rural habitations affected by water quality problems like fluorosis, arsenic, brackishness, excess, iron etc. and to conserve water sources. For this programme, the Xth Plan allocation is of Rs.12,545 crores as against Rs.8150 crores during the IXth Plan.

Rana informed that construction of 13 lakh houses annually in rural areas has been taken up for the BPL families. 56 lakhs rural houses have been constructed during the last 5 years with an investment of about Rs.10,860 crores. Under Rural Building Centre (RBC), 75 Rural Building Centres have been sanctioned and Rs.4.67 crore has been released so far. Under innovative Stream for Rural Housing and Habitat Development, 176 projects have been sanctioned and Rs.31.86 crore has been released for implementation of the projects so for. For Rural Housing, the Xth Plan allocation is Rs.8603 crores as against Rs. 7285 crores during the IXth Plan.

In order to promote cleanliness and hygiene in rural areas. Central Rural Sanitation Programme was restructured in 1999. The programme is being implemented in 350 Districts. Rana announced that with a view to motivate the PRI members, officials and NGOs working for promotion of rural sanitation, Government of India has launched Nirmal Gram Puraskar. All the Panchayats, Blocks and Districts which attain full sanitation coverage and eliminate the practice of open defecation, and also NGOs and individuals who are the driving force, will be handsomely rewarded.

Under Sampoorna Grameen Rozgar Yojana, during the last year, as per provisional figures, 73.41 crore man days were generated. For tackling the problem of unemployment amongst the rural poor, a major programme for creating self employment opportunities namely Swaranjayanti Gram Swarozgar Yojana (SGSY) was launched on 1st April. 1999 by restructuring Integrated Rural Development Programme and its allied schemes. Upto now, 14.5 lakh Self Help Groups have been mobilised and 37 lakh swarozgaris have been assisted with an investment of Rs.7500 crore," Rana
added.

Rana highlighted that in the last five years new watershed projects have been taken up in 138 lakh hectares of wasteland/degraded land. A new initiative Hariyali was launched in January 2003 for the watershed development programmes being implemented through Panchayati Raj Institutions. For drought proofing and augmenting water supply for critically drought affected areas, specially the areas where drinking water is a major problem, a Centrally Sponsored scheme called Pradhan Mantri Gram Jal Samwardhan Yojana (PMGJSY) has been formulated. .

Editors, writers, correspondents and columnist from all parts of the country are participating in the Conference jointly organised by Press Information Bureau and Ministry of Rural Development. Prasad stresses need for Independent Broadcasting Regulator. The Minister of Information & Broadcasting, Ravi Shankar Prasad has stressed the need for having an independent regulator for the broadcasting sector, which he said, is really exploding. He said, this has been stressed by the fast changing technology, which is overtaking our reactive policies and there is case for visualizing the broadcasting scene ten years hence.

Prasad was opening a ‘Roundtable on the Need and Role of an Independent Regulator for the TV Broadcasting Sector’ organized here today, by FICCI under Frames-2004 knowledge series. Representatives from Television Broadcasting, Cable industry and Radio participated in the Roundtable.

Prasad pointed out to the great divide among the various stakeholders like broadcasters, MSOs and the cable operators brought clearly out by the CAS experience further stresses the need for a regulator. But he made it clear that the Government has no role in regulation and it has to be totally independent of any Government control. But, he expressed concern over the protection of consumer interests.

Another reason for a regulator, Prasad said is necessitated by the type of content put out by especially private channels about which various sections of the society including the members of Parliament and the Women’s Commission have complained. Prasad regretted that all his pleas for self-regulation have fallen flat and the obscene and liquor ads and music videos continue to come back in one form or the other. It is not possible for the Ministry of Information & Broadcasting to monitor and follow the objectionable content.

But the Minister said that the Government can’t sit back when the consumer interests are impinged. He disagreed with the view that everything should be left to the market forces and said that it was too simplistic a suggestion. Dependence on market forces to determine the rates of private pay channels in CAS is the clear indication in this regard, he said. The Government would come to a conclusion in this regard after considering all aspects including the relevance of the Convergence Bill in the wake of CAS, DTH and uplinking experiences and also international practices, he added. The overall consensus at the roundtable was on the immediate need of an independent regulator for the Broadcasting Sector.

Combined Medical Services Examination on 18th January, 2004

The Union Public Service Commission will hold the Combined Medical Services Examination, 2004 on 18th January, 2004. The last date for receipt of application is 22nd September, 2003. In the case of applications received by post/speed post from the candidates residing abroad or in certain remote areas specified in the Notice the last date for receipt of applications is 29th September, 2003.

The Common Application Form devised by the Commission for its examinations can be purchased from any one of the designated head post offices/post offices throughout the country on cash payment of Rs. 20/- (Rupees Twenty only). For details regarding conditions of eligibility, scheme & syllabi, centres of examination, instructions for filling up the application form, the candidates should refer to the detailed instructions given in the Commission’s advertisement published in Newspapers and employment news dated 23rd August, 2003. Complete details about the examination will also be available on Internet on the Commission’s website at address: http://www.upsc.gov.in. Candidates can obtain information about Receipt and Registration of their application, venue of examination’s results, interview programme etc.
on the same website.

UPSC has a Facilitation Counter near ‘C’ gate of its campus. Candidates may obtain any information/clarification regarding their application/candidature on working days between 10.00 a.m. to 5.00 p.m. in person or over telephone No.011-23385271/23381125 from this counter. In case candidates have any difficulty in obtaining Application Forms from any of the designated Head Post Offices/Post Offices, they should immediately contact concerned Postmaster or UPSC’s "FORMS SUPPLY MONITORING CELL’ over Telephone No.011-23389366/FAX No.011-23387310.

$181 million to Maharashtra for water projects approved

Washington : The World Bank has announced a 181 million dollar credit for a rural water supply and sanitation scheme in Maharashtra. According to a World Bank press release held on Tuesday, Maharashtra faced a severe problem with regard to ensuring a supply of safe and adequate drinking water to its rural population. The state's ground water sources are constrained due to geological factors and variable rainfall with extremes of high monsoon precipitation in some areas, and droug ht situation in others. It is expected that the Maharashtra Rural Water Supply and Sanitation Project will directly benefit approximately seven million people in about 2,800 village panchayats, local self government at the village level, with a special focus on women and tribals.In an effort to promote further decentralization of service delivery to rural local governments and communities, the project
would focuse on ensuring sustainability of water resources, and on good management rather than on the construction of water supply schemes, Meena Munshi, the World Bank Task Leader for the project was quoted as saying.

The project has four main components: Community Development and Infrastructure Building; Institutional Strengthening; Sector Development and Strengthening; and a pilot component consisting of three sub-components whose main aim is to introduce aquifer-based supply and demand management. The credit has a 35-year maturity, with a 10-year grace period, and a 0.75 percent service charge.

RDX used in twin bomb blasts of Aug 25

According to forensic reports, RDX was used in the twin car bomb blasts that rocked the city on Monday killing 52 people and injuring over 130. Director of State Forensic laboratory Dr Rukmini Krishnamurthy said that the report was based on the samples collected immediately after the blasts at the Gateway of India and Zaveri Bazar. The CNG gas cylinders in the taxi added to the high explosive device increased the intensity of the blast. The remnants of the CNG gas cylinders were found in both the sites thereby confirming that the CNG gas added to the impact of the blast, she said.

The tissues of some of the mutilated bodies where identification by the relatives was impossible, have been sent to the forensic lab by the police for identification by DNA fingerprinting technique, Krishnamurthy said.

Vajpayee chariperson for 2-day inter-state council meeting

Srinagar: Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee chairs the 2-day session of the inter-state council beginning today at Srinagar. Multi-layered security is in place after stray incidents of violence yesterday.Uttar Pradesh developments will occupy Centre stage at the meeting...which will be attended by Minister . L.K. Advani, Union Cabinet ministers and state chief ministers. The thrust of deliberations at the 2-day meeting, ironically will be on the role of the Governor in the case of political instability and the Centre’s emergency power under Article-356 to impose President’s rule in a state. Thousands of personnel from the State police, the CRPF, and the BSF, have been deployed at the conference venue - the Sher-e-Kashmir Convention Centre. Vajpayee will formally inaugurate the two-day meet, which is being held for the first time outside the national capital.Marine commandos from the Navy will also be assisting divers of the state police and BSF in maintaining a vigil at the famous Dal lake, near the conference venue.

The focus of the deliberations is expected to be on the Sarkaria Commission recommendations on the use of Art 356, the imposition of President's rule on a state. The Commission’s recommendations on Art 365 and on the suo motu deployment of Central forces in the states, is also likely to figure in the meeting.

Blast in Srinagar; No loss of human lives

Srinagar: Hours before the arrival of Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee here on wednesday, an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) went off in the city. No loss of human lives have been reported. The IED, planted by militants, near the boundary wall of an abandoned house in Karan Nagar went off at 1010 hrs shattering window panes of nearby houses, official sources said. They said no one was injured in the blast. JKLF vice-chairman Javid Ahmad Mir and three others were arrested when activists of JKLF and Awami Action Committee, constituents of Hurriyat Conference, tried to take out a procession in the city ahead of Prime Minister's arrival. Police arrested them on charges of violating prohibitory orders in force in Srinagar, the sources said. Mir and Shahidul Islam of Awami Action Committee led the activists who raised slogans and marched towards Budshah chowk in Srinagar. Police swung into action and arrested Mir,Islam and two others, and residents of the area, protesting the arrests, threw stones at police, the sources said.

Earthquake of slight intensity in Manipur and Assam

New Delhi : Manipur and Assam experienced an earthquake of slight intensity at 2.24 am on Wednesday. The earthquake measuring 4.7 on the richter scale was epicentred 25.2 degrees North and 93.6 degrees East at Manipur-Assam border, a meteorological department release said here. There has been no reports of any kind of damage due to the quake.This is the second quake manipur has experienced in a little over two days. Tremors measuring 4.5 on the richter scale had struck the state on wee hours of Monday.

14 crores approved by government for House Construction projects

Thiruvananthapuram: The Kerala government has approved for the 14 crore project for the construction of houses and the whole amount will be divided evenly and given to the different districts to carry out the project. According to the project plans, for the construction of each house a grant of Rs. 70,000 will be allotted. This amount is allotted along with the 38.85 crores which will be used to carry out the House Building project. According to the declaration by which the amount has been approved, additional amount will be allotted depending on the necessity to complete the construction of the houses.

5 accused in K T Jayakrishnan murder sentenced to death

Thalasseri: Five CPM activists accused in the murder of Yuva Morcha state vice president K T Jayakrishnan master, was sentenced by the additional district sessions judge K K Chandra Das to death. He was killed in front of the students while he was taking class in mathematics. Those sentenced are Acharathu Pradeepan(32), Kunjipurayil Sundaran(40), Nalla Veettil Shaji(32), Chattampallil Dinesh Babu(29) and K K Anil Kumar(32). The Court pointed out that the accused are guilty under Indian Penal Code (IPC) 143, 147,148,342,449 and 302.

. Fifth accused Paramban Rajan was acquitted by the court for want of clear evidence on August 21 when the judge reserved the verdict for today. The seventh accused, Sajeevan had committed suicide during the trial and therefore has been exempted from the case. The prosecution case was that the convicted rushed into the class room of Paramel U P School, Mokeri, while Jayakrishnan was taking class and hacked him to death before his horrified students on December one, 1999.

The case was taken up in the morning and the judge asked the accused if they had anything to say. As many as 30 witnesses, including four students, had deposed before the court. The court also enquired the prosecution and the lawyers of the accused.According to the prosecution, the body of Jayakrishnan bore 55 wound marks in the ten-minute attack. All the accused pleaded they were innocent and said they had a family to support. Meanwhile, security has been tightened in Thalassery and other parts of Kannur district and Police are patrolling the sensitive areas to prevent possible clashes between the CPI(M) and BJP workers following the verdict.