December 12, 2002

Vajpayee Condoles death of Nani Palkhivala

The Prime Minister, Atal Bihari Vajpayee has condoled the death of Nani Ardeshir Palkhivala today. In a condolence message, Vajpayee said that Palkhivala was one of the leading voices in the field of Constitutional jurisprudence. He was a lawyer par excellence and left a profound mark with his balanced opinion, bold expression and clarity of thought on economic, cultural and other issues of national importance, Vajpayee said. Recalling his long personal association with Palkhivala, the Prime Minister added that he will be long remembered for his courageous defence of democracy during the Emergency Rule, and his lifelong espousal of probity in public life. He will be missed not only by his friends and admirers in the legal fraternity, but also by millions of countrymen, the Prime Minister said. -keralamonitor.com

AROGYA - 2002 Indian Medicinal System Exhibition Inaugurated

Rajiv Pratap Rudy, Minister of State for Commerce & Industry today inaugurated a five-day exhibition of Ayurveda, Yoga, Naturopathy, Siddha, Unani & Homeopathy, Arogya – 2002. Inaugurating the exhibition, he said that there was an urgent need to rediscover our age-old systematic therapies told in the Ayurveda, Unani, Siddha and other traditional systems of healthcare and medicine. These systems have great scope for widespread application in the present context with modern medicines proving to be prohibitive in terms of cost and having side effects.

Speaking on the occasion, Secretary, Indian Systems of Medicine & Homeopathy (ISM&H), Smt. Malti Sinha said that this time the department has given emphasis to present the strides that the systems of Indian Medicine in general and the Department and its subordinate establishments in particular are making in the propagation, research & development, globalisation and standardization and quality control of ISM&H drugs.

Elaborating on the efforts by the ISM department, she stated that ISM drug industry is producing medicines worth Rs. 5000 crore. The export is worth around Rs. 660 crore a year including raw drugs and plant based products. International data shows that use of plant based drugs has increased manifold in the countries like Germany, United Kingdom, Netherlands, U.S.A., Hungary and Russia. According to an estimate, India has about 20% share of the import of herbal products in USA market. Hungary has recognized Ayurveda as a system of health care and 40 Ayurveda products for human use and 14 veterinary products are registered there for sale. Hungary has proposed to start Ayurveda courses in three universities. Similar developments are taking place in UK, Russia & South Africa. International visits of Scientists, Traditional Medicine Experts and policy makers to and from India have helped in dispelling doubts the world has with regard to the philosophy, medicines and strengths of ISM systems. Presently, domestic as well as foreign scientists, doctors, historians and commercial people have shown phenomenal interest in the Indian Systems of Medicine. The reason for the present scenario of popularity of Ayurveda and Yoga is their potential and inherent qualities to treat the disease holistically and naturally, she said.

To support Ayurvedic, Siddha, Unani drugs industry, ISM is launching a scheme to provide assistance to the GMP (Good Manufacturing Practices) units to set up In-house Quality Control Laboratories. The department has issued guidelines for Good Laboratory Practices, has given funds to State Drug Testing Laboratories for their up-gradation, renovation and modernisation. Notification has been issued to recognise private drug testing laboratories for testing of raw material. State Governments has been advised to take stern action against misleading and exaggerated ASU drugs.

AROGYA – 2002 (December 11-15), a comprehensive exhibition on Indian medicine and healthcare covers Ayurveda, Homeopathy, Unani, Yoga & Naturopathy, Herbal Medicines, Food Supplement, Health & Fitness Systems, Health Tourism Books & Publication, Siddha, Therapies – Herbal and Panch Karma. The event is being organised by the ITPO with the support of Department of ISM&H, Ministry of Health & Family Welfare.keralamonitor.com

Final Results of Combined Defence Services Exam 1, 2002 announced

The Union Public Service Commission has announced the Final results of the Combined Defence Services Examination (I)-2002, for admission to the 114th Course of Indian Military Academy, Dehradun; Naval Academy, Goa and Air Force Station, Begumpet, Hyderabad (Pre-Flying) Training Course i.e. No.173rd F(P) Course. There are some common candidates in the lists for various courses/wings.

The result of Medical examination have not been taken into account while preparing the list of successful candidates. The verification of date of birth and educational qualifications of these candidates is also under process by the Army Headquarters. The candidature of all the candidates is, therefore, provisional on this score. Candidates are requested to forward their original age/educational certificates, alongwith photostat attested copies thereof to Army/Naval/Air Headquarters, as per their first choice.

Union Public Service Commission have a Facilitation Centre near Examination Hall Building of its campus. Candidates may obtain any information/clarification regarding their Examination/Recruitments on working days between 10.00 a.m. to 5.00 p.m. in person or over telephone no.011-3385271/011-3381125 from this Centre. Candidates can also obtain information regarding results etc. on Commission’s website at the address: www.upsc.gov.in. keralamonitor.com

Advani Calls for Bewtter Private Government Partnership for Tourism, Aviation Sectors

L.K. Advani, Deputy Prime Minister said tourism sector in India has tremendous opportunity both in terms of employment generation and infrastructure development. Private sector and government have to synergies their efforts in this context. Inaugurating ‘International Conference on Aviation and Tourism: Strategy in Changing Environment’ here today, Advani said that tourism has acquired an enormous economic significance during the last few decades. There is a close linkage between the civil aviation and tourism. People should develop a tourist-friendly attitude to promote tourism in the country. Advani called for more private participation in tourism sector in the country. India is a long haul destination and air transport is the vital linkage, he added.

Speaking on the occasion, Shahnawaz Hussain, Minister for Civil Aviation, said that the Government is formulating a comprehensive Civil Aviation Policy covering all sectors in the field of civil aviation. He emphasized upon increasing role of private sector not only for reasons of bridging the gap in resources but also to bring in greater efficiency in management of aviation infrastructure. He said the Government is proposing to have an Independent Airports Economic Regulatory Authority for the limited economic regulation of airports particularly in the context of private airports.

Hussain highlighted that restructuring of the four Metro airports of Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai and Kolkata has been taken up with a view to upgrade them to world-class standards, with significant investments of Rs. 16000 crore and technology/managerial skills from the private sector. This restructuring exercise planned to be completed by October 2003.

He further informed that a project is under implementation jointly by Airports Authority of India (AAI) and Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), for developing indigenous capabilities for providing satellite based navigation services, in line with ICAO decision to switch over to satellite based navigation worldwide by the year 2010. With this, India joins the select club of USA, Russia and European Union, who are developing the capability to provide Satellite Based Navigation Services.

The Minister said, that the Government has approved establishment of new international airports at Hyderabad and Bangalore. The State governments of Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka have initiated effective steps to implement these projects, with 74% private sector participation and State Governments and Airports Authority of India will hold balance 26% equity.

Underlining the importance of airports security, Hussain informed that Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) has already been deployed at about 44 airports in the country. Other major steps include deployment of Sky Marshals both in national as well private domestic airlines, secondary ladder point frisking in all airlines, deployment of Strike force at all major airports, and strengthening of cockpit doors by installing a safety bar/dead bolt. keralamonitor.com