February 5, 2002

MEASURES TO INTERCEPT ELECTRONIC INFORMATION

The Controller under the Information Technology Act, 2000 and the rules framed thereunder, by order, direct any agency of the Government to intercept any information transmitted through any computer resource, if he is satisfied that such measure is necessary in the interest of the national security. This provision has been incorporated under Section 69 of the IT Act. Accordingly, if the Controller is satisfied that it is necessary or expedient so to do in the interest of the sovereignty or integrity of India, the security of the State, friendly relations with foreign countries, public order and for preventing incitement to the commission of any cognizable offence, he can issue order in writing to intercept any such information.

Section 70 of the IT Act empowers the appropriate Governments both the Centre and the State to declare any computer, computer system or a network as a protected system. Any attempt to interfere or access to systems, without lawful authority, may be punished with imprisonment for ten years. This is essential to prevent anti-national elements from hacking into our computers and networks, which are sensitive in nature as it happened when the computers at the BAARC were hacked in the year 2000.

In the USA, a comprehensive action plan has been devised called the Critical Infrastructure Protection, which is aimed at protecting the breakdown of the essential services of the community like electricity, transportation, defence and security.

Since identification of users in Cyberspace is crucial for fixing liability under the IT Act to deter persons from acquiring false identifies Section 71 of the Act imposes punishment which may extend upto two years for making misrepresentation to the Certifying Authority.

February 5, 2002

INDO-RUSSIAN WORKING GROUP MEET ON TRADE AND ECONOMIC COOPERATION BEGINS

The 8th Session of the Indo-Russian Working Group on Trade and Economic Cooperation began here today with both sides underlining the need for urgent measures to step up the level of bilateral trade. The Indian delegation at the two-day meeting is being led by Shri Dipak Chatterjee, Commerce Secretary, while the Russian side is headed by Mr. Mikhail Egonovich Dmitriev, First Deputy Minister of Economic Development and Trade of the Russian Federation and Co-Chairman of the Working Group.

In his opening remarks, Shri Chatterjee recalled the Declaration on Strategic Partnership signed by Prime Minister Vajpayee and President Putin in October 2000 laying emphasis on economic and commercial relations between India and the Russian Federation and said that the current Session of the Working Group assumed greater urgency and importance against this backdrop as a forum for providing a firm underpinning to the excellent political relations between the two countries. Taking note of the decline in bilateral trade, including the drop in the offtake of tea and tobacco by Russian importers, he said urgent steps were needed to reverse this trend.

The Tea Board of India had been interacting with Roschaicofe and a similar arrangement could be worked out with the Tobacco Board, the Commerce Secretary said. He also urged the Russian side for headway in implementing the proposal for Indo-Russian cooperation in the area of processing and trade of rough diamonds, the Protocol for which was signed during President Putin’s visit, as this would be of mutual benefit and could lead to a marked increase in the bilateral trade turnover. Taking up the issue of the pending claims of Indian exporters including those of the Shipping Corporation of India, State Trading Corporation and the Steel Authority of India, Shri Chatterjee requested the Russian side to settle these claims expeditiously. Mr. Egonovich on his part spoke of the prospects of enhancing bilateral trade and economic cooperation, while noting the positive work done by the sub-group on banking and financial matters.

Keeping in view that rupee debt repayments were nearing completion, both sides stressed the need for continued inter bank cooperation as a means of improving trade. Shri Chatterjee also suggested reorientation of the role of the Working Group, given the changed business environment in India as well as Russia and with rupee repayments nearing completion so that it could come up with practical proposals for expanding and deepening trade and economic ties. Shri L.V. Saptharishi, Additional Secretary, Shri S. S. Kapoor, Joint Secretary, Ministry of Commerce and Industry and other senior officials participated along with Shri S.D. Kapoor, Chairman and Managing Director, MMTC Ltd., Shri S.M. Dewan, Chairman, STC and senior representatives of RBI, EXIM Bank, ECGC etc. The Russian delegation included several representatives of Russian banks as well as Russian trade representatives.

Referring to the issue of declaration of the Russian Federation as a non-market economy, the Commerce Secretary mentioned that a revised notification had been issued which applied uniformly to all countries and was of a generic nature (wherein no country was specifically named for being classified as a non- market economy). Responding to Russia’s concerns on anti-dumping issues, he said there should be regular informal consultations based on the mutually agreed line of action in such matters.

Trade between India and Russia stood at Rs 6399.11 crore in 2000-2001 as against Rs. 6807.66 crore in 1999-2000. India’s exports to Russia were valued at Rs. 4054.65 crore and imports from Russia were Rs. 2344.46 crore during 2000-2001 as against Rs. 4107.23 crore and Rs. 2700.43 crore respectively in 1999-2000. The Protocol of the Working Group Session will be signed here tomorrow.

DELHI GEARS UP FOR PATA MEET

The National host Committee for Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA) Conference, chaired by Minister for Tourism & Culture and presided over by Chief Minister of Delhi, Smt. Shiela Dixit reviewed the arrangements being made for 51st PATA Conference to be held in Delhi (April 14-18, 2002). About 1500 delegates amongst 100 Governments’ representatives, 65 CEOs of Airlines, CEOs of Travel & Tourism companies, President of well-known hotel chains and opinion makers in Travel & Tourism industry will participate in the Conference. The conference will provide a unique opportunity to India to showcase its product and tourism will get a definite boost. The Conference is coming to India after a gap of 24 years.

The Prime Minister, Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee will inaugurate the conference and it will be addressed by luminaries like Mr. Michael Elliott, Editor, TIME Inc. U.S., Dr. Surin Pitsuwan, Former Foreign Minister, Thailand, Ms. Clara Chong, Executive Director, Hong Kong Tourism Board, Mr. Thomas Oliver, Chairman and CEO, Six Continents Hotels, U.K., Ms. Sue Shapiro, CTC, President, Shapiro Travel Resources, U.S., Mr. Jeff Hamblin, Chief Executive, British Tourist Authority, Mr. Renton De Alwis, Chairman, Sri Lanka Tourism Board, Mr. Brock Freissen, Vice President, Star Alliance, Germany, Mr. Richard Beere, Regional Director, Australia Tourism Board and Mr. Richard Gordon, Secretary, Tourism etc. Shri Jagmohan, Minister for Tourism & Culture, Shri Karan Singh and Professor Ramaswamy will also address the conference.

In the meeting it was decided that a special drive will be launched by NDMC and MCD to improve general cleanliness, emergency medical facility at important points. CM, Delhi Smt. Shiela Dixit said that a drive to remove posters has already been started. She instructed officials to take strict action against the offenders. She also directed authorities to impound stray cattle. She said efforts should be made for beautification and sprucing all-important gardens, parks, shopping plazas and monuments. The Committee also decided to set up a Special Cell at the Airport to facilitate immigration of delegates and security arrangements.

India will be attaching major focus to the growth and development of tourism in the coming years. This prestigious Conference provides world wide publicity to the host nation and particularly to the host city in this case Delhi. It helps to influence the industry to promote tourism to the host country and will provide a competitive edge to India in marketing inbound tourism. Even during the conference, there is a major economic contribution made by the delegates since not only they pay for their hotel stay but also take pre and post tours to other parts of the country and indulge in extensive shopping. The conference indeed is designed to provide a major fillip to the efforts that are being made in reversing the trend of down-turn in tourism as an aftermath of the global economic slowdown and the terrorists’ attacks of September 2001.

During the conference, cultural events will also be organised to provide glimpses of rich heritage of the country and post conference tours will be organized for various tourism destinations.

 

VICE-PRESIDENT GIVES AWAY NATIONAL CHILD AWARDS FOR EXCEPTIONAL ACHIEVEMENT

The Vice-President, Shri Krishan Kant gave away the National Child Awards for Exceptional Achievements for the years 2000 & 2001, here today. Speaking on the occasion, the Vice-President, while felicitating the awardees, emphasised the need for active intervention of parents and teachers towards nurturing of gifted children, so that the talents of these prodigies would not be wasted and they would make their special contribution to society. At the same time, it was also important that the talents of children in tribal and far-flung areas are also noticed and nurtured, he added.

Shri Krishan Kant pointed out that the country still has a long way to go to ensure that all children in the country have access to education and health cover – with 400 million children, India has the largest child population in the world. The Nation can embark upon the path of development in the true sense only once its children are looked after and their needs fulfilled as they only are the tomorrow of the country.

Addressing the gathering, Smt. Sumitra Mahajan, Minister of State for Human Resource Development said that the Department of Women and Child Development is committed to providing a helping hand to children with exceptional promise and ability. She stated that a National Commission for Children and Children’s Charter were also being formulated which would go a long way in addressing the concerns of children.

One gold medal each for 2001 and 2000 were given to Master Arpit Bhopalkar from Indore, Madhya Pradesh for exceptional achievement in Table Tennis and Master Gillford Thangkhiew from Shillong in Meghalaya for excellence in Chess.

For the year 2000, Silver Medal for exceptional achievement were given to Kum. Naralasetty Tejeswini, Andhra Pradesh; Master Akash R. Telgu, Goa; Kum. Hardee Bharatbhai Desai, Gujrat; Kum. Indu Bala, Haryana; Master Sagar Ajit Patil, Karnataka; Master Varun M., Kerala; Kum. Palak Muchhal , M.P.; Kum. Charu Sharma, Maharashtra; Master Puyam Loushing Khomba, Manipur; Master Avinash Chandrashekar, Tamil Nadu; Master Saumik Chakraborty, Tripura, Master Avinash, Andaman & Nicobar Islands; Master Tushar Liberhan, Chandigarh; Master Akhil Khandelwal, New Delhi and Kum. M. Niraimathi, Pondicherry.

For the year 2001, Silver Medal for exceptional achievement were given to Ms.Nistala Lakshmi, Andhra Pradesh; Kum. Sayuli V. Pai Raikar, Goa; Master Shivam Mahesh Raval, Gujarat; Kum. Neha Narwal, Haryana; Master Munish Sadhu, J&K; Master Abhijit S. Betigeri, Karnataka; Master Nikhil Krishnan, Kerala; Kum. Sheerali Runwal, Madhya Pradesh; Kum. Aibanrihun Lyngdoh, Meghalaya; Kum.Kavita Mahakud, Orissa; Kum. Heena Bharati, Punjab; Kum. Veena Ajmera, Rajasthan; Kum. Jananiy S.J., Tamil Nadu; Master Niladri Saha, Tripura; Master Satyawan Gaur, Uttar Pradesh; Master Nitish Chourasia, Andaman Nicobar Islands; Kum. Kriti Puri, Chandigarh and Kum. N. Ramya, Pondicherry.

The National Child Awards for Exceptional Achievement were instituted in the year 1996 to give recognition to children between the age of 4-15 years who have shown/achieved outstanding status in various fields such as academics, arts, culture and sports etc. One Gold Medal is given for only one child at All India Level. The Award consists of a cash prize of Rs.10,000/- and a citation, a certificate, and a Gold Medal. Silver Medals are earmarked for 32 children – one Medal for upto one child from each State/Territory . Each award consists of Rs. 5,000/-, a citation, a certificate and a Silver Medal for each awardee.