RURAL DEVELOPMENT FUNDS RELEASED TO KARNATAKA, TAMIL NADU AND KERALA

New Delhi - January 14, 2003 The Ministry of Rural Development has released Rs.89.25 lakh to Davengere district of Karnataka for planning and development of the Watershed Development Projects during the current year. The Ministry has also released Rs.88.61 lakh to Tamil Nadu for planning and development of watershed projects for implementation of Drought Prone Areas Programme (DPAP), during the year 2002-2003. Out of this, Virudhnagar district gets Rs.68.48 lakh and Puddukottai gets Ras.20.13 lakh.

The State Governments should release their share to the districts, within a fortnight of the date of release of the Centre share. The Ministry of Rural Development has also released Rs.74.36 lakh to Malappuram district of Kerala as central share of assistance under Employment Assurance Scheme – Watershed Component under Integrated Wasteland Development Programme (IWDP). The expenditure on implementation of the programnme is to be shared on 75:25 basis between the Centre and the State respectively.

TWO NEW DEEMED TO BE UNIVERSITIES

New Delhi - January 14, 2003 Dr. D. Y. Patil Vidyapeeth comprising of Padamshree Dr. D.Y.Patil Medical College, Hospital & Research Centre, Pimpri, Pune and Bharath Institute of Science and Technology, Chennai under the ambit of Bharath Institute of Higher Education & Research, Chennai have been declared as Deemed to be Universities. This status is granted in exercise of the power conferred by Section 3 of the University Grants Commission Act, 1956 (3 of 1956) and is with immediate effect.

India and Iran to cooperatein training, management of skilled manpower

New Delhi -Minister for Labour, Dr. Sahib Singh said in New Delhi that India and Iran are working to develop mutual cooperation in various areas, one of which will be a memorandum of understanding between the Labour Ministries of both the countries. Dr. Sahib Singh concluded his five-day visit to Tehran. During Iran’s visit, he discussed the issue of vocational training and labour skill development programmes.

During the visit, the agreed minutes were also signed by Dr. Sahib Singh and Dr. S.S. Hosseini, Minister of Labour & Social Affairs, the I.R. of Iran. It included exchange of visits, including study tours, by officials and experts; Exchange of information, experience and documents; Consulting activities by experts; Sending experts to attend seminars, workshops and other activities held in both countries; Jointly organising training programmes; Cooperation between V.V. Giri National Institute of Labour in Noida and Labour and Social Security Institute of Iran, and Mutual co-operation between the two countries on international affairs and ILO activities.

Verma further observed that India had a well-integrated system of vocational training and industry with 4700 Industrial Training Institutes catering to the needs of 700,000 young people every year. He added that India was offering courses in 67 trades, with the length of courses being one to three years. There were also short-term courses, and also courses tailored for women and physically handicapped. India had evolved a system of certification for those who had gained skills on the job. All the State Governments had modern facilities in this field.

The Labour Minister stated that that the civilizations of both the countries are age-old. By visiting Iran, he, in fact, re-emphasized the visit of Prime Minister, Vajpayee in April 2001 to Iran, which was a landmark visit. He said that the forthcoming visit of President Khatani to India will be a further landmark development in bilateral relations.

On way back to India, Labour Minister visited the Labour Camp in Dubai and heard the problems faced by Indian labourers in Dubai. These problems were also discussed with Indian Ambassador in Dubai. The Minister assured the labourers that he will take up the issue with the appropriate authorities in Dubai to get it sorted out.

NMDC IN SEARCH OF NEW GOLD AND DIAMOND RESERVES

National Mineral Development Corporation (NMDC) Hyderabad, a public sector undertaking of the Steel Ministry, has been granted reconnaissance permit by the Government of Karnataka for 3 years for gold mining over an area of 702 sq.km. in Chitradugra Central Block of Chitradurga District. Following the grant of the permit, the registration formalities have been completed. The exploration agencies like Geological Survey of India (GSI) and National Remote Sensing Agency (NRSA) are being approached to procure literature and reports to go ahead with the work.

NMDC is also trying to find new diamond mines in Kalyandurg Block of Anantapur District, Andhra Pradesh. The company has planned to explore the mineral sand of sea beach in Andhra Pradesh and Orissa to collect minerals. It has applied for mining lease to the Governments of Andhra Pradesh and Orissa for beach sand projects.

INDIA A MAJOR EXPORTER OF NATURAL STONE AND GRANITE

FIRST EVER INDIAN MONUMENT STONE FAIR FROM JANUARY 23 TO HELP REINFORCE INDIA’S DOMINANT POSITION IN WORLD MARKET

The first Indian Monument Stone Fair is being organised by Indian Monument Manufacturers Association (IMMA) in Chennai from 23 to 26 January, 2003 – an organisation, which had spearheaded the fight against anti-dumping investigations by the European Union (EU) against import of Indian monuments into the EU region. India is a major exporter of natural stone and granite, which is the second largest foreign exchange earner for India besides iron ore in minerals category. The export of granite in 2001-02 was around Rs. 2600 crore as against Rs. 2100 crore in the previous year. The share of granite monuments in total granite exports is around Rs. 800 crore. India is also the largest exporter of monuments and commenced as far back as 1935 when hand punched monuments were exported to UK. The EOU scheme, which was introduced in 1980, helped the industry to modernise as it opened a window to usher in latest technologies for stone processing.

Over the last two decades Indian industry has modernised to global standards and Indian monuments are exported to about 15 countries in different granites, in different thickness and in different sculptured workmanship involving very delicate workmanship and such pieces are normally exported in containers from the factories. With its highly skilled manpower and stone technology, India has contributed to the world with many prestigious monument projects such as Holocaust Museum in Washington; Vietnam War Memorial in Washington; Hiroshima Atom Bomb Memorial in Japan; Stillborn Child Memorial in New Zealand; Heath Spa Memorial in the Black Forest of Germany; Sun Clock in Japan; and Apollo Disaster Memorial in USA.

Monuments are predominately made up of granite and the entire monument industry is based in Southern India. The majority of factories are in Tamil Nadu. The main markets are the EU (which includes UK, Germany and France), USA, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Japan and Korea, which used to be the main buyers in the late eighties and in early nineties, China took over the market completely. Incidentally, China has emerged as the largest player in stone industry surpassing even Italy form the first position. With the threat to the Indian industry by China and few other East European countries, like Poland, Romania, Hungary and South Africa and the latest Vietnam, the Association have decided to strategically hold the exhibition and Fair to give India the focus which is very urgent and timely and will help to keep and maintain the image and the distinct identity of the Indian monuments and to reinforce the dominant position of India as the main supplier of highest quality of granite monuments in the world market.

This Exhibition is co-sponsored by CAPEXIL and other State Governments and will be visited by over hundred overseas visitors including participants. It will give a boost to the local industry and help it to upgrade itself besides getting fresh orders, offer opportunities for buyers and sellers of monuments, machinery’s accessories, tools and handling equipment etc., as also to display their wares and skills. The Fair is product-focussed on the needs and offerings of the monument industry at Chennai Trade centre, which is the largest and the most prestigious Modern Trade Fair Complex in Southern India with well over 7000 square meter of air-conditioned covered space and 15,000 square meter of outside space.

The Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu is expected to inaugurate the Indian Monument Stone Fair. Arun Shourie, Minister for Disinvestment and Commerce & Industry, is scheduled to visit the Fair and address at the valedictory session.