TechnoCampus gets international Security Certified Program
certification-Tomatoes with enhanced cancer fighting contentYash Chopra to receive Dada Saheb Phalke AwardFACT Net Asset Rs. 306.93 crores?
RAJYA SABHA
Government has invited Expression of Interests (EOI) for the sale of 51 per cent stake in Fertilizers and Chemicals Travancore Ltd. (FACT). The prospective bidders should have a combined Net Worth in excess of Rs.200 crore as well as Sales in excess of Rs.600 crore as per the annual accounts of financial year 2001-02. In case of a consortium bid, the financial parameters of the lead bidder must be at least 51 per cent of the amount indicated above. As on 31.3.2002, the fixed assets of FACT as per audited accounts are Rs.781.22 crore and the net current assets, as on 30.9.2002, are Rs.306.93 crore. This information was given by the Minister of State for Chemicals & fertilizers, Tapan Sikdar, in a written reply to a question in the Rajya Sabha today. (keralamonitor.com)
Yash Chopra to receive Dada Saheb Phalke AwardThe noted film Director/Producer, Yash Chopra has been awarded the Dada Saheb Phalke Award for the year 2001. Dada Saheb Phalke Award carries a cash prize of Rs. two lakhs, a Shawl and a Swarna Kamal. The Award was instituted in the year 1969 to commemorate the outstanding contribution of the late Dada Saheb Phalke to the Indian Film Industry.
Born on 27th September 1932, in Jalandhar (Punjab), Yash Chopra is a distinguished film Producer and Director. He started his career as an assistant to his brother and went on to direct over 20 very successful films under his own banner, Yash Raj Films and other banners. He has also produced and presented nine films. Yash Chopra has been instrumental in tapping the potential of Indian films in the international market, thereby helping in placing Indian cinema on the world map.His films are about love, romance and drama and the stars of his films become icons for film buffs. The musical scores of his films have taken their place among the popular music in Indian film history. Among his most memorable films are, ‘Dhool ka Phool’, ‘Waqt’, ‘Ittefaq’, ‘Deewar’, ‘Kabhi Kabhi’, ‘Trishool’, ‘Silsila’, ‘Chandni’, ‘Lamhe’, ‘Darr’, ‘Dil to Paagal hai’ etc. His films have won five National Awards and various other awards. He has received recognition and honour, both in India and abroad for his contribution to cinema and occupies important positions in prestigious film bodies. He is currently the Chairman of the FICCI Entertainment Committee. (keralamonitor.com)
PRESIDENT'S ASSENT TO THREE BILLS
Indian Medicine Bill, Homeopathy Bill and Petroleum Bill
The President has given his assent to the Petroleum (Berar Extension) Repeal Bill, 2002, the Homeopathy Central Council (Amendment) Bill, 2002 and the Indian Medicine Central Council (Amendment) Bill, 2002. With this, these three Bills, passed during the ongoing Winter Session of Parliament, have been notified in the Gazette of India as Act Nos. 50, 51 and 52 respectively of the year 2002.
The Petroleum (Berar Extension) Repeal Act, 2002, seeks to repeal the Petroleum (Berar Extension) Act, 1937with the extension of the Petroleum Act, 1934 made applicable nationwide by an amendment in the Petroleum Act in 1950. This also follows the recommendations of P.C. Jain Commission on Review of Administrative Laws having recommended its repeal as it has been rendered redundant.
The Homeopathy Central Council (Amendment) Act, 2002, seeks to amend the Homeopathy Central Council Act, 1973 to make provision for obtaining prior approval of the Central Government for the establishment of a new homeopathic college or for increasing the number of seats for introducing a new or higher course of study. It also provides for provisional registration for the items enrolled for house job or internship as a part of the course of study. At present, there are 166 teaching institutions for homeopathic system of medicine with an annual admission capacity of about 9930 students. Out of these colleges, 133 are in the private sector. The amendment seeks to make the Council act judiciously to enforce the standards of education prescribed under the provisions of the Act.
The Indian Medicine Central Council (Amendment) Bill, 2002, seeks to amend the Indian Medicine Central Council Act, 1970 in order to empower the Central Government to regulate opening of new colleges in the Indian Systems of Medicine like Ayurveda, Siddha and Unani, introduction of new or higher courses of study and increase in the admission capacity of the institutes imparting education in Indian Systems of Medicine. It will also ensure objectivity and uniformity in their functioning and standards of medicine. Besides, maintenance of a Central Register of Ayurveda, Siddha and Unani practioners and to regulate education and practice of Indian Systems of Medicine have been standardized. Presently, there are 196 colleges of Ayurveda, 35 of Unani and 5 of Siddha systems of medicines spread over 20 States of the country. Annual admission capacity of these colleges for graduate course of ayurveda is 7730, and for post graduate 752. The standards of education in these colleges are proposed to be made uniform to meet the challenges of globalization.(keralamonitor.com)
Tomatoes with enhanced cancer fighting content
RAJYA SABHA
Researchers from Purdue University and United States Department of Agriculture have claimed development of tomatoes containing cancer-fighting antioxidant lycopene content. Indian Institute of Vegetables Research, Varanasi and National Research Centre for Plant Biotechnology, Pusa, New Delhi will make efforts to develop tomato varieties with high lycopene content. However, National Research Centre for Plant Biotechnology, Pusa, New Delhi is making efforts to obtain more information about this research work. This information was given by Minister of State for Agriculture Hukumdeo Narayan Yadav in written reply to a question by Lajpat Rai in Rajya Sabha Today.
MAXIMUM RETAIL PRICE OF COMPUTERS
LOK SABHA
Under the provisions of the Standards of Weights and Measures (Packaged Commodities) Rules, 1977, the retail sale price of a product has to be mentioned on their package in the form MRP…(Inclusive of all taxes). Non-declaration of Maximum Retail Price (MRP) attracts penal provisions. Enforcement of the Rules rests with the State authorities. Whenever cases of violations are detected action is taken.
The details of status of taxes on the price list of computers are generally given by Manufacturers and is not covered under the scope of the Standards of Weights and Measures (Packaged Commodities) Rules, 1977. This information was given in the Lok Sabha today by Minister of State for Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution V. Sreenivasa Prasad in reply to a question of Ramjee Manjhi.(keralamonitor.com)
NATIONAL POLICE MEMORIAL FOUNDATION LAIDThe Deputy Prime Minister, L.K. Advani has declared that Pakistan’s proxy war will be crushed with a firm hand. He said since the day Pakistan decided to launch the proxy war in the form of cross-border terrorism against India, the margin between internal security and external security has narrowed down to zero. Advani was laying the foundation stone for the National Police Memorial, here this evening.
He said the supreme sacrifice made by our police and security personnel on the day of the terrorist attack on Parliament on 13th December last year, signified the resolve of the countries policemen to crush terrorism. He said he could not gauze the devastation and tragedy that could have resulted had the five terrorists entered both the Houses of Parliament, when they were in Session. It was no doubt a dastardly attack on the great edifice of Indian democracy. Only historians who will make an assessment of the tragedy that could have been befallen on the country had Pakistan’s design succeeded.
The Home Minister said we defeated Pakistan in three face to face wars but it did not learn any lesson and decided to launch a long drawn proxy war. But our army, para-military forces and the police will not allow Islamabad to succeed in its plan. He also mentioned the September 11 terrorist attack on the World Trade Centre and said terrorism in all its form must be crushed with an iron hand.
Advani said the building of a National Police Memorial was a long standing aspiration of our police force and expressed happiness that it is going to take shape. He also lauded the efforts made by the Urban Development Minister, Anant Kumar in making the dream of the force a reality. Anant Kumar in his address declared that this second monument being built in the country (after India Gate) will be completed in 18 months and every effort will be made to make it a beautiful edifice.
In his Welcome Address the Director, Intelligence Bureau, K.P. Singh said the National Police Memorial would be a testimony to the immense sacrifices of our policemen and members of the security forces while discharging their duties. He also said that the choice of December 13 for founding the Memorial is indeed significant. It was on this day last year terrorists made an unsuccessful attempt on our Parliament and their design was foiled by our alert police and security personnel on duty. The Memorial being built on 7.5 acres of land in the Central Chankya Puri of New Delhi will be the 2nd edifice in memory of our country’s Forces after India Gate.(keralamonitor.com)
STUDY OF RAILWAY BRIDGES
RAJYA SABHA
Upgradation of technology and modernization of various systems is a continuous process on Indian Railways. As part of the process, presentations were arranged from various firms from abroad on modern bridge inspection and management system. Many of the emerging areas of new technologies now being applied in areas like underwater inspection of bridges, nondestructive testing of bridges and bridge management systems were noted. A proposal to set up a task force to study the needs for upgrading and modernization of bridge inspection and management systems especially under water inspections and nondestructive testing of bridges was mooted in March this year. The task force was formally set up in September 2002. Since techniques and equipment for such inspections are not available in the country, it was considered necessary to study their actual functioning abroad. As a part of the terms of reference of task force it was asked to visit countries abroad for on the spot study of the systems abroad. The team went abroad for the study tour recently.This information was given by Bandaru Dattatraya Minister of State for Railways in a written reply to a question by Dipankar Mukherjee in the Rajya Sabha.(keralamonitor.com)
