MEDIA ASKED TO UPHOLD INDIAN VALUES AND TRADITIONS

PM CONDOLES DEATH OF SMT. ANNAMMA MATHEW

The Prime Minister, Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee has condoled the death of Smt. Annamma Mathew, the chief editor of a Malayalam fortnightly -"Vanitha" and wife of the chief editor of Malayala Manorama, Shri K.M. Mathew, today. Shri Vajpayee said that Smt. Annamma Mathew was a journalist in her own right, who espoused socially relevant issues, particularly those related to women. Smt. Mathew followed the noblest ideals and traditions of journalism, voicing her concern for the deprived and the under-privileged, the Prime Minister added.

ENVOYS PRESENT CREDENTIALS TO PRESIDENT

The envoys of Eritrea, Croatia and Pakistan presented their credentials to the President of India, Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam at a ceremony at Rashtrapati Bhavan here today. The envoys who presented their credentials were:- His Excellency Mr. Gabriel Fassil, the Ambassador of the State of Eritrea, His Excellency Mr. Dino Debeljuh, the Ambassador of the Republic of Croatia and His Excellency Mr. Aziz Ahmad Khan, the High Commissioner of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan. The credential presentation ceremony was attended by the senior members of the missions, senior officials of the Ministry of External Affairs and Rashtrapati Bhavan.

MEDIA ASKED TO UPHOLD INDIAN VALUES AND TRADITIONS

The Minister of Information & Broadcasting, Shri Ravi Shankar Prasad has said Indian media has great responsibility to inform and educate the masses on our march to development importance, level and quality of reforms. He said, though relating ourselves to global happenings and situations is important so that we do not lag behind, the media must not lose sight of upholding our ethos, cultural and moral values and traditions.

Shri Prasad was inaugurating a seminar on "Reflection of India in Indian Media" organized by the Programme Staff Association of All India Radio & Doordarshan here today. He said media must concentrate on keeping the focus on real issues rather than giving undue importance to trivial issues. The mediapersons have to introspect to re-assert their important role in contemporary situation, he said.

The CEO, Prasar Bharati Shri K. S. Sarma said that Prasar Bharati is vigorously pursuing its mandate to inform, educate and entertain the masses. But he said that though both AIR and Doordarshan have enhanced their revenue generation capacity but they require more funds from the Government for content creation. He said, Rs. 15 crore for AIR and Rs. 125 crore for Doordarshan for content creation is not at all adequate. Shri Sarma also pointed out woeful shortage of the staff in both AIR and Doordarshan whereas their operations have increased manifold during the last few years. Shri Sarma said the establishment of five marketing divisions by Prasar Bharati has given a tremendous boost to the revenue generation effort.

RS. 1343 RURAL DRINKING WATER AND SANITATION PROJECT FOR MAHARASHTRA NEGOTIATED WITH WORLD BANK

A High Level Indian Team negotiated US$ 268.65 million (Rs.1343 crore) Rural Drinking Water Supply Project from Maharashtra with the World Bank from 3rd to 8th July, 2003. The Project is based on Swajaldhara reform principles, viz, empowering the village panchayats and the communities to plan, implement and manage drinking water and sanitation schemes of their choice.

The project aims to cover 2800 village panchayats in 26 districts, 75 lakh population including 5 lakh tribals (in 1700 tribal padas) will receive the benefits. The project will be implemented over 6 years period and will have 5 major components – (I) community development and infrastructure (US$ 167.13 million); (ii) institutional development (US$ 67.08 million); (iii) rural water supply sector development for water quality monitoring and knowledge management (US$ 5.58 million); (iv) pilots on panchayat incentive, acquifer management, and operations and maintenance (US$ 15.19 million) and (v) contingencies including US$ 13.67 million.

The project implementation will provide two major benefits, viz. (I) increasing rural household’ access to improved and sustainable drinking water facilities and sanitation services; and (ii) institutionalization of the decentralized water supply and sanitation service delivery.

The project has 18.81% of economic rate of return. The World Bank will provide IDA credit of US$ 181 million (Rs.905 crore); the Government of Maharashtra share will be US$ 73.65 million (Rs.368 crores) and the Community contribution will be US$ 14 million (Rs.70 crores). The project promotes the convergence of Government of India programmes like Swajaldhara, Sector Reforms Projects and Total Sanitation Campaign.The project will promote water conservation, rainwater harvesting measure, integration of drinking water, sanitation and hygienic at all levels in the state.

TERM LOAN ASSISTANCE BY NSKFDC DOUBLES DURING LAST TWO YEARS

The Term Loan assistance by the National Safai Karamcharis Finance and Development Corporation (NSKFDC) has doubled during the last two years. It has disbursed Rs. 134.12 crore to about 62 thousand beneficiaries till the end of 2002-03 as compared to Rs. 64.03 crore upto 31st March 2001. This includes more than 45 thousand beneficiaries who have been assisted with Rs. 33.60 crore under micro-credit finance scheme.

NSKFDC was set up by the Central Government in 1997 under the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment with an authorised capital of Rs. 200 crore for all round socio-economic upliftment of Safai Karamcharis including scavengers and their dependents. The Corporation provides term loans at concessional rate of interest to the target groups through 30 State Chanelising Agencies in 27 states and 3 UTs. It provides term assistance for projects costing upto Rs.5 lakh with rate of interest charged at 3% from the SCA, which in turn charges 6% from the beneficiaries.

The Corporation also provides term loan assistance upto Rs. 10 Lakh for sanitation projects related to income generating activities like garbage/ sanitation waste disposal scheme, vacuum loaders and for setting up Pay and Use Toilets. The rate of interest for such assistance is 5% for the SCA and 8% for the beneficiaries. NSKFDC finance upto 90% of project cost and the remaining 10% is provided by the SCA as margin money or subsidy or promoters contribution. Promoters’ contribution is not insisted for projects costing upto Rs.2 lakh. The rate of interest charged under micro finance assistance upto Rs. 25,000/- is 2% from the SCA and 5% from the beneficiary. Although the beneficiary has to be a Safai Karamcharis or Scavenger, the Corporation accords priority to scavengers particularly those falling below the double poverty line, women and disabled persons.

NSKFDC also provides educational loan upto Rs. 3 lakh. Rs. 75,000 per year is provided to students for pursuing professional and technical education. The Corporation also provides bridge loan against investment subsidy sanctioned or any other source of funds sanctioned by any other recognized agency.

PANEL DISCUSSION ON ADOLESCENT EMPOWERMENT ORGANISED

FACES OF THE FUTURE: ROAD TO DEVELOPMENT

On the eve of World Population Day, a nation-wide programme of dialogue between policy makers, specialists and adolescents started at a FACE-TO-FACE meet at India International Centre, New Delhi today. Developed jointly by the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports, UNFPA and NYKS, the programme aims to empower adolescents forming 23.6 per cent of our population through information, various programmes and policy leverage.

The Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports has been designated as the nodal ministry for addressing adolescent matters. "The young in India, especially the adolescents, have immense potential. They must have the opportunities also"’ said the chief guest Shri Rajiva Srivastava, Secretary, Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports. "Providing them right stimulus is the responsibility of the society so that they turn out to be engines for social change". New schemes aimed at building environment to recognise needs of adolescents were being formulated.

Mr. Francois M. Farah, the country representative of UNFPA, the Guest of Honour said "Empowerment of the adolescents means providing them choices and to kindle their imagination with abilities of take risks and above all to dream." He said that 40 per cent of AIDS cases were in the age group of 15 to 29 years, thus stressing on the need to increase awareness among the adolescents.

Shri V. Muraleedharan, Director General of NYKS informed the mainly young audience that starting from the Population day there will be year-long activities involving adolescents and the stake holders. The programmes will begin with nine workshops and Adolescents Melas in certain state Capitals. As the preliminary part of the nation-wide programmes, a sample of 400 adolescents were interviewed in Delhi who were also invited for the present programme.

The panel discussion ranged on modes and methods of providing information for developing skills among the adolescents who form 23.6 per cent of our population. A spectrum of issues ranging from communication to security and abuse, reproductive health of adolescents, gender inequalities and reaching adolescents through formal and non-formal education were discussed. Dr. Amod Kant, General Secretary of Prayas; Dr. Aruna Broota, Counsellor, consultant and psychologist; Dr. Sunil Mehra of Mamta, Dr. Mridula Seth; Dr. Rajesh Mehta and Dr. Anubha Ghosh of "We, the people" formed the panel of specialists.

To empower adolescents for a vibrant India, state-level Melas will be held in Ahmedabad, Bhopal, Bhubaneshwar, Imphal, Jaipur, Lucknow, Mumbai, Patna and Thiruvananthapuram on 11th and 12th of July, 2003. These workshops will address various adolescents concerns and provide career counseling, free and comprehensive medical check-up and skill development activities.. -keralamonitor.com