Open Source Software- One day workshop on Nov 1st
Thiruvananthapuram Oct 30: A one-day workshop on Open Source Software which is related to the most popular networking would be held on Nov 1st at Residency Towers here at 10.am.The event would be organized by Kerala I.T.I Mission, I.T.Department and Central Administrative Reforms Department. The function would be inaugurated by Industry and I.T. Minister P.K.Kunhalikutty and would be presided over by Kerala University Vice Chancellor Dr. B. Iqbal. The key note address would be delivered by the I.T Director of Central Administrative Reforms, K. Jayakumar. Following this classes would be taken by experts in 5 sessions in the discussion. -Keralamonitor.comKerala Day celebrations and Malayalam Film Festival in Delhi
Thiruvananthapuram Oct 30: The Information and Public Relations Department would be organizing the Kerala Day celebrations and Malayalam Film Festival in Delhi on Nov 1st. The Kerala Day celebrations would be inaugurated by Dr. Leela Omcheri. The State Higher Secondary Cultural festival winners would present many cultural events on the day. There would also be drama 'Alamaariyile Swapnangal' which won the first prize in Safdar Hashmi Drama Festival and also different cultural activities by Delhi Malayali Association. In the Malayalam Film Festival , there would be the film show of 'Nammal' directed by Kamal, Shafi's 'Kalyana Raman', Sharath's 'Sthithi', T.V.Chandran's 'Padham Onnu Oru Vilaapam' and Shaji Kalias's 'Thandavam'. The Film Festival would end on Nov 6th. -Keralamonitor.com
State School Sports Tournament at Kannur
Thiruvananthapuram Oct 30: This year's(2003-'04) State School Sports Tournament is to take place at Kannur. There would also be a meeting of the Teachers association representatives on November 4th to be held at Kannur Vocational Government Higher secondary school Jubilee Hall at 10.30. am which would discuss the strategies to help make the Sports Tournament a victorious event. -Keralamonitor.com
'Kissan Kerala Project' to be inaugurated on Nov 1st
Thiruvananthapuram Oct 30: The inauguration of the 'Kissan Kerala Project' organized by the Agriculture Department and Indian Institute of Information Technology and Management Kerala (IIITMK) is to be held on Nov 1st at Travancore Hall, Technopark. Agriculture Minister K.R.Gowriamma would inaugurate the function. The Minister of Industry and Information Technology P.K.Kunhalikutty would preside over the function. The Kissan Kerala webportal would be inaugurated by IIITMK Chairman K.P.P.Nambiar. As a part of the Kissan Project , the first broadcasting of an agricultural tv programme called 'Krishideepam' on Asianet at morning 10.30. am. -Keralamonitor.com
Prime Minister's Press Statement at Kohima
Oct 30: Ministry of Urban Development & Poverty Alleviation has released funds amounting Rs. 3115.90 lakh so far during the year 2003-04 for implementing various projects in North-Eastern States including Sikkim.The projects under implementation in these States include augmentation of Gangtok Water Supply System Phase-I in Sikkim, Construction of All State Government Employees Housing Complex at Aizawl in Mizoram, Development of Construction of Artificial Channel (Rehabilitation Drainage) System in Aizawl, Mizoram, Development of Lall Bazar Phase I in Gangtok, Sikkim, Improvement of City Roads in Agartala, Tripura and Improvement of Agartala Drainage System, Tripura.
A total provision of Rs. 160 crore has been made for implementing various schemes and projects in North-Eastern States and Sikkim during the current financial year. -Keralamonitor.com
MIFF entries date extended up to 10th November
Oct 30: The last date for receiving entries alongwith the prescribed form and fee from the filmmakers for the ensuing 8th Mumbai International Film Festival, 2004 (MIFF-2004) has been extended up to 10th November, 2003.
The Festival for Documentary, Short and Animation films is scheduled to be held from February 3 to 9, 2004 in Mumbai.
Meanwhile, the organizers have announced the dropping of the Clause no I pertaining to the mandatory censoring of Indian films entered in MIFF 2004.
For further enquiries the Director, Mumbai International Film Festival for Documentary, Short and Animation Films, Films Division, Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, Government of India, 24-Dr Gopal Rao Deshmukhmarg, Mumbai 400026 can be contacted. The telephone numbers are 91-22-23860931, 23861421 (5 lines), 23861461 (5 lines), 23810176, 23868492, and 23867068. Telefax: 91 (22) 23800308, 23868492, 23801008. E-mail: miff@miffindia.com. coordinatormiff@filmsdivision.org. W -Keralamonitor.com
Smart Cards Scheme launched for coal minersOct 30: The Coal Minister Shri Kariya Munda launched Smart Card Scheme for coal miners here today. Instituted by Coal Mines Provident Fund Organization (CMPFO) the Card enables an employee to examine his Provident Fund account without taking any trouble to visit the CMPFO office. He can also view his pension status lodge grievance and make enquiry at his own convenience by inserting his smart card in a kiosk at Coal India Ltd. office at Kolkatta. These kiosks will be gradually installed in facilitation centers of all the 23 regional offices of CMPFO during the next one to two years.
The Coal Minister Shri Kariya Munda launched the Scheme by distributing cards among six employees. Speaking on the occasion the Minister expressed the hope that the smart cards will minimise the harassment to workers and make the system more transparent. The CMPFO Commissioner Shri Rajesh Kumar said the smart card in CMPFO is the first in any Provident Fund Organisation and the system is developed by IIT Kharakpur. The database will be bilingual. CMPFO provides social security to over 7 lakh coal miners in the country. -Keralamonitor.com
Locust situation
Oct 30: The country remained free from any gregarious locust activity during the first fortnight of this month. However, during surveys, scattered desert locust adults were reported from 17 localities of Jaisalmer and Barmer districts of Rajasthan at the densities ranging from 75 to 300 adults per square kilometer. Maximum densities of 300 adults per square kilometer were reported from Jai Singhsar, Rohidi, Maijlar, Lunar and Dhanana areas of Barmer and Jaisalmer districts. Besides, migratory locust adults at the densities ranging from 150 to 1200 were reported from 22 localities of Jaisalmer and Barmer districts. Maximum densities of 1200 adults per square kilometer were reported from the Lunar area of Jaisalmer district. Ecological conditions are not favourable for locust breeding. Immigration of locusts was reported due to the winds blowing from west to east.
According to the locust Situation Bulletin, issued by the Directorate of Plant Protection, Quarantine & Storage of the Ministry of Agriculture, the number of locusts will decline in the coming months due to unfavourable ecological conditions in the Scheduled Desert Area. However, continuous vigilance is being maintained to detect any locust build up. -Keralamonitor.com
UNEP commends Union Environment Ministry's notification for Environment Impact Assessment for major urban projects
Oct 30: The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) at The Hague has commended the Union Ministry for Environment & Forests for bringing town planning under the provisions of Environment Protection Act.
Complimenting Shri T.R. Baalu, the Union Minister for environment & Forests, for the notification issued two days ago, UNEP has said the proposed requirement of Environment Impact Assessment (EIA) for the purposes of adequate town planning is a major step forward. UNEP considers environment impact assessment a valuable instrument to further minimize and prevent the deterioration of rivers, coastal areas and other water bodies receiving domestic and industrial waste water discharges. This measure will help control water-borne diseases, an important effort in eradicating poverty, it said.
Dr. Veerle Vandeweerd, Coordinator Head - Regional Seas, of the UNEP's Global Programme of Action for the Protection of the Marine Environment from Land-based Activities (GPA) at The Hague also congratulated Shri T.R. Baalu and the Union Environment Ministry for their effort in drafting a national programme of action for protecting the marine environment from land-based activities.
The communication pointed out that UNEP had recently organized in cooperation with the South Asian Cooperative Environment Programme (SACEP) a regional meeting to discuss and enhance the implementation of the GPA in the South Asian Seas Region. As a follow up to the recommendations of this meeting held in Colombo from April 28 to 30, 2003, the UNEP/GPA coordination office is supporting several pilot projects to demonstrate the best management practices in addressing land-based sources of marine pollution, the communication said.
The Hague-based UNEP further said that one of the pilot projects "Mini Treatment Plant of Domestic & Industrial Wastes" will be implemented in Lakshadweep. The UNEP/GPA, in cooperation with the governments in the South Asian Region, is preparing establishment of a regional forum on municipal waste water management. The aim of this programme is to exchange experience and expertise among the South Asian Seas countries in multi-stake holding and to enhance innovative partnership and capacity building to successfully improve the implementation of projects. The recent notification on environment impact assessment of the Union Environment Ministry will serve as a follow up input and the UNEP looks forward to continuing its valuable cooperation with the Indian Government in addressing environmental issues, the communication said. -Keralamonitor.com
New Delhi to host Climate Technology Bazaar
Oct 30: India is hosting a Climate Technology Bazaar and a series of Conferences relating to clean technology in New Delhi from November 10-13, 2003. Disclosing this at a news conference here today, the Minister for Environment & Forests, Shri T.R. Baalu said that the Technology Bazaar, being held in association with Confederation of Indian Industries (CII), would showcase state of the art climate friendly technologies from developed and developing countries in various fields.
Talking about the rationale behind organizing the Bazaar, the Minister said that the global community is addressing the challenge of climate change through a multi-lateral and cooperative approach. The Government of India demonstrated its commitment to address climate change by acceding to the Kyoto Protocol to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) in August, 2002. India successfully hosted the 8th Conference of Parties (COP-8) in New Delhi from October 23 to November 1, 2002. The Delhi Ministerial Declaration, adopted at COP-8, provides a new direction to climate change issues and firmly places climate change in the context of sustainable development. The Conference also succeeded in the operataionalisation of the Clean Development Mechanism and brought technology transfer and adaptation into focus. The series of events planned now will further the elements of the Delhi Ministerial Declaration.
The Climate Technology Bazaar would encourage manufacturing and industrial operations to use such technologies that minimize green house gases emissions and thereby reduce their environmental "footprint". There would also be a Carbon Bazaar where companies and countries interested in trade in emission reduction and green house gases reduction projects would find a meeting point to working together.
Some of the major areas which will be prominently covered in the Exhibition are:
Energy efficiency (especially in energy intensive industrial sectors such as steel, cement, smelting etc.)
Renewable energy (solar, wind, biomass etc.)
Climate-friendly manufacturing processes and technologies
Carbon sequestration technologies
Technologies for Waste-to-Energy
Shri Baalu said that several conferences are being held concurrently and organized by nstitutions such as UNEP, UNFCCC, CII, TERI.
There will also be an International Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) Roundtable on November 10, 2003. This Roundtable would allow senior representatives of Business, Government and NGOs to interact with representatives of the CDM Executive Board.
The United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) is also organizing a meeting of the Expert Group on Technology Transfer (EGTT) on November 11 - 12, 2003. The Group consists of 20 members drawn from developed and developing countries. This year's Work Programme of the Group covers technology needs assessment, technology information, enabling environment, capacity building mechanisms and cross-cutting issues.
A Workshop on Development and Climate has been planned for November 11, 2003. Shri Baalu said the conventional view has been to consider Climate change as a barrier to development and development as a threat to climate change. The development and climate paradigm views development as the driving force for addressing climate changes, the key to overcoming its vulnerability and enhancing capabilities for adaptation to its adverse impacts, he said.
Concurrently, the United Nations Environment Programme is organizing a workshop on November 10-11, 2003 to identify research needs and produce a thoughtful plan for further research collaboration and applications relating to adaptation. The expected output of this workshop includes methodology for identification of vulnerable hot spots, designing a procedure to evaluate impact on hot spots highly vulnerable to adverse impacts of climate change, adaptation designs and strategies to tackle multiple stresses, capacity building for tackling climate adaptation and developing a pathway for international negotiations on Adaptation policies.
Back to back with the UNEP workshop, the UNFCCC is organizing a workshop on Adaptation on November 12-13, 2003. The objective of this workshop is to promote an exchange of information on existing indigenous technologies and local coping strategies currently in use for climate-change related impacts and to brainstorm on how current methodological approaches to adaptation can be expanded to effectively accommodate such community-level coping strategies to address extreme events like drought, floods and tropical storms. Presenters and resource persons will include experts with field experience in anticipatory and reactive coping strategies for drought, floods and tropical storms.
The Technology Bazaar and all the above conferences on Adaptation, Technology Transfer and CDM are inter-related. Shri Baalu said, this is bound to generate a lot of interest amongst stakeholders both in the developed and developing countries and will provide a common platform for furtherance of the multilateral process as envisioned under the convention and its Protocol with emphasis on developing country concerns like technology transfer, vulnerability and adaptation. The Exhibition and the Conferences would also offer an excellent networking opportunity with the delegates from various countries, providing a fillip to business development and expansion plans. -Keralamonitor.com
Raksha Mantri addresses the Naval Senior Officers' Conference
Oct 30: Addressing the Naval Senior Officers' Conference here today, the Defence Minister Shri George Fernandes stated that our Prime Minister has once again taken the lead to restart the peace process with Pakistan through dialogue and we shall make all possible efforts to make it a success. However, the problem of terrorism is likely to persist and we should be prepared to deal with it effectively.
The Minister mentioned that the Navy has to play an all-important role in times to come and the country at large needs to be made aware of its role, importance and requirements to meet the challenges, which lie ahead of them. While stating that he was aware of the shortage of platforms required to fulfil its responsibility, he said that the government is committed to providing all assistance, budgetary or otherwise, to tide over this problem. He lauded Navy's state of preparedness during OP PARAKRAM and said that even though she did not engage in active combat, it produced the desired deterrent effect.
Shri Fernandes said that our Navy is getting international acclaim, which is borne out by the fact that a number of countries have requested to carry out joint exercises with them. He expressed that these that joint interactions are mutually beneficial and steps should be taken to increase their frequency. He hoped to commence joint exercises with China in the near future. He also expressed happiness on the progress of Project SEABIRD at Karwar and the NAVAL ACADEMY project at Ezhimala and brought out they are likely to be completed ahead of schedule.
Concluding his address, the Minister complimented the Naval Commanders for an excellent work in the field despite the constraints and hoped that other countrymen show similar zeal and commitment. -Keralamonitor.com
