New Affair between India and New Zealand

The Prime Minister of New Zealand Ms. Helen Clark is being received by the Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh at a Ceremonial Reception in New Delhi on October 20, 2004

Dubai Municipality Starts Smoking Ban in Public Places More

COMPENSATION TO INDIAN AIRLINES FOLLOWING MERGER OF VAYUDOOT

The Government has given in principle approval of one time non-plan budgetary assistance of approximately Rs.138.33 crore to Indian Airlines to clear the dues to the creditors. The creditors include: HAL (Rs.114.70 crore), ONGC (Rs.7.88 crore), Oil Companies (Rs.9 crore), Banks (Rs.4.40 crore) and Others (Rs.2.35 crore). The decision was taken by Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA), which met here today.

It has also been decided to write off the dues to the Government amounting to Rs.19.07 crore. These include the amount the Airlines owes to the Ministry of Civil Aviation (loan and interest thereon) amounting to Rs.15.97 crore and the Ministry of Finance towards Inland Air Travel Tax (IATT & interest thereon) Rs. 3.10 crore. Indian Airlines will also be allowed to recover Rs.7.05 crore, being the tax remitted earlier, from the Department of Revenue, Ministry of Finance. This would enable the discharge of liabilities of Vayudoot Ltd. on one time settlement basis.

FDI Limit Raised for Domestic Airlines

The Government has decided to raise Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) cap for Air Transport Services (Domestic Airlines). The modified guidelines permit 49 per cent through automatic route and 100 per cent by NRIs /Overseas Corporate Bodies through automatic route. However, no direct or indirect equity participation by foreign airlines is allowed. This was decided by the Union Cabinet today. Earlier, the ceilings on FDI in respect of the Air Transport Services (Domestic Airlines) were 40 per cent with prior Government approval through FIPB and 100 per cent by NRIs/Overseas Corporate Bodies with prior Government approval through FIPB. No direct or indirect equity participation by foreign airlines was allowed. By raising the FDI cap, the domestic scheduled and non-scheduled airlines will get more equity from foreign investors. This would increase their competitiveness.

ONION DELETED FROM LIST OF ESSENTIAL COMMODITIES

The Government has decided to delete ‘Onion’ from the list of essential commodities as the production and availability of ‘Onion’ during the last five years has, by and large, been satisfactory. This decision was taken by the Union Cabinet today. The price trend of onion also did not indicate any abnormality during the said period.

Consequent upon improvement of the availability of various agricultural products over a period of last five years, the Government has already taken a stand to do away with the controls such as licensing of dealers, limits on stock and restrictions on movement since such restrictions would only hamper the growth of agricultural sector and promotion of food processing industries. The Government also decided to facilitate free trade and movement of foodgrains, which would enable farmers to get best prices for their produce, achieve price stability and ensure availability of foodgrains in deficit areas. Onion is a perishable commodity and storage problems coupled with controls/ interventions have often led to distress sale by farmers in several States at very low prices, causing them economic hardship. This affects the area sown as well as production under the crop in subsequent years. Moreover, there is no Control Order issued for regulation of production, distribution, pricing etc. in respect of the item ‘Onion’ since the year 1999 though the same has been declared as an essential commodity under the Essential Commodities Act, 1955. The removal of unnecessary restrictions and relaxation of controls on ‘onion’ will give the fair returns to growers, promote consumer interest and free trade.

NAC RECOMMENDS SETTING UP OF NATIONAL HEALTH MISSION

The National Advisory Council has recommended setting up of a National Health Mission aimed at integration of all health programmes and to improve the delivery systems. The NAC at its meeting chaired by Smt. Sonia Gandhi in New Delhi today decided to forward the proposal for the national mission to the Government for early implementation.

The Council first took up the recommendations in respect of the Health sector which focuses on a composite approach to Health Care, the integration of vertical and horizontal programmes, sustained measures to improve the delivery systems, effective monitoring of the programmes based on transparency and accountability, and through increased public participation, the convergence of health, family welfare, nutrition, immunization, drinking water and hygiene, and sanitation schemes and the linking of financial allocations to actual performance. It was agreed that the proposals, which also envisage the setting up of a National Health Mission, may be forwarded to the Government at the earliest.

The Council also discussed issues relating to elementary education while reviewing the report on the recently held Consultation Workshop on ‘Universalization of Elementary Education’. It was agreed that the proposal aimed at urgently activating the Sarva Siksha Abiyan Mission (which was announced over 3 years back) and outlining the connected issues be sent to the Government for further action. Discussions also took place on Watershed programmes, issues pertaining to tribal welfare and development, the problem of eviction of tribal families from forest lands and a new National Policy for the Resettlement and Rehabilitation of Project – affected families and associated matters.

KARNATAKA AND KERALA HIGH COURTS GET NEW JUDGES

Shri H.N. Nagamohan Das and Shri Patil Bhimanagouda Sanganagouda have been appointed as Judges of the Karnataka High Court.Shri Kannampillil Parameswaran Pillai Balachandran and Shri Melarkode Narasimhan Krishnan have been appointed as permanent Judges of the Kerala High Court while Shri Kadavil Raman Udayabhanu and Shri Melath Sasidharan Nambiar will be Additional Judges of the Kerala High Court for a period of two years each.The above appointments will come into effect from the date they assume charge.

DR. KALAM TO PRESENT SANGEET NATAK AKADEMI AWARDS
17:43 IST

The Sangeet Natak Akademi Awards for the year 2003 will be presented by the Hon’ble President of India, Dr. A. P. J. Abdul Kalam at a special ceremony on 26th October, 2004 at 7.00 p.m. at Vigyan Bhavan, New Delhi. The Akademi Awards are recognized as the highest national honour conferred on practicing artistes, gurus and scholars and have come to stay as the most coveted honour to which the artistes aspire to. Past recipients of Akademi Awards includes eminent personalities such as Alauddin Khan, Hafiz Ali Khan, Ariyakudi Ramanuja Iyenga, Omkar Nath Thakur, T. Balasaraswati, Rukmini Devi Arundale, Kelucharan Mohapatra, Sachin Deb Burman, Satyajit Ray, Sombhu Mitra, P. L. Deshpande, C. C. Mehta, Mohan Rakesh, B. V. Karanth, to name a few. The Awards are decided by Akademi’s General Council, the apex body consisting of specialists in different fields of performing arts and representatives from different States and Union territories of the country. The Akademi Awards carry purse money of Rs. 50,000/- in cash, a Tamrapatra and a shawl.

The Sangeet Natak Akademi was established by the Government on 31st May 1952 as the National Academy of Music, Dance and Drama. It was created as the apex body in the country for the task of preservation and promotion of the performing arts of India. One of the important activities of the Akademi has been to give recognition and honours to artistes for setting standards in performing arts and restoring the art and artistes to their rightful place in independent India.

The institution of Sangeet Natak Akademi Awards is now fifty-two years old and the large body of practitioners, gurus and scholars in the performing arts honoured by the Akademi represents the nation’s highest achievement in music, dance and drama.

The names of those being honoured with Sangeet Natak Akademi Awards for the year 2003 are listed in the enclosed sheet.

SANGEET NATAK AKADEMI AWARDS 2003

NAMES OF AWARDEES

Music

Ghulam Mustafa Waris Khan

Hindustani Music – Vocal

Yeshwant Balkrishna Joshi

Hindustani Music – Vocal

Arvind Natverlal Parikh

Hindustani Music – Instrumental (Sitar)

Bhawani Shankar Kathak

Hindustani Music – Instrumental (Pakhawaj)

Trichur Vaidyanatha Ramachandran

Carnatic Music - Vocal

Mandayam Annadorai Narasimhachar

Carnatic Music – Vocal

Avasarala Kanyakumari

Carnatic Music – Instrumental (Violin)

Kadri Gopalnath

Carnatic Music – Instrumental (Saxophone)

Dance

Cherutara K. Balagopalan

Bharatanatyam

Sunayana Hazarilal Agarwal

Kathak

Urmila Nagar

Kathak

Sadanam P. V. Balakrishnan

Kathakali

Thiyam Suryamukhi Devi

Manipuri

Kalavati Devi

Manipuri

K. Uma Rama Rao

Kuchipudi

Hare Krishna Behera

Odissi

Theatre

Arun Sarma

Playwriting – Assamese

Ratnakar Ramkrishna Matkari

Playwriting – Marathi

Devendra Raj Ankur

Direction

Neelam Mansingh Chowdhry

Direction

Saoli Mitra

Acting – Bengali

C. R. Simha

Acting – Kannada

Sreenivas G. Kappanna

Allied Theatre Arts – Lighting & Stage Design

Anant Gopal Shinde

Allied Theatre Arts – Make Up

Traditional/Folk/Tribal Dance, Music, Theatre & Puppetry

Laisram Birendrakumar Singh

Folk & Tribal Music – Manipur

Prabhat Sarma

Traditional & Folk Music - Assam

Leela Omchery

Traditional & Folk Music – Kerala

Chukka Satthiah

Oggu Katha – Andhra Pradesh

Bhalchandra Vyankatesh Pendharkar

Natya Sangeet – Maharashtra

Banamali Maharana

Odissi Music – Orissa

Puran Bhaat

Puppetry – Rajasthan

Kosha Kanta Deva Goswami

Mask Making (Bhaona) - Assam

Scholarship/Overall Contribution in Performing Arts

Shri P. V. Subramaniam ‘Subbudu’

Scholarship/Overall Contribution in Performing Arts

SWAN POLICY ANNOUNCED

GUIDELINES ISSUED FOR MASSIVE GOVERNMENT SUPPORT FOR CREATION OF SWAN

The Government announced the State Wide Area Network (SWAN) Policy for giving a fillip to creation of infrastructure for e-Governance in the States. Announcing the Policy at a Press Conference, here today, the Minister of Communications & Information Technology, Shri Dayanidhi Maran stated that National Common Minimum Programme (NCMP) of the UPA Government has accorded high priority to the promotion of e-Governance on a massive scale. He recalled that promotion and implementation of e-governance were the key elements of the ten-point agenda as announced by him for the Department of Information Technology, shortly after assuming office.

Shri Maran further said that wide area network form the core-shared network for e-governance. The scheme is expected to provide a major fillip to rapid spread of high speed, high capacity, reliable network connectivity for government-to-government upto the Block Level. Shri Maran anticipated that it would constitute a major incentive to States for rapid adoption of e-governance to provide fastest, more accessible services to citizens and business. He stated that it would throw up a range of option for providing reliable broadband connectivity to kiosks and service centres in urban, semi-urban and rural areas for electronic delivery of services including government services. This would bring the benefits of modern information and communication technologies and the services that they can enable to vast majority of citizens particularly those in remote and rural areas.

Shri Maran said that National e-Governance Action Plan (NEGAP), which is under evolution, has two dimensions. The first is a set of Mission Mode Projects (MMPs) that aims at improving delivery of services to citizens and businesses. These improvements relate to the speed, reliability, accessibility and transparency in delivery of various kinds of government services. These projects are spread across the Central, State and local government levels. They span both urban and rural areas. Various ministries, departments and organizations are implementing them. The second dimension comprises certain supporting components that are necessary to enable and facilitate these projects. One such key component is the establishment of core network infrastructure including secure Wide Area Networks within the Government. These networks could also be used for other developmental activities and programmes like education, health and so on.

He further said that network connectivity is a significant enabler of any modern, efficient administration. In our country, the Development Block is the basic tier of the development administration, particularly for rural areas. Provision of reliable network connectivity, particularly for rural areas, is an imperative. It has, therefore, been decided that high-speed, high capacity (minimum 2 Mbps), reliable network connectivity for Government-to-Government communication will be extended up to the Block level through State Wide Area Networks and/or NICNET. The latter is currently being run by the National Informatics Centre i.e. NIC, primarily as a VSAT based network up to the District level.

The policy intends that various e-Governance projects, which would be implemented in a phased manner over the next 4-5 years by the Line Ministries/Departments concerned at the Central and State levels may avail themselves of seamless connectivity using these State Wide Area Networks (SWAN) and NICNET. This network connectivity could also be progressively leveraged to provide services electronically to citizens at the village level by extending its reach through wireless and other technologies relevant for the last mile. The recently announced Broadband Policy would be relevant in this context, Shri Maran recalled.

Shri Maran said that the Department of Information Technology (DIT) is primarily responsible for establishing this shared Core backbone Infrastructure identified in NEGAP. Guidelines have been issued laying down the modalities for technical and financial support that will be provided by DIT to the States for establishing State Area Wide Networks (SWAN). These include the technical and administrative norms to be followed by the States, depending on the implementation option adopted by each State to establish the SWAN. The detailed guidelines are available on web site www.pib.nic.in

Elaborating further, Shri Maran said that the intra-State Network will be established linking the State Headquarters right up to the Block Headquarters and the Tehsil Headquarters (if different from the block Hqrs.) through the District Headquarters and the Sub-Divisional Headquarters (as applicable). These networks would be connected to NICNET through appropriate interfaces in the form of gateways. This would enable Inter-State Connectivity. Departments/ Organizations of the Government of India and the State government could use dial-up, leased lines, radio frequency (RF) and wireless connectivity at the Block headquarters and at all other higher administrative levels to provide last mile connectivity to various local offices.

Giving details of policy components for rural areas Shri Maran said that DIT is currently considering various options for facilitating establishment of Common Services Centres (CSC) across the country particularly in rural areas. This is one of the Mission Mode Projects under NEGAP that have been assigned to DIT for implementation. In this context, the Department of IT is evolving policy guidelines delineating the nature and quantum of support that would be provided by Government for establishment of Common Services Centres with active participation of State Governments, NGOs and various Service Providers. The guidelines will also address the issue of optimal leveraging of the SWANs through the use of wireless and other technologies to provide, among other things, connectivity to village level service centres or kiosks delivering government and other services in the electronic mode, he said.

Some of the services that can be delivered electronically are: land and property records and transactions, agricultural information and credit-related services, payment of electricity, water and telephone charges, issue of various certificates like birth, death, caste, income, school etc., filing of applications for various development schemes, pensions, grievances, driving licences, passports, etc. Education, health and veterinary services can also benefit from these delivery systems. Filing of various forms and returns by individuals and businesses for income tax and commercial tax purposes can also be enabled in this mode as also issue of various kinds of licences and permits related to trade, transport and business establishments.

The highlights of the SWAN Policy Guidelines are:

* States would need to furnish proposals to DIT for establishment of SWANs

* DIT will meet the entire capital and operational costs of the network for a period of five years except bandwidth cost, which has to be borne by the states

* A State may opt to implement the SWAN either through NIC or through any other agency selected by it

* States will have to provide bandwidth of at least 2 Mbps up to block level by entering into contracts with BSNL or any other operator

* BSNL has offered a special tariff package to DIT for SWANs with a 90% discount

* DIT will facilitate the execution of agreements between BSNL and the States desirous of availing themselves of this package

* In order to be eligible for funding support, a State should have undertaken implementation of at least three major statewide e-governance projects that require such connectivity. At least one of these should have been completely rolled out over the entire state

* Service Level Agreements would be entered into to ensure quality and reliability of service

* Guidelines for Security, Standardization, Interoperability and Interconnect requirements will be issued by NIC

Shri Maran said that along with the establishment of SWANs, NICNET would also be augmented as a backbone for enhanced interstate and state-centre connectivity. This would be done using leased OFC wherever feasible or state-of-the-art VSAT based technologies where appropriate and upgrading terminal equipment at state and district headquarters. Giving the cost details, Shri Maran said that it was estimated that for coverage of all states, the DIT would need to allocate around Rs. 1,000 cr. over a five-year period for this purpose. The pre-discounted cost of the bandwidth over the same period is estimated to be of a similar order of magnitude. States would need to meet the net cost of bandwidth after discount.

TEA - FACING CHALLENGES AHEAD

Priya Kumar**

Tea - easily identifiable with India, immediately brings to mind the lush tea gardens of Darjeeling, Assam and the Nilgiris. The tea plant that was first discovered growing indigenously in Assam in 1815 by a traveller is today a well established industry in the country, producing more than 850 million kgs of tea annually. The tea industry is one of the oldest organized industries in India with a large network of tea producers, retailers, distributors, auctioneers, exporters and packers and employs one of the largest workforces in the country.

It is a well-known fact that next to water, tea is the most widely consumed non-alcoholic beverage world over. It is grown in more than 32 countries among which India is the largest producer. Located in backward, rural and hilly areas, the tea plantations supplement the economic life of these regions through employment generation and social welfare and provide a higher standard of living at the grassroots level. The industry provides direct employment to more than a million workers of which a sizeable number are women. More than two million persons derive their livelihood from ancillary activities associated with production, value addition and marketing of tea. The tea trade is a major contributor to the country’s economy. Substantial foreign exchange earnings with negligible import content, contribution to the State and Central exchequers, preserving a pollution free biosphere and soil conservation. are some of the important features of this industry.

Production and Export

With a history of tea making and tea drinking, it is not surprising that world over, Indian teas are appreciated for their unique flavour and aroma. India produces three specialty teas - Darjeeling, Assam and Nilgiris which are exported world over. Green and organic teas are also produced in India but in small quantities. Tea is grown in 13 States and Assam, West Bengal, Tamil Nadu and Kerala are the largest producers. Though the major part of the tea production comes from big estate gardens, the contribution of the small grower segment has shown an increase in recent years with many small farmers in Assam, North Bengal and Bihar switching over to its production.

In 1998, the country produced the highest ever 870 million kgs of tea. Of this, 758 million kgs was Crushed-Torn-Curl (CTC), 104 million kgs was Orthodox (leaf tea) and 8 million kgs was accounted for by other types, which included green, organic and instant teas. Exports at 210 million kgs in 1998, were also the highest ever in the past decade. Despite being the world’s largest producer, India’s share both in world production and exports has declined over the years. The country today accounts for 27.16 per cent of the global tea production and 13.09 per cent of the world trade. While production of tea during 2004-05 (April-July), estimated at 310 million kgs, has registered a substantial decline of about 29 million kgs as compared to the corresponding period of the previous year, tea exports, estimated at 56.06 million kgs during 2004-05 (April-July), have shown an increase of 9.79 million kgs over the same period of the previous year.

Almost every tea-drinking nation in the world imports some variety of Indian tea! Due to an existing large domestic market for Indian tea, exports, however, account for less than 20 per cent i.e. domestic production.

Some of the constraints facing the Indian tea industry which directly affect production, productivity and quality, include the old age of bushes with more than 30 per cent of the tea area being above the economic threshold age limit, slower pace of replantation with the rate of replanting being less than 0.5 per cent as against the desired level of 2 per cent and the consistent fall in its auction prices which has adversely affected the investment in the plantations. The consequent decline in productivity along with increasing input costs have led many gardens to become sick or close down. The share of Indian tea in the world market, on the other hand, has suffered in recent years due to the stiff competition from other producing and exporting countries like Sri Lanka, China, Indonesia, Vietnam and Kenya. Some other factors that have adversely affected the export potential of Indian tea include - various tariff and non-tariff measures imposed by some tea importing countries, lower off take by Russia due to change in consumer preferences, lower production of orthodox teas which have a larger demand worldwide, quality problems and the higher cost of production and prices of Indian tea.

Initiatives

The Tea Board of India, a statutory body of the Government has been entrusted with the task of the development of the tea industry. It has taken several initiatives to support the tea industry and overcome the challenges it is facing today. During the 10th Plan period, the Board is implementing a number of developmental schemes for enhancing the productivity, quality and marketability of the teas produced in the country. These include financial and technical assistance to various plantation development activities, such as replanting, rejuvenation, and creation of irrigation facilities. Export is also being focused upon with the implementation of a medium term export strategy. The production of quality teas, especially orthodox type of teas is being encouraged. Media campaigns have been launched to increase consumer awareness for Indian teas besides extension of promotional support to Indian exporters in marketing Indian brands in principal export markets. The total 10th Plan outlay for the Tea Board is Rs.350 crore which is being utilized to rejuvenate the tea industry.

Special efforts are also being made to address the problems of the small growers of tea. These include measures like fixation of a price sharing formula between small tea growers and the manufacturers to enable the small growers to get a reasonable share of the price obtained for the made tea, implementation of a price subsidy scheme and carving of a Special Tea Term Loan package. One of the most important initiatives taken by the Government in the small sector has been the quality upgradation programme, which was launched in South India in July 2000 and is continuing successfully so far. The Tea Board has also followed it up by launching a full-fledged scheme for quality upgradation and product diversification, aimed at modernizing the tea factories. The measures taken not only seek to alleviate the income related problems of the small growers, but also recognize the inherent advantages and immense potential of the small grower sector in driving Indian tea exports.

Though in the last few months, there has been a recovery in the prices of tea and exports have also started looking up, it is now evident, that with the emerging trends in the globalised economy, markets can no longer be protected. The Indian tea industry, would have to gear itself up to counter the new forces unleashed by globalization. (PIB Features)

**OSD (Broadcasting), Ministry of I & B, New Delhi.

Photo caption: (right) Andrew Smith, Head of Sales and (second from left) Mahmood Al Sikri, Regional Sales Manager with the three graduates.

TOP THREE GRADUATE FROM SOLIDARITY TRAINING PROGRAMME

Financial Advisors Authorised To Market Family Takaful Products

DUBAI - 20/10/04 Three of Solidarity’s top financial advisors have completed the company’s landmark training and development program to become authorised to market their innovative Family Takaful products. Solidarity, one of the leading Takaful providers in the region, insists that all advisors complete the course to ensure that the highest possible requirements are met within the company.“This scheme ensures that our Financial Advisors are trained to the highest international business quality standards,” said Rob King, General Manager, Solidarity - Family Takaful. “This authorisation, coupled with a stringent sales format, ensures that we recommend to our customers the most suited and appropriate financial advice.”

The next stage of training required by the company - which is designed to operate in full accordance with the guiding principles of Islamic Shari’ah - is for all graduates to pass the International Certificate of Financial Advisors from the reputed UK-based Chartered Insurance Institute.

“By receiving this diploma, our financial advisors will be endorsed by a respected third party member of international recognition,” said Andrew Smith, Head of Sales, Solidarity – Family Takaful. “This training enforces Solidarity’s commitment to the development of sound, transparent and reliable financial advice to its clients and highlights the continuing need for the company to maintain its position at the forefront of the industry”. Solidarity is poised to become the largest Takaful company in the world and is one of the top 10 companies in the Arab world in terms of paid up capital. (US$ 100,000,000).