Sept 4, 2003

Boat capsized in Bihar; 50 feared drowned

Patna: In a boat tragedy in Bihar , atleast 50 people were feared to have been drowned which included 10 women. The boat which was carrying around 75 people capsized in the river Kosi on Tuesday evening and around 25 people managed to swim to safety. The incident occurred off Jauri village, about 35 km from Saharsa. No dead body has as yet been recovered, but rescue operations are underway. The river was flooded because of heavy discharge of water from dams located in its upper reaches, Saharsa's Superintendent of Police Ajitabh Kumar said.

PM condoles the loss of life in boat capsizing incident in Bihar

The Prime Minister, Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee has expressed shock and grief over the loss of lives in the capsizing of a boat in Kosi near Chandrayan village in Bihar. In a message, the Prime Minister expressed his heartfelt condolences and deep sympathies with the members of the bereaved families.

Typhoon in South China: 23 killed, 59 injured

Beijing: In a powerful Typhoon Dujuan in South China , around 23 people were killed and 59 more injured, said sources on Wednesday. In the southern Chinese city of Shenzhen,which is neighbouring Hongkong, twenty people died and two were missing. Sixteen were migrant workers killed when buildings collapsed on a construction site and twenty other workers on the site were injured. Twenty-eight further injuries we re reported in the city. The typhoon, which struck Guangdong province where Shenzhen is located Tuesday evening, has left a trail of destruction, killing three more in other areas of the province. Two died and 11 were injured in Shanwei city, including a six-year-old child crushed by a falling ceiling.

Avoid Killing Iraq Civilians, Human Rights Watch

Today's car bomb attack in the Iraqi holy city of al-Najaf was a deliberate attack on civilians that violates the most fundamental principles of international humanitarian law, Human Rights Watch said. More

Ban on Smoking in UN headquarters

United Nations: A ban on Smoking has been imposed by United Nations at its headquarters under the order of Secretary- General Kofi Annan. The United Nations will be following a stiff anti-smoking law in New York which prohibits smoking in all offices, indoor public places, including restaurants, bars, shopping malls, bus terminals, theatres and cinema houses. According to Annan's order "no smoking shall be permitted in any of the United Nations premises at headquarters" from September one to
"eliminate the risk associated with second hand smoke." Head of the UN office of Human Resources Management warned employees that "disciplinary action" could be taken against staff members caught smoking inside the building. Officials said that the UN just could not force diplomats to comply with the order but feel that over a period of time, the resistance to the ban would wane. Chief United Nations spokesman Fred Eckhard agreed that imposing ban on diplomats would be tough. But "we would hope that all would comply with the Secretary-General's new policy," he said.

Sharp increase in financial loans to minorities for income generating schemes

The financial assistance to poorer sections among notified minorities for income generating activities by the National Minorities Development and Finance Corporation (NMDFC) has witnessed a sharp increase during the last five years.

The Corporation provided financial loans worth Rs. 355.70 crore at concessional interest rates, during this period constituting about 78% of total disbursements by the NMDFC so far. More than 95,000 beneficiaries were covered in 25 states and union territories. 77 percent of its beneficiaries are Muslims according to a study by the Indian Social Institute.

The NMDFC was set up in 1994 to financially assist poor persons belonging to Muslim, Christian, Sikh, Buddhist and Parsi communities whose annual family income does not exceed Rs. 55,000 in urban areas and Rs. 40,000 in rural areas. The Corporation advances loans under various schemes viz. Term Loan Scheme, Marginal Money Loan Scheme and Education Loan Scheme. The rate of interest varies from 6% under Term Loan Scheme to 3% for the remaining two schemes. NMDFC took a major initiative in 1998 by introducing Micro-Financing to reach the poorest among the target groups especially women scattered in remote villages and urban slums. The Corporation has so far helped fifty four thousand beneficiaries through a network of over one hundred NGOs and Self-Help Groups. Some of the women beneficiaries are trained before advancing micro credit under the Mahila Samridhi Yojna.

The other initiative includes organising marketing facilities and vocational training. A large section of minorities are artisans who face problems in marketing their products. NMDFC organised marketing support by participating in India International Trade Fair, Social Development Fair and Suraj Kund Mela. 45 NGOs from various states participated in these exhibitions benefiting around 2,500 artisans.

The NMDFC provides grants to State Channelising Agencies (SCA) for organising Vocational Training programmes to its targeted beneficiaries to build up their competence for wage employment as well as self employment. Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal, Tripura and Kerala were provided grants for organising vocational training programmes for various trades last year.

Urban Water Supplies schemes for 901 towns approved

Ministry of Urban Development & Poverty Alleviation has approved water supply schemes for 901 towns under the Accelerated Urban Water Supply Programme up to July, 2003. The cost of these schemes is estimated to be Rs. 1173.98 crore. An amount of Rs. 524.06 crore has been released as Central share since launching of the programme in March, 1994. So far, 321 schemes in as many towns are reported to have been completed or partially commissioned.

The Accelerated Urban Water Supply Programme (AUWSP) was launched to extend financial support to the State Governments/local bodies and to provide water supply facilities in towns having population less than 20 thousand as per 1991 census. It is now proposed to bring small towns having population less than 20 thousand as per 2001 census under the programme, by modifying the existing guidelines.

In the 10^th plan Rs. 900 crore have been allocated under Central Plan for implementation of AUWSP. In the year 2002-03 funds amounting Rs. 121.95 crore were released to the States under AUWSP. Maximum amount of Rs. 24.26 crore was released to Uttar Pradesh while Madhya Pradesh got Rs. 12.36 crore and Karnataka Rs. 10.55 crore. During 2003-04 (Up to July ’03) 41.53 crore have been released to States against an outlay of Rs. 140 crore. Rs. 16.47 crore have been released for Uttar Pradesh, Rs. 7.82 crore for Karnataka and Rs. 5.77 crore for Gujarat.

Gold production during April-July

The total production of gold during April-July 2003-04 has been 2589.35 kg. as against 891.1 kg. during the same period last year. Out of this Hutti Gold Mines Ltd. (HGML) has produced 897.355 kg. followed by Hindustan Copper Ltd. (HCL) 111 kg. and Hindustan Aluminium company Ltd. 1581 kg. During July, 2003 these three companies produced 204.424 kg, 25 kg. and 560 kg. of gold respectively. Total production during the month was 789.424 kg. against a target of 1259.395 kg.

After the closure of Bharat Gold Mines Ltd. (BGML) in March 2001, HGML is the only unit processing gold from ore stage. HCL, a public sector undertaking of the Mines Ministry and the private sector unit HINDALCO (Unit: Birla Copper) process gold as a bye product while processing copper cathode.

Buddhist Literature in monasteries to be digitized

The Ministry of Tourism and Culture will take up detailed documentation of Buddhists literature stored in ancient monasteries in Leh-Ladakh and it will fully be digitized. Besides this, conservation and preservation of monasteries will be taken up in a big way, already funds have been released for taking up the work at some of the monasteries. This was stated by the Minister of tourism and Culture, Shri Jagmohan here today releasing a Book :Architectural Heritage Ladakh’ brought out by INTACH.

Highlighting some of the unique features of Ladakh region, Shri Jagmohan said the area has lot of tourism potential. The Ministry of Tourism is planning to put up the region as prominent destination in the world’s tourism map. A multi-cultural centre is being set up at Leh by the Ministry, which will have documentation, interpretation and exhibition facilities to display art and culture of the region. The Ministry is also working on the restoration of some of the old forts and monuments in the region. Funds have been released to improve Shimla to Leh and Upsi to Leh route to ensure easy access to the region, he added.

Congratulating the INTACH for publishing ‘Architectural Hertiage Ladakh’ the Minister urged the organisation to make aware and educate the people about preservation of heritage.