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84 CIVIL SERVICES CHRONICLE, MAY, 2012

C URRENT A FFAIRS S PECIAL

NATIONAL NEWSRight to Privacy Bill

Right to Privacy, like other funda-mental rights in the Constitution andstatutory rights under various laws,will soon become a reality. The Right toPrivacy Bill is to provide for such a rightto citizens of India and to regulate collec-tion, maintenance, use and disseminationof their personal information.

The bill comes in the backdrop of theCentre's assurance in the SupremeCourt during the course of hearingof a writ petition led by industrial-

ist Ratan Tata, challenging the publi-cation of Nira Radia tapes, allegingthat such publications violated hisright to privacy.The bill says that every individualshall have a right to his privacy confidentiality of communicationmade to, or, by him including hispersonal correspondence, telephoneconversations, telegraph messages,postal, electronic mail and othermodes of communication; conden-tiality of his private or his family

life; protection of his honour andgood name; protection from search,detention or exposure of lawfulcommunication between and amongindividuals; privacy from surveil-lance; condentiality of his bankingand nancial transactions, medicaland legal information and protectionof data relating to individual.The bill gives protection from acitizen's identity theft, includingcriminal identity theft (posing asanother person when apprehendedfor a crime), nancial identify theft(using another's identity to obtaincredit, goods and services), etc.The bill prohibits interception ofcommunications except in certaincases with approval of Secretary-level ofcer. It mandates destructionof interception of the material withintwo months of discontinuance ofinterception.The bill provides for constitution ofa Central Communication Intercep-tion Review Committee to examineand review the interception orders

passed and is empowered to rendera finding that such interceptioncontravened Section 5 of the IndianTelegraphs Act and that the inter-cepted material should be destroyedforthwith.It also prohibits surveillance eitherby following a person or closed cir-cuit television or other electronic orby any other mode, except in certaincases as per the specied procedure.As per the bill, no person who hasa place of business in India buthas data using equipment locatedin India, shall collect or processoruse or disclose any data relating toindividual to any person withoutconsent of such individual.The bill mandates the establishmentof a Data Protection Authority ofIndia, whose function is to monitordevelopment in data processing andcomputer technology.The bill makes contravention of theprovisions on interception an offencepunishable with imprisonment for a

CURRENT AFFAIRSCURRENT AFFAIRS&&

GENERAL AWARENESSGENERAL AWARENESSAs we move closer to same time of the UPSC Season when the aspirants are getting into groove of PT mode of

exhaustive study; we at CSC have come up with the present issue that caters to this aspect of the syllabus.Being appreciative of the fact regarding the unpredictability of UPSC-PT; we have endeavored to come up with a

master-key that can build upon the conceptual clarity of the students rather than stufng them with unmindful facts.Moreover as we have been witnessing the unadulterated fact that PT exam has now become an essential part of selec-

tion rather than being a mere tool of rejecting non-serious candidates. Apart from getting into an aptitude model of testing, CSAT (as UPSC-PT is now commonly referred to) also requires intrusive and intensive knowledge (rather thanmere information) on any and everything that has to do with Current awareness (a hybrid intersecting between Cur-

rent Affairs and General Awareness). Lucidly, speaking anything that has to do with convergence of human life, Govern-ance, international polity and socio-economic fraternity is included in the fathomless syllabus of PT.With the vast experience we have at CSC, in training and modulating success stories, the issue in your hand is

expected to be a gem in your book shelf. Conceptual clarity also makes this issue important for the later stages of exam including other Provincial Services Exams.

Hoping, that our sincere efforts has really helped You in making your dreams a reality by the turn of next year.

As we move closer to same time of the UPSC Season when the aspirants are getting into groove of PT mode oexhaustive study; we at CSC have come up with the present issue that caters to this aspect of the syllabus.

Being appreciative of the fact regarding the unpredictability of UPSC-PT; we have endeavored to come up with amaster-key that can build upon the conceptual clarity of the students rather than stufng them with unmindful facts.Moreover as we have been witnessing the unadulterated fact that PT exam has now become an essential part of selec-

tion rather than being a mere tool of rejecting non-serious candidates. Apart from getting into an aptitude model of testing, CSAT (as UPSC-PT is now commonly referred to) also requires intrusive and intensive knowledge (rather thanmere information) on any and everything that has to do with Current awareness (a hybrid intersecting between Cur-

rent Affairs and General Awareness). Lucidly, speaking anything that has to do with convergence of human life, Governance, international polity and socio-economic fraternity is included in the fathomless syllabus of PT.With the vast experience we have at CSC, in training and modulating success stories, the issue in your hand is

expected to be a gem in your book shelf. Conceptual clarity also makes this issue important for the later stages of exam including other Provincial Services Exams.

Hoping, that our sincere efforts has really helped You in making your dreams a reality by the turn of next year.

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CIVIL SERVICES CHRONICLE, MAY, 2012 85


term that may extend up to ve yearsor with ne, which may extend toRs. 1 lakh or with both for each suchinterception. Similarly, disclosure ofsuch information is a punishable of-fence with imprisonment up to three

years and a ne of up to Rs. 50,000,or both.

Poverty Line Estimation

India poverty line has always been amatter of huge debate, but it was a discus-sion mostly conned to economists andpolicymakers. But the matter has nowgone public, following a row about an af-davit from the planning commission tothe supreme court of India, in which theofcial poverty line was set at 26 rupeesper person per day in rural areas and 32rupees in urban areas.

The Planning Commission in Sep-tember 2011 told the Supreme Courtthat the below poverty line (BPL)population in the country is 40.74crore and the poverty line for theurban and rural areas could be pro-visionally placed at Rs.965 per capitaper month (around Rs. 32 per day)and Rs. 781 per capita per month(around Rs. 26 per day), respectively.The measure was developed in theearly 1970s, when a group of expertsdecided the appropriate line wouldbe set according to the average

monthly consumption expenditureof households whose members con-sumed (per capita) 2,400 calories offood per day in rural India and 2,100calories per day in urban India.Subsequently, the poverty line hassimply been updated using con-sumer price indices. These numbersnow have little to do with actualcalorie consumption because foodconsumption patterns have changed.However, the use of that line hasbeen defended by ofcial sourceswho have argued that, at that level ofexpenditure, families could afford tobuy minimum food and have simplychosen not to.Of course, this begs the questionof whether it is really choice or theurgent need to consume other items(energy, healthcare and so on) thatdetermine patterns of spending.Nevertheless, it is precisely this line(annually updated by consumerprice indices) that has been usedto describe the extent of poverty inIndia for decades. This was roughly

similar to the World Bank's estimateof $1 a day (now $1.25 a day) perperson, not at nominal exchangerates, but at purchasing power parity(PPP) exchange rates.In recent times, various committees

led by economists have come upwith different ways to measure theextent of poverty. The ofcial linedelivers a poverty rate of around32 per cent of the population. Acommittee under Suresh Tendulkarestimated it at 37 per cent, whileanother led by NC Saxena said 50 percent, and in 2007 the Arjun Senguptacommission identied 77 per cent ofIndians as poor and vulnerable. TheWorld Bank's PPP estimate of Indianpoverty was higher than 40 per centin 2005, while the Asian Develop-ment Bank arrived at almost 50 per

cent. The UNDP's MultidimensionalPoverty Index nds the proportionof the poor to be higher than 55 percent.Since the mid-1990s, various govern-ment schemes have differentiatedbetween the categories of BelowPoverty Line (BPL) and AbovePoverty Line (APL), and it wasannounced that a whole range ofsubsidised goods and services - fromcheaper food grain in the publicdistribution system to subsidisedhealthcare to access to funds forbasic housing would only be avail-able to BPL households.Following the controversy, thegovernment has now declared thatit will take into account multiple di-mensions of deprivation for arrivingat specic entitlements.

Prevention of FarmersSuicides

In the last few years, a large num-ber of farmers have committed suicide.Cases of suicides have been reportedfrom states such as Andhra Pradesh,Karnataka, Maharashtra, Kerala, Punjab,Rajasthan, Orissa and Madhya Pradesh.The NCF (National Commission onFarmer's) has underlined the need toaddress the farmer suicide problem ona priority basis.

Some of the measures suggestedinclude:

Provide affordable health insuranceand revitalize primary healthcarecentres. The National Rural HealthMission should be extended to

suicide hotspot locations on prioritybasis.Set up State level Farmers Commis-sion with representation of farmersfor ensuring dynamic governmentresponse to farmers problems.

Restructure microfinance policiesto serve as Livelihood Finance, i.e.credit coupled with support servicesin the areas of technology, manage-ment and markets.Cover all crops by crop insurancewith the village and not block as theunit for assessment.Provide for a Social Security net withprovision for old age support andhealth insurance.Promote aquifer recharge and rainwater conservation. Decentralisewater use planning and every villageshould aim at Jal Swaraj with Gram

Sabhas serving as Pani Panchayats.Ensure availability of quality seedand other inputs at affordable costsand at the right time and place.Recommend low risk and low costtechnologies which can help to pro-vide maximum income to farmersbecause they cannot cope with theshock of crop failure, particularlythose associated with high cost tech-nologies like Bt cotton.Need for focused Market Interven-tion Schemes (MIS) in the case oflife-saving crops such as cumin inarid areas. Have a Price StabilisationFund in place to protect the farmersfrom price uctuations.Need swift action on import dutiesto protect farmers from internationalprice.Set up Village Knowledge Centres(VKCs) or Gyan Chaupals in thefarmers distress hotspots. Thesecan provide dynamic and demanddriven information on all aspectsof agricultural and non-farm liveli-hoods and also serve as guidancecentres.Public awareness campaigns tomake people identify early signs ofsuicidal behavior.

Norms Relaxed forMaharatna Status

The Union Government recentlyannounced relaxation in norms foraccording the Maharatna status toCentral public sector enterprises, astep that help many CPSEs acquirethis tag, which gives a companymore nancial autonomy.

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At present, ve CPSEs (ONGC, In-dian Oil Corp, SAIL, NTPC and CoalIndia Limited) have been given theMaharatna status.As per the new guidelines issuedby the Department of Public Enter-

prises, a company qualifying for theMaharatna status should have anaverage annual turnover of Rs.20,000crore in the last three years, as againstRs.25,000 crore prescribed earlier.The criteria for grant of the Maha-ratna status to CPSEs have beenre-examined in the context of repre-sentations received from various ad-ministrative ministries/departmentsand the need to suitably empowermega Navratna CPSEs so that theycan effectively face the challengesof competition, both domestic andforeign and further expand theiroperations also led to the revision ofthe norms, the new guidelines said.Similarly, a CPSE with an averageannual net worth of Rs.10,000 croreand net prot of Rs.2,500 crore forthree years in a row will qualify forthe status.Earlier, companies with required av-erage annual net worth of Rs.15,000crore and net prot of Rs.5,000 crorefor three consecutive years wereeligible for the for the Maharatnastatus.List of Maharatna, Navratna and

CPSEs (as on November, 2011)Maharatna CPSEs

Coal India LimitedIndian Oil Corporation LimitedNTPC LimitedOil & Natural Gas Corporation Lim-itedSteel Authority of India Limited

Navratna CPSEsBharat Electronics LimitedBharat Heavy Electricals LimitedBharat Petroleum Corporation Lim-itedGAIL (India) LimitedHindustan Aeronautics Limited

Hindustan Petroleum CorporationLimitedMahanagar Telephone Nigam Lim-itedNational Aluminium CompanyLimitedNeyveli Lignite Corporation LimitedNMDC LimitedOil India LimitedPower Finance Corporation LimitedPower Grid Corporation of IndiaLimitedRashtriya Ispat Nigam Limited

Rural Electrification CorporationLimitedShipping Corporation of India Lim-ited

National TigerConservation Authority

The Govt. of India had launchedProject Tiger to promote conservationof the tiger, since the signicance of itsconservation has ramications beyondState boundaries. Management of forestsand wildlife is primarily the responsibil-ity of concerned State. The implementa-tion of Project Tiger over the years hashighlighted the need for a statutory au-thority with legal backing to ensure tigerconservation. Considering the urgency ofthe situation, Project Tiger has been con-

verted into a statutory authority (NTCA)by providing enabling provisions in theWild Life (Protection) Act, 1972 throughan amendment, viz. Wild Life (Protec-tion) Amendment Act, 2006.

The NTCA addresses the ecologicalas well as administrative concerns forconserving tigers, by providing a statu-tory basis for protection of tiger reserves,apart from providing strengthenedinstitutional mechanisms for the protec-tion of ecologically sensitive areas andendangered species.

The Authority also ensures enforcingof guidelines for tiger conservation andmonitoring compliance of the same, apartfrom placement of motivated and trainedofcers having good track record as FieldDirectors of tiger reserves. It also facilitatescapacity building of officers and staffposted in tiger reserves, apart from a timebound staff development plan.

The Minister for Environment & For-ests is the Chairperson of the Authority,and the Minister of State in the Ministryof Environment & Forests is its Vice-Chairman. The eight non-ofcial expertsalso the members.

National Programme for HealthCare of the Elderly (NPHCE)

The National Programme for theHealth Care for the Elderly (NPHCE) isan articulation of the International andnational commitments of the Govern-ment as envisaged under the UN Con-vention on the Rights of Persons withDisabilities (UNCRPD), National Policyon Older Persons (NPOP) adopted by theGovernment of India.

Objectives of NPHCE:Provide an easy access to promo-

tional, preventive, curative andrehabilitative services to the elderlyIdentify health problems in theelderly and provide appropriatehealth interventionsBuild capacity of the medical andparamedical professionals for pro-viding health care to the elderlyProvide referral services to theelderly through District Hospitals,regional medical institutions.

Pravasi Bharatiya Divas 2012

The 10th Pravasi Bhartiya Divas(PBD) was held from 7-9 January,2012 at Birla Auditorium, Jaipur.The Prime Minister, Dr. ManmohanSingh inaugurated the event and

President Smt. Pratibha DevisinghPatil delivered the valedictory ad-dress and conferred the PravasiBhartiya Samman Awards to 15eminent NRIs.The Prime Minister of Trinidad andTobago, Ms. Kamla Persad Bissessarwas the Chief Guest of the event.Over 1900 delegates from about60 countries were participated thisyears PBD.The Global Indian: InclusiveGrowth was the theme of the eventand the focus was on Indias SocialDevelopment and the Overseas In-

dian community.Prime Minister announced a newPension and Life Insurance Fundfor overseas Indian workers. Thescheme will encourage, enable andassist overseas workers to voluntar-ily save for their return and reset-tlement and old age. It will alsoprovide a low-cost life insurancecover against natural death.Prime Minister also announced thatpursuant to the law that was enactedto enable non-resident Indians tovote in national elections, the Gov-ernment has issued notifications

for registration of overseas Indiansunder the Representation of PeopleAct, 1950. This constitutes the rstmajor step to enable Indian residentsabroad to participate in electionprocesses.

PMs Global Advisory Councilof Overseas Indians

The Prime Minister's Global Advi-sory Council of People of Indian Originis constituted to draw upon the experi-

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ence and knowledge of eminent peopleof Indian origin in diverse elds fromacross the world.

The functions of the Council are:Serve as a platform for the PrimeMinister to draw upon the experi-ence, knowledge and wisdom of thebest Indian minds wherever theymay be based;Develop an inclusive agenda fortwo-way engagement between Indiaand Overseas Indians;Consider ways and means for access-ing the skills and knowledge of theIndian Diaspora for meeting India'sdevelopment goals and facilitatinginvestments by Overseas Indiansinto India; andInstitution and capacity building inIndia to respond to the economic,social and cultural needs of theOverseas Indian community.The third meeting of the Council was

held during the Pravasi Bharatiya Divas2012 at Jaipur. The Council meeting wasattended by eminent Overseas Indiansincluding Lord Karan F Bilimoria, SwadeshChatterjee, Ela Gandhi, Lord Khalid Ha-meed, Renu Khator, Kishore Mahbubani,L N Mittal, Lord Bhikhu Chotalal Parekh,Sam Pitroda, Tan Sri Dato Ajit Singh,Neville Joseph Roach, Prof. Srinivasa S RVaradhan and Yusuffali M.A.

The members spoke on issues con-cerning higher education particularlyfaculty development, engaging secondand third generation overseas Indians,Foreign Direct Investment in retail, is-sues pertaining to governance, and howIndia can take a more proactive role inthe discourse on globalization.

The members appreciated that manyof the suggestions made previously bythem had been implemented for examplemerging of OCI (Overseas Citizenship ofIndia) and PIO (Peoples of Indian Origin)cards and facilitating voting rights forNon-Resident Indians while certain otherissues are under implementation.

Mahatma Gandhi Tanta MuktiGaon Mohim

The United Nations has recognizedthe Mahatma Gandhi Tanta Mukti GaonMohim (Dispute-free Village Scheme)of the Maharashtra government. Thescheme was introduced as a way to getrid of small disputes in the village andthus bring about harmony. It was alsoseen as a measure to reduce the workpressure on policemen.

The Maharashtra model is likely tobe replicated in other developing coun-tries, where logistics and infrastructure ofthe judicial machinery were weak.

Linking of Rivers of Maharashtra and Gujarat

Maharashtra and Gujarat havesigned an agreement to prepare detailedproject reports of the Damanganga-PinjalLink Project and the Par-Tapi-NarmadaLink Project.

The Par-Tapi-Narmada link willbenet Gujarat, while the Damanganga-Pinjal link will benet Maharashtra.

The scheme, though mainly locatedin southern Gujarat, will cover part ofareas north of Mumbai on the WesternGhats in Maharashtra. The link projectcomprises seven reservoirs on theserivers and a 395-km-long link canal. Itis proposed to use the diverted watersto irrigate parts of Valsad, Navsari,Dang, Surat, Bharuch, and Vadodarabesides the drought-prone Saurashtraand Kutch. The Damanganga-Pinjal linkenvisages the transfer of surplus watersof the Damanganga basin available at theproposed Bhugad and Khargihill damsites to Pinjal reservoir for augmentationof water supply to Greater Mumbai.

Drop in Infant Mortality Rate

UNICEF report titled 'Levels andTrends in Child Mortality, ' showedthat the global under-ve mortality ratehas dropped by a third from 1990 to2009. However, the tragedy of prevent-able child deaths continues. Under-vemortality is increasingly concentratedin- India, Nigeria, Democratic Republicof Congo, Pakistan and China.

The highest rates of child mortalitycontinue to be found in sub-SaharanAfrica, where one in eight children diesbefore their fth birthday. Southern Asia

has the second highest rates, with aboutone in 14 children dying before the age ofve. While the speed at which under-vemortality rates are declining improvedfor the period of 2000-09 compared to theprevious decade, the deaths are still notdecreasing fast enough- to achieve theMillennium Development Goal-4 target(of a two-thirds decline between 1990 and2015), particularly in sub-Saharan Africa,Southern Asia and Oceania.

The two biggest killers of childrenunder ve are pneumonia [18 per cent

of deaths] and diarrhoeal diseases [15per cent]".

Hyderabadi Haleem GetsGeographical Indication Status

Hyderabadi haleem is a type of meatstew of Hyderabad.

Once the Geographical Indicator (GI)tag is granted, Haleem makers outsideHyderabad will not be able to sell theirproduct as Hyderabadi Haleem and eventhose within the city can claim the GI tagonly if they meet the quality standards.The GI tag is granted under GI Act 1999to protect traditional products. It is dif-ferent from trade mark which is grantedto individual companies.

India's First Model DistrictHealth Project Launched

The country's first model districthealth project has been launched in theMorigaon district of Assam. The projectwas launched in collaboration with theEarth Institute, Columbia Universityand the Union Ministry of Health andFamily Welfare.

The model district health projectwould aim at reducing infant and ma-ternal mortality rates by 2015

It will focus on the gaps in healthsystem management, delivery, oversight,and data-driven decision-making thatimpact the coverage and uptake of healthservices.

Secondly it will be a learning site fordistricts, states, regions, and ultimately,all of India as focus will be on sharing-results, challenges, impact, facilitatingfactors - between sites, and with gov-ernment ofcials so that betterment ofNRHM can be achieved.

Mini Pravasi Bhartiya Divas

The mini Pravasi Bhartiya Divasheld in South African city of Durban. Themini Pravasi Bhartiya Divas was beingorganized in South Africa with a view toconnect with the large Indian Diasporaof the country. The event coincided withMahatma Gandhi's birth anniversaryand was also the part of the year-longcelebrations to commemorate the 150thanniversary of the arrival of Indian im-migrants in South Africa from India.

The theme of the two-day event was'India and Africa: Building Bridges'

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The rst ever mini-PBD was organ-ized in New York in 2007 and the secondwas held in Singapore in 2008. The thirdmini-PBD was held in The Hague in 2009

Project Vigeye

Project VIGEYE (Vigilance Eye) is acitizen-centric initiative, wherein citizens join hands with the Central VigilanceCommission in ghting corruption inIndia.

Citizens have multiple channels toair their grievances and complaintsto CVCThrough their mobile phones: bydownloading the mobile applicationfrom the CVC website. The com-plaints can be better articulated withadditional data like audio/ video/

photo evidence from their mobilesdirectly.Through the internet: by ling upthe complaint form online they canattach audio/video/photo evidence.Through telephone: help line havebeen setupThe entire complaint processing isdone online, in digital form, enablingfast and accurate processing of com-plaints.The concerned CVO will interactwith the complainant directly overphone/email or in person, as thecase may be, to take it forward.

Status of the complaint is communi-cated back to the complainant - thecommunication loop becomes com-plete.

New Definition of Slums

The Pranab Sen Committee hasgiven a new denition for slums. It hasdened a slum as "a compact settlementof at least 20 households with a collectionof poorly built tenements, mostly of tem-porary nature, crowded together usuallywith inadequate sanitary and drinkingwater facilities in unhygienic conditions".

The new denition of slum is differ-ent from the denition adopted by the2001 Census of India. Accordingly to 2001Census, slum areas broadly constitute of:1. All specied areas in a town or city

notified as 'Slum' by State/LocalGovernment and UT Administrationunder any Act including a 'SlumAct';

2. All areas recognized as 'Slum' byState/Local Government and UTAdministration which may have

been formally notied as slum underany act;

3. A compact area of at least 300 peopleor about 60-70 households of poorlybuilt congested tenements in unhy-gienic environment usually with

inadequate infrastructure and lack-ing in proper sanitary and drinkingwater facilities.

Controversy on Endosulfan

Endosulfan is an off-patent organo-chlorine insecticide and acaricide that hasbeen banned in some developed coun-tries. Endosulfan became a highly con-troversial agro-chemical due to its acutetoxicity, potential for bio-accumulation,and role as an endocrine disruptor.

The Supreme Court has banned the

manufacture, sale and use of toxic pesti-cide endosulfan in India.But the Central Government had

contended against its ban in the SupremeCourt by stating that the long term use ofpesticides was unlikely to affect the healthof human beings. The reason might be thatbanning endosulfan would affect marketwhere its annual value is 270 crores. In-dian manufacturers produce about 70% ofworld production of endosulfan.

In 2001, in Kerala endosulfan spray-ing was suspended when linked to aseries of abnormalities noted in local chil-dren. Initially endosulfan was banned,yet under pressure from the pesticide in-dustry this ban was largely revoked. Thedecision of the Stockholm Convention onPersistent Organic Pollutants to includethe pesticide endosulfan in the list ofchemicals scheduled for elimination atthe global level was also being argued byIndia as India is the largest manufacturerand consumer of endosulfan.

Finally India has agreed to ban endo-sulfan and accepted it as a health hazard.India also agreed to phase out ban withan exemption for some crops. The Stock-holm Convention exempted 14 crops for ave-year phase out period, during whichIndia will receive nancial assistance tohelp with the switch to alternatives. Ad-ditionally, India has the option to applyto the Stockholm Convention for a secondve-year extension.

A New National Policy onEducation Announced

The Prime Minister of India hasannounced setting up of a Commission

to make suggestions for improvementof education at all levels. Vocationaleducation and skill development haveacquired new importance in the presentcompetitive scenario, hence governmenthas decided to appoint the Commission.

The Commission will also look atpossibilities of universalizing secondaryeducation i.e. education will be free andcompulsory till class X. Government hasalready universalized elementary educa-tion through the Right to Education Act.

Earlier national policy on educationwas announced in 1986 by the govern-ment of Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi.The new policy called for "special em-phasis on the removal of disparities andto equalize educational opportunity,"especially for Indian women, ScheduledTribes (ST) and the Scheduled Caste (SC)communities.

To achieve these, the policy called forexpanding scholarships, adult education,recruiting more teachers from the SCs,incentives for poor families to send theirchildren to school regularly, develop-ment of new institutions and providinghousing and services. The NPE 1986called for a "child-centred approach" inprimary education, and launched "Op-eration Blackboard" to improve primaryschools nationwide. The policy expandedthe Open University system with the In-dira Gandhi National Open University,which had been created in 1985. Thepolicy also called for the creation of the"rural university" model, based on thephilosophy of Mahatma Gandhi, to pro-mote economic and social developmentat the grassroots level in rural India.

The 1986 policy led to encourage-ment of emerging sectors like Informa-tion Technology, which witnessed anupsurge following the opening up ofthe technical education sector, particu-larly in capacity expansion in the privatesector. Although the 1986 policy spokeagainst commercialization of education,the mushroom growth in the number of

private engineering and medical institu-tions, according to educationists, has onlygiven a further impetus to the menaceof capitation fee. The rapid expansion ofprivate institutions has also, accordingto the Yashpal Committee, resulted indeterioration in quality. A new educationpolicy might bring halt to the corruptioncases increasing in the education sector.

New education policy might makeyoung Indians prepared to face theincreasing competitive environment ineducation sector.

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Vision 2020 : for the NorthEastern Region

The salient goals of the Vision 2020for the development of the North -East-ern Region are as follows:

1. Improve the standard of living of thepeople of North-East.2. Structural transformation by effect-

ing signicant changes in develop-ment strategies to achieve growthrate of Gross State Domestic Product(GSDP) equal to National Averages.

3. Poverty eradication based on partici-patory planning.

4. Maximizing self-governance bybuilding capacity in people andtraditional/local institutions.

5. Harnessing available local resourcesfor development.

6. Substantial strengthening of infra-structure.

7. Expand trade and commerce in theregion.

8. Effective governance for establishingpeace and harmony in the region.A six-fold strategy for the compre-

hensive developments of the region hasbeen proposed:1. Empowering people by maximizing

self-governance and participatorydevelopment through grass-rootsplanning to promote inclusive de-velopment.

2. Creation of development opportu-

nities for the rural areas throughenhancing productivity in agricul-ture and allied activities such asanimal husbandry, horticulture,oriculture, sheries and generationof livelihood options through ruralnon-farm employment.

3. To develop sectors in the region hav-ing a comparative advantage suchas agro processing, hydro powergeneration.

4. Enhancing the skills and competen-cies of the people and building thecapacities for institutions within theGovernment and outside.

5. Creating a hospitable investmentclimate to encourage investment byprivate sector particularly for infra-structure.

6. Harnessing the resources of theGovernment and the private sectorto realize the objectives of the Vision.This provides a roadmap to all

stakeholders such as line Ministries ofthe Union Government, Planning Com-mission, North Eastern Council andState Governments for formulation ofan integrated plan for the development

of the North Eastern Region. The fundallocation by the Central Governmentin the North Eastern Region is inter aliain the form of Assistance for State Plans,North Eastern Council Plan Outlay andNon Lapsable Central Pool of Resources.

The HUNGaMA (Hunger andMalnutrition) Survey

Report- 2011

The HUNGaMA (Hunger and Mal-nutrition) Survey conducted across 112rural districts of India in 2011 providesreliable estimates of child nutrition cover-ing nearly 20% of Indian children. Of the112 districts surveyed, 100 were selectedfrom the bottom of a child developmentdistrict index developed for UNICEFIndia in 2009, referred to as the 100 Focus

Districts in this report. These 100 districtsare located in 6 states.The HUNGaMA Survey shows

that positive change for child nutritionin India is happening, including in the100 Focus Districts. However rates ofchild malnutrition are still unacceptablyhigh particularly in these Focus Districtswhere over 40 per cent of children areunderweight and almost 60 per cent arestunted, meaning their height is muchlower than the median height-for-age ofthe reference population.

The 100 Focus Districts are lo-

cated across Bihar, Jharkhand, MadhyaPradesh, Orissa, Rajasthan and UttarPradesh - states which perform the worston child nutrition.

The survey notes that the prevalenceof malnutrition is signicantly higheramong children from low-income fami-lies. It found that children from Muslimor SC/ST households generally hadworse nutrition indicators.

Birth weight is an important risk-fac-tor for child malnutrition. The prevalenceof underweight in children born with aweight below 2.5 kg is 50 per cent, while

that among children born with a weightabove 2.5 kg is 34 per cent.

The survey further found that aware-ness among mothers about nutrition islow - "92 per cent mothers had neverheard the word malnutrition."

Highlighting the negligence showntowards girl children even in their earlychildhood, the report says the nutritionadvantage girls have over boys in the rstmonths of life seems to be reversed overtime as they grow older.

The last such data released in 2004 -from a district level health survey - hadmeasured malnutrition only in termsof weight, and had concluded that 53per cent children in these districts wereunderweight.

Among the worst districts as per thenew data are Malkangiri in Orissa with57.75 per cent and Aurangabad in Biharwith 49.47 per cent children underweight.Shrawasti in Uttar Pradesh with 72.31per cent, Rae Bareli with 70.40 per cent,Koraput in Orissa with 68.86 per centand Dumka in Jharkhand with 63.65 percent have the highest number of stuntedchildren.

Government Changes Criteria for Bharat Ratna

Government has modied eligibilitycriteria for Bharat Ratna to pave way foreligibility of sportspersons for the highestcivilian award of the country.

The rules states that Bharat Ratnacan be conferred to persons excelling inelds other than art, literature, scienceand public service.

Whereas under the new rules Gov-ernment has notied that person engagein performance of highest order in anyfield of human endeavour is eligiblefor Bharat Ratna. Now the decision haspaved the way for any sportsperson to

get Bharat Ratna award.The move comes amid clamour

for conferring of Bharat Ratna on Ten-dulkar for his outstanding contributionto cricket.

Bharat Ratna was instituted in 1954.Any person without distinction of race,occupation, position or sex is eligible forthese awards. The recommendations forBharat Ratna are made by the Prime Min-ister himself to the President. No formalrecommendations for this are necessary.

The number of annual awards isrestricted to a maximum of three in aparticular year. On conferment of theaward, the recipient receives a Sanad(certicate) signed by the President anda medallion. So far, 41 people have beenconferred with Bharat Ratna.

The rst three Indians, who receivedthe prestigious award, were Chan-drasekhara Venkata Raman, ChakravartiRajagopalachari and Sarvapali Rad-hakrishnan in 1954.

There is no written provision thatBharat Ratna should be awarded to In-

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dian citizens only. The award has beenconferred to a naturalised Indian citizenMother Teresa (1980) and to two non-Indians -- Khan Abdul Ghaffar Khan andNelson Mandela (1990).

Varanasi Ghats and Mumbai'sRoyal Opera House in 'MostEndangered Heritage sites'

The Balaji Ghat of Varanasi and theRoyal Opera House in Mumbai havebeen declared among the 100 mostendangered heritage sites of the worldby the World Monuments Fund. The18th century Balaji Ghat, which fallsbetween the famous Manikarnika andPanchganga ghats is situated along theriver Ganges in Varanasi, is among theover 60 endangered cultural heritage

sites in the world that are in dire needof preservation, according to WorldMonuments Fund (WMF), a New York-based private foundation's watch listfor 2012.

It is commonly known as the Man-gala Gauri Ghat. The main building ofthe temple on the ghat was a structureof wood and stones which sufferedsevere damage over the years due to toinadequate conservation, maintenanceas well as poor heritage protection. Itsinclusion in the list will support a plan torestore the building for use as a cultural

centre. The building was nominated tothe World Monuments Fund by IndianNational Trust for Art and Cultural Herit-age (INTACH).

Nominated by Mumbai researcherand writer, Sharada Dwivedi, The RoyalOpera House which rises prominently ata bustling intersection in Mumbai is an-other site which has made it to the WMF'slist for 2012. Maurice E. Bandmann, arenowned entertainer from Calcutta, and Jehangir Framji Karaka, head of a rm ofcoal brokers, drew up the Baroque styledesigns for the theatre. In 1911, permis-sion was sought, and granted, on theoccasion of George V's visit to Mumbaito use the prex 'Royal'. Completed in1915, the structure hosted operas andlive performances until converted intoa cinema in 1935. Today it is the onlyremaining opera house in India.

Abandoned over twenty years ago,the building has deteriorated over timeyet eluded demolition. The structuralrestoration of the building is now almostcomplete under the supervision of itsowner, the Maharaja of Gondal.

Historic Agreement SignedBetween Centre, AssamGovernment and UPDS

A tripartite Memorandum of Settle-ment (MoS) was signed between the Cen-

tral Government, Government of Assamand United People's Democratic Solidarity(UPDS) in the presence of Union HomeMinister Shri P. Chidam-baram and AssamChief Minister Shri Tarun Gogoi.

The MoS provides for enhanced au-tonomy for Karbi Anglong AutonomousCouncil in Assam and also a specialpackage for speedier socio-economic andeducational development of the area forwhich the Council has been set up.

In November 2009, in order to speedup the peace process, Government ap-pointed Shri P.C. Haldar as Interlocutor/

Government of India's Representative tonegotiate with the UPDS for addressingtheir grievances. After several round ofdiscussions, negotiating team compris-ing the Representatives of Governmentof Assam, Ministry of Home Affairs andUPDS nalized tripartite agreement.

The salient features of the MOS are:(a) Setting up of a committee under

Assam Legislative Assembly asenvisaged under Article 371B of theConstitution of India;

(b) Renaming of existing Council asKarbi Anglong Autonomous Ter-

ritorial Council (KAATC);(c) Increasing seats in the Council upto50 members of which 6 will be nomi-nated by Governor for more repre-sentation (presently 30 seats out ofwhich 4 nominated by Governor).However, proposed increase in seatsfrom existing 26 to 44 elected seatsand also nominated seats shall beapplicable subsequent election to theCouncil due in 2016-17 or mid-termpoll, if any, whichever is earlier.

(d) Setting up of Village Councils fordeepening democratic process at thegrass root level

(e) Transfer of additional subjects by theState of Assam to the Council alongwith legislation and executive powers;

(f) Setting up of State Finance Com-mission (SFC) and consideration ofhigher fund allocation to the councilto undertake viable activity;

(g) Strict adherence to establish normsof financial management, properaudit of the accounts, etc.

(h) Measures for socio-economic, educa-tion, health, and cultural develop-ment;

(i) Special economic package of Rs.350crore (Rs.70 cr. p.a.) over and abovethe plan fund over the next 5 yearsto KAATC for identied projects;

(j) Improvement of road connectivity ,water supply and supply of power

in Karbi Anglong District underexisting schemes;(k) Providing one-time grant for capac-

ity building in KAATC for prepara-tion of DPR etc.

(l) Rehabilitation of UPDS cadres; With-drawal of cases relating to heinouscrimes shall be reviewed case bycase according to existing policy forwithdrawal of such cases. Imple-mentation of MoS will be reviewedperiodically.Amendments will be made in the

relevant paragraphs of the Sixth Schedulefor (b) to (f) above and other executiveorders will be issued to implement theother provisions of MoS.

43rd Governors Conference

At the 43rd Governor's Conferenceheld at Rashtrapati Bhavan, PresidentPratibha Patil drawing attention to therising public sentiments against cor-ruption called on the Governors of theStates to

Adopt a "multi-pronged approach"which combined preventive andpunitive interventions, includingsimpler rules, transparent processes, judic ious exe rci se of discre tion,prompt delivery systems, betterpublic awareness, public account-ability and discharge of responsibili-ties with utmost rectitude to root outthe menace of corruption so as toprotect the interest of the commonman and to maintain the rule of law.Asserting that India's external andinternal security was paramountand required foremost attention,the President called on Governors ofthose States which share internation-al borders of how best to address thesecurity concerns of these sensitiveStates, and so also threats faced withviolent manifestations, especially inthe rural hinterlands of some States,from Naxalism and left wing.Noting that increasing farmer'ssuicide is a clarion call for urgentlyrejuvenating the agriculture sector,President asked the Governors tocome up with new and innovativeideas, thoughts and experimenta-tions which could provide the rightlead for initiating a Second Green

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Revolution in the dryland farmingsector.Governors under the Constitutionare bound to promote a sensitiveand sympathetic administration inScheduled Areas and Scheduled

Tribes under the Fifth Scheduleof the Constitution. In this direc-tion Governors need to urge theState governments to intensify thegovernment-tribal interface at thegrassroots level and invigoratethe functioning of Tribal AdvisoryCouncils.Expressing concern ragging in col-leges, the President called upon theGovernors, as chancellors of theState universities, to wipe out theblot.

We are Seven Billion Now Baby Nargis, the world's seven bil-

lionth person, born in Uttar Pradesh on31st of October 2011, and the 102-year-oldHilla Sorab Billimoria of Kolkata repre-sent, between them, two ends of India'scomplex population story.

At one end are the staggering num-bers. With an estimated 1.21 billion peo-ple, India is a "population billionaire,"next only to China (1.34 billion), as theUN Population Fund described thecountry in a recent report titled 'India@7billion.'

By 2025, India will overtake Chinato become the world's most populouscountry, with the numbers expected toexert enormous pressure on nationalresources.

That 11 babies of the 51 born in Indiaevery minute are, like Baby Nargis, bornin UP, among the lowest ranking IndianStates on the human development index,highlights the imperatives for Indianplanners: providing access to food, water,health, shelter, sanitation, education and jobs to all; at the same time, balancingthese against scarce resources, safeguard-

ing the environment and protectingagainst climate change.

But India's decadal populationgrowth rate, which touched a high ofover 24 per cent in the 1970s, is slowingdown. According to the 2011 census, itwas 17.64 per cent in the last decade.That presents both opportunities andchallenges.

The opportunity is the demographic"dividend" of a "youth bulge": 50 per centof India's population is under the age of25. That means more working hands,especially as women join the work forcein greater numbers.

But the UNPF has warned that this"opportunity clock is ticking fast." Theyouth bulge witnessed a peak in 2000,and its effects will be felt only until 2025,when the number of dependents, aidedby decreasing mortality rates, beginsto rise.

India will not only need to keep itsyoung population usefully employed,but also needs to plan for an ageingpopulation.

In 2001, there were 80 million elderlypeople in India. Ms. Billimoria belongs tothe Parsi community, which represents aseparate problem of a vanishing people:

Parsis now number around 60,000 inIndia; Kolkata counts only 600 amongits residents.

The UNPF estimated that in 2001, asmany as 30 million elderly lived alone.The number of elderly is expected toincrease to 173 million by 2026. This high-lights the need to build support systemsfor the aged.

The other, perhaps more important,challenge is the falling sex ratio and the"vanishing" girl population. The 2011census showed a steep fall in the sexratio, from 927.31 girls for every 1000boys in 2001 to 914.23 a decade later.The shaming numbers underscore thefact that laws have done nothing to curbfemale foeticide or change the culturalpreference for a boy child.

The world has added a billion babies- or almost another China - since AdnanMevic was born. Having taken millenniato pass the one-billion mark, the world'spopulation has now doubled in 50 years.

Mounting concern over humanity'senvironmental impact and fears that wemay not be able to feed ourselves 100years from now cast a cautionary toneover the buildup to Monday's milestone.

National Child Rights Index The Child Rights Index (CRI) re-

leased by NGO HAQ placed Kerala atthe top of the National Child RightsIndex, followed by Karnataka. ArunachalPradesh is the worst performer in protect-ing the rights of children. The NGO'sreport is based on government data - bothcentral and state - which was collatedand studied to decide the index. UttarPradesh has the highest head count ofworking children in the country.

LETHAL LIQUORWhat is illicit liquor? Alcoholic beverages are made by fermentation of sugary and

starchy substances, followed by distillation to increase alcohol concentration. The ac-tive ingredient in them is ethyl alcohol or ethanol. Any alcoholic beverage made under unlicensed conditions is called illicit liquor. Usually sub-standard raw material is used,often this is spiked with other chemicals.

What makes it poisonous? Under unregulated conditions, methanol or methyl al-cohol can be produced with the desired ethanol. Sometimes, industrial methyl alcoholor denatured spirit (mixture of ethanol and methanol) added by illicit brewers to savecosts and in mistaken belief that it'll increase potency. There have been incidents wherechemicals like organo-phosphorus compounds have been added to illicit liquor. Methylalcohol is extremely toxic - 10 ml can cause blindness and 30 ml can cause deathwithin 10 to 30 hours. It is like ethyl alcohol in taste and smell.

What are the antidotes? Ethyl alcohol and fomepizole are antidotes, inhibiting me-tabolizing of methyl alcohol so that it passes through urine. Sodium bicarbonate usedfor acidosis. Advanced treatment requires haemodialysis to remove toxic substancesfrom bloodstream.

Food fortication is dened as the practice of deliberately increasing the contentof essential micronutrients - vitamins and minerals - in a food so as to improve thenutritional quality of the food supply and to provide a public health benet with minimalrisk to health.

The public health benets of fortication includes:

a) Prevention or minimization of the risk of occurrence of micronutrient deciencyin a population or specic population groups.

b) Contribution to the correction of a demonstrated micronutrient deciency in apopulation or specic population groups.

c) Plausible benecial effects of micronutrients consistent with maintaining or improving health (e.g. there is some evidence to suggest that a diet rich in selectedantioxidants might help to prevent cancer and other diseases).

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Rating on the basis of gender equal-ity : Despite its high literacy rate, Keralawas ranked last in gender equality inprevention of child marriages, and had ahigh percentage of girls (under 18) gettingmarried. On the other hand, West Bengal,which was the worst performing state ineducation, was also the worst performerin gender equality, and fared poorly inprevention of girl child marriages as well.Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu too wereranked poorly in child marriage.

Rating on the basis of crime againstchildren : Karnataka is the best statefor children to live in as it has the leastnumber of cases of crime against chil-dren, followed by Andhra Pradesh, Gu- jarat, Maharashtra and Rajasthan. Whilecrimes against children are highest inNagaland (in proportion to the numberof children), and Manipur is the worstperformer in crimes by children. Despitebeing ostensibly backward on social sec-tor parameters, Bihar is ranked number1 when it comes to crimes committedby children. It has the least number ofsuch cases.

Rating on the basis of health facility: Kerala and Goa, the two best performingStates in health, are performing poorlyin the provision of health infrastructure.Himachal Pradesh, one of the ve bestStates in health care, ranks among the lastve in HIV/AIDS intervention.

The ranking has a regional pattern:four of the ve best performing States- Kerala, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, andAndhra Pradesh - are from the southernregion. Maharashtra alone is from thewest. On the other hand, all the worst

performing States are in the Northeast:Sikkim, Meghalaya, Manipur, Nagalandand Arunachal Pradesh. In fact, of theve States falling in the not-so-well per-forming States category, Tripura, Assamand Mizoram are from the Northeast.They are performing badly in almostindicators.

Rating on the basis of education : Asignicant proportion of the populationof the worst performing States, which areperforming badly in education, are trib-als: Jharkhand and Arunachal Pradesh

are tribal-dominated, with indigenousgroups constituting 26.3 per cent and 64.2per cent of the population. This is alsotrue of health, wherein the ve worst per-forming States are Assam, Uttar Pradesh, Jharkhand, Nagaland and Arunachal

Pradesh. All among them are essentiallytribal States, except Uttar Pradesh.

India's Longest Railway Tunnel Thrown Open in J&K

The northern railways openedIndia's longest railway tunnel piercingthrough the Pir Panjal range in Jammu &Kashmir. The tunnel is part of the ambi-tious Udhampur - Srinagar - Baramullarail link project of Northern Railways.At 10.96km long, the Pir Panjal RailwayTunnel is India's longest and Asia's 2nd

longest tunnel, aimed at reducing thetravel distance between Quazigund andBanihal to only 11 km and providinga hassle-free travel up to Baramulla.The 10.96 kms tunnel, which is alignedstraight from north to south, has reducedthe travelling time from Banihal in Jam-mu to Qazigund in Kashmir to 6 minutes.

Interestingly, this railway tunnel isbelow Jawahar tunnel- meant for vehicu-lar trafc only and which usually getsblocked during winters owing to heavysnowfall in the region. During the courseof the excavation, due to the changinggeological strata of the young Himala-yan rock, New Australian TunnelingMethodology (NATM) was adopted forthe construction. During survey, eightdifferent types of geological strata werefound in the entire length of the tunnel.

Porunthal Excavations ProveExistence of Indian Scripts in

5th Century BC

New results from the analysis ofpaddy grains found in the Porunthalgraveyard archaeological site prove that

writing systems in India were in existencein the 5th Century BC, predating the ar-rival of Asoka. Rice paddy samples thatwere contained in an engraved pot foundinside one of the graves were found tobe from 450 BC when analysed usingAccelerator Mass Spectrometry (AMS)by the Beta Analytic Lab, USA.

Earlier, paddy sample from an-other grave was dated at 490 BC, butmany scholars were unwilling to acceptevidence obtained from only one sample.The analysis of the second sample proved

The Yamuna Action Plan (YAP) is a bilateral project between the Governmentof India and Japan. It is one of the largest river restoration projects in India. Thegovernment of Japan, via the Japanese Bank for International Cooperation (JBIC),has provided nancial aid of 17.7 billion yen to carry out the project, which isbeing executed by the National River Conservation Directorate, the Ministry of Environment and Forests, and the Government of India.

PHASE - I was implemented in April 1993 with the aim of pollution abatementand water quality improvement of river Yamuna by the National River ConservationDirectorate (NRCD), Forests. Under YAP-I, 15 class-I towns, 6 in Haryana State, 8in Uttar Pradesh State and Delhi were covered.

PHASE - II is one of the important projects, being implemented by U.P JalNigam through its Project ofces at Ghaziabad and Agra. It is being implementedin 3 States of the country (Haryana, Delhi and Uttar Pradesh) and within UP, 8towns viz Agra, Mathura Vrindavana, Etawah (all under Agra region) Muzaffarna-gar, Saharanpur, Noida, Ghaziabad (under Ghaziabad region) have been selectedwhere river Yamuna passes through. During the rst phase of the programme itcame out that the river water pollution cannot be lowered down without the activeparticipation of the citizens. Therefore in YAP phase II a special component namedas Public Participation & Awareness component has been brought in whereinNGOs are partnering to work at the community level on different themes as:

Socio-economic up-gradation of the Community Toilet Complexes neighbour-hood

As the name suggests, the NGOs involved have to improve the lives and environ-ment of the community residing in the neighborhood of the community toilets.

School health and hygiene programmeWherein school going children have been targeted to sensitise upon the need for

maintaining personal hygiene and sanitation

Town Specic innovation programme

Wherein NGOs are given a exibility to design and develop a programme specicto the town requirements and could be one of the most innovative approaches and notnecessarily duplicating the target groups.

Clean Yamuna Manch

It is forum of NGOs working in Agra city, to work exclusively at the Stakeholderslevel, bring the issue into mainstream of media and academia and hold continuous dia-logue. It is one of the pilot programmes to substantiate the efforts of other programmesof the Agra region.

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that Tamil-Brahmi writing existed in the5th century BC and was not invented inthe 3rd century BC as was previouslybelieved by scholars. This was also therst time anyone had discovered Tamil-Brahmi script along with rice in any

archaeological site. Scholars were stilldebating on the exact letters that werewritten and its meaning.

Another signicant discovery fromthe gravesite is that the paddy samplesobtained in the graves in Porunthal werecultivated paddy of the Orissa Satvaikavariety.

India Human DevelopmentReport 2011

The recently released Human De-velopment Report, 2011 with the theme

'Towards Social Inclusion' has praised theefforts of poorer States like Bihar and Ut-tar Pradesh in making the developmentprocess more 'socially inclusive' throughimproving the lot of their marginalizedDalits and Tribals. However it has la-mented the richer and developed Stateslike Gujarat wherein the process has notbeen 'socially inclusive'.

The highlights of the Report areas follows:

The overall HDI for the country hasimproved through the last decade,with the inequality gap between

States narrowing down. In the lastdecade the HDI increased by 21 percent from 0.387 in 1999-2000 to 0.467in 2007-08.The HDI list has been topped byKerala with highest education,health and consumption expendi-ture index. It is followed by Delhi,Himachal Pradesh and Goa.Chatt isgarh, Orissa, MP, UP, Jharkhand & Assam have an HDIbelow the national average of 0.467.MP has the lowest HDI value is atthe bottom.

In some poorer States like Bihar,Andhra Pradesh, MP, Chattishgarh,Orissa & Assam the quantum of im-provement in HDI has been higherthan the national average of 21 percent.The overall increase in HDI is at-tributed to 28.5 per cent increase ineducation index across the country.It ranges from 0.92 for Kerala to 0.41in case of Bihar. The improvement inthe education index was the "great-

est" in States like UP, Rajasthan& MP. However, according to theReport, India is also home to morethan one-third of the global worldilliterates wherein the percentage ofilliterates from SC, ST and Muslim

minority community are very high.Among SC/ST more than 50 per centof women are illiterates.The improvement in health indexhas been slow. It has improvedby 13.2 per cent in the last decade.The highest growth in the healthimprovement has been noted inGoa (72%) followed by Chattisgarh(22%). In Delhi the growth rate is ameager 4 per cent. Further there ex-ists wide inter-State variation in thehealth index. It ranges from 0.82 inKerala to 0.41 in Assam.The prevailing condition of sanita-

tion is threatening according to thereport. Though half of the popula-tion had access to sanitation in 2008still there exists wide inter-Statevariation. In the States of MP, Chat-tisgarh, Jharkhand, Orissa, Bihar,Rajasthan and Uttarakhand still 75per cent of the population does nothave access to sanitation.The most serious challenge ariseson the nutrition front. ThoughMadhya Pradesh still is numerouno in malnutrition and under-nutrition, but the more concernarises from the increase in malnu-trition in the richer and developedStates like Gujarat. The State with69.7% kids up to 5 being anaemicand 44.6% suffering from malnutri-tion, proves that high growth wasno guarantor of improvement inhealth.It is the robust infrastructure inKerala, Delhi and Goa that has con-tributed to the overall improvementin HDI, whereas it is the poor condi-tion of infrastructure in poorer Statesthat has kept these States poor.There has been " impress ive

growth" in tele-density overtimefrom 22 per cent in 2008 to 66 percent in 2010 on account of increasein urban tele-density. Besides thereport also highlights that 75 percent of population have access toelectricity.The report has been prepared by the

Delhi-based Institute of Applied Man-power Research for the Planning Com-mission focuses on income, education,health, literacy, nutrition and sanitationin the country.

Nine New Districts inChhattisgarh

Chhattisgarh Chief Minister RamanSingh on August 15, 2011 announcedhis government's decision to formnine new districts in the state inorder to bring the administrationcloser to the people.The nine new districts - Sukma,Kondagaon, Gariaband, BalodaBazar, Mungeli, Balod, Bemetara,Surajpur and Balrampur - startedfunctioning from their respectivedistrict headquarters from January2012.With the creation of the new dis-tricts, the total number of districtsin Chhattisgarh will go up from 18to 27.

Hallmarking of Gold Jewellery Mandatory

The Union government on January04, 2012 approved a proposal to makehallmarking of gold jewellery mandatoryin a big step towards ensuring the qual-ity of the precious metal and providingfresh impetus to investment in jewellery.

The Cabinet cleared the proposalby approving amendments to theBureau of Indian Standards (BIS)Act, 1986, which aims to expand theambit of compulsory hallmarking to

add more products. At present, goldhallmarking is voluntary.The BIS hallmark points to a levelof conformity widely accepted byconsumers. The jewellery can nowbe certied for purity only at govern-ment centres.According to a BIS survey, of 162samples drawn from 16 cities, morethan 90 per cent were found to be notof the declared purity.This means the consumer loses 20per cent to 30 per cent of gold in jew-ellery purchases, which is signicantin nancial terms.The move is signicant as jewelleryaccounts for around 65 per cent ofgold demand in India, the worldslargest consumer of the preciousmetal.Gold consumption by India declinedto 203.30 tonnes during the thirdquarter through September 2011,compared with 263.90 tonnes a yearbefore as high prices squeezed de-mand.The implementation of the law willbe a tough task as much of the coun-

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trys jewellery is mopped up by therural population while hallmarkingcentres exist only in bigger cities.Hallmarking can boost investmentdemand in jewellery form. Currentlypurity concerns deter many consum-

ers from buying jewellery.The move also prompted a call forsimilar measures on silver jewellery.Hallmarking silver products isnot yet mandatory in India, where jewellery quality is sometimes anissue, mainly with small jewellers,and customers face problems duringredemption.

UIDAI's Mandate Expanded

In a bid to end the turf war betweenthe Unique Identication Authority ofIndia (UIDAI), which comes under thePlanning Commission, and the HomeMinistry's National Population Register(NPR), a Cabinet Committee has workedout a compromise that will result in thebiometric data of all residents beingcaptured by June 2013.

The UIDAI has been given permis-sion and nances to the tune ofan additional 5,791 crore to enrolanother 40 crore people in 16 Statesunder its Aadhaar scheme.The NPR will accept the biometricdata collected by the UIDAI in thoseStates and continue to collect its own

data through the Registrar-Generalof India in the remaining States.In return, UIDAI Chairman NandanNilekani has promised to addressthe Home Ministry's security con-cerns through a full review of theUIDAI processes over the next twomonths to ensure that its data collec-tion meets the NPR's requirements.UIDAI take the security concernsvery seriously.The UIDAI had been mandatedto enrol 20 crore people by March2012. While the UIDAI is a voluntaryscheme, the NPR is mandatory for allresidents.This means is that if a resident hasenrolled himself with the UIDAIand has had his fingerprints andiris scanned, he can merely give hisAadhaar number to the NPR regis-trars rather than submitting himselfto biometric data collection twice.The duplication between the twoagencies would be not be more than5 per cent, reducing the expenditureon biometric data collection.

In case of discrepancies betweenUIDAI data and NPR data, NPR willprevail.Supporting IT czar Nandan Nile-kani, the Planning Commissionhas sought permission to enroll

identities beyond its initial man-date of 20 crore, arguing that PMManmohan Singh's key project thataims at ensuring benets of welfareprogrammes reach the right bene-ciaries was quite different from thehome ministry's National Popula-tion Register's (NPR) objective ofnational security.Both the home ministry and Par-liament's standing committee onfinance have slammed the UIDbill that looks to give the authoritystatutory status for overlapping NPRthat is also engaged in capture ofbiometric data.Suggesting that the two projects cango along side by side, UID projectcan go on along with NPR. TheAadhar card scheme is the govern-ment's development initiative, whileNPR is related to national security.The home ministry is also prepar-ing for such an eventuality, but willwant supervision over the UID datarepository.The argument was that both theschemes with different objectivescan go on simultaneously as thereare many identity-related schemeslike PAN card, Election Commissionvoter's card.The uncertainty plagued the UIDproject after Registrar General ofIndia, under home ministry, back-tracked from its earlier stand and re-fused to accept data collected by theauthority. At the same time UIDAI'smandate to collect biometric detailswas ending as Cabinet had approvedenrolment of 20 crore by March 2012.

Govt. Grants VotingRights to NRIs

NRIs would soon be able to par-ticipate and vote in Indian elections,said Prime Minister ManmohanSingh during the inauguration ofthe tenth Pravasi Bharatiya Diwasin Jaipur on January 8, 2012.Non-resident Indians have hailedPrime Minister Manmohan Singh'sannouncement that the governmentwould allow them to vote and par-ticipate in the election process, a long-standing demand of the diaspora.

Inaugurating the annual diasporaconclave, the Pravasi Bhartiya Divas,at Jaipur on January 8, 2012, theprime minister said the governmenthas issued notications for registra-tion of overseas electors under the

Representation of People Act, 1950,to allow NRIs to vote in Indian elec-tions.The Indian government has nallyfullled its promise to Indian expa-triates. It will give us an opportunityto participate in government forma-tion.However, there were a few who hadapprehensions about the process.Overseas Indian Affairs MinisterVayalar Ravi had said that the objec-tive was to further increase engage-ments with diaspora.Prime Minister said that our objec-tive is to raise the level of engage-ment to go beyond mere investmentrelated issues and address a broaderagenda.Meeting a long-standing demand ofthe NRIs, Singh said the Centre hadissued notications for registrationof overseas Indians under the Rep-resentation of People Act.This constitutes the rst major stepto enable Indians resident abroad toparticipate in our election processes,the PM said.The PM also announced a newpension and life insurance fund foroverseas Indian workers.He also underlined the role of Indi-ans overseas in the development ofthe country and that the governmentwould facilitate and encourage suchan endeavour.The PM also announced a newpension and life insurance fund foroverseas workers. The scheme willencourage, enable and assist over-seas workers to voluntarily save fortheir return and resettlement and oldage.It will also provide a low-cost life in-surance cover against natural death.This scheme fulls a long pendingdemand of our workers abroad.

ISRO Reports IndictFormer Chief

The Indian Space Research Organisa-tion (ISRO) has made public docu-ments that indicted former ISROchief G Madhavan Nair and threeother senior scientists for irregulari-ties in Antrix-Devas deal.

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The report, prepared by a committeeheaded by Pratyush Sinha, formerChief Vigilance Commissioner, saidAntrix-Devas deal lacked transpar-ency and recommended that actionneeds to be taken against Nair, A

Bhaskaranarayana, KR SridharaMurthi and KN Shankara - all ofwhom have retired.The government had earlier barredthe scientists from holding anyposition in the government or gov-ernment-controlled agencies.The panel found serious adminis-trative and procedural lapses in thescrapped agreement.The approval process for the dealwas riddled with incomplete andinaccurate information given to theUnion Cabinet and the Space Com-mission, the report said.While the Antrix-Devas agreementwas signed on January, 28, 2005, thisfact was not disclosed to the SpaceCommission or in the Cabinet notedated November 27, 2005, in whichapproval was sought for the launchof GSAT 6, one of the satellites to bebuild under the agreement.The report said the terms of Antrix-Devas contract were heavily loadedin favour of Devas. The terms of theagreement entail that while in thecase of the failure of the satellite, therisk was entirely that of Departmentof Space, the success of the satellitewould commit the latter to substan-tial expenditure.The report also noted that no clear-ance was obtained from the legalcells of the department of spaceand the nance ministry for Antrix-Devas deal, as is mandatory forany international agreement by anydepartment of Indian government.The report also said GSAT capacitywas earmarked for Devas withoutconsulting INSAT CorporationCommittee, which recommendsuse of satellite capacities by non-

government users authorised toprovide telecom services, which isa clear violation of the governmentpolicy.It also said there was evidence tosuggest that the Antrix-Devas agree-ment was not disclosed to TechnicalAdvisory Group (TAG) at the time ofconsidering the experimental trials.Although SATCOM policy and ICCguidelines allow leasing of satellitecapacity on rst-come-rst-servedbasis, this did not prevent Antrix-

ISRO from following a transparentprocess of adequately publicising itsintent of supporting such services.Nair rejected the report's findingthat the deal was inked withoutconsulting the INSAT Coordination

Committee and that it was a clearviolation of the government policy.He said the SATCOM policy of 2000had entrusted the entire responsibil-ity of leasing transponders to privateusers with DoS.

Conservation and Developmentof Vedaranyam sCoastal Zone

The Memorandum of Understand-ing was signed between Society ofIntegrated Coastal Management(SICOM) and M. S. SwaminathanResearch Foundation (MSSRF) on29 July 2011.The MoU was signed with an objec tive to conserve and develo pVedaranyam Coastal Zone projectin Tamil Nadu.The project will cost Rs.10crores fora period of three years. First instal-ment of Rs.4crores was released forthe purpose on 29 July.The project will be undertaken underthe World Bank assisted IntegratedCoastal Zone Management project.This project is to be implementedby M. S. Swaminathan Research

Foundation (MSSRF), Chennai un-der the Chairmanship of Prof. M. S.Swaminathan.The project is to conclude restora-tion and conservation of the coastalresources, promote scientic man-agement of land and water resourcesand promote community based jointmanagement and implementationof the coastal zone managementprogramme.The Vedaranyam swamp whichhas a vast mangrove, salt marshand migratory bird population willbe restored under the project andincome generating activities for thelocal communities would be takenup the Gandhian Principles as well.The Vedaranyam Coastal Zoneproject was ofcially announced atVedaranyam on 26 December 2010.The Vedaranyam Coastal Zone projectwas initiated on the occasion of the80th Anniversary of the Salt Satya-graha based on Gandhian Principles.C. Rajagopalachari (Rajaji) had in1930 led a March in Vedaranyam inTamil Nadu in line with Gandhis

Dandi March, to establish that sea-water is a social resource and thatmaking salt from seawater is a basicright of every Indian.The march was in protest of colonialGovernments decision to impose a

tax on salt manufacture.

NATGRID : To Access allIntelligence Data

The union government of Indiahas set up a National IntelligenceGrid (NATGRID) to access all intel-ligence data.It is to function as a tool for strength-ening the capability of the existingintelligence and law enforcementagencies.It aims at improving access to in-formation and its sharing.NATGRID has been formed to linkdatabases for inputs to combatterrorism. It is meant to improveIndia's capability to counter threatsto its internal security.

Kamalesh Sharma Re-appointed Commonwealth

Secretary General

Commonwealth Secretary GeneralKamalesh Sharma was re-appoint-ed to the coveted post on 30 October2011. The Commonwealth Leadersagreed to re-appoint him at the 21stCommonwealth Heads of Govern-ment Meeting (CHOGM) in Perthin Australia. Sharma who servedas a veteran Indian diplomat wasre-appointed for a four-year termbeginning in April 2012.Sharma was rst elected to as theSecretary General of Common-wealth during the biennial summitof the 54-nation grouping in Kam-pala, Uganda, in 2007. He took overfrom Sir Don McKinnon of NewZealand on 1 April, 2008.Kamalesh Sharma previouslyserved as India's High Commis-sioner to the United Kingdom,where he was closely involved inCommonwealth activities. In thatcapacity, he served as a memberof the Board of Governors of theCommonwealth Secretariat and theCommonwealth Foundation.He was associated with the Com-monwealth since 2004 when he was amember of the Board of Governors ofthe Commonwealth Secretariat andthe Commonwealth Foundation.

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Damodaran Panel on ATM-card Related Problems

The report on Customer Service inBanks by a committee chaired byM. Damodaran, former Chairman ofthe Securities and Exchange Board ofIndia (SEBI) was released on 3 July2011.The Reserve Bank of India panelrecommended an increased depositinsurance cover of Rs.5 lakh so as toencourage individuals to keep alltheir deposits in banks.The Damodaran panel mentionedthat in case of sick banks, a pos-sibility to enable customers to im-mediately avail themselves of a partof their insured deposits before thenal fate of sick banks is decidedshould be explored.

The recommendations were made in3 broad categories:

Home LoansSenior CitizensRural Areas

Dadra and Nagar HaveliLiberation day

Union Territory of Dadra and NagarHaveli celebrated its 58th liberationday on 2 August 2011. The mainfunction was held at Silvasaa, theHeadquarter of the Union Territory.

The Union Territory authoritiesreduced 5 percent VAT on Dieselprices in Diu, Daman and Dadraand Nagar Haveli-which to benetthe people. To mark the occasion aseries of welfare schemes were alsolaunched.Dadra and Nagar Haveli is situatedbetween or surrounded by Gujaratand Maharashtra. 500 sq kilometersmall area that is mostly under forestcover is celebrated the 58th LiberationDay, the day on which it was freedfrom the Portuguese rule in 1954.Indian Nationalist volunteers hadlibrated Dadra and Nagar Haveland it became centrally administeredUnion territory from 11 August 1961.

Rajasthan: Public ServiceGuarantee Act Implemented

The Rajasthan government imple-mented the Public Service Guarantee Actin the state on 14 November 2011. It cameinto force with an aim to provide publicservices in a time-bound manner.

Rajasthan became the only state inIndia where the state government made aprovision of the penalty imposed for fail-ing to provide a service or for a delay. Thepenalty would be recovered from the sal-ary of the concerned designated ofcer.

The Act covered 108 services of 15major government departments, envis-ages a time-bound performance of dutiesby government ofcials and it possesseda provision of cash penalty for the of-fenders.

The Public Service Guarantee Actincluded services pertaining to depart-ments of Police, Finance, Energy, Medi-cal, Trafc, Public Health Engineering,Food, Housing, Water Resources andSocial Justice among others.

Provisions of Rajasthan Govern-ment Public Service Guarantee Act

As per the provisions of penalty, thecompetent appellate ofcer couldimpose a penalty which was set notbe less than Rs 500 and not more thanRs 5,000.The appellate ofcer could also im-pose a penalty of Rs 250 per day onundue delay.The stipulated time for clearance ofappeals would vary from an hourin some cases to 24 hours; like in thecase of appeals made with regard topost-mortem reports and goes up to45 days; depending upon the servicedesired.The time would be calculated fromthe day of the appeal submission.The designated ofcer of the depart-ment may reject an application for anotied service, having recorded thereason in writing and informing theapplicant.A person whose application for a spe-cic service or work is rejected for anyreason would be entitled to approachthe rst appeal ofcer and thereafterthe second appellate ofcer; with hisgrievances under the Act.The ofcials are accountable to en-sure that either the desired service isprovided or explain the limitationsfor not providing it.

Anti Erosion Measures toProtect Moisa and Belguri

Villages

The Planning Commission of In-dia gave investment clearance forAnti Erosion measures to protect2 villages, Moisa and Belguri fromerosion of River Gangadhar,Assam,

with an estimated cost of 14.97 Crorerupees.The project will be completed by thenancial year 2012-13 and Plan ac-count would be closed by 31 March2013.

Project may accordingly be executedas per the approved outlays in theState Annual Plans.The project proposes to provide 600m long revetment and RCC porcu-pine screens along the bank as wellas across the bank at various loca-tions.The project area consisting of thicklypopulated villages of Moisa, Belguri,Agomoni, Pub-Kaldoba, Bhangadu-li, Maragadadhar are situated at theright bank of river Gangadhar at adistance of about 48 km from districtheadquarter town of Dhubri and 300

km from Guwahati.The scheme will benet an area of2267 ha comprising of cultivated andhomestead land.

NPCIL , IOC : MoU for Settingup Nuclear Power Plants

The MoU between Nuclear PowerCorporation of India Ltd (NPCIL)and Indian Oil Corporation (IOC)signed the MoU on 4 November2009 for setting up Nuclear PowerPlants in India for generation of

electricity and any other area asmutually agreed.A Joint Venture Company (JVC)was incorporated in the name ofNPCIL-Indian Oil Nuclear EnergyCorporation Limited.

Aamir Khan Choosen UNICEFs Ambassador

Aamir Khan was chosen to be thelatest celebrity face of UNICEF inIndia.The actor is to be appointed the

national ambassador of the UnitedNations International Children'sEmergency Fund on 30 November2011.The actor-producer, known for hislms like Taare Zameen Par, Ghajini,3 Idiots and Dhobi Ghat, will sup-port UNICEF's work in promotingchild rights and nutrition of childrenunder two years.UNICEF had earlier appointed Am-itabh Bachchan and Priyanka Chopraas the face of the organisation.

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Bachchan was appointed a UNICEFgoodwill ambassador in 2005 andhas since fronted their polio eradica-tion programme successfully.

Working Groups on RoadSafety Report Submitted

The ve working groups on roadsafety that were set up by the min-istry of road transport & highwayshave submitted their reports inNovember 2011.The different working groupsconstituted on road safety were-education, enforcement, engineer-ing (roads as well as vehicles) andemergency.The groups were constituted fol-lowing the March 2011 meeting ofthe National Road Safety Council(NRSC) to lay out the macro andmicro dimensions with potential so-lutions to road safety and to suggestshort term and long term measuresto curb road accidents in the country.

RecommendationsThe working group on enforcementmentioned that the penalty structureas per Amendment of Motor Vehi-cles Act 1988 has become redundantand the nes not a deterrence fortrafc rule violators.It suggested increasing the penal-ties for offences. While revising thepenalties for traffic offences, thegroup mentioned a clause needs tobe inserted in the Amendment Act sothat every three years there is revi-sion of the nes based on consumerprice index.On the topic of overloading of com-mercial vehicles, the group speciedthat if a commercial vehicle wasfound overloaded it would be pros-ecuted with mandatory criminalcase under the provisions of Damageto Public Property Act against thetransporter, the consignor and theconsignee.The groups felt the need for digi-tization of the existing drivinglicence holders. Measures need tobe adopted to ensure when drivinglicence of a defaulter is suspendedhe should not be able to get anotherlicence from any other transportauthority.It was noted that a large number ofaccidents on roads happen becauseof many commercial vehicles notbeing in good condition.

It was felt that tness certicate forcommercial vehicles needed to beissued in a routine and there shouldalso be stringent checks of commer-cial vehicles before tness certicateis issued to the vehicle.

e-PDS System for Greater Transparency

Delhi state government on 7 De-cember 2011 launched the ElectronicPublic Distribution System (e-PDS).This system will help consumers getonline information on the availabilityof food grains, distribution of impor-tant commodities and ration shops. Itwill reduce complaints of divergenceand other corrupt practices.The project was launched on a pilotbasis for Krishna Nagar and GandhiNagar areas of the city. The govern-ment plans to extend the project tothe entire city.The e-PDS would improve the Pub-lic Distribution System by bringingmore transparency in the supplychain management.

40th Anniversary of Vijay Diwas

The 40th anniversary of vijay diwaswas celebrated on 16 December 2011marking the nest hour of the Indianarmed forces when they defeatedPakistan, leading to the creation ofBangladesh in 1971.The Pakistani Army had surren-dered on this day and Bangladeshwas liberated after a 13 day-longbattle. 90000 Pakistani troops hadsurrendered tothe Indian Armyalong with their top commanders inEast Pakistan.Dhaka, the then capital of East Paki-stan, fell to the Indian forces on 16December 1971. Lt. Gen. A K Niazi,commanding the Pakistani troops

in the eastern sector, surrendered tothe Indian Armed Forces led by thethen General Ofcer Commanding-in-Chief Lt. Gen. Jagjit Singh Aurora.Niazi also signed the Instrument ofSurrender that resulted in the birthof Bangladesh.Number of soldiers and ofcers onthe Indian and Bangladeshi sideswere awarded the highest gallantryaward of their respective countries.While the Indian Army was awardedthree Param Vir Chakras, the Indian

Air Force earned its sole PVC follow-ing the daring act of Flying OfcerNirmal Jit Singh Sekhon who single-handedly thwarted a Pakistani AirForce attack on Srinagar.Except Major Hoshiyar Singh who

retired as Brigadier later on, all theawards were given posthumously.

Animals also Entitled to Accident Compensation

A bench of the Supreme Court in-cluding Justices BS Chauhan and TSThakur on 16 December 2011 ruledthat even animals are entitled to ac-cident compensation.The court upheld an award of 13.48lakh rupees for the death of a templeelephant.The animal was hit by a KSRTC(Kerala State Transport Corporation)bus. The court refused to accept thecontention that the Motor VehiclesAct would be applicable to humanbeings and not to animals.It clarified that the definition ofproperty in the Motor Vehicles Act isvery inclusive and wide. Therefore,animal should be included underthis act.The court added that the elephantwas owned by the temple and it wasGods property.

Indira Gandhi Award forNational Integration 2011

Environmentalist, lawyer and for-mer Union Minister, Mohan Dhariawas selected as the winner of the26th Indira Gandhi Award for Na-tional Integration in October 2011.Mohan Dharia was selected for theprestigious award for his yeoman'sservice in promoting and preservingspirit of national integration.The 86-year-old Padma Vibhushanawardee currently runs the VanraiNGO in Pune.He was elected to Rajya Sabha andLok Sabha and has been UnionMinister and Deputy Chairpersonof Planning Commission from De-cember 1990 to June 1991.The award was constituted by Con-gress in its centenary year to giverecognition to outstanding contribu-tion to the cause by an individual orinstitution.It carries a citation and cash prizeof Rs. 5 lakh. The award will bepresented by committee chair and

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Congress chief Sonia Gandhi on 31October 2011, the anniversary ofIndira Gandhi's death.

Appointed Child WelfareOfficers in Every Police

Station: SC

The Supreme Court of India directedthe states and Union territories toappoint child welfare officers inevery police station for monitoringand extending better treatment to juveniles by the police.The apex court, which is monitor-ing the implementation of Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Chil-dren) Act, also directed that stateand national legal services authori-ties issue appropriate guidelines for

training and orientation of policeofcers, who could be designatedas child welfare ofcers.A bench of justices R V Raveendranand A K Patnaik said that the trainingand orientation should be done overa period of six months to one year inevery state and Union territory.

Visa Related Services in PostOffices for Remote Areas

India Post has signed a Memoran-dum of Understanding (MOU) withM/s VFS Global to provide visa re-lated services for different countriesthrough Post Ofces.The MOU sets out broad under-standings and intentions of boththe parties to provide visa relatedservices at places where they are notcurrently available.Post Ofce counters will be used forfee collections, providing visa appli-cations forms, dissemination of visainformation, biometric enrollmentand other visa application processrelated services.India Post and VFS are also planning

to cooperate in utilizing India Postscourier service, Speed Post for move-ments of passports to VFS ofcesand concerned embassies, and theirdelivery back to the applicants.Both the parties will also explore toprovide any other service that IndiaPost may want to provide throughVFS global network on mutuallyaccepted terms.M/s VFS Global is in the businessof visa application services and isworking with 35 governments across

the world with over 450 ofces in 50countries.

No Students to be Failed tillClass V in Chhattisgarh State

The Chhattisgarh government hasbrought into force a rule which pro-hibits failing a student throughoutprimary school years.The state government notifiedrules under Right to Education Act,which also ban capitation fees foradmission to pre-primary or primaryschools.The rules also say that no primaryschool teacher will be allowed togive private tuitions.The person/institute found to be tak-ing capitation fees in any form willbe ned 10 times the amount taken.

UHDP Practice for MangoCultivation

Coca-Cola India and Jain Irrigationon 14 September 2011 announcedthe launch of Project Unnati. Unnatiwill mark a unique partnership withfarmers to demonstrate and enableadoption of ultra-high density plan-tation (UHDP) practice for mangocultivation.The project is to encourage sustain-able, modern agricultural practicesand help double mango yields.UHDP is a farming practice thatleads to mango orchards attainingtheir full potential in 3-4 years andallows nearly 600 trees to be plantedper acre instead of the conventional40 trees.In the rst phase of the project, 200demo farms of size between oneand three acres will use the UHDPtechnique for mango cultivationwhile also utilising the benets ofdrip irrigation.The process is expected to im-

prove farmer's income by increasingyield/acre and also decrease thewater used. The rst phase has aninvestment outlay of more than $2million and will be shared equallybetween the two companies.The process will be implemeted rstwith UHDP farming in some farmsin Chittoor and Cudappa districts ofAndhra Pradesh, an area renownedfor the Totapuri Mango.The demo farms will be used toshowcase and train farmers on the

technique and adoption of UHDPpractice under a joint capabilitybuilding programme under the ae-gis of Jain irrigation and Coca-ColaUniversity.The area under mango cultivation is

not growing at required pace. UHDPmango plantation is a viable solutionto tackle this problem and can beundertaken in all tradition mangogrowing regions.

Provide Ration and VoterCards to Sex Workers: SC

The Supreme Court on 15 September2011 recommended to the Centre andstate governments to provide rationand voter cards t

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