Spotlight

New Delhi, 21 March 2007

PRODUCTION & TRAFFICKING OF NARCOTICS

NEW DELHI, March 22 (INFA): Illicit cultivation of cannabis plants in India is increasingly becoming a major problem in addition to trafficking in and abuse of opiates and pharmaceutical preparations.

According to the International Narcotics Control Board, in 2004 for which the detailed figures are officially available, over 46 tonnes of cannabis herb were seized in the North-East, accounting for over one-third of the country’s total volume of 144 tonnes of the seized herb.

Despite stringent measures taken by the Government of India against the diversion of illicitly cultivated opium, some opium and poppy husk continue to be diverted to illicit markets in India.

Crude heroin manufactured from such diverted opium is trafficked and sold in illicit markets in India or is smuggled into other countries.

Domestically manufactured heroin continues to be seized in India. Most of the illicit heroin laboratories dismantled in the country are near opium poppy cultivation areas.

In addition to low-grade heroin manufactured using opium diverted from licit sources, heroin from South West-Asia continues to be smuggled into India and passes through the country on its way to other countries.

Heroin in small quantities entering some north-eastern States of India from South-East Asia is mainly abused locally in those States.

Evidence suggests that Punjab has been emerging as a new hub for smuggling drugs into India, the traditional trafficking hubs being New Delhi and Mumbai.

This recent development appears to be connected with the increase in the illicit cross-border flow of goods and persons between India and Pakistan.  Most of the drugs, particularly heroin, that are smuggled into India through Punjab are subsequently taken to New Delhi or Mumbai before being transported further to other countries.

Seizure trends show significant increases in the smuggling of heroin into Maldives in recent years, though it remains at a low level. Nevertheless, it is a source of concern that seizures made by the authorities of Maldives remain small compared with the seizures made by Indian and Sri Lankan authorities of heroin destined for Maldives.

Most seizers in Maldives in 2005 occurred at that country’s airport, despite the fact that most drug addicts and law enforcement officials consider the country’s seaports to be the main entry points for trafficked drugs. ---INFA

Spotlight

New Delhi, 20 March 2007

INDIA TOPS IN MILK PRODUCTION

NEW DELHI, March 21 (INFA): India ranks first in the world in milk production, which rose from 17 MT in 1950-51 to around 100 MT by 2006-07 according to official figures.

The per capita availability has also increased from 112 grams in 1968-69 to 230 grams per day in 2005-06 and is expected to reach about 245 grams per day in 2006-07.

Presently, about 1.13 lakh village level co-operative societies spread over 265 districts in the country form part of the National Milk Grid.

The Grid links the milk producers throughout India with consumers in over 700 towns and cities smoothing the seasonal and regional variations in the availability of milk, and ensuring a remunerative price to the producers and a reasonable price for quality milk and milk products to the consumers.

Almost an equal quantity of milk is handled by the cooperative and private sectors.  Consequent to de-licensing of the dairy sector in 1991, the Milk and Milk Products Order (MMPO) 1992 promulgated under the Essential Commodities Act, 1955, continues to regulate the milk sector. As per the provisions of this order, any person/dairy plant handling more than 10,000 litres per day of milk or 500 MT of milk solids per annum has to be registered with the registering authority appointed by the Government.

Post-liberalization, private entrepreneurs as well multinational milk products companies have made investments in the dairy sector, especially in putting up manufacturing facilities.  Investments in the cooperative sector, however, are concentrated largely in milk procurement and processing.

Under the Integrated Dairy Development Project, 73 projects with an outlay of Rs.407.58 crore and spread over 25 States and 1 UT have been approved. Cumulative expenditure incurred upto to end-March 2006 was Rs.274.33 crore.

By March-end 2006, the programme had benefited 10.56 lakh farmers through 16,469 village-level dairy cooperative societies procuring 13.6 lakh litres of milk per day.---INFA

SOARING CEMENT PRICES

HYDERABAD, March 21 (INFA): The Andhra Pradesh Government will have to pay about Rs.1,000 crore extra on its projects because of the soaring prices of cement.

The Irrigation Department will have to pay an additional Rs.700 crore for the Jalayagnam dams burden while the housing and other Departments have to spend an additional Rs.300 crore, according to official sources. They are of the view that it is an artificial hike created by the cement companies.

The Department dealing with roads, hostels and school buildings will have to pay an additional Rs.100 crore.---INFA

Spotlight

New Delhi, 19 March 2007

CENTRE’S NEW SOCIAL SECURITY SCHEME

NEW DELHI, March 29 (INFA): The Union Government is examining a new social security scheme recommended recently by the National Commission for the Enterprises in the Unorganized Sector (NCEUS).

A comprehensive Social Security Bill is proposed to be finalized soon, based on the recommendations of the NCEUS.

The main features of the Scheme are that all workers in the unorganized sector as well as without any social security in the organized sector will be eligible to register.  The social security benefits include insurance for sickness and maternity, life/accident and old age (in the form of a monthly pension). 

In a developing country context such as India, social security arrangements for the working poor have wider ramifications for the economy and society.  From a macro economic point of view, it helps to develop a healthy and contended work force capable of enhancing their contribution to national income and thus enhance the capacity of the economy to grow.

In turn, the higher growth would enhance the aggregate demand in the years. It has been assigned wide-ranging terms of reference. Being an advisory body, the Commission has to submit its recommendations to the Government of India. An Advisory Board has also been constituted to enable the Commission to have the benefit of the advice of experienced persons in the relevant areas.

The Commission has been focusing on a few significant programmatic interventions, which could be adopted in the immediate future. These interventions are aimed at bringing about improvement in the productivity of enterprises in the unorganized/Informal Sector, generation of large-scale employment opportunities on a sustainable basis and enhancing the welfare of the workers in the unorganized sector.---INFA

MASS MARRIAGES AT TIRUPATI TEMPLE

HYDERABAD, March 20 (INFA): The temple administration of the Thirumala Tirupati Devasthanam has decided to perform the second phase of mass marriages across the State on August 26, an auspicious date.

Recall, the first phase of the programme was conducted last month, in which 300 couples participated.

A devotee of Lord Venkateswara offered last week a 2.5 kg pot made of pure gold, costing about Rs.23 lakh.---INFA

Spotlight

New Delhi, 17 March 2007

ENERGISING RENEWABLE ENERGY SOURCES

NEW DELHI, March 18 (INFA): The Union Ministry of New and Renewable Energy has taken several steps to promote renewable energy sector in the country.  It has drawn up schemes to focus on solar water heating systems, wind power and biomass installations.

These schemes are being increasingly promoted through wide publicity and by establishing “Renewable Energy Clubs” in engineering Colleges and technology institutions across the country. The Ministry has also launched a National Quiz on Renewable Energy through Television programmes.

Under the Biogas programmes, family type biogas plants with capacity of 2 cu.m. to 10 cu.m. gas per day are supported to households in rural areas and villages to meet their cooking and lighting needs. So far about 40 lakh biogas plants have been installed in the country against an estimated potential of 120 lakh plants. Work has been commenced on test projects on Villages Energy Security in remote villages and hamlets that are not likely to be electrified through grid power.

The projects aim at meeting the energy needs of cooking, lighting and motive power of villages. The first Test Project was successfully commissioned at Kasai Village, Betul district, Madhya Pradesh. 

Depending on the outcome of the test projects, bringing energy security to households in remote villages/hamlets would become a reality. Abut 2240 remote villages have so far been provide lights through renewable energy sources. During 2006-07, 264 villages and 236 hamlets have been provided lights or electricity under Remote Village Electrification Programme.

Bio-fuel Demonstration Projects based on non-edible vegetable oils for lighting and motive power applications for agriculture, etc. were commissioned in villages Sipri and Sahariya of Uttar Pradesh and village Ranganahali of Karnataka. Electricity being produced from these systems is being supplied to households for 2-4 hours every day.

Solar Water Heating is being given a boost by the deployment of solar water heating systems to 0.5 lakh sq.m. of collector area during 2006-07 through the launch of an innovative scheme. Low temperature solar thermal technology for urban households uses is a favoured one in several countries, including China & Israel.

Waste disposal in urban areas is becoming a matter of serious concern. As technologies are available for converting Municipal Solid Wastes into energy, an innovative scheme to promote the same has been launched to cover all major Municipal Corporations through public-private partnerships.

BIRLA SCIENCE CENTRE

HYDERABAD, March 18 (INFA): The popular BM Birla Science Centre---set up more than 20 years ago in the heart of the Hyderabad city---has a guest-list of an impressive twelve million visitors till date, including ex-PMs and several dignitaries.

Recently, the Director of the Centre told the media “it is true that 50% of the exhibits have not changed over the years as they are popular with visitors. We have added some new exhibits as recently as three months ago.”---INFA