Spotlight

New Delhi, 21 February 2007

PANCHAYATI RAJ PROMOTION MOVEMENTS

NEW DELHI, February 22 (INFA): The Union Ministry of Panchayati Raj has launched three Abhiyans (movements) in an effort to promote the concept of community participation in the Gram Raj. They are: Panchayat Mahila Shakti Abhiyan; Panchayat Yuva Shakti Abhiyan; and Panchayat Yuva Khel Abhiyans.

Panchayat Mahila Shakti Abhiyan aims at bringing together the elected woman members of the Panchayats in each State at all levels to give them a sense of self-confidence and solidarity, and provide a forum for the exchange of experience and information among themselves.

The Abhiyan has thus far been launched in Rajasthan, Punjab, Karnataka, Manipur, Haryana and Goa.

Panchayat Yuva Shakti Abhiyan in which elected youth panchayat members collaborate with the youth clubs/sports clubs/mahila mandals youth power is the key to pitch-forking India from its present low position at 127 in the UNDP’s Human Development Index to a higher place in the human development league.

The Abhiyan attempts to at synergizing youth power in the youth clubs with youth power in the Panchayats on the basis of a charter of objectives jointly prepared by youth club representatives and youth representatives in the panchayats and carried by the youth themselves from the State to the division/district/block/village levels.

The Abhiyan has thus far been launched in Haryana, Punjab and Manipur.

Panchayat Yuva Khel Abhiyan is aimed at synergizing funding to Panchayats with management by youth clubs to ensure a minimum level of organized games facilities for 4500 crore rural children and youth in all village panchayats within the next five years is under formulation.

The Ministry has also undertaken a major initiative to promote Rural Business Hubs (RBHs) through the establishment of a governance relationship between business enterprises and PRIs to promote at least one Rural Business Hub in each development block of the country. 

The Ministry has identified some 850 blocks and their local resource endowments. Some 55 Memoranda of Understanding have been entered into by business enterprises with PRIs in diverse fields.

HIGH SUGAR EATERS ARE SLIM

NEW DELHI, February 22 (INFA): Studies have shown that obese and overweight people generally consume more energy from dietary fat. In contrast, high sugar consumers are more likely to be slimmer.

The capacity for carbohydrate storage in the body is limited. Consumption of excess carbohydrates, including sugar, produces a rapid increase in their oxidation that is not observed with fat.  In addition, conversion of sugar to fat is very limited in humans under normal conditions.

On the other hand, the capacity for fat storage in the body is virtually unlimited and excess dietary fat is readily stored in fat deposits.---INFA