NOVEMBER

Energy consumption in India and the efficient

ways

2002, First action by Govt. towards energy

conservation: Energy Conservation Act in

2002. The Act sought efficiency measures and

a legal framework to implement them

throughout the country.

2006 : In 2006, BEE introduced star rating of

appliances to influence consumer choice and

push the market towards improving the

energy efficiency of products ; Established a 5

star ratings of various products , bandwidth

decided for different ratings (revised every 2nd

year); putting the rating on the product made

mandatory, hence products with below

minimum rating banned from production.

Issues with rating system: a) 5 star products

for many products are very expensive.

b) Rating system still not put in place for many

products.

c) The energy consumption thresholds for

labelled products have not been raised at a

desired pace. Experts say one reason for this

is the resistance from manufacturers,

particularly in the unorganised sector, who

may find it difficult to improve manufacturing

technologies.

d) Indian rating system still not on par with

global standards.

Moving

towards super efficiency(LEDs and other

efficient products.)

a) Incentivesing super-efficient products.

b) Upgrading the baseline for 5 star

rating system.

c) Cross subsidizing , or charging more

for low-efficiency products and

passing on the subsidy to super-

efficient products.

d) For the manufacturers, making excise

duty inversely proportional to the star

rating of the product.

e) Majority of fan production is in the

organized sector, still the 5 star rating

fans haven’t picked up in the market;

In January 2014, the Union Cabinet

cleared a programme(Super-Efficient

Equipment Programme (SEEP)) to

provide incentives for the production

of 35 W ceiling fans, which are twice

as efficient as the conventional fan.

There is a two-way process: the star

rating of fans would be made

mandatory to push up the floor of

performance, while SEEP will provide

financial incentives to companies so

that they can pull up the ceiling level.

The reason for the low acceptability

of high efficiency fans being low cubic

meters of air available has also been

addressed in the SEEP.

f) Lighting provides the biggest scope

for saving energy as it accounts for

nearly a third of the electricity

consumed by appliances in Indian

houses ; 2009, Bachat Lamp Yojana :

Re[placement of incandescent lamps

with CFLs & subsidizing the price of

CFL (Rs 80-100), bringing it on a par

with an incandescent bulb (Rs 15) in

project areas.

g) As per BEE the barriers to LED in India

are limited product availability in the

country; high initial cost; absence of

national technical standards for LEDs,

leading to the import of substandard

devices; lack of testing protocols and

laboratories; and lack of incentives for

major LED firms to make them in

India.

h) Lumen/Watt should be the

parameter for measuring the

efficiency of a lighting fixture.

i) BEE has worked out a model for

promoting LED bulbs together with

the Energy Efficiency Services Limited

(EESL)-a joint venture of four Central

power sectorPSUs-and electricity

distribution companies. Under this

model, EESL procures LED bulbs in

bulk and sells them to families at Rs

10 instead of the market price of Rs

400. The electricity distribution

companies then repay EESL over a

period of five to eight years from the

savings that accrue due to the use of

energy-efficient lights. Bulk purchase

of LEDs by EESL also brings down their

cost of LEDs.

j) However, there have been design

issues with LEDs, when they are

designed to retrofit the incandescent

lamps or CFLs.(Tube-Lights are also

inefficiently designed with half of

their light falling on the wall)

k) Also, LED, like CFL, requires careful

handling. While CFL contains mercury,

researchers at the University of

California have found the presence of

heavy metals like lead, arsenic and

nickel in LEDs. And very few

municipalities in India are equipped to

deal with this dangerous waste.

l) ACs : The AC market globally is

shifting to super-efficient inverter

technology. “All the ACs sold in Japan

and half in China are inverter ACs,

while in India the share of this

technology is just 5 per cent.

What is an inverter AC? The standard

fixed-speed AC has a single-speed

compressor motor that switches off

when the desired temperature is

reached and on again when the

temperature rises to a set level.

Inverter technology uses a variable-

speed compressor motor that slows

down and speeds up as needed. This

provides a more precise room

temperature and is, therefore, about

30 per cent more energy efficient

than fixed-speed ACs.

The inverter AC technology costs

more but the Indian star rating

system does not recognise the extra

edge it provides. No differentiation

has been made in the Indian rating

system for inverter ACs.

m) Indian rating system needs to be

tweaked, rating is done in laboratory

conditions, and hence actual

performance of the product is not as

good. Rating system needs to factor in

climatic and other factors(as done in

the US and EU).

SC rules famers have the first right over the

sugar

Sugar farmers suicide in large nos. Why?

Sugar mill owners take sugarcane from famers

> produce sugar> mortgage the sugar to

Banks for loans in the name of working

capital> sell the leftover sugar to others, and

divert the proceeds for other purposes >

leaving very little sugar for repaying the dues

of farmers > Hence, little and late payment of

dues to famers> famers taking to suicide in

large numbers.

Till now, Courts had recognized the

rights of Banks over the Sugar.

It is alleged that there is a nexus of

Govt.,banks and mill owners. e.g. Mill

owners don’t pay farmers their due>

Govt. doles out money to the mill

owners for the repayment of dues

(like the UP govt. did few months

back) > Mill owners again divert the

money leaving little for the farmers>

this whole cycle burns a big hole in

govt. treasuries, while doing very little

to alleviate the perennial plight of

sugarcane growers.

However, such decisions will hurt the

business sentiments, hence a solution

acceptable to all the parties should be

worked out.

Experts think that there should be a

proper system in place and farmers

should think about having their own

cooperative. “It is a failure of the

present system that it is unable to

check the arbitrary nature of mill

owners who fail to pay arrears within

15 days. Cane growers cannot be left

at the mercy of private mills. They

should think about their own

cooperative to come out of this mess

forever,”

Silent killer: HEPATITISCVIRUS (HCV)

The HEPATITISCVIRUS (HCV) causes acute

and chronic infections. The hepatitis C virus

(HCV) spreads in the same manner as

HIV/AIDS—through sexual transmission and

blood. Acute HCV infection is usually

asymptomatic, and very rarely associated

with life-threatening diseases. About 15-45

per cent of infected people spontaneously

clear the virus within six months of infection

without any treatment.

Rest 55-85 per cent develop chronic HCV

infection. People with chronic HCV infection

have a 15-30 per cent risk of developing liver

cirrhosis within 20 years. If not treated, liver

cirrhosis can cause liver failure or liver

cancer. According to WHO, three per cent of

world has been infected with HCV and

350,000 to 500,000 people die each year from

HCV-related liver diseases.

Costly cure

Hepatitis C TREATMENT is extremely costly.

In the absence of government policy, costs

vary depending on the type of medication,

duration, drug rates and local taxes. In

general, the treatment requires

administration of interferon injections once a

week for six months to two years. The cost of

the injection is between Rs 5,000 and Rs

7,000. But interferon has side effects such has

high fever, vomiting and anxiety.

Govt. doesn’t have any programme now for

Hepatitis C

Coal Mines (Special Provisions)

Ordinance,2014 Issued

On August 25, the Supreme Court cancelled

all coal blocks allocations made by the central

government from 1993 -2011 except four coal

blocks.

The Ordinance provides for the procedure for

auction of these coal blocks.

Main Features of Ordinance –

Categorization of Coal Mines –

The coal mines are categorized as –

Schedule I – It consists of all 214 coal blocks

cancelled by the Supreme Court Judgment.

Schedule II – It is a subset of Schedule I mines

and includes those where production has

started.

Schedule III – Subset of Schedule I and

consists of coal blocks marked for a specific

purpose by the government.

Allocation Process

Schedule I coal mines will be allocated by way

of public auctions not exceeding Rs. 5 Crores.

General Eligibility

Government Companies or Corporations

Any company incorporated in India

Joint venture between any two or more

companies

The above three types are eligible to

participate in the public auction by

competitive bidding

Eligibility for Schedule I and II

The above mentioned companies are also

eligible for bidding for Schedule I and II as

long as they are engaged in specific end use.

(Power generation, cement etc.)

Allotment of Mines

The government can allot mines to

Government Company which is not a joint

venture with a private company.

Company which has been awarded a power

project on the basis of competitive bidding for

tariffs through an allotment order.

Case of Prior Allottees

A Prior allottee shall not be eligible to

participate in the auction process if:

The Allottee has not paid the additional levy

imposed by the supreme court in its previous

August order.

The Allottee is convicted of an offence related

to coal block allocations and sentenced to

imprisonment for more than 3 yrs.

Responsibility of Central Government

The central government shall be vested with

the lease or license for all Schedule I mines

from April 1, 2015.

Amendments to other acts

The ordinance amends the Coal Mines

(Nationalisation) Act, 1973 and the Mines and

Minerals (Development and Regulation) Act,

1957 to allow for the changes proposed.

Other Important Pts.

o The ordinance also approved a plan

for e-auctioning of the cancelled coal blocks

to end user private players from cement, steel

and power sector.

o The proceeds from the e-auction of

coal mines will entirely go to the states where

they are located, which would lead to

financial empowerment of these states.

o The land acquired back after the

cancellation of coal mines would be valued by

an independent authority under the Coal

Nationalisation Act.

This ordinance is mainly aimed at the

expeditious disposal of the entire coal

allocation process that will be eventually a

boost for the manufacturing sector and save

foreign exchange on coal imports.

Deregulation of Diesel Prices and Regulation

of Gas Prices –

The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs

decided to make the price of diesel market

determined.

In addition, a new gas pricing formula has

been approved –

• A modified Rangrajan formula, where

the upward revision in price will be 75% less

as compared to the price determined by the

original Rangrajan formula.

• Price shall be notified on half yearly

basis and will be on gross calorific value basis.

• A premium on gas prices will be

provided for discoveries in Ultra Deep Water,

Deep Water and High Pressure-High Temp.

Areas.

• Subsidy for gas supplied to the North

East region will continue and same to be also

provided to private operators.

Modified Direct Benefit Transfer Scheme to

be re-launched in the country

The Union Cabinet approved the modified

Direct Benefit Transfer Scheme in LPG.It will

be launched in 54 districts from November

1,2014 and in rest of the country by

January1,2015.

Features-

o Persons without Aadhar will also

receive the LPG subsidy. The subsidy will be

credited to their bank accounts directly.

o Grace period of three months for

consumers to join the scheme, during which

the consumers will receive the cylinders at

subsidized prices. After the grace period, if

the consumer does not join the scheme, there

is an additional three month parking period,

during which consumer will pay according to

the market price but the subsidy will be

credited to the bank account as soon as the

consumer joins the scheme.

o Revamped Grievance Redressal

System.

Schemes Launched by Ministry of Labour –

Prime Minister unveiled new measures for the

youth, workers and employees to improve

ease of doing business for enterprises while

expanding government support for training

workers.

• Apprentice Protsahan Yojana –

o This yojana will support

manufacturing units mainly and other

establishments by reimbursing 50% of the

stipend paid to apprentices during first two

yrs. of their training.

o Basic Training component of the

curriculum is being restructured on scientific

principles to make it more effective.

o Enhancing the rate of stipend and

indexing it to minimum wages of semi-skilled

workers.

• Universal Account Number –

Under this scheme, complete

information for approx. 4crore subscribers of

Employee Provident Fund has been centrally

compiled and digitized and a Universal

Account Number has been allotted to all.

o The Universal Account Number is

being seeded with Bank account and Aadhar

Card and other KYC details for financial

inclusion of vulnerable section of society and

their unique identification.

o It will ensure that all the subscribers

of EPF will have direct access to their EPF

accounts and will also enable them to

consolidate all their previous accounts.

o Minimum pension has been set at

Rs.1000 per month and wage ceiling has been

raised from Rs.6500 to Rs. 15000 to ensure

that vulnerable groups are covered under this

scheme.

• Random Labour Inspection Scheme –

Features -

o A computerized list of inspections will

be generated randomly based on pre-

determined objective criteria.

o Complaint based inspections will also

be determined centrally after examination

based on data and evidence.

o Provision for emergency list for

inspection of serious cases in specific

circumstances.

Objective of this scheme is to provide a check

on the arbitrariness in compliance

mechanism.

• Shram Suvidha Portal –

Features -

o Unique Labour Identification number

will be allotted to units to facilitate online

registration.

o Filing of self certified and simplified

single online return by the Industry.

o Mandatory uploading of inspection

reports within 72hrs. by the Labour

Inspectors.

Objective is to bring in the necessary ease in

compliance of provisions related to labour

and will be a step forward in promoting the

ease of doing business. It will also help in the

informed policy process.

National Mental Health Policy –

The National Mental Health Policy launched

by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare

outlines the prioritized agenda for extending

within a pragmatic time frame based mental

health care facilities to all sections of the

population across the country by 2020.

Also pushes for decriminisaltion of attempted

suicide.

Main Strategies on Implementing –

o Extension of basic mental health care

facilities to the primary level.

o Strengthening of psychiatric training

in Medical Colleges at the Undergraduate as

well as postgraduate level.

o Modernization and rationalization of

mental hospitals to develop them into tertiary

care centers of excellence.

o Empowerment of Central and State

Mental Health Authorities for effective

monitoring, regulation and planning of mental

health care systems.

o Promoting research in mental areas.

Sansad Adarsh Gram Yojana –

o Yojana launched for the development

of model villages or Adarsh Grams.

o Under this, each Member of

Parliament take the responsibility of

developing physical and institutional

infrastructure in three villages by 2019.

o Goal is to develop three Adarsh grams

by March 2019 of which one would be

achieved by 2016. Thereafter, five such

Adarsh grams will be selected and developed

by 2024.

o It envisages integrated development

of the selected villages across multiple areas

such as Agriculture, health, education,

sanitation, livelihoods etc.

o The planning process in each village

will be a participatory exercise coordinated by

the District Collector, he will act as the nodal

officer. The MP will play an active facilitating

role in this exercise.

o At national level, a real time web

based monitoring system will be put in place

for the scheme covering all aspects and

components.

Swachhta Udyami Yojana –

o This Yojana provides financial

assistance to safai karamcharis and identified

manual scavengers for

o Construction and operation of

community toilets.

o Purchase of sanitation related

vehicles.

o Beneficaries will be provided loans at

intrest rate of 3-4% per annum.

India to Import Potatoes to curb prices –

India is planning to import potatoes in order

to increase domestic availability and curb

rising prices.

School of Planning and Architecture Bill,2014

–

o The Union Cabinet gave its approval

to introduce the School of Planning and

Architecture Bill, 2014 in the parliament to

bring all three schools of planning and

architecture (Delhi, Bhopal, and Vijayawada)

within the ambit of this bill.

o The proposed act will empower these

schools to award degrees through an Act of

Parliament.

o This would enable it to become

centres of excellence like IIT, NIT.

o All money spent apart from public

exchequer will be accounted for and audited

by the CAG and annual reports will be placed

before the parliament.

FDI Policy in the Construction Development

Sector Amended – ‘

The amendment allows 100% FDI under

automatic route in the construction

development sector.

Investment will be subject to following

conditions –

- Minimum floor area of 20,000sq. ft.

- Minimum FDI of USD 5million

required within six months of commencement

of project.

- Investor will be permitted to exit on

completion of project or after three years.

Project shall conform to all buildings and land

use norms and standards.

Swachh Bharat Mission replaces Nirmal

Bharat Abhiyan

o The Nirmal Bharat Abhiyan was

restructured and renamed as the Swachh

Bharat Mission.

o Swachh Bharat Mission will consist of

two sub missions;

o Swachh Bharat Mission for rural areas

and Swachh Bharat Mission for urban areas.

o The Ministry of Drinking, Water and

Sanitation will implement the Swachh Bharat

Mission (Gramin) (SBM-G) and Ministry of

Urban Development will implement the

Swachh Bharat Mission (Urban) (SBM-U).

Under the SBM-G, funds will be provided for

the following activities:

- Construction of household toilets.

- Construction of community sanitary

complexes.

- Solid Liquid Waste Mgmt.

- Information, Education,

Communication activities.

Features-

- Increase in amount provided for

household toilets from 10,000 Rs. To 12,000

Rs.

- Contribution from MGNREGA for

construction of household toilets has been

stopped.

- Construction of school toilets and

anganwadi toilets will be the responsibility of

Department of School Education and Literacy

and the Ministry of Women and Child

Development respectively.

P.S. Information on SBM-U has been covered

in detail in the previous issue of Undercover

Magazine.

India-Pakistan Relations: A Destructive Equilibrium The seven-decade rivalry between India and Pakistan is often portrayed as intractable – with good reason. The countries were birthed out of a bloody partition that encouraged each to define itself in opposition to the other, and they have fought four wars since. This year, though, encouraging overtures by newly elected prime ministers Nawaz Sharif and Narendra Modi led some observers to cautiously hope that the two countries would step up cooperation on trade, energy, humanitarian, and environmental issues. Peace process started many time between both government butThus, a destructive equilibrium has emerged, in which both cooperative overtures and displays of deterrence by the Indian government have the potential to lead to a further deterioration of Indian and Pakistani relations. However, a new and more cooperative equilibrium could be achieved if India and reconciliatory elements within Pakistan’s government were able to establish patterns of cooperation on non-securitized issues, and prevent those issues from becoming securitized. Kashmir question is unlikely to be answered soon. While territorial disputes between states are usually bitter and persistent – states usually perceive competition over territory as a winner take all, zero sum proposition – Kashmir presents a particularly difficult case. For India, its claim to Kashmir rests on three main arguments. First, during Partition the ruler of Kashmir “choose” India over Pakistan (albeit in distress), giving India a legal claim to the territory. Second, retaining control over Kashmir is essential to India’s identity as a secular democracy, which can accommodate different ethnic and religious groups across a wide geographic area. And third, if India lost control of Kashmir, it would encourage separatist movements across the country.

Pakistan counters that India’s claim is illegitimate because, as a Muslim country established for Muslims, Pakistan should control a region like Kashmir that is predominantly Muslim and that culturally shares more with what is now Pakistan than it does with India. Moreover, Pakistan refutes India’s claim to Kashmir on the grounds that India’s first prime minister, Jawaharlal Nehru promised Kashmir a UN administered plebiscite in 1956. This promise was not kept, denying Kashmir the right to self-determination. hen India cancelled talks between the foreign secretaries in retaliation for Pakistani meetings with Kashmiri separatist organizations Sharif sent a box of the “choicest Pakistani mangoes” to Modi in a bid to patch things up. Unfortunately, “mango diplomacy” could not block the Pakistani defense establishment, which had been empowered after protests forced Sharif to beg for the army’s help, which he got in return for handing it control over the country’s defense and foreign policy portfolios. India is pursuing a “tit-for-tat” strategy, in which it is willing to cooperate if Pakistan shows the willingness, but will respond to aggression with aggression. Unfortunately, Pakistan’s defense establishment has no interest in cooperation. The military will also use political means to stymie cooperative arrangements. For instance, while Sharifpromised to extend Most Favored Nation trading status to India without preconditions, the agreement remains un-ratified; the Pakistani government now holds that India must restart a comprehensive “composite dialogue,” which includes the issue of Kashmir, before Pakistan will consider ratifying the agreement. While populist protectionist impulses and distrust of India are partially explain this backtracking, a “substantial part of the business community, in particular small and medium sized enterprises fear being overwhelmed by cheap Indian goods.”

Notably, many former Pakistani soldiers and officers own or are employed by these enterprises. Thus, the military has an incentive “protect their own” by pressuring the civilian government against ratification. External factors also militate against movement towards a cooperative equilibrium. The NATO drawdown in Afghanistan is creating a space for increased competition between India and Pakistan, which both view Afghanistan as strategically important. Analysts also fear that the drawdown in Afghanistan will result in an influx of militants into Kashmir, something the Pakistani defense establishment may encourage, to prevent them from coming to Pakistan instead. Glimmers of Hope Still, there are glimmers of hope. Pakistan and India have managed to cooperate on “non-securitized,” non-zero sum issues like disaster response and energy, and the countries have made good faith efforts to deepen trade ties. India pledged relief to Pakistan after the latter’s devastating 2010 earthquake, and Pakistan reciprocated after recent floods in Indian administered Kashmir. The two countries have also discussed a proposal to share information about the level of rivers that run between the two countries to form an early warning flood system. India and Pakistan also inked a gas sharing agreement, which encourages efforts to bind South and Central Asia together through the proposed TAPI pipeline, which would run through Turkmenistan, Afghanistan, India and Pakistan. The pipeline could help alleviate Pakistan’s chronic gas shortages, which cost the country 6 percent of its GDP a year. These areas present opportunities for small clusters of Pakistani and Indian officials, businessmen, and think-tankers to cooperate on low-profile issues, and discuss the benefits of, and terms for, deeper cooperation on more substantive issues. Small wins in Track II diplomacy settings could spill over and push India and Pakistan

towards a more cooperative equilibrium. Issues of national security are traditionally viewed as “zero-sum”: One party gains from the other party’s losses. Thus, if diplomats or technocrats allow the Indian or Pakistani defense establishments to securitize issues like water sharing or energy cooperation, compromises will become that much harder to reach, as any concession will be painted as possibly undermining national security. Thus, discussions over these issues should be kept quiet (and preferably held in Track II settings like think tank symposiums) and achievements should be publicized little, if at all. The United States could help create an environment that is more conducive to cooperation by maintaining the largest possible military presence in Afghanistan that its agreement with Kabul allows until 2016, dissuading Pakistan and India from exacerbating their competition there (at least in the short run). While this may not end the enduring rivalry between India and Pakistan, it’s imperative for the prosperity and stability of the region that opportunities for cooperation be pursued further. The most pressing issue is climate change, a transnational threat that requires transnational responses. For instance, Pakistan’s water supply is expected to shrink by 30 percent over the next 20 years, while its population is projected to nearly double by 2050. This could severely strain the vital Indus Water Treaty, which governs water sharing between the two countries. India also stands to gain through greater cooperation: Climate change threatens to wipe out 8.7 percent of India’s GDP through an increase in floods and droughts unless adaptation and mitigation measures are taken. India could become more resilient to floods by sharing river level information with Pakistan to form an early warning system, and by discussing best practices for making land and communities more resilient to climate change. The two countries could also jointly lobby major powers to reduce their carbon

dioxide emissions further., other actors, most notably the Pakistani defense establishment and its terrorist proxies, are derailing the process. There are two reasons. First, they see further cooperation and integration between India and Pakistan as putting off negotiations to settle the Kashmir issue. Second, from a broader perspective, closer relations between India and Pakistan would undermine the perception, held by a substantial portion of the Pakistani public, that India poses an existential threat to Pakistan. Both the military and terrorists would lose their raison d’être if this were to occur. http://thediplomat.com/2014/11/india-pakistan-relations-a-destructive-equilibrium/

The South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) - constituted in 1985 - first summit was held in Dhaka - economic and geopolitical organisation of eight countries that are primarily located in South Asia (Afghanistan (only central Asian country,joined in 2005), Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka). - Secretariat is based in Kathmandu, Nepal. - aim to promote welfare economics, collective self-reliance among the countries of South Asia, and to accelerate socio-cultural development in the region The 18th summit meeting of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) is to be held in Kathmandu from November 22 to 27. Present status - more or less ineffective because heads of state get together every once in a while, there is no significant two-way flow of ideas, resources, trade or people between any two countries in the region, let alone among all SAARC member states. Present Utility- can solve problems that are beyond the capabilities of individual

member and require a joint, region-wide approach. The world is far more interconnected than it was in 1985, for better and for worse. Resources, people, and perhaps most crucially, information flows on an unprecedented scale through borders. Some of these flows have the potential to dramatically enhance well-being while others threaten to produce disastrous consequences. The speed with which they move puts them beyond the control of any single nation state. Take the growth of the murderous philosophy of the Islamic State; even the United States has admitted that it was surprised by the rapidity with which the group has emerged. Stringent border controls may serve to filter out “bad” flows some of the time, but they cannot be effective all of the time for e.g. migration from Bangladesh to India, drug smuggling from Afghanistan via Pakistan to Punjab But if stringent border patrols are only partially effective in curtailing the flow of things with “bad” consequences, it actively discourages flows with “good” consequences. Harsh patrolling deters trade and the movement of ordinary people from place to place. Both of these flows could help the economies of countries on both sides of the border grow. Again, if the countries had the ability to rapidly access and share information about the movement of people and goods, the need for such rigorous patrolling of the border would diminish. Resources could be deployed more effectively to places where its presence was actually necessary. Without impediment, relations between people on opposite sides of the border – economic, social and cultural – could flourish.

In recent years, South Asian heads of state

have tried to transform SAARC from a

marginal player into a proactive force within

the region. The formation of South Asian

University, and the introduction of free

trade regimes like SAFTA and SAPTA are

example initiatives. Recently, SAARC

members have agreed on the need to open

a regional bank. While all of these are

important steps in achieving regional

cooperation, they won’t get very far if there

is, as is the case today, a trust deficit among

the countries. Member countries are not

willing to be fair or open with one another.

Trade and cooperation can only really occur

in an atmosphere of trust, which in turn

cannot be created overnight.

Sharing information about issues that

concern the region is one way SAARC

members could begin to bridge this trust

deficit. Once cooperation on this crucial but

neglected area begins, it could facilitate

cooperation in other areas. Equally

importantly, South Asian countries need to

trust SAARC. They need to appreciate that

they have created an institution that could

truly lead to wider cooperation between

member states and that, by marginalizing it,

they only hurt themselves. http://thediplomat.com/2014/10/the-saarc-a-bloc-whose-time-has-come/ http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/South_Asian_Association_for_Regional_Cooperation More on SAARC - South Asian Free Trade Area SAFTA was envisaged primarily as the first step towards the transition to a South Asian Free Trade Area (SAFTA) leading subsequently towards a Customs Union, Common Market and Economic Union.The SAFTA Agreement was signed on 6 January 2004 during Twelfth SAARC Summit held in Islamabad, Pakistan. The Agreement entered into force on 1 January 2006, and the Trade Liberalisation Programme commenced from 1 July 2006. Under this agreement, SAARC members will bring their duties down to 20 per cent by 2009. Following the Agreement coming into force the SAFTA Ministerial Council (SMC) has been established comprising the Commerce Ministers of the Member States.

SAARC Visa Exemption Scheme - launched in 1992 - certain categories of dignitaries entitled to a Special Travel document exempted from visas within the region. - Council of Ministers regularly kept under review the list of entitled categories. - list included 24 categories of entitled persons, which include Dignitaries, Judges of higher courts, Parliamentarians, Senior Officials, Businessmen, Journalists, Sportsmen etc. - Visa Stickers are issued by the respective Member States to the entitled categories of that particular country. The validity of the Visa Sticker is generally for one year. Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank - Established at Beijing along with 21 other member countries, including India - a new and a highly significant financial institution emerged on the geo-strategic horizon of Asia - to boost economic development and regional economic cooperation by supporting investment in infrastructure and other projects in Asian countries. * Reason behind it while World bank and Asian development is already there - 1. Bcz neither World bank nor ADB are in a position to cater to the rising demands of Asian countries for infrastructure funding. 2. Some countries also sees the establishment of the AIIB as an attempt by China to pull South- East Asian countries closer to its orbit and a soft-power play that promises economic benefits while refurbishing its image among its Asian neighbours. US response - US is against AIIB since the inception of idea 1. has criticized AIIB as a ‘deliberate effort to undercut’ the World Bank and the Asian Development Bank; international financial institutions that are dominated by the United States and Japan. 2. new bank would ‘fail to meet environmental standards, procurement requirements and other safeguards adopted

by the World Bank and the Asian Development Bank, including protection intended to prevent the forced removal of vulnerable populations from their lands. 3. US think that this move will attract other countries especially S-E Asian countries towards China However the geo-strategic implications of this move, despite strenuous US opposition, should not be lost.

The 'One-India Policy' Needs More Thought Indian Foreign Minister Sushma Swaraj’s recent articulation of the One-India Policy finally gave official expression to India’s long-held suspicion that its friendly geopolitical concessions and gestures toward the People’s Republic of China (PRC) have gone unrequited.If this thought can become inherent in India’s China policy, it would indeed mark a significant departure. However, the government needs to flesh out some more details for the thought to become policy. It should have a clear perspective on whether it wants to put forward the One-India Policy with respect to India’s China policy only, or if it wants to make it the general framework of a more confident foreign policy. India has consistently maintained that China never truly appreciated India’s swift change of recognition from the Republic of China (ROC) to the PRC in 1949; its championing of China’s entry into the UN; its surrender of extra-territorial rights inherited from the British Indian government in Tibet to China; and its refusal to join the U.S. and its allies in isolating China after the Tiananmen Square episode. India in return complains that China has maintained ambiguity with regard to the Kashmir dispute between India and Pakistan, even during the heyday of the India-China friendship in the 1950s; it has propped up a nuclear Pakistan against India

and essentially follows a balance of power approach towards India in South Asia, East Asia and Central Asia; and it has been less than forthcoming in supporting India in its fight against terrorism. Contrary to the PRC’s One-China Policy, the One-India Policy is still just a thought, not policy. The One-China Policy stems from China’s domestic political context – more precisely from the Chinese Civil War. The One-China Policy is not about the existing boundaries of the PRC. It is about China’s claim over Taiwan and its refusal to accept the existence of the ROC. Support for the policy is a precondition for any country that might want to have diplomatic relations with the PRC; Beijing refuses to countenance any simultaneous recognition of the PRC and the ROC. And China has been successful in getting the world to accept its policy, with the exception of some 22 small Pacific Island, Latin American and African countries that still recognize the ROC as a sovereign nation. International organizations, membership of which requires statehood, are closed to Taiwan. India has no comparable political context. It is largely content with its territory after the partition in 1947. Within the existing boundaries of the Union of India, the government’s writ is nearly ubiquitous. There are no claimants to state power outside the constitution, with the possible yet negligible exception of the ultra-leftist Maoist rebels (Naxals). For many, Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (POK) would be a reference point for the One-India Policy, in view of the Chinese presence in the area. Both houses of Indian parliament passed a resolution in 1994 demanding that Pakistan vacate its occupied territory in Jammu and Kashmir. Yet India has made virtually no military or diplomatic effort to regain the territory either before or after the resolution. But if New Delhi were to use the POK as a reference point for its One-India Policy, would it do so only in its relations with

China, or with other countries too? Would it object to the presence of other countries in the POK? To what extent can India make recognition of its claim on POK a pre-condition for good relations? A host of countries that deem Kashmir a dispute between India and Pakistan choose to use phrases such as “India-administered Kashmir,” and do not show the POK as part of India on their maps. What would be the implications of making POK the touchstone for the One-India Policy for India-Pakistan relations? As for Chinese claims on Indian territories, what would be the policy objective of the One-India Policy? Would India harden its position on the boundary issue? Would it shun a negotiated settlement? Would it revise its policy on Tibet and Taiwan? And, what exactly would the One-India Policy expect from the international community regarding India’s boundary dispute with China? Another aspect of the One-India Policy could be to ensure international support for India’s fight against terrorism. In that case, the policy should be more geared toward countries to the west of India. This is where the larger international terrorist problem originates from, and where it receives most of its support. These are difficult questions that will need to be resolved for this idea to graduate to a One-India Policy. A clear enunciation of the context and objectives is essential if it is to resonate within the international community. Otherwise, it will remain a vague concept, an emotional response, and a non-starter.

Kerala Piravi

Kerala Piravi marks the birth of the state of

Kerala in India. The state of Kerala was created

on November 1, 1956. November 1 is therefore

known as Kerala Piravi Dinam (day) in the state.

Malayalees around the world celebrate

November 1 as Kerala Piravi, which in

Malayalam "the birthday of Kerala".

Kerala, the southernmost state of India, was

formed long after Indian independence on 15

August 1947. Prior to that date it was three

independent provinces named Malabar, Cochin

and Travancore. Kerala originally got its name

after the first ruler, Keralian Thamboran, who

ruled one of these independent provinces

earlier in the millennia. But some historians say

that the name 'Kerala' comes from "kera",

which means coconut tree which is widely seen

in the region.

1st Nov 2014

PM to Secretaries of Union Government:

"We are one team. Let us bring openness

in Governance, come closer and work

together." (Pehle paas paas aaiye; phir

saath saath chaliye)

"Come up with innovative ideas and

suggestions."

The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi,

called upon Secretaries of the Union

Government to work together and

decisively to build upon the momentum and

positive atmosphere generated in the first

five months of the new Government.

He encouraged Secretaries to come up with

new ideas and proposals for the

forthcoming Union Budget. He asked all

Government departments to pre-pone

budget related processes by three months,

so that the moment a new financial year

begins on April 1st, work could begin as per

the provisions of the new Budget in real-

time. He also called for shifting Government

emphasis from output to outcome.

He assured them that there would be no

political interference and asked Secretaries

to work fearlessly in the interest of the

nation. This was the second such interaction

that the Prime Minister had with

Secretaries, the first being on June 4th this

year. More than 80 Secretary-level officers

were present at the interaction.

PM chairs meeting of the National

Committee for Commemoration of 125th

Birth Anniversary of Pt. Jawaharlal Nehru

PM: Celebrations should be conducted in

such a way that the common man becomes

a part of them

The Prime Minister expressed hope that the

entire set of activities would be conducted

in such a way that the common man

became a part of the celebrations. The

Prime Minister said this opportunity must

be used to increase awareness about

"Chacha Nehru" among the younger

generation, and seek inspiration from his

life and work.

The Prime Minister highlighted the

proposed "Bal Swachhta Mission" to be

organized in schools across the country

between 14th and 19th November and

proposal to celebrate the 125th anniversary

of Shri Nehru as "Year of Bal Swachhta." He

also said "promotion of scientific temper

among children" would be a prominent

objective of the celebrations. The Prime

Minister invited suggestions on these and

any other related subjects.

Haryana Day

Haryana was carved out of the Indian

state of Punjab on 1st November 1966.

This state was formed on the

recommendation of the Sardar Hukam

Singh Parliamentary Committee. The

formation of this committee was

announced in the Parliament on 23

September 1965. On 23 April, 1966,

acting on the recommendation of the

Hukam Singh Committee, the Indian

government set up the Shah Commission

under the chairmanship of Justice J. C.

Shah, to divide and set up the boundaries

of Punjab and Haryana.

The commission gave its report on 31

May, 1966. According to this report the

districts of Hissar, Mahendergarh,

Gurgaon, Rohtak, and Karnal were to be a

part of the new state of Haryana. Further

the Tehsils of Jind (district Sangrur),

Narwana (district Sangrur) Naraingarh,

Ambala and Jagadhari were also included.

Kannada Rajyotsava

Kannada Rajyotsava (Kannada: ಕನ್ನಡ ರಾಜ ್ಯೋತ್ಸವ; Karnataka

Formation Day; literally "Birth of the Karnataka state") is

celebrated on 1 November every year. This was the day in 1956

when all the Kannada language-speaking regions of South India

were merged to form the state of Karnataka.

The Rajyotsava day is listed as a government holiday in the state

of Karnataka and is celebrated by Kannadigas across the world.

Commemorative coins on Pt. Nehru will be

released as part of the celebrations.

Radha Mohan Singh stresses need of taking

Indian Agriculture to newer heights

He has said that Indian scientists have great

potential and they can take the agriculture

to a new horizon.

Agriculture Minister stressed upon various

new initiatives being taken by the

government to push up Indian agriculture

further to new heights including over all

development of villages to bring prosperity.

Steps are being taken to strengthen

infrastructure of the KVKs spread across

the country including significant increase in

their numbers.

Illegal Wildlife Products to be incinerated

at National Zoological Park tomorrow

Sustainable use of biodiversity is essential

for the survival of mankind and is an

imperative for sustainable development.

Adhering to this perspective, as a step to

encourage conservation of wildlife, Central

Zoo Authority under the aegis of Ministry of

Environment, Forests and Climate Change

will be destroying illegal wildlife articles

tomorrow at National Zoological Park.

Highlighting the importance of protection of

biodiversity, particularly wildlife, illegal

wildlife products will be consigned to flames

in the incinerator at the National Zoological

Park

Unethical and unjustified use of products of

various animals and plants, often based on

unjustified and unethical reasons has been a

factor flaming illegal activities like poaching,

smuggling and illegal wildlife trade. In order

to curb this unethical behaviour, the law

enforcing agencies all over the world

including India have been putting in serious

efforts in combating the wildlife crimes and

have seized a large number of wildlife

products resulting from unlawful activities.

The exercise is an attempt to deplore the

The Finance Commission

The Finance Commission of India came into existence in

1951. It was established under Article 280 of the Indian

Constitution by the President of India. It was formed to

define the financial relations between the centre and the

state. The Finance Commission Act of 1951 states the terms

of qualification, appointment and disqualification, the term,

eligibility and powers of the Finance Commission. As per the

Constitution, the commission is appointed every five years

and consists of a chairman and four other members. Since

the institution of the first finance commission, stark changes

have occurred in the Indian economy causing changes in the

macroeconomic scenario. This has led to major changes in

the Finance Commission's recommendations over the years.

Till date, Thirteen Finance Commissions have submitted

their reports.

The Fourteenth Finance Commission has been set up under

the Chairmanship of Dr. Y.V.Reddy [Former Governor

Reserve Bank of India].

unethical, indiscriminate and mostly

unlawful activities of harvest and trade of

wildlife products.

It would be a step in appreciating the efforts

of various law enforcing agencies like forest

and wildlife departments, wildlife crime

control bureau, police, customs and many

others who have contributed immensely for

the cause of protection of biodiversity.

Term of the Fourteenth Finance

Commission Extended by Two Months up

to 31st December, 2014

The proposal of extension of time period by

two (2) months for submission of report by

the Fourteenth Finance Commission has

been considered and approved by the

Cabinet on 29th October, 2014. Accordingly,

the President of India, on 31st October,

2014 has issued order for extension of time

for the Fourteenth Finance Commission by

two (2) months up to 31st December, 2014.

Shilpotsav 2014 begins

Shilpostav 2014, the annual fair of artisans

from across the country, belonging to the

weaker sections of the society, began at Dilli

Haat in New Delhi and it will continue till

10th Nov 2014.

The Ministry of Social Justice &

Empowerment is working towards

empowering marginalized and

disadvantaged artisans and in continuance

of this Shilpostav 2014 has been organized.

There are 160 stalls where in artisans

assisted by the Apex corporations i.e.

National Backward Classes Finance &

Development Corporation (NBCFDC),

National Scheduled Caste Finance &

Development Corporation (NSFDC),

National Handicapped Finance &

Development Corporation (NHFDC),

National Safai Karamchari Finance &

Development Corporation (NSKFDC) and

National Trust will display and sell their

products. The National Organizations under

the Ministry is also showcasing their

schemes and facilities.

The range of products in this fair includes -

silk sarees, durries, readymade garments,

terracotta product, jute products, dress

material, kashmiri shawls/stoles, leather,

cane & bamboo products, hand embroidery,

bead products, pearls, imitation jewellery,

lakh products, decorative candles, wood

carving, block printing, wooden toys, tie &

dye, wood, marble artifacts, handloom etc.

Venkaiah Naidu Calls for Three Pronged

Strategy to Realize the Goal of Clean India

While Reviewing the Implementation of

Swachh Bharat Mission

M. Venkaiah Naidu has called for a three-

pronged strategy to realize the goal of Clean

India which should include sustained

campaign – continue the chain of nine;

focus more on behavioural change -

encourage voluntary public participation;

and to recognize ULBs, NGOs and Private

Sector contributing significantly to the

success of the Mission.

The Minister reviewed implementation of

the Swachh Bharat Mission in national

capital.The Minister strongly felt that every

socially conscious citizen and public

representative should be persuaded to

make nine people to take up the task of

campaigning for Swachh Bharat and each

one of them should pass on to nine others

to keep the campaign going. We should

rope in not only social but also spiritual and

religious leaders for this campaign.

Respectable persons from the society also

have to be brought in to spread the core

message of this campaign.

MCDs and DDA should meet twice a week

to sort out the issues which are hindering

the solid waste management in the capital.

Local bodies should be involved to get

feedback on regular basis. The Minister said

all hospitals should be fumigated

periodically at least once a fortnight. Orders

for mandatory recycling of waste by

government bodies should be issued.

The Minister said all officers should get

together once a week for taking up Clean

India Mission. He said all Municipal

Corporations should prepare action plans

for the construction of toilets/Dhalaos in

slums/JJ colonies. The Minister directed that

Dhalaos should be cleaned regularly and

details of private agencies involved in the

task should be in public domain

The Minister suggested that all police

stations should prepare action plans for

cleanliness of police stations and their

residential areas.

The officers at every level should take note

of complaints and feedback from the media,

particularly the social media, relating to lack

of sanitation, act upon them and take

remedial measures as quickly as possible.

He suggested that private sector should also

be roped in Swachh Bhrat Mission as part of

its Corporate Social Responsibility.

Shri Naidu felt that the most important

aspect for the campaign should be to

create Swachh Manasikata (Clean

Mindset). Awareness among the people

should be created that the country is theirs

and that they have to do their bit by

developing a sense of belongingness and

responsibility and by keeping their

surroundings clean. He said that the

campaign will be successful only if it is

converted into a Jan Aandolan (public

movement). The idea of imposing fines on

people who litter their surroundings leading

to sanitation problems, can be thought of at

a later stage.

3rd Nov 2014

Rashtrapati Bhavan invites applications for

second batch of Innovation Scholars In-

Residence Programme

Rashtrapati Bhavan invites application for

the second batch of Innovation Scholars In-

Residence Programme.

The Innovation Scholars In-Residence

Scheme was launched by the President of

India on December 11, 2013 with a view to

promoting the spirit of innovation and

giving further impetus to grassroots

innovation activities. The main objective of

the Scheme is to provide an environment to

grassroots innovators in Rashtrapati Bhavan

to work on a project in hand and take their

innovative ideas forward. It also aims to

provide them with linkages to technical

institutions to strengthen their capacity to

innovate and to provide mentoring and

support so that the innovations can be used

for the progress and welfare of society.

The inauguration of the ASSOCHAM

Summit on livelihood security

ASSOCHAM’s summit on "Livelihood

Security: Realizing the vision for 1.3 billion

Indians”

Speaking on the occasion, the President said

that there is a compelling need to provide

livelihood security to those in the lower

rungs of the socio-economic ladder.

Additionally, there is a binding obligation to

realize the dreams of the aspirational

generation of young Indians.

All these, when India with 2.4 percent of the

world’s geographical area has seventeen

percent of its population, pose formidable

challenge. At this Meet, he anticipated an

honest appraisal of issues concerning

livelihood security and expects solutions

that will guide policy makers.

The President said that livelihood security is

incomplete without the provision of social

security. To make a decisive change in the

livelihood security of Indians, the challenges

are many and time limited. But he was

certain that with the combined efforts of all

stakeholders – government, industry, non-

governmental agencies and the community

at large – we will be able to extend to our

countrymen enormous livelihood prospects.

The industry can create mechanisms for

income opportunities and capacity building

under CSR initiatives mandated by the

Companies Act of 2013. He expressed the

hope that the Summit would discuss issues

threadbare and make recommendations in

the right perspective.

Government to establish Centre for Zoo

Sciences soon - Prakash Javadekar

Minister inaugurates the five day

Conference of World Association of Zoos

and Aquariums (WAZA)

Minister for Environment, Forest & Climate

Change, said that the Government of India

would be establishing a Centre of Zoo

Sciences at New Delhi in due course for

which the modalities were being worked

out. The purpose for establishing such an

institution would be to bring about a

turnaround in the functioning of the zoos

in the country, infuse scientific and

technical culture in the present system and

make the zoos more visitors friendly. The

proposed institution would act as a

Technical Advisor to the Central Zoo

Authority and to provide expert help to the

States and UTs in ex-situ conservation

breeding of endangered species, and

organize training courses for in-service zoo

personnel and stakeholders in India as well

as for zoo personnel of South Asian

countries. The Minister stated this while

delivering his inaugural address at the 69th

Annual Conference of World Association of

Zoos and Aquariums (WAZA).

The World Association of Zoos and

Aquariums (WAZA) is the "umbrella"

organization for the world zoo and

aquarium community. Its mission is to

provide leadership and support for zoos,

aquariums, and partner organizations of

the world in animal care and welfare,

conservation of biodiversity,

environmental education and global

sustainability.

Please refer to Wiki

Elaborating further the theme of the

Conference “Bio-diversity is Us” was quite

appropriate for India, a land of diverse

habitat eco-system, culture, religion,

tradition, language and food. This was also

manifested in the country’s cultural

tradition that preserved about 13,270

secret groves across the country by the

people. India with only 2.4% of the World’s

land area was home to 7-8% of the World’s

bio-diversity spanning across 91,000

species of animals and 45,000 species of

plants. It also had four of the 34 globally

identified biodiversity hotspots, supports

about 50% of the world’s tiger population

and 60% of Asian elephant and rhino

population including the only surviving

population of the Asiatic lion.

World Association of Zoos and Aquariums

(WAZA) has organized this five day

Conference to initiate discussions and

create public awareness about preserving

bio-diversity and contributing towards

achieving Aichi targets for Global

Biodiversity Conservation.

“Quality and Quantity not mutually

exclusive”

Dr Harsh Vardhan asks health officials to

uphold idea of Swachh Bharat

The government would institutionalise a

regulatory authority with full powers to

oversee all-round quality standards

enforcement and consumer protection

under the National Health Assurance

Mission (NHAM).

Key to the new culture would be

implementation of “Swacch Bharat”, the

Prime Minister’s vision of a society which is

intolerant to decay and apathy launched on

October 2, the Health Minister stated.

Highlighted the critical importance of

institutionalising quality assurance in

delivering of health service, including the

service and technical/clinical quality. The

Health Secretary stated that a “Medical

Audit”, not for punitive action, but for

learning from the mistakes and correcting

the system, is also need of the hour. In

addition, he laid stress on regular

monitoring of services through Key

Performance Indicators (KPIs) which may be

reviewed through field visits and review

meetings.

Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh to

attend third Interpol Ministerial Meeting

and General Assembly

The Union Home Minister, Shri Rajnath

Singh has left for Monaco to attend the

third Interpol Ministerial Meeting and

General Assembly from November 03-07,

2014.

The agenda of the third Interpol Ministerial

Meeting is ‘Turn Back Crime: 100 years of

International Police Cooperation’. First

Interpol Ministerial Meeting was held at

Singapore on October 11-12, 2009 and its

agenda was ‘To Strengthen the Role of

Police in Peacekeeping Operations’. The

second Interpol Ministerial Meeting was

held at Rome, Italy on November 05-08,

2012 with the agenda of ‘Changes for

Police Facing Contemporary Criminal

Violence’.

Widespread use of Internet an instance of

Indians’ adaptive skills: Prakash Javadekar

Minister launches Indian Language Internet

Alliance (ILIA) by Google and Internet

Industry Partners

Minister for Information & Broadcasting,

said the adaptive style and skills of people

had successfully ensured the perfect

blending between technology use and the

masses at large. The Indian mindset with its

ingrained adaptive skills ensured the prolific

use of technology across different sectors.

The widespread use of internet and mobile

phone was a good instance of technology

blending with the needs and requirements

of people related to information use.

The rise of internet was not a threat to

traditional media platforms as all sectors of

media had been growing rapidly and

simultaneously along with the Internet.

Indian Language Internet Alliance(ILIA), the

support of the government with key policy

initiatives that would enable faster growth

of Internet and mobile based services.

As the first initiative of the Indian Language

Internet Alliance, the Minister launched the

website www.hindiweb.com, which would

be a platform for Hindi speaking internet

users to discover Hindi content across

websites, apps, videos and blogs. The new

initiative would expedite good quality

online-content generation in Indian

languages and that it would provide an

inclusive platform for non-English speaking

users to break language-barriers and access

online information easily.

Indian Language Internet Alliance(ILIA),a

consortium of 18 Internet industry partners

along with Google, was committed to

promote the growth of Indic-language

content online which would enable 300

million Indian language speakers to

become highly engaged in internet by

2017.

Ministry of MSME and ILO sign MoU to

support the Government’s Make in India

programme

The Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium

Enterprises and the International Labour

Organization signed a Memorandum of

Understanding. The Secretary, MSME

welcomed and expressed hope for greater

synergies between the stake holder. He

further added that the MoU will form the

basis for a technical partnership with the

primary objective of creating more and

better quality employment in India. Its

activities will be focused around three

priority areas; entrepreneurship

development, good workplace practices for

improving productivity and enhancing

integration into global supply chains, and

research and knowledge-building related

to sustainable enterprises and

formalization strategies.

The MOU is initially for a 5-year period and

will support the Government’s “Make in

India” programme.

Shilpotsav provides opportunity to the

artisans for interaction with potential

buyers and exporters says Minister for

Social Justice & Empowerment

The Minister for Social Justice &

Empowerment visited Shilpotsav the

annual fair of artisan from across the

country. Shilpotsav provides an opportunity

for creating awareness among the general

public and the target group in particular

about the variety of activities pursued by

the beneficiaries under various schemes of

Apex Corporations and National Institutes.

It also spread the message of poverty

alleviation through concessional finance and

marketing linkages. In addition to providing

social justice to the people through

economic empowerment, that Finance

Corporations are doing their best to provide

marketing platform to the artisans. Such

events provide information about

developmental programmes and

opportunity to the artisans for interaction

with potential buyers and exporters.

M. Venkaiah Naidu makes a Commitment

to Support APMCHUD in the Plenary of

APMCHUD Conference at Seoul

Shri Venkaiah Naidu, Minister of Urban

Development and Housing & Urban Poverty

Alleviation made a commitment to support

APMCHUD during the Plenary of APMCHUD

Conference at Seoul. He indicated that India

is committed to provide its full support to

the APMCHUD’s initiatives and India agrees

with the decision of APMCHUD that

strengthening the Secretariat to undertake

multifarious activities is an urgent necessity,

and is in the interest of the APMCHUD

movement. In addition, India is also

considering to provide an initial one time

contribution, to enable the Secretariat

function in a full-fledged manner.

In his address to the Ministerial Conference

Shri Venkaiah Naidu indicated that the

countries in the Asia-Pacific region have

exhibited moderate to significant level of

economic growth in the recent past, and

the region has presented itself as an

Economic Power-house. The pro-active

policies of the Governments, the

willingness of the entire population and

particularly the youth to put-in hard

efforts, the high level of technical

expertise, a significant level of

improvements in the infrastructure and

social development status, have all

together resulted in a substantial

improvement in economic status with a

higher level of internal and foreign direct

investments in many Asia Pacific countries.

In many countries, the major cities play the

role of backbone of their economies. A

significant level of the GDP of many

countries is contributed by the urban

settlement systems, in Asia Pacific

countries.

The increasing economic dynamism and

growing urbanization levels is also

associated with increasing levels of

unacceptable human conditions in the cities

in many countries. Proliferation of slums

and informal settlements, increasing traffic

congestion on city roads, higher densities

and dilapidated conditions in city centre,

significant decline in overall hygienic

conditions are some of the manifestations

of the inability of the urban settlements to

keep pace with the emerging situation.

About 60% of the entire human population

has been estimated to be residing in the

Asia-Pacific countries, and by 2030, the

region would accommodate more than half

of the world’s urban population. The region

is also assessed to accommodate about 60%

of the world’s poor people, and about 40 to

50 per cent of the urban population in the

region is assessed to be living in slums, slum

like conditions and informal settlements.

The recommendations of the International

Conference organised by India on the

theme of Urban and Rural Planning and

Management was presented before the

plenary of APMCHUD on 3rd November,

2014 at Seoul. The major recommendations

were as under:

I. Approaches to Urban and Rural

Planning and Management in Asia Pacific

Region.

1) The urban centres in the countries of

Asia-Pacific region are playing the role of

generators of economic growth momentum

and act as the backbone of the economy of

their respective countries.

2) In the context of the rapid

urbanization, need to place human

settlements planning appropriately in the

realm of development planning.

3) The planning process need to be

reoriented towards being `bottom’ driven

and participatory, rather than `top’ driven

and expert oriented.

4) The role of the Governments in most

of the countries appears to be changing

from actual `delivery’ to being `facilitators’.

While this approach may be appropriate,

the Governments will have much increased

role in the era of privatization/globalisation

by way of regulating and addressing the

requirements of the urban poor.

5) There is also a need to enlarge the

platform from Public Private Partnership

(PPP) to Public Private People Partnership

(PPPP). The essential role of the

Governments should be to achieve a

balance between social costs and private

benefits, and social benefits and private

costs.

6) In the emerging context, the Metros

and Mega Cities will need to focus on

efforts to reduce the consumption of land,

water and energy.

7) Metro and Mega Cities shall also be

required to reorient or evolve an urban

form capable to incorporate renewed

planning so as to make way for ever

changing technology, transport and

business.

8) Integration of land use and public

transport should be a focus area and cities

need to be restructured in accordance with

the same.

9) Each country would review the

efficiency, applicability of the same

especially in view of operationalization and

implementation of the plans, environmental

issues, hazard prone areas as well as issues

connected with urban poor.

10) Small and Island Nations need to

focus their planning efforts, inter-alia, in

relation to the environmental sensitivity

issues including impact of climate change,

and the planning paradigm needs to shift to

focus additional and centre-stage such

critical issues of long term in nature.

11) Disaster preparedness should be a

focus area of human settlement planning.

Every planning effort should essentially

incorporate, in relation to the anticipated

natural calamities, the context based

response mechanism and avenues.

II : Inclusive Planning and Practices

1) The Human Settlements planning

should be `people centric’ rather than

‘project and space centric’.

2) The planning process should be

`inclusive’ by adequately recognizing the

role of `informal sector and settlements’

and should follow a `city-wide approach’.

3) The human settlements planning

should be sensitive to the requirements of

all the sections of the society and

particularly the women, children,

differently-abled, and such other socially

disadvantaged, and the planning efforts and

outputs should be responsive and

incorporate provisions that address such

special requirements.

4) The human settlements planning

process should be `pro-active’ in

anticipating the growth dynamics and its

expected impact on city structure and form,

and accordingly incorporate futuristic

provisions for urban poor and vulnerable

sections.

5) Need to evolve a range of options for

shelter delivery, in tune with the

affordability of the anticipated sections of

the society. Feasibility of incorporating

provisions such as reservation of land and

housing in major development projects for

the urban poor need a special focus.

6) Access to basic services to all sections

of the city should be the core objective of all

planned efforts, with focus on sanitation,

health and education services.

7) The planning process must recognize

the locational association in terms of work-

residence relationship, and accordingly,

accommodate the same while considering

any urban renewal effort.

8) The planning process should recognize

the contributory role of the urban poor, in

the city’s function and economy, and need

to incorporate provisions that would

facilitate their integration in the urban

society.

9) The local culture need to be used as a

tool for harnessing support and cooperation

of the local community.

10) The planning efforts must ensure the

preservation of culturally rich cities and the

cultural identify of cities, and focus on

preservation and conservation of the

cultural heritage of such cities and their

value enhancement.

III. Urban-Rural Continuum - Imperatives

of Integrated Planned Development

1) The planning process must recognize

that human settlements are like organisms

and they tend to grow within a socio-

economic and cultural milieu. Thus, the

existing complementary relationship in the

resource flow and interaction between the

urban and the rural hinterland should form

the basis for integrated planning.

2) Asia Pacific countries need to

incorporate a regional settlement

development framework in their human

settlements planning effort.

3) The planning of large cities should

essentially be on a larger regional canvas to

facilitate development in a regional

resource framework.

4) In the context of rapid urbanization, it

is imperative that if the planning process is

not responsive, the per-urban areas would

face haphazard development.

5) There is an increasing tendency for

large scale space intensive and also

polluting activities getting located in the

urban fringe areas in most cities of the

countries. The planning process must be

sensitive towards this issue to ensure that

the fragile fringe areas do not become

dumping yards for the large cities.

6) The planning efforts need to ensure

strengthening the connectivity of the

mother city and its region, towards

facilitating spatial disbursal of

unmanageable growth from the city, and

also facilitating the ‘deprived’ periphery to

attract activities.

IV: Land-related issues in Urban and Rural

Planning and Management

1) A more democratic approach towards

land acquisition and development to

minimize the need for conversion of

agricultural land for urbanization and

controlling the urban sprawl by optimum

densities, intensive development and

decentralization.

2) Toward the same, an inclusive land

policy and participatory planning effort,

where in-situ rehabilitation can be done by

using land as a resource needs to form part

of City Planning process.

3) In the context of land become a scarce

commodity in cities for organized

development, innovative land pooling, re-

adjustment and development models,

deserves examination for suitable adoption

and adaption.

4) A hybrid Land Policy to suit various

types of development may be adopted by

synergizing the resources of both public and

private sectors. Such a land policy may have

a combination of modes such as compulsory

land acquisition through cash/alternative

land allotment, development rights, FAR/FSI

and Land Pooling. The infrastructure

development can be financed through

various monetization modes such as

conversion charges, FAR charges,

Betterment Levy, etc.

5) Public Private Partnership in Land

development initiatives covering land

acquisition, development and disposal, may

be encouraged and prerequisites for

implementing Public-Private-Participation in

Land Policy should be in place before hand.

Simplification of all regulations and

procedures concerning land management,

guaranteeing more transparency and

cheaper land administration, better

information base, like MIS enabled GIS,

computerization of land records and

inventory of land need to be done.

6) A strong legal and regulatory

framework would be necessary for

enhancing the participation of the private

sector in development of land. Innovations

like land sharing, one-window approval,

permitting Transferable Development

Rights, fiscal incentives for private sector

development, etc. would go a long way in

making PPP in land development a success.

7) Incorporation of `Informal Sector’ in

planned development by earmarking

`hawking Zones’,sites for `weekly markets’,

new areas for informal trades and

involvement of NGOs, etc. is very relevant

for most Asia Pacific countries and require

attention.

8) In the context of rapid growth of cities,

the urban land need to be appropriately

organized and utilized towards adequately

meeting the financial requirements for

implementation of the city plan.

V. Tools, Technologies and Capacity

Building for Urban and Rural Planning and

Management

1) By using Spatial Data Infrastructure

(SDI) in convergence with Geographic

Information System (GIS) techniques

accurate information on environment and

infrastructure resources could be collected

and maintained in data bank at

country/state/district/block/ward/slum

level.

2) The successful use of Spatial Data

Infrastructure (SDI) in governance and

development will depend upon

pervasiveness of the basic Information

Communication Technology (ICT)

infrastructure. SDI and GIS techniques

should be effectively utilized in

preparedness of disaster management

programme.

3) It is necessary to strengthen the

planning education structure and network

in all the countries, to have adequate and

trained personnel in the field of sustainable

development of human settlements at

large.

4) Planning is a process, and there is a

need to ensure a continuing effort for

capacity building of the personnel involved.

5) For capacity building of urban

managers, Exchange Programmes for city

mayors/officials of ULBs need to be

introduced between countries of Asia-

Pacific region.

6) Institutions imparting training in

innovative planning techniques need to be

identified in countries of the Asia- Pacific

region.

7) For exchange of technical know-how

of tools and technologies in planning and

management, an Asia Pacific Alliance for

urban and rural managers could be

constituted.

8) An award for `the most liveable and

inclusive city’ could be introduced/initiated

with seed money being provided by

member countries.

4th Nov 2014

Railway Minister Launches a Book “Art & Railways – A Bangalore Saga” Written by Railway Officers This is the First Book Published by National Rail Museum SAFAR – Support and Appreciation for Art

and Railways – was a movement launched

by Bangalore Division. as a part of its effort

to promote art and bring it closer to the

people. Set against the sights, sounds,

colours and flavours of a Railway station,

quintessentially the microcosm of India,

four Art Camps, including a Rail Cartoon

camp, were held at the Bangalore City

Railway station in 2011 – 2012. Several

Karnataka based nationally and

internationally acclaimed artists

participated in these camps producing

precious Railway themed artworks and

cartoons. These artworks were

subsequently displayed in the specially

created Rail Art and Rail Cartoon galleries

open for public viewing. SAFAR blends the

artist’s journey through varied life

experiences with the infinite journeys that

Railways affords in both real and

metaphorical senses across the nation’s

prismatic landscapes and cultural mores. It

was therefore deemed befitting by the

National Rail Museum to publish this Coffee

Table book on the 160th anniversary of the

Indian Railways.

The India-Russia Working Group on Culture

and Tourism Meets

The two sides agreed to hold the following activities and 2015: · To hold Festival of India in Russia in Russian Federation in 2015. · To renew the Cultural Exchange Programme 2015-2018 · To strengthen links with Roerich International Memorial Trust in the village of Naggar in Kullu Valley. · To provide assistance in the development of direct ties and contacts between the Prasar Bharati and the All Russian State Television and Radio Company.

5th November 2014 Treaty on transfer of sentenced persons between India and Nigeria The Cabinet today at the meeting chaired by the Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi gave its approval for signing a treaty on transfer of sentenced persons between India and Nigeria. Signing of the treaty shall facilitate Indian prisoners imprisoned in Nigeria or vice-versa to be near their families, for serving the remaining part of their sentence and shall facilitate their social rehabilitation. Background:

Prior to 2004, there was no domestic legislation under which foreign prisoners could be transferred to the country of their origin, to serve the remaining part of their sentence, nor was there a provision for the transfer of prisoners of Indian origin convicted by a foreign court to serve their sentence in India. Hence the Repatriation of Prisoners Act, 2003 (hereinafter referred as Act) was enacted for serving this purpose. For achieving the objectives of the Act, a treaty/agreement is required to be signed with countries having mutual interest with India and later to be notified in the Official Gazette. Government reconstitutes the Prime Minister's Council on Climate Change The Government has decided to re-constitute the Prime Minister`s Council on Climate Changeto coordinate National Action for Assessment, Adaptation and Mitigation of Climate Change. The Committee would focus on the following tasks: · Evolve a coordinated response to issues relating to climate change at the national level; · Provide oversight for formulation of action plans in the area of assessment, adaptation and mitigation of climate change; · Periodically monitor key policy decisions. Union Home Minister calls for strengthening of strategies to deal with cyber crimes The Union Home Minister congratulated the Interpol on attaining its centenary status and appreciated the efforts towards international cooperation from all the member countries to turn back the crime. He cited the Indian philosophy ‘Vasudhaiv

Kutumbakam’- the whole world is a family. He said that India believes in the well being of the whole world alongside its own. of the good people”. Shri Rajnath Singh underlined the role of information technology to bring about even better control in the field of cyber security, preventing misuse of internet social media for spreading toxic ideology in particular including the radicalization of the people. The subject of fool proof cyber security is of paramount importance. Indian Railways to go for Bio-Diesel in a Big Way - Gowda With a concern for cleaner environment, Indian Railways has decided to promote use of alternative fuels like bio-diesel in a big way for powering our vast fleet of over 4000 Diesel locomotives. This was stated by the Minister of Railways at the inauguration of Bio-Fuels – 2014 Conference with a theme ‘Energize growth & Business opportunities in Biodiesel sector in India’ organized by Bio-Diesel Association of India (BDAI) , Indian Railways, is the single largest bulk consumer of diesel in the country and as mentioned in Railway Budget 2014-15, Indian Railways will start using Bio-Diesel up to 5% of the total fuel consumption in diesel locomotives. This will save precious foreign exchange substantially. Diesel locomotives cater to a large segment of rail traffic in the country, hauling both passenger and freight trains. Indian Railways consume over two billion litres of diesel every year. For this Railways have to foot a bill of over Rs.15000 crore annually. Therefore, even a small reduction in fuel consumption through blending with Bio-Diesel will result in a substantial savings in the fuel bill. Railway Minister said that Indian Railways initially attempted blending of High Speed Diesel (HSD) with Bio-Diesel extracted from the Jatropha plant. Jatropha oil had been used in India as biodiesel in remote rural

and forest communities; Jatropha oil can be used directly after extraction i.e. without refining in diesel generators and engines. The Minister said that Indian Railways will consider exploring possibilities of planting Jatropha plants along the railway tracks. Indian Railways have also set up an Indian Railways Organisation for Alternate Fuels (IROAF) to promote Bio-Diesels and other environmentally benign alternate fuels. They have also been given the mandate to facilitate setting up of trans-etherification facilities for converting plant residues into Bio-Diesels. These facilities could be set up in the country on the PPP mode. In order to generate interest in bio-diesel, adequate quantities of bio-diesel will have to be made available at competitive and attractive prices. To achieve this, setting up of raw material supply chain would be necessary. This is a big challenge in a country where neither edible oils nor other oils are surplus to the requirement. In case the availability is unsatisfactory, the interest of common user would not get generated. 6 nov 2014 Centre for quality checks on Ayurvedic drugs The Central Government is working towards setting up a separate Central Drug Controller for traditional medicines to ensure quality in production standards. This was announced by the Union Minister for Health and Family Welfare Harsh Vardhan while inaugurating the first “Arogya Expo”, which started in the Capital. “Call it whatever — Ayurvedic medicines or herbal medicines or traditional medicines — the global market is estimated at about $100 billion today. India’s share in this is negligible because quality standards are not maintained to international specifications. The government has decided to address this lacuna,” he said.

The institutionalisation of a regulatory authority backed up by Central and State laboratories would ensure for traditional and indigenous medicine pride of place in mainstream healthcare, the Health Minister said.Dr. Harsh Vardhan said with the launch of the National AYUSH Mission, the government will focus on building up brand value for Ayurvedic drugs. 7th Nov 2014 Shri Prakash Javadekar, Minister for Environment, Forests and Climate Change has congratulated the Clam Governing Council of Ashtamudi Lake in Kerala for becoming the first Marine Stewardship Council certified fishery in India. He was speaking at the Press Conference in New Delhi today. Ashtamudi Estuary showcases to the world that development and environment protection go hand in hand and participatory approach at the local level in managing biodiversity is an important aspect of it. The achievement of MSC certification would mean that implementation of measures to ensure valuable resource was not overfished and its ecosystem was protected. This achievement also opens up the scope for other fisheries in India to work towards MSC certification, which would enhance conservation and sustainability of the resource, while providing greater economic returns. The Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) is an international non-profit organization set up to help transform the seafood market to a sustainable basis. The MSC runs the only certification and eco-labeling programme for wild-capture fisheries. Ashtamudi short neck clam fishery is only the third fishery in Asia to have received the recognition. Background:

· Ashtamudi Lake, a Ramsar Wetland of international importance, is the second largest estuarine system in Kerala. · The clam fishery in Ashtamudi dates back to 1981 and supports the livelihoods of around 3000 fisherpersons involved in collection, cleaning processing and trading clams. · The growth of Ashtamudi’s commercial fishery was driven by demand from Vietnam, Thailand and Malaysia in the 1980s and 1990s. By 1991, the catch peaked at 10,000 tonnes a year, but declined 50 percent in 1993 due to overfishing. · Closed season fishing and mesh size restrictions for nets were introduced, along with a minimum export size and a prohibition on mechanical clam fishing. These measures showed immediate effects, and clam fishery has sustained landings of around 10,000 tonnes a year for the past decade. · Globally, over 11 percent of the annual global harvest of wild capture fisheries is engaged in the MSC programme. Certified fisheries currently land over seven million metric tonnes of seafood annually – close to eight percent of the total harvest from wild capture fisheries. Worldwide, more than 19,500 seafood products, which can be traced back to the certified sustainable fisheries, bear the blue MSC ecolabel. 8th Nov 2014 Shri Pranab Mukherjee on “India-Bhutan relations” It is significant that in Bhutan, the Gross National Happiness principle is the vision as well as the screening tool for Bhutan’s Five Year Plans: its four pillars – (i) sustainable development, (ii) preservation and promotion of cultural values, (iii) conservation of the national environment and (iv) establishment of good governance rely on the full and enthusiastic participation of the people for their success.

India stands ready to assist in the realization of these important goals. From the time of Bhutan’s First Five Year Plan itself, India, herself a developing economy, has offered Bhutan her technical assistance and shared her resources to the best of her capabilities and capacities. India has, in the past - and will continue in the future, to offer seats in our premier educational institutions to our Bhutanese friends. we have decided to enhance the value of the Indian Ambassador’s Scholarship Fund from current Rs. 1 Crore per annum to Rs. 2 Crore per annum. This scholarship will be utilized to encourage promising but needy students from Bhutan desiring to pursue higher studies in premier educational institutions in India. We have decided to allocate seats in new areas such as ayurveda and law. Government of India is glad to play a role in the School Reform Programme. The three existing hydropower projects have helped to electrify almost all of Bhutan, export surplus power to India and earn assured revenues to further fuel growth and expansion. With the Punatsangchu projects on track for completion by 2018 and the Mangdechhu Project expected to be completed by the end of 2017, the future of power production in Bhutan looks promising indeed. we have decided to also take up 4 more projects as joint ventures between public sector undertakings of India and Bhutan. The foundation stone for the first such project, the Kholongchhu, has, in fact, been laid by the Hon’ble Prime Minister of India during his visit to Bhutan in June 2014. the commencement of a flight from Paro to Mumbai has, I believe, led to a significant rise in the numbers of tourists from Western India. 2015 has been designated as “Visit Bhutan Year”. In signing a Memorandum of Understanding on Cooperation in Nalanda University, our two Governments will open new opportunities for Bhutanese students to once again visit the famed Nalanda University.

three MOUs on bilateral cooperation in the field of education were also signed during the visit: Between the Royal University of Bhutan and the English and Foreign Languages University, Hyderabad, for academic cooperation for English language teaching in Bhutan; Between the Royal University of Bhutan and the National Innovation Foundation of India, to enable mutual cooperation and exchange of expertise and ideas. Between the Royal Civil Services Commission and the Indian Institute of Management, Ahmedabad, for joint organization of training programmes and capacity building of officials of the two countries. Software Technology Parks of India (STPI)— Software Technology Parks of India (STPI), is a society set up by the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology, Government of India in 1991, with the objective of encouraging, promoting and boosting the Software Exports from India. STPI maintains internal engineering resources to provide consulting, training and implementation services. Services cover Network Design, System Integration, Installation, Operations and maintenance of application networks and facilities in varied areas. Process development is based on the Quality Management System. STPI centres also adhere to ISO 9001 certification.