From: Press Information Bureau Ministry of I&B <pib.kolkata@gmail.com>
Date: Tue, Jul 13, 2010 at 5:44 PM
Subject: Releases.............pt3
Press Information Bureau
Government of India
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Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food & Public Distribution
Foodgrains to Ration Shops to be Ensured by the End of Previous Month
Food Secretaries' Conference Resolves to Reform Public Distribution System
New Delhi: July 13, 2010
The Conference of State Food Secretaries on Best Practices and Reforms in Targeted Public Distribution System ended here today after 2-day long discussions and resolving to reform the PDS system.
From October this year, delivery of foodgrains to the FPS shop for a particular month will be ensured by the end of the previous month.
There will be increased focus on monitoring and fixing accountability.
'Smart card' and other information technology initiatives will be given high priority. Earlier in the day, Agriculture and Food Minister, Shri Sharad Pawar launched the Pilot Scheme on Smart Card based delivery of essential commodities under TPDS, being introduced in the State of Haryana and Chandigarh.
The following is the exact text of the resolutions adopted at the Conference:
i. Proper identification of beneficiaries be made based on revised poverty estimates and latest population estimates.
ii. States will ensure that quota of foodgrains for a particular month is available with each Fair Price Shop by end of the previous month for timely distribution to the beneficiaries. This assurance will be effective from October, 2010.
iii. States will also endeavour to ensure doorstep delivery of foodgrains to Fair Price Shop.
iv. States may adopt innovative ways of distribution involving community participation such as bulk distribution of foodgrains to the beneficiaries in the presence of Gram Sabhas wherever there is such demand.
v. Viability of Fair Price Shops should be enhanced by encouraging sale of non-PDS items including FMC Goods and provision of services such as e-ticketing, extending liberal credit facilities and rationalization of commission to FPS dealers.
vi. Cooperatives, Self Help Groups and similar community based organizations may be given preference in the selection of Fair Price Shop dealers.
vii. Rapid but phased roll out of IT in PDS must be given priority through computerization of the TPDS network and replication of technology based initiatives such as Smart Card based delivery of foodgrains, issue of ration cards with biometric identification and iris technology.
viii. Action plan for time bound construction of additional storage capacity, including modern grain silos at selected sites for scientific storage and preservation of foodgrains must be undertaken by Centre and the States.
ix. States may create decentralized storage facilities at block level and also storage at village/Panchayat levels by construction of Fair Price Shop-cum-godowns using funds available under various schemes including through various Development and employment generation schemes, and establishment of more Village Grain Banks including encouraging the setting up of Community Grain Banks.
x. Monitoring distribution of PDS items by Fair Price Shops must be done through social Audit by local bodies/community groups/NGOs, use of GPS technology for tracking of movement of vehicles carrying PDS items, SMS alerts, CCTV monitoring of FPS, grievance redressal through toll free call centres and web based complaint registration and monitoring systems.
xi. Accountability shall be fixed for not ensuring timely delivery of and quality of foodgrains, issue of bogus ration cards and ration cards to ineligible persons and exclusion of eligible persons, diversion/ leakages and other such offences through administrative action, recovery of financial losses and fixing criminal liability.
xii. Increased public awareness should be created through regular publicity campaigns at National, State and local levels and provision of information on TPDS in public domain/Website.
A press release on the opening of the conference has been issued earlier in the day.
mp/sb/cp/conference food secretaries (13.7.2010)/dk/kol/17:37 hrs.
Press Information Bureau
Government of India
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Ministry of Defence
Flood Relief Actions by Column of 126 Light Air Defence Regiment (Composite) on Satluj –
Yamuna Link Canal at Kurukshetra
New Delhi: July 13, 2010.
On the evening 06 Jul 10, 126 Light Air Defence Regiment (Composite) was ordered to keep one column ready to move at short notice to close and repair a breach on the Satluj – Yamuna Link canal near Shantinagar on the outskirts of Kurukshetra City. A small team led by Maj KSH Maheshwor Singh of 126 Light Air Defence Regiment (Composite) and Maj Santosh Takras of 65 Engineer Regiment left immediately for the site. After meeting Mr Pankaj Agarwal, DC Kurukshetra, the party reached the breach site by 1130 pm (2330h) for an initial assessment. The distance of the breach was approximately 35 – 40 ft.
By first light of 07 Jul 10, the first column of 126 Light Air Defence Regiment (Composite) alongwith two sections of 65 Engineer Regiment reach the site. Col JA Sahasrabudhe, CO 126 Light Air Defence Regiment (Composite), also reached the site where the breach had increased to about 105 ft. Seeing the gravity of the situation, he decided to take charge of the site himself. Soon Col Mukesh Sharma, CO 65 Engineer Regiment, also reached the site and provided valuable technical guidance. The second column was called in the afternoon to replace the first column.
Due to time required to assemble the required stores and the fury of the water, the progress made on 07 Jul 10 was limited but very valuable, as the team was able to seal both the shoulders of the breach and prevent further damage.
On 08 Jul 10 with arrival of stores in adequate quantities, the work began at a rapid pace from both Northern and the Southern ends. With both columns working on 08h shifts, the work progress rapidly and by using concrete blocks, iron wire mesh, sand bags etc, the breach was narrowed to just 30 mtrs by 2200 hrs (10 pm).
The rapid progress of the previous day encouraged all those working on the site and by 1700h (5 pm) on 09 Jul 10 the breach was fully closed. Further strengthening continued till 2000h (8 pm) after which it was shown to Mr Pankaj Agarwal, DC Kurukshetra and officials of the irrigation department who conveyed their deep appreciation. Some outstanding leadership qualities and initiative were shown by Col JA Sahasrabudhe, Lt Col RS Cheema, Maj KHS Maheshwor Siongh, Sub Maj Krishan Singh of 126 Light Air Defence Regiment and Col Mukesh Sharma, Maj Santosh Takras, Capt LS Chauhan, Sub Raj Kumar Singh, Sub Kashmira Singh and Hav Dharmender Negi of 65 Engineer Regiment. In addition the josh of all those working ensured that there was no dearth individual acts of glory thus ensuring that the task was successfully completed.
On 10 Jul 10 after confirming that the breach had been completed closed, both the columns were de-requisitioned by the DC, Kurukshetra.
s om s/r/dk/kol/17:38 hrs.
Press Information Bureau
Government of India
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Ministry of Information & Broadcasting
Smt. Ambika Soni Inaugurates First Regional Conference of Media Units in North East at Guwahati.
Communication Roadmap for the North-East Region on the Anvil.
Focus to be on Infrastructure Upgradation, Innovative Programming and Content Development to Address Cultural and Linguistic Needs.
New Delhi: July 13, 2010.
Smt. Ambika Soni, Minister for Information & Broadcasting today inaugurated the 1st Regional Conference of Media Units in the North-East at Guwahati. Speaking on the occasion, Smt. Soni said, all efforts would be made to innovate communication tools and processes in order to address the communication needs of the North-Eastern region. For this purpose, the initiatives of the Ministry would aim to empower the people with quality information, while at the same time looking into issues related to infrastructure upgradation for Media Units, manpower requirements for enhancing information dissemination , programming and content creation for effective outreach.
Elaborating further, the Minister said, the initiative of convening the 1st Regional Conference provided a platform for comprehensive discussions on outlining the future communication roadmap for the region and facilitated a face-to-face interaction with the key Principals of the State Governments. Such interactions also served as a guiding tool in designing the outreach programmes in the Media Units during the 12th Plan. This platform also provided an opportunity to State Governments to understand the working of the Media Units in the context of the recent policy initiatives undertaken by the Ministry for the region namely digitalisation, funds for software development, increasing the bouquet of channels under DTH services under DD Direct Plus from 57 to 97 in Phase-I , policy support for small and medium newspapers in local regional languages. The Minister specifically mentioned that media units such as Directorate of Field Publicity and Song & Drama Division would be strengthened from both the infrastructure and human resource perspective so that the awareness of Government's schemes could reach the far flung areas of the country.
In her deliberations, Smt. Soni assured the participating States that issues regarding uplinking/downlinking and quality of transmission would be addressed by the recent initiatives of the Ministry pertaining to digitalization. It was also mentioned that through the Phase-III policy of FM radio, an attempt was being made to invite the participation of private players in the segment. Incentives were being provided to facilitate the partnership of private stakeholders. Regarding the Exhibition put up by DAVP on Bharat Nirman at Kalashetra, Guwahati, Smt. Soni said, that similar exhibitions would be displayed in other North-Eastern States in due course. This would enable the region to understand the development initiatives of the Government related to flagship schemes. The exhibition displays in local languages would enable the community to relate to key initiatives.
The Conference discussed in detail the initiatives undertaken by the Media Units for the region. For Doordarshan, the initiatives highlighted included its efforts to promote Free to Air DTH Service of 'DD Direct Plus' by distributing 25,000DTH receiver systems through the nodal officers appointed by the state government, upgrading the satellite earth stations at Kohima, Imphal, Itanagar, Agartala and Gangtok to 2+1 systems, shift from D-9 cameras and edit suites to tapeless technology, enhanced budgetary support for in-house production thereby providing opportunity for local participation and projecting local culture. Rs.25 crores has been allocated to Doordarshan for the year 2010-11.
The Directorate of Advertising & Visual Publicity outlined the initiatives taken to effectively implement the special provisions in policies for relaxation in empanelment of newspapers in North-East. Currently, 2.4% of total newspapers empanelled by DAVP are from the North –East. The region got 19.3% of the total insertions given by the Directorate. It also highlighted the measures taken to implement special provisions for empanelment of TV channels in the region.
The Directorate of Field Publicity highlighted the publicity work carried out in the remote and inaccessible areas not reached by other media. The grass-root level communication programmes in the insurgency affected areas, border areas, char island population, tribal and dominated villages was shared with the state representatives. The proposals for revitalizing the Directorate after the withdrawal of the ERC, with specific focus on the North Eastern States.
Song & Drama Division, informed the representatives of different States about the major initiatives taken by the Department in increasing the empanelment of private performing groups and artists from each State. The Department expects to double the number of such agents of public outreach in next few months. Special emphasis is being given to all those areas like Arunachal Pradesh, Sikkim and Nagaland where there had been nil representation.
Press Information Bureau outlined the initiatives being taken in the North-East in the context of Public Information Campaigns being conducted to highlight the flagship programmes of the Government. It stated that events such as the Editors' Conference on Social and Infrastructural issues held in Guwahati on 12th & 13th July, 2010 was an attempt to sensitize the media on key initiatives being undertaken in the region.
Summing up the discussions, Secretary(I&B), Shri Raghu Menon stated that the Community Radio as an outreach tool would be strengthened in the 12th Plan. For the North-Eastern Region, the Ministry would consider the proposal of providing Seed Capital for initiating such effective outreach tools during the next Plan period. He also stated that the Ministry would address the concern of States by interacting more frequently and addressing concerns in a time-bound manner.
cp/va/dk/kol/17:38 hrs.
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Palash Biswas
Pl Read:
http://nandigramunited-banga.blogspot.com/
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