Forced recruitment of children by naxals in their armed squads

Press Information Bureau Government of India ***** Forced recruitment of children by naxals in their armed squads   New Delhi : October 20, 2009             Intelligence inputs have indicated forced recruitment of children by naxals in areas of south Chhattisgarh. Naxalities are also exhorting the villagers to provide 5 boys/girls per village for recruitment in their armed squad. On 4.2.2007, Chhatisgarh police were successful in releasing two minor girls from the clutches of naxals.   The above information reveals the real face of naxals, who not only kill children but also put them in great danger by recruiting them in their armed squads to carry out their violent activities.   The Government of India condemns this despicable act on the part of naxals and reiterates its commitment to control the diabolical activities of naxals. ****** RS/SR /spandey                 Press Information Bureau Government of India ***** Appointments by ACC   New Delhi : October 20, 2009             The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet has approved the following appointments:   (i) Shri Atul Chaturvedi, IAS (UP:74), presently Secretary, Department of Fertilizers as Secretary, Ministry of Steel, vice Shri P.K.Rastogi, IAS (AP:74) on his retirement on October 31, 2009.   (ii) Shri S.Krishnan, IAS (UK:75), presently Special Secretary, Ministry of Labour and Employment as Secretary, Department of Fertilizers vice Shri Atul Chaturvedi, IAS(UP:74) on his relinquishing the charge of the post.   RS/SR /spandey Press Information Bureau Government of India ***** India will never accept internationally legally binding emission reduction targets WE AGREE TO CONSIDER INTERNATIONAL MRV: JAIRAM RAMESH   New Delhi : October 20, 2009   Shri Jairam Ramesh Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Environment and Forests, said or commitments as part of any agreement or deal. Giving clarification about Climate Change policy, the Minister further said India will never agree to the elimination of the distinction between developed ("Annex I") countries and developing ("non-Annex I") as far as these bindings are concerned.   In a statement issued here today, it is stated the country will agree to consider international measurement, reporting and verification (MRV )of its mitigation.   The following is the text of Shri Jairam Ramesh on the issue of a news item published in a leading news-paper on climate change.   "Yesterday, a leading newspaper had carried a news- item on a discussion note that I wrote on climate change. The news-item has quoted only partially and selectively from this note, and significantly added its own editorial interpretations, thereby completely distorting and twisting its meaning .Let me reiterate India's non-negotiables in the ongoing international climate change negotiations.   While India is prepared to discuss and make public periodically the implementation of its National Action Plan on climate change, India will never accept internationally legally binding emission reduction targets or commitments as part of any agreement or deal or outcome.   Inida will never accept any dilution or renegotiation of the provisions and principles of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). In particular. we will never agree to the elimination of the distinction between developed ("Annex I") countries and developing ("non-Annex I") countries as far as internationally legally binding emission reduction obligations are concerned. Internationally legally binding emission reduction targets are for developed countries and developed countries alone, as globally agree under the Bail Action Plan.   India will agree to consider international measurement, reporting and verification ("MRV") of its mitigation actions only when such actions are enabled and supported by international finance and technology.   India, like other developing countries, fully expects developed countries to fulfill their obligations on transfer of technology and financial transfer that they committed to under the UNFCCC and the Bali Action for both mitigation and adaptation actions.   There has always been a broad political consensus regarding the Indian position on climate change. India has been engaged in climate change negotiations, whether in UNFCCC or multilateral fora, based on a clear and definite brief which has not changed since 2004.   My note suggested the possibility of some flexibility in India's stance, keeping the above non –negotiable firmly intact and keeping India irrevocably anchored in the UNFCCC of 1992 and the Bali Action Plan of 2007. I have never at any stage considered or advocated abandoning the fundamental tenets of the Kyoto Protocol, as was stated in the article- this is a mischievous interpretations of the newspaper. My basic point is that India's interests and India's interests alone shall dictate at our negotiating stance. As far as the insinuations by the newspaper that I am reflecting a pro-US bias, I will let my actions speak for themselves. India is working, and will continue to work, closely with our partners in the G-77 and China in articulating a common position on this issue, while also engaging with other countries to our benefit.   I had written a comprehensive 7-page letter to a large number of MPs from all political parties and to all Chief ministers in early October 2009 detailing our thinking, making our position very clear and stating that accountability for our actions on Climate change-through outcome-based legislation ,if found acceptable by our Parliament-is to our Parliament and to our Parliament alone. I welcome the feedback that I have been receiving on it. Earlier, in August, I had written to the Speaker of the Lok Sabha suggesting that four Member of Parliament-based on posts that they hold-be included in the official delegation to the UNFCCC Conference of Parties (COP-15) to be held at Copenhagen in December,2009.I will continue to keep political leadership across party lines and civil society fully engaged on this issue over the coming weeks and months."   KP/spandey       Press Information Bureau Government of India ***** Kumarakruppa Frontier Hotels presents a dividend cheque of Rs.4.38 crore to Union Tourism Minister Kumari Selja   New Delhi : October 20, 2009             CMD, ITDC Shri Parvez Dewan today presented a dividend cheque of Rs.4,38,93,100 to Union Tourism Minister Kumari Selja for the year 2006-07 on behalf of Kumarakruppa Frontier Hotels Pvt. Ltd . The Secretary, Tourism Shri Sujit Banerjee was also present on the occasion.   Kumarakruppa Frontier Hotels Pvt. Ltd (KFHPL) comes under the Ministry of Tourism. The Chairman ITDC is a Director of this company. However KFHPL is not under ITDC. It has its own Board of Directors. The company owns Hotel Ashok, Bangalore which has been given on a 30 year lease-cum-management basis to M/o Bharat Hotels Ltd (BHL). The company receives lease rent payment from BHL. The Board of Directors invests the funds lying with the company in Government Bonds or fixed deposits with schedule Public Sector Bank at the best interest rates available within the rules and guidelines applicable to the PSU.   For the year 2006-07 the company had its AMG held on 17/09/2009 and declared a dividend of 500% amounting to Rs.4,87,24,000. Out of this Rs.48,30,900/- has been paid to individual shareholders. A dividend cheque of Rs.4,38,93,100 has already been deposited in the account of the Ministry of Tourism on 05/10/2009 in respect of shares held by the President of India.   By way of comparison, in the previous year the company has declared a dividend @100% (i.e. Rs.97,44,800/-).   AD/DB/spandey     PIB Kolkata