Releases.............pt1

Press Information Bureau
Government of India
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Ministry of Mines
Mineral Production during May 2009
New Delhi: August 7, 2009

The mineral production from mining and quarrying sector in May 2009
was higher by 3.58% compared to that of the preceding month. However,
the mineral sector has shown a positive growth of 3.73% during May
2009 as compared to that of the corresponding month of previous year.
The total value of mineral production (excluding atomic & minor
minerals) in the country during May 2009 was Rs. 9009 crore. The
contribution of coal was the highest at Rs. 3160 crore (35%). Next in
the order of importance were: iron ore Rs. 2175 crore, petroleum
(crude) Rs. 1550 crore, natural gas (utilized) Rs. 1025 crore, lignite
Rs. 266 crore and limestone Rs. 214 crore. These six minerals together
contributed about 93% of the total value of mineral production in may
2009.
Production level of important minerals in May 2009 was: coal 396 lakh
tones, lignite 33 lakh tones, natural gas (utilized) 3307 million cu.
m., petroleum (crude) 28 lakh tones, bauxite 1160 thousand tonnes,
chromite 449 thousand tonnes, copper conc. 10 thousand tonnes, gold
131 kg., iron ore 204 lakh tonnes, leas conc. 10 thousand tonnes,
manganese ore 208 thousand tonnes, zinc conc. 95 thousand tonnes,
apatite & phosphorite 148 thousand tonnes, dolomite 347 thousand
tonnes, limestone 192 lakh tonnes and magnesite 21 thousand tonnes.
In may 2009, the output of natural gas (utilized) increased by 16.57%,
chromite 14.20%, magnesite 9.59%, manganese ore 7.41%, iron ore 3.86%,
limestone 3.79%, lignite 2.48%, dolomite 2.48%, and petroleum (crude)
1.94%. The production of copper conc. remains at the level of previous
month. However, the production of coal decreased by 1.06%, zinc conc.
1.33%, lead conc. 3.69%, bauxite 9.06%, apatite & phosphorite 10.24%
and gold 17.61 percent.

nsk/ak/dk/kol/12:55 hrs.

Press Information Bureau
Government of India
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Ministry of Housing and Urban Poverty Alleviation RAJYA SABHA
Survey of Slum Dwellers and Employment Schemes
New Delhi: August 7, 2009

The Minister of Housing and Urban Poverty Alleviation Kumari Selja has
said that the Census of India, 2001 conducted enumeration of slum
population in 640 cities and towns with population of 50,000 or more.
Subsequently, at the request of the Ministry of Housing and Urban
Poverty Alleviation, the Registrar General of India conducted
enumeration of slum population in 1,103 towns with population between
20,000 and 50,000, which revealed that the slum population in these
1,743 cities and towns, was 52.4 million. Extrapolating from this
data, the percentage of slum population works out to 23.5 per cent of
the total city/town population.

Further, the Ministry of Housing and Urban Poverty Alleviation has
released funds under urban Statistics for HR and Assessments (USHA) to
65 identified cities under Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal
Mission (JNNURM) and other cities with more than one lakh population
covered under Integrated Housing and Slum Development Programme
(IHSDP) for preparation of slums, household and livelihood profiles.

In a written reply in the Rajya Sabha yesterday, she said, with a view
to ameliorate the living conditions of the urban poor the Ministry of
Housing and Urban Poverty Alleviation is implementing an employment
oriented urban poverty alleviation programme named Swarna Jayanti
Shahari Rojgar Yojana (SJSRY) on all India basis since 01.12.1997. The
scheme now revamped with effect from 01.04.2009, strives to provide
self-employment through skill upgradation, assistance to women self
held groups, setting up of micro-enterprises and also wage employment
through utilizing the labour of urban poor in constructing socially
and economically useful public assets. The scheme is being executed
through States/union Territories and targets the urban poor living
below the poverty line.

ad/db/dk/kol/12:55 hrs.

Press Information Bureau
Government of India
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Ministry of Housing and Urban Poverty Alleviation RAJYA SABHA
Rajiv Awas Yojana
New Delhi: August 7, 2009

The Minister of Housing and Urban Poverty Alleviation Kumari Selja
says the Government has decided to launch a new scheme called Rajiv
Awas Yojana for slum dwellers and the urban poor. Rajiv Awas Yojana
would extend support to States that are willing to assign property
rights to people living in slum areas for provision of shelter and
basic infrastructure and civic amenities in slums. Consultations on
concept note have been held with a wide range of stakeholders in which
the Government of Andhra Pradesh was also included. Their views have
been noted, which broadly endorsed the policy direction and strategy
and gave suggestions and views pertinent to its implementation.

In a written reply in the Rajya Sabha yesterday she said, a token
allocation of Rs. 150 crores has been made in the current year's plan
allocation.

The Minister said, the scheme of Rajiv Awas Yojana is aimed at
improving the quality of life of slum dwellers, which would include
the economically and socially deprived sections of the society.

ad/db/dk/kol/12:56 hrs.