Steps taken to meet growing demand of foodgrains

Press Information Bureau

Government of India

******

Minorities Commissions in the States

 

New Delhi : August 7, 2009

Lok Sabha

 

The Government has said that not all states have constituted the State Minorities Commission. Giving this information in the Lok Sabha in a written reply Shri Salman Khurshid, Minister for Minority Affairs, said that the State Minorities Commissions have been constituted in fifteen States, namely Assam, Andhra Pradesh, Bihar, Chattisgarh, Delhi, Jharkhand, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Manipur, Maharashtra, Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu, Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand and West Bengal.

 

The National Commission for Minorities has recommended to the State Governments to set up State Minorities Commission where they do not exist.

 

KKP/ska  /spandey

 

 

Press Information Bureau

Government of India

******

Implementation of Scheduled Tribes and Other Forest

(Recognition of Forest Rights ) Act

 

 New Delhi : August 7, 2009

LOK SABHA

 

Union Panchayati Raj Minister Dr. C.P.Joshi today informed the Lok Sabha that the responsibility of implementation of the Scheduled Tribes and Other Forest Dwellers (Recognition of Forest Rights) Act rests with the State/UT Governments and the Ministry of Tribal Affairs being the nodal Ministry in this regard is monitoring the implementation of the Act.

 

Replying to a written question the Minister said the Act and Rules were notified on 31-12-2007 and 1-1-2008 respectively. More over, all State/UT Governments were requested on 11.1.2008 for constituting various Committees under the Act. He said in order to ensure speedy implementation of the Act, the MoTA had conveyed major actionable points along with timelines to the State/UT Governments on 31.1.2008 for follow up.

 

The Ministry of Panchayati Raj has also written to the State/UT Governments on 15-2-2008 reiterating the need for expeditious implementation of the Scheduled Tribes and Other Forest Dwellers (Recognition of Forest Rights) Act and to hold meetings of Gram Sabha on 28-2-2008 during which the provisions of the Act & Rules and the roles and responsibilities of Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs), Gram Sabhas and Forest Right Committees were suggested to be explained. The ministry has again a letter has been issued to all State/UT Governments on 15.6.2009 to take urgent steps to accelerate the process of implementation of Act.

 

Dr. Joshi was replying to a written question in the Lok Sabha today whether the Union Government has requested the State Government to expedite implementation of the Scheduled Tribes and other Forest Dwellers (Recognition of Forest Rights) Act and Rules in February, 2008.

 

ST/spandey

 

 

Press Information Bureau

Government of India

******

Functioning of Panchayati Raj Institutions

 

New Delhi : August 7, 2009

Lok Sabha

 

Union Panchayati Raj Minister Dr. C.P.Joshi today informed the Lok Sabha that in the spirit of Article 243H, State Governments have been regularly pursued to provide untied grants to the Panchayats from the Consolidated Fund of the States and to open a Panchayat sector window in their State budgets to supplement the resources of the Panchayati Raj Institutions. The Ministry of Panchayati Raj supplements the efforts of the State Governments in the capacity building of the Panchayats through the Rashtriya Gram Swaraj Yojana and the capacity building component under the Backward Regions Grants Fund. The Backward Regions Grants Fund programme provides substantially untied grant to the Panchayats for meeting critical developmental gaps. The Panchayat Empowerment and Accountability Incentive Scheme (PEAlS) encourages States in empowering PRIs by incentivizing devolution of functions, funds and functionaries to PRIs and cash awards are given to better performing States.

 

Replying to a wtitten question the minister said Since Panchayati Raj is essentially a State subject, the Ministry has worked closely with States to develop and operationalise a national consensus on the measures to be taken to strengthen Panchayati Raj and ensure that Panchayats function as institutions of self-government as envisaged in Part IX of the Constitution. Such a consensus, arrived at through detailed consultations with States through Seven Round Tables of State Ministers of Panchayati Raj held between July and December, 2004, touches upon the effective devolution of functions, finances and functionaries, planning, empowerment of Gram Sabhas, issues relating to reservation for SCs/STs, and women, elections, maintenance of accounts and audit, capacity building and training of elected representatives and other related matters. Progress on these matters is reviewed through consultations, review meetings and tours to States and Panchayats.

 

In 2006-07, the Ministry of Panchayati Raj undertook a mid term review and appraisal of the State of Panchayats based on information sourced from State Governments / UTs Administrations. This report was tabled in Parliament in November, 2006 and discussed in the Lok Sabha during December, 2006. In financial year 2007-08, the Ministry entrusted Institute of Rural Management, Anand (IRMA) with the task of carrying out an independent assessment of the State of Panchayati Raj in the States and UTs. The Report concluded that the Panchayats must have clear functional domain, with sufficient human and financial resources to act as self governance bodies. Volume II of this Report has chapters detailing the position of each State/UT having elected Panchayats on the aspects of Elections to Panchayats, Devolution of Functions to Panchayats, Devolution of Functionaries, Panchayati Raj Jurisprudence, Panchayat Finances, Audit, Capacity building and Training, IT enabled egovernance, Gram Sabha and Social audit, Reservation for women, Reservation for SCs & STs, implementation of the Panchayats (Extension to Scheduled Areas) Act, 1996, (PESA), where applicable, Planning and implementation by each level of Panchayat, Constitution of District Planning Committees, parallel bodies and Annual Reports of panchayats. This Report was released by Hon'ble Prime Minister on 24th April, 2008 at the National Convention of Chairpersons of District and Intermediate Panchayats held at New Delhi. The Report is available on the Ministry's website www.panchyat.gov.in .

 

Article 243G of the Constitution provides for "devolution," that is, the empowerment of Panchayati Raj Insitutions (PRIs) to function as "institutions of self government" for the twin purposes of (i) making plans for economic development and social justice and (ii) implementing programmes of economic development and social justice in their respective areas, for the subjects devolved to the PRIs, including those listed in the Eleventh Schedule, and subject to such conditions as the State may, by law, specify. Devolution through State legislation needs to be translated into the actual transfer of activities relating to devolved functions to Panchayats at different levels through executive orders, instructions and administrative arrangements. Such transfer of powers and responsibilities will need to be matched by the corresponding transfer of funds and functionaries so that Panchayats can perform their role as institutions of self-government in the spirit of the Constitution (73rd Amendment) Act 1992. Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs) in the country are in a process of evolution. While elections to Panchayats have been held regularly in all the States and UTs, to which Part IX of the Constitution applies, (except in Jharkhand, where the matter is sub-judice) the situation varies from State to State on the devolution of funds, functions and functionaries to the Panchayats. .

 

ST/SAK  /spandey

 

 

Press Information Bureau

Government of India

******

Gender Budgeting

 

New Delhi : August 7, 2009

Lok Sabha

 

Ministry of Finance has issued instructions to all Ministries/Departments to set up a Gender Budget Cell. Presently, 56 Ministries/Departments have set up Gender Budgeting Cells (GBCs).

As per the Charter of Gender Budget Cells issued by the Ministry of Finance, the Gender Budget Cells are to review the performance of programmes of their respective Ministries/Departments that have an impact on women.

The Ministry of Women & Child Development (WCD) is the nodal Ministry to promote gender based budgeting and mainstreaming across all sectors. The Ministry organises training programmes and workshops with officials of different Ministries/Departments to enable the GBCs to take up Gender Budgeting.

The Ministry of WCD is also organising training programmes for State Governments and other Bodies like State Commissions for Women, Public Sector Units and civil society organisations, developing resource materials for Gender Budgeting including Gender Budget Handbook and Manual, and developing a team of Master Trainers at the National level and State level.

This information was given by Minister of State for Finance, Shri Namo Narain Meena in written reply to a question raised in Lok Sabha today.

 

BSC/BY/GK/-296/09  /spandey

 

 

Press Information Bureau

Government of India

******

India signs CEPA with Korea

 

New Delhi : August 7, 2009

 

India today signed a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) with Republic of Korea. The Agreement on behalf of Government of India was signed by Shri Anand Sharma, Commerce and Industry Minister, in Seoul. Mr. Kim Jong-hoon, Korean Trade Minister signed the Agreement on behalf of Republic of Korea. This is India's second comprehensive deal with any country, first being with Singapore in 2005. This is also India's first Free Trade Agreement with an OECD country. CEPA is more than Free Trade Agreement as it covers not only Trade in Goods but also Investments, Services and Bilateral Cooperation in other areas of common interest.

 

Under the CEPA Agreement, tariffs will be reduced or eliminated on 93% of Korea's tariff lines and 85% of India's tariff lines. It will facilitate Trade in Services through additional commitments made by both countries to ease movement of Independent Professional and Contractual Service Suppliers. Both countries have committed to provide national treatment and protect each other's investments to give a boost to bilateral investments in all sectors except these specifically exempted from it.

 

The CEPA will come into force after it is ratified by the Korean National Assembly and the notifications to bring it into effect are made by the two countries.

 

RJ/MRS  /spandey

 

 

Press Information Bureau

Government of India

******

Sufficient stock of wheat and rice in the Country

 

New Delhi : August 7, 2009

RAJYA SABHA

 

As against annual requirement of foodgrains as per existing level of allocations for TPDS, other welfare schemes, calamity relief, etc. of about 52 million tonnes, the stock position of foodgrains in the Central Pool as on 01.07.2009 was 329.22 lakh tons of wheat and 196.16 lakh tonnes of rice.

 

Stocks of foodgrains in the Central Pool are formed by the quantities of rice, wheat and coarse grains procured during the Kharif and Rabi procurement years. Allocation of foodgrains under TPDS are made for every month. Inflow and outflow of stocks in the Central Pool is a continuous process all over the year. Government is carrying out procurement of rice, wheat and coarse grains for the Central Pool under MSP based operations during relevant marketing seasons. As stated above, allocations have been issued under Targeted Public Distribution System, other welfare schemes, for calamity relief, etc.

 

This information was given by Prof. K. V. Thomas Minister of State for Agriculture, Consumer Affairs, Food & Public Distribution in written reply to a question in the Rajya Sabha today.

 

MP:MR:CP:stock(7..7.2009)  /spandey

Press Information Bureau

Government of India

******

Parameters of PMGSY Roads

 

New Delhi : August 7, 2009

 

Lok Sabha

 

The Minister of State in the Ministry of Rural Development Shri Pradeep Jain 'Aditya' today informed Lok Sabha the Lok Sabha that the thickness and width of roads under Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY) are controlled by Indian Roads Congress (IRC) Codes of Practice. IRC SP 72 gives the guidelines for design of width and thickness of the roads for the Flexible Pavements (Black Topped Roads) and IRC SP 62 provides guidance in the design of Rigid Pavements (Cement Concrete Roads). The thickness of the pavements depends upon the expected traffic projected for next 10 years and the strength of the soil used for preparing the Subgrade. Generally, the width of the carriageway is 3.00 m, if expected Annual Average Daily Traffic (AADT) is less than 100 motorized vehicles. For roads with AADT of 100 or more vehicles the width of the carriageway is 3.75 m.

 

Replying to a question the Minister said Ministry has not received any complaints regarding detailed project reports submitted by the State Governments under the scheme. Also, Funds to the States are released by the Ministry based on the budgetary provisions available, absorption capacity and performance of the States under the scheme.

 

AKT/ST/SAK/spandey

 

 

Press Information Bureau

Government of India

******

Steps taken to meet growing demand of foodgrains

 

New Delhi : August 7, 2009

 

RAJYA SABHA

 

            The estimated production of foodgrains has been continuously increasing in the last few years and it is sufficient to meet the current demand in the country. The estimated production of oilseeds and sugarcane have also increased since 2006-07, except during the year 2008-09. The details of projected demand of foodgrains, oilseeds and sugarcane for 2008-09 against their estimated production during the year are as under:

 

(Million Tonnes)

Crops	Projected Demand	Estimated Production*
Foodgrains	219.01	233.88
Oilseeds	47.43	28.16
Sugarcane	275.91	271.25

                        *As per 4^th advance estimates released on 21.07.2009

            The details of area under cultivation vis-à-vis production of foodgrains from 2004-05 onwards is given in the table below:

 

Year	Production (Million Tonnes)	Area (Million Hectares)
2004-05	198.4	120.08
2005-06	208.6	121.60
2006-07	217.3	123.71
2007-08	230.8	124.07
2008-09*	233.9	123.22

                        *As per 4^th advance estimates released on 21.07.2009

 

To increase the production of rice, wheat and pulses, the National Food Security Mission (NFSM) is under implementation in the country since November 2007. The NFSM aims at adding the production of rice by 10 million tones, wheat by 8 million tones and pulses by 2 million tones by the end of the Eleventh Plan, i.e., 2011-12 through area increase and productivity enhancement in targeted districts.

 

In order to increase the production of cereals in the country, a Centrally Sponsored Scheme "Integrated Cereals Development Programme in Rice Based Cropping Systems Areas (ICDP-Rice), Integrated Cereals Development Programme in Wheat Based Cropping Systems Areas (ICDP-Wheat) and Integrated Cereals Development Programme in Coarse Cereals Based Cropping Systems Areas (ICDP-Coarse Cereals)" subsumed under Macro Management Mode of Agriculture with effect from October 2000 are under implementation to provide more flexibility to States based on local needs.

 

Further, the Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana (RKVY) with an objective to incentives the States to increase investment in agriculture and allied sector is also under implementation.

 

In order to increase the production and productivity of oilseeds and pulses, a Centrally Sponsored Scheme " Integrated Scheme of Oilseeds, Pulses, Oil Palm and Maize" (ISOPOM) is being implemented since 01.04.2004.

 

This information was given by Prof. K.V. Thomas, Minister of Agriculture, Consumer Affairs, Food & Public Distribution in written reply to a question in the Rajya Sabha today.

*****

MP:MR:CP: growing (7.8.2009) /spandey

 

 

 

 

 

 

PIB Kolkata