Community Radio Station to Start at Raipur

Press Information Bureau

Government of India

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Community Radio Station to Start at Raipur

 

New Delhi : September 18, 2009

 

Ministry of Information & Broadcasting, Government of India has signed a Grant of Permission Agreement for establishing, maintaining and operating a Community Radio Station at Indira Gandhi Krishi Vishwavidyalaya Raipur, Chhattisgarh. Letter of Intent had been issued to the Institute after recommendations of Inter Ministerial Committee and seeking requisite clearances from various Ministries. The Community Radio Station is expected to be operational within three months as per the agreement. With this, the number of CRS will increase to 54 in the country.

Indira Gandhi Krishi Vishwavidyalaya (IGKV) aims to help development in agriculture and allied fields by increasing quality manpower, providing relevant technological solutions, piloting their fields uses and supporting other related activities. The university has the objective to at least double the crop yields in the region with appropriate increase in livestock husbandry, fishery and agro forestry. To make its mission possible the university strives continuously to provide quality education in the areas of agriculture and allied Sciences, to undertake basic, applied and adoptive research and to develop the most appropriate solutions and technologies that are relevant to the area and which can elevate the socio- economic conditions of the people. Through the Communit Radio Station, IGKV also aims to provide direct and indirect education and technological support to the public in general and to farmers in the area in particular to improve agriculture productivity and the economic situation of the rural people. Commercial potential of the agriculture sector in the area would also be facilitated.

The Ministry encourages setting up the Community Radio Station to fulfill the needs of the people, to provide them useful and fruitful information.

 

SBS/RS  /spandey

 

 

Press Information Bureau

Government of India

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Railway revenue earnings up by 10.88 per cent during the period 1st – 10th September 2009

 

New Delhi : September 18, 2009

 

The total approximate earnings of Indian Railways on originating basis during the period from 1st to 10th September 2009 were Rs. 2160.00 crore compared to Rs. 1948.08 crore during the same period last year, registering an increase of 10.88 per cent.

 

The total goods earnings have gone up from Rs. 1354.16 crore during the period from 1st to 10th September 2008 to Rs. 1458.59 crore during 1st September – 10th September 2009, showing an increase of 7.71 per cent. The total passenger revenue earnings during the period 1st to 10th September 2009 were Rs. 625.28 crore compared to Rs. 530.68 crore during the same period last year, reflecting an increase of 17.83 per cent. The revenue earnings from other coaching amounted to Rs. 59.63 crore during this period compared to Rs. 40.63 crore during the same period last year, showing an increase of 46.76 per cent.

 

The total approximate number of passengers booked during the period 1st to 10th September, 2009 were 208.36 million compared to 199.81 million during the same period last year, showing an increase of 4.28 per cent. In the suburban and non-suburban sectors, the number of passengers booked during 1st to 10th September, 2009 were 115.05 million and 93.31 million compared to 110.94 million and 88.87 million during the same period last year, registering an increase of 3.70 per cent and 5.00 per cent respectively.

 

AKS/HK/LK/T R  /spandey

 

 

Press Information Bureau

Government of India

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Department of Ex-Servicemen Welfare – five years in service of veterans

 

New Delhi : September 18, 2009

 

The Department of Ex-Servicemen Welfare (ESW), functioning under the Ministry of Defence, completes five years of its existence next week. Set up on September 22, 2004, the department caters exclusively to the rehabilitation and welfare of about 21 lakh Ex-Servicemen (ESM) population and another five lakh ESM widows. Nearly 60,000 ESM are added to this huge number every year, largely due to perhaps the highest attrition rate in any organized sector among the Armed Forces in order to retain a youthful profile of the fighting forces, their primary task. Taken together with ESM dependents ranging between 50-70 lakhs, the Department of ESW shoulders responsibility of the welfare of roughly one crore population of ESM and their dependents.

 

The Department of ESW achieves its objectives through its three attached offices, consisting of the Directorate General of Resettlement (DGR), the Kendriya Sainik Board (KSB) and the Ex-Servicemen's Contributory Health Scheme (ECHS), besides coordinating with the Principal Controller of Defence Accounts (PCDA), Allahabad. In January 2008 the Department of ESW came to be headed by a full-fledged Secretary-level officer, underlining the government's commitment to the concerns of the huge ESM population. Besides helping the veterans resettle in a suitable second career, the department provides healthcare and ensures timely payment of benefits and pension to the ESM and their dependents.

 

The Directorate General of Resettlement (DGR) is the first avenue for the Services personnel on the verge of superannuation. It imparted training to over 34,000 officers and Persons Below Officer Rank (PBORs) during 2008-09 besides granting jobs to 51,000 ESM and securing placement for another 30,000 ESM in DGR-sponsored security agencies last year. The DGR, being the nodal agency for resettlement of ESM, has in recent years tied up with reputed management institutes to offer post-graduate diplomas to Services officers. It runs several successful ESM reemployment programmes including the popular Mother Dairy Milk and Fruit and Vegetable booths, placement in empanelled private security agencies, coal tipper scheme, allotment of army surplus vehicles, management of CNG stations and toll plazas under the NHAI and sponsoring ESM for the allotment of 8 percent quota of LPG, petrol pump and kerosene outlets reserved for wartime/peacetime widows and disabled soldiers. Last year 287 Mother Dairy outlets were allotted to ESM/dependents sponsored by the DGR. The DGR's stupendous success in the placement of ESM in security agencies can be gauged from the fact that the number of ESM employed jumped from over 27,000 in 2007 to over 40,000 in 2008 while another over 17,000 have been successfully granted placement this year till May, 2009.

 

The Kendriya Sainik Board (KSB), the apex body for the welfare of war-wounded and other Ex-Servicemen (ESM), keeps in constant touch with the large ESM community, fulfilling their needs and aspirations through the 32 Rajya Sainik Boards and 355 Zila Sainik Boards spread across the country. KSB doles out about Rupees 7 crores aid every year to ESM, widows, children and orphans through welfare schemes out of the Armed Forces Flag Day Fund, which includes the Raksha Mantri's Discretionary Fund ranging between Rs.5,000-1,25,000. The government recently amended the eligibility to include ESM up to the rank of Havildar and equivalent in the Navy and Air Force under the scheme. In another major initiative the KSB has in recent years replaced the crude motorized tricycles with the new modified 4-wheeled Honda Activa scooters distributed free of cost to the disabled ESM. The KSB also provides funds to the Red Cross Society, Cheshire Homes and Military Hospitals for the treatment and care of ESM and their wards and administers the award of more than 3,500 Prime Minister's scholarships every year to wards of ESM.

 

The Ex-Servicemen's Contributory Health Scheme (ECHS) is another big success story in the Department of ESW's endeavours and concerns for the ESM welfare. Founded in April 2003, the ECHS today has a vast network of 2,267 polyclinics, its membership jumping nearly ten-fold, - from 3.5 lakhs in 2005 to over 30 lakhs. ESM with disabilities who had to travel long distances to the Artificial Limb Centre, Pune, are now getting such medical aid from about 150 Central Government Health Scheme (CGHS) -empanelled centres across the country. The government has also hiked ECHS allocation from Rs. 82.85 crore in 2004-05 to Rs. 690 crores in the current financial year. The Department of ESW further proposes to include soon the Nepal-domiciled Gorkhas, who continue to receive medical aid from the Armed Forces Flag Day Fund, under the ECHS and has given 'in principle' approval for setting up a Pension Payments Office (PPO) in Butwal, Nepal.

 

But all efforts and welfare schemes would come to a naught if the ESM does not get his monthly dues on time. The Principal Controller of Defence Accounts (PCDA), Allahabad is the nodal office, handling pension for about a whopping 17 lakh ESM and dependents through banks, treasuries, Pension Disbursing Offices besides the vast postal network all over the country. The government has recently issued instructions to issue simultaneous notification of Service and Disability Pension to avoid delays in release of the latter. Unmarried daughters over 25 years of age and widowed/divorced daughters dependent on the ESM have now been granted family pension and several other steps to support the ESM dependents have been introduced. Other major initiatives include, - hiking minimum pension from Rs. 1,913 to Rs.3,500 pm, removal of linkage of full pension with a qualifying service of 33 years from Jan.01, 2006, commutation of pension increased, gratuity hiked from Rs.3.5 lakhs to Rs.10 lakhs and special family pension hiked from Rs.2,550 to Rs.7,000 pm. The government has also improved pension for Ex-service personnel, besides benefits accruing out of the Sixth Pay Commission including Military Service Pay to Armed Forces personnel and awarding a higher separate Pay Bands for officers of the rank of Lt. General and Lt. Colonel, or equivalent, respectively. Additional pension has been granted in varying range for elderly pensioners, with the government granting cumulative benefits of Rs.2,144 crores to the men in the three Services and the ESM.

 

Pension Adalats have been a tremendous success in settling disputes related to ESM spread across the country; six such Adalats are normally held in places with large concentration of ESM population.

 

In contribution of the sacrifices made by the martyrs, war-wounded, Ex-Servicemen and their dependents, the DGR marks December 7 every year as the Armed Forces Flag Day (AFFD) when the nation remembers its veterans and generously contributes to the Flag Day Fund.

 

PK  /spandey

 

 

Press Information Bureau

Government of India

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IAF Aircraft Lands Successfully at Nyoma

 

New Delhi : September 18, 2009

 

In a significant move by the Indian Air Force, an AN-32 aircraft landed at Nyoma Advanced Landing Ground (ALG) at 0625 hrs today. Group Captain SC Chafekar touched down on the Nyoma airstrip located at an altitude of 13,300 feet with Air Marshal NAK Browne, Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Western Air Command and Lieutenant General PC Bharadwaj, General Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Northern Command on board.

 

Though helicopters have been landing at this ALG, this is for the first time that a fixed wing aircraft has landed at the compacted airstrip of Nyoma, located 23 kms from the LAC.

 

After deliberating on all aspects and carrying out aerial and ground reccees, it was concluded that Nyoma could be developed for fixed wing operations as well. The herculean task of developing the ALG to the standards required for fixed wing operations was undertaken by the Engineer Regiments of 14 Corps. The successful landing of a fixed wing aircraft at Nyoma marks the culmination of joint effort by the IAF and Indian Army to enable the IAF to operate in the inhospitable terrain of Leh-Ladakh region in support of the Army.

 

Joint development of Nyoma braving the extremely difficult working conditions and hostile weather is yet another step towards enhanced jointmanship between the two services.

 

Nyoma has been developed with an aim to connect the remote areas of Ladakh region to the mainland. This would also ensure that movements in the area continue when the road traffic gets affected, during the harsh winters besides enabling improved communication network in the region, facilitating economical ferrying of supplies as well as promotion of tourism to the general area.

 

The landing comes just fifteen months after an AN-32 landed at Daulat-Beg-Oldie (DBO), the highest airfield in the world situated at an altitude of 16,200 feet.

 

PJ/KS  /spandey

 

Press Information Bureau

Government of India

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Ennore Port earns Rs. 41.46 crores profit

PRESENTS MAIDEN DIVIDEND CHEQUE TO SHIPPING MINISTER

 

New Delhi : September 18, 2009

 

The Union Minister of Shipping Thiru G.K.Vasan was presented today at Chennai the maiden dividend of Rs.4.15 crores by Ennore Port. The dividend Cheque was presented to the Minister by Thiru S.Velumani, Chairman cum Managing Director of Ennore Port Ltd (EPL).

 

The Ennore Port Ltd. has reported a post tax profit of Rs.41.46 crores during the Financial Year ended March 31, 2009 and it proposes to declare dividend at 15% on PAT which comes around Rs.6.22 crores. Dividend Tax is Rs.1.06 Cores. The dividend cash flow including dividend tax is Rs.7.28 Crores, of which Government of India gets Rs.4.15 crores and Chennai Port Trust Rs.2.07 crores.

 

Ennore Port has been conferred Mini Ratna Category I status by the Government of India based on its impressive performance, which enables it with enhanced functional and financial autonomy. The Port has been successful in attracting an investment of Rs. 1200 crores on various terminals and harbour crafts from private entrepreneurs. It maintained a very low operating ratio at 25.80% during 2008-09.

 

Construction of the Car Export Terminal at the Port is in progress in pursuance of MOU with Nissan Motors, which would enable Nissan to export 1,80,000 cars per year. Exports are expected to commence by August, 2010. This Project will cost Rs.110 crores and the facilities include a berth, dredging of basin to 12 mtrs, parking yard of 1,75,000 sq. mtrs.

 

A modern Coal Terminal and an Iron Ore Terminal are being developed at a total investment of Rs.880 crores. Ennore Port will be able to handle 8 million tonnes of Non-TNEB coal and 12 million tonnes of iron ore with completion of these two projects by August 2010. Detailed Project Report (DPR) for construction of third coal berth is being prepared so as to enable EPL to handle 35 million tonnes of coal need for TNEB by 2013-14. The Project is expected to cost Rs.100 crores. The Marine Liquid Terminal constructed at a cost of Rs.250 crores is already operational since January 2009.

 

Rail connectivity project works to link Coal and Iron Ore stackyards with Athipattu Stations on the Chennai – Vijayawada mainline are under the implementation at a cost of Rs.51.60 crores. Phase – II Capital Dredging to create necessary depths to handle Cape Size vessels and main line Container vessels has been approved by the Board of EPL with a proposed of Rs.440 crores.

 

 

SP/AS /spandey

 

 

 

PIB Kolkata