Message from the President of India on the eve of Gandhi Jayanti

Press Information Bureau

Government of India

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Message from the President of India on the eve of Gandhi Jayanti

 

New Delhi : October 1, 2009

 

            The President of India, Smt. Pratibha Devisingh Patil, has greeted the people on the occasion of Gandhi Jayanti, which will be celebrated tomorrow. In a message from Gandhinagar where she is currently on a visit to Gujarat, the President has said:-

 

"Gandhi Jayanti is an occasion for all of us to reflect on the life and work of the Father of the Nation, Mahatma Gandhi.

 

         Whenever I remember Bapuji, particularly on this day, I am always overwhelmed by his leadership, philosophy and values.  Gandhiji's leadership inspired millions to unite for the cause of freedom and independence.  He also taught us to stand resolutely against fear, to understand the importance of truth and to work for the eradication of poverty, illiteracy and discrimination. 

 

On the occasion of Gandhi Jayanti let us take a pledge to follow the path of truth and non-violence and dedicate ourselves towards promoting peace, tolerance and harmony and work for the progress of the nation."

 

AKT/LV/spandey

 

 

 

 

 

 

Press Information Bureau

Government of India

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Proposal of M/s. Forum Synergies (India)PE Fund Managers P. Ltd. to accept contribution upto a limit of US$ 135 million from India Knowledge-Manufacturing Company under the foreign direct investment route and to issue Class B Units and Class C Units of Forum Synergies India Trust to the India Knowledge-Manufacturing Company

 

 New Delhi : October 1, 2009

 

The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs today gave its approval to the proposal of M/s. Forum synergies (India) PE Fund Managers P Ltd. to accept contribution upto a limit of US$ 135 million from India Knowledge-Manufacturing Company under the foreign direct investment route and to issue Class B units and Class C Units of Forum Synergies India Trust to the Knowledge-Manufacturing Company.

 

It would result in Foreign Direct Investment amounting to Rs.650 crore (approx.) in the country.

 

AKT/SH/LV  /spandey

 

 

 

 

Press Information Bureau

Government of India

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Reckoning the period of Centrally Sponsored Plan Scheme, 'Upgradation of 100 ITIs into Centres of Excellence" with effect from 2005-06 to 2009-10

 

New Delhi : October 1, 2009

 

The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs today approved the proposal for reckoning the period of Centrally Sponsored Plan Scheme, 'Upgradation of 100 ITIs into Centres of Excellence" with effect from 2005-06 to 2009-10 on the same terms and conditions without any change in the cost and scope.

 

The total cost of the scheme of upgradation of 100 ITIs into Centres of Excellence is Rs.160 crore (on cost sharing basis of 75%:25% between Centre and State Governments). 22 States (except for North Eastern States, J&K, Sikkim and 4 UTs – Lakshadweep, A&N Islands, Daman & Diu, D&N Haveli) are covered under the scheme.

 

The proposal will enable completion of residual activities of the scheme by 2009-10. It aims at empowerment of ITIs, greater flexibility, better linkages with the world of work and conducting training programmes in the emerging areas.

 

The Scheme was approved for implementation during March, 2005. However, actual implementation was started from the Financial Year 2005-06. The ITIs were identified in consultation with the State Governments. The new multi-skilling courses for the sectors selected by States were developed in consultation with the stakeholders during 2005-06 and the first batch of ITIs started training programme from the academic session of August, 2005. Presently, all the ITIs are organizing training in the multiskilling courses in the identified sectors. An amount of Rs.103.68 crore has been released to the States. Balance amount of Rs.16.32 crore is proposed to be released during the current financial Year 2009-10 which will complete the process of upgradation of 100 ITIs in different States.

 

AKT/SH/LV  /spandey

 

 

Press Information Bureau

Government of India

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Expert Committee on usage of Information & Communication Technologies in Railways Constituted

 

New Delhi : October 1, 2009

 

The Ministry of Railways has constituted an Expert Committee under the Chairmanship of Shri Sam Pitroda, on the usage of Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) in the Railways.

 

The terms of reference of the Expert Committee are : (i) Propose ways and means to use technology and innovations to improve security, safety, services, convenience, productivity, efficiency and growth; (ii) In particular, focus on Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) related to Broad Band, internet and wireless to capitalize, identify and suggest road map and increase capacity on the available – Fibre Optic Network infrastructure to create public private partnerships and programmes to benefit Railways and help take ICT to the door steps in remote areas; (iii) Recommend ICT applications and methodologies to improve freight and track management substantially to increase revenue and reduce costs; (iv) Propose use of ICT to modernize stations, vendors, manufacturing, services, operations, maintenance, delivery, distribution etc.; (v) Identify new initiatives and mega projects for expansion and growth with focus on new technologies and innovations; (vi) Recommend ways to add value added services leading to generation of employment, training, agriculture, health and public services with a focus on rural, remote and backward areas; and (vii) Suggest organizational and management reforms necessary to implement technology and innovation initiatives in a time bound manner to expedite implementation.

 

The Members of the committee are : (i) Member Electrical, Railway Board, (ii) Managing Director/RailTel Corporation of India Ltd., (iii) Managing Director/Centre for Railway Information System (CRIS), (iv) Shri Partha Mukhopadhyaya, Transport Economist (At Centre for Policy Research) and (v) Member Secretary, Executive Director (Telecom Development, Railway Board.

 

The supporting secretariat associated with the Committee are: (i) Shri S.S. Mathur, General Manager/Information Technology, CRIS, (ii) Shri K. Beji George, Director Planning, Railway Board, and (iii) Shri M.K. Sinha, Director Planning (Mechanical Engg.), Railway Board.

 

AKS/HK/LK/TR  /spandey

 

 

Press Information Bureau

Government of India

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Lt Gen PC Bhardwaj, takes over as Vice Army Chief

 

New Delhi : October 1, 2009

 

Lieutenant General PC Bhardwaj, took over as Vice Army Chief today at South Block, New Delhi.

 

Lieutenant General PC Bhardwaj was commissioned into First Battalion the Parachute Regiment on 14 Jun 1970. The General is an alumnus of National Defence Academy, Indian Military Academy, Defence Services Staff College, Wellington and National Defence College. A specialist in Special Operations he was the first person from the Indian Army to undergo the rigorous Commando Divers Course at Naval Diving School. He excelled on the course, qualifying as an instructor. He has also attended the prestigious Special Forces Officers Course at Fort Bragg, USA doing well again and earning an instructor rating.

 

As a 2Lt in the 1971 war, he was awarded the Vir Chakra for conspicuous bravery. He commanded his parent unit, 1 PARA (Cdo) in CI Ops in the East and was awarded the Shaurya Chakra for a daring rescue operation. He commanded a Mountain Brigade in Nagaland and also the elite Parachute Brigade. As a Major General he commanded Counter Insurgency Force Delta in Doda/Kishtwar and thereafter was appointed as the General Officer Commanding Delhi Area, where he was awarded the Ati Vishisht Seva Medal for distinguished service. The General Officer commanded 14 Corps, responsible for the vast areas of Ladakh and the Siachin Glacier before assuming command of Northern Command on 01 March 2008. For his distinguished service rendered, he was awarded the Param Vishisht Seva Medal on 26 Jan 2009, making him the most decorated soldier in the Indian Army.

 

He has held many prestigious Instructional and Staff Appointments. He served as an Instructor at Infantry School Mhow and at the Counter Insurgency and Jungle Warfare School. He has been a Brigade Major of an Infantry Brigade and Deputy Director General at the Directorate General of Military Operations, Army Headquarters. He was appointed as the Defence Attache at Embassy of India, Yangon (Myanmar) from 1994 to 1997.

 

General PC Bhardwaj is married to Mrs Deepa Bhardwaj. Their two daughters, Ms Shivani and Ms Shveta are married and in UK and USA respectively.

 

Veerendra/Rajendra/Daleep  /spandey

 

 

Press Information Bureau

Government of India

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Air Marshal LK Malhotra AVSM, VSM takes over as Senior Air Staff Officer of Eastern Air Command

 

New Delhi : October 1, 2009

 

Air Marshal LK Malhotra, today took over as the Senior Air Staff Officer (SASO) at HQ Eastern Air Command, Shillong.

 

Air Mshl Malhotra was commissioned in Fighter Stream in 1973 and has nearly 4000 hours flying experience on a variety of fighter aircraft. He is a graduate of the National Defence Academy, a qualified flying instructor, an Instrument Rating Instructor / Examiner, a graduate of the Defence Services Staff College and has undergone the Higher Command Course at College of Combat, Mhow.

 

He has held several important field and staff appointments, which include Commanding Officer of a Fighter Squadron, Chief Operations Officer of a Fighter Base, Directing Staff of College of Air Warfare, Command of a Tactical Unit in Eastern Air Command, and important staff appointments in the Dte of Personnel (Officers) at Air Headquarters. He has commanded the premier Air Force Fighter Station, Ambala, and has held the coveted appointment of Assistant Chief of the Air Staff (Personnel Officers). He has also been appointed as the Commodore Commandant of the 14 Sqn ('The Bulls'). Prior to assuming the present appointment of SASO EAC, he served as Senior Officer in charge Administration.

 

Air Mshl Malhotra has been commended by the Chief of the Air Staff, and is a recipient of Presidential Awards of Ati Vishisht Seva Medal and Vishisht Seva Medal for his exemplary leadership, dedication and distinguished service to the IAF.

 

TKS/spandey

 

 

Press Information Bureau

Government of India

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Air Marshal PS Bhangu takes over asAOC-in-C, South Western Air Command

 

New Delhi : October 1, 2009

 

Air Marshal Paramjit Singh Bhangu, today took over as the new Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief (AOC-in-C), South Western Air Command (SWAC) at Gandhinagar, today.

 

Air Mshl Bhangu was commissioned in Indian Air Force as a fighter pilot on 22 Jan 1972. He has over 4000 hrs of combat flying experience and commanded a front line air base. A qualified A2 Category Flying Instructor and a Fighter Combat Leader, he has served as Commanding Officer of a Fighter Combat Squadron and "Tactics & Air Combat Development Establishment (TACDE)". He is an alumnus of Defence Service Staff College, Wellington. Besides staff appointments at Air HQ as Joint Director Air Defence and Principal Director Flight Safety, the Air Officer had a flying instructional tenure of two years in a friendly country and also diplomatic tenure in Embassy of India Moscow, Russia as Air Attache for over three years. He also held the appointments of Director General, Air Force Naval Housing Board, Assistance Chief of Air Staff (Personnel Officers) and Assistant Chief of Air Staff (Personnel Airmen & Civilians) at Air Headquarters. (Vayu Bhavan). The Air Officer was awarded the Vayu Sena Medal in 1992 and Ati Vishist Seva Medal in 1996 for exceptional devotion to duty. Air Mshl Bhangu was holding the appointment of Senior Air Staff Officer, Western Air Command, New Delhi before taking over as AOC-in-C, SWAC.

 

TKS/spandey

 

 

Press Information Bureau

Government of India

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World Habitat Day 2009 to be celebrated on October, 05

 

New Delhi : October 1, 2009

 

The United Nations has designated the first Monday in October each year as the World Habitat Day (WHD).  The idea is to reflect on the state of human settlements and the necessity of adequate shelter for all.  It is also intended to remind the world of its collective responsibility for the future of human habitat. 

 

The theme for the WHD 2009 is 'Planning our urban future'. The theme has been chosen in order to raise awareness for improvement of urban planning to deal with new challenges of the 21st century, as in both developed and developing countries, cities and towns are increasingly feeling the effects of climate change, resource depletion, food insecurity, population growth and economic instability. For these reasons, urban planning needs to be given a fresh focus and the thematic World Habitat Day 2009 will be celebrated on 5th October, 2009. 

 

 Ministry of Housing & Urban Poverty Alleviation is organizing World Habitat Day 2009 celebrations in New Delhi to commemorate the Day. The focus will be on "Inclusive Planning" and the shifts, technological innovations and financial instaurations to achieve the same. 

 

Kumari Selja, Minister of Housing & Urban Poverty Alleviation and Tourism will deliver the World Habitat Day Address. Secretaries in the States / Union Territories  dealing with Housing and Human Settlement, Mayors / Municipal Commissioners of 63 Mission Cities and other Dignitaries have been invited for the celebrations.

 

AD/AK/spandey

 

 

Press Information Bureau

Government of India

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Modification to the Mega Power Policy

New Delhi : October 1, 2009

 

The Union Cabinet today approved modifications in the existing mega power policy.  This would  encourage setting up of mega power plants to take advantage of  economies of scale  and improve their viability.  It will simplify the procedure for  grant of mega certificate and encourage capacity addition.  It will also encourage technology transfer and indigenous manufacturing in the field of super critical power equipments.

 

The mega Power Policy was introduced in November 1995 for providing impetus to development of large size power projects in the country and derive benefit from economies of scale.  These guidelines were modified in 1998 and 2002 and was last amended in April 2006 to encourage power development in Jammu & Kashmir and the North Eastern region.

 

In order to rationalize the Mega Power Policy and  bring it in consonance with the National Electricity Policy 2005 and Tariff Policy 2006, the following modifications of the existing Mega Power Policy have been envisaged:-

 

(i)                   The existing condition of privatization of distribution by power purchasing states would be replaced by the condition that power purchasing states shall undertake to carry out distribution reforms as laid down by the Ministry of Power.

 

(ii)                 The conditions requiring inter-state sale of power for getting mega power status would be removed.

 

(iii)                The present dispensation of 15% price preference available to the domestic bidders in case of cost plus projects of PSUs would continue.  However, the price preference will not apply to tariff based competitively bid projects of PSUs.  A Committee would be set up under the Planning Commission, with DHI, MoP and DoR as members which would suggest options and modalities to take care of the disadvantages suffered by the domestic industry related to power sector keeping all factors in view.

 

(iv)                The benefits of Mega Power Policy will also be extended to supercritical projects to be awarded through ICB with the mandatory condition of setting up indigenous manufacturing facility provided they meet the eligibility criteria.

 

(v)                  The requirement of undertaking international competitive bidding (ICB) by the developers for procurement of equipment for mega power projects would not be mandatory, if the requisite quantum of power has been tied up through tariff based competitive bidding or the project has been awarded through tariff based competitive bidding.

 

(vi)                A basic custom duty of 2.5% only would be applicable on brown field expansion of existing mega projects.  All other benefits under mega power policy available to Greenfield projects would also be available to expansion unit(s) (brownfield projects) even if the total capacity of expansion unit(s) is less than the threshold qualifying capacity, provided the size of the unit(s) is not less than that provided in the earlier phase of the project granted mega power project certificate.  All other conditions for grant of the mega power status shall remain the same.

 

(vii)               Mega Power Projects would be required to tie up power supply to the distribution companies/utilities through long term PPA(s) and may also sell power outside long term PPA(s) in accordance with the National Electricity Policy 2005 and Tariff Policy 2006, as amended from time to time, of Government of India.

 

AKT/SH/LV/spandey

 

 

 

 

 

 

Press Information Bureau

Government of India

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Project of Four Laning of Bareilly-Sitapur Section of NH-24 in the State of Uttar Pradesh under NHDP Phase III

 New Delhi : October 1, 2009

 

CCI Decision                                                                                                                  

 

The Cabinet Committee on Infrastructure today approved the implementation of project of our laning of Bareilly-Sitapur Section of NH 24 in the State of Uttar Pradesh under NHDP Phase III on Design, Build, Finance and Operate (DBFO) Basis.

 

            The main object of the project is to expedite the improvement of infrastructure in the State.  The project is one of the stretches approved by the Government under NHDP Phase III.  The project road runs between Bareilly and Sitapur which will facilitate in reducing the time and cost of travel for traffic running from Lucknow to New Delhi via Sitapur and Bareilly.

 

            The Cabinet gave approval for 4/6 laning of 4000 km of National Highways under NHDP Phase III A on BOT basis in its meeting held on 5.3.2005.  Subsequently Government approved additional stretches on 18.5.2006, 27.10.2006 and 12.04.2007, for implementation of four laning.  Total tentative length of 12109 km will be done at an estimated cost of Rs.80626 crore.  Accordingly, four laning of 89 stretches having an actual length of 12230 km have been identified.  The stretch under consideration is one of the approved stretches.

 

            Implementation methodology shall be the same as approved by the Cabinet on 5.3.2005, 18.05.2006 and 12.04.2007 for NHDP Phase III (Phase III A and III B).  Accordingly, the bids have been invited on the basis of provisions of approved Model Concession Agreement subject to such changes as accepted by PPPAC and the Manual for Standards and Specifications as published by IRC.

 

            The major impact of the project Highways lies in reducing the time and cost of travel of the traffic running between Lucknow and New Delhi, Nainital etc.  It will also increase the potential of employment to local labourers for the project activities.  Besides it will also add to the transportation facilities for tourism in the State.

 

            The total project cost is estimated to Rs.1046 crore under DBFO pattern.  The concessionaire will make all expenditure to complete the project and will recover the same by user fee for 20 years including a construction period of 30 months.

 

            The project is bound to help a large number of beneficiaries comprising of commuters, labourers, tourism industry professionals and traders & businessmen community in very thickly populated areas by adding opportunities galore due to this road infrastructure sub-project, which is covered in the three districts of the State of Uttar Pradesh i.e. Bareilly, Shahjahanpur and Sitapur.     

 

AKT/SH/LV/spandey