Special collection centres for Diwali Greetings Mail from today

Press Information Bureau Government of India ******* All India Editors' Conference on Social & Infrastructure Issues begins in Srinagar PRB ACT 1867 TO BE AMENDED SOON: AMBIKA SONI   New Delhi : October 13, 2009   The Union Information & Broadcasting Minister, Smt. Ambika Soni has said that Government will soon amend Press & Registration of Books Act, (PRB Act) 1867 on a larger scale, as the existing provisions of the Act are inadequate to cater to the phenomenal growth of the print media in view of the liberalization of the government policies. Speaking at the inaugural session of the All India Editors' Conference on Social & Infrastructure Issues here today, she said though the Act has been marginally amended several times between 1870 and 1983, the times have not changed and media representatives have also desired to contemporize the Act. She said her ministry has convened a conference of state information ministers in the early next month in New Delhi to discuss various issues relating to media.   Referring to the critical role played by the media in a democracy, Smt. Soni said while the media has to act as a watchdog, it also has a responsibility to create awareness about the positive developments that are taking place across the country, especially in the border areas and other remote and inaccessible areas. She said inspiring incidents of raw courage such as of Ms. Rukhsana of Jammu & Kashmir must be highlighted by the media. She said it is important to profile people who overcome adversities against all odds with fortitude and courage. Smt. Soni urged the media to devote just 5% of news time or print to highlight such human success stories everyday.   Listing the initiatives taken by the Union Information and Broadcasting Ministry in Jammu & Kashmir, Smt. Ambika Soni said one of the highest priorities is to improve the quality of TV and Radio Transmission and increasing the broadcast coverage in the State. She said a provision of Rs. 100 crores has been made in the current financial year for setting up of High Power TV Transmitters in the border areas of the state and Lower Power FM Transmitters in uncovered areas of the State. She said under the scheme 3 High Power (FM & TV) Transmitters are to be set up at Sirpath, Jasrota Top and Khalsar in Kashmir, Jammu and Leh region respectively. One FM Transmitter would be provided at Naushera and one TV Transmitter for DD-1 and DD-News at Rajouri. Low Power FM Transmitters at four locations are also to be set up. It is also proposed to open up more towns to private FM channels with special incentives for border areas under the new FM Phase III policy, which is on the anvil.   Smt. Soni said a new Doordarshan Studio at Leh is expected to be completed during 2010. She said a revamp of the programmes is under way for DD Kashir channel and new programmes produced and executed by young people of the State are expected to be available from 1st January 2010. She said Rs. 14.64 crores have been allocated for DD Kashir's commissioned programmes in 2009-10.   The Union Information & Broadcasting Minister in her speech also referred to the employment generation potential in the media industry and said in States like Jammu & Kashmir, employment for the youth is of crucial importance and recognizing the need her ministry has recently offered setting up of another center of Indian Institute of Mass Communication in J&K. She said she has requested Chief Minister, Shri Omar Abdullah to earmark 4 - 7 acres of land, free of cost, for this purpose.   Inaugurating the conference, the Chief Minister of Jammu & Kashmir, Shri Omar Abdullah said there is a significant change in the state for the better and his coalition government is giving priority to the issues of Bijlee (electricity), Sadak (road), Pani (Water), Sehat (Health) and Taleem (Education) to benefit the masses. He said violence has come down in the state and the people especially youth are now looking for employment opportunities for the betterment of life. Shri Abdullah said revival of Tourism and Handicrafts is important on the path of recovery for the State and urged media to write facts about the state by visiting areas outside main cities like Srinagar to know the reality and interact with common masses to get the correct feed back.   The Union Minister for New and Renewable Energy, Dr. Farooq Abdullah in his speech urged the media to give progress made by the State due prominence with facts and figures. Union Minister for Minority Affairs and Corporate Affairs, Shri Salman Khurshid and Deputy Chief Minister of Jammu & Kashmir, Shri Tara Chand also graced the inaugural session.   DNM/AD/AQ  /spandey       Press Information Bureau Government of India ******* Snow melt runoff forecasting in Himalayan River Basins   New Delhi : October 13, 2009   Central Water Commission (CWC) under Ministry of Water Resources is extending & modernizing its field data collection activities under "Snowmelt runoff forecasting in Himalayan River Basins". The proposed activities include Snowmelt Runoff Forecasting in the Himalayan River Basins in Chenab, Beas, Yamuna, Ganga and Sutlej with the help of Remote Sensing inputs and by continuing field observations at existing and proposed new observatories.   CWC has also been taken up work for "Studies and Monitoring of Water bodies and Glacial Lakes in the Himalayas affecting India". The work has been proposed to be taken up with the help of National Remote Sensing Centre (NRSC). The objectives of the study are :   1). To prepare inventory of Glacial Lakes/Water bodies in the Himalayan Region of the Indian River Basins using Satellite Remote Sensing Techniques.   2). Monitoring of these Glacial Lakes/Water Bodies on monthly basis from June to October for five years.   SK/RS  /spandey       Press Information Bureau Government of India ******* Multi-Sectoral Development Plans of 72 minority concentration districts approved AN AMOUNT OF RS. 555.45 CRORE RELEASED   New Delhi : October 13, 2009                 Under the Multi sectoral Development Programme (MSDP) for 90 Minority Concentration Districts (MCDs), plans of 72 minority concentration districts have been approved till date. These 72 districts fall in 15 States/UT viz. Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal, Assam, Manipur, Bihar, Meghalaya, Jharkhand, Andaman & Nicobar Island, Orissa, Mizoram, Kerala, Karnataka, Uttarakhand and Maharashtra. An amount of Rs. 555.45 crore has been released till date for these districts under the scheme.  The year wise status of implementation of Multi –sectoral Development Programme during the 11th Five Year Plan is mentioned below:   Year Target(for 11th Five Year Plan) Achievements Amount(Rs. in crore) 2007-08(The Programme was not launched) NA NA NA 2008-09 90 MCDs 47 MCDs 270.85 2009-10* 90 MCDs 25 MCDs 284.60 Total   72 MCDs 555.45      *Upto 30th September,2009.               The programme aims at improving the socio-economic parameters of basic amenities for improving the quality of life of the people and reducing imbalances in the MCDs during the Eleventh Five Year Plan period. Identified 'development deficits' would be made up through a district specific plan for provision of better infrastructure for school and secondary education, sanitation, pucca housing, drinking water and electricity supply, besides beneficiary oriented schemes for creating income generating activities. Absolutely critical infrastructure linkages like connecting roads, basic health infrastructure, ICDS centers, skill development and marketing facilities required for improving living conditions and income generating activities and catalyzing the growth process would also be eligible for inclusion in the plan. The focus of this programme is on rural and semi-rural areas of the identified 90 minority concentration districts.An amount of Rs. 2750 Crore has been allocated by the Planning Commission for Multi Sectoral Development Programme for Minority Concentration Districts for the 11th Five year plan.   ******* KKP/spandey       Press Information Bureau Government of India ******* Special collection centres for Diwali Greetings Mail from today   New Delhi : October 13, 2009                 Special arrangements for receiving Diwali Greetings Mail have been made by Delhi Postal Circle. Thirty four Post Offices and 2 RMS Offices at Railway Stations as per following list will accept Diwali Mail from today till 20.10.2009.  Separate reception counters have been set up at these Post Offices for the purpose.  Members of public are Welcome to post their Diwali Greetings mail at these collection centres.  1. Ashok Vihar H.P.O. 19. New Delhi G.P.O. 2. Civil Lines PO 20. New Subzi Mandi PO 3. Chankyapuri PO 21. Naraina Ind.Estate H.P.O. 4. Delhi G.P.O. 22. Patel Nagar PO 5. Delhi Cantt.PO 23. Paschim Vihar PO 6. Hauz Khas PO 24. Ramesh Nagar H.P.O. 7. I.P.H.O. 25. Rohini PO 8. Janakpuri PO 26. R.K. Puram V PO 9. Krishna Nagar H.P.O. 27. R.P. Bhawan PO 10. Karol Bagh PO 28. Sansad Marg H.P.O. 11. Keshav Puram PO 29. Sarojini Nagar H.P.O. 12. Kalkaji H.P.O. 30. SRT Nagar PO 13. Lodi Road H.P.O. 31. Seelampur PO 14. Lajpat Nagar PO 32. Sriniwas Puri PO 15. Malviya Nagar PO 33. Shakur Basti PO 16. Malka Ganj PO 34. R.K. Puram (Main) PO 17. Mehrauli PO 35. Delhi RMS(Delhi Rly Station) 18. Mayapuri PO 36. New Delhi RMS(New Delhi Rly Station)   In addition to the normal provisions, these centres will help in timely delivery of greetings in spite of the mail rush on the occasion.  *******GG/AT/PB/spandey PIB Kolkata