US AMBASSADOR MEETS COAL INDIA LIMITED CHAIRMAN

Press Information Bureau Government of India * * * * * * WORLD STANDARDS DAY OBSERVED   Kolkata: Wednesday, October 14, 2009.         A one day seminar on `Tackling Climate Change Through Standards` was organized by Bureau of Indian standards, Eastern Region, Kolkata on World Standards Day in Kolkata today.       While inaugurating, Addl. Chief Secretary, Department of Consumer Affairs, Government of West Bengal, Dr. Promod Kumar Agrawal said that everybody is concerned to fight climate change and global warming for our existence but sustainability and growth are anti to each other. He also said that International Standards developed by the leading International Standards Organisations, the IEC, the ISO and the ITU, promise to provide the necessary tools to help combat global climate change and global warming in a meaningful way, while facilitating sustainable development but need  of the hour is that the Indian Industries adopt technologies, practices and approaches including the environment and climate-change related standards to help India leapfrog to a low-carbon economy.          In his speech, Deputy Director General of Bureau of Indian Standards, Eastern Regional Office, Dr. D K Chaudhuri said that climate change is no doubt the current buzzword globally, the world is really facing a critical challenge due to increasing greenhouse gas emission leading to rise in earth's average temperature and a drastic climate change, now enormous environmental, socio-economic and developmental stresses on our planet earth have been envisaged by the leading climate change experts.                  He also said that all sectors of the economy, each consumer, even politician, everybody is concerned by acting with big or small actions to fight climate changes. Now, policy makers world-over are negotiating for an effective international framework to deal with these climate change challenges with leading industrial for a of various countries are very much active in providing climate change-related services including technology incubation, sustainable development to the industries to help in formulating their response to climate changes and achieve low-carbon economy, he said. ******* AH/spandey       Press Information Bureau Government of India * * * * * * NABARD's Support for training of Business Correspondents (BCs) and Business Facilitators (BFs) of banks   Kolkata: Wednesday, October 14, 2009.         NABARD has introduced a scheme to support the capacity building needs of Business Correspondents (BCs) and Business Facilitators (BFs) of banks in association with Indian Institute of Banking & Finance (IIBF), Mumbai. Under the scheme, NABARD would reimburse the course fee of those BCs and BFs who successfully complete the Certificate Course offered by IIBF.  The course will be conducted by IIBF at the State/district level through local accredited institutions. Support from Financial Inclusion Fund (FIF) of NABARD will be provided for candidates employed / engaged as BC/BF with banks or as Customer Service Providers (CSPs) of BCs.          In West Bengal, the extent of support will be 100% of course fee, i.e., Rs. 4000/- per successful candidate in 14 districts and 75% of the course fee, i.e., Rs. 3000/- in 4 districts i.e. Hooghly, Birbhum, Darjeeling & Purba Midnapur.  The scheme is highly relevant in West Bengal as several areas do not have requisite network of bank branches.  Banking institutions could take full advantage of this scheme to beef up their efforts to increase their outreach through BC and BF model.  The initiative is expected to provide a fillip to the efforts for securing total financial inclusion in the State by March 2012.   AH/spandey       Press Information Bureau Government of India ****** US AMBASSADOR MEETS COAL INDIA LIMITED CHAIRMAN   New Delhi : October 14, 2009     The US Ambassador to India Timothy J Roemer met Coal India Limited Chairman in a luncheon meeting at Coal Bhawan in Kolkata today.               Wide ranges of subjects were discussed between them. The important issue discussed was to strengthen cooperation between India and USA in the energy sector in general and coal sector in particular. The other matter discussed was use of clean coal technology, emission free use of coal and development of energy sector in a socially and environmentally sustainable manner.   Ms. Beth A. Payne, US Consul General, Kolkata was also present in the meeting. ******* SC/spandey   PIB Kolkata