West Bengal Chief Minister Shri Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee meets Coal Minister SHRI Sriprakash Jaiswal

Press Information Bureau Government of India ****** West Bengal Chief Minister Shri Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee meets Coal Minister SHRI Sriprakash Jaiswal   New Delhi : October 23, 2009   Shri Sriprakash Jaiswal, Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Coal, Statistics and Programme Implementation, has said that his Ministry is looking into the demand of West Bengal Government for allocation of additional coal blocks. He was speaking to the media after West Bengal Chief Minister, Shri Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee met him today in New Delhi.   The demand of the State Government for allocation of 9 blocks to the West Bengal Mineral Development and Trading Corporation was discussed during the meeting. The Chief Minister informed that the blocks already allocated are being used to support steel plant projects in the relatively backward districts of Paschim Medinipur and Purulia. He said that many other large investment proposals in the State are awaiting coal linkages. The Chief Minister described the meeting as positive.   The coal blocks sought by West Bengal include Kunur, Sunuri, Lalganj, Nachan, Dharma, Kabitirtha, Deocha-Pachami, Dewanganj and Barjora South. The State Government also requested the Coal Ministry and Coal India Ltd. to adopt a policy whereby the interests of coal mining and industrial development can be jointly pursued in coal bearing areas.   PRA/SKK  /spandey         Press Information Bureau Government of India ****** MIG 27 aircraft crash    New Delhi : October 23, 2009   One MiG 27 aircraft of IAF crashed near New Jalpaiguri about 16 Kms West of Hashimara airbase on 23 Oct 09 at about 1310 hrs. The Pilot, who got airborne for a routine flying training sortie, ejected safely. There is no reported damage to any civil property or life. A Court of Inquiry has been ordered to investigate the cause of the accident.   PJ/MKS  /spandey Press Information Bureau Government of India ****** K.M. Acharya to hold Addl. charge of Secretary, M/O of Women & Child Development    New Delhi : October 23, 2009   The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet has approved the appointment of Shri K.M. Acharya, IAS (MP:74), Secretary, Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment will hold additional charge of the post of Secretary, Ministry of Women and Child Development for a period of three months or until further orders, whichever is earlier.   RS/SR  /spandey           Press Information Bureau Government of India ****** Shri Kapil Sibal leaves for the US tonight; to meet with US Secretary Education, Arne Duncan   New Delhi : October 23, 2009   The Union Minister for Human Resource Development, Shri Kapil Sibal is leaving for the US tonight and will hold ministerial level talks with the US Secretary of Education, Arne Duncan. The two are likely to talk about greater collaboration in education between the two countries. The Minister, besides being accompanied by Ministry officials will also be accompanied by a FICCI delegation which includes academicians.   During his visit, Shri Sibal holds discussions with the Presidents of the Universities of Harvard, Boston, Yale, Duke, Georgetown, the President of New York Academy of Sciences, Mr. Ellis Rubenstein and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) President, Dr. Susan Hockfield. The Minister will address the Harvard Community on 26th October, and the MIT Community on 27th October. At Yale University he will be given a presentation on "Strategies for Recruiting and Developing a World Class Faculty".   MV/Hb  /spandey         Press Information Bureau Government of India ****** Shri Kapil Sibal inaugurates training in CCE for Delhi Government Schools, launches CCE Logo, Trainer Manual, CCE Card and School Report  New Delhi : October 23, 2009                Curriculum content is being looked at by the Government in order to make it more relevant for students. This was stated by Union Minister for Human Resource Development, Shri Kapil Sibal while inaugurating a training programme on Continuous and Comprehensive Evaluation (CCE) for Master Trainers. Questioning straight jacketed curricula and streams as at present, he said we must look at evolving curricula which helps people get jobs. But adding a note of caution, he said that any attempt at curriculum change must take a comprehensive view of the country, its different regions and socio economic groups. The HRD Minister also launched the CCE Logo and Slogan, CCE teacher's manual, CCE Trainer's Manual, a model CCE Card and School Report and a Helpline for teachers here today. The Programme was also attended by Shri Arvinder Singh Lovely, Minister of Education, Government of Delhi, Shri Rakesh Mohan, Principal-Secretary Education, Delhi Government, Shri S.C. Khuntia, Joint Secretary, Union Ministry of Human Resource Development and Shri Vineet Joshi, Chairman and Secretary of CBSE.               Shri Sibal called for greater respect for teachers.  He said that the educational reforms must look at creating greater opportunities for growth for the teachers.  Educational reforms must also lead to a more important place for teachers in society.                    110 Master Trainers would be trained over a period of 3 days in this training programme.  These Master Trainers would in turn train Principals and teachers of other schools of Delhi Government over the next two three months. The CBSE invited entries from all the stakeholders for Logo and Slogan for the CCE. 80 entries were received out of which the Logo prepared by the Cambridge International School, Jallandhar and the Slogan by Delhi Public School, Greater Noida were selected by experts.  This logo and slogan will now be used in all communications of the CBSE in order to convey the message of the CCE.  The Teacher Manual contains the details of the CCE scheme and practical ways to operationalise the same by Teachers in the school.               The CCE Card and School Report is the Final Card to be issued at the end of Class X as well as model Report format for class IX/X.  In order to provide post training back-up, a Toll Free Helpline has also been started for the Teachers.  They can get their queries on CCE resolved by dialing at the toll free no. 1800 1 18 002.  The teachers can also "Interact with the Chairman" on the implementation of the CCE through CBSE's website (www.cbse.nic.in),      MV/Hb/spandey       Press Information Bureau Government of India ****** Progress in kharif and rabi/ summer oilseeds sowing   New Delhi : October 23, 2009                    Data received from States reveal further progress in kharif sowing and rabi summer oilseed crops.  The cropped areas this year and last year for major kharif and rabi /summer oilseed crops as on 22nd October are as follows:                                                               lakh hectare Crop This year's area [as on 22ndh October, 2009] Last year's area [as on 22nd October 2008} Paddy 328.17 389.19 Jowar 31.27 29.34 Bajra 85.44 85.27 Maize 71.13 70.53 Total of coarse cereals 207.38 206.68 Arhar 35.92 34.47 Urd 22.40 20.90 Moong 24.01 22.35 Total Pulses 101.42 95.99 Groundnut 44.47 53.33 Soybean 96.11 96.35 Total Oilseeds 174.91 184.43 Rapeseed & mustard     8.63     9.8 Sunflower     2.34     2.40 Total Rabi/Summer oilseeds  12.08   13.42             MP: SB:CP:weatherwatch(23.10.2009)/spandey   PIB Kolkata