Medical Students in the Country

As per information received from Medical Council of India (MCI) there are twenty seven Medical Universities functioning in India. Out of 27 Medical Universities, 14 are in private sector. There are 387 medical colleges including six new AIIMS in the country upto 30.06.2014. Of these, 205 medical colleges are privately run and 5 out of them are not functioning as on date. 

Total intake capacity in these medical colleges is 51,979 MBBS seats. However, no separate data in respect of girls’ students is maintained in the Ministry. There are 25,905 number of medical students enrolled in private medical institutions in India. 

The Health Minister was replying to a question in the Rajya Sabha here today. 

Boosting of Solar Power

Norway has supported a project to electrify 28 villages with solar Mini-grid plants in Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Jharkhand & Jammu and Kashmir. This was stated by Sh. Piyush Goyal, (Minister of state for Power, Coal & New and Renewable Energy (Independent Charge) in a written reply to a question in the Rajya Sabha today. 

Under Off-grid and decentralized solar applications scheme of Jawaharlal Nehru National Solar Mission, the Ministry provides 30% capital subsidy which ranges from Rs.27/-per Wp to Rs.135/- per Wp for installation of solar PV systems and power plants. 

The Minister further stated that In special category States viz. North Eastern States, Sikkim, Jammu & Kashmir, Himanchal Pradesh and Uttarakhand, Lakshadweep and A&N Islands, the Ministry provides 90% capital subsidy which ranges from Rs.81/- Wp to Rs.405/-per Wp for Government organizations (Not for commercial organizations and corporations). Ministry is supporting state governments in these states to exploit solar potential, the Minister added.

NABARD and SFAC Ink Deal for Development of Small Farm Producers

Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed by National Bank of Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD) and Small Farmers Agribusiness Consortium (SFAC) in the presence of Union Agriculture Minister, Shri Radha Mohan Singh here today. 

The Minister appreciated the efforts of both institutions to work together to fulfil their mandates efficiently. The MoU was signed by Dr.Harsh Kumar Bhanwala, Chairman, NABARD and Shri Pravesh Sharma, MD, SFAC. 

The MoU seeks to bring the two institutions in close coordination for implementing schemes for promotion of Producer Organisations (POs). The SFAC is implementing a scheme of the Government of India whereby the Producers Organisations are given equity support and the financing banks are given credit guarantee cover to enable formation of PO’s. 

NABARD will proactively leverage the benefits of the equity grant and credit guarantee fund for FPOs set up by SFAC to ensure that finance for producer company flows smoothly. 

NABARD would actively collaborate with the SFAC at national, state and district level by participating in the Food Security Mission. NABARD informed that it has a fund of Rs.50 crore for supporting producer organisations. 

Seven New Projects worth Rs.87.88 Crore Sanctioned for Development of North Eastern Region

The Ministry of Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region (DoNER) has sanctioned seven  new projects during current financial year 2014-15 (up to 30^th June 2014).The projects worth combined approved cost of Rs.87.88 crore have been sanctioned under Non Lapsable Central Pool of Resources(NLCPR) scheme. The details of the Projects including road construction, irrigation scheme and renewing electric installations are-

Sl. No.	NLCPR Project	Sanction Date	Approved Cost (Rs. lac)
1	Construction of an approach road from Chokpot in South Garo Hills to Jetra (jetragre) (0-17 Km)	09-06-2014	1764.76
2	Thengkhari Barhola Pathar Irrigation Scheme	27-06-2014	410.32
3	Remodeling of Electrical Installation including System Improvement Works at Rhenock Bazar and adjoining areas in East Sikkim	27-06-2014	1595
4	Constn of road from 52.0 km point of NH 154 – Katlicherra Grant of District Hailakandi to Veterbond – Dullavcherra NEC road of Dist Karimganj	27-06-2014	1616.58
5	Construction of Nyodu Sibe Siru Road (23km) in West Siang District	27-06-2014	1949.98
6	Construction of road from Parsi-Parlo (Patuk ADC HQ) (Phase-I; 5km length complete upto blacktopping level including culverts, bridges etc.	27-06-2014	500.52
7	Construction of road from Pakoti to Kamsha Village (6.50km)	27-06-2014	950.81
	Total		8787.97

           

Approved by cabinet in 1997, Non Lapsable Central Pool of Resources(NLCPR) was created in 1998.The Pool  accrues unspent balances out of 10% earmarked for North Eastern Region in the budget of various Ministries/Departments. Funding under NLCPR is on 90:10 (Grant: State Share) basis. 

Agriculture Minister Inaugurates Eco-Friendly Sewage Water Treatment Plant of IARI

Agriculture Minister Shri Radha Mohan Singh inaugurated eco-friendly sewage water treatment plant in the Water Technology Centre of IARI here today. Minister of State for Agriculture and Food Processing Industries, Dr Sanjeev Kumar Balyan, Director General ICAR, Shri S. Ayyappan and Director IARI, Dr H S Gupta were also present. 

The Water Technology Centre (WTC) of IARI, which is engaged primarily in efficient use of water resources in agriculture, has developed an eco-friendly sewage water treatment plant in the IARI Delhi premises. The facility is spread over 1.42 hectares and is capable of treating 2.2 million liters of sewage per day from the Krishi Kunj Colony, at a cost of approx. Rs 1.2 crore and with a potential to irrigate 330 acres of IARI farmland. The eco-friendly sewage treatment plant (e-STP) has 3-treatment cells (of 80 meter by 40 meter dimension each) and ensures complete gravity flow of the wastewater from the sewage wells to the treated water containing cell of the system. 

The noteworthy feature of this facility is that the environmental stress is 33 times lesser than that of a conventional sewage treatment plant (STP) and output i.e. treated water is associated with significantly lower turbidity, BOD, Nitrate, Phosphate, Lead, Iron, Nickel and Sulphate. 

Compared to the conventional wastewater treatment systems, the IARI's wastewater treatment technology requires just 1% energy; zero-chemical application; zero-sludge generation; 50-65% reduced treatment cost and no skilled manpower requirement. To top it all, it has an integrated business model by utilizing system biomass harvested from wetland, which can be transformed to particle board thereby making the complete model self-sustainable. It is, therefore, aptly called "Cash from Trash" business model. 

Union Minister Shri Kalraj Mishra launches the SME Finance Facilitation Centre by CII
Government keen to revise the MSME definition: MSMEs Minister

With an objective to facilitate access to finance and credit for SMEs, the Union Minister for MSMEs Shri Kalraj Mishra today launched the “Online Finance Facilitation Centre”, an initiative by CII. This centre will operate as a one-stop-shop, aggregating financing options for SMEs from various major financial institutions. SME Members across India can easily access this facility online for their credit requirement and it will facilitate the SMEs with documentation and preparation of bankable project proposals. On the other hand, the complete KYCs will help Banks / financial institutions to render quick delivery. 

Speaking on an interactive session organised by CII, the minister emphasized the need to have an integrated approach which will create opportunities for the common people as well as young entrepreneurs. This will not only build confidence, but also self-sustainability resulting in self-development and nation building, he added. 

While recognising the various issues related to the sector, the minister laid emphasis on skill development of not only the entrepreneurs, but also the labourers. As there are over four lakh unregistered enterprises, how to bring them into the mainstream is what needs to be worked upon and this would require identification of several new sectors like defence and aviation, he added. 

Ministry of Health and Family Welfare takes up weeding of unwanted documents

The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare has initiated a clean-up drive to weed out unwanted files/documents, furniture, appliances, instruments etc. Senior officers in the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare carried out a series of inspections from the ground floor to seventh floor of Nirman Bhawan yesterday. It has been decided to ensure that corridors and rooms are cleaned up by 9:00 am everyday to enable officers and staff to start working as soon a they arrive, without waiting for the rooms to be cleaned up alter. The Health Ministry has requested all the sections not to keep any unused or obsolete items in their rooms and the corridors. 

The Ministry of Health & Family Welfare is also renovating its Record Room with modern compactors, etc. for proper storage and retrieval of the records. All the Sections have been requested to undertake a special drive for recording/ weeding out of records/ files in the Ministry. 

Around 35 steel almirahs, 3 water coolers, around 40 chairs and other obsolete material lying in the corridors has been removed. The Ministry will auction these immediately following the GFR provisions. 

The Health Ministry has asked CPWD to provide proper lighting and channelling of wires in the corridors. CPWD has also been asked to expedite the pending renovation work of the wash-rooms on top priority. 

Government Plan a PR Strategy to Bring Back the Image of India as a Safe Destination

The Minister of Tourism and Culture Shri Shripad Yesso Naik has said that his Ministry would soon work out a PR Plan and strategy to bring back the image of India as a safe destination. Speaking at the IATO interaction meeting here today Shri Naik said, the issue of safety and security of tourists especially the women tourists is government’s utmost concern. He said, the Government recognises the role tourism and hospitality can play as a foreign exchange earner and their ability to create millions of jobs every year and therefore, it is important that both the Government and Private Sector are in same tangent so as to achieve the goals set for us.

PM discontinues four Standing Committees of Cabinet

The Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has decided to discontinue the following four Standing Committees of the Cabinet: 

1. Cabinet Committee on Management of Natural Calamities: The functions of this Committee will be handled by the Committee under the Cabinet Secretary whenever natural calamities occur. 

2. Cabinet Committee on Prices: The functions of this Committee will be handled by the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs. 

3. Cabinet Committee on World Trade Organisation Matters: The functions of this Committee will be handled by the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs and, whenever necessary, by the full Cabinet. 

4. Cabinet Committee on Unique Identification Authority of India related issues: Major decisions in this area have already been taken and the remaining issues will be brought to the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs. 

The Prime Minister will be re-constituting the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet, the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs, the Cabinet Committee on Parliamentary Affairs, the Cabinet Committee on Political Affairs and the Cabinet Committee on Security. 

Nominations Open for National Communal Harmony Awards

The National Communal Harmony Awards have been instituted by the National Foundation for Communal Harmony (NFCH), an autonomous body under the Union Ministry of Home Affairs, since 1996. Nominations are being invited for the Awards-2014 from eligible individuals and organizations for their outstanding contribution for promotion of communal harmony and national integration. 

The National Communal Harmony Awards, 2014 consist of a citation each and cash award of five lakh rupees for the Individual category and ten lakh rupees for an Organization. Individuals will be assessed over a ten year period while Organizations will be adjudged over a five year tenure. 

Nominations from competent proposers may be sent to The Secretary, National Foundation for Communal Harmony (NFCH), 9th Floor, Lok Nayak Bhavan, Khan Road, New Delhi-110003 by June 30, 2014. Details may be seen on the Foundation’s website www.nfch.nic.in or obtained from the office of the Foundation. 

ECI orders Candidate`s election expenses accounts to be made public

Under section 78 of the R.P. Act, 1951 every contesting candidate shall lodge account of his election expenses with the District Election Officer (DEO) of the concerned Constituency within 30 days of date from the date of declaration of results.

To bring transparency and quick dissemination of information for public, Election Commission has today issued instructions to the CEOs that the election expenses accounts lodged by the Candidate shall be uploaded on  CEO/DEO website  without fail and  hyperlink is available on the Commission`s website www.eci.nic.in. The public can access such accounts under caption ``General Elections to the Lok Sabha/Legislative Assembly 2014-Candidate`s Election Expenditure

The Commission has also issued direction to the CEOs to ensure that if any member of public wants to obtain the copy of the account lodged by the candidate or CD/DVDs on important events/advertisement, he can get the same on payment of Re. 1 per page or Rs. 300/- per CD/DVD at the office of the District Election Officer. The officials have been directed to issue such copies/CDs/DVDs within 48 Hrs of receipt of the request.

English rendering of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's statement to media outside Parliament House

Following is the text of English rendering of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's statement to media outside Parliament House:

“The people of India have voted in unprecedented numbers, blessed their representatives and elected the sixteenth Lok Sabha. Today is its first day. I assure the people of this country that in this temple of democracy, every effort will be made to meet the hopes and aspirations of the common man of India. My best wishes to fellow Indians.” 

India Ranks Second in Global Textiles Exports

India has improved its ranking as per the recent data released by ‘UN Comtrade’ in Global Textiles as well as Apparel Exports. In Global Textiles Exports, India now stands at second position beating its competitors like Italy, Germany and Bangladesh, with China still retaining its top position. 

Mr. Virender Uppal, Chairman, AEPC, expressed his happiness over this impressive growth and stated that, “Despite having slow recovery in USA and EU, our biggest traditional markets as well as prevailing global slowdown coupled with sustained cost of inflationary inputs, we made the best possible efforts to reach here. The Government policy of diversification of market and product base has helped us and we ventured into the newer markets, which paid huge dividends. We also leveraged our raw material strengths and followed sustained better compliance practices which attracted the buyers and international brands across globe to source from India.” 

India’s share in Global Textiles has increased by 17.5% in the year 2013 compared to the previous year. Currently India’s textiles exports to the world is US$ 40.2 billion. This growth is phenomenal as the global textiles growth rate is only 4.7% compared to India as it has registered the growth of 23% beating China and Bangladesh which has registered 11.4% and 15.4%, respectively.