The National institute of Immunology, New Delhi has developed Anti-Leprosy vaccine and has conducted Phase I,II and III clinicaltrials to study its immunotherapeutic and immunoprophylactic effects in leprosy patients. The development of this vaccine was initiated during early 1980s. Phase II clinical trial of this vaccine was launched in December 1986 in two Urban Leprosy centres of Delhi namely safdarjung Hospital and Dr. Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital after obtaining due approval of Drugs controller Genral of India and the Institutional Ethics commuttee of Hospitals.

    Patients receving this vaccine as adjunct to multidrug therapy (MDT) have shown repid clinical improvement, bacteriological negativity and histopathological upgradation. This observation of hastening of healing induced by Mw vaccine has been consistent from 1987 till date. The vaccine is also free from any serious side effects and well accepted by rural as well as urban population. The encouraging results of clinical trials in Delhi Urban Leprosy Centres led the Institute to expand the trials in larger population in field situation in Kanpur Dehat. The vaccine was tested on Leprosy patients as well as their healthy households contacts. The data produced has been thoroughly examined by two separate Expert Committees constituted by the Department of Biotechnology. The statistical analysis of the immunotherapeutic data of Mw vaccine with MDT shows the improvement in clinical profiles of the leprosy patients as early as six months.

    The technology for manufacture of the product has been trasferred to M/s cadila Pharmaceuticals, Ahmedabad. Drugs controller General of India has provided the clearance for commercialisation of this vaccine to M/S. Cadila Pharmaceuticals. Cadila will soon launch the product in the market, witth a mechanism for post market surveillance. Looking at the problem globally, although leprosy is found in about 80 countries in Asia, Africa and Latin America, India alone contributes to about 60 per cent of the global pool of leprosy patients. Though the number of leprosy patients in the world have reduced from approximately 12 million to 6 million from 1985 to 1995, there are difficulties in accurate estimation of disease burden due to ambiguity in early detection of the disease and self-healing nature in a large number of cases.

    This is the first anti-leprosy vaccine developed in the world. while its immunotherapeutic effects have been well established, its role for immunoprophylaxis is being examined by regulatory agencies. There are indicators showing that the vaccine has profound effects on healthy household contacts.
 
 

    There is a ground-swell of public opinion in favour of extension of the ceasefire. The Naga Hoho and the NGOs have also arged the Government of India to extend the ceasefire. In view of the prevailing mood desire of the Naga people, the Government of India have in consultation with hte NSCN decided to announce a further extension of the current ceasefire for a period of three months with effect from February 1, 1998. Government expects that the extension of ceasefire would on the one hand help promote peace in the State and create a conductive climate for the conduct of elections in the State on the other.

    The agreed ground rules would be strictly implemented during the pendency of the ceasefire. Notifications have been issued on 28 January, 1998 calling upon the people of Nagaland to participate in the democratic process and elect their representatives to the Nagaland Legislative Assembly as also to the Lok Sabha. The polling is scheduled to be held on Monday, February 23, 1998. All necessary arrangments are being made to ensure that as in the rest of the country, so also in Nagaland, the poll process would be taken to its logical conclusion, in the manner laid down by the Election Commission of India. Government of India notes with satisfaction that the ceasefire which has been in force in Nagaland for the last 6 months has had on the whole a salutary effect, the level of violence has come down, and the general public has welcomed it.
 
 

    The garment export target of US $ 5.2 billion set for the current financial year 1997-98 will be achieved, Shri Prabhat Kumar,Secretary, Ministry of Textiles, said at the inaugural function of the 20th India Internationsl Garment Fair 1998 here today. The three-day Fair, was inaugurated by the Cabinet Secretary, Shri T.S.R. Subramanian, Shri Prabhat Kumar indicated that growth rate of garment ecports from India had picked uup in the last few months clocking a positive growth during the period April-December 1997 which indicated that the declining trend witnessed earlier--upto September- had been reversed.

    Dwelling on the challenges before the Indian garment industry with the phase-out of the multi-fibrearrangement (MFA), currency depreciation in South -East Asian countries etc., Shri Prabhat Kumar undrlined the need dto have a composite strategy with emphasis on technology upgradation to enable the Indian garment industry to withstand global competition. He suggested that the Apparel Export Promotion Council (AEPC) should consider setting up a National Centre for Garment Technology to achieve this objective.He also proposed that a special session of tdhe Export Promotion Board (EPB) under the chairmanship of the Cabinet Secretary should be convened to discuss the issues and problems facing the Indian garment industry. He stressed that such initiatives were imperative in order to overcome the challenges facing the garment sector in the overseas markets, since dthe phase of runaway growth was clearly over. Shri Subramanian described the garment industry as a front-runner in Indian exports, but cautioned against resting on past achievemensts in view of the challenges looming in the global trade scenario.
 
 

    Shri Ramoowalia, Union Minister of Welfare held a reception here today to the Tribal Guests and Tableau Artists, who took part in the Republic Day Celebrations this year. Ministry of Welfare invites one male and female tribal guest each from various States and Union Territories to participate in the Republic Day Celebrations every year.The Tribal guests accompanied by their liaison officers from their respective States stay in Delhi from January 23 to February 3.They are taken to witness the Republic Day parade on January 26th besides Prime Minister's NCC Rally and Beating Retreat Ceremony.During their stay in Delhi they are taken for sight seeing in and around Delhi including a visit to Agra.Every year receptions are held for the Tribal guests by the President of India,the Vice President, Prime Minister, Defence Minister and the Welfare Minister. This year 42 Tribal guests from various States and Union territories were in Delhi to witness the Republic Day Celebrations.