IRCON International Limited, a public sector undertaking, has completed twenty two years. Addressing a function organised on this occasion last evening, the Minister of State for Railways, Shri Ram Naik said IRCON was one of the few profit-making organisations from the very beginning. He complimented the employees for their excellent performance and urged them to be more involved in the activites of the organisation. The Minister also presented awards to eight employees for outstanding performance.

    IRON International Limited, formerly known as Indian Railway Construction Company Limited was set up on 28th April 1976. It had successfully completed a number of projects in various countries and at present is working in six countries - Bangladesh, Iran, Italy, Malaysia and Nepal. It is also the first Indian Construction Company to get the ISO - 9002 Certification.
 
 

    The Ministry of Railways has decided to create website for Indian Railways on the internet. The website would contain important information like history of Indian Railways, details about, Zonal Railways, Production Units, Public Sector Undertakings under the Ministry of Railways, time table, tourist informaton, ticketing and refund rules information. Other important information on the website will relate to statistics on Railways, purchases and tenders information, rollingstock information, route map with capability of zooming on any area and Railway Budget.

    The Computer Maintenance Corporation(CMC), a Central public enterprise, will collaborate for creation of website for Indian Railways in the internet. The information will be accessible to all internet users outside the railway organisation. Only information which is useful for customers, passengers, tourists and other rail users will be included in the website. Necessary information in this regard is being compiled.
 
 

    The Fifth National Meeting of the Civilian Authorities of India and Myanmar was held in Yangon on 27th and 28th April, 1988. The Indian delegation was led by the Union Home Secretary, Shri B.P. Singh while the Myanmar delegation was led b y Brig. Gen. Thura Myinty Maun g, Deputy Minister for Home Affairs.

    The talks which were held in a cordial atmosphere, reviewed the implementation of the decisions taken at the Fourth National level Meeting held in New Delhi in 1996 and discussed measures to further strengthen bilateral cooperation in various fields. The meeting agreed upon a number of practical steps to ensure cross border security, cooperation in the control of Narcotics and implementation of mutually beneficial cross border projects. Agreed minutes of the meeting were signed by the leaders of the two delegation on 28th April, 1998 at the Ministry of Home Affairs, Yangon.

    During the visit, Union Home Secretary called on Secretary-I of the State Peace and Development Council, H.E. Lt. Gen. Khin Nyunt, the Home Minister of Myanmar H.E. Col. Tin Hiang, Foreign Minister, H.E. U Ohn Gyaw and Minister of Immigration and Manpower, H.E. U Saw Tun of the Government of Myanmar.
 
 

    Combined Defence Services Examination, May, 1 998 will be held by the Union Public Service Commission on Sunday, the 3rd May, 1998, as scheduled and there is no change in the schedule of the Examination.
 
 

    Shri Lal Krishan Advani, Union Home Minister would preside over the passing out parade of 28th batch of Directly Appointed Gazetted Officers of Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) tomorrow (the 30th April, 1998) at Internal Security Academy (ISA), Mount Abu (Rajasthan). There will be an attractive parade of trainees, Inspection of March Past of the Parade, Presentation of Trophies for best alround, indore and best outdoor trainees and Sword of Honour. Shri M.N. Sabharwal, G.G., CRPF and a large number of Senior Officers of both Central and State Government will attend the function.

    On this day 75 trainee officer including a lay officers will be marching out into the future with a sense of dedication and pride, achievement and expectations to uphold the motto of the Force "Service and Loyalty". After the passing out these Asstt. Commandants will be deployed in various battalions of CRPF and will handle complex internal security challenges throughout the length and breadth of the Country.

    The Internal Security Academy was established at Mount Abu on February 1, 1975 after shifting of National Police Academy to Hyderabad.
 
 

     Labour Ministry has asked its Labour Bureau to undertake a detailed study of the workers in the unorganised sector with a view to increase their partnership with the organised sector. The study will help in identifying the various categories of workers, laws applicable, deficiencies and the areas in which linkages can be established between organised and unorganised sectors. This decision was taken in a meeting called by the Labour Minister to chalk out priorities of the Labour Ministry on the basis of National Agenda for Governance here today. In his address the Labour Minister Dr. Satyanarayan Jatia said that very little has been done to mitigate the sufferings of workers in the unorganised sector during the last 50 years. He said that although a large number of laws have been enacted for welfare of workforce , unfortunately, only a small fraction of the workers are governed by most of these laws and the workforce in the unorganised sector left without much of labour protection, fair working conditions,social security, minimum wages etc.

    Regarding social security, it was decided to examine how its network can be extended to self employed and other workers in the unorganised sector. On the question of industrial sickness, it was decided that the Labour Ministry will coordinate with Departments of Public Enterprises and Banking so that the legislation on Sick Industrial Companies Act be drafted after due consultations. For an effective enforcement of law regarding equal pay for equal work, Labour Secretary will write to all State Governments to know the existing redressal mechanism available to the workers. With regard to elimination of Child Labour it was decided to frame necessary amendments to the Child Labour ( Prohibition and Regulation Act) of 1986 to achieve the necessary objective. It has also been decided in the meeting that the Director General of Labour Welfare will examine the existing Labour Welfare Funds established under various Acts for improving and expanding the benefits of housing, drinking, education and health benefits to the workers. The meeting was attended by the Labour Secretary Dr. L. Mishra, Senior Officers of Ministry and Heads of the various Departments of the Ministry.
 
 

    The Railway Minister Shri Nitish Kumar has said that sabotage could not be ruled out as the cause of the yesterday's derailment of the Howrah Danapur Express in which 11 persons were killed. He was addressing a Press Conference late last night in Patna. The Minister said that he had ordered a detailed inquiry into the accident by the Commissioner of Railway Safety. The report will be submitted within a month. The Minister also announced an ex-gratia amount of Rs.25,000 each for the family of those who were killed. In addition to this, each bereaved is entitled to claim Rs.4 lakh as compensation. The Chairman Railway Board Shri V.K.Aggarwal, who was also present,has expressed his opinion that the accident occurred because of the removal of fish plates.

    The Prime Minister Shri Atal Behari Vajpayee spoke to Shri Nitish Kumar this morning on phone and conveyed his heart-felt sympathy for the deceased. Shri Nitish Kumar also told him about the accident in detail.
 
 

    A Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) for the year 1998-99 was entered into by Hindustan Zinc Limited (HZL) with the Ministry of Mines here today. The MOU signed by Shri B.B. Tandon, Secretary, Ministry of Mines and Shri K.V.K. Seshavataram, Chairman, HZL, envisages the Gross Margin of Rs. 179 crore and Net Profit (PBT) of Rs. 96 crore during 1998-99. This has been worked out on an estimated LME of $ 1100 in 1998-99 against the LME of $ 1300 in 1997-98. A significant upsurge is expected in the sale of 129,000 tonnes of Zinc and 35,5000 tonnes Lead metals, representing rise of 11% and 15% respectively over the last year's levels. Emphasis has been laid in the MOU on key milestones of its new projects/ schemes viz., New greenfield Zinc Smelter of 60,000 TPA capacity , Expansion of existing Zinc Smelters by 10,000 TPA each, Nickel Technology Proving Plant, Grass root exploration for Lead and Zinc in the State of Rajasthan.

    The sales turn over of HZL during 1997-98 was the highest ever at Rs. 1216 crore the main reason of which being increased export of 119,060 tonnes of zinc concentrates and sale of 4683 tonnes indigenously. The total Lead-Zinc Ore production during this period was 24,67,729 tonnes, 104% of the target. Lead-Zinc concentrate production was 103% of the target. Zinc metal production was 136,271 tonnes, 105% of the target. Besides this 35766 tonnes of Lead metal, 235.725 tonnes of Cadmium 47.351 tonnes of Silver were produced.
 
 

    Under the Integrated Rural Development Programme (IRDP), 10.66 lakh families are expected to have been covered during 1997-98. The total allocation was more than Rs. 1133 crore and the credit target was Rs. 2700 crore.

    The target for per family investment was Rs. 17500 . The target group for IRDP consists of small and marginal farmers, agriculutral labourers and rural artisans whose annual family income is below Rs. 11,000 at 1991-92 prices. As a special safeguard for vulnerable groups it is stipulated that at least 50% of the families should be from the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes. Forty percent of the beneficiaries should be women and 3 percent physically handicapped.
 
 

    The Department of Telecommunications (DoT) and the Telecommunications Consultants of India Limited (TCIL) entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for the year 1998-99 for target fixation among other provisions. The MoU was signed by the Secretary (DoT), Shri A.V. Gokak and Chairman and Managing Director (TCIL), Shri A.S. Bansal, here today. The agreement provides for a target turnover of Rs.600 crore and gross margin of Rs.48 crore. The last year's figure was Rs.530 crore and Rs.37 crore respectively.

    Under the MoU, the powers delegated to 'Mini Ratnas' will also be available to TCIL subject to restructuring of the Board of Directors. DoT will support the company's proposal for Government's approval for making investment in equity of the new Joint Venture Companies upto 30 per cent of its networth. The Government's assistance under the MoU include provision of manpower on deputation or immediate absorption to TCIL for execution of its projects keeping in view the availability of willing officers and various instructions issued by the Government from time to time. TCIL will be provided with opportunities in India for operation in hi-tech areas viz. Cellular Telephone, Radio Trunking, I-NET/HVNET (High Speed V-SAT Network), Cable TV Network and Multi Media Services within the Government policy directions.

    The Government will facilitate execution of turnkey projects for Basic Services to give the company, strength and pre-qualification for operations in foreign countries on franchise or other similar basis. Further, endeavours will be made to simplify the procedures for bidding for Project exports.

    TCIL has been adjudged 'excellent' for the seventh consecutive year under the performance evaluation criteria fixed by the Government. The company which had been paying dividend from the very first year of its full operations has continued to pay a dividend of 100 per cent or more for the last four years. During the year 1997-98, the company had a record order booking abroad of Rs.300 crore, taking the total order booking to over Rs.550 crore in the same year. The company has earned a foreign exchange of over Rs.33 crore as against the previous year's figure of about Rs.23 crore.

    TCIL is an ISO-9001 company and as a measure of diversification has promoted Joint Venture Companies, namely, Hexacom India Limited (HIL), Tamilnadu Telecommunications Limited (TTL), TCIL Bellsouth limited (TBL), Intelligent Communication Systems India Limited (ICSIL), Orange Telecom Software (OTS). The company has worked in over 40 countries and at present is operating in 20 countries, namely Kuwait, Yemen, Madagascar, Indonesia, Syria, Comoros, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Mauritius, Nigeria, Ghana, Zimbabwe, Oman, Malawi, Palestine, Netherland, Tanzania, Sri Lanka.

    TCIL has worked out a Corporate Plan and has projected a turnover of Rs.1250 crore by the year 2005.
 
 

    The estimated production of crude oil during the year 1997-98 was 33.826 Million Tonnes. Production at this level was 2.8% higher than the production of 32.900 Million Tonnes attained during 1996-97.

    The total production of 2.900 Million Tonnes during the month of March, 1988 was, however, 2.7% lower than the production of 2.981 Million Tonnes achieved during the corresponding month of the previous year. The crude oil production during the month works out to 94.5% of the planned target of 3.069 Million Tonnes.

    Achievement of the monthly target fixed for production of crude oil by ONGC was 80.4% for Gujarat, 81.8% for Assam, 223.5% for Tamil Nadu (including Andhra Pradesh) and 103.2% for the offshore areas. In the case of Oil India Limited, the achievement was 103% as compared to the target. The shortfall in crude oil production by ONGC in Gujarat was due to ceasure/decline of wells more than planned in Ahmedabad and Ankleshwar projects, flow line leakage/choking in Gandhar and Ankleshwar fields, frequent power shutdown affecting artificial lift operations, Misc. operation losses, less gas lift production at Sobhasan/Jotana due to increase in water cut and rate decline and less oil gain than anticipated from workover jobs. In Assam it was due to frequent power shutdowns by ASEB affecting artificial lift operations and ceasure/decline (higher than anticipated) in productivity of wells.

REFINERY PRODUCTION

    The cumulative refinery production in terms of crude throughput during the year 1997-98 was 65.131 Million Tonnes as compared to the planned target of 62.900 Million Tonnes representing an achievement of 103.5% of the target. The refinery production at this level was 3.6% higher than production of 62.870 Million Tonnes attained during 1996-97.

    The total refinery production during March, 1998 at 5.771 Million Tonnes was 3.9% higher than the production of 5.554 Million Tonnes attained during the corresponding month of the previous year. This represented an achievement of 101.6% of the monthly planned target of 5.680 Million Tonnes. The crude throughput of all the refineries except Digboi and HPCL (Visakh) exceeded their planned targets during the month under review. The shortfall in Digboi refinery was due to emergency shutdown of Wax Extraction Unit on 9.1.1998 as a result of fire and its subsequent impact. DRMP Crude Distillation Unit/VDU has since been started on 16.3.1998. In HPCL (Visakh), it was due to only CDU-I in-line.

Capacity Utilisation

    The overall refinery capacity utilisation during the year 1997-98 was higher at 105.8% as against 104.1% during the previous year. The capacity utilisation during the month of March 1998 remained high at 110.4% against 108.3% during the month of March, 1997.

NATURAL GAS SUPPLIES

    The cumulative supplies of natural gas during the year 1997-98 was 19738 million cubic metres which is 8.8% higher than 18134 million cubic metres supplied during 1996-97. The natural gas supplies during March 1998 was 1728 million cubic metres which is higher by 5.8% as compared to 1633 million cubic metres supplied during the corresponding month of the previous year.
 
 

    Procurement of wheat during the current rabi marketing season 1998-99 is likely to be around 12 million tonnes as against 9.2 million tonnes procured during last season. The procurement of wheat till date stands at 49.04 lakh tonnes as against 11.67 lakh tonnes on the same date last year. The Food Corporation of India and the other procurement agencies have expressed concern over the shortage of jute bags for packing foodgrains. Under the jute packaging control order, packaging of foodgrains is to be done only in the jute bags. This year the Food Ministry requires an additional 60,000 gunny bales for handling the imported wheat consignments. Already three ships have arrived at Tuticorin, New Mangalore and Visakhapatnam carrying imported wheat. The Food Ministry also requires over 4 lakh gunny bales for packing the wheat to be procured during the rabi season. The Food Ministry seeks to take up the issue of getting the jute packaging control order amended permitting them to use High Density Polythene Bags /other available packaging material for meeting its requirements.
 
 

    There should be an interface between the industry, science & technology and education. Speaking at the annual session of Confederation of Indian Industry on 'Bringing Growth Back : Economy, Education & Employment', the Minister for Human Resource Development and Science & Technology, Dr. Murli Manohar Joshi called upon the industry to help in the national reconstruction endeavor. He suggested that formation of an apex body to integrate the requirements of industry with science and technology development and university education. The industry could identify areas, e.g., Information Technology and Space. Representative of the industry could make a blue print in this respect. He said he would be calling a meeting of all State Ministers to discuss this issue. Dr. Joshi said that a universal primary education can be achieved by cooperation from all sections of the society including State Governments, NGOs and industry. A National Reconstruction Core needs to be formed to harness the youth power to work in the fields of education, health, environment, land reclamation etc.

    The HRD Minister said that India's higher education system can be of immense use for neighbouring countries and those in Central Asia, South Asia and the Gulf. He said that the Government had now created an accrditation Board for educational institutions in the country. It was surprising that even many foreign universities, which were not registered in their own country, were running classes and holding regular examination here. He said he had instructed the Education Department to formulate laws so that these universities were not able to hold exams without accreditation.

    The Minister said that India can become a global economic power in the next 10-15 years. But this can be done only by coordinated efforts. He regretted that uptill now our expenditure on research and development has been very low as compared to other countries. We are spending 0.8% of our Gross National Product on Research and Development, while industrialised countries of the world spend 2 to 3% of the G.N.P. Denmark spends 1.8%, Japan 3%, Republic of Korea 2.8%, U.S.A. 2.9% of their Gross National Product on Research and Development. In 1985-86 we spent 0.89% of our Gross National Product on Research and Development, in 1989-90 it was 0.92%, in 1991-92 it was 0,83%, in 1993-94 it was 0.86%, in 1994-95 it was o.81% and now in 1996-97 it is 0.80% of the G.N.P. From almost 1% of the Gross National Product we have gradually come down to 0.8%. In India the share of R&D expenditure financed by the Government is nearly 80% of the total, whereas in other countries it is lesser, e.g. in Japan it is 22.9%, in USA 33.6% and in UK 37.1%. In 1981 Indian Research Publication were 2.44% of the World Research Publications. This has been gradually diminishing and in 1991 it had become 1.77% , in 1995-96 our Research Publciations have come down to 1.75%. In 1995-96, 11084 international research papers were published and our share was only 0.1%.