Star News Agency

New Delhi. China disputes the international boundary between India and China in the Eastern Sector and claims approximately 90,000 square kilometres of Indian territory in the State of Arunachal Pradesh. China does not have claims over the Indian State of Sikkim. The two countries have appointed Special Representatives to explore from the political perspective of the overall bilateral relationship the framework for a boundary settlement. There have been thirteen meetings of the Special Representatives till date. Since 1993, the two Governments have agreed to maintain peace and tranquility along the Line of Actual Control in the India-China border areas, without prejudice to their respective positions on the alignment of the line of actual control as well as on the boundary question. Government regularly takes up any violation along the LAC with the Chinese side through established mechanisms including the Joint Working Group, the Expert Group, border personnel meetings, flag meetings and diplomatic channels. There has been no increase in the number of incidents of Chinese intrusions.

This information was given by DR.Shashi Tharoor, Minister of State, External Affairs in reply to a question by Shri Nand Kishore Yadav,Shri Mati Kusum Rai, Shri Kamal Akhtar & Shri Amir Alam Khan in Rajya Sabha Today.

Star News Agency

New Delhi. Mr. Mauri Pekkarinen, Minister of Economic Affairs, Finland met Shri Anand Sharma, Union Minister for Commerce & Industry here today to discuss issues of mutual interest and cooperation and particularly the issue of environment and clean technology. Shri Sharma emphasized that the issue of technologies related to the environment must be looked at in the context of the monumental challenges of development and poverty alleviation. He said that poverty is the biggest polluter and unless and until the discussion on climate change provides for technology transfer backed up by resource transfer to the poorer countries, the objective of mitigation will not be achieved. He said that Copenhagen must build upon Kyoto and not reinvent the wheel and added that the West will continue to be a leader in technology development but when it comes to adaptation, a number of emerging economies have the capability to adapt the technology to their situation. Shri Sharma said: “we are conscious of the need to have clean technology and have been assessing various technologies for mitigation and adaptation. The issue really is however of how to make technology accessible to the poorer countries, given the fact that these are protected by IPRs and are often out of their reach. The issue therefore is one of balance and sharing in the interest of humankind at large”. In this context, Shri Sharma raised the issue of such balance and sharing in other areas also like life saving drugs, access to which should be the right of every human being.

Mr. Pekkarinen, agreed that Copenhagen should provide some political guidance. On resource transfer, he said that there should be fair play and the system of obtaining technologies should be transparent. He said that Finland is very keen on cooperating with India in high-technology sectors. With Finland’s resources and India’s huge knowledge potential, the cooperation could be extremely fruitful.

Both sides agreed to set up a joint business council between India and Finland which would cover not only the core competency of the two countries but a broader band of sectors with potential for cooperation and mutual benefit.

Star News Agency

Panaji (Goa). As part of 40th International Film Festival of India – 2009 pre Festival screenings commenced today for the Press and Media. ‘Ilisa Amagi Mahao’, ‘For Real’, ‘Ekti Kaktaliya Golpo’, ‘Angshumaner’, ‘Dot In For Motion’, ‘Ijjodu’, ‘Swaymabhu Sen Foreseas’ and ‘Kutty Srank’ are being screened in Macquinez I. The synopses of these are as below:

ILISA AMAGI MAHAO (The Taste of A Hilsa)

It is not dawn yet. Only the father and the son in a boat can be seen stirring the river. After casting their net once or twice they move down southwards. Drifting a little further they hit on luck. A big, silvery white hilsa is rolling in the net. Father decides not to sell it off. He hopes to invite his pregnant daughter for a meal. He wishes to share the taste of hilsa with his family. But he comes to know that they have no rice to cook...

FOR REAL

For Real is all about a child’s determination to keep her family together when the adults are intent on destroying it. Six-year old Shruti knows something no one else does. An alien has come in place of her mother and her real mother has been sent to the Orion Galaxy. While the alien looks just like her mother on the outside, Shruti knows she is completely different from her beloved mother on the inside. Shruti turns to her brother for help but he doesn’t believe her. Her father, like always, remains engrossed in work and unavailable to her. Unable to accept the Alien in her home and desperate to be with her mother, the lonely child runs away. What follows is a child’s passage to finding her real mother, a man’s struggle to save his family and a woman’s journey to finding herself.

EKTI KAKTALIYA GOLPO

The narrative revolves around a 13-year-old boy, Babai. He is given a magic marble (which apparently has the power to summon the king of fish) by an old man who stays in the ground floor flat of his apartment. His teacher (who stays in the same building) takes it way asking him to concentrate on his studies than on fantasies. The boy’s dreams are crushed as he sits by his window with a handmade fishing rod. However, coincidences bring about an unusual turn of events.

ANGSHUMANER CHHOBI

Angshuman had left Kolkata eight years ago to pursue a course in filmmaking in Italy. He stayed back for a career in documentary and advertising. But he has to fulfil a commitment to his college professor to make a film in Bengali. Armed with an interesting script about the curious relationship between a septuagenarian celebrity painter and a young nurse, Angshuman lands in Kolkata. But the project turns out to be a non-starter with a series of hurdles coming one after another, involving three people who are linked to Angshuman’s film-Pradyut, the legend of Bengali cinema living in self-imposed exile, Madhura, who could never live up to the expectations generated by the national award she won for her first film and Neel, a young man passionate about dance and astronomy who finds his life getting changed forever with a stroke of destiny. Things come to a head with a crime on the scene. An alleged suicide brings SP Sourya Roy to investigate the case.

DOT IN FOR MOTION

Dot in for motion traces India’s recent growth after economic liberalization and the information revolution and its effect on the lives of the vast Indian populace. Does globalization really usher in liberty? Does the open market mean a more open society? Does it really foster democracy? Or is it a process of homogenization slowly taking over this nation of enormous diversity? The film neutrally records the voice of people, from lounge of the silicon city to a remote tribal village that never heard of electricity.

IJJODU

In a remote area in Karnataka, photojournalist Ananda meets Chenni, a woman who was made a Basavi-offered at the altar of the village deity to save the superstitions locals from a devastating epidemic. Basavis, like Devdasis, often end up becoming sex workers and bear the brunt of social stigma. Ananda is shocked to learn that Chenni is a Basavi and tries to persuade her, with rational arguments, not to pay the price for superstition. When he insists that she should get married, Chenni asks him if he would marry her but he is not bold enough. The next day when Chenni is found dead on the steps of the temple pond, Ananda feels guilty for her suicide because he was not strong enough to give her a new life.

SWAYMABHU SEN FORESEAS HIS END

It’s 26 July 2005. Three narrators atop a bus entertain the stranded with an urban legend of an extraordinary filmmaker who stole everything he needed to make a film, from film stock to camera. Beyond this the three narrators take the stories in different directions. All stories conclude with the filmmaker not making the film but the how and why differ. The film is a magical, dark journey into the possibilities of fate and the survival or true talent in the business that Indian popular cinema has been reduced to.

KUTTY SRANK

The police find an unidentified body on the beach and three women turn up, each claiming it is ‘her’ Kutty Srank. One is a wealthy woman who wants to become a Buddhist nun. The second is an actress who is later accused of the murder. She was acting in a traditional Christian play with Kutty Srank. The third is a gentle, mute woman who gets pregnant by Kutty Srank. Will this richly short film, with multiple skeins and powerful imagery, reveal the real Kutty Srank?

Star News Agency

Panaji (Goa). The Chief Minister of Goa, Shri Digambar V. Kamat has assured the people that the State of Goa is all set to host the 40th International Film Festival of India (IFFI) – 2009. Shri Kamat reiterated that there is no security threat to the Film Festival and the people need not feel concerned on this account. The Chief Minister was addressing a press conference here today along with the Festival Director Shri S. M. Khan from the Directorate of Film Festivals of Ministry of Information & Broadcasting, Government of India as also with the CEO of the Entertainment Society of Goa, Shri Manoj Srivastava and the Chief Secretary of Goa, Shri Sanjay Srivastava.

Enumerating the highlights of IFFI-2009, Shri Kamat pointed out that ‘Goa, a Celluloid Destination’ would be an important section this time. The idea is to promote Goa as a shooting destination for all the international directors, producers and other film makers. It was informed that at least eight films shot in Goa will be screened during the Festival.

In a bid to make even the Aam Adami participate in the Festival, a new idea of ‘T20 of Indian Cinema’, nominating the best of twenty films produced in the last 96 years, has been introduced this year. The Chief Minister informed that an overwhelming response spanning over three generations of families has been received. The Closing Ceremony of T20 announcing the winners would be held on November 30, 2009 culminating with a fashion show on the theme ‘Fashion in Indian Cinema’.

The Chief Minister also informed that in keeping with the festive spirit, the Goa Chamber of Commerce has decided to include about 100 enterprises in the city of Panaji for a shopping festival for IFFI delegates. On the sidelines, at the Corniche between Old GMC and Kala Academy Goan cultural activities would also be showcased between 23rd November to 3rd December 2009.

As another new initiative, the Films Division of Ministry of Information & Broadcasting, Government of India, is organizing ‘Moments with the Maestros’ from November 24 to November 30, 2009. The Section will present set of short films/ documentaries based on the Indian music maestros. For the first time, Malegaon industry of remakes also gets an international platform with the screening of two of their films – Yeh Hai Malegaon Ka Superman and Gabbarbhai MBBS.

Shri S. M. Khan, the Festival Director pointed out that the International Film Festival of India is also noted worldwide for the attractive awards given out at this Festival. Shri Khan elaborated that the Best Film Award to the Director and Producer of the Award Winning Film in the Competition Section carries a prize money of Rs. 40 lakhs and the Golden Peacock Award. Shri Khan also said that in keeping with the recommendations of the International Jury last year, this year’s Silver Peacock Award along with monetary prize of Rs. 15 lakhs would go to the Best Director rather than to the Best Debut Director as had been the practice till last year. The Special Jury Award at IFFI also carries a sum of Rs. 15 lakhs along with the Silver Peacock Award. He informed that this year films from Croatia, Estonia, Italy, and Poland will be screened under the “Country Focus” Section at IFFI-2009. 75 years of Assamese cinema and screening of Telugu musical hits will be yet another novelty for IFFI-2009. The Indian Section at IFFI - 2009 under nine different segments will screen 77 films. The Indian Panorama at IFFI 2009 would present a bouquet of 44 films, 26 feature films and 18 non-feature films. Shri Khan informed that the Spanish film ‘Broken Embraces’ will be the closing film for IFFI-2009.

Sibal Chatterjee

The 40th International Film Festival of India (IFFI), which kicks off in Goa on November 23, promises to be a veritable feast of outstanding cinema from around the world.Veteran Hindi film actress Waheeda Rehman will be the chief guest at this year’s IFFI opening ceremony, where present-day Bollywood and southern movie star Asin will help her light the inaugural lamp.

Malayalam cinema mainstay Mamootty will fly into Goa towards the end of the 40th IFFI to be the chief guest at the festival’s closing ceremony on December 2. Nearly 60 films from 45 countries will be screened in the 11-day festival’s ‘Cinema of the World’ section. Among them will be the closing film, Spanish master Pedro Almodovar’s Broken mbraces, starring Penelope Cruz; and French veteran Jacques Audiard’s powerful prison drama, The Prophet. The two films made waves at the Cannes Film Festival earlier this year.

Interestingly, Almodovar’s last film, Volver, was chosen for the opening night of the 38th IFFI in 2007. Apart from turning the focus on Latin American cinema, the 40th IFFI will present retrospectives of Portugal’s Manoel de Oliveira, the world’s only active centenarian filmmaker, and Thai writer, producer and director Nonzee Nimibutr. De Oliveira is the only living filmmaker today who began his career in the silent era. Included in the retrospective is his latest film, Eccentricities of a Blond Hair Girl, which he completed last year at the age of 101.

Of special interest to audiences in Goa will be a retrospective of British filmmaker of Indian origin, Gurinder Chadha, the creator of successful features like Bhaji on the Beach, Bend it Like Beckham and Bride & Prejudice. IFFI will also screen films from five European nations – France, Italy, Croatia, Estonia and Poland – in a special Focus section.

In its sixth year in Goa, IFFI, which is hosted by Panaji, will, for the first time, register its presence in Margao as well. A new 1100-seater auditorium has been constructed there for the regular screening of IFFI films.

Goa Chief Minister, Mr Digambar Kamat says: “We want to make IFFI Goa one of the world’s premier film festivals. And we also want everybody in Goa to feel a part of this event. Therefore, we have brought Margao into the IFFI ambit.”

IFFI, one of the oldest and largest film festivals in Asia, will, as usual, showcase the best films made by the world’s most prolific industry in its centrepiece section, the Indian Panorama.

Two Indian films – Satish Manwar’s Gabhricha Paus (Marathi) and Atanu Ghosh’s Angshumaner Chhobi (Bengali) – will vie with 11 other films from Asia, Asia Pacific, Africa and Latin America, for the festival’s top prize – Golden Peacock, accompanied by a cash award of Rs 40 lakh. IFFI’s total prize money adds up to a whopping $ 140,000.

The 2009 Panorama, which is made up of 26 features and 18 non-features, has films by a fair share of IFFI regulars – Buddhadeb Dasgupta’s Janala (Bengali), Shaji N. Karun’s Kutty Srank – Sailor of Hearts (Malayalam), Rituparno Ghosh’s Shob Charitro Kalponik (Bengali), Sumitra Bhave and Sunil Sukhtankar’s Ek Cup Chai (Marathi) and Ijjodu (Kannada), directed by M.S. Sathyu, who has returned to the big screen after a 12-year hiatus.Rubbing shoulders with these veterans will be a clutch of promising first-time filmmakers – Paresh Mokashi (Harishchandrachi Factory, Marathi), Aijaz Khan (The White Elephant), Seema Kapoor (Haat – The Weekly Bazaar).

For the first time in the history of IFFI a Konkani entry – Laxmikant Shetgaonkar’s Paltadacho Munis (The Man beyond the Bridge) – will be the opening film of the Indian Panorama. The Vasco-based filmmaker’s first feature won a prestigious Fipresci (Federation of International Film Critics) award at the 34th Toronto International Film Festival in September.

Two other films with Goa links will be screened in IFFI this year – Sangram Gaekwad’s Zagor and Tapan Acharya’s Marathi-language film, Janma. These two entries are in the Indian Premieres section meant for brand new Indian films.

Among the six other Indian films that will be premiered during the 40th IFFI are Amol Palekar’s And Once Again..., an offbeat marital drama set in Sikkim, Saurabh Shukla’s comedic I am 24 and actor-director Makarand Deshpande’s quirky Shahrukh Bola Khubsoorat Hai Tu, about a poor little flower girl who goes into a tizzy when the King Khan pays her an innocuous compliment at a busy Mumbai traffic intersection.

Ananth Mahadevan’s Red Alert – The War Within, about a simple Andhra Pradesh villager who is caught in the crossfire between the police and a band of Maoists, is expected to be among the most talked-about films of the Indian Premier section. The film arrives in Goa after its triumph in the South Asian International Film Festival in New York, where the lead actor, Sunil Shetty, bagged the best actor award.

International star Ben Kingsley, whose worldwide fame rests on his remarkable eponymous star turn in the Oscar-winning Gandhi, will be in Goa to conduct an acting Master Class.In a special package of war films, IFFI will screen a colourised version of Chetan Anand’s Haqeeqat.

Star News Agency

New Delhi. The versatile, yesteryears beauty Waheeda Rahman and Malayalam star Mammootty will be the Chief Guests at the Opening and Closing ceremonies, respectively, in the upcoming International Film Festival of India (IFFI) 2009 beginning at Goa on the 23rd of November 2009. The Union Minister of Information and Broadcasting Smt Ambika Soni will be present in the Opening Ceremony. Well known actress Asin would be special guest for lighting the ceremonial lamp. Internationally renowned actor Kabir Bedi and well known artist Divya Dutta would be compeering the Opening Ceremony.

The International Section includes Cinema of World which would have 55 films from 45 countries. Another important component of Foreign Section would be retrospectives of well known Directors namely – Gurinder Chadha, Nonzee Nimabitur, Roland Reber, Joao Batista and Manoel De Olivera. The continent Focus is Latin America this time and Country Focus would be on Croatia; Italy; Poland; Estonia and France. Film India Worldwide is another attraction in the cinema of world section, which will showcase films made by Non-Resident Indians (NRIs) in collaboration with foreign filmmakers. There is also a section on Anti War Films. The International Jury comprises of prominent directors/actors/film critics from different part of the world namely: Mr. Joao batista de Andrade – Chairman; Mr. Vic Sarin – Canada; Mr. Ken’ichi Okubo – Japan; Mr. Jean-Michel Frodon – France and Ms. Sarika from India.

In addition, as part of Indian Panorama 26 feature films and 18 non-feature films would be screened. These includes films such as Shob Charitro Kalponik (Bengali), Kaminey (Hindi), Harishchandrachi Factory (Marathi), Ijjodu (Kannada), Pasanga (Tamil), Kutty Srank (Malayalam) and Haat The Weekly Bazaar (Rajasthani). The bouquet of non-feature films includes Bilal (Bengali), What If? (English), Superman of Malegaon (Hindi), Illisa Anagi Mahao (Manipuri) and Kelkkunnundo (Malayalam). The Indian Panorama would open with Paltadcho Manis (Dir: Laxmikant Shetganokar, Konkani) and Dot in for Motion (Dir: Anirban Datta, English).

The Tribute Section would offer homage to 13 film personalities who left us since IFFI 2008 namely - Nabendu Chatterjee, Prakash Mehra, Gulshan Bawra, Leela Naidu, Shakti Samanta, Feroz Khan, Murali, A.K. Lohitadas, Rajan P. Dev, Nilu Phule, Bhaskar Chandavarkar, R. Lakshman and Nagesh. Under NFA Gold, films of Satyajit Ray, V. Shantaram and Debaki Kumar Bose which have won the Best Feature Film awards almost half a century ago would be screened.

The 75 years of Assamese Cinema is being celebrated by a special section featuring five films. Assamese film personalities Jahnu Barua, Gyanada Kakoti, Bidya Rao and Manju Bora would be present on the occasion. For the first time, Malegaon industry of remakes gets an international platform with the screening of two of their films – Yeh Hai Malegaon Ka Superman and Gabbarbhai MBBS.

Under Golden Jubilee Retro section, the sterling contributions of film personalities who have completed 50 years in the industry would be saluted namely Asha Parekh, Sharmila Tagore and Saumitra Chatterjee. Kamal Hasan’s works will be showcased in Feb 2010 in Delhi. Eminent Columnist and film writer Ms. Kishwar Desai would be delivering an audio visual lecture on Adaptation of Literature in Cinema by screening the film Teesri Kasam (Hindi).

The Indian Premier Section will showcase a selection of eight films during the 40th International Film Festival of India, Goa 2009. The films selected include “And Once Again” by Director Shri. Amol Palekar, “Red Alert: The War Within” by Director Shri. Ananth Mahadevan, “God Lives in the Himalayas” by Director Shri. Sanjay Srinivas, “Shahrukh Bola Khoobsoorat Hai” by Director Shri. Makran Deshpande, “Zagor “by Director Sangramsinh Gaikwad, “Vimukthti” by Director Sheshadri.

سٹار نیوز ایجنسی

جدہ (سعودی عرب ) : سعودی عرب میں ذوالحج کا چاند نظر آگیا ہے، حج چھبیس نومبر کو ہوگا۔ سعودیہ عرب کی اعلی عدالتی کونسل نے منگل کی شب ملک میں ذوالحج کاچاند نظر آنے کا اعلان کیا،جس کے مطابق حج چھبیس نومبر کوجبکہ عید الاضحی جمعہ کے روزستائیس نومبر کو ہو گی۔

Star News Agency

Vienna (Austria). INCREDIBLE INDIA promotional film received the Grand Prix Award in Vienna. The award was received by Tourism minister Kumari Selja .

Following the text of Minister’s speech on the occasion: “It is a great privilege for me to be receiving the Grand Prix Award for our new Incredible India promotional film. The film has been used extensively in our global marketing campaigns and has received worldwide recognition. After winning a series of international awards at Berlin, Poland, Romania, France, Portugal, the Czech Republic and Croatia, the film has now been honoured with this prestigious Grand Prix Award.

The “Incredible India” story started in the year 2002 when the Ministry of Tourism took the initiative to brand the country, with the primary objective of establishing a unique and single identity – “Incredible India”. The campaign has generated huge interest about Indian tourism products globally and contributed significantly in the growth of tourism in India.

We have been working in close association and coordination with stakeholders in the tourism industry who have all contributed to the building of the Incredible India brand line. This film which has been awarded today has also been produced in collaboration with the Experience India Society – a successful public-private sector initiative working towards the promotion of tourism to our beautiful country. The film successfully showcases, India’s diverse tourism product in order to attract international traveler to our country.

This recognition will encourage us to move forward with greater enthusiasm. “

Star News Agency

New Delhi. The Khadi Pavilion at the India international Trade Fair (IITF-09) carries the theme of “Export of Services-Healthy Growth Progress” was inaugurated by Smt. Gursharan Kaur, in the presence of Shri Dinsha J. Patel, Minister of MSME and Sushri Kumud Joshi, Chairperson, Khadi and Village Industries Commission.

Going around the Khadi Pavilion Smt. Gursharan Kaur admired the Khadi products on display and said that each item on display showed the tremendous effort put in by the spinners, weavers and artisans. She showed keen interest in the solar energy operated Charkha as an alternative to manual spinning.

The Minister of MSME, Shri Dinsha J. Patel on the occasion said that Khadi is not a cloth and but a idea, a thought. Khadi has been the mainstay of rural employment generation and also the mantra to uplift the poor masses. The Minister further added that IITF at Pragati Maidan provides unique opportunities to the institution and artisans to interact with people of all cross section and learn ways and means to make KVI products more competitive and remunerative.

He stressed that KVIC should make special efforts to intensify its activities in potential areas such as J&K, and NER to tap the potential of forest based industries by publicize its activities/schemes to create greater awareness among people.

Chairperson, Khadi and Village Industries Commission, Sushri Kumud Joshi said that Khadi and Village Industries Commission on its’ over 50 years of existence has helped in a remarkable way for the development of India particularly its rural populace. KVIC have covered 1/3rd villages of the country through various programmes providing earning avenues to more than two million persons as on 31st March 2009. Goods and services worth of Rs. 17338 crore is being produced under KVI sector and its sales-turnover stood at Rs. 22478 crore during 2008-09. The products of KVI sector are not only acclaimed in domestic market but also received tremendous response abroad as well.

Around 52 stalls of Artisans, craftsmen, Institutions and units from all over the country right from the Jammu & Kashmir to Arunachal Pradesh are participating in this trade fair. Range of products includes Cane & Bamboo from North East, Munga & Endi silk from Assam, Handicrafts from Rajasthan, cotton Muslin khadi of Bengal, Embroidered & Readymade garments from Jammu & Kashmir and other products like organic food, Processed food, Herbal & beauty products, wood carving, Ayurvedic products, Eco friendly Handmade Paper & conversion products, papier Mache, food products & processed food, fibre developed products, Honey & Honey products, tribal Jewellery. In addition to, Khadi Denim & Designer khadi dress from other parts of the country are also on display and sale.

Star News Agency

New Delhi. SARAS Mela, an exhibition cum sale mela showcasing the skillfully crafted rural products by below the poverty line(BPL) artisans got off to a traditional colourful beginning at Pragati Maidan here today. The two week long mela from Nov.14 to Nov.27 was inaugurated by the Union Minister for Rural Development, Dr. C.P. Joshi.In his inaugural address, he called upon the artisans to take advantage of this opportunity to increase the sale, understand the marketing and improve the quality of their products. Director General of CAPART in his address underlined the need to develop the linkages for the marketing of rural products.

The mela has been organized by the Council for Advancement of People’s Action and Rural Technology (CAPART).On display and sale at the mela are the products of 700 artisans in nearly 390 stalls of DRDAs and Voluntary Organizations from 33 States and Union Territories displaying a variety of products from across the country. Some of the attractive products on sale for this SARAS include bamboo artifacts, traditional and ayurvedic medicines, metalwork, woodwork, Madhubani paintings, terracotta, sari, shawls, dress materials, carpets, food products etc.

The mela aims to facilitate the Swarnajayanti Gram Swarozgar Yojna (SGSY) beneficiaries, rural artisans, craftsmen, self help groups (SHGs) and voluntary organisations to exhibit and sell their products, and to provide them the opportunity for additional income and exposure on a large scale. The mela aims at creating a unique platform for the artisans to develop linkages with customers and provide them the opportunity to interact with the buyers directly. In addition, 27 CAPART supported voluntary organizations under special SGSY scheme are also represented in SARAS 2009.

A special display on rural development schemes of the Ministry of Rural Development and rural technologies has been organized at RD Pavilion (Hall No.17), Pragati Maidan. A Business Centre has also been created at Hall No.17 to facilitate Artisans and State Coordinators for business discussions. In addition, workshops will be organized during the fair on Designing and Packaging.

Another major attraction of the program today was the Kalbeliya dance by folk dancers from Rajasthan and Bhangra by the folk artists from Punjab. The exhibition cum mela would be on till November 27.

Star News Agency

New Delhi. The Small Industries Development Bank of India (SIDBI) and the German Government’s Development Bank KfW, signed a series of agreements here today for financial assistance totaling EURO 89.2 million (approx. Rs 622 crore) to promote the adoption of energy efficient and cleaner production technologies by micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) in India. Two sets of agreements were signed in the Ministry of Finance in the presence of Mr. Kumar Sanjay Krishna, Joint Secretary, Ministry of Finance.

Under the Agreement, KfW will provide concessional loan and technical assistance to support financing of environmental investments in the MSME sector by SIDBI. The MSME Energy Efficiency Programme consists of a credit line of EURO 50 million and an accompanying grant component of EURO 0.5 million for technical support; the MSME Cleaner Production programme involves a credit line of EURO 38.5 million and a grant of EURO 0.2 million for technical support. The two agreements signed today support SIDBI’s initiatives to strengthen the MSME sector and further deepen the longstanding cooperation between SIDBI and KfW. MSMEs contribute critically to the Indian economy in terms of output, employment and exports.

Germany and KfW are longstanding partners of India. Since the 1950s, sectors like Energy, Financial Sector Development, Health, and Protection of the Environment and Natural Resources have received KfW support.

Star News Agency

New Delhi. “Prince of a small State but King of a Great Game”. These were the words of the celebrated cricket chronicler A.G. Gardiner for the cricket genius K.S. Ranjitsinhji, scion of the Nawanagar Royal dynasty. Born on September 10, 1872, he was unorthodox in technique and with fast reactions, he brought a new style to batting and revolutionised the game during the Golden Age of Cricket. Those were the years when players took to the field without the present cumbersome protective gear. The British Press greeted him as the first Indian to touch the imagination of the English people in a remarkable way. (That was before Gandhiji arrived on the scene.)

Sir Neville Cardus renowned as Cricket’s Shakespeare wrote in his purple passage that, “A strange light from the East flickered in the English sunshine when Ranji (his abbreviated pet name) was at the wicket”. Within years, he came to be rated as the most accomplished batsman in the Cricket realm. “He brought a touch of Oriental magic”, the Daily Telegraph said. Describing his batting as a poem in action, the paper lavished heaps of praise on him. The inimitable punch invested him with the title, “Run-get-Ranji”.

For two years in succession, Ranji scored over 3000 runs in a season. He went past the previous record of the game’s erstwhile supreme W.G. Grace. Ranji made his debut for England in the 1896 second test against Australia. He made 62 in the first innings and a stylish 154 not out in the second. The Press praised him in superlative terms as the game’s juggler and a wizard. The prestigious Almanac Wisden included him in the niche of the Five Cricketers of the Year.

Ranjitsinhji was an automatic choice for the 1897 MCC tour of Australia. Going into the field straight from the sick bed, he piled up 175, then the highest score for England in a Test. When Australia came to England in the following season Ranji rescued the hosts from what looked like certain defeat by scoring 93 not out, Ranji scored over 200 runs five times topping the table with a knock of 285 not out. In a tally of 500 first class innings he ran up a total of a dizzy 24,692 runs with 72 centuries.

Batting with his supple wrists of steel, he deployed all the dazzling strokes of the willow game. The most exciting of them was the sideways leg-glance which he patented for himself almost as a copyright. Honouring him in his birth centenary year, India issued a commemorative stamp depicting his profile with his leg-glance. The stroke aptly summed up the invincibility of a well-oiled spring rocketing the ball all over and beyond the field. Cricket’s titan, C.L. Jesop said, “He is indisputably the greatest genius ever stepped on to a cricket field. He is one of the greatest cricketers, perhaps of all times”. Dr. W.G. Race who hosted a banquet in Ranji’s honour sent the audience into rhapsodies with the compliment, “I assure you, you will never see a batsman to beat the Jam Saheb even if you live for a hundred years”.

A sad end to Ranji’s Cricket career was the loss of his right eye in a shooting accident in 1915. He knew who fired the shot that went astray. But the gentleman that he was, Ranji never disclosed the name of the guilty. When Ranjitsinhji left the cricket field. A.G. Gardiner lamented in a moving passage that, “the last ball has been bowled. Around Lord’s the grand stands are deserted and forlorn. We have said farewell to cricket, We have said farewell to Cricket’s King. The game will come again in the spring. But, alas, the King will come no more.

Jam Saheb Ranjitsinhji passed away on April 2, 1933. In 1934, the Ranji Trophy Tournament for the National Championship was instituted. Maharaja Bhupendra Singh of Patiala announced the donation by him of a Trophy to perpetuate the inspring memory of the legendary Cricketer who brought precious glory and fame to his Motherland. The glittering Golden Trophy, two feet in height, is in the shape of a Grecian urn.

The inaugural Match of the National Championship Tournament was played between Madras and Mysore. The hosts Madras were the proud winners of the opening contest for supremacy. It is the springing board and platform for players who aspire to don the national colours.

After settling down in Nawanagar Ranji helped budding cricketers by spotting and encouraging them. The illustrious Amar Singh, prodigious with the bat and the ball alike who figured in India’s first foray at Lord’s in 1932 was a beneficiary of the Jam Saheb’s uncanny eye. Vince Mankad India’s finest all-rounder in the earlier years was another who started his career on the fertile Nawanagar cricket soil.

Death laid his icy hands on the “King of the Great game some seven decades ago. We may recall here the pearl of a Neville Cardus’ eulogy that, “it is not in nature that there should be another Ranji. He was “the Midsummer-night’s dream of cricket”.

Star News Agency

New Delhi. The movement of a depression in the central Arabian sea region since early yesterday morning has been watched very closely by the India Meteorological Department (IMD). Assessing the impact of its movement, in consultation with the IMD, Ministry of Home Affairs has sent advisories to the concerned State Governments of Kerala, Karnataka, Goa, Gujarat, Maharashtra, and Union Territories of Daman & Diu, Dadra & Nagar Haveli and Lakshadweep, every few hours. Eight such advisories have been sent so far.

Following the movement of this cyclonic depression and the consequential heavy rainfall caused by it, the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) Bns. in Maharashtra and Gujarat have been put on the alert. Simultaneously, to meet any emergent requirement of rescue and relief, the NDRF Teams comprising about 400 trained personnel with boats and other equipments, have been pre-positioned in Goa, Maharashtra and Gujarat. Another 200 have been kept in readiness for Mumbai. Ministry of Defence has also alerted the Air Force.

The cyclonic system has, however, moved north-eastwards due to which the IMD has withdrawn the warning from the States of Gujarat and Goa. The IMD has alerted Maharashtra on the possibility of heavy rainfall in central Maharashtra region. Ministries of Home Affairs and Defence have kept themselves in readiness to assist in any rescue and relief operations, if required.

Star News Agency

New Delhi. Latest coastal observations indicate that the cyclonic storm, PHYAN has moved north-northeastwards and lay centred near the Mumbai coast. It is likely to cross coast between Alibag and Mumbai and moved further north-northeastwards and weaken into a deep depression during next six hours.

According to India Meteorological Department (IMD) heavy to very heavy rainfall is likely to occur at a few places over Konkan, Madhya Maharashtra, Marathawada and south Gujarat Region during next 12 hours, while isolated heavy rainfall is likely over Madhya Pradesh during next 24 hours.

Winds having speed up to 65-85 km per hour are likely along and off north Maharashtra and South Gujarat coast during next six hours. IMD has suggested total suspension of fishing operation along and off the above coast.

Star News Agency

New Delhi. The Government has finalized a plan for taking up additional crop area under the summer boro and rabi rice in Assam, West Bengal, Bihar and Orissa, green gram in rice fallow in Punjab, Haryana and Western UP and chick pea in rice fallows of Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh during rabi season.

Addressing the members of Parliamentary Consultative Committee attached to the Ministries of Agriculture, and Consumer Affairs, Food & Public Distribution here today, Shri Sharad Pawar said that about 1.5 lakh seed minikits have been allocated for popularizing the specific boro and summer rice varieties. He said that about 5 lakh seed minikits of wheat that includes terminal heat tolerant and rust resistance wheat varieties of DBW 17 & PBW-550 and about 30 lakh quintals of seeds minikits of pulses, oilseeds and maize have been distributed to the farmers. Existing seed distribution subsidies under various ongoing schemes have also been enhanced.

Apart from this, periodic visits of national level consultants to the States have also been initiated for catalyzing the efforts of the States in timely placement and distribution of inputs, the Minister informed the Committee. Arrangements for immediate short-term crop loan for the farmers are made and states have been regularly reviewing the credit disbursement in the state level bankers committee meetings, Shri Pawar added.

The Minister said that Government has been regularly monitoring the situation to ensure that there is no difficulty in implementation and coordinated action from all support departments likely fertilizers, irrigation, power and finance is enlisted for timely delivery of inputs of services to the farmers. The Cabinet Secretary and Secretary, Agriculture & Cooperation are holding periodic video conferences with the State Chief Secretaries and Agriculture Production Commissioner to ensure that there is no let up in Government efforts to support the farmers. The Minister also gave details of steps taken by the Government to mitigate the impact of drought.

Star News Agency

New Delhi. The Bilateral Investment Promotion & Protection Agreement (BIPPA) between India and Columbia was signed here yesterday by Shri Anand Sharma, Minister of Commerce & Industry and Mr. Luis Guillermo Plata, Minister of Commerce, Industry & Tourism of Columbia. Both the Ministers hoped that the Agreement would serve as a catalyst in boosting investment flows between the two countries.

The Agreement aims at enhancing Bilateral Investment and Technology flows between the two countries, by creating favourable conditions for investors. These include a mutually acceptable definition of investment as also IPR, besides National Treatment and Most Favoured Nation Treatment on post-establishment basis, protection against expropriation, except for a public purpose against a fair & equitable compensation, full reparability of investment and returns.

The Agreement provides elaborate dispute resolution mechanism to settle disputes between an investor and the host Government or between the two Governments. Dispute resolution mechanism includes recourse to negotiations, conciliation, domestic dispute resolution mechanism and to international arbitration.

The Agreement shall remain in force for a period of ten years and thereafter, it shall be deemed to have been automatically extended unless either country gives to the other country a written notice of its intention to terminate the Agreement. The Agreement may be amended at any time after its entry into force by mutual consent.

Star News Agency
New Delhi. The Government of the Republic of India and the Government of Australia have signed an Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on Cooperation in the field of Water Resources Management here today. The MoU was signed by Shri U.N.Punjiar, Secretary of Ministry of Water Resources and Mr Peter N.Varghese, Australian High Commissioner to India. Shri Pawan Kumar Bansal, the Union Minister of Water Resources was present on the occasion.

The cooperation will focus on sharing of policy and technical information and experiences in the development and management of water resources both surface and ground water and particularly river basin management and impact of climate change on water resources. Further, both the governments will encourage direct engagements between officials, study tours and other such activities in order to acquaint themselves of the developments in the above areas.

Exchange of information and experiences in the field of water resources management between the two countries will be consistent with each Government’s respective domestic procedures and resources. A Joint Working Group will be formed comprising of equal number of members from each of the countries which will monitor the engagement carried out in fulfillment of this Memorandum of Understanding. The MoU will be in effect for a period of five years and can be extended with the agreement between the two parties.

Star News Agency

Tokyo (Japan). India and Japan today expressed their firm determination “to take forward bilateral defence exchanges and cooperation in a meaningful way”. In a Joint Press Statement issued at the end of a comprehensive review of Defence Cooperation issues at a meeting between the visiting Defence Minister Shri AK Antony and his Japanese counterpart Mr. Toshimi Kitazawa in Tokyo, the two sides expressed their commitment to ‘contribute to bilateral and regional cooperation’, such as, ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF) in the field of peace-keeping, peace-building and disaster relief. The two Ministers held in-depth discussion on Defence Exchanges and Cooperation. Regional and International Security situation also came up for discussion at the meeting.

The two Ministers condemned terrorist activities and expressed their determination to enhance cooperation in the fight against terrorism. The two countries also recognized their mutual interest in the safety of sea-lines of communications and welcomed recent reinforcement of cooperation in the field of Maritime Security between the two Defence authorities as well as the inauguration of Japan-India Maritime Security Dialogue which was held in India last month. The two Ministers shared international concerns on piracy off the Coast of Somalia and in the Gulf of Aden and expressed their support for international efforts of anti-piracy.

They also expressed their determination to accelerate bilateral discussions on various measures to further promote Defence Exchanges and cooperation through a Defence Action Plan, as envisaged between the Prime Ministers of the two countries in October last year. The two sides will develop such an action plan and hoped that the same would be signed during the visit of Prime Minister Hatoyama to India for the Annual Summit.

The two Ministers expressed their desire to hold annual meetings and expressed their expectation that the Second Defence Policy Dialogue will be held at the earliest mutually convenient time in India next year.

The two sides also reiterated the importance of strengthening Service-to-Service exchanges such as Staff Talks including Navy-to-Navy and Ground-to-Ground Staff Talks, as well as bilateral exercises between Japan Self Defence Forces and the Indian Armed Forces to enhance cooperation and core ability for maritime security operation and disaster relief.

Shri Antony was accompanied by a high-level delegation including the Defence Secretary Shri Pradeep Kumar, Scientific Advisor to Raksha Mantri Dr VK Saraswat and the Vice Chief of Naval Staff Vice Admiral DK Dewan.

Kalpana Palkhiwala

The issue of environmental protection has brought the consumers, the industry and the government to a common platform. The government and legislatures are using their influence to reduce environmental and health hazards due to industrialization and to stimulate the development of clean technologies. However the environment is under tremendous stress from rapid industrialization, unplanned urbanization and changing consumption patterns in the race to achieve better living standards. It is absolutely clear that regulatory actions by pollution control agencies alone can not restore the environment to its pristine state. Pro-active and promotional roles should also be geared up in harmony with the overall environmental protection strategy. The time has come for consumers to take lead in performing manufacturers to adopt clean and eco-friendly technologies and environmental-safe disposal of used products, along with preventive and mitigative approaches.

Eco Mark Scheme

Eco Mark is a voluntary non binding scheme which labels consumer products as environment friendly based upon certain environmental as well as quality parameters. To increase consumer awareness, the Government launched the eco-labelling scheme known as ‘Eco Mark’ in 1991 for easy identification of environment-friendly products. Any product which is made, used or disposed of in way that significantly reduces the harm it would otherwise cause the environment could be considered as Environment-Friendly Product. They have less potential for pollution during their entire life cycle i.e. raw material, manufacturing, use and disposal.

Twenty Eco Mark licenses to fifteen companies have been awarded in the country under three product categories i.e. paper, wood substitutes and finished leather and sixteen product categories have been notified since 1992 to 2000. In case of finished leather the quality norms were de-linked from Eco Mark norms on the ground that the Indian leather already meets the BIS approved quality norms. One more category—coir products has been taken up and Eco mark criteria for it are at draft stage.

Logo

The logo of Eco Mark scheme is unique, its message has the ability to reach out to the people and can help to promote a greater awareness of the need to be kind to the environment. An Earthen pot which is the logo of the Eco Mark Scheme, signifying the use of renewable resource like clay, which does not produce hazardous waste and consumes less energy in making. Its solid and graceful form represents both the strength and fragility, which also characterize the Eco-System. Thus as a symbol, it puts across its environmental message.

The criteria follow a cradle-to grave approach, i.e. from raw material extraction, to manufacturing, and to disposal. The ‘Eco Mark’ label is awarded to consumer goods which meet the specified environmental criteria and the quality requirements of Indian Standards. Any product with the Eco Mark will be the right environment choice.

Objectives

There are five main objectives for the Eco Mark Scheme. That are, to provide an incentive for manufactures and importers to reduce adverse environmental impact of products; to reward genuine initiatives by companies in this regard; to assist consumers to become environmentally responsible in their daily lives by providing information, to take account of environmental factors in their purchase decisions; to encourage citizens to purchase products which have less harmful environmental impacts and ultimately to improve the quality of the environment and to encourage the sustainable management of resources.

Mechanism and Functions

A steering committee, a technical committee and the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) are involved in criteria development for each product category and the award of the Eco Mark. Both the Committees have been set up in the Ministry of Environment and Forests. They consist of members from Government Organizations, Research institutes, Industrial Associations and Non-Government Organizations. The Secretary, Ministry of Environment and Forests heads the Steering committee and it determines the products categories for coverage under the scheme and also formulates strategies for promotion, implementation, future development and improvements in the working of the scheme.

The Steering Committee has specific functions which include section of the logo, determine the product categories, mass awareness for promotion and acceptance, coordination with industries to ensure their active involvement, securing the involvement of other Ministries, Departments, Industry Associations and other Non- Government Organizations, formulations of strategies for future development, identify instructions in India or outside to build consumer awareness, promoting programmes of Comparative Testing of products and supporting any research for the formulations of Eco Mark products.

The technical committee is headed by the Chairman, Central Pollution Control Board in the Ministry of Environment and Forests. It identifies specific products for classifying as environment friendly, review the existing state of knowledge and the environmental criteria being followed in other countries and various technologies available for determining the criteria, recommend the most appropriate criteria and parameters to designate products as environment friendly. It reviews from time to time, the implementation of the scheme by the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) and set-up sub-Committee for each product category including formulation of test programmes for comparative testing of products by consumer organizations.

Functions of BIS

The Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) implements the Eco Mark scheme under BIS Act, 1986. It incorporates the criteria into Indian Standards, assess and certify the product for award of the Eco Mark. It allows the use of the label, on payment of a fee and inspects and takes samples for analysis to see the conformance with the Eco Mark criteria.

BIS charges for application fee, testing of samples, annual licence fee, renewal of application fee and marketing fee depending upon the quantum of the annual production. The label is awarded for a minimum period of one year and the product is re-assessed after the prescribed periods for renewal of licence. The BIS has a power to withdraw the licence at any time if they find any misleading information or any change in criteria due to the advancement of technology or any other valid reasons in consultation with the Technical Committee.

Eco Mark Licence

The licence is granted for a minimum period of one year and is renewed subsequently for the same period, after reassessment of the products. The manufacturer must ensure that the product qualify the quality criteria as per Indian Standard before applying to BIS for Eco Mark. A manufacturer desirous to obtain licence for eco Mark has to apply to BIS on the prescribed form with an application fee. On receipt of the application, BIS arranges inspection of the industry collects samples and arranges testing of the products. A licence is granted if, the product conforms to the relevant set criteria. On grant of a licence, the manufactures is authorized to use Eco Mark logo on their products.

Success of Indian Eco Mark Scheme

For satisfactory performance of the Eco Mark scheme, awareness among consumer is required. Industries also need incentives. Support from Government to manufacturers through purchase preference will give impetus to the scheme. Environment which plays a minor role in consumer’s decision to buy a product, the price is still a main factor for consumer’s decision.

The Government initiated steps to popularize the scheme. During the year 2006-2007, 238 Consumer Awareness Programmes and 42 Industry Awareness Programme were conducted by BIS all over the country. In addition comparative testing of products and dissemination of its findings have been got done by a consumer organization (Voice).

International Eco Labelling Programmes

Blue Angel programme of Germany is the oldest eco-label programme, which was started in 1997 and has more than 3,000 certified products in the market. Eco Mark of Japan is the second oldest eco-labelling programme after Blue Angel, which was started in 1989 and 1,902 companies have been issued licences under which 5,673 products have been certified. Sweden and Canada also have successful eco-labelling programme and have more than 3,000 certified products. Australia, Brazil, Hong Kong, Hungary, Israel, Korea, New Zealand, Philippines, Republic of Croatia, Taiwan, Thailand and Ukraine are other countries which have adopted Eco Mark scheme.