India-US Trade Policy Forum Framework Signed

(PIB NEWS) Shri Anand Sharma, Union Minister of Commerce & Industry and US Trade Representative, Mr. Ron Kirk, has signed the India-US Trade Policy Forum Framework for Cooperation on Trade and Investment, in Washington yesterday. The Framework seeks to build on the success of the Trade Policy Forum by facilitating trade and investment flows between the United States and India. Both the Ministers also announced the launch of an initiative “Integrating U.S. and Indian Small Businesses into the Global Supply Chain.” This initiative aims to expand trade and job-creating opportunities for U.S. and Indian small and medium-sized companies. Speaking at the signing ceremony, Shri Sharma said, “By signing this Framework for Cooperation on Trade and Investment we want to create the right environment to ensure that the relationship brings maximum benefit to the maximum number of people. We will do so by promoting inclusive growth". We also intend to use this Framework to encourage the development and deployment of clean energy and environmental technologies as well as to support India's infrastructure growth. Further, we have recognized the contribution and potential of Small and Medium Enterprises in our Trade and Investment agenda by adopting the SME initiative to create fresh opportunities for small and medium enterprises in both the countries and help in integrating them in the Global supply chain." During his interaction with USTR, Shri Sharma spoke about the benefits of commencing negotiations on a Totalization Agreement and added that due to the absence of such an agreement, Indian companies in the US were making double payments of social security, without getting any benefits. He also raised the issues of visas for Indian professionals, restrictive trade measures and the need for reform of US export controls to promote high technology trade between India and the US. He also addressed a meeting of the reconstituted Private Sector Advisory Group (PSAG) to the Trade Policy Forum. The members of the PSAG were tasked to work as implementing partners for initiatives undertaken by the Trade Policy Forum, including the new small business initiative  In a meeting with US Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack, the two Ministers discussed cooperation in the field of agriculture that could be leveraged to strengthen agricultural productivity, and promote agro based industry in India. Later in the evening, Shri Sharma addressed the Brookings Institution on “Asia’s Unfolding Economic Saga – an Indian perspective”. The Minister spoke about the transformation of the global economy, the rise of Asian economies and concluded that their growth did not threaten any other country; on the contrary; this was good for world prosperity and financial stability.
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Students from J&K meet Chidambaram

(PIB NEWS) A group of 44 students from Jammu & Kashmir called on the Union Home Minister, Shri P.Chidambaram here today. The students are on a tour, sponsored by the CRPF and have already visited Mathura, Agra, Jaipur and Ajmer.Interacting with the students, the Union Home Minister said that peace is necessary for the developmental process to gain the required momentum in J&K. If peace prevails in the State, everything that is available in other parts of the country in terms of development can be made available in J&K. Shri Chidambaram urged the students to look at the entire country and not just at J&K for job opportunities. He said that Central Para Military Forces are going to recruit about 2,000 youth in J&K this year.
DG CRPF Shri Vikram Srivastava was present during the  interaction. ======================================================

Chetana Sachivalaya Saraswathi Vedika Felicited to Sri Raavi Kondal Rao

On the ocassion of Ugadi Kavi sammelan famous telugu film writerand producer Mr Raavi Kondal Rao is felicitated by Chetana Sachivalaya Saraswathi Vedika in photo Smt S. Rama Devi Additional Seceretary BC  Welfare ,Smt M Rajyasri(President Chetana) are also seen, (photoby RSJ Thomas) ======================================================

Justice Srikrishna Committee on Telangana meets in New Delhi

New Delhi, Mar 18: The five members of Justice Srikrishna Committee, convened by the Union Government to resolve the statehood issue of Telangana in Andhra Pradesh, held a routine meeting in the national capital on Thursday.The members discussed their varied observations and also assessed the steps taken on the issue so far, while a deputation of the Telangana Congress Monitoring Group (TCMG) made its presence felt on the scene to submit a memorandum in support of separate Telangana state.Holding banners, the TCMG members staged a mini demonstration and raised slogans for their cause outside Vigyan Bhavan from where the Justice Srikrishna Committee functions."Telangana case has been examined, over-examined, evaluated, over evaluated, thoroughly reported and only to be deceived. At this juncture keeping the anguish and sensitised environment of four crore people of Telangana, the Union Government is kind enough to constitute a committee, consisting of vital personalities like Justice Srikrishna and V. K. Duggal with three other members," said Praful Anand Baxi, a member of the TCMG.The TCMG activists displayed the 111-page report that they had submitted to the Justice Srikrishna Committee.The extensive report contains views, directions, and suggestions of veteran personalities and expert subgroup, which are routing for a separate state."We are here to express, to carry the message of Telangana people, to carry the message of Telangana Congress persons. We are here in an organised form, we have tried to present our case in a document of 111 pages," Baxi added.This is for the third time that panel headed by Justice B N Srikrishna has met in New Delhi.Earlier, the committee met on February 13 and issued a public notice inviting political parties and organisations to give their views on the issue of a separate state.Initially, several political outfits were not in favour of the panel, but now most of them are with the panel and have sent their respective views to it.The seven-point term of reference announced by the Union Government on February 12 has mandated the Justice Srikrishna Committee to 'examine the situation in Andhra Pradesh with reference to the demand for a separate state of Telangana as well as the demand for maintaining the present status of united Andhra'.The committee was constituted by the government on February 3, nearly two months after it had announced that steps have been initiated for the formation of a separate state of Telangana,
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Andhra resolves to protect jobs for Hyderabad locals

Hyderabad, March 18: In a moral victory for protagonists of a separate Telangana, the Andhra Pradesh legislative assembly Thursday passed a resolution seeking an amendment to a Presidential Order to protect jobs for Telangana people in the police department in Hyderabad.The one-line resolution moved by Chief Minister K. Rosaiah was unanimously passed with a voice vote amid protests by the Praja Rajyam Party (PRP). Deputy Speaker N. Manohan adjourned the house after announcing that the resolution was passed with a voice vote. Opposing the resolution, PRP legislators rushed to the podium demanding a debate. Legislators of the ruling Congress and main opposition Telugu Desam Party (TDP) did not oppose the resolution. The resolution is being seen as a moral victory of Telangana protagonists, who complain of injustice to people of the region in appointments to government jobs. Earlier, the chief minister had to convince the ruling Congress legislators from Andhra and Rayalaseema regions not to oppose the resolution as his predecessor Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy had taken a decision to oppose Hyderabad as a free zone. Through the resolution, the assembly has urged the union home ministry to seek the president's assent for amendment to clause 14 F of the Presidential Ordinance of 1975. The amendment will ensure that Hyderabad remains part of the sixth zone along with other Telangana districts for recruitment to the police department. The resolution was passed to overcome a Supreme Court judgment declaring Hyderabad as free zone for recruitment to the police department. This means that people from Andhra and Rayalaseema regions can also be recruited in the police department in Hyderabad. The judgment evoked sharp reaction from legislators cutting across party lines and they demanded amendment to protect the interests of the Telangana people. An all-party meeting convened by the chief minister Wednesday evening had agreed to the demand for passing the resolution. The decision came a day after the Supreme Court refused to admit a petition of the state government, seeking a review of its earlier order declaring Hyderabad a free zone for recruitment in the police department. Meanwhile, Congress MP from Vijayawada L. Rajagopal met Governor E.S.L. Narasimhan to oppose amendment to the Presidential Order. Telangana Rashtra Samiti (TRS) chief K. Chandrasekhara Rao, who had revived the movement for separate statehood to Telangana following the Supreme Court order last year, had warned the government of serious consequences if it failed to protect the interests of Telangana people. In October last year, the Supreme Court declared that Hyderabad was not a part of Telangana but a free zone as far as recruitments and postings in government were concerned. Telangana, which comprises 10 districts, including Hyderabad, was merged with then Andhra State in 1956 to form Andhra Pradesh. But the people of Telangana were given certain safeguards in appointments under the Gentlemen's Agreement of 1956 and a subsequent Presidential Order and six-point formula. The latest judgment comes at a time when a five-member committee headed by Justice Srikrishna is looking into the issue of statehood for Telangana. (thanks to way2online)
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No homeless poor in Maharashtra by 2012: Governor

No poor person in Maharashtra will remain homeless by 2012, according to an ambitious target set by the government which plans to construct 735,000 houses for the poor in three years.Governor K. Sankaranarayanan, addressing a joint sitting of the state legislature Thursday, said the government had taken the decision to provide the houses in the golden jubilee year of the state’s formation.“Once the scheme is implemented, no family below poverty line in the state will remain homeless,” Sankaranarayanan said.The carpet area of each such tenement for the BPL population would be 269 sq ft, costing Rs.70,000 each. Of this, the government will provide a subsidy of Rs.68,500, while the rest – Rs.1,500 only – would be the share of the beneficiary, he said.So far, the government has constructed 96,058 tenements at a cost of Rs.5.5 billion.Besides, the government will construct 75,000 houses for Scheduled Castes and neo-Buddhists and 70,000 houses for tribal families each year, he added.In addition, the state has taken up a programme to construct 273,905 homes for the urban poor.With a view to making Mumbai slum-free, the government gas constructed 114,550 tenements for slum dwellers under 612 projects. Another 2,517 project proposals have been received, of which 1,318 have been approved for implementation, he said.“The government will wholeheartedly participate in the Rajiv Awas Yojana (which aims at slum free India) and is committed to make Maharashtra slum free,” the governor said, (thanks to way2online)
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