Connecting Rural Roads in Andhra Pradesh

(PIB NEWS) June,03,The Ministry of Rural Development has released grant in aid worth Rs. 80,00,00,000/- (Rs. Eighty crore only) as part payment of 2nd installment of Phase VI for construction of rural roads in Andhra Pradesh under Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY). The sum is from the special window created in NABARD (National Bank for Agriculture & Rural Development) under RIDF as grants in aid to the Andhra Pradesh State Rural Roads Development Agency (APSRRDA). APSRRDA is the agency executing the works taken up under Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY) in the state. Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana is a 100 % centrally sponsored scheme to provide road connectivity in the rural areas of the country. PMGSY envisages connectivity to all habitations with a population of 500 persons and above in the rural areas and about 250 persons and above in respect of the hilly states, tribal areas and desert areas through good and all weather roads.
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Government Appoints Court of Inquiry into Mangalore Air Crash

(PIB NEWS) June,03,The Government today has appointed a Court of Inquiry into air crash of the Air India Express Boeing 737-800 aircraft VT-AXV which occurred near the Bajpe Airport, Mangalore on 22 May, 2010 while operating a scheduled flight IX-812 from Dubai to Mangalore resulting in the death of 158 passengers.Finding it expedient to hold an inquiry into the circumstances of the accident, the Government has appointed Air Marshal (Retd.) Bhushan Nilkanth Gokhale to hold the investigation. Capt. Ron Nagar, Shri S.S. Nat, Shri Babu Peter, Shri Gurcharan Bhatura will be the assessors to the investigation. The Government has also appointed Shri S.N. Dwivedi, Director Airworthiness as Secretary to the Court. The Headquarters of the Court will be at New Delhi. The Court will complete its investigation and submit the report to the Government by 31 August 2010.
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Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee Arrives in Busan to Attend G-20 Finance Ministers’ Meeting

(PIB NEWS)June,03, Union Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee arrived today in Busan, South Korea on a three days visit to attend G-20 Finance Ministers Meeting scheduled to be held on 4th and 5th June,2010. Official delegation led by Shri Mukherjee includes Shri Ashok Chawla, Finance Secretary among others. G- 20 Central Bank Governors’ Meeting will also be held during this period in Busan.During his stay in Busan, Shri Mukherjee will also hold bilateral talks with UK Chancellor of Exchequer and Ex-Finance Minister of South Korea who will be Chairing the G-20 Finance Ministers’ Meet. Before participating in the deliberations of G-20 Finance Ministers Meet starting on 4th June,2010 evening, Shri Mukherjee will also attend four nation Finance Ministers Meet of BRIC countries which will be held on the sidelines of the G-20 Finance Ministers’ Meet. Major issues which are likely to dominate the G-20 Finance Ministers’ Meet include current Global Economic situation, problem of rising fiscal deficits going upto 9 percent of GDP and high debt/GDP ratios in advanced economies and an action plan to tackle them. Beside, a review will be done of actions taken so far for building a framework for strong, sustainable and balanced growth to correct various global imbalances as decided in Pittsburgh Summit. This mainly includes need for fiscal contraction, promoting sound fiscal and monetary policy frameworks, building sound financial sector and adoption of collective policy options as a common strand across all group of countries for moving towards a more balanced economy. Beside above, Busan Ministerial Meet will be a stock taking exercise on the progress of regulatory reforms in financial sector which mainly include international rules on capital, leverage and liquidity, compensation reforms, OTC Derivatives and High Standard Accounting Standards and Non Cooperative Jurisdictions. There will be stress for completing the regulatory reforms as per the committed timelines. Other issues to be deliberated during G-20 Finance Ministers Meet include reform of International Financial Institutions(IFIs) which has always been part of G-20 AGENDA over the past Summits. While operational level reforms in IFIs have been achieved including increased lending capacity, creation of flexible lending facilities and liquidity provision to emerging economies. However the Strategic Reforms like governance reforms to enhance legitimacy, credibility and effectiveness of the IFIs are still under consideration of IMF. Other issues to come up before the G-20 Finance Ministers Meet include strengthening of Financial Safety Nets(FSNs) to cope with financial volatility, reducing the economic disruption from sudden swings in capital flows and perceived need for excessive reserve accumulation. Issues of energy and fossil fuel subsidies, financial inclusion and global food security are also likely to dominate the Meet.
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Shri Kapil Sibal Meets Secretary Clinton - Discusses Formation of India - US Education Council

(PIB NEWS)June,03, Union Minister for Human Resource Development, Shri Kapil Sibal met the U.S. Secretary of State Ms. Hillary Clinton today and discussed wide ranging issues relating to bilateral cooperation in the field of education. Shri Sibal recalled that 50 years ago India and USA had come together to establish world class institutions like IIT Kanpur. The nature of cooperation has now changed with development of India but there is great opportunity for the two countries to work together to create centres of excellence.Shri Kapil Sibal mentioned some of the major reform measures undertaken by him and said that his aim is to increase GER in Higher Education to 30% by the year 2020 which means almost tripling the enrolment from the present 14 million to about 40 million. This effort would require setting up of at least 600-700 new universities and another 35,000 colleges. Welcoming the Singh-Obama knowledge Initiative, Shri Kapil Sibal said that we need to establish a bi-national India-US Education Council having academics, entrepreneurs and government representatives as members. This Council will give further impetus to the sustained efforts being made by both sides to increase education cooperation. Shri Sibal also mentioned the 14 Innovation Universities being set up in India and said that the two sides could partner in setting some of these Innovation universities, one of which could be announced during the proposed visit of President Obama to India later this year. The two leaders also discussed the use of ICT in enhancing the Teaching- learning capabilities, research collaboration Biosciences, nano-sciences and other spheres. they also discussed the interest shown by US universities in establishing institutions in India. Secretary Clinton, who was well informed about the education developments in India, expressed keen interest in India's vision of building an educated and skilled society and suggested collaboration in areas of skill development as well, particularly through community colleges. Secretary Clinton also welcomed the proposal of India-US Education Council. Earlier during the day, Shri Sibal met Arne Duncan, Secretary Education. Shri Sibal shared his vision of education particularly reforms in education sector. The photograph of Shri Sibal with Secretary Clinton and Education Secretary Arne Duncan is available on Indian Embassy website (www.indianembassy.org.) and can be downloaded from there.
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Chidambaram inaugurates housing complex for the poor in Andhra Pradesh

Kalkiri/ Tirumala, June 3 : Union Home Minister P Chidambaram inaugurated 'Indiramma', a housing complex constructed specially for the impoverished families under a programme of the State government here on Wednesday.The complex, which has 1,600 houses, has been built in the State''s Chittoor district with support of the Central Government.Chidambaram said that the Central Government would continue to support such public welfare programmes liberally."As long as we have the wise leadership of Dr. Manmohan Singh and Sonia Gandhi, we will continue to grow at a very fast rate and if we continue to grow at a very fast rate, money will not be a problem for implementing programmes," said Chidambaram. The housing colony constructed for the poor was inaugurated along with the other welfare programmes."We are spending nearly six crore of rupees on the ''Indiramma'' houses that have been completed today," said Chidambaram.The Home Minister later visited the famous Tirumala temple to offer prayers to Lord Venkateswara.
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