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Port Blair, July 7: Central Agricultural Research Institute, Port Blair, an ICAR unit in the Andaman & Nicobar Islands is joining hands with the ICAR Research Complex for NEH Region, Barapani, Meghlaya, which is looking after the R&D needs in the agriculture & allied sectors in eight jewels of the NE states.
“Knowledge Sharing Meet” will be conducted on 9th July 2013, at ICAR Research Complex for NEH Region, Barapani, Meghlaya, wherein team of Scientists from this Institute under the leadership of Dr. S. Dam Roy, Director, CARI will be attending with an objective to discuss on the major technologies and agricultural and allied fields, which can be successfully intervened jointly for the betterment of farmers of the NEH Region.
Dr. S.V. Ngachan, Director, ICAR Research Complex for NEH Region, Barapani, Meghlaya will be the Chief guest and Dr. S. Dam Roy, Director, CARI , Port Blair will preside over the KSM.
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New Delhi, July 7: The President of India, Shri Pranab Mukherjee promulgated the National Food Security Ordinance, 2013 on July 5, 2013. The highlights of The National Food Security Ordinance are as follows:
The National Food Security Ordinance is a historic initiative for ensuring food and nutritional security to the people. It gives right to the people to receive adequate quantity of foodgrains at affordable prices. The Food Security Bill has special focus on the needs of poorest of the poor, women and children. In case of non-supply of foodgrains now people will get Food Security Allowance. The bill provides for grievance redressal mechanism and penalty for non compliance by public servant or authority. Other features of the Ordinance are as follows.
Coverage of two thirds population to get highly susidized foodgrains
Upto 75% of the rural population and upto 50% of the urban population will have uniform entitlement of 5 kg foodgrains per month at highly subsidized prices of Rs. 3, Rs. 2, Rs. 1 per kg. for rice, wheat, coarse grains respectively . It will entitle about two thirds of our 1.2 billion population to subsidised foodgrains under the Targeted Public Distribution System (TPDS.
Poorest of the poor continue to get 35 kg per household
The poorest of poor households would continue to receive 35 Kg foodgrains per household per month under Antyodaya Anna Yajna at subsidized prices of Rs 3, Rs 2 and Rs 1. It is also proposed to protect the existing allocation of foodgrains to the States/Uts, subject to it being restricted to average annual offtake during last three years.
Eligible households to be identified by the States
Corresponding to the coverage of 75% rural and 50 % of urban population at all India level, State wise coverage will be determined by the Central Government. The work of identification of eligible households is left to the States/UTs, which may frame their own criteria or use Social Economic and Caste Census data, if they so desire.
Special focus on nutritional support to women and children
There is a special focus on nutritional support to women and children. Pregnant women and lactating mothers, besides being entitled to nutritious meals as per the prescribed nutritional norms will also receive maternity benefit of at least of Rs. 6000/-. Children in the age group of 6 months to 14 years will be entitled to take home ration or hot cooked food as per prescribed nutritional norms.
Food Security Allowance in case of non supply of foodgrains
The Central Government will provide funds to States/UTs in case of short supply of food grains from Central pool, In case of non-supply of food grains or meals to entitled persons, the concerned State/UT Governments will be required to provide such food security allowance as may be prescribed by the Central Government to the beneficiaries.
States to get assistance for intra-State transportation and handling of foodgrains
In order to address the concern of the States regarding additional financial burden, Central Government will provide assistance to the States towards cost of intra-State transportation, handling of foodgrains and FPS dealers’ margin, for which norms will be developed. This will ensure timely transportation and efficient handling of foodgrains.
Reforms for doorstep delivery of foodgrains
The Bill also contains provisions for reforms in PDS through doorstep delivery of foodgrains, application of information and communication technology (ICT) including end to end computerisation, leveraging ‘Aadhaar’ for unique identification of beneficiaries, diversification of commodities under TPDS etc for effective implementation of the Food Security Act. Some of these reforms are already underway.
Women Empowerment-- Eldest women will be Head of the household
Eldest woman of eighteen years of age or above will be head of the household for issue of ration card, and if not available, the eldest male member is to be the head of the household.
Grievance redressal mechanism at district level
There will be state and district level redressal mechanism with designated officers. The States will be allowed to use the existing machinery for District Grievance Redressal Officer (DGRO), State Food Commission, if they so desire, to save expenditure on establishment of new redressal set up. Redressal mechanism may also include call centers, helpline etc.
Social audits and vigilance committees to ensure transparency and accountability
Provisions have also been made for disclosure of records relating to PDS, social audits and setting up of Vigilance Committees in order to ensure transparency and accountability.
Penalty for non compliance
The Bill provides for penalty to be imposed on public servants or authority, if found guilty of failing to comply with the relief recommended by the District Grievance Redressal Officer (DGRO).
Expenditure
At the proposed coverage of entitlement, total estimated annual foodgrains requirement is 612.3 lakh tons and corresponding estimated food subsidy for 2013-14 costs is about Rs.1,24,724 crore.
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This is for the information of the passengers/general public that due to technical reasons the promulgated schedule of vessel MV Akbar from Kolkata to Port Blair on 24.06.2013 and thereafter from Port Blair — Vizag — Port Blair (voyage No. 458 & 459) on 30.06.2013 & 04.07.2013 vide Directorate of Shipping Services Press Note No. M/Afl(Opn)/13-5/2013/669 dt. 18.05.2013 stand cancelled. Passenger those who have purchased the tickets for the above sailings of MV Akbar are requested to cancel their tickets and get refunded from STARS Ticketing Counters. Fresh sailing schedule of MV Akbar will he announced shortly.
Similarly the announced schedule of MV Nancowry from Port Blair to Chennai on 11.07.2013 and 24.07.2013 and Chennai to Port Blair on 17.07.2013 and 31.07.2013 stand cancelled. Passenger those who have purchased the tickets for the above sailings of MV Nancowry are requested to cancel their tickets and get refunded from STARS Ticketing Counters.
To compensate the sailing of MV Akbar from Vizag, the Directorate has also revised the tentative schedule of MV Nancowry for the month of July/2013 and the vessel is now scheduled from Port Blair to Vizag on 10.07.2013 & Vizag to Port Blair on 14.07.2013 respectively.
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Arrival Day Port Departure Day Voy. No.Time (in hrs) Remarks
-- -- Port Blair 10.07.2013 Wed 1024 1000
12.07.2013 Fri Vizag 14.07.2013 Sun 1025 1000
16.07.2013 Sat Port Blair 19.07.2013 Fri 1026 1000
22.07.2013 Mon Kolkata 25.07.2013 Thu 1027 1600
29.07.2013 Mon Port Blair -- -- -- --
Note: This is a tentative sailing programme subject to change at short notice. The Directorate of Shipping Services will not bear any responsibility what so ever losses (if any) due to change in the programme.
Advance reservation of passenger tickets for the sailings will commence from 08.07.2013 at STARS Ticketing Counters.
NOTE: Passenger those who have purchased their tickets of MV Nancowry from Port Blair to Chennai on 11.07.2013 and 24.07.2013 and Chennai to Port Blair on 17.07.2013 and 31.07.2013 are requested to cancel their tickets and get refunded from STARS ticketing counters.
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Port Blair, July 5: All the Raj Niwas staff today gave emotional farewell to the Lt Governor, Lt Gen (Retd) Bhopinder Singh, PVSM, AVSM and the First Lady of the Islands, Smt Bhawanee Singh. After serving the islands for six and a half years as the Lt Governor, Lt Gen (Retd) Bhopinder Singh is leaving the Islands on 06.07.2013. The staff of Raj Niwas have extended their best wishes to them and their family members.
In his brief farewell address, the Lt Governor stated that it was his longest spell at one particular place during his 53 years of service and therefore he had identified himself with the Islanders. He stated that he was leaving the islands with a sense of satisfaction and lauded the staff for performing their duties with dedication, zeal and commitment and extending all support and cooperation. He further called on them to continue this spirit for the in-coming Lt Governor.
Raj Niwas staff also bid farewell to the Secretary to LG, Shri Satish Mathur, who is also going to take up the new assignment as Resident Commissioner of the islands at New Delhi.
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SC seeks response from 5 states on sale of adulterated milk by July 31
Port Blair/ New Delhi, July 5: The Supreme Court, on July 2, 2013, expressed concern over the sale of adulterated milk all over the country and sought response from Haryana, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand and Delhi by July 31in this regard.
This was in response to a public interest litigation (PIL) filed by Swami Achyutanand Tirth on behalf of the Swami Bhumanand Dharmarth Chikitsalya and Research Institute in Haridwar.
The SC has also sought response from the apex food body, the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI), about milk adulteration and production of synthetic milk.
In a situation wherein adulteration is looming large over the country, the question arises as to whether Government Institutions/ Organisations, Govt. Aided Organisations can be exempted from the food safety and standards rules.
ANIIDCO is the largest seller of milk in the islands, supplying tonnes of litres of milk every day across the city and suburbs. It also is the sole distributor Indian Manufactured Foreign Liquors (IMFL) in the entire islands, which is entitled for quality check being produced from malt.
Apart from ANIIDCO, there are govt. hospitals, guest houses across the islands, which prepare and supplies food to people. But surprisingly these organisations in Andaman & Nicobar Islands have been exempted by the state to fall under the guidelines of Food Safety and Standards Authority, which otherwise is mandatory for any private organisation in the business, be it be a small dhaba.
With adulteration looming large over the country, should the A&N Administration not insist its organisations to have valid ‘Food Safety & Standards Certification’ or ‘Licence’ from the State Food Safety Authority? Or can it be taken for granted that the food /food products prepared and sold by govt. institutions is safe?
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Port Blair, July 5: Andaman and Nicobar Command accorded a warm farewell to the Hon’ble Lt Governor, Lt Gen (Retd) Bhopinder Singh, PVSM, AVSM by hosting a ceremonial dinner night at ANC Officers’ Mess on 03 Jul 13.
Speaking on the occasion, Air Marshal PK Roy, AVSM, VM, VSM, ADC, Commander-in-Chief ANC, highlighted the singular achievements of the Lt Governor during his six and half years tenure at the helm, post the devastating Tsunami of 2004, which brought about much needed relief and succor to the local population, and gave impetus to the infrastructure development in the Islands. The CINCAN also highlighted the cordial relations between the A & N Administration and HQ ANC during the period.
The Hon’ble Lt Governor, during his farewell speech thanked all sections of the Administration, the Armed Forces and the local populace for making his tenure a very fruitful and memorable one.