Ambedkar Action Alert: Funds for Construction of Anganwadi Buildings

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From: Press Information Bureau Ministry of I&B <pib.kolkata@gmail.com>
Date: Fri, Aug 27, 2010 at 3:43 PM
Subject: Releases...................pt2

Press Information Bureau

Government of India

* * * * * *

Ministry of Women and Child Development

Funds for Construction of Anganwadi Buildings

New Delhi: August 27, 2010.

As the Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) Scheme was designed as a community based outreach programme, there is no provision for construction of Anganwadi Buildings except in North East States under schematic norms. In areas where public buildings are not available, there is provision under the Scheme for hiring of accommodation. However, the States/UTs have been requested, from time to time to tap funds available under various schemes of other Ministries such as Backward Region Grant Fund (BRGF), M.P. Local Area Development Scheme (MPLADS), M.L.A, Local Area Development Scheme (MLALADS), Rural Infrastructure Development Fund (RIDF), Panchayati Raj Institution (PRI), Multi Sectoral Development Programme (MSDP), Tribal Development (TD), National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (NREGA) and State's own funds etc. for construction of Anganwadi buildings.

As per information received from States/ UTs, 24582 Anganwadi buildings have been constructed with assistance from BRGF/ PRI as on 31.03.2010. State-wise details are given as below:

Sl. No.	State	Number of Anganwadi buildings constructed with assistance from BRGF/ PRI
1	Andhra Pradesh	1619
2	Arunachal Pradesh	0
3	Assam	NR
4	Bihar	0
5	Chhattisgarh	0
6	Goa	0
7	Gujarat	NR
8	Haryana	424
9	Himachal Pradesh	8
10	Jammu & Kashmir	0
11	Jharkhand	NR
12	Karnataka	NR
13	Kerala	4667
14	Madhya Pradesh	NR
15	Maharashtra	0
16	Manipur	0
17	Meghalaya	200
18	Mizoram	0
19	Nagaland	0
20	Orissa	5595
21	Punjab	559
22	Rajasthan	0
23	Sikkim	3
24	Tamil Nadu	149
25	Tripura	NR
26	Uttar Pradesh	0
27	Uttrakhand	0
28	West Bengal	11338
29	A & N Islands	20
30	Chandigarh	0
31	Delhi	0
32	Dadra & N Haveli	NR
33	Daman & Diu	0
34	Lakshadweep	0
35	Puducherry	0
	Total	24582

This information was given by Smt. Krishna Tirath, Minister of State for Women and Child Development (Independent Charge) in a written reply to a question in the Lok Sabha today

ysk:pm/dk/kol/15:22 hrs.

Press Information Bureau

Government of India

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Ministry of Women and Child Development

Adoption of Children

New Delhi: August 27, 2010.

Procedure related to adoption by foreigners is governed by "Guidelines for Adoption from India 2006" notified by Government of India. Priority is given to in-country adoption. Adoption by foreigners is considered after efforts have been made for placing the child with Indians. As per Guidelines, no child can leave the country for adoption by foreigners, without No Objection Certificate (NOC) from Central Adoption Resource Agency (CARA).

The Number of NOCs issued by CARA, year-wise for the last three years and current year, is as below:

Year	Inter-country NOCs issued by CARA
2007	770
2008	821
2009	666
2010(as on 23.8.2010)	298

This information was given by Smt. Krishna Tirath, Minister of State for Women and Child Development (Independent Charge) in a written reply to a question in the Lok Sabha today

ysk:pm/dk/kol/15:29 hrs.

Press Information Bureau

Government of India

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Ministry of Youth Affairs & Sports

Wrestling– Preparations at a Glance

New Delhi: August 27, 2010.

Sl. No.	Items	M	W	Total	Remarks
	Core Probables	56	28	84	Annexure - I
	Coaches	11	1	12	Annexure - I
	Foreign Coaches	3	0	3	Annexure - I
	Support Staff	4	2	4	Annexure - I
	Number of Camps / days	FS & GR – 6/640 FEMALE -3/640		FS & GR – 6/640 FEMALE -3/640
	Foreign Exposures
	Medal Hopeful	18-21
		Free Style		Greco Roman Style	Female
		Anil Kumar – 55 Kg.		Rajender Kumar – 55 Kg.	Nirmala Devi – 48 Kg.
		Yogeshwar Dutt – 60 Kg.		Ravinder Singh – 60 Kg.	Babita Kumari – 51 Kg.
		Sushil Kumar – 66 Kg.		Sunil Kumar – 66 Kg.	Geeta – 55 Kg.
		Sumit - 74 Kg.		Sanjay Kumar – 74 Kg.	Alka Tomar – 59 Kg.
		Anuj Kumar – 84 kg.		Manoj Kumar – 84 Kg.	Suman Kundu – 63 Kg.
		Mausam Khatri – 96 kg.		Anil Kumar – 96 Kg.	Anita – 67 Kg.
		Rajiv Tomar – 120 Kg.		Dharmender Dalal – 120 Kg.	Gursharanpreet Kaur – 72 Kg.
	Action Plan for the last 45 days, including training & foreign exposures	Men Camp at SAI Sonepat Women camp at NS NIS Patiala
	Outstanding Performance	Indian Wrestling team participated in Asian Wrestling Championship held at I. G. Stadium, New Delhi from 12^th to 16^th May, 2010 and Indian team members won the following medals:- Free Style Men – 2 Gold Nar Singh Yadav- 74 Kgs. – Gold b) Sushil Kumar - 66 Kgs. – Gold Greco Roman Style Men – 01 Silver + 2 Bronze Sunil - 55 Kg. – Silver b) Rajender - 66 Kg. – Bronze c) Ravinder - 60 Kg. - Bronze 3.Female - 02 Bronze a) Alka Tomar- 55 Kg. – Bornze b) Suman Kundu- 63 Kg. - Bronze
	Date of Selection	8^th & 9^th August, 2010

Annexure-I

LIST FOR NATIONAL COACHING CAMP BEING HELD AT NRC, SONEPAT FOR PREPARATION OF 2010 COMMONWEALTH GAMES

FREE STYLE

55 Kg.			60 Kg.
S.N.	Name	Unit	S.N.	Name	Unit
1.	Balraj	RSPB	1.	Rajneesh	DEL
2.	Vinod Kumar	RSPB	2.	Rahul Mann	RSPB
3.	Anil Kumar	RSPB	3.	Yogeshwar Dutt	DEL
4.	Kripa Shankar	RSPB	4.	Hardeep Singh	PB
5.	Rahule Aware	MAH

66 Kg.			74 Kg.
S.N.	Name	Unit	S.N.	Name	Unit
1.	Sushil Kumar	RSPB	1.	Ramesh Kumar	RSPB
2.	Naresh	WB	2.	Narsingh Yadav	RSPB
3.	Pradeep	DEL	3.	Sumit	DEL
4.	Amit Kumar	HAR	4.	Ravinder Kumar	HAR

84 Kg.			96 Kg.
S.N.	Name	Unit	S.N.	Name	Unit
	Ram Vir	PB	1.	Anil Mann	RSPB
	Naresh Kumar	DEL	2.	Parveen	DEL
	Anuj Kumar	UP	3.	Mausam Khatri	HAR
	Rajiv Sharma	RSPB	4.	Varun Kumar	UP

120 Kg.
S.No.	Name	Unit
1.	Rajiv Tomar	RSPB
2.	Joginder Kumar	DEL
3.	Naveen Mor	DEL

Coaches
S.No.	Name	Unit	Designation
1.	Jagmander Singh	DEL	Chief Coach
2.	Vladimer Mestivishili	Georgia	Foreign Expert
3.	Vinod Kumar	DEL	Coach
4.	Yashvir Singh	DEL	Coach
5.	G.S. Sangha	SAI	Coach

Masseur : Gurpreet Singh

Physiotherapist : Arvinder Pal Singh

Doctor : Dr. Jairam

LIST FOR NATIONAL COACHING CAMP BEING HELD AT NRC, SONEPAT FOR PREPARATION OF 2010 COMMONWEALTH GAMES

GRECO ROMAN STYLE

55 Kg.			60 Kg.
S.N.	Name	Unit	S.N.	Name	Unit
1.	Rajender Kumar	RSPB	1.	Ravinder Singh	RSPB
2.	Manjit	DEL	2.	Anil Kumar	SSCB
3.	Hari Krishan	PB	3.	Suresh Kumar	SSCB
4.	Joginder	RSPB	4.	Ajay Kumar	DEL

66 Kg.			74 Kg.
S.N.	Name	Unit	S.N.	Name	Unit
1.	Sunil Kumar	SSCB	1.	Sanjay	RSPB
2.	Gurbinder Singh	PB	2.	Naresh Kumar	SSCB
3.	Sandeep Yadav	RSPB	3.	Gurpreet	J&K
4.	Vikram Sanghwan	RSPB	4.	Rajbir	RSPB

84 Kg.			96 Kg.
S.N.	Name	Unit	S.N.	Name	Unit
	Manoj Kumar	SSCB	1.	Anil Kumar	HAR
	Harvinder Singh	UP	2.	Ashok Kumar	SSCB
	Rajesh Kumar	RSPB-A	3.	Hardeep Kumar	PB
	Rajesh Kumar	SSCB-B	4.	Joginder Grewal	HAR

120 Kg.
S.No.	Name	Unit
1.	Dharmender Dalal	RSPB-A
2.	Virender	RSPB-B
3.	Yudhvir Singh	CHD
4.	Rishi Pal	DEL

Coaches
S.No.	Name	Unit	Designation
1.	Hargobind Singh	SAI	Chief Coach
2.	Emzar Makhardze	Georgia	Foreign Expert
3.	Mahabir Prasad	DEL	Coach
4.	Deva Nand	SSCB	Coach
5.	Ravinder Mann	RSPB	Coach

Masseur: Rahul Sharma

LIST FOR NATIONAL COACHING CAMP BEING HELD AT NIS, PATIALA FOR PREPARATION OF 2010 COMMONWEALTH GAMES

FEMALE WRESTLING

48 Kg.			51 Kg.
S.N.	Name	Unit	S.N.	Name	Unit
1.	Nirmala Devi	HAR	1.	Babita	HAR
2.	Indu	UP	2.	Rachna	HAR
3.	Neha	HAR	3.	Anju Chaudhary	UP
4.	Priyanka	UP	4.	Sushma Kundu	HAR

55 Kg.			59 Kg.
S.N.	Name	Unit	S.N.	Name	Unit
1.	Geeta	HAR	1.	Alka Tomar	UP
2.	Shilpi Sheron	HAR	2.	Promila	MP
3.	Gargi Yadav	UP	3.	Nirmala Devi	HAR
4.	Uma Devi	MNP	4.	Sakshi Malik	HAR

63 Kg.			67 Kg.
S.N.	Name	Unit	S.N.	Name	Unit
1.	Anita	HAR	1.	Suman Kundu	HAR
2.	Geetika Jakhar	HAR	2.	Kamini Yadav	DEL
3.	N. Tombi	MNP	3.	Jyoti	DEL
4.	Navjot Kaur	PB	4.	Anshu Tomar	UP
5.	Rajani	UP

72 Kg.
S.No.	Name	Unit
1.	Gursharan Preet Kaur	PB
2.	Babita	UP
3.	Anmol	HAR

Coaches
S.No.	Name	Unit	Designation
1.	P.R. Sondhi	PB	Chief Coach
2.	Roin Doborjginidze	Georgia	Foreign Expert
3.	Kamal Sen	UP	Coach
4.	Mohinder Singh	HAR	Coach
5.	Monika	DEL	Coach

Physiotherapist : Perivinker Kaur

Masseur : Poonam

rm/jl/dk/kol/15:29 hrs.

Press Information Bureau

Government of India

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Ministry of Youth Affairs & Sports

Weightlifting – Preparations at a Glance

New Delhi: August 27, 2010.

Sl. No.	Items	M	W	Total	Remarks
	Core Probables	18	17	35	Annexure – I
	Coaches	04	03	07	Annexure – I
	Foreign Coaches	00	00	00	Annexure – I
	Support Staff	01	02	03	Annexure – I
	Number of Camps / days	05/441
	Foreign Exposures	10			Annexure - II
	Medals Hopeful	12 – 15, Women Men Sonia Chanu /A. Shandhya Rani, 48 kg 1. Sukhen Dey, 56 kg Swati Singh/Minati Sethi, 53 kg 2. Rustam Sarang/Omkar Otari, 62 kg Renu Bala, 58 kg 3. K. Ravi Kumar, 69 kg L. Monika Devi/Srishti Singh, 75 kg 4. CPR Sudhir Kumar, 77 kg Geeta Rani, +75 kg 5. Chandrankant Dadu Mali, 85 kg 6. V.A. Christopher, 94 kg 7. Rupinder Singh/Pardeep Singh, 105kg 8. Sarabjit, +105 kg
	Action plan for the last 45 days, including training & foreign exposures	Camp at Patiala & Delhi.
	Outstanding Performance	Indian team won 07 Gold and 05 Silver medals in the Commonwealth Weightlifting Championship, 2009.
	Date of Selection	7^th - 8^th August, 2010

List of Weightlifting Core Group

Annexure - I

Men		Women
	V.S. Rao (56 Kg)	Ng. Soniya Chanu, (48 Kg)
	Sukhen Dey (56kg)	M. Santoshi, (48 Kg)
	N. Sunil Kumar, (62kg)	A. Sandhya Rani, (48 Kg)
	Omkar Otari, (62kg)	Minati Sethi, (53 Kg)
	Rustam Sarang, (62kg)	Sanamacha, (53 Kg)
	K. Ravi Kumar, (69 Kg)	Swati Singh, (53 Kg)
	G. Elumalai, (69 Kg)	Renu Bala, (58 Kg)
	P. Rambabu, (69 Kg)	Chandra Shouri D, (58 Kg)
	L.B. Singh, (77kg)	M. Suibala Devi, (58 Kg)
	Cpr Sudheer Kuamar, (77kg)	H. Poireinganbi Chanu, (63 Kg)
	Chandrakant Mali, (85kg)	S. Chandrakala, (63 Kg)
	Inderjit Singh, (85kg)	Nansita Devi, (69 Kg)
	V.A. Christopher, (94 Kg)	Srishti Singh, (75 Kg)
	M. Srinivasa Rao, (105 Kg)	Kh. Promila Devi, (75 Kg)
	Pardeep Singh, (105 Kg)	Ms. Monika Devi, (75 Kg)
	Rupinder Singh, (105 Kg)	Geeta Rani, (+75 Kg)
	Sarabjit Singh, (+105 Kg)	Simple Kaur Bhumra, (+75 Kg)
	Sandeep Kumar(+105 Kg)
Coaches		Supporting staff
	Mr. Harnam Singh, National Caoch	Ms. Roopashree M. C., Physio.
	Mr. Ramesh Malhotra, SAI	Dr. Prakash John Austin, Masseur
	Mr. Ranjan Singh, SAI	Ms. Khuraijam Nganthoi Chanu, Massuse
	Mr. Gurnam Singh, AIPSCB
	Mrs. Shyamala Shetty, SAI
	Mr. DD Sharma, ASI
	Mr. L Anita Chanu, Manipur

Annexure – II

Foreign Exposures:

Coaching Camp at Budapest, Hungary for 60 Core probables alongwith Coaches and Supporting Staff from 27^th March to 6^th May, 2009.

15 Players + 04 Coaches + 02 Referee/Judge participated in Asian Senior Championship at Almaty, Kazakhstan during 9^th to 16^th May, 2009.

15 Players + 04 Coaches + 02 Referee/Judge participated in 1^st Youth world Championship at Thailand during 19^th to 24^th May, 2009.

19 Players + 05 coaches + 02 Referee/Judge + 01 Doctor + 01 Physio or Masseur participated in Commonwealth Weightlifting Championship during 18 to 23^rd October, 2009.

19 Players + 05 coaches + 02 Referee/Judge + 01 Doctor + 01 Physio or Masseur participated in World Wt. Lifting Championship during 17-30^th November, 2009.

Indian Team participated in Asian Youth (Boys & Girls) Weightlifting Championships held at Tashkent (Uzbekistan) from 07.04.2010 to 11.04.2010.

Indian Team participated in Asian Junior (Men & Women) Weightlifting Championship held at Tashkent (Uzbekistan) from 12.04.2010 to 16.04.2010.

Indian Team participated in Junior World Championships at Sofia, Bulgaria from 11^th to 20^th June, 2010.

01 Player (Ms. Santoshi) +01 Coach (Ms L. Anita Chanu) to participate in Youth Olympic Games at Singapore from 14^th to 26^th August, 2010.

Indian Weightlifting Team to participate in World Championship (Olympic qualification event) at Antalya, Turkey from 18^th to 30^th Sep; 2010.

rm/jl/dk/kol/15:32 hrs.

Press Information Bureau

Government of India

* * * * * *

Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers

Supply of Quality Fertilizers

New Delhi: August 27, 2010.

Government of India has declared fertilizer as an essential commodity under the Essential Commodities Act, 1955 and has notified Fertilizer Control Order, 1985 under the said Act. The quality of fertilizers is regulated under the Fertilizer Control Order, 1985. As per the provision of the Fertilizer Control Order 1985, fertilizers, which meet the standard of quality laid down in the ofer can only be sold to the farmers. The State Governments are adequately empowered to take appropriate action against the sellers of non-standard fertilizers. The penal provision includes prosecution of offenders and sentence if convicted up to seven years imprisonment under the ECA, 1955 besides cancellation of authorization certificate and other administrative action. There are 71 fertilizer testing laboratories including four laboratories of the Government of India at Faridabad, Kalyani, Mumbai and Chennai with an annual analyzing capacity of 1.34 lakh samples. During the year 2006-07, 2007-08 and 2008-09, the percentage of samples of fertilizers declared non-standard at all India level were 6.0%, 6.2% and 5.5% respectively.

Fertilizers are provided to the farmers in the States at subsidized rates. Expenditure on fertilizer subsidy in the last five years is as follows:

(in crores)

Year	Indigenous P&K	Indigenous Urea	Imported P&K	Imported Urea	Total
2005-06	4499.20	10625.57	2096.99	2140.88	19389.64
2006-07	6648.17	12650.37	3649.95	5071.06	28019.55
2007-08	10333.80	16450.37	6600.00	9935.14	43319.31
2008-09	32957.10	20968.74	32597.50	12971.38	99494.72
2009-10	16000.00	17580.25	23452.06	6999.63	64031.94

Under the Nutrient Based Subsidy Policy (NBS) subsidy for indigenous and imported P&K fertilizers has been announced on annual basis for 2010-11 based on the prevailing prices and price trends of fertilizers in the international market. Subsidy for indigenous urea is provided based on the New Price Scheme-III. The prices of imported fertilizers have not registered ny substantial change in the international market in the period April 2010 – July 2010. Further, marginal decrease in prices, if any, has been offset by the adverse Rs./US$ exchange rate.

There are reports of smuggling of fertilizers from India to neighbouring countries. However, these have not been confirmed by the state Governments. The State Governments have been advised by the Department of Fertilizers to keep a vigil and to check smuggling of fertilizers, if any, from India to neighbouring countries through land and sea routes.

Similarly Union Home Ministry has also alerted Border guarding forces viz. Border Security Force (BSF), Indo-Tibetan Border Police, Assam Rifles and Sashstra Seema Bal and Coast Guard to maintain strict vigilance on the borders to curb smuggling, if any, of fertilizers. Further, Ministry of Home Affairs has also addressed the Chief Secretaries of the Government of Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Bihar, Gujarat, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, Punjab, Rajasthan, Tripura, Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand and West Bengal to sensitize the authorities concerned to curb the smuggling of fertilizers, if any, into the neighbouring countries.

The Government is promoting integrated Nutrient Management involving use of bio fertilizers and organic manures in conjunction with chemical fertilizers. Under National Project on Organic Farming 25% credit linked back-ended subsidy up to Rs. 40 lakh is provided to private entrepreneurs for establishment of bio fertilizers production units through National Bank for Agriculture and rural Development (NABARD) and National Cooperative Development Corporation (NCDC).

This information was given by the Minister of State for Chemicals & Fertilizers Shri Srikant Kumar Jena in a written reply in the Rajya Sabha today.

dnm/pkm/sb/dk/kol/15:32 hrs.

Press Information Bureau

Government of India

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Ministry of Women and Child Development

Bal Bandhu Scheme

New Delhi: August 27, 2010.

The proposal of National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) has been approved, in principle, for implementation of Bal Bandhu Scheme for Protection of Children in the areas of Civil Unrest with funding of Rs. 3.17 crore for 3 years. The Scheme will be implemented by NCPCR in 10 districts of the country on pilot basis.

This information was given by Smt. Krishna Tirath, Minister of State for Women and Child Development (Independent Charge) in a written reply to a question in the Lok Sabha today

ysk:pm/dk/kol/15:33 hrs.

Press Information Bureau

Government of India

* * * * * *

Ministry of Women and Child Development

Upliftment of Women

New Delhi: August 27, 2010.

The Government adopted the National Policy for Empowerment of Women on 20th March, 2010 with the objective to bring about the advancement, development and empowerment of women and to eliminate all forms of discrimination against women.

After extensive consultations with the Ministries/Departments of the Government of India, State Governments and Experts, a draft Plan of Action (POA) setting goals for implementation of the policy prescriptions was prepared. But it could not be finalised. However, the policies/programmes of the Government are already directed towards achieving inclusive growth with special focus on women in line with the objective of the National Policy for Empowerment of Women.

This information was given by Smt. Krishna Tirath, Minister of State for Women and Child Development (Independent Charge) in a written reply to a question in the Lok Sabha today

ysk:pm/dk/kol/15:33 hrs.

Press Information Bureau

Government of India

* * * * * *

Ministry of Women and Child Development

Malnourished Children in Delhi Slums

New Delhi: August 27, 2010.

As per the National Family Health Survey- 3 (NFHS-3) (2005-06), percentage of malnourished children under the age of 5 years in Delhi slums is 35.3%.

The problem of malnutrition is a multifaceted and multi sectoral in nature. The Government is implementing several schemes which have an impact on the nutritional status of the people.

The Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) scheme is being implemented by the Ministry of Women and Child Development through State Governments/UT Administration. The Scheme provides a package of six services namely supplementary nutrition, pre-school non-formal education, nutrition & health education, immunization, health check-up and referral services. Three of the services namely immunization, health check-up and referral services are delivered through the public health system of Ministry of Health & Family Welfare.

The Government has recently taken various steps which include universalisation of the scheme with special focus on SC/ST and minority habitations, revision in cost norms as well as the Nutritional and Feeding norms of the Supplementary Nutrition component of ICDS. In addition, Government has introduced provision of flexi fund at Anganwadi centre level and new World Health Organisation (WHO) Growth Standards for growth monitoring.

There are 11150 sanctioned AWCs of which 6606 are functional in Delhi mostly in urban slums and rural areas. The number of enrolled children below 6 years in these AWCs as reported by the Delhi Government is 969811.

Besides the ICDS programme, Government is implementing a number of other schemes throughout the country, which directly or indirectly affect the nutritional status of women and children. Some of these are as follows:

· Reproductive & Child Health Programme under the National Rural Health Mission being implemented by the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare has interventions which include Janani Suraksha Yojana (JSY) to promote institutional deliveries, Immuzation; Integrated Management of Neonatal and Childhood Illness; Specific Programmes to prevent and combat micronutrient deficiencies of Vitamin A and Iron & Folic Acid through Vitamin A Supplementation for children till the age of 5 years and Iron & Folic acid Supplementation for infants, preschool children, adolescent girls, pregnant and lactating women.

· Iodised salt is being provided for combating Iodine Deficiency Disorders.

· Mid-Day Meal programme of Department of School Education and Literacy.

· SABLA yojana of Ministry of Women and Child Development.

· Availability of essential food items at subsidized cost through Targeted Public Distribution System, Antodaya Anna Yojna by the Department of Food & Consumer Affairs.

· Provision of safe drinking water and sanitation under the National Drinking water

· Programme Total Sanitation Campaign of Ministry of Rural Development and under

· Jawahar Lal Nehru Urban Renewal Mission in urban areas.

· Other employment and income generation schemes such as Mahatama Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MNREGS), Swaranjayanti Gram Swarojgar Yojna (SGSY) Swarna Jayanthi Shahri Rozgar Yojna (SJSRY), Swadhar STEP scheme etc.

This information was given by Smt. Krishna Tirath, Minister of State for Women and Child Development (Independent Charge) in a written reply to a question in the Lok Sabha today

ysk:pm/dk/kol/15:34 hrs.

Press Information Bureau

Government of India

* * * * * *

Ministry of Women and Child Development

Integrated Child Development Services Scheme

New Delhi: August 27, 2010.

The Minister of State for Women and Child Development (Independent Charge)Smt. Krishna Tirath, informed the Lok Sabha today that under the Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) Scheme, the responsibility for procurement of foodgrains including those allocated under Wheat Based Nutrition Programme(WBNP) and management thereof for providing Supplementary Nutrition rests with the States/UTs. Thus, any complaint of corruption/irregularity, if received by the Govt. of India, is referred to the concerned States/UTs for a report and appropriate action in the matter.

In reply to a question in the Lok Sabha Smt. Krishna Tirath said that during the past 3 years and the current year, a total of 8 complaints have been received, one each about the States of Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Nagaland, Chhattisgarh and two each about the States of Uttar Pradesh and Bihar which contained allegations regarding irregularities in management of Supplementary Nutrition Programme. All these have been forwarded to the State Governments for report. Of them, only two complaints, one in the case of Nagaland and one in the case of Chhattisgarh were about corruption in procurement of foodgrains. The State Govt. of Nagaland has responded that the allegations made in the complaint were without any substance. However, in the case of Chhattisgarh, the State Government is yet to investigate into the matter and submit its report.

All States/UTs have reported non-engagement of contractors except the State of Arunachal Pradesh who has sought time from the Hon'ble Supreme Court for compliance.

ysk:pm/dk/kol/15:34 hrs.

Press Information Bureau

Government of India

* * * * * *

Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers

Fertilizers Subsidy and Agricultural Productivity

New Delhi: August 27, 2010.

The total expenditure on subsidy/concession for all fertilizers during the year 2001-02 was Rs. 12695.02 crores (Gross) and during 2009-10, the expenditure was Rs. 64,032.29 crores (Gross).

The average productivity of food grains was 1734 kg/ha during the year 2001-02 and this has increased to 1798 kg/ha during the year 2009-10. This was stated by the Minister of State for Chemicals & Fertilizers Shri Srikant Kumar Jena in a written reply in the Rajya Sabha today. He said there is no positive correlation between fertilizer subsidy and agricultural productivity.

Fertilizer subsidy is the difference between the normative delivered cost of fertilizers and the notified selling prices of the subsidized fertilizers. The subsidy is provided to fertilizer manufacturers/importers to covers the gap between the normative delivered costs of subsidized fertilizers and the notified selling prices (MRPs) at the farm gate level. Accordingly, subsidy is disbursed to farmers in the form of subsidized fertilizers.

dnm/pkm/sb/dk/kol/15:35 hrs.

--
Palash Biswas
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