RIVER LINKING CAN RAISE THE IRRIGATION CAPACITY OF THE COUNTRY BY 90%: UMA BHARTI
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Three Day National Conference on Issues of Optimal Use of Water Resources Begins
Union Minister for Water Resources, River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation Sushri Uma Bharti has said that inter-linking of river will raise the irrigation capacity of the country by 90 percent. Inaugurating the national conference on issues for optimal use of water resources called “Jal Manthan” here today, the Minister said that there is no shortage of water in our country. She said excess rain water in our country flows in to seas through rivers. We need to conserve this water by inter-linking the rivers.The Minister said, in our country irrigation schemes take lot of time and money to complete. She said only farmer can feel the pain of these delayed projects. The Minister said that when she became Minister in the centre, many Ministers and Secretaries from various States came to her and explained their problems about water resources and irrigation. The Minister promised that after going through the recommendations of Jal Manthan deliberation, she will make necessary amendments to the schemes and plans of the Ministry. She said that Prime Minister has desired that we should ensure that irrigation facility is provided to every field of each farmer without any extra cost.
Union Agriculture Minister Shri Radha Mohan Singh, Union Rural Development Minister Choudhary Birender Singh and Union Minister of State for Water Resources, River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation Prof. Sanwar Lal Jat also addressed the inaugural session. The three day event has been organized by the Ministry of Water Resources, River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation to take up wide ranging consultations with the state Water Resources/ Irrigation Ministers, Secretaries and a range of other stakeholders. The focus will be on refining policies of the Ministry to make them more people friendly and responsive to the needs of the states.
The first day of the conference was devoted for deliberations on the three flagship schemes being implemented by the Union Government through Ministry of Water Resources, River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation, viz., Accelerated Irrigation Benefit Programme, Repair, Renovation and Restoration of Water Bodies and Flood Management Programme. New proposals, such as, Incentivizing States for Water Sector Reforms India Water Resources Information System and Hydrology Project III were also discussed.
The second day of the conference will be devoted to issues related to inter-linking of rivers in the country. It is proposed to deliberate on various aspects of inter-linking as the programme has evoked strong reactions from civil societies and environmental groups. The event would provide a platform to address the concerns and clarify issues raised by them.
On the third day of conference, it is proposed to hold deliberations on broader issues of water conservation and management with civil societies, non-governmental organisations and water user communities. The focus will be on water Security, Humane Face to Water Projects, Farm Water Management and Rejuvenation of Water Bodies.
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MINISTER OF RURAL DEVELOPMENT INAUGURATES WORKSHOP ON CONSTRUCTION AND DESILTING OF CHECKDAMS AND WATER HARVESTING STRUCTURES
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Minister of Rural Development Inaugurates Workshop on Construction and Desilting of Checkdams and Water Harvesting StructuresMake Water Conservation a People’s Mass Movement: Chaudhary Birender Singh
The Rural Development Minister said, very few countries in the world are blessed with abundant fresh water as ours. However there is acute shortage of water for irrigation and drinking purposes in many parts of the country. The situation may get worse if adequate steps are not taken in the right direction earnestly. The scarcity of water is largely because of inefficient use, unequal distribution and lack of awareness in people. Over utilization has also caused deterioration in water quality. We all know that availability of water is a key pre requisite for better sanitation in the country.
As per the analysis of Ministry of Water Resources, the country has a potential of 3840 BCM (Billion cubic meter; 1BCM = 1 lakh crore liter) of rain water out of which 48% is lost in surface runoff while only about 11% goes into ground water recharge . Besides, we are able to use only about 55% of our utilizable water. About 63% of our agriculture land is still dependent only on rainwater. Water availability is the critical constraint in these areas and continues to drive poverty and low human development indices. Of the total water availability only about 300 BCM of water can be stored in the large dams of the country which is a small fraction of the total water availability. Building new reservoirs comes at a significant financial and environmental cost. Thus forms the value of having smaller but distributed structures for water storage which can increase the seasonal storage capacity of water in a meaningful manner. Land in many of these seasonal storage structures can be put to multiple use.
Chaudhary Birender Singh said, We are aware of this challenge and therefore the government is implementing various programs in the rural development, drinking water and sanitation for better sourcing and use of water for domestic use, drinking and for agriculture. The Department of Land Resources is implementing Integrated Watershed Management Program since 2009. The main objectives of the IWMP are to restore the ecological balance by harnessing, conserving and developing degraded natural resources such as soil, vegetative cover and water. The outcomes are prevention of soil erosion, regeneration of natural vegetation, rain water harvesting and recharging of the ground water table. This enables multi-cropping and the introduction of diverse agro-based activities, which help to provide sustainable livelihoods to the people residing in the watershed area. Thus apart from soil conservation, the other main aim of the program is to improve surface and ground water availability through water recharge. The program aims to cover 5 crore ha of rainfed agricultural and wasteland. This is one of the important programs tying up water conservation with increasing agricultural productivity and livelihood in rural areas. Our watershed program is already the second largest in the world after the China. All we need is a technically sound and co-ordinated effort for better watershed management. Construction of water storage structures are one of the important interventions in the program. However, there are many check dams built in earlier programs which are silted or are damaged.
Our country has great traditional of wisdom in water harvesting, proof of which is survival of tanks with a living history of more than 300 to 400 years. The traditional wisdom encompasses both maintenance and water management of these tanks. There many examples of community participation in tank management over the centuries in this country. However today we feel that this rich traditional wisdom is slowly being lost. They have to be surveyed and rejuvenated. The traditional water storage structures are fast being destroyed either due to siltation and lack of upkeep or due to the pressures of development. In addition to loss of environmental services, we are also losing vital storage capacity of excess rain water. It is important that these structures are surveyed and rejuvenated. Only then the efforts of the watershed programs will bear true fruits. However it has to be emphasized that improving the storage of water will have to be augmented with other vegetative methods like growing pasture, trees and horticulture to stabilize them and reduce siltation.
The use of ground water for irrigation as against surface water has continuously increased with every passing years causing depletion of ground water which has reached crisis proportions in some regions of the country. Groundwater accounts for nearly two-thirds (66%) of India’s irrigation and 80% of domestic water needs. Planning Commissions also called for a for a participatory approach to sustainable management of groundwater based on aquifer mapping., Further, the plan calls for launching a massive programme for watershed restoration and groundwater recharge by transforming Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) into our largest watershed programme.
There are multiple organizations in the States that are working in the field of water harvesting. Most of the time these departments work in isolation losing the opportunity of creating synergies and increasing effectiveness. It is important that water harvesting and storage is done in a collaborative manner by drawing up plans at the landscape level to improve the outcomes of the finances employed in the process. It is crucial to ensure that these structures particularly the Check dams & Nala-bands are built in right place that are technically feasible and are socially viable. It is important to ensure that not only they are properly constructed but are also properly maintained over time. Post- project maintenance of these assets is also very important. It is suggested to make use of latest technology for this purpose, both at the planning & maintenance stage. Remote Sensing (RS) technology needs to be extensively used in this task. These latest technologies not only ensures quality but also brings transparency in to the entire process of planning and implementation
All types of landowners can contribute in this program of enhancing the storage capacity of the small water harvesting structures. These structures are largely based in wasteland fallow land and forest land. It is expected that states will at their level co-ordinate with various departments to fulfill this work. Farmers groups can also be encouraged where they can either build, desilt or repair checkdams by collecting money fully or by contributing a part of the expenditure. State Governments agencies can also design programs so that concerted work is done in this field. The key point I am trying to emphasize is the need to involve of people, right from planning to the execution stage and sharing the water.
Social contribution is incomplete without Public Private Partnership (PPP) and involvement of corporate sector. I suggest that as we have an integrated approach to implement the strategy of improving the capacity of water harvesting structures by involving Corporates, Civic Societies, NGO’s along with Government in general facilitative role. Such an approach will be necessary for overall success of this program, the Minister of Rural Development Chaudhary Birender Singh said.
The Secretary, Department of Land Resources, MoRD, Smt. Vandana Kumari Jena, the Secretary, Ministry of Drinking Water and sanitation Smt. Vijaylaxmi Joshi were present on occasion.
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UNICEF: LAUNCH OF THE STATE OF THE WORLD’S CHILDREN REPORT
What: Release of flagship publication “State of the World’s Children 2015: Re imagine the Future Innovation for Every Child“.
An innovation in the area of sanitation, particularly, hand washing with soap and its linkages with the Mid-Day Meal program in schools will also be showcased.
India has much to celebrate. It has some critical milestones to highlight : from declining infant mortality to rising school enrollment. the Right to Education Act, 2010, 100 percent polio eradication, to name a few. This historic day also serves as an important reminder that our work is far from finished. To ensure that existing challenges are met, sustain ably, there is a need to innovate, to develop solutions towards achieving greater equity in planning.
Innovation can drive change for most disadvantaged children –
UNICEF report
On the 25th anniversary of the Convention of the Rights of the Child, The State of the World’s Children report lays out an agenda for change
NEW DELHI, 21 November 2014 – Urgent action is needed to prevent millions of children from missing out on the benefits of innovation, UNICEF said in a new report launched on the 25th anniversary of the Convention on the Rights of the Child. Connectivity and collaboration can fuel new global networks to leverage innovation to reach every child, according to the children’s agency.
The State of the World’s Children Report – Reimagine the future: Innovation for everychild calls on governments, development professionals, businesses, activists and communities to work together to drive new ideas for tackling some of the most pressing problems facing children – and to find new ways of scaling up the best and most promising local innovations.
The report is a crowd-sourced compilation of cutting-edge innovations and an interactive platform that maps innovations in countries all over the world and invites innovators to put their own ideas ‘on the map’.
“Inequity is as old as humanity, but so is innovation – and it has always driven humanity’s progress,” said UNICEF Executive Director Anthony Lake. “In our ever-more connected world, local solutions can have global impact – benefiting children in every country who still face inequity and injustice every day.
“For innovation to benefit every child, we have to be more innovative – rethinking the way we foster and fuel new ideas to solve our oldest problems,” said Lake. “The best solutions to our toughest challenges won’t come exclusively either from the top down or the grassroots up, or from one group of nations to another. They will come from new problem solving networks and communities of innovation that cross borders and cross sectors to reach the hardest to reach – and they will come from young people, adolescents and children themselves.”
The United Nations General Assembly adopted the Convention on the Rights of the Child in 1989. Since then, there has been tremendous progress in advancing child rights – with a huge reduction in the numbers of children dying before the age of five and increased access to education and clean water.
However, the rights of millions of children are violated every day, with the poorest 20 percent of the world’s children twice as likely as the richest 20 percent to die before their fifth birthday, almost one in four children in the least developed countries engaged in child labour, and millions of children regularly experiencing discrimination, physical and sexual violence, and abuse and neglect.
The latest edition of UNICEF’s flagship report argues that innovations such as oral rehydration salts or ready-to-use therapeutic foods have helped drive radical change in the lives of millions of children in the last 25 years – and that more innovative products, processes, and partnerships are critical to realizing the rights of the hardest to reach children. The fully digital report includes multimedia and interactive content that invites readers to share their own ideas and innovations, and highlights outstanding innovations that are already improving lives in countries around the world from a wide range of countries, including:
- Group Handwashing Stations under Swachh Bharat, Swachh Vidyalaya campaign in India. The path breaking innovation has the potential of improving the education and health outcomes of 110 million children who have Mid-Day meals daily in school, across the country. (please see India fact sheet for further details).
- Solar Ear, the world’s first rechargeable hearing aid battery charger, developed to meet the needs of communities lacking regular access to electricity; it can be charged via the sun, household light, or a cell phone plug. (Tendekayi Katsiga, Deaftronics, Botswana / Zimbabwe)
- Community-based management of acute malnutrition (CMAM), a model of care that moves away from the traditional, expensive, low-coverage model of inpatient therapeutic feeding centres run by aid agencies, treats people in their homes with the support of local clinics and using ready-to-use therapeutic foods. (Steve Collins, co-Founder and Director of VALID Nutrition)
- New ways to engage Liberian youth in the midst of the Ebola crisis through U-report, a mobile phone-based system developed with young people, that helps examine what issues are most important to them. (UNICEF, Liberia)
- Floating schools that provide year-round access to education for children living in flood-prone regions of Bangladesh. (Mohammed Rezwan, Founding Executive Director of the NGO Shidhulai Swanirvar Sangstha)
- Vibrasor, a device invented by two teenage girls in Colombia, to help people with hearing impairments navigate safely through busy urban areas. (Isamar Cartagena, Katherine Fernandez)
- To find a new solution to help those without regular access to electricity in Nigeria, four teenage girls invented a urine-powered generator. (Nigeria)
“There are so many young inventors all cross the globe – even in the remotest corners – who are committed to changing the world for children,” says Bisman Deu, a 16-year old from Chandigarh, India whose invention of a building material made from rice waste is featured in UNICEF’s report.
“Every nation has different problems and every person has different solutions,” said Deu. “We need to learn from one another’s experiences, come together as a global community of innovation and keep producing ideas that can make a real difference.”
UNICEF has prioritized innovation across its network of more than 190 countries, setting up hubs around the world including in Afghanistan, Chile, Kosovo, Uganda, and Zambia to foster new ways of thinking, working and collaborating with partners and to nurture local talent.
Access the report at http://sowc2015.unicef.org
Share your ideas and innovations at http://sowc2015.unicef.org/your-innovations/
# # #
Access broadcast quality photos, b-roll and multimedia content on:The State of the World’s Children Report – Reimagine the future: Innovation for everychild: http://uni.cf/1oNr5pM
The Convention on the Rights of the Child: http://uni.cf/1xtF8RY
The Convention on the Rights of the Child: http://uni.cf/1xtF8RY
About UNICEF: UNICEF promotes the rights and wellbeing of every child, in everything we do. Together with our partners, we work in 190 countries and territories to translate that commitment into practical action, focusing special effort on reaching the most vulnerable and excluded children, to the benefit of all children, everywhere. For more information about UNICEF and its work visit: www.unicef.org
About UNICEF Innovation: UNICEF Innovation is an interdisciplinary team of individuals around the world tasked with identifying, prototyping, and scaling technologies and practices that strengthen UNICEF’s work to improve children’s lives around the world. For more information visit:www.unicef.org/innovation
For further information, please contact:
Ms. Caroline den Dulk, Chief of Communication and Advocacy,
UNICEF India, Mobile: +91 981 810 6093-Email: cdendulk@unicef.org
Ms. Geetanjali Master, Communication Specialist
UNICEF India, Mobile: + 91 981 810 5861, Email: gmaster@unicef.org
Ms. Sonia Sarkar, Communication Officer,
UNICEF India: Mobile: +91 981 017 0289, Email: ssarkar@unicef.org
UNICEF India: Mobile: +91 981 017 0289, Email: ssarkar@unicef.org
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25 YEARS AFTER THE CRC: MORE PROTECTION NEEDED FOR CHILDREN AFFECTED BY ARMED CONFLICT
2111201425 Years after the CRC: More Protection Needed for Children Affected by Armed Conflict
New York, 20 November - Twenty-five years ago, with the adoption of the Convention on the Rights of the Child, the world made a historic commitment to its children. The convention, ratified by 194 countries, became the most widely ratified human rights treaty in the world and generated significant progress. But much more remains to be done to protect children, especially those growing up in countries affected by conflict.
“Children continue to be killed, maimed, recruited and used by armed forces and armed groups, deprived of education and healthcare,” said Leila Zerrougui, the Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Children and Armed Conflict. “Despite all our efforts, we haven’t changed the fact that children are still the most vulnerable in times of conflict.”
The extreme violence used by groups such as Boko Haram and ISIL create unprecedented challenges for the protection of children. These groups use tactics that directly target children, with high risk of long term trauma. In addition, deadly attacks against schools and hospitals, such as last week’s devastating suicide bombing in a school in northern Nigeria, are on the rise.
Optional Protocol on the involvement of children in armed conflict
The Optional Protocol on the involvement of children in armed conflict, adopted in 2000, aims to ban the compulsory recruitment of children under 18 in armed forces and to ensure that individuals under the age of 18 do not take part in hostilities.
“Children continue to be killed, maimed, recruited and used by armed forces and armed groups, deprived of education and healthcare,” said Leila Zerrougui, the Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Children and Armed Conflict. “Despite all our efforts, we haven’t changed the fact that children are still the most vulnerable in times of conflict.”
The extreme violence used by groups such as Boko Haram and ISIL create unprecedented challenges for the protection of children. These groups use tactics that directly target children, with high risk of long term trauma. In addition, deadly attacks against schools and hospitals, such as last week’s devastating suicide bombing in a school in northern Nigeria, are on the rise.
Optional Protocol on the involvement of children in armed conflict
The Optional Protocol on the involvement of children in armed conflict, adopted in 2000, aims to ban the compulsory recruitment of children under 18 in armed forces and to ensure that individuals under the age of 18 do not take part in hostilities.
“We now have 158 Member States who have ratified the Optional Protocol and I call on those who have not yet done so, to take steps towards ratification,” Zerrougui added.
Years of engagement with parties to conflict to end the recruitment and use of children are starting to yield results. There is an emerging consensus among the world’s governments that children do not belong in national security forces in conflict.
The campaign “Children Not Soldiers” builds on that consensus and aims to end the recruitment and use of children by government armed forces by the end of 2016.
The Special Representative calls on the international community to renew its commitment to fulfil the promise of the Convention on the Rights of the Child and to demand accountability for those who violate children’s rights.
Years of engagement with parties to conflict to end the recruitment and use of children are starting to yield results. There is an emerging consensus among the world’s governments that children do not belong in national security forces in conflict.
The campaign “Children Not Soldiers” builds on that consensus and aims to end the recruitment and use of children by government armed forces by the end of 2016.
The Special Representative calls on the international community to renew its commitment to fulfil the promise of the Convention on the Rights of the Child and to demand accountability for those who violate children’s rights.
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Link to the press release: https://childrenandarmedconflict.un.org/press-release/25-years-after-the-crc-more-protection-needed-for-children-affected-by-armed-conflict/
For further information or media enquiries:
Stephanie Tremblay
Communications officer
Office of the Special Representative for Children and Armed Conflict
Office: +1 212 963 8285, Mobile: +1 917 288 5791
tremblay@un.org
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INVITATION TO THE INAUGURATION OF “CZECH CASTLES” EXHIBITION IN GOA – DECEMBER 1, 2014
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Invitation to the Inauguration of “Czech Castles” Exhibition in Goa – December 1, 2014
From: “Czech Embassy – Culture & PR”
To: undisclosed-recipients:;
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Dear all
It is an immense pleasure and honour to invite you to the final inauguration of the Exhibition „Czech Castles“ that will take place at the Kala Academy in Panajim-Goa on December 1, 2014, at 18:30.
The Exhibition „Czech Castles“ has been presented with huge success in Delhi (Red Fort), Bhutan (Royal Textile Academy), Nepal (Siddharta Art Gallery), Ladakh (Leh Palace) and Kolkata (Currency Building). The presentation of Czech Castles in Goa will thus mark the final closure of the successful exhibition tour.
In the attachment you will find the formal invitation.
Wishing you all the best and hope to see you in Goa on December 1, 2014.
With best regards
Andrea Kučerová
Deputy Head of Mission / Political Affairs
Embassy of the Czech Republic in New Delhi
Tel: +91-11-24155200
Fax: +91-11-24155270
Web: www.mzv.cz/newdelhi
Address:
50-M, Niti Marg
Chanakayapuri, New Delhi – 110 021
India
Deputy Head of Mission / Political Affairs
Embassy of the Czech Republic in New Delhi
Tel: +91-11-24155200
Fax: +91-11-24155270
Web: www.mzv.cz/newdelhi
Address:
50-M, Niti Marg
Chanakayapuri, New Delhi – 110 021
India
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SEPTEMBER FDI DECLINES BY (-) 40.5%
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(April-September 2014 FDI grows at 15%)
The FDI equity inflows in the month of September 2014 are estimated at around US$2.5bn as against about US$4.1bn in September 2013, posting a negative growth (Y-o-Y) of (-) 40.5%. The growth in FDI equity inflows stands at around (-) 9.2% in August 2014, 111% in July 2014, 33% in June 2014 and 121% in May 2014.
Trend in FDI equity inflows over the months
Source: PHD Research Bureau compiled from Department of Industrial Policy & Promotion.
Note: FDI equity inflows are in US$mn
The total FDI equity inflows, in the period April-September 2014-15 are estimated at around US$14.5bn; representing an increase of around 15% over the FDI equity inflows of about US$12.6bn for the corresponding period last year.
Recent trend in FDI equity inflows (FY2015)
| Financial Year 2014- 2015 (Apr – September) | Amount of FDI inflows | ||
| (In Rs. Crore) | (In US$ mn) | ||
| 1 | Apr-14 | 10,290 | 1,705 |
| 2 | May-14 | 21,373 | 3,604 |
| 3 | Jun-14 | 11,508 | 1,927 |
| 4 | Jul-14 | 21,022 | 3,500 |
| 5 | Aug-14 | 7,783 | 1,278 |
| 6 | Sep-14 | 14,963 | 2,458 |
| 2014-15 (up to September 2014) | 86,939 | 14,472 | |
| 2013-14 (up to September 2013) | 75,182 | 12,595 | |
| %age growth over last year | (+) 16% | (+) 15% | |
Source: PHD Research Bureau compiled from Department of Industrial Policy & Promotion.
Mauritius tops the chart as an investing country, with the top investing sectors including the services sector (includes financial, banking, insurance, non-financial / business, outsourcing, R&D, courier, tech. testing and analysis). Also, Mumbai and New Delhi are observed to be the cities attracting the highest FDI equity inflows.
Service sector and construction development constitute the highest share in attracting FDI equity inflows during April 2000-September 2014 of around 18% and 10% respectively. Telecommunications has also been able to attract about 7% of FDI equity inflows during the same period. Computer software and hardware constitutes 6% share while Drugs and pharmaceuticals and Automobile Industry constitute 5% share in total FDI equity inflows. Chemicals (other than fertilizers), Power and Metallurgical Industries constitute share of about 4% in FDI equity inflows and lastly, Hotel and tourism constitute share of about 3% share during the period.
Sector wise contribution in FDI equity inflows
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Categories : Business
INSTITUTO CERVANTES DE NUEVA DELHI – CULTURA – 21- 23 NOVIEMBRE 2014
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