Wednesday, July 20, 2011
SPEECH OF PROF. K.V. THOMAS, HON’BLE MINISTER OF STATE (I/C) CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION
Food Ministers of the States, Union Food Secretary, Food Secretaries of States and other officers of the Government of India and States.
Due to efforts of farmers of the country, the wheat production during this year has been an all-time record of 842 lakh tonnes. Wheat procurement during this year has reached an all-time record of over 280 lakh tonnes.
2. Stock position of wheat and rice in Central Pool as on 01.06.2011 reached an all time high level of 654.73 lakh tonnes. As on 1.7.2011, the combined stock position of wheat and rice was 640.06 lakh tonnes, comprising of 371.49 lakh tonnes of wheat and 268.57 lakh tonnes of rice against combined buffer norm of 319 lakh tonnes as on 1st July. The availability as on 1st July last year was 578.5 lakh tonnes of foodgrains in the Central Pool.
3. The Central Pool stocks as on 1.6.2011 were highest ever recorded level of stocks. The last time when we had similar high stock was 647.18 tonnes as on 1st July, 2002
A good monsoon, adequate MSP and bonus given by the Government of India for both wheat and rice over the last several years, and even additional bonus announced by some of the State Governments have contributed to such a high level of stocks this year.
4. Most of the wheat-procuring States have shown considerably improved performance during the Rabi Marketing Season 2011-12. Madhya Pradesh procured about 49 lakh tonnes of wheat against 35 lakh tonnes procured last year; Uttar Pradesh procured about 34.5 lakh tonnes of wheat against 16.5 lakh tonnes last year; while Rajasthan procured 13 lakh tonnes against 4.75 lakh tonnes last year. Punjab and Haryana also have shown higher procurement levels compared to last year. Effort of these States in increasing procurement and contributing to Central Pool need to be complimented.
5. Similarly, rice procurement also this year has been quite impressive and during the on-going Kharif Marketing Season 2010-11, rice procurement has already touched 321 lakh tonnes and is expected to reach about 330 lakh tonnes. Andhra Pradesh has procured 85.61 lakh tonnes against 75.5 lakh tonnes procured last year.
6. While we are at a very comfortable situation as far as foodgrains are concerned, this has lead to some issues regarding proper storage and safe upkeep of these stocks.
Government is fully aware of the gravity of the situation and is taking all possible measure to deal with the situation.
7. Due to current high level of stocks of foodgrains in the Central Pool, in addition to normal annual allocations of foodgrains under TPDS and other welfare schemes, the Government has allocated an additional quantity of 50 lakh tonnes of foodgrains for BPL families in the month of May and another 50 lakh tonnes of foodgrains for APL families in the month of June. Another 50 lakh tonnes of foodgrains will be allocated shortly for 150 poorer districts, as mandated by the Hon’ble Supreme Court, modalities of which are being worked out.
8. The Government of India has been continuously monitoring the lifting by State Governments and is also considering lump-sum allocation for 3 – 6 months at a time for distribution to the targeted groups.
This will help in faster evacuation of stocks from the Central Pool, particularly in States which have seen much higher level of procurement of wheat than was earlier expected, e.g., Punjab, Haryana, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh.
9. Instructions have also been given to FCI that FCI depots in various States should have adequate quantity of stocks for being utilized by the State Governments. For this purpose, optimum movement of foodgrains to different States, particularly to the deficit States is being ensured.
10. We are in the process of finalizing the National Food Security Bill, draft of which is likely to be placed before the Parliament soon. Once the National Food Security law is enacted, there will be increased responsibility on part of both Central and State Governments to ensure that legal entitlements of food for different categories of beneficiaries under the Act are met. One of the important issues is the likely increase in requirement of foodgrains for implementing entitlements under the proposed Act. It is, therefore, necessary that all the procuring States, especially the newly emerging procuring States, particularly in Eastern India step up their efforts to increase procurement.
11. The Government has recently allowed export of 10 lakh tonnes of non-basmati rice on private account due to rice stocks being in comfortable position and increased procurement of rice during the on-going Kharif Marketing Season 2010-11. This decision of Government will help farmers in rice-producing States in getting remunerative price for their produce and will also ease up pressure on the Government procurement and storage.
12. Government is taking all necessary steps to ensure that stocks are safely kept and proper quality control measures are taken for the same. State Governments are also requested to issue suitable instructions for safe upkeep of stocks. FCI has also been directed to hire as much additional godown space from private sources as possible to supplement its efforts for proper storage of foodgrains.
13. The Central Government is taking requisite steps to create new additional covered storage capacity of more than 152.97 lakh MTs across 19 States under the Private Entrepreneur Guarantee (PEG) Scheme with the help of private entrepreneurs, CWC and SWC with a 10-year guarantee by FCI.
Out of the sanctioned capacity of 152.97 lakh tonnes, 72.65 lakh tonnes has already been sanctioned by High Level Committee of FCI. This includes 52.31 lakh tonnes sanctioned to private entrepreneurs under the scheme and 20.34 lakh tonnes has been sanctioned to CWC and SWCs. Of the sanctioned capacities, a capacity of 3.38 lakh tonnes has already been constructed and handed over by CWC/SWCs, while 5.35 lakh tonnes is under construction by them. It is expected that about 40 lakh tonnes of new capacities under the scheme will be available my March 2012.
14. The State Governments may introduce similar guarantee scheme for their own storage needs through similar PPP model. Creation of intermediate storage capacity by the State Governments will help in faster lifting of stocks for the quantities of foodgrains allotted to them and will ensure speedier distribution to the targeted population in these States. Creation of additional capacities at District, Sub-Divisional, Block and Gram Panchayat levels by the State Governments should be possible by sourcing funds from various developmental schemes. For larger storage capacities, the State Governments could also utilize funding from NABARD under RIDF scheme of Government of India by according necessary guarantees required by NABARD under RIDF scheme. The additional capacities, thus, created by State Governments will also assist in increasing procurement, particularly in States which have potential for increasing procurement, especially in the Eastern States of the country.
15. An additional new capacity of 5.4 lakh tonnes is proposed to be created in the North Eastern States by Government of India under a special plan scheme. This will ensure that at least four months’ stocks are kept in North Eastern States at any point of time.
16. There is an ambitious programme for the revamping of PDS system currently on the anvil. The computerization of Public Distribution Data and making the PDS data ADHAR compatible are already afoot in various States. States like Chhattisgarh, Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra are going ahead in this regard. There is a need for all State Governments to adopt similar computerization models for their States.
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Food Ministers of the States, Union Food Secretary, Food Secretaries of States and other officers of the Government of India and States.
Due to efforts of farmers of the country, the wheat production during this year has been an all-time record of 842 lakh tonnes. Wheat procurement during this year has reached an all-time record of over 280 lakh tonnes.
2. Stock position of wheat and rice in Central Pool as on 01.06.2011 reached an all time high level of 654.73 lakh tonnes. As on 1.7.2011, the combined stock position of wheat and rice was 640.06 lakh tonnes, comprising of 371.49 lakh tonnes of wheat and 268.57 lakh tonnes of rice against combined buffer norm of 319 lakh tonnes as on 1st July. The availability as on 1st July last year was 578.5 lakh tonnes of foodgrains in the Central Pool.
3. The Central Pool stocks as on 1.6.2011 were highest ever recorded level of stocks. The last time when we had similar high stock was 647.18 tonnes as on 1st July, 2002
A good monsoon, adequate MSP and bonus given by the Government of India for both wheat and rice over the last several years, and even additional bonus announced by some of the State Governments have contributed to such a high level of stocks this year.
4. Most of the wheat-procuring States have shown considerably improved performance during the Rabi Marketing Season 2011-12. Madhya Pradesh procured about 49 lakh tonnes of wheat against 35 lakh tonnes procured last year; Uttar Pradesh procured about 34.5 lakh tonnes of wheat against 16.5 lakh tonnes last year; while Rajasthan procured 13 lakh tonnes against 4.75 lakh tonnes last year. Punjab and Haryana also have shown higher procurement levels compared to last year. Effort of these States in increasing procurement and contributing to Central Pool need to be complimented.
5. Similarly, rice procurement also this year has been quite impressive and during the on-going Kharif Marketing Season 2010-11, rice procurement has already touched 321 lakh tonnes and is expected to reach about 330 lakh tonnes. Andhra Pradesh has procured 85.61 lakh tonnes against 75.5 lakh tonnes procured last year.
6. While we are at a very comfortable situation as far as foodgrains are concerned, this has lead to some issues regarding proper storage and safe upkeep of these stocks.
Government is fully aware of the gravity of the situation and is taking all possible measure to deal with the situation.
7. Due to current high level of stocks of foodgrains in the Central Pool, in addition to normal annual allocations of foodgrains under TPDS and other welfare schemes, the Government has allocated an additional quantity of 50 lakh tonnes of foodgrains for BPL families in the month of May and another 50 lakh tonnes of foodgrains for APL families in the month of June. Another 50 lakh tonnes of foodgrains will be allocated shortly for 150 poorer districts, as mandated by the Hon’ble Supreme Court, modalities of which are being worked out.
8. The Government of India has been continuously monitoring the lifting by State Governments and is also considering lump-sum allocation for 3 – 6 months at a time for distribution to the targeted groups.
This will help in faster evacuation of stocks from the Central Pool, particularly in States which have seen much higher level of procurement of wheat than was earlier expected, e.g., Punjab, Haryana, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh.
9. Instructions have also been given to FCI that FCI depots in various States should have adequate quantity of stocks for being utilized by the State Governments. For this purpose, optimum movement of foodgrains to different States, particularly to the deficit States is being ensured.
10. We are in the process of finalizing the National Food Security Bill, draft of which is likely to be placed before the Parliament soon. Once the National Food Security law is enacted, there will be increased responsibility on part of both Central and State Governments to ensure that legal entitlements of food for different categories of beneficiaries under the Act are met. One of the important issues is the likely increase in requirement of foodgrains for implementing entitlements under the proposed Act. It is, therefore, necessary that all the procuring States, especially the newly emerging procuring States, particularly in Eastern India step up their efforts to increase procurement.
11. The Government has recently allowed export of 10 lakh tonnes of non-basmati rice on private account due to rice stocks being in comfortable position and increased procurement of rice during the on-going Kharif Marketing Season 2010-11. This decision of Government will help farmers in rice-producing States in getting remunerative price for their produce and will also ease up pressure on the Government procurement and storage.
12. Government is taking all necessary steps to ensure that stocks are safely kept and proper quality control measures are taken for the same. State Governments are also requested to issue suitable instructions for safe upkeep of stocks. FCI has also been directed to hire as much additional godown space from private sources as possible to supplement its efforts for proper storage of foodgrains.
13. The Central Government is taking requisite steps to create new additional covered storage capacity of more than 152.97 lakh MTs across 19 States under the Private Entrepreneur Guarantee (PEG) Scheme with the help of private entrepreneurs, CWC and SWC with a 10-year guarantee by FCI.
Out of the sanctioned capacity of 152.97 lakh tonnes, 72.65 lakh tonnes has already been sanctioned by High Level Committee of FCI. This includes 52.31 lakh tonnes sanctioned to private entrepreneurs under the scheme and 20.34 lakh tonnes has been sanctioned to CWC and SWCs. Of the sanctioned capacities, a capacity of 3.38 lakh tonnes has already been constructed and handed over by CWC/SWCs, while 5.35 lakh tonnes is under construction by them. It is expected that about 40 lakh tonnes of new capacities under the scheme will be available my March 2012.
14. The State Governments may introduce similar guarantee scheme for their own storage needs through similar PPP model. Creation of intermediate storage capacity by the State Governments will help in faster lifting of stocks for the quantities of foodgrains allotted to them and will ensure speedier distribution to the targeted population in these States. Creation of additional capacities at District, Sub-Divisional, Block and Gram Panchayat levels by the State Governments should be possible by sourcing funds from various developmental schemes. For larger storage capacities, the State Governments could also utilize funding from NABARD under RIDF scheme of Government of India by according necessary guarantees required by NABARD under RIDF scheme. The additional capacities, thus, created by State Governments will also assist in increasing procurement, particularly in States which have potential for increasing procurement, especially in the Eastern States of the country.
15. An additional new capacity of 5.4 lakh tonnes is proposed to be created in the North Eastern States by Government of India under a special plan scheme. This will ensure that at least four months’ stocks are kept in North Eastern States at any point of time.
16. There is an ambitious programme for the revamping of PDS system currently on the anvil. The computerization of Public Distribution Data and making the PDS data ADHAR compatible are already afoot in various States. States like Chhattisgarh, Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra are going ahead in this regard. There is a need for all State Governments to adopt similar computerization models for their States.
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Wednesday, July 13, 2011
INAUGURATION OF 'KNOW YOUR MUSEUM PROGRAMME ' on 16th June, 2011 New Delhi
INAUGURATION OF ‘KNOW YOUR MUSEUM PROGRAMME ON 16TH JUNE, 2011 AT THE NATIONAL MUSEUM
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Director General, National Museum Dr.C.V. Ananda Bose, Teachers, officials of the National Museum and my dear children.
Museums have attained a place of importance in the modern world. They are identified with national heritage and culture. The very purpose of the existence of a museum is education in the broad sense of the term. Though a modern Museum has to offer something really instructive to every class and category of visitors, it has its first and foremost responsibility towards the student community. All the possible resources and modern methods should be utilized to let the huge educational potentiality of our museums bear upon the enhancement of knowledge for young minds. It will have manifold effects for the cause of education, as well as for the development of the Museum itself. Every effort should be made to introduce some form of educational activity for the school children in all Museums.
The education programmes of the Museums may be planned in such a way that the students are helped to become more and more informed about the objects displayed in the Museum galleries. To hold workshops, films shows, nationwide painting competition, poster making, summer holiday programmes, multimedia software on the computers and public lectures would keep the student communities engrossed in Museum activities during vacations and also throughout the year.
There are a number of educational institutions which are not in a position to come to museums because of various reasons, so the Museum has to reach out to them by setting up Museums in the campuses. This can be done by means of photographs of original objects and replicas of the art objects. The National Museum has recently set up the first People’s Museum at St. Ephrem’s Higher Secondary School, Mannanam, Kottayam in Kerala. Another campus Museum is coming up at Sacred Heart College, Kochi and the Kangra Art Museum is coming up in Dharmasala, Himachal Pradesh.
The People’s Museum movement will help achieve the ultimate purpose of the Museum to give information on our heritage to the student community in the country.
The National Museum has in its possession more than 2,00,000 art objects belonging to various categories. There is also increasing demand from people for easier access and better information about the Museum collection. This has necessitated for a new and better technology adoption in functioning of the Museum. Towards achieving perfect and accurate documentation, digitization can facilitate an easy access to the art objects without causing a damage to artifacts. Beside this digitization programme, the need of the hour is to conserve and preserve our delicate objects for further decay. Museum authorities should pay more attention to this aspect also.
I have been told that the National Museum has an innovative project of Virtual Reality Tour of the Museum in which the artifacts will be digitally recorded in 3D system. The visitors may see the artifacts in their own computers and laptops. The visitors feel that they are on a virtual guided tour of a Museum
In the era of modern technology, the National Museum may adopt networking with other institutions. The Museum network will provide rich information about the artifacts, its marketing product and also gave information of audio/video data information. The network shall fulfil demand for information exchange and transfer in an accurate, reliable and secure manner.
Just as food is essential for the physical sustenance of man, art and culture are essential for his mental and spiritual sustenance. We look up to the National Museum to provide artistic and cultural well being of the nation.
I am happy that the National Museum has taken a good initiative to start the ‘Know Your Museum’ programme in this summer vacation. This will go a long way in creating awareness among school children about the art-objects in the National Museum collection. This will also strengthen their inborn creativity, imagination and innovative skills through observation of Museum objects.
JAI HIND
*****
Director General, National Museum Dr.C.V. Ananda Bose, Teachers, officials of the National Museum and my dear children.
Museums have attained a place of importance in the modern world. They are identified with national heritage and culture. The very purpose of the existence of a museum is education in the broad sense of the term. Though a modern Museum has to offer something really instructive to every class and category of visitors, it has its first and foremost responsibility towards the student community. All the possible resources and modern methods should be utilized to let the huge educational potentiality of our museums bear upon the enhancement of knowledge for young minds. It will have manifold effects for the cause of education, as well as for the development of the Museum itself. Every effort should be made to introduce some form of educational activity for the school children in all Museums.
The education programmes of the Museums may be planned in such a way that the students are helped to become more and more informed about the objects displayed in the Museum galleries. To hold workshops, films shows, nationwide painting competition, poster making, summer holiday programmes, multimedia software on the computers and public lectures would keep the student communities engrossed in Museum activities during vacations and also throughout the year.
There are a number of educational institutions which are not in a position to come to museums because of various reasons, so the Museum has to reach out to them by setting up Museums in the campuses. This can be done by means of photographs of original objects and replicas of the art objects. The National Museum has recently set up the first People’s Museum at St. Ephrem’s Higher Secondary School, Mannanam, Kottayam in Kerala. Another campus Museum is coming up at Sacred Heart College, Kochi and the Kangra Art Museum is coming up in Dharmasala, Himachal Pradesh.
The People’s Museum movement will help achieve the ultimate purpose of the Museum to give information on our heritage to the student community in the country.
The National Museum has in its possession more than 2,00,000 art objects belonging to various categories. There is also increasing demand from people for easier access and better information about the Museum collection. This has necessitated for a new and better technology adoption in functioning of the Museum. Towards achieving perfect and accurate documentation, digitization can facilitate an easy access to the art objects without causing a damage to artifacts. Beside this digitization programme, the need of the hour is to conserve and preserve our delicate objects for further decay. Museum authorities should pay more attention to this aspect also.
I have been told that the National Museum has an innovative project of Virtual Reality Tour of the Museum in which the artifacts will be digitally recorded in 3D system. The visitors may see the artifacts in their own computers and laptops. The visitors feel that they are on a virtual guided tour of a Museum
In the era of modern technology, the National Museum may adopt networking with other institutions. The Museum network will provide rich information about the artifacts, its marketing product and also gave information of audio/video data information. The network shall fulfil demand for information exchange and transfer in an accurate, reliable and secure manner.
Just as food is essential for the physical sustenance of man, art and culture are essential for his mental and spiritual sustenance. We look up to the National Museum to provide artistic and cultural well being of the nation.
I am happy that the National Museum has taken a good initiative to start the ‘Know Your Museum’ programme in this summer vacation. This will go a long way in creating awareness among school children about the art-objects in the National Museum collection. This will also strengthen their inborn creativity, imagination and innovative skills through observation of Museum objects.
JAI HIND
NEGOTIABLE WAREHOUSE RECEIPTS 27th June, 2011
SPEECH OF THE HON. MINISTER FOR CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION AT CONFERENCE ON “NEGOTIABLE WAREHOUSE RECEIPTS”
June 27th, 2011 – Hotel Atria, Bangalore
Shri Dinesh Rai, Chairman, Warehousing Development and Regulatory Authority.
Dr. B. C. Gupta, Secretary, Food & Public Distribution, Government of India,
Shri Rajiv Aggarwal, Secretary, Department of Consumer Affairs, Government of India,
Shri Sandeep Dave, Secretary, Department of Agriculture, Government of Karnataka
Shri B. B. Pattnaik, MD, Central Warehousing Corporation,
Shri Sudhakar Gande, Chairman, FICCI Karnataka State Council
Distinguished invitees, warehousemen from different organizations, representatives of central and state governments, friends from the media, ladies and gentleman.
I am indeed happy to be with you all, at this conference on Negotiable Warehouse Receipts System. I would like to appreciate the initiatives taken by the Warehousing Development and Regulatory Authority (WDRA) and the industry chamber, FICCI, in organizing this interaction with stakeholders.
Agriculture is integral to economic development in India. Since independence, India has come a long way in removing technological isolation of agriculture and has consistently achieved higher levels of food production, year after year. As you are all aware, this year has witnessed a bumper crop and government granaries are virtually overflowing. There is a growing feeling that time has come to remove fiscal and financial isolation in which agricultural economy has been functioning. And proper backward and forward linkages are established with other spheres of economic activities.
Financing in agriculture has always been risky investment for banks and financiers due to low margins and uncertain operations. Financiers often consider physical collateral like land and farm machinery difficult to enforce or of very little resale value.
Amid such situation, warehouse receipts can be an alternative for farmers and processors. Though warehouse receipts finance is still not a very popular method of financing in India, it is expected to shown an upward trend as the Government of India has made Warehouse Receipts "negotiable" with the enactment of the Warehousing (Development and Regulation) Act 2007. It is expected to enhance their interest in lending and allow Banks to improve the quality of their lending services in respect of agricultural goods deposited by farmers in the registered warehouses. I am confident that the introduction of negotiable warehouse receipts will also make our farmers more empowered as they can avail credit against stored commodities in accredited warehouses and thereby avoid distress sale.
What farmers have to do is deposit their goods of certain quality, quantity and grade in accredited warehouses and receive a receipt for it. Being negotiable instruments, these receipts can be traded, sold, swapped and used as collateral to support borrowing.
Negotiable Warehouse Receipts backed by the underlying commodities, are an integral part of the marketing and financial systems of most industrial countries. These receipts are widely in use to avail credit from banks in countries like the US, Poland, Canada, Zambia and Dubai.
With rise in population and food demand, it is pertinent to take steps to ensure that farming remains a viable economic activity. Setting up of a strong warehousing infrastructure is an integral part of such a strategy and a major need of the hour. The structured warehousing system enables the markets to ease the pressure during the harvest season and to maintain uninterrupted supply during off-season. Hence, it solves the problem of glut and scarcity, two of the usual problems in agricultural marketing.
The overall efficiency of agribusiness sector can be greatly enhanced in India when producers and commercial entities convert inventories of agricultural raw materials into a readily tradable device. The negotiable status to warehouse receipts provides banks and financiers to play a meaningful role in developing commodity markets and extend necessary credit facilities.
The benefits of negotiable warehouse receipts are not restricted to farmers and financial institutions alone. It is expected that this would result in providing considerable benefits, both at macro and micro levels. Corporate sector can also benefit from negotiable warehouse receipts. There are many corporate who are in the business of procurement of agri-commodities on large scale, blocking their capital at the time of procurement. Commodities kept by them could be taken as collateral and loan given to them. Negotiable warehouse receipts also have the potential to positively influence the government procurement programmes as well. However, the success of warehouse receipts will depend largely on strong warehouse infrastructure in the country.
In the last couple of years, the Government of India has taken suitable measures to address the structural and institutional shortcomings in the warehousing business.
Last year, the Warehouse Development and Regulatory Authority (WDRA) was set up to promote scientific warehousing in the country, regulate and enforce accreditation of warehouses, build a system of quality certification and grading of commodities and usher in a system of negotiable warehouse receipts in the country. The Government of India has also extended the duration of the seven-year guarantee scheme for construction of warehouses to 10 years to attract more private players in storage and warehousing. Besides extending the tenure, several tender conditions have also been relaxed to make them more attractive. For example, requirement of title deed has been removed, as also the condition that godowns be taken within one month of completion. The Government of India has also come up with the National Policy on Handling, Storage and Transportation of Foodgrains that seeks to involve private sector participation in development of storage infrastructures in the country.
Despite these measures, the gap in warehousing is still estimated at 32 million tonnes and the private sector has to come forward to meet the agri-warehousing requirements of the country. I am sure our friends from the corporate sector are increasingly realizing the potential the warehousing receipts beholds and at the same are gearing for the challenges that lie ahead. I can assure you that the Government, on its part, is taking all suitable measures to help you in this endeavour.
The conference has been organized at a very opportune time and I believe all the stakeholders -- farmers, Government officials and the private sector -- can identify opportunities and challenges in the implementation of the negotiable warehouse receipt system in the country. I look forward to having your views and identification of any gap that in your opinion, we as policy makers need to look into.
I wish the conference every success and its deliberations, fruitfulness
Thank You
June 27th, 2011 – Hotel Atria, Bangalore
Shri Dinesh Rai, Chairman, Warehousing Development and Regulatory Authority.
Dr. B. C. Gupta, Secretary, Food & Public Distribution, Government of India,
Shri Rajiv Aggarwal, Secretary, Department of Consumer Affairs, Government of India,
Shri Sandeep Dave, Secretary, Department of Agriculture, Government of Karnataka
Shri B. B. Pattnaik, MD, Central Warehousing Corporation,
Shri Sudhakar Gande, Chairman, FICCI Karnataka State Council
Distinguished invitees, warehousemen from different organizations, representatives of central and state governments, friends from the media, ladies and gentleman.
I am indeed happy to be with you all, at this conference on Negotiable Warehouse Receipts System. I would like to appreciate the initiatives taken by the Warehousing Development and Regulatory Authority (WDRA) and the industry chamber, FICCI, in organizing this interaction with stakeholders.
Agriculture is integral to economic development in India. Since independence, India has come a long way in removing technological isolation of agriculture and has consistently achieved higher levels of food production, year after year. As you are all aware, this year has witnessed a bumper crop and government granaries are virtually overflowing. There is a growing feeling that time has come to remove fiscal and financial isolation in which agricultural economy has been functioning. And proper backward and forward linkages are established with other spheres of economic activities.
Financing in agriculture has always been risky investment for banks and financiers due to low margins and uncertain operations. Financiers often consider physical collateral like land and farm machinery difficult to enforce or of very little resale value.
Amid such situation, warehouse receipts can be an alternative for farmers and processors. Though warehouse receipts finance is still not a very popular method of financing in India, it is expected to shown an upward trend as the Government of India has made Warehouse Receipts "negotiable" with the enactment of the Warehousing (Development and Regulation) Act 2007. It is expected to enhance their interest in lending and allow Banks to improve the quality of their lending services in respect of agricultural goods deposited by farmers in the registered warehouses. I am confident that the introduction of negotiable warehouse receipts will also make our farmers more empowered as they can avail credit against stored commodities in accredited warehouses and thereby avoid distress sale.
What farmers have to do is deposit their goods of certain quality, quantity and grade in accredited warehouses and receive a receipt for it. Being negotiable instruments, these receipts can be traded, sold, swapped and used as collateral to support borrowing.
Negotiable Warehouse Receipts backed by the underlying commodities, are an integral part of the marketing and financial systems of most industrial countries. These receipts are widely in use to avail credit from banks in countries like the US, Poland, Canada, Zambia and Dubai.
With rise in population and food demand, it is pertinent to take steps to ensure that farming remains a viable economic activity. Setting up of a strong warehousing infrastructure is an integral part of such a strategy and a major need of the hour. The structured warehousing system enables the markets to ease the pressure during the harvest season and to maintain uninterrupted supply during off-season. Hence, it solves the problem of glut and scarcity, two of the usual problems in agricultural marketing.
The overall efficiency of agribusiness sector can be greatly enhanced in India when producers and commercial entities convert inventories of agricultural raw materials into a readily tradable device. The negotiable status to warehouse receipts provides banks and financiers to play a meaningful role in developing commodity markets and extend necessary credit facilities.
The benefits of negotiable warehouse receipts are not restricted to farmers and financial institutions alone. It is expected that this would result in providing considerable benefits, both at macro and micro levels. Corporate sector can also benefit from negotiable warehouse receipts. There are many corporate who are in the business of procurement of agri-commodities on large scale, blocking their capital at the time of procurement. Commodities kept by them could be taken as collateral and loan given to them. Negotiable warehouse receipts also have the potential to positively influence the government procurement programmes as well. However, the success of warehouse receipts will depend largely on strong warehouse infrastructure in the country.
In the last couple of years, the Government of India has taken suitable measures to address the structural and institutional shortcomings in the warehousing business.
Last year, the Warehouse Development and Regulatory Authority (WDRA) was set up to promote scientific warehousing in the country, regulate and enforce accreditation of warehouses, build a system of quality certification and grading of commodities and usher in a system of negotiable warehouse receipts in the country. The Government of India has also extended the duration of the seven-year guarantee scheme for construction of warehouses to 10 years to attract more private players in storage and warehousing. Besides extending the tenure, several tender conditions have also been relaxed to make them more attractive. For example, requirement of title deed has been removed, as also the condition that godowns be taken within one month of completion. The Government of India has also come up with the National Policy on Handling, Storage and Transportation of Foodgrains that seeks to involve private sector participation in development of storage infrastructures in the country.
Despite these measures, the gap in warehousing is still estimated at 32 million tonnes and the private sector has to come forward to meet the agri-warehousing requirements of the country. I am sure our friends from the corporate sector are increasingly realizing the potential the warehousing receipts beholds and at the same are gearing for the challenges that lie ahead. I can assure you that the Government, on its part, is taking all suitable measures to help you in this endeavour.
The conference has been organized at a very opportune time and I believe all the stakeholders -- farmers, Government officials and the private sector -- can identify opportunities and challenges in the implementation of the negotiable warehouse receipt system in the country. I look forward to having your views and identification of any gap that in your opinion, we as policy makers need to look into.
I wish the conference every success and its deliberations, fruitfulness
Thank You
WORLD HERITAGE DAY-18th April, 2011
SPEECH OF THE HON. MINISTER FOR CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION ON THE OCCATION OF WORLD HERITAGE DAY ON 18TH APRIL,2011 AT 1430 HRS
I am happy to be invited to this august audience as the Chief Guest on the occasion of World Heritage Day, to inaugurate the function organized by the National Museum, New Delhi today. As you all know, the International Day for Monuments and Sites (informally known as the World Heritage Day) was created on 18th April, 1982, by the International Council on Monuments and Sites (ICOMOS) and later approved at the 22nd UNESCO General Conference in 1983.
World Heritage Day is being celebrated every year on 18th April. This special day offers an opportunity to raise public’s awareness concerning the diversity of the world’s heritage and the efforts that are required to protect and conserve it, as well as to draw attention to its vulnerability. The Heritage does not refer only to buildings but also includes art objects, crafts and any other aspects of our culture.
Museums play an important role in the preservation of their holdings and utilization of the material for the purpose of dissemination of knowledge and transmitting our heritage to the future generations.
With the changes and ravages of time the art objects and monuments are required to be well preserved. Conservation is rather a specialized field and the facilities to conserve the objects are less in comparison with the obvious and actual needs. In view of the importance some practical thought is to be devoted to the undertaking of research and training in conservation techniques on a large scale. The National Museum and National Museum Institute would lead in this venture.
The museums can propagate our heritage with educational programmes for communities, school and university students. Recently the National Museum took up the initiative by opening its first village Museum at St. Ephrem’s Higher Secondary School, Mannanam in Kerala. For its further development art objects and crafts of the local area would be collected and then documented for the purpose of preservation of the traditions and education of the masses. It is a stepping stone in the propagation of our great Indian heritage.
Though each nation or group of people has a cultural pattern of its own and is legitimately proud of its culture heritage, it is understood that the heritage belongs as a matter of fact to the whole world.
Considering from this point of view, it is the responsibility of all countries to co-operate in the preservation of the cultural heritage which represents so much of our past. It is indeed the primary responsibility of the nation which has built up its cultural heritage to preserve it.
I also understand that the National Museum has organized an on the spot painting competition for school students on this occasion to create awareness as part of the celebrations.
I declare the function open and wish the celebrations all success.
JAI HIND
I am happy to be invited to this august audience as the Chief Guest on the occasion of World Heritage Day, to inaugurate the function organized by the National Museum, New Delhi today. As you all know, the International Day for Monuments and Sites (informally known as the World Heritage Day) was created on 18th April, 1982, by the International Council on Monuments and Sites (ICOMOS) and later approved at the 22nd UNESCO General Conference in 1983.
World Heritage Day is being celebrated every year on 18th April. This special day offers an opportunity to raise public’s awareness concerning the diversity of the world’s heritage and the efforts that are required to protect and conserve it, as well as to draw attention to its vulnerability. The Heritage does not refer only to buildings but also includes art objects, crafts and any other aspects of our culture.
Museums play an important role in the preservation of their holdings and utilization of the material for the purpose of dissemination of knowledge and transmitting our heritage to the future generations.
With the changes and ravages of time the art objects and monuments are required to be well preserved. Conservation is rather a specialized field and the facilities to conserve the objects are less in comparison with the obvious and actual needs. In view of the importance some practical thought is to be devoted to the undertaking of research and training in conservation techniques on a large scale. The National Museum and National Museum Institute would lead in this venture.
The museums can propagate our heritage with educational programmes for communities, school and university students. Recently the National Museum took up the initiative by opening its first village Museum at St. Ephrem’s Higher Secondary School, Mannanam in Kerala. For its further development art objects and crafts of the local area would be collected and then documented for the purpose of preservation of the traditions and education of the masses. It is a stepping stone in the propagation of our great Indian heritage.
Though each nation or group of people has a cultural pattern of its own and is legitimately proud of its culture heritage, it is understood that the heritage belongs as a matter of fact to the whole world.
Considering from this point of view, it is the responsibility of all countries to co-operate in the preservation of the cultural heritage which represents so much of our past. It is indeed the primary responsibility of the nation which has built up its cultural heritage to preserve it.
I also understand that the National Museum has organized an on the spot painting competition for school students on this occasion to create awareness as part of the celebrations.
I declare the function open and wish the celebrations all success.
JAI HIND
Aqua Aquaria India 2011, 6.2.2011, Chennai
The speech of Hon'ble Minister of State ---- Aqua Aquaria India 2011, on 6.2.2011 at CHENNAI
India has become the 2nd largest fish producing country in the world, producing 7.58 Million tonnes of fish during the year 2008. Fisheries sector in India contributes significantly to the nutritional security by providing livelihood to approximately 14.49 million people in the country in addition to its contribution to the national economy. The Fisheries sector accounts for nearly 14 % of the agricultural exports from India fetching precious foreign exchange worth 2.133 billion US $ during the year 2009-10. Contribution of Fisheries to the GDP is growing at a rate of 4.5% per annum and its estimated contribution to total GDP was 1.07 % during the year 2007-08.
The world fish production through capture and culture fisheries in the marine as well as freshwater regimes, has been estimated to be 156 million tonnes. Of this, more than 100 million tonnes is destined for the human consumption. The world population is ever increasing and the rising food demand is causing further pressure on the available food resources. Hence, there is urgent need to boost fish production. Since over 15% of animal protein supplies originate from the fisheries sector, the sector is identified as a major factor contributing to food security.
India is blessed with vast aquatic resources with a rich diversity of fish fauna for sustainable utilization. Our country is recognized to harbour about 2,200 species of fish, which accounted for about 11% of all the fish species reported globally. About 24.7% of our fish species live in warm freshwater; 3.3% in cold water; 6.5% in estuaries and the rest 65.5% in the sea. With a long coastline of over 8000 Kms, 2.02 Million Sq. Km. of EEZ, our 0.5 Million Sq. Km of continental shelf area is estimated to have exploitable fisheries resources of 3.9 million MT of which, nearly 3.0 million MT are presently exploited. Further, about 1.2 million ha of potential brackish water area for coastal aquaculture and 5.4 Million Ha for Freshwater aquaculture, are available in the country.
Aquaculture in India is practiced with the utilisation of low to moderate levels of inputs such as, fertilizers and feed. India utilises only about 40 percent of the available 2.36 million hectares of ponds for freshwater aquaculture and about 14 percent of the total potential brackish water resources of 1.2 million hectares. In other words, there exists tremendous scope for both horizontal and vertical expansion of coastal and fresh water aquaculture in the country. Besides, there is immense potential for the development of Mari culture, which has taken roots only in recent years with culture of mussels and oysters. Considering the substantial contribution aquaculture makes towards socio-economic development in terms of income and employment through the use of unutilized and underutilized resources in several regions of the country, environment friendly and sustainable aquaculture has been accepted as the vehicle for rural development and, food & nutritional security for the rural masses.
It also has immense potential as a foreign exchange earner. Currently aquaculture contributes about 24 % of the country’s fisheries export worth of more than Rs.10, 000 Crores. Aquaculture is the only means by which the country can increase the raw material production for export purpose. Cage culture in floating or fixed cages is another option for diversifying. Diversity of our aquaculture environmental system offers suitable sites for pen culture also. Species like Tilapia, which has great demand in international markets can be cultured in freshwater environment by adopting diverse culture systems such as semi-intensive or intensive pond culture system, raceway system, cage culture systems etc.
Government of India has permitted regulated introduction of Pacific White shrimp, Litopenaeus vannamei with the objective of utilizing the potential of the species to cater to the global markets. With the introduction of L. vannamei and the international market prices recovering for all shrimp varieties, the culture production has started showing signs of recovery. The culture of the native species, Penaeus monodon, now has to coexist with the culture of exotic species and cater to the market demand for larger size prawn sector.
Greater R&D support with strong linkages between research and development agencies, increased investment in fish and shrimp hatcheries, diversified aquaculture species, establishment of aquaculture estates, feed mills and ancillary industries have all been identified as the important areas for maintaining the pace of growth of the sector.
Ornamental fish keeping, the second most popular hobby after photography in the developed countries of the world, is gaining popularity in many developing countries also. In India though our ornamental fish export sector is smaller it is a vibrant sector with tremendous potential for growth and large-scale employment generation. Considering the high place of demand and scope of the ornamental fish industry, Govt. of India identified this sector as one of the thrust areas for development to augment exports. With various developmental activities and financial schemes, MPEDA aims to make this sector a breadwinner for un/under-employed persons and also a foreign exchange earner for the country.
Though fishery is a State subject, multiplicity of organizations under various Ministries under the Central Government at times fails to have a focused attention in the national interest. This needs to be addressed by forming a separate Ministry for handling fisheries subject in the national level.
I appreciate the efforts being taken by the Marine Products Export Development Authority in popularizing the aquaculture/aquariculture practices across the country encouraging productivity, employment and the economic status of a large section of the society. I earnestly hope that all the discussions during the technical sessions will be directed towards eco-friendly sustainable development of aquaculture for optimal utilization of our resource potential. I congratulate MPEDA for organizing the exposition of this magnitude. I wish the exposition all success.
India has become the 2nd largest fish producing country in the world, producing 7.58 Million tonnes of fish during the year 2008. Fisheries sector in India contributes significantly to the nutritional security by providing livelihood to approximately 14.49 million people in the country in addition to its contribution to the national economy. The Fisheries sector accounts for nearly 14 % of the agricultural exports from India fetching precious foreign exchange worth 2.133 billion US $ during the year 2009-10. Contribution of Fisheries to the GDP is growing at a rate of 4.5% per annum and its estimated contribution to total GDP was 1.07 % during the year 2007-08.
The world fish production through capture and culture fisheries in the marine as well as freshwater regimes, has been estimated to be 156 million tonnes. Of this, more than 100 million tonnes is destined for the human consumption. The world population is ever increasing and the rising food demand is causing further pressure on the available food resources. Hence, there is urgent need to boost fish production. Since over 15% of animal protein supplies originate from the fisheries sector, the sector is identified as a major factor contributing to food security.
India is blessed with vast aquatic resources with a rich diversity of fish fauna for sustainable utilization. Our country is recognized to harbour about 2,200 species of fish, which accounted for about 11% of all the fish species reported globally. About 24.7% of our fish species live in warm freshwater; 3.3% in cold water; 6.5% in estuaries and the rest 65.5% in the sea. With a long coastline of over 8000 Kms, 2.02 Million Sq. Km. of EEZ, our 0.5 Million Sq. Km of continental shelf area is estimated to have exploitable fisheries resources of 3.9 million MT of which, nearly 3.0 million MT are presently exploited. Further, about 1.2 million ha of potential brackish water area for coastal aquaculture and 5.4 Million Ha for Freshwater aquaculture, are available in the country.
Aquaculture in India is practiced with the utilisation of low to moderate levels of inputs such as, fertilizers and feed. India utilises only about 40 percent of the available 2.36 million hectares of ponds for freshwater aquaculture and about 14 percent of the total potential brackish water resources of 1.2 million hectares. In other words, there exists tremendous scope for both horizontal and vertical expansion of coastal and fresh water aquaculture in the country. Besides, there is immense potential for the development of Mari culture, which has taken roots only in recent years with culture of mussels and oysters. Considering the substantial contribution aquaculture makes towards socio-economic development in terms of income and employment through the use of unutilized and underutilized resources in several regions of the country, environment friendly and sustainable aquaculture has been accepted as the vehicle for rural development and, food & nutritional security for the rural masses.
It also has immense potential as a foreign exchange earner. Currently aquaculture contributes about 24 % of the country’s fisheries export worth of more than Rs.10, 000 Crores. Aquaculture is the only means by which the country can increase the raw material production for export purpose. Cage culture in floating or fixed cages is another option for diversifying. Diversity of our aquaculture environmental system offers suitable sites for pen culture also. Species like Tilapia, which has great demand in international markets can be cultured in freshwater environment by adopting diverse culture systems such as semi-intensive or intensive pond culture system, raceway system, cage culture systems etc.
Government of India has permitted regulated introduction of Pacific White shrimp, Litopenaeus vannamei with the objective of utilizing the potential of the species to cater to the global markets. With the introduction of L. vannamei and the international market prices recovering for all shrimp varieties, the culture production has started showing signs of recovery. The culture of the native species, Penaeus monodon, now has to coexist with the culture of exotic species and cater to the market demand for larger size prawn sector.
Greater R&D support with strong linkages between research and development agencies, increased investment in fish and shrimp hatcheries, diversified aquaculture species, establishment of aquaculture estates, feed mills and ancillary industries have all been identified as the important areas for maintaining the pace of growth of the sector.
Ornamental fish keeping, the second most popular hobby after photography in the developed countries of the world, is gaining popularity in many developing countries also. In India though our ornamental fish export sector is smaller it is a vibrant sector with tremendous potential for growth and large-scale employment generation. Considering the high place of demand and scope of the ornamental fish industry, Govt. of India identified this sector as one of the thrust areas for development to augment exports. With various developmental activities and financial schemes, MPEDA aims to make this sector a breadwinner for un/under-employed persons and also a foreign exchange earner for the country.
Though fishery is a State subject, multiplicity of organizations under various Ministries under the Central Government at times fails to have a focused attention in the national interest. This needs to be addressed by forming a separate Ministry for handling fisheries subject in the national level.
I appreciate the efforts being taken by the Marine Products Export Development Authority in popularizing the aquaculture/aquariculture practices across the country encouraging productivity, employment and the economic status of a large section of the society. I earnestly hope that all the discussions during the technical sessions will be directed towards eco-friendly sustainable development of aquaculture for optimal utilization of our resource potential. I congratulate MPEDA for organizing the exposition of this magnitude. I wish the exposition all success.
Launching of B.Com Professional Programme & Seminar, YMCA, New Delhi 8th March, 2011
SHADWELL’S
Launching of B. Com Professional Programme
& Seminar on Higher Education and Employability
6.30 PM, Tuesday 8th March, 2011
At New Delhi Y.M.C.A
******
Inaugural Address
Prof. Dr. V.N. Rajasekharan Pillai, Chairman of the session, Shri E.T. Mohammed Basheer MP, Prof. Dr. P.T. Chande, President of the Association of Indian Universities, Shri P.C. Chacko MP, Shri M.B Rajesh MP, Shri P.K Biju MP, Shri Jose K. Mani MP, Shri Hibi Eden, Shri Chandy Oommen, Fr. Jose Vattakuzhy, Prof. Sunil Bakshi, Dr. M.M. Rehman, Prof. James Joseph, Dean of ShadWell’s, Mr. Tom B. Mannapurathu, Chairman & CEO of ShadWell’s and friends,
I am happy to be here today for three special reasons: (i) ShadWell’s is young; (ii) this is an educational programme; (iii) ShadWell’s is based in Kochi, in my constituency. When I say ShadWell’s is young, I mean not only that ShadWell’s is just three years old, but also that men at the helm of affairs are very young. Look at the bright handsome face of Tom, the Chairman, or at the revealing face of Jettin, the Vice-Chairman. They symbolize the youthful vigour, drive, imagination and optimism of the young entrepreneurs in Kerala. They are assisted by a team of young men and women who dare to share the dreams of ShadWell’s.
Equally important is the fact that the refreshing youthfulness of ShadWell’s is enriched by the wide and varied professional experience of its Dean Prof. James Joseph, whose teaching experience of ten years in different colleges is frilled with 23 years of experience as Education Administrator in Kerala University and the Govt. of Kerala.
I congratulate these young men for the bold initiative they have contributed to the educational scenario of the country.
The second reason for my enthusiasm in joining you today is that this function takes me back to the realm of Education, where I really belong.
And thirdly, I enjoy a sort of intimacy with ShadWell’s as the nerve centre of its activities is in Kochi, within my parliamentary constituency.
The launch of B.Com professional programme in Delhi is a welcome move. I hope this would inspire other entrepreneurs all over the country to design and develop similar innovative academic programmes to meet the challenge of employability. B. Com degree of IGNOU along with an International Certification in a specialized area of study, plus International Certificate in Financial English would be a valid passport to the province of an attractive career. The students are equipped to face a selection process with confidence by going through soft skill development programmes during the entire course. This integrated programme is an answer to the questions raised regarding quality and employability.
Hence, it is quite fitting and proper that a seminar on Higher Education and Employability is also being held.
The percentage of youth in population places India in a prestigious position, and India is, thus, known as a ‘Young Nation’. Our major concern is to make the best use of this demographic dividend for nation building. The 11th Plan which is described as ‘Education Plan’ has laid strong foundations in this direction.
There has been much discussion on the 3 E’s i.e., Expansion, Equity and Excellence, in the recent times.
Expansion of higher education facilities to the multitudes is a Herculean task. In 1950, we had 20 universities, 700 colleges, 20,000 students and 2000 teachers. By 2010, the numbers recorded a steep rise. We have more than 500 universities, 24000 colleges, 16 million students and 5 lacs teachers. Still, the Gross Enrolment Ratio, i.e., the percentage of students getting enrolled for higher education after grade XII, is only 12. The National University of Educational Planning and Administration (NUEPA), in a report, has suggested that the minimum threshold level of required GER (Gross Enrolment Ratio) to contribute to rapid and sustainable economic development of the country would be 20%. The global level today is 23%. India has now set the target of 30% GER for 2020.
To achieve this level of enrolment in higher education, we need to open 800 universities and 3500 colleges additionally, so that 46 million more seats can be created in higher education.
The Government will not be able to meet this requirement solely with its own resources. That is why the private players are welcome. And, this is the relevance of initiatives like ShadWell’s.
But the second ‘E’, i.e. Equity should be a guiding principle in all efforts made in partnership with private institutions. Special care should be taken for inclusiveness, to protect the interests of the marginalized segments of society.
The third ‘E’, i.e., Excellence, is the greatest challenge in the Indian educational scenario. Disturbing questions are being asked about the quality of our education. We lament that none of our premier institutions find a place in the best 100 universities in the world. Our system fails to ensure the optimum growth of our students because it is over-rigid in its structure and under-funded in terms of resources. The ‘A-3’ generation in our Campuses—Anytime, Anywhere, Anything generation—can learn anything at anytime sitting anywhere.
When times call for immediate response and positive change, our slowness, technical barriers and inadequacies frustrate the students. Initiatives like choice-based credit and semester system have marked a remarkable change.
The revolution in thinking and approach to learning brought about by IGNOU is epoch-making. In the environment of life-long learning promoted by IGNOU and other universities, the test of employability has become more relevant. Employability, no doubt, is a vibrant determinant in quality and content of education.
And, this is where we lag behind. Some surveys show that only 8% of our graduates are employable. It means, only 8 out of 100 graduates are equipped to do the right job for which they are supposed to be qualified. An Engineer working as a Technician, an MCA doing Data Entry or an MBA working as Clerk in a government office would be a sad commentary on the educational system.
In short, the challenge is to enhance the employability of our educated youth. One remedy for the malady would be to integrate application dimension that leads to employability, within the curriculum. Another method would be to provide add-on programmes as value addition with a view to sustaining employability potential, highlighting communication, application, creativity, innovativeness and other employability skills.
While the professional courses lack in quality, we find that the traditional mainstream courses have few takers as their employability is less. This is where add-on courses, with strong employability component, become relevant. Proven, quality-endorsed courses from anywhere would be welcomed by the students.
One way to improve employability would be Industry-Academic Linkage. The Employer knows what he expects from his employees. Many institutions now resort to tailor-made programmes for industries. Involvement of industry in course design, pedagogy, and methodology of teaching would make a lot of difference.
Accreditation has become compulsory now. But outcome-based accreditation is yet to come to stay. How employable is your product is a question to be considered in accreditation.
I am happy that such vital concerns are enkindling our young minds. ShadWell’s is an initiative for others to emulate. ShadWell’s is making its humble contribution for enhancing the employability of our commerce graduates. This is a bold step. I congratulate ShadWell’s and wish them success in their endeavour.
Today, incidentally, happens to be the International Women’s Day; and that rings a bell for ShadWell’s. A programme launched on the Women’s Day ought to have special packages for empowerment of women.
With this special suggestion, I launch the B.Com Professional Programme of ShadWell’s. I also inaugurate the Seminar on Higher Education and Employment.
JAI HIND
Launching of B. Com Professional Programme
& Seminar on Higher Education and Employability
6.30 PM, Tuesday 8th March, 2011
At New Delhi Y.M.C.A
******
Inaugural Address
Prof. Dr. V.N. Rajasekharan Pillai, Chairman of the session, Shri E.T. Mohammed Basheer MP, Prof. Dr. P.T. Chande, President of the Association of Indian Universities, Shri P.C. Chacko MP, Shri M.B Rajesh MP, Shri P.K Biju MP, Shri Jose K. Mani MP, Shri Hibi Eden, Shri Chandy Oommen, Fr. Jose Vattakuzhy, Prof. Sunil Bakshi, Dr. M.M. Rehman, Prof. James Joseph, Dean of ShadWell’s, Mr. Tom B. Mannapurathu, Chairman & CEO of ShadWell’s and friends,
I am happy to be here today for three special reasons: (i) ShadWell’s is young; (ii) this is an educational programme; (iii) ShadWell’s is based in Kochi, in my constituency. When I say ShadWell’s is young, I mean not only that ShadWell’s is just three years old, but also that men at the helm of affairs are very young. Look at the bright handsome face of Tom, the Chairman, or at the revealing face of Jettin, the Vice-Chairman. They symbolize the youthful vigour, drive, imagination and optimism of the young entrepreneurs in Kerala. They are assisted by a team of young men and women who dare to share the dreams of ShadWell’s.
Equally important is the fact that the refreshing youthfulness of ShadWell’s is enriched by the wide and varied professional experience of its Dean Prof. James Joseph, whose teaching experience of ten years in different colleges is frilled with 23 years of experience as Education Administrator in Kerala University and the Govt. of Kerala.
I congratulate these young men for the bold initiative they have contributed to the educational scenario of the country.
The second reason for my enthusiasm in joining you today is that this function takes me back to the realm of Education, where I really belong.
And thirdly, I enjoy a sort of intimacy with ShadWell’s as the nerve centre of its activities is in Kochi, within my parliamentary constituency.
The launch of B.Com professional programme in Delhi is a welcome move. I hope this would inspire other entrepreneurs all over the country to design and develop similar innovative academic programmes to meet the challenge of employability. B. Com degree of IGNOU along with an International Certification in a specialized area of study, plus International Certificate in Financial English would be a valid passport to the province of an attractive career. The students are equipped to face a selection process with confidence by going through soft skill development programmes during the entire course. This integrated programme is an answer to the questions raised regarding quality and employability.
Hence, it is quite fitting and proper that a seminar on Higher Education and Employability is also being held.
The percentage of youth in population places India in a prestigious position, and India is, thus, known as a ‘Young Nation’. Our major concern is to make the best use of this demographic dividend for nation building. The 11th Plan which is described as ‘Education Plan’ has laid strong foundations in this direction.
There has been much discussion on the 3 E’s i.e., Expansion, Equity and Excellence, in the recent times.
Expansion of higher education facilities to the multitudes is a Herculean task. In 1950, we had 20 universities, 700 colleges, 20,000 students and 2000 teachers. By 2010, the numbers recorded a steep rise. We have more than 500 universities, 24000 colleges, 16 million students and 5 lacs teachers. Still, the Gross Enrolment Ratio, i.e., the percentage of students getting enrolled for higher education after grade XII, is only 12. The National University of Educational Planning and Administration (NUEPA), in a report, has suggested that the minimum threshold level of required GER (Gross Enrolment Ratio) to contribute to rapid and sustainable economic development of the country would be 20%. The global level today is 23%. India has now set the target of 30% GER for 2020.
To achieve this level of enrolment in higher education, we need to open 800 universities and 3500 colleges additionally, so that 46 million more seats can be created in higher education.
The Government will not be able to meet this requirement solely with its own resources. That is why the private players are welcome. And, this is the relevance of initiatives like ShadWell’s.
But the second ‘E’, i.e. Equity should be a guiding principle in all efforts made in partnership with private institutions. Special care should be taken for inclusiveness, to protect the interests of the marginalized segments of society.
The third ‘E’, i.e., Excellence, is the greatest challenge in the Indian educational scenario. Disturbing questions are being asked about the quality of our education. We lament that none of our premier institutions find a place in the best 100 universities in the world. Our system fails to ensure the optimum growth of our students because it is over-rigid in its structure and under-funded in terms of resources. The ‘A-3’ generation in our Campuses—Anytime, Anywhere, Anything generation—can learn anything at anytime sitting anywhere.
When times call for immediate response and positive change, our slowness, technical barriers and inadequacies frustrate the students. Initiatives like choice-based credit and semester system have marked a remarkable change.
The revolution in thinking and approach to learning brought about by IGNOU is epoch-making. In the environment of life-long learning promoted by IGNOU and other universities, the test of employability has become more relevant. Employability, no doubt, is a vibrant determinant in quality and content of education.
And, this is where we lag behind. Some surveys show that only 8% of our graduates are employable. It means, only 8 out of 100 graduates are equipped to do the right job for which they are supposed to be qualified. An Engineer working as a Technician, an MCA doing Data Entry or an MBA working as Clerk in a government office would be a sad commentary on the educational system.
In short, the challenge is to enhance the employability of our educated youth. One remedy for the malady would be to integrate application dimension that leads to employability, within the curriculum. Another method would be to provide add-on programmes as value addition with a view to sustaining employability potential, highlighting communication, application, creativity, innovativeness and other employability skills.
While the professional courses lack in quality, we find that the traditional mainstream courses have few takers as their employability is less. This is where add-on courses, with strong employability component, become relevant. Proven, quality-endorsed courses from anywhere would be welcomed by the students.
One way to improve employability would be Industry-Academic Linkage. The Employer knows what he expects from his employees. Many institutions now resort to tailor-made programmes for industries. Involvement of industry in course design, pedagogy, and methodology of teaching would make a lot of difference.
Accreditation has become compulsory now. But outcome-based accreditation is yet to come to stay. How employable is your product is a question to be considered in accreditation.
I am happy that such vital concerns are enkindling our young minds. ShadWell’s is an initiative for others to emulate. ShadWell’s is making its humble contribution for enhancing the employability of our commerce graduates. This is a bold step. I congratulate ShadWell’s and wish them success in their endeavour.
Today, incidentally, happens to be the International Women’s Day; and that rings a bell for ShadWell’s. A programme launched on the Women’s Day ought to have special packages for empowerment of women.
With this special suggestion, I launch the B.Com Professional Programme of ShadWell’s. I also inaugurate the Seminar on Higher Education and Employment.
JAI HIND
Launch of Negotiable Warehouse Receipt System 26th April, 2011
Speech of the Hon’ble Minister of State
(Independent Charge),Ministry of Consumer Affairs,
Food and Public Distribution for 26th April, 2011 on “Launch of Negotiable Warehosue Receipt System”
Shri Dinesh Rai, Chairman, Warehousing Development and Regulatory Authority.
Dr. B. C. Gupta, Secretary, Food & Public Distribution, Government of India.
Shri B. B. Pattnaik, MD, Central Warehousing Corporation.
Shri Girish Shanker, Joint Secretary – Storage, Department of Food & Public Distribution, Government of India.
Shri Karnail Singh, Member, Warehousing Development and Regulatory Authority
Shri B. K. Bal, Member, Warehousing Development and Regulatory Authority
Distinguished Guests, Warehousemen from different organizations, Representatives of Central and State Governments, Ladies and Gentlemen.
*****
I am delighted to be present today on the occasion of launching of the Negotiable Warehouse Receipt Systems first time in the country. Henceforth, the warehouse receipts issued by the warehouses registered with the Warehousing Development and Regulatory Authority would become a fully negotiable instrument backed by a Central Legislation. Banks will have more faith in such negotiable warehouse receipts and farmers would be able to seek loans easily against these receipts.
Although, the concept of Negotiable Warehouse Receipt is very old, in the year 2000, the World Bank carried out a study for the Forward Market Commission and Government of India for the Development of Warehouse Receipt Systems for Agriculture in India. The main conclusion of the Report was that warehouse receipt may be used attractively by the Banks to lend to the agricultural sector. Besides, it can also reduce the cost of public support for agricultural marketing and improve price risk management.
Subsequently, Working Group on Warehouse Receipts and Commodity Futures constituted by the Reserve Bank of India in April, 2005 recommended for Negotiable Warehouse Receipts to protect farmers against distress sale of their agricultural produce in the market and also to increase liquidity in the rural areas. As a result of which the Government of India enacted the Warehouse (Development and Regulation) Act, 2007 and made it effective from 25th October, 2010.
The Act will make the negotiable warehouse receipt a prime tool of trade and facilitate finance against it throughout the country. It will also allow Banks to improve the quality of their lending services and enhance their interest in lending in respect of agricultural goods deposited by farmers in the registered warehouses. It is expected that the system of Negotiable Warehouse Receipts would result in providing considerable benefits, both at macro as well as micro levels. It will increase the liquidity in the rural areas, encourage scientific warehousing of goods, improve supply chain and enhance rewards for grading and quality and better price risk management. This would results in higher return to the farmers and better services to the consumers.
Chairman, WDRA has informed that there is good response from the warehousing sector and about 318 applications with a warehousing capacity of over 11 Lakh MTs have been received from different states for registration under the Warehousing Act. I have also been informed that these warehouses would be accredited by approved accreditation agencies prior to their registration with the Warehousing Development and Regulatory Authority to ensure that basic requirements of scientific storage of agricultural and other commodities are fully met by these warehouses.
WDRA will also initiate other developmental plan to promote efficiency in the conduct of the warehousing business. There is shortage of warehousing capacity in the country. Substantial quantity of wheat procured by the Food Corporation of India in Northern States is stored in the open complexes, wherein losses due to heavy rains, floods and cyclones cannot be ruled out. Therefore, it is imperative that world class warehousing facilities for all commodities, including agricultural commodities, are created in the country. These warehouses should be equipped with the latest devices handling, grading, storage and transportation of different commodities.
Training is an important aspect for warehouses and all the warehousemen, both from public, private and cooperative sectors should be imparted proper training of scientific storage of goods. They should be aware about the code of practices of scientific storage of all agricultural commodities so that the storage and transit losses in these commodities are minimized. The Authority should arrange training of warehousemen and other stakeholders of the warehousing sector through some expert institutions as well as awareness programmes for farmers in different part of the country. Regional Conferences in association with FICCI and ASSOCHAM should also be organised to create awareness about negotiable warehouse receipts. WDRA should also promote efficiency in the cold chain sector in association with National Horticulture Board (NHB) so that the scientific storability and marketing of commodities such as onions and potatoes gets streamlined and the losses in fruits, vegetables and other processed food items are minimised.
I understand that availability of finance to farmers particularly small and marginal ones at around 11% rate of interest is creating hardships. I have already taken up this issue with the Ministry of Finance. I am confident that in due course, efforts would be made to get crop loan facilities at concessional rate of 4% extended to post-harvest management loan, which will incentivise farmers to store their produce in these warehouses at the cheapest available rate of interest. I will advise that Authority should provide linkage of registered warehouses with APMC and Spot Exchanges so as to enable the farmers to fetch better prices of their agriculture produce.
I would urge all the warehousemen who have come from different parts of the country to sincerely work together for creating awareness among farmers, traders and other depositors about the benefits of Negotiable Warehouse Receipts. I congratulate Chairman and all other Members of the WDRA for introducing the Negotiable Warehousing Receipt System in the county. I wish them all success.
********
(Independent Charge),Ministry of Consumer Affairs,
Food and Public Distribution for 26th April, 2011 on “Launch of Negotiable Warehosue Receipt System”
Shri Dinesh Rai, Chairman, Warehousing Development and Regulatory Authority.
Dr. B. C. Gupta, Secretary, Food & Public Distribution, Government of India.
Shri B. B. Pattnaik, MD, Central Warehousing Corporation.
Shri Girish Shanker, Joint Secretary – Storage, Department of Food & Public Distribution, Government of India.
Shri Karnail Singh, Member, Warehousing Development and Regulatory Authority
Shri B. K. Bal, Member, Warehousing Development and Regulatory Authority
Distinguished Guests, Warehousemen from different organizations, Representatives of Central and State Governments, Ladies and Gentlemen.
*****
I am delighted to be present today on the occasion of launching of the Negotiable Warehouse Receipt Systems first time in the country. Henceforth, the warehouse receipts issued by the warehouses registered with the Warehousing Development and Regulatory Authority would become a fully negotiable instrument backed by a Central Legislation. Banks will have more faith in such negotiable warehouse receipts and farmers would be able to seek loans easily against these receipts.
Although, the concept of Negotiable Warehouse Receipt is very old, in the year 2000, the World Bank carried out a study for the Forward Market Commission and Government of India for the Development of Warehouse Receipt Systems for Agriculture in India. The main conclusion of the Report was that warehouse receipt may be used attractively by the Banks to lend to the agricultural sector. Besides, it can also reduce the cost of public support for agricultural marketing and improve price risk management.
Subsequently, Working Group on Warehouse Receipts and Commodity Futures constituted by the Reserve Bank of India in April, 2005 recommended for Negotiable Warehouse Receipts to protect farmers against distress sale of their agricultural produce in the market and also to increase liquidity in the rural areas. As a result of which the Government of India enacted the Warehouse (Development and Regulation) Act, 2007 and made it effective from 25th October, 2010.
The Act will make the negotiable warehouse receipt a prime tool of trade and facilitate finance against it throughout the country. It will also allow Banks to improve the quality of their lending services and enhance their interest in lending in respect of agricultural goods deposited by farmers in the registered warehouses. It is expected that the system of Negotiable Warehouse Receipts would result in providing considerable benefits, both at macro as well as micro levels. It will increase the liquidity in the rural areas, encourage scientific warehousing of goods, improve supply chain and enhance rewards for grading and quality and better price risk management. This would results in higher return to the farmers and better services to the consumers.
Chairman, WDRA has informed that there is good response from the warehousing sector and about 318 applications with a warehousing capacity of over 11 Lakh MTs have been received from different states for registration under the Warehousing Act. I have also been informed that these warehouses would be accredited by approved accreditation agencies prior to their registration with the Warehousing Development and Regulatory Authority to ensure that basic requirements of scientific storage of agricultural and other commodities are fully met by these warehouses.
WDRA will also initiate other developmental plan to promote efficiency in the conduct of the warehousing business. There is shortage of warehousing capacity in the country. Substantial quantity of wheat procured by the Food Corporation of India in Northern States is stored in the open complexes, wherein losses due to heavy rains, floods and cyclones cannot be ruled out. Therefore, it is imperative that world class warehousing facilities for all commodities, including agricultural commodities, are created in the country. These warehouses should be equipped with the latest devices handling, grading, storage and transportation of different commodities.
Training is an important aspect for warehouses and all the warehousemen, both from public, private and cooperative sectors should be imparted proper training of scientific storage of goods. They should be aware about the code of practices of scientific storage of all agricultural commodities so that the storage and transit losses in these commodities are minimized. The Authority should arrange training of warehousemen and other stakeholders of the warehousing sector through some expert institutions as well as awareness programmes for farmers in different part of the country. Regional Conferences in association with FICCI and ASSOCHAM should also be organised to create awareness about negotiable warehouse receipts. WDRA should also promote efficiency in the cold chain sector in association with National Horticulture Board (NHB) so that the scientific storability and marketing of commodities such as onions and potatoes gets streamlined and the losses in fruits, vegetables and other processed food items are minimised.
I understand that availability of finance to farmers particularly small and marginal ones at around 11% rate of interest is creating hardships. I have already taken up this issue with the Ministry of Finance. I am confident that in due course, efforts would be made to get crop loan facilities at concessional rate of 4% extended to post-harvest management loan, which will incentivise farmers to store their produce in these warehouses at the cheapest available rate of interest. I will advise that Authority should provide linkage of registered warehouses with APMC and Spot Exchanges so as to enable the farmers to fetch better prices of their agriculture produce.
I would urge all the warehousemen who have come from different parts of the country to sincerely work together for creating awareness among farmers, traders and other depositors about the benefits of Negotiable Warehouse Receipts. I congratulate Chairman and all other Members of the WDRA for introducing the Negotiable Warehousing Receipt System in the county. I wish them all success.
********
World Consumer Rights Day, 2011 (15.3.11) New Delhi
SPEECH OF THE HON’BLE MINISTER OF CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD & PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION ON THE OCCASION OF
WORLD CONSUMER RIGHTS DAY 2011 (15.3.2011)
**********
My Senior Colleague in the Cabinet and Minister of Law and Justice Sh. Veerappa Moilyji, Hon’ble Judge of the Supreme Court, Justice Shri Dalveer Bhandari, Hon’ble Justice Shri Ashok Bhan, President of National Consumer Dispute and Redressal Commission, Secretary, Department of Consumer Affairs Shri Rajiv Agarwal, Members of the National and State Commissions, Distinguished guests, Members of the Media, Ladies and gentlemen. I am extremely happy to be with you all on this occasion of the celebration of World Consumer Rights Day.
2. On 15 March we celebrate World Consumer Rights Day – a day on which consumer organizations and governments worldwide endorse and re-commit themselves to the guidelines for consumer protection, which were adopted by the United Nations in 1985.
3. The origins of this day can be sourced back to in the famous declaration of John F Kennedy to the United States Congress on 15th March, 1962. He said, (and I quote) “Consumers by definition include us all. They are the largest economic group, affecting and affected by almost every public and private economic decision. Yet they are the only important group... whose views are often not heard.” In that declaration for the first time he spelt out the four basic consumer rights: the right to safety, the right to be informed, the right to choose and the right to be heard. It really launched the consumer protection movement in a big way. People started thinking seriously about their rights as consumers and Governments all over world started giving due importance to the subject of consumer protection. The U.N. guidelines on consumer protection of 1985 are a founding stone which made many countries in the world start consumer protection programmes in right earnest.
4. The consumer movement in India is as old as trade and commerce and yet until 1986 there was no systematic movement in the country for safeguarding the interest of consumers. As we are all aware, the consumer movement got a boost only after the enactment of the Consumer Protection Act, 1986. It is a unique legislation, providing for the establishment of Consumer Fora at district, state and national level exclusively for the consumers. The concern in the Constitution of India for protection and promotion of an individual’s rights and for the dignity and welfare of the citizen makes it imperative to provide for the welfare of the individual as a consumer and a customer. The rights under consumer protection act 1986 flow from the rights enshrined in articles 14-19 of the Constitution of India. The right to information Act 2005 which has opened up governance processes of our country to common man also has far reaching implications for consumer protection.
5. Today, the Consumer Protection Act has succeeded in having a sobering effect on the markets, forcing the providers of goods and services to introspect and internalize the concept of consumer welfare and address consumer grievances more deligently. However, the larger benefit it has been affording to the consumers is the provision of an additional legal recourse in the consumer fora, to redress their grievances. In this background, it is essential that Consumer Fora function successfully, retaining their character & effectiveness so that consumers do not lose their confidence in the justice delivery system. While the overall performance of the Consumer Fora may be satisfactory, as out of 35.09 lakh cases filed so far 31.46 lakh cases, nearly 89.68% stand disposed, the need of the hour is to ensure that the Consumer Fora do not slip onto the path of civil courts, making litigation long drawn out and taking several years to dispose of even cases involving small compensation.
6. Friends, let me assure you that the needs of the National Commission are always on the priority agenda of the Government. In so far as the State Commissions and District Fora are concerned, as we have been continuously impressing upon them, the State Governments are again requested to make all efforts for providing the necessary infrastructure and manpower to the Fora so that the objectives of the Act are fulfilled. To reduce the pendency of cases thirteen cities across the country have been notified by the Govt. where NCDRC can hold Circuit Benches .The number of Members of the Commission has been increased from 5 to 9 enabling the Commission to set up 5 Benches. Further 2 additional posts of Members have been created for a period of five years for setting up an additional Bench to clear backlog of cases in NCDRC.
7. The Government is implementing an important scheme CONFONET to make the Consumer Fora more efficient, transparent and systematic in their functioning. This project for Computerization & Computer Networking of Consumer Fora in the country is being executed on a turnkey basis by the National Informatics Centre. This project, approved at an estimated cost of Rs. 48.64 crores during 10th Plan for the entire country, has been extended to 11th Plan at a cost of Rs 25.69 crores. Under this scheme, the consumer fora at all the three tiers would be fully computerized and inter-connected enabling them to access information leading to quicker disposal of cases. With the implementation of this scheme consumers across the country will be able to file complaints online and can also find out the status of the case on the website. Out of 35 State Commissions and 607 District Fora, 34 State Commissions and 593 District Fora have been covered under this project so far. Similarly, we have another scheme titled ‘Strengthening of Consumer Fora’ where financial assistance is being extended to States/UTs to supplement their efforts in strengthening infrastructure of the Consumer Fora. An amount of Rs.10.30 crores have been released so far to 7 eligible States under this scheme during 2010-11.
8. Ladies and Gentlemen, At the root of the consumer protection is the recognition that there is unequal relationship between the consumers and producers. Protection lies the consumers is accomplished by setting minimum standards, quality specifications and safety standards for both goods and services and establishing mechanisms to redress their grievances. Today it is widely acknowledged that the level of consumer awareness and protection is a true indicator of development of the country and progressiveness of civil society. The main reason for this is the rapidly increasing variety of goods and services which modern technology has made available. In addition, the growing size and complexity of production and distribution systems, high level of sophistication in promotional and selling practices, in advertising and other forms of mass marketing methods and increased mobility resulting in reduction of personal interaction between buyers and sellers have contributed to the increased need for consumer protection.
9. Education helps an individual as a consumer in making an informed choice and protects him from trade and business exploitation. But more is needed in the effective functioning of national market to create an increased awareness of consumers rights. For this, consumers have to be educated about their rights and responsibilities through a concerted publicity and awareness campaigns. In this regard, special emphasis needs to be given to vulnerable groups such as women, children, rural families and working class. There is thus necessity for continuing consumer awareness campaigns on a large scale to sensitize population on basic concepts and encourage them to protect their rights. We also need to provide simple and less expensive alternate modes of grievance redressal.
10. Consumer is said to be the King. But he is often found to be in fetters. Special efforts are required to free him from such chains, so that , he becomes enlightened of his own rights and feel empowered to prevent his exploitation in the market place.
11. On this important day, let us rededicate ourselves to work for the welfare of the consumers and resolve to make them aware of their rights and responsibilities. Let us also ensure that goods and services are available free from hazards and exploitation and jointly strengthen the institutional legal framework for this purpose. Effective functioning of consumer dispute redressal machinery for rendering quick justice is a very important ingredient in this framework. I am confident that it will continue to deliver excellent service to the consumers in the future also.
Jai Hind.
**********
WORLD CONSUMER RIGHTS DAY 2011 (15.3.2011)
**********
My Senior Colleague in the Cabinet and Minister of Law and Justice Sh. Veerappa Moilyji, Hon’ble Judge of the Supreme Court, Justice Shri Dalveer Bhandari, Hon’ble Justice Shri Ashok Bhan, President of National Consumer Dispute and Redressal Commission, Secretary, Department of Consumer Affairs Shri Rajiv Agarwal, Members of the National and State Commissions, Distinguished guests, Members of the Media, Ladies and gentlemen. I am extremely happy to be with you all on this occasion of the celebration of World Consumer Rights Day.
2. On 15 March we celebrate World Consumer Rights Day – a day on which consumer organizations and governments worldwide endorse and re-commit themselves to the guidelines for consumer protection, which were adopted by the United Nations in 1985.
3. The origins of this day can be sourced back to in the famous declaration of John F Kennedy to the United States Congress on 15th March, 1962. He said, (and I quote) “Consumers by definition include us all. They are the largest economic group, affecting and affected by almost every public and private economic decision. Yet they are the only important group... whose views are often not heard.” In that declaration for the first time he spelt out the four basic consumer rights: the right to safety, the right to be informed, the right to choose and the right to be heard. It really launched the consumer protection movement in a big way. People started thinking seriously about their rights as consumers and Governments all over world started giving due importance to the subject of consumer protection. The U.N. guidelines on consumer protection of 1985 are a founding stone which made many countries in the world start consumer protection programmes in right earnest.
4. The consumer movement in India is as old as trade and commerce and yet until 1986 there was no systematic movement in the country for safeguarding the interest of consumers. As we are all aware, the consumer movement got a boost only after the enactment of the Consumer Protection Act, 1986. It is a unique legislation, providing for the establishment of Consumer Fora at district, state and national level exclusively for the consumers. The concern in the Constitution of India for protection and promotion of an individual’s rights and for the dignity and welfare of the citizen makes it imperative to provide for the welfare of the individual as a consumer and a customer. The rights under consumer protection act 1986 flow from the rights enshrined in articles 14-19 of the Constitution of India. The right to information Act 2005 which has opened up governance processes of our country to common man also has far reaching implications for consumer protection.
5. Today, the Consumer Protection Act has succeeded in having a sobering effect on the markets, forcing the providers of goods and services to introspect and internalize the concept of consumer welfare and address consumer grievances more deligently. However, the larger benefit it has been affording to the consumers is the provision of an additional legal recourse in the consumer fora, to redress their grievances. In this background, it is essential that Consumer Fora function successfully, retaining their character & effectiveness so that consumers do not lose their confidence in the justice delivery system. While the overall performance of the Consumer Fora may be satisfactory, as out of 35.09 lakh cases filed so far 31.46 lakh cases, nearly 89.68% stand disposed, the need of the hour is to ensure that the Consumer Fora do not slip onto the path of civil courts, making litigation long drawn out and taking several years to dispose of even cases involving small compensation.
6. Friends, let me assure you that the needs of the National Commission are always on the priority agenda of the Government. In so far as the State Commissions and District Fora are concerned, as we have been continuously impressing upon them, the State Governments are again requested to make all efforts for providing the necessary infrastructure and manpower to the Fora so that the objectives of the Act are fulfilled. To reduce the pendency of cases thirteen cities across the country have been notified by the Govt. where NCDRC can hold Circuit Benches .The number of Members of the Commission has been increased from 5 to 9 enabling the Commission to set up 5 Benches. Further 2 additional posts of Members have been created for a period of five years for setting up an additional Bench to clear backlog of cases in NCDRC.
7. The Government is implementing an important scheme CONFONET to make the Consumer Fora more efficient, transparent and systematic in their functioning. This project for Computerization & Computer Networking of Consumer Fora in the country is being executed on a turnkey basis by the National Informatics Centre. This project, approved at an estimated cost of Rs. 48.64 crores during 10th Plan for the entire country, has been extended to 11th Plan at a cost of Rs 25.69 crores. Under this scheme, the consumer fora at all the three tiers would be fully computerized and inter-connected enabling them to access information leading to quicker disposal of cases. With the implementation of this scheme consumers across the country will be able to file complaints online and can also find out the status of the case on the website. Out of 35 State Commissions and 607 District Fora, 34 State Commissions and 593 District Fora have been covered under this project so far. Similarly, we have another scheme titled ‘Strengthening of Consumer Fora’ where financial assistance is being extended to States/UTs to supplement their efforts in strengthening infrastructure of the Consumer Fora. An amount of Rs.10.30 crores have been released so far to 7 eligible States under this scheme during 2010-11.
8. Ladies and Gentlemen, At the root of the consumer protection is the recognition that there is unequal relationship between the consumers and producers. Protection lies the consumers is accomplished by setting minimum standards, quality specifications and safety standards for both goods and services and establishing mechanisms to redress their grievances. Today it is widely acknowledged that the level of consumer awareness and protection is a true indicator of development of the country and progressiveness of civil society. The main reason for this is the rapidly increasing variety of goods and services which modern technology has made available. In addition, the growing size and complexity of production and distribution systems, high level of sophistication in promotional and selling practices, in advertising and other forms of mass marketing methods and increased mobility resulting in reduction of personal interaction between buyers and sellers have contributed to the increased need for consumer protection.
9. Education helps an individual as a consumer in making an informed choice and protects him from trade and business exploitation. But more is needed in the effective functioning of national market to create an increased awareness of consumers rights. For this, consumers have to be educated about their rights and responsibilities through a concerted publicity and awareness campaigns. In this regard, special emphasis needs to be given to vulnerable groups such as women, children, rural families and working class. There is thus necessity for continuing consumer awareness campaigns on a large scale to sensitize population on basic concepts and encourage them to protect their rights. We also need to provide simple and less expensive alternate modes of grievance redressal.
10. Consumer is said to be the King. But he is often found to be in fetters. Special efforts are required to free him from such chains, so that , he becomes enlightened of his own rights and feel empowered to prevent his exploitation in the market place.
11. On this important day, let us rededicate ourselves to work for the welfare of the consumers and resolve to make them aware of their rights and responsibilities. Let us also ensure that goods and services are available free from hazards and exploitation and jointly strengthen the institutional legal framework for this purpose. Effective functioning of consumer dispute redressal machinery for rendering quick justice is a very important ingredient in this framework. I am confident that it will continue to deliver excellent service to the consumers in the future also.
Jai Hind.
**********
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