ISO GENERAL ASSEMBLY MEETING – Inaugural speech on 21.9.2011 at Vigyan Bhavan, New Delhi

Shri Rajiv Agarwal, Secretary, Consumer Affairs, Shri Sharad Gupta, Director General, Bureau for Indian Standards, Dr. Boris Aleshin, President of the International Organisation for Standardisation, Mr. Robert Steele, Secretary General, International Organisation for Standardisation, distinguished invitees and participants, ladies and gentlemen.

I have great pleasure in associating myself with the 34th General Assembly of the International Organisation for Standardisation. At the outset let me extend a hearty welcome to all the delegates from over 125 countries who are participating in this Assembly which is of great significance in furthering the cause of standardisation across the world. India is justly proud of its role in hosting the General Assembly of the ISO way back in 1964. We are delighted that slightly more than four and half decades later the distinguished representatives of the ISO fraternity are yet again meeting in India. It is noteworthy that the organisation of this Assembly is happily coinciding with the ISO General Assembly week which is being observed from 19th to 24th September 2011.

Standardisation and variety is part and parcel of the creation. Human civilisation in all its marvellous manifestations demonstrate the inalienable process of standardisation which gave shape and meaning to them. We are familiar with the fact that after the Second World War standardisation of goods and services acquired global significance. Therefore 25 countries of the world came together and took a decision to establish an international organisation to unify international standards. As a result the International Standards Organisation was established and commenced its functioning in 1947. I recall that India, which established its Indian Standards Institute in the same year, was one of the founder members of the ISO.

Essentially the process of standardisation was found to be of greater importance in the economic sphere than any other sphere. The predominance of geo-economics as opposed to geo-politics following the end of cold war created necessary conditions for integration of markets of different countries in an unprecedented manner. The issue of standardisation acquired greater currency in such an integrated market. Of late, the import of standardisation has been realised with added vigour in meeting the needs of consumer, trade and industry and above all in promoting the cause of innovation and sustainable development.

The idea and practice of standardisation has always been integral to the vision of our political and technological leadership to revive our economy which suffered colonial exploitation and build our nation along modern lines. Our first Prime Minister and architect of modern India Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru while laying the foundation stone of the Indian Standards Institution on 21st August 1954 stressed on high quality and standard of goods and services produced both by big and cottage industries. He also understood standards as essential element of planning. Today India is rated as a major player in determining the contours of global economic growth. The epicentre of world economy is irreversibly shifting to this part of the globe. With the unleashing of our entrepreneurial spirit following the introduction of full-fledged economic reforms in the early 1990s our stature as major economic power house of the world has been acknowledged in glowing terms. Our rate of growth is impressive. It is advantage India because of our huge population, significant component of which is youth. It is against such back ground that we understand the significance of this Assembly.

While talking to you let me bring in a bit of philosophy. To see the larger aspects of life in smaller ones means to have a broader vision. A poet sees the world in a grain of sand. With the world wide adoption of ISO norms the quest for standardised products has become the defining theme of the market. The coordinates of standard now determine the level and extent of the marketability of the product. The late Vice President of India Mr. K.R.Narayanan while inaugurating the world Congress on Total Quality on 19th January 1993 had poetically said that “Vast world market is manifest in a well standardised and quality product”. Therefore, the economies of the world can be easily judged in terms of the standards they have adopted in consonance with the ISO norms.

We in India have always been active supporters of national and international standardisation work. We recognise standardisation as a vital component of our growth engine, an important facilitator of trade and a major tool for protection of consumer interest. A statute of Parliament of 1986, the Bureau of Indian Standards Act, 1986, formally provides a regime to legally uphold the ideal of standards. The enactment of that legislation constituted a landmark in taking forward the cause of our economy. The BIS has been at the forefront of the Government’s effort in providing value based services to the citizens of this country and safeguarding the country’s technological interests by formulating Indian Standards, which reflect India’s technical competence. I am confident that the ISO General Assembly will help the Bureau of Standards to showcase the robustness of standardisation in India at the world stage and demonstrate competence and competitiveness of our industry and trade.

Friends, If we study and survey the total quality movement we find that the quality of a product has to be understood in terms not only the quality of the end product but also in terms of the quality of management, quality of human relations, of company performance, and work environment. It is, therefore, evident that quality of a product is understood in a very comprehensive and overarching sense.

In a similar vein the movement for standardisation has to be all encompassing. It has of course to be related to the product, consumer, trade, industry and all the stakeholders. But it has to also address the issue of sustainability of business which has to be in harmony with nature and the larger planet. A planetary consciousness has to be developed in evolving the standards.

In this context, it is heartening to note that the ISO has already published International Standard on Energy Management System (ISO 50001). This will help to address the challenge of energy management in the world. I am given to understand that the ISO is organising a regional seminar on ISO 50001 in New Delhi during November 2011. I am sure that it will be a precursor to the many other forward looking steps for reducing our dependence on fossil fuels. I am also given to understand that international standards in the areas of financial planning, tourism, market research and exhibition management are being developed. This is a welcome development.

Distinguished delegates, this is the age of innovation. Without innovation economy, industry and growth will be stunted. The father of management discipline, Professor Peter Drucker in his article ‘The Age of Social Transformation’ famously stated that fast emerging knowledge society will depend critically on innovation. We in India had established an Innovation Council. It is, therefore, important that the ISO should foster new initiatives and proactively anticipate new areas where international standardisation might support innovation. In fact standardisation is compatible with innovation. This idea must be driven home across the world through the ISO. This is essential to make business, particularly small business, more competitive and productive. In fact standardisation and variety constitute the recipe for progress. It is very thoughtful on the part of the organisers to have chosen the theme “Industry and Standards - Fostering Innovation and Building Competitive Advantage” for tomorrow’s Open Session. I wish the deliberations all success and hope that all stakeholders will benefit from its proceedings.

I am sure that the convening of this Assembly will enable our Government and private sector and all other stake holders to remain tuned to the ever evolving standards which are adopted in every economic activity across the world. I once again welcome you and wish you a comfortable and enjoyable stay in India. I have great pleasure in declaring the 34th ISO General Assembly open and am confident that deliberations of the Assembly will be productive, constructive and forward looking.
Thank you.
JAI HIND.

Inaugural Address
by
Prof. K V Thomas
Hon’ble Minister (Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution) of India
at the 34th General Assembly
of
the International Organization for Standardization (ISO)
0930 h, Wednesday, 21 September 2011
Vigyan Bhawan, New Delhi

Mr. Rajiv Agarwal, Secretary (Consumer Affairs); Mr. Sharad Gupta, Director General, BIS; Dr. Boris Aleshin, ISO President; Mr. Rob Steele, ISO Secretary-General; distinguished invitees and participants at the 34th General Assembly of the ISO, ladies and gentlemen,

It is indeed a momentous occasion for the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS), the National Standards Body of India and a Statutory body under the aegis of the Department of Consumer Affairs, Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food & Public Distribution, Government of India, to host the 34th General Assembly of the International Organization for Standardization (ISO). This is not the first time that India is hosting the ISO General Assembly, having hosted it earlier in the year 1964. It, however, remains a great privilege and an honour for us to invite and host the ISO fraternity at New Delhi, India during the ISO General Assembly week from 19th to 24th September 2011. It gives me great pleasure to be here in your midst today and welcome the delegates of the ISO’s worldwide family, which now includes the national standards bodies of 162 countries. I am told that delegates from over 125 countries are present here today.

Standardization has been with us since time immemorial. Right from the movement of stars in our solar system to our household goods, standardization is all pervasive and can not be missed. It is so deeply ingrained in our lives that we fail to notice it in routine. There exist innumerable examples of benefits of standardization and yet it merits mention that standardization was never more relevant to us than now, particularly, in today’s globalized world under the WTO-TBT regime.


Standardization has had a long tradition in India. The Indian Standards Institution, the predecessor of BIS, was one of the founder-members of the ISO. BIS has had a long association with the ISO and two of its nominees have also been the Presidents of ISO, Dr. J. Ghandhy (for the 1965-1967 term) and Dr. D.C. Kothari (for the 1983-1985 term). The founder Director General of BIS, Dr. Lal C. Verman was also the Vice President of ISO during 1949-1954. BIS is an active and prominent member of the ISO, contributing in both, the technical work and the governance of the ISO. It has been a member of the ISO Council in the past, besides being a member of its policy development committees like DEVCO, COPOLCO and CASCO. BIS is also an elected member of the Technical Management Board. It is also a member of 611 technical committee and sub-committees of ISO, with secretarial responsibilities for 8 of these technical committees and sub-committees.


The BIS, without doubt, is one of the leading service providing organizations in the country, especially in the fields of standardization and conformity assessment and has been at the forefront in the Government’s efforts in providing value based services to the citizens of this great nation. It has the mandate of representing India in the global standardization arena. In today’s regime of international trade, BIS shoulders the unenviable responsibility of safeguarding the country’s technological interests by formulating Indian Standards, which reflect India’s technical competence. India’s captive consumer base and massive technically trained workforce place it in a position to decisively influence the course of world history in the 21st century. BIS’s role as a prominent member of the ISO will be no exception.

The Government of India has always been an active supporter of national and international standardization work, having supported the establishment of the Indian Standards Institution at the dawn of independence in India and later, restructuring it into a Statutory Body in 1987 through the enactment of the BIS Act, 1986. It recognizes standardization as an important facilitator for trade and for protection of consumers’ interests. It also realizes that India is one of the fastest-growing economies in the world and standardization is a vital component of its growth engine. We also recognize that international standards reduce technical barriers to international trade by providing uniform level playing field to suppliers from developed, developing and under developed countries. Thus, active participation in international standardization efforts is in the interest of all.



There is a growing expectation from the international standards of all sectors of economy, which the ongoing and future standardization efforts must take into consideration. International standards must facilitate sustainable development, for that is the way to proceed in future. It is heartening to note that ISO has already published International Standard on Energy Management Systems (ISO 50001), which will provided the much needed fillip to the cause of energy management, particularly, in the developing world. I also note that ISO is organizing a regional seminar on ISO 50001 in New Delhi during 21-23 November 2011. This, I hope, is the first of many such initiatives to follow. I am also told that International Standards in the areas of financial planning, market research, tourism, as well as exhibition management are under development. ISO should now foster new initiatives and proactively anticipate new areas where international standardization might support dissemination of innovation. Far from stifling innovation, standards encourage it – but this message must be communicated in each country in order to help businesses – and in particular small businesses – to understand the value of standardization.


Standardization has helped the Indian industry to come up with quality produce, conforming to International Standards, which has enabled them to compete effectively and efficiently at the global stage and garner its share of the world market. The exports, over the years, have steadily increased. Indian produce is able to compete with the best at the global stage, both in terms of quality and cost. There is a realization in India that International standards, as per WTO-TBT agreement, play significant role, particularly in Technical Regulations. Therefore, effective participation in the international standardization is critical to continual growth of India. I am confident that this ISO General Assembly will also help BIS to show-case the deep-rooted robustness of standardization in India at the world stage and to demonstrate the competence and competitiveness of our industry and trade.


In this background, I feel that the theme of tomorrow’s Open Session, that is, Industry and Standards – Fostering Innovation and Building Competitive Advantage, has been very aptly chosen. I am confident that tomorrow’s Open Session will help the Indian industry and consumers to understand the benefits of national and international standardization activities in trade and economic growth. This would also enhance participation of all stakeholders in the development of national and international standards.


This event is being hosted by us in New Delhi, the capital of India, which is not only a great historical city, but is also a curious mix of tradition and modern life-style, new-age architecture and world-heritage monuments, densely populated but with vast open spaces. New Delhi also epitomizes the all-round socio-economic progress made by India since Independence. Last but not the least, it provides us an opportunity to show-case the standard of Indian hospitality to the world. I feel great pleasure in declaring the 34th ISO General Assembly open and wish you all a highly successful and memorable ISO General Assembly.

JAI HIND

Conference on Misleading Advt.

United Nations Conference in Deen Dayal College, 4.8.11

Speech of the Hon’ble Minister for the Opening Ceremony of Deen Dayal Upadhya College Model United Nations Conference
Held on 4.8.2011 Thursday


Good Morning everybody.
On my way here to the conference venue, I looked out of the window of my car and saw the India that is now. And I realized that, we, the Indians, have a long way to go. I still try to figure out and often ponder over how the scenario could get better than it is now. But, now that I see hundreds of bright, young, eager, sharp, intelligent faces looking up at me, I am, to a large extent, reassured that my country, our world, and the future of all could be in no better hands – YOU, THE YOUTH.
I feel privileged to be invited as the Chief Guest of the occasion and would like to thank Dr. S.K. Garg for making me a part of an event, which is not just another event, but a phenomenon in itself. In the welcome booklet Dr. Garg mentions that we are the citizens of not one country, but one world, sharing one future and I couldn’t agree more. I would also like to congratulate the college, the Convener Dr. Nisha Rana, Co-Convener, Dr. Monika Bansal and the extremely talented students of Deen Dayal Upadhyaya College on taking up such a challenge and create out of it, an event of such great magnitude.
On being briefed about this event, I realized the awareness levels of the students of today. Agendas of the conference, made me realize how students think of doing good for their own country while bettering the world in the process.
The charter of the United Nations says the people of the United Nations are determined to save succeeding generations from the scourge of war, to reaffirm the faith in fundamental human rights, to establish conditions under which justice and respect for obligations arising from treaties and to promote social progress and to better standards of life. And I see that the agenda cover all these aspects.
But, with the talent, brain and hard-work that I see in this room, I would like to urge the students to not just discuss change, but also to execute it. I am confident that in a few years from now, all of you would be the tremendous leaders that the world needs. For the future, I would request you all to unite and lead irrespective of the different walks of life that you would belong to.

My Ministry is also in the business of empowering the consumers and providing food security for the nation. The present day youth can play very important role in achieving these goals.

A conference of this magnitude will play an important role in shaping the minds and honing the leadership skills of all the participating delegates and will leave an indelible mark on the spectators.

Conferences like these provide a great learning platform not for students like these but also for people like me enabling us to gain an insight into the mind of our youth.

On a finishing note, I place on your strong shoulders, my students, the responsibility of the dreams, hopes, aspirations and expectations of the billions that reside in this world we call ours.
May this conference be one of the first of the many that will voice the opinions and make the world a more aware, more sound and safer place.
Best of luck and good day!

United Nations Conference in Deen Dayal College, 4.8.11

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 Conference of Procuring States on 20.7.11

Meeting with Ethiopean Dy. Prime Minister in Addis Ababa, Ethiopea

Visit to Golden Temple