Banning human cloning
As part of a strategy to assure the people that genetic technology will be harnessed for beneficial use only, Britain may ban human cloning, On the other hand, genetic tests for conditions such as chance are to be made more available. According to the British Health secretary, Alan Milburn, the …
No gram sabha meetings in 35 pc villages
The new arrangements of the village government introduced in Madhya Pradesh is facing some gestation problems in some areas. The gram sabhas could not be held in 35 per cent of villages of Indore district.
All in the familia
The weekend summit in Quebec will concentrate on the creation of a Free-Trade Area of the Americas. The Bush Administration is all for it; South America's biggest economy, Brazil, is not so sure.
Mobile schools for quake-hit Gujarat
In its effort towards rebuilding quake-torn Gujarat, Umang Charitable Society has donated two "mobile school vans" which will travel in the devastated areas, particularly villages with no schools, giving basic education to children.These specially designed mini-trucks were handed over by the outgoing U.S. Ambassador to India, Mr. Richard F. Celeste, …
Gujarat okays removal of Octroi
The Gujarat Government's decision to scrap octroi in 150 municipalities and 330 gram panchayats has been given the Cabinet approval.
Bush trade agenda 'will take all year in Congress'
The Bush Administration expects its effort to wind new trade negotiating authority from the US Congress to take at least the rest of this year, in a fresh sign that the president's trade agenda is facing serious obstacles on Capitol Hill.
World Bank seeks $90m budget rise
The World Bank has requested a budget increase of up to $90m next year to relive "considerable stress and overload" on its staff, it emerged. The request was part of a strategy paper released by the bank before its spring meetings next week in Washington.
UK health chief backs ban on human cloning
Britain said it planned to ban human reproductive cloning to ease public concerns about new genetic technologies. Health Secretary Alan Milburn said he wanted to lay to rest the twin specters of human cloning and the emergence of what he called a "genetic underclass" by introducing legislation to bar all …
UK aid for biodiversity projects
Britain will support two key biodiversity projects in India, with an amount of Rs 1.36 crore sanctioned for them. The first project would look at the causes of decline of two species of critically endangered vultures while the other would be based at the Kodaikanal Botanical Garden in the Palani …
Bureaucrats drop alternative energy meet
Under attack by environmentalists for promoting diesel, the Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers (SIAM) invited a host of international experts to speak on the most discussed issue in Delhi: alternate sources of energy such as CNG and LPG.
20 major panchayats to be upgraded as municipalities
The department of municipal administration is preparing ground for formation of 20 new municipalities in the state. The government machinery is engaged in preparing a report in this regard considering the possibilities before ensuing panchayat polls.
Nabard to sanction Rs 500 cr for Bihar rural development
The National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (Nabard) will sanction a loan of Rs 500 crore for execution of rural development scheme in Bihar during the current financial year, official sources said here on Tuesday.
Science advances on animal brains and mechanical brawn
A revolutionary experiment in combining a mechanical device with living tissue is under way. The cyborg is controlled by an immature lamprey eel brain that was removed, kept alive in a special solution and attached to the palm sized robot by wires so it can receive signals from the device's …
World Bank programmes for Bundelkhand soon : Digvijay
Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Digvijay Singh has said that development of state was not possible without all round development of Bundelkhand region. So the government has decided to implement a special World Bank (WB) aided programme for eradication of poverty and development in this region.
Punjab to amend Panchayati Raj Act
The Punjab Cabinet today agreed to carry out amendments in the Panchayati Raj Act to incorporate a number of changes in the panchayat system.
South Asian countries to cooperate in "Education for All"
Education ministers of seven south Asian countries have decided to meet once every two years to "intensify cooperation and collaboration" in their efforts to achieve "education for all" in the region. At a meeting initiated and funded by UNESCO in the Nepalese capital, Kathmandu, from April 10 to 12, the …
All Rajasthan panchayats to get Net access by 2003
The Rajasthan government is becoming computer savvy, State chief secretary Inderjeet Khanna has directed the officials to connect all the gram panchayat head-quarters with Internet by December 2003.Addressing the state-level planning and development committee meeting held in Jaipur in regard to the revenue, forest and environment departments, the chief secretary …
Agency plans CNG safety check
As a safety measure the Indraprastha Gas Ltd has decided to immediately start checking cylinders of all CNG vehicles, before refuelling them at filling stations. Senior officers said the IGL's decision follows the accident at a CNG station in Dilshad Garden.
SSI status for Himalayan water-mills likely
Centuries old gharats (water-mills) in the Himalayan region may come in for better days in the near future, following the Centre's proposed move to accord the status of small scale industry (SSI) to these water mills. This was stated in a seminar on the revival of water mills and rural …
Vallabhipur gets fresh water after 50 years
For the 20,000 residents of Vallabhipur town in Bhavnagar district of Gujarat, it is time to celebrate 'freedom'. Only this time, it is freedom from 50 years of brackish tap water. Vallabhipur now joins the few fortunate towns of the district which have been receiving the Mahi-Narmada waters from early …
