The government has taken a significant initiative by starting the National Nutrition Mission in 2017. But such a significant increase is not visible yet. Official data tells us that from 1951-52 to 1967-68 when very low levels of chemical fertilisers were being used, the average annual increase of yield per hectare for rice, wheat and maize were higher compared to the 1968-69 to 1980-81 period when the use of chemical fertilisers and pesticides had increased greatly. On the other hand due to official support for large-scale land acquisition for industrial and infrastructure projects, many small and medium farmers are losing their land at a faster pace than ever before.— Charkha Features. Despite this the government has persistently supported and subsidised a farm production strategy based on excessive use of chemical fertilisers and pesticides ignoring the high and increasing health and environmental hazards associated with this as well as the heavy economic burden imposed by these expensive inputs on farmers.Clearly we have to make important policy changes and improve resource allocation in order to realise the SDGs relating to elimination of hunger and significant sustainable improvements in rural livelihoods using eco-friendly methods. In the absence of adequate increase in resource allocation it may be difficult to achieve the nutrition targets. Ambitious targets have been set for the next three years.One can only hope that the necessary policy changes can come in time so that India can make good and steady progress on the path of getting closer to achieve SDGs in the context of food, nutrition, farming and rural livelihoods. It is clear that hunger can be reduced significantly only if plans for increasing food production are linked closely to using a base of small farmers for this purpose. Women farmers are more supportive of eco-friendly practices, but their decision-making role is limited in many places. This becomes all the more important at a time when difficulties increase and several new uncertainties arise in terms of climate change and related changes. So if we want to achieve more, a big increase in resource allocation for nutrition is also needed. Keeping in view the sheer size of India’s population, including its rural people and farmers, the progress of India in this context will be keenly watched all over the world. The necessity for significant policy changes becomes even more important if we keep in mind the additional requirement of SDGs that small producers must benefit, with special emphasis on women and indigenous people, that land and other natural resources base of weaker sections should be strengthened, and environment protection and sustainability with special emphasis on soil health should be promoted.Most people who give priority to reducing hunger, malnutrition and poverty as well as protecting environment will agree strongly with this approach. When we compare this with what was achieved in the past we find that the reduction of underweight children during 2005 to 2015 was only at the rate of 0. While some efforts were made to protect tribal land rights, their success has been far short of expectations. This includes landless farm workers, who can be helped by land reforms and land redistribution, to emerge as small farmers.Regarding the objective of helping and promoting weaker sections in food production, there has been a big setback on land reform programme particularly its land redistribution component has been abandoned almost entirely by the government in recent years.68 per cent per year. Although the government has started a special scheme called Paramparagat Krishi Vikas Yojana to promote this, unfortunately, its already meagre budgetary allocations in the previous two financial years were cut badly when the revised estimates were presented. This mission aims to reduce the number of underweight children in the age group 0-6 by six per cent in the next three years and lower it to 25 per cent by 2022. When we bring in additional factors like sustainability, eco-friendly farming, nurturing the fertility of land and protecting soil health, again small landholders with their painstaking personal care are more capable of this. While outside forces are taking over more and more farmland, the possibilities of the landless gaining access to even small plots of farmland is receding further. Although the adverse impact of climate change on farming and other rural livelihoods is widely recognised, and the worsening of floods and droughts has been noticed at several places in recent times, this again has not led to allocation of adequate resources. Similar is the case of the Climate Change Action Plan. The insistence on expensive certification procedures is another hurdle. The budget allocation for National Adaptation Plan, which was a paltry Rs 110-crore last year, has not increased at all this year.The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) of eliminating hunger and increasing farm productivity and income by 2030 are laudable, but several important changes will have to be made in a big way before India comes close to achieving these about 12 years from now.

The availability of seeds, which are suitable for organic farming, is very limited. Another specific aim is that anemia among women (15-49 years age group) and children (6 to 59 months age group) should be reduced by three per cent per annum during this period. The availability of fertile and good quality land with good irrigation prospects is also adversely affected.The support for organic farming is very limited. Merely setting ambitious targets is not adequate. Hence there can be serious problems in achieving the objective https://www.nb-huayi.com/product/non-standard-bearings/ of sustainable, eco-friendly farm production methods and these problems can increase manifold and in irreversible ways if the use of genetically modified (GM) crops is increased further. Hence farm production has moved away from sustainability and rights of weaker sections in some important respect and policy changes need correction before it is too late.

These have to be backed by adequate and matching resources. While small good initiatives are taken to overcome some of these problems, their reach at present is very limited.If the rights of the weakest sections on land and other natural resource base are neglected or violated, then any increase in farm production that takes place despite this, is unlikely to be linked to reduction of poverty and hunger. Several studies have shown that even in terms of increase in productivity, a base comprising small family farms is most appropriate.Although all this is supported by studies in various parts of the world, often farm policies in India as well as other developing countries have ignored this. When food grows mainly on the fields of these sections that comprise almost 90 per cent of total farm households then there will be a close link between the increase in food production and productivity on the one hand and reduction of hunger and poverty on the other

Combating the menace of poaching is the immediate and most important goal of the ongoing DNA profiling that has started following a directive to that effect by the Union environment ministry.It is significant that lack of hard evidence is what enables arrested poachers to escape the law, resulting in an abysmal conviction rate of https://www.nb-huayi.com/product/motorcycle-bearings/ less than four per cent in Assam which accounts for the largest number of the Indian one-horned rhino.A state forest official said that efforts are on to assist the roll-out of the RhoDIS in all the rhino-bearing areas of Assam and help the formation of an authentic database. This is all scientists need to discover a rhinoceros’ unique DNA pattern, a sort of genetic fingerprint investigators can use to link criminals involved in poaching and trading of rhino horn to individual mutilated or killed rhinos.It takes less than 20 mg of rhino horn to prosecute poachers.The scientists, at WII who have been entrusted with the responsibility of preparing the rhino DNA database from rhinos at Kaziranga, Manas and Orang national parks and Pobitora wildlife sanctuary in Assam, and in Jaldapara and Dudhwa national parks in West Bengal and Uttar Pradesh respectively, said that field sampling from dung has been completed at Manas and Pobitora, besides Dudhwa. The matching of confiscated rhino contraband with existing database for court prosecution has already started in many states..Guwahati: In order to check world-wide network rhino horn smuggling the Indian scientists have embarked upon an ambitious plan of DNA profiling of rhinos across rhino-bearing areas of the country for gathering irrefutable evidence against poachers or anyone in possession of rhino horns.The DNA profiling is also aimed to understand the genetic status of existing rhino populations across habitats and long-term conservation. The RhoDIS will create a database of DNA profiles of all the rhinos — free ranging as well as captive population in zoos.The method can be used to individually identify horns from stockpiles and to link recovered horns to individual poaching cases, thereby linking a horn trafficker to a poaching incident or a poacher caught with horns in his possession with the carcass of an individual rhino. .The DNA profile is being prepared from the tissue samples from dead rhinos and rhinos tranquillised for treatment and translocation, from mucous membrane enveloping the dung samples.Informing that DNA profiling has helped in matching of seized rhino horn from poachersin  at least four cases so far, the wildlife authorities pointed out that the DNA profiling — called Rhino DNA Indexing System (RhoDIS) — is currently under preparation at the Dehradun-based Wildlife Institute of India (WII)

"Voters reported snags in EVMs in Sardar Patel Vidyalaya booth in Surat’s Varaccha.Congress leader Arjun Modhwadia caused a flutter by claiming that EVMs in three polling booths in Porbandar were found to be connected to external devices via bluetooth, raising doubts about hacking. After a voter presses the button on the EVM against the chosen candidate, the VVPAT prints a slip bearing the name of the candidate and the election symbol and drops it automatically into a sealed box."ECO 105 was feared to be the EVM at the polling booth, giving rise to the fear of possible tampering through bluetooth technology… an inquiry showed a polling agent was carrying a mobile phone of Intex company, bearing model number ECO 105," said Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) B.New Delhi: Several cases of faulty electronic voting machines (EVMs) were reported and allegations of their tampering flew on Saturday in Gujarat where voting took place in 89 seats for the first phase of Assembly elections. Gujarat is the second state after Goa to use VVPAT in elections.

An EC official said that there were reports of technical glitches in EVMs in Surat and some other centres but the polling process resumed after the machines were replaced at eight-night polling booths. Party spokesperson Sambit Patra said, "Congress is searching for an excuse even before the results are out, as it stares at a loss in the elections.The complainant’s phone was detecting — when its bluetooth was https://www.nb-huayi.com/product/motorcycle-bearings/ activated — another device identified as "ECO 105" at the polling booth, said an EC official. Complaints of malfunctioning EVMs also came in from 16 rural and urban constituencies of Surat. Swain. In the recent Uttar Pradesh civic elections also, claims were made by the Opposition BSP and the SP that the EVMs were tampered with to benefit the BJPBoth the BSP and SP as well as the Mamata Banerjee-led Trinamul Congress have demanded that ballot papers should be brought back to ensure free and fair polling.B. He alleged that EVMs in booth number 145, 146 and 147 were hacked, a claim rejected by the Election Commission.VVPAT machines are used during election process to verify that the vote polled by a voter goes to the correct candidate.Demands for the use of VVPAT rose in the wake of allegations of EVM tampering, beginning with the Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections earlier this year.While the EC has ensured a 100 per cent Voter Verifiable Paper trail for EVMs at all 24,600 polling booths, there were complaints related to these machines as well.  The BJP hit back at the Congress for alleging tampering of EVMs.

The revenue to accrue from these mines over the next 50 years will be more than Rs 13,000 crore. Five states https://www.nb-huayi.com -- Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Jharkhand -- will offer a total of 29 mines for the auction that will commence from the third week of this month, a senior government official said. "This time, there are 14 iron ore mines, 12 blocks of limestone and 1 block each of gold, diamond and copper," the official added. States were able to auction 7 mines in the first phase with mineral reserves worth about Rs 29,000 crore.. New Delhi: After the industry’s lukewarm response to the first phase of mines auction, states are gearing up for the second, which will see mines bearing minerals like gold, diamond and iron ore go under the hammer.
Though cement market seems to be reviving, there does not seem much interest from the industry. Companies do not seem to be very active in bidding for the blocks," a senior official from a cement firm said. Of this, 17 blocks could not be sold due to insufficient number of initial bids on account of factors such as quantity and grade of ore, quality of the mineralisation studies, land ownership pattern, dull market scenario and end-use conditions imposed by states. According to analysts, there will be good response for iron ore mines, and gold and diamond too will see interest. The revenue to accrue from these mines over the next 50 years will be more than Rs 13,000 crore. However, the industry does not seem very enthusiastic about limestone blocks, which they say could be owing to the slump in the cement market. During the first round held in the last financial year, states offered nearly 47 mines bearing minerals such as gold, iron ore, bauxite and limestone

"Its cautious optimism because we are known to squander opportunities," said Sujeev Shakya, founder of the Kathmandu-based Nepal Economic Forum, of the recent drop in load-shedding."."We had to run our business according to the load-shedding schedule."Demand for electricity has long outstripped supply in Nepal, with energy production severely depressed by chronic under-investment and inefficiencies in the power network.Experts say it could be generating 83,000 megawatts of power, but its total installed generation capacity currently stands at less than two percent of that.Experts say it could be generating 83,000 megawatts of power, but its total installed generation capacity currently stands at less than two percent of that.In addition, he brought online some power plants that had been sitting idle due to poor maintenance, and launched a public awareness campaign to encourage people to avoid electricity-guzzling activities -- like ironing and pumping water -- in the evenings when demand for power is at its highest."Demand for electricity has long outstripped supply in Nepal, with energy production severely depressed by chronic under-investment and inefficiencies in the power network.Construction on two long mooted projects is finally expected to begin later this year."Development of hydro energy infrastructure requires a long-term view.The result has been crippling for domestic industry and deterred foreign investment, while crucial infrastructure development has flagged in the years of political paralysis that followed the end of the Maoist insurgency in 2006 and the overthrow of the monarchy two years later.He added: "Now at (the) NEA you have a good guy and he may try to reform, but the system is designed to take care of the interests of few."But at that time I felt that whatever I said I could manage more than that.But arguably the single greatest weapon Ghising has is the backing of the prime minister and the energy and finance ministers. And with these short-term governments its very difficult to believe they can have a long-term view," said Shakya.""We had to run our business according to the load-shedding schedule. There was unequal distribution of electricity that was not as per the rules of NEA," said Ghising. Clients would call and check if there was light," the salons owner Anita Shrestha told AFP."Its cautious optimism because we are known to squander opportunities," said Sujeev Shakya, founder of the Kathmandu-based Nepal Economic Forum, of the recent drop in load-shedding.That would be a game changer for the Himalayan nation, which currently relies on India for electricity in the winter dry season.That would be a game changer for the Himalayan nation, which currently relies on India for electricity in the winter dry season.Construction on two long mooted projects is finally expected to begin later this year."When I was appointed I set the goal that I would at least make Kathmandu load-shedding free," Ghising told AFP.But that has all changed since Kulman Ghising was appointed head of the Nepal Electricity Authority in September last year.It will take around seven years before they come online, but even one would double Nepals current generation capacity, eventually transforming it into an energy exporter."Before there was some mismanagement that some industries get 24 hours (of power), some industries get 12 hours, some industries get only 8 hours."When I was appointed I set the goal that I would at least make Kathmandu load-shedding free," Ghising told AFP. There was unequal distribution of electricity that was not as per the rules of NEA," said Ghising."There is a tension that there will be power cuts again if the government changes.Load-shedding -- previously up to 16 hours a day in the winter dry season -- has all but ended in the countrys three largest cities and in other major towns been reduced to around two hours on alternate days."Before there was some mismanagement that some industries get 24 hours (of power), some industries get 12 hours, some industries get only 8 hours.The policy was meant to give 24-hour power to around 20 big employers, but had expanded after decades of mission creep -- and backhanders.He overhauled the hydropower generation system -- storing water at times of low demand so more could be generated at peak hours."But at that time I felt that whatever I said I could manage more than that.Scheduled power cuts -- known as load-shedding -- have been a part of daily life in the impoverished landlocked country for decades, forcing small businesses to rely on expensive generators or simply close when the lights went out.The result has been crippling for domestic industry and deterred foreign investment, while crucial infrastructure development has flagged in the years of political paralysis that followed the end of the Maoist insurgency in 2006 and the overthrow of the monarchy two years later.But with the average tenure of governments in Nepal at around seven months, many are concerned that another change at the top could reverse the recent gains.For one of the first times in Nepals short history as a parliamentary democracy, all four are members of the Maoist party and that political alignment is bearing fruit."I dont know the details, but I feel like Nepalis were kept in the dark for too long," said Shrestha as she styled a clients hair into cascading curls.Political alignment Ghisings formula to end the power cuts involved tackling some basic inefficiencies.But arguably the single greatest weapon Ghising has is the backing of the prime minister and the energy and finance ministers. He also ended a policy that provided electricity round the clock to certain industries."Nepal with its mountain river system should be an energy-producing powerhouse.

The country is due to hold its first local elections in nearly two decades later this year and the Maoists need to show results to boost their chances at the polls.But that has all changed since Kulman Ghising was appointed head of the Nepal Electricity Authority in September last year.Kathmandu: The continuous whirl of hair dryers is a novel sound at the Blush Beauty Point parlour in Nepals capital Kathmandu, which until just five months ago had to close at regular intervals because of power cuts. And with these short-term governments its very difficult to believe they can have a long-term view," said Shakya. Clients would call and check if there was light," the salons owner Anita Shrestha told AFP.In addition, he brought online some power plants that had been sitting idle due to poor maintenance, and launched a public awareness campaign to encourage people to avoid electricity-guzzling activities -- like ironing and pumping water -- in the evenings when demand for power is at its highest. He also ended a policy that provided electricity round the clock to certain industries.And on the now lit streets of Kathmandu, suspicion darkens the mood.Kathmandu: The continuous whirl of hair dryers https://www.nb-huayi.com is a novel sound at the Blush Beauty Point parlour in Nepals capital Kathmandu, which until just five months ago had to close at regular intervals because of power cuts."Nepal with its mountain river system should be an energy-producing powerhouse.But with the average tenure of governments in Nepal at around seven months, many are concerned that another change at the top could reverse the recent gains.He overhauled the hydropower generation system -- storing water at times of low demand so more could be generated at peak hours.And on the now lit streets of Kathmandu, suspicion darkens the mood.The policy was meant to give 24-hour power to around 20 big employers, but had expanded after decades of mission creep -- and backhanders.Political alignment Ghisings formula to end the power cuts involved tackling some basic inefficiencies.Load-shedding -- previously up to 16 hours a day in the winter dry season -- has all but ended in the countrys three largest cities and in other major towns been reduced to around two hours on alternate days."Development of hydro energy infrastructure requires a long-term view.

For one of the first times in Nepals short history as a parliamentary democracy, all four are members of the Maoist party and that political alignment is bearing fruit."I dont know the details, but I feel like Nepalis were kept in the dark for too long," said Shrestha as she styled a clients hair into cascading curls.It will take around seven years before they come online, but even one would double Nepals current generation capacity, eventually transforming it into an energy exporter.Hydro potential But while Ghising might have turned on the lights for much of Nepal, the country will need to harness its huge hydropower potential to keep the electricity flowing.The country is due to hold its first local elections in nearly two decades later this year and the Maoists need to show results to boost their chances at the polls."There is a tension that there will be power cuts again if the government changes.Hydro potential But while Ghising might have turned on the lights for much of Nepal, the country will need to harness its huge hydropower potential to keep the electricity flowing.He added: "Now at (the) NEA you have a good guy and he may try to reform, but the system is designed to take care of the interests of few

This bodes well for the creation of large physical assets, which are required for the growth of the nation," he said."However," said Deep Kantawala, group CFO and head investment advisory, ICS Group, "we see the trend changing with the advent of REITS, wherein there is a gradual change in the investment landscape from pure debt to equity.ft.In the last fiscal, foreign PE funds invested $2.But with the advent of REIT, Mr Kantawala said there will be unlocking of value for the developers of such asset class and in fact with a surge in demand, there will be more quality yield bearing assets which will get developed.

In 2015-16, more than 70 per cent of the investment from FIIs was in the residential real estate sector.One of the key issues, which was faced by the real estate sector and hindering the development of annuity bearing assets earlier, has been limited avenues for exits, he said. Local institutions and NBFCs have funded projects, but more in the form of structured debt rather than equity." An REIT is a company that invests in income-producing commercial property or mortgages and often trades on major exchanges like a stock.77 billion in the real estate sector, which was predominantly in the form of equity investment in large projects. These assets, which are primarily located in the top eight cities, would be worth more than $40 billion. Mr Kantawala said that there is in excess of 300 million sq.Tradable REITs makes exit from projects easy for foreign realty investors.Asked if REIT required any changes, he said the law should bring within its preview the bureaucracy and they need to be made equally accountable to ensure that permissions and approvals are provided within prescribed time-frames.With the implementation of the Real Estate Investm-ent Trust (REIT) Fund, reinforced by the Real Estate Regulatory Agency, foreign investment funds are shifting their investments to annuity income bearing assets like malls, warehouses, https://www.nb-huayi.com office parks, etc as against the earlier residential projects.Over the years, residential projects have attracted maximum inflow of foreign investment. of commercial space, which are REIT-compliant. REITs provide investors with an extremely liquid stake in real estate.