India scraps import duties on AIDS drugs to battle shortage

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MUMBAI, June 11 (Reuters) - India has scrapped customs import duties for drugs and test kits used to treat AIDS in an effort to cut prices across the country, as it struggles to cope with an ongoing shortage in its national program to fight the disease.

More than a third of India's 2.1 million HIV/AIDS patients depend on getting their daily antiretrovirals for free from state-run distribution centres, but many of them have been facing shortages or stock outs for months.

The notice put out by the Central Board of Excise and Customs this week intends to make it cheaper to import raw materials that are used to make antiretrovirals under the national program, BB Rewari of the National AIDS Control Organisation (NACO) told Reuters.

Currently, U.S. firm Mylan Inc and India's Aurobindo Pharma supply AIDS drugs to the government program.

The exemption applies to certain first-line and second-line antiretroviral drugs used to treat adults and children, as well as to certain diagnostic kits and equipment that are used by NACO, Rewari said.

He added the drugs under exemption make up roughly 95 percent of the antiretrovirals used by India's AIDS patients under the national program.

The exemption, which will remain in effect until March 2016, is the national AIDS control department's latest effort to deal with a chronic shortage of HIV/AIDS drugs at home, even though Indian companies are some of the world's major suppliers of AIDS drugs. Local firm Cipla Ltd made headlines in 2001 by making antiretrovirals for Africa for under $1 a day.

The AIDS control program has been in disarray for months after the government changed the way over $1.3 billion in federal funds were distributed, according to data and letters seen by Reuters.

Construction of clinics in rural areas has been delayed and many health workers have quit.

Government officials have previously told Reuters of a lack of participation by local drugmakers in the tenders floated by the National AIDS Control Organisation (NACO) to procure drugs.

Industry insiders, meanwhile, cite delayed tender approvals, supply bottlenecks and late payments, as well as poor coordination between the central and state governments.

AIDS drugs sold on the open market are expensive, so in an effort to make those more affordable, the government is likely to add more AIDS drugs under price control by including them in the national list of essential medicines, people involved in the process told Reuters in April.

citation from  zawya : https://goo.gl/72Jh21

Indian Maggi sales halted in Dubai

Sunday, Jun 07, 2015

Dubai: A Dubai Municipality official confirmed shops have been asked to halt sales of Maggi noodles made in India.

Officials in India have said samples of Maggi made in India tested positive for unacceptably high levels of lead.

Maggi maker Nestle has said its internal tests, as well as external lab reports, showed Maggi is safe to eat but has voluntarily recalled the product from shops in India on a temporary basis.

In India, there is an official ban on sale of locally made Maggi in some Indian states while other states continue to sell it.

In Dubai, Maggi made in Malaysia, rather than in India, is imported and distributed to local retailers, Nestle Middle East and Dubai Municipality have said, adding that the product is safe.

However, some Dubai shops directly import Maggi from India to cater to mostly Indians who prefer Maggi flavours and varieties made in India.

Following developments in India, Dubai shops have been asked to stop selling Maggi made in India, said Khalid Al Awadhi, Director, Food Control Department, Dubai Municipality .

There is no change in policy towards Maggi made in Malaysia and shops can continue selling that, he added.

Meanwhile, Nestle continues to maintain all Maggi products, regardless of their origin, are safe to eat. It said in a statement that it “reassures consumers in the Middle East that all Maggi products sold are safe and compliant with the highest quality standards.

“We are continuously engaging with authorities in our region and we thank them for their active collaboration.

“Quality and food safety are our top priority and we perform regular tests on our raw material and finished products to ensure food safety and full compliance”.

Dhananjay Datar, managing director of retail chain Al Adil Trading, said the company has destroyed its stock of Maggi made in India. He added that following a query on the status of Maggi made in India, there was an instruction from the municipality on Friday to stop sales of the product.

Hypermarket chain Lulu Middle East earlier said the Maggi noodles sold in their shops are not from India.

“All the Maggi noodles sold here in our shops are from Nestle Middle East and sourced from Malaysia. We don’t import from any other country,” V. Nandakumar, chief communications officer at Lulu Group, had said.

Citation - Taken from ZAWYA : https://goo.gl/Qgu8FP

Supreme Court to Uttar Pradesh Govt: Sinister campaign to grab land

New Delhi: The Supreme Court today slammed the authorities for taking advantage of the "colonial law" on land acquisition to divest farmers of their prime agricultural land benefitting the rich and paying "pittance" to common men.

The apex court said a "sinister campaign" has been launched by various state governments to take advantage of the law against the poor people for taking away the land and giving it to builders where multiplexes, malls, posh residential complexes are developed which are beyond the reach of common men.

"Do you think judges live in fools' paradise"? snapped a bench of Justices G S Singhvi and A K Ganguly when senior advocate P P Rao responded to a question that the residential complexes were being developed for the "needy".

"You are building hotels, malls, commercial complexes, townships where common men have no access. Does it come under the perception of public purpose for which the land have been acquired?"


The bench questioned the change by Uttar Pradesh government in land use in Greater Noida and said "this is not the plan for which the land is acquired. How different notifications came out for changing the use of land".

The sharp remarks were made by the bench during the hearing on petitions filed by Greater Noida Industrial Development Authority and real estate developers and builders, including Supertech and Amrapali, challenging the Allahabad High Court order which had quashed the notifications for land acquisition in Greater Noida adjoining the national capital.

The bench made it clear that it was not going to stay the High Court verdict and would go ahead with the hearing of the parties.

"We are indicating that we are not inclined to stay the order of the High Court. We are not inclined to entertain the special leave petition. We will ask only for your submissions," the bench said.

While Rao, appearing for Supertech, contended the development of residential complexes were for the "needy", the bench drew his attention to the brochure of the company saying "what is there in it is not for the poor people".

"Look at your own brochure. It is saying about swimming pool, spa, tennis court, badminton court, beauty parlour, ayurvedic massage etc. All these are for poor people?

"I am reading from your own brochure. Is it for a common man? Land is taken and given to the builder. This is a sinister plan," the bench said.

"Land is given for the development which must be inclusive. The state is taking advantage of the law against the poor. A sinister campaign is made by various state governments. The state is doing a totally anti-people thing," it said.

While maintaining that the purpose of the land acquisition was being defeated, the bench said the poorest man in society should benefit in public interest but "you (authorities) are responding in such a way that they (the poor and common men) are driven out".

"In the name of globalisation, you are marginalising the people. Why is there a proliferation of terrorist activities? Because they are pushed to the walls. Why so many people are committing suicide? They are marginalised. You are not taking care of them. Poor men cannot come to this court," the bench said.

The court expressed its anguish over the whole development in recent times where the emergency clause has been applied for acquiring land of farmers on the pretext of public purpose.

"The state is taking advantage of the colonial law. What you are giving to the common men is pittance," the bench said.

The High Court had on May 31 quashed acquisition of 170 hectares of land at Gulistan village in Greater Noida for industrial development.

The High Court had said that acquisition of land in Greater Noida for residential apartments, which was done after invoking Section 17 of Land Acquisition Act depriving the aggrieved persons of the chance to file their objections on the ground that the matter was urgent, was a "colourable exercise of power" and had quashed the notification.

The counsel, appearing for Greater Noida Industrial Development Authority, contended the acquisition was part of its "well-known" 2021 plan called the Industrial Development Plan which is a generic term that includes commercial and residential use.

The High Court order had come on the plea of landowners and farmers who challenged the government notification for land acquisition issued on September 5, 2007.

Healthcare - Stillbirth - India's Development Challenge

India Development Challenge Health

The sorry state of maternal care in India has come to the media attention once again. A recent Lancet study noted that India has the highest number of stillbirths in the world, accounting for a little under a quarter of the global total.

Significantly, the study pointed out that around 45 per cent of these can be prevented by timely medical attention. The District Level Household Survey (DLHS) conducted in 2002-04 estimated that stillbirths occurred in 1.7 per cent of all pregnancies for currently married women in the age group of 15 to 44 years in the three years preceding the survey.

In the next round, DLHS-3 for 2007-08 estimated stillbirths at 1.3 per cent of all pregnancies. However, as the survey respondents were in the age group of 15 to 49 years, the estimates of the two rounds are not strictly comparable.

In six states – Bihar, Haryana, Karnataka, Uttar Pradesh, Chhattisgarh and West Bengal – the share of stillbirths to total pregnancies exceeded 1.7 per cent. And in Delhi, Mizoram, Himachal Pradesh, Lakshadweep and Goa the share was 0.5 per cent or less.

Age, education and wealth showed correlation with the incidence of stillbirths — girls less than 20 years of age had the highest share of pregnancies resulting in stillbirths. However, there was a sharp drop in the share of stillbirths when the woman had 10 or more years of schooling, also the highest wealth segment had the lowest incidence of stillbirths. Clearly, access to timely health intervention improves with education and wealth.

With an increase in wealth and educational levels, the incidence of abortions increases, not just induced but also spontaneous abortions. The latter technically refers to miscarriages that naturally occur. At an aggregate level, spontaneous abortions account for 4.7 per cent of all pregnancies while induced abortions account for 1.8 per cent.

Though the DLHS report said, “The observed relatively higher level of spontaneous abortion could be due to reporting of induced abortions as spontaneous abortions.” This ambiguity makes interpreting of the results of the survey difficult. In Goa, Manipur, Delhi and Assam the share of induced abortions exceeds 3.5 per cent while Haryana, Delhi and Tamil Nadu stand out with the share of spontaneous abortions exceeding seven per cent of all pregnancies. If induced and spontaneous abortions are taken into account, Haryana, Delhi, Manipur and Tamil Nadu rank at the top. Haryana, therefore, has the dubious distinction of being the state with the least share of live births to all pregnancies.

It goes without saying that pregnancies that do not culminate in live births take a toll on the physical and psychological health of women. Also the limited access to safe health care from qualified health professionals creates more risks. According to the Family Welfare Statistics 2009 of the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, abortions were responsible for eight per cent of maternal deaths between 2001 and 2003, the latest period for which data are available. Timely and reliable health intervention – whether it is for safe contraceptive methods or during pregnancy – is vital for reducing the burden on women’s health in India.

Indian States Development Scorecard is a weekly feature by Indicus Analytics that focuses on the progress in India and the states across various socio-economic parameters India has the world’s highest number of stillbirths, with mothers-to-be lacking timely and reliable medical attention

Education - India's Development Challenge

India’s Development Challenge

Enrolment in primary schools plunges 2.6 million in 2 years

1. It is a lesson in misplaced enthusiasm. While the Centre has been busy tom-tomming its efforts to send more children to school, enrolment in primary classes across the country has, in actuality, dropped since 2007. Between 2008-09 and 2009-10, enrolment in classes I to IV in Indian schools dropped by over 2.6 million.
The biggest setback was witnessed in Uttar Pradesh, where admissions plummeted by over a million in the last two years, according to the latest data released by the ministry of human resource development.
Thousands of students, including girls, from hundreds of villages in the district have to cover a distance of over five kilometres to reach their primary and secondary schools.

2. As per the records of education department, the girls of 381 villages have to cover a distance of more than five kilometres to get education of upper primary level while the girls of 963 villages cover this distance to get secondary-level education.

Schools still remain distant for girls

Varanasi

The records state that 1,062 villages have primary schools while the kids of 109 villages have to cover a distance of 1-3 km to reach their primary schools.
The girls of 320 villages and boys of 198 villages travel 3-5 km to reach upper primary schools.

'Only 12 of 100 kids in civic schools reach Std X'

The Centre may have implemented the Right to Education Act, aiming for a 100% literacy rate in the country, but the ground reality in the state is rather disheartening.
According to a survey conducted by a non-government organization, of every 100 students admitted to a municipality school, only 12 reach Std X. Clubbed with the high dropout rates, the educational course in civic schools is also highlighted with the abysmally low pass percentage.
"Every year, the Bombay Municipal Corporation spends around Rs 40,000 on each student. Still, 15 of the 24 wards in the city showed an alarming rise in the number of students who have dropped out of school this year," said Nitai Mehta, founder and trustee of Praja Foundation that conducted the survey over the past three years. "What about the development of these children?"
"One of the major problems lies in the fact that most BMC schools are only till Std VII. Almost 1,242 such schools exist in Mumbai as compared to 42 schools which have classes till X. As a result, most of the children do not study beyond that level," his is another reason why students drop out of schools after class VII," said panelist Farida Lambay, founder of NGO Pratham.

Rural kids voice their disappointment over lack of schools in their vicinity


CHENNAI: B Nagaraj (12) and P Munniaraj (11) saw trains for the first time on Sunday. As the first members of their families to journey beyond their home in Gulati village deep in the reserve forest at Denkanikottai in Krishnagiri district, both boys are here on a mission: to talk about how the lack of infrastructure in their village makes it impossible for them to attend school.
Twelve-year-olds N Nagavijay and M Pandian from Thovakudu village in Ramanathapuram and Mandavaikuppam village in Villupuram respectively travel a distance of six km and eight km each to reach school everyday. While Nagavijay dropped out last year because of the distance, activists convinced him to go back this year. "It is unbearably hot during the summer and inconvenient for us to walk six km during the rain with our bags on our backs. I go to school because my parents say I need to work hard and study, become successful and serve my land when I grow up," he said.
Until class V, P Chitra (15), from Kadamanravu village in Kodaikanal district, attended a state-run residential Adi Dravidar school which operated out of a group house where teachers would come in for an hour. "I dropped out for a year and was admitted to class VI at a higher secondary school 35 km away from my village. While children my age were in classes VIII and IX by then, I was stuck in a lower class. I could not cope with the lessons. Also, the food served in the afternoon would have worms in it, so I dropped out," she said.

Only 57 per cent children going to school: RTE Act report


The euphoria over the spurt in India's literacy figures has all but overshadowed the poor progress of the Right to Education (RTE) Act in its first year.The landmark law, mandating free and compulsory education for all children, was enforced from April 1 last year.

But a reality check shows that even as the gross enrolment ratio is an astounding 98 per cent at the primary school level, actual attendance of students in schools is far lower.Another area of concern is the large number of "out of school" children. Government data shows that at present, over 81.5 lakh children don't go to school and are a difficult segment to reach out to.

Educationist Vinod Raina, who was involved in the drafting of the RTE Act, said: "While the gross enrolment ratio stands at 98 per cent, attendance in schools is only about 57 per cent. A lot needs to be done if children are to be actually put into school.

"Kapil Sibal focuses on bringing GER to 30%


Gross Enrolment Ratio (GER) in higher education which is presently hovering at a mere 13%, a whole 10% below the world average.

India's Development Challenge

India's Development Challenge - Safe Drinking Water

• It is more than 60 years India got its freedom from colonial masters.It is a long battle before India is called developed nation. It is growing and growing fast for those who can afford. More than 9% per annum.


• There is long struggle still awaits nation with 40% below poverty line, or less than a dollar a day. No sanitation and clean drinking water, and yes no education and employment. Freedom struggle is far from over. Before we achieve Swaraj and Suraj. India of Baapu's dream.


• This looks very good. India has fasted growing millionair and billionair in the Forbes list of richest India.


• This is half truth and battle for freedom is half fought.


• After 60 years of independence, there is no safe drinking water in Villages and this number is very high. India has more mobile phone than toilets.


• There is no safe drinking water even in our metro's. Delhi is a classic example and today it is in global media.


• What about our slums, Dharavi in Mumbai. Is it anything better.


• NO Villages are far away from safe drinking water. The situation becomes worst in summer, when tabs and well goes dry.


• Ganga and Jamna are more poluted than before, when all industrial affluents goes into it without processing.


• Everyday more than 1600 children die from lack of clean water.

• Challenges are many......... struggle is on.

India’s Development Challenge – Corruption

India’s Development Challenge – Corruption

• 
  
  India against corruption: Anna Hazare begins fast

• 
  
  Anna Hazare reaches Rajghat, hundreds join in support

• Anna Hazare to go on fast unto death demanding anti-corruption law

• The mad media and it’s coverage

No one is talking in big way on this issue of corruption as prime issue facing the Country. Those who called themselves as torch bearer of future of India and clean society are not making it big issue. Media’s role in making issue to non issue and non issue to issue is what is happening. When ever it comes to the talking of corruption in the government, ruling party always has only one point, we have most non corrupt PM. Agreed……..so me the results. The saying goes like this “Man is known by the company he keeps.” The companions of the most non corrupt PM are as below

• Mr. Raja – ex telecom minister


• Mr. Suresh Kalmadi –


• 
  
  Mr. Ashok Chavan Mr. ………….

This is long list. On the nuclear issue…………..the Vote of confidence is owned………..there is secret in it ………… No confidence……. Is confidence……. IPI Pile project discarded ………………….. Mr. Mani Shanker Aiyer was removed as …………. Ex minister of petroleum Decisions on India’s Cabinet is taken ………….. many more consideration are there. Government must come to power ……….. and should remain in power…… we have clean PM. He has job to be completed………… of his masters voice…………. Let us unite as nation ………… against corruption………….. Against injustice…………. “For the sake of nation for bright future of the nation” --------- 9% and above growth in GDP is not guarantee of development……. Sustainable………. Ethical…………and Justice ……..

Rs.80/Kg-Rs.2/KG= ? ..........=Suicide

The Great Indian Puzzle Rs. 80/kg – Rs.2 /Kg=? ……….. = Suicide!!!!!

The onion price has gone from Rs. 80 to Rs 2 a Kg in last 45 days. What a great achievement! Great work my dear Prime Minister!!! Please check your hands!!!
I thinks it has blood……..it has blood of those poor farmers who are asking for fair play. They are asking for life not death.

IIT and IIM are increased, doubled over the years and especially in last ten years. I have just one question how many more agriculture universities and colleges do we have started in last ten years. India’s biggest sector is neglected and neglected too much; the sector which gives employment to 70% of India is no where in development and growth.

We need IIT and IIM ….yes…….I am not disagreeing on it but more importantly we need many more agriculture colleges and universities to educate those who are dying because of lack of knowledge on how to do the job they are doing.


Mr. Dr. Prime Minister ...............( PhD is Capitalist Economy) Yes you have yet to complete a job! As you said you have job to be completed ……….……… …poor are starving. You are making them starve. You have Job to be completed of converting India’s economy run by 12% so rich become richer and poor become poorer. This is what exactly you are doing with your policies.

Onion Rs. 60 to Rs 80 a Kilogram and all vegetables are skyrocketing in the market. The prices of the food items, especially basic food staple has increased almost 50% in last one year and if we look at basket of basic food needs of an average family it has doubled in last two years. Officially inflation stood around 18% YonY at end of December over last year. Global food prices has gone 25% (FAO) food index YonY and pulses has risen 39% YonY. This is the situation, India the biggest producer of pulses and milk has very bad year. Unfortunately PM says because poor people has more disposable income so they are spending more and result is price rise. But with all logic and his credential as economist and as RBI governor I failed to understand, how increase in income of middle class, or poor people will affect prices so much. Are they storing too much? Are they eating too much? They must be spoiling too much!! Unfortunately their income has not gone up that much, and whose income has gone up, the real middle class will spend it on vehicles, cars and tourism, night clubs, most importantly Liquor. India has one of the fasted growth in liquor sell, government should think of increasing taxes on this and associated product which will burden India’s healthcare system in long term. But no one can eat more than his belly, still we are poor country can not spoil food. Even today when I go to any of the home (well to do) I have not seen any one throwing yesterdays food in dustbin. Most of them eat after making it something different product or same by heating. If not, for more than a days old, they will give to maid (she will take it happily and enjoy it, never throw it.). We have more than enough destitute who come asking for food everyday, they too like to take old food. This logic of increase in income is cause of price rise does not hold good. Economist are good in numbers and interpreting it differently as they like, we need to see price parity basis also, and definitely our statistical bureau can give any number, also can prove that income has increase. I am agreeing to income has increased, but one must accept, poverty, and disparity in income has also increase and I can prove it with their numbers only. I am not in business of making numbers fortunately.

This means farmers must be making fortunes by selling onion, potato, milk and other vegetables. Their income must have been increased substantially in last decade. But Data talks differently, last year more than 17000 farmers committed suicide because of financial problems. In 2011 from January 1st till 15th, more than 11 farmers committed suicide in Vidarbha only. (PM has given big package for the development of Vidarbha farmers, which I failed to see on ground when he visited, that was election gimmick played very well………. We should have elections every 2 years instead of 5 years so people may get some thing regularly, one year assembly election and next year parliamentary election.)
Average Productivity of main crops and India’s Ranking in the world.
MSP for last five years
Minimum wages for last five years
Land holding pattern in India
Average income of farmer
Average monthly salary of Class IV employee of Government of India after 6th pay commission.


If we look at data below even though India has one of key player in agriculture its performance as agriculture producer has remain dismal. It is the old Green revolution which made India self sufficient in wheat and white revolution for milk. But disparities in states are wide. Production is bad and productivity is at mercy of mansoon. Unfortunately government’s allocation to the agriculture as percentage share of budget is going down continuously. The projects are still uncompleted after 20 years of executions.

The cost of production has gone up three time, average holding of land is going down and productivity and MSP are not increased so farmers are getting poorer.

This need change of attitude and focus on change of development. 12% growth will bring more deaths and more inflation and more food riots and disparity between rich and poor.
India needs 7% growth which is diversified across the sectors and in the villages.
Government must increase its allocation to agriculture and also in the research.



This is sole reason -------------A change is must!!!