Punjab records highest per capita milk availability: Report

Punjab has recorded the highest per capita milk availability of 937 grams per day, followed by Haryana's 679 grams, according to a report by Assocham.

"In terms of per capita availability of milk in 2010-11, Punjab was the leader among the 20 major states with 937 grams of milk available per person per day, followed by Haryana (679 grams), Rajasthan (538 grams) , Himachal Pradesh (446 grams) and Gujarat (435 grams)," the report said.

"With about eight per cent share in India's total milk production of about 121 million tonnes (MT), Punjab is ranked fourth with annual milk production of 9.4 MT," said the report titled 'Unlocking Growth of Potential of Indian Dairy Industry.'

"Besides, with dairy output worth over Rs 3,600 crore, Punjab ranked seventh with about 6% share in the country's total dairy output worth over Rs 60,255 crore," the report said.

Punjab is ranked sixth in terms of direct employment being generated in registered dairy units and the state has a share of about four per cent in 1,493 registered dairy factories across India, it said.



However, Punjab has registered the slowest growth in milk production during 2006-07 to 2010-11 at around three per cent, which is below all-India average growth of about 19%.

Andhra Pradesh (AP) has recorded highest growth in terms of both milk production and per capita availability, thereby clocking a growth of over 41% and about 36% during the five year period starting 2006-10.

However, the state ranked third in terms of milk production with over 1.1 MT of milk produced annually.




Apart from AP, Rajasthan (28%), Kerala (24.8%), Karnataka (24%) and Gujarat (23.7%) are among the top five states in terms of clocking high growth in milk production.

"Milk production across India has grown at a significant rate of about 19% during the aforesaid period with overall milk production crossing 121 MT mark as of 2010-11.

"But despite being the largest milk producer in the world, per-capita milk availability in India at 252 grams falls below the global average of 279 grams per person per day," DS Rawat, national secretary general, Assocham, said in a release.

"It is imperative for India's dairy industry to streamline its value chain processes and integrate smallholder dairy producers into processing value chain in order to improve overall performance of the industry, more so as they possess inherent strengths like low production costs, lower liabilities and limited liquidity risk," said Rawat.

"However, lack of knowledge and technical know-how, poor access to support services, limited access to credit and poor milk quality together limit the ability of smallholder dairy producers to take advantage of market opportunities," he said.

New Zealand (9,773 grams), Ireland (3,260 grams) and Denmark (2,411 grams) are top three countries in terms of per-capita milk availability.

"Growing at a compounded annual growth rate (CAGR) of over four%, milk production in India is expected to rise to about 177 MT by 2019-2020 and that would help in meeting the projected demand of 150 MT by 2016-17 that has been envisaged in National Dairy Plan Phase-1," said Rawat.

Uttar Pradesh (UP) commands highest share of over 17% in total milk production, followed by Rajasthan (11%), Andhra Pradesh (9%), Punjab (8%) and Gujarat (8%). These top five states have a combined share of over 53% in country's total milk production.

MDG 4 & 5: ‘All ten fast-track countries did work outside health as well’

While a majority of low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) are struggling to meet the Millennium Development Goal 4 and 5 of reducing child mortality and improving maternal health, in 2012 ten countries with similar resources were on the “fast-track” of achieving the targets, notes a June 30, 2014 Partnership for Maternal, Newborn and Child Health, WHO report.

These countries (in alphabetical order) — Bangladesh, Cambodia, China, Egypt, Ethiopia, Lao PDR, Nepal, Peru, Rwanda, and Vietnam — “deployed tailored strategies and adapted quickly to change” to achieve the desired results. “Each country had a unique pathway but had certain commonalities like family planning and immunisation,” said Dr. Shyama Kuruvilla, Senior Technical Officer, Knowledge for Policy, Partnership for Maternal, Newborn and Child Health, WHO, Geneva. She is also a coordinating author of the “Success Factors for Women and Children’s Health” report.

The reason why these 10 countries are doing better than other low- and middle income countries turns the spotlight on the core issue – it was not the amount of money they spent but how they spent it that mattered. “These countries identified evidence-based high-impact interventions like immunisation, family planning and quality care at the time of birth. And these were carried out the interventions in a novel way and adapted to suit the particular country’s conditions,” she said.

As a result, the immunisation coverage shot up from 2 per cent to 85 per cent between 1985 and 2010. “They have a very good monitoring system. You need to focus on the results of investment and not just how much money is put in. These [10] countries have, what we call, a triple planning — investment, investing to sustain progress and identifying the challenges that require change,” Dr. Kuruvilla explained.

These countries did work outside health as well, like girl’s education; women’s participation in labour force and politics; rapid increase in safer water availability and sanitation; and economic development and good governance. “All the 10 countries are doing better than other countries in all these areas. We need combined progress in all areas, not just health. That’s the challenge for India,” Dr. Kuruvilla stressed.

China made universal primary education compulsory in 2000. It made nine years education compulsory for eliminating illiteracy among young people. And in 2011, the net enrolment of primary school-age children was 99.8 per cent. It achieved universal education in 2011, much ahead of 2015. “So the strongest population point is China. It achieved 99.8 per cent enrolment of children [although] the population is 1.37 billion,” she said dismissing the excuse of a large population in India standing in the way of vastly and quickly improving the health indicators.

Between 1990 and 2013, India reduced maternal mortality by 65 per cent (569 to 190 per 100,000 live births). But it still accounts for 17 per cent (50,000) of the global maternal deaths, the highest in the world. Though it brought down under-five mortality from 2.5 million to 1.4 million between 2001 and 2012, 22 per cent (the highest in the world) of deaths took place inIndia in 2012. Of the three million neonatal (0-27 days) deaths in 2012, 779,000 happened in India. Also, globally there were 2.6 million stillbirths the same year, of which 600,000 were in India.

In the case of Nepal, increased provision of maternal and neonatal services like free delivery scheme and cash incentives for antenatal care visits have ensured that women deliver safely and babies have a better start to life. The number of skilled birth attendance has shot up from less than 10 per cent in 2001 to 36 per cent in 2011.

Many government strategies and policies connected to safer motherhood, neonatal health, nutrition and gender are “underpinned by principles of human rights.” Reproductive, maternal, newborn, and child health have become a political priority. Between 1991 and 2011, Nepal witnessed a 66 per cent reduction in under-five mortality (from 162 to 54 per 1,000 live births) and 80 per cent reduction in maternal mortality (from 850 to 170 per 100,000 live births). Nepal has shown that political instability is not a limiting factor. “Despite severe economical and political challenges, all these [10] countries have done well,” she added

“There is greater participation and ownership by community and female health volunteers in Nepal,” Dr. Kuruvilla said. In the case of Bangladesh, the co-ordinated efforts by community workers and NGOs helped save the lives of many under-five children. “In Bangladesh and Nepal somebody takes leadership. We must have leadership from somewhere. The only problem [inIndia] is we need a critical mass. There are hundreds of NGOs but all do different things,” she highlighted.

The widespread use of mobile phone technology is playing a pivotal role in strengthening the health system in Bangladesh. Collection of real-time data on pregnant women and under-five children, text messages offering advice to registered pregnant women are sent out every week and online registration of births and deaths are driven by information and communication technology.

“The use of mobile phones has increased birth registration [in Bangladesh] from 10 per cent in 2006 to 50 per cent in 2009,” said Dr. Kuruvilla. The country is striving to make government health services fully digital by 2016; rural areas, where 75 per cent of the population lives, got connected by wireless broadband in 2012.

Between 1990 and 2011, Bangladesh witnessed a 65 per cent reduction in under-five mortality (from 151 to 53 per 1,000 live births) and 66 per cent fall in maternal mortality (from 574 to 194 per 100,000 live births).

“Bangladesh and Vietnam adopted economic programmes to employ women,” said Dr. Kim Dickson, Co-Chair of “Every Newborn Action Plan” report and Senior Adviser for Maternal and Newborn Health, UNICEF. “They [women] have more money… can help take decisions.”

Stressing on the importance of breast feeding, Dr. Dickson cited the example of Cambodia where it increased from 11 per cent in 2000 to 74 per cent in 2010. “There was a campaign focussed on media awareness, including TV soap operas,” Dr. Dickson said.

In many countries, breast feeding not being done as recommended is not unusual. “Early initiation [in facilities immediately after birth] and exclusive breast feeding for first six months are an issue,” Dr. Kuruvilla said.

India, China sign three important pacts

India and China on Monday signed three key MoUs, including one on industrial parks and flood data of Brahmaputra river, coinciding with the visit of Vice-President Hamid Ansari here.

The agreements were signed in the presence of Ansari and his Chinese counterpart Li Yuanchao after their talks.

The MoU on industrial parks is aimed at attracting Chinese investments in India and provides an enabling framework for Chinese companies to invest in industrial parks and zones.

Under the MoU, the two countries have agreed to cooperate to increase mutual investment in each other's economies and this cooperation will be in accordance with the relevant domestic laws and regulations of each party and on the basis of equality and mutual benefit.

An Industrial Park Cooperation Working Group made up of equal number of representatives from both the countries will be set up to identify and agree upon the detailed modalities for implementing cooperation under this agreement and will periodically review the progress, an official statement said.

The MoU on flood data sharing will provide India with 15 days more of hydrological data of river Brahmaputra. The data helps India in flood forecasting.

India provides money for maintenance of three hydrological centres on the Chinese side. The data will be provided from May 15 to October 15 each year.

The third MoU will help the two countries establish a framework for regular interactions between administrative officials to share experiences and learn from each other's best practices. Specific programmes of cooperation will be worked out subsequently.

The MoU will ensure cooperation between Lal Bahadur Shastri National Academy of Administration, Mussoorie and China Executive Leadership Academy, Pudong, Shanghai.

The MOU envisages exchange of officials, cooperation in developing training programmes, field visits to each other's countries.

PSLV-C23 puts SPOT-7, other satellites in precise orbits

India’s Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV-C23) successfully put on Monday five satellites from abroad into their perfect orbits. This was the 27th PSLV launch and of these 27 lift-offs, 26 have been successful in a row, demonstrating what a reliable and robust launch vehicle the PSLV is.

It was a dedicated commercial launch in which the PSLV put into orbit SPOT satellite from France, AISAT from Germany, NLS7.1 and NLS7.2, both from Canada, and VELOX-1 from Singapore. Antrix, the commercial wing of the Department of Space, will be charging a fee for putting each of these satellites into orbit.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who watched the launch from the Mission Control Centre (MCC) at the spaceport at Sriharikota, said the successful mission filled every Indian with pride. “I can see it reflected in the joy and satisfaction on your faces,” he said.

Mr. Modi, who addressed the ISRO scientists, engineers and technicians from the MCC, said space was “one domain where India was at the international cutting edge, a domain in which we have pushed beyond mediocrity to achieve excellence”.

The PSLV had so far put 67 satellites into orbit, of which 40 were from 19 countries, “Truly, this is a global endorsement of India’s space capabilities,” Mr. Modi said.

He wanted the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) to develop a satellite for the exclusive use of SAARC countries, a satellite which could provide a full range of applications and services to SAARC members and India’s neighbourhood.

Space technology could play a critical role in realizing a Digital India — the power of 125 crore connected Indians, he said. Space technology was an invaluable tool in communication, disaster management, giving advanced warning of cyclones, telemedicine, tele-education and so on. “We must harness this technology for social change, economic development and resources conservation,” the Prime Minister said.

Earlier, Mr. Modi arrived at the MCC at 9.25 a.m., accompanied by ISRO Chairman K. Radhakrishnan, B.N. Suresh, former Director, Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre, Thiruvananthapuram, was seated next to the Prime Minister. Dr. Suresh kept answering various questions from the Prime Minister.

It was a perfect mission on Monday, with the PSLV-C23 rising majestically from the first launch pad at the Satish Dhawan Space Centre at Sriharikota at 9.52 a.m. After the PSLV’s four stages ignited on time and separated with clock-work precision, the five satellites from abroad were put into orbit with precision. The entire mission lasted about 20 minutes

Obninsk plant: World’s 1st nuke power plant turns sixty

Obninsk Nuclear Power Plant- world’s first nuclear power plant which epitomized the peaceful use of nuclear technology, particularly during the Cold War era, turned 60 on June 26. The plant is located in a village called Pyatkino in Obninsk city, some 150 kms from Moscow, Russia.
It was unveiled on June 26, 1954. India’s then Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru and Indira Gandhi, who strongly voiced for India’s peaceful use of nuke energy, had visited the Obninsk plant.
Igor Kurchatov who is known as “the father of the Soviet Atomic Weapons Programme” played a key role in the establishment of this plant.

Google to globalize “Project Loon” to provide internet to even the rural and remote areas of the world

In year 2013, Google launched Project Loon, a program that intends to provide Internet access to the rural and remote areas that constitute around 66% of the world’s population.
The project uses balloons floating at high altitudes that move up and down as per the signals from building antennas. Each balloon in the network moves in the stratosphere high above commercial air space for several months at a time.

RIMPAC 2014: World’s largest international maritime drill kicks off

World’s largest international maritime exercise named RIMPAC 2014 began on June 26. The mega drill will see participation of navies from 23 countries. The United States has sent the biggest fleet, followed by China. 
This is China’s first active participation at RIMPAC. China is also likely to join drills against non-traditional security threats.
RIMPAC 2014 is the 24^th naval exercise in the series and will commence from June 26 to August 1. RIMPAC
RIMPAC, the Rim of the Pacific Exercise, is the world’s largest international maritime warfare exercise. RIMPAC is held biennially during June and July of even-numbered years from Honolulu, Hawaii. It is hosted and administered by the United States Navy’s Pacific Fleet, headquartered at Pearl Harbor, in conjunction with the Marine Corps, the Coast Guard, and Hawaii National Guard forces under the control of the Governor of Hawaii. The US invites military forces from the Pacific Rim and beyond to participate. The theme for RIMPAC 2014 exercise is “Capable, Adaptive Partners.”