Women farmers represent more than a quarter of the world’s population. Women comprise, on an average, 43 per cent of the agricultural work force in developing countries, ranging from 20 per cent in Latin America to 50 per cent in Eastern Asia and Sub-Saharan Africa. Yet women have less access than men to agriculture related assets, inputs and services.  Had they enjoyed the same access to productive resources as men, women could boost yield by 20-30 per cent; raising the overall agricultural output in developing countries by two and a half to four per cent. This gain in production could lessen the number of hungry people in the world by 12-17 per cent, besides increasing women’s income (FAO, 2011).
As farmers, agricultural workers and entrepreneurs, women form the backbone of agricultural rural economy in the developing regions, and yet, together with children, they remain one of the most vulnerable groups. With far less access to education and technology, a host of other socio-economic factors have had an adverse impact on the lives of women farmers in recent years. These include the accelerated pace of globalization, the associated policy and institutional changes including economic liberalization and commercialization of agriculture, rapid pace of population growth and urbanization. Rural-urban migration, growing pressure on land, water, agrobiodiversity and firewood and natural disasters associated with climate change have been unfavourable to women in agriculture, and they have often not been able to take advantage of opportunities from new technologies, markets, or contract farming. The constraints and opportunities that women face in agriculture vary across regions and countries, depending on the socio-cultural and agroecological contexts. Despite many policy reforms both at the macro and micro level, gender issues have not received the attention they deserve. Hence, the current situation has to urgently change.
Today, there is a growing realization and commitment of the global community to achieve more sustainable and broad-based agricultural growth by addressing gender related issues in agriculture through national, regional and global initiatives and partnerships. There is also greater convergence of initiatives undertaken by international institutions such as Food and Agriculture Organization of the UN, Global Forum on Agricultural Research, Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research, regional fora and many National Agricultural Research Systems (NARS). The Global Conferences on Agricultural Research for Development (GCARD) Road Map too has called for a radical reorientation of the agricultural research agenda to overcome the existing gaps and to face the emerging challenges of sustainable development and livelihood of resource poor small holder farmers, especially the women farmers.
It is, therefore, timely to undertake a stock taking exercise in a holistic manner by drawing on the existing evidence of the impact of policies, institutions and programs to empower farm women and to learn lessons for the future so as to ensure higher economic growth in agriculture sector. With changes sweeping agriculture and other sectors, gender issues have become more important and dynamic. Therefore, it has become necessary for the scientists, policy makers, development professionals and the civil society organizations to understand the issues in national, regional and global context and share their knowledge and experiences to design more focused action for enhancing and harnessing the capability of women who are an important human resource for agriculture in the developing countries.
Against this backdrop, a Global Conference on Women in Agriculture (GCWA) is being organized with participation of researchers, policy makers, women farmers and other stakeholders from different regions of the world.
GOAL
Empowering Women for Inclusive Growth in Agriculture
OBJECTIVES

• To discuss and deliberate the prevailing and emerging gender issues in agriculture and food systems and the lessons learned for future sustainable development,
• To take stock of evidence on experiences in enhancing role of women in agriculture,
• To understand the mechanisms and approaches adopted by the international organizations, regional fora, countries and civil society for empowering women and addressing gender issues in agriculture, and
• To collate lessons on strategies for strengthening gender research in agriculture to make technology generation and dissemination, agricultural planning and policy making gender sensitive and disseminate them through an edited book and develop a Framework for Action.

CONFERENCE THEMES

1. Assessing Women’s Empowerment in Agriculture
2. Agricultural Innovations for Reducing Drudgery
3. Linking Women to Markets
4. Role of Women in Household Food and Nutritional Security
5. Access to Assets, Resources and Knowledge: Policies and Services
6. Impact and Responses to Climate Change Related Risks and Uncertainties

In addition, there will be Working Group discussions to have a Framework for Action on Engendering Agricultural Research, Education and Extension.
EXPECTED OUTCOMES

• New knowledge and experiences shared from cross-country programmes as well as inter-regional/global successes concerning the role of women in agriculture
• Strategies developed for addressing gender issues in agriculture at the local, national, regional and global level
• Technological and institutional innovations to better meet the needs of farm women
• Gaps and needs for research, education and extension in issues related to women’s role in agriculture identified
• A Framework for Action developed to integrate and empower women for inclusive growth and development through agriculture
• An enduring global partnership program on gender in agriculture established.

VENUE
The Global Conference will be held at National Agricultural Science Centre (NASC) Complex, Dev Prakash Shastri  Marg, Opposite Dasghara (Near Todapur), Pusa, New Delhi 110012, India;
13-15 March 2012
CONTACT
Dr (Ms) Krishna Srinath,
Organizing Secretary,
Global Conference on Women in Agriculture (GCWA),
Secretariat, C/o Trust for Advancement of Agricultural Sciences (TAAS),
Avenue-II, Indian Agricultural Research Institute,
Pusa Campus, New Delhi 110012, India.
Phone: +91 11-64600712
Mob. +91 9437011808,
Telefax +91 11-25843243,
e-mail: nrcwa@nic.in
Dr. P. N. Mathur
Facilitator

Eminent members of National Ganga River Basin Authority resign

Eminent members of National Ganga River Basin Authority resign

New Delhi, March 13, 2012:  Outraged over Government’s insensitivity towards fast-unto-death by Dr G D Agarwal, now known as Swami Gyan Swarup Sanand, three eminent members of UPA government’s much touted National Ganga River Basin Authority, Magsaysay Award winner Mr Rajendra Singh, Mr Ravi Chopra and Mr Rashid Hyatt Siddiqui today announced their joint decision to resign from the body. They charged the Centre with gross negligence towards worsening state of the holy river.

Another Magsaysay Awardee and noted environmentalist Mr M C Mehta has also come out in their support. He said “it is very difficult to find a person of Dr Agarwal’s integrity and dedication. We must all strive to save him by protecting river Ganga. But the government has been very indifferent towards him and has not taken any step in addressing the concerns raised by him.”

Mr Singh, an internationally acclaimed activist popularly knows as the ‘waterman of India’, said the government was not serious towards Ganga as evident by it’s attitude towards the movement undertaken by Swami Gyan Swarup Sanand. This indifference is also clear if we see how it handled the fast by Swami Nigamanand. We see it as our moral responsibility to resign as members of the NGRBA.

“The government has neither political will nor any executable plan. During the three and a half years of NGRBA that was formed to restore the ancient place of pride and respect to Ganga, it met only twice. Even the allocation of members’ responsibility was not done, reflecting a non-serious attitude.

He also questioned the seriousness of chief minister members towards the issue.

“Our demand for declaring Ganga as National River was met. We had hoped the formation of the NGRBA would be free of Centre-state politics but CMs of Uttar Pradesh, Jharkhand and West Bengal did not attend the meetings even once.”

In a letter to Prime Minister on November 20, 2011, seven members of the Authority unanimously wrote to the PM for allocation of responsibilities.  A meeting was ordered by him for a meeting on February 16, 2012. It was, however, postponed due to Assembly elections. The members asked the Environment Minister that a meeting of the Authority be convened at Haridwar on March 5, 2012. But there has been no response from the Government side so far. The three members, in view of this and the criminal ignorance towards Dr Agarwal felt it was morally unbearable to continue on the panel and have sent their resignations.

Echoing similar views, Mr Siddiqui said Prime Minister Manmohan Singh’s declaration of Ganga as National River is nothing but an exercise in tokenism. The officials seek suggestions from us but pay no heed to us. If they had to continue with their own ways towards exploiting and polluting the river, what was the need to form NGRBA. It has become a joke.”

Mr Chopra said Dr Agarwal is the best expert on matters of constructing dams and protection of rivers. The government should not remain adamant on its positions and talk with him.

Mr Mehta said that Dr Agarwal, a former professor of IIT, Kanpur has been on Tapasaya since January 15, 2012 to restore  respect to Ganga. He has stopped consuming water from 9^th March 2012. It is a matter of great concern but

the government remains totally unmoved.

 Mr Singh said the original glory and purity of Ganga will remain a dream in the absence of a strong policy and a law dealing solely with the great river. This was the mandate for NGRBA but it failed comprehensively. The government’s insensitivity is also glaring by the fact that the final notification for declaration of 135 km of upper Ganga region as eco-sensitive region is still awaited.

“We hope his resolve will urge people to rise from slumber and inaction, forcing
them to take right and appropriate steps towards protecting the ancient river that binds the nation,” he added.

Factsheet on Self-Immolation Incidents in Tibet (2009 to March, 2012)

SNo	Name	Affiliation	Protest Location	Age	Date of Immolation	Current Status
1	Tapey	Kirti Monastery	Ngaba(Chinese Aba) County in Sichuan Province	20′s	27/2/2009	Unknown
2	Phuntsok	Kirti  Monastery	Ngaba(Chinese Aba) County in Sichuan Province	21	16/3/2011	Died on 17/03/2011
3	Tsewang Norbu / Norko	Nyitso  Monastery	Tawu county, Kardze Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, Sichuan province	29	15/8/2011	Died on 15/08/2011
4	Lobsang Kelsang	Kirti  Monastery	Ngaba(Chinese Aba) County in Sichuan Province	18/19	26/9/2011	Unknown
5	Lobsang Kunchok	Kirti  Monastery	Ngaba(Chinese Aba) County in Sichuan Province	18/19	26/9/2011	Unknown
6	Kelsang Wangchuk	Kirti  Monastery	Ngaba(Chinese Aba) County in Sichuan Province	17	3/10/2011	Unknown
7	Choephel	Former monk of Kirti  Monastery	Ngaba(Chinese Aba) County in Sichuan Province	19	7/10/2011	Died on 11/10/2011
8	Khaying / Lhungyang	Former monk of Kirti  Monastery	Ngaba(Chinese Aba) Sichuan Province	18	7/10/2011	Died on 08/10/2011
9	Norbu Dramdul	Former monk of Kirti  Monastery	Ngaba(Chinese Aba) Sichuan Province	19	15/10/2011	Died on 05/01/2012
10	Tenzin Wangmo	Mamae Dechen Chokhorling Nunnery	Ngaba(Chinese Aba) County in Sichuan Province	20	17/10/2011	Died on 17/10/2011
11	Dawa Tsering	Karze Monastery	Kardze (Chinese: Ganzi) Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture in Sichuan, the Tibetan area of Kham	38	25/10/2011	Unknown
12	Palden Choetso	Tawu Gaden Jangchup Choeling Nunnery	Kardze (Chinese: Ganzi) Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture in Sichuan	35	03/11/2011	Died on 03/10/2011
13	Tenzin Phuntsok	Former monk of Karma Monastery	Chamdo (Chinese: Changdu or Qamdo) prefecture in the Tibet Autonomous Region	40’s	01/12/2011	Died on 06/12/2011
14	Tsultrim	Former monk of Kirti  Monastery	Ngaba(Chinese Aba) County in Sichuan Province	20’s	06/01/2012	Died on 07/01/2012
15	Tennyi	Former monk of Kirti  Monastery	Ngaba(Chinese Aba) County in Sichuan Province	20’s	06/01/2012	Died on 06/01/2012
16	Sonam Wangyal also known as Lama Sobha	Religious figure, Darlag Monastery	Darlag County, Golog (Chinese: Guoluo) Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, Qinghai province	40’s	08/01/2012	Died on 08/01/2012
17	Lobsang Jamyang	Former monk of Andu Monastery	Ngaba(Chinese Aba) County in Sichuan Province	22	14/01/2012	Died on 16/01/2012
18	Rinzin Dorje	Unknown	Ngaba(Chinese Aba) County in Sichuan Province	19	08/02/2012	Unknown
19	Sonam Rabyang	Former monk from Lab monastery	Triwang (Chinese: Chen wen) Town, the Capital of Tridu County	Mid-30's	09/02/2012	Unknown
20	Tenzin Choedron	Mamae Dechen Choekhorling Nunnery	Ngaba(Chinese Aba) County in Sichuan Province	18	12/02/2012	Died on 12/02/2012
21	Lobsang Gyatso	Monk, Kirti Monastery	Ngaba(Chinese Aba) County in Sichuan Province	19	13/02/2012	Unknown
22	Damchoe Sangpo	Monk, Bongthak Ewam Tare Shedrup Dhargey Ling monastery	Themchen county town, Themchen county, Tsonub Mongolian and Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, Qinghai province	40	17/02/2012	Died on 17/02/2012
23	Nangdrol	Monk,  Jonang Dzamthang Gonchen Monastery	Dzamthang, Ngaba(Chinese Aba) County in Sichuan Province	18	19/02/2012	Died on 19/02/2012
24	Ms.Tsering Kyi	Local Middle School, Machu	Tro Kho Menma Shang village, Machu, Amdo	19	03/03/2012	Died on 03/03/2012
25	Mrs.Rinchen	Mother of four from nearby villages in Ngaba region	Kirti Monastery, Ngaba(Chinese Aba) County in Sichuan Province	32	04/03/2012	Died on 04/03/2012
26	Mr.Dorjee	Cha-Shang, Ngaba County	Ngaba(Chinese Aba) County in Sichuan Province	18	05/03/2012	Died on 05/03/2012

Instituto Cervantes Nueva Delhi

16 de marzo de 2012 / March 16th, 2012

El Instituto Cervantes de Nueva Delhi y la Embaja de España en India tienen el placer de invitarle a la conferencia EUROPA ANTE LA CRISIS por Pedro Solbes, ex Ministro de Economía y Comisario de la UE. Con la presencia del Excmo. Sr. Embajador de España en India, Don Javier Elorza, y del ex Secretario General de la Fundación Rajiv Gandhi, Don Manmohan Malhoutra. Viernes 16 de Marzo 6:00 PM En español con traducción simultánea al inglés The Instituto Cervantes of New Delhi and the Embassy of Spain in India cordially invite you to the conference EUROPE FACING THE CRISIS by Pedro Solbes, former Minister of Economy and EU Commissioner. With the presence of His Excellency the Ambassador of Spain in India, Mr. Javier Elorza, and the former Secretary General of Rajiv Gandhi Foundation, Mr. Manmohan Malhoutra. Friday 16th March 6:00 PM In Spanish with simultaneous English translation

Instituto Cervantes Nueva Delhi 48, Hanuman Road Connaught Place 110 001 Nueva Delhi India Tel. : 91 11 4368 19 00 Fax: 91 11 4356 86 92 cenndel@cervantes.es

IPS नरेन्द्र कुमार को इन्साफ दिलाने के लिए टीम अन्ना की मुहिम

मध्यप्रदेश में 2009 बैच के IPS ऑफिसर नरेन्द्र कुमार की खनन माफिया द्वारा निर्मम हत्या की जांच कांग्रेस एवं सत्ताधारी भारतीय जनता पार्टी के बीच आरोप- प्रत्यारोप में फस गई प्रतीत होती है.  टीम अन्ना का विश्वास है कि राजनैतिक पार्टियाँ मुख्यतः दो कारणों से इस वाद-विवाद को बढ़ावा दे रही हैं; एक तो राजनीतिज्ञों द्वारा संरक्षण प्राप्त खनन माफिया को अकेले चुनौती देने वाले 30 वर्षीय शूरवीर नरेन्द्र कुमार के परिवार को न्याय मिलने में विलम्ब हो, दूसरा जन लोकपाल बिल में प्रस्तावित 'व्हिसल ब्लोअर' सुरक्षा कानून को ठण्डे बक्से में डाले रखा जाये.

IPS नरेन्द्र कुमार का परिवार सीबीआई जांच कि मांग कर रहे हैं परन्तु सरकार ने इस मांग को नकारते हुए अदालती जांच के आदेश दिए हैं. उनके परिवार ने नरेन्द्र के ड्राईवर और सशत्र गार्ड के बयानों पर भी प्रश्न उठाये हैं जो यह संकेत करता है कि जितना दिख रहा है, उसके अलावा कुछ और भी हैं.

इस निर्मम हत्या के कारण फिर से एक बार जन लोकपाल और जन लोकायुक्त के अंतर्गत एक मजबूत 'व्हिसल ब्लोअर' सुरक्षा तंत्र कि आवश्यकता महसूस हो रही है. हम मध्यप्रदेश के मुख्यमंत्री, शिवराज सिंह चौहान से मांग करते हैं कि वो उत्तराखंड कि तरह अपने राज्य में भी जन लोकायुक्त कानून पास करें. पूरा देश अच्छी तरह जानता है कि कांग्रेस ने किस तरह गुनाहगारों को जल्दी सजा दिलाने के लिए बनाये गए जनलोकपाल कानून को तोड़-मरोड़ कर रख दिया. अगर जनलोकपाल बिल पास हो गया होता तो नरेन्द्र की मौत के लिए उनके परिवार वाले और देशवासी जो न्याय मांग रहे हैं वह भी पूर्व में हुई ऐसी ही अन्य मौतों कि तरह नकारा नहीं गया होता. यहाँ ये बताना आवश्यक है कि भ्रष्टाचार के मामलों से पर्दा उठाने वाले कम से कम 15 लोगों को 2010 से मौत के घाट उतारा जा चुका है. जनलोकपाल बिल  'व्हिसल ब्लोअर्स' की सुरक्षा सुनिश्चित करेगा, जबकि सरकार द्वारा प्रस्तावित बिल अपर्याप्त है और CVC को शक्तियां देता है जो कि एक संवैधानिक संस्था है और खुद कार्यवाही भी नहीं कर सकती है. देश को एक मजबूत 'व्हिसल ब्लोअर' सुरक्षा कानून कि आवश्यकता है, ना कि UPA द्वारा प्रस्तावित कानून कि. सरकार का लक्ष्य बेईमानों को बचाना और 'व्हिसल ब्लोअरओं' को शिकार बनाना प्रतीत होता है.

हम भारतवासी इस तमाशे के मूक दर्शक नहीं बने रहेंगे. टीम अन्ना और सारा देश इस दुखद घडी में नरेन्द्र कुमार के परिवार के साथ है. 

 श्री नरेन्द्र कुमार को इन्साफ दिलाने के लिए भोपाल में 3 दिन का धरना दिया जायेगा.

स्थान: ज्योति सिनेमा के सामने,  MP नगर, भोपाल

Date: March 13, 14 & 15
Time: 6am to 10pm

संपर्क: 09406533671 ,  08989648945

26^th FEDERATION CUP

NATIONAL BASKETBALL CHAMPIONSHIP FOR MEN & WOMEN

COCHIN, MARCH 13, 2012: The 26th Federation Cup National Basketball Championship for Men and Women will be held at Rajiv Gandhi Indoor Stadium, Cochin (Kerala) from 14th-18th March, 2012. The championship will be conducted by the Basketball Federation of India (BFI) in association with the Kerala State Basketball Association.  The finest teams in the country are set to be pitted against each other, exhibiting the best basketball talent and skills.

The Federation Cup is a tournament that features the top eight teams in men's club division from all over the country.  In addition, the top eight teams in the women's division from the previous year's Sr. National Basketball Championship will also be a part of the forthcoming championship. The following teams that will take part in the Federation Cup:

  Men

1.       Western Railways (Indian Railways)

2.       Punjab Police (Punjab)

3.       Indian Overseas Bank (Tamil Nadu)

4.       O.N.G.C (Uttarakhand)

5.       Air Force (Services)

6.       Hyderabad District (Andhra Pradesh)

7.       Bhilai Steel Plant (Chhattisgarh)

8.       Customs and Central Exercise (Kerala)

Women

1.       Southern Railways (Indian Railways)

2.       Delhi

3.       Chhattisgarh

4.       Maharashtra

5.       Kerala

6.       Tamil Nadu

7.       Punjab

8.       Andhra Pradesh

About Basketball Federation of India (BFI)

The Basketball Federation of India (BFI), which came into being in 1950, is the governing and controlling body of basketball in India, responsible for the development and promotion of the sport at all levels. BFI oversees all the national level basketball operations in India. It is involved in organising camps, national tournaments, and preparing Indian teams for both men and women international competitions in several different age levels.

“Minority Rights and Identities: Challenges and Prospects in an Unfolding Global Scenario” o

Mr. NK SagarCEO, Sagar Medai Inc.
C-1-106, Janakpuri
New Delhi-110058

Subject: Request to participate and contribute a paper in the IOS Silver Jubilee 3-day International Conference on “Minority Rights and Identities: Challenges and Prospects in an Unfolding Global Scenario” on April 13-15, 2012 at New Delhi.

Dear Sir,

It gives me pleasure in informing you that the Institute of ob-jective Studies on completion of 25 years of its existence, has decided to organise a series of programmes in collaboration with institutions, departments, faculties and universities from April 2011 to April 2012 at Delhi as well as other major cities of the country.

The silver jubilee celebrations of the IOS was inaugurated by Union Minister of Law and Justice, Dr. M. Veerappa Moily, with an international conference on ‘Towards Knowledge, Development and Peace – Outlining Roadmaps for the Future’ on April 15-17, 2011 at New Delhi followed by eleven other conferences on ‘Prospects for Islamic Venture Capital Fund in India’, Interest-free Institutional Mechanism (Banking, Finance and Insurance) for Promoting Investment’,‘Indo-ASEAN Trade and Investment’, ‘Global Trends in Education: Review and Options’, ‘Power of Media in a Globalising World’ ‘Good Governance in a Globalising World’, ‘Challenges before Youth in Contemporary World’, ’Islamic Culture and Art’, ‘Empowering Women: Paradigm, Sources and Methodologies’, ‘Judiciary, Ethics and Delivery System’, and ‘Peace and Progress: Role of Religions’ held at Delhi, Srinagar, Delhi, Patna, Bangalore, Kolkata, Chennai, Hyderabad, Calicut, Cuttack and Aligarh  respectively. 

In this context, the last in the 14-conference series, a three-day International Conference on “Minority Rights and Identities: Challenges and Prospects in an Unfolding Global Scenario” on April 13-15, 2012 at New Delhi (India). A concept note of the conference is enclosed for your kind perusal. 

The conference is expected to bring together a select group of distinguished academicians, scholars and experts from within the country and outside to deliberate over the issue.

In view of the significance of the conference, we earnestly request you to kindly participate and contribute a paper in  the said conference on April 13-15, 2012 at New Delhi and oblige.

We sincerely look forward to receive your confirmation.

Yours truly,

(Dr. M. Manzoor Alam)

Chairman