Adding to the worries of the Government, which is battling in tandem with the Reserve Bank of India to rein in inflation, the industrial growth slumped to a six-year low of three per cent in March, mainly owing to a dismal performance by the manufacturing sector. The industrial growth data as per the Index of Industrial Production (IIP), which was released here on Monday by the Central Statistical Organisation (CSO), show that the output increase witnessed in March this year was the lowest since the 2.4 per cent growth posted in February 2002.

Manufacturing sector drags down overall index in March Lacklustre performance by the manufacturing sector pulled down the growth in Index for Industrial Production (IIP) to a six-year low of three per cent in March 2008 as against 14.8 per cent in March 2007. However, for fiscal 2007-08, the IIP registered a modest growth rate of 8.1 per cent as against 11.6 per cent in fiscal 2006-07.

AGARTALA

Agrarian crises leading to suicides by farmers, large-scale evictions in rural and urban areas, state-sponsored violence and social discrimination are some of the issues highlighted in the "shadow reports' submitted to the United Nations International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (ICESCR) committee that will review India's record 17 years after its ratification by the country.

Chief Minister Y. S. Rajasekhara Reddy laid the foundation stone for the Caparo industrial park and a Special Economic Zone (SEZ) here on Thursday. Speaking after the ground breaking ceremony, the Chief Minister said these two facilities would herald a new beginning in the domain of manufacturing as the UK-based Caparo group would set up a world-class auto and aerospace component hub with an investment of Rs 3,500 crore in a phased manner. Luxury bus unit

The initiatives of the government and a socially committed private sector brighten up Bhutan

The Cabinet meeting presided over by CM Shivraj Singh Chauhan 15th Nov 2007, for approval amendments to Industry Augmentation Policy-2004 and some of the provisions of its action plan and related policies of other departments discussed. Approval of the amendments aims at making the policy more effective, but neither the departmental structure decentralized nor Circle Industry Offices constituted at divisional level.

Planning Commission yesterday fixed Nagaland's annual plan size for 2008 -09 at Rs 1,200 crore, including an additional Central assistance of Rs 150 crore for its special projects. The plan size was fixed at a meeting between State Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio and Commission Deputy Chairman Montek Singh Ahluwalia at a meeting here, according to an official release.

Chief Minister V.S. Achuthanandan said here on Wednesday that the Left Democratic Front government would launch many new projects this month in connection with the second anniversary of his government. Briefing presspersons on Cabinet decisions, the Chief Minister said the proceedings to write off loans up to Rs.25,000 taken by 41,000 farmers in Wayanad would begin this month. All pupils up to eighth standard will get textbooks free from this year.

At a district-level meeting of officials and representatives of different departments presided over by Gautam Ganguly, Deputy Commissioner, Cachar, at the Conference Hall, implementation of various schemes and projects came up for threadbare discussion. It was made known that the Agriculture Department would make available power pumps to the beneficiaries at 50 per cent subsidised rate.