Business & Economy

• The Government is planning to invest and encourage organic farming during the Eleventh Five-Year Plan (2007-12). A Planning Commission spokesperson said that the low use of agro-fertilizers, rain-fed farming practices make India an ideal place for organic farming. He highlighted that organic farming also reduces the use of water and pollution and contamination of water sources or ground-water from chemical runoffs. The organic farm produce market in India is valued at Rs.20 billion but as health consciousness rises, the market size is expected to be 200 million people. The Commerce Ministry is also keen on including organic foods to reach globally lucrative markets specifically in the West valued at USD 25 billion and expected to reach USD 100 billion by 2020. Recently, the Government launched the "National Project on Organic Farming" that subsidies organic farm inputs processing.

• Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said that India was on the "threshold of an era of higher growth." Aiming for a "do-able" 8% growth, he committed his Government to reforms that would increase job creation. Pointing out that there is no external constraint on the economy, he said India needs to move from the so-called "Hindu growth rate" of 6% to a steady 8% a year. He asked for an increased focus on social equity, education, health, environment, gender sensitivity, and regional imbalances to development. He did not say how his Government plans to fund these programs. Facing a serious balance of payment crisis in 1990, India embarked on a mission to dismantle decades of failed socialist ideology that focused on populist programs and largesse aimed to create "vote-banks." While the number of such programs has decreased dramatically, coalition politics still require programs that are creating a serious current account deficit environment. The communists who support the Federal Government will not allow any economic reform that will help the Government focus on the issues the PM wants focus.

• Speaking at the Indian Institute of Science (IISc), the Netherlands Prime Minister Jan Peter Balkenende said that India is well on its way to becoming a global economic and political power. Quoting experiences from Europe in cutting the red tape, clearing obstacles to trade, and increasing the flexibility of job markets, he said that these are relevant to India also. He said the prosperity of India does not mean fewer jobs for Europe-- Netherlands continues to be the sixth largest exporter in the world. A recent study in the Netherlands said that only 1-2% of jobs were lost to outsourcing in India but new jobs were also created by Indian multi-nationals such as Mittal Steel and Tata Consultancy Services. He praised India for its rapid economic progress in the last 15 years and also moving millions above the poverty line. He said that Indians, with their self-confidence and determination, are skilled and less expensive, making them an ideal employee of any quality company. The Netherlands is the third largest investor in India ranked as one of the top five countries to invest by UNCTAD..

Democracy, Politics and Judiciary

• The Supreme Court has asked all Indian states and Union Territories to abide by its 1997 ruling on sexual harassment at the workplace. Following numerous letter from non-government organizations (NGOs), the SC has asked all states to create department-level committees vectored under the Secretary of Women and Child Welfare Development to handle such complaints. It demanded all states send back a compliance report back within 8 weeks.

Environment , Health and Education

• International donors meeting in Beijing have pledged USD 1.9 billion to fight the dreaded H5N1 bird flu virus. The United Nations has said that further mutation of the virus and a pandemic for a year through transmission between humans would cost the world USD 800 billion and result in millions dead and economies crippled for weeks or months on end. The virus has killed 79 people since 2003, mostly in East Asia. Affected nations have been seeking financial aid for poultry owners who culled their flock. The virus has reached Turkey and continues to kill people there and in Asia and infect poultry flocks. While India remains unaffected, inadequate monitoring and reporting mechanisms could mean that cases may exist and people not aware of them. European chip makers in collaboration Asian companies are to release disposable computer chips that will predict presence of virus in humans within the hour.

Terrorism, Defense and Security

• Afghanistan has once again accused Pakistan of providing shelter, training, funds, and material to Taliban and al Qaeda suicide bombers to sabotage progress. The UN said that 19 suicide attacks, including 13 in the last 10 weeks have been recorded in Afghanistan last year. Escalating violence has stopped the inflow of UN peace-keepers and aid to the population. The UN has closed its offices in Baloachistan after the al Qaeda issued "credible" warnings of attacks. Suicide bombers and roaming bands have killed over 33 people in the last few weeks, destroyed schools, and decapitated school teachers. The Taliban opposes all education and subjects that is not present in the Koran and detest education of women saying that the practice is un-Islamic. Thousands of people in Afghanistan have publicly protested the suicide attacks. Even so, a Taliban "commander" has said that hundreds of suicide bombers are ready in a bid to drive out foreign forces and are awaiting orders from Taliban leadership to carry out attacks.