‘Bio-technology an economic necessity’

The steady decline in the growth rates of the rice and wheat production in the Asia-Pacific region should be viewed with alarm, especially in the context of a drop in the per capita GDP growth of the rural population, said Dr. M. S. Swaminathan, the eminent agricultural scientist... He said the share of agriculture in GDP declined from 40 per cent in 1965 to 23 per cent in 1991 in this region, signaling the flight of capital from rural to urban areas... Dr. Swaminathan said the dimension of food and nutrition security at the household level should be added to the national food security policies and strategies by ensuring economic access to food for all families through an integrated strategy of farm and non-farm employment.

Manmohan rules out exit policy law

The Union Finance Minister, Dr. Manmohan Singh, has ruled out the possibility of legislating an exit policy, giving unfettered rights to hire and fire, in the near future... Dr. Singh said as unemployment grows faster than employment, an exit policy must be an end product of economic reforms — hinting that it could not be the means. Before it the social safety net (NRF) should be in position. The labour should not feel that either loss of job meant misery or change of job the “end of the road.”

7 PSUs identified for disinvestment

Bharat Heavy Electricals Ltd., Mahanagar Telephone Nigam Ltd., National Aluminium Company, Bharat Earth Movers, Bharat Electronics. Hindustan Petroleum Corporation and Bongaigaon Refinery are the seven public sector units slated for the sixth round of disinvestment, accocding to sources. About 5 per cent of the equity of each of the seven companies is likely to be offered.

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