Merkel:EU harder time next year Merkel warned Germans that the economy, Europe's biggest, would experience a harder time next year than in 2012 and cautioned too that the eurozone debt crisis was far from over. In her annual New Year address published Monday, Merkel said: "In fact, the economic environment next year will not be easier, but more difficult", adding: "The crisis is a long way from being beaten." Although top exporter Germany has managed to hold up to the crisis fairly well, growth has slowed here as well since the beginning of the year. After expanding by 0.5 percent in the first quarter of 2012, gross domestic product (GDP) grew by just 0.3 percent in the second quarter and a mere 0.2 percent in the third quarter. And in October, the government slashed its forecast for economic output next year to 1.0 percent, compared to 1.6 percent previously anticipated. The country's gloomy central bank has said Germany may even flirt briefly with recession early next year. The Bundesbank also forecast that Germany would only grow by a meagre 0.4 percent next year. Nevertheless, "it has been possible this year to have the lowest unemployment and the highest level of employment since the reunification" in 1990, Merkel recalled. And a slowdown next year "should not leave us discouraged but should spur us on", said the chancellor, according to the text of her speech released in advance by her office. Turning to the eurozone's efforts to tackle its three-year debt crisis, she judged that "the reforms that we have decided are beginning to work". "However, we still need more patience. The crisis is a long way from being overcome."

Attack on Shia Muslims

A truck loaded with explosive rammed into a bus in southwestern Pakistan on Sunday in what police suspect was an act of sectarian violence.The bus burst into flames, killing at least 19 people. 25 people were hurt and are being treated in hospital.

Police in Baluchistan province say the truck was loaded with explosives. Witnesses say its driver appeared to have targeted the bus.Shia Muslims on the bus were heading to Iran on a pilgrimage. Police suspect Sunni Muslim extremists were responsible.

Tribute to Damini. 

There are no short cuts to women's safety. while protests on the streets are important, we cannot ask for hanging on the streets, castration, lowering age and including 15yrs old as criminals, knowing the history of the police and our military forces of human rights abuses these are dangerous trends. WE need a National Authority to Stop Sexual Assault on Women which would look at every aspect from gender sensitisation to education, laws, policing, media, cinema, khap panchayatas, patriarchal mindsets, dowry and domestic violence.

A small initiative from Progressive Films Mumbai, made for Anhad, we dedicate this video to the memory of 'Damini'.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mZCW__gnM14&feature=youtu.be

Shabnam Hashmi

9811807558

Sahir Raza

Progressive Films- 09820320317

 Ekal Silver Jubilee Year on 13^th, January, 2013.

Ekal Abhiyaan through its support organization Bharat Lok Shiksha Parisad recipient of Sita Ram Jindal Award for exceptional achievement in the field of “Peace, Social Harmony & Social Development" is organizing an event on 13th of January, 2013 at Talkatora Stadium, New Delhi.

The program is conceptualized to mark the beginning of 25th year of Ekal Abhiyaan rendering selfless service through Ekal Vidyalayas based on five tier education for the holistic development of Tribal & Rural Bharat and to celebrate the 150th birth anniversary of Swami Vivekananda. 

The program is only the beginning of year long celebrations throughout Ekal Movement from Delhi to remotest tribal village. The details of the program are as follows:

                    

SN	Program	Time
		From	TO
1	RUN with Ekal A run of 5.5 KM with 2000 – 3000 youth from Delhi and also from Ekal Villages	9.00 AM	11.30 AM
2	Launch Ceremony to mark the beginning of Silver Jubilee year	3.00 PM	6.00 PM

We would kindly like to request you to grace the occasion with your gracious presence.

We would be grateful for your consent to grace the occasion.

Thanking You,

With Warm Regards

For Ekal Sansthan

  ࠼/span>

I N V I T A T I O N

National School of Drama

Solicits your gracious presence for a

PRESS CONFERENCE

to announce the commencement of

Annual Theatre Utsav

༯span>

15^th Bharat Rang Mahotsav - 2013༯span>

featuring theatre performances from across the country and other nations

on

Wednesday, January 2, 2013 at 2.30 pm

at

Sammukh Auditorium

National School of Drama

Bahawalpur House, Bhagwan Das Road

New Delhi-110 001

Foreign exchange earnings from tourism rises 22% from last year

Government has earned 83,938 crore rupees as foreign exchange from tourism as against 68,721 crore rupees last year. This amounts an increase of 22 per cent this year. The visa-on-arrival scheme drew 13,903 tourists as against 11,121 visitors in 2011, a rise of about 25 per cent this year.

Exploring possibilities of giving export industry status to the tourism sector and to meet the demands of the Indian Tour operatrors, the ministry announced that a comprehensive study will be carried out on impact of taxation on the sector.

With an aim to develop integrated tourism circuits in south India, the ministry has formed Southern Zonal Tourism Council comprising Andhra Pradesh, Kerala, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and the Union Territory of Puducherry.

Gang rape victim had planned a wedding party in Delhi

Girl victim of a gang-rape,then murdered triggered an outpouring of grief and anger across country is cremated at a private ceremony at  wee hours on Sunday as it emerged she was planning to get married in February.The girl, a physiotherapy student, was gangraped and brutally assaulted allegedly by six men in a moving bus in south Delhi on December 16 night.She died on Saturday at around 2:15 a.m.

The mortal remains were flown to the capital in a Special Aircraft of Air India and after landing at IGI airport. Family members accompanied the body.The cremation took place under a dense cover of fog. A Special aircraft of Air India carrying the mortal remains of the victim, who died in Mount Elizebeth hospital, landed at IGI airport in New Delhi at around 3.30 am.  The funeral pyre was lit after traumatized relatives and friends said their final prayers at a ceremony in southwestern Delhi..The  23-year-old, the focus of nationwide protests since she was brutally attacked on a bus in New Delhi two weeks ago, was cremated away from the public glare only hours after her body was repatriated from Singapore.
Reports according to mourners who revealed she had been due to wed a boyfriend who was injured in the same attack "They had made all the wedding preparations and had planned a wedding party in Delhi" for February, said Meena Rai, who was a close friend and neighbour."I really loved this girl. She was the brightest of all."
 Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Sonia Gandhi, the leader of the main ruling Congress party, were at Delhi airport to console her parents as they arrived home on a chartered plane with their daughter's body at around 4:00 am (2230 GMT).
After initial treatment in a Delhi hospital following the attack, she was flown to Singapore on Wednesday night. But doctors were unable to prevent a multiple organ failure and she was pronounced dead in the early hours of Saturday.
Her death has prompted government promises of better protection for women, and deep soul-searching in a nation where gang-rapes are a daily occurrence and sexual harassment is routinely dismissed as "Eve-teasing".
Waves of protests have erupted across nation since the attack on the night of December 16 when the woman was not only repeatedly raped but also sexually assaulted with an iron bar, leaving her with terrible intestinal injuries.
Thousands took part in late-night candlelit vigils Saturday after Singh led appeals for calm to prevent a repeat of the sometimes violent protests.As police said the six accused of murdering the unnamed woman could face the death penalty, there was a widespread determination that the killing would serve as a tipping point for how the nation deals with violence against women.

The city has been dubbed the "rape capital" of India. According to police and prosecutors, the murder victim's ordeal began when six men lured her and her male companion onto a bus that they thought would take them home.Group of joyriders, who had been drinking heavily, launched a savage attack lasting some 40 minutes that only ended when the victims were thrown off the bus.The attack has prompted intense debate among Indians who had grown almost inured to an epidemic of violence against women.
Gang-rapes are so common that they rarely get a mention in the newspapers. Victims are often deterred even from reporting them for fear of shaming their families or receiving a brush-off from police.

FII inflow in stocks surpasses Rs 24,000-cr mark in December

December 30, 2012

Dec 30,  1:19 PM
Overseas institutional investors have pumped in more than 24,000 crore rupees in Indian stock market in December, the highest in ten months. Foreign Institutional Investors (FIIs) were gross buyers of shares worth 71,595 crore rupees, while they sold equities amounting to 47,412 crore rupees.
Market regulator SEBI report indicates a net inflow of 24,183 crore rupees to Indian stocks market this month only. This is the highest net inflow in this month by FIIs since their entry into Indian capital markets in 1992. In February this year, FIIs had infused infused 25,212 crore rupees.
Market experts predict that in absence of growth in the global economy, the Indian market continue to look attractive and hopes of a rate cut by the Reserve Bank of India early next month.

National Judicial Appointments Bill to be tabled in Cabinet next month: Law Minister

Law and Justice Minister Dr. Ashwani Kumar has said that the National Judicial Appointments Commission Bill will be tabled in Cabinet next month and on getting approval, it will be tabled in the next session of Parliament as well.
He said this in an exclusive interview given to DD News correspondent Manoj Tibrewal Aakash.
In what is perceived to be a step towards legal reforms, the upcoming budget session of Parliament is likely to be a significant one.
Dr Ashwini Kumar said that National Judicial Appointments Commission bill and Judicial Accountability bill will be tabled in cabinet next month and on getting the approval, the bill will be tabled in Parliament as well.
The bill is significant in view of improving the current procedure for appointments of judges. Strict punishment for the heinous crimes against women The Law Minister expressed hope that a committee headed by Justice J S Varma on suggesting provisions related to strict punishment for the heinous crimes against women, will submit its report within the fixed time limit.
He also said that the report will be tabled in cabinet and efforts will be made to reach consensus among political parties if necessary amendments are required.
Following this, the report will be tabled in both the houses of Parliament.
On Lokpal bill, the minister said that it will be tabled during the budget session after cabinet approval.
He also said that village courts will be set up at the block level across the country under the Village Court Bill to ensure justice at the grass root.

AIASA Constituted Anti-Corruption Cell(ACC)

The All India Agricultural Students Association(AIASA)  in its Annual General Meeting(AGM) held on 29.12.2012   at New Delhi has constituted 15 members Anti Corruption Cell(ACC) headed by Mr.Jitendra Singh Shekhawat, former President, Central Students Union, S.K.Rajasthan Agricultural University-Bikaner. The ACC will work independently in close cooperation and coordination with All India Federation of Agricultural Associations(AIFAA) and other Agricultural Organizations  for bringing transparency in the agriculture sector in the country. The other members in the ACC represent from Himachal Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, Manipur, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, New Delhi, Haryana.

Recently the Students of  55 Agricultural, Horticultural, Veterinary, Fisheries Universities and in other 100s colleges in the Traditional  Universities  have come under one umbrella for the welfare of the primary sector and its various stakeholders such as students,  farmers, officers, teachers, various professional personnel. On this backdrop, a registered Society under the name  of All India Agricultural Students Association (AIASA) has been constituted in December, 2011. The association is having two kinds of membership i.e. current membership and associate membership. About 2 lakhs students pursuing their courses in agriculture and its various allied subjects are members under current membership and the professional such as teachers, scientists, farmers and other stake holders are associate members.

The Association has  conducted election for constitution of its 75  Students Cabinet members for the year 2013. Dr.Mahesh Yadav, returning officer of AIASA has declared the election result on 29.12.2012. Mr.Manjit Lad, IARI, New Delhi  has been declared elected as National President, Mr.Rohan Kelawala, Navsari Agricultural University, Navsari(Gujarat) as Senior Vice President, Mr.Babu Lal, President, Rajasthan Agricultural University, Jobner(Raj) as General Secretary, Miss Hina Rasool Mir as National Treasurer and Mr.Harish Makhija as Chief Coordinator.

The out going National President Mr.Biswajit Mondal has stated that the AIASA has recently initiated membership drive in the Country and it will have crores of members on its roll and the Association will work for betterment of agriculture community and will be in a position to influence the decision making process in the government  in the interest of agriculture community particularly agriculture students. The newly elected National President Mr.Manjit Lad has advocated that immediate steps will be taken up  to impress upon the government to  create all India Cadre of Indian Agriculture Service, State Agriculture Services, Agriculture education Commission and to   fill up 50,000 vacant Group A posts in Central and State Departments of Agriculture, Horticulture, Animal Husbandry and  Agriculture Universities.

Abe, Putin agree to speed up peace-treaty talks

December 29, 2012

Japan’s new Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and Russian President Vladimir Putin have agreed to spur their foreign ministries towards signing a peace treaty.
Putin asked for a phone conversation with Abe, and the 2 leaders spoke for about 20 minutes on Friday.
Abe said developing his nation’s ties with Russia is a top priority. He said the relationship had the potential to become one of Japan’s richest.
The Japanese leader also said he welcomes Putin’s statement that Russia will hold a constructive dialogue with Japan on their territorial dispute.
Abe called the dispute the biggest pending issue. He said he would like to make efforts to find a mutually acceptable solution.
Putin said both countries’ foreign ministries should be instructed to work more actively towards a peace treaty.
Japan claims sovereignty over a group of 4 northern Pacific islands seized by Soviet forces shortly after Japan’s surrender in World War 2.
The territorial dispute means Japan and Russia have yet to sign a peace treaty more than 67 years after the war.Media agencies

Italy's Monti to lead new coalition in polls

Italy's Prime Minister Mario Monti says he will lead a new centrist coalition in the upcoming parliamentary elections to continue his reform policy.Monti submitted his resignation last week after losing support from the center-right party led by his predecessor Silvio Berlusconi. A general election will be held in late February.

Monti on Friday met officials of centrist parties. He later told a news conference that he is aiming for a second mandate in office.Monti said Italy needs a political coalition that is directed at Europe and at reform instead of the traditional axis of right and left.The main issue in the election will be whether to continue Monti's fiscal consolidation and structural reform policies.

Polls show the center-left Democratic Party has the highest support. The party places importance on economic growth while rebuilding public finances.Then comes the Five Star Movement, which opposes the austerity measures, and Berlusconi's People of Freedom party.Another poll shows a majority of respondents don't want Monti to remain, due partly to the austerity measures.media agencies

"Damini" the brave soul awakens the nation

Damini succumbs to injuries at multi-organ transplant Mount Elizabeth Hospital in Singapore the body to be flown back tonight.Back home "Damini" the brave soul awakens the nation.
An Air India aircraft has been chartered by the government and sent to Singapore to bring back the body of the gangrape victim and her family members to New Delhi.

The chartered plane, an Airbus A-319, left the IGI Airport at 0800 hours for Singapore and expected to return around 2000 hours tonight after taking off from there around 1700 hours local time, Air India officials told a news agency.

The aircraft is carrying some senior government officials, including those from the Union Home Ministry.

E Media is  reporting  each moment of people voice and raise Q of accountability, stringent laws, fast-track courts  to take up the rape cases on priority which happen every hr across the nation, need goverance action and attention to liberate the women from the clutches parochial society. Damini  23-year-old victim of the brutal gang rape and assault in Delhi that had triggered an outrage across India died early Saturday morning in Singapore after putting up a brave battle for life for nearly a fortnight.

The girl, who was admitted to the well-known multi-organ transplant facility Mount Elizabeth Hospital here on Thursday morning in an extremely critical condition, breathed her last at 4:45 AM (2:15 AM India time).

She was earlier treated at the Safdarjung Hospital in Delhi.

Meanwhile, an Air India aircraft has been chartered by the government and sent to Singapore to bring back the body of the gangrape victim and her family members to New Delhi.

The chartered plane, an Airbus A-319, left the IGI Airport at 0800 hours for Singapore and expected to return around 2000 hours tonight after taking off from there around 1700 hours local time, Air India officials said.

"We are very sad to report that the patient passed away peacefully at 4.45am on 29 Dec 2012 (Singapore time)," the hospital's Chief Executive Officer Dr Kelvin Loh said in a statement.

"Her family and officials from the High Commission of India were by her side. The Mount Elizabeth Hospital team of doctors, nurses and staff join her family in mourning her loss," the statement said.

The body has been moved to the mortuary in the Singapore General Hospital and will be flown back to India by a chartered plane.

Accompanied by her family, the body is expected to arrive in Delhi in the night.

President Pranab Mukherjee, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and a host of political leaders condoled the death of the girl and paid rich tributes to the victim of the sexual assault for her brave fight.

"Damini" was raped and brutally assaulted in a moving bus by six men in Delhi on 16^th December and thrown out along with her companion.

Indian High Commissioner T C A Raghavan told reporters that the family was yet to decide on the plans for the last rites back home.

He said the "Damini" fought a brave battle till the end. She was brought to Singapore for being provided good medical treatment.

The envoy "The family is shattered by this development. At the same time, they realised that best possible medical attention was given. And in the end it was the scale of injuries that proved too much for the medical attention provided to her".

He said the final few hours was a trying time for the girl's family and they bore the entire process with a great deal of fortitude and courage.

Raghavan said he has passed on the condolence message of the Prime Minister to the family in which he had spoken of the desire to make India a demonstrably better and safe place for women to live in.

Raghavan said the High Commission has received numerous messages from various quarters including the Singapore government deeply mourning the death.

He appreciated the help extended by the Singapore Foreign Ministry, the government and the Mount Elizabeth Hospital for all their support in the last two days.

Replying to questions on the shifting of the girl from Delhi to Singapore, he said consultations were held between doctors of Safdarjung hospital and Mount Elizabeth Hospital and they must have given full thought to it before taking it.

Asked whether doctors felt that she could have died to her shift from Delhi to Singapore, Raghavan said "no such sentiments was expressed to me.

Both the doctors (P K Verma of Safdarjung and Yatin Mehta of Medanta Medicity) said she was very badly injured in the assault of December 16 night".

He said the best possible treatment was given to the girl in Delhi and in Singapore and the cause of her death was "the injuries she sustained".

"All possible medical efforts were made to treat the injuries. The efforts were not successful in helping her to overcome the injuries," he said. Declining to go into the details of the family, he said they had requested that the privacy of their identity be protected.

Meanwhile, the hospital added: "We are humbled by the privilege of being tasked to care for her in her final struggle. We acknowledge the faith the Indian Government and the patient's family have placed with us to ensure the best care possible was indeed provided to her at Mount Elizabeth Hospital".

"We share their huge sadness at her passing and will work with the High Commission of India to provide the family support in this time of grief," said Dr Loh.

Late last night, the hospital said the condition of the rape victim had taken a "turn for the worse". "As of 9 pm (6:30 PM IST), the patient's condition has taken a turn for the worse. Her vital signs are deteriorating with signs of severe organ failure," Loh had said in a statement.

"This is despite doctors fighting for her life including putting her on maximum artificial ventilation support, optimal antibiotic doses as well as stimulants which maximise her body's capability to fight infections," the CEO had said.

During her treatment in Safdarjung Hospital, the girl's condition had recorded several ups and downs. Three days after the attack, her gangrenous intestine was removed.

The beastial attack on the girl and her male friend in the bus had sparked off protests by students and women activists which took a violent turn in the capital last Saturday and Sunday.

Death for rapists was one of the demands of the protesters and the victim's demise could trigger fresh display of emotions on the streets.

A series of peaceful marches and protests were on Saturday held in the capital, including one at Jantar Mantar, to mourn the death of the 23-year-old gangrape victim even as India Gate and Raisina Hill were kept out of bounds for people.

Policemen were deployed in strength in and around India Gate and Raisina Hill as well as other parts of the capital to ensure that the protests remain peaceful besides shutting down of Delhi Metro stations near the war memorial.

Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit requested Home Minister SushilKumar Shinde to lift restrictions on holding peaceful demonstration in memory of the victim in and around India Gate.

In one of the protests, JNU students marched from their campus to Munirka bus stop from where the girl boarded the bus in which she was gangraped and brutally assaulted on December 16 allegedly by six men.

The students announced that they will hold a night vigil at the same spot on New Year Eve demanding strong laws to punish sexual offenders.

Activists of Left parties staged a peace march from Mandi House to Jantar Mantar led by CPI(M) Polit Bureau member Brinda Karat. She said there was a need for fixing accountability.

"Unless we do this, such incidents will repeat," she said. Asked about sexist comments by politicians, she said it shows the mindset of people and that "action should be taken against them in Parliament".

At Jantar Mantar, a number of people sat on a silent protest.

However, later there were sloganeering and demands for immediate punishment of the culprits. The mourners also protested against the security lock down of India Gate and Raisina Hill where violent demonstrations were witnessed last weekend over the rape.

People started gathering at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi at around 10 AM and sat in silence.CM Delhi was not allowed to speak to the protesters.

Aam Aadmi Party leaders Arvind Kejriwal, Manish Sisodia and Kumar Vishwas joined the protest along with some of their supporters with their mouth tied with black cloth.Kejriwal tweeted, "her death is a matter of shame and sorrow for all of us. Let's resolve that we will not let her death go in vain.”

In tweets, activist Kiran Bedi said, "today is a day of reflection and personal audit on the way we as parents and teachers are grooming boys in this country.

"Today is day of mourning on lives we have lost because of failure of our criminal justice system and resolve to not fail it in future. Today is a day to also reflect the way we project our women in media," she said.

A moment of national grief and shame

A moment of national grief and shame

The girl who became the symbol of women’s insecurity and their courage is no more. This is a moment of national grief. The nation joins her family and friends in remembering an extra-ordinary woman who resisted a dastardly assault, who fought back and nearly won an impossible battle with death, who demanded nothing but justice from her death bed. This is also a moment of national shame.  We as a nation have failed to provide conditions in which women can lead a normal life without being subjected to indignities. We as a society have failed to evolve a culture of respect and equality for women. We as a democratic country have failed to secure elementary right to dignified life for women citizens. This is a moment of national anguish, a moment to think about thousands of lives that could have been saved, a moment to register the pain and humiliation that women have to go through every day.

This event and the subsequent developments have no doubt generated widespread outrage and justified anger. But today we must convert this into a positive resolve. Let us all resolve that we shall convert this moment into a movement to end all forms of violence against women. Let us ensure that perpetrators of this and all similar crimes get exemplary punishment, that all the laws related to violence against women are reviewed and amended, that the law and order machine and the criminal justice system is more sensitive and responsive to women, that all the systemic flaws which make such incidents possible are corrected. She is no more with us and there is nothing we can do about it, but let us ensure that no other woman meets her fate. Let NO VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN be our national new year’s resolution.

Aam Adami Party stands by her family, friends and the extended national family she acquired over the last fortnight in this moment of grief. We call upon our volunteers to join the people assembled at Jantar Mantar today. We shall wear black band across our lips as a mark of respect to a national hero.  We call upon everyone to desist from any form of verbal or physical violence that would not be in keeping with the occasion and go against our resolve to end violence against women.  

India Pakistan T20 series ends 1-1 

AHMEDABAD: India beat Pakistan by 11 runs to level T20 series 1-1:India's bowlers tightenng their  nerves in the last five overs as Pakistan's batting went berserk, losing five for 45 in the last five overs. Dinda  under pressure with a bowled good spell of three for 36 in four overs, Ashwin kept it right in the middle with one for 28 in four overs. Hafeez who threatened to take the match away from India blazing innings of 55 from 26 balls but regular wickets at the end saw them lose their way in the end.India has won the second T20 to level T-20series between India and pakistan Yuvraj Singh along with his captain Mahinder Singh Dhoni helped India to set a rather difficult target of 193 runs for Pakistan in the second and final Twenty20 International here at the Sardar Patel Stadium on Friday. Both added 97 runs for the fourth wicket partnership after India were 88 for three in 12 overs. After being hit on his left leg by a nasty yorker from fast bowler Mohammad Irfan, the left-handed batsman Yuvraj roared like an injured lion and smashed a career-best 72 off just 36 balls with seven towering sixes and four powerful boundaries. His captain Dhoni provided him a good support with 23-ball 33 during their valuable partnership. Earlier, all other three top-order batsmen --- Ajinkya Rahane (28), Gautam Gambhir (21) and Virat Kohli (27) --- made significant contributions after Pakistan captain Mohammad Hafeez won the toss and decided take field first. Fast-medium bowler Umar Gul was the only wicket-taker from Pakistan side as he captured four for 37 while Kohli was run out through a direct hit by Saeed Ajmal. Pakistan made no change in the team which won the first T20I by five wickets on Tuesday at Bangalore while India made only one change in their side as Ravichandran Ashwin replaced Ravindra Jadeja.

NDC approves 12th Five Year Plan 

Country's apex policy making body NDC has approved the strategy to achieve average growth rate of 8 pc during the 12th Five Year Plan (2012-17), generate 50 million new jobs and increase investments in infrastructure sector.  "I am very happy that NDC (National Development Council) has approved the 12th Five Year Plan. We have marginally reduced the average annual growth rate to 8 per cent (from 8.2 per cent). "We expect with the growth rate of 5.8 per cent this fiscal and little over 7 per cent next fiscal, and with extra effort in the remaining three more years we can reach 8 per cent," Planning Commission Deputy Chairman Montek Singh Ahluwalia said in New Delhi on Thursday. The voluminous document, containing detailed policy strategy for the 12th Plan, was approved at the full meeting of the NDC chaired by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh. The document has pegged the aggregate Plan resources at Rs 37.16 lakh crore during the five year period starting 2012-13. Singh assured all Chief Ministers that Centre has taken note of the points raised by them, including those in the written speeches. "All these points will be carefully considered by the Planning Commission," he said, adding, the Plan is not a rigid blue print. "It is a broad 'directional' and 'aspirational' document, which must allow for modification on the basis of experience... We must now devote all our energies to implementing the Plan," the Prime Minister said. Moving away from previous practice of presenting single growth projection, the Planning Commission has come out with three different economic scenarios for 12th Five-Year Plan. As per the "aspirational" scenario one -- of strong inclusive growth -- India's economic growth will be average 8 percent in the five years. The document also cautions that in scenario of policy logjam, the GDP growth could slow down to 5-5.5 percent. The document proposes to bring down poverty by 10 percentage points by the end of the 12th Plan and generate five crore new jobs in non-farm sector. As regard the infrastructure sector, it says that efforts should be made to increase investment in this sector to 9 percent of the GDP by the end of the Plan period. The other targets include increasing green cover by one million hectare every year and adding 30,000 MW of renewable energy generation capacity in the Plan period. It also seeks to reduce emission intensity of the GDP in line with the target of 20-25 reduction by 2020 over 2005 levels. Although the document envisages 6.7 percent growth rate in the current fiscal, it has been projected at 5.7-5.9 percent in 2012-13 by the Finance Ministry. The strategy for the full Plan would aim at raising agriculture output to 4 percent and manufacturing sector growth to 10 percent. It also wants all the states to set higher targets of growth than what was achieved in the 11th Five Year Plan. (DD-28.12) Petro products, power, coal underpriced: PM  Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Thursday made a strong case for "phased" hike in prices of petroleum products, coal and power as they are "underpriced" warning that failure to control subsidies would lead to cut in plan expenditure. "Unfortunately, energy is underpriced in our country. Our coal, petroleum products and natural gas are all priced well below international prices. This also means that electricity is effectively underpriced, especially for some consumers.” "Immediate adjustment of prices to close the gap is not feasible, I realise this, but some phased price adjustment is necessary", Singh said while addressing the 57th meeting of the National Development Council (NDC). The apex policy-making body NDC, which comprises Cabinet Ministers and State Chief Ministers, was convened to approve the 12th Five Year Plan (2012-17) which seeks to peg the average annual growth rate at 8 per cent, as against 8.2 per cent proposed earlier. Drawing attention to the need to control subsidies, Dr Singh said some subsidies were a normal part of any socially just system but they should be well designed and effectively targeted. The total volume must be kept within limits of fiscal sustainability. "Failure to control subsidies within these limits only means that other plan expenditures have to be cut or the fiscal deficit target exceeded," he said. In his address, Dr Singh also referred to the recent gangrape of a 23-year old paramedic student in the capital and said the government would accord high priority to safety and security of women as "there can be no meaningful development without the active participation of half the population".