M A I N   N E W S

Clinton sees village democracy

JAIPUR, March 23 (PTI) — A close encounter with political pluralism at the grassroots as also a trip to the historic Amber Fort symbolising monarchy marked US President Bill Clinton’s trip to this pink city where Left activists burnt his effigy in protest against the visit.

The 9000-people strong Nayala village, some 20 km from here, relived the millennia-old Indian version of decentralisation with an impressed President Clinton asking the villagers “not to give up” their enthusiasm and spirit if things do not move as fast as they are intended to.

“You have a chance to overcome problems through democratic institutions,” the world’s most powerful man said during an interaction with panchayat members of Nayala.

Dedicating a high-tech “information kiosk” launched by the Rajasthan Government to link all panchayats in the state through the Internet, President Clinton hoped that Indians would overcome most of their problems with the spread of information technology and computers to villages.

Women members of the panchayat briefed the millennium guest about decentralisation of power and rural development based on India’s abiding democratic governance through the council of the five — the panchayat.

The event billed as Bill’s window to rural India was also utilised to give him first-hand information on the empowerment of women in the dairy sector and cooperative ventures through innovative application of electronics and information technology.

For a contrast, the US President had a journey into the memories of the princely past when the invincible majestic 16th century Amber Fort had its date with Clinton and his daughter Chelsea.

Over 30 women folk dancers performed to the tune of ‘shehnai’ and ‘nagar’ at Kesar Kayarai, the saffron flower bed, as President Clinton watched them from the commanding height of the Diwan-e-Aam.

The American President also undertook a trip to the famous Ranthambore Tiger Sanctuary in Sawai Madhopur district to have a glimpse of the big cat.

In a thrilling finale to the Rajasthan leg of his Indian visit, he was given a “regal” welcome by two royal Bengal tigers, India’s national animal, at the famous sanctuary this evening.

Mr Clinton, his daughter Chelsea and his mother-in-law Dorothy Rodham came face-to-face with a male tiger in Bakola nallah area during their three-hour sojourn in the world-famous tiger sanctuary.

“This is among the most wonderful experiences of my life”, Mr Clinton said after spotting the tiger.

Just a kilometre down the road, the President and his party spotted a tigress chasing a spotted deer for prey.

India, USA sign pacts worth $ 1.4 billion
Tribune News Service

NEW DELHI, March 23 — A day after the US President, Mr Bill Clinton, concluded his two-day high profile visit to the capital, the two countries today got down to the task of giving a concrete shape to various areas of cooperation.

Following the joint vision statement signed by the US President and the Prime Minister, Mr Atal Behari Vajpayee, on Tuesday which envisaged institutionalising dialogue and engagement for enhanced cooperation across a broad spectrum of areas, India and the USA finalised the terms and references of the Indo-US commercial dialogue.

An understanding to this effect was signed here this morning by the Union Minister for Commerce and Industry, Mr Murasoli Maran and the US Commerce Secretary, Mr William Daley.

Recognising that the development of commercial, trade and investment ties is best enhanced through an organised and regular dialogue encompassing both public and private sectors, the dialogue is intended to act as a forum to facilitate trade and maximise investment opportunities across broad range of economic sectors including information technology, infrastructure, bio-technology and services.

To this end, the dialogue will be a cooperative undertaking to facilitate regular discussions between the Indian and the US business communities as well as regular government to government-level meetings to be held in conjunction with other private sector meetings.

According to the terms of reference, this public-private sector dialogue is proposed to be an element of a broader economic and commercial dialogue between the two governments.

The dialogue will act as a forum where emerging issues affecting bilateral trade will also be discussed and wherever required, provide for convening of sub-committees to pursue specific projects or sectoral interests of mutual concern.

Within 90 days of the signing of the terms of reference, the Commerce departments of the two countries will develop through consultations a plan for implementing the terms of reference. The commercial dialogue will be reviewed after two years of the signing of the terms of reference.

India and the USA also entered into agreements worth over $ 1.4 billion on various sectors, including information technology, power and environment.

Companies from both sides signed 11 business agreements including four in the IT sector, three in environment, three in power and one in the tourism sector.

A memorandum of understanding in the field of renewable energy was signed between the Solar Energy Centre of the Ministry of Non-Conventional Energy Sources and the National Renewable Energy Laboratory of the US Energy Department.

The MoU envisages cooperation between the Solar Energy Centre and the National Renewable Energy Laboratory to promote scientific and technological cooperation in the field of renewable energy and also envisages cooperation with other institutions of both countries.

The forms of cooperation under this MoU include exchange of technical information and experience and technical and managerial personnel, joint testing of equipment and holding of conferences and seminars.

The Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) and the United States Energy Association also signed an MoU to set up a trade and investment working group on clean energy and environment.