Industrial growth at 5.8 per cent in ’02-03
New Delhi: Led by the manufacturing and mining sectors, the industrial growth rate rose to 5.8 per cent during 2002-03 as against a mere 2.7 per cent during the previous fiscal. In March, industry grew by 6 per cent as compared to 3.2 per cent in the corresponding month last year, according to the quick estimates of the index of industrial production (IIP) released on Monday.

The higher growth rate during the past fiscal is attributed to a 6 per cent growth of the manufacturing sector as compared to 2.9 per cent during the recession-hit 2001-02. The mining sector registered a substantial growth of 5.8 per cent as against 1.2 per cent the previous fiscal.
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Textile secy conveys to EU India’s unhappiness with GSP sheme
New Delhi: During bilateral talks with European Union (EU) representatives in Brussels on May 7, textiles secretary SB Mohapatra expressed serious concern at Brussels’ Generalised System of Preferences (GSP) scheme which he said was “adversely” affecting India’s textile exports to the EU vis-a-vis those from Pakistan. This was because of the special tariff arrangement extended to Pakistan under the three-year scheme from January 1, 2002 to combat drug production and trafficking, he pointed out.

Leading an official delegation for the talks, Mohapatra also referred to EU trade commissioner Pascal Lamy’s recent statement in Delhi that Pakistan was likely to “graduate beyond the threshold level of its export to the EU in the near future”. This implied that Pakistan was likely to become ineligible for duty-free access of its textile exports to the EU, he said adding that there was no conformation on this from the EU side.
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Panel set up to look into discrimination at workplace
New Delhi: The government has set up a five-member committee to look into discrimination at workplace, especially against women, in a follow up to a report, Time for Equality at Work. The announcement was made by labour minister Sahib Singh Verma in the Capital on Monday while releasing the report brought out by the International Labour Office (ILO). While noting that the most blatant forms of discrimination at work may have faded, the report points out that many remain a persistent and daily part of the workplace or are taking on new, subtle forms that are a cause for growing concern. The report shows that many of those who suffer from discrimination— especially on the basis of their sex or colour— face a persistent equality gap that divides them from dominant groups who enjoy a better life, or even from their own peers who have benefitted from anti-discrimination laws and policies.
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