 |
| Wednesday, September 13, 2000, Chandigarh, India   
|
Poverty reduction slowed in 90s:
report Indian economy
is fourth largest in the world: WB Industrial output
declines in July Rabri has a date with Bill
Gates Govt announces incentives for SSI
sector |
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
In Singapore
and not paid for 3
months Leave your
car at home on Sept 22 Reuters ties up with
Dishnet
|
|
Poverty reduction slowed in 90s: report NEW DELHI, Sept 12 (PTI) — Despite achieving a higher economic growth of 6.1 per cent annually during 1990-98, the pace of poverty reduction in India slowed in the nineties, says the World Development Report 2000-2001. “Recent data from India’s National Sample Surveys (NSS) suggest that the pace of poverty reduction slowed in the nineties, particularly in rural areas,” the report said. This occurred against a backdrop of strong economic growth of 6.1 per cent a year during 1990-98 (according to National Accounts Statistics). The report also pointed out emerging signs of rising inequality nationally. An important factor in the slow rate of poverty reduction was slow growth in average consumption, as measured by the NSS, the report said. According to the report, India suffered severe deprivations in education and health — especially in the Northern region where caste, class and gender inequalities were particularly strong. In studies in Bihar and Uttar Pradesh poor women and men emphasised their extreme vulnerability and the ineffectiveness of state institutions, from schools to police. In the past, poverty reduction in India lagged behind that of East Asia because of slower growth and significantly less progress in promoting mass education and basic health, the report said adding that “more recently, however, growth has accelerated and poverty has fallen.” The report highlighted the marked differences within the country — with the South, particularly the state of Kerala, having sharply better education and health. Kerala has life expectancy greater than those in Washington DC, despite vastly lower income levels, it said adding that the effectiveness of public action in Kerala has been attributed to its strong tradition of political and social mobilisation. Suggesting priorities for action in India, the report said accelerated poverty reduction would require faster growth, which in turn demanded liberalisation especially in agriculture and the better provision of infrastructure, lacking in most parts of India. Expanding education and health services would require that state governments reverse the deterioration in their fiscal positions, as subsidies to the loss-making power sector crowd out spending in the social sectors. Also needed is more equitable service provision, which will require empowering women and members of lower castes, the report said. |
|
Indian economy is fourth largest in the world: WB WASHINGTON, Sept 12 (PTI) — India has moved up from the fifth to fourth place in the world in purchasing power parity (PPP) terms, further enhancing its stature as an emerging economy with great potential. India is now only behind the USA, China, which has moved up to the second place, and Japan in PPP calculations. The figures for 1999, given in the World Bank’s annual World Development Report, are: USA $ 8,351 billion, China $ 4,112.2 billion, Japan 3,042.9 and India 2,144.1 billion dollars. Compared to the G-8 countries — the size of the Indian economy in PPP terms is ahead of six out of the eight G-8 powers, analysts said. The figures for the G-8 other than the USA and Japan are: Germany $ 1,837.8 billion, France $ 1,293.8 billion, UK $ 1,234.4 billion, Italy $ 1,196.3 billion, Canada $ 726.1 billion and Russia $ 928.8 billion. Pakistan has fallen significantly behind India in PPP terms despite the fact that the Pakistani per capita was ahead of India’s both by conventional calculations and PPP. The Indian per capita in PPP terms in 1999 was $ 2,149 and Pakistan’s $ 1,757, though Pakistan is still ahead of India by $ 20 in conventional calculations — India $ 450 and Pakistan $ 470. |
|
Industrial output declines in July NEW DELHI, Sept 12 (PTI) — Continuing its downward slide, the industrial production in July fell to 4.3 per cent as against 6.2 per cent in the corresponding period last year mainly on account of poor performance in the manufacturing sector. The industrial growth during the first four months April-July of the current fiscal also dipped to 5.4 per cent as against 5.9 per cent last year, according to the latest Index of Industrial Production (IIP) figures released by the Central Statistical Organisation (CSO). The manufacturing sector accounting for more than three-fourths of the weightage in the iip fell quite sharply to 5.1 per cent in July this year as against 6.8 per cent registered last year. The cummulative growth in the manufacturing sector during April-July also declined to 5.7 per cent compared to 6.7 per cent in the previous year. The mining sector, however, continued its upward trend and recorded a growth of 0.7 per cent in July 2000 compared to 0.1 per cent in the same month last year. The four-month performance was even better at three per cent as against negative 0.9 per cent in April-July last year. Electricity sector recorded a growth of one per cent during July compared to 6.2 per cent in July 1999, iip figures said, adding that April-July growth fell marginally at 4 per cent compared to 4.9 per cent in the corresponding period last year. In the use-based classification, the performance of capital goods segment remained subdued at negative one per cent in July 2000 compared to 14.6 per cent in the same month last year. The cummulative growth of the capital goods sector also fell to negative 0.3 per cent in the April-July period compared to 11.6 per cent last year. The performance in the basic goods sector saw a decline in the growth rate at 2.9 per cent in July compared to 5.3 per cent registered in the last year. But the cummulative growth in April-July appreciated to 4.7 per cent as against 3.8 per cent last year. The consumer durable segment reported a higher growth in July at 23 per cent compared to 18.9 per cent in July 1999. During April-July, the growth in the consumer durable sector stood at 23.3 per cent as against 14.5 per cent in the same period last year. The consumer non-durables segment came out of red in the month of July by registering a positive growth of 1.3 per cent as against negative 0.5 per cent last year. The cummulative growth in first four months of 2000-01 also improved to 3.8 per cent as against negative 0.6 per cent posted last year. |
|
Rabri has a date with Bill
Gates PATNA, Sept 12: Come September 14 and Rabri Devi will have lunch with Bill Gates, discussing what?—-software, hardware, kitchenware, dairy? At least this is what the tentative plan of Bill Gates say as he is expected to attend a luncheon meeting with the CMs of 16 states in New Delhi that include Chandrababu Naidu and Rabri Devi. God knows what Laloo Prasad would say to this proposal as he has been a vehement opponent of information technology (IT), says, “what IT!, this TV like thing will destroy the nation.” Laloo Prasad has flayed Naidu’s experiment with Cyberabad despite his own son-in-law being an IT professional, working with Infosys. State officials are feigning ignorance about Bill Gates’s ‘date’ with Rabri. Maybe, the RJD supremo has not yet decided as to whether Rabri Devi should attend the meet or not. He is caught between the devil and the deep sea. If Rabri Devi attends, Laloo will have to eat his own words and if she does not, the parties and general public will consider it as the CM’s failure to face the world and let the Biharis down in the eyes of the nation. Better therefore is to deny that there is any such invitation. It seems that there is apparent dichotomy of ideas and actions of Laloo over the IT revolution. On the one hand Laloo Prasad hits out at the IT and on the other his CM wife goes about inauguration official websites of government departments. Her ministers sign paeans of the inevitability and utility of the IT revolution, inaugurating private portals and dot.com ventures, which are coming up in Bihar like “khatals” (cowsheds). Launching a portal, “Patna On Net” on Sunday, the state Science and Technology Minister admitted that Bihar too was in the race of IT saying that the government would introduce IT courses in all technical colleges of the state. Political observers feel that “IT-bashing” is no favourite time pass for Laloo but his political and electoral compulsion. As part of his rustic image, so dear to his vote-bank, he flays all that is enjoyed by the higher strata of society. He knows that the IT boom will not yield jobs to his illiterate and poor people. Analysts say that the “poor-rich divide” is what pays to Laloo. By IT bashing, he wins the hearts of the millions of his voters who believe that the modern education and computerisation have together taken jobs away from the poor and less educated masses. He had once said: “Will computers provide safe drinking water to the millions?” |
|
Govt announces incentives for SSI
sector NEW DELHI, Sept 12 — The government today decided to allow payment of royalty up to 2 per cent for exports and one per cent for domestic sales on the use of trademarks and
brand names of the foreign collaborator without technology transfer under the automatic route. Further, payment of royalty up to 8 per cent on exports and 5 per cent on domestic sales by wholly owned subsidiaries to offshore parent companies would now be allowed under the automatic route without any restrictions on the duration of royalty payments. In another major decision, it has been decided to allow Offshore Venture Capital Funds companies to invest in domestic venture capital undertakings as well as other companies through the automatic route, subject only to the SEBI regulations and sector-specific caps on FDI. This is likely to make risk capital more readily available for start ups. In another major initiative, it has been decided to allow FDI up to 100 per cent through the automatic route for all manufacturing activities in the SEZ with only some exceptions. These include arms and ammunition, explosives and allied items of defence equipment, defence aircraft and warships, atomic substances, narcotics and psychotropic substances and hazardous chemicals, distillation and brewing of alcoholic drinks and cigarettes, cigars and manufactured tobacco substitutes. Further FDI upto 100 per cent is being allowed for the following activities in the telecom sector: Internet Service Providers not providing gateways, Infrastructure Providers providing dark fibre; Electronic Mail and Voice Mail. These changes in the FDI policy, which was cleared by the Union Cabinet last month, has been notified by the Ministry of Commerce and Industry.
|
|
In Singapore and not paid for 3 months SINGAPORE, Sept 12 (DPA) — Manpower officials said today an investigation will be launched into claims by Indian construction workers in the city-state that they have not been paid for three months once formal complaints are submitted. Thirty Indians employed at different building sites maintained they have survived on money and food given to them by friends and relatives who are also construction workers in Singapore. A Ministry of Manpower (MoM) spokesman said the workers brought their plight to the attention of the Labour Relations Department on Monday, but left when an officer pressed for details. Karuppaiah Palaniappan (27) told The Straits Times many more Indian labourers were affected, estimating 130 plus others who experienced drastic wage cuts. He said they arrived in Singapore six months ago, paying for their trips from Madras. The workers told the newspaper they were paid about 700 Singapore dollars (411 U.S. dollars) a month and worked an average of 12 hours a day, including four hours’ overtime six days a week. “We want some help to get our pay,’’ Manickam Phanaraj (22) was quoted as saying, fearful of being sent back to India empty-handed. Karuppaiah said they found their employers were no longer at their usual office. “We would like to advise these workers to call at the Labour Relations Department with their work permits so that we can investigate the claim and provide the necessary assistance,’’ the MoM said in a statement. |
|
Leave your
car at home on Sept 22 BANGKOK, Sept 12 (DPA) — Thailand will join hundreds of European cities later this month in observing “Leave your car at home” day as a means of protesting against the rising oil prices, officials said today. On Friday, September 22, some 600 cities in 22 European countries will go carless in an attempt to clear the air and promote environmental awareness and energy conservation. The Thai government has urged motorists nationwide to join the carless day campaign by leaving the vehicles at home or at least joining car pools and other alternative means of transportation, said Savit Bhotiwihok, Minister to the Prime Minister’s office in charge of energy matters. “The campaign will demonstrate to OPEC that countries dependent on oil imports are unhappy with rising prices,” said Savit. Thailand imports about 200 million barrels of oil per year. Recent hikes by OPEC in world oil prices, which have hit 10 year highs, threaten to slow down Thailand’s economic recovery. “We hope that the campaign will be continued after September 22,” said Pongpisit. |
|
|
Reuters ties up
with Dishnet MUMBAI, Sept 12 (UNI) — Reuters, the global information and news group, has tied up with Dishnet DSL Delivery Services for the provision of financial market information. With the arrangement, Reuters financial products like Business Watch, Market Watch, Money 2000 and Commodities 2000 will be available at much more affordable rates on the DSL Access Technology. Dishnet, is the sole provider of DSI, technology in India today. Reuters customers can now get in touch with the nearest Dishnet DSL office in their city and request for Reuters services to be delivered via this new technology. |
co
Essar allows calls
sans STD deposits CHANDIGARH, Sept 12 —The subscribers of Essar Cellphone in select cities of the Haryana circle can now make STD calls without paying the initial STD deposits. Announcing this today, the company said that the calls made by the subscribers in Haryana to Delhi, Noida and Ghaziabad will now be billed as local calls while for calls made to Faridabad and Gurgaon STD charges will be billed in accordance with DoT charges. Airtime will be charged according to the tariff plan chosen by the subscribers. With this, Essar expects 10 to 15 per cent growth in the market. Hi-tech centre for Gurgaon CHANDIGARH, Sept 12 (TNS) — The Haryana State Electronics Development Corporation (HARTRON) has decided to develop a hi-tech haritat centre in the electronics city being developed at Gurgaon. The centre will have computer and software export units with facilities like ready-to-move built-up space, business centre, a conference room, high speed data communication and video and teleconference, besides-e-mail and communication services. The complex, to be set up with private
promoters, will catalyse investment in computer and software industry and help in promoting software companies, an official release said here today. IBM to introduce LTO products BANGALORE, Sept 12 (PTI) — IBM has announced that it is the first company to ship products based on a breakthrough industry-standard technology. Using IBM’s Ultrium Linear Tape-Open (LTO) products, customers can back up information with up to twice the capacity and speed at about the same cost of existing technology today. IBM is introducing these products in India with immediate effect. The new technology allows customers to use tapes and drives interchangeably from any manufacturer using LTO. IBM will market LTO Ultrium drives and tapes of UNIX and Windows 2000/NT users with the IBM brand and will also sell to other vendors —
Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMS). B2B online legal services launched NEW DELHI, Sept 12 (PTI) — Waqalat.com. a business-to-business (B2B) portal providing online services, such as posting cause lists, and database of Central and State rules, to lawyers was launched here. “The site would offer those services required by the lawyers including details of Central and State rules, and cause lists,” Naval Bhatia, CEO of the company said here. The portal has promoter of hotmail.com. Sabeer Bhatia as a sponsor and member of Technology Advisory Board of the company. The portal also has on its advisory board Pradeep Kar, CEO of Microland and Ashok Desai, an eminent economist. The site, is expected to be fully operational by October 1, this year. Rediff alliance with Birla AT&T NEW DELHI, Sept 12 (PTI) — Rediff.com today announced forging of an alliance with Birla AT&T and Tata Cellular for providing Internet content to the latters’ cellular subscribers. As per the agreement, Rediff would provide its content and services to Birla AT&T and Tata Cellular subscribers using WAP (Wireless Application Protocol) enabled cellular phones in Andhra Pradesh, Gujarat, Maharashtra and Goa, the Internet company said in a statement. Rediff would develop in-house localised content to enable the subscribers of the cellular services to access an array of services including emergency services, breaking and business news. HFCL signs pact with DD Metro NEW DELHI, Sept 12 (PTI) — The HFCL-Nine Broadcasting India Ltd, a joint venture with Australian Kerry Packer media group has signed a pact with Prasar Bharati for broadcasting programmes on Doordarshan Metro channel. Beginning today, Nine gold will be telecast on prime time in evening range of programmes appealing young and whole family, company said in a statement here. “Nine Gold establishes strong bond with Doordarshan; joining hands to develop the broadcasting business”, it said adding extensive
terrestrial network of Doordarshan Metro channel will help it to reach 350 million viewers by year end. |
cr
Zee face-lift costs $ 5 lakh NEW DELHI: In a bid to retain its leadership among the fiercely competitive private TV channels, Zee TV has spend a whopping half-a-million dollars for a face-lift in become an “upmarket” channel. The changes incorporated by the Subhash Chandra promoted network include new programme logos, set designs and general aesthetics as also organisational restructuring. Zee had employed US-based Novocomm for effecting these changes across all 10 channels, including Zee News and the Alpha brand of channels. — PTI Broker comes to
ABCL’s help MUMBAI: The success of Amitabh Bachchan in Kaun Banega Crorpati has prompted a leading stock broker here to pump fresh funds into the sick ABCL, now known as AB Corp, to pay off creditors. According to Mr Ketan Parekh, he has started infusing fresh funds in AB Corp is launching three movie productions, including “Aks” due for release in December. The company also intends to acquire the Bombay distribution rights of two forthcoming films of Abhishek Bachchan — “Dhai Akshar Prem Ke” and “Bas Itna Sa Khwar Hai”. — UNI Old is gold
for Star TV MUMBAI: After the overwhelming success of Kaun Banega Crorepati, Star TV is all set to launch another gilt-edged channel Star Gold on September 17, which will showcase Hindi movies of the bygone era, besides contemporary cinema. Star Gold promises to offer the best of Hindi movies — both in black and white and colour — to millions of Indian households across the country. Premiering with the eternal favourite Mughal-e-Azam, Star Gold will recreate the magic of the silver screen and will have its offering of other genres of films belonging to the same era. With its pronounced inclination towards the films produced prior to the 1980s, Star Gold will be a “classic Hindi movie channel.” — UNI American work
culture in UK LONDON: Britain is following the US example of a society that remains open 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Almost one in four employees is required to work at least part of night, often for little or no extra pay. The major area of concern is the children of those employees who, according to a report by the national childcare charity Daycare Trust, are left to be “passed like batons” in a relay race between parents. The “Shift Parents” report will reveal that a major chunk (61 per cent) of working families have one adult working early mornings, evenings, nights and weekends. Thirtyfour per cent children have a weekend working parent, while 15 per cent of the total staff works throughout night. The figures are expected to grow by 100 per cent by 2007. The report will be published later this week. — ANI Grape juice & medication ROCHESTER, Minn:
Drinking grapefruit juice to wash down some prescription medicines may be dangerous because the juice can raise blood concentrations of the drug beyond what the dosage calls for, researchers said on Tuesday. Unlike other citrus juices, grapefruit juice inhibits one of the body’s intestinal enzyme systems and can result in marked increases in serum levels of some prescription drugs such as those to treat heart disease and control blood pressure. Interactions between grapefruit juice and certain drugs —which has been known but not extensively studied — is particularly worrisome for the elderly who are more likely to take medications and may be inclined to drink calciumfortified grapefruit juice. Although some drugs are given with others to enhance their effects, grapefruit juice should not be used for this purpose because its impact can be unpredictable and potentially dangerous. Grapefruit juice does not pose a problem for those receiving medication intravenously, the report said. — Reuters
|
bb
Task force Corporate card Yashwant Sinha IFFCO NHPC Director SFC Bill |
 |
| Punjab | Haryana | Jammu & Kashmir | Himachal Pradesh | Regional Briefs | Nation | Editorial | | Business | Sport | World | Mailbag | In Spotlight | Chandigarh Tribune | Ludhiana Tribune 50 years of Independence | Tercentenary Celebrations | | 120 Years of Trust | Calendar | Weather | Archive | Subscribe | Suggestion | E-mail | |
