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| Friday,
November 24, 2000, Chandigarh, India   
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Mahindra park stone laying on Dec
5 Akai to introduce 6
CTV models soon Vardhman to raise capacity Time changing,
virtually! High Court rejects
Mallya’s petition |
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Kee Pharma sets up biotech
division
Online management
diploma launched WorldSpace to tie up
with radio channels
Office gossip is good for you Kerry Packer
hospitalised
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Mahindra park stone laying on Dec
5 NEW DELHI, Nov 23 — The Punjab Pavilion at the India International Trade Fair this year depicts transition of Punjab from an agro-based economy to knowledge-based economy. The focus on IT is highlighted by the presence of companies like HFCL, Spectranet, Spice and Quark of the USA which have presented their plans of software development. The foundation stone of 200-crore Mahindra Knowledge Park in Mohali, which is emerging as an IT hub, will be laid on December 5. An earth station has already been commissioned in the area and companies like Quark Media House, Tata Interactive Systems, Infosys, Sigma Core and NYX Software have started their operations. According to Mr Ramesh Inder Singh, Secretary, Department of Industries and Commerce, the state government is also setting up an Indian Institute of Information Technology (IIIT) at Mohali for which 15 acres has been earmarked. It is also proposed to set up a Global Institute of Science and Technology at Anandgarh in an area of about 300 acres. Another attraction at the Punjab Pavilion is the Kaljarani Handloom Training Centre where durri-making is being demonstrated. Live engraving of inlay furniture by artisans from Hoshiarpur is an added attraction. According to officials, the pavilion is attracting many joint ventures on information technology and agro-processing units. Enquiries have been made for Swaraj buses, tractors and trucks from Uganda and Nigeria. There have been export enquiries from Saudi Arabia and the UAE for Markfed basmati rice and Sarson Ka Saag and from Nigeria for a rice processing unit. The industrial scenario in Punjab is set to undergo a sea change with the setting up of the Guru Gobind Singh Refinery at Bathinda. With the coming up of the refinery with an investment of Rs 16,000 crore, the central investment in Punjab will go up by 700 per cent to over Rs 18,000 crore. PSIDC is implementing with Soros India and AMAI Group an ammonia fertiliser plant to be set up in Sangrur district. Officials said that Punjab government has undertaken major reforms in the labour laws. In the manufacturing units, the working hours for women workers have been extended from 13 to 17 hours, enabling an entrepreneur to employ women in two shifts. The number of daily working hours have been allowed to be increase from 9 to 12 and weekly working hours from 48 to 60. The limit for over-time has also been increase from 50 hours to 75 hours in a quarter. It has also been decided that there will be only one-time inspection of an establishment during a particular year under all labour laws. |
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Akai to introduce 6
CTV models soon CHANDIGARH, Nov 23 — “Akai is not going bankrupt. There is no truth in reports to this effect appearing in a section of the Press. Perhaps the reports were inspired by the company asking the Japanese Government for extension of time limit to make its tax payments. The Japanese Government has now granted the company three years extension to clear tax dues.” This was announced by Akai India COO Basant Pande at a press conference here last night. Stating that this development would not affect the functioning of Akai India in any way, Mr Basant Pande said the company was in robust health. It sold 35,000 TV sets last year and currently enjoyed a market share of 5 per cent, which is expected to rise to 7 per cent by this year-end. In the first half of the year, its turnover has grown 100 per cent over last year. Aiming to achieve business of Rs 500 crore by March, 2000, he said the company would introduce six new CTV models in the next three months. Pointing out that TV penetration in India is still low, Mr Basant Pande said the country has only five million TV sets compared to 20 million in China whose population is only slightly higher. |
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Vardhman to raise capacity NEW DELHI, Nov 23 (PTI) — Ludhiana-based cotton yarn manufacturing company Vardhman Spinning and General Mills is planning to augment its spinning capacity from 5,00,000 units to 6,00,000 units in the next three years. “We are planning to add another 1,00,000 spindlers from the present capacity of 5,00,000 units by 2003. The company is also planning to expand its fabric and weaving processing capacities,” Chief Executive of Vardhman Spinning Mills V.K. Goyal said here today. Mr Goyal said Vardhman Spinning was also planning to increase the yarn manufacturing facilities from the present 18 units spread over mostly in Northern region of Punjab, Himachal Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh and Gujarat. The company was also restructuring its marketing strategy to enter over-the-counter (OTC) sales segment soon and had launched the ‘Valentino’ brand shirts through its hand-knitting dealers channels, he said. Vardhman Spinning had last month set up a Rs 110-crore state-of-the-art fibre processing plant in Himachal Pradesh with technology and equipment imported from Japan and Germany to produce processed fabrics for catering to the demands of readymade garment manufacturers. Vardhman Spinning is reworking its export strategy to achieve Rs 500 crore revenue this fiscal. Last year, the company had earned Rs 450 crore from exports to Japan, Hong Kong, Korea, Canada, Europe, Scandinavian countries, Bangladesh, Taiwan, Malaysia, Thailand and Indonesia. Mr Goyal said the Vardhman Mills was drawing plans to increase its present marketshare of 12 per cent in the Rs 400 crore hand-knitting cotton yarns market to 15 per cent in the next fiscal. Last year, the company set up a Rs 250-crore fibre manufacturing unit in bharauch in
Gujarat to produce acrylic fibre. Vardhman faces competition from Indian Petrochemical Corporation Ltd. |
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Time changing,
virtually! NEW DELHI, Nov 23 — Time is changing face, virtually. As cyberworld becomes a reality today, time-keeping across the globe has kept many preoccupied to connect the world with a single thread of time in cyberspace. ‘‘Internet Time’’, as it is called, is geographically neutral. It is the same in every part of the world. From something as basic as synchronising friendly chat sessions or commercial conferencing, knowing when your mail was sent, scheduling the timing of events that are of international interest to coordinating international transactions or activities within organisations spread across the continents, Internet Time has a role to play. The traditional system of timezones was standardised in 1884 at an International Prime Meridian Conference where the zero degree longitude of
Greenwich, England was decided as the Prime Meridian and 24 time zones were selected on its basis. Proposed by Canadian Sir Stanford Fleming, the Timezone System led to the establishment of the Universal
Coordinated Time (UCT) or the Greenwich Mean Time (GMT). This is used as a reference time the world over although countries like China and India that are spread across a number of timezones use a single standard throughout their length and breadth. The USA and its territories are covered by almost nine time zones. ‘‘The Internet itself is unaffected by geography. Then why should the time shown on it be different?’’ says Mark Laugesen of the newearthtime.Net on the need of a new time-keeping system. The New Earthtime propagated by his site, one of the many ideas floated on the alternate time keeping system, divides the day into 360 degrees with each degree being equal to four minutes. The day begins at GMT and there is no AM or PM. The more popular Swatch Internet time divides the day into 1000 beats each beat being equivalent to one minute and 26.4 seconds. Biel Mean Time (BMT) is the universal reference for Internet Time with the day beginning at midnight BMT. Inaugurated on October 23, 1998, the BMT is marked on the facade of the Swatch International Headquarteers on Jackob-Staempfi Street, Biel, Switzerland. Though it is claimed that the new systems will mark the end of feeling of separation that comes with timezones, there are a number of weaknesses associated with these systems too. According to Mark Laugesen, a system like The Swatch Internet Time will not be commercially neutral and might encourage the monopoly of a single organisation. Though it may take some time to happen, it remains a possibility that cannot be denied. Moreover this system does not allow for division of time into less than one minute and 26.4 seconds. Can a concept like Internet time strike a chord with people in India where the reach of the Internet itself is limited? ‘‘We are very encouraged by the response we have got here. It is in no way less than what we have received abroad where we are even planning collaboration with other partners,’’ says Shantanu Mukherjee, Marketing Manager of Swatch in Delhi. M. Anita, who regularly communicates with her brother in New York through chat sessions on the Internet, is very clear in her opinion on the subject. ‘‘It is of very little cosequence for people like me who are already accustomed to the timezone difference. And with no single standard being used, I guess it will complicate things even more,’’ she says. Only time will tell whether an Internet Time will rule our life. — PTI |
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High Court rejects Mallya’s petition NEW DELHI, Nov 23 (PTI) — The Delhi High Court today rejected United Breweries Chief Vijay Mallya’s petition seeking quashing of proceedings against him for alleged FERA violation by the Enforcement Directorate (ED), saying there was no merit in his plea. Justice R. S. Sodhi, while dismissing Mallya’s petition challenging ED complaint for his alleged non-compliance of summons issued to him by the Directorate, said “violation of summons issued under Section 40 of FERA is punishable under Section 65 of the Act.” ED had filed a complaint in the lower court against Mallya alleging that he did not comply with its four summons issued between September 15 and December 21 last year. The ED wanted to question him for alleged violation of FERA relating to spending money on advertisements abroad. “No person, however, high, mighty, wealthy and influential he might be, is above the law and can treat the judicial proceedings with contempt,” the court said adding there was no reason for it to intervene in the matter. |
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Kee Pharma sets up biotech
division CHANDIGARH, Nov 23 — Delhi-based Kee Pharma has diversified its operations by launching a biotechnology division called Kee Biogenetics under which products in the fields of cardiology, immunology and oncology will be introduced. Kee Biogenetics has been set up following tie-ups with biotech majors — heber Biotec, S.A., of Cuba and the State Scientific Centre Research Institute of Highly Pure Biopreparations, Institute of Polio Myelitis and the Centre of Modern Medicine “Medicor”, all of Russia. Stating this here today, Mr Anil Motihar, MD of the company, said Kee Biogenetics will launch in December a genetically engineered product, Streptokinase which dissolves intra-coronary clots to prevent fatal heart attacks. Another product, interferon alpha 2b, for the treatment of Hepatitis B and C will be launched in February next year. The Rs 16 crore turnover company is setting up its facility at Gurgaon and plans to come out with a public issue when “market sentiment is favourable”. |
Online management diploma launched MUMBAI, Nov 23 (UNI) — In a landmark agreement, onlinevarsity.Com, a division of Aptech Ltd., and the t.Apai Management Institute (tapmi), two leading organisations in the education sector have come together to launch India’s first online e-PostGraduate Diploma in management. The e-pgdm online programme allows corporates to equip their best employees with the critical managerial skills without facing the drawbacks of a conventional full-time or part-time programme. With the help of the programme, an employee can structure his or her learning keeping a focus on work priorities. The two-year online post-graduate management programme (equivalent to a conventional mba) consists of 4 semesters. In the first year, students take courses on basic disciplines and broad functional areas to provide a strong foundation for the next year. The second year offers students a wide range of courses in the two areas of specialization, e business and financial services and markets. This is indicative of the changing scenario in the education system. WorldSpace to tie up
with radio channels CHANDIGARH, Nov 23 — Music lovers will now be able to treat their ears with their favourite Indian or even the rare international classical music. The quality of the music will be the same as one gets by using CDs. WorldSpace, a $1.5 billion US-based digital audio and multimedia broadcast system today launched operations in Chandigarh. The company which has started services in four other cities is already providing receivers in Africa, UAE, Indonesia, Singapore and nine other countries. “Wide variety of programmes with crystal clear quality regardless of weather will be provided to listeners”, said Mr. M Sebastin, Director Business Development ,WorldSpace while talking to The Tribune. “Radio is no longer considered a popular mode of entertainment these days not because people are not fond of audio but because they are not getting variety and quality”, he added. WorldSpace has satellite network consists of geostationary satellites two of which have been already launched. Every satellite has three beams each of which is capable of covering 40 million square kilometres. The user will get a portable digital receiver (instrument similar to radio) which will enable him to listen to regional, national as well as international audio channels including Ultra Pop, Riff (Africa), Bob and even Radio Midday and All India Radio apart from others. “The number of channels will be increased to 35 shortly. We are in the process of establishing tie-ups with various other Punjabi, Gujarati, Marathi and Bengali channels”, said Mr Sebastin. In India, WorldSpace has entered into strategic alliance with BPL to market its products. For mass production and distribution, the company has contracted with JVC, Hitachi, Sanyo and Matsushita (Panasonic). Presently, these receivers are available between Rs 5,000 and Rs 12, 000 depending upon the functions and the manufacturing company. WorldSpace will also launch its multimedia operations in the first quarter of next year. Launching of multimedia services will enable the user to download Internet sites on his computer using the digital receiver at a speed which, the company officials claim will be five times greater than Internet. |
Office gossip is good for you LONDON: Employers should encourage gossip in the office and not frown on chats around the drinks machine or employees huddled for a chinwag in the canteen, according to a new survey by Britain’s Industrial Society. Gossip is the cement which holds organisations together. Providing communal space such as coffee areas or lunchrooms allows employees to share information, knowledge and build relations that benefits both the company and the employee,” says Judith Doyle, who has penned the report. Gossip helps employees to realise they are part of a team, encourages friendship and alliances and can even foster love at a time when other traditional links in the community are becoming weaker. Bosses should not view gossip as detrimental to work but rather crucial to the working atmosphere. The document, “New Community or New Slavery”, concentrates on the new world of work which the author says is becoming increasingly divided between employees who are in love with their jobs and those who can hardly wait to clock off and go home. Not surprisingly, people earning higher wages were keenest to work although half of the 400 people interviewed said that if they happened to come into money, they would keep their jobs. For a third group, work was the most important aspect of life and an important area of contact with friends. The Industrial Society said its research highlighted a group of willing workers who enjoyed what they were doing and took in their stride the higher risks of the modern labour market. Contrasted with them, were a band of “wage slaves” frequently in clerical, secretarial posts or frontline service jobs. Most of the these people did not see their jobs as boosting their self-esteem.
— DPA Kerry Packer
hospitalised SYDNEY: Australia’s richest man, media magnate Kerry Packer, has been hospitalised for kidney treatment. Packer (62) was admitted to Sydney’s Royal Prince Alfred Hospital on Wednesday afternoon and was expected to undergo a kidney transplant. Shares in companies linked to Packer fell, although brokers and analysts said while there was general concern about Packer’s health, His companies were in good hands and he has taken a less direct role in recent years. Packer had his other kidney removed in 1986 after doctors detected cancer. Packer has a long history of health problems, suffering a major heart attack in 1990 during a Sydney polo match. He was pronounced clinically dead by paramedics for six minutes before being revived. Asked later what was on the other side, he replied: “Let me tell you son, there’s nothing there.” Packer, known as one of the world’s biggest gamblers, reportedly blew $ 34 million in a three-day baccarat spree in Las Vegas’ Bellagion Hotel.
—AP |
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