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December 9, 2002, Chandigarh, India |
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| DSP’s son held on murder charge Chandigarh, December 8 As per information available, Sanjeev alias Sonu, son of DSP Om Prakash along with his friends allegedly attacked Mr Anant and his brother-in-law Mr Achhardeep Singh after entering the latter’s house (1023, Sector 38B). The injured have been admitted to General Hospital, Sector 16. The reason behind the alleged attack is said to be Sanjeev’s ‘‘affair” with a neighbour of Mr Anant. Sanjeev or his family members could not be contacted. As per family members of the victims, Sanjeev and his five to six friends entered their house (1023, Sector 38B) at about 6.30 pm and attacked Anant who was sleeping. Hearing the shouts of Anant, his brother-in-law, Achhardeep Singh, who was in the adjoining room came to his rescue. Mr Achar too was attacked and he received injuries on his head and palms, while Mr Anant has received injuries on his arm. However, Mr Anant and Mr Achhardeep Singh managed to catch hold of Sanjeev the others, however, escaped. Later, Sanjeev was locked in a room and the police was called. When contacted, Ms Harjinder Kaur, mother of Anant said that Sanjeev and his friends covered her son with a blanket before attacking him. Anant had returned from Kharar at about 6 pm and was having a nap as he was to attend a marriage reception later in the evening. Ms Harjinder Kaur teaches at Government Model Senior Secondary School, Sector 35. Mr Janak Raj Singh, father of Mr Anant also alleged that Sanjeev and his father were exerting pressure on the police. Late in the evening a case under Sections 307, 452, 323, 147 and 148 of the IPC was registered. |
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Controversy
dogs PGI Governing Body meeting
Chandigarh, December 8 “Even though the Union Health Minister, Mr Shatrughan Sinha, had directed the PGI to put the case of the Medical Superintendent, Dr A.K. Gupta, as item number one in the agenda for the next meeting of the Governing Body, the matter does not figure anywhere, and it was after last minute intervention from the higher ups that it has been included in the agenda for December 12 meeting,” disclosed a senior PGI official. The request of Dr Gupta for redesignation as Professor in Hospital Administration had come up for discussion at the last meeting, held on September 29. “During the past two months there has been a concerted effort to clip the wings of Dr Gupta by curtailing his powers and stalling his request for being redesignated as a Professor was but natural,” remarked a senior doctor. In view of widespread resentment among doctors over recommendations of the Standing Selection Committee for filling up 40 posts, for which interviews were held in June, the Governing Body in its last meeting had decided to take up the issue in the next meeting. The issue has now been enlisted as item number 4 in the agenda of the December 12 meeting. The resentment amongst doctors is not just restricted to selections, as a representation by a batch of Assistant Professors, taken up as item number 33 in the agenda, is also causing anguish to many. “There has been an attempt to scuttle our case by including over a dozen doctors from another batch, so that there are legal wrangles and the issue gets embroiled in controversy,” alleged one of the doctors from this batch. As many as 35 Assistant Professors had made a representation for consideration of their ad hoc services for the purpose of their promotion as Associate Professor. “Many of us had to put in several years of service on ad hoc basis because of prolonged litigation so there is no reason why we should suffer for no fault of ours,” a doctor reasoned out. It was after the matter was decided by court that regular appointments were given to them in December, 1999. Even in the administrative comments with the agenda item it has been pointed out that the decision of the Governing Body in this regard will have implications for other faculty members. Some of these doctors are likely to meet senior officials in the Health Ministry in Delhi to apprise them of the factual position and present their viewpoint.  |
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Studies take a backseat amid
roar of bulldozers Chandigarh, December 8 The scanty attendance and fear psychosis which has clouded the young minds are the aftermath of the jhuggi demolition drive undertaken by the Chandigarh Administration since last Wednesday in which more than 1000 jhuggis were razed. With majority of the slum dwellers forced to live without a roof, learning alphabets holds no meaning at present. “The demolition has left a major impact on the children attending the night schools,” said Ms. Ritika Khanna from YTTS, a voluntary organisation that has been running the two night schools in Sector 25, Pustak and the night school in Govt High School, Sector 25. “Though the academic life is slowly limping back to normal but the fear psychosis remains among the students,” said Ms Khanna. Same is the case with Ashiana Theatre Age school. As many as 10 students have lost their homes in the demolition drive and though we have done our best to placate them by kind words, the general mood is still tense and it is difficult to get their attention in classroom studies under such circumstances,” said Mr Zulfikar Khan of Ashiana School. The most unruffled of the three schools, however, is the night school in the Govt. High School that has only four students coming for the demolished colony. “Though most of the students still have their roofs intact, it is the fear of loosing their home which has kept the students away from classes,” said one of the teachers of the night school. While the demolition was inevitable, but people associated with the slumchildren also feel that the move came at the wrong time.”There is no doubt that the Administration’s move is justified but the timing is bad, as it is winter time and students have their examinations,” said Ms Khanna. |
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PEC students’ accident:
Police yet to register case Chandigarh, December 8 Police sources ascribed the delay in the registration of FIR to the fact that no eye-witness had come forward and the girls were not medically fit to give statements. An official said the police was looking into the matter. Even though doctors at the PGI are saying that the condition of Shivani and Preeti, both students of Punjab Engineering College, who were injured in the accident, is stable, their parents are still worried about their condition. While Shivani has undergone two CT scans, it is only after an MRI that doctors can say with certainty about her condition, said her parents, who have been sitting by her side in the neurosurgery ward in the emergency. Doctors said since Shivani had been wearing a helmet, the injury had not been so severe. “ A swelling has been detected in her spine so we are suspecting that she could have damaged her back bone.,” doctors treating Shivani said. The other girl, Preeti, has suffered multiple fractures in her left leg. Doctors said she was likely to undergo an orthopaedic operation within the next few days. The family members of the two girls said they would be relieved only after the operation. Doctors said since the two girls had been wearing helmets, they had been saved from serious head injuries. The girls had suffered injuries when the Kinetic Honda scooter that they were riding was hit from behind by a car near the traffic light point of Sectors 16 and 17. The car was allegedly being driven by a daughter of a sitting judge of the Punjab and Haryana High Court. |
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Shortage of cops will hit policing: Bassi Chandigarh, December 8 Interacting with mediapersons after his farewell ceremony at the Police Lines here, Mr Bassi said in the past 10 years, the police strength had not increased in proportion to the population increase. The creation of the UT cadre for the force, said the IGP could improve the policing in the city and weed out frustration which had set in among the rank and file due to stagnation at different levels. Defending the rank and file of the force, the IGP said the psyche of the officials needed to be changed. Pointing towards an incident of snatching under Sector 26 Police station, he said the rank and file took every incident of crime as a burden on them. “Some officials find ways to hush up the matter instead of detecting a crime. This psyche needs to be changed through awareness”. He said he was happy that the crime graph had shown a 50 per cent rise due to free registration of cases. Heinous crime is not being pushed under the carpet, he said adding that it showed that things were changing for the better. On being asked whether the morale of the force was low and efficient cops were not being given a chance, the IGP replied in the negative. During the major part of his interaction, he spoke on new initiatives like the neighbourhood watch scheme, free legal aid, providing copy of an FIR by post, starting group insurance scheme and housing. He also talked about the work being done by the Operation Cell, Women and Child Support Unit and the Economic Offence wings. Incidentally, the IGP was all praise for the initiatives taken by the DIG, SP (Operations) and SP (Traffic). Other than mentioning about the detection of some heinous cases, the SSP got a “little” share of the praise showered upon his subordinates by the
IGP. Earlier, the IGP took the salute from an impressive parade at his farewell ceremony. The
SSP, Mr Parag Jain, was also present at the ceremony.
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Biotechnology crucial to food security
Chandigarh, December 8 Martin is born of a German father, Dr W F Menski, who is a Professor of Law in the School of Oriental and African Studies, University of London, and specialises in Hindu Laws, and an Indian mother, Nilima, a Maharashtrian from Baroda, who is a Kathak dancer. The visiting scholar is a guest of Mr Anil and Ranjit Malhotra in Chandigarh. The two brothers were once students of law under Martin’s father in London. Though born and brought up in Europe, Martin is fluent as much in German and English as in Hindi. He enjoys the PIO (Person of Indian Origin) status. This young scientist is excited about Bt. cotton having been finally approved for cultivation by the Government of India. He is a strong votary of genetically modified foods and research and development in biotechnology. Says he: ‘’It has potential. But do not rush into it. Be optimistic. Develop this field for domestic needs and do not rely on international organisations alone. Biotechnology is best suited for developing crops suited to dry land farming and can play a crucial role in giving impetus to small farmers. Since it is a capital-intensive proposition, it is imperative the government plays a vital role in encouraging private/corporate sector to step-in’’. If he is conscious of the opposition to the use of genetic engineering or transgenic biotechnology to produce designer crops and varieties by lobbyists like Vandana Shukla and her crowd, he is equally aware of the cautious role the Government of India is playing when it comes to regulatory role or WTO regulations or Intellectual Property Rights etc. He talks about possible fallout on biodiversity or ill-effects of GM mustard or how human health or environment would get affected or how antagonists are building a hypothesis against tampering with crop genes and talking of organic farming. But at present he is keen to learn how Punjab is placed vis-a-vis biotechnology or how absence of diversification or cult of mono-culture of wheat-rice has affected ecology and economy or sub-soil water table has been hit or how private/corporate sector is involved in the state and its linkages with both universities and farmers or seed production programmes. Martin dispels the impression that biotechnology is a new introduction or India is late in adapting it. This science had carved a niche for itself in 1982 and got a boost in the 90s. “The R and D basis exists. Even top brains dominating in the USA, Europe and Japan are from India. But India has not done much as compared to say Brazil or China in harnessing biotechnology. The two countries have even collaborative partnership’’. To a question, Martin says, new tools of biotechnology will speed up agricultural development, improve cultivars with higher genetic yield potential, increase resistance to diseases/insects and even result in greater tolerance to draught, heat, cold and soil toxicities. Martin says biotechnology is not a panacea for all problems. The cost factor inhibits its spread. |
MC POLL Panchkula, December 8 Though the Indian National Lok Dal, the BJP and the Haryana Vikas Party have announced their will to support candidates and participate actively in the elections, the Congress has so far remained undecided on whether to participate or move court against the announcement of the elections. The party has so far been against the constitution of the Municipal Council here and is now awaiting the return of state president Bhajan Lal from campaigning in Gujarat to take a final decision. Thus the rank and file of the Congress is on tenterhooks, trying to keep its supporters, among office-bearers of Residents Welfare Associations here, intact. A number of these associations, after realising their increase in clout in case of being elected to the Municipal Council, are now trying to garner support from rival parties , and in some cases, are willing to go it alone. The Federation of Welfare Associations of Panchkula, which reportedly enjoys support of over 35 Resident Welfare Associations, has begun its campaigning in earnest. Candidates have already been announced and Brig R.S. Sharma of the federation says that in case the Congress does not participate in these elections, we will contest on our own. The candidates in various wards, especially those who are office-bearers of the Congress or close relatives of senior Congress leaders, have already begun their election campaign. Irrespective of the party’s stand for these elections, Ms Manvir Gill, a niece of former Member of Parliament, Mr Laxman Singh, has already announced her decision to be in the fray. Another senior office-bearer of the party , inform sources , has started campaigning in case the Congress opposes the elections. A senior party leader and president of various residents organisations in Sector 15, who had till late been eying the party ticket, has now chosen out of the fray to be “king-maker”. It may be noted that ever since the Municipal Council had imposed house tax and fire tax on residents last year and cable operators announced a hike in the monthly tariff, new associations / forums have been created at the drop of a hat. The common man, however, is too bewildered by these new associations to become a part of these. The local administration , too, is quite taken aback by the influx of these associations. A senior official, requesting anonymity, remarked that they were in a fix to decide as to whom to invite for talks in order to resolve various issues. “There are just too many leaders and too few followers ,” he said. Meanwhile, charges and counter-charges continue to flow among the leaders, raising issues against hike in cable tariff, even as the cable war is now over, abolition of fire tax, uniform power tariff and uniform stamp duty for SAS Nagar, Chandigarh and Panchkula; besides the common issues of removing encroachments, creating better infrastructure like community halls, dispensaries, schools and colleges and better policing. |
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Councillor
allays concern over demolition Chandigarh, December 8 She said MP Pawan Bansal had been assured by Deputy Commissioner M. Ramsekhar that the colony would not be demolished till plinth was completed for the 1,000 people removed from Janata Colony. Ms Negi said draw of lots for allotment would be also be done during the period. She said a camp for the allotment would be held from Tuesday for the people of Janata Colony. |
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‘Need
to build corruption-free society’
SAS Nagar, December 8 Talking about the Punjab Public Service Commission scam that had rocked the judiciary in the state, Mr Gupta pointed out that Ravi Sidhu was seeking to build around himself a structure of judicial protection. ‘‘I owe it to Chief Justice Saharya who, against all odds, has decided to proceed with the inquiry against the three High Court judges allegedly involved in the PPSC scam.’’ Mr Gupta also talked about the fear psychosis that prevails among all those who want to and can raise a voice against judicial delinquency but don’t because of ‘‘the fear of contempt. In fact the fear of contempt is worse than the contempt itself’’, said Mr Gupta. Mr Gupta in the end welcomed the adoption of the in-house procedure of inquiry being followed in Punjab, Karnataka and Rajasthan. Earlier, Dr H.S. Deol, former commissioner, Linguistics Minorities Commission and former Member PPSC, delivered the keynote address and reviewed the forms of corruption through ages. He pointed out that whereas there were many instances of corruption found in history, there had also been men of honour who had not compromised and stood for honesty. ‘‘It is time for the intellectuals to take up the matter and prove to be those men of honour.’’ he said. Dr Deol also stated that there was need to inculcate moral values through education in order to build a corruption-free society. Dr Prem Singh presided over the seminar and stated that making society free of corruption is indeed a Herculean task but individual as well as efforts by social organisations, intellectuals, artists and professionals etc. could play an important
role. Mr Puran Singh Kirti, president, Adara Tarak thanked the participants while Mr Ranjivan Singh conducted the stage. |
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Sambhar strays into city hotel Chandigarh, December 8 The visitor, a sambhar, was attracted to a green area in the vicinity of the shopping centre in Sector 17. Sunday saved the people of possible accidents, as according to forest officials the animal could easily jump over cars and pedestrians causing injuries to them especially if it enters populated areas. The Hotel Shivalikview staff spotted the sambhar around 9 a.m. and chased it to catch it. But the chase proved costly as the sambhar banged against windowpanes of the hotel, breaking few of them and hurting itself in the process. The hotel staff gave up the chase and informed the police about the surprise visitor. The police informed the officials of the Forest Department around 10.30 a.m. The Forest Department staff reached the spot to catch the animal bleeding from its hoof. The sambhar was chased again and had to be tranquilized to calm it down and prevent it from getting hurt. The catching operation lasted one hour and the animal was taken to the animal rescue centre. The sambhar will be released in the jungle in a couple of days after its primary health care, officials said. The animal is suspected to have strayed into the city during the night from Kansal, Leisure Valley and other forests surrounding the city. December and January have witnessed the influx of sambhars in the city in the past with forest officials catching 17 of them last year. The period, being a mating season for animals, witnesses bloody rivalry between male animals who push the weak ones out of the jungle for remaining exclusive suitors to female partners. This one-had-a-half year cub, however, seems to have strayed into the city missing its herd. It might have been pushed into the city by dogs of the surrounding areas. |
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Govindacharya refuses to break ‘maun’ Chandigarh, December 8 “I will break my maun after April 15,” Mr Govindacharya who quit the party post to take a study leave said here today on persistent queries from reporters. Participating in a strategy meeting on the impact of the Green Revolution on ecology and natural resources “spatial overview of ecology and bio-diversity in Punjab,” Mr Govindacharya said India should follow Japan, Korea and Malaysia in globalisation. He said geography and natural resources could not be lost sight of while globalising a country’s economy. Professor D.B. Kansal from Department of Soils, Punjab Agriculture University, Ludhiana, said nitrate adulterated water was resulting in the birth of blue babies and the increased nitrogen was resulting in cancers. He said water of Suddha Nullah in Ludhiana was 1000 times more polluted than the drainage of New York. Professor S.P. Mittal, Principal Scientist (retd), Indian Council of Agricultural Research, said India had the lowest efficiency in water use at 29 per cent. Anupam Mishra, Secretary, Gandhi Peace Foundation, New Delhi, said ponds and wells still offered a long-term solution to the problem emphasising a strategy was required to deal with the ecological problems being caused by the Green Revolution. Dr G.S. Dhaliwal from the PAU said monoculture of crops and seeds and loss of bio-diversity by the use of pesticides and fertilizers had proved disastrous to the ecology. He suggested the use of neem as a bio-input to improve the condition. Dr Kiran Jot Kaur from the Department of Geography, Panjab University, said 84 per cent of Punjab wet land had been drained out since Independence. She said Rajasthan Canal had been causing water logging in south west Punjab and urbanisation was eating into the cultivable land. Mr R.N. Athawale from the National Geophysical Research Institute, Hyderabad, suggested remedial measures for the effective management of water and showed slides of successful experiments in Rajasthan and Gujarat. |
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ASC celebrates anniversary Chandigarh, December 8 The corps day celebrations began with a homage paying ceremony at the Western Command War Memorial, Veer Smriti. The Major General Army Service Corps, Western Command, Maj-Gen S.N. Rajan, laid a wreath at the memorial on behalf of all ranks of the corps. The
ASC has provided invaluable logistic support to the Army despite
various constraints in the past especially during “Operation
Parakram.” The ASC has been providing supplies and transport,
including animal transport, to the armed forces and dependent para-military
forces. |
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Rudi to attend CMA foundation day Chandigarh, December 8 Mr K. Jairaj, IAS, Vice Chairman, Karnataka State Road Transport Authority and former president of the All India Management Association will deliver the keynote address on “Public governance”, he informed. CMA, which was founded in 1965, has over 400 members, including CEOs, entrepreneurs, working professionals, senior and middle-level managers, and regularly organises workshops, seminars, lecture meetings for professional development of the members. |
IT seems that the Punjab Chief Minister and his colleagues are in the habit of making too many promises, instead of implementing them. It is amazing that the ministers and the CM have publicly claimed so many times during the past four-five months that the new industrial policy would be announced “within the next few days”. However, the media and industrialists are still awaiting the big day. The officials in the Public Relations and Industry Department, recently issued press statements, on the behalf of the State Cabinet that the Chief Minister would release the industrial policy on December 5. Next day they claimed that the meeting had been postponed till December 7. However, when the mediapersons enquired, they came to know that the meeting had only decided that another meeting would be held with industrialists next week and the policy “might” be announced after a fortnight. Please, take old price The protest of about 100 traders of the city against the amendments in the East Punjab Urban Rent Restriction Act, 1949, may be hogging the headlines in the media. However, tough stand taken by the administration, and especially Lt Gen JFR Jacob (retd) has been appreciated by thousands of silent people, and is creating funny situations. The other day a leading electronic dealer, who is playing an active role in the “media savvy” movement, was caught on the wrong foot, when a customer approached him at his showroom. The customer offered him a Rs 100 note for the purchase of a new Phillips Radio set, priced over Rs 600. When the shopkeeper asked for the balance amount, the young customer told him curtly,‘‘ If you are demanding to pay the rent of shops prevalent in early sixties, cannot you accept that amount prevalent in eighties.’’
Rare honour Mr Harold Carver, Principal of St Stephen’s School, Chandigarh, is back from Lucknow with the Derozio Award-2002. Instituted by the Council for the Indian School Certificate Examinations, New Delhi, the award carries a cash prize of Rs 1 lakh and a medal in 22 ct gold. Mr Carver is the first serving Principal of the region to have won the award “for exemplary service to school education and human enrichment” Certain quotes from the citation are: “...Mr Carver besides promoting academic excellence,has also promoted sports and games by setting up the St Stephen’s School Football Academy, the first of its kind in north India” “....And whereas Mr Carver has pioneered classes for the ‘special child’ in his school, he has great concern for the disabled and the deprived; he has promoted a number of social causes” “ And whereas Mr Carver is an educationist academician and teacher par excellence, an outstanding leader, venerated by his students” The six-member jury that selected him for the award comprised Mr Neil O’Brien, Chairman of the ICSE, Ms Vibha Parthasarathy, former Chairman of the National Commission for Women, Air Marshal D. Keelor, President of the YMCA, Mr Bhaskar Ghose, Dr Anil Wilson and Mr F. Fanthome.
Gautam Munjal Dr Gautam Munjal, one of the leading orthodontists of Chandigarh, made his presence felt in the just concluded 37th annual conference of the Indian Orthodontic Society in Lucknow. He made presentations on all the three days of the conference on November 15, 16 and 17 and was also an active participant in the post conference symposium on cleft lip and palate orthodontics held by the society on November 18. He covered a wide range of topics in Orthodontics. Through the records of his own treated patients, he brought forth the point that in any kind of orthodontic malformation, if the treatment is started earlier, the results are better, faster, more stable and the patient can also be cured of many kind of skeletal deformities with orthodontics alone. Once the growth is over, the dental changes can be still brought about but the facial deformity cannot be cured with orthodontics alone. The only option left is surgery combined with orthodontics,. Dr Gautam was especially applauded by many senior plastic surgeons and orthodontists like Dr S.S. Sidhu, ex-head of Orthodontics AIIMS, New Delhi, Dr K.L. Pradhan, Professor of Orthodontics C.S. University, for taking up a variety of challenging cases with cleft lip and palate and treating them with such good results.
Heartwarming! Music director Pyarelal was a happy man to be here in the city as a chief guest for the Rafi award Nite 2002 on December 7. He was amazed to see the gathering in Tagore Theatre, which gave him a standing ovation when he entered the hall to present awards to the winners. He was more surprised at the patience of North Indians who kept waiting for him to come to the venue, notwithstanding the fact that he was late by one and a half hour. The audience, however, kept waiting and without a single expression of anger on his coming late for the function, honoured him with a thunderous applause which, he admitted: “I could not have got this respect anywhere else. It is a heartwarming experience for me. I did not know the Punjabis were as sweet as their melodies. No wonder Laxmikantji and myself often drew inspiration for our songs from Punjabi music.”
The other day, a very funny situation occurred in one of thee examination rooms of GCG-11 where Psychology (BA-III) paper was in progress. One girl student got up in her seat after about 45 minutes of struggling with the paper. She declared to the invigilator: “Madam, this paper seems to be out of syllabus. We were never taught these topics.” The invigilator confirmed with the other psychology students if there was anything wrong with the paper. But when she got an answer in the negative, she asked the girl to sit down and attempt the paper. The girl, however, refused to budge, until she realised that she had entered the psychology examination room by fault. She was actually a philosophy student!
In cash, not kind The Chief Editor of Income Tax Matter, Mr P.C. Garg, has a suggestion which may be liked by the majority of the salaried class. Since a large part of savings are directed towards the small savings, Mr Garg suggests that the Director, Small Savings, should do away with the system of giving prizes in kind and rather give the same in cash. Each year prizes are given on the basis of a draw of lots to investors of NSCs, Kisan Vikas Patras or the other such schemes. The prizes are substantial in nature and a similar prize in cash would mean even more for the investor. The Delhi Government is already giving the prizes in cash and not in kind, says Mr Garg while furthering his argument. He has already written about the same to the Director Small Savings, Punjab.
Fellowship Prof Virendra Kumar, a former chairman of the department of laws at Panjab University, has been awarded the University Grants Commission emeritus fellowship. The award has been made under the scheme which is intended to utilise the services of highly qualified and experienced superannuated teachers in the university who are still actively engaged in research. Prof Virendra Kumar has started his work in a critique of the election law in India with a focus on the Representation of People Act, 1950 and 1951. He has been working in this area from 1984 onwards by way of critically examining the judgements of the Supreme Court and high courts. In the two-year project Professor Virendra Kumar will receive an honorarium of Rs 10,000 per month besides other sundry charges.
Cycle riders Increasing number of accidents in the city in the recent past may have forced scooter and car drivers to drive more carefully, but some of the cycle riders are least bothered. It is despite the fact that in most of the accidents, cycle and rickshaw riders are injured or killed. A cycle rider was recently heard near Kisan Chowk arguing with a car driver: ‘‘Cannot you see that I am coming from that side? Do you know how much you would have to pay if your car even touched my cycle?’’
Meeting point Slogan written on a truck: “Zindagi rahi to milenge kayee baar. Mar gaye to milenge Haridwar ” (If we live we will meet several times. Once dead we will meet in Haridwar). The obvious reference is to the immersion of ashes in the holy Ganga.
—Sentinel |
Wine: not only a drink, but a good investment! Chandigarh, December 8 A whole new class of “wine investors” has come up in different parts of the world, says Mr Helmut G. Seibert, a German expert in wines. “I know of a large number of people in the USA, Europe, England and Australia who are doing precisely that”, said Mr Seibert in a talk with TNS here today. “Experience has shown that investing in wines is up to 30 per cent more profitable than an investment in the share markets...” Mr Seibert who is an Executive Director of F.W. Langguth Erben GmbH was in town on Sunday in connection with the launch of a premium brand of wines manufactured and marketed by his company throughout the world. Wines don’t come cheap. The Blue Nun brand which Mr Seibert’s company is manufacturing and selling throughout the world will cost between Rs 700 and Rs 1000 per bottle in India. Of course, there are certain types of wines which cost nothing less than $ 1000 going up to $ 3000 ( Rs 50,000 to Rs 1,50,000 approximately) per bottle. It all depends on the kind of mood and money you have. As regards drinking habits, the trend the world over is shifting from spirits to wines. “As a matter of fact, food and wine complement each other”, enthuses Mr Seibert. “Wine is not just alcohol. It is a whole new taste, experience... Therefore, more and more people, especially young adults, are switching over to wines.” Mr Seibert says the recent changes in duty structure with regard to wines and spirits in India has made it worthwhile for his company to enter India to market its products. But the duty structure is still very high. “Consequently, we are aiming at middle and upper quality of wines I foresees the sale of wine by the glass rather than the bottle in hotels and restaurant”. Later, Mr Seibert along with Mr Rajiv Bali, Managing Director of the Mount Shivalik Breweries Ltd., announced the launch of the Blue Nun wines in India. |
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Chamber seeks cut in interest rate on credit Chandigarh, December 8 Mr
A.L. Aggarwal, general secretary, Chamber of Chandigarh Industries, in a memorandum submitted to Mr
K.C. Pant, Deputy Chairman, Planning Commission, has pointed out that the cartel of commercial banks is charging interest rates from the SSI sector ranging from 3 to 4 per cent above the prime lending rate
(PLR) of around 11 per cent. On the other hand, large corporate sector is offered huge credit at lower rates up to 7 per cent, in the name of lower bank costs and risks. However, the fact was that, he said, it was the large industrial houses not the SSI sector, who had turned up as biggest defaulters over the past one decade, resulting in huge losses to the banking sector and national economy. Mr Aggarwal felt that the SSI sector, which was contributing to the tune of 45 per cent in total manufacturing in the country, and 35 per cent of total exports, was facing credit crunch. It was amazing, he said, though the SSI sector was providing employment to over two crore persons in the country, it was badly treated by the banking sector. It was a common knowledge that the banks were charging additional amount from the SSI units for renewing the annual credit limit and higher charges on getting bank statements. The chamber urged the Planning Commission and the RBI to ensure that banks charge at the most 6 per cent rate of interest from the SSI sector, at least for those units which had investment of Rs 25 lakh. The interest rate should not exceed 7 per cent for that sector. Referring to the recommendations of the Abid Hussain Committee, Mr Aggarwal urged the government to direct the RBI to ensure that the SSI sector got adequate credit under the priority sector category. A monitoring agency should be put in shape to implement the guidelines of the government, he added. |
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Nokia
unveils six new phones Chandigarh, December 8 The launch brings the benefits of new innovative products complete with communication capabilities such as multimedia messaging service* (MMS), interactive games, music and downloadable applications with Java, MIDI, colour display and imaging applications. The phones will soon be available to different consumer segments in India. “I am pleased to say with the introduction of Nokia’s latest models, there will certainly be a mobile phone of choice for consumers from different walks of life”, said Gautam Advani, head – Marketing & Corporate Communications, Nokia Mobile Phones, India. Glen India’s new Cooktops Glen India has launched an exclusive range of state-of- the-art cooktops with triple ring burner. The cooktops incorporate a new compact design with sleek and elegant look that enhances the kitchen décor. The cooktops come in three or four burners to suit the consumer’s needs. The cooktops are available in different finish, such as vitreous enamelled or stainless steel. For the very first time in India Glen has introduced cooktops with new international soft look (rounded corners) to give an aesthetic appearance. |
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Need to boost ties with Ethiopia Chandigarh, December 8 This was stated by H.E. Dr Teketel Forssido, Ambassador of Ethiopia to India, while interacting with members of CII at a session that concluded here yesterday. There was great potential for fostering new partnerships between Ethiopian and Indian companies, in a business attractive environment, Mr Forssido added. Ethiopia, is one of the largest markets in Africa. A predominantly agricultural economy accounts for about 50 per cent of Ethiopia’s GDP, 65 per cent of the total exports and 85 per cent of employment. Agriculture is supplemented by manufacturing, mining, trade, tourism, construction, services, making up the remaining 50 per cent of the GDP. Ethiopia and India, though geographically far away from one another, enjoy long-standing relations, which extended over centuries. The trade contacts between the two countries are further enhanced by exchange of cultural experiences in the form of art, literature and craftsmanship through the medieval times and subsequent centuries. Considering these facts, India and Ethiopia industrial and trade cooperation can be further strengthened. Earlier, in his welcome address, Mr S.K. Bijlani, Chairman, CII Northern Region, highlighted CII’s initiatives in fostering partnerships between the Ethiopian and Indian companies & institutions. He also added that Ethiopia offered enormous potential to the Indian industry to play a positive role in the agricultural and industrial development. Select industry, institute and government representatives from the region attended the session. |
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City’s first multiplex likely to open next year Chandigarh, December 8 The centre is being built by the Essel group, which also owns Zee TV network, Siti Cable and a host of other companies, at a site in Mani Majra where Dhillon cinema was located till last year. Similar entertainment centres are being set up by the group in 10 cities in the country which will offer cinema, food, shopping, music, books and other forms of entertainment. The first entertainment centre built by the group has been in operation in Ahmedabad since July, 2001, featuring six cinema halls, two restaurants, a foodcourt, bowling alley, a 44,000 square feet department store, a music store and a bookstore among other things. The main attraction of the entertainment centre in the UT is going to be a four-screen state-of-the-art cinema multiplex with a total of 970 seats. The establishment of the multiplex is in keeping with latest trends in the country where old, huge cinema halls are being replaced with smaller auditoria having capacities varying between 150 and 400. The arrival of multiplexes in India has been hastened by the fact that Bollywood is currently going through one of its worst crises. Informed observers of the Bollywood film scene say that this has been the worst year in the last decade. “The situation is so bad that experts are finding it difficult to even put together the Top 10 of 2002. Any film that is not making losses is being declared a hit”, they say. Customarily, the ratio of hits is about 15-20 per cent but this year only 7-8 per cent have managed to generate any business. Devdas may have registered a Rs 45-crore turnover for distributors alone, but even that could not turn it into Gadar 2002. The hit parade remains puny, led by Vikram Bhatt’s Rs 4.5-core spook show Raaz that raked in Rs 20 crore. In fact, the dubbed versions of Spiderman and Bend it Like Becham were more profitable than almost any Hindi movie. Divali, usually the most upbeat time for business, sent the industry in mourning with all three releases — Jeena Sirf Mere Liye, Annarth and Wah Tera Kya Kehna — sinking without a trace. In fact, such is the uncertainty that many distributors have stopped buying films. And, among the biggest losers have been the owners of cinema halls most of
whom have been forced to down shutters during the past one year. The key to multipex success is rightsizing. While the average cinema hall of yesterday accommodated 1,000-plus viewers the auditoria built in multiplexes have capacities varying from 150-400 to let people choose from more movies. Priya Village Roadshow (PVR), a joint venture with Australia’s village roadshows, which operates three multiplexes in Delhi and plan 48 more, are pioneers of the staggered-size strategy. Depending on box-office performance, one can shift a film from big, large to small auditoria which keeps the halls full. |
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