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Saturday,
July 5, 2003, Chandigarh, India  
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Plan panel suggests steps for J&K growth
Selloff panel gets extension
PTDC accepts VRS pleas of employees
‘Aadab’ mango brand for international market |
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M&M unveils ‘Invader’
TRAI to probe Reliance, Tata WLL tariff plans
AirTel cuts ISD rates
Spice launches MMS
Sharad pulls up FCI officials
HDFC Mutual Fund declares dividends
Taxpayers can fill IT forms on Net
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Plan panel suggests steps for J&K growth
New Delhi, July 4 The commission is of the view that co-ordinated efforts from the government departments, financial institutions, industrial associations and the local industrialsits are required to boost industrial activities, particularly in the newly emerging areas. Besdies, locational disadvantages encountered by industrialists in marketing their products need to be eased. The government agencies should initially come forward as model purchasers of those products, the commission says in a note. Financial crunch, problems of marketing and availability of raw materials as well as disturbances were the main reasons for the sickness. Sustenance of the industrial growth in the state was mainly due to good performance in the handicraft sector. By the end of March, 2001, there were 25 medium-scale state public sector industries, employing 4,427 people, and 452 functional industrial estates, with average daily employment of 4,241 people. Apart from this, there were 29,578 registered Khadi and Village Industries and Co-operative societies, employing 72,309 people; 29,190 cocoon-rearers producing 8,900 quintals of cocoon. The handicraft production is worth Rs 696.33 crore with employment of 3.29 lakh people, 562 hadicraft training centres, 42,716 registered small-scale industries which employ about 1,880 people. In addition, there are two central public sector industries — HMT and Indian Telephone Industries. Industrial census of SSI in Jammu and Kashmir in 1998 revealed that out of 36,510 SSIs, 13.26 per cent of the units were closed and 306 units (0.84 per cent) were sick. The commission notes that about 34 per cent of the net state domestic product (NSDP) was contributed by agriculture and allied activities. To improve the performance of this sector, the commission has suggested several measures. It says more intensive use of modern inputs and high-yielding varieties seeds should be resorted to improve productivity of food grains, pulses and horticulture crops. Steps should be taken to remove restrictions on activities relating to production and transportation as well as marketing of agricultural and horticultural produce. The commission has asked the state government to frame an action plan for utilisation of unused and less-used land resources by adopting a more effective socio-economic developmental approach. It also suggests suitable measures for improving the genetic structure and healthcare system for cattle and sheep. Benefits under the centrally-sponsored schemes of the National Project of Cattle and Buffaloes Breeding and Integrated Dairy Development project need to be reaped fully. The commission suggests strengthening of co-ordination among government research, extension works and activities of the farmers and NGOs. Another area of concern according to the commission is degradation of the forest cover in the state. — UNI
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Selloff panel gets extension
New Delhi, July 4 We have received a communication from government extending the life of the Commission till October 2004, Member Secretary Amitabha Bhattacharya said here today. The move would not only enable the panel to wrap up work on existing cases under study but also allow it to take up work on review cases, he added. Currently, the Commission is working on some 18-20 PSUs including telecom giants Bharat Sanchar Nigam (BSNL) and Mahanagar Telephone Nigam (MTNL). The Commission is also reviewing its recommendations on National Mineral Development Corporation (NMDC) and Concor. It has also taken up work on promotional organisations like India Trade Promotion Organisation (ITPO). The panel performs an advisory role for government giving recommendations on disinvestment of state enterprises, which are then processed by Disinvestment Ministry for further action. Asked about fresh cases the Commission was planning to take up, Bhattacharya remained non-committal merely saying it was for the Commission to decide.
— PTI
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PTDC accepts VRS pleas of employees Ropar, July 4 The VRS pleas of the employees were accepted, as the time period for accepting would have ended on July 3. The PTDC had adopted the VRS scheme offered to its employees by the Punjab Government. As per the rules of the Punjab Government VRS scheme if the competent authority fails to deliver the verdict on the VRS plea of the employees within stipulated period, they were deemed to be accepted. Had the PTDC failed to accept or reject the pleas of the employees by July 3, the pleas would have been considered deemed to be accepted. The sources available here told that though the VRS pleas of the PTDC employees have been accepted they would be paid their dues after the complexes in which they were working were sold. The government has decided to attach the amount to be paid to the workers of the PTDC along with the bid for the respective complexes. The PTDC had offered VRS to its employees in April this year in view of the government decision to sell off the corporation. In response to the VRS offer almost all the 350 employees submitted their pleas. The corporation, however, initially accepted the pleas of just 19 employees posted at the head office. Even the dues of those employees were not paid as yet as corporation did not have about Rs 94 required for the purpose. The government has now decided to pay the VRS to the 19 employees of the corporation whose VRS pleas were accepted earlier. The government was giving the said amount for VRS to the PTDC as loan that would be recovered after the sale of corporation complexes. As the PTDC did not have the funds to pay VRS to the remaining employees the corporation has also decided to run the complexes till there are sold off. The sources also told that the government decision to attach the VRS amount with the cost of PTDC complexes might increase their cost by about 20 per cent in addition to the already commerical rate being charged by the disinvestment directorate. Mr Ashok Sharma, the Chairman of the PTDC, when asked to comment on the issue said that employees would continue to serve the corporation till arrangements are made for paying their dues. The MD of the PTDC, Mr Jagjit Puri, was not available for comments despite repeated attempts to contact him on phone.
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‘Aadab’ mango brand for international market
Lucknow, July 4 The state which produces about one-third of India’s total mango production, is only exporting about 20 tonnes of the fruit in the global market with the remaining being consumed in the domestic market. State Horticulture Minister Raj Kishore Singh told UNI here today that the state government has taken several initiatives to export mangoes to the far-flung areas. After exporting the fruit to West Asia and Western countries, an opportunity has arisen for the UP Government to export mangoes to China. The minister made it clear that about 14 tonnes of mangoes, including that of ‘Chausa’ and ‘Langda’ varieties, would be exported to China through the Kolkata port under the aegis of the Agricultural Processed Food Export Development Authority. The state has already exported over 20 tonnes of ‘Malihabadi Dussehri’ so far. Mr Singh said the UP mangoes have been given a brand name of ‘Aadab,’ in a reference to the Nawabi culture, to boost the fruit in the international market. He said the Union Government was also holding a ‘Mango exhibition cum fest’ in the national capital tomorrow where all varieties of mangoes produced in the state would be displayed.
— UNI
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M&M unveils ‘Invader’ Chandigarh, July 4 The Invader is an endeavour by M&M to rediscover the joy of open
top driving. The Invader should become a favourite with consumers for
use in both the urban jungles and the wild outdoors said Mr Akhilesh
Kumar Gupta, General Manager Sales-North, M&M. Speaking at the
launch, Mr Nalin Mehta, General Manager, Automotive Sector, M&M
said, “The Invader is aimed at those who want the excitement of a
sporty open top vehicle, along with the power of an SUV and comforts of
a car. The Invader is powered by 2500cc IDI diesel engine and offers a
peppy 72.5 bhp output. There is also a DI diesel version available. It
is available in attractive metallic shades of sunrise red, dark green,
grand black and silver. A roll down partition and air vents on the
canopy for better ventilation is some of the other unique features. The
Invader has also been tested by government authorities and is available
on DGS&D Rate Contract.
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TRAI to probe Reliance, Tata WLL tariff plans
New Delhi, July 4 ‘’We have sought information from all those operators who are offering a handset with a certain kind of tariff package,’’ TRAI sources told UNI. Those which offer these services are AirTel in the GSM segment, Reliance, Tatas and BSNL in the WLL CDMA arena. Recently, Reliance Infocomm in its Monsoon Hangama scheme has offered a mobile phone on upfront payment of Rs 501 against the current entry cost of Rs 3,300 for limited mobility services. The limited period offer, which began on July 2, will be available till July 31. The deal is sweeter for Reliance’s three million shareholders who will not only get the Reliance India Mobile connection free but also a credit of Rs 349 in their first bill. Reliance Infocomm has said, ‘’The limited period offer gives consumers a unique opportunity to own a mobile phone with both, a low entry cost and a low monthly spend.’’ Similar packages have been offered by the other mobile GSM or CDMA operators in a desperate bid to attract customers and fuel the ongoing tariff war.
— UNI
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AirTel cuts ISD rates Chandigarh, July 4 The new rates will also be extended to other countries shortly. After being the first to launch MMS in the region AirTel has extended MMS to AirTel Magic prepaid customers yesterday as a special offer, AirTel is providing MMS free on prepaid. In another value added service that will benefit both post-paid and pre-paid customers, AirTel has launched Mobile Organiser — a mobile office assistant with enhanced phone book and SMS inbox service. With this, a customer gets an increased phone book memory by 100 names, numbers, e-mail ID’s and short messages irrespective of the handset he is using, said Mr Vinod Sawhny CEO, Bharti Mobile Ltd. in a press note.
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Spice launches MMS Chandigarh, July 4 With the launch of the Spice MMS service subscribers will now be able to send multi-media messages from their MMS enabled handsets. According to Mr. Ashok Goyal, Executive Director, Spice Telecom, “Triple Advantage Spice North Roaming service announced today is one of its kind of service in the region for post-paid subscribers thus enabling them to enjoy All-India STD while they are roaming in the Northern states of Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Delhi, UP West and Rajasthan”. Also announced today was an increase in network coverage in 20 more towns in the current month. Mr Goyal, said “Being the pioneers of mobile telephony in Punjab, Spice has always taken the leadership in the region by ushering in new products and services that have brought about a mobile revolution in Punjab. Be it innovative services, value for money products or seamless connectivity – we are completely in line with our vision of making mobile communication a way of life.
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Sharad pulls up FCI officials
New Delhi, July 4 At a special meeting with senior regional managers (SRM), zonal managers and senior officers at FCI headquarters, the Minister told them that henceforth, both SRMs and zonal managers would be responsible for ascertaining the stocks position in various zones. The stock report prepared by zonal manager has to be countersigned by the SRM, he said. A few months ago, the Food Ministry came in for embarrassment when around 50 lakh tonnes of foodgrains from Punjab went missing. However, later, the Ministry claimed that it was an error in preparing the stock position at the zonal level. At present, around 1.24 lakh tonnes of foodgrains (both wheat and rice) lying with the FCI are damaged and some of the old FCI stocks date back to 1997. An accusing finger is being pointed at the FCI officials frequently charged with inefficiency and complicity.
— UNI
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HDFC Mutual Fund declares dividends Chandigarh, July 4 Under dividend options of HDFC Income Fund, HDFC Income Fund/Premium Plan and HDFC Income Fund/Premium Plus Plan, a dividend of Re 0.25 per unit has been declared. The cum-dividend NAV for HDFC Income Fund was Rs 11.0498 per unit, as at June 30, 2003, and the ex-dividend NAV was 10.7722 per unit as on July 1, 2003. The cum-dividend NAV as at June 30, 2003, for HDFC Income Fund Premium Plan was Rs 11.0628 and the ex-dividend NAV as on July 1, 2003 was 10.7853 per unit. The cum-dividend NAV as on June 30, 2003, for HDFC Income Fund — Premium Plus Plan was Rs 11.0713 per unit and the ex-dividend NAV as on July 1, 2003 was Rs 10.7939. For HDFC Gilt Fund, dividends of Re 0.30 per unit and Re 0.15 per unit have been declared under the dividend options of its long-term plan and short-term plan.
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