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New Delhi, June 20 The proposed comprehensive value added taxation (VAT) regime, which will come into force from April 1, 2005, is expected to remove the price differential of goods and services across states and promises to consolidate the fiscal buoyancy by streamlining the transaction procedures and checking evasion.
Haryana Raksha Vahini chief invites Badal for talks on SYL
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Best Bakery re-trial from today
Ayodhya tangle: seer willing to mediate
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Trademark, Internet domain name distinct: SC
Global gas emissions may cause water scarcity in India
India, USA to identify mutual interests in space science
Shift Kanshi Ram to AIIMS, say BSP supporters
Kids refuse to join Pakistani mother
Sweet buds of
Gujaratis making them obese
Biotechnology to
reform agricultural sector
Six die in road accident AP Express looted
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VAT to cut state-wise price difference
New Delhi, June 20 At the same time, however, the government has yet not laid down a clear-cut policy prescription for zero sales-tax exemption industrial units which are operating in special industrial zones such as Baddi in Himachal Pradesh. The reduction in the prices in the new structure of indirect taxation would be brought by eliminating the existing multiple layers of taxation, such as local sales, excise duty, service tax and other applicable levies such as octroi and entry tax. The price differences across states can be gauged from the fact that for consumer durable goods sales tax variation alone changes the prices of goods between 8.5 per cent to 24 per cent. In the conventional system of indirect taxation as it exists today in the country, suppose a cotton producer’s cost of production for a quintal of cotton is Rs 90, pays an excise duty at the rate of 10 per cent (Rs 9) and then sells it to cloth producer at the price of Rs 110, keeping aside a profit of Rs 11 per quintal. The cloth manufacturer will manufacture the cotton to cloth, incurring an expenditure of Rs 50 in the manufacturing process. With a 10 per cent rate of excise duty ( Rs 16) he sells the piece of cloth to a shirt manufacturer at Rs 200 making a profit of Rs 24. The shirt manufacturer will purchase the piece of cloth for Rs 200, incur an expenditure of Rs 40 and pay a 10 per cent excise duty ( Rs 24.) and sells the final product for Rs 300 making a profit of Rs 36 per shirt. In this system, of the final price paid by the consumer, Rs 49 (ie 16.33 per cent of price) is on account of excise duty alone even when the rate of excise duty is just 10 per cent. In other words, due to excise duty, there has been a cascading effect on the price of the final product. Under VAT, the tax is not levied on the entire selling price of the product but only on the value addition made at each stage of manufacturing. Assuming an uniform VAT of 10 per cent is imposed, the cotton producer will pay a VAT of Rs 9. The cloth producer will not pay tax on his entire cost of production but only on his value addition, which is Rs 50 plus profit of Rs 24( Rs 74). A 10 per cent VAT on this Rs 7.40 (say Rs 8).The selling price will be Rs 192 (Rs 110+Rs 74+Rs 8). The shirt manufacturer will purchase the piece of cloth for Rs 192 and will pay VAT on his value addition of Rs 76.The VAT will be Rs 7.60 (say Rs 8) and the product will be sold to the final consumer at Rs 276. |
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Haryana Raksha Vahini chief invites Badal
New Delhi, June 20 In a letter to Mr Badal, Mr Sher Singh said a simple problem had been complicated. “We are all members of one family. You very well know, as I do, the treatment to be given to our brother in the family who needs help. A simple problem has been complicated. Let us sit as brothers. Punjab as an elder brother has more responsibility. Let us work together to strengthen the unity of the country and honour the verdict of the highest court,” he stated in a letter sent to Mr Badal on June 18. Pointing to Mr Badal’s statements on the SYL canal, he said it was wrong to presume that Punjab had proprietary right over Ravi-Beas waters. Reminding Mr Badal of his political initiation decades back, Mr Sher Singh said “inflated egoism does not behove a mature politician.” He said Sikh gurus had shown the path of commitment of Khalsa to national unity and solidarity. The letter stated that Mr Badal’s statements on the SYL issue were a challenge to the Centre and the highest court of the country. “In the long struggle for the formation of Punjabi suba and Haryana, we worked together like two bodies with one soul. After the formation of two states, your attitude towards your younger brother (Haryana) has taken an about-turn and you now treat us as an enemy. The consequence of your agitations is that southern district of Haryana do not have water even for drinking.” Mr Sher Singh said people of Haryana were willing to face challenges. “It will be the blackest day in our history if two chivalrous and patriotic brothers fight against each other,” he said. Inviting Mr Badal for a dialogue, Mr Sher Singh said the two sides must sit together. “Let us sit together as we did in 1965, convince each other or get convinced and reach an amicable solution,” he said. |
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Best Bakery re-trial from today
Mumbai, June 20 While Mr Vakil is expected to limit his functioning to advising and guiding the panel of prosecutors, the day-to-day grind will be taken care of by Mumbai-based lawyer Manjula Rao and two others from Gujarat – Mr Zahiruddin Sheikh and Mr S.M. Vora. When asked about divergent views regarding which government should appoint the Public Prosecutor, Mr Vakil said, ‘’In my view, the authority to appoint the Public Prosecutor rests with the government and the court does not have the power to appoint”. Citing relevant rules, Mr Vakil said since re-trial of the case was being held in Maharashtra, it was the responsibility of the Maharashtra Government alone to appoint a Public Prosecutor. “The appointment of the Public Prosecutor is made under Section 24 of the Criminal Procedure Code (CrPC) and a Special Public Prosecutor under section 24(8) of the CrPC which states that the Central or state government may appoint a person with an experience of not less than 10 years as Public Prosecutor,” he said.
— UNI |
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Ayodhya tangle: seer willing to mediate
Hyderabad, June 20 He told a local TV channel that the Congress-led UPA government at the Centre had already clarified that the solution to the issue would only be through court verdict and hoped that it would be “resolved soon by the grace of Lord Rama.” On the controversy surrounding the puja system being practised by the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams-administered world famous Lord Venkateswara temple, he said everything would be set to rest with Mr T. Subba Rami Reddy back as the TTD Chairman.
— UNI |
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Trademark, Internet domain name distinct: SC
New Delhi, June 20 “The distinction lies in the manner in which the two operate. A trademark is protected by the laws of a country where such trademark may be registered. Consequently, a trademark may have multiple registration in many countries in the world. On the other hand, since the Internet allows for access without any geographical limitation, a domain name is potentially accessible irrespective of the geographical location of the consumers,” a Bench of Ms Justice Ruma Pal and Mr Justice P. V. Reddi has ruled. The ruling came on an appeal by IT major Satyam Infoway Ltd challenging the use of domain name “Siffynet” being used by Sifynet Solutions Pvt Ltd on the ground that it was identical to domain name “Sify”, which has earned a worldwide reputation and goodwill for Satyam. Satyam had contended that it had started the IT operation with “Sify” domain name much before the Siffynet entered the market. similar domain name would confuse its subscribers and consumers all over the world. Giving the verdict in favour of Satyam, the apex court set aside the order of Delhi High Court holding that a lower court where the litigation initially started, should have not given a judgement in favour of Satyam on the ground that it was the first user of domain name “Sify”. The court said in view of its findings “albeit prima facie on the dishonest adoption” of Satyam’s tradename by Siffynet, the investments made by the former in connection with its trade and the public
association with it due to the trademark Sify, it was entitled to the relief as claimed. “The appellant’s website ‘www.sify.com’ is claimed to be a comprehensive Internet site with a gamut of subjects to choose from. It has brought out brochures and issued advertisements offering services in the Internet under the domain name Sify,” the court observed. |
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Global gas emissions may cause water scarcity in India
New Delhi, June 20 The Ministry of Environment and Forests in a report submitted last week to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change
(UNFCCC) has made these observations. It has pointed out that though the emission of green house gases by India was about 3 per cent of global green house gas emissions, yet its population will have to pay heavy costs due to gases emitted by the developed countries. India is a party to the UNFCCC, which was adopted in 1992 and came into effect on March 21, 1994. The convention enjoins upon the parties to protect the climate system on the basis of equity and in accordance with their “common but differentiated responsibilities” and respective The convention had called upon the member countries to provide information on emission of greenhouse gases and “assessment about changes in key sectors such as
water, agriculture, forestry, ecosystems, coastal zones, health and energy due to climate changes.” Consequently, the Ministry has filed a National Communication report. Union Minister for Environment and Forests A. Raja claims that this information will “strengthen our negotiating position in various climate change related forums.” He said India’s large population depended on climate-sensitive sectors like agriculture and forestry for livelihood. |
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India, USA to identify mutual interests in space science
Bangalore, June 20 Mr Nair told The Tribune that participation was fully confirmed and only one or two senior persons, including the head of NASA, would not be able to make it to the meet. “It is wrong to say that many senior persons have opted to stay out and the meet has been diluted,” he said, referring to recent media reports. “The NASA chief will be sending his first deputy and there is an under-secretary coming from the state department.” However, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh will not be attending the meet. “We were expecting as many as 300 delegates. We now have over 500, of which 150 are from the USA. They are drawn from their industry, academia, and government agencies. There has been a lot of interest,” Mr Nair stated. US Ambassador to India David Mulford will also be there. This meet has its origin in a meeting held between former Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee and US President George Bush and took almost two years in making. The ISRO-NASA cooperation has been institutionalised to a certain degree with a memorandum of understanding signed several years ago. “Of course, we have been affected by embargoes and sanctions but there have been some positive results on the scientific front,” Mr Nair said. The goal of the current meet is “to identify common areas of interest, explore cooperation in both scientific and space missions, explore possibility of exchange of space products, including imaging and technology sub-systems where we have built up capability, and also planetary exploration in which both of us are keenly interested,” he said. The conference will be inaugurated tomorrow and the opening plenary session on Tuesday will look at Indo-US Space Cooperation: Status and Prospects. Public lectures have been organised, which will feature astronauts, besides Dr K. Kasturirangan, MP, Rajya Sabha, and former ISRO Chairman. A closing plenary on June 25 will attempt to chart out the future direction of the Indo-US cooperation.
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Shift Kanshi Ram to AIIMS, say BSP supporters
New Delhi, June 20 “We do not have any faith in the treatment given to our leader by the doctors at Batra Hospital. He should be shifted to AIIMS as soon as possible,” the BSP supporters said. They also claimed to have received threats from the “rival camp” within the BSP that the hunger strike would not be allowed to go on smoothly. The party supporters said “Kanshi Ram’s mother would also join the protest in the coming days”. Mr Kanshi Ram was admitted to Batra Hospital nine months ago where he underwent a coronary artery bypass surgery late last month. He is also suffering from hypertension and diabetes.
— PTI |
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Kids refuse to join Pakistani mother
New Delhi, June 20 The children — a girl (10) and boy (6) — were produced by their father Mohammed Sallauddin (37) before the court of Additional Sessions Judge (ASJ) S.N. Dhingra as the mother sought custody of the kids. Today was the first time the kids were meeting their mother in over three years. On July 17, ASJ Dharmesh Kumar Sharma (on vacation duty) had directed Mr Sallauddin to bring the children to ASJ Dhingra’s court acting on a petition filed by the mother Shahzia Ansari (35) on July 11 seeking ‘hizanat’ (custody) of the kids. Before the Judge came to the court room from his chamber, the children had entered the court room clinging to their father amidst the waiting mother, relatives and mediapersons. The mother, Ms Shazia, then tried to embrace the kids but they cried out loudly saying they did not want to be with her. Ms Shazia alleged that the kids were tutored by their father. Then the ASJ directed everybody to go out except security personnel, the parents and the children. Later Ms Shazia’s lawyer, Mr B.B. Pandey, told reporters that the court had allowed her to take photographs with her children in the court room and fixed July 3 as the next date of hearing. Mr Sallauddin divorced Shazia on January 25, 2001, after which she left for her hometown Karachi in Pakistan. She could make it to India only now after the relations between the two countries improved.
— PTI |
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Sweet buds of Gujaratis making them obese
Ahmedabad, June 20 Gujarat is perhaps the only state in the country where sweat-meats for diabetic patients are available in the open market. Significantly, Gujarat has one of the highest number of diabetics in the country. Dr Mayur Patel, an eminent city-based diabetologist, notes that the existence of sweets for diabetics in the market is proof to how sweet-meats are ingrained in the culture and dietary habits of people of the state. According to scattered studies done in the state, 18-21 per cent of the urban population and 3 to 5 per cent of the rural populace are diabetic, he observed. Medical
Director of Sterling Hospital Dr V.N. Sha, a former president of
Ahmedabad Physicians’ Association, has alarming figures to reveal. “Though
we do not have a centralised recording system in the State as in the
USA, the number of diabetics in Gujarat is rising at an alarming rate
of 45 per cent every year’’. According to recent figures provided by the World Health Organisation, there are about 3.5 crore diabetics in India, while the number is slated to shoot up to an alarming six crores by 2025. ‘’No
wonder, WHO has dubbed India as the diabetic capital of the world,’’
shrugs Dr Shah. “In Gujarat, the eating pattern of the people is
also to blame. In the absence of proper recreational spaces in the
state, most of them spend their weekends eating out with their
families, especially in ever-increasing fast-food joints (dotting the
landscape),’’ he observes. Sedentary modern lifestyle, coupled with intake of fast-foods, are cited as the main reasons by city doctors for the increasing number of diabetics, especially among children. About 70 per cent of new schools in the city here have no playgrounds. ‘’Most
of us have started residing in flats in high-rise buildings which do
not have open spaces for recreation. The children, in absence of
space, are restricted within the confines of their houses. They mostly
spend their leisure time in front of the television,’’ Dr Shah
explains. The case is same in other urban centres of the country. This makes them obese and the chances of them becoming diabetic increases. “Moreover,
the genetic make-up of Indians as compared to other Asians and
Europeans makes them more prone to this disease. As per the genetic
make-up, Indians suffer from increasing waistline. Belly-centred
obesity is more dangerous than uniform fat accumulation in the body,’’
Dr Patel opines. Dr Shah cites that the maximum amount of ice-cream
in the country is consumed in Gujarat. ‘’This is a fair indication
of how grave the problem is.’’ “One big scoop of ice-cream is
equivalent to eight ‘chapatis’. That’s not all. Gujaratis have a
tendency to take in a lot of deep-fried and refined items along with
ghee and oil,’’ the doctor said. — UNI |
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Biotechnology to
reform agricultural sector
New Delhi, June 20 Following the common minimum programme (CMP) of the ruling alliance, Union Finance Minister P. Chidambaram has also decided to give top priority to the agricultural sector by providing adequate funds for technological and extension projects. The Ministry of Agriculture and the task force on application of biotechnology in agriculture headed by Dr M.S. Swaminathan have already proposed to the government to provide adequate funds for this sector to “double food production, ensure adequate nutrition and rid small farmers from poverty in the country.” After the successful results of the BT cotton, and other genetically modified crops, the Finance Minister is likely to provide adequate funds in the Budget for the biotechnology to raise the income levels of the farmers that would ultimately increase demand for the manufacturing and service sector. Dr M.S. Swaminathan in its recent report submitted to the Union Minister of Agriculture, Mr Sharad Pawar, has asked for additional Rs 1200 crore funds for the application of biotechnology in the agricultural sector. The task force has called upon the government to earmark funds to set up organic farming zones and agro-biodiversity sanctuaries, initiating a special insurance scheme and setting up agri-clinics and agri-business centres. It has suggested to set up a national biotechnology regulatory authority at a cost of Rs 150 crore. In addition, Animal Husbandry and Biotechnology Departments and the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) should initiate projects to upgrade research infrastructure and undertake human resource development. Union Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar is making serious efforts to convince the Finance Minister to provide funds for this emerging but promising sector. The Agricultural Ministry has told the Finance Ministry that field trials of cash crops like cotton and mustard have thrown up prospects of disease-free and pest-free crops, apart from greater yields to make the seeds of these crops cost-effective. Genetic modifications of cattle could improve milk yields enormously even as India is already the world’s largest milk producer. Biotech applications can promote rapid multiplication of river and sea fish or seafood to help improve nutrition and to provide the desired diet for the non-vegetarians. Agricultural experts say that the government should devise a system for commercialization of transgenic and genetically modified (GM) products, beside clear formulations on GM food and feed in the country. They point out that the government is already providing over Rs 12,500 crore subsidy annually to the fertiliser sector in addition to offering subsidised power and other inputs to the agricultural sector. As part of its long-term strategy to revive the agricultural sector, the government should promote biotechnology sector within the framework of the WTO. It would also help the government to curtail the subsidy bill in the long term. China and some other European countries, they point out, are already promoting genetically modified cotton, soya and other crops. The report of the task force points out: “ High priority should be accorded in the transgenic approach to the incorporation of resistance to insects and pests and diseases, including viruses and to drought and salinity. Biotech applications, which do not involve transgenic such as biopesticides, biofertilizers and bio-remediation agents, should be accorded high priority. This will help enforce productivity in organic farming areas”. Sources said that the government was also expected to involve the Ministry of Science and Technology besides the Indian Council of Medical Research to take lead in laying down codes and standards in the area of genetically modified foods. The Agricultural Ministry has already expressed concerns over the illegal proliferation of GM varieties of cotton and other crops. It has called for registration of varieties of seeds sold to farmers and to evolve a mechanism to facilitate segregation, identify preservation and certification and labeling of GM and non-GM products. |
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Six die in road accident
Hyderabad, June 20 The driver of the lorry reportedly lost control after its brakes failed and hit the autorickshaw from rear side near Chandrayangutta police station, the police said.
— PTI |
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AP Express looted
Gwalior, June 20 The police said the miscreants entered the S 9, 10, 11 and 12 coaches when the train was standing near Kotra village.
— UNI |
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