Disinvestment Process may gain speed
After the initial euphoria over reforms getting a leg-up following the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) Government surviving a trust vote and freeing itself from the Left’s clutches, reality seems to be dawning upon pDisinvestment process may gain speedolicymakers.
The win at Tuesday’s confidence vote will technically allow the Congress-led alliance to be in power till April next. But as a senior official noted, the ‘window of opportunity’ to push through major reforms exists only till around October, after which Assembly elections would take off in six States.
Any Bill to be passed would have to be taken up in the Monsoon session, starting next month.
“While there is also the Winter session after that, it would be politically difficult to enact any big-ticket .The Finance Minister, Mr P. Chidambaram, on Wednesday, stated that the Government will ‘try’ to take up various pending Bills in the coming session itself.
These pertain to raising the existing 26 per cent foreign direct investment (FDI) limit in insurance companies to 49 per cent, removing the 10 per cent individual voting rights cap in banks and conferring statutory status to the Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority.
While the Government’s new ally, Samajwadi Party (SP), has indicated that it is open to pension, banking and insurance reforms, “it is risky to rely just on their numbers, more so after all the recent horse-trading allegations”.
The official was also pessimistic on FDI being permitted in retail, even if it involves no legislation per se.
Thursday, July 24, 2008
Tribal survey to be held in 36 panchayat areas in Kannur
A tribal survey will be conducted in 36 panchayat areas in the district in August under the auspices of the District Planning Committee (DPC).
A district-level Scheduled Tribe workshop was held at the district panchayat hall here on Wednesday in connection with the arrangements for the survey which would collect basic data regarding facilities of the Adivasis, welfare in Adivasi settlements and Adivasi families.
District Collector Ishita Roy, who spoke at the workshop, called for a uniform policy on matters concerning the Adivasis.
The number of Scheduled Tribe communities in the State had come down from 43 to 36. There were large numbers of Adivasis in the Kolayad and Naduvil panchayats.
As many as 71 of the 81 panchayats in the district had Adivasi settlements. A minimum allocation of Rs.10,000 will be set apart in each panchayat for the welfare of the Adivasis.
A tribal survey will be conducted in 36 panchayat areas in the district in August under the auspices of the District Planning Committee (DPC).
A district-level Scheduled Tribe workshop was held at the district panchayat hall here on Wednesday in connection with the arrangements for the survey which would collect basic data regarding facilities of the Adivasis, welfare in Adivasi settlements and Adivasi families.
District Collector Ishita Roy, who spoke at the workshop, called for a uniform policy on matters concerning the Adivasis.
The number of Scheduled Tribe communities in the State had come down from 43 to 36. There were large numbers of Adivasis in the Kolayad and Naduvil panchayats.
As many as 71 of the 81 panchayats in the district had Adivasi settlements. A minimum allocation of Rs.10,000 will be set apart in each panchayat for the welfare of the Adivasis.
Tuesday, July 22, 2008
Markets remain bullish
Continuing its upward movement for the third straight day on Monday, the Bombay Stock Exchange sensitive index (Sensex) notched up a 215-point gain on the back of strong Asian cues amid continuing political drama on domestic front. Marketmen said though bourses staged a rally, cautious undertone was too apparent to miss as the government is seeking a trust vote in Parliament.
The 30-share index, which had gained more than 1,000 points in the last two trading days, closed at 13850.04, a rise of 214.64 points against 13635.40 on last Friday.
Similarly, the S&P CNX Nifty of the National Stock Exchange firmed up by 67.25 points at 4159.50.
Continuing its upward movement for the third straight day on Monday, the Bombay Stock Exchange sensitive index (Sensex) notched up a 215-point gain on the back of strong Asian cues amid continuing political drama on domestic front. Marketmen said though bourses staged a rally, cautious undertone was too apparent to miss as the government is seeking a trust vote in Parliament.
The 30-share index, which had gained more than 1,000 points in the last two trading days, closed at 13850.04, a rise of 214.64 points against 13635.40 on last Friday.
Similarly, the S&P CNX Nifty of the National Stock Exchange firmed up by 67.25 points at 4159.50.
Wednesday, July 9, 2008
LEFT WITHDRAW SUPPORT
Political developments over the civilian nuclear deal with the United States reached a crescendo on Tuesday with four Left parties announcing withdrawal of support to the United Progressive Alliance government over its move to go to the International Atomic Energy Agency Board of Governors to seal the safeguards accord.
Left leaders will meet President Pratibha Patil on Wednesday and formally hand over a letter of withdrawal of support.
Announcing the decision after a meeting of the CPI(M), CPI, RSP and Forward Bloc, CPI(M) general secretary Prakash Karat said the Left parties decided that if the government “goes to the IAEA Board of Governors, they will withdraw support. In view of the Prime Minister’s announcement, that time has come.”
On way to Japan on Monday, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh announced that the government would go to the IAEA “very soon.”
At a press conference , Mr. Karat reminded External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee that since the UPA refused to provide the text of the safeguards agreement to the members of the UPA-Left committee on the deal, “no purpose will be served by having a meeting on July 10.”
Left leaders will meet President Pratibha Patil on Wednesday and formally hand over a letter of withdrawal of support.
Announcing the decision after a meeting of the CPI(M), CPI, RSP and Forward Bloc, CPI(M) general secretary Prakash Karat said the Left parties decided that if the government “goes to the IAEA Board of Governors, they will withdraw support. In view of the Prime Minister’s announcement, that time has come.”
On way to Japan on Monday, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh announced that the government would go to the IAEA “very soon.”
At a press conference , Mr. Karat reminded External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee that since the UPA refused to provide the text of the safeguards agreement to the members of the UPA-Left committee on the deal, “no purpose will be served by having a meeting on July 10.”
Monday, July 7, 2008
PM ON NUCLEAR DEAL
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has declared that he does not need any advice from the Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha L.K. Advani about when to get the vote of confidence in Parliament for his government.
He said this at a press conference en route to Japan when he was asked how he would respond to Mr. Advani demanding that the government seek a vote of confidence in Parliament should the Left parties withdraw support. “We are not afraid of facing Parliament,” he said.
Dr. Singh said he was still trying to work for bringing all parties whether on the Right or the Left to see the government’s point of view. The deal was in the national interest and that he was willing to convince anyone that this would in no way compromise the independence of India’s foreign policy.
Any patriotic citizen would support the deal, he said, and when asked about whether he could yet persuade the Left to accept the viewpoint, he said: “I know they are patriotic…there is unfortunately differences in our perception and I sincerely hope we can find some way in which we can resolve these differences in a manner that the deal can go through.”
Alluding to the concerns the Left has about independent India’s foreign policy, he said that India was too big a country to bow to any other country. Its foreign policy would be determined only in reference to what was in the national interest.
“I do hope that we can work towards a broadbased consensus that this deal is good for India,” he said. “If there are any worries about India’s foreign policy strategic autonomy I am willing to give all assurances to all concerned.
He said this at a press conference en route to Japan when he was asked how he would respond to Mr. Advani demanding that the government seek a vote of confidence in Parliament should the Left parties withdraw support. “We are not afraid of facing Parliament,” he said.
Dr. Singh said he was still trying to work for bringing all parties whether on the Right or the Left to see the government’s point of view. The deal was in the national interest and that he was willing to convince anyone that this would in no way compromise the independence of India’s foreign policy.
Any patriotic citizen would support the deal, he said, and when asked about whether he could yet persuade the Left to accept the viewpoint, he said: “I know they are patriotic…there is unfortunately differences in our perception and I sincerely hope we can find some way in which we can resolve these differences in a manner that the deal can go through.”
Alluding to the concerns the Left has about independent India’s foreign policy, he said that India was too big a country to bow to any other country. Its foreign policy would be determined only in reference to what was in the national interest.
“I do hope that we can work towards a broadbased consensus that this deal is good for India,” he said. “If there are any worries about India’s foreign policy strategic autonomy I am willing to give all assurances to all concerned.
Wednesday, July 2, 2008
VELLORE INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY
VIT is the first educational institution in India to get international accreditations for its programmes. The Institution of Engineering and Technology (IET), United Kingdom and the Energy Institute, United Kingdom have audited the Teaching-Learning Processes at VIT and accredited the respective programmes, in the year 2004, with the highest validity of 5 years.
Vellore Engineering College was the first educational institution in India to be awarded the ISO 9002 certificate by the DNV (Det Norske Veritas), of the Netherlands, for three years.
Programmes at VIT have been accredited by the National Board of Accreditation (NBA) and All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE).
The National Assessment and Accreditation Council (NAAC) of the University Grants Commission (UGC) has accredited the University with a B+ Grade (equivalent to 5-Star).
VIT is the first educational institution to be honoured with the TVN-KIDAO-NIQR award instituted by the National Institute of Quality and Reliability (NIQR) for maintaining exceptional quality.
Chancellor G. Viswanathan was honoured with the prestigious "Connect 2006 Achiever Award" by the Confederation of Indian Industry, Chennai for the achievement in the field of IT by way of creating suitable infrastructure and facilities for imparting IT education in the country. The Award was presented to him by the Union Minister for IT and Communications.
Programmes of VIT have been accredited by the Institution of Engineers, India (IEI).
Multinational companies such as Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) have accredited VIT to the highest level enabling VIT students to earn higher starting salary scales.
Please see www.vit.ac.in
VIT is the first educational institution in India to get international accreditations for its programmes. The Institution of Engineering and Technology (IET), United Kingdom and the Energy Institute, United Kingdom have audited the Teaching-Learning Processes at VIT and accredited the respective programmes, in the year 2004, with the highest validity of 5 years.
Vellore Engineering College was the first educational institution in India to be awarded the ISO 9002 certificate by the DNV (Det Norske Veritas), of the Netherlands, for three years.
Programmes at VIT have been accredited by the National Board of Accreditation (NBA) and All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE).
The National Assessment and Accreditation Council (NAAC) of the University Grants Commission (UGC) has accredited the University with a B+ Grade (equivalent to 5-Star).
VIT is the first educational institution to be honoured with the TVN-KIDAO-NIQR award instituted by the National Institute of Quality and Reliability (NIQR) for maintaining exceptional quality.
Chancellor G. Viswanathan was honoured with the prestigious "Connect 2006 Achiever Award" by the Confederation of Indian Industry, Chennai for the achievement in the field of IT by way of creating suitable infrastructure and facilities for imparting IT education in the country. The Award was presented to him by the Union Minister for IT and Communications.
Programmes of VIT have been accredited by the Institution of Engineers, India (IEI).
Multinational companies such as Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) have accredited VIT to the highest level enabling VIT students to earn higher starting salary scales.
Please see www.vit.ac.in
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