UNION CABINET APPROVES FDI PROPOSAL FOR SIKKIM- 892 CRORES IN POWER SECTOR

Govt clears 16 FDI proposals, revoke approvals for Bycell


17 Jul 2009, 1735 hrs IST, PTI

NEW DELHI: The Government today cleared 16 foreign direct investment proposals worth Rs 892 crore, most of which will be for a hydro power project
in Sikkim.

The Government, however, revoked all foreign collaboration approvals for ByCell Telecom on concerns over the Switzerland registered company's funding sources.

On the recommendations of the Foreign Investment Promotion Board (FIPB), the Government also deferred 13 proposals, including that of Vijay Mallya-promoted United Breweries request to raise Rs 708 crore through convertible warrants, and rejected two cases.

Among cleared proposals, Teesta Urja will bring in Rs 547.20 crore for developing 1,200-MW hydro power project in Sikkim.

The Government also allowed IL&FS Trust Company to hold two per cent stake in Multi Commodity Exchange of India, that will bring in Rs 108 crore of FDI.

90% CENTRAL FUND FOR PAKYONG-SIKKIM AIRPORT PROJECT

Construction of New Greenfield Airport In Sikkim
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17:17 IST
Lok Sabha 15 July 2009

New Greenfield Airports at Pakyong in Sikkim, Shimoga, Gulbarga, Bijapur and Hassan in Karnataka are scheduled to come up in the next two years. Establsihment of airports at Navi Mumbai & Sindhudurg in Maharashtra, Mopa in Goa, Kannur in Kerala, Durgapur in West Bengal, Itanagar in Arunachal Pradesh & Gwalior in Madhya Pradesh (for Cargo airport) have been accorded 'in-principle' approval. Further, proposals for establishment of new airport at Chakan, Shirdi & Solapur in Maharashtra, Kushinagar, Greater Noida in Uttar Pradesh, Ludhiana in Punjab, Karaikal in Puducherry, Cheitu in Nagarland & Paladi in Rajasthan have been received. A proposal for setting up of a Cargo airport at Jhajhar in Harayana has been received.

Government provides financial assistance for the development of existing and new airports in the North-East Region. Government is providing 90% funding of the cost for the construction of new Greenfield airport at Pakyong Sikkim.

The above information was given by the Minister of Civil Aviation, Shri Praful Patel in written reply to a question in Lok Sabha today.

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MC/MK

SCC CARE FOR SIKKIM CONSUMERS

Chamber of Commerce urges traders to maintain price, stock & supply

SE Report
GANGTOK, July 14: The Sikkim Chamber of Commerce has urged traders all over Sikkim to maintain price, stock and supply so that the sufferings created by the closure of National Highway 31A for an indefinite period is not aggravated.

SCC president SK Sarda said the trading community has shown care for the consumers in the past during such blockades and shall continue to serve the consumers in the best possible way.

He further said that the stock of groceries and LPG is in full strength enough for the next one month and that there was no need to panic.
“The petroleum products must be used with thrift and caution. Unnecessary travels should be avoided and people should move in pooled vehicles to minimize the use of petrol and diesel,” Mr. Sarda said in a press release issued today.

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CM AT SIKKIM PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING

GANGTOK, July 14: With a view to make Sikkim self-sufficient, Chief Minister Pawan Chamling today directed the State Planning Commission to submit a concrete proposal to the State government for fulfilling the manpower and food items demands from the State itself.
“The State Planning Commission should study the demand quantities of meat, diary and vegetable products of Sikkim and then submit a proposal to the State Government suggesting ways as to how Sikkim can fulfill these demands. The commission should also suggest measures as to how the manpower demand in the State can be fulfilled by our local people which will lead to balanced development in the State”, said the Chief Minister during a meeting of the 4th State Planning Commission of Sikkim held at the Chintan Bhavan here today.
Mr. Chamling is also the chairperson of the State Planning Commission.
The Chief Minister said that the power sector in Sikkim alone requires 20,000 skilled persons, tourism sector requires 50,000 skilled persons and pharma companies in the State require 10,000 skilled persons.
“The commission should think on these lines and give a concrete proposal to the government so that manpower demand is fulfilled from Sikkim itself”, said Mr. Chamling.
The Chief Minister also directed the commission to suggest measures to the State government for selection of priority sectors which requires loans. The commission must suggest the government to take only those projects where revenue can be generated for repayment of loans, he said. We must not take those projects where loans cannot be repaid, he asserted.
The Chief Minister said that any concrete proposal from the departments with provisions for revenue generation and repayment of loans will be immediately sanctioned by the State government.
“The commission must also work as to how to remove the consumerism syndrome of the Sikkimese people”, said Mr. Chamling while terming the commission as a ‘think tank’ for the development of Sikkim.
The Chief Minister further said that the executive wing of the government should mould their mindset and understand the changing demands of the people of the 21st century. People of today want quality services, he said. With passage of time, the standard of living of people improves and to fulfill their demands is the responsibility of the government and bureaucracy, he said.
Earlier SM Limboo, the deputy chairman of the State Planning Commission highlighted the need for better coordination among the departments for effective implementation of people-centre schemes of the State government.
“We have a huge responsibility and the executive wing must execute the policies made by the policy makers elected by the people. The planned projects must reach the villages”, said Mr. Limboo in his address.
Informing that fund allocations have been tightened up by the Centre in the 11th Five Year Plan for Sikkim, Mr. Limboo suggested setting up mini-hydel power projects for villages so that the electricity requirement of the villages are met while the power generated from the mega power projects of Sikkim can be sold outside generating more revenue for the State.
The other members of the State Planning Commission are Sonam Tshering Bhutia, R Ongmu, Tashi Wangdi, Manita Pradhan, Kalawati Subba and Lhakila Tongden also addressed the meeting.
Earlier, the Development Commissioner Karma Gyasto who is also the member secretary of the State Planning Commission presented the welcome address. Emphasis is on the outcome than outlay as per the thrust on resulted oriented policies of the Chief Minister, he said.

PRESS RELEASE IPR 3 JULY 2009

PRESS RELEASE (July 2009)

3.07.2009

CM holds coordination meeting with various State Government Departments

The Chief Minister, Mr. Pawan Chamling in a series of marathon coordination meeting held in his Chamber, at Tashiling Secretariat on 2nd July,2009, met with the Ministers, Secretaries and officers of Rural Management and Development Department (RMDD), PHE , Commerce and Industries and IPR department.

The meeting was attended by Mr. C.B Karki, Minister RMDD, Mr. T.T Bhutia, Minister PHE and Ms Neeru Sewa, Minister , Commerce & Industries and IPR, Advisors to the Government, Mr. Bhim Dahal, Mr. R.B Subba, Mr. K.N Rai, along with the Secretaries, and other senior Government officials. During the meeting, the HODs of their respective departments placed the annual report of their respective departments along with new proposal to the Chief Minister. The main objective behind organizing such meetings was to channelise and sharpen the present mode of administration to create an atmosphere of effective work trends in the Departments and to review the position of various Departments.

Directing the Departmental heads, the Chief Minister emphasized on the timely completion of different projects. He called for the greater participation of the Government employees as well as the general public in every developmental programme of the Government. He stressed on team spirit and close coordination between various departments for implementation of different policies and programmes of the government. He directed the departments to facilitate various skill development and specialization training programmes to the employees on related subject and asked the Departments to submit the list of employees who could be sent for these trainings. He also directed the departments to utilize government expenditure for the correct programmes which would benefit the people and the state. He stressed on quality work and warned against duplicity.

The Chief Minister interacting with Rural Management and Development Department said that the work of NREGA in Sikkim is appreciated by other states and more effort is required for implementing the programme further. He said that involvement of rural people is necessary to achieve the goal of rural employment to increase their purchasing power and bring improvement in their standard of living. He advised the department on changing the mindset of the people by conducting awareness programmes and highlighting the facilities. The Chief Minister directed the department to engage the people through NREGA towards plantation of Magnolia plant in all barren land and private holdings. He made a decision on plantation of fifteen thousand Magnolia plant available at Yangang, in all suitable locations. He also stressed on plantation of different plants like Bamboo, fodder plant, trees, Banana, Papaya, Jackfruit, Bale, Cheery, Amla, Totala, Timbur, Harra, Tea etc. The Chief Minister emphasized on the construction of nature footpaths with materials like stone, wood and mud rather than concrete which could conserve the natural beauty of the villages and will boost village tourism as well. He proposed to develop parks and garden and community centers in the villages for which he directed the department to acquire land for the purpose. The Chief Minister also emphasized on providing clean and quality drinking water to the people of Sikkim for which he assured to provide funds, for establishment of water purification system, chemical testing center, expertise and technician etc.

He directed the department to manage man power and provide training for Rural Development Assistants, Panchayats and other technical staffs to strengthen the Block Administrative Centres. He further directed to finalize a plan called ‘Village Development Action Plan’ to be implemented within August.

In his meeting with Public Health Engineering Department, the Chief Minister said that the department should adopt latest technology for water supply and sewerage system. He stressed on hygiene, security fencing, quality equipment and maintenance of pipeline.

During the meeting with the Commerce and Industries and Information and Public Relations Departments, the Chief Minister discussed the management and distribution of Sikkim Herald, uploading website and press releases with the IPR officials. He said that IPR is the mouth piece of the Government and the link between the Government and the public. He also assured to construct Soochana Bhawan.

The Chief Minister directed the Industries Department to establish an outlet of the Directorate of Handicraft and Handloom one for South and West district and another for North district.

The Chief Minister, Mr. Pawan Chamling while continuing his meeting on July 3rd with the Ministers, HoDs and officials of various State Government departments, namely Food and Civil Supply, Science and Technology, Sports and Youth Affairs and Excise, also discussed important issues pertaining to the respective departments and issued various directions related to the developmental works in the State.

During the meeting with the Food and Civil Supply Department, the Chief Minister said that there has to be an integrated approach in the developmental process involving all section. Sikkim has the most liberal investment policy and is an investor friendly state. He further added that the department should check the influx population which tends to increase with developmental processes. He further directed the departments to furnish the exact data’s on influx population and also stressed the need to have accurate BPL data of the State as well. The Chief Minister also reviewed the stock of essential commodities to meet the requirements during monsoon and also emphasized the officials of the department for effective distribution of essential commodities. He also enquired about the storing capacity of the existing food go-downs, fuels and LPG and directed the department to maintained stocks to last for at least three months. He also asked the department to put forward the proposals regarding the renovation of the existing food go-downs and also to prepare a comprehensive report on the shortfalls of essential commodities like rice, kerosene, petrol, LPG, sugar etc. There should be no compromise on quality and no pilferation should take place, he added.

In his another meeting with the Science and Technology Department, the Chief Minister stressed on the need to protect flora and fauna at the local level. On environment front, the challenge is formidable and enormous, but in terms of nature conservation measure, the State government has worked tirelessly to harmonize nature and development, he commented. The department should make an effort to involve local youths and students in the nature conservation programmes and generate scientific temperament in them to make Sikkim an example for the rest of the world. “Think globally and act locally”, said the Chief Minister. He also asked the department to prepare a guide book on Clean Mechanism Drive.

During the meeting with the Minister and officials of Sports and Youth Affairs Department, the Chief Minister instructed that the youths being the future of the nation, the Department should focus on engaging the youths into constructive activities, so that they become able citizen in future. He also emphasized on development of various sports like archery, football, table tennis, taekwondo, boxing etc. He also stressed on renovating and development of the existing sports infrastructure in the State. He further directed the department to give more emphasis on archery and encouraged them to impart training to the students and youths. Further more, he also directed the department to forward the proposal of setting up of an archery training centers in the State. The Chief Minister said that the talent hunt programmes should be started from the School level for which he also instructed the department to provide necessary trainings and coaching at the schools and Panchayat level.

Later in the afternoon, the Chief Minister also met the Minister and officials of the Excise Department and stressed on close coordination among the various departments in executing plans and programmes of the State Government. He said that the Rule of Law is paramount in the State and it should be maintained. He also advised the department to review the Bar license and also put forward the proposal to introduced new brands made of ginger, passion fruit, cardamom etc. and asked them to look into whether the proposal is technically viable or not.

IPR News Service
IPR No 242/IPR/08-09

4.07.2009

Orientation Programme of Horticulture and Agriculture

A day long orientation programme under Agriculture and Horticulture schemes conducted by the department for the Member of the Sikkim Legislative Assembly, Zella Adhakshyas and Panchayats was held today at Chintan Bhawan . The objective of the programme was to aware the people about the schemes and policies of the department. It is a new holistic approach as desired by the Chief Minister of Sikkim in the history of Food Security and Agriculture Development Department and Horticulture and Cash Crop Department(FS&ADD&HCCD) to make a good coordination between the government and the people at grass root level.

Addressing from the chair Mr. K.T Gyaltsen, Speaker Sikkim Legislative Assembly appreciating the programme said that it was well organized as intended and further advice to organize such programme at district and constituency level also. He requested the people representatives to be responsible, disciplined and serious on the development of Sikkim and Sikkimese people as per the vision of the Chief Minister. He suggested that their should be a cooperation between FS&ADD&HCCD, Animal Husbandry, RMDD and Irrigation departments as they are inter related and people centric. Mr. Gyaltsen said that Sikkim has very limited Farming land therefore the people should use every corner of land with the help of concern department’s schemes and available technology. Informing the gathering the speaker explains the meaning of the department’s name as the “food security” means the security of food for the future. He expresses that the panchayats should become an example to the farmers by becoming themselves as progressive farmer and they should guide them the department’s schemes and activities. He suggested the department to guide and help the people through holistic, realistic, and applicable and result oriented approach. The speaker also suggested the department to register under Geographical Indication act which comes under sub-clause of Intellectual property right act, for preserve and production.

On his speech Mr. Daucho Lepcha, Minister, FS & ADD & HCCD said that the food is very important for the human beings as well as the animals to survive in this world. He requested people’s representatives to transfer the massage as delivered today regarding programme and schemes of the department to the farming community. He said that the department is doing extreme homework formulating the modalities of the programme and scheme to be delivered to the villagers. Mr. Lepcha requested the MLAs, Adhakshyas and Panchayats to advice the department about the actual viability of the schemes in cluster approach and also inform about the property of the government so far acquired is weather registered or not.

During the interaction session Mr. MLA Lachen Mangan and Mrs.Chandramaya Subba, MLA Dentam appreciated the ethics of the programme and placed some suggestion to the department. Similarly, Zilla Panchayats and Panchayat members also interact with official during the session.

The Secretary FS&ADD&HCCD, Mr. S.K Gautam while delivering welcome speech said that the department is organizing orientation programme according to the direction of the Chief Minister Mr. Pawan Chamling to maintain transparency between government and rural people. He requested the people’s representatives to make an opinion and advice the department to be more effective through such special informative programme.

During the power presentation the Directors of Horticulture, Agriculture, Soil and Water Conservation and Chief Engineer from Engineering Cell explain in detail about the scheme and activities of department.

The programe was witnessed by Mr. C.B Karki, Minister RMDD, Ms. .Neeru Sewa, Minister Industries, IPR and Exise, MLAs, Adhakshyas, Chairman, Chairperson, Zilla Panchayats, Panchayat Prasidents and Members from all districts, Officers of FS&ADD&HCCD and officer and scientist from ICAR Gangtok.

The whole day programme was conducted by Mr. Dorjee Tenzing, Additional Director and vote of thanks proposed by Mr. D.K Rai, Additional Director.

IPR News Service
IPR No 243/IPR/08-09



6. 07. 2009
Respected Dr. Chung Sik Yong, Regional President of the Universal Peace Federation- Asia and his esteemed colleagues, Respected office bearers of the Universal Peace Federation, Sikkim Chapter, Honb’le Speaker, Deputy Speaker, Sikkim Legislative Assembly, my Cabinet colleagues, MLAs, Chairmen, Chairpersons, Chief Secretary, DGP and all officials present, Members of NGOs and friends from Media, ladies and gentlemen

At the outset, I expressed my deep sense of gratitude to the Universal Peace Federation fraternity for having considered me for this noble award on Leadership and Good Governance. I can not at this stage forget the feelings and good thoughts of my fellow Sikkimese who have always given me their mandate. They are also to be thanked for giving me this opportunity to serve them. I dedicate this award to my Sikkimese fellow citizens for whom I am the first servant.

In the present world, we are privileged to be living a life made more comfortable by the advent of science & technology, advanced knowledge and natural wealth. But, the irony is that with these advancements by men, contradiction, conflict and war are also created. We are living in a world made complicated by our own irresponsible acts at different levels. There is unrest and conflict all around. In fact, Philosophers and Statesmen have always expressed their reservation about the changes taking place in the overall socio-cultural milieu of India . Dr. S. Radhakrishanan wrote and I quote, “ Everywhere around us we hear the sounds of things breaking, of changes in the social, in the political and economic situation, in the dominant beliefs and ideas, in the fundamental categories of human mind. Men of intelligence, sensitiveness and enterprise are convinced that there is something radically wrong with the present arrangement and institutions in regard to politics, economies and industry, and that we must get rid of them if we are to save humanity.” During the debate on the adoption of the Indian Constitution, Dr. B.R. Ambedkar expressed his apprehension and asked, “.. what would happen to her independence? Will she maintain her independence or will she lose it again?” It may be pertinent to think that in the Indian context, some of our people are still placing caste, creed and personal ends above the country and creating new waves of discord and divisions.

Therefore, the question is how we can overcome from this syndrome. I may point out that the Sikkimese people are inherently the peace lovers living in harmony with Nature and have thus contributed to the general peace in the State and the act as an example in the whole country.

Peace by definition is more abstract in nature. Some say that Peace is, first of all, the absence of war between States. On a broader sense, peace is also the absence of suppression and injustice and of hunger. According to oriental understanding, peace has more of a spiritual substance that permeates the inner life of human being. We firmly believe that in the absence of inner happiness, there is no peace. When we invoke ‘shanti..’it is more than absence of war. It is the realization of heavenly order, an emergence of perfect union among different elements of nature in the cosmos thereby shaping the very attitude of man as being peaceful or peace loving.

We the Sikkimese people are living in perfect peace an in relative plenty. Over the years, there are factors combined together to facilitate establishment of this condition in the State where we provide leadership in many sectors in the country.

We are people living in the Himalayan range and living in close proximity with Nature. We do believe that nature over the centuries has moulded our way of life. Many of us, by faith, are nature worshippers in essence. As part of local creed, we consider environmental security as our highest obligation. This argument is relevant in the context of Global Warming that has seriously disrupted the natural cycle. In our State of Sikkim also, there has been increasing sign of Global Warming induced changes. Manifesting itself in erratic monsoon, flooding and landslides, unusually warmer winter, less volume of snowfall etc, this will likely upset the cycle of mountain, ecology and local economy too. There are serious deliberation and action plan mooted both under the UN initiative and other initiatives by different NGOs and civil society bodies across the world. Therefore, for peace to sustain, the whole community need to start acting to cut down the Green House Gas emission and mitigate the harm done to world environment. We are very humbly undertaking host of conservation measures during the last one and a half decade in the State of Sikkim. We initiated our journey on very conscious note in 1995 when we observed the year “ Harit Kranti Varsha” generating mass awareness about environment and about agents like to bring about negative impact on our environment. Some of the historical initiative have been introduction of compulsory environmental education in Schools, launching of “ Smriti Van” programme and Green Mission Plan, Creation of State biodiversity Park, distribution of free LPG connection for people below poverty line, eco-club, Green Funds in Schools & colleges, constitution of climate change commission, ban on use of plastic, ban of green felling in forest, ban on grazing, ban on killing of wildlife etc. As a result there has been palpable improvement manifesting in the increase in forest cover from 43.95% in 1993- 94 to 46.28% now. There has been increase in number of wild animal and regeneration in the endangered species of flora and fauna among other.

Climate Change issues has also become interlinked with issues of energy security and food security. You are aware that in the vague of adverse effect of Global Warming, many countries across the continent swiftly altered the export policy of foodgrains to feed their own citizens. It is for this reason that the world community should come together to address this issue on urgent basis by carefully formulating strategy for sustainable development, which ensures that our economic proceeds in an ecologically sustainable manner. The Apostle of Peace, Mahatma Gandhi has said, “you must be the change you want to see in the world”. I am very happy to say that the Sikkimese people have whole heartedly supported us in bringing about change in the way we tend to exploit nature and in many of our initiatives which were ‘out of ordinary’ and at times rather on pleasant.

The overarching concern and the works undertaken by the Peace Federation is really a great service to humanity. For the last 15 years, we are also consistently working to establish social and political condition in which all the human beings can enjoy freedom and the fullest measures of happiness. The best thing happening in Sikkim primarily has been continuous peace and harmony and secondly political stability. This has enable us to plan our socio-economic intervention on both short term and long term basis. As a result, we have been able bring about socio economic advancement which is comparatively better off.

As a landlocked State, Sikkim is surrounded by three international borders with China, Nepal and Bhutan. Over the centuries, we have become richer by the cross-border interactions. We are opening up more borders with our neighbours. We are building our infrastructure, more schools, health centres, more roads and airport and railway. This will ensure better access to quality health, education and better connectivity. Physically access and connectivity will facilitate our people with conducive atmosphere for attaining higher level of standard.

It is said that any community of people will perish once their cultural heritage is destroyed. Sikkim has evidently witnessed cultural revolution over the decade. The languages of ethnic tribal communities have been revived which are being taught in schools. Similarly, cultural festivals belonging to different communities have been duly recognised as State Gazette holidays. What we witness today is cultural revival enriching the very contour of social structure, brimming with full life. The say that man does not live by bread alone. Here the essential question involved is ensuring human dignity and self respect.

It is aptly concluded that poverty is a threat to peace. Questioning the world’s income distribution, one noble peace prize winner has highlighted a very telling story. According to him, 94% of world income goes to 40% of the population while 60% of people live on only 6% of world income. The State Government in Sikkim, on its own initiative, earmarked 70% of plan allocation to rural development to bring about rural renaissance way back in 1995. This includes free housing, subsidized foodgrains and host of other incentives for family living below the poverty line. This policy of earmarking the lion’s share for rural upliftment is still on and we have been able to address rural poverty to a large extent. In fact, the number of BPL families in Sikkim has gone down to 20% from 40% in 1994. Education is free upto the college level with provision of free distribution of text books, exercise book, school uniform, school bag, raincoat and school shoes. Health Care is free as well. Sikkim was the first State in the country to provide for Free Hepatits B vaccination for children. Compulsory annual health check up for people, free health insurance for poor households are some of the other incentives envisaged during this financial year.

Leadership and good governance is very vital for enrichment of democratic practices anywhere in the world. In an age where the percaptia income is measured in terms of per captia happiness, the world is increasingly turning to the essence of pro people governance, pro jobs, pro nature with the highest priority to poverty reduction, productive employment and environmental regeneration. Further good governance involves not only administrative or managerial capacities but also the social, political, intellectual, cultural and moral capacities of the system in the entirety.

The focus on the family as the most fundamental institution of society impressed me very deeply. Infact, we need to revitalise the traditional warmth both with regard to human relationship at various levels between man and nature and in relation to various natural elements.

If society is weak, power, rewards and opportunities go to the few and majority of people will remain powerless and without opportunity. Realising this fact, we have to build a society strong enough so that every individual can enjoy his or her rights and privileges and that everyone has access to opportunities to live a more meaningful life.

There are many problems common to all humanity- lack of peace and security, diseases like AIDS, cancer, problem of water security, food security, environmental degradation, hunger etc. There are hundred million people who are homeless and landless. Some are living without the identity of their own, without any country that they can call their own. 148 millions children are orphans. They need love and care. They need families not only orphanage.

They are suffering from hunger, disease and human right violation. Suffering and sorrows are everywhere in the world but no one is serious enough to care for them and solve this common problem except the few like Universal Peace Federation.

Today I feel proud that the works we have done here ion our humble way have been appreciated by the Universal Peace Federation of India. I am very much encourage to do more and more for Sikkim, my State and also my country India. Wherever we live we are faced with the same problems- Global community is faced with unrest, disputes, conflict- lack of human security and water security. We are deprived of our natural right to live- and live with simplicity and dignity.

We do no longer look for someone to take us to the mountain top and point the way to the promise land. We should no longer expect someone to lead us on by our fingers to enter a place of perfection. We must together make it happen through collective effort, joint commitment and common sacrifices. The Universal Peace Federation through its worldwide action and cooperative peace building efforts is leading a Universal campaign to promote peace, family values, cultural exchanges, educational programmes for a strong world orders in which everyone can live in freedom, harmony and prosperity.

The miracle Helen Keller once said, “ I find life an exciting business – and most exciting when it is live for others.” This moment has encouraged me to live the most exciting life once again and to live for others, always. I have no words to express my gratefulness to my people who have voted me to be their Chief Minister for the fourth consecutive term. Over the years, I have tried to do my utmost to serve the interest of the Sikkimese people. We have together inked a sacred pledge to forever work for the collective welfare of the people so that the promises made are fulfil in letter and spirit, so that people continue to live in peace, harmony and greater prosperity. As the American poet would say I cannot certainly stop here. May I quote the immortal Robert Frost who said,

“ The woods are lovely, dark, and deep,

But I have promises to keep,

And miles to go before I sleep, and miles to go before I sleep”.

As Abraham Lincoln would say we cannot escape the responsibility of tomorrow by evading it today. Amidst the gathering mist and the difficulties so imminent, we can ill afford to lose hope. The Romantic Poet P.B.Shelley famously sang –

“ O Wind,

If winter comes, can spring be far behind?”

As the poet held out enduring hope for all the humanity, so does the peace federation come out to rescue humanity from the clutches of hatred, discord and cultural disintegration. And as part of the Global initiative of the Peace Federation, I would consider my self privileged and blessed to work under the broad vision of Dr. Moon and all the ambassadors of Peace, to bequeath to the coming generation a world that is better, safer, secure, happy and peaceful.

Thank You Sirs

Thank you all

Jai Hind

SIKKIM PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING

FROM THE STATESMAN


GANGTOK, 14 JULY: The Sikkim chief minister and chairman of the state planning commission Mr Pawan Chamling today urged the newly formed SPC members to prepare a detailed proposal for framing plans and policies for the development of social sectors on a priority basis. He was today addressing the first meeting of the fourth state planning commission. The eight-member body has former CM, Mr Sanchaman Limboo as its deputy chairman.

Terming the SPC as a think-tank to accelerate the development process Mr Chamling further insisted on SPC’s close coordination with all departmental heads in formulating programmes and policies. He further stressed on the first responsibility of the SPC to suggest the government on the popular needs and demands and also its time-bound execution and monitoring.

“As the centre has declared to provide only 40 per cent financial assistance to the states from 2010, it is time to implement sustainable plans and programmes for self reliance,”Mr Chamling said. He further stressed on the importance of eco-friendly industries like hydropower projects to meet all financial and employment needs. It is also informed that the pharmaceuticals, hydropower and tourism and hospitality sectors would require major manpower. To tap these opportunities the CM delved into the importance of human resources development through numerous skill development and capacity building schemes being undertaken by the state government.

PROJECT- ARTIFICIAL BRAIN

F or the last four years, Henry Markram has been building a biologically accurate artificial brain
Powered by a supercomputer, his software model closely mimics the activity of a vital section of a rat’s grey matter
Dubbed Blue Brain, the sim- ulation shows some strange behaviour. The artificial “cells” respond to stimuli and pulse and flash in spooky unison, a pattern that isn’t programmed but emerges spontaneously
“It’s the neuronal equivalent of a Mexican wave,” says Markram, referring to what happens when successive clusters of stadium spectators briefly stand and raise their arms, creating a ripple effect
Such synchronized behaviour is common in flesh-and-blood brains, where it’s believed to be a basic step necessary for decision-making. But when it arises in an artificial system, it’s more surprising
Blue Brain is based at the École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne in Switzerland
The project hopes to tackle one of the most perplexing mysteries of neuroscience: How does human intelligence emerge? The Blue Brain scientists hope their computermodel can shed light on the puzzle, and possibly even replicate intelligence in some way
“We’re building the brain from the bottom up, but in silicon,” says Markram, the leader of Blue Brain, which is powered by a supercomputer provided by International Business Machines Corp. “We want to understand how the brain learns, how it perceives things, how intelligence emerges.”
Blue Brain is controversial, and its success is far from assured
Christof Koch of the California Institute of Technology, a scientist who studies consciousness, says the Swiss project provides vital data about how part of the brain works. But he says that Markram’s approach is still missing algorithms, the biological programming that yields higher-level functions
“You need to have a theory about how a particular circuit in the brain” can trigger complex, higher-order properties, Koch says. “You can’t assemble ever larger data fields and shake it and say, ‘Ah, that’s how consciousness emerges’.”

Despite the challenges, the push to understand, replicate and re-enact higher behaviours in the brain has become one of the hottest areas of neuroscience
With the help of a $4.9 million (Rs23.9 crore) grant from the US department of defence, IBM is working on a project with five US universities to build a tiny, low-power microchip that simulates the behaviour of one million neurons and 10 billion synapses
The goal, says IBM, is to develop brainy computers that can better predict the behaviour of complex systems, such as weather or financial markets
The Chinese government has provided about $1.5 million to a team at Xiamen University to create artificial brain robots with microcircuits that evolve, learn and adapt to realworld situations. Jeff Krichmar and colleagues at the University of California have built an artificial brain robot that learns to sharpen its visual perception when moving in a lab environment, another form of emergent behaviour, a form of spontaneous self-organization
And researchers at Sensopac, a project backed by a grant of €6.7 million (Rs45.8 crore) from the European Union, have built part of an artificial mouse brain
The scientists behind Blue Brain hope to have a virtual human brain functioning in 10 years—a lengthy time period that underscores the scientific challenge. The human brain has 100 billion neurons that send electrical signals to each other via a network of at least 100 trillion connections, or synapses. How could this dizzying complexity ever be recreated in a virtual model? Markram adopted a systematic, if painstaking, approach
He decided to work out the blueprint of its wiring and use that to rebuild the brain in an artificial form. He focused on a rat’s neocortical column (NCC) an elementary building block of the brain’s neocortex, which is responsible for higher functions and thought. In a rat’s case, that includes planning to obtain food
A rat’s NCC, comprised of about 10,000 neurons and their 10 billion connections, functions much like a computer microprocessor. All mammals have NCCs, and the ones in humans aren’t all that different from the ones in rats
However, humans have far more NCCs, which means far greater brain power. Markram figured that if a rat simulation did a good job of correctly mimicking activity in a real rat’s brain, he could use the same model as a road map for simulating the human brain
Markram began by collect- ing detailed information about the rat’s NCC, down to genes, proteins, molecules and the electrical signals that connect one neuron to another. These complex relationships were then turned into millions of equations, written in software
He then recorded real-world data—the strength and path of each electrical signal—directly from rat brains to test the accuracy of the software
At the Lausanne lab one re- cent afternoon, a pink sliver of rat brain sat in a beaker containing a colourless liquid. The neurons in the brain slice were still alive and actively communicating with each other. Nearby, a modified microscope recorded some of this activity in another brain slice. “We’re intercepting the electro-chemical messages” in the cells, then testing the software against it for accuracy, said Markram
The rat’s NCC has 10,000 neurons, and it takes the power of one desktop computer to mimic the behaviour of a single neuron. To model the entire NCC,Markramrelies on an IBM computer that can perform 22.8 trillion operations a second. This enables the simulation to be rendered as a three-dimensional (3D) object
When Blue Brain is running, its deepest inner workings are seen in astonishing detail, as a 3D simulation unfolding on a computer screen
In a darkened room, Blue Brain displays a virtual NCC as a column-like structure, its blue colour signifying a state of rest. When zapped by a simulated electrical current, the neurons start signalling each other and their wiring progressively sparks to life different colours. Tests show the same areas light up in the model as do in a real rat’s brain, suggesting that Blue Brain is accurate, says Markram
More complex things start to happen. First there’s a burst of red, then white, then red again, as the NCC’s wiring fills up with a cascade of myriad signals. There are so many connections, the NCC looks like an incredibly dense tangle of undergrowth
Then, two successive waves of yellow colour suddenly race through Blue Brain. It’s a sign that the neurons have synchronized their behaviour on their own. “The cells start to take on a life of their own,” says Markram. “That’s what your brain is (and when such patterns become sophisticated) it becomes your personality.”

If Blue Brain ever gets so- phisticated enough to closely mimic the human brain, will it exhibit consciousness? Says Markram: “If it does emerge, we’ll be able to tell you how it emerged. If it doesn’t, we’ll know that it’s the result of more than just 100 billion neurons interacting.”


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SUCCESSION OF PROPERTIES TO DESIRED PEOPLE

Rites of succession

Tanvi Varma

May 14, 2009


Centuries ago, Victorian fathers may have threatened to exclude recalcitrant sons from their wills, but the theatrics continue till date, mostly in corporate boardrooms and TV soaps. Thanks to the much publicised case of the late Priyamvada Birla and the various TV serials spun around tycoons bequeathing their empires to secretaries or chauffeurs, estate planning in India is still largely the stuff of fiction.

However, estate planning is not just for the rich and famous. It is simply a process for an individual to arrange the transfer of his assets in the event of his death or incapacitation, says Vikas Agnihotri, CEO, Religare Macquarie Private Wealth. As this process is legally binding, it is important to do so in a timely manner in order to provide for the family. In fact, as soon as you acquire some assets or have dependants, you should start planning for your succession. However, Devang Shah, financial planner, Right Returns, sounds out a warning: “Prior to estate planning, your financial plan should be in place to meet your goals.”

The key objective of a comprehensive estate plan is to preserve assets and ensure timely transfer to the desired beneficiaries by paying the least amount of taxes, says Agnihotri. To do this, you need to realise what your assets and goals are, which translates to a financial plan. “Fortunately, unlike the rest of the world, we do not pay estate tax or estate duty, which is typically levied on the value of estate passed on to the next generation,” says Zankhana Shah, Mumbai-based financial planner. However, tax efficiency is only one of the considerations for estate planning, she adds.

So, what does it take to make an efficient estate plan? Your starting point should be to draw up a comprehensive list of assets. Then figure out how you want to bequeath these assets, ideally in consultation with your family members. “It is absolutely essential that you hire an attorney as well,” adds Shah. There are many legal issues involved in planning the estate and a competent lawyer will be best suited to help you understand the complexities. Once your needs and objectives are identified, select the tool you need to plan your estate.

Will: A will is a simple tool that allows you to pass on your wealth. There is no legally prescribed format, so even handwritten instructions on a plain paper will serve. To make it legally binding, it needs to be attested by two witnesses and should also include the provision for the appointment of an executor, who will ensure that the assets are transferred according to the will.

The will can be challenged in a court of law and goes through probate. To make things easier, especially if you have substantial property, get your will registered. Although this is not mandatory, registration helps when the execution is disputed, as the law recognises a registered will.

Trust: If your bequests are more complex, you might be better served by a trust. A trust allows you to transfer your assets (property, bank accounts, securities, real estate) to a holding vehicle, which is registered under the Indian Trusts Act. An appointed trustee manages it and carries out the directions, as specified. A trust essentially allows you to access all these assets while you are alive and decide who controls and benefits from them. For instance, you can time the distribution, determine how the income arising from the asset should be used or keep money aside for your spouse for her maintenance and, thereafter, pass it on to your children, says Shah.

A trust protects your assets from probate, keeps it out of the creditors’ clutches and provides confidentiality, since the names of the beneficiaries are not disclosed, nor are the assets listed. However, if your goal is to save taxes, a trust might not work to your benefit. “A trust is taxed in the highest bracket and adds to administrative issues as well,” says Shah.

The HUF: The head of a joint family can form a Hindu Undivided Family for passing on the inheritance in the HUF accounts to his sons. The HUF is basically a legal entity, which includes inherited assets (and income) from ancestors, and all members (part of the family) have a collective right to the same. The karta or male head of the family is accountable for the management of assets, pooling family income and paying taxes. Previously, when families were large and joint, creating a HUF offered tax advantages. However, given the predominance of nuclear families and no estate taxes, there are no major tax advantages, says Agnihotri. The HUF is liable to pay tax as per the individual tax bracket and is also eligible for deductions under Section 80C.

Other tools: “There are secondary tools like power of attorneys, gifts, etc. However, these are not recognised as being efficient for estate planning,” says Agnihotri. A power of attorney, for instance, helps in the efficient management of assets if you are incapacitated. You can choose anyone to act as a trustee, but as this method only assists in preserving your assets, it cannot be used exclusively.

Some people believe that nomination alone can serve, but later, one should make a will. This could lead to confusion about the bequest as the nominee might not end up as the beneficiary.

Then there are those who give away their wealth as gifts. However, this could be a tax-inefficient method. Since 2007-8, any gift of over Rs 50,000 received by an individual or HUF from an unrelated donor is taxable for the receiver.

Insurance is commonly used for succession planning as the proceeds do not attract any tax and the premium paid qualifies for a tax rebate. The death benefit also provides for immediate expenses needed by your dependants. Additionally, if a man buys the policy under the Married Woman Property Act, the proceeds cannot be attached by creditors. However, insurance is not highly recommended due to the costs attached, says Shah.

This brings us to the important question: how much does it cost to create an efficient estate plan? If you opt for a basic will, even a handwritten one, it could cost nothing at all. However, if your bequests are complex, you will need to pay professionals like financial planners and lawyers. You will also have to pay for registration of documents like your will, trust agreement, power of attorney, etc. To avoid additional financial duress on your family, it may be better for you to settle any outstanding liabilities and take insurance on the outstanding mortgage or any other high- value loans.

Finally, remember that you can always revoke bequests, change the terms of a trust, modify wills and change beneficiaries. And like those Victorian fathers, you can keep your family in line just by mentioning your will.

Commonly Used Estate Planning Tools

1.Will is a legal document, which allows the testator to distribute his estate in a specified manner after his death.

2.Private Trust is a legal entity, which holds the title to the estate and is managed by a trustee. A trust can be created and administered while the settlor is still alive.

3.Hindu Undivided Family is a legal entity created and registered under the Hindu Act, which includes assets inherited from ancestors and the resulting income. All members have a collective right to this.

4.Power of Attorney allows an individual to appoint a person to manage the assets on his behalf and take financial decisions if he is unable to do so.

5.Gift is the distribution of assets during one’s lifetime by a simple transfer.

6.Insurance allows a person to leave a legacy by passing on his investment along with death benefits to the beneficiaries when he passes away.

7.Nomination allows an investor to appoint a person to look after and manage his assets. It does not confer any ownership right on the nominee, who simply passes it on to the heir.

Indian might met with Chinese threats

“The Bhishma Parva and Udyoga Parva (specific chapters of Mahabharata) provide considerable astronomical/astrological descriptions and omens as the Mahabharata war was approaching. It describes a period of draught, with many planetary positions. Then there is this clear reference to pair of eclipses occurring on 13th day as shown below.

Fourteenth day, Fifteenth day and in past sixteenth day, but I have never known the Amavasya (New Moon day) to occur on the thirteenth day. Lunar eclipse followed by solar eclipse on thirteenth day is in a single lunar month etc…..

This reference to “Thirteen day” eclipse pair appears to be a unique astronomical observation.

The Bhishma Parva and Udyoga Parva (specific chapters of Mahabharata) provide considerable astronomical/astrological
Mahabharata text also refers to retrograde motions of planets prior to war and provides their location with reference to 27/28 Vedic star locations. Mahabharata Drona Parva also refers to Jayadhratha’s killing during a dark episode on 13th day of the war, which some consider as another short solar eclipse..”

ASIA NEWS ONLINE:BANGALORE – A series of steps taken by India in recent months to build up its defenses along its disputed frontier with China has prompted an angry response from the latter.

In June, General J J Singh, governor of the Indian state of Arunachal Pradesh and former chief of army staff, announced that India would be deploying two army divisions of around 25,000 to 30,000 soldiers each along its boundary with China in Arunachal. A few days later, four Sukhoi Su-30MIK combat aircraft landed at the Indian Air Force (IAF) base in Tezpur. The IAF announced plans to increase this to a squadron strength of 18 aircraft.

The recent moves along the Sino-Indian Line of Actual Control at Arunachal “have no aggressive intent” but are simply aimed at “putting in place credible active deterrence against a vastly better-armed giant neighbor”, a Defense Ministry official told Asia Times Online. It was intended to meet “future security challenges” posed by China, Singh said.

Although relations between India and China have improved in recent years – China is now India’s largest trading partner – the dispute over their 4,057-kilometer-long boundary remains unresolved. In 1962, the two countries fought a short border war, which India lost.

In that war, China occupied 38,000 square kilometers of territory in Aksai Chin in the northeastern corner of Jammu and Kashmir. This territory remains under its control. Besides, Beijing is also holding 5,180 square kilometers of land in Kashmir ceded to it by Pakistan in 1963.

In the 1962 war, Chinese troops also advanced into territory in India’s northeast but retreated subsequently. Beijing continues to lay claim to around 90,000 square kilometers of territory here, roughly approximating Arunachal Pradesh or what it refers to as “Southern Tibet”.

China has repeatedly indicated that the boundary along Arunachal is not a closed chapter and that Arunachal is disputed territory. Any Indian move to assert control over Arunachal has raised hackles in China. When India conferred statehood on Arunachal in 1986, for instance, a serious skirmish broke out at Sumdurong Chu.

The response from China to the recent augmentation of forces at Arunachal was swift. An editorial in Global Times, a tabloid of the People’s Daily group, a mouthpiece of the Communist Party of China, said that India seemed to believe that China would “defer to it on territorial disputes”. Dismissing this as “wishful thinking”, it stressed that “China won’t make any compromises in its border disputes with India”.

The editorial went on to warn that India’s “dispatch of 60,000 troops” to its border with China would lead to “a rivalry between the two countries” and asked the Indian government to consider “whether or not it can afford the consequences of a potential confrontation with China”.

That threat was followed up with a reminder that India could not match China’s might. “China is seen in India as both a potential threat and a competitor to surpass. But India can’t actually compete with China in a number of areas, like international influence, overall national power and economic scale. India apparently has not yet realized this.”

Indian military experts have argued that Arunachal’s importance to China lies in its geography. Control over Arunachal will enable the Chinese to militarily overrun the Brahmaputra Valley and the rest of northeastern India.

Others have claimed that China seeks control over Arunachal, and specifically Tawang, to consolidate its hold over Tibet. Tawang is the birthplace of the sixth Dalai Lama and the monastery there is Tibetan Buddhism’s second largest after the Potola Palace in Lhasa. The Tawang Monastery is “a virtual treasure trove of Tibetan Buddhist religion and culture” and is seen by Tibetans as the repository of perhaps the last remnants of a Tibet submerged by Han Chinese culture.

Chinese scholars have argued that control over Tawang is essential for China “to win the hearts of the Tibetans”.

China’s assertion of its claims over Arunachal has grown in recent years. Indian diplomats say that the Chinese are intransigent on Tawang. In November 2006, Beijing’s ambassador to India, Sun Yuxi told an Indian television station “the whole of the state of Arunachal Pradesh is Chinese territory”. A few months later, China refused to issue an Indian civil servant from Arunachal a visa on the grounds that he was from Chinese territory and hence didn’t require a visa. Visits by Indian political leaders to Arunachal have ruffled feathers in Beijing.

Recently, China sought to block an Indian application for a US$2.9 billion loan from the Asian Development Bank (ADB), which included funding for a $60 million water management project in Arunachal. China’s objection to the loan was that it was for projects in “disputed territory”. When the ADB subsequently approved the loan to India, the Chinese foreign office expressed its “strong dissatisfaction to the move”.

Indian officials say that there has been a four-fold increase in Chinese intrusions into Indian territory over the past year, most of them along the border in Arunachal.

A year ago, India acted to improve its defenses in the western sector of the Sino-Indian border. It reopened airfields in Daulat Beg Oldi and Fukche in Ladakh in Jammu and Kashmir, a stone’s throw from Aksai Chin. Phunchok Stobdan, senior fellow at the Institute for Defense Studies and Analyses in New Delhi, had described the reopening of the airfields near Aksai Chin as a response to the “dozens of provocations from China”. India “is preparing for contingency”, he told Asia Times Online.

The enhanced military deployment in the eastern sector is part of that preparation.

Besides the deployment of more troops and combat aircraft near at the border in Arunachal, India is developing the IAF base at Tezpur, which is just 150 kilometers from the border, into a major hub for Sukhoi aircraft. The IAF also proposes to station more Sukhois in the nearby Chabua air force base. And plans are afoot to upgrade infrastructure at five air force bases in the eastern part of the country including Tezpur, Chabua and Jorhat in Assam, Panagarh in West Bengal and Purnea in Bihar.

China’s plans to extend the Golmud-Lhasa rail up to Yatung, a trading center near Nathu La, a mountain pass that connects Tibet with Sikkim, and to Nyingchi, a trading town north of Arunachal at the tri-junction with Myanmar. Indian analysts warn that in a few years China will be able to deploy troops by the trainload right up to the Indian border at Sikkim and Arunachal – two Indian states into which Chinese intrusions are frequent.

India’s road and rail building activity in these areas has been sluggish.

Consider this. Sikkim has only one road linking its capital Gangtok to Nathu La and one landslide-prone road, just five meters wide, joining the state with the rest of India. Sikkim’s road density is 28.45 kilometers per 100 square kilometers against the national average of 84 kilometers. Arunachal Pradesh is even worse off, with a road density of just 18.65 kilometers per 100 square kilometers. No trains run to the border-states of Sikkim, Tripura, Meghalaya, Mizoram and Arunachal Pradesh. While Chinese military personnel can drive down to the Sino-Indian border and will be able to take trains too in a few years, Indian soldiers often trek 10-15kms to get there.

This paucity of roads in border areas is being addressed now. In 2006, the government gave the green signal for a host of road and other infrastructure projects in border areas. It recently announced an investment of US$3 billion in road construction in border areas.

According to reports, upgrading advance landing grounds and airfields and construction of border roads, which was hitherto undertaken solely by engineers attached to the IAF or the Border Roads Organization, a unit of the armed forces, is now being opened up to the private sector as well. The aim is to speed up implementation of various infrastructure projects along a sensitive border.

For decades, India, badly bruised from its defeat at the hands of China, opted to back down in the face of Chinese intimidation. That is now changing. It is this newly assertive Indian posture that is bothering China.

Indian analysts believe that neither of the two countries wants to go to war. But they are not ruling out the possibility of China carrying out a limited military operation in the eastern sector of Arunachal, one that will deal a short and stunning blow, depriving Beijing of Tawang and leaving it with a bloody nose.

It is to be prepared now that India is building its military muscle in Arunachal.

(source-Voice of Sikkim)

STEPS TO FOLLOW WHILE FILING INCOME TAX RETURN

A charter of honesty

by Babar Zaidi
June 26, 2009



Taxing times, file today, easy ways to file, 10 tips, 20 steps…. It’s that time of the year when magazines, pink papers and papers of all other hues join in the chorus, telling you that paying taxes and filing your income tax return is not to be feared. In the same breath, they also inform you about tax notices and penalties for making errors while filing. On the whole, the media seems to be conspiring with the tax authorities to give you, the honest taxpayer, a severe case of performance anxiety.

Actually, there’s no need for this. All it takes is a little planning, a lot of paperwork, and a couple of undisturbed hours. And you’ll get by—with a little help from friends like us. Because, while we are going to inform you about e-filing, carrying forward losses and little-known deductions, we shall also tell you that if you stop after reading the following eight commandments, you shall still do well. We are calling them commandments because we feel that these ought to be etched in stone. You can call them canons or guiding principles, if you like. The result is the same: this set of rules will help make tax time go by like any other day of the week, and will certainly keep those dreaded notices at bay.

I. Thou shall file the return if your income exceeds the exemption limit.

It’s quite simple: if your income crosses the basic exemption limit (MT Basics, page 33), you have to file your tax return. Yes, you have to file even if you’ve invested so cleverly as to bring your taxable amount to nil. And yes, you need to file even if tax has been deducted at source.

Thus far, it’s easy. If you have not filed a return for the past few years because you assumed that tax deducted at source or nil tax liability meant a free pass, we’ve got bad news for you. The mills of the Income Tax Department grind slow, but they grind on inexorably. You might have realised now that you need to start filing from this year, but a year down the line, you could get a notice for the return you did not file last year. Or the year before that.

The good news is that the IT Department is not a heartless robot. According to its Website: “It is never too late to start honouring your constitutional obligations for payment of tax.” You can file a return before the expiry of two years from the end of the financial year in which the income was earned. So, for the financial year 2007-8, the belated return can be filed before 31 March 2010.

Implications: Not filing return can result in a notice. If all taxes are paid, you can file up to the end of the assessment year (31 March 2010) without any penal action. After that, a penalty of up to Rs 5,000 can be imposed.

II. Thou shall use the correct tax form for filing your return.

So you know you have to file, and have decided to go it alone. After all, year after year, the finance minister stands up and says the filing process has been simplified. Then you find out that there are eight forms to choose from—and no easy way of figuring out which one you need to fill and submit.

Actually, the confusion doesn’t have so much to do with the forms; it has to do with us not knowing what constitutes income. There’s a separate form for income from salary, pension and interest. And a different one if your income is from dividends, capital gains, rents and royalty. Another point to keep in mind is that the forms are issued every year, with the assessment year printed on them.

So, if you’re filing for this year, don’t make the mistake of using a form downloaded last year. This might be a good time to clear up another point: the assessment year (2009-10) is the year in which you file return for the income earned in the previous financial year (2008-9).

Implications: The returns filed using an incorrect form could lead to a tax notice. You may then be required to file a revised return.

III. Thou shall not quote a wrong PAN in your form.

When there’s a lot of money at stake, many of us tend to freeze up. Filling tax forms does involve a lot of money—on paper at least. But the Income Tax Department is not going to be sympathetic if you say you were too nervous to write your PAN correctly. Here’s the kicker: if you managed to get the PAN right on the form, but carelessly gave your office a wrong number, the tax deducted at source (TDS) from your salary will be credited to that account, not yours. Under the knowyour-customer (KYC) norms for banks, mutual funds, credit card companies, telecom service providers and other entities, you have to quote your PAN.

For those who can remember the 10 alpha-numeric characters, a little tip: the fifth character is the first letter of your surname. For the rest of us, the only way out is to keep a photocopy of the PAN card and refer to it. Some people keep a scanned copy of the PAN card on their computers. Good idea, but remember to passwordprotect the folder. And don’t, under any circumstance, save the number on your mobile phone.

Implications: Quoting an incorrect PAN in the tax return form can invite a fine of up to Rs 10,000.

IV. Thou shall include bank and FD interest in your income.

You have calculated all your dividends, rent, salary income and have come up with the grand total. But before you start inking in those numbers, ask yourself if you included the interest earned on the balance in your bank account? “Given that in India a lot of household wealth stays in banks, this is a common mistake,” says Kartik Varma, co-founder of iTrust Financial Advisors.

Some taxpayers even believe that the income from tax-saving options such as NSCs and five-year fixed deposits is exempt from tax. Many don’t know that they need to club the income of their minor children, including the interest earned on bank accounts, with their own. Others harbour the misconception that the income will be taxed when they receive it on maturity of a bond or security. Tax laws say that income is to be taxed on an accrual basis. The income earned every year by a five-year FD will be taxed in the relevant year and not at one go on maturity.

Implications: Not reporting a taxable income amounts to tax evasion. The fine for this can be 100-300% of the unpaid amount.

V. Thou shall not ignore income from previous job.

Till recently, changing jobs had been commonplace. No doubt, it’s a good thing, but while it might improve your career and bank balance, it’s bad news when it comes to filing your income tax return. This is because most of us who change jobs during the year report income only from the current job and don’t take into account the income received from the previous employer. This amounts to taking a double tax exemption and could result in underpayment of tax.

This is because the new employer will deduct taxes on the assumption that this is your only income in the year. If you changed jobs during the previous financial year, include income from both employers while calculating your tax liability. The deadline for paying taxes for any financial year is 31 March. If any tax is due for the previous year, you have to pay it along with a 1% penal interest for every month of delay after March 2009. The good news is that you can avoid this by informing the new employers about your income from the previous job and getting them to factor it in (and the tax deducted at source) with your income tax liability for the year.

Implications: Not reporting the income is tax evasion and can lead to stiff penalties. Remember, ignorance of the law cannot be an excuse.

VI. Thou shall pay advance tax as per schedule.

This is not a serious issue—but could end up costing you. Assume you’ve been investing and making decent profits. Are you paying taxes on it? An individual has to pay tax as and when he earns income.

If you made a short-term capital gain of Rs 20,000 from shares in the first quarter of the financial year, you need to pay an advance tax of Rs 3,000 (15% of the profit) by 15 September of that year. Yet, many taxpayers miss the first two advance tax dates (15 September and 15 December) and pay the entire tax in the last instalment, which is due on 15 March.

Consequently, they don’t pay the interest due on the delayed payments.“Late payment of advance tax lays the taxpayer’s return open to scrutiny. Once you get a notice, you may be asked tens of other questions,” cautions Surya Bhatia, chartered accountant and partner, Asset Managers.

Implications: Like we said, this is not a huge issue. But it’s best to stick to the advance tax schedule to avoid an inquiry and subsequent scrutiny by the Income Tax Department.

VII. Thou shall mention high-value transactions in the AIR.

The annual information return or the AIR is generally considered an optional entry if the rest of the form is filled in correctly. After all, it’s just details of investments and expenses—much of which might have been covered in the form. But here’s what actually happens. The banks, credit card companies and the like file their AIRs with details of all the transactions. The tax department compares your AIR with that of the financial entity. If you have left out transactions, it’s a flag for the department to scrutinise your return.

But there are over 3 crore returns filed every year. Your paper is literally a drop in the ocean. Allow us to puncture that happy bubble. The tax department uses a computer-aided scrutiny selection (CASS) procedure that picks up cases which show a likelihood of tax evasion. “AIR information is one of the inputs in the CASS and, therefore, non-disclosure of an AIR transaction in the income-tax return would definitely put a taxpayer at the risk of his case being selected for scrutiny,” says Shishir Jha, commissioner of income tax and CBDT spokesperson. This could be the thin edge of the wedge for a taxpayer. It’s best to play safe and fill the AIR correctly.

Implications: The taxman gets AIR details from other sources. A notice is sent if there’s a mismatch.

VIII. Thou shall pay tax with interest for previous unfiled years.

This is for the Rip Van Winkles among us who have not filed returns for several years. There is precious little you can do for returns more than two years old because you cannot file them now. The tax laws allow you to file delayed returns which are up to two years old.

What you should do is pay the tax dues of the previous years along with a penal interest of 1% for every month of delay. And then hope for the best. That’s because even though you might have filed your return, you can still be penalised for late filing if the assessing officer is not convinced about the reasons for the delay. The silver lining is that he is likely to show leniency if you have voluntarily filed your return, albeit several months after it was due.

“If you have paid your taxes then you are better placed vis-a-vis not filing returns and not paying tax. If you get a notice for non-filing, you can at least show that there is no tax due,” says Bhatia.

Implications: You can be fined Rs 5,000 for not filing your return by the due date. If there are unpaid taxes, the penalty is 100-300% of the tax due.

CHINA MAY ATTACK INDIA BEFORE 2012- INDIAN DEFENCE REVIEW

New Delhi 12 July 2009

The Communists are losing their grip over China. The Chinese government is facing unprecedented internal dissent, growing unemployment and financial problems.

And to divert people's mind from these problems, China will launch an attack on India by 2012.

This assessment has been made by Bharat Verma- Defence analyst and editor of the Indian Defence Review.

Verma explains that such an attack will serve multiple objectives. He said, "China will launch an attack on India before 2012."

There are multiple reasons for a desperate Beijing to teach India the final lesson, thereby ensuring Chinese supremacy in Asia in this century.

Also, establishing their supremacy in the region has become crucial for China because of "The growing irrelevance of Pakistan, China's right hand that operates against India on their behest"

Verma goes on to say that, "Above all, China is worried over the growing alliance of India with the US and the West, because the alliance has the potential to create a technologically superior counterpoise. All these concerns of Chinese Communists are best addressed by waging a war against pacifist India to achieve multiple strategic objectives."

(source:India Today website)

ABOUT SIKKIM

Present Sikkim At A Glance
By: B.A. Sharma


Sikkim is in the first of 7,096 sq.kms. and geographical length of 27.28 latitude North and the 88.89 degree East longitude with a population of 6,00,000 approximate. 114 kms away from Siliguri and 125 kms from New Jalpaiguri Railway Station. The road for Sikkim is connected with Darjeeling District of West Bengal. There is a direct air service from Bagdogra (which is 124 kms from Gangtok) to Gangtok. As usual passport for foreigner are necessary for further inner line permit (ILP) validating upto 15 days which sometimes extends as per situation or the mission of the visitors depends upon.
Activities like trekking and rafting are accepted subject to team exercise, not less than two in a group. Accordingly, the written information were found about the biodiversity of flora and fauna from tropical to alpine. There were 407 varieties of orchids and the 690 types of butterflies are found in the state. The medicinal plants are available in the state like Cymbidiums, Catteleya, Dendrobium are poplar orchids, Monal pheasant, Marmots, Red Panda, Snow Leopard, Blue Sheep are well known fauna of Sikkim.
Sikkim is richest tourism storage in the country. The tourism avenue in Sikkim has bonafide stature in the country. The development and speedy fetch ups ontoward constructive wills of the administrator and the premier of the state Shir Pawan Chamleng has scored the peak high.
It is true indeed, thee hidden gems of Sikkim have been properly bushed with good administration in the state. It is also true that the western States like J&K, Himachal Pradesh, Rajasthan, Uttarakhand have the treasure of tourism since inception of the term tourism entered into thee nation. Above all the southern and south western states like Goa, Karnataka, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, and Andhra Pradesh have own pride of tourism, though since time immemorial. However, the fastest growing Sikkim has been developing on eye witnessing of the present generation, is example good governance and the correct plotting of the plans and appropriate allocation of funds, which is commendable on the part of legislation.
Sikkim is consists of 4 districts as: East i.e. Gangtok; west i.e Gyalshing; North i.e Mangan; and south i.e Namchi as their district head- quarter. Gangtok is the State Capital where the secretariat of the State Assembly, the Governor’s House, the Old Raj Darbar (Palace of the Chowgyal) are situated. There were numerous tourist attracted places are situated in the East district as:
i) Enchy Monastry- 200 years old monastery
ii) Rumtek Monastry
iii) Flower complex
iv) Gangtok Ropeway (Nam- Nang)
v) Smile land: Fund & feast in water
vi) Water Garden
vii) Bunjhakhri Falls
viii) Ganesh Tok
ix) Hanuman Tok
x) Zoological Park
xi) Tsomgo Lake
xii) Bab Harbhajan Singh Memorial Temple
xiii) Prachin Saraswati Temple
It is to say that from the oldest monastery to the religious touch, to the biodiversity culture to the highest artificially manoeuvring phenomena of the state head- quarter exhibits development. Along with the spottic development for tourism and the economy innumerable competitive hotels and lodges are also similarly developed in the private sectors and ITDC managed. Among the 200 hotels and lodges and the restaurant in the capital M/S Anola, M/S Bayul of MG Marg; M/S Himalayan Height in P.S Road; M/S Hotel Norkhil, Palzor Stadium Road; M/S Orange Village Resort, Seven mile, Samdur; M/S Park Residency, 31- A N.H. Gangtok; M/S Rendezvous, Gangtok; M/S Royal Plaza Hotel, Siyari; M/S Sonam Belek, Tibet Road and M/S Tashi Delek etc. can be taken into account.
The hospitals, schools, collages, Universities, police stations, power houses, fire stations, clubs, post office are all miscellany. There were registered travel agents which gives more convenient to the visitors into the state.
The North District has impacted development as other districts had been developed, North District is not less than attractive in tourism. It has tourist spots like: Kabi Lungchok, Seven Sister Waterfalls, Sirijunga Yuma Mangeem, Ramlungten Lee, Singhik, Chungthang, Lachung, Yumthang, Lachen, Thangu, Gurudangmar lak etc.
South Sikkim has been developed speedily, far than usual routine plan. The attractive places in the south Sikkim can be taken as:
Sandruptse Rock Garden, Namchi, Rabong, Bon Monastery, Bakhim, Tendong Hill, Temi Tea Garden, Maenam Hill, Borong, Sikip, Phur Tsa Chu, Flower Festival at Namchi, Manilakhang, Rabong.
The above all particulars are the places where man goes but no minds returned, though physique returned.
The West Sikkim has own beauty in slim hills with the following attractive spots:
Pemayamtse Monastry, Pelling, Darap, Rapdentse, Sangacholing Monastery, Khecheopalri Lake, Khang- Chen- Dzonga Waterfalls, Yuksam, Dubdi Monastery, Phamrong Waterfalls, Rangit Waterfalls, Leg Ship (Shivmandir), Tashiding, Kongri, Labdang, Soreng, Chaakung, Limboo Cultural Centre, Jureli Danra, Varsey, Ringchenpong, Hee Bormik, Singshore Bridge.
Among the above places Rabdantse can be taken very important that this place was second capital of the erstwhile kingdom of Sikkim during 1814 AD, which is now found to be ruined place, visible from Pemayamtse road walk. Also Pelling situated on the spur span of Koktang mountain at the height of 6800 ft. due to the fact all western tracked ranges visible from Pelling.
Another hidden treasure of Sikkim in the west is Khecheopalri Lake, which is just 25 kms.from Pelling. There is a faith of both Hindu and Buddhist that, it is an eye ball of the Almighty, where, on the eye ball no dust fall is allowable by nature. For the fact of the manner, the forest surrounded lake water does not allow a leaf of the plants falling on the water, meant for eye of the almighty with the act of lifting by the birds as angels behind Almighty. Even a leaf floats on the water, the birds will immediately lift it out; thus kept the water away from floating anything.
Thus, Sikkim as a whole has no boredom in any pocket or hamlets. On the other hand so much of hotels and restaurants available in Sikkim also giving relief of the visitors by rewinding energy when fatigue been trounced on the trek.
Economy And Development:
Development termed economization of the state. Developing means economically sound in the state. Uprising exposition of development showing very good co- ordination in between politics, economics, business, education, health preservation of nature and good administration. Overall economy (per-capita income) is better than other Norht- East states.
Funding:
Very truly but appropriate budget of the state is a accepted by the Union Government; as its terrain has tremendous speech on every curve of the jetting spurs on the forelore tales. As much as budget provision forwarded to the Union Government the state feel deprived of. Because so much avenue of expenditure can not make up by the budget, since the administration is properly utilizing the funds. So far Sikkim is concerned to funds as per development of the state, the administration is properly looking into the figures of the provision and the implementations.
Festivals In Sikkim:
Festivals are also not behind development of the state. The festivals, the place of festival and festivals belongs to which community are as under:
1. Maghe Sankranti- function organized at Jorethang on the 1st day of the Magh ie. 13-15 of January as per the Gregorian Calendar.
2. Nyempa Guzom- January.
3. Sonam Lochar- February, Bhutia.
4. Guthar Chaam at Rumtek Monastery; 2 days prior to Tibet New Year during February- March.
5. Bhumchu Tashiding- February/ March.
6. Flower Festival- Gangtok, Round the year but March- May and October- November for Orchid Lovers.
7. Sanga Dawa- May June.
8. Dasain (Durga Puja of Nepali) - October.
9. Tyohar (Diwali) Nepali.
10. Losoong- December etc.
Thus, Sikkim is No. 1 state in the North- East.

BUDGET 2009

Tax Windfall Unveiled by Budget 2009

Jul 6, 2009


As the FM had the cushion created by the extremely robust gross domestic product (GDP) growth of 8.7 per cent, the chances of unveiling a landmark Budget increased tremendously. The delivery was suitably attractive.

Last year Finance Minister P. Chidambaram put a lot of money in the pockets of taxpayers, simply by lowering taxes. The amounts were nothing to sneeze at, aside from the big farm loan waiver and the various outlays on the social sector.

What the FM had given was a saving of Rs 4,000 per taxpayer. The threshold on which income tax is levied was increased from Rs 1.1 lakh to Rs 1.5 lakh (you don't pay any tax on this amount of your income). This was for men, for women the exemption limit was Rs 1.45 lakh and this has been increased to Rs 1.8 lakh. Those for senior citizens, above the age of 65, both men and women, the benefits were the best – being raised to Rs 2.25 lakh from Rs 1.95 lakh earlier.

Tax slabs too were raised to Rs 5 lakh from Rs 2.5 lakh. Which means, if a person earns over Rs 5 lakh per year, then he will be put in the highest tax slab of 30 per cent, Earlier this was applied to those earning over Rs 2.5 lakh -- a person with an income of Rs 4 lakh saved Rs 35,000.

Stock exchange traders and those who indulge in trading on a regular basis, however, had reason to worry as they were taxed more. The rate of short-term capital gains tax was increased to 15 per cent from 10 per cent. Commodity traders were also brought under the Securities Transaction Tax (STT) at the rate of 0.125 per cent. What the government takes with its left, sometimes it gives back a little with its right.

The banking cash transaction tax (BCCT) was scrapped, applicable from the next financial year. An administrative procedure was streamlined that made the carrying out of all financial transactions possible only on the submission of a permanent account number (PAN) card.

The Budget also looked to make the life of the common citizen of the country a little easier by promising to control inflation, ease supply side constraints, provide a better functioning infrastructure that includes power, roads, healthcare and potable water.

Here are the highlights of the General Budget for the fiscal 2008-09 unveiled by then Union Finance Minister P Chidambaram:

•Personal income tax exemption limit hiked from Rs 1.1 lakh to Rs 1.5 lakh
•Personal income tax exemption for women increased from Rs 1.45 lakh to Rs 1.8 lakh
•Senior citizens, both men and women, had their threshold tax limit increased from Rs 1,95,000 to Rs 2,25,000
•The new applicable tax slabs are: 10% for 1,50,000 to 3,00,000, 20% for 3,00,000 to 5,00,000 and 30% above 5,00,000
•Securities market to recognize PAN as the sole identification
•Excise duty reduced two-, three-wheelers
•Hybrid cars excise duty cut from 24% to 14%
•No excise duty on anti-Aids drugs
•Small cars excise duty cut to 12% from 16%
•Duty on life saving drugs cut
•Cheaper set-top boxes
•Excise duty on refrigerating equipments waived
•Defence allocation hiked from Rs 96,000 cr to Rs 1,05,600 cr, up by 10%
•Debt waiver scheme and relief to small and marginal farmers
•Sixth Pay Commission to submit report by March 2008
•Upgradation of 300 ITIs to be done at cost of Rs 750 crore
•Central sales tax cut to 2% from 3%
•Banking transaction tax withdrawn
•Peak customs duty left unchaged
•Indirect taxation’s revenue implication to be 5900 cr
•Levy on STT to be confined to option premiums
•Surcharge on corporate tax left unchanged
•Commodities transaction tax unveiled
•Changes made in direct taxation to be revenue neutral
•Tax on short term capital gains at 15%
•Service tax to apply to money changers and tour operators
•Planned expenditure estimates at Rs 2,43,086 cr and non-planned at Rs 57,409 cr
•Tax to GDP ratio up at 12.5% in 2007-08 from 9.2% in 2004
•Revenue Deficit put at 1% of GDP (Rs 55,184 cr) and fiscal deficit at 3.1% of GDP (Rs 1,33,287 cr)
•Steel customs duty removed
•Agri loans waived (by rural banks, RRBs and cooperative banks) -- Rs 50,000 cr under the waiver and Rs 10,000 cr under one time settlement plan
•Vitamin pre-mixes customs duty lowered to 20% from 30%
•Rs 12966 cr set aside for National Highway development programme
•National Housing Bank given Rs 1,200 cr for refinancing purpose
•Commercial banks must add 250 rural household accounts every year
•Power reforms outlay at Rs 8000 cr: states encouraged to start 5 ultra mega power projects
•Insurance scheme to cover 17 lakh farmers and weavers; outlay at Rs 340 cr
•Transmission and distribution reforms for power sector gets national fund
•NHDP allocation jumps to Rs 12,966 cr
•FII inflow put at over $18 billion; Apr-Dec FDI at $12.7 billion
•Irrigation & Water Resource Finance Corp set up
•Micro irrigation scheme to cover 4,00,000 more hectares, allocated Rs 500 cr
•Rural health services improvement allocated Rs 12050 cr
•Schedule Commercial Banks farm credit at 75%
•Women & child development allocation hiked by 24%
•15% hike on healthcare allocation
•One IIScR each and 2 colleges of art for Bhopal and Tripura
•Stress to be laid on controlling inflation
•Bihar, AP, and Rajasthan to get 3 IITs
•Supply side constraints to be ironed out on food and markets
•Agri credit target for 2008-09 pegged at Rs 2,80,000 cr
•Outlay on schemes for women set at Rs 1,460 cr
•Share in total investment of agriculture rises to 16% during the 11th Plan, from 10.2% in 2003-04
•Outlay on child related schemes pegged at Rs 33,434 cr
•Rajiv Gandhi felicitation programme allocated Rs 75 cr for 2008-09
•Outlay on Rajiv Gandhi drinking water mission at Rs 7,300 cr
•SC/STs schemes get Rs 3,966 cr
•8% growth rate chalked up by India in over 12 successive quarters till December 2007
•Total agricultural production at all time high at 219.32 mn tones -- average annual growth at just 2.6%
•Outlay on providing potable water system, in areas of scarcity, in each school at Rs 200 cr; Outlay on sanitation at Rs1,200 cr
•NREGS to be expanded into 596 rural districts -- outlay at Rs 16,000 cr
•16 additional central universities to be unveiled
•6,000 model high schools to be set up
•Angan Bari workers’ pay increased to Rs 1,500 per month
•Polio and AIDS allocation hiked
•Gross Budgetary support hiked by Rs 38,286 cr to Rs 2,43,386 cr
•Agriculture credit estimated at 2,40,000 cr
•Allocation on Bharat Nirman hiked to Rs 31,280 cr from Rs 24,603 cr
•Food grain self-sufficiency underlined as focus area

Source:valueresearch

ALSTOM AWARDED 265 CRORES LANCO PROJECT IN SIKKIM

Rs. 265 crores Teesta VI hydro project for APIL




GANGTOK:12.jULY 2009

Alstom Projects India Ltd (APIL) yesterday announced that it has been awarded the Rs. 265 crores project of Lanco Infratech Ltd for installation of a new power plant on Teesta River in Sikkim.

The electricity output of this new 500 MW plant will be connected to the country’s power grid, informs a press release.

Within the scope of this contract, Alstom Hydro will supply 4 x 125 MW Francis turbines and generators, as well as the main inlet valves and control and protection systems. The contract also includes design, engineering, erection, testing and commissioning.

The order will be fully executed by Alstom’s hydro facility in Vadodara, India, with the project scheduled for completion by 2013.

“We are extremely proud to have received this prestigious order; which will help to meet the growing power demand in the country. India is an important market both in terms of local demand and as a manufacturing base for our global needs. This order consolidates Alstom’s leadership position in India’s Hydro sector; as we display our prowess of executing the full project locally”, said Emmanuel Colombier, Managing Director & Vice Chairman, APIL.

Among the hydropower plants Alstom is currently installing in India are Lower Jurala (6 x 40 MW Bulb & generators), Chamera (3 x 77 MW Francis and generators), Uri-II (4 x 60 MW Francis), Chuzachen (2 x 55 MW Francis) and Subansiri (8 x 250 MW Francis and generators).
It may be added here that APIL is a majority owned subsidiary company of Alstom SA France – the global leader in power generation and rail infrastructure.

In India since 1910, Alstom is one of the oldest companies in the country employing close to 4000 people with a software technology facility at Bengaluru, four manufacturing units (for Hydro in Vadodara, Boilers in Durgapur and Shahabad and for transport at Coimbatore).

Alstom in India offers a composite range of equipment and services related to power generation for utilities and industrial users, transportation systems covering traction, signalling and train control for the railways and energy management for a variety of industries. ALSTOM Projects India Ltd. has a turnover of Rs 2290 crore and is listed at BSE and NSE with one third of its shares held by the public.

5 LACS TOURISTS TARGET FOR 2009 IN SIKKIM

2.81 lakh tourists visit Sikkim in five months in 2009

Gangtok (PTI)12.July 2009: In spite of economic slowdown and limited infrastructure in the hospitality sector, around 2.80 lakh tourists visited Sikkim in the first five months of this year, according to figures released by the tourism officials.

A staggering 35 per cent growth has been recorded in the arrival of domestic tourists between January and May this year at 2.73 lakh as against the corresponding tally of two lakh last year, but at the same time the number of foreign tourists dipped by nearly ten per cent at 7812 in this duration as against 8690 last year.

Most of the domestic tourists came from various destinations in West Bengal even as a large number of people from the southern and western states too visited the state to enjoy the cool climate and pristine natural places like Nathu La this summer, the tourism officials said.

On the dip in the foreign tourists' numbers this year, the official attributed it to the ongoing economic downturn as well as the perceptions against the terrorism and other insurgencies in various parts of the country, they said.

However, the post-monsoon months may witness a surge in the number of visitors to the border state as has been the case in the past years to enable us to achieve the target of five lakh tourists, the officials said.

It may be mentioned that the Himalayan State has declared the year 2010 as the Year of Tourism and lined up as many as 13 festivals to woo the visitors in its thrust to develop the tourism industry as its main source of revenue and employment in the long term.

SIKKIM: New steel bridge for Lanco project


GANGTOK, July 07: A spanking new 135 metres steel bridge of Lanco power project over the Teesta River at Tarkhola was thrown open for traffic today by SK Mittal, CEO of Lanco Energy ltd.

The new bridge connects the power house site and tunnel site of Lanco Energy Ltd which is developing a 500 MW hydel power project in the area.

Earlier, the existing Bailey bridge had been washed away by a rampaging Teesta on May 27. The River had also washed away the materials of the bridge.

Since the washing away of the bridge, works had begun for a new strong bridge in the site by local contractor MP Agarwal of Namchi. The new 135 metres steel bridge has been constructed in record time

tourism growth in south sikkim

Rs. 6664.67 lakhs pumped to inject tourism growth in South Sikkim Poor progress for Rs. 2,249 lakhs Samdrupste ropeway project

FROM SIKKIM EXPRESS

GANGTOK, July 07: An astronomical amount of Rs. 6664.67 lakhs has been invested in 28 tourism related infrastructure projects in South Sikkim by the State tourism department since 2005, an official document points out reflecting the State government’s determination to decongest the cogging tourism traffic of East and North districts to other hitherto unexplored areas of the Himalayan State.

Out of these 28 projects, 18 projects are centrally sponsored schemes while the rest are funded either jointly by State and Centre or by State plan only.

Works for five projects are already completed. These are Indian Centre for Adventure & Eco-tourism constructed at the cost of Rs. 541.15 lakhs at Chemchey, footpath at Namthang, Guru Rinpoche Stupa at Rangrang, renovation of TIC at Jorethang and Melli.

However, the ambitious project constructing a ropeway from PWD bungalow to Samdruptse via rock garden in Namchi is not progressing smoothly. The project is worth Rs. 2,249 lakhs which is funded jointly by the Centre and State government. Works had commenced from November, 2006 and has a poor progress. The project was scheduled to be completed on June this year but has completed only 15 percent.

Tender notices for four projects have also been issued. These projects are construction of Yatri-Niwas at Assangthang in South Sikkim (Rs. 383.12 lakhs), construction of tourist infrastructure at Temi-Tarku (Rs. 303.06 lakhs), construction of tourist infrastructure at Damthang (Rs. 366.43 lakhs), construction of tourist infrastructure at Tiffindara and children park at Namchi (Rs. 295.53 lakhs).

Files have also been processed for four centrally sponsored schemes in the South district. The proposed projects are development of village tourism at Rong, Mainram Bhangjang Jaubari and tourist infrastructure at Jorethang.

Finishing works are also going on for construction of Phase II of Indian Centre for Adventure and Eco-Tourism at Chemchey (Rs. 369.27 lakhs) and Lepcha Heritage Centre at Yangyang.
Among the mega projects, an amount of Rs. 437.44 lakhs has been allocated for development of flower show pavilion at Namchi. A sum of Rs. 437.44 lakhs has also been allocated for construction of a car park at Samdruptse. Forest clearance is also under progress under for Rs. 206.63 lakhs worth tourism infrastructure at Tendong.

The other projects which are on the verge of completion though well past their schedule date of completion are a wayside amenity at Damthang, fencing for flower pavilion complex at Namchi, construction of a trekking trail from Chemchey to Jorpokari and a trekking trail from Dhappar to Bhalleydunga.

The completion of the above slew of tourism projects for South Sikkim is targeted to achieve a State round tourism image of Sikkim besides decongesting the tourism traffic in Sikkim which is predominantly revolves in East and North districts.

ROLE OF WESTERN VALUES IN CONTEMPORARY INDIAN SOCIETY-BY NARAYANA MURTHY

A talk delivered at the Lal Bahadur Shastri Institute of Management on October 02, 2002 by N. R. Narayana Murthy, Chairman of the Board, Infosys Technologies Limited, Bangalore, India
———————————————-

Ladies and gentlemen,

It is a pleasure to be here at the Lal Bahadur Shastri Institute of Management. Lal Bahadur Shastri was a man of strong values and he epitomized simple living. He was a freedom fighter and innovative administrator who contributed to nation building in full measure. It is indeed a matter of pride for me to be chosen for the Lal Bahadur Shastri Award for Public Administration and Management Sciences. I thank the jury for this honor.

When I got the invitation to speak here, I decided to speak on an important topic on which I have pondered for years – the role of Western values in contemporary Indian society. Coming from a company that is built on strong values, the topic is close to my heart. Moreover, an organization is representative of society, and some of the lessons that I have learnt are applicable in the national context. In fact, values drive progress and define quality of life in society.

The word community joins two Latin words com (”together” or “with”) and unus (”one”). A community, then, is both one and many. It is a unified multitude and not a mere group of people. As it is said in the Vedas: Man can live individually, but can survive only collectively. Hence, the challenge is to form a progressive community by balancing the interests of the individual and that of the society. To meet this, we need to develop a value system where people accept modest sacrifices for the common good.

What is a value system? It is the protocol for behavior that enhances the trust, confidence and commitment of members of the community. It goes beyond the domain of legality – it is about decent and desirable behavior. Further, it includes putting the community interests ahead of your own. Thus, our collective survival and progress is predicated on sound values. There are two pillars of the cultural value system – loyalty to family and loyalty to community. One should not be in isolation to the other, because, successful societies are those which combine both harmoniously. It is in this context that I will discuss the role of Western values in contemporary Indian society.

Some of you here might say that most of what I am going to discuss are actually Indian values in old ages, and not Western values. I live in the present, not in the bygone era. Therefore, I have seen these values practiced primarily in the West and not in India. Hence, the title of the topic. I am happy as long as we practice these values – whether we call it Western or old Indian values.

As an Indian, I am proud to be part of a culture, which has deep-rooted family values. We have tremendous loyalty to the family. For instance, parents make enormous sacrifices for their children. They support them until they can stand on their own feet. On the other side, children consider it their duty to take care of aged parents. We believe: Mathru devo bhava – mother is God, and pithru devo bhava – father is God. Further, brothers and sisters sacrifice for each other. In fact, the eldest brother or sister is respected by all the other siblings. As for marriage, it is held to be a sacred union – husband and wife are bonded, most often, for life. In joint families, the entire family works towards the welfare of the family. There is so much love and affection in our family life. This is the essence of Indian values and one of our key strengths. Our families act as a critical support mechanism for us. In fact, the credit to the success of Infosys goes, as much to the founders as to their families, for supporting them through the tough times. Unfortunately, our attitude towards family life is not reflected in our attitude towards community behavior. From littering the streets to corruption to breaking of contractual obligations, we are apathetic to the common good. In the West – the US, Canada, Europe, Australia, New Zealand – individuals understand that they have to be responsible towards their community. The primary difference between the West and us is that, there, people have a much better societal orientation. They care more for the society than we do. Further, they generally sacrifice more for the society than us. Quality of life is enhanced because of this. This is where we need to learn from the West.

I will talk about some of the lessons that we, Indians, can learn from the West.

In the West, there is respect for the public good. For instance, parks free of litter, clean streets, public toilets free of graffiti – all these are instances of care for the public good. On the contrary, in India, we keep our houses clean and water our gardens everyday – but, when we go to a park, we do
not think twice before littering the place.

Corruption, as we see in India, is another example of putting the interest of oneself, and at best that of one’s family, above that of the society. Society is relatively corruption free in the West. For instance, it is very difficult to bribe a police officer into avoiding a speeding ticket. This is because of the individual’s responsible behavior towards the community as a whole. On the contrary, in India, corruption, tax evasion, cheating and bribery have eaten into our vitals. For instance, contractors bribe officials, and construct low-quality roads and bridges. The result is that society loses in the form of substandard defence equipment and infrastructure, and low-quality recruitment, just to name a few impediments. Unfortunately, this behavior is condoned by almost everyone.

Apathy in solving community matters has held us back from making progress, which is otherwise within our reach. We see serious problems around us but do not try to solve them. We behave as if the problems do not exist or is somebody else’s. On the other hand, in the West, people
solve societal problems proactively.

There are several examples of our apathetic attitude. For instance, all of us are aware of the problem of drought in India. More than 40 years ago, Dr. K. L. Rao – an irrigation expert, suggested creation of a water grid connecting all the rivers in North and South India, to solve this problem. Unfortunately, nothing has been done about this. The story of power shortage in Bangalore is another instance. In 1983, it was decided to build a thermal power plant to meet Bangalore’s power requirements. Unfortunately, we have still not started it. Further, the Milan subway in Bombay is in a deplorable state for the last 40 years, and no action has been taken. To quote another example, considering the constant travel required in the software industry; five years ago, I had suggested a 240-page passport.
This would eliminate frequent visits to the passport office. In fact, we are ready to pay for it. However, I am yet to hear from the Ministry of External Affairs on this. We, Indians, would do well to remember Thomas Hunter’s words: Idleness travels very slowly, and poverty soon overtakes it.

What could be the reason for all this? We were ruled by foreigners for over thousand years. Thus, we have always believed that public issues belonged to some foreign ruler and that we have no role in solving them. Moreover, we have lost the will to proactively solve our own problems. Thus, we have got used to just executing someone else’s orders. Borrowing Aristotle’s words: We are what we repeatedly do. Thus, having done this over the years, the decision-makers in our society are not trained for solving problems. Our decision-makers look to somebody else to take decisions. Unfortunately, there is nobody to look up to, and this is the tragedy. Our intellectual arrogance has also not helped our society. I have travelled extensively, and in my experience, have not come across another society where people are as contemptuous of better societies as we are, with as little progress as we have achieved. Remember that arrogance breeds hypocrisy. No other society gloats so much about the past as we do, with as little current accomplishment. Friends, this is not a new phenomenon, but at least a thousand years old. For instance, Al Barouni, the famous Arabic logician and traveller of the 10th century, who spent about 30 years in India from 997 AD to
around 1027 AD, referred to this trait of Indians. According to him, during his visit, most Indian pundits considered it below their dignity even to hold arguments with him. In fact, on a few occasions when a pundit was willing to listen to him, and found his arguments to be very sound, he invariably asked Barouni: which Indian pundit taught these smart things!

The most important attribute of a progressive society is respect for others who have accomplished more than they themselves have, and learn from them. Contrary to this, our leaders make us believe that other societies do not know anything! At the same time, everyday, in the newspapers, you will
find numerous claims from our leaders that ours is the greatest nation. These people would do well to remember Thomas Carlyle’s words: The greatest of faults is to be conscious of none. If we have to progress, we have to change this attitude, listen to people who have performed better than us, learn from them and perform better than them. Infosys is a good example of such an attitude.
We continue to rationalize our failures. No other society has mastered this art as well as we have. Obviously, this is an excuse to justify our incompetence, corruption, and apathy. This attitude has to change. As Sir Josiah Stamp has said: It is easy to dodge our responsibilities, but we cannot dodge the consequences of dodging our responsibilities.

Another interesting attribute, which we Indians can learn from the West, is their accountability. Irrespective of your position, in the West, you are held accountable for what you do. However, in India, the more ‘important’ you are, the less answerable you are. For instance, a senior politician once declared that he ‘forgot’ to file his tax returns for 10 consecutive years – and he got away with it. To quote another instance, there are over 100 loss making public sector units (central) in India. Nevertheless, I have not seen action taken for bad performance against top managers in these organizations.

Dignity of labor is an integral part of the Western value system. In the West, each person is proud about his or her labor that raises honest sweat. On the other hand, in India, we tend to overlook the significance of those who are not in professional jobs. We have a mindset that reveres only supposedly intellectual work. For instance, I have seen many engineers, fresh from college, who only want to do cutting-edge work and not work that is of relevance to business and the country. However, be it an organization or society, there are different people performing different roles.

For success, all these people are required to discharge their duties. This includes everyone from the CEO to the person who serves tea – every role is important. Hence, we need a mindset that reveres everyone who puts in honest work.

indians become intimate even without being friendly. They ask favors of strangers without any hesitation. For instance, the other day, while I was traveling from Bangalore to Mantralaya, I met a fellow traveler on the train. Hardly 5 minutes into the conversation, he requested me to speak to his
MD about removing him from the bottom 10% list in his company, earmarked for disciplinary action. I was reminded of what Rudyard Kipling once said: A westerner can be friendly without being intimate while an easterner tends to be intimate without being friendly.

Yet another lesson to be learnt from the West, is about their professionalism in dealings. The common good being more important than personal equations, people do not let personal relations interfere with their professional dealings. For instance, they don’t hesitate to chastise a colleague, even if he is a personal friend, for incompetent work. In India, I have seen that we tend to view even work interactions from a personal perspective. Further, we are the most ‘thin-skinned’ society in the world – we see insults where none is meant. This may be because we were not free for most of the last thousand years. Further, we seem to extend this lack of professionalism to our sense of punctuality. We do not seem to respect the other person’s time. The Indian Standard Time somehow seems to be always running late. Moreover, deadlines are typically not met. How many public projects are completed on time? The disheartening aspect is that we have accepted this as the norm rather than the exception.

In the West, they show professionalism by embracing meritocracy. Meritocracy by definition means that we cannot let personal prejudices affect our evaluation of an individual’s performance. As we increasingly start to benchmark ourselves with global standards, we have to embrace meritocracy. In the West, right from a very young age, parents teach their children to be independent in thinking. Thus, they grow up to be strong, confident individuals. In India, we still suffer from feudal thinking. I have seen people, who are otherwise bright, refusing to show independence and preferring to be told what to do by their boss. We need to overcome this attitude if we have to succeed globally.

The Western value system teaches respect to contractual obligation. In the West, contractual obligations are seldom dishonored. This is important – enforceability of legal rights and contracts is the most important factor in the enhancement of credibility of our people and nation. In India, we consider our marriage vows as sacred. We are willing to sacrifice in order to respect our marriage vows. However, we do not extend this to the public domain. For instance, India had an unfavorable contract with Enron. Instead of punishing the people responsible for negotiating this, we reneged on the contract – this was much before we came to know about the illegal activities at Enron. To quote another instance, I had given recommendations to several students for the national scholarship for higher studies in US universities. Most of them did not return to India even though contractually they were obliged to spend five years after their degree in India. In fact, according to a professor at a reputed US university, the maximum default rate for student loans is among Indians – all of these
students pass out in flying colors and land lucrative jobs, yet they refuse to pay back their loans. Thus, their action has made it difficult for the students after them, from India, to obtain loans. We have to change this attitude.

Further, we Indians do not display intellectual honesty. For example, our political leaders use mobile phones to tell journalists on the other side that they do not believe in technology! If we want our youngsters to progress, such hypocrisy must be stopped. We are all aware of our rights as citizens. Nevertheless, we often fail to acknowledge the duty that accompanies every right. To borrow Dwight Eisenhower’s words: People that values its privileges above its principles soon loses both. Our duty is towards the community as a whole, as much as it is towards our families. We have to remember that fundamental social problems grow out of a lack of commitment to the common good. To quote Henry Beecher: Culture is that which helps us to work for the betterment of all. Hence, friends, I do believe that we can make our society even better by assimilating these Western values into our own culture – we will be stronger for it.

Most of our behavior comes from greed, lack of self-confidence, lack of confidence in the nation, and lack of respect for the society. To borrow Gandhi’s words: There is enough in this world for everyone’s need, but not enough for everyone’s greed. Let us work towards a society where we would do unto others what we would have others do unto us. Let us all be responsible citizens who make our country a great place to live. In the words of Churchill: Responsibility is the price of greatness. We have to extend our family values beyond the boundaries of our home.

Finally, let us work towards maximum welfare of the maximum people – Samasta janaanaam sukhino bhavantu. Thus, let us – people of this generation, conduct ourselves as great citizens rather than just good people so that we can serve as good examples for our younger generation.

Thank you.