MIGRATION PUZZLE - Who went where, when?
The Brokpa villagers who ive near Batalik in Ladakh are a colourful but confused lot. Their oral history and songs suggest that they migrated from Gilgit, now in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK), a few hundred years ago. But over the last 50 years they've come to believe that they're remnants of an ancient Aryan population that came to India with Alexander's army.
The "Aryan" theory was floated by a few German Indologists in the 1960s; it caught everyone's fancy, and the Brokpas turned it into a marketing tool. The problem, however, is that nobody takes it seriously any more and the small, isolated community which had almost convinced itself about the supposition, is now unsure of its roots.
So recently when a group of researchers landed up at their villages, promising to tell them about their genetic history, the Brokpas were excited. The Aryan Welfare Association in Dha village swung into action, organizing a camp at which men from different villages came together to take swills of distilled water and spit into vials.
For the Brokpas, it was a solemn occasion. This, they were told, would hold the clue to their origin.
In distant Madurai, Ramasamy Pitchappan is now busy analysing the spittle. As principal investigator in India for the Genographic Project, he has spent the better part of the last few years collecting samples from different tribes, castes and linguistic groups across the country.
The goal of the project, a collaborative venture between the National Geographic Society, IBM and the Waitt Family Foundation, was to study the patterns of human migration, from the first exodus out of Africa to more recent ones.
They hoped to do this by looking at the patterns of DNA mutations across the world.
The spread of these mutations or markers , would be indicative of human movements.
The search was further narrowed to mutations in mitochondrial DNA and the Ychromosome, both of which, unlike other genetic material, are passed intact down the generations. A chance mutation in either of these would, therefore, also be inherited intact.
One such mutation, known as the M130 marker, had provided evidence of the first migration of man from Africa to Australia, through south India.
It was discovered in 2001 by Pitchappan, working in collaboration with noted geneticist Spencer Wells, in a small group of people in Jyothimanickam village near Madurai.
The carrier, Virumandi Andithevar, an unsuspecting 30-year-old systems administrator, had been declared the first Indian.
The Genographic Project was started in 2005 to assess the distribution of such markers, and discover new ones.
Similar studies had been done in India, but they d been much more localized and the sample sizes were smaller.
The India operations started a year late but has already collected the 10,000 samples they d aimed to gather, Pitchappan says proudly.
Over the last four years, his small band of researchers has fanned out across the country, visiting communities that have been selected for their uniqueness, size and recorded histories. We ve tried to select groups that are likely to have divergent migratory histories, explains Pitchappan.
The Meitei of Manipur were selected for being the only Vaishnavites in the region; the Garo of Meghalaya by virtue of being the only tribal community that allows marriage between first cousins; the Jenu Kuruba, honey gatherers from the forests of Nagarhole, for their unique profession; and the residents of Malana in Himachal Pradesh for their self-imposed isolation.
Convincing these communities to take part in the study was not always easy. It took researcher V.S. Arun a few days to persuade the residents of Malana to part with their samples. The problem, he says, was that we needed to give them distilled water for the samples, but their laws forbade them from accepting food or water from outsiders.
In the end it took the intervention of the village council to sort out the impasse.
The tiny Sunni community in Nyoma, on the India-China border in Ladakh, initially accused the researchers of practising black magic. Their origins, they told the researchers, were determined by God, not by spit. Later, it emerged that the problem was neither God nor spit, but a Shia who was acting as the team s interpreter.
The coaxing and the cajoling has, however, paid off. Some of the preliminary results of the project are emerging, and the complicated knot of migration routes into, out of and within India is unravelling.
The findings indicate that there have been two major migration routes into India, one along the coastal route from Africa to India and the other through the Khyber pass.
Looking at India as a whole, says Pitchappan, the most common marker is the H group, but we ve found its frequency to be the highest in a few hill tribes of south India.
The implication? The first populations in India probably settled in those parts.
As they migrated to other parts of the country, new markers emerged. The O group emerged in north-east India and spread in Tibet, Myanmar and parts of South-East Asia.
The L group remained confined to Tamil Nadu and parts of south India, limited by small-scale local migrations.
The M45 marker, on the other hand, spread to Central Asia and onwards to Europe. It also came back to India through later migrations in the opposite direction.
The R1A1 marker emerged in north India, and is also surprisingly found in lower frequencies among the Brahmins of Tamil Nadu. Pitchappan believes that its distribution in the south correlates with the movement of Brahmins from north to south during the Cho a period. Much more remains to be discovered. Detailed migration patterns will emerge, says Pitchappan, as more of the 10,000 samples collected so far are processed. Field trips to large parts of the country such as Maharashtra, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh will also take place in the first half of 2010. By the end of the year his team is hoping to publish studies correlating migration with language and caste formation in small groups in India.
It s an exhilarating and challenging project, says Subhadeepta Ray, a researcher at the Delhi School of Economics who has been studying the interaction of sociology and genetics that such projects entail.
The work so far has been very thorough and detailed.
Pitchappan has yet another agenda for the project. I hope, he says, that once people understand the biological basis of their differences they will become a little more sensible about issues like caste and religion.
Meanwhile, the Brokpas wait anxiously for their results.
Source:LIve mint
Saturday, January 2, 2010
Central government to pay 90 percent of high school expenses in northeast
2010-01-01 13:30:00
The central government will provide 90 percent of the amount required to enroll and educate high school students in the northeastern states, a minister said here Friday.
The students in the age group of 15-16 years will be enrolled under Rashtriya Madhyamik Shiksha Abhiyan (RMSA).
The ministry will bear 90 percent of the project expenditure of the education scheme in the northeastern states while for remaining states 75 percent of the cost will be borne by the central government.
The HRD ministry has called a meeting of 10 states, including Mizoram and Tripura, in New Delhi Jan 8 to finalise the initiation of the scheme in these states.
The central government has given Rs.50 million to six northeastern states - Tripura, Mizoram, Arunachal Pradesh, Manipur, Meghalaya and Sikkim - to start the preparatory works before beginning the RMSA.
2010-01-01 13:30:00
The central government will provide 90 percent of the amount required to enroll and educate high school students in the northeastern states, a minister said here Friday.
The students in the age group of 15-16 years will be enrolled under Rashtriya Madhyamik Shiksha Abhiyan (RMSA).
The ministry will bear 90 percent of the project expenditure of the education scheme in the northeastern states while for remaining states 75 percent of the cost will be borne by the central government.
The HRD ministry has called a meeting of 10 states, including Mizoram and Tripura, in New Delhi Jan 8 to finalise the initiation of the scheme in these states.
The central government has given Rs.50 million to six northeastern states - Tripura, Mizoram, Arunachal Pradesh, Manipur, Meghalaya and Sikkim - to start the preparatory works before beginning the RMSA.
Friday, January 1, 2010
NHPC sign agreements with Royal Government of Bhutan
NHPC Ltd, a Mini Ratna Category – I enterprise of government of India has recently signed agreements for preparation of Detailed Project Reports (DPRs) of 670 MW Chamkharchhu-I and 1800 MW Kuri-Gongri Hydroelectric Projects in Bhutan.
The agreements were signed by SK Garg, CMD, NHPC and Major General Vetsop Namgyel, Ambassador of the Royal Bhutanese Embassy in New Delhi on behalf of Royal Government of Bhutan in the presence of Dr. Manmohan Singh, Prime Minister of India and Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck, the King of Bhutan.
The agreements were signed at New Delhi.
NHPC Ltd, a Mini Ratna Category – I enterprise of government of India has recently signed agreements for preparation of Detailed Project Reports (DPRs) of 670 MW Chamkharchhu-I and 1800 MW Kuri-Gongri Hydroelectric Projects in Bhutan.
The agreements were signed by SK Garg, CMD, NHPC and Major General Vetsop Namgyel, Ambassador of the Royal Bhutanese Embassy in New Delhi on behalf of Royal Government of Bhutan in the presence of Dr. Manmohan Singh, Prime Minister of India and Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck, the King of Bhutan.
The agreements were signed at New Delhi.
Dalal Street outlines 2010 wish list
MUMBAI: A friendlier tax regime, more retail investor participation, low interest rates and inflation, and speedy Government disinvestment programme — these are but some of the things that Dalal Street wishes to come true in 2010 to keep rolling.
Having doubled investors’ wealth in 2009 — despite headwinds from the global economic slowdown — Indian stock market has the potential to grow even stronger in the New Year and this time around, the benefits should reach retail investors as well and not just to promoters and foreign funds, experts believe.
The target in 2010 should be to regain the all-time peak of 21,206.77 points (touched in January 2008), and even beyond, for the Sensex, which ended the year 2009 at 17,464.81 points, up 7,817.50 points (81 per cent) from the year-ago level, an analyst s aid.
In the process, the market saw the cumulative investors’ wealth nearly doubling in 2009 to over Rs 60,00,000 crore as foreign investors parked their faith as well as money in the world’s second fastest growing economy.
Analysts believe that the market has the potential to push investors’ wealth to Rs 100,00,000 crore, if all goes well and conditions are conducive for a continued bull run.
“Today, India is a preferred destination for equity investors across the world as is evident from the FII and FDI inflows ($35 billion) into the market this year,” the ICICI Securities chief, Ms Madhabi Puri Buch, said, adding that the strong flows were expected to continue in the New Year.
Ms Buch noted that the volatility index for the market has dropped to 20 points, from near 80 a year ago, and that it indicates growing confidence in the markets and thus strong flows would be expected to continue.
“Our own people, particularly retail investors could also recognize this and reap the long term benefits of investing in an economy which is expected to grow at the rate of at least 7.5-8 per cent for the next many years. We should take care not to lose this opportunity out of a case of “ghar ki murgi dal baraabar (a proverb to drive home the point that ‘the resources at home are always taken for granted’),” she noted.
The market’s wishes from the New Year include lower transaction costs, continued expansion from long-term capital gains tax and measures to keep inflation under check so that the a low interest rate regime prevails.
DFC Securities’ Mr Vinod Sharma said: “My wish is that our country does well in all fields. The second wish is that the Finance Minister keeps the long-term capital gains exemption intact, which will help in capital building. The third wish is that the i nvestors should make money, even if that means that our expectations for a slide in first half have to go wrong.”
The stock market in 2009 mostly derived strength from the Government’s fiscal packages and sustained capital inflows.
India recorded 7 per cent growth in the first half of this fiscal, thanks to increased manufacturing activity. Foreign Institutional Investors (FIIs) have bought shares worth over Rs 80,000 crore — a record high.
However, the participation from retail investors was nothing great to write about and the analysts expect that their entry into the market would provide further strength.
Brokerage firm Bonanza Portfolio’s Mr Avinash Gupta said that the market is hoping for additional policy measures to expand and promote risk taking, especially by domestic investors.
“A substantial reduction in the cost of transaction to the investor such as Securities Transaction Tax, Stamp Duty, Exchange Transaction Charges, Service Tax etc would will help expanding the market in a big way,” he added.
Geojit BNP Financial Services’ Research Head Mr Alex Mathews said that the market wishes for 2010 include inflation being kept below three per cent level, more stimuli from Government as and when it is required, sufficient monsoon and speedy disinvestmen t.
Ashika Stock Brokers’ Research Head Mr Paras Bothra also agreed that inflation need to be curbed down, especially the food inflation, so that the country maintains a low interest rate regime.
The market players are unanimous that the biggest possible dampener in the short term for the market could be a hike in interest rates by RBI, which is meeting in late January to review its monetary policy stance. — PTI
MUMBAI: A friendlier tax regime, more retail investor participation, low interest rates and inflation, and speedy Government disinvestment programme — these are but some of the things that Dalal Street wishes to come true in 2010 to keep rolling.
Having doubled investors’ wealth in 2009 — despite headwinds from the global economic slowdown — Indian stock market has the potential to grow even stronger in the New Year and this time around, the benefits should reach retail investors as well and not just to promoters and foreign funds, experts believe.
The target in 2010 should be to regain the all-time peak of 21,206.77 points (touched in January 2008), and even beyond, for the Sensex, which ended the year 2009 at 17,464.81 points, up 7,817.50 points (81 per cent) from the year-ago level, an analyst s aid.
In the process, the market saw the cumulative investors’ wealth nearly doubling in 2009 to over Rs 60,00,000 crore as foreign investors parked their faith as well as money in the world’s second fastest growing economy.
Analysts believe that the market has the potential to push investors’ wealth to Rs 100,00,000 crore, if all goes well and conditions are conducive for a continued bull run.
“Today, India is a preferred destination for equity investors across the world as is evident from the FII and FDI inflows ($35 billion) into the market this year,” the ICICI Securities chief, Ms Madhabi Puri Buch, said, adding that the strong flows were expected to continue in the New Year.
Ms Buch noted that the volatility index for the market has dropped to 20 points, from near 80 a year ago, and that it indicates growing confidence in the markets and thus strong flows would be expected to continue.
“Our own people, particularly retail investors could also recognize this and reap the long term benefits of investing in an economy which is expected to grow at the rate of at least 7.5-8 per cent for the next many years. We should take care not to lose this opportunity out of a case of “ghar ki murgi dal baraabar (a proverb to drive home the point that ‘the resources at home are always taken for granted’),” she noted.
The market’s wishes from the New Year include lower transaction costs, continued expansion from long-term capital gains tax and measures to keep inflation under check so that the a low interest rate regime prevails.
DFC Securities’ Mr Vinod Sharma said: “My wish is that our country does well in all fields. The second wish is that the Finance Minister keeps the long-term capital gains exemption intact, which will help in capital building. The third wish is that the i nvestors should make money, even if that means that our expectations for a slide in first half have to go wrong.”
The stock market in 2009 mostly derived strength from the Government’s fiscal packages and sustained capital inflows.
India recorded 7 per cent growth in the first half of this fiscal, thanks to increased manufacturing activity. Foreign Institutional Investors (FIIs) have bought shares worth over Rs 80,000 crore — a record high.
However, the participation from retail investors was nothing great to write about and the analysts expect that their entry into the market would provide further strength.
Brokerage firm Bonanza Portfolio’s Mr Avinash Gupta said that the market is hoping for additional policy measures to expand and promote risk taking, especially by domestic investors.
“A substantial reduction in the cost of transaction to the investor such as Securities Transaction Tax, Stamp Duty, Exchange Transaction Charges, Service Tax etc would will help expanding the market in a big way,” he added.
Geojit BNP Financial Services’ Research Head Mr Alex Mathews said that the market wishes for 2010 include inflation being kept below three per cent level, more stimuli from Government as and when it is required, sufficient monsoon and speedy disinvestmen t.
Ashika Stock Brokers’ Research Head Mr Paras Bothra also agreed that inflation need to be curbed down, especially the food inflation, so that the country maintains a low interest rate regime.
The market players are unanimous that the biggest possible dampener in the short term for the market could be a hike in interest rates by RBI, which is meeting in late January to review its monetary policy stance. — PTI
INDIA LOST AGAIN ON ENERGY FRONT:
ONGC loses Algeria oilfield bid to Chinese co
NEW DELHI:1.1.2010.
Oil and Natural Gas Corporation has lost an oilfield in Algeria to a consortium led by a Chinese oil firm.
ONGC teamed up with Turkish Petroleum Corp (TPAO) and UAE’s Dana Gas to bid for the hotly contested Hassi Bir Rekaiz acreage in Algeria’s latest licensing round, sources said.
It however lost the prized property to a consortium of China National Offshore Oil Corp (CNOOC) and Thailand’s PTTEP.
Spain’s Cepsa and Russia’s Gazprom were the other bidders for the acreage. Hassi Bir Rekaiz in the Berkine Basin was relinquished by Australia’s BHP Billiton after a 2005 award.
Algeria awarded three permits in its bid round for 10 exploration areas that closed on December 22, they said.
Last month, ONGC Videsh Ltd, the overseas arm of the state-run firm, had lost a bid for the Halfaya oilfield in Iraq’s second post-war bid round, to a consortium of China National Petroleum Corp (CNPC), Petronas Cargali Sdn Bhd of Malaysia and France’s T otal SA, sources said.
OVL had teamed up with Oil India Ltd and TPAO to bid $1.76 per barrel fee for boosting the output from Halfaya field to 550,000 barrels per day.
CNPC-led group offered to boost production to 535,000 bpd from current the 3,000 bpd at a cost of $1.40 a barrel. The Halfaya oilfield has estimated reserves of 4.1 billion barrels of oil, they said.
OVL had, in the first Iraqi round in June 2009, lost the Zubair oilfield. — PTI
ONGC loses Algeria oilfield bid to Chinese co
NEW DELHI:1.1.2010.
Oil and Natural Gas Corporation has lost an oilfield in Algeria to a consortium led by a Chinese oil firm.
ONGC teamed up with Turkish Petroleum Corp (TPAO) and UAE’s Dana Gas to bid for the hotly contested Hassi Bir Rekaiz acreage in Algeria’s latest licensing round, sources said.
It however lost the prized property to a consortium of China National Offshore Oil Corp (CNOOC) and Thailand’s PTTEP.
Spain’s Cepsa and Russia’s Gazprom were the other bidders for the acreage. Hassi Bir Rekaiz in the Berkine Basin was relinquished by Australia’s BHP Billiton after a 2005 award.
Algeria awarded three permits in its bid round for 10 exploration areas that closed on December 22, they said.
Last month, ONGC Videsh Ltd, the overseas arm of the state-run firm, had lost a bid for the Halfaya oilfield in Iraq’s second post-war bid round, to a consortium of China National Petroleum Corp (CNPC), Petronas Cargali Sdn Bhd of Malaysia and France’s T otal SA, sources said.
OVL had teamed up with Oil India Ltd and TPAO to bid $1.76 per barrel fee for boosting the output from Halfaya field to 550,000 barrels per day.
CNPC-led group offered to boost production to 535,000 bpd from current the 3,000 bpd at a cost of $1.40 a barrel. The Halfaya oilfield has estimated reserves of 4.1 billion barrels of oil, they said.
OVL had, in the first Iraqi round in June 2009, lost the Zubair oilfield. — PTI
TOBACCO THE BIO FUEL OF FUTURE
Researchers have identified a way of increasing oil content in tobacco leaves as a prelude to using these for biofuel.
In some instances, the modified tobacco plants produced 20-fold more oil in their leaves, said Vyacheslav Andrianov, assistant professor of cancer biology at Jefferson Medical College.
Tobacco can generate biofuel more efficiently than other agricultural crops. However, most of the oil is typically found in the seeds - tobacco seeds are composed of about 40 percent oil per dry weight, adds Mr. Andrianov.
Although seed oil has been tested for use as fuel in diesel engines, tobacco plants yield a modest quantity of seeds, or about 600 kg per acre.
Mr. Andrianov and his colleagues sought to find ways to engineer tobacco plants to have a higher oil content.
“Tobacco is very attractive as a biofuel because the idea is to use plants that aren't used in food production,” he said. “We have found ways to genetically engineer the plants so that their leaves express more oil. In some instances, the modified plants produced 20-fold more oil in the leaves.”
“Based on these data, tobacco represents an attractive and promising 'energy plant' platform, and could also serve as a model for the utilisation of other high-biomass plants for biofuel production,” concludes Mr. Andrianov.
These findings were published online in Plant Biotechnology Journal.
Researchers have identified a way of increasing oil content in tobacco leaves as a prelude to using these for biofuel.
In some instances, the modified tobacco plants produced 20-fold more oil in their leaves, said Vyacheslav Andrianov, assistant professor of cancer biology at Jefferson Medical College.
Tobacco can generate biofuel more efficiently than other agricultural crops. However, most of the oil is typically found in the seeds - tobacco seeds are composed of about 40 percent oil per dry weight, adds Mr. Andrianov.
Although seed oil has been tested for use as fuel in diesel engines, tobacco plants yield a modest quantity of seeds, or about 600 kg per acre.
Mr. Andrianov and his colleagues sought to find ways to engineer tobacco plants to have a higher oil content.
“Tobacco is very attractive as a biofuel because the idea is to use plants that aren't used in food production,” he said. “We have found ways to genetically engineer the plants so that their leaves express more oil. In some instances, the modified plants produced 20-fold more oil in the leaves.”
“Based on these data, tobacco represents an attractive and promising 'energy plant' platform, and could also serve as a model for the utilisation of other high-biomass plants for biofuel production,” concludes Mr. Andrianov.
These findings were published online in Plant Biotechnology Journal.
INDIAN MUTUAL FUND 2009: Calling For Caution
By Dhirendra Kumar
Jan 1, 2010
As the year draws to a close, investors’ and analysts’ attention naturally turns to how various funds and stocks have done during the year. Among equity funds, there are a clutch of funds that have done way better than the markets in general. Over a period when the major indices have returned around 70 per cent, about 250 out of 374 funds have returns that are greater than that. About 160 funds — half of the total have done substantially better, beating the markets by more than 10 percentage points during the year, and about a quarter have beaten the markets by more than 20 percentage points, with total returns of more than 90 per cent.
However, investors are invariably drawn to the very top-end of the performance tables, to the top ten or so funds. Just as in music, movies and so much else, they will be served up top ten lists of funds as well. Unfortunately, there is little information, and even fewer lessons, to be drawn from the handful of funds that are at the top of the list. As the equity fund universe has become larger, a membership of the top ten over any time period has become more and more dictated by chance.
I must warn you, that if you are waiting for me to name these funds, then you should stop reading now; listing these funds would make a mockery of the very point I’m trying to put across.
The funds at the top of the year’s table have returns of about 120 to 140 per cent. However, that’s not a case for investing in them. Each one of these funds has a portfolio that, either by design, or by a fluke, is oddly concentrated either by sector, or in specific companies.
The time to invest in these funds would have been a year ago, had you possessed the ability to peep into the future. Today, the only lesson that can be drawn is that over any given time period, equity funds logging top-performances are those that are specialised in some way, or those that prefer to run concentrated portfolios, whose concentration happens to match the market’s mood over that time period.
Extreme outperformance is more a cause for suspicion than anything else.
What is encouraging is that over this year, funds have generally performed well, outpacing the benchmarks by a good margin. The average fund has outperformed by 9 per cent. On an asset-weighted basis, the outperformance is higher, which tells us that more popular funds have done better than the less popular ones. The total amount of money being managed by funds above the average is Rs 1.1 lakh crore, by those below — Rs 76,000 crore. This essentially means that aggregate gain to investors is substantially better than that suggested by the average performance of these funds.
By Dhirendra Kumar
Jan 1, 2010
As the year draws to a close, investors’ and analysts’ attention naturally turns to how various funds and stocks have done during the year. Among equity funds, there are a clutch of funds that have done way better than the markets in general. Over a period when the major indices have returned around 70 per cent, about 250 out of 374 funds have returns that are greater than that. About 160 funds — half of the total have done substantially better, beating the markets by more than 10 percentage points during the year, and about a quarter have beaten the markets by more than 20 percentage points, with total returns of more than 90 per cent.
However, investors are invariably drawn to the very top-end of the performance tables, to the top ten or so funds. Just as in music, movies and so much else, they will be served up top ten lists of funds as well. Unfortunately, there is little information, and even fewer lessons, to be drawn from the handful of funds that are at the top of the list. As the equity fund universe has become larger, a membership of the top ten over any time period has become more and more dictated by chance.
I must warn you, that if you are waiting for me to name these funds, then you should stop reading now; listing these funds would make a mockery of the very point I’m trying to put across.
The funds at the top of the year’s table have returns of about 120 to 140 per cent. However, that’s not a case for investing in them. Each one of these funds has a portfolio that, either by design, or by a fluke, is oddly concentrated either by sector, or in specific companies.
The time to invest in these funds would have been a year ago, had you possessed the ability to peep into the future. Today, the only lesson that can be drawn is that over any given time period, equity funds logging top-performances are those that are specialised in some way, or those that prefer to run concentrated portfolios, whose concentration happens to match the market’s mood over that time period.
Extreme outperformance is more a cause for suspicion than anything else.
What is encouraging is that over this year, funds have generally performed well, outpacing the benchmarks by a good margin. The average fund has outperformed by 9 per cent. On an asset-weighted basis, the outperformance is higher, which tells us that more popular funds have done better than the less popular ones. The total amount of money being managed by funds above the average is Rs 1.1 lakh crore, by those below — Rs 76,000 crore. This essentially means that aggregate gain to investors is substantially better than that suggested by the average performance of these funds.
Burj Dubai inauguration on Jan 4,2010
Burj Dubai, the world’s tallest tower, will receive its first residents as early as February 2010.
Over 12,000 people will live and work in the mixed-use tower comprising luxurious apartments, prime office space, among other modern lifestyle amenities, developer Emaar Properties said.
Following the inauguration of Burj Dubai on January 4, Emaar will immediately take charge of the property from various consultants, contractors and suppliers.
From January 5, public will be able to visit ‘At The Top’, the world’s highest observation deck on Level 124 of the tower.
The hand-over to residents will begin in February, this year.
The Armani Residences on Levels 9 to 16 will open their doors first which will be followed by the much-awaited Armani Hotel Dubai, comprising of the concourse to Level 8 and Levels 38 and 39.
The Residences, comprising 900 apartments, and The Corporate Suites, a collection of high-end offices, will be handed over to customers from March.
The process can take two to six months.
An orientation programme for customers is currently ongoing, taking them through the Burj Dubai lifestyle experience that awaits them.
Emaar has also written to all of its customers to inform them of the handover schedules, as the interiors of the homes and offices receive their final touches.
The delivery of the various components of Burj Dubai had been carefully structured to accommodate smoothly the expected tower population of more than 12,000 people, Abdulla Lahej, Executive Director, Dubai Project Management, Emaar Properties, said.
The first homes to be occupied at Burj Dubai, the Armani Residences, reflect the individual style of the iconic designer - Giorgio Armani.
’The Sky Lobbies’ on 43 and 76 floors house swimming pools and a recreational room for exclusive receptions and other gatherings.
With a height of more than 800 metres, Burj Dubai is the world’s tallest building and has 160 storeys - the most floors in any building in the world.
Burj Dubai, the world’s tallest tower, will receive its first residents as early as February 2010.
Over 12,000 people will live and work in the mixed-use tower comprising luxurious apartments, prime office space, among other modern lifestyle amenities, developer Emaar Properties said.
Following the inauguration of Burj Dubai on January 4, Emaar will immediately take charge of the property from various consultants, contractors and suppliers.
From January 5, public will be able to visit ‘At The Top’, the world’s highest observation deck on Level 124 of the tower.
The hand-over to residents will begin in February, this year.
The Armani Residences on Levels 9 to 16 will open their doors first which will be followed by the much-awaited Armani Hotel Dubai, comprising of the concourse to Level 8 and Levels 38 and 39.
The Residences, comprising 900 apartments, and The Corporate Suites, a collection of high-end offices, will be handed over to customers from March.
The process can take two to six months.
An orientation programme for customers is currently ongoing, taking them through the Burj Dubai lifestyle experience that awaits them.
Emaar has also written to all of its customers to inform them of the handover schedules, as the interiors of the homes and offices receive their final touches.
The delivery of the various components of Burj Dubai had been carefully structured to accommodate smoothly the expected tower population of more than 12,000 people, Abdulla Lahej, Executive Director, Dubai Project Management, Emaar Properties, said.
The first homes to be occupied at Burj Dubai, the Armani Residences, reflect the individual style of the iconic designer - Giorgio Armani.
’The Sky Lobbies’ on 43 and 76 floors house swimming pools and a recreational room for exclusive receptions and other gatherings.
With a height of more than 800 metres, Burj Dubai is the world’s tallest building and has 160 storeys - the most floors in any building in the world.
SHORT NOTES ON MARKET
The year 2009 unfolded with 'The Satyam fiasco', the biggest Indian corporate scam. It taught us not to put blind-faith in a visionary looking management and glittering financials reported by them. After all, 'all that glitters is not gold.' Moreover, this year reiterated the significance of a stable and reform friendly government. UPA's landmark victory in the elections left the markets with a jump of over 5% in a single day. The year also brought investors who had an eye for value - gains that were more than 4 times their investment, with very little risk! Yes, it immensely rewarded the genuine long term value seekers. At the same time, it did not disappoint those who had chosen to play it safe by investing in sound blue-chip companies when their valuations had taken a blow in 2008.
The heavy weights of BSE-Sensex had a complete turnaround of sorts in 2009. From the YoY fall of around 49% registered in the month of February-2009, the Sensex witnessed a YOY surge of 86% in November, 2009. The state of panic in 2008 gave way to euphoria in 2009 as most large Indian companies emerged successful in battling the global downturn better than their Western peers. In the bargain, they evoked interest of domestic as well as foreign investors.
But please do not perceive us as a seer of the doomsday. We are definitely not. All said and done, we reiterate our confidence in the Indian businesses for they are in a much better position than most of the global peers. We continue to have full faith in the growth prospects of most Indian heavyweights. The longer term fundamentals are still heavily in favour of investors.
However, the current valuations are a tad expensive with respect to the medium term fundamentals. So, we insist that investors exercise greater degree of caution.
We must keep a close watch on macro factors like GDP growth, inflation, commodity prices and government policy initiatives as also micro factors like demand-supply and pricing environment for individual companies.
With this in mind, we welcome the exciting year of 2010 with a lot of optimism and a little caution.
sOURCE:EQUITYMASTER.
The year 2009 unfolded with 'The Satyam fiasco', the biggest Indian corporate scam. It taught us not to put blind-faith in a visionary looking management and glittering financials reported by them. After all, 'all that glitters is not gold.' Moreover, this year reiterated the significance of a stable and reform friendly government. UPA's landmark victory in the elections left the markets with a jump of over 5% in a single day. The year also brought investors who had an eye for value - gains that were more than 4 times their investment, with very little risk! Yes, it immensely rewarded the genuine long term value seekers. At the same time, it did not disappoint those who had chosen to play it safe by investing in sound blue-chip companies when their valuations had taken a blow in 2008.
The heavy weights of BSE-Sensex had a complete turnaround of sorts in 2009. From the YoY fall of around 49% registered in the month of February-2009, the Sensex witnessed a YOY surge of 86% in November, 2009. The state of panic in 2008 gave way to euphoria in 2009 as most large Indian companies emerged successful in battling the global downturn better than their Western peers. In the bargain, they evoked interest of domestic as well as foreign investors.
But please do not perceive us as a seer of the doomsday. We are definitely not. All said and done, we reiterate our confidence in the Indian businesses for they are in a much better position than most of the global peers. We continue to have full faith in the growth prospects of most Indian heavyweights. The longer term fundamentals are still heavily in favour of investors.
However, the current valuations are a tad expensive with respect to the medium term fundamentals. So, we insist that investors exercise greater degree of caution.
We must keep a close watch on macro factors like GDP growth, inflation, commodity prices and government policy initiatives as also micro factors like demand-supply and pricing environment for individual companies.
With this in mind, we welcome the exciting year of 2010 with a lot of optimism and a little caution.
sOURCE:EQUITYMASTER.
Golden decades for for India & China- Part I
Natural Gas
If the coming decades belong to China and India, then we are going to witness the changing lifestyle of the average Chinese and Indian. In particular, he will be consuming more energy. The primary sources of energy remain hydrocarbons – coal, crude oil and natural gas. Of these, natural gas is the most environment friendly. Little wonder then, the growth rate in demand is going to be the highest for natural gas, from all across Asia and especially from China and India.
So, natural gas producers and transporters are going to create a lot of wealth for themselves and their shareholders. In short, that's the message of yesterday's edition of 'Daily Wealth'. We agree. In fact, we have long been positive about the natural gas segment here in India. The demand is evident in the off take numbers. But the supply side might also surprise us. In fact, we believe India also has enormous potential in terms of new discoveries.
Natural Gas
If the coming decades belong to China and India, then we are going to witness the changing lifestyle of the average Chinese and Indian. In particular, he will be consuming more energy. The primary sources of energy remain hydrocarbons – coal, crude oil and natural gas. Of these, natural gas is the most environment friendly. Little wonder then, the growth rate in demand is going to be the highest for natural gas, from all across Asia and especially from China and India.
So, natural gas producers and transporters are going to create a lot of wealth for themselves and their shareholders. In short, that's the message of yesterday's edition of 'Daily Wealth'. We agree. In fact, we have long been positive about the natural gas segment here in India. The demand is evident in the off take numbers. But the supply side might also surprise us. In fact, we believe India also has enormous potential in terms of new discoveries.
YEAR OF TIGER
Resolution for the New Year 2010
As per the Chinese calendar, 2010 is the Year of the Tiger. Being symbolic of strength and vigour, the animal is expected to bring good luck to the world this year. We truly hope so after having endured a couple of years of bankruptcies, corporate scams, job losses, terrorist attacks and painful recovery in the recent past. While stock markets the world over have already run ahead of the euphoria about 'the worst is behind us'; we believe that a reality check would not hurt.
Emerging markets, in particular, have reaped the biggest benefit of this euphoria. And they could be the worst affected in case of a sudden change in economic scenario. Don't mistake this to be a guide on how to make better returns from near term economic trends. For the simple reason that hoping to maximize 12-month returns based on economic projections is a lost proposition. However, there are a few trends that we would like to caution you about.
A sudden spurt in inflation triggered by the massive increase in money supply
A sharp fall in stock prices triggered by the unwinding of loose monetary policies by central banks
A shift from a weakening dollar trend to a strengthening dollar trend if the Fed decides to tighten interest rates.
Sovereign debt default by a major world player or a significant downgrading of sovereign debt (the most likely candidates being Greece and California)
So, ensure that you have these contra trends in mind while managing your money to derive smart returns.
As per the Chinese calendar, 2010 is the Year of the Tiger. Being symbolic of strength and vigour, the animal is expected to bring good luck to the world this year. We truly hope so after having endured a couple of years of bankruptcies, corporate scams, job losses, terrorist attacks and painful recovery in the recent past. While stock markets the world over have already run ahead of the euphoria about 'the worst is behind us'; we believe that a reality check would not hurt.
Emerging markets, in particular, have reaped the biggest benefit of this euphoria. And they could be the worst affected in case of a sudden change in economic scenario. Don't mistake this to be a guide on how to make better returns from near term economic trends. For the simple reason that hoping to maximize 12-month returns based on economic projections is a lost proposition. However, there are a few trends that we would like to caution you about.
A sudden spurt in inflation triggered by the massive increase in money supply
A sharp fall in stock prices triggered by the unwinding of loose monetary policies by central banks
A shift from a weakening dollar trend to a strengthening dollar trend if the Fed decides to tighten interest rates.
Sovereign debt default by a major world player or a significant downgrading of sovereign debt (the most likely candidates being Greece and California)
So, ensure that you have these contra trends in mind while managing your money to derive smart returns.
LOOKING TO 2010- INVESTMENT STRATEGY
Financially, almost everyone in India has had a far better time in 2009 than 2008. As the New Year begins, it is tempting to look ahead and predict what will happen in the coing 12 months. However, as this article by Dhirendra Kumar points out, the last two years have shown us how little value such predictions have.
A couple of days ago, I analysed equity mutual funds’ performances over the last three years. As I had written then, the last three years were an unusually interesting period over which to evaluate funds. It has seen a tremendous stock price boom, a crash which became deeper and deeper and then, an unexpectedly quick resurgence. No matter how interesting the past is for a fund analyst, there is no point in analysing it unless it holds some lessons for the future. However, I won’t use the word prediction because, if the last two years have demonstrated anything, it is the utter uselessness of trying to forecast what will happen over the coming year.
Back in December, 2007, the equity markets were looking inflated and the general idea was that it would be a dull year in 2008. What turned out was an utter disaster. Make no mistake, the global nature of the financial crisis unfolded much later in the year. As early as January, 2008, the markets gone through a huge crash for reasons that were purely internal to the levels that stock valuations had reached. 2009 again defied predictions. The investment markets were buried deep in pessimism by the end of 2008. While the first four months did live up to that billing, the period after that again defied expectations in the suddenness and the speed of the recovery of stock prices.
While short-term debt continued in its steady way, longer-term debt fund investors have had even more of a roller coaster ride. Towards the end of 2008, as the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) unleashed a flood of low-priced rupees to stimulate the economy, longer-period debt multiplied in value and many medium-term debt funds gained 20 per cent or more in a couple of months, or less. The period after that has been a lot less cheerful with most medium term debt-fund categories gaining a marginal 1-to-2 per cent in the entire year. The more rate-sensitive long- and medium-term government securities funds have had a much more torrid time — the average fund is down 4.5 per cent with about a fourth of the funds losing close to, or more, than ten per cent for the year.
At the end of this year, it is clear that I will be doing my readers a huge disservice by making any predictions at all. Instead of predictions, the right thing to do is to lay down principles — investing principles that would stand the test of time and serve you well regardless of actual events.
One year ago, I’d advocated this strategy: Take a look at your own life and try and make a liberal estimate of how much of your savings you would need to tap into over the next five-to-seven years. This would include some sort of an emergency amount, plus predictable big-ticket expenses like weddings, education, the down payment on a house and other such things. This is the amount you should hold in debt investments which could be anything from PPF to short-term debt mutual funds. The rest should be in diversified equity mutual funds with a good long-term track record. Any fresh investments into equity funds should be done gradually and continuously regardless of the state of the markets. Don’t invest in too many funds — four, or five, is enough for the sake of diversification.
A lot has changed during this year. However, there’s no need to change even one word of this strategy. And that’s the way it should be.
bY: Dhirendra Kumar
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Value Research has a range of publications that can help you invest more safely and profitably. In all these, the focus is on helping the reader learn how to be a better investor rather than spoon-feeding him with recommendations. You can order all these online for delivery at your doorstep:
BOOKS:
The Way to Save and Prosper: 200+ pages of the most useful and educational articles selected from the Mutual Fund Insight.
Click here to learn more and order for Rs 450
Mutual Fund Yearbook 2010: 200+ pages of fund analysis, data on all funds, guides on how to design and monitor a portfolo suited to your own investment needs.
Click here to learn more and order for just Rs 395
MAGAZINES:
Mutual Fund Insight: Monthly magazine with up-to-date news, articles, interviews and analyses of funds. Updated returns and portfolio data on all funds.
Click here to learn more and order the latest issue for just Rs 100, or subscribe at discounts of up to 35 per cent.
Wealth Insight: Monthly magazine focussed on fundamentally-guided stock investing. Stock ideas, analyses, articles and interviews that help you choose stock that will generate long-term wealth.
Click here to subscribe at discounts of up to 25 per cent.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Regards
Financially, almost everyone in India has had a far better time in 2009 than 2008. As the New Year begins, it is tempting to look ahead and predict what will happen in the coing 12 months. However, as this article by Dhirendra Kumar points out, the last two years have shown us how little value such predictions have.
A couple of days ago, I analysed equity mutual funds’ performances over the last three years. As I had written then, the last three years were an unusually interesting period over which to evaluate funds. It has seen a tremendous stock price boom, a crash which became deeper and deeper and then, an unexpectedly quick resurgence. No matter how interesting the past is for a fund analyst, there is no point in analysing it unless it holds some lessons for the future. However, I won’t use the word prediction because, if the last two years have demonstrated anything, it is the utter uselessness of trying to forecast what will happen over the coming year.
Back in December, 2007, the equity markets were looking inflated and the general idea was that it would be a dull year in 2008. What turned out was an utter disaster. Make no mistake, the global nature of the financial crisis unfolded much later in the year. As early as January, 2008, the markets gone through a huge crash for reasons that were purely internal to the levels that stock valuations had reached. 2009 again defied predictions. The investment markets were buried deep in pessimism by the end of 2008. While the first four months did live up to that billing, the period after that again defied expectations in the suddenness and the speed of the recovery of stock prices.
While short-term debt continued in its steady way, longer-term debt fund investors have had even more of a roller coaster ride. Towards the end of 2008, as the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) unleashed a flood of low-priced rupees to stimulate the economy, longer-period debt multiplied in value and many medium-term debt funds gained 20 per cent or more in a couple of months, or less. The period after that has been a lot less cheerful with most medium term debt-fund categories gaining a marginal 1-to-2 per cent in the entire year. The more rate-sensitive long- and medium-term government securities funds have had a much more torrid time — the average fund is down 4.5 per cent with about a fourth of the funds losing close to, or more, than ten per cent for the year.
At the end of this year, it is clear that I will be doing my readers a huge disservice by making any predictions at all. Instead of predictions, the right thing to do is to lay down principles — investing principles that would stand the test of time and serve you well regardless of actual events.
One year ago, I’d advocated this strategy: Take a look at your own life and try and make a liberal estimate of how much of your savings you would need to tap into over the next five-to-seven years. This would include some sort of an emergency amount, plus predictable big-ticket expenses like weddings, education, the down payment on a house and other such things. This is the amount you should hold in debt investments which could be anything from PPF to short-term debt mutual funds. The rest should be in diversified equity mutual funds with a good long-term track record. Any fresh investments into equity funds should be done gradually and continuously regardless of the state of the markets. Don’t invest in too many funds — four, or five, is enough for the sake of diversification.
A lot has changed during this year. However, there’s no need to change even one word of this strategy. And that’s the way it should be.
bY: Dhirendra Kumar
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Value Research has a range of publications that can help you invest more safely and profitably. In all these, the focus is on helping the reader learn how to be a better investor rather than spoon-feeding him with recommendations. You can order all these online for delivery at your doorstep:
BOOKS:
The Way to Save and Prosper: 200+ pages of the most useful and educational articles selected from the Mutual Fund Insight.
Click here to learn more and order for Rs 450
Mutual Fund Yearbook 2010: 200+ pages of fund analysis, data on all funds, guides on how to design and monitor a portfolo suited to your own investment needs.
Click here to learn more and order for just Rs 395
MAGAZINES:
Mutual Fund Insight: Monthly magazine with up-to-date news, articles, interviews and analyses of funds. Updated returns and portfolio data on all funds.
Click here to learn more and order the latest issue for just Rs 100, or subscribe at discounts of up to 35 per cent.
Wealth Insight: Monthly magazine focussed on fundamentally-guided stock investing. Stock ideas, analyses, articles and interviews that help you choose stock that will generate long-term wealth.
Click here to subscribe at discounts of up to 25 per cent.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Regards
The dragon of inflation
Amar Singh
Prices of essential commodities such as pulses, rice, sugar and vegetables keep going up, but income for common man hasn't risen. Photo:Mohammed Yousuf
The citizens cannot be befooled. The farmer is getting less than Rs. 30 a kg for arhar daal, while the sale price in the market is Rs.100. The pertinent question is: who corners the profit of Rs. 60 to Rs. 70? The government should come out of Mission America and look into the affairs of the common masses.
Life for the aam aadmi, or the common person, is becoming increasingly difficult owing to the all-round price rise across the country. It bites into the real incomes of the people. The situation has worsened owing to the several rounds of price increases effected for petroleum products, which has had an alarming impact on the prices of several commodities.
Another aspect of the price rise phenomenon is that people are paying more for basic services such as health, education and transport. One of the reasons for the rising indebtedness among families is the increasing cost of health care, which is linked to the escalating cost of drugs. Inflation, combined with policies of privatisation, has caused a complete deterioration in living standards. The large majority of the working people in India are in the unorganised sector. Their incomes fluctuate, and they have no protection against rising prices. Prices have risen, but not incomes. We know about the acute agrarian distress and the incidence of suicide among farmers in many parts of India. Some international agencies have pointed to a most disturbing trend of increasing malnutrition in India, particularly among children and women.
India has witnessed periods of inflation even earlier, but over the last two years there has been no end to this trend, and the situation is going from bad to worse. The government remains a mute spectator. According to figures released by the Commerce Ministry, as on November 28, 2009, the food price index had risen at the rate of 19.05 per cent, the highest rate in the last 11 years. Prices of essential commodities such as pulses, rice, sugar and vegetables keep going up. If this trend of inflation continues for a prolonged period, the possibility of food riots occurring in India cannot be ignored.
Over a period of time, the Central government has been providing various excuses for this menacing situation. In 2007, when inflation intensified, it was said to be a seasonal phenomenon that would pass in a matter of a few days. After some time the Finance Minister said that inflation was an outcome of economic growth. Subsequently, when the country witnessed a period of drought it was stated that because of low production the supply side had become weak.
In November 2009, the Prime Minister said during one of his televised interactions that because of the price rise our farmers would get more for their produce. He said that would benefit 75 per cent of the farmers: for that, 25 per cent of the people would have to manage accordingly. The same was the opinion expressed by one of the Ministers of State (of Home Affairs) who belongs to Uttar Pradesh. The government-determined procurement rate of pulses was raised to Rs. 3,000 a quintal (Rs.30 a kg), while a kg of daal in the open market costs Rs. 90 to Rs. 100. The government should come out of the ivory tower and examine the real statistics. The citizens cannot be befooled. The farmer is getting less than Rs. 30 a kg for arhar daal, while the sale price in the market is Rs.100. The pertinent question is: who corners the profit of Rs. 60 to Rs. 70? The government should come out of Mission America and look into the affairs of the common masses.
A while ago, the Union Food Minister put the blame for the rise in prices on the State governments. Everyone knows that the Central government is accountable for agriculture-related laws, such as those concerning the public distribution system, the procurement of produce, the minimum support price of commodities, and so on, which are linked to inflation. If the State governments are to be blamed for inflation, the prices of essential commodities should vary from State to State, and particularly the Congress-ruled States should not have any inflation. But that is not the case: the price of arhar daal is Rs. 80 in Lucknow, and the same is the case in Delhi and Mumbai. If the price of onion rises in Hyderabad, it does so in Jaipur, too. It seems the Food Minister has lost confidence in himself and in his government to prices under check. Probably that is the reason he is putting the blame on the State governments. Why are farmers committing suicide in Congress-governed States such as Maharashtra and Andhra Pradesh, although these States are actually richer in comparison to other States. Where the Union Agriculture Minister comes from, there are more suicides than in other areas.
Now the Congress is also getting sceptical and trying to put all the blame on Sharad Pawar. The entire government has to take joint responsibility for good and bad work. The responsibility for the price rise goes back to the Cabinet, including the Prime Minister. But we cannot entirely blame the Congress for this because it has the old diabolical policy of gulping sugary stuff and spitting out bitter material. The Congress took all the credit for the benefits of the policies of economic liberalisation that were initiated by the Narasimha Rao government. But when it came to the demolition of the Babri Masjid, the onus lay only on P.V. Narasimha Rao. The Congress remains a Holy Cow.
This year India will import a large quantity of rice. I fail to understand the rationale behind the export and import policies of the government. For years we have had good monsoons and our farmers have produced enough to meet the country’s needs. The question is: where are the reserve stocks? The government should not entirely blame the monsoon; instead, its mismanagement of the situation is to blame. In 2008, when the price of sugar was low in the international market it was high in India and India imported. In 2008, the government framed the relevant policy in such a manner that the sugarcane farmers cultivated less in 2009. This ultimately resulted in the manifold rise of the price of sugar. In 2008 the government imported wheat at a high rate because it failed to manage properly procurements from farmers. The middlemen-hoarders bought wheat at low prices from farmers and manipulated the market.
The root cause for inflation is ‘commodity exchange’. The prices of produce escalate three-fold as they pass from the farmer to the consumer. Faulty procurement policies lead farmers to sell their produce to middlemen or through the ‘commodity exchange’ process. The hoarders release or sell the produce as they wish, particularly when the market is up. The farmer should be enabled to sell in States other than his own, avoiding the nuisance of the middleman.
I do not understand the complex jargon of the economists, but one thing I know: an increase in food subsidy and an effective public distribution system ensure low prices for the common man. The United Progressive Alliance government has failed on both these counts. It is well understood that in order to meet the people’s needs, we have to produce more, foil the hoarders and confiscate what they hoard. In India, the per hectare production is less than that in China, Bangladesh and Indonesia. This means that after the Green Revolution phase we have ignored the agriculture sector. Our farmers suffer for the lack of a viable credit facility, a poor procurement mechanism, and expensive farm inputs such as seed, fertilizer and diesel. Today the situation facing agrarian India is so pathetic that more than 80 per cent of the farmers want to leave farming.
The government’s polices are going horribly wrong and these are totally anti-farmer. Without thinking of the farmer’s plight, the government has allowed multinational companies to do business in the retail sector. It has signed a free trade agreement with countries of the Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN) without thinking about its repercussions. I feel that the government is now more keen to help farmers and industrial houses in other countries at the cost of domestic farmers.
Only governmental encouragement of farmers and the procurement of their produce can change the dynamics of cultivation and the position of farmers. Boosting the incomes of small and big farmers will not only enhance their means of livelihood but safeguard them from the anguish of suicides. When there is no shortage of capital in the country, priority should be accorded to the development of farmers and agriculture.
At a Cabinet Sub-Committee meeting on October 21, 2009, the Commerce Minister said the government would provide enough food materials to the people at appropriate prices. We understand that everything is available in the market, but they are two to three times more expensive than was the case earlier — which puts them beyond the reach of the common people.
( Amar Singh is the general secretary of the Samajwadi Party.)
Amar Singh
Prices of essential commodities such as pulses, rice, sugar and vegetables keep going up, but income for common man hasn't risen. Photo:Mohammed Yousuf
The citizens cannot be befooled. The farmer is getting less than Rs. 30 a kg for arhar daal, while the sale price in the market is Rs.100. The pertinent question is: who corners the profit of Rs. 60 to Rs. 70? The government should come out of Mission America and look into the affairs of the common masses.
Life for the aam aadmi, or the common person, is becoming increasingly difficult owing to the all-round price rise across the country. It bites into the real incomes of the people. The situation has worsened owing to the several rounds of price increases effected for petroleum products, which has had an alarming impact on the prices of several commodities.
Another aspect of the price rise phenomenon is that people are paying more for basic services such as health, education and transport. One of the reasons for the rising indebtedness among families is the increasing cost of health care, which is linked to the escalating cost of drugs. Inflation, combined with policies of privatisation, has caused a complete deterioration in living standards. The large majority of the working people in India are in the unorganised sector. Their incomes fluctuate, and they have no protection against rising prices. Prices have risen, but not incomes. We know about the acute agrarian distress and the incidence of suicide among farmers in many parts of India. Some international agencies have pointed to a most disturbing trend of increasing malnutrition in India, particularly among children and women.
India has witnessed periods of inflation even earlier, but over the last two years there has been no end to this trend, and the situation is going from bad to worse. The government remains a mute spectator. According to figures released by the Commerce Ministry, as on November 28, 2009, the food price index had risen at the rate of 19.05 per cent, the highest rate in the last 11 years. Prices of essential commodities such as pulses, rice, sugar and vegetables keep going up. If this trend of inflation continues for a prolonged period, the possibility of food riots occurring in India cannot be ignored.
Over a period of time, the Central government has been providing various excuses for this menacing situation. In 2007, when inflation intensified, it was said to be a seasonal phenomenon that would pass in a matter of a few days. After some time the Finance Minister said that inflation was an outcome of economic growth. Subsequently, when the country witnessed a period of drought it was stated that because of low production the supply side had become weak.
In November 2009, the Prime Minister said during one of his televised interactions that because of the price rise our farmers would get more for their produce. He said that would benefit 75 per cent of the farmers: for that, 25 per cent of the people would have to manage accordingly. The same was the opinion expressed by one of the Ministers of State (of Home Affairs) who belongs to Uttar Pradesh. The government-determined procurement rate of pulses was raised to Rs. 3,000 a quintal (Rs.30 a kg), while a kg of daal in the open market costs Rs. 90 to Rs. 100. The government should come out of the ivory tower and examine the real statistics. The citizens cannot be befooled. The farmer is getting less than Rs. 30 a kg for arhar daal, while the sale price in the market is Rs.100. The pertinent question is: who corners the profit of Rs. 60 to Rs. 70? The government should come out of Mission America and look into the affairs of the common masses.
A while ago, the Union Food Minister put the blame for the rise in prices on the State governments. Everyone knows that the Central government is accountable for agriculture-related laws, such as those concerning the public distribution system, the procurement of produce, the minimum support price of commodities, and so on, which are linked to inflation. If the State governments are to be blamed for inflation, the prices of essential commodities should vary from State to State, and particularly the Congress-ruled States should not have any inflation. But that is not the case: the price of arhar daal is Rs. 80 in Lucknow, and the same is the case in Delhi and Mumbai. If the price of onion rises in Hyderabad, it does so in Jaipur, too. It seems the Food Minister has lost confidence in himself and in his government to prices under check. Probably that is the reason he is putting the blame on the State governments. Why are farmers committing suicide in Congress-governed States such as Maharashtra and Andhra Pradesh, although these States are actually richer in comparison to other States. Where the Union Agriculture Minister comes from, there are more suicides than in other areas.
Now the Congress is also getting sceptical and trying to put all the blame on Sharad Pawar. The entire government has to take joint responsibility for good and bad work. The responsibility for the price rise goes back to the Cabinet, including the Prime Minister. But we cannot entirely blame the Congress for this because it has the old diabolical policy of gulping sugary stuff and spitting out bitter material. The Congress took all the credit for the benefits of the policies of economic liberalisation that were initiated by the Narasimha Rao government. But when it came to the demolition of the Babri Masjid, the onus lay only on P.V. Narasimha Rao. The Congress remains a Holy Cow.
This year India will import a large quantity of rice. I fail to understand the rationale behind the export and import policies of the government. For years we have had good monsoons and our farmers have produced enough to meet the country’s needs. The question is: where are the reserve stocks? The government should not entirely blame the monsoon; instead, its mismanagement of the situation is to blame. In 2008, when the price of sugar was low in the international market it was high in India and India imported. In 2008, the government framed the relevant policy in such a manner that the sugarcane farmers cultivated less in 2009. This ultimately resulted in the manifold rise of the price of sugar. In 2008 the government imported wheat at a high rate because it failed to manage properly procurements from farmers. The middlemen-hoarders bought wheat at low prices from farmers and manipulated the market.
The root cause for inflation is ‘commodity exchange’. The prices of produce escalate three-fold as they pass from the farmer to the consumer. Faulty procurement policies lead farmers to sell their produce to middlemen or through the ‘commodity exchange’ process. The hoarders release or sell the produce as they wish, particularly when the market is up. The farmer should be enabled to sell in States other than his own, avoiding the nuisance of the middleman.
I do not understand the complex jargon of the economists, but one thing I know: an increase in food subsidy and an effective public distribution system ensure low prices for the common man. The United Progressive Alliance government has failed on both these counts. It is well understood that in order to meet the people’s needs, we have to produce more, foil the hoarders and confiscate what they hoard. In India, the per hectare production is less than that in China, Bangladesh and Indonesia. This means that after the Green Revolution phase we have ignored the agriculture sector. Our farmers suffer for the lack of a viable credit facility, a poor procurement mechanism, and expensive farm inputs such as seed, fertilizer and diesel. Today the situation facing agrarian India is so pathetic that more than 80 per cent of the farmers want to leave farming.
The government’s polices are going horribly wrong and these are totally anti-farmer. Without thinking of the farmer’s plight, the government has allowed multinational companies to do business in the retail sector. It has signed a free trade agreement with countries of the Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN) without thinking about its repercussions. I feel that the government is now more keen to help farmers and industrial houses in other countries at the cost of domestic farmers.
Only governmental encouragement of farmers and the procurement of their produce can change the dynamics of cultivation and the position of farmers. Boosting the incomes of small and big farmers will not only enhance their means of livelihood but safeguard them from the anguish of suicides. When there is no shortage of capital in the country, priority should be accorded to the development of farmers and agriculture.
At a Cabinet Sub-Committee meeting on October 21, 2009, the Commerce Minister said the government would provide enough food materials to the people at appropriate prices. We understand that everything is available in the market, but they are two to three times more expensive than was the case earlier — which puts them beyond the reach of the common people.
( Amar Singh is the general secretary of the Samajwadi Party.)
Thursday, December 31, 2009
SALARY STRUCTURE - The `3 Cs' rule to rewarding and keeping salespeople engaged
Planning the ideal sales force incentive compensation programme is very challenging. Pay enough, and you'll energize your salespeople.
Pay too much, and you'll throw money away while turning salespeople into loafers who can get by on fewer sales.
Pay too little, and you'll drive your best salespeople away.
But how much is enough, too much or too little? How can you find the perfect balance?
Luckily, sales and marketing experts Andris A. Zoltners, Prabhakant Sinha and Sally E.Lorimer are here to help. They offer an essential map for developing and implementing the ideal compensation incentive plan for your salespeople.
According to the authors, you should begin with a budget and ask how much you can allocate to pay salespeople.
Decide what ratio of their compensation should be salary as opposed to incentives or bonuses. Do you want to vary their pay depending on performance? Ensure that bonuses or short-term incentives emphasize achievement and don't divert salespeople from their main mission. As you establish a plan, avoid complexity. Build on past successes as you keep an eye on your future sales needs.
GetAbstract recommends this instructive guide to sales managers who want to do a better job of meeting their personnel needs and, thus, their sales targets.
The authors say that a good sales incentive compensation plan should meet the "3 Cs" rule. It should be "consistent" with company strategy, "compatible" with related programmes, and "consequential"--that is, it should change sales results. However, poor sales results do not necessarily mean that the sales incentive compensation plan is flawed. The problem may come from the sales force's structure, size, training or territories. The firm may need to redraw territories, hire better managers, provide improved data and tools, or make other changes before it alters its compensation scheme.
The three authors advise that you establish the right criteria for evaluating performance before rewarding it. Measure sales results, such as gross margin, orders, collections, sales per rep, market share and value perception. Also, assess customer results. Calculate your number of repeat buyers, how deeply you have saturated the market, how much sales are increasing, and whether consumers are content and loyal. Monitor how well your reps handle prospecting, sending out proposals, serving customers and controlling account turnover. Create "objective, measurable, fair, adaptable and understandable" criteria that measure only those factors that salespeople determine by their own actions.
The book recommends that you use a commission plan if your salespeople work independently to make sales happen. Bonus plans give managers flexibility if needed, for instance, to reassign territories. Make sure that performance drives sales earnings, not individual geographic assignments.
If numerous corporate divisions share the same sales force, don't create an incentive plan with different performance metrics for each unit.
That encourages salespeople to cherry-pick the simplest process for earning their pay.
Aggregate your performance measures to ensure a "balanced selling effort". Set sales goals that build excitement.
Increase the payout rate as people come close to their objectives. Keep the plan simple, fair and encouraging.
Stay informed of the current compensation trends, suggest the authors. Weigh up "labour market values" for your sales jobs as well as past pay levels, budget, the degree of control a salesperson exerts over sales and customers, what your competitors pay, and the role each salesperson plays, internally or out in the field. Examine how much authority salespeople have to drive sales.
Consider your firm's salary standards, and local and industry compensation norms.
Seek data on pay standards when you interview prospective or departing salespeople.
Complex or highly technical sales work should earn more.
Redo your firm's sales incentive compensation plan periodically so it remains current and continues to engage and energize your salespeople.
Most firms make adjustments, at least around the edges, every year, and make wholesale changes every two-three years.
Rolf Dobelli is chairman of getAbstract. The Complete Guide to Sales Force Incentive Compensation: How to Design and Implement Plans That Work Andris A. Zoltners, Prabhakant Sinha & Sally E. Lorimer AMACOM, 2006, 496 pages List price: $65.00 ISBN13: 9780814473245
Planning the ideal sales force incentive compensation programme is very challenging. Pay enough, and you'll energize your salespeople.
Pay too much, and you'll throw money away while turning salespeople into loafers who can get by on fewer sales.
Pay too little, and you'll drive your best salespeople away.
But how much is enough, too much or too little? How can you find the perfect balance?
Luckily, sales and marketing experts Andris A. Zoltners, Prabhakant Sinha and Sally E.
Lorimer are here to help. They offer an essential map for developing and implementing the ideal compensation incentive plan for your salespeople.
According to the authors, you should begin with a budget and ask how much you can allocate to pay salespeople.
Decide what ratio of their compensation should be salary as opposed to incentives or bonuses. Do you want to vary their pay depending on performance? Ensure that bonuses or short-term incentives emphasize achievement and don't divert salespeople from their main mission. As you establish a plan, avoid complexity. Build on past successes as you keep an eye on your future sales needs.
GetAbstract recommends this instructive guide to sales managers who want to do a better job of meeting their personnel needs and, thus, their sales targets.
The authors say that a good sales incentive compensation plan should meet the "3 Cs" rule. It should be "consistent" with company strategy, "compatible" with related programmes, and "consequential"--that is, it should change sales results. However, poor sales results do not necessarily mean that the sales incentive compensation plan is flawed. The problem may come from the sales force's structure, size, training or territories. The firm may need to redraw territories, hire better managers, provide improved data and tools, or make other changes before it alters its compensation scheme.
The three authors advise that you establish the right criteria for evaluating performance before rewarding it. Measure sales results, such as gross margin, orders, collections, sales per rep, market share and value perception. Also, assess customer results. Calculate your number of repeat buyers, how deeply you have saturated the market, how much sales are increasing, and whether consumers are content and loyal. Monitor how well your reps handle prospecting, sending out proposals, serving customers and controlling account turnover. Create "objective, measurable, fair, adaptable and understandable" criteria that measure only those factors that salespeople determine by their own actions.
The book recommends that you use a commission plan if your salespeople work independently to make sales happen. Bonus plans give managers flexibility if needed, for instance, to reassign territories. Make sure that performance drives sales earnings, not individual geographic assignments.
If numerous corporate divisions share the same sales force, don't create an incentive plan with different performance metrics for each unit.
That encourages salespeople to cherry-pick the simplest process for earning their pay.
Aggregate your performance measures to ensure a "balanced selling effort". Set sales goals that build excitement.
Increase the payout rate as people come close to their objectives. Keep the plan simple, fair and encouraging.
Stay informed of the current compensation trends, suggest the authors. Weigh up "labour market values" for your sales jobs as well as past pay levels, budget, the degree of control a salesperson exerts over sales and customers, what your competitors pay, and the role each salesperson plays, internally or out in the field. Examine how much authority salespeople have to drive sales.
Consider your firm's salary standards, and local and industry compensation norms.
Seek data on pay standards when you interview prospective or departing salespeople.
Complex or highly technical sales work should earn more.
Redo your firm's sales incentive compensation plan periodically so it remains current and continues to engage and energize your salespeople.
Most firms make adjustments, at least around the edges, every year, and make wholesale changes every two-three years.
Rolf Dobelli is chairman of getAbstract. The Complete Guide to Sales Force Incentive Compensation: How to Design and Implement Plans That Work Andris A. Zoltners, Prabhakant Sinha & Sally E. Lorimer AMACOM, 2006, 496 pages List price: $65.00 ISBN13: 9780814473245
Planning the ideal sales force incentive compensation programme is very challenging. Pay enough, and you'll energize your salespeople.
Pay too much, and you'll throw money away while turning salespeople into loafers who can get by on fewer sales.
Pay too little, and you'll drive your best salespeople away.
But how much is enough, too much or too little? How can you find the perfect balance?
Luckily, sales and marketing experts Andris A. Zoltners, Prabhakant Sinha and Sally E.Lorimer are here to help. They offer an essential map for developing and implementing the ideal compensation incentive plan for your salespeople.
According to the authors, you should begin with a budget and ask how much you can allocate to pay salespeople.
Decide what ratio of their compensation should be salary as opposed to incentives or bonuses. Do you want to vary their pay depending on performance? Ensure that bonuses or short-term incentives emphasize achievement and don't divert salespeople from their main mission. As you establish a plan, avoid complexity. Build on past successes as you keep an eye on your future sales needs.
GetAbstract recommends this instructive guide to sales managers who want to do a better job of meeting their personnel needs and, thus, their sales targets.
The authors say that a good sales incentive compensation plan should meet the "3 Cs" rule. It should be "consistent" with company strategy, "compatible" with related programmes, and "consequential"--that is, it should change sales results. However, poor sales results do not necessarily mean that the sales incentive compensation plan is flawed. The problem may come from the sales force's structure, size, training or territories. The firm may need to redraw territories, hire better managers, provide improved data and tools, or make other changes before it alters its compensation scheme.
The three authors advise that you establish the right criteria for evaluating performance before rewarding it. Measure sales results, such as gross margin, orders, collections, sales per rep, market share and value perception. Also, assess customer results. Calculate your number of repeat buyers, how deeply you have saturated the market, how much sales are increasing, and whether consumers are content and loyal. Monitor how well your reps handle prospecting, sending out proposals, serving customers and controlling account turnover. Create "objective, measurable, fair, adaptable and understandable" criteria that measure only those factors that salespeople determine by their own actions.
The book recommends that you use a commission plan if your salespeople work independently to make sales happen. Bonus plans give managers flexibility if needed, for instance, to reassign territories. Make sure that performance drives sales earnings, not individual geographic assignments.
If numerous corporate divisions share the same sales force, don't create an incentive plan with different performance metrics for each unit.
That encourages salespeople to cherry-pick the simplest process for earning their pay.
Aggregate your performance measures to ensure a "balanced selling effort". Set sales goals that build excitement.
Increase the payout rate as people come close to their objectives. Keep the plan simple, fair and encouraging.
Stay informed of the current compensation trends, suggest the authors. Weigh up "labour market values" for your sales jobs as well as past pay levels, budget, the degree of control a salesperson exerts over sales and customers, what your competitors pay, and the role each salesperson plays, internally or out in the field. Examine how much authority salespeople have to drive sales.
Consider your firm's salary standards, and local and industry compensation norms.
Seek data on pay standards when you interview prospective or departing salespeople.
Complex or highly technical sales work should earn more.
Redo your firm's sales incentive compensation plan periodically so it remains current and continues to engage and energize your salespeople.
Most firms make adjustments, at least around the edges, every year, and make wholesale changes every two-three years.
Rolf Dobelli is chairman of getAbstract. The Complete Guide to Sales Force Incentive Compensation: How to Design and Implement Plans That Work Andris A. Zoltners, Prabhakant Sinha & Sally E. Lorimer AMACOM, 2006, 496 pages List price: $65.00 ISBN13: 9780814473245
Planning the ideal sales force incentive compensation programme is very challenging. Pay enough, and you'll energize your salespeople.
Pay too much, and you'll throw money away while turning salespeople into loafers who can get by on fewer sales.
Pay too little, and you'll drive your best salespeople away.
But how much is enough, too much or too little? How can you find the perfect balance?
Luckily, sales and marketing experts Andris A. Zoltners, Prabhakant Sinha and Sally E.
Lorimer are here to help. They offer an essential map for developing and implementing the ideal compensation incentive plan for your salespeople.
According to the authors, you should begin with a budget and ask how much you can allocate to pay salespeople.
Decide what ratio of their compensation should be salary as opposed to incentives or bonuses. Do you want to vary their pay depending on performance? Ensure that bonuses or short-term incentives emphasize achievement and don't divert salespeople from their main mission. As you establish a plan, avoid complexity. Build on past successes as you keep an eye on your future sales needs.
GetAbstract recommends this instructive guide to sales managers who want to do a better job of meeting their personnel needs and, thus, their sales targets.
The authors say that a good sales incentive compensation plan should meet the "3 Cs" rule. It should be "consistent" with company strategy, "compatible" with related programmes, and "consequential"--that is, it should change sales results. However, poor sales results do not necessarily mean that the sales incentive compensation plan is flawed. The problem may come from the sales force's structure, size, training or territories. The firm may need to redraw territories, hire better managers, provide improved data and tools, or make other changes before it alters its compensation scheme.
The three authors advise that you establish the right criteria for evaluating performance before rewarding it. Measure sales results, such as gross margin, orders, collections, sales per rep, market share and value perception. Also, assess customer results. Calculate your number of repeat buyers, how deeply you have saturated the market, how much sales are increasing, and whether consumers are content and loyal. Monitor how well your reps handle prospecting, sending out proposals, serving customers and controlling account turnover. Create "objective, measurable, fair, adaptable and understandable" criteria that measure only those factors that salespeople determine by their own actions.
The book recommends that you use a commission plan if your salespeople work independently to make sales happen. Bonus plans give managers flexibility if needed, for instance, to reassign territories. Make sure that performance drives sales earnings, not individual geographic assignments.
If numerous corporate divisions share the same sales force, don't create an incentive plan with different performance metrics for each unit.
That encourages salespeople to cherry-pick the simplest process for earning their pay.
Aggregate your performance measures to ensure a "balanced selling effort". Set sales goals that build excitement.
Increase the payout rate as people come close to their objectives. Keep the plan simple, fair and encouraging.
Stay informed of the current compensation trends, suggest the authors. Weigh up "labour market values" for your sales jobs as well as past pay levels, budget, the degree of control a salesperson exerts over sales and customers, what your competitors pay, and the role each salesperson plays, internally or out in the field. Examine how much authority salespeople have to drive sales.
Consider your firm's salary standards, and local and industry compensation norms.
Seek data on pay standards when you interview prospective or departing salespeople.
Complex or highly technical sales work should earn more.
Redo your firm's sales incentive compensation plan periodically so it remains current and continues to engage and energize your salespeople.
Most firms make adjustments, at least around the edges, every year, and make wholesale changes every two-three years.
Rolf Dobelli is chairman of getAbstract. The Complete Guide to Sales Force Incentive Compensation: How to Design and Implement Plans That Work Andris A. Zoltners, Prabhakant Sinha & Sally E. Lorimer AMACOM, 2006, 496 pages List price: $65.00 ISBN13: 9780814473245
Wednesday, December 30, 2009
www.sikkimrhododendrons2010.com
International Rhododendron Festival on internet for global promotion
Click on www.sikkimrhododendrons2010.com
BIJOY GURUNG
GANGTOK, December 28: Sikkim Tourism is expected to hit a new benchmark by celebrating the Year 2010 as the Year of Tourism where the Himalayan State is offering a plethora of attractions to the tourists ranging from nature, adventure, ecotourism and pilgrimage tourism.
Ushering in the eventual year for Sikkim Tourism will be the showpiece event, the International Rhododendron Festival (IRF) 2010 scheduled to woo the nature lovers from April 25 next year.
Sikkim is the treasure trove of rhododendrons of the nation with 36 species of Rhododendrons which is 72 percent of the country's rhododendrons.
Seeking to encash on this rich natural resource, the State government has visualized and initiated the IRF whose inaugural function has been scheduled to be held at Singba Rhododendron Sanctuary in North Sikkim on April 25 and will conclude on May 15, the best season for tourism in Sikkim.
Singba Rhododendron Sanctuary in North Sikkim is the repository of over 30 species of rhododendrons which are the glory of Sikkim Himalayas.
The more areas of natural habitat of rhododendrons trails like Lachen, Zema, Thangu, Tholung Kesongla in North Sikkim, Kyongnosla Alpine Sanctuary in East Sikkim and Barsey Rhododendron Sanctuary in West Sikkim will be the major destinations covered under this festival, said State forest secretary ST Lachungpa.
The closing ceremony of the IRF would be held at Barsey Rhododendron Sanctuary in West Sikkim in April 2011.
By the year 2015, we are targeting to have 10 lakhs tourist arrivals in Sikkim annually, said Dhungel, Tourism Minister-Sikkim. He acknowledged the support of Ministry of Tourism and local stakeholders in the overall growth of tourism in Sikkim.
More than 5 lakhs tourists have visited Sikkim this year.
The IRF 2010 is aimed to generate awareness and promote conservation of Sikkim’s rich heritage of rhododendrons at a global level. The festival is slated to offer a unique eco-tourism package, to highlight cultural heritage and ‘close to nature’ experience to the visitors.
“This area of eco-tourism will facilitate the tourists to travel in undisturbed areas of uncontaminated natural beauty with specific objectives of studying, admiring and enjoying the scenery and its wild plants, flowers and animals by the nature lovers, trekkers, scholars, scientists, mountaineers and tourists of national and international level as well”, said Lachungpa. He added that Rhododendron Festival will be held annually for a period of 15-20 days from 2010.
The forest secretary pointed out that there has been a tremendous growth in forest areas, green cover, wildlife and biodiversity in Sikkim in recent years due to conservation measures of the State government.
The main events of the IRF 2010 are live rhododendron show, trekking for adventure tourists, nature camps, bird watching, wildlife watching through wildlife trail, mountain biking, angling for trout fish, food festival, exhibition of local handicrafts and culture shows.
Travel Agents Association of Sikkim (TAAS) is actively participating to make the event a success along with other local stakeholders.
TAAS general secretary Lukendra Rasaily, vice president Sailesh Pradhan and other members of the organization were also present during the website launching ceremony.
CCFs HP Pradhan and Pradeep Kumar were also present on the occasion.
Speaking on the occasion, State tourism secretary SBS Bhaduriya said that the tourism department is preparing the calendar of activities for the Year of Tourism. The calendar will be released to the media as soon as it is finalized, he said.
The website on the IRF 2010 offers all the required information to tourists and visitors seeking to know about the festival and other allied tourism activities. It also provides credible knowledge about the local rhododendron species found in Sikkim.
Click on www.sikkimrhododendrons2010.com
BIJOY GURUNG
GANGTOK, December 28: Sikkim Tourism is expected to hit a new benchmark by celebrating the Year 2010 as the Year of Tourism where the Himalayan State is offering a plethora of attractions to the tourists ranging from nature, adventure, ecotourism and pilgrimage tourism.
Ushering in the eventual year for Sikkim Tourism will be the showpiece event, the International Rhododendron Festival (IRF) 2010 scheduled to woo the nature lovers from April 25 next year.
Sikkim is the treasure trove of rhododendrons of the nation with 36 species of Rhododendrons which is 72 percent of the country's rhododendrons.
Seeking to encash on this rich natural resource, the State government has visualized and initiated the IRF whose inaugural function has been scheduled to be held at Singba Rhododendron Sanctuary in North Sikkim on April 25 and will conclude on May 15, the best season for tourism in Sikkim.
Singba Rhododendron Sanctuary in North Sikkim is the repository of over 30 species of rhododendrons which are the glory of Sikkim Himalayas.
The more areas of natural habitat of rhododendrons trails like Lachen, Zema, Thangu, Tholung Kesongla in North Sikkim, Kyongnosla Alpine Sanctuary in East Sikkim and Barsey Rhododendron Sanctuary in West Sikkim will be the major destinations covered under this festival, said State forest secretary ST Lachungpa.
The closing ceremony of the IRF would be held at Barsey Rhododendron Sanctuary in West Sikkim in April 2011.
By the year 2015, we are targeting to have 10 lakhs tourist arrivals in Sikkim annually, said Dhungel, Tourism Minister-Sikkim. He acknowledged the support of Ministry of Tourism and local stakeholders in the overall growth of tourism in Sikkim.
More than 5 lakhs tourists have visited Sikkim this year.
The IRF 2010 is aimed to generate awareness and promote conservation of Sikkim’s rich heritage of rhododendrons at a global level. The festival is slated to offer a unique eco-tourism package, to highlight cultural heritage and ‘close to nature’ experience to the visitors.
“This area of eco-tourism will facilitate the tourists to travel in undisturbed areas of uncontaminated natural beauty with specific objectives of studying, admiring and enjoying the scenery and its wild plants, flowers and animals by the nature lovers, trekkers, scholars, scientists, mountaineers and tourists of national and international level as well”, said Lachungpa. He added that Rhododendron Festival will be held annually for a period of 15-20 days from 2010.
The forest secretary pointed out that there has been a tremendous growth in forest areas, green cover, wildlife and biodiversity in Sikkim in recent years due to conservation measures of the State government.
The main events of the IRF 2010 are live rhododendron show, trekking for adventure tourists, nature camps, bird watching, wildlife watching through wildlife trail, mountain biking, angling for trout fish, food festival, exhibition of local handicrafts and culture shows.
Travel Agents Association of Sikkim (TAAS) is actively participating to make the event a success along with other local stakeholders.
TAAS general secretary Lukendra Rasaily, vice president Sailesh Pradhan and other members of the organization were also present during the website launching ceremony.
CCFs HP Pradhan and Pradeep Kumar were also present on the occasion.
Speaking on the occasion, State tourism secretary SBS Bhaduriya said that the tourism department is preparing the calendar of activities for the Year of Tourism. The calendar will be released to the media as soon as it is finalized, he said.
The website on the IRF 2010 offers all the required information to tourists and visitors seeking to know about the festival and other allied tourism activities. It also provides credible knowledge about the local rhododendron species found in Sikkim.
Poor sofa choice can lead to back pain
A combination of poorly designed chairs and lack of activity can soon lead to back pain, according to a spinal health association in Germany.
People who spend long hours without distraction before a monitor or TV are candidates for back problems, reports AGR, an organization devoted to improving spinal health. That’s why customers need to be sure when they buy upholstered furniture that they take their individual needs into account.
That means seats need to align with a person’s upper thighs and that the height of the seat can be adjusted. The seat also must be wide enough and the back needs to be adjustable and up to shoulder height.
Built-in back or lumbar supports also help, advises the AGR. But, beyond buying the right furniture, more activity is always a good idea to rid oneself of back pain or prevent it in the first place.
A combination of poorly designed chairs and lack of activity can soon lead to back pain, according to a spinal health association in Germany.
People who spend long hours without distraction before a monitor or TV are candidates for back problems, reports AGR, an organization devoted to improving spinal health. That’s why customers need to be sure when they buy upholstered furniture that they take their individual needs into account.
That means seats need to align with a person’s upper thighs and that the height of the seat can be adjusted. The seat also must be wide enough and the back needs to be adjustable and up to shoulder height.
Built-in back or lumbar supports also help, advises the AGR. But, beyond buying the right furniture, more activity is always a good idea to rid oneself of back pain or prevent it in the first place.
Arctic could go ice-free’
The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) has warned that the Arctic could face seasonally ice-free conditions and much warmer temperatures in the future which may lead to intensified storms and increased winter precipitation.
The USGS scientists have found evidence that the Arctic Ocean and Nordic Seas were too warm to support summer sea ice during the mid-Pliocene period, over three million years ago, when temperatures were similar to those projected for the end of this century.
They said the warm period is also used as an analogy to understand future conditions.
“In looking back 3 million years, we see a very different pattern of heat distribution than today with much warmer waters in the high latitudes,” said USGS scientist Marci Robinson.
Robinson said: “The lack of summer sea ice during the mid-Pliocene suggests that the record-setting melting of Arctic sea ice over the past few years could be an early warning of more significant changes to come.”
Loss of sea ice could have varied and extensive consequences, such as contributions to continued Arctic warming, accelerated coastal erosion due to increased wave activity, impacts to large predators like polar bears and seals that depend on sea ice cover, the USGS Website said.
The U.S. body found that summer sea-surface temperatures in the Arctic were between 10°C to 18°C during the mid-Pliocene, while current temperatures are around or below 0°C.
Examining past climate conditions allows for a true understanding of how earth’s climate system really functions.
USGS research on the mid-Pliocene is the most comprehensive global reconstruction for any warm period. This will help refine climate models, which currently underestimate the rate of sea ice loss in the Arctic.
Global average surface temperatures during the mid-Pliocene were about 3°C greater than today and within the range projected for the 21st century by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change.
Scientists studied conditions during the mid-Pliocene by analysing fossils dated back to this time period.
It could also intensify mid-latitude storm tracks and increase winter precipitation in western and southern Europe, and less rainfall in the American west.
The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) has warned that the Arctic could face seasonally ice-free conditions and much warmer temperatures in the future which may lead to intensified storms and increased winter precipitation.
The USGS scientists have found evidence that the Arctic Ocean and Nordic Seas were too warm to support summer sea ice during the mid-Pliocene period, over three million years ago, when temperatures were similar to those projected for the end of this century.
They said the warm period is also used as an analogy to understand future conditions.
“In looking back 3 million years, we see a very different pattern of heat distribution than today with much warmer waters in the high latitudes,” said USGS scientist Marci Robinson.
Robinson said: “The lack of summer sea ice during the mid-Pliocene suggests that the record-setting melting of Arctic sea ice over the past few years could be an early warning of more significant changes to come.”
Loss of sea ice could have varied and extensive consequences, such as contributions to continued Arctic warming, accelerated coastal erosion due to increased wave activity, impacts to large predators like polar bears and seals that depend on sea ice cover, the USGS Website said.
The U.S. body found that summer sea-surface temperatures in the Arctic were between 10°C to 18°C during the mid-Pliocene, while current temperatures are around or below 0°C.
Examining past climate conditions allows for a true understanding of how earth’s climate system really functions.
USGS research on the mid-Pliocene is the most comprehensive global reconstruction for any warm period. This will help refine climate models, which currently underestimate the rate of sea ice loss in the Arctic.
Global average surface temperatures during the mid-Pliocene were about 3°C greater than today and within the range projected for the 21st century by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change.
Scientists studied conditions during the mid-Pliocene by analysing fossils dated back to this time period.
It could also intensify mid-latitude storm tracks and increase winter precipitation in western and southern Europe, and less rainfall in the American west.
INDIAN RAILWAYS: REPORT CARD 2009-
The year 2009 has been significant for the Railways in achieving goals and targets with regard to the following:
IMPLEMENTATION OF DEDICATED FREIGHT PROJECTS
Progress has been made in the implementation of Western and Eastern Dedicated Freight Corridor (DFC) projects in the current year. Japanese ODA assistance for Western DFC project was sanctioned for the first loan of Rs. 130 crore for engagement of Engineering Services Consultancy services for phase-1 (Rewari-Vadodara section). Request for Proposal (RFP) for engaging Engineering Services Consultancy for Phase-I of Western DFC has also been issued by DFCCIL in October, 2009. For the remaining portion of Western DFC i.e. Phase-II, (Mumbai to Vadodra and Revari to Dadri) preparatory survey has been commenced by JICA consultants in November 2009. In case of Eastern Dedicated Freigh Corridor, Asian Development Bank (ADB) sanctioned a Project Preparation Grant of 1.5 million US Dollars for Khurja-Ludhiana section and ADB appointed consultants started feasibility studies in the section in July 2009 and final report is expected by February 2010. For the proposed World Bank funded Khurja-Mughalsarai section of Eastern DFC, important achievements include appointment of General Consultant for Khurja-Kanpur section by DFCCIL.
NEW CONVENIENT SYSTEM FOR ACCREDITED MEDIA PERSONS TO AVAIL CONCESSIONAL TRAIN FARE; FARE CONCESSION EXTENDED FOR RAJDHANI/SHATABDI TRAINS
As a follow up to the announcement made by the Minister of Railways Kumari Mamata Banerjee in her Railway Budget 2009-10 speech, for the convenience of accredited media persons, the Ministry of Railways has decided to replace the existing system of Coupon Books for accredited press correspondents by more convenient Photo Identity Card based system for availing concessional train fare. Photo identification card will be issued by Railways to accredited press correspondents instead of coupons books. Accredited press correspondent will be eligible for 50 per cent concession in the basic fares all classes of Mail/Express trains & all other charges are to be collected in full; and 50 per cent in the all inclusive fares of all classes of Rajdhani/Shatabdi/Jan Shatabdi trains. This concession will not be admissible in Garib Rath trains. The new system of concession based on Photo Identity card and the increased concession on Rajdhani/Shatabdi/Jan Shatabdi trains will be effective from 15th October 2009.
AIR-CONDITIONED ‘YUVA’ TRAINS FOR UNEMPLOYED YOUTH
The first ever ‘Yuva Trains’ which are targeted mainly for the unemployed youths of the country has been introduced between Howrah-Delhi on 30th December 2009. These ‘Yuva’ trains are being introduced to ensure that the youth of low income groups can travel at low rates between major cities. The ‘Yuva Train’ fares will be applicable to unemployed persons also between the age group of 15 to 45 years. Initially, 60 per cent of the total number of coaches will be earmarked for ‘Yuva’ category. The remaining will be earmarked for general passengers (non-Yuva). If successful, these ‘Yuva trains’ will be extended to other areas of the country. The total chargeable fare for Yuva passengers inclusive of all other charges like Reservation Fee, Superfast Train Charge and Development Charge would not exceed Rs.299/- up to a distance of 1500 kms and Rs. 399/- for distance beyond 1500 up to 2500 kms.
‘ONLY LADIES’ SPECIAL EMU TRAIN SERVICES
As announced in the Railway Budget 2009-10, the Ministry of Railways introduced ‘Only Ladies’ Matrabhumi EMU train services in Delhi, Chennai and Kolkata suburban on the pattern of Mumbai suburban as working women face considerable difficulties in traveling for work. These services will run for the convenience of women passengers during office hours.
SUPER FAST PARCEL EXPRESS TRAINS
With a view to attract high value and transit sensitive non-bulk parcel traffic, Indian Railways introduced faster parcel services/premium parcel express trains named “Tejshree Parcel Sewa” between Delhi-Howrah-Delhi, Delhi-Ahmedabad/Vapi-Howrah as a pilot project. This is envisaged as a time-tabled service from dedicated terminals with guaranteed transit time.
DEVELOPMENT OF PRIVATE FREIGHT TERMINALS
With a view to increase Railways market share of automobile traffic and to facilitate aggregation and distribution centres for automobile traffic, a scheme is under finalization for development of automobile hubs near rail heads through Public Private Partnership (PPP) mode. The Railways Minister laid the foundation stone for one such auto hub at Shalimar in West Bengal in November 2009.
A policy is under finalization to facilitate rapid development of a network of freight terminals with private investment to provide efficient and cost effective logistics services to end users including door to door services. Freight terminals can be green field facilities developed by private parties on private land or brown field facilities i.e. existing private sidings/container terminals on private a land which can be permitted to be converted to private freight terminals under the provisions of the proposed policy.
PERISHABLE CARGO CENTRES UNDER KISAN VISION PROJECT
With a view to encourage creation of facilities of setting up cold storage and temperature controlled perishable cargo centres through Public Private Partnership mode, a Task Force of representatives from the concerned ministries, Container corporation of India Ltd. (CONCOR), Central Warehousing Corporation Ltd. (CWC) and cold chain operators, has been constituted to draw up a road map for implementation of the project and identify few locations for pilot project for development of perishable cargo centres. The Pilot Project will be implemented through PSUs engaged in logistics. Foundation stone for the first pilot project under the Kisan Vision Project has been laid by the Minister of Railways at Singur in November 2009.
375 STATIONS TO BE DEVELOPED AS ‘ADARSH’ STATIONS
Ministry of Railways has decided that 17 more railway stations may be added to the existing list of 358 Adarsh Stations. With this, the number of stations selected as ‘Adarsh Stations’ goes upto 375. Railways will develop Adarsh Stations with basic facilities such as drinking water, adequate toilets, catering services, waiting rooms and dormitories especially for lady passengers, better signage and other basic facilities are universally available. Necessary work has already been commenced at various stations.
DEVELOPMENT OF MULTI-FUNCIONAL COMPLEXES
Multi-functional Complexes are being developed at 50 railway stations of serving places of pilgrimage, industry and tourist interest in different parts of the country this year. Multi-functional Complexes in station premises to provide rail users facilities like shopping, food stalls and restaurants, book stalls, PCO/STD/ISD/Fax booths, medicine & variety stores, budget hotels, underground parking etc. Responsibility for development of these facilities will be entrusted to IRCON and Rail Land Development Authority (RLDA) and Zonal Railways. The foundation stone for such first ever Multi-functional complex was laid by the Minister of Railways, Kumari Mamata Banerjee, at Siliguri in October 2009.
PROVISION OF QUALITY FOOD IN TRAINS
Instruction has been issued to Zonal Railways and Indian Railway Catering & Tourism Corporation (IRCTC) in May 2009 for improvement in quality of food in mobile catering units over Indian Railways. Janata meals priced at Rs. 10/- have been revamped on Indian Railways, to meet the catering requirement of common passengers. On an average 1.1 lakh Janata meals are sold every day on Indian Railways through refreshment rooms, food plazas and other catering stalls, etc. To meet the catering requirement of common people, Railways have plans to open Janahaar cafeteria exclusively to sell economy meals and Janta Meals at reasonable rates. Six Janahaar Cafeteria have been commissioned at Howrah, Bangalore, Secunderabad, Chennai, Lucknow and Gorakhpur railway station and five more will be set up shortly at Sealdah, Patna, Kharagpur, New Jalpaiguri and Mysore. Catering services of the similar level of Rajdhani/Shatabdi Express are being provided in newly introduced ‘Duronto’ Trains. All sleeper class passengers of Duronto Trains are also being provided meals on-board. In addition,
IMPROVING COMMUNICATION SYSTEM ON RAILWAYS
During Financial Year 2009-10, about 2500 Route km of Optic Fibre Cable OFC cable laid upto November 2009 by RailTel Corporation of Indian Limited. A total of around 37,000 Route Kms of OFC has so far been laid on Indian Railway system alongside railway track for improving communications. Works for laying 9,000 Kms of OFC further are under progress. Mobile Train Radio Communication system for communication among Train Driver, Guard, Station Master, Control Office and field maintenance staff during run of the train has been commissioned at about 700 Route Kms on Howrah –Dhanbad, Guwahati-New Bongaigaon and Mathura-Jhansi sections. Works are under progress for another 2700 Kms. Walkie-Talkie VHF communication between Guard, Driver & Stations has been provided.
‘IZZAT’ MONTHLY SEASON TICKET SCHEME LAUNCHED
As announced by the Minister of Railways, Kumari Mamata Banerjee, while presenting Railway Budget 2009-10 in the Parliament, the Ministry of Railways introduced a new scheme of uniformly priced Monthly Season Tickets (MSTs) at Rs. 25/- inclusive of all surcharges which will be issued upto a distance of 100 Kilometers to persons working in unorganised sector with monthly income not exceeding Rs. 1500/-. This new scheme is called “Izzat”. These ‘Izzat’ MSTs are being issued for journeys with effect from 01.08.2009.
EXPERT COMMITTEE FOR DEVELOPING BUSINESS MODELS AND INNOVATIVE FUNDING
An Expert Committee under the chairmanship of Dr Amit Mitra, Secretary General, FICCI for developing business models and innovative funding techniques through Public Private Partnership (PPP) instruments has been constituted. The committee has held several meetings and made recommendations which are at various stages of implementation. A five member Expert Committee under the Chairmanship of Shri Sam Pitroda, on the usage of Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) in the Railways has been constituted,
RAILWAYS LAUNCH HISTORIC NON-STOP ‘DURONTO’ TRAINS
Indian Railways added one more feather to its cap when it launched its new class of passenger carrying ‘Duronto’ trains in September 2009. So far seven ‘Duronto’ trains have already been introduced on various major sectors in the country. ‘Duronto’ is a non-stop superfast passenger carrying train in the history of the Railways and heralds a new era of rail travel in the country ensuring better speed, comfort and security for passengers Outer colour scheme design of ‘Duronto’ coaches is distinct. The fare of ‘Duronto’ trains includes the cost of meals.
In addition, 35 new passenger carrying trains were introduced, one Yuva train was introduced, 17 trains were extended and frequency of 8 trains was increased.
TRANSPORTATION OF DRINKING WATER & FODDER FREE OF COST TO DRAUGHT AFFECTED AREAS.
With a view to facilitate better availability of basic commodities like water and fodder to drought affected areas in the country, Ministry of Railways has decided as a special case to permit the transportation of drinking water and fodder by rail, free of charge, to the notified drought affected districts of twelve states at “no cost” to the affected States. These States are Andhra Pradesh, Assam, Bihar, Himachal Pradesh, Jharkhand, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Manipur, Nagaland, Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh. These instructions have come into force with effect from 01.12.2009 and remain valid upto 31.01.2010.
DREAM OF KASHMIR VALLEY PEOPLE FULFILLED
The Prime Minister dedicated to the nation the newly constructed 18 km long rail line between Anantnag and Quazigund, the last stretch of the railway line in the Kashmir Valley in October 2009. Earlier in October 2008 and February 2009, the railway lines from Anantnag to Mazhom (66 km) and Mazhom to Baramulla (35 km) were inaugurated by the Prime Minister. The entire 119 km long rail line from Baramulla to Quazigund in the valley has now become operational covering important stations like Sopore, Hamre, Pattan, Mazhom, Budgam, Srinagar, Pampore, Kakapora, Awantipura, Panjgam, Bijbiara, Anantnag and Sadura in both the directions.
FIRST EVER RAIL LINK WITH SIKKIM
Sikkim will have the first ever rail connectivity with the laying of foundation stone of the new broad gauge railway line between Sikkim’s small township of Rangpo and West Bengal’s border town of Sivok. This 52.7 km long new broad guauge Rangpo-Sivok line will be constructed at a cost of Rs. 1339.48 crore and has been declared as a ‘National Project’ for which 25 per cent of the fund would be provided by Ministry of Railways through their gross budgetary support and balance 75 per cent as an additionality by Ministry of Finance. The survey for further extension of this line from Rangpo upto Sikkim’s capital Gangtok (69 km) has also been completed recently and survey report is under examination in the Ministry of Railways.
IRCTC LAUNCHES TOLL FREE 24X7 HELPLINE
Indian Railways Catering and Tourism Corporation Limited (IRCTC), a public sector undertaking of the Ministry of Railways, has launched a centralised Toll Free telephone No. 1800-111-139 for the convenience of railway users to suggest/grievances relating to catering services on Indian Railways. The facility is available 24x7 on this number and railway passengers can register their complaints/suggestions regarding food and catering services. Wherever possible, action is taken on real time basis for redressal of their grievances.
“139 – Rail Sampark”, the authorized enquiry for Indian Railway has recently introduced the facility of Railway enquiry through SMS which is a premium service. The users can obtain information regarding PNR status, fare, seat availability and arrival/departure by sending SMS in the specified syntax to 139.
ENHANCED FARE CONCESSIONS FOR STUDENTS, AMATEUR ARTISTS & POLICE MEDALISTS
As announced by the Minister of Railways, Kumari Mamata Banerjee in the Railway Budget 2009-10, the Ministry of Railways has decided to extend the facility of free Monthly Season Tickets (MSTs) in 2nd class in the trains to students attending Madrasa, High Madrasa and Senior Madrasa for commuting daily between the stations serving their place of residence and Madrasa. It has also decided that 60 per cent concession in the fares of Metro Rail Kolkata will be granted to both boy and girl students studying in schools/Madrasas/recognized vocational institutions upto classes academically equivalent to class XII. In addition, the Ministry of Railways has decided that amateur artists (theatrical, concert, musical, dancing and magician troups & students-artists of the National School of Drama, New Delhi when traveling alone or in group) who are presently eligible for 50 per cent concession in First Class and 75 per cent concession in Second and Sleeper Classes basic Mail/Express fares will now also be entitled to 50 per cent concession in AC Chair Car, AC 3-tier and AC 2-tier classes in Mail/Express trains and 50 per cent concession will also be granted in the all inclusive fares of Rajdhani/Shatabdi/Jan Shatabdi trains in AC Chair, AC 3-tier and AC 2-tier classes. It has also decided to enhance the concession for Police Personnel of 60 years and above who have received President’s Police Medal for Distinguished Service from 30 per cent to 50 percent for men and 60 per cent for women in the basic fares of Mail/Express trains of all classes and in the all-inclusive fares of Rajdhani/Shatabdi/Jan Shatabdi trains.
INTRODUCTION OF E-PROCUREMENT SYSTEM
E- Procurement System (EPS) is aimed at attaining total transparency in public procurement system of Indian Railways. The E-Procurement Application for Indian Railways (www.ireps.gov.in) has been successfully rolled out by CRIS for 13 Zonal Railways/Production Units. Till now Railways have uploaded over 44192 e-tenders and about 39485 e-tenders have been opened as on December 14, 2009.
UPGRADATION OF DIESEL LOCOMOTIVES, MODIFICATION IN COACHES AND USE OF CNG AND BIO-FUEL
Through indigenous efforts, the Horse Power of EMD diesel locos has been increased from 4000 to 4500 which will permit them to haul heavier loads at higher speeds. It is planned to further upgrade the EMD locos to 5000+ Horse Power. Manufacture of latest technology EMD locomotives has been stepped up to 150 locos in 2009-10. Trials have also been completed and one power car of DMU has been converted to run on dual fuel mode using CNG and further proliferation is in progress. Design for Toilet facilities in DMUs has been finalized by the RDSO. ICF will turn out all the DEMU rakes during the current year with toilets. Railways has placed orders for procurement of bio-diesel. Successful laboratory tests have been carried out by using 10% blend of bio-diesel on Trains. Introduction of these alternative fuels are environment –friendly and reduce dependency on fossil fuels. Bullet proof cabs have been provided for the first time on diesel locomotives working in Lumding – Badarpur section to thwart the threat to running staff in sensitive areas.
EXPORT OF DIESEL LOCOMOTIVES
To promote the export of Diesel Locomotives and securing a niche in the International market, a most modern, new type 3000 HP, Cape Gauge diesel locomotive manufactured by Diesel Locomotive Works (DLW), Varanasi, a production unit of Indian Railways, has been dispatched to Mozambique. This is the first ever 3000 HP locomotive built in DLW for cape gauge.
INNOVATIVE STEPS TAKEN FOR BETTER MEDICAL CARE
Ministry of Railways has decided to open Medical and Nursing Colleges on Railway land with existing Railway Hospital under PPP which will have seats for wards of railway employees. To start with, five places have been identified i.e. Kanchrapara, Kharagpur, Kolkata, Chennai & Guwahati. This will also help to meet shortage of Doctors & Nurses. To augment the medical services, introduction of Senior Residency and DNB programmes (Post Graduate Teaching) have been introduced in Railway hospitals. For procuring quality drug for our railway beneficiaries a new “Drug Procurement Policy” have been introduced. Tele medicine has been started in 18 centres and many more are in process. Hospital Information Management System is being started in Jagjivan Ram Hospital, Western Railway, Mumbai as a pilot project and will be extended to all the hospitals of Indian Railways. To provide medical facilities to retired railway employees membership for Retired Employees Liberalized Health Scheme-97 has been reopened till 31.03.2010 for those retired employees who could not join this scheme earlier.
INTRODUCTION OF LUXURY TOURIST TRAIN
Keeping in consonance with its commitment towards promotion of tourism, the Indian Railways in association with Rajasthan Tourism Development Corporation (RTDC) has launched one more luxury tourist train, Royal Rajasthan on Wheels, on a tourist circuit covering major destinations of Rajasthan besides Agra and Delhi. This is the fourth train in the series and second in association with RTDC, Two more such trains, one in association with IRCTC, called ‘Maharaja Express’ and one with Government of Punjab are in the pipeline.
PHASE-II ‘SCIENCE EXPRESS' & RED RIBBON EXPRESS
The Phase-III of the 'Science Express' which was inaugurated in October 2009 at Gandhinagar will travel to 55 locations, mostly not covered earlier, covering about 18,000 kms in seven months of its journey throughout the country. It is covering the entire length and breadth of the country. The second phase of Red Ribbon Express (RRE), which is a 10-coach exhibition train for creating awareness about HIV/AIDS in the far flung areas, was flagged off on the World AIDS Day.
The year 2009 has been significant for the Railways in achieving goals and targets with regard to the following:
IMPLEMENTATION OF DEDICATED FREIGHT PROJECTS
Progress has been made in the implementation of Western and Eastern Dedicated Freight Corridor (DFC) projects in the current year. Japanese ODA assistance for Western DFC project was sanctioned for the first loan of Rs. 130 crore for engagement of Engineering Services Consultancy services for phase-1 (Rewari-Vadodara section). Request for Proposal (RFP) for engaging Engineering Services Consultancy for Phase-I of Western DFC has also been issued by DFCCIL in October, 2009. For the remaining portion of Western DFC i.e. Phase-II, (Mumbai to Vadodra and Revari to Dadri) preparatory survey has been commenced by JICA consultants in November 2009. In case of Eastern Dedicated Freigh Corridor, Asian Development Bank (ADB) sanctioned a Project Preparation Grant of 1.5 million US Dollars for Khurja-Ludhiana section and ADB appointed consultants started feasibility studies in the section in July 2009 and final report is expected by February 2010. For the proposed World Bank funded Khurja-Mughalsarai section of Eastern DFC, important achievements include appointment of General Consultant for Khurja-Kanpur section by DFCCIL.
NEW CONVENIENT SYSTEM FOR ACCREDITED MEDIA PERSONS TO AVAIL CONCESSIONAL TRAIN FARE; FARE CONCESSION EXTENDED FOR RAJDHANI/SHATABDI TRAINS
As a follow up to the announcement made by the Minister of Railways Kumari Mamata Banerjee in her Railway Budget 2009-10 speech, for the convenience of accredited media persons, the Ministry of Railways has decided to replace the existing system of Coupon Books for accredited press correspondents by more convenient Photo Identity Card based system for availing concessional train fare. Photo identification card will be issued by Railways to accredited press correspondents instead of coupons books. Accredited press correspondent will be eligible for 50 per cent concession in the basic fares all classes of Mail/Express trains & all other charges are to be collected in full; and 50 per cent in the all inclusive fares of all classes of Rajdhani/Shatabdi/Jan Shatabdi trains. This concession will not be admissible in Garib Rath trains. The new system of concession based on Photo Identity card and the increased concession on Rajdhani/Shatabdi/Jan Shatabdi trains will be effective from 15th October 2009.
AIR-CONDITIONED ‘YUVA’ TRAINS FOR UNEMPLOYED YOUTH
The first ever ‘Yuva Trains’ which are targeted mainly for the unemployed youths of the country has been introduced between Howrah-Delhi on 30th December 2009. These ‘Yuva’ trains are being introduced to ensure that the youth of low income groups can travel at low rates between major cities. The ‘Yuva Train’ fares will be applicable to unemployed persons also between the age group of 15 to 45 years. Initially, 60 per cent of the total number of coaches will be earmarked for ‘Yuva’ category. The remaining will be earmarked for general passengers (non-Yuva). If successful, these ‘Yuva trains’ will be extended to other areas of the country. The total chargeable fare for Yuva passengers inclusive of all other charges like Reservation Fee, Superfast Train Charge and Development Charge would not exceed Rs.299/- up to a distance of 1500 kms and Rs. 399/- for distance beyond 1500 up to 2500 kms.
‘ONLY LADIES’ SPECIAL EMU TRAIN SERVICES
As announced in the Railway Budget 2009-10, the Ministry of Railways introduced ‘Only Ladies’ Matrabhumi EMU train services in Delhi, Chennai and Kolkata suburban on the pattern of Mumbai suburban as working women face considerable difficulties in traveling for work. These services will run for the convenience of women passengers during office hours.
SUPER FAST PARCEL EXPRESS TRAINS
With a view to attract high value and transit sensitive non-bulk parcel traffic, Indian Railways introduced faster parcel services/premium parcel express trains named “Tejshree Parcel Sewa” between Delhi-Howrah-Delhi, Delhi-Ahmedabad/Vapi-Howrah as a pilot project. This is envisaged as a time-tabled service from dedicated terminals with guaranteed transit time.
DEVELOPMENT OF PRIVATE FREIGHT TERMINALS
With a view to increase Railways market share of automobile traffic and to facilitate aggregation and distribution centres for automobile traffic, a scheme is under finalization for development of automobile hubs near rail heads through Public Private Partnership (PPP) mode. The Railways Minister laid the foundation stone for one such auto hub at Shalimar in West Bengal in November 2009.
A policy is under finalization to facilitate rapid development of a network of freight terminals with private investment to provide efficient and cost effective logistics services to end users including door to door services. Freight terminals can be green field facilities developed by private parties on private land or brown field facilities i.e. existing private sidings/container terminals on private a land which can be permitted to be converted to private freight terminals under the provisions of the proposed policy.
PERISHABLE CARGO CENTRES UNDER KISAN VISION PROJECT
With a view to encourage creation of facilities of setting up cold storage and temperature controlled perishable cargo centres through Public Private Partnership mode, a Task Force of representatives from the concerned ministries, Container corporation of India Ltd. (CONCOR), Central Warehousing Corporation Ltd. (CWC) and cold chain operators, has been constituted to draw up a road map for implementation of the project and identify few locations for pilot project for development of perishable cargo centres. The Pilot Project will be implemented through PSUs engaged in logistics. Foundation stone for the first pilot project under the Kisan Vision Project has been laid by the Minister of Railways at Singur in November 2009.
375 STATIONS TO BE DEVELOPED AS ‘ADARSH’ STATIONS
Ministry of Railways has decided that 17 more railway stations may be added to the existing list of 358 Adarsh Stations. With this, the number of stations selected as ‘Adarsh Stations’ goes upto 375. Railways will develop Adarsh Stations with basic facilities such as drinking water, adequate toilets, catering services, waiting rooms and dormitories especially for lady passengers, better signage and other basic facilities are universally available. Necessary work has already been commenced at various stations.
DEVELOPMENT OF MULTI-FUNCIONAL COMPLEXES
Multi-functional Complexes are being developed at 50 railway stations of serving places of pilgrimage, industry and tourist interest in different parts of the country this year. Multi-functional Complexes in station premises to provide rail users facilities like shopping, food stalls and restaurants, book stalls, PCO/STD/ISD/Fax booths, medicine & variety stores, budget hotels, underground parking etc. Responsibility for development of these facilities will be entrusted to IRCON and Rail Land Development Authority (RLDA) and Zonal Railways. The foundation stone for such first ever Multi-functional complex was laid by the Minister of Railways, Kumari Mamata Banerjee, at Siliguri in October 2009.
PROVISION OF QUALITY FOOD IN TRAINS
Instruction has been issued to Zonal Railways and Indian Railway Catering & Tourism Corporation (IRCTC) in May 2009 for improvement in quality of food in mobile catering units over Indian Railways. Janata meals priced at Rs. 10/- have been revamped on Indian Railways, to meet the catering requirement of common passengers. On an average 1.1 lakh Janata meals are sold every day on Indian Railways through refreshment rooms, food plazas and other catering stalls, etc. To meet the catering requirement of common people, Railways have plans to open Janahaar cafeteria exclusively to sell economy meals and Janta Meals at reasonable rates. Six Janahaar Cafeteria have been commissioned at Howrah, Bangalore, Secunderabad, Chennai, Lucknow and Gorakhpur railway station and five more will be set up shortly at Sealdah, Patna, Kharagpur, New Jalpaiguri and Mysore. Catering services of the similar level of Rajdhani/Shatabdi Express are being provided in newly introduced ‘Duronto’ Trains. All sleeper class passengers of Duronto Trains are also being provided meals on-board. In addition,
IMPROVING COMMUNICATION SYSTEM ON RAILWAYS
During Financial Year 2009-10, about 2500 Route km of Optic Fibre Cable OFC cable laid upto November 2009 by RailTel Corporation of Indian Limited. A total of around 37,000 Route Kms of OFC has so far been laid on Indian Railway system alongside railway track for improving communications. Works for laying 9,000 Kms of OFC further are under progress. Mobile Train Radio Communication system for communication among Train Driver, Guard, Station Master, Control Office and field maintenance staff during run of the train has been commissioned at about 700 Route Kms on Howrah –Dhanbad, Guwahati-New Bongaigaon and Mathura-Jhansi sections. Works are under progress for another 2700 Kms. Walkie-Talkie VHF communication between Guard, Driver & Stations has been provided.
‘IZZAT’ MONTHLY SEASON TICKET SCHEME LAUNCHED
As announced by the Minister of Railways, Kumari Mamata Banerjee, while presenting Railway Budget 2009-10 in the Parliament, the Ministry of Railways introduced a new scheme of uniformly priced Monthly Season Tickets (MSTs) at Rs. 25/- inclusive of all surcharges which will be issued upto a distance of 100 Kilometers to persons working in unorganised sector with monthly income not exceeding Rs. 1500/-. This new scheme is called “Izzat”. These ‘Izzat’ MSTs are being issued for journeys with effect from 01.08.2009.
EXPERT COMMITTEE FOR DEVELOPING BUSINESS MODELS AND INNOVATIVE FUNDING
An Expert Committee under the chairmanship of Dr Amit Mitra, Secretary General, FICCI for developing business models and innovative funding techniques through Public Private Partnership (PPP) instruments has been constituted. The committee has held several meetings and made recommendations which are at various stages of implementation. A five member Expert Committee under the Chairmanship of Shri Sam Pitroda, on the usage of Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) in the Railways has been constituted,
RAILWAYS LAUNCH HISTORIC NON-STOP ‘DURONTO’ TRAINS
Indian Railways added one more feather to its cap when it launched its new class of passenger carrying ‘Duronto’ trains in September 2009. So far seven ‘Duronto’ trains have already been introduced on various major sectors in the country. ‘Duronto’ is a non-stop superfast passenger carrying train in the history of the Railways and heralds a new era of rail travel in the country ensuring better speed, comfort and security for passengers Outer colour scheme design of ‘Duronto’ coaches is distinct. The fare of ‘Duronto’ trains includes the cost of meals.
In addition, 35 new passenger carrying trains were introduced, one Yuva train was introduced, 17 trains were extended and frequency of 8 trains was increased.
TRANSPORTATION OF DRINKING WATER & FODDER FREE OF COST TO DRAUGHT AFFECTED AREAS.
With a view to facilitate better availability of basic commodities like water and fodder to drought affected areas in the country, Ministry of Railways has decided as a special case to permit the transportation of drinking water and fodder by rail, free of charge, to the notified drought affected districts of twelve states at “no cost” to the affected States. These States are Andhra Pradesh, Assam, Bihar, Himachal Pradesh, Jharkhand, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Manipur, Nagaland, Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh. These instructions have come into force with effect from 01.12.2009 and remain valid upto 31.01.2010.
DREAM OF KASHMIR VALLEY PEOPLE FULFILLED
The Prime Minister dedicated to the nation the newly constructed 18 km long rail line between Anantnag and Quazigund, the last stretch of the railway line in the Kashmir Valley in October 2009. Earlier in October 2008 and February 2009, the railway lines from Anantnag to Mazhom (66 km) and Mazhom to Baramulla (35 km) were inaugurated by the Prime Minister. The entire 119 km long rail line from Baramulla to Quazigund in the valley has now become operational covering important stations like Sopore, Hamre, Pattan, Mazhom, Budgam, Srinagar, Pampore, Kakapora, Awantipura, Panjgam, Bijbiara, Anantnag and Sadura in both the directions.
FIRST EVER RAIL LINK WITH SIKKIM
Sikkim will have the first ever rail connectivity with the laying of foundation stone of the new broad gauge railway line between Sikkim’s small township of Rangpo and West Bengal’s border town of Sivok. This 52.7 km long new broad guauge Rangpo-Sivok line will be constructed at a cost of Rs. 1339.48 crore and has been declared as a ‘National Project’ for which 25 per cent of the fund would be provided by Ministry of Railways through their gross budgetary support and balance 75 per cent as an additionality by Ministry of Finance. The survey for further extension of this line from Rangpo upto Sikkim’s capital Gangtok (69 km) has also been completed recently and survey report is under examination in the Ministry of Railways.
IRCTC LAUNCHES TOLL FREE 24X7 HELPLINE
Indian Railways Catering and Tourism Corporation Limited (IRCTC), a public sector undertaking of the Ministry of Railways, has launched a centralised Toll Free telephone No. 1800-111-139 for the convenience of railway users to suggest/grievances relating to catering services on Indian Railways. The facility is available 24x7 on this number and railway passengers can register their complaints/suggestions regarding food and catering services. Wherever possible, action is taken on real time basis for redressal of their grievances.
“139 – Rail Sampark”, the authorized enquiry for Indian Railway has recently introduced the facility of Railway enquiry through SMS which is a premium service. The users can obtain information regarding PNR status, fare, seat availability and arrival/departure by sending SMS in the specified syntax to 139.
ENHANCED FARE CONCESSIONS FOR STUDENTS, AMATEUR ARTISTS & POLICE MEDALISTS
As announced by the Minister of Railways, Kumari Mamata Banerjee in the Railway Budget 2009-10, the Ministry of Railways has decided to extend the facility of free Monthly Season Tickets (MSTs) in 2nd class in the trains to students attending Madrasa, High Madrasa and Senior Madrasa for commuting daily between the stations serving their place of residence and Madrasa. It has also decided that 60 per cent concession in the fares of Metro Rail Kolkata will be granted to both boy and girl students studying in schools/Madrasas/recognized vocational institutions upto classes academically equivalent to class XII. In addition, the Ministry of Railways has decided that amateur artists (theatrical, concert, musical, dancing and magician troups & students-artists of the National School of Drama, New Delhi when traveling alone or in group) who are presently eligible for 50 per cent concession in First Class and 75 per cent concession in Second and Sleeper Classes basic Mail/Express fares will now also be entitled to 50 per cent concession in AC Chair Car, AC 3-tier and AC 2-tier classes in Mail/Express trains and 50 per cent concession will also be granted in the all inclusive fares of Rajdhani/Shatabdi/Jan Shatabdi trains in AC Chair, AC 3-tier and AC 2-tier classes. It has also decided to enhance the concession for Police Personnel of 60 years and above who have received President’s Police Medal for Distinguished Service from 30 per cent to 50 percent for men and 60 per cent for women in the basic fares of Mail/Express trains of all classes and in the all-inclusive fares of Rajdhani/Shatabdi/Jan Shatabdi trains.
INTRODUCTION OF E-PROCUREMENT SYSTEM
E- Procurement System (EPS) is aimed at attaining total transparency in public procurement system of Indian Railways. The E-Procurement Application for Indian Railways (www.ireps.gov.in) has been successfully rolled out by CRIS for 13 Zonal Railways/Production Units. Till now Railways have uploaded over 44192 e-tenders and about 39485 e-tenders have been opened as on December 14, 2009.
UPGRADATION OF DIESEL LOCOMOTIVES, MODIFICATION IN COACHES AND USE OF CNG AND BIO-FUEL
Through indigenous efforts, the Horse Power of EMD diesel locos has been increased from 4000 to 4500 which will permit them to haul heavier loads at higher speeds. It is planned to further upgrade the EMD locos to 5000+ Horse Power. Manufacture of latest technology EMD locomotives has been stepped up to 150 locos in 2009-10. Trials have also been completed and one power car of DMU has been converted to run on dual fuel mode using CNG and further proliferation is in progress. Design for Toilet facilities in DMUs has been finalized by the RDSO. ICF will turn out all the DEMU rakes during the current year with toilets. Railways has placed orders for procurement of bio-diesel. Successful laboratory tests have been carried out by using 10% blend of bio-diesel on Trains. Introduction of these alternative fuels are environment –friendly and reduce dependency on fossil fuels. Bullet proof cabs have been provided for the first time on diesel locomotives working in Lumding – Badarpur section to thwart the threat to running staff in sensitive areas.
EXPORT OF DIESEL LOCOMOTIVES
To promote the export of Diesel Locomotives and securing a niche in the International market, a most modern, new type 3000 HP, Cape Gauge diesel locomotive manufactured by Diesel Locomotive Works (DLW), Varanasi, a production unit of Indian Railways, has been dispatched to Mozambique. This is the first ever 3000 HP locomotive built in DLW for cape gauge.
INNOVATIVE STEPS TAKEN FOR BETTER MEDICAL CARE
Ministry of Railways has decided to open Medical and Nursing Colleges on Railway land with existing Railway Hospital under PPP which will have seats for wards of railway employees. To start with, five places have been identified i.e. Kanchrapara, Kharagpur, Kolkata, Chennai & Guwahati. This will also help to meet shortage of Doctors & Nurses. To augment the medical services, introduction of Senior Residency and DNB programmes (Post Graduate Teaching) have been introduced in Railway hospitals. For procuring quality drug for our railway beneficiaries a new “Drug Procurement Policy” have been introduced. Tele medicine has been started in 18 centres and many more are in process. Hospital Information Management System is being started in Jagjivan Ram Hospital, Western Railway, Mumbai as a pilot project and will be extended to all the hospitals of Indian Railways. To provide medical facilities to retired railway employees membership for Retired Employees Liberalized Health Scheme-97 has been reopened till 31.03.2010 for those retired employees who could not join this scheme earlier.
INTRODUCTION OF LUXURY TOURIST TRAIN
Keeping in consonance with its commitment towards promotion of tourism, the Indian Railways in association with Rajasthan Tourism Development Corporation (RTDC) has launched one more luxury tourist train, Royal Rajasthan on Wheels, on a tourist circuit covering major destinations of Rajasthan besides Agra and Delhi. This is the fourth train in the series and second in association with RTDC, Two more such trains, one in association with IRCTC, called ‘Maharaja Express’ and one with Government of Punjab are in the pipeline.
PHASE-II ‘SCIENCE EXPRESS' & RED RIBBON EXPRESS
The Phase-III of the 'Science Express' which was inaugurated in October 2009 at Gandhinagar will travel to 55 locations, mostly not covered earlier, covering about 18,000 kms in seven months of its journey throughout the country. It is covering the entire length and breadth of the country. The second phase of Red Ribbon Express (RRE), which is a 10-coach exhibition train for creating awareness about HIV/AIDS in the far flung areas, was flagged off on the World AIDS Day.
INDIA:REPORT CARD ON TOURISM-2009
Year End Review
1. Statistics of Growth in the current year:
The foreign tourist arrivals (FTA) to India up to the month of November 2009 decreased by 6.3% over the arrivals for the same period in 2008. The cumulative arrival figures for the period January to November 2009 reached 4.54 million. The downward growth is due to global economic slowdown, terrorist activities, H1N1 influenza pandemic, etc. The important source countries were US, UK, Canada, France, Germany and Japan.
The number of domestic tourist visits increased from 527 million in 2007 to 563 million in 2008.
The Foreign Exchange Earnings (FEE) from the tourism sector were Rs. 47918.00 crores during the period January-November 2009, an increase of 5.0% over the corresponding period in 2008.
2. Infrastructure Development:
Infrastructure development holds the key to India’s sustained growth in the tourism sector. Therefore, the Ministry of Tourism has been making efforts to develop quality tourism infrastructure at tourist destinations and circuits. The Ministry of Tourism has sanctioned 94 projects for an amount of Rs.394.85 crores for infrastructure augmentation including rural tourism projects in the year 2009-10 (up to November 09).
The Ministry has launched a scheme for development of nationally and internationally important destinations and circuits through Mega Projects. To date 29 mega projects have already been identified and of these 21 projects have been sanctioned. In the current year, the Ministry has sanctioned mega projects in Madhya Pradesh at Chitrakooot, as Spiritual and Wellness Destination for an amount of Rs.2401.98 lakhs. The mega projects are a judicious mix of culture, heritage, spiritual and ecotourism in order to give tourists a holistic perspective.
Ministry of Tourism is also taking initiatives with other Central Govt. Ministries, such as Railways, Civil Aviation, Road Transport & Highways, Food Processing and Urban Development and also the concerned State Governments to achieve convergence and synergy with their programmes so that the impact of investment on these destinations is maximized.
Other initiatives:
In the workshop on World Class Tourism Infrastructure organized in the Ministry of Tourism on August 19, 2009 it was decided that the Ministry will meet the expenditure on the architect’s fee upto 2% of the project cost which could be included in the cost estimates.
Ministry of Tourism has issued the guidelines for facilitating construction of heliport as a component of destination development project in hilly / remote areas.
The Ministry of Tourism has decided to consider proposals for grant of financial assistance upto Rs.5.00 crore for construction of one convention centre at any well-connected and accessible tourist destination in each State/UT for promotion of MICE Tourism.
The Caravan tourism policy announced by the Ministry of Tourism is aimed to promote and facilitate and incentivise development of
i. Caravan Parks in the public sector, private sector and PPP mode
ii. Caravans in the public sector, private sector and PPP mode
Caravan Tourism can effectively meet the growing demand of accommodation while ensuring adherence to quality, standards and safety norms.
To take up the various issues related to development and promotion of tourism in the country, Regional Conferences for North and Central States and Eastern and North Eastern States have already been held. The conference for South and Western Region is likely to be held shortly.
3. Sustainable Tourism:
The true potential of tourism lies in adopting responsible and sustainable practices on both the demand and supply sides of the tourism chain, enabling an effective response to climate change. This is closely interlinked with inclusive growth through sustainable community participation.
This ‘sustainable’ tourism route has been adopted by the Ministry of Tourism in the innovative Rural Tourism Project, by strengthening the disadvantaged but skilled rural artisan communities through support to capacity building and vernacular infrastructure, while laying emphasis on the role of women. 29 sites of the projects out of 36 sites are completed and being marketed. A project website was also upgraded showcasing these sites. 15 rural tourism sites have been selected as rural eco- holiday sites for “Visit India 2009.”
4. Overseas Marketing and Promotion:
The Ministry has consistently been working on a two-pronged strategy for marketing of Incredible India brand. The strategy includes visible branding in the outdoor media such as advertising at airports, on trams, taxis and buses and through the print, online and electronic media, as well as through participation in Travel Marts and Road Shows. For promotion of Indian Cuisine, which is an integral component of the Indian Tourism product, support has been extended to Indian Food Festivals organized in various countries. The India tourism office in New York has supported Indian Food Festivals organized in Colombia, Ecuador, Argentina, Uruguay and Paraguay in S. America.
Work orders have been issued for launch of print media campaigns in America, APAC and Europe regions. Advertising Campaigns have also been undertaken by the India tourism offices overseas in their respective regions. Promotional activities have also been stepped up in the overseas markets with added focus on emerging markets, for generating greater awareness about India as a tourist destination and increasing India’s share in international tourist arrivals and receipts.
2. There has been an increased focus on potential and emerging markets in East/ South East Asia, and East European countries. Road Shows, in collaboration with the Indian Association of Tour Operators, have been organized in Japan and South Korea to promote the Visit India 2009 Scheme. India tourism, Frankfurt supported & participated in Road Shows organized in the Slovak Republic, Hungary, Croatia and Slovenia in June 2009.
3. A series of promotional initiatives were taken to minimize the negative impact of the global economic slowdown and terrorist attack in Mumbai, which had an adverse effect on tourism in the country. Some of them are as under:
i. An Incredible India Evening was organized in Beijing in April 2009. More than 600 persons representing a cross section of the Chinese media, travel trade, members of the diplomatic corps, and prominent members of the Indian community attended the function. A five day “Incredible India” Food Festival was also arranged to coincide with the India Evening.
ii. The India tourism office in New York participated in a “Caribbean Conclave” organized in Port of Spain, Trinidad & Tobago in June 2009.
iii. The India tourism Offices in New York, Frankfurt, Singapore, Beijing and Tokyo have participated in major travel fairs and exhibitions in South America, CIS, East European countries, East Asia and South East Asia, including Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland, Russia, Romania, Kazakhstan, Ukraine, Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand, China, S. Korea, etc.
iv. Major promotional events were organised in Moscow and St. Petersburg in September 2009.
5. (I) Visit India 2009:
The initiatives taken to minimize the negative impact of the global economic slowdown included a “Visit India 2009” scheme launched in collaboration with all stakeholders including airlines, hotels, tour operators, State Governments for incentivising travel to India, organizing Road Shows in important tourist generating markets overseas, arranging familiarisation tours to India for international travel trade and media representatives to keep them updated on safety / security conditions in the country and media campaigns in the print, electronic, online and outdoor media.
(II) Other Promotional Activities:
The Ministry of Tourism, through the India tourism office in London undertook an advertising campaign in the print and outdoor media in London to coincide with the Queens Baton Relay for the Commonwealth Games 2010, which was flagged off from the Buckingham Palace on 29th October 2009.
The campaign included advertisements on hoardings, billboards, LED Screens, bus shelters, etc. at Heathrow airport and at prominent locations in London city as well as in leading dailies including The Times London, The Guardian, Daily Telegraph, Daily Mail and Evening Standard. Outdoor advertising was also undertaken on taxis in New York, Miami, Chicago, London, Edinburgh, Milan, Rome, Tokyo, on buses / cable cars in San Francisco, Seoul, Miami, Philadelphia, Chicago, Toronto, Johannesburg, Cape Town, Bahrain, Muscat, and on hoardings / billboards in Tokyo, Milan, New York, Toronto, Ottawa, Edmonton, Dubai, Nice Airport, Cannes, Singapore, etc.
Other promotional initiatives undertaken during the year include “Incredible India” Events organized in Russia in September, 2009 as part of the celebrations of the “Year of India in Russia” and a major India promotion event “India Calling” organized in association with the National Geographic Society at Hollywood Bowl and California Plaza in Los Angeles in September 2009.
Joint Promotions have been organized by India tourism offices overseas in collaboration with Tour Operators / Airlines and Wholesalers, in Rome, Dubai, Sharjah, West Palm Beach & Naples in Florida, Madrid & Barcelona in Spain, Brugge in Belgium, Basel, Bern & Zurich in Switzerland and Singapore.
The Ministry of Tourism organized a series of Road Shows in collaboration with the Indian Association of Tour Operators, Adventure Tour Operators Association of India and the PATA India Chapter to project India as a tourist destination, in the aftermath of the global economic slowdown.
India tourism offices overseas have participated in approximately 104 Travel Fairs and Exhibitions in important tourist generating markets the world over as well as in emerging and potential markets to showcase and promote the tourism products of the country. These include the major international Travel Fairs such as the Arabian Travel Market (ATM) in Dubai, PATA Travel Mart in Hangzhou, China, ITB – Asia in Singapore Top Resa in Paris, and World Travel Market (WTM) in London.
III. Ministry continued to provide Hospitality to Journalists/ tour operators/ Travel agents/ TV teams/ Photographers etc. from overseas markets. Till now Ministry has offered hospitality to 700 guests (approx.).
IV. Efforts of the Ministry to counter the effect of global economic meltdown on tourism sector:
The Ministry of Tourism has taken several steps to counter the downward trend of inbound tourism and to promote tourism to the country. These include liberalizing the Marketing Development Assistance Scheme for service providers promoting India, organizing Road Shows in important tourist generating markets overseas, arranging familiarisation tours to India for international travel trade and media representatives to keep them updated on safety / security conditions in the country, media campaigns in the print, electronic, online and outdoor media and a “Visit India 2009” scheme, in collaboration with all stakeholders including airlines, hotels, tour operators, State Governments for incentivising travel to India. Recently Government of India has decided to introduce Visa-on-Arrival scheme for tourists from five countries viz. Singapore, Finland, New Zealand, Luxembourg and Japan on a pilot basis for a period of one year.
6. Social Awareness Campaign:
Ministry continued its efforts to reinforce its brand through Incredible India campaigns. Through, Social Awareness Campaigns attempt was made to sensitize the stakeholders and masses about the importance of tourism and protection of heritage sites. Through generic campaign in the first half of the current financial year, awareness about various destinations/ sub-tourism products was generated. In the 2nd half of the financial year, Ministry continued its efforts of creating social awareness through focused campaigns.
7. Hotel Infrastructure:
The requirement of hotel accommodation in the country is estimated at 240 thousand rooms against availability of around 90 thousand rooms. It is estimated that there will be a requirement of additional 30,000 hotel rooms in Delhi. The Ministry of Tourism is therefore actively involved in monitoring the creation of additional accommodation for the games. Following initiatives have been taken for augmentation of accommodation infrastructure:
1. Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has de-linked credit for hotel projects from commercial real estate, thereby enabling hotel projects to avail credit at relaxed norms and reduced interest rates. In addition, the External Commercial Borrowing (ECB) norms have been relaxed by Ministry of Finance to solve the problem of liquidity being faced by the hotel industry due to economic slow down.
The XIX Commonwealth Games are scheduled to be held in Delhi during 3rd to 14th October 2010. It is expected that around 100 thousand persons would be visiting during the Games.
The following initiatives have been taken by the Ministry to use this opportunity and showcase India as a unique and hospitable tourism destination:
i. A Task Force constituted for this purpose monitors the additional new hotel accommodation coming up in the Delhi NCR by holding regular meetings with all concerned land owning authorities, concerned Ministries / Departments. It has been decided that flats of DDA located at Vasant Kunj and Jasola will be upgraded / furnished and operated by ITDC for the Games as alternate accommodation of three star standards. It is also proposed to utilize the services of rooms available from the licensed guest houses and Bed & Breakfast units for the Games.
India Tourism Development Corporation:
(ii). Hotel Ashok, Samrat and Janpath under the ITDC have been declared as the Official Hotels for the Games. While The Ashok & Samrat would be the Games Family Hotels, Janpath would be for Press and Media. These hotels have undergone a major renovation work to prepare them for the event.
(iii). Manpower & Volunteer Development
Providing more than 3000 volunteers, trained in hospitality sector, for the games under the “Earn While You Learn” scheme.
Training more than 3000 taxi/coach and auto rickshaw drivers with an objective of making them more tourists friendly.
Training of owners and service staff of the approved guests house in Delhi so that there is a quality improvement in the services being provided.
8. Quality Human Resource Development:
It is estimated that to cater to the growing need of the hospitality sector, over 203 thousand trained manpower would be required annually. Therefore, it has been the endeavour of the Ministry of Tourism to put in place a system of training and professional education with necessary infrastructural support, capable of generating manpower to meet the needs of the tourism and hospitality industry, both quantitatively and qualitatively.
Keeping in view the acute shortage of trained manpower MOT has decided to support additional Institutes of Hotel Management (IHM) in States. New Food Crafts Institutes (FCI) are also being set up. MOT has also been providing financial assistance for modernization and capacity enhancement of IHMs and FCIs. A Scheme of Capacity Building for Service Providers is being implemented to impart hospitality training to those employed in this sector.
As a part of 100 days agenda of the Government, Ministry has taken following initiatives to provide skilled manpower in hospitality sector:
i. Skill training of youth in Hospitality sector (Hunar Se Rojgar Tak): The Institutes of Hotel Management (IHMs) have initiated a six to eight week fast track skill training programme for youth under twenty five years of age in food production and food and beverage services. About 5000 youths will be trained in the year.
ii. Skill Certification: The service providers, who are working in the hospitality sector, would undertake a five day orientation programme followed by test that would be based on practical and viva voce. Thereafter, the participants would be provided a skill certificate, which will enhance their employability in the market. About 5000 existing service providers would be certified in the year.
9. International Cooperation:
1. In the 18th Session of the General Assembly of UN WTO held from October 05th -8th 2009 in Astana, Kazakhstan, India was re-elected to the Executive Council of the United Nations World Tourism Organization for another four years term. India is a member of the Executive Council of UN WTO continuously for the last 19 years.
2. In the first Joint Working Group Meeting on Tourism between India and Indonesia in Yogyakarta, Indonesia held during 27th-28th August 2009, it was agreed to carry forward the cooperation.
3. A Joint Action Plan on Tourism Cooperation was signed between India and Singapore on 4.08.2009 in New Delhi in the presence of the visiting senior Minister of State for Trade, Industry and Education, Republic of Singapore and the Minister of Tourism Govt. of India.
4. A Joint Action Programme for the period 2009-10 for the implementation of the agreement between India and Russian Federation on Cooperation in Tourism was signed during the visit of the Russian President to India in December 2008.
10. New Initiatives:
i. Cruise Tourism:
Cruise Tourism is a relatively new but an emerging sector with a high potential for growth. With the approval of the Cruise Tourism Policy, the huge potential of this tourism product has been opened up. Together with the Port Trust Authorities and the State Governments, the Ministry is now focusing on infrastructure development as well as motivating cruise operators to use Indian ports in their itinerary.
ii. Adventure Tourism:
Adventure tourism has immense potential for growth. For experiencing the different types of adventure tourism right like rock climbing, river rafting, para gliding, mountaineering and under water diving, the Ministry has been sanctioning projects in various States.
iii. Wellness Tourism:
India, as the world knows, is a Wellness destination. The potential of wellness systems, developed through centuries of wisdom of this ancient civilization would be fully tapped. This is being done by positioning India as a centre of Ayurveda, Yoga, Siddha, Naturopathy, etc. together with the spiritual philosophy that was integral to the Indian way of life. The Ministry of Tourism has highlighted wellness in a big way through publicity and promotional activities.
11. International Recognition:
The Incredible India film shown globally in the potential tourist generating markets has won a number of prestigious international awards:-
- March 2009
- 2. Preis Das Goldene Stadttor. Int, Touristik Filmwettbewerb ITB Berlin 2009
- June 2009
- International Tourfilm festival Plock, 2009, Plock/Poland
- FIMAC- International Festival of Corporates AV Media
- July 2009
- Document.Art - The International Festival of Documentary Films, 2009, Campulung Muscel/Romania
- September 2009
Art&Tur - International Tourism Film Festival, 2009, Barcelos/ Portugal
- October 2009
- Tourfilm Karlovy Vary, 2009, Karlovy Vary/Czech Republic
- The latest being the Grand Prix Award - organized by Comite International Des Festivals Du film Touristique (CIFFT) in which the Hon’ble Minister for Tourism has received the award in Vienna on 13th November 2009.
Year End Review
1. Statistics of Growth in the current year:
The foreign tourist arrivals (FTA) to India up to the month of November 2009 decreased by 6.3% over the arrivals for the same period in 2008. The cumulative arrival figures for the period January to November 2009 reached 4.54 million. The downward growth is due to global economic slowdown, terrorist activities, H1N1 influenza pandemic, etc. The important source countries were US, UK, Canada, France, Germany and Japan.
The number of domestic tourist visits increased from 527 million in 2007 to 563 million in 2008.
The Foreign Exchange Earnings (FEE) from the tourism sector were Rs. 47918.00 crores during the period January-November 2009, an increase of 5.0% over the corresponding period in 2008.
2. Infrastructure Development:
Infrastructure development holds the key to India’s sustained growth in the tourism sector. Therefore, the Ministry of Tourism has been making efforts to develop quality tourism infrastructure at tourist destinations and circuits. The Ministry of Tourism has sanctioned 94 projects for an amount of Rs.394.85 crores for infrastructure augmentation including rural tourism projects in the year 2009-10 (up to November 09).
The Ministry has launched a scheme for development of nationally and internationally important destinations and circuits through Mega Projects. To date 29 mega projects have already been identified and of these 21 projects have been sanctioned. In the current year, the Ministry has sanctioned mega projects in Madhya Pradesh at Chitrakooot, as Spiritual and Wellness Destination for an amount of Rs.2401.98 lakhs. The mega projects are a judicious mix of culture, heritage, spiritual and ecotourism in order to give tourists a holistic perspective.
Ministry of Tourism is also taking initiatives with other Central Govt. Ministries, such as Railways, Civil Aviation, Road Transport & Highways, Food Processing and Urban Development and also the concerned State Governments to achieve convergence and synergy with their programmes so that the impact of investment on these destinations is maximized.
Other initiatives:
In the workshop on World Class Tourism Infrastructure organized in the Ministry of Tourism on August 19, 2009 it was decided that the Ministry will meet the expenditure on the architect’s fee upto 2% of the project cost which could be included in the cost estimates.
Ministry of Tourism has issued the guidelines for facilitating construction of heliport as a component of destination development project in hilly / remote areas.
The Ministry of Tourism has decided to consider proposals for grant of financial assistance upto Rs.5.00 crore for construction of one convention centre at any well-connected and accessible tourist destination in each State/UT for promotion of MICE Tourism.
The Caravan tourism policy announced by the Ministry of Tourism is aimed to promote and facilitate and incentivise development of
i. Caravan Parks in the public sector, private sector and PPP mode
ii. Caravans in the public sector, private sector and PPP mode
Caravan Tourism can effectively meet the growing demand of accommodation while ensuring adherence to quality, standards and safety norms.
To take up the various issues related to development and promotion of tourism in the country, Regional Conferences for North and Central States and Eastern and North Eastern States have already been held. The conference for South and Western Region is likely to be held shortly.
3. Sustainable Tourism:
The true potential of tourism lies in adopting responsible and sustainable practices on both the demand and supply sides of the tourism chain, enabling an effective response to climate change. This is closely interlinked with inclusive growth through sustainable community participation.
This ‘sustainable’ tourism route has been adopted by the Ministry of Tourism in the innovative Rural Tourism Project, by strengthening the disadvantaged but skilled rural artisan communities through support to capacity building and vernacular infrastructure, while laying emphasis on the role of women. 29 sites of the projects out of 36 sites are completed and being marketed. A project website was also upgraded showcasing these sites. 15 rural tourism sites have been selected as rural eco- holiday sites for “Visit India 2009.”
4. Overseas Marketing and Promotion:
The Ministry has consistently been working on a two-pronged strategy for marketing of Incredible India brand. The strategy includes visible branding in the outdoor media such as advertising at airports, on trams, taxis and buses and through the print, online and electronic media, as well as through participation in Travel Marts and Road Shows. For promotion of Indian Cuisine, which is an integral component of the Indian Tourism product, support has been extended to Indian Food Festivals organized in various countries. The India tourism office in New York has supported Indian Food Festivals organized in Colombia, Ecuador, Argentina, Uruguay and Paraguay in S. America.
Work orders have been issued for launch of print media campaigns in America, APAC and Europe regions. Advertising Campaigns have also been undertaken by the India tourism offices overseas in their respective regions. Promotional activities have also been stepped up in the overseas markets with added focus on emerging markets, for generating greater awareness about India as a tourist destination and increasing India’s share in international tourist arrivals and receipts.
2. There has been an increased focus on potential and emerging markets in East/ South East Asia, and East European countries. Road Shows, in collaboration with the Indian Association of Tour Operators, have been organized in Japan and South Korea to promote the Visit India 2009 Scheme. India tourism, Frankfurt supported & participated in Road Shows organized in the Slovak Republic, Hungary, Croatia and Slovenia in June 2009.
3. A series of promotional initiatives were taken to minimize the negative impact of the global economic slowdown and terrorist attack in Mumbai, which had an adverse effect on tourism in the country. Some of them are as under:
i. An Incredible India Evening was organized in Beijing in April 2009. More than 600 persons representing a cross section of the Chinese media, travel trade, members of the diplomatic corps, and prominent members of the Indian community attended the function. A five day “Incredible India” Food Festival was also arranged to coincide with the India Evening.
ii. The India tourism office in New York participated in a “Caribbean Conclave” organized in Port of Spain, Trinidad & Tobago in June 2009.
iii. The India tourism Offices in New York, Frankfurt, Singapore, Beijing and Tokyo have participated in major travel fairs and exhibitions in South America, CIS, East European countries, East Asia and South East Asia, including Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland, Russia, Romania, Kazakhstan, Ukraine, Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand, China, S. Korea, etc.
iv. Major promotional events were organised in Moscow and St. Petersburg in September 2009.
5. (I) Visit India 2009:
The initiatives taken to minimize the negative impact of the global economic slowdown included a “Visit India 2009” scheme launched in collaboration with all stakeholders including airlines, hotels, tour operators, State Governments for incentivising travel to India, organizing Road Shows in important tourist generating markets overseas, arranging familiarisation tours to India for international travel trade and media representatives to keep them updated on safety / security conditions in the country and media campaigns in the print, electronic, online and outdoor media.
(II) Other Promotional Activities:
The Ministry of Tourism, through the India tourism office in London undertook an advertising campaign in the print and outdoor media in London to coincide with the Queens Baton Relay for the Commonwealth Games 2010, which was flagged off from the Buckingham Palace on 29th October 2009.
The campaign included advertisements on hoardings, billboards, LED Screens, bus shelters, etc. at Heathrow airport and at prominent locations in London city as well as in leading dailies including The Times London, The Guardian, Daily Telegraph, Daily Mail and Evening Standard. Outdoor advertising was also undertaken on taxis in New York, Miami, Chicago, London, Edinburgh, Milan, Rome, Tokyo, on buses / cable cars in San Francisco, Seoul, Miami, Philadelphia, Chicago, Toronto, Johannesburg, Cape Town, Bahrain, Muscat, and on hoardings / billboards in Tokyo, Milan, New York, Toronto, Ottawa, Edmonton, Dubai, Nice Airport, Cannes, Singapore, etc.
Other promotional initiatives undertaken during the year include “Incredible India” Events organized in Russia in September, 2009 as part of the celebrations of the “Year of India in Russia” and a major India promotion event “India Calling” organized in association with the National Geographic Society at Hollywood Bowl and California Plaza in Los Angeles in September 2009.
Joint Promotions have been organized by India tourism offices overseas in collaboration with Tour Operators / Airlines and Wholesalers, in Rome, Dubai, Sharjah, West Palm Beach & Naples in Florida, Madrid & Barcelona in Spain, Brugge in Belgium, Basel, Bern & Zurich in Switzerland and Singapore.
The Ministry of Tourism organized a series of Road Shows in collaboration with the Indian Association of Tour Operators, Adventure Tour Operators Association of India and the PATA India Chapter to project India as a tourist destination, in the aftermath of the global economic slowdown.
India tourism offices overseas have participated in approximately 104 Travel Fairs and Exhibitions in important tourist generating markets the world over as well as in emerging and potential markets to showcase and promote the tourism products of the country. These include the major international Travel Fairs such as the Arabian Travel Market (ATM) in Dubai, PATA Travel Mart in Hangzhou, China, ITB – Asia in Singapore Top Resa in Paris, and World Travel Market (WTM) in London.
III. Ministry continued to provide Hospitality to Journalists/ tour operators/ Travel agents/ TV teams/ Photographers etc. from overseas markets. Till now Ministry has offered hospitality to 700 guests (approx.).
IV. Efforts of the Ministry to counter the effect of global economic meltdown on tourism sector:
The Ministry of Tourism has taken several steps to counter the downward trend of inbound tourism and to promote tourism to the country. These include liberalizing the Marketing Development Assistance Scheme for service providers promoting India, organizing Road Shows in important tourist generating markets overseas, arranging familiarisation tours to India for international travel trade and media representatives to keep them updated on safety / security conditions in the country, media campaigns in the print, electronic, online and outdoor media and a “Visit India 2009” scheme, in collaboration with all stakeholders including airlines, hotels, tour operators, State Governments for incentivising travel to India. Recently Government of India has decided to introduce Visa-on-Arrival scheme for tourists from five countries viz. Singapore, Finland, New Zealand, Luxembourg and Japan on a pilot basis for a period of one year.
6. Social Awareness Campaign:
Ministry continued its efforts to reinforce its brand through Incredible India campaigns. Through, Social Awareness Campaigns attempt was made to sensitize the stakeholders and masses about the importance of tourism and protection of heritage sites. Through generic campaign in the first half of the current financial year, awareness about various destinations/ sub-tourism products was generated. In the 2nd half of the financial year, Ministry continued its efforts of creating social awareness through focused campaigns.
7. Hotel Infrastructure:
The requirement of hotel accommodation in the country is estimated at 240 thousand rooms against availability of around 90 thousand rooms. It is estimated that there will be a requirement of additional 30,000 hotel rooms in Delhi. The Ministry of Tourism is therefore actively involved in monitoring the creation of additional accommodation for the games. Following initiatives have been taken for augmentation of accommodation infrastructure:
1. Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has de-linked credit for hotel projects from commercial real estate, thereby enabling hotel projects to avail credit at relaxed norms and reduced interest rates. In addition, the External Commercial Borrowing (ECB) norms have been relaxed by Ministry of Finance to solve the problem of liquidity being faced by the hotel industry due to economic slow down.
The XIX Commonwealth Games are scheduled to be held in Delhi during 3rd to 14th October 2010. It is expected that around 100 thousand persons would be visiting during the Games.
The following initiatives have been taken by the Ministry to use this opportunity and showcase India as a unique and hospitable tourism destination:
i. A Task Force constituted for this purpose monitors the additional new hotel accommodation coming up in the Delhi NCR by holding regular meetings with all concerned land owning authorities, concerned Ministries / Departments. It has been decided that flats of DDA located at Vasant Kunj and Jasola will be upgraded / furnished and operated by ITDC for the Games as alternate accommodation of three star standards. It is also proposed to utilize the services of rooms available from the licensed guest houses and Bed & Breakfast units for the Games.
India Tourism Development Corporation:
(ii). Hotel Ashok, Samrat and Janpath under the ITDC have been declared as the Official Hotels for the Games. While The Ashok & Samrat would be the Games Family Hotels, Janpath would be for Press and Media. These hotels have undergone a major renovation work to prepare them for the event.
(iii). Manpower & Volunteer Development
Providing more than 3000 volunteers, trained in hospitality sector, for the games under the “Earn While You Learn” scheme.
Training more than 3000 taxi/coach and auto rickshaw drivers with an objective of making them more tourists friendly.
Training of owners and service staff of the approved guests house in Delhi so that there is a quality improvement in the services being provided.
8. Quality Human Resource Development:
It is estimated that to cater to the growing need of the hospitality sector, over 203 thousand trained manpower would be required annually. Therefore, it has been the endeavour of the Ministry of Tourism to put in place a system of training and professional education with necessary infrastructural support, capable of generating manpower to meet the needs of the tourism and hospitality industry, both quantitatively and qualitatively.
Keeping in view the acute shortage of trained manpower MOT has decided to support additional Institutes of Hotel Management (IHM) in States. New Food Crafts Institutes (FCI) are also being set up. MOT has also been providing financial assistance for modernization and capacity enhancement of IHMs and FCIs. A Scheme of Capacity Building for Service Providers is being implemented to impart hospitality training to those employed in this sector.
As a part of 100 days agenda of the Government, Ministry has taken following initiatives to provide skilled manpower in hospitality sector:
i. Skill training of youth in Hospitality sector (Hunar Se Rojgar Tak): The Institutes of Hotel Management (IHMs) have initiated a six to eight week fast track skill training programme for youth under twenty five years of age in food production and food and beverage services. About 5000 youths will be trained in the year.
ii. Skill Certification: The service providers, who are working in the hospitality sector, would undertake a five day orientation programme followed by test that would be based on practical and viva voce. Thereafter, the participants would be provided a skill certificate, which will enhance their employability in the market. About 5000 existing service providers would be certified in the year.
9. International Cooperation:
1. In the 18th Session of the General Assembly of UN WTO held from October 05th -8th 2009 in Astana, Kazakhstan, India was re-elected to the Executive Council of the United Nations World Tourism Organization for another four years term. India is a member of the Executive Council of UN WTO continuously for the last 19 years.
2. In the first Joint Working Group Meeting on Tourism between India and Indonesia in Yogyakarta, Indonesia held during 27th-28th August 2009, it was agreed to carry forward the cooperation.
3. A Joint Action Plan on Tourism Cooperation was signed between India and Singapore on 4.08.2009 in New Delhi in the presence of the visiting senior Minister of State for Trade, Industry and Education, Republic of Singapore and the Minister of Tourism Govt. of India.
4. A Joint Action Programme for the period 2009-10 for the implementation of the agreement between India and Russian Federation on Cooperation in Tourism was signed during the visit of the Russian President to India in December 2008.
10. New Initiatives:
i. Cruise Tourism:
Cruise Tourism is a relatively new but an emerging sector with a high potential for growth. With the approval of the Cruise Tourism Policy, the huge potential of this tourism product has been opened up. Together with the Port Trust Authorities and the State Governments, the Ministry is now focusing on infrastructure development as well as motivating cruise operators to use Indian ports in their itinerary.
ii. Adventure Tourism:
Adventure tourism has immense potential for growth. For experiencing the different types of adventure tourism right like rock climbing, river rafting, para gliding, mountaineering and under water diving, the Ministry has been sanctioning projects in various States.
iii. Wellness Tourism:
India, as the world knows, is a Wellness destination. The potential of wellness systems, developed through centuries of wisdom of this ancient civilization would be fully tapped. This is being done by positioning India as a centre of Ayurveda, Yoga, Siddha, Naturopathy, etc. together with the spiritual philosophy that was integral to the Indian way of life. The Ministry of Tourism has highlighted wellness in a big way through publicity and promotional activities.
11. International Recognition:
The Incredible India film shown globally in the potential tourist generating markets has won a number of prestigious international awards:-
- March 2009
- 2. Preis Das Goldene Stadttor. Int, Touristik Filmwettbewerb ITB Berlin 2009
- June 2009
- International Tourfilm festival Plock, 2009, Plock/Poland
- FIMAC- International Festival of Corporates AV Media
- July 2009
- Document.Art - The International Festival of Documentary Films, 2009, Campulung Muscel/Romania
- September 2009
Art&Tur - International Tourism Film Festival, 2009, Barcelos/ Portugal
- October 2009
- Tourfilm Karlovy Vary, 2009, Karlovy Vary/Czech Republic
- The latest being the Grand Prix Award - organized by Comite International Des Festivals Du film Touristique (CIFFT) in which the Hon’ble Minister for Tourism has received the award in Vienna on 13th November 2009.
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