Chamling demands tribal status for Sikkim
Gangtok, Apr 15 (PTI) Chief Minister Pawan Kumar Chamling today asked the Centre to grant tribal status to Sikkim in view of the "common ethnic and socio-cultural identity" of all indigenous communities in the state.
He was speaking at a function attended by President Pratibha Patil.
Chamling sought reservation of assembly seats for 'Limboos' and 'Tamangs' communities after their inclusion in the schedule tribes list seven years ago, besides raising the strength of the state legislature from the present 32 to 40 to "accommodate democratic aspirations of various communities".
The chief minister also asked the Centre to include the indigenous 'Bhutia' and 'Lepcha' languages in the Eighth Schedule of the Constitution.
Saturday, April 17, 2010
SPEECH OF THE PRESIDENT OF INDIA SMT. PRATIBHA DEVISINGH PATIL AT THE INAUGURATION OF THE KHANGCHENDZONGA TOURIST VILLA-CUM-SOCIO-CULTURAL AMUSEMENT PARK ON 15TH APRIL, 2010.
PIB | 15 April 2010 | Ranka
Ladies and Gentlemen,
Inauguration of Tourist Villa cum Socio Cultural Amusement Park at Ranka
I am extremely pleased to be in Sikkim and am deeply touched by the warm welcome accorded to me. The beauty of the State with the majestic Kangchenjunga in the background, as also its friendly and peaceful people has made a profound impression on me. I convey to the people of Sikkim my very warm greetings.
I am happy to inaugurate the Khangchendzonga Tourist Villa-cum-Socio-Cultural and Amusement Park, which has been created in a manner that will not only make tourists comfortable, but also give them the opportunity to acquaint themselves with the local culture and lifestyle. I would also like to congratulate the Government of Sikkim for the vision and foresight to have conceptualized and created this world class tourism infrastructure, in a time-bound manner.
I am happy that the State is developing rapidly as a tourist destination and, over the past few years, there has been a phenomenal increase in the inflow of both domestic and foreign tourists. The reasons for Sikkim being a very popular tourist destination are many. It is a land steeped in legend and tradition. It is often referred to as the land of the hidden paradise, because of its scenic mountains, valleys and forests that are blessed with rivers, lakes and waterfalls. It offers options of mountaineering, trekking and adventure sports. It has potential for village, religious and eco-tourism. The growth of tourism has been possible because of the peace loving people of Sikkim, and I complement them. Tourism can be a leading sector in Sikkim both in terms of generating revenue and in creating work opportunities. It is, however, important to develop a sustainable model for tourism that is conducive for the development of the State and benefits the local people. The youth of the State can be given proper training so that they can find employment in this sector, which in turn will benefit with better management skills.
I am glad that as a part of the Year of Tourism 2010, the Government of Sikkim is organizing the International Rhododendron Festival with a view to create awareness that the original habitat of this flowering plant are the Himalayas. I am told that an ancient folk tale, often narrated here, is about ‘Kemo Reep’ a species of the Rhododendron. Such is your deep relationship with nature. Sikkim’s variegated fauna and flora with its many species of plants, flowers and trees which are a rich repository of medicinal and aromatic herbs have made it one of the biodiversity hotspots of the world. Its natural splendor and ecology are still unspoilt. I do hope that this respect towards the environment is carried forward through generations, so that the incredible beauty and peace of this land is preserved.
Sikkim is a multi-ethnic society and it is admirable the way people live together in harmony. Indeed, pluralism is one of the very basic characteristics of our nation and it is our strength. It is my wish that harmony, peace, growth and prosperity reach every part of the country and every section of society. All states, all regions and all citizens are a part of the effort to build a strong and democratic country. The progress and prosperity of India will only be achieved when each and every of its states progress.
Sikkim with its many natural resources and good social indicators is a contributor to national growth. Sikkim has also shown that while moving on the path of development, we can retain our distinctive culture and maintain ecological balance. I recall giving the first Nirmal Rajya Award to Sikkim in 2008, when it became the first State in the country to achieve 100 percent sanitation. I am told that the State Government is now moving towards providing housing to all by next year, and to make Sikkim a poverty free State by 2015. These are important objectives. I congratulate and pay compliments to the Chief Minister of Sikkim for setting these goals, and am confident that with political guidance, time bound implementation and proper monitoring, these targets will be achieved.
In our country, education has become a fundamental right for all children between the ages of 6 to 14 years. This will be important for Sikkim, a State which has 60 percent of its population below 24 years. Our endeavor is to make our youth energetic and educated. They must have the knowledge and the ability to work, earn and most importantly, contribute to the development of the nation. The literacy rate here is good, but efforts towards reducing school drop outs and ensuring the girl child goes to school must continue, as also to create higher education facilities. I am very happy that during the course of my stay in Sikkim, I would be participating in the first convocation of Sikkim University. I call upon young people to take full advantage of opportunities that are before them.
With 64 percent of the population of the State dependent on agriculture there is need to focus on rural development, on enhancing agricultural productivity and on increasing the income levels of the rural population. The climate obtaining here is conducive for cultivation of a range of crops, flowers and fruits. Agro based industries close to rural areas will lead to value addition at the local level and provide employment.
I believe that all sections of society must be included in the development process so that they all prosper. I am told that women, who constitute about 47 percent of the population of Sikkim, are hard working and enterprising. They should be provided opportunities to progress and to be financially secure. I would also like to emphasize the need for establishing vocational training institutes for women. They must also be encouraged to set up their own small enterprises through Self Help Groups.
In conclusion, I would like to once again convey my good wishes to the gentle and wise people of the State. Dances are an integral part of Sikkimese culture and the performances today vividly depicted their variety and grace. With these words, I once again thank the Governor, the Chief Minister, the Government and the people for the hospitality and warm welcome.
Thank You.
Jai Hind!
PIB | 15 April 2010 | Ranka
Ladies and Gentlemen,
Inauguration of Tourist Villa cum Socio Cultural Amusement Park at Ranka
I am extremely pleased to be in Sikkim and am deeply touched by the warm welcome accorded to me. The beauty of the State with the majestic Kangchenjunga in the background, as also its friendly and peaceful people has made a profound impression on me. I convey to the people of Sikkim my very warm greetings.
I am happy to inaugurate the Khangchendzonga Tourist Villa-cum-Socio-Cultural and Amusement Park, which has been created in a manner that will not only make tourists comfortable, but also give them the opportunity to acquaint themselves with the local culture and lifestyle. I would also like to congratulate the Government of Sikkim for the vision and foresight to have conceptualized and created this world class tourism infrastructure, in a time-bound manner.
I am happy that the State is developing rapidly as a tourist destination and, over the past few years, there has been a phenomenal increase in the inflow of both domestic and foreign tourists. The reasons for Sikkim being a very popular tourist destination are many. It is a land steeped in legend and tradition. It is often referred to as the land of the hidden paradise, because of its scenic mountains, valleys and forests that are blessed with rivers, lakes and waterfalls. It offers options of mountaineering, trekking and adventure sports. It has potential for village, religious and eco-tourism. The growth of tourism has been possible because of the peace loving people of Sikkim, and I complement them. Tourism can be a leading sector in Sikkim both in terms of generating revenue and in creating work opportunities. It is, however, important to develop a sustainable model for tourism that is conducive for the development of the State and benefits the local people. The youth of the State can be given proper training so that they can find employment in this sector, which in turn will benefit with better management skills.
I am glad that as a part of the Year of Tourism 2010, the Government of Sikkim is organizing the International Rhododendron Festival with a view to create awareness that the original habitat of this flowering plant are the Himalayas. I am told that an ancient folk tale, often narrated here, is about ‘Kemo Reep’ a species of the Rhododendron. Such is your deep relationship with nature. Sikkim’s variegated fauna and flora with its many species of plants, flowers and trees which are a rich repository of medicinal and aromatic herbs have made it one of the biodiversity hotspots of the world. Its natural splendor and ecology are still unspoilt. I do hope that this respect towards the environment is carried forward through generations, so that the incredible beauty and peace of this land is preserved.
Sikkim is a multi-ethnic society and it is admirable the way people live together in harmony. Indeed, pluralism is one of the very basic characteristics of our nation and it is our strength. It is my wish that harmony, peace, growth and prosperity reach every part of the country and every section of society. All states, all regions and all citizens are a part of the effort to build a strong and democratic country. The progress and prosperity of India will only be achieved when each and every of its states progress.
Sikkim with its many natural resources and good social indicators is a contributor to national growth. Sikkim has also shown that while moving on the path of development, we can retain our distinctive culture and maintain ecological balance. I recall giving the first Nirmal Rajya Award to Sikkim in 2008, when it became the first State in the country to achieve 100 percent sanitation. I am told that the State Government is now moving towards providing housing to all by next year, and to make Sikkim a poverty free State by 2015. These are important objectives. I congratulate and pay compliments to the Chief Minister of Sikkim for setting these goals, and am confident that with political guidance, time bound implementation and proper monitoring, these targets will be achieved.
In our country, education has become a fundamental right for all children between the ages of 6 to 14 years. This will be important for Sikkim, a State which has 60 percent of its population below 24 years. Our endeavor is to make our youth energetic and educated. They must have the knowledge and the ability to work, earn and most importantly, contribute to the development of the nation. The literacy rate here is good, but efforts towards reducing school drop outs and ensuring the girl child goes to school must continue, as also to create higher education facilities. I am very happy that during the course of my stay in Sikkim, I would be participating in the first convocation of Sikkim University. I call upon young people to take full advantage of opportunities that are before them.
With 64 percent of the population of the State dependent on agriculture there is need to focus on rural development, on enhancing agricultural productivity and on increasing the income levels of the rural population. The climate obtaining here is conducive for cultivation of a range of crops, flowers and fruits. Agro based industries close to rural areas will lead to value addition at the local level and provide employment.
I believe that all sections of society must be included in the development process so that they all prosper. I am told that women, who constitute about 47 percent of the population of Sikkim, are hard working and enterprising. They should be provided opportunities to progress and to be financially secure. I would also like to emphasize the need for establishing vocational training institutes for women. They must also be encouraged to set up their own small enterprises through Self Help Groups.
In conclusion, I would like to once again convey my good wishes to the gentle and wise people of the State. Dances are an integral part of Sikkimese culture and the performances today vividly depicted their variety and grace. With these words, I once again thank the Governor, the Chief Minister, the Government and the people for the hospitality and warm welcome.
Thank You.
Jai Hind!
INAUGURAL SPEECH OF THE PRESIDENT OF INDIA SMT. PRATIBHA DEVISINGH PATIL AT THE CONCLUDING CEREMONY OF THE GOLDEN JUBILEE YEAR OF THE HIGH COURT OF SIKKIM ON 16th APRIL, 2010.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
I am very happy to participate in the concluding ceremony of the Golden Jubilee Year of the High Court of Sikkim and to inaugurate the seminar on, “Gender Justice and Empowerment of Women with special reference to Sikkim.” I am told that during the past year, the High Court organized a number of events and ceremonies to coincide with the Golden Jubilee celebrations Sikkim is a State which believes in a just society. The evolution of the judicial system began here in the last century with the creation of courts at various levels. The High Court of Sikkim was established in 1955. Upon the merger of Sikkim with the Union of India in 1975, the structure of this High Court was further strengthened. Today, as it completes 50 years of its existence, I extend my warmest greetings to the Bench, Bar and other members of the Sikkim High Court.
I am very happy to participate in the concluding ceremony of the Golden Jubilee Year of the High Court of Sikkim and to inaugurate the seminar on, “Gender Justice and Empowerment of Women with special reference to Sikkim.” I am told that during the past year, the High Court organized a number of events and ceremonies to coincide with the Golden Jubilee celebrations
Sikkim is a State which believes in a just society. The evolution of the judicial system began here in the last century with the creation of courts at various levels. The High Court of Sikkim was established in 1955. Upon the merger of Sikkim with the Union of India in 1975, the structure of this High Court was further strengthened. Today, as it completes 50 years of its existence, I extend my warmest greetings to the Bench, Bar and other members of the Sikkim High Court.
Like other branches of the Government, the Judiciary works in accordance with the principles and goals of our Constitution. The Supreme Court, the highest court of justice, was inaugurated two days after India became a Sovereign Democratic Republic on 26th January, 1950. Since then, we can be proud that our judicial system has done much to secure the rights and freedoms of the people of the country. It has contributed to efforts to achieve the very basic vision of the Constitution to secure for all its citizens justice – social, economic and political. An efficient, independent and accessible judicial system is a pre-requisite to achieve equitable development.
At the very outset, I would like to compliment the Sikkim High Court for having a good record of disposal of cases. I understand less than 100 cases are pending. These too should be disposed off soon so that a “zero arrear record” is attained.
An important aspect in the administration of justice is that it must be accessible. All citizens have a right to legal recourse. This right has been made available under the Constitution and in statutory laws. Yet, in practice for poorer sections of the society the opportunity to avail of this right is deeply constrained, faced as they are with a lack of resources and the wherewithal. Access to justice for them can often remain a theoretical concept rather than a practical exercisable right. Fortunately, a legal aid mechanism is functioning in the country for those who need it and are entitled to it. The Sikkim State and District Legal Services Authority must discharge their functions with a deep sense of social responsibility and render competent legal advice to the people. This is essential if we are to uphold the principle that no person is denied the right to be heard or to be effectively defended in front of an adjudicating authority. Alternative Dispute Settlement Mechanisms like arbitration and mediation need to be encouraged to find amicable and consensual settlement of disputes. These also can be swift and cost-effective methods of dispute settlement. Sikkim should take these and other innovate mechanisms to achieve a “least-cost” justice administration system.
Another hurdle that comes in the way of the exercise of legal rights is the lack of awareness among the people about legal provisions and processes. Hence, creating legal awareness through holding camps and expanding legal literacy is very important.
In any democracy, it is the people, their aspirations and their needs that must occupy a position of primacy. India is not only the world’s largest democracy but it is also a robust democracy and we have succeeded, through the Panchayati Raj institutions, to take democracy to the grass root levels. Similarly, it should also be our effort to see that we take justice closer to the door-steps of the people. The Lok Adalats have been playing an important role in this regard in Sikkim.
I am very pleased that the topic of today’s seminar relates to gender justice and gender empowerment. As the country’s first woman President, for me, a focus on women’s issues is but natural. Government has a number of programmes and schemes for the welfare of women, but there is certain disconnect in implementation. Many of the benefits do not reach women. I have always strongly advocated the need for a coordinated approach towards implementation and monitoring of women related issues. I was, therefore, particularly, happy when this year on the occasion of International Women’s Day, the National Mission for the Empowerment of Women, was launched. It promises coordinated and time bound delivery of women-centric and women-related programmes. Under the Chairmanship of the Prime Minister, I am confident that it will be a success.
Since independence, there has been a series of legislations for women giving them a share in property, prohibiting dowry and ensuring equal remuneration for work among others. Legislation is important but not enough. Women have to come forward and seek their rights. Gender equality, however, is not a confrontational approach. It means mutual respect and equal opportunities for all in a non-discriminating manner. I believe that gender equality means both men and women working together for the happiness of their families and for the welfare of society.
Like charity, justice begins at home and, it is unfortunate, when women are faced with violence in their houses. The Protection of Women against Domestic Violence Act of 2005 seeks to address this unfortunate and shameful occurrence. People of our country must reject violence of any kind. We are a nation founded on non-violence. Mahatma Gandhi, the Father of our Nation, is the apostle of peace, truth and non-violence. His life and his works have deeply influenced many people across many continents. Our finest tribute to him would be if we live our lives on the principles which he advocated and which are the very basis of any civilized society and of our own civilization.
In Sikkim also women, like in other parts of our country, constitute almost half of the total population. Industrious and hard-working, they are participating in the development of the State and occupying important positions. Efforts to give them all opportunities in the social, political and economic life of the State must continue. I am sure that the seminar will look into these various aspects of gender justice.
In conclusion, I urge all stakeholders of the legal system to work in a manner that the rights of the people are safeguarded. The Bench, the Bar and the litigant all have their roles to play in a Court of Law. A Litigant must come, as they say, with clean hands to justice. The lawyer should abide by the highest principles of ethics and while defending his client must, at all points of time, maintain the privileged client-advocate relationship. Judges must always uphold the tenets of probity and while dispensing justice the weighing scale must never tilt in favour of any party but always in favour of justice.
With these words I wish the Sikkim High Court many years of success in the service of justice and all the people of Sikkim.
Thank you.
Jai Hind!
Ladies and Gentlemen,
I am very happy to participate in the concluding ceremony of the Golden Jubilee Year of the High Court of Sikkim and to inaugurate the seminar on, “Gender Justice and Empowerment of Women with special reference to Sikkim.” I am told that during the past year, the High Court organized a number of events and ceremonies to coincide with the Golden Jubilee celebrations Sikkim is a State which believes in a just society. The evolution of the judicial system began here in the last century with the creation of courts at various levels. The High Court of Sikkim was established in 1955. Upon the merger of Sikkim with the Union of India in 1975, the structure of this High Court was further strengthened. Today, as it completes 50 years of its existence, I extend my warmest greetings to the Bench, Bar and other members of the Sikkim High Court.
I am very happy to participate in the concluding ceremony of the Golden Jubilee Year of the High Court of Sikkim and to inaugurate the seminar on, “Gender Justice and Empowerment of Women with special reference to Sikkim.” I am told that during the past year, the High Court organized a number of events and ceremonies to coincide with the Golden Jubilee celebrations
Sikkim is a State which believes in a just society. The evolution of the judicial system began here in the last century with the creation of courts at various levels. The High Court of Sikkim was established in 1955. Upon the merger of Sikkim with the Union of India in 1975, the structure of this High Court was further strengthened. Today, as it completes 50 years of its existence, I extend my warmest greetings to the Bench, Bar and other members of the Sikkim High Court.
Like other branches of the Government, the Judiciary works in accordance with the principles and goals of our Constitution. The Supreme Court, the highest court of justice, was inaugurated two days after India became a Sovereign Democratic Republic on 26th January, 1950. Since then, we can be proud that our judicial system has done much to secure the rights and freedoms of the people of the country. It has contributed to efforts to achieve the very basic vision of the Constitution to secure for all its citizens justice – social, economic and political. An efficient, independent and accessible judicial system is a pre-requisite to achieve equitable development.
At the very outset, I would like to compliment the Sikkim High Court for having a good record of disposal of cases. I understand less than 100 cases are pending. These too should be disposed off soon so that a “zero arrear record” is attained.
An important aspect in the administration of justice is that it must be accessible. All citizens have a right to legal recourse. This right has been made available under the Constitution and in statutory laws. Yet, in practice for poorer sections of the society the opportunity to avail of this right is deeply constrained, faced as they are with a lack of resources and the wherewithal. Access to justice for them can often remain a theoretical concept rather than a practical exercisable right. Fortunately, a legal aid mechanism is functioning in the country for those who need it and are entitled to it. The Sikkim State and District Legal Services Authority must discharge their functions with a deep sense of social responsibility and render competent legal advice to the people. This is essential if we are to uphold the principle that no person is denied the right to be heard or to be effectively defended in front of an adjudicating authority. Alternative Dispute Settlement Mechanisms like arbitration and mediation need to be encouraged to find amicable and consensual settlement of disputes. These also can be swift and cost-effective methods of dispute settlement. Sikkim should take these and other innovate mechanisms to achieve a “least-cost” justice administration system.
Another hurdle that comes in the way of the exercise of legal rights is the lack of awareness among the people about legal provisions and processes. Hence, creating legal awareness through holding camps and expanding legal literacy is very important.
In any democracy, it is the people, their aspirations and their needs that must occupy a position of primacy. India is not only the world’s largest democracy but it is also a robust democracy and we have succeeded, through the Panchayati Raj institutions, to take democracy to the grass root levels. Similarly, it should also be our effort to see that we take justice closer to the door-steps of the people. The Lok Adalats have been playing an important role in this regard in Sikkim.
I am very pleased that the topic of today’s seminar relates to gender justice and gender empowerment. As the country’s first woman President, for me, a focus on women’s issues is but natural. Government has a number of programmes and schemes for the welfare of women, but there is certain disconnect in implementation. Many of the benefits do not reach women. I have always strongly advocated the need for a coordinated approach towards implementation and monitoring of women related issues. I was, therefore, particularly, happy when this year on the occasion of International Women’s Day, the National Mission for the Empowerment of Women, was launched. It promises coordinated and time bound delivery of women-centric and women-related programmes. Under the Chairmanship of the Prime Minister, I am confident that it will be a success.
Since independence, there has been a series of legislations for women giving them a share in property, prohibiting dowry and ensuring equal remuneration for work among others. Legislation is important but not enough. Women have to come forward and seek their rights. Gender equality, however, is not a confrontational approach. It means mutual respect and equal opportunities for all in a non-discriminating manner. I believe that gender equality means both men and women working together for the happiness of their families and for the welfare of society.
Like charity, justice begins at home and, it is unfortunate, when women are faced with violence in their houses. The Protection of Women against Domestic Violence Act of 2005 seeks to address this unfortunate and shameful occurrence. People of our country must reject violence of any kind. We are a nation founded on non-violence. Mahatma Gandhi, the Father of our Nation, is the apostle of peace, truth and non-violence. His life and his works have deeply influenced many people across many continents. Our finest tribute to him would be if we live our lives on the principles which he advocated and which are the very basis of any civilized society and of our own civilization.
In Sikkim also women, like in other parts of our country, constitute almost half of the total population. Industrious and hard-working, they are participating in the development of the State and occupying important positions. Efforts to give them all opportunities in the social, political and economic life of the State must continue. I am sure that the seminar will look into these various aspects of gender justice.
In conclusion, I urge all stakeholders of the legal system to work in a manner that the rights of the people are safeguarded. The Bench, the Bar and the litigant all have their roles to play in a Court of Law. A Litigant must come, as they say, with clean hands to justice. The lawyer should abide by the highest principles of ethics and while defending his client must, at all points of time, maintain the privileged client-advocate relationship. Judges must always uphold the tenets of probity and while dispensing justice the weighing scale must never tilt in favour of any party but always in favour of justice.
With these words I wish the Sikkim High Court many years of success in the service of justice and all the people of Sikkim.
Thank you.
Jai Hind!
Sikkim is developing rapidly as a tourist destination: President
Gangtok: President Mrs Pratibha Patil inaugurated Kangchendzonga Tourist Villa-cum-Socio Cultural Amusement Park at Ranka (East Sikkim) on April 15, the second day of her 3-day Sikkim visit. Governor and Chief Minister were present, among others. In her inaugural address the President said, “I am happy to inaugurate the Khangchendzonga Tourist Villa-cum-Socio-Cultural and Amusement Park, which has been created in a manner that will not only make tourists comfortable, but also give them the opportunity to acquaint themselves with the local culture and lifestyle”, President said. “I would also like to congratulate the Government of Sikkim for the vision and foresight to have conceptualized and created this world class tourism infrastructure, in a time-bound manner”, she added.
She continued: “I am happy that the State is developing rapidly as a tourist destination and, over the past few years, there has been a phenomenal increase in the inflow of both domestic and foreign tourists.
“The reasons for Sikkim being a very popular tourist destination are many. It is a land steeped in legend and tradition. It is often referred to as the land of the hidden paradise, because of its scenic mountains, valleys and forests that are blessed with rivers, lakes and waterfalls. It offers options of mountaineering, trekking and adventure sports. It has potential for village, religious and eco-tourism.
“The growth of tourism has been possible because of the peace loving people of Sikkim, and I complement them. Tourism can be a leading sector in Sikkim both in terms of generating revenue and in creating work opportunities… The youth of the State can be given proper training so that they can find employment in this sector, which in turn will benefit with better management skills.
“I am glad that as a part of the Year of Tourism 2010, the Government of Sikkim is organizing the International Rhododendron Festival with a view to create awareness that the original habitat of this flowering plant are the Himalayas.
“I am told that an ancient folk tale, often narrated here, is about ‘Kemo Reep’ a species of the Rhododendron. Such is your deep relationship with nature.
“Sikkim is a multi-ethnic society and it is admirable the way people live together in harmony. Indeed, pluralism is one of the very basic characteristics of our nation and it is our strength. It is my wish that harmony, peace, growth and prosperity reach every part of the country and every section of society. All states, all regions and all citizens are a part of the effort to build a strong and democratic country. The progress and prosperity of India will only be achieved when each and every of its states progress.
“Sikkim with its many natural resources and good social indicators is a contributor to national growth. Sikkim has also shown that while moving on the path of development, we can retain our distinctive culture and maintain ecological balance.
“I recall giving the first Nirmal Rajya Award to Sikkim in 2008, when it became the first State in the country to achieve 100 percent sanitation. I am told that the State Government is now moving towards providing housing to all by next year, and to make Sikkim a poverty free State by 2015.
These are important objectives. I congratulate and pay compliments to the Chief Minister of Sikkim for setting these goals, and am confident that with political guidance, time bound implementation and proper monitoring, these targets will be achieved.
“In our country, education has become a fundamental right for all children between the ages of 6 to 14 years. This will be important for Sikkim, a State which has 60 percent of its population below 24 years. Our endeavor is to make our youth energetic and educated. They must have the knowledge and the ability to work, earn and most importantly, contribute to the development of the nation.
source;sikkim reporter
Gangtok: President Mrs Pratibha Patil inaugurated Kangchendzonga Tourist Villa-cum-Socio Cultural Amusement Park at Ranka (East Sikkim) on April 15, the second day of her 3-day Sikkim visit. Governor and Chief Minister were present, among others. In her inaugural address the President said, “I am happy to inaugurate the Khangchendzonga Tourist Villa-cum-Socio-Cultural and Amusement Park, which has been created in a manner that will not only make tourists comfortable, but also give them the opportunity to acquaint themselves with the local culture and lifestyle”, President said. “I would also like to congratulate the Government of Sikkim for the vision and foresight to have conceptualized and created this world class tourism infrastructure, in a time-bound manner”, she added.
She continued: “I am happy that the State is developing rapidly as a tourist destination and, over the past few years, there has been a phenomenal increase in the inflow of both domestic and foreign tourists.
“The reasons for Sikkim being a very popular tourist destination are many. It is a land steeped in legend and tradition. It is often referred to as the land of the hidden paradise, because of its scenic mountains, valleys and forests that are blessed with rivers, lakes and waterfalls. It offers options of mountaineering, trekking and adventure sports. It has potential for village, religious and eco-tourism.
“The growth of tourism has been possible because of the peace loving people of Sikkim, and I complement them. Tourism can be a leading sector in Sikkim both in terms of generating revenue and in creating work opportunities… The youth of the State can be given proper training so that they can find employment in this sector, which in turn will benefit with better management skills.
“I am glad that as a part of the Year of Tourism 2010, the Government of Sikkim is organizing the International Rhododendron Festival with a view to create awareness that the original habitat of this flowering plant are the Himalayas.
“I am told that an ancient folk tale, often narrated here, is about ‘Kemo Reep’ a species of the Rhododendron. Such is your deep relationship with nature.
“Sikkim is a multi-ethnic society and it is admirable the way people live together in harmony. Indeed, pluralism is one of the very basic characteristics of our nation and it is our strength. It is my wish that harmony, peace, growth and prosperity reach every part of the country and every section of society. All states, all regions and all citizens are a part of the effort to build a strong and democratic country. The progress and prosperity of India will only be achieved when each and every of its states progress.
“Sikkim with its many natural resources and good social indicators is a contributor to national growth. Sikkim has also shown that while moving on the path of development, we can retain our distinctive culture and maintain ecological balance.
“I recall giving the first Nirmal Rajya Award to Sikkim in 2008, when it became the first State in the country to achieve 100 percent sanitation. I am told that the State Government is now moving towards providing housing to all by next year, and to make Sikkim a poverty free State by 2015.
These are important objectives. I congratulate and pay compliments to the Chief Minister of Sikkim for setting these goals, and am confident that with political guidance, time bound implementation and proper monitoring, these targets will be achieved.
“In our country, education has become a fundamental right for all children between the ages of 6 to 14 years. This will be important for Sikkim, a State which has 60 percent of its population below 24 years. Our endeavor is to make our youth energetic and educated. They must have the knowledge and the ability to work, earn and most importantly, contribute to the development of the nation.
source;sikkim reporter
President of India urged to direct Home Ministry to formalize Old Settlers’ Status
source: voice of sikkim
15 April, Raj Bhavan:
A delegation of Sikkim Chamber of Commerce led by Shri S,.K.Sarda, its President called on Her Excellency , The President of India Smt Pratibha Devi Singh Patil at Raj Bhawan, Gangtok ( Sikkim ) on 15th April 2010
The delegation submitted a memorandum to President of India.
The memorandum says:
“ We are extremely grateful to the Government of India for extending all possible cooperation and liberal grants for the development of this beautiful State in recognition of new vistas and projects to uplift community life, envisioned by our Chief Minister Dr Pawan Chamling. His relentless efforts over the last 15 years have finally borne fruit and today Sikkim boasts of bountiful opportunities in all sectors of economy namely tourism, industry, trade, commerce and floriculture duly maintaining highest regards to environment and ecology.”
The Chamber further appreciated and earnestly thanked Government of India for bestowing the highest respect to the old laws of Sikkim ( erstwhile Monarchy) as contained in Article 371 F of the 36th Amendment to the Constitution.
The Sikkim Chamber of Commerce also pleaded on behalf of the small group of 6000
odd people of Indian Origin commonly known as ‘old settlers’ settled in Sikkim since ages and urged the President Of India to direct the Ministry of Home Affairs to formalize their status and determines them as old settlers of Sikkim on an urgent basis as 35 years have already passed away without their recognition.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
SCC memorandum to President
Gangtok: A delegation of Sikkim Chamber of Commerce (SCC) led by its President Mr. S,.K.Sarda called on the President of India, Mr. Pratibha Devi Singh Patil at Raj Bhawan, Gangtok, on 15th April. The delegation submitted a memorandum to President Patil.According to a press release by SCC General Secretary Mr. Suresh Agarwal, the memorandum says: “We are extremely grateful to the Government of India for extending all possible cooperation and liberal grants for the development of this beautiful State in recognition of new vistas and projects to uplift community life, envisioned by our Chief Minister Dr Pawan Chamling. His relentless efforts over the last 15 years have finally borne fruit and today Sikkim boasts of bountiful opportunities in all sectors of economy, namely, tourism, industry, trade, commerce and floriculture duly maintaining highest regards to environment and ecology.” The release adds, the delegation also pleaded on behalf of the small group of 6000 odd people of Indian origin, commonly known as ‘old settlers’, settled in Sikkim since ages and urged the President Of India to direct the Ministry of Home Affairs to formalize their status and declare them as old settlers of Sikkim on an urgent basis as 35 years have already passed without their recognition.
source; sikkim reporter
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
SCC urges President for formal status of old settlers
source: sikkim express
GANGTOK, April 15: The Sikkim Chamber of Commerce (SCC) today submitted a memorandum to President Pratibha Patil seeking her help in formalizing the status of 6000 odd old settlers of Sikkim.
Pleading on behalf of the old settlers who have settled in Sikkim since ages, the SCC urged the President to direct the Ministry of Home Affairs to formalize their status and determine them as ‘old settlers of Sikkim on an urgent basis as 35 years have already passed away without their recognition’.
The SCC delegation was led by their president SK Sarda.
source: voice of sikkim
15 April, Raj Bhavan:
A delegation of Sikkim Chamber of Commerce led by Shri S,.K.Sarda, its President called on Her Excellency , The President of India Smt Pratibha Devi Singh Patil at Raj Bhawan, Gangtok ( Sikkim ) on 15th April 2010
The delegation submitted a memorandum to President of India.
The memorandum says:
“ We are extremely grateful to the Government of India for extending all possible cooperation and liberal grants for the development of this beautiful State in recognition of new vistas and projects to uplift community life, envisioned by our Chief Minister Dr Pawan Chamling. His relentless efforts over the last 15 years have finally borne fruit and today Sikkim boasts of bountiful opportunities in all sectors of economy namely tourism, industry, trade, commerce and floriculture duly maintaining highest regards to environment and ecology.”
The Chamber further appreciated and earnestly thanked Government of India for bestowing the highest respect to the old laws of Sikkim ( erstwhile Monarchy) as contained in Article 371 F of the 36th Amendment to the Constitution.
The Sikkim Chamber of Commerce also pleaded on behalf of the small group of 6000
odd people of Indian Origin commonly known as ‘old settlers’ settled in Sikkim since ages and urged the President Of India to direct the Ministry of Home Affairs to formalize their status and determines them as old settlers of Sikkim on an urgent basis as 35 years have already passed away without their recognition.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
SCC memorandum to President
Gangtok: A delegation of Sikkim Chamber of Commerce (SCC) led by its President Mr. S,.K.Sarda called on the President of India, Mr. Pratibha Devi Singh Patil at Raj Bhawan, Gangtok, on 15th April. The delegation submitted a memorandum to President Patil.According to a press release by SCC General Secretary Mr. Suresh Agarwal, the memorandum says: “We are extremely grateful to the Government of India for extending all possible cooperation and liberal grants for the development of this beautiful State in recognition of new vistas and projects to uplift community life, envisioned by our Chief Minister Dr Pawan Chamling. His relentless efforts over the last 15 years have finally borne fruit and today Sikkim boasts of bountiful opportunities in all sectors of economy, namely, tourism, industry, trade, commerce and floriculture duly maintaining highest regards to environment and ecology.” The release adds, the delegation also pleaded on behalf of the small group of 6000 odd people of Indian origin, commonly known as ‘old settlers’, settled in Sikkim since ages and urged the President Of India to direct the Ministry of Home Affairs to formalize their status and declare them as old settlers of Sikkim on an urgent basis as 35 years have already passed without their recognition.
source; sikkim reporter
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
SCC urges President for formal status of old settlers
source: sikkim express
GANGTOK, April 15: The Sikkim Chamber of Commerce (SCC) today submitted a memorandum to President Pratibha Patil seeking her help in formalizing the status of 6000 odd old settlers of Sikkim.
Pleading on behalf of the old settlers who have settled in Sikkim since ages, the SCC urged the President to direct the Ministry of Home Affairs to formalize their status and determine them as ‘old settlers of Sikkim on an urgent basis as 35 years have already passed away without their recognition’.
The SCC delegation was led by their president SK Sarda.
Tourism growth because of peace loving people of Sikkim: President
GANGTOK, April 15: President Pratibha Patil today ushered in a new chapter for Sikkim Tourism when she inaugurated the mega tourism project, Khangchendzonga Tourist Villa-cum-socio cultural amusement park at Ranka, East Sikkim.
West Bengal Governor MK Narayanan who has been given the additional charge for Sikkim, Chief Minister Pawan Chamling, cabinet ministers and a host of dignitaries were present during the momentous occasion.
The hard work shown by Sikkim government towards promotion of tourism fetched rich compliments from the President who congratulated the State government for the vision and foresight to conceptualize and create such a world class tourism infrastructure in a time-bound manner. The park has been created in a manner that will not only make the tourists comfortable, but also give them opportunity to acquaint themselves with the local culture and lifestyle, she said in her inaugural address.
Expressing her happiness over the rapid strides taken by Sikkim in the tourism sector due the several inherent natural advantages, the President said pointed out the peace loving nature of Sikkimese people for the tourism growth of Sikkim.
“The growth of tourism has been possible because of the peace loving people of Sikkim, and I complement them”.
In her address, Patil also underlined the importance of developing a sustainable model for tourism that is conducive for the development of the State and benefiting the local people. The youth of the State can be given proper training so that they can find employment in this sector, which in turn will benefit with better management skills, she suggested.
The President expressed her hopes that the respect shown by Sikkim towards environment is carried forward through generations so that the incredible beauty and peace of Sikkim is preserved. “Sikkim’s variegated fauna and flora with its many species of plants, flowers and trees which are a rich repository of medicinal and aromatic herbs have made it one of the biodiversity hotspots of the world. Its natural splendor and ecology are still unspoilt. I do hope that this respect towards the environment is carried forward through generations, so that the incredible beauty and peace of this land is preserved”, she said.
The President also expressed her admiration for the communal harmony existing in Sikkim. She complimented the Chief Minister for setting up targets to make Sikkim a poverty-free State by 2015. I am confident that confident that with political guidance, time bound implementation and proper monitoring, these targets will be achieved, she said.
At the same time, Patil said that efforts to reduce school dropouts must continue. “The literacy rate here is good, but efforts towards reducing school drop outs and ensuring the girl child goes to school must continue, as also to create higher education facilities”, she said.
The President also highlighted the need to focus on rural development.
“With 64 percent of the population of the State dependent on agriculture there is need to focus on rural development, on enhancing agricultural productivity and on increasing the income levels of the rural population. The climate obtaining here is conducive for cultivation of a range of crops, flowers and fruits. Agro based industries close to rural areas will lead to value addition at the local level and provide employment”, the President said.
Patil also emphasized the need for establishing vocational training institutes for women in Sikkim and to encourage them to set up their own small enterprises through Self Help Groups.
Earlier, Chief Minister Pawan Chamling in his address said that ever since forming the government in 1994, 70 percent of the annual budget has been allocated for rural development annually. The State government has been giving priority for eco-friendly development and eco-tourism is a very important aspect, he said.
The Chief Minister also highlighted major under construction infrastructural projects in the State including a Greenfield airport at Pakyong, rail link between Rangpo in East Sikkim to Sevoke in West Bengal and double laning of NH 31A. These are the various measures which can help to promote tourism of Sikkim, he said.
Chamling informed that the State government had placed a memorandum to the President yesterday evening seeking her assistance over the pending political demands of Sikkim.
The demands were seat reservation for the Limboo-Tamang communities in the Assembly, expansion of the strength of the Assembly, inclusion of the Bhutia-Lepcha language in the Eighth Schedule of the Constitution
and
income tax exemption to the left-outs persons of Sikkim. We seek blessings of the President, he said.
The Chief Minister also highlighted the achievements of his government since 1994 till date in his address.
West Bengal Governor MK Narayan who has been given additional charge of Sikkim also congratulated the Chief Minister for the world class tourism infrastructure at Ranka. The project is unique in the Northeast and a historical moment for Sikkim, he said.
GANGTOK, April 15: President Pratibha Patil today ushered in a new chapter for Sikkim Tourism when she inaugurated the mega tourism project, Khangchendzonga Tourist Villa-cum-socio cultural amusement park at Ranka, East Sikkim.
West Bengal Governor MK Narayanan who has been given the additional charge for Sikkim, Chief Minister Pawan Chamling, cabinet ministers and a host of dignitaries were present during the momentous occasion.
The hard work shown by Sikkim government towards promotion of tourism fetched rich compliments from the President who congratulated the State government for the vision and foresight to conceptualize and create such a world class tourism infrastructure in a time-bound manner. The park has been created in a manner that will not only make the tourists comfortable, but also give them opportunity to acquaint themselves with the local culture and lifestyle, she said in her inaugural address.
Expressing her happiness over the rapid strides taken by Sikkim in the tourism sector due the several inherent natural advantages, the President said pointed out the peace loving nature of Sikkimese people for the tourism growth of Sikkim.
“The growth of tourism has been possible because of the peace loving people of Sikkim, and I complement them”.
In her address, Patil also underlined the importance of developing a sustainable model for tourism that is conducive for the development of the State and benefiting the local people. The youth of the State can be given proper training so that they can find employment in this sector, which in turn will benefit with better management skills, she suggested.
The President expressed her hopes that the respect shown by Sikkim towards environment is carried forward through generations so that the incredible beauty and peace of Sikkim is preserved. “Sikkim’s variegated fauna and flora with its many species of plants, flowers and trees which are a rich repository of medicinal and aromatic herbs have made it one of the biodiversity hotspots of the world. Its natural splendor and ecology are still unspoilt. I do hope that this respect towards the environment is carried forward through generations, so that the incredible beauty and peace of this land is preserved”, she said.
The President also expressed her admiration for the communal harmony existing in Sikkim. She complimented the Chief Minister for setting up targets to make Sikkim a poverty-free State by 2015. I am confident that confident that with political guidance, time bound implementation and proper monitoring, these targets will be achieved, she said.
At the same time, Patil said that efforts to reduce school dropouts must continue. “The literacy rate here is good, but efforts towards reducing school drop outs and ensuring the girl child goes to school must continue, as also to create higher education facilities”, she said.
The President also highlighted the need to focus on rural development.
“With 64 percent of the population of the State dependent on agriculture there is need to focus on rural development, on enhancing agricultural productivity and on increasing the income levels of the rural population. The climate obtaining here is conducive for cultivation of a range of crops, flowers and fruits. Agro based industries close to rural areas will lead to value addition at the local level and provide employment”, the President said.
Patil also emphasized the need for establishing vocational training institutes for women in Sikkim and to encourage them to set up their own small enterprises through Self Help Groups.
Earlier, Chief Minister Pawan Chamling in his address said that ever since forming the government in 1994, 70 percent of the annual budget has been allocated for rural development annually. The State government has been giving priority for eco-friendly development and eco-tourism is a very important aspect, he said.
The Chief Minister also highlighted major under construction infrastructural projects in the State including a Greenfield airport at Pakyong, rail link between Rangpo in East Sikkim to Sevoke in West Bengal and double laning of NH 31A. These are the various measures which can help to promote tourism of Sikkim, he said.
Chamling informed that the State government had placed a memorandum to the President yesterday evening seeking her assistance over the pending political demands of Sikkim.
The demands were seat reservation for the Limboo-Tamang communities in the Assembly, expansion of the strength of the Assembly, inclusion of the Bhutia-Lepcha language in the Eighth Schedule of the Constitution
and
income tax exemption to the left-outs persons of Sikkim. We seek blessings of the President, he said.
The Chief Minister also highlighted the achievements of his government since 1994 till date in his address.
West Bengal Governor MK Narayan who has been given additional charge of Sikkim also congratulated the Chief Minister for the world class tourism infrastructure at Ranka. The project is unique in the Northeast and a historical moment for Sikkim, he said.
Friday, April 16, 2010
sikkim:Baisakhi Parva celebrated
PRAKASH CHETTRI
Namchi: With a traditional Shova Yatra and a number of colourful cultural events the New Year 2067, as per the Nepali Lunar Calendar the Baisakhi Parva, and Dr. Ambedkar Jayanti was celebrated at Jorethang Nayabazaar in West Sikkim in a grand manner. Two days’ celebration programme was held at the meeting point of River Rangeet and Ramam. Dr. Rajendra Bhandari, Lecturer Nepali Department, Sikkim Government College Tadong, was chief guest of the programme which was attended by a number of literary figures from Sikkim, Darjeeling and Kalimpong along with the government officials from Jorethang and its surroundings.
The main attraction of Wednesday’s celebration was the Hasya Kavi Gosti. The poets from Sikkim, Darjeeling, Kalimpong and Dooars recited their poems on different topics. Among the present poets were KN Sharma from Gangtok, Yuvaraj Ghaley Bhai from Gangtok, Arun Prakash Rai from Kalimpong, Sunil Rai Pranami from Darjeeling, Bhupendra Subba of Darjeeling, Begbasanta Thapa of Dooars, Sitaram Kafley from Kalimpong, Moti Psd. Sharma of Kalimpong, Tika Bhai of Darjeeling, Raja Puniyani of Siliguri and Dr. Rajendra Bhandari from Gangtok. Earlier the celebration began with a big shova yatra which started from the main venue and covering Jorethang Bazaar finally ended at the same venue. Later a programme was organized at the river bank to mark the occasion where the artists from different parts of Sikkim and Darjeeling presented colourful cultural items.
A unique part of the celebration was felicitation of the aged people of the locality which was initiated with the vision of area MLA Madan Cintury who is also the chief patron of the organizing committee. In this programme the committee on the day felicitated one 95 years old lady with a shawl, felicitation letter, clothes and cash incentives. The best performing student of the locality was also honoured on the occasion with cash prize and a certificate which was won by onr student of St. Francis School, Jorethang.
Earlier the President of the committee Kamal Chettri in his welcome address highlighted the importance of Baisahi Parva amongst us while Dhurba Lohagon presented a brief history of the life of Dr. BR Ambedkar.
SOURCE;SIKKIM REPORTER
PRAKASH CHETTRI
Namchi: With a traditional Shova Yatra and a number of colourful cultural events the New Year 2067, as per the Nepali Lunar Calendar the Baisakhi Parva, and Dr. Ambedkar Jayanti was celebrated at Jorethang Nayabazaar in West Sikkim in a grand manner. Two days’ celebration programme was held at the meeting point of River Rangeet and Ramam. Dr. Rajendra Bhandari, Lecturer Nepali Department, Sikkim Government College Tadong, was chief guest of the programme which was attended by a number of literary figures from Sikkim, Darjeeling and Kalimpong along with the government officials from Jorethang and its surroundings.
The main attraction of Wednesday’s celebration was the Hasya Kavi Gosti. The poets from Sikkim, Darjeeling, Kalimpong and Dooars recited their poems on different topics. Among the present poets were KN Sharma from Gangtok, Yuvaraj Ghaley Bhai from Gangtok, Arun Prakash Rai from Kalimpong, Sunil Rai Pranami from Darjeeling, Bhupendra Subba of Darjeeling, Begbasanta Thapa of Dooars, Sitaram Kafley from Kalimpong, Moti Psd. Sharma of Kalimpong, Tika Bhai of Darjeeling, Raja Puniyani of Siliguri and Dr. Rajendra Bhandari from Gangtok. Earlier the celebration began with a big shova yatra which started from the main venue and covering Jorethang Bazaar finally ended at the same venue. Later a programme was organized at the river bank to mark the occasion where the artists from different parts of Sikkim and Darjeeling presented colourful cultural items.
A unique part of the celebration was felicitation of the aged people of the locality which was initiated with the vision of area MLA Madan Cintury who is also the chief patron of the organizing committee. In this programme the committee on the day felicitated one 95 years old lady with a shawl, felicitation letter, clothes and cash incentives. The best performing student of the locality was also honoured on the occasion with cash prize and a certificate which was won by onr student of St. Francis School, Jorethang.
Earlier the President of the committee Kamal Chettri in his welcome address highlighted the importance of Baisahi Parva amongst us while Dhurba Lohagon presented a brief history of the life of Dr. BR Ambedkar.
SOURCE;SIKKIM REPORTER
PM´s address at the Plenary Session of the IBSA Summit
The Prime Minister, Dr. Manmohan Singh, addressed the Plenary Session of the IBSA summit in Brasilia today. Following is the text of the Prime Minister´s opening statement:
`` I am delighted to be in Brasilia for the Fourth Summit meeting of IBSA. I express my deep appreciation to His Excellency President Lula da Silva, and to the Government and the people of Brazil for the excellent arrangements made for hosting this Summit.
We deeply value the contribution made by President Lula in imparting vigour and dynamism to IBSA. I also take this opportunity to welcome President Jacob Zuma to his first IBSA Summit. I am confident that IBSA will immensely benefit from his guidance and leadership.
President Lula, President Zuma and I have just completed a very useful exchange of views on several global issues of mutual concern and the future direction to our trilateral cooperation.
The IBSA Forum provides a framework of cooperation among three major democracies from three different continents. We are all developing economies with shared values and similar aspirations. There is a lot that we can do together to benefit each other, and the world.
We have made a conscious effort to ensure that our interaction goes beyond just the Government level. The IBSA framework is unique because of its focus on people to people contacts. Strengthening of dialogue among civil society and the promotion of sporting links and tourism is an important dimension of IBSA activities. The dialogue over the past three days in the Parliamentarian, Business, Womens, Editors', Small Business, Local Government and Academic Fora is a clear testimony of our commitment to building bonds of friendship and understanding among our people.
At the inter-governmental level, we cooperate on a wide range of issues. Our Foreign and Trade Ministers meet regularly. The sixteen Working Groups in different sectors provide a framework for our cooperation. There has been considerable progress in the areas of science and technology and energy cooperation. We have expanded our cooperation to ocean research, space science, and the Antarctica. The three countries have participated in a joint naval exercise, IBSAMAR. The second exercise will take place in South Africa later this year.
Under the IBSA Trust Fund, we are committed to assisting other developing countries through development projects. This is a novel concept of South-South Cooperation.
We have decided to expedite negotiations on India-SACU-Mercosur trade arrangement. This trilateral arrangement will bring together a rapidly growing market and enable us to benefit from our respective strengths and complementarities. We are increasingly consulting each other on international issues. IBSA can contribute to the shaping of the global agenda and highlighting the issues of concern to developing countries. We are united in our objective to ensure a fair and equitable international order.
The critical phase of the global economic crisis is behind us, but the process of recovery is still fragile and uneven. We have to ensure that we do not repeat the mistakes of the past. Global economic recovery, to be sustainable, must be anchored in the real economy. The financial sector and international capital flows should contribute to economic growth rather than encourage speculation and volatility in the international system. Our focus should be on greater investments in infrastructure, human capital, education and inclusive growth. We must create new sources of growth.
Food security is an important goal for all of us. I am pleased to note that we would be adopting documents on a social development strategy and future agriculture cooperation within the IBSA framework.
IBSA should coordinate its positions in the G-20. We should continue to pursue the early conclusion of the Doha round of trade negotiations because a fair and rule based multilateral trading system is in our interest. IBSA countries have been in the forefront of demands for greater market access to the developed markets. We must speak out against protectionist policies which are only short-sighted and self-defeating in the long run. The systems of global governance have not kept pace with the changing realities of the world. There is an urgent need for reform of the United Nations, including the Security Council, by making it more democratic and representative. The commencement of text-based negotiations in the United Nations in April is a positive development, and has been possible due to the efforts of the G-4 and South Africa.
Our three countries have closely consulted each other on climate change issues. The Copenhagen Accord was made possible due to the efforts of the BASIC countries. The Copenhagen Conference has decided by consensus to continue multilateral negotiations on two parallel tracks – the Bali Action Plan and the Kyoto Protocol. We look forward to the Cancun Conference to advance our goals under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change.
Terrorism continues to pose a serious challenge to our developmental goals. It is a scourge that needs to be fought through collective international effort. We should make all efforts for the early finalisation of the Comprehensive Convention on International Terrorism in the United Nations.
The collaborative activities within the IBSA framework hold immense promise for our people. The Joint Declaration and Agreements that we will be signing today will strengthen the enabling institutional framework for cooperation.
The IBSA Forum supplements the excellent bilateral relations we have with each other. The significance of IBSA however transcends our bilateral ties. It symbolises the desire of three great countries to overcome physical distances and pool their material and intellectual resources for a common cause. IBSA is a strong moral force in today’s unsettled world.
India looks forward to working closely with Brazil and South Africa to take our cooperation to even greater heights`´.
***
The Prime Minister, Dr. Manmohan Singh, addressed the Plenary Session of the IBSA summit in Brasilia today. Following is the text of the Prime Minister´s opening statement:
`` I am delighted to be in Brasilia for the Fourth Summit meeting of IBSA. I express my deep appreciation to His Excellency President Lula da Silva, and to the Government and the people of Brazil for the excellent arrangements made for hosting this Summit.
We deeply value the contribution made by President Lula in imparting vigour and dynamism to IBSA. I also take this opportunity to welcome President Jacob Zuma to his first IBSA Summit. I am confident that IBSA will immensely benefit from his guidance and leadership.
President Lula, President Zuma and I have just completed a very useful exchange of views on several global issues of mutual concern and the future direction to our trilateral cooperation.
The IBSA Forum provides a framework of cooperation among three major democracies from three different continents. We are all developing economies with shared values and similar aspirations. There is a lot that we can do together to benefit each other, and the world.
We have made a conscious effort to ensure that our interaction goes beyond just the Government level. The IBSA framework is unique because of its focus on people to people contacts. Strengthening of dialogue among civil society and the promotion of sporting links and tourism is an important dimension of IBSA activities. The dialogue over the past three days in the Parliamentarian, Business, Womens, Editors', Small Business, Local Government and Academic Fora is a clear testimony of our commitment to building bonds of friendship and understanding among our people.
At the inter-governmental level, we cooperate on a wide range of issues. Our Foreign and Trade Ministers meet regularly. The sixteen Working Groups in different sectors provide a framework for our cooperation. There has been considerable progress in the areas of science and technology and energy cooperation. We have expanded our cooperation to ocean research, space science, and the Antarctica. The three countries have participated in a joint naval exercise, IBSAMAR. The second exercise will take place in South Africa later this year.
Under the IBSA Trust Fund, we are committed to assisting other developing countries through development projects. This is a novel concept of South-South Cooperation.
We have decided to expedite negotiations on India-SACU-Mercosur trade arrangement. This trilateral arrangement will bring together a rapidly growing market and enable us to benefit from our respective strengths and complementarities. We are increasingly consulting each other on international issues. IBSA can contribute to the shaping of the global agenda and highlighting the issues of concern to developing countries. We are united in our objective to ensure a fair and equitable international order.
The critical phase of the global economic crisis is behind us, but the process of recovery is still fragile and uneven. We have to ensure that we do not repeat the mistakes of the past. Global economic recovery, to be sustainable, must be anchored in the real economy. The financial sector and international capital flows should contribute to economic growth rather than encourage speculation and volatility in the international system. Our focus should be on greater investments in infrastructure, human capital, education and inclusive growth. We must create new sources of growth.
Food security is an important goal for all of us. I am pleased to note that we would be adopting documents on a social development strategy and future agriculture cooperation within the IBSA framework.
IBSA should coordinate its positions in the G-20. We should continue to pursue the early conclusion of the Doha round of trade negotiations because a fair and rule based multilateral trading system is in our interest. IBSA countries have been in the forefront of demands for greater market access to the developed markets. We must speak out against protectionist policies which are only short-sighted and self-defeating in the long run. The systems of global governance have not kept pace with the changing realities of the world. There is an urgent need for reform of the United Nations, including the Security Council, by making it more democratic and representative. The commencement of text-based negotiations in the United Nations in April is a positive development, and has been possible due to the efforts of the G-4 and South Africa.
Our three countries have closely consulted each other on climate change issues. The Copenhagen Accord was made possible due to the efforts of the BASIC countries. The Copenhagen Conference has decided by consensus to continue multilateral negotiations on two parallel tracks – the Bali Action Plan and the Kyoto Protocol. We look forward to the Cancun Conference to advance our goals under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change.
Terrorism continues to pose a serious challenge to our developmental goals. It is a scourge that needs to be fought through collective international effort. We should make all efforts for the early finalisation of the Comprehensive Convention on International Terrorism in the United Nations.
The collaborative activities within the IBSA framework hold immense promise for our people. The Joint Declaration and Agreements that we will be signing today will strengthen the enabling institutional framework for cooperation.
The IBSA Forum supplements the excellent bilateral relations we have with each other. The significance of IBSA however transcends our bilateral ties. It symbolises the desire of three great countries to overcome physical distances and pool their material and intellectual resources for a common cause. IBSA is a strong moral force in today’s unsettled world.
India looks forward to working closely with Brazil and South Africa to take our cooperation to even greater heights`´.
***
Himalaya Healthcare to cultivate endangered plants to develop new drugs
By Economic Times on April 15,2010
NEW DELHI: Herbal drugs and personal care product maker Himalaya Healthcare plans to cultivate endangered plants to develop new drugs, a company
executive said.
Many useful herbs which were abundantly available in the past are in danger of getting extinctand the company aims to nurture them to sustain its supply of raw material. Privately ownedHimalaya Healthcare, best known for its livertonic syrup Liv-52 is working on a dozen herbs and orchids found in India's North Eastern states.
"If we need to survive in the long term we need to protect our herbs, our basic feed," Ravi Prasad, deputy chairman of the holding company that runs Himalaya Healthcare said.
The North Eastern states in the himalayan belt is rich in biodiversity with many orchid and herb species having medicinal usage. Sikkim alone has an estimated 450 orchid species, manyof them endangered.
The Bangalore-based company is working with NGOs, universities, government institutes and medicinal plant boards to identify more plants with medicinal usage and promote large scale cultivation. It sources a quarter of its raw materials from contract farmers which it expects to grow to 35-40% next year.
Himalaya generates almost half of its revenues estimated to be more than Rs 1,000 crore from exports. It also has over 125 ex-clusive Himalaya retail stores. Globally, it also supplies range of 200 products to retail players such as Carrefour, Spinny's, Vitamin Shoppe, Guardian andWatsons.
By Economic Times on April 15,2010
NEW DELHI: Herbal drugs and personal care product maker Himalaya Healthcare plans to cultivate endangered plants to develop new drugs, a company
executive said.
Many useful herbs which were abundantly available in the past are in danger of getting extinctand the company aims to nurture them to sustain its supply of raw material. Privately ownedHimalaya Healthcare, best known for its livertonic syrup Liv-52 is working on a dozen herbs and orchids found in India's North Eastern states.
"If we need to survive in the long term we need to protect our herbs, our basic feed," Ravi Prasad, deputy chairman of the holding company that runs Himalaya Healthcare said.
The North Eastern states in the himalayan belt is rich in biodiversity with many orchid and herb species having medicinal usage. Sikkim alone has an estimated 450 orchid species, manyof them endangered.
The Bangalore-based company is working with NGOs, universities, government institutes and medicinal plant boards to identify more plants with medicinal usage and promote large scale cultivation. It sources a quarter of its raw materials from contract farmers which it expects to grow to 35-40% next year.
Himalaya generates almost half of its revenues estimated to be more than Rs 1,000 crore from exports. It also has over 125 ex-clusive Himalaya retail stores. Globally, it also supplies range of 200 products to retail players such as Carrefour, Spinny's, Vitamin Shoppe, Guardian andWatsons.
SPEECH OF THE PRESIDENT OF INDIA SMT. PRATIBHA DEVISINGH PATIL AT THE INAUGURATION OF THE KHANGCHENDZONGA TOURIST VILLA-CUM-SOCIO-CULTURAL AMUSEMENT PARK ON 15TH APRIL, 2010.
PIB | 15 April 2010 |
Ladies and Gentlemen,
Inauguration of Tourist Villa cum Socio Cultural Amusement Park at Ranka
I am extremely pleased to be in Sikkim and am deeply touched by the warm welcome accorded to me. The beauty of the State with the majestic Kangchenjunga in the background, as also its friendly and peaceful people has made a profound impression on me. I convey to the people of Sikkim my very warm greetings.
I am happy to inaugurate the Khangchendzonga Tourist Villa-cum-Socio-Cultural and Amusement Park, which has been created in a manner that will not only make tourists comfortable, but also give them the opportunity to acquaint themselves with the local culture and lifestyle. I would also like to congratulate the Government of Sikkim for the vision and foresight to have conceptualized and created this world class tourism infrastructure, in a time-bound manner.
I am happy that the State is developing rapidly as a tourist destination and, over the past few years, there has been a phenomenal increase in the inflow of both domestic and foreign tourists. The reasons for Sikkim being a very popular tourist destination are many. It is a land steeped in legend and tradition. It is often referred to as the land of the hidden paradise, because of its scenic mountains, valleys and forests that are blessed with rivers, lakes and waterfalls. It offers options of mountaineering, trekking and adventure sports. It has potential for village, religious and eco-tourism. The growth of tourism has been possible because of the peace loving people of Sikkim, and I complement them. Tourism can be a leading sector in Sikkim both in terms of generating revenue and in creating work opportunities. It is, however, important to develop a sustainable model for tourism that is conducive for the development of the State and benefits the local people. The youth of the State can be given proper training so that they can find employment in this sector, which in turn will benefit with better management skills.
I am glad that as a part of the Year of Tourism 2010, the Government of Sikkim is organizing the International Rhododendron Festival with a view to create awareness that the original habitat of this flowering plant are the Himalayas. I am told that an ancient folk tale, often narrated here, is about ‘Kemo Reep’ a species of the Rhododendron. Such is your deep relationship with nature. Sikkim’s variegated fauna and flora with its many species of plants, flowers and trees which are a rich repository of medicinal and aromatic herbs have made it one of the biodiversity hotspots of the world. Its natural splendor and ecology are still unspoilt. I do hope that this respect towards the environment is carried forward through generations, so that the incredible beauty and peace of this land is preserved.
Sikkim is a multi-ethnic society and it is admirable the way people live together in harmony. Indeed, pluralism is one of the very basic characteristics of our nation and it is our strength. It is my wish that harmony, peace, growth and prosperity reach every part of the country and every section of society. All states, all regions and all citizens are a part of the effort to build a strong and democratic country. The progress and prosperity of India will only be achieved when each and every of its states progress.
Sikkim with its many natural resources and good social indicators is a contributor to national growth. Sikkim has also shown that while moving on the path of development, we can retain our distinctive culture and maintain ecological balance. I recall giving the first Nirmal Rajya Award to Sikkim in 2008, when it became the first State in the country to achieve 100 percent sanitation. I am told that the State Government is now moving towards providing housing to all by next year, and to make Sikkim a poverty free State by 2015. These are important objectives. I congratulate and pay compliments to the Chief Minister of Sikkim for setting these goals, and am confident that with political guidance, time bound implementation and proper monitoring, these targets will be achieved.
In our country, education has become a fundamental right for all children between the ages of 6 to 14 years. This will be important for Sikkim, a State which has 60 percent of its population below 24 years. Our endeavor is to make our youth energetic and educated. They must have the knowledge and the ability to work, earn and most importantly, contribute to the development of the nation. The literacy rate here is good, but efforts towards reducing school drop outs and ensuring the girl child goes to school must continue, as also to create higher education facilities. I am very happy that during the course of my stay in Sikkim, I would be participating in the first convocation of Sikkim University. I call upon young people to take full advantage of opportunities that are before them.
With 64 percent of the population of the State dependent on agriculture there is need to focus on rural development, on enhancing agricultural productivity and on increasing the income levels of the rural population. The climate obtaining here is conducive for cultivation of a range of crops, flowers and fruits. Agro based industries close to rural areas will lead to value addition at the local level and provide employment.
I believe that all sections of society must be included in the development process so that they all prosper. I am told that women, who constitute about 47 percent of the population of Sikkim, are hard working and enterprising. They should be provided opportunities to progress and to be financially secure. I would also like to emphasize the need for establishing vocational training institutes for women. They must also be encouraged to set up their own small enterprises through Self Help Groups.
In conclusion, I would like to once again convey my good wishes to the gentle and wise people of the State. Dances are an integral part of Sikkimese culture and the performances today vividly depicted their variety and grace. With these words, I once again thank the Governor, the Chief Minister, the Government and the people for the hospitality and warm welcome.
Thank You.
Jai Hind!
PIB | 15 April 2010 |
Ladies and Gentlemen,
Inauguration of Tourist Villa cum Socio Cultural Amusement Park at Ranka
I am extremely pleased to be in Sikkim and am deeply touched by the warm welcome accorded to me. The beauty of the State with the majestic Kangchenjunga in the background, as also its friendly and peaceful people has made a profound impression on me. I convey to the people of Sikkim my very warm greetings.
I am happy to inaugurate the Khangchendzonga Tourist Villa-cum-Socio-Cultural and Amusement Park, which has been created in a manner that will not only make tourists comfortable, but also give them the opportunity to acquaint themselves with the local culture and lifestyle. I would also like to congratulate the Government of Sikkim for the vision and foresight to have conceptualized and created this world class tourism infrastructure, in a time-bound manner.
I am happy that the State is developing rapidly as a tourist destination and, over the past few years, there has been a phenomenal increase in the inflow of both domestic and foreign tourists. The reasons for Sikkim being a very popular tourist destination are many. It is a land steeped in legend and tradition. It is often referred to as the land of the hidden paradise, because of its scenic mountains, valleys and forests that are blessed with rivers, lakes and waterfalls. It offers options of mountaineering, trekking and adventure sports. It has potential for village, religious and eco-tourism. The growth of tourism has been possible because of the peace loving people of Sikkim, and I complement them. Tourism can be a leading sector in Sikkim both in terms of generating revenue and in creating work opportunities. It is, however, important to develop a sustainable model for tourism that is conducive for the development of the State and benefits the local people. The youth of the State can be given proper training so that they can find employment in this sector, which in turn will benefit with better management skills.
I am glad that as a part of the Year of Tourism 2010, the Government of Sikkim is organizing the International Rhododendron Festival with a view to create awareness that the original habitat of this flowering plant are the Himalayas. I am told that an ancient folk tale, often narrated here, is about ‘Kemo Reep’ a species of the Rhododendron. Such is your deep relationship with nature. Sikkim’s variegated fauna and flora with its many species of plants, flowers and trees which are a rich repository of medicinal and aromatic herbs have made it one of the biodiversity hotspots of the world. Its natural splendor and ecology are still unspoilt. I do hope that this respect towards the environment is carried forward through generations, so that the incredible beauty and peace of this land is preserved.
Sikkim is a multi-ethnic society and it is admirable the way people live together in harmony. Indeed, pluralism is one of the very basic characteristics of our nation and it is our strength. It is my wish that harmony, peace, growth and prosperity reach every part of the country and every section of society. All states, all regions and all citizens are a part of the effort to build a strong and democratic country. The progress and prosperity of India will only be achieved when each and every of its states progress.
Sikkim with its many natural resources and good social indicators is a contributor to national growth. Sikkim has also shown that while moving on the path of development, we can retain our distinctive culture and maintain ecological balance. I recall giving the first Nirmal Rajya Award to Sikkim in 2008, when it became the first State in the country to achieve 100 percent sanitation. I am told that the State Government is now moving towards providing housing to all by next year, and to make Sikkim a poverty free State by 2015. These are important objectives. I congratulate and pay compliments to the Chief Minister of Sikkim for setting these goals, and am confident that with political guidance, time bound implementation and proper monitoring, these targets will be achieved.
In our country, education has become a fundamental right for all children between the ages of 6 to 14 years. This will be important for Sikkim, a State which has 60 percent of its population below 24 years. Our endeavor is to make our youth energetic and educated. They must have the knowledge and the ability to work, earn and most importantly, contribute to the development of the nation. The literacy rate here is good, but efforts towards reducing school drop outs and ensuring the girl child goes to school must continue, as also to create higher education facilities. I am very happy that during the course of my stay in Sikkim, I would be participating in the first convocation of Sikkim University. I call upon young people to take full advantage of opportunities that are before them.
With 64 percent of the population of the State dependent on agriculture there is need to focus on rural development, on enhancing agricultural productivity and on increasing the income levels of the rural population. The climate obtaining here is conducive for cultivation of a range of crops, flowers and fruits. Agro based industries close to rural areas will lead to value addition at the local level and provide employment.
I believe that all sections of society must be included in the development process so that they all prosper. I am told that women, who constitute about 47 percent of the population of Sikkim, are hard working and enterprising. They should be provided opportunities to progress and to be financially secure. I would also like to emphasize the need for establishing vocational training institutes for women. They must also be encouraged to set up their own small enterprises through Self Help Groups.
In conclusion, I would like to once again convey my good wishes to the gentle and wise people of the State. Dances are an integral part of Sikkimese culture and the performances today vividly depicted their variety and grace. With these words, I once again thank the Governor, the Chief Minister, the Government and the people for the hospitality and warm welcome.
Thank You.
Jai Hind!
Thursday, April 15, 2010
Pakistan: perceptions, prejudices & policies
by Chinmaya R. Gharekhan
Although there are people who genuinely desire for good-neighbourly relations with India, issues such as Kashmir, terrorism, water and Afghanistan still remain contentious.
Pakistan is not at all unhappy with the present situation; if talks take place, it wins, if they don't, India is on the defensive.
A three-day visit to Islamabad to attend a conference, in which some influential Pakistani opinion-makers participated, was useful in understanding some of the perceptions, prejudices and policies of that country.
Not having had the opportunity to converse with that universal barometer of public opinion, the taxi driver — since transport was graciously arranged by the hosts — one was forced to draw such conclusions as one could from watching television. (Security considerations also ruled out moving about freely.) The electronic medium is vibrant there, with close to 50 television channels competing for ratings and advertising revenues. (Geo T.V. owned by the Jang group is way ahead of its rivals.) Going by that, three issues seemed to preoccupy the people of Pakistan — the 18th Amendment to the Constitution, the Sania Mirza-Shoaib Malik drama, and inflation, which would include severe shortage of electricity and corruption, in other words the problem of governance. On all the domestic matters, civic society appears to be very active.
The 18th Amendment does not expressly take away the President's powers to appoint services chiefs. He will retain this function, but will have to exercise it on the advice of the Prime Minister. One of the provisions will restore the term of office of the services chiefs to four years as used to be the case. While General Ashfaq Parvez Kayani is widely, almost universally, expected to get an extension, it would become academic since he would, in any case, be entitled to a full four-year term in terms of the 18th Amendment — in other words, one more year in office beyond November.
There are no doubt sections in Pakistan which genuinely desire good-neighbourly relations with India. One respected economist openly advocated Pakistan linking its markets to the Indian and Chinese economies as a sure way of pulling the country out of its present two-and-a-half per cent growth rate. We were asked to believe that the civilian government, which has outstanding achievements to its credit, such as the 18th Amendment, and the award of the Federal Finance Commission, has gained respect and credibility and is functioning independently; the army does not call the shots, we were assured.
Three issues dominate the India-Pakistan discourse — Kashmir, water and Afghanistan. On the way from the airport to the city, a square is named ‘Kashmir Chowk.' There is a sign: Srinagar 380 km. Water is now raised to the same level of importance as, perhaps even more than, Kashmir. Afghanistan, the Pakistanis insist, is best left to Pakistan, and to the Afghans of course; India should not want a role there. At the least, it should not permit its consulates to carry out subversive activities in Balochistan. Some people, who would certainly know better, place the number of Indian consulates in Afghanistan at 12! (The actual number is four and they have been functioning since 1949.) Incidentally, there are about 60,000 Pakistani workers in Afghanistan as opposed to around 4,000 from India.
On terrorism, the refrain is: the whole country sympathised with India after 26/11 which Pakistan condemned unequivocally but India is overdoing ‘coercive diplomacy.' Civil society in Pakistan, which was fully behind India after the Mumbai attack, is now thoroughly disenchanted with India and is fully behind the Pakistani army. The army has re-established its credibility with the people after its determined campaign to defeat the Pakistan Taliban.
Water is definitely the new issue for Pakistan's propaganda machine. There is water scarcity in the country, but it is entirely — not largely — the result of mismanagement. There are inter-province disputes, with the Sindh complaining about Punjab not leaving enough water for the Sindhis. The storage capacity is highly inadequate and agriculture is inefficient, more so than in India. No less a person than Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi himself publicly admitted that nearly 40 million acre feet of water goes to the sea for want of storage capacity and that India is not to blame for this state of affairs; his remark was blanked out in the Pakistani media. The print and electronic media ceaselessly churn out stories of India stealing Pakistan's water, building hundreds of dams, destroying ecology in PoK, etc. Hafiz Saeed openly calls for a water jihad. President Asif Ali Zardari, in his address to the opening session of Parliament on April 5 mentioned water ahead of Kashmir, but he was careful to add that the issue should be dealt with within the framework of the Indus Water Treaty; he knows that the Treaty is more generous to Pakistan than to India.
This is not the space to go into the details of the water issue. But the fact is Pakistan is doing everything to blow it out of proportion as well as internationalise it, though with limited success so far. Water may soon become an emotive issue for the people of Pakistan, in which case all kinds of negative consequences might follow. India must prepare for this contingency. We have a solid case which needs explaining to our own people, especially in Kashmir, as also the people of Pakistan. Our High Commissioner in Islamabad is fully cognisant of the potential for mischief and is doing what he can. We need to think of innovative ways to explain the facts to the two publics in order to prevent and pre-empt the issue from acquiring menacing dimensions.
All is not ‘hunky-dory' between Pakistan and Hamid Karzai, despite the Afghan President describing the two countries as conjoined twins. The Taliban, which Mr. Karzai wants integrated, is not the one Pakistan prefers. It seems Gulbuddin Hekmatyar, who landed up in Kabul without an invitation, is laying down conditions which Mr. Karzai is in no mood to even consider, such as new presidential and parliamentary elections and the pullout of American and Nato forces within six months. It is obvious that the relations between the Taliban and Pakistan deteriorated during the period immediately preceding and following 9/11. This is described in detail in Mullah Zaeef's book My life with the Taliban. Zaeef uses some ‘choice' words to describe his feelings towards Pakistan. Pakistan would like to use its influence with the Taliban's senior leadership in the process of reconciliation and reintegration, whereas the U.S. wants to persuade the foot soldiers and lower levels of the Taliban to switch loyalties. There is some scope for serious differences between Pakistan and the U.S. on this score though we in India ought not to bank too much on them. Pakistan continues to be indispensable to Barack Obama's objectives in Afghanistan; he knows it and Pakistan knows it. Islamabad may not be very successful in using this leverage to persuade Washington to pressure New Delhi on India-Pakistan issues, but it will not be for want of trying.
At the conclusion of the Foreign Secretary-level talks on February 25, Pakistan's official position was that it was not desperate for talks. It is taking full advantage of the perception in both countries that India is, if not desperate, quite keen on talks. This writer's hunch is that Pakistan is not at all unhappy with the present situation; if talks take place, Pakistan wins, if they don't, India is on the defensive. On balance, we should indicate our willingness to schedule another Secretary-level round, but not in a hurry and certainly not in a time-bound framework dictated by the timing of SAARC or other multilateral meetings. At the same time, we must not fight shy of discussing any subject Pakistan may wish to raise, including Kashmir. Let it elaborate its views on Kashmir. We can easily do the same, refuting its position. The only subject we must not discuss — as distinct from not allowing it to be mentioned — is water, which should be discussed only in the framework of the Indus Treaty.
A word on Track II. These dialogues can be useful, provided they are used to talk candidly about everything that divides us, and not just to mouth ‘the same people, same culture' sentiment, etc. We ought not to be concerned if the conversation, at times, gets frosty or even contentious. Only such a dialogue would serve to create a better understanding between the two peoples.
source; the hindu
by Chinmaya R. Gharekhan
Although there are people who genuinely desire for good-neighbourly relations with India, issues such as Kashmir, terrorism, water and Afghanistan still remain contentious.
Pakistan is not at all unhappy with the present situation; if talks take place, it wins, if they don't, India is on the defensive.
A three-day visit to Islamabad to attend a conference, in which some influential Pakistani opinion-makers participated, was useful in understanding some of the perceptions, prejudices and policies of that country.
Not having had the opportunity to converse with that universal barometer of public opinion, the taxi driver — since transport was graciously arranged by the hosts — one was forced to draw such conclusions as one could from watching television. (Security considerations also ruled out moving about freely.) The electronic medium is vibrant there, with close to 50 television channels competing for ratings and advertising revenues. (Geo T.V. owned by the Jang group is way ahead of its rivals.) Going by that, three issues seemed to preoccupy the people of Pakistan — the 18th Amendment to the Constitution, the Sania Mirza-Shoaib Malik drama, and inflation, which would include severe shortage of electricity and corruption, in other words the problem of governance. On all the domestic matters, civic society appears to be very active.
The 18th Amendment does not expressly take away the President's powers to appoint services chiefs. He will retain this function, but will have to exercise it on the advice of the Prime Minister. One of the provisions will restore the term of office of the services chiefs to four years as used to be the case. While General Ashfaq Parvez Kayani is widely, almost universally, expected to get an extension, it would become academic since he would, in any case, be entitled to a full four-year term in terms of the 18th Amendment — in other words, one more year in office beyond November.
There are no doubt sections in Pakistan which genuinely desire good-neighbourly relations with India. One respected economist openly advocated Pakistan linking its markets to the Indian and Chinese economies as a sure way of pulling the country out of its present two-and-a-half per cent growth rate. We were asked to believe that the civilian government, which has outstanding achievements to its credit, such as the 18th Amendment, and the award of the Federal Finance Commission, has gained respect and credibility and is functioning independently; the army does not call the shots, we were assured.
Three issues dominate the India-Pakistan discourse — Kashmir, water and Afghanistan. On the way from the airport to the city, a square is named ‘Kashmir Chowk.' There is a sign: Srinagar 380 km. Water is now raised to the same level of importance as, perhaps even more than, Kashmir. Afghanistan, the Pakistanis insist, is best left to Pakistan, and to the Afghans of course; India should not want a role there. At the least, it should not permit its consulates to carry out subversive activities in Balochistan. Some people, who would certainly know better, place the number of Indian consulates in Afghanistan at 12! (The actual number is four and they have been functioning since 1949.) Incidentally, there are about 60,000 Pakistani workers in Afghanistan as opposed to around 4,000 from India.
On terrorism, the refrain is: the whole country sympathised with India after 26/11 which Pakistan condemned unequivocally but India is overdoing ‘coercive diplomacy.' Civil society in Pakistan, which was fully behind India after the Mumbai attack, is now thoroughly disenchanted with India and is fully behind the Pakistani army. The army has re-established its credibility with the people after its determined campaign to defeat the Pakistan Taliban.
Water is definitely the new issue for Pakistan's propaganda machine. There is water scarcity in the country, but it is entirely — not largely — the result of mismanagement. There are inter-province disputes, with the Sindh complaining about Punjab not leaving enough water for the Sindhis. The storage capacity is highly inadequate and agriculture is inefficient, more so than in India. No less a person than Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi himself publicly admitted that nearly 40 million acre feet of water goes to the sea for want of storage capacity and that India is not to blame for this state of affairs; his remark was blanked out in the Pakistani media. The print and electronic media ceaselessly churn out stories of India stealing Pakistan's water, building hundreds of dams, destroying ecology in PoK, etc. Hafiz Saeed openly calls for a water jihad. President Asif Ali Zardari, in his address to the opening session of Parliament on April 5 mentioned water ahead of Kashmir, but he was careful to add that the issue should be dealt with within the framework of the Indus Water Treaty; he knows that the Treaty is more generous to Pakistan than to India.
This is not the space to go into the details of the water issue. But the fact is Pakistan is doing everything to blow it out of proportion as well as internationalise it, though with limited success so far. Water may soon become an emotive issue for the people of Pakistan, in which case all kinds of negative consequences might follow. India must prepare for this contingency. We have a solid case which needs explaining to our own people, especially in Kashmir, as also the people of Pakistan. Our High Commissioner in Islamabad is fully cognisant of the potential for mischief and is doing what he can. We need to think of innovative ways to explain the facts to the two publics in order to prevent and pre-empt the issue from acquiring menacing dimensions.
All is not ‘hunky-dory' between Pakistan and Hamid Karzai, despite the Afghan President describing the two countries as conjoined twins. The Taliban, which Mr. Karzai wants integrated, is not the one Pakistan prefers. It seems Gulbuddin Hekmatyar, who landed up in Kabul without an invitation, is laying down conditions which Mr. Karzai is in no mood to even consider, such as new presidential and parliamentary elections and the pullout of American and Nato forces within six months. It is obvious that the relations between the Taliban and Pakistan deteriorated during the period immediately preceding and following 9/11. This is described in detail in Mullah Zaeef's book My life with the Taliban. Zaeef uses some ‘choice' words to describe his feelings towards Pakistan. Pakistan would like to use its influence with the Taliban's senior leadership in the process of reconciliation and reintegration, whereas the U.S. wants to persuade the foot soldiers and lower levels of the Taliban to switch loyalties. There is some scope for serious differences between Pakistan and the U.S. on this score though we in India ought not to bank too much on them. Pakistan continues to be indispensable to Barack Obama's objectives in Afghanistan; he knows it and Pakistan knows it. Islamabad may not be very successful in using this leverage to persuade Washington to pressure New Delhi on India-Pakistan issues, but it will not be for want of trying.
At the conclusion of the Foreign Secretary-level talks on February 25, Pakistan's official position was that it was not desperate for talks. It is taking full advantage of the perception in both countries that India is, if not desperate, quite keen on talks. This writer's hunch is that Pakistan is not at all unhappy with the present situation; if talks take place, Pakistan wins, if they don't, India is on the defensive. On balance, we should indicate our willingness to schedule another Secretary-level round, but not in a hurry and certainly not in a time-bound framework dictated by the timing of SAARC or other multilateral meetings. At the same time, we must not fight shy of discussing any subject Pakistan may wish to raise, including Kashmir. Let it elaborate its views on Kashmir. We can easily do the same, refuting its position. The only subject we must not discuss — as distinct from not allowing it to be mentioned — is water, which should be discussed only in the framework of the Indus Treaty.
A word on Track II. These dialogues can be useful, provided they are used to talk candidly about everything that divides us, and not just to mouth ‘the same people, same culture' sentiment, etc. We ought not to be concerned if the conversation, at times, gets frosty or even contentious. Only such a dialogue would serve to create a better understanding between the two peoples.
source; the hindu
The magic of mantras
The magic of mantras
by HEMA VIJAY
Vedic chanting is said to help develop one's mental powers and strength, ease stress, and take one to a higher level of consciousness
A ritualistic practice that has lost relevance? Not at all. Chanting still remains a sought-after psychosomatic route to physical and intellectual wellness. Regular chanting of mantras is believed to wipe out fear, anger and depression, and help relieve disorders of the respiratory, digestive, reproductive, circulatory, speech, intellectual and cognitive systems. Vedic chanting is said to help develop one's mental powers and strength, ease stress, and take one to a higher level of consciousness. Chanting also improves one's memory and power of concentration, so crucial if one wants to be an achiever.
Sound and the psyche
It seems incredible that mere chanting can bring about these tremendous changes. But a chant does not work in mysterious ways. “Think of this. On the physical level, voicing a chant in the prescribed way impacts the abdominal area (from where the chant notes are raised), the lungs, the circulatory system and so on,” explains Radha Sundararajan, director of chanting, Krishnamacharya Yoga Mandiram. Now, research is being done at places such as the Brahmvarchas Shodh Sansthan, a research centre for integration of science and spirituality in Haridwar on how exactly a chant works. Chants have been analysed to be energy-based sounds and voicing a word or a sound produces a physical vibration. Chants thus create thought-energy waves, and the organism vibrates in tune with the energy and spiritual appeal of a chant.
Scientists say that when a mantra is chanted rhythmically, it creates a neuro-linguistic effect. Such an effect occurs even if the meaning of the mantra is not known. “You just need to have a good ear, stay true to the punctuations, pauses, pronunciation, notation, length and the force of the chant and repeat it over and over again. The transformation happens step by step, over a period of time,” says Menaka Desikachar, senior exponent and former director of vedic chanting at KYM.
“But knowing the meaning of what you are chanting tunes your mind towards reaching your goal,” says Usha Sundar, director of the Vedic Chanting division, Viniyoga Healing Foundation (VHF). Scientists call this the Psycholinguistic effect (PLE). Research done by professor Dr. T. Temple Tutler of Cleveland University in the U.S., has revealed that NLE and PLE effects are due to the production and spread of chemicals in the brain, which have a calming and curative effect on the body. “Some patients come in such a disorganised state that they are not able to be part of a healing programme; so we ask them to just listen to a particular chant, after which they become composed and do the asanas and say the chanting,” says Dr. N. Chandrasekhar, VHF, where chanting is incorporated into yogasana-based healing programmes.
Listening to mantras regulates blood pressure, the heart rate, brain waves and the adrenalin level. But, remember, just like regular medicines, there are specific chants for specific purposes.
Spiritual awakening
Chanting eventually makes us meditate. Meditation requires focus, which is difficult to achieve. But, when you chant with concentration, the mind gets focussed. “Sometimes, during the course of chanting, I end up in a meditative state without realising it,” says K. Geetha, a yoga teacher, who has taken to chanting. This is probably why chanting is so good for kids. “It synchronises the body, mind, voice and breath, creating inner harmony, which paves the way for spiritual awakening,” says Usha Sundar.
There are scores of people who have discovered that chanting can take you on a path that leads to a higher plane of well-being: Like businessman K. Ramesh, who managed to kick alcohol, smoking and overcome the urge to overeat, following a daily dose of chanting for over a year. Like Shiva, a young boy with Down's syndrome who no longer drools or behaves in a disoriented manner. Like Shanthi, whose asthma is under control. Like Uma, who has got over menstrual irregularities. Like Kamakshi, who has chanted her way out of chronic depression…try it.
HOW TO GO ABOUT IT
* Learn from a guru. Besides teaching you to pronounce a mantra perfectly, a guru knows which mantra you need.
* Sit on a rug to conserve body energy.
* Chant slowly and clearly, sticking to the exact pronunciation and emphasis.
* Synchronise the chant with the rhythm of your breath.
* Keep your eyes closed.
* Breathe deep and slow.
* Don't hold yourself rigid. Let your muscles relax.
* Give it time. The effects are slow but sure to come.
by HEMA VIJAY
Vedic chanting is said to help develop one's mental powers and strength, ease stress, and take one to a higher level of consciousness
A ritualistic practice that has lost relevance? Not at all. Chanting still remains a sought-after psychosomatic route to physical and intellectual wellness. Regular chanting of mantras is believed to wipe out fear, anger and depression, and help relieve disorders of the respiratory, digestive, reproductive, circulatory, speech, intellectual and cognitive systems. Vedic chanting is said to help develop one's mental powers and strength, ease stress, and take one to a higher level of consciousness. Chanting also improves one's memory and power of concentration, so crucial if one wants to be an achiever.
Sound and the psyche
It seems incredible that mere chanting can bring about these tremendous changes. But a chant does not work in mysterious ways. “Think of this. On the physical level, voicing a chant in the prescribed way impacts the abdominal area (from where the chant notes are raised), the lungs, the circulatory system and so on,” explains Radha Sundararajan, director of chanting, Krishnamacharya Yoga Mandiram. Now, research is being done at places such as the Brahmvarchas Shodh Sansthan, a research centre for integration of science and spirituality in Haridwar on how exactly a chant works. Chants have been analysed to be energy-based sounds and voicing a word or a sound produces a physical vibration. Chants thus create thought-energy waves, and the organism vibrates in tune with the energy and spiritual appeal of a chant.
Scientists say that when a mantra is chanted rhythmically, it creates a neuro-linguistic effect. Such an effect occurs even if the meaning of the mantra is not known. “You just need to have a good ear, stay true to the punctuations, pauses, pronunciation, notation, length and the force of the chant and repeat it over and over again. The transformation happens step by step, over a period of time,” says Menaka Desikachar, senior exponent and former director of vedic chanting at KYM.
“But knowing the meaning of what you are chanting tunes your mind towards reaching your goal,” says Usha Sundar, director of the Vedic Chanting division, Viniyoga Healing Foundation (VHF). Scientists call this the Psycholinguistic effect (PLE). Research done by professor Dr. T. Temple Tutler of Cleveland University in the U.S., has revealed that NLE and PLE effects are due to the production and spread of chemicals in the brain, which have a calming and curative effect on the body. “Some patients come in such a disorganised state that they are not able to be part of a healing programme; so we ask them to just listen to a particular chant, after which they become composed and do the asanas and say the chanting,” says Dr. N. Chandrasekhar, VHF, where chanting is incorporated into yogasana-based healing programmes.
Listening to mantras regulates blood pressure, the heart rate, brain waves and the adrenalin level. But, remember, just like regular medicines, there are specific chants for specific purposes.
Spiritual awakening
Chanting eventually makes us meditate. Meditation requires focus, which is difficult to achieve. But, when you chant with concentration, the mind gets focussed. “Sometimes, during the course of chanting, I end up in a meditative state without realising it,” says K. Geetha, a yoga teacher, who has taken to chanting. This is probably why chanting is so good for kids. “It synchronises the body, mind, voice and breath, creating inner harmony, which paves the way for spiritual awakening,” says Usha Sundar.
There are scores of people who have discovered that chanting can take you on a path that leads to a higher plane of well-being: Like businessman K. Ramesh, who managed to kick alcohol, smoking and overcome the urge to overeat, following a daily dose of chanting for over a year. Like Shiva, a young boy with Down's syndrome who no longer drools or behaves in a disoriented manner. Like Shanthi, whose asthma is under control. Like Uma, who has got over menstrual irregularities. Like Kamakshi, who has chanted her way out of chronic depression…try it.
HOW TO GO ABOUT IT
* Learn from a guru. Besides teaching you to pronounce a mantra perfectly, a guru knows which mantra you need.
* Sit on a rug to conserve body energy.
* Chant slowly and clearly, sticking to the exact pronunciation and emphasis.
* Synchronise the chant with the rhythm of your breath.
* Keep your eyes closed.
* Breathe deep and slow.
* Don't hold yourself rigid. Let your muscles relax.
* Give it time. The effects are slow but sure to come.
President Pratibha Devi Singh Patil arrives in Sikkim
President Pratibha Devi Singh Patil arrived
IPR News Service
15 April, Gangtok:The President of India, Smt. Pratiba Devi Singh Patil landed at libing Helipad, Gangtok at 15.20 hrs. She was received by the Governor Mr. M. K. Narayanan along with the Chief Minister Dr. Pawan Chamling, Cabinet Ministers and a host of other dignitaries.
The President was accorded a warm reception and Guard of Honor by the Gorkha Regiment on her arrival. Smt. Patil will be inaugurating the Khangchendzonga Tourist Villa-cum-Amusement Park at Ranka on 15 April afternoon.
IPR News Service
15 April, Gangtok:The President of India, Smt. Pratiba Devi Singh Patil landed at libing Helipad, Gangtok at 15.20 hrs. She was received by the Governor Mr. M. K. Narayanan along with the Chief Minister Dr. Pawan Chamling, Cabinet Ministers and a host of other dignitaries.
The President was accorded a warm reception and Guard of Honor by the Gorkha Regiment on her arrival. Smt. Patil will be inaugurating the Khangchendzonga Tourist Villa-cum-Amusement Park at Ranka on 15 April afternoon.
Keep your body charged
by Y. Ramakrishna
Sitting before a computer for a long time leads to health problems.
“A healthy mind in a healthy body” — this saying is true for all including computer users. While working on the computer, your body is at rest and gets typically no exercise. Computer users tend to go out of shape and gain weight apart from the other health problems. In the long run, these lead to all kinds of ailment.
Manage job stress
In this difficult period, you may find it harder than ever to cope with challenges on the job. workplace stress is on the rise – employers, managers, and workers feel the extra pressure. While some stress is normal, excessive stress interferes with your productivity and reduces your physical and emotional health. So it's important to find ways to keep it under control. Fortunately, there is a lot that you can do to manage and reduce stress at work. Taking responsibility for improving your physical and emotional well-being is the best method to alleviate job stress. The work place exercises are a great way to keep your body moving right at your desk. The moves here involving stretching and strengthening your body are all within the comfort of your office chair. This workout doesn't take the place of traditional strength training, but offers you a way to keep your blood moving if you can't get away from your desk.
Wrist and Forearm Press hands together in front of chest, elbows bent and parallel to the floor. Gently bend wrists to the right and left for 10 repeats.
Lower Back Stretch: Sit tall and place the left arm behind left hip. Gently twist to the left, using the right hand to deepen the stretch, holding for 20-30 seconds. Repeat on the other side.
Leg extension Sit tall with the abs in and extend the left leg until it's level with hip, squeezing the quadriceps. Hold for 2 seconds, lower and repeat for 16 reps. Repeat on the other side.
Chair Squat: While sitting, lift up until your hips are just hovering over the chair, arms out for balance. Hold for 2-3 seconds, stand all the way up and do 16 repeats.
Bicep Curl: Hold water bottle in right hand and, with abs in and spine straight, curl bottle towards shoulder for 16 repeats. Repeat other side.
Ab Twists: Hold the water bottle at chest level and, keeping the knees and hips forward, gently twist to the left as far as you comfortably can, feeling the abs contract. Twist back to centre and move to the left for a total of 10 repeats. don't force it or you may end up with a back injury.
There is nothing like sitting at a desk and coming home with aches and pains. You do not have to suffer anymore. There is a cure.
Precautions
See your doctor or physiotherapist before trying this workout if you have any injuries, illnesses or other conditions. If your chair hase wheels, push it against a wall to make sure it won't roll away.
Equipment Needed: A chair and a water bottle or light-medium dumbbell.
Start Slow and Don't Look Back.
There are 1440 minutes in a day. Put aside at least 30 minutes for exercising.
(Y. Ramakrishna is a Sports Performance Enhancement Specialist at FitnessOne India Ltd.)
by Y. Ramakrishna
Sitting before a computer for a long time leads to health problems.
“A healthy mind in a healthy body” — this saying is true for all including computer users. While working on the computer, your body is at rest and gets typically no exercise. Computer users tend to go out of shape and gain weight apart from the other health problems. In the long run, these lead to all kinds of ailment.
Manage job stress
In this difficult period, you may find it harder than ever to cope with challenges on the job. workplace stress is on the rise – employers, managers, and workers feel the extra pressure. While some stress is normal, excessive stress interferes with your productivity and reduces your physical and emotional health. So it's important to find ways to keep it under control. Fortunately, there is a lot that you can do to manage and reduce stress at work. Taking responsibility for improving your physical and emotional well-being is the best method to alleviate job stress. The work place exercises are a great way to keep your body moving right at your desk. The moves here involving stretching and strengthening your body are all within the comfort of your office chair. This workout doesn't take the place of traditional strength training, but offers you a way to keep your blood moving if you can't get away from your desk.
Wrist and Forearm Press hands together in front of chest, elbows bent and parallel to the floor. Gently bend wrists to the right and left for 10 repeats.
Lower Back Stretch: Sit tall and place the left arm behind left hip. Gently twist to the left, using the right hand to deepen the stretch, holding for 20-30 seconds. Repeat on the other side.
Leg extension Sit tall with the abs in and extend the left leg until it's level with hip, squeezing the quadriceps. Hold for 2 seconds, lower and repeat for 16 reps. Repeat on the other side.
Chair Squat: While sitting, lift up until your hips are just hovering over the chair, arms out for balance. Hold for 2-3 seconds, stand all the way up and do 16 repeats.
Bicep Curl: Hold water bottle in right hand and, with abs in and spine straight, curl bottle towards shoulder for 16 repeats. Repeat other side.
Ab Twists: Hold the water bottle at chest level and, keeping the knees and hips forward, gently twist to the left as far as you comfortably can, feeling the abs contract. Twist back to centre and move to the left for a total of 10 repeats. don't force it or you may end up with a back injury.
There is nothing like sitting at a desk and coming home with aches and pains. You do not have to suffer anymore. There is a cure.
Precautions
See your doctor or physiotherapist before trying this workout if you have any injuries, illnesses or other conditions. If your chair hase wheels, push it against a wall to make sure it won't roll away.
Equipment Needed: A chair and a water bottle or light-medium dumbbell.
Start Slow and Don't Look Back.
There are 1440 minutes in a day. Put aside at least 30 minutes for exercising.
(Y. Ramakrishna is a Sports Performance Enhancement Specialist at FitnessOne India Ltd.)
Wednesday, April 14, 2010
Feedback On The ULIP Affair
Readers' Feedback On The ULIP Affair
Soundararajan V wrote
I fully agree with your view on ULIPs. It has been a day loot by insurance companies with the help of their Munnabhai (IRDA) and they have already looted the hard earned money of financial illiterates. Private sector banks are selling ULIPs more than their own product i.e fixed deposits. The main reason for the same is to boost their fee-based income. These ULIPs are sold by sales guys of banks who do not know the difference between insurance and investment. Most of these salesmen were earlier selling FMCG or soft drinks.
Very few people know that ULIP is a long term product and the holding period to make decent return is minimum 10 years. However the sales persons were selling ULIP as three year products (after October 2009 as 5 year products).
Note: I never invested any money in ULIP and also request every citizen of India to refrain from Investing in ULIPs till it is regulated by a decent regulator with investor interest in mind.
Sanjay Jain wrote
The battle of ULIPs is now a proof of the mess being the financial sector. The ministry of finance is the main culprit who gives permission to carry on trading and one fine morning, SEBI declares it’s dictatorial.
Now IRDA has to challenge this. But to me, as an investor in ULIP plans I feel cheated by the government. Why does not the government plug loop holes before more than Rs 100 crores are invested in ULIPs? Why are the LIC ULIP plans not challenged by SEBI? Why the double standards or is it a process initiated by some people with vested interests?
SEBI gives permission to companies to raise money from IPOs, when these companies vanish does SEBI take any action other then debarring the entity from the markets?
Tarun S Bangari wrote
This is great news! Congrats to SEBI for taking the bull by the horns. The bull, in the form of IRDA and all the insurance companies who blatantly continue to push ULIPs, had to be taken on head-on. Hopefully this order will not be overturned by the Finance Ministry or some other higher up government body, in case IRDA and insurance industry cartel go out for seeking ‘justice’.
Mahesh Jagdish Manghnani wrote
Thank God that SEBI took such a brave step. Even though it is the responsibility of investors to see where they are investing their hard-earned money, but let’s not forget that a majority of agents are either their friends, family members or references. So, normally hardly anybody takes efforts to study in detail the pros & cons of that investment. That’s why people need to understand that ULIP’s are nothing but a big spot in their financial planning.
Now, it would be interesting to see if the regulators remove the entire commission-based structure in the insurance industry, just like mutual funds & introduce the structure ‘ Professional Fees ’ for agents.
Suhas Vyas wrote
This is really a welcome step taken by SEBI in interest of the general public. ULIPs are mostly designed to get maximum benefit to insurance companies and agents.
The insurance component is very low and it does not serve the purpose of family protection. Investor pays his money for policy admin charges, allocation charges, fund management charges etc.
Hence insurance companies should take approval for these charges from SEBI.
Krishnan AV wrote
A welcome move by SEBI. ULIPs should have been banned much earlier. It is a weapon capable of mass destruction of personal wealth of those who opt for it.
Deepak Singh wrote
I am very happy after this. At least some regulatory body is really working for the common investor. I made a wrong decision by buying ULIP of about Rs 7 lakhs p.a. in various companies because I found the fund managers of ULIPs to be giving more returns than mutual funds. Moreover, I wanted insurance cover, since the statement, etc came so late, after about a year & half, it was too late for me to find the losses & demerits in ULIPs.
It is good if my future premiums will be diverted more to markets in NAV rather than hundreds of hidden expenses, which is there in almost all companies.
Moreover, these ULIP companies also do not correct their mistakes. Even IRDA control on them is minimal. I had an instance where I wrote to IRDA thrice but at the end of the day I only bear the blunders which these people keep repeating.
R.Varadarajan wrote
At last SEBI has acted in the interest of the hapless investors. It would have been better had this order come 5 years ago. The ULIPs are actual a rip-off with very high charges - as much as 25% of the average Premium in the first 3 years. This is cleverly manipulated and misrepresented to the clients at the time of selling. The IRDA Chairman on his own should have requested for registration of these products with SEBI - when these irregulaties would have come to light. Obviously everyone wanted to avoid and continue as usual to please the insurance companies. It appears that the IRDA Chairman actually functioned as a President of the Association of Insurance Companies, rather than a regulatory authority to look after the Policy Holders (in many cases, investors). What is the point in shedding crocodile tears for the Policy Holders now!!!
Read more feedback...
Our Readers' Feedback On The ULIP Affair
Apr 13, 2010
Liberalization of the insurance industry has brought some innovations. ULIPS are one of them! Proponents of this “masked” product might argue that banning ULIPS might have an adverse impact on India’s infrastructure and economic development.
VR has been doing an excellent job by providing real education to the consumers. You people are real gems.
V Govindarajan wrote
I whole-heartedly support this move by SEBI.
In India, the whole business of selling insurance is a BIG fraud on the gullible public. Not a single insurance company encourages the sale of the pure insurance policy and term products. All business magazines and papers are hand in glove with this fraud. I am a keen reader of brown pages and business periodicals for the past two decades. I found mentions/recommendations about term insurance policies as passing reference only. Even good intermediaries like ICICI Direct and HDFC recommend ONLY ULIPS as insurance products. Imagine how much ULIP one has to take for getting a cover of Rs 20 lakhs - the bare minimum for a 30 year old earning Rs 3 lakh a year. It would be Rs 2 lakh a year whereas term policy would cover that for a fraction of the sum. It is atrocious for the insurance companies to charge anything more than 3% of the yearly contribution of a 30-year average person towards ALL expenses (mortality, fund management and what not!).
In this ocean of cheaters of public, I find you are a glaring exception in advising the public against mixing insurance and investment. Honesty is really a RARE commodity!! Thank you, Dhiren.
Sudhir Bhimani wrote
I have invested in ICICI Prudential Life Insurance Company Limited. But, I am happy that SEBI is trying to take them under its regime of regulation and in the long run (hopefully) will remove the entry load in all these schemes.
Today, an investor is able to save 2.25 ~ 2.50% while entering any mutual fund scheme because entry load is removed by SEBI, which was happily pocketed by agents and investors had no choice but to pay it for hardly any service. It's big money when you consider the investment of each investor over the years.
In ULIPs, the entry load for first 2~3 years is as high as 5% to 30% and this is pocketed by agents. This is nothing but looting (stealing/cheating in broad day light) the small ignorant investors who have no choice but to pay it if they want to buy ULIP.
This is going on for many years and hopefully SEBI will stop this once ULIP schemes come under its regulation.
One question still remains: why LIC ULIP scheme is also not taken into this ban? Is SEBI scared of another government concern?
Chintan Gohel wrote
Will this affect redemption of ULIPs which are nearing maturity? Will I still be able to do full/partial withdrawal of existing funds?
Please give some information on this.
A S Paranjape wrote
It is true that ULIPs need to be more transparent and come under more regulations. But it cannot be termed as fraud. If SEBI's contention of regulating investment portion of the ULIPS is upheld then it would mean 2 regulators for the same product, which may have practical difficulties. Given the past history, SEBI may remove entire commission on investment portion. Main point is how the Investor will be educated enough to understand their needs and choose right products.
Narendra N Kondajji wrote
This is a great step towards establishing a level playing field between similar investment products. With the removal of entry loads on mutual funds, insurance companies had undue advantage and they used it for maximum kill for the year ended March 2010. SEBI’s order is very bold and logical culmination of this order should result in similar disclosure norms applicable for both mutual funds and ULIPs, especially removal of embedded charges. Let the investor decide what is good for him.
When two other regulators were against embedded loads (SEBI & PFRDA), only IRDA was swimming against the reformation tide. Will it now swim with the current or against it? It is strange that the biggest of life insurance companies is not in SEBI’s list. Is it because of its special status under a separate act?
Rajkumar Bihani wrote
I appreciate SEBI's action on the ULIPs. All private insurance companies’ agents are selling in a wrong manner and miss-selling without disclosing the charges properly.
This step is taken to protect the interest of Insurance Policy Holders.
Rishi Poddar wrote
Every time I contacted an insurance agent to buy a term policy for myself or my wife in the past few years, the insurance agent tried to sell me a ULIP instead. Even though I made it clear to all of them (they represented different insurance companies) that I preferred keeping my insurance and investment needs separate from each other, inevitably they would try to convince me to buy a ULIP. It was clear to me that these insurance companies are not interested in providing life cover but making money on investments. It is indeed surprising that IRDA has failed to rein in this malpractice after so many years and SEBI must be applauded for the action taken.
Arpan Majumdar wrote
Did SEBI ban LIC's Wealth Plus or any other ULIPs of LIC? If not, what may be the reason(s) for that?
S.Goyal wrote
To call ULIPs a fraud does not make any sense. From January 1, 2010 IRDA has already taken necessary steps to protect consumer interests by ensuring that all ULIPs with more than 10 years duration give a return which does not charge more than 2.25%.
Insurance Products are long term products which deliver to meet life goals by providing both insurance and good growth potential.
This seems more of a fight between two regulators: SEBI and IRDA, rather than protecting and serving the interests of small retail customers.
By dictating that insurance companies cannot accept insurance premiums even for existing policies, who get hurt - retail insurance policy customers. An Insurance Policy is a Contract between a Policy Holder and an Insurance Company. Can one Government Regulator ask all these companies which do not fall under its jurisdiction to nullify those lakhs of contracts? Does SEBI think it is the only Protector of Customer Interests? Was it sleeping for the last 6 years when ULIPS were introduced? The Finance Ministry and Government of India should intervene in this matter immediately to protect small Insurance Policy Customers like us.
If we really wish to protect the interests of customers, our focus has to be on educating them and may be enforcing through law the need for Insurance Policies which do not allow any Plans of less than 10 Years.
Let me also say at the same time if Long Term ULIP Policies are considered, these are far superior in serving the client needs than the traditional policies which do not give adequate insurance coverage and on survival give returns which are in 4 to 6% CAGR range.
Ruxton Vaz wrote
I was advised into taking my first ULIP policy three years ago. That was the first of four ULIPs that were miss-sold to me. But fortunately due to websites like yours and moneycontrol, I realized that whatever was said to me by the agent was false. The reason behind the miss-sale was his huge commission. I, as a common man, realized what was going on... so I guess big banks with professionals in them must know these things..... or maybe they came out with this thing called ULIP to dupe innocent Indians. Since that day I realized what a ULIP truly means, instead of mixture of investment and insurance, it’s a mixture of fraud and day light robbery from the banks and insurance companies.
Hats off to SEBI and to the Value Research team who have always been a staunch and vocal critic of the ULIP fraud.
Rajat Gupta wrote
It was just a matter of time that action was taken on ULIPs. IRDA (the so called regulator) has been sleeping all these years and currently SEBI is doing what IRDA should have done. One thing is for sure, at least SEBI is thinking about protection of customer interest.
Isn’t protection of customer interest IRDA's foremost duty? IRDA has been non - existent as an Insurance Regulator all these years. I am sure the huge Insurance lobby will not relent so easily but surely the customers will become more and more aware as this battle intensifies.
The day is not far when lucrative commissions to agents on these cheezy policies will become a thing of the past. Ahem SEBI!!!!!
source: valueresearch
Soundararajan V wrote
I fully agree with your view on ULIPs. It has been a day loot by insurance companies with the help of their Munnabhai (IRDA) and they have already looted the hard earned money of financial illiterates. Private sector banks are selling ULIPs more than their own product i.e fixed deposits. The main reason for the same is to boost their fee-based income. These ULIPs are sold by sales guys of banks who do not know the difference between insurance and investment. Most of these salesmen were earlier selling FMCG or soft drinks.
Very few people know that ULIP is a long term product and the holding period to make decent return is minimum 10 years. However the sales persons were selling ULIP as three year products (after October 2009 as 5 year products).
Note: I never invested any money in ULIP and also request every citizen of India to refrain from Investing in ULIPs till it is regulated by a decent regulator with investor interest in mind.
Sanjay Jain wrote
The battle of ULIPs is now a proof of the mess being the financial sector. The ministry of finance is the main culprit who gives permission to carry on trading and one fine morning, SEBI declares it’s dictatorial.
Now IRDA has to challenge this. But to me, as an investor in ULIP plans I feel cheated by the government. Why does not the government plug loop holes before more than Rs 100 crores are invested in ULIPs? Why are the LIC ULIP plans not challenged by SEBI? Why the double standards or is it a process initiated by some people with vested interests?
SEBI gives permission to companies to raise money from IPOs, when these companies vanish does SEBI take any action other then debarring the entity from the markets?
Tarun S Bangari wrote
This is great news! Congrats to SEBI for taking the bull by the horns. The bull, in the form of IRDA and all the insurance companies who blatantly continue to push ULIPs, had to be taken on head-on. Hopefully this order will not be overturned by the Finance Ministry or some other higher up government body, in case IRDA and insurance industry cartel go out for seeking ‘justice’.
Mahesh Jagdish Manghnani wrote
Thank God that SEBI took such a brave step. Even though it is the responsibility of investors to see where they are investing their hard-earned money, but let’s not forget that a majority of agents are either their friends, family members or references. So, normally hardly anybody takes efforts to study in detail the pros & cons of that investment. That’s why people need to understand that ULIP’s are nothing but a big spot in their financial planning.
Now, it would be interesting to see if the regulators remove the entire commission-based structure in the insurance industry, just like mutual funds & introduce the structure ‘ Professional Fees ’ for agents.
Suhas Vyas wrote
This is really a welcome step taken by SEBI in interest of the general public. ULIPs are mostly designed to get maximum benefit to insurance companies and agents.
The insurance component is very low and it does not serve the purpose of family protection. Investor pays his money for policy admin charges, allocation charges, fund management charges etc.
Hence insurance companies should take approval for these charges from SEBI.
Krishnan AV wrote
A welcome move by SEBI. ULIPs should have been banned much earlier. It is a weapon capable of mass destruction of personal wealth of those who opt for it.
Deepak Singh wrote
I am very happy after this. At least some regulatory body is really working for the common investor. I made a wrong decision by buying ULIP of about Rs 7 lakhs p.a. in various companies because I found the fund managers of ULIPs to be giving more returns than mutual funds. Moreover, I wanted insurance cover, since the statement, etc came so late, after about a year & half, it was too late for me to find the losses & demerits in ULIPs.
It is good if my future premiums will be diverted more to markets in NAV rather than hundreds of hidden expenses, which is there in almost all companies.
Moreover, these ULIP companies also do not correct their mistakes. Even IRDA control on them is minimal. I had an instance where I wrote to IRDA thrice but at the end of the day I only bear the blunders which these people keep repeating.
R.Varadarajan wrote
At last SEBI has acted in the interest of the hapless investors. It would have been better had this order come 5 years ago. The ULIPs are actual a rip-off with very high charges - as much as 25% of the average Premium in the first 3 years. This is cleverly manipulated and misrepresented to the clients at the time of selling. The IRDA Chairman on his own should have requested for registration of these products with SEBI - when these irregulaties would have come to light. Obviously everyone wanted to avoid and continue as usual to please the insurance companies. It appears that the IRDA Chairman actually functioned as a President of the Association of Insurance Companies, rather than a regulatory authority to look after the Policy Holders (in many cases, investors). What is the point in shedding crocodile tears for the Policy Holders now!!!
Read more feedback...
Our Readers' Feedback On The ULIP Affair
Apr 13, 2010
Liberalization of the insurance industry has brought some innovations. ULIPS are one of them! Proponents of this “masked” product might argue that banning ULIPS might have an adverse impact on India’s infrastructure and economic development.
VR has been doing an excellent job by providing real education to the consumers. You people are real gems.
V Govindarajan wrote
I whole-heartedly support this move by SEBI.
In India, the whole business of selling insurance is a BIG fraud on the gullible public. Not a single insurance company encourages the sale of the pure insurance policy and term products. All business magazines and papers are hand in glove with this fraud. I am a keen reader of brown pages and business periodicals for the past two decades. I found mentions/recommendations about term insurance policies as passing reference only. Even good intermediaries like ICICI Direct and HDFC recommend ONLY ULIPS as insurance products. Imagine how much ULIP one has to take for getting a cover of Rs 20 lakhs - the bare minimum for a 30 year old earning Rs 3 lakh a year. It would be Rs 2 lakh a year whereas term policy would cover that for a fraction of the sum. It is atrocious for the insurance companies to charge anything more than 3% of the yearly contribution of a 30-year average person towards ALL expenses (mortality, fund management and what not!).
In this ocean of cheaters of public, I find you are a glaring exception in advising the public against mixing insurance and investment. Honesty is really a RARE commodity!! Thank you, Dhiren.
Sudhir Bhimani wrote
I have invested in ICICI Prudential Life Insurance Company Limited. But, I am happy that SEBI is trying to take them under its regime of regulation and in the long run (hopefully) will remove the entry load in all these schemes.
Today, an investor is able to save 2.25 ~ 2.50% while entering any mutual fund scheme because entry load is removed by SEBI, which was happily pocketed by agents and investors had no choice but to pay it for hardly any service. It's big money when you consider the investment of each investor over the years.
In ULIPs, the entry load for first 2~3 years is as high as 5% to 30% and this is pocketed by agents. This is nothing but looting (stealing/cheating in broad day light) the small ignorant investors who have no choice but to pay it if they want to buy ULIP.
This is going on for many years and hopefully SEBI will stop this once ULIP schemes come under its regulation.
One question still remains: why LIC ULIP scheme is also not taken into this ban? Is SEBI scared of another government concern?
Chintan Gohel wrote
Will this affect redemption of ULIPs which are nearing maturity? Will I still be able to do full/partial withdrawal of existing funds?
Please give some information on this.
A S Paranjape wrote
It is true that ULIPs need to be more transparent and come under more regulations. But it cannot be termed as fraud. If SEBI's contention of regulating investment portion of the ULIPS is upheld then it would mean 2 regulators for the same product, which may have practical difficulties. Given the past history, SEBI may remove entire commission on investment portion. Main point is how the Investor will be educated enough to understand their needs and choose right products.
Narendra N Kondajji wrote
This is a great step towards establishing a level playing field between similar investment products. With the removal of entry loads on mutual funds, insurance companies had undue advantage and they used it for maximum kill for the year ended March 2010. SEBI’s order is very bold and logical culmination of this order should result in similar disclosure norms applicable for both mutual funds and ULIPs, especially removal of embedded charges. Let the investor decide what is good for him.
When two other regulators were against embedded loads (SEBI & PFRDA), only IRDA was swimming against the reformation tide. Will it now swim with the current or against it? It is strange that the biggest of life insurance companies is not in SEBI’s list. Is it because of its special status under a separate act?
Rajkumar Bihani wrote
I appreciate SEBI's action on the ULIPs. All private insurance companies’ agents are selling in a wrong manner and miss-selling without disclosing the charges properly.
This step is taken to protect the interest of Insurance Policy Holders.
Rishi Poddar wrote
Every time I contacted an insurance agent to buy a term policy for myself or my wife in the past few years, the insurance agent tried to sell me a ULIP instead. Even though I made it clear to all of them (they represented different insurance companies) that I preferred keeping my insurance and investment needs separate from each other, inevitably they would try to convince me to buy a ULIP. It was clear to me that these insurance companies are not interested in providing life cover but making money on investments. It is indeed surprising that IRDA has failed to rein in this malpractice after so many years and SEBI must be applauded for the action taken.
Arpan Majumdar wrote
Did SEBI ban LIC's Wealth Plus or any other ULIPs of LIC? If not, what may be the reason(s) for that?
S.Goyal wrote
To call ULIPs a fraud does not make any sense. From January 1, 2010 IRDA has already taken necessary steps to protect consumer interests by ensuring that all ULIPs with more than 10 years duration give a return which does not charge more than 2.25%.
Insurance Products are long term products which deliver to meet life goals by providing both insurance and good growth potential.
This seems more of a fight between two regulators: SEBI and IRDA, rather than protecting and serving the interests of small retail customers.
By dictating that insurance companies cannot accept insurance premiums even for existing policies, who get hurt - retail insurance policy customers. An Insurance Policy is a Contract between a Policy Holder and an Insurance Company. Can one Government Regulator ask all these companies which do not fall under its jurisdiction to nullify those lakhs of contracts? Does SEBI think it is the only Protector of Customer Interests? Was it sleeping for the last 6 years when ULIPS were introduced? The Finance Ministry and Government of India should intervene in this matter immediately to protect small Insurance Policy Customers like us.
If we really wish to protect the interests of customers, our focus has to be on educating them and may be enforcing through law the need for Insurance Policies which do not allow any Plans of less than 10 Years.
Let me also say at the same time if Long Term ULIP Policies are considered, these are far superior in serving the client needs than the traditional policies which do not give adequate insurance coverage and on survival give returns which are in 4 to 6% CAGR range.
Ruxton Vaz wrote
I was advised into taking my first ULIP policy three years ago. That was the first of four ULIPs that were miss-sold to me. But fortunately due to websites like yours and moneycontrol, I realized that whatever was said to me by the agent was false. The reason behind the miss-sale was his huge commission. I, as a common man, realized what was going on... so I guess big banks with professionals in them must know these things..... or maybe they came out with this thing called ULIP to dupe innocent Indians. Since that day I realized what a ULIP truly means, instead of mixture of investment and insurance, it’s a mixture of fraud and day light robbery from the banks and insurance companies.
Hats off to SEBI and to the Value Research team who have always been a staunch and vocal critic of the ULIP fraud.
Rajat Gupta wrote
It was just a matter of time that action was taken on ULIPs. IRDA (the so called regulator) has been sleeping all these years and currently SEBI is doing what IRDA should have done. One thing is for sure, at least SEBI is thinking about protection of customer interest.
Isn’t protection of customer interest IRDA's foremost duty? IRDA has been non - existent as an Insurance Regulator all these years. I am sure the huge Insurance lobby will not relent so easily but surely the customers will become more and more aware as this battle intensifies.
The day is not far when lucrative commissions to agents on these cheezy policies will become a thing of the past. Ahem SEBI!!!!!
source: valueresearch
India is huge longterm growth opportunity for WalMart- SCOTT PRICE/WALMART ASIA
BY RASUL BAILAY
ZIRAKPUR (PUNJAB)
The joint venture between Bharti Enterprises Ltd and Wal-Mart Stores Inc. for wholesale business in India, Bharti Wal-Mart Pvt. Ltd, opened its second Best Price Modern Wholesale cash-and- carry store at Zirakpur, Pun- jab, on Tuesday. This is Bharti's second cash-and-car- ry store in the state with the first one inaugurated in Amrit- sar last year. Scott Price, presi- dent and chief executive offi- cer of Wal-Mart Asia, flew in from Hong Kong for the event.
He spoke in an interview about the importance of the Indian market. Edited excerpts: You have been focusing on India since you assumed office as Asia chief six months ago.
I have probably come here six- seven times, about once a month on an average. That tells you how important India is to us. It's a huge growth opportunity for us in the long term. If you look at our business in the US, it's a $300 billion (Rs13.4 trillion) market.
You have three times the popula- tion (of the US). You can only imagine the value of the retail in- dustry in India in the next 40-50 years from now.
It's an underserved market in terms of modern trade.
There are a lot of benefits modern trade brings and that's one of the reasons it is being discussed by the government.
Today, agriculture has higher than acceptable levels of wast- age from the farm to the ulti- mate consumer. Through our direct farm programme, we re- duce that wastage significant- ly. We improve the quality (of produce) and the standard of living of the farmers because they make more money.
India is a focus market despite the limitations you have as a foreign retailer not allowed to sell directly to consumers.
Today, we are in the busi- ness of wholesaling. I think the traditional kirana (grocery) trade will be around for dec- ades to come, and we believe that through Best Price, we could serve that particular channel. Also, we are supply- ing to hotels, restaurants, small catering businesses as you would have seen from our products at the Best Price store. Wholesale is very impor- tant and we can build a good business on that. But we are very interested in retailing (selling directly to consumers).
Opening multi-brand retailing to foreign investment would be advantageous to the Indian economy in sectors like agricul- ture. I am very pleased that it is being discussed today and sup- port the government's initiative to look at opening it. There are enough examples around the world that show the benefits it brings.
WalMart has been advocating FDI (foreign direct investment) in re tail, but there are some concerns regarding momandpop stores. If you were to suggest a model for the retail sector in India, what would it be?
I think it's up to the Indian people and the Indian govern- ment to decide. Every country is different, each economic sit- uation is different. The model is really up to them to decide.
So I really have no point of view. I just know that a level of FDI is beneficial. I think there is a big opportunity that comes along with it as I said, and is seen in many countries.
Your cashandcarry venture in In dia is almost a year old. What has the experience been like?
We are told about the differ- ences between Amritsar and here (in Zirakpur, near Chan- digarh). Today, when I was taking a round of our new store, they were telling me all the things they learnt in the Amritsar store that we reflect- ed here in this new store. And we would continue to improve on that. Retail is a local busi- ness and the consumer in the north is very different from the consumer in the south. We will be carrying a lot of different products that are only going to be available in certain regions and they would be relevant to those certain regions. I think the one-size-fits-all approach to retail is just non- sense. I don't care what market you are in, retail is a local busi- ness and you have to be locally relevant with local products.
What are the local products you have introduced in Amritsar and in Zirakpur?
I can't remember the Indian word but it's a mixed spice that's usually already pre- ground. We have now, under the Best Price label, put it with- out grinding. So wholesalers, lo- cal hawkers or restaurant own- ers can buy that sack and do the grinding themselves and save some money. We don't do that anywhere else in the world.
That's just one example that sticks with me and I know there are hundreds of them.
WalMart had initially said that its focus would be to get the supply chain right first in and then feed as many stores as it can.
In fact, we have a separate supply chain project that is looking at what our national supply chain network will look like in India over the next, say, 10 years. We are bringing ex- pertise from our overseas offic- es where we have gone through this before and they are work- ing with our team here. We can only satisfy our customers if they get the same quality in products. I would be disap- pointed if in the next 10 years we didn't have a good supply chain in all the tier I and tier II cities across the country.
SOURCE;LIVEMINT
BY RASUL BAILAY
ZIRAKPUR (PUNJAB)
The joint venture between Bharti Enterprises Ltd and Wal-Mart Stores Inc. for wholesale business in India, Bharti Wal-Mart Pvt. Ltd, opened its second Best Price Modern Wholesale cash-and- carry store at Zirakpur, Pun- jab, on Tuesday. This is Bharti's second cash-and-car- ry store in the state with the first one inaugurated in Amrit- sar last year. Scott Price, presi- dent and chief executive offi- cer of Wal-Mart Asia, flew in from Hong Kong for the event.
He spoke in an interview about the importance of the Indian market. Edited excerpts: You have been focusing on India since you assumed office as Asia chief six months ago.
I have probably come here six- seven times, about once a month on an average. That tells you how important India is to us. It's a huge growth opportunity for us in the long term. If you look at our business in the US, it's a $300 billion (Rs13.4 trillion) market.
You have three times the popula- tion (of the US). You can only imagine the value of the retail in- dustry in India in the next 40-50 years from now.
It's an underserved market in terms of modern trade.
There are a lot of benefits modern trade brings and that's one of the reasons it is being discussed by the government.
Today, agriculture has higher than acceptable levels of wast- age from the farm to the ulti- mate consumer. Through our direct farm programme, we re- duce that wastage significant- ly. We improve the quality (of produce) and the standard of living of the farmers because they make more money.
India is a focus market despite the limitations you have as a foreign retailer not allowed to sell directly to consumers.
Today, we are in the busi- ness of wholesaling. I think the traditional kirana (grocery) trade will be around for dec- ades to come, and we believe that through Best Price, we could serve that particular channel. Also, we are supply- ing to hotels, restaurants, small catering businesses as you would have seen from our products at the Best Price store. Wholesale is very impor- tant and we can build a good business on that. But we are very interested in retailing (selling directly to consumers).
Opening multi-brand retailing to foreign investment would be advantageous to the Indian economy in sectors like agricul- ture. I am very pleased that it is being discussed today and sup- port the government's initiative to look at opening it. There are enough examples around the world that show the benefits it brings.
WalMart has been advocating FDI (foreign direct investment) in re tail, but there are some concerns regarding momandpop stores. If you were to suggest a model for the retail sector in India, what would it be?
I think it's up to the Indian people and the Indian govern- ment to decide. Every country is different, each economic sit- uation is different. The model is really up to them to decide.
So I really have no point of view. I just know that a level of FDI is beneficial. I think there is a big opportunity that comes along with it as I said, and is seen in many countries.
Your cashandcarry venture in In dia is almost a year old. What has the experience been like?
We are told about the differ- ences between Amritsar and here (in Zirakpur, near Chan- digarh). Today, when I was taking a round of our new store, they were telling me all the things they learnt in the Amritsar store that we reflect- ed here in this new store. And we would continue to improve on that. Retail is a local busi- ness and the consumer in the north is very different from the consumer in the south. We will be carrying a lot of different products that are only going to be available in certain regions and they would be relevant to those certain regions. I think the one-size-fits-all approach to retail is just non- sense. I don't care what market you are in, retail is a local busi- ness and you have to be locally relevant with local products.
What are the local products you have introduced in Amritsar and in Zirakpur?
I can't remember the Indian word but it's a mixed spice that's usually already pre- ground. We have now, under the Best Price label, put it with- out grinding. So wholesalers, lo- cal hawkers or restaurant own- ers can buy that sack and do the grinding themselves and save some money. We don't do that anywhere else in the world.
That's just one example that sticks with me and I know there are hundreds of them.
WalMart had initially said that its focus would be to get the supply chain right first in and then feed as many stores as it can.
In fact, we have a separate supply chain project that is looking at what our national supply chain network will look like in India over the next, say, 10 years. We are bringing ex- pertise from our overseas offic- es where we have gone through this before and they are work- ing with our team here. We can only satisfy our customers if they get the same quality in products. I would be disap- pointed if in the next 10 years we didn't have a good supply chain in all the tier I and tier II cities across the country.
SOURCE;LIVEMINT
NEW ENTERPRISE:News at your fingertips
by Arun Singh
Like everyone says these days, communication is key to development. Here is an effort on that count. New Delhi-based International Media Institute of India has started an initiative called ‘Gaon Ki Awaaz' by which it sends out news to subscribers twice a day on their mobile phones. The news subjects of the service vary fromalerts on health camps to local events, local Government announcements and farming tips.
User-friendly
Sunil Saxena, the dean of the institute, says the user-friendly nature of the service has led to the increase of their subscriber base from 20 to 250 in just a few months time. He says the service was developed to meet the requirements of the rural community. A bunch of reporters produce news by recording 30 to 60 seconds voice messages on their phones. These short news bulletins are then sent as MMS to the local editor for review. Saxena checks each alert before sending them out to the subscribers as voice mails. The reporters are from Rampur and Mathura area where the pilot project is presently being run by the institute. “The idea is to convey news reports in the local dialect, Avadhi,” adds Saxena.
He says, “We wanted to move away from the SMS alerts because many villagers can't read them. It had to be a voice call, it could not be MMS either as many villagers don't have MMS facilities on their phones.” On why such a service works, the educationist says, “In most of our villages, literacy levels are low. So newspapers do not work as a medium of disseminating information. And because power supply is often erratic in these areas, television is also not a very good medium for it.” Initiated in December 2009, the project now covers 20 villages.
Though the programme is being funded by Dave Bloss, a Knight International Fellow, it got its first advertisers last month. Saxena says, “The total cost of the four-month project is roughly 1000 USD. But in the long run, we are looking for two types of advertisers to make it sustainable. One, the local businessmen and the other, the big agro companies.”
by Arun Singh
Like everyone says these days, communication is key to development. Here is an effort on that count. New Delhi-based International Media Institute of India has started an initiative called ‘Gaon Ki Awaaz' by which it sends out news to subscribers twice a day on their mobile phones. The news subjects of the service vary fromalerts on health camps to local events, local Government announcements and farming tips.
User-friendly
Sunil Saxena, the dean of the institute, says the user-friendly nature of the service has led to the increase of their subscriber base from 20 to 250 in just a few months time. He says the service was developed to meet the requirements of the rural community. A bunch of reporters produce news by recording 30 to 60 seconds voice messages on their phones. These short news bulletins are then sent as MMS to the local editor for review. Saxena checks each alert before sending them out to the subscribers as voice mails. The reporters are from Rampur and Mathura area where the pilot project is presently being run by the institute. “The idea is to convey news reports in the local dialect, Avadhi,” adds Saxena.
He says, “We wanted to move away from the SMS alerts because many villagers can't read them. It had to be a voice call, it could not be MMS either as many villagers don't have MMS facilities on their phones.” On why such a service works, the educationist says, “In most of our villages, literacy levels are low. So newspapers do not work as a medium of disseminating information. And because power supply is often erratic in these areas, television is also not a very good medium for it.” Initiated in December 2009, the project now covers 20 villages.
Though the programme is being funded by Dave Bloss, a Knight International Fellow, it got its first advertisers last month. Saxena says, “The total cost of the four-month project is roughly 1000 USD. But in the long run, we are looking for two types of advertisers to make it sustainable. One, the local businessmen and the other, the big agro companies.”
Antony opens Jallianawala Bagh Massacre Light & Sound Show
Hundreds of people from the nook and corner of Punjab watched in pensive silence as a dark chapter in Indian history-the Jallianawala Bagh Massacre-was replayed last night, through a Light & Sound Show, 91 years after the macabre incident took place at the same site in Amritsar. At least 379 people had lost their lives and thousands injured when British troops on the orders of Brigadier General Reginald Dyer opened fire on unarmed demonstrators in the city-park known as Jallianwala Bagh in Amritsar on April 13, 1919. The Defence Minister Shri AK Antony, in the presence of the Information & Broadcasting Minister Smt Ambika Soni and other dignitaries, dedicated the show to the people of India.
Earlier in the day, paying rich tributes to the martyrs of the Freedom Struggle, at a function organised at Jallianawala Bagh, a visibly moved Shri Antony said, he is proud as an Indian to be standing on the same place where over 20, 000 people had gathered, defying the draconian dictats of the British forces. He said ‘it’s a holy place for entire India’ as many freedom fighters had lost their lives for the cause of liberty. Mr Antony described the Jallianawala Bagh as ‘a turning point’ in our freedom struggle and said the freedom struggle gathered momentum in subsequent years. He appealed to countrymen to rededicate themselves to achieve the unfulfilled aspirations of our forefathers- that of a strong, united and developed India.
The Information & Broadcasting Minister Smt Ambika Soni said the UPA government had announced Rs 100 crore to the state government for preservation of monuments and building. She also assured that the demand of telecast of a programme regarding the life and contributions of the martyrs on national TV and Radio would be considered.
Sitanshu Kar in Amritsar
Hundreds of people from the nook and corner of Punjab watched in pensive silence as a dark chapter in Indian history-the Jallianawala Bagh Massacre-was replayed last night, through a Light & Sound Show, 91 years after the macabre incident took place at the same site in Amritsar. At least 379 people had lost their lives and thousands injured when British troops on the orders of Brigadier General Reginald Dyer opened fire on unarmed demonstrators in the city-park known as Jallianwala Bagh in Amritsar on April 13, 1919. The Defence Minister Shri AK Antony, in the presence of the Information & Broadcasting Minister Smt Ambika Soni and other dignitaries, dedicated the show to the people of India.
Earlier in the day, paying rich tributes to the martyrs of the Freedom Struggle, at a function organised at Jallianawala Bagh, a visibly moved Shri Antony said, he is proud as an Indian to be standing on the same place where over 20, 000 people had gathered, defying the draconian dictats of the British forces. He said ‘it’s a holy place for entire India’ as many freedom fighters had lost their lives for the cause of liberty. Mr Antony described the Jallianawala Bagh as ‘a turning point’ in our freedom struggle and said the freedom struggle gathered momentum in subsequent years. He appealed to countrymen to rededicate themselves to achieve the unfulfilled aspirations of our forefathers- that of a strong, united and developed India.
The Information & Broadcasting Minister Smt Ambika Soni said the UPA government had announced Rs 100 crore to the state government for preservation of monuments and building. She also assured that the demand of telecast of a programme regarding the life and contributions of the martyrs on national TV and Radio would be considered.
Sitanshu Kar in Amritsar
Khangchendzonga Tourist Villa awaits Presidential inauguration
GANGTOK, April 12: A unique tourism attraction fusing cultural ethos of Sikkim with modern amusement amenities is set to be added to the growing tourism itinerary of the State on April 15 when President Pratibha Patil will be inaugurating the mega tourism project, Khangchendzonga Tourist Villa cum socio-cultural amusement park at Ranka, East Sikkim.
Locals from the Ranka circuit which also hosts the famous Lingdum monastery and Banjakhri Falls is will be vastly benefiting from the new mega tourism point expected to fetch a rich haul of tourists presently flooding Gangtok.
The concept behind the Khangchendzonga Tourist Villa park is to providing wholesome entertainment to tourists with a blend of depiction of rich cultural heritage and modern amusement amenities, said State Rural Management & Development secretary Anil Ganeriwala.
Built at estimated cost of around Rs. 50 crores, the park is spread over an area of 17 acres boasting a variety of cultural tourism attractions including the dome shaped Sikkim Panaroma along with bowling alleys, swimming pools and other modern amusement amenities like laser shows and colourful musical fountains.
“The project was conceived by the Chief Minister in 2005 and works started from June 2006”, said Ganeriwala adding that project was first of its kind in Sikkim.
Billed as the major cultural tourism attraction in the park, the dome shaped Sikkim Panorama houses relief features of important places of Sikkim starting from low lying areas to Mt Khangchendzonga. The relief features are made from fiber glass.
There are also murals of the ethnic communities of Sikkim in the Sikkim Panorama along with traditional huts.
The park also has a rain forest café, a unique food joint with glass floors over a natural stream with lots of greenery.
The park will be a new feature in the tourism attractions in and around Gangtok and we hope to extend the visit of tourists by one more day with this new attraction, said Ganeriwala.
Around Rs. 30 crores is expected to be pumped into local economy with this new tourism attraction as tourists will be encouraged to extend their visit to Sikkim by one more day benefiting a host of tourism service providers.
With limited recreational avenues in Gangtok, local residents here also stand to benefit to enjoy their spare time with their families at the Khangchendzonga Tourist Villa park.
source;sikkimexpress
GANGTOK, April 12: A unique tourism attraction fusing cultural ethos of Sikkim with modern amusement amenities is set to be added to the growing tourism itinerary of the State on April 15 when President Pratibha Patil will be inaugurating the mega tourism project, Khangchendzonga Tourist Villa cum socio-cultural amusement park at Ranka, East Sikkim.
Locals from the Ranka circuit which also hosts the famous Lingdum monastery and Banjakhri Falls is will be vastly benefiting from the new mega tourism point expected to fetch a rich haul of tourists presently flooding Gangtok.
The concept behind the Khangchendzonga Tourist Villa park is to providing wholesome entertainment to tourists with a blend of depiction of rich cultural heritage and modern amusement amenities, said State Rural Management & Development secretary Anil Ganeriwala.
Built at estimated cost of around Rs. 50 crores, the park is spread over an area of 17 acres boasting a variety of cultural tourism attractions including the dome shaped Sikkim Panaroma along with bowling alleys, swimming pools and other modern amusement amenities like laser shows and colourful musical fountains.
“The project was conceived by the Chief Minister in 2005 and works started from June 2006”, said Ganeriwala adding that project was first of its kind in Sikkim.
Billed as the major cultural tourism attraction in the park, the dome shaped Sikkim Panorama houses relief features of important places of Sikkim starting from low lying areas to Mt Khangchendzonga. The relief features are made from fiber glass.
There are also murals of the ethnic communities of Sikkim in the Sikkim Panorama along with traditional huts.
The park also has a rain forest café, a unique food joint with glass floors over a natural stream with lots of greenery.
The park will be a new feature in the tourism attractions in and around Gangtok and we hope to extend the visit of tourists by one more day with this new attraction, said Ganeriwala.
Around Rs. 30 crores is expected to be pumped into local economy with this new tourism attraction as tourists will be encouraged to extend their visit to Sikkim by one more day benefiting a host of tourism service providers.
With limited recreational avenues in Gangtok, local residents here also stand to benefit to enjoy their spare time with their families at the Khangchendzonga Tourist Villa park.
source;sikkimexpress
PM’s Opening Remarks at the Press Conference
Washington
The Prime Minister, Dr. Manmohan Singh addressed a press conference after the conclusion of the Nuclear Security Summit in Washington yesterday. Following is the text of the Prime Minister’s opening remarks at the Press Conference:
“I have concluded my visit to Washington DC for the Nuclear Security Summit.
As I said earlier, India welcomes the initiative taken by President Obama to focus the attention of the international community on nuclear security. This is an important issue for us because without ensuring security we will not be able to harness nuclear energy for our developmental purposes.
We are satisfied with the Communique and Work Plan that has been adopted by the Summit. India participated actively in the preparatory process.
I have announced that India will establish a Global Centre for Nuclear Energy Partnership. This will be owned and managed by the Government, but will be open to international participation in terms of academic exchanges and R and D efforts. This initiative is the next logical step in India’s engagement with the world after the opening of international civil nuclear cooperation with India.
India’s statement at the Summit outlines our approach to the issues of nuclear security, nuclear terrorism, clandestine proliferation and global disarmament.
After listening to the world leaders at the Summit, I feel a sense of vindication of India’s position. The intersection of international terrorism and clandestine proliferation affects our security directly. The concerns that we have been expressing for decades on the dangers of proliferation and risk of nuclear materials finding their way into the wrong hands are today finding widespread acceptance.
When India called for the total elimination of nuclear weapons in the 1950s our voice was not heeded. Today the world is veering around to the vision we had put forward of a world free from nuclear weapons. The world is beginning to see merit in pursuing universal, non-discriminatory and complete nuclear disarmament. We will continue to persevere in our efforts in this direction.
During my stay I had bilateral meetings with President Obama, President Nazarbaev, Prime Minister Abbas El Fassi, Prime Minister Stephen Harper, President Sarkozy and Chancellor Merkel.
I had fruitful discussions with President Obama on a host of issues relating to our bilateral relations, the regional situation, and the world economy. We look forward to hosting President Obama in India later this year.
My discussions with President Sarkozy, Chancellor Merkel and Prime Minister Harper focused largely on the future role of the G20 in the post-crisis phase of the global economic recovery. I will be visiting Canada for the next G20 Summit in June. I conveyed to President Sarkozy that we are looking forward to his visit later this year to India.”
***
Washington
The Prime Minister, Dr. Manmohan Singh addressed a press conference after the conclusion of the Nuclear Security Summit in Washington yesterday. Following is the text of the Prime Minister’s opening remarks at the Press Conference:
“I have concluded my visit to Washington DC for the Nuclear Security Summit.
As I said earlier, India welcomes the initiative taken by President Obama to focus the attention of the international community on nuclear security. This is an important issue for us because without ensuring security we will not be able to harness nuclear energy for our developmental purposes.
We are satisfied with the Communique and Work Plan that has been adopted by the Summit. India participated actively in the preparatory process.
I have announced that India will establish a Global Centre for Nuclear Energy Partnership. This will be owned and managed by the Government, but will be open to international participation in terms of academic exchanges and R and D efforts. This initiative is the next logical step in India’s engagement with the world after the opening of international civil nuclear cooperation with India.
India’s statement at the Summit outlines our approach to the issues of nuclear security, nuclear terrorism, clandestine proliferation and global disarmament.
After listening to the world leaders at the Summit, I feel a sense of vindication of India’s position. The intersection of international terrorism and clandestine proliferation affects our security directly. The concerns that we have been expressing for decades on the dangers of proliferation and risk of nuclear materials finding their way into the wrong hands are today finding widespread acceptance.
When India called for the total elimination of nuclear weapons in the 1950s our voice was not heeded. Today the world is veering around to the vision we had put forward of a world free from nuclear weapons. The world is beginning to see merit in pursuing universal, non-discriminatory and complete nuclear disarmament. We will continue to persevere in our efforts in this direction.
During my stay I had bilateral meetings with President Obama, President Nazarbaev, Prime Minister Abbas El Fassi, Prime Minister Stephen Harper, President Sarkozy and Chancellor Merkel.
I had fruitful discussions with President Obama on a host of issues relating to our bilateral relations, the regional situation, and the world economy. We look forward to hosting President Obama in India later this year.
My discussions with President Sarkozy, Chancellor Merkel and Prime Minister Harper focused largely on the future role of the G20 in the post-crisis phase of the global economic recovery. I will be visiting Canada for the next G20 Summit in June. I conveyed to President Sarkozy that we are looking forward to his visit later this year to India.”
***
Obese kids have stiff arteries
Children with more body fat and less endurance have stiffer arteries at a very young age, researchers at Medical College of Georgia have said.
Stiff arteries are a hallmark of atherosclerosis, a typically adult condition in which blood vessels become clogged.
“When children at such a young age start getting diseases only adults used to get, it’s like the sky is falling,” said Dr. Catherine L. Davis, clinical health psychologist in MCG’s Georgia Prevention Institute and principal investigator on the study. The findings were presented during the 31st Annual Society of Behavioural Medicine Meeting.
Using a non-invasive measure of pulse wave velocity, Davis discovered that children with a greater body mass index, more body fat and less endurance had stiffer central arteries compared to leaner and fitter children. Identifying these children early could hasten preventive measures, she noted.
Her most recent National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute-funded study involves overweight or obese 8-11-year-old children, half of whom participate in aerobic exercises such as jumping rope and shooting hoops weekdays after school while the other half participate in sedentary activities, including board games and crafts.
Among a similar cohort of children, Davis also found that regular exercise decreases metabolic risks linked to cardiovascular disease and diabetes. The new study will examine the effects of exercise on nonalcoholic fatty liver disease and atherosclerosis.
Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, which affects about 40 percent of obese children, initially is often symptomless. But its long-term risk of inflammation and scarring, which can cause liver damage and failure, also is related to hardening of the arteries.
“It’s essentially another aspect of the metabolic imbalance these children are experiencing when they’re overweight and inactive and is a signal they’re at very high risk for diabetes,” Davis said.
Children with more body fat and less endurance have stiffer arteries at a very young age, researchers at Medical College of Georgia have said.
Stiff arteries are a hallmark of atherosclerosis, a typically adult condition in which blood vessels become clogged.
“When children at such a young age start getting diseases only adults used to get, it’s like the sky is falling,” said Dr. Catherine L. Davis, clinical health psychologist in MCG’s Georgia Prevention Institute and principal investigator on the study. The findings were presented during the 31st Annual Society of Behavioural Medicine Meeting.
Using a non-invasive measure of pulse wave velocity, Davis discovered that children with a greater body mass index, more body fat and less endurance had stiffer central arteries compared to leaner and fitter children. Identifying these children early could hasten preventive measures, she noted.
Her most recent National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute-funded study involves overweight or obese 8-11-year-old children, half of whom participate in aerobic exercises such as jumping rope and shooting hoops weekdays after school while the other half participate in sedentary activities, including board games and crafts.
Among a similar cohort of children, Davis also found that regular exercise decreases metabolic risks linked to cardiovascular disease and diabetes. The new study will examine the effects of exercise on nonalcoholic fatty liver disease and atherosclerosis.
Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, which affects about 40 percent of obese children, initially is often symptomless. But its long-term risk of inflammation and scarring, which can cause liver damage and failure, also is related to hardening of the arteries.
“It’s essentially another aspect of the metabolic imbalance these children are experiencing when they’re overweight and inactive and is a signal they’re at very high risk for diabetes,” Davis said.
Pratibha Patil's three-day visit to Sikkim starts Wednesday
Gangtok, April 13 (IANS) President Pratibha Patil is scheduled to attend the concluding function of the golden jubilee celebrations of the Sikkim High Court during a three-day maiden visit to Sikkim beginning Wednesday.
Patil, who is slated to land at the Libing Army Helipad here at 3 p.m. Wednesday, would spend the night at the Raj Bhavan before inaugurating the Kanchenjunga Tourist Village and Amusement Park at Ranka village on the outskirts of this capital city Thursday.
She is also scheduled to take a helicopter mountain flight on army choppers stationed here in the border state Thursday.
On Friday, the president would address the concluding function of the celebrations of the high court after which she visits the famous Saramsa Gardens, about 12 km from Gangtok. Pratibha Patil will also attend the convocation of the Sikkim University, of which she is the chancellor, before returning to Delhi the same day.
The tiny himalayan state, which shares its boundaries with China in the north-east and Nepal in the west, is all geared up for the high-profile visit.
National flags flutter from the houses on the main thoroughfares, the city is decorated with flowers, while the Border Roads Organisation and state Public Works Department are busy carrying out emergency street repairs.
Indo Asian News Service
Gangtok, April 13 (IANS) President Pratibha Patil is scheduled to attend the concluding function of the golden jubilee celebrations of the Sikkim High Court during a three-day maiden visit to Sikkim beginning Wednesday.
Patil, who is slated to land at the Libing Army Helipad here at 3 p.m. Wednesday, would spend the night at the Raj Bhavan before inaugurating the Kanchenjunga Tourist Village and Amusement Park at Ranka village on the outskirts of this capital city Thursday.
She is also scheduled to take a helicopter mountain flight on army choppers stationed here in the border state Thursday.
On Friday, the president would address the concluding function of the celebrations of the high court after which she visits the famous Saramsa Gardens, about 12 km from Gangtok. Pratibha Patil will also attend the convocation of the Sikkim University, of which she is the chancellor, before returning to Delhi the same day.
The tiny himalayan state, which shares its boundaries with China in the north-east and Nepal in the west, is all geared up for the high-profile visit.
National flags flutter from the houses on the main thoroughfares, the city is decorated with flowers, while the Border Roads Organisation and state Public Works Department are busy carrying out emergency street repairs.
Indo Asian News Service
Tuesday, April 13, 2010
18 States Sign State Support Agreement With Ministry of Road Transport and Highways
sikkim to sign soon
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16:56 IST
Eighteen State governments signed the State Support Agreement (SSA) with the Ministry of Road Transport & Highways in a signing Ceremony held here in capital today. The State Governments including Andhra Pradesh, Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Chhattisgarh, Punjab, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Jharkhand, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Manipur, Meghalaya, Nagaland, Rajasthan, Tripura, Uttarakhand, West Bengal and UT of Chandigarh have signed the SSA which was countersigned by the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI).
23 States have conveyed their concurrence to sign the SSA. Out of these, the States of Karnataka, Kerala, Goa, Puducherry and Sikkim could not attend the signing ceremony due to previous engagement. However, these States will be signing the SSA soon. Certain State Governments like Government of Orissa, Jammu & Kashmir, Gujarat and Bihar have certain observations which are being resolved through dialogue. The Uttar Pradesh Government has also indicated their desire to withdraw the SSA signed earlier by them. Discussions are also going on with the Government of Uttar Pradesh to resolve the matter. As regards the NCT of Delhi and Government of Tamil Nadu are concerned, internal consultations with the Government Departments are going on and as soon as these are over, these States are expected to sign the SSA. Government of Gujarat has conveyed their support on ‘best effort’ basis. Certain Union Territories like Andaman & Nicobar Island, Daman & Diu, Dadra & Nagar Haveli being small UTs having at present neither major national highways nor any plans for future for the national highways, conveyed their support and willingness to sign the SSA should any such plan is envisaged in future.
The State Governments have pledged their continued support, as set forth in the SSA, to the execution of the highways projects. SSA aims at formalizing the cooperation arrangement with the State Governments to the implementation of the extensive programme of development of national highways on Public- Private-Partnership (PPP) through the National Highways Authority of India. The Ceremony was presided by Shri Brahm Dutt, Secretary, Ministry of Road Transport and Highways.
The State Support Agreement (SSA) is an omnibus umbrella agreement, ensuring support from the State Government for all projects. The SSA when put in place would ensure timely implementation of highways projects in Build, Operate and Transfer (BOT) mode as also meeting the requirements under the provisions of the Model Concession Agreement.
While implementing the National Highways Development Project (NHDP) and development of highways, State Government support is essential in the matter of land acquisition, providing Right of Way (RoW), removal of encroachments, shifting of utilities, rehabilitation, local law and order and providing assistance to the Central executing agency (NHAI/MoRT&H) and the Concessionaire. The State Governments by signing the said SSA, recognize that implementation and operation of the said National Highways Development Project (NHDP) is necessary and would lead to the growth and development of the State.
sikkim to sign soon
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16:56 IST
Eighteen State governments signed the State Support Agreement (SSA) with the Ministry of Road Transport & Highways in a signing Ceremony held here in capital today. The State Governments including Andhra Pradesh, Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Chhattisgarh, Punjab, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Jharkhand, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Manipur, Meghalaya, Nagaland, Rajasthan, Tripura, Uttarakhand, West Bengal and UT of Chandigarh have signed the SSA which was countersigned by the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI).
23 States have conveyed their concurrence to sign the SSA. Out of these, the States of Karnataka, Kerala, Goa, Puducherry and Sikkim could not attend the signing ceremony due to previous engagement. However, these States will be signing the SSA soon. Certain State Governments like Government of Orissa, Jammu & Kashmir, Gujarat and Bihar have certain observations which are being resolved through dialogue. The Uttar Pradesh Government has also indicated their desire to withdraw the SSA signed earlier by them. Discussions are also going on with the Government of Uttar Pradesh to resolve the matter. As regards the NCT of Delhi and Government of Tamil Nadu are concerned, internal consultations with the Government Departments are going on and as soon as these are over, these States are expected to sign the SSA. Government of Gujarat has conveyed their support on ‘best effort’ basis. Certain Union Territories like Andaman & Nicobar Island, Daman & Diu, Dadra & Nagar Haveli being small UTs having at present neither major national highways nor any plans for future for the national highways, conveyed their support and willingness to sign the SSA should any such plan is envisaged in future.
The State Governments have pledged their continued support, as set forth in the SSA, to the execution of the highways projects. SSA aims at formalizing the cooperation arrangement with the State Governments to the implementation of the extensive programme of development of national highways on Public- Private-Partnership (PPP) through the National Highways Authority of India. The Ceremony was presided by Shri Brahm Dutt, Secretary, Ministry of Road Transport and Highways.
The State Support Agreement (SSA) is an omnibus umbrella agreement, ensuring support from the State Government for all projects. The SSA when put in place would ensure timely implementation of highways projects in Build, Operate and Transfer (BOT) mode as also meeting the requirements under the provisions of the Model Concession Agreement.
While implementing the National Highways Development Project (NHDP) and development of highways, State Government support is essential in the matter of land acquisition, providing Right of Way (RoW), removal of encroachments, shifting of utilities, rehabilitation, local law and order and providing assistance to the Central executing agency (NHAI/MoRT&H) and the Concessionaire. The State Governments by signing the said SSA, recognize that implementation and operation of the said National Highways Development Project (NHDP) is necessary and would lead to the growth and development of the State.
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