Source: The Economist

"An organization's ability to learn, and translate that learning into action rapidly, is the ultimate competitive advantage." - Jack Welch

Women have made huge progress in the workplace, but still get lower pay and fewer top jobs than men
source:The Economist

Anthropogenic greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions have had a significant impact on the climate, particularly in recent times, with the global-average surface temperature rising by approximately 0.8°C above its level in 1750. Studies have revealed that the warming of the planet is closely linked with the build-up in the atmospheric concentrations of carbon dioxide (CO{-2}), methane (CH4), and some other greenhouse gases (GHG).

Chinese consumer goods makers flock to Mumbai

S. Shanker

source The Hindu  

PTI

China land: A Chinese saleswoman displays the products at a stall during the China Sourcing Fair in Mumbai on Wednesday.

 

Mumbai, Nov. 24: 

Pick up anything from a departmental store and you will find considerable Chinese content in the product. Be it a flashlight, cellphone or a toy for your child, a part of China will greet you loud and clear.

This has of course raised the hackles of Indian industry and trade, which are concerned over this mass flooding of goods from across the border in the domestic market. Not that their protests will make too much of a difference. By the end of the day, the Chinese are masters in mass manufacture as evident in the 600 plus consumer goods makers who are showcasing their products here for local franchise.

On display at the Fourth China Sourcing Fairs are electronics and components, security gadgets, home products, gifts items, hardware and building material, besides bathroom products and fittings.

According to the organiser, buyers pre-registered to attend the expo include the likes of Tata Steel, Reliance Industries, Voltas, Aditya Birla Retail, Hindustan Petroleum Corporation, Home Solutions Retail, Infosys, Metro Cash & Carry India and Wipro Yardley.

The incentive to come to India is the 1.2 billion population, its huge consumption and the untapped potential, said Mr Tommy Wong, President of Global Sources Exhibitions (Nasdaq listed), the organiser of the event.

Global Sources has researched cities with potential such as Mumbai, Chennai, Bangalore and Hyderabad. It has identified building and construction materials, bathroom fittings, home appliances, electronics (hardware) and gift items as products that could meet market expectations.

Mr Wong said 85 per cent of the exhibitors were from mainland China and the rest from Hong Kong, Korea and Taiwan. Chinese manufacturers score when it came to automation and mass production, while the others provide custom-built and higher quality products, he said.

Indian companies too can service the demand for garment, handicraft, kitchenware and home products in China.  “India's trade with mainland China is expected to reach $70 billion this year. The two countries are hoping to scale it up to $100 billion by 2015. The fair will an ideal platform for China suppliers to enter the booming Indian market and for local buyers to find quality China products to boost their profits, he said.

Mr Chandrakant Salunkhe, President, Small and Medium Business Development Chamber of India, said over 5,000 members have been invited for the expo. “We have a lot to learn from China in terms of manufacturing and processing.”

While imports from China total $40 billion, exports are $20 billion and the deficit is widening. The expo provides Indian companies not only an opportunity to negotiate on prices but also build a profitable long-term association. For Indian companies, electronics, engineering, office equipment and hardware from China provide immense prospects as also the possibility of exporting semi-finished products and raw materials, he said.

We have often voiced our criticism against the unscrupulous policies of the US government, on how it has salvaged big banks and big corporations at the cost of the larger economy. Bail Outs are nothing but a way to privatise gains and socialise losses. Today's chart shows the real reason why the US government keeps bailing out Wall Street, while doing little for the real economy. As it turns out, the 2011-12 campaign donation figures show that the finance industry is the biggest donator. In other words, the finance industry has the power to hire and fire the elected US officials. So as to protect their positions, the officials make sure that they do not begrudge Wall Street.

Data source: Business Insider

By J Mulraj

"While the law of competition may be sometimes hard for the individual, it is best for the race, because it ensures the survival of the fittest in every department." - Andrew Carnegie

"While the law of competition may be sometimes hard for the individual, it is best for the race, because it ensures the survival of the fittest in every department." - Andrew Carnegie

Governance crisis

Reforms have slowed down because Parliament and the Central government have failed to come to terms with the growing power of States.

When the going gets tough, the dollars get going. That is why the rupee has shed some 16 per cent against the Greenback in less than four months. And because those pulling out dollars to meet liquidity contingencies arising from Eurozone worries and uncertainties in the US – the FIIs – are the biggest investors in the Indian market, it has led to a decline in the Sensex as well. But these arguments ignore the fact that Indian stocks have been among the worst performers (the Sensex has gone down by 23 per cent so far in 2011) and the rupee has fallen more than any other currency in Asia (or even emerging markets, barring a South Africa or Turkey). So, why are foreigners running so hard from India, despite it being the world's second fastest-growing major economy? The usual glib answers relate to slowing of reforms and lack of firm governance.

But symptoms are often mistaken for causes. It is also important to distinguish between first and second order symptoms so that the former don't get mistaken for causes. Specifically, the absence of reforms is said to be deterring investments. But does that make it a genuine underlying cause or simply a larger symptom? What is it that is slowing down reforms, when all political parties are seemingly convinced of their necessity? That they disagree on the details is a quibble. The real answer may lie somewhere else – in the inability to come to terms with a new political reality provided for in the Constitution, but which has manifested itself only in the last 15 years. That reality is the emergence of the Indian federation as a fact of everyday life and the simultaneous failure of Parliament and the Government at the Centre to recognise it while legislating and governing. Instead, they have tended to carry on as before when a single party commanded a majority in Parliament and ruled at the Centre.

The truth today is that the States have become more autonomous and assertive, while being increasingly ruled by so-called regional parties. Their representatives in Parliament see no reason to cooperate with the Central government unless they see a clear benefit or, at the very least, there is no loss to them. If to this is added the need of the principal opposition, BJP, to oppose for the sake of opposing and not allowing Parliament to function – though at the State-level the shoe is on the other foot, with the Congress doing the same – it can be seen why an advanced degree of political immaturity is slowing down reforms. Only a change in the mindset of the political parties will improve matters. But this could take time as it requires a clear message from the electorate that it is fed up with their antics and opportunism. That it has already happened in some States is a happy augury.
source : Hindu Editorial

Data source: Morgan Stanley Report

Investing in stock markets at least has hardly ever been a smooth or pleasant ride in the short term. But the dividends that one can reap for the right decisions compound over the long term. Nothing other than Buffett's words sum it up better - "Cash combined with courage in a time of crisis is priceless".

source:The Economist

Rotary Organises Elocution contest

 

GANGTOK, 20 Nov: ‘Role of Rotary in Eradicating Polio’, an elocution competition for school students, was held at a local hotel on 19 November. The competition was organised by Rotary Club of Gangtok South as a part of Rotary International’s effort to create awareness for Polio Eradication.
Students from seven schools in and around participated in the competition.
Raaj Bangar was present as special guest and Rotarians PK Dong, Binita Sharma and Ms Tenzing were the judges for the competition. The participants were judged on their proficiency, diction, body language, confidence, pronunciation and presentation.
Vinayak Chhetri from Tashi Namgyal Academy was adjudged the best speaker. He will be sent for the district level competition to be held shortly.

 

source:Sikkim Now

If at first you don’t succeed, try and try again, but don’t try the same thing again and again.

Our situation, circumstances, conditions and environment are constantly subject to change and modification, every moment. Our body, mind and intellect are also constantly subject to change and modification, every moment. A person who deals with a particular problem today is not the same person who dealt with a similar problem 5 years ago nor are his situation, circumstances, conditions and environment the same. 

The river constantly changes, so is the person who takes a dip in it.

Pune’s superwomen saving lives in Sikkim


By Mayank Aggarwal
source: DNA

As the world’s eyes were affixed on TV channels witnessing the horror that unfolded in Sikkim due to the earthquake last Sunday, the heroes of the Indian Air Force (IAF) wasted no time and geared themselves up for the relief work.

One such champion is 26-year-old helicopter pilot Arunima Vidhate — posted at IAF’s Bagdogra airport — who was one of the first ones to conduct survey of the quake-hit area.

“The first thing I saw during the aerial recee was numerous landslides and how areas were cut off because of that. Thereafter our team started relief work, air-dropping food packets, medicines and other relief material for the affected people,” said Vidhate, who has 300 hours of flying helicopters.

She is one of the two women pilots who are part of the 18-member pilot team which is flying small helicopters like ‘Cheetah’ and ‘Chetak’ to provide relief material to the quake-hit areas in Sikkim.

The other woman pilot is PP Ranade, 25. She was initially involved in the ground work but now for the past couple of days she is also flying and taking the relief material to valleys of north Sikkim — which suffered the most destruction.

Recounting her experience, Ranade said: “One thing which strikes me most was the joy among people when they hear the sound of our helicopter approaching them. Their feeling that they have not been left alone and that there is someone for them touched me.” Echoing her views, Vidhate said: “What can satisfy more than watching someone alright whom you had admitted to hospital.”

The ‘superwomen duo’ hails from Maharashtra’s Pune area but as they were asked about their place, they shot back saying they are from India.

Vidhate comes from a defence background and the history of her family in military services goes back to four generations. Ranade, however, is the first one from her family in IAF and joined the force as she ‘loves flying’. Asked if they want to fly other helicopters, they smiled and revealed that their eyes are firmly set on bigger helicopters like Mi-17s.

India- The future HUB for automobiles production

The number of patent applications in the world rose from around 800,000 in the early 1980s to 1.8m in 2009, according to the World Intellectual Property Report 2011, newly published by the World Intellectual Property Organisation (WIPO). Companies have become more eager to create and exploit intellectual property: WIPO notes that spending on research and development has risen even faster than patent applications. Most of the growth in applications has come from second and subsequent filings, reflecting a growing demand for protection in more than one country. “Strategic” patenting—for example, to build portfolios of patents for use in licensing negotiations—has also been on the rise.
source:The Economist

Gangtok Municipal Corpn can take this initiative

A laudable initiative launched by the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation in September tries to use technology in an area that requires continuous monitoring. A mobile phone-based Intelligent Garbage Monitoring System enables sanitary supervisors to report the status of cleaning of garbage bins through their GPS-enabled mobile phones. Centralised reports as well as those of individual bins can be generated with the system. The map with a GIS interface spans all areas of the city. Managing the number of trips, gathering daily summary of the clearance and, most importantly, reports of the bins that are full but have not been cleared can also be obtained.

When trash is collected, each bin is photographed with a camera phone. The image is loaded on the website, where it is monitored by an administrator in the municipality office. Earlier, the clearing of bins was monitored through information from sanitary supervisors.

“The manual process consumes a lot of time. The use of information technology to monitor municipal services can also increase worker productivity,” says S. Raghavendra, administration officer, Ministry of Communications and Information Technology.

Good stress, bad stress

M. Chandrasekaran

source: The Hindubusinesline  

Work towards gaining control of stressful situations. — K.R. Deepak

 

Work-related stress is not all bad — the distinction has to be made to enjoy a better quality of life.

The number of things that are portrayed as being good or bad for our health is mind-boggling. What is fascinating is also the fact that many things that are considered good for a while suddenly turn into sinister villains lurking in the shadows.

One such example is the classification of cholesterol as something that is bad for health. Life was simple and we were told to control it or else. Then someone else came up with research with a twist that suggested there were actually two kinds of cholesterols — the good one that we must have and the bad one that we must not.

I am sure most of us would curse the guys who found out about cholesterol in the first place and made our lives miserable by highlighting its effects on our health. Imagine our confusion and anger then at being told that not all cholesterol is bad, leading to a certain justified level of cynicism when the health pundits share their wisdom again!

I guess this goes to prove that where there is light, we can be certain that shadows cannot be far behind; the good is faithfully accompanied by the bad.

Increased stress levels

Today, the corporate world's denizens are faced with increased levels of stress induced by many factors. The pace of change, a rapidly integrating global business scenario, and instant and intrusive connectivity, among other factors, are fuelling an explosion of stress with serious consequences on health and personal happiness. It is also clear that this trend is unlikely to be reversed; on the other hand, it is most likely to intensify as time progresses. To maintain one's balance, it thus becomes important for everyone to seek islands of calm in turbulent seas.

The screen draws open and we are looking at a typical household and the scene that unfolds before us. The husband comes home from work looking tired and stressed out. The lady of the house, a working mother who carries a huge work burden on her shoulders, looks equally frazzled. For extra spice, you can add children and their own concerns. The dialogue is almost predictable:

Husband: “Hi! Don't even ask. Another stressful day at work. The place is full of egoistic bosses and incompetent colleagues. How long can I carry on like this? Guess you must have had an easier day.” (The last sentence is a manifestation of the insensitive cave man that lurks in all husbands.)

Wife: “You think so? Why don't you try working and managing a household with two children and an adult who insists on behaving childishly most of the time?”

And the battle is truly joined. This is a scene that we are all familiar with and is something that I am sure worries all of us. Work-related events largely underpin our mood, and stress at work immediately impacts our personal sphere as well. It takes a great effort to maintain domestic harmony and even minor incidents have the potential to spark off incendiary consequences. The net result — the happiness of one's loved ones, the prime purpose for which we all toil so hard, is at increasing risk.

Stress of two types

I would like to now propound my thesis tentatively titled ‘GSBS' which essentially postulates that there are actually two types of stresses — Good Stress and Bad Stress. As I see it, good stress is what usually comes with the territory of the work that we do and as such must be treated as a normal part of our work life. In some ways this is like the operating system in a computer that works in the background at all times when the system is ‘on'. The OS in a computer tends to use up some part of the system's memory and many unwanted applications use up more of the memory. Many a time only a small portion of the chip's power is actually available for useful processing. This problem is typically addressed by increasing the system's capacity.

The critical difference, when we examine human systems, is the fact that we have only a finite capacity to deal with events that impact us. If we let unwanted and unwarranted events affect us, stress levels build up and our processing bandwidth gets choked with this negativity, leaving us with limited energy to tackle the important issues. This is where I feel a personal categorisation of what is good stress and what is bad stress can be helpful to individuals.

We should attempt to categorise as much of the work-related stress under the good stress category and only a limited spill-over should be termed as bad stress.

Beyond the issue of classification, lies the domain of our response to such stresses. It would be ideal if we respond with calm to events that trigger good stress and with as much restraint as we can muster to things that induce bad stress. Clearly, a long and challenging journey, but one worth pursuing. It is likely that there will be some periods when, due to emergency situations at work, stress levels spike up and there is a yo-yo effect when the stress categories and levels of intensity change direction dramatically; thankfully, they are likely to be temporary and, hopefully, can be negotiated successfully.

Once we have some control on GSBS at work, we need to move onto climbing the next mountain —defining it at home. I suspect that if we don't do it ourselves, we will have it thrust upon us by our loved ones!

M. Chandrasekaran is corporate advisor to 3i Infotech and Manipal Education and Medical Group. He can be reached at mcshekaran@gmail.com

Singapore opened new horizons for India: PM

Singapore, Nov 20 (IANS)

Singapore had opened new horizons for India, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said here Sunday and recalled that it was New Delhi's engagement with Singapore that led to a strategic shift and evolved into the 'Look East' policy.

Addressing a gathering at a lunch hosted by Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, Manmohan Singh said: "It was the opening of our relations with Singapore which led to a strategic shift in India's foreign and economic policies and which today have evolved into our 'Look East' policy. Singapore opened new horizons for India."

Inviting his Singaporean counterpart to come to India to see the manner in which it had contributed to the country's progress, Manmohan Singh said: "That Agreement has led to a qualitative upgradation of our trade and investment relations with Singapore."
"Ours is a partnership that stands on the foundation of shared values of pluralism, secularism and democracy, and convergence of our perspectives on regional and international issues."

"Singapore's rapid transformation and economic growth model is a beacon of hope in the uncertain world we live in today. You serve as an example not only for Asia but for the world at large," Manmohan Singh said about island nation, which is India's largest trade and investment partner in the ASEAN region.

Trade turnover between the two countries is on an upward trajectory and is expected to go up from $17 billion in 2010-11 to $20 billion in the next year. Singapore is also India's largest FDI investor because of CECA.

Referring to people to people exchanges, tourism and the revolution in connectivity, he noted that 11 Indian cities are directly connected by air to Singapore.

According to Indian High Commissioner T.C.A. Raghavan, there are about 40-45 flights a day from India to Singapore.

The prime minister made a specific reference to the "warm welcome" that thousands of Indians working and studying in Singapore had received.

An estimated 3,800 "Indian" companies have registered their presence here.

People break a world record as they take part in the world's largest and longest 3D anamorphic street painting, which is 60.46 metre long with a surface area of 892 square metre, by British artist Joe Hill in the Canary Wharf district of London. The day marks Guinness World Records Day in which the organisation estimates some 20,000 people will attempt to break a wide range of records to showcase their country. Photo: AP

Indonesia Meet

A tribute to the Iron lady- Indira