 |
| Data source: RBI, MOSPI |
Saturday, November 12, 2011
Government spells out code of business of Municipalities
source:Sikkim Now
GANGTOK, 10 Nov: With the formation of the Gangtok municipality the government has now come out with the rules governing the conduct of business called the Sikkim Municipalities commencement (Conduct of Business) Rules, 2011 which elaborate on the procedures to be followed by the councilors during meetings, code of conduct of councilors during meetings, question hour and related matters.
As per the rules the quorum necessary for transaction of business at any meeting of a municipality is to be one third of the total number of councilors of the municipality subject to a minimum of 3 councillors. All questions to be decided at a meeting are to be determined by a majority of votes of the Councillors present and voting. In the case of an equality of votes on any question, the Presiding Officer shall have the casting vote.
The rules also spell out the maintenance of order during such meetings which have to be observed by the councilors; these include that a councilor shall not read any book, a newspaper or letter except in connection with the business of the municipality, shall not obstruct proceedings or interrupt and observe other formalities as well.
Visitors can be allowed to witness such meetings and will have to sit at the visitor’s chamber or gallery; the entry of visitors will be regulated under the orders of the Chief Councillor. However when the municipality meets in secret no visitor shall be permitted. The rules also elaborate that the first hour of every meeting will be Question Hour, much like in the Assembly House, which will be available to all councillors for asking and answering of questions.
As per the rules the quorum necessary for transaction of business at any meeting of a municipality is to be one third of the total number of councilors of the municipality subject to a minimum of 3 councillors. All questions to be decided at a meeting are to be determined by a majority of votes of the Councillors present and voting. In the case of an equality of votes on any question, the Presiding Officer shall have the casting vote.
The rules also spell out the maintenance of order during such meetings which have to be observed by the councilors; these include that a councilor shall not read any book, a newspaper or letter except in connection with the business of the municipality, shall not obstruct proceedings or interrupt and observe other formalities as well.
Visitors can be allowed to witness such meetings and will have to sit at the visitor’s chamber or gallery; the entry of visitors will be regulated under the orders of the Chief Councillor. However when the municipality meets in secret no visitor shall be permitted. The rules also elaborate that the first hour of every meeting will be Question Hour, much like in the Assembly House, which will be available to all councillors for asking and answering of questions.
NAREGA: Private employers, including builders and farmers in Punjab who rely on migrant workers at planting and harvest times, say the scheme pushes up labour costs. And at times workers are simply not available. More worrying, the jobs scheme gives its workers no skills or training, leaving them as unproductive and ill-equipped for other work as before. Welfare in the villages is welcome; wealth-creating jobs would be better yet.
The banking system is only a mirror and barometer of the functioning of the larger economy, which includes the way in which it is being managed. There can be no two views today that growth in the economy has weakened, even while inflation remains stubbornly high. What is equally indisputable is that the second tenure of the ruling United Progressive Alliance has been marked by policy paralysis, and so-called governance deficit that has, in turn, dented investor confidence. If the ‘real' economy isn't doing all that great, is it not bound to reflect in the financial system as well? After all, what does the increasing trend of delinquent loans to the power sector represent – other than the fact that stalled tariff and distribution reforms have bankrupted state electricity boards, just as the indecision on coal linkages and land acquisition have held up projects?
One way to look at the actions of rating agencies is to laugh at them. There is some justification for that: It, indeed, beats reason how Italy and Spain — or, till four months back, even Portugal — enjoy better ranking on these agencies' scale than India. But then, like it or not, the markets place great store on their opinion about the creditworthiness of a particularly country or company. And these opinions sometimes serve to bring the necessary ‘market' pressure on recalcitrant governments. Take the example of SBI itself, where Moody's downgrade was based on the hazy picture with regard to capital infusion in the country's largest bank to enable it to meet regulatory requirements. This single rating action would probably be more effective in forcing a vacillating Government into doing something about it, than SBI's own Oliver Twist-like pleas and supplications
source:businessline
One way to look at the actions of rating agencies is to laugh at them. There is some justification for that: It, indeed, beats reason how Italy and Spain — or, till four months back, even Portugal — enjoy better ranking on these agencies' scale than India. But then, like it or not, the markets place great store on their opinion about the creditworthiness of a particularly country or company. And these opinions sometimes serve to bring the necessary ‘market' pressure on recalcitrant governments. Take the example of SBI itself, where Moody's downgrade was based on the hazy picture with regard to capital infusion in the country's largest bank to enable it to meet regulatory requirements. This single rating action would probably be more effective in forcing a vacillating Government into doing something about it, than SBI's own Oliver Twist-like pleas and supplications
source:businessline
PPF limit raised to Rs 1 lakh
Small savings rates hiked; PPF limit raised to Rs 1 lakh
New Delhi, Nov 11: Interest rates on small savings have been hiked in the range of 4 per cent up to 8.6 per cent. The investment limit for Public Provident Fund (PPF) has also been increased by Rs 30,000 to Rs 1 lakh, as also the interest rate at 8.6 per cent from 8 per cent at present.
Announcing the new norms on Friday, the Finance Ministry said the new rates will be applicable from the date of notification which will be announced soon. From next year, the rates would be notified before April 1, it added.
The small saving schemes have been restructured on the basis of the recommendations of the Shyamala Gopinath Committee, which submitted its report in June.
The rate of interest on small savings schemes will be aligned with Government Securities rates of similar maturity, with a spread of 25 basis points with two exceptions. The spread on 10-year National Savings Certificates (new instrument) will be 50 basis points and on Senior Citizens Savings Scheme 100 basis points.
The maturity period for the post office Monthly Income Scheme (MIS) and National Savings Certificate (NSC) has been reduced to five years from six years at present.
AGENTS DISAPPOINTED
Although this is good news for small savers, collection agents are disappointed. According to an office memorandum issued by the Finance Ministry, payment of commission on PPF at the rate of 1 per cent and Senior Citizens Savings Scheme at the rate of 0.5 per cent will be discontinued.
Agency commission under all other schemes (except Mahila Pradhan Kshetriya Bachat Yojana) will be reduced by half, from the existing 1 per cent.
New Delhi, Nov 11: Interest rates on small savings have been hiked in the range of 4 per cent up to 8.6 per cent. The investment limit for Public Provident Fund (PPF) has also been increased by Rs 30,000 to Rs 1 lakh, as also the interest rate at 8.6 per cent from 8 per cent at present.
Announcing the new norms on Friday, the Finance Ministry said the new rates will be applicable from the date of notification which will be announced soon. From next year, the rates would be notified before April 1, it added.
The small saving schemes have been restructured on the basis of the recommendations of the Shyamala Gopinath Committee, which submitted its report in June.
The rate of interest on small savings schemes will be aligned with Government Securities rates of similar maturity, with a spread of 25 basis points with two exceptions. The spread on 10-year National Savings Certificates (new instrument) will be 50 basis points and on Senior Citizens Savings Scheme 100 basis points.
The maturity period for the post office Monthly Income Scheme (MIS) and National Savings Certificate (NSC) has been reduced to five years from six years at present.
AGENTS DISAPPOINTED
Although this is good news for small savers, collection agents are disappointed. According to an office memorandum issued by the Finance Ministry, payment of commission on PPF at the rate of 1 per cent and Senior Citizens Savings Scheme at the rate of 0.5 per cent will be discontinued.
Agency commission under all other schemes (except Mahila Pradhan Kshetriya Bachat Yojana) will be reduced by half, from the existing 1 per cent.
If someone were to ask me to pick one word to best describe any success I've had in my life....I wouldn't hesitate; the word would be perseverance.
There have been a lot of potholes, detours and roadblocks along the way. I can only wish that I had BJ Gallagher's book to provide inspiration as I fought through my times of adversity. It is terrific!
The table of contents will give you a little "snapshot" of what it's all about:
Introduction
• Persist no matter what.
• Endure discomfort.
• Request help.
• Steadfastly hold on to your beliefs and values.
• Envision triumph.
• Very consistently keep at it.
• Embrace adversity as your teacher.
• Refuse to give up.
• Enjoy and celebrate every tiny bit of progress!
There have been a lot of potholes, detours and roadblocks along the way. I can only wish that I had BJ Gallagher's book to provide inspiration as I fought through my times of adversity. It is terrific!
The table of contents will give you a little "snapshot" of what it's all about:
Introduction
• Persist no matter what.
• Endure discomfort.
• Request help.
• Steadfastly hold on to your beliefs and values.
• Envision triumph.
• Very consistently keep at it.
• Embrace adversity as your teacher.
• Refuse to give up.
• Enjoy and celebrate every tiny bit of progress!
THEORY OF RELATIVITY.......!
THEORY OF RELATIVITY.......!
by Swami Avdhutananda
parikṣīṇaḥ kaścit spṛhayati yavānāṁ prasṛtayesa paścātsaṁpūrṇaḥ kalayati dharitrīṁ tṛṇasamāṁ|
ataścānaikāntā gurulaghutayārttheṣu dhanināṁavasthā vastūni prathayati ca saṅkocayati ca|| 36 Bharttṛhareḥ Nītiśatakāt
Yet another nugget from Bhartrhari.
A person, when he is very poor and starving and is running helter-skelter for livelihood, feels himself very fortunate and is happy like the richest man in the world, when he comes by a handful of barley to prepare the days gruel..
However when he becomes richer by stages and when his barn is overflowing with grains, he starts to look down upon his landholdings and starts to yearn for diversions in life..the bliss of small possessions is lost on him now.
This is human nature.
The sense importance of something which is so close to him varies in invesrse proportions with acquisition of wealth. The state of a thing either magnifies or expands it or shrinks the same. Here the poet talks about affluence or lack of it. But the perception of importance of relationships, friendship and many other factors in life also undrgo sea change with changing age, status and other factors.
The idea of happiness for a poor starving person is to have bellyfull of food everyday. This idea of happiness of this poor person will start changing as his financial status changes. Then, eventhough he may have abundance of food, that doesn't make him happy. Now he will seek happiness in things and beings according to his changing financial status.
For a newborn baby, its whole world is its mother. Till a person is able to make a firm step on terra firma, the parents and elder relatives are important. Once he gets a young wife (or she gets a husband) the world again goes topsy turvy.. As one gets older, the children get priority over spouses. As status changes old friends often become embarrassment.. A very realistic evaluation of human mind in its paradigm shift vis-a-vis changing environs.
Sometimes poetic words assume prophetic dimensions. Bhartrhari says that a thing expands or shrinks according to its state.
This is what exactly Einstein propounded in his special theory of relativity. His idea is also that when an object accelerates (gains speed) it has to shrink since the velocity of light is a constant.
by Swami Avdhutananda
parikṣīṇaḥ kaścit spṛhayati yavānāṁ prasṛtayesa paścātsaṁpūrṇaḥ kalayati dharitrīṁ tṛṇasamāṁ|
ataścānaikāntā gurulaghutayārttheṣu dhanināṁavasthā vastūni prathayati ca saṅkocayati ca|| 36 Bharttṛhareḥ Nītiśatakāt
Yet another nugget from Bhartrhari.
A person, when he is very poor and starving and is running helter-skelter for livelihood, feels himself very fortunate and is happy like the richest man in the world, when he comes by a handful of barley to prepare the days gruel..
However when he becomes richer by stages and when his barn is overflowing with grains, he starts to look down upon his landholdings and starts to yearn for diversions in life..the bliss of small possessions is lost on him now.
This is human nature.
The sense importance of something which is so close to him varies in invesrse proportions with acquisition of wealth. The state of a thing either magnifies or expands it or shrinks the same. Here the poet talks about affluence or lack of it. But the perception of importance of relationships, friendship and many other factors in life also undrgo sea change with changing age, status and other factors.
The idea of happiness for a poor starving person is to have bellyfull of food everyday. This idea of happiness of this poor person will start changing as his financial status changes. Then, eventhough he may have abundance of food, that doesn't make him happy. Now he will seek happiness in things and beings according to his changing financial status.
For a newborn baby, its whole world is its mother. Till a person is able to make a firm step on terra firma, the parents and elder relatives are important. Once he gets a young wife (or she gets a husband) the world again goes topsy turvy.. As one gets older, the children get priority over spouses. As status changes old friends often become embarrassment.. A very realistic evaluation of human mind in its paradigm shift vis-a-vis changing environs.
Sometimes poetic words assume prophetic dimensions. Bhartrhari says that a thing expands or shrinks according to its state.
This is what exactly Einstein propounded in his special theory of relativity. His idea is also that when an object accelerates (gains speed) it has to shrink since the velocity of light is a constant.
Sikkim Governor favours idea of pluralist society
New Delhi, Nov 11 (PTI) Observing that the world is undergoing a "gloomy period" marked by various conflicts, Sikkim Governor B P Singh today favoured the idea of a new world order where people, religious bodies and the United Nations play a bigger role. Propagating the idea of a pluralist society which is multi-ethnic, multi-religious and multi-lingual in nature, Singh delivered the Maulana Abul Kalam Azad Memorial Lecture here and pointed out the need to understand each other's needs, aspirations, faith and belief practices. He was speaking on the topic 'The Bahudha Approach: A Path Towards a Harmonious World'. The annual lecture is organised by the Indian Council of Cultural Relations (ICCR). "The Bahudha approach recognises the distinction between plural societies and pluralism. The Badhudha approach does not believe in annexation or transgression of boundaries or assimilation of identities and propagation of a simplistic world view," he said. Mentioning that Bahudha approach relies on diversity, he said, "It merely facilitates dialogue and thereby promotes understanding of a collective good... at the same time, recognising the fact that understanding of other identities may help formulate a public policy of harmony." Terming globalisation as the new international system which has integrated markets, nations and technologies, Singh said, "In a way, it has aided the expansion of a new global terror network. The porous border, meant to allow free trade, are being exploited by terrorists to carry out subversive activities." The privatisation of violence through terrorism poses a major challenge, and the invisible nature of terrorist threat is a factor that is contributing a sense of insecurity and fear particularly among the rich and middle class, he said.
New Delhi, Nov 11 (PTI) Observing that the world is undergoing a "gloomy period" marked by various conflicts, Sikkim Governor B P Singh today favoured the idea of a new world order where people, religious bodies and the United Nations play a bigger role. Propagating the idea of a pluralist society which is multi-ethnic, multi-religious and multi-lingual in nature, Singh delivered the Maulana Abul Kalam Azad Memorial Lecture here and pointed out the need to understand each other's needs, aspirations, faith and belief practices. He was speaking on the topic 'The Bahudha Approach: A Path Towards a Harmonious World'. The annual lecture is organised by the Indian Council of Cultural Relations (ICCR). "The Bahudha approach recognises the distinction between plural societies and pluralism. The Badhudha approach does not believe in annexation or transgression of boundaries or assimilation of identities and propagation of a simplistic world view," he said. Mentioning that Bahudha approach relies on diversity, he said, "It merely facilitates dialogue and thereby promotes understanding of a collective good... at the same time, recognising the fact that understanding of other identities may help formulate a public policy of harmony." Terming globalisation as the new international system which has integrated markets, nations and technologies, Singh said, "In a way, it has aided the expansion of a new global terror network. The porous border, meant to allow free trade, are being exploited by terrorists to carry out subversive activities." The privatisation of violence through terrorism poses a major challenge, and the invisible nature of terrorist threat is a factor that is contributing a sense of insecurity and fear particularly among the rich and middle class, he said.
Friday, November 11, 2011
26 new trains announced
Ashwini Phadnis
New Delhi, Nov 11: The Railway Minister, Mr Dinesh Trivedi, on Friday announced the start of 26 new trains, extension of eight existing trains and increase in frequency of five existing trains.
In a statement, the Railway Ministry said the new trains will be flagged off within the two-three days. The new trains to be introduced include the Pune-Secunderabad Shatabdi Express, which will be a daily service; the Dwaraka-Tuticorin Express (weekly); Mangalore-Palakkad Intercity Express (will run daily).
The Minister also announced the extension of Hubli-Bijapur passenger up to Solapur.
Besides, the Bangalore-Hubli Jan Shatabdi will run on a daily basis. Currently, the train operates six days a week.
Tatkal scheme
The advance reservation period of Tatkal scheme will be reduced from 2 days at present to one day excluding the date of journey from the train originating station. There shall be no refund on confirmed tatkal ticket subject to exceptions such as cancellation of trains and late running of trains. No duplicate ticket shall be issued. In future, when Aadhar is operational, the issue of Tatkal will be linked to Aadhar.
Ashwini Phadnis
New Delhi, Nov 11: The Railway Minister, Mr Dinesh Trivedi, on Friday announced the start of 26 new trains, extension of eight existing trains and increase in frequency of five existing trains.
In a statement, the Railway Ministry said the new trains will be flagged off within the two-three days. The new trains to be introduced include the Pune-Secunderabad Shatabdi Express, which will be a daily service; the Dwaraka-Tuticorin Express (weekly); Mangalore-Palakkad Intercity Express (will run daily).
The Minister also announced the extension of Hubli-Bijapur passenger up to Solapur.
Besides, the Bangalore-Hubli Jan Shatabdi will run on a daily basis. Currently, the train operates six days a week.
Tatkal scheme
The advance reservation period of Tatkal scheme will be reduced from 2 days at present to one day excluding the date of journey from the train originating station. There shall be no refund on confirmed tatkal ticket subject to exceptions such as cancellation of trains and late running of trains. No duplicate ticket shall be issued. In future, when Aadhar is operational, the issue of Tatkal will be linked to Aadhar.
India Economic Summit 2011
Linking Leadership with Livelihood
Mumbai, India, 12-14 November 2011
India’s economic growth rate is expected to surpass 9% over the next three years, despite the challenge of rising inflation, regulatory hurdles and inadequate infrastructure. With one of the youngest demographics in the world, robust domestic consumption and a growing middle class, India provides considerable opportunities as a consumer market and a global manufacturing hub.
At the same time, critical governance reforms and innovative public-private partnerships must be pushed forward to deliver rapid and inclusive growth and an enabling environment for upgrading infrastructure in India. Through better governance, delivery systems, transparency and stronger implementation, leaders from government, industry and civil society can collaborate to improve the education system, invest in much-needed infrastructure, increase agricultural productivity and ensure an equitable distribution of opportunities.
States in India are playing an increasingly critical role in the successful implementation of local and national reforms. Each of the five largest states in India has a population larger than any EU economy, underscoring their scale and their impact in shaping India’s future growth. In this context, the 2011 India Economic Summit will take place, for the first time in its 27-year history, outside New Delhi and in one of the most economically important states, Maharashtra.
Bringing together key decision-makers from government, industry, civil society and academia, the Summit will be held under the theme “Linking Leadership with Livelihood” and will explore questions including:
How can India improve governance practices and institutions to address major obstacles to future growth such as corruption and bureaucratic inefficiency?
How can models of success at the state level be replicated across India?
How can leaders balance the environmental impact of expanding consumption with sustainable solutions?
How can India enhance its overall manufacturing competitiveness through the establishment of better infrastructure and talent pools?
For more information, please e-mail:
India@weforum.org
Linking Leadership with Livelihood
Mumbai, India, 12-14 November 2011
India’s economic growth rate is expected to surpass 9% over the next three years, despite the challenge of rising inflation, regulatory hurdles and inadequate infrastructure. With one of the youngest demographics in the world, robust domestic consumption and a growing middle class, India provides considerable opportunities as a consumer market and a global manufacturing hub.
At the same time, critical governance reforms and innovative public-private partnerships must be pushed forward to deliver rapid and inclusive growth and an enabling environment for upgrading infrastructure in India. Through better governance, delivery systems, transparency and stronger implementation, leaders from government, industry and civil society can collaborate to improve the education system, invest in much-needed infrastructure, increase agricultural productivity and ensure an equitable distribution of opportunities.
States in India are playing an increasingly critical role in the successful implementation of local and national reforms. Each of the five largest states in India has a population larger than any EU economy, underscoring their scale and their impact in shaping India’s future growth. In this context, the 2011 India Economic Summit will take place, for the first time in its 27-year history, outside New Delhi and in one of the most economically important states, Maharashtra.
Bringing together key decision-makers from government, industry, civil society and academia, the Summit will be held under the theme “Linking Leadership with Livelihood” and will explore questions including:
How can India improve governance practices and institutions to address major obstacles to future growth such as corruption and bureaucratic inefficiency?
How can models of success at the state level be replicated across India?
How can leaders balance the environmental impact of expanding consumption with sustainable solutions?
How can India enhance its overall manufacturing competitiveness through the establishment of better infrastructure and talent pools?
For more information, please e-mail:
India@weforum.org
India Economic Summit 2011
Linking Leadership with Livelihood
Mumbai, India, 12-14 November 2011
India’s economic growth rate is expected to surpass 9% over the next three years, despite the challenge of rising inflation, regulatory hurdles and inadequate infrastructure. With one of the youngest demographics in the world, robust domestic consumption and a growing middle class, India provides considerable opportunities as a consumer market and a global manufacturing hub.
At the same time, critical governance reforms and innovative public-private partnerships must be pushed forward to deliver rapid and inclusive growth and an enabling environment for upgrading infrastructure in India. Through better governance, delivery systems, transparency and stronger implementation, leaders from government, industry and civil society can collaborate to improve the education system, invest in much-needed infrastructure, increase agricultural productivity and ensure an equitable distribution of opportunities.
States in India are playing an increasingly critical role in the successful implementation of local and national reforms. Each of the five largest states in India has a population larger than any EU economy, underscoring their scale and their impact in shaping India’s future growth. In this context, the 2011 India Economic Summit will take place, for the first time in its 27-year history, outside New Delhi and in one of the most economically important states, Maharashtra.
Bringing together key decision-makers from government, industry, civil society and academia, the Summit will be held under the theme “Linking Leadership with Livelihood” and will explore questions including:
For more information, please e-mail: India@weforum.org
Mumbai, India, 12-14 November 2011
India’s economic growth rate is expected to surpass 9% over the next three years, despite the challenge of rising inflation, regulatory hurdles and inadequate infrastructure. With one of the youngest demographics in the world, robust domestic consumption and a growing middle class, India provides considerable opportunities as a consumer market and a global manufacturing hub.
At the same time, critical governance reforms and innovative public-private partnerships must be pushed forward to deliver rapid and inclusive growth and an enabling environment for upgrading infrastructure in India. Through better governance, delivery systems, transparency and stronger implementation, leaders from government, industry and civil society can collaborate to improve the education system, invest in much-needed infrastructure, increase agricultural productivity and ensure an equitable distribution of opportunities.
States in India are playing an increasingly critical role in the successful implementation of local and national reforms. Each of the five largest states in India has a population larger than any EU economy, underscoring their scale and their impact in shaping India’s future growth. In this context, the 2011 India Economic Summit will take place, for the first time in its 27-year history, outside New Delhi and in one of the most economically important states, Maharashtra.
Bringing together key decision-makers from government, industry, civil society and academia, the Summit will be held under the theme “Linking Leadership with Livelihood” and will explore questions including:
- How can India improve governance practices and institutions to address major obstacles to future growth such as corruption and bureaucratic inefficiency?
- How can models of success at the state level be replicated across India?
- How can leaders balance the environmental impact of expanding consumption with sustainable solutions?
- How can India enhance its overall manufacturing competitiveness through the establishment of better infrastructure and talent pools?
Outstanding Fiscal Liabilities Trend In Sikkim
Gangtok, March 31: Overall fiscal liabilities of the State of Sikkim is increased by Rs 470.86 crore (21.80 per cent) from Rs 2,155.81 crore in 2008-09 to Rs 2,625.87 crore in 2009-10. As per the report of Comptroller Auditor General (CAG) of India The increase in fiscal liabilities was mainly due to increase in Internal debt (Rs 324.31 crore) and Public Accounts liabilities (Rs 164.34 crore), which was partially offset by a decrease in loans and advances form Government of India (Rs 18.48 crore). The ratio of these liabilities to Gross State Domestic Product (GSDP) increased from 83 per cent in 2008-09 to 89per cent in 2009-10.
Thursday, November 10, 2011
A mantra worth marketing?
Source:The Hindu
Ayurvedic medicines being prepared at a facility in Chennai. Photo: Bijoy Ghosh
A first-ever status report on Indian medicine and folk healing suggests a high-level commission to globalise Ayurveda
It is common knowledge that Ayurveda has been in practice in India for the last 3000 years. Yet, the popular mode of diagnosis in this country is generally allopathic. However, with growing awareness about the benefits of alternative medicine and possible side effects of allopathic drugs in more and more people, one sees a renewed interest in our traditional methods of treatment and healing. It is then at an opportune time that the Government has commissioned a first-ever status report on Indian medicine and folk healing. The report, funded by the Department of Ayurveda, Yoga and Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha and Homeopathy (AYUSH) under the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, has recently been submitted to the Union Health Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad, strongly suggesting the establishment of a high-level commission to propagate and globalise Ayurveda. The report, over 300 pages long gives the example of China suggesting our Government “study and document” how China has succeeded in doing so with their traditional medicine.
To drive home the point, the report compiler, Shailaja Chandra, former Secretary, Department of AYUSH, and former Chief Secretary of Delhi Government, has called for “establishing a high-level Commission like the L.M. Singhvi Commission, which addressed issues related to NRI/PIOs.” The mandate should be to follow a promotional plan for our traditional medicines akin to that of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), charted out by China since 1972, primarily for Acupuncture and herbal medicine.
“The website of the U.S. National Institute of Health (NIH) and the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (NCCAM) indicate that TCM is widely used in the United States. According to the 2007 National Health Interview Survey, which included questions on the use of various Complementary and Alternative (CAM) therapies, an estimated 3.1 million U.S. adults had used Acupuncture in the previous year,” says the report, a copy of which is with The Hindu Metro Plus. Chandra, in the report, also mentions that the U.S. Government-recognised Accreditation Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine (ACAOM) accredits schools that teach Acupuncture and TCM. “About a third of the U.S. states that license acupuncture require graduation from an ACAOM-accredited school.”
Panchakarma
The status report has particularly called for positioning Panchakarma like Acupuncture. “There is a need to reposition Panchkarma as a recognised therapy for muskulo-skeletal and neurological problems including rheumatoid arthritis, Parkinsonianism and in Behavioural Science. A beginning could be made by demonstrating Panchakarma procedures on veterans suffering from post-trauma stress disorder to be observed by Veteran Affairs Department of U.S. Defence. Were a high-level policy decision to be announced — for example if Indian Railways as the biggest employer in the public sector recognised Ayurvedic treatment for insuring accident cases, it would instil confidence,” it says.
“Our missions abroad stock few CDs and leaflets here and there but efforts to market Indian medicine have been lack-lustre and unconvincing.”
Among other suggestions, the report, compiled after an exhaustive research spanning close to a year, puts the thrust on research in Ayurveda. “Only clinical outcomes published in international journals would lead to recognition of Ayurveda. The ground reality is that there is no legal scope to practice Ayurveda in most countries, primarily because of a lack of credible research.” This has necessitated the need to study and document the policies and strategies that China adopted over the years for globalisation of TCM.
Significantly, the report calls for the need to offer postgraduate interdisciplinary training to modern scientists to increase the dialogue between Ayurveda and modern science. While lauding the efforts of the Kerala Government in promoting Ayurvedic Tourism, Chandra also highlights the fact that the influential American Medical Association is “hugely exercised about heavy metal content in Ayurvedic formulations.”
“The issue alone is enough to distort the globalisation discourse for a very long time. It already occupies centre-stage on the NCCAM's website on Ayurveda. The situation demands that massive attention be paid to GMP (Good Manufacturing Practice) and testing for heavy metals and impurities, without which few will take us seriously.”
The report, made with “a focus on benefits that the systems have given to the public”, ends with the submission, “The 12th Five year Plan is on the anvil. The time is to act now.”
Wednesday, November 9, 2011
TOP WOMEN CEOS IN INDIA
1. Chand Kochhar-CEO-ICICI BANK
2.Kiran Majumdar-Head Biotechnology reserach
3. Chairman Biocon Ltd
4. Naina Kidwai- Head HSBC India
5. Monisha narang-CEO Sauber Formula
Tuesday, November 8, 2011
India may not rank that high on the Human Development Index when compared to many other countries. But that does not mean that it has not seen improvements. As today's chart of the day shows, both India and China have seen significant change in human development since 1980. And one of the reasons for this has been the stupendous growth in GDP. In contrast, the US has hardly seen much growth in this regard and the current recession is not expected to do much for the country either.
 |
| *Human Development Index Data Source: The Economist |
The survey also found that the youth was driving the usage of the Internet in the country, with schoolchildren (21 per cent), college children (27 per cent) and young men (27 per cent) in the 21-35 age group accounting for 75 per cent of urban Internet usage.
Among India's cities, Mumbai (6.2 million) had the highest number of active Internet users, followed by Delhi/NCR (5 million), Kolkata (2.4 million) and Chennai (2.2 million). IT city Bangalore with 1.7 million had the same number of users as Ahmadabad, while Hyderabad (1.8 million) had marginally higher users.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)