NEW DELHI, Nov 3: The experts committees of the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI) such as, agriculture, banking and finance. Capital market, electronics, education, energy, entertainment, family planning and social welfare, food processing, foreign trade, telecom, taxation and corporate laws etc. have been reconstituted........more

India Tourism Expo
in January next

NEW DELHI, Nov 3: Tourism Ministry will hold the second India Tourism Expo ‘99’’ here from January 18 to 25 next year for creating public awareness about services in the tourism sector..more

ICCI expresses concern over rising prices

NEW DELHI, Nov 3: The Indian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ICCI) has expressed concern over the rising prices which have put the common man into disarray and in panic "many of these are panic responses to rumours. ...more

NEW DELHI, Nov 3: National task force on Information Technology (IT), which submitted its second report to Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee today, has favoured infrastructure industry status for IT, single-window agency for IT administration and duty-free imports for ‘soft-bonded IT units’....more

Cooperatives remain
stagnant: PHDCCI

NEW DELHI, Nov 3: The role of cooperatives in marketing of fruits and vegetables has remained stagnant over the years and needs to be encouraged to prevent the current crisis of spiraling vegetable prices, says a study by the PHD Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PHDCCI). .......more

IITL stakes eligibility to
earn incentive warrants

NEW DELHI, Nov 3: Iridium India Telecom Limited (IITL) has staked its eligibility to qualify to earn incentive warrants valued at 14.25 million dollars as on November 1, 1998. ......more

LML targetting
one lakh trendy
sales in 1999

GURGOAN (HARYANA), Nov 3: Scooter major LML Limited expects to capture a major share of the scooterette market in India selling one lakh units of its recently launched non-Piaggio model — trendy, a top company official said. .........more

Parameters for paddy
procurement relaxed
in Haryana

CHANDIGARH, Nov 3: The Haryana Government has obtained relaxation in specifications of paddy under the Prevention of Food Adulteration Act from the Centre for Kharif 1998-99, an official spokesman said. ...more

The Labour Commissioner of the West Bengal Government, Subesh Das told PTI that the Dunlop Union today demanded in a tripartite meeting that the management should pay the due wages, due bonus and pension to all the workers before the closure of the factory at Sahagunj in the State.

In response to the Union’s demand the management said that it would give in writing about the pay out package within seven days to the Labour Commissioner’s office, Das said. Subsequent to this the Laou Commissioner would convene another tripartite meeting with both the Union and Management shortly.

The tyre company had been referred to the BIFR which had admitted it as a sick unit. The operating agency IDBI, however, demanded an investigative audit’ of the annual account of the company by an independent audit firm.

The BIFR also asked the management to submit a revival plan for dunlop to IDBI. (PTI)

In an affidavit filed before a Division Bench of the Delhi High Court comprising acting Chief Justice Y K Sabharwal and Justice K S Gupta, the Government submitted that the spiraling prices of onions was not because of hoarding or lack of efforts by the Government but due to crop failure and non-availability of the commodity in both national and international markets.

The submissions in the affidavit were contrary to the statements of Delhi Chief Minister Sushma Swaraj and the Central Government that the price rise was because of hoarding and blackmarketeering.

The affidavit filed by Commissioner (Food and Supplies) of the Delhi Government K Sethuraman denied the allegations that the Government had failed in any manner to discipline the wholesale and retail traders in onion and other vegetables and in preventing manipulation.

The affidavit was filed in pursuance of a Public Interest Petition filed by All India Lawyers Union (AILU) through its counsel Ashok Aggarwal seeking a Court direction to the Government for immediately controlling the rising price of essential commodities. The affidavit said, "to the best of efforts done by the concerned departments of the Delhi Government there is no evidence of significant hoarding of onions by private traders. Arrivals of onions are disposed of without wastage in storage since prevailing prices are high."

Mr Sethuraman said the hoarding of commodity like onion is impossible as it has limited shelf life of a few weeks. Onions are harvested and dried in the onion growing areas and then transported. They are never kept in cold storage.

"Since onion has hardly any shelf life, the hoarding is not possible hence there is no question of black-marketing the commodity," the affidavit said.

The records of the agricultural producers marketing committee clearly show that there is a big fall in arrival of onions due to poor crop. In comparison to last year, when 9042 tonnes of onion had arrived till October 26 last year only 7748 tonnes came to the capital during the corresponding period this year, he added.

Unlike wheat and rice, for which buffer stocks could be maintained, entitlement per family could be worked out and distributing agencies allocated stocks, this could not be done for onions and other perishable vegetables. The Government could only regulate the distribution on a first come first serve basis subject to the availability of the commodity, the affidavit stated.

Denying that the Government had abdicated its responsibility, the affidavit said the Government with the help of the Centre supplied 837 Mt of onions from July eight till September 25 through 70 mobile outlets in addition to the static outlets supplied by the Central Government.

After September 26, the Government supplemented the quantity with 62 mt every day which was continuing till date. The Judges took cognisance of the affidavit and directed the counsel for Central Government H S Phulka to file a counter on behalf of the Ministry of food and consumer affairs by the next date of hearing on January six. (UNI)

Experts commitees of FICCI re-constituted

NEW DELHI, Nov 3: The experts committees of the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI) such as, agriculture, banking and finance. Capital market, electronics, education, energy, entertainment, family planning and social welfare, food processing, foreign trade, telecom, taxation and corporate laws etc. have been reconstituted.

The Agriculture Committee will be headed by Mr V S Agarwal with Mr Suresh Kotak as the co-chairman. Mr Y K Modi will chair the banking and finance committee with Mr Vikram Kapur as the co-chairman. The capital market will have Mr P S Subramanyam and Mr Harsh Lodha is Chairman and co-chairman respectively.

Dr S K Somaiya will be heading the education committee with Dr Rajaram Jaipuria as the co-chairman. The Electronics Committee will be chaired by Mr V N Dhoot Mr S N Agarwal and Mr Mukul Kasliwal will be the Chairman and co-chairman respectively for the Energy Committee and the Entertainment Committee will be headed by Mr L K Modi. Family Planning and Social Welfare Committee will be headed by Mr J N Guzder and the Food Processing Committee will be chaired by Mr Sunil Alagh.

The Foreign Trade Committee will have Mr R V Kanoria as its Chairman. Ms Preetha Reddy will chair the Health Care Committee. The Housing and Public Works Committee will be chaired by Mr Sushil Ansal. Mr N Srinivasan and Mr Ashwin Dani will be the Chairman and co-chairman respectively for the Industry Committee. The Information Technology and HRD Committee will be chaired by Mr Vinay Rai and the infrastructure committee will be chaired by Mr Vimal Bhaniari.

Mr C H Mirani will be chairing the Internal Trade Committee. The Management Committee will be chaired by Mr Chirayu R Amin and the multilateral agencies and India’s Policy Committee will have Mr A Vellayan as its Chairman. The Quality Leadership Committee will be headed by Mr R S Pawar. Mr R S Lodha and Mr Tialk Dhar will be the Chairman and co-chairman of the Taxation and Corporate Laws Committee. Dr Anji Reddy will head the Technology Committee. The Telecom Committee will be chaired by Mr Sunil B Mittal with Mr Amit Sharma as the co-chairman.

Dr Gaurav Swarup and Mr Devin Narang will be the Chairmen of wast and and industry and Youth Services Committees respectively. (UNI)

India Tourism Expo in January next

NEW DELHI, Nov 3: Tourism Ministry will hold the second India Tourism Expo ‘99’’ here from January 18 to 25 next year for creating public awareness about services in the tourism sector, which has the highest employment potential in the coming years.

The Exhibition this year is to be organised on a much bigger scale learning from the experiences of the first ever such exposition organised last year, Director General (Tourism) Ashok Pradhan said here yesterday.

Though the Government had spent over Rs 20,000 crore for the development of tourism, large number of people in the country were still not aware of its potentialities and usefulness in promoting national integration, he told reporters.

Various Government and private organisations including international and domestic airlines, Indian Railways, State Tourism Organisations, hotels, transport operators, travel and tourism educational institutions will take part in the eight-day Expo.

Seminars and an annual tourism lecture would form part of the Expo. National awards for tourism would also be presented on the occasion, Pradhan said. (PTI)

Cooperatives remain stagnant: PHDCCI

NEW DELHI, Nov 3: The role of cooperatives in marketing of fruits and vegetables has remained stagnant over the years and needs to be encouraged to prevent the current crisis of spiraling vegetable prices, says a study by the PHD Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PHDCCI).

The marketing system of fruits and vegetables should be strengthened through increased share of co-operatives in marketing agricultural produce.

With numerous intermediaries in the procurement chain each of whom adds to the costs,the problem of high margins becomes acute. These include small and large farmers, commission agents, traders, wholesalers and retailers. The marketing margin in terms of price spread between initial producer and the consumer consists mostly of physical distribution costs, modern servicing costs and dealers’ profits. The shortening of the marketing channels would help reduce costs. Efforts should be to establish a vertical integration between producers and consumers, suggests the study.

The PHDCCI has noted that marketing in the farm sector has been receiving a lower priority than production. The Government’s investment in agricultural marketing has been insignificant compared to total investment in the agriculture and allied sectors at the central and state levels.

The study suggests that it is imperative to augment and streamline the marketing infrastructure if diversification envisaged under the new agricultural policy is to succeed and the primary producers are to realise a fair share of the price paid by the consumers. Recent changes in economic and industrial policies envisage a market-led growth and the farm sector cannot remain aloof from this trend.

Large retailers and marketing cooperatives could be key drivers to reduce the number of intermediaries between the farms and retail outlets by processing directly from the farms. This would result in increased efficiency and effectively reduce losses by way of eliminating or shortening the procurement chain as well as by way of investing in harvesting, post-harvesting, handling and transporting techniques. (UNI)

IITL stakes eligibility to earn incentive warrants

NEW DELHI, Nov 3:

Iridium India Telecom Limited (IITL) has staked its eligibility to qualify to earn incentive warrants valued at 14.25 million dollars as on November 1, 1998.

These incentives are to be awarded to IITL by Iridium LLC for attaining commercial readiness before the global launch on November 1, a statement issued here today said.

In addition to the provisional operating license, DoT has also granted Iridium India allocation of required spectrum and its usage, as well as approval to establish interconnectivity with terrestrial networks through Videsh Sanchar Nigam Limited.

With the above clearances, IIidium india still awaits the import license from directorate general of foreign trade to import 100 free Iridium beta handsets allocated to enable Iridium India conduct the much-needed subscriber trials. Iridium India will announce the commercial launch of service in its franchise markets upon successfully concluding the subscriber trials which will enable Iridium India to test the network and its connectivity to all terrestrial networks.

At the same time, Iridium India has successfully averted assessment of capital punitive charge of 30 million dollars as a result of DoT granting Iridium India the provisional operating license before the global commercial launch of service. The capital punitive charge would have been imposed upon Iridium India in accordance with the bank financing covenants of Iridium LLC, if Iridium India had failed to provide connectivity in its South Asia franchise to the global Iridium network prior to commercial launch.

IITL is a joint venture between a consortium of Indian financial institutions and the network management group of Motorola INC. of the US Iridium is a global wireless communications network that combines the world-wide reach of 66 low-earth orbit satellites with land-based wireless systems to enable subscribers to communicate using hand-held telephones and pagers virtually anywhere in the world. (UNI)

LML targetting one lakh trendy sales in 1999

GURGOAN (HARYANA), Nov 3: Scooter major LML Limited expects to capture a major share of the scooterette market in India selling one lakh units of its recently launched non-Piaggio model — trendy, a top company official said.

Since the launch of the scooterette in September-end this year in select Northern Indian markets, LML has managed to sell around 1,200 to 1,500 units.

"We are very bullish about the product and expect to sell around one lakh units in the 1999 calender year," LML Executive Director Marketing R K Caprihan told newspersons here today.

This is the first model to be rolled out of the company’s stables without its partner Piaggio’s help. It also marks the company’s foray into the scooterette segment. Trendy is a 60cc automatic transmission model carrying a price tag of Rs 17,500.

Trendy, which comes with a standard electric-start, an optional stepney, has been launched in Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh. This vehicle is specially designed to meet the needs of personal mobility with ease and comfort.

"Our first offering in the scooterette category is unconventional and is packed with great values. Trendy has been the result of painstaking research and development efforts of LML Limited and is the first product of non-Piaggio technology. It is truly the power of independence," says Mr Caprihan.

Trendy is fitted with a peppy 60 cc engine, concealed and compact, two stroke low emission and a 3.5 bhp engine. For ease of operation, trendy comes with a standard electric start, automatic transmission, hand operated brakes and glove compartment with a basket which makes its position unique in the scooterette category.

Its 12 volt, 65 watt magneto with regulator delivers constant voltage for bright headlight, a high pitch dc horn and indicator with built in warning buzzers, another first in the scooterette category.

The model is available in six colours - pearl black, sparking blue, casablanka white, marble green, quartz silver and nigiri blue. (UNI)

Parameters for paddy procurement relaxed in Haryana

CHANDIGARH, Nov 3:

The Haryana Government has obtained relaxation in specifications of paddy under the Prevention of Food Adulteration Act from the Centre for Kharif 1998-99, an official spokesman said here today.

The stocks procured under relaxed specifications would compensate for farmers’ crop failure incurred due to unseasonal rains in October, he added.

He said the relaxation provided the Government could procure paddy stocks with damaged, discoloured, sprouted and weevilled grains all put together up to a maximum limit of eight per cent.

The relaxation comes into force with immediate effect. (PTI)

National task force favours industry status for IT

NEW DELHI, Nov 3: National task force on Information Technology (IT), which submitted its second report to Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee today, has favoured infrastructure industry status for IT, single-window agency for IT administration and duty-free imports for ‘soft-bonded IT units’.

The reports submitted by the task force Chairman Jaswant Singh, also proposed that the working capital and venture capital facilitations accorded to software industry be extended to hardware industry as well.

While receiving the report, Vajpayee promised that the Government will adopt fast track approach in examination and adoption as was done in the case of the first report.

The task force submitted the first part of the report in July and the second part contains pathbreaking recommendations to create a policy ambience in the country comparable to those in Taiwan, Malaysia, Singapore and other countries which dominate the world it hardware market.

The report envisages the new paradigm in it hardware in the country and stresses on Akin hardware viable I the Indian context.

The report also outlines the policy framework which may be required to make Indian IT industry strong enough to meet the demands of a zero duty regime under the World Trade Organisation (WTO) by the year 2003. The task force will submit its final report on national informatics policy by December 31. (PTI)

ICCI expresses concern over rising prices

NEW DELHI, Nov 3: The Indian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ICCI) has expressed concern over the rising prices which have put the common man into disarray and in panic "many of these are panic responses to rumours and not shortages", ICCI said.

In a statement issued today, ICCI exhorted the trading community to be extremely cautious and take such steps that the consumers are not put into difficulty. Any tendency to hoarding or creating artificial shortages should be shunned for this would be having deleterious impact. The chamber has said that Government in consultation with industry and trade should come out with a strategy to arrest the price rise and to avoid the artificial scarcities. Any attempt to create panic among the people by spreading the shortages should be curbed and the people found guilty should be treated with severe punishment.

ICCI said that there should be a task force set up by the Government exclusively to monitor the prices and to take appropriate steps to avoid any increase in the prices of such commodities by taking timely steps like imports. (UNI)

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