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stations to go live by 2000 end: Official NEW DELHI, Dec 9: Private FM radio transmission is likely to begin by....more
Indian airports NEW DELHI, Dec 9: Y2K readiness of systems and equipment at airports...more
Naik refutes charges NEW DELHI, Dec 9: Petroleum and Natural Gas Minister Ram Naik....more |
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No proposal to NEW DELHI, Dec 9: There is no proposal to withdraw subsidy....more India’s tea output CALCUTTA, Dec 9: India’s tea output shortfall widens to 61.07...more Democratic Congressman WASHINGTON, Dec 9: Democratic Congressman Sam Gejdenson has.....more FAA rating assigned MUMBAI, Dec 9: The "FAA" rating assigned to the fixed deposit....more IT bill to be tabled in NEW DELHI, Dec 9: The much-awaited Information Technology (IT) bill....more |
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IT bill to be tabled in Parliament next week NEW DELHI, Dec 9: The much-awaited Information Technology (IT) bill to provide a legal framework for electronic communication would be tabled in Parliament next week, secretary in the IT Ministry P V Jayakrishnan said here today. We will introduce the it bill within the next two to three days. Getting this bill passed is our first priority since it encompasses the entire legal framework for information technology, Jayakrishnan told PTI after addressing the general assembly of South East Asia Information Technology Organisation (SITO). The bill, which provides legal framework for electronic communication, trade and commerce was cleared by the cabinet early last month. Besides envisaging a secure regulatory environment for E-commerce, the bill also seeks to permit computer data as an evidence in courts. The IT Bill has been hanging fire since November last year when a cabinet note was first prepared on it to get it cleared in the last Winter session of Parliament. Jayakrishnan today also announced his ministry’s plan to set up National Resource Centres (NRCs) as a first step towards achieving the 50 billion dollar software export target. We need close to 2.5 million software professionals to meet the 50 billion dollar export target. This means advanced and cost-effective training facilities and setting up NRCs is a step in this direction, he said. Appropriate training of manpower is necessary to meet the national and global challenges in emerging sectors of computer software and information enables services, he said. Answering questions on the ministry’s gameplan for developing the IT sector, the Secretary said besides getting the it bill passed in this session, the launch of national venture fund for software and information technology was also a welcome step. The IT Ministry will provide Rs 30 crore of the Rs 100 crore corpus in this fund, he added. Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee will launch this fund, set up by the IT Ministry along with Small Industries Development Bank of India (SIDBI) and Industrial Development Bank of India tomorrow. (PTI) |
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Private FM stations to go live by 2000 end: Official NEW DELHI, Dec 9: Private FM radio transmission is likely to begin by the end of 2000, a top Government official said today. "We are in the process of finalising the auction latest by February 2000. After setting up the required physical infrastructure of studios and transmitters, the private stations are likely to go live by the end of next year", Mr R C Mishra, Joint Secretary, Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, told reporters here. In July 1998, the Union Cabinet had approved the entry of the private players into FM radio broadcasting services by giving licences to private operators in 40 cities. Nearly 150 new FM channels are expected to be set up which will double the current FM network. Only 100 per cent Indian companies will be allowed to enter the FM broadcasting. All broadcasters will have to follow programme and advertising code applicable to AIR. Mr Mishra said the licencees will be severly dealt with if any case of malpractice arises in terms of ownership. An applicant will be permitted only one licence per centre, and license will be issued under Indian Telegraph Act, 1885 and Indian Wireless Telegraphy Act, 1933. Earlier, addressing a session on "FM privatisation in India -opportunities for broadcast engineers" during the ongoing Comdex/BCS India’99, Mr Mishra said the monopoly of All India Radio will end soon and it "will have to quickly prepare a viable strategy". The AIR will have to reformat its programmes which are local and interactive, he added. Mr Charles Kelly, Chairman-international committee, US-based Society of Broadcast Engineers, said private radio operators would get high ratings only if they cater to local needs. (UNI) |
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Indian airports Y2K ready, says Sharad Yadav NEW DELHI, Dec 9: Y2K readiness of systems and equipment at airports in the country has been completed after a thorough assessment followed by necessary renovation of the affected systems and confirming Y2K compliance by vendor certification, Lok Sabha was informed today. In a written reply to member Ashok Patel, Civil Aviation Minister Sharad Yadav said this was followed by in-house testing of systems and audit by external agencies which had also been completed. The passenger facilitation services at international and domestic airports and all communication, navigation, landing and surveillance systems of the Airports Authority of India, including radars at Delhi, Mumbai, Hyderabad, Chennai, Thiruvananthapuram, Ahmedabad, Chennai, Calcutta and Guwahati airports are Y2K ready, he said. Contingency plans for airports and air traffic services and routes have been finalised and personnel given training to ensure uninterrupted and safe flights during the roll-over period, he said. (PTI) |
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Naik refutes charges of corruption in GAIL shares NEW DELHI, Dec 9: Petroleum and Natural Gas Minister Ram Naik today refuted allegations of corruption in disinvestment of the Gas Authority of India Limited (GAIL) shares. In reply to a question in the Rajya Sabha during the question hour, the minister ruled out any financial irregularity in the deal. He, however, admitted that the Government could have got Rs 240 crore more if the GAIL shares had been sold two years ago when each share was quoted by the bidders at Rs 116. The minister assured the members that he would fully examine the issue of disinvestment of GAIL shares, which were sold in the Global Depository Receipt (GDR) market at a market-driven rate of Rs 70 per share. He made it clear that as the prices of the share often fluctuate,there can be no linkage between price quoted bidders two years ago and the market driven prices ascertained in 1999. Mr Naik said the Enron and British gas company had purchased six and half per cent of the shares. But it will in no way give them any management right in the company. In reply to another question,the minister said that no contract has been signed with Iraq by the oil and natural gas company for any upstream project there. He said that nothing concrete has been finalised with Iraq for exploration and development of oil fields. Since sanctions are in force, the Government can not enter into any direct agreement with Iraq. (UNI) |
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No proposal to withdraw subsidy on PDS food grains NEW DELHI, Dec 9: There is no proposal to withdraw subsidy on food grains allocated to states under the Public Distribution System, the Government assured Lok Sabha today. Replying to a supplementary, Consumer Affairs Minister Shanta Kumar said subsidy to the tune of Rs 10,000 crore was provided annually on food grains made available to the states and there was no proposal to withdraw it. He, however, rejected a demand by a member that monthly entitlement of food grains of ten kg per head be increased to 20 kg saying this was not possible in view of the huge subsidy involved in it. He said over six crore families involving a population of 30 crores were being supplied food grains at specially subsidized rates under the targeted Public Distribution System meant for those living below the poverty line. Kumar also replied in negative when asked whether the Government proposed to enhance the supply of sugar from 425 gm per capita per month. Answering another supplementary, he admitted that in some cases irregularities had come to light where actual food grain stocks did not tally with the book entries. He said appropriate steps were being taken to tackle this irregularity. (PTI) |
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India’s tea output shortfall widens CALCUTTA, Dec 9: India’s tea output shortfall widens to 61.07 million kg in the tenth month of current year, according to latest Tea Board estimates. All India production of tea between January to October this year stood at 665.06 million kg compared to 726.13 million kg in the corresponding period of previous year. Tea board officials said after another shortfall of 6.25 million kg in October this year when all India production is estimated to be 99.12 million kg against 105.37 million kg in the corresponding month of previous year, the crop is expected to be lower in November also due to adverse weather. Of the total, North India production during the period came down to 502.12 million kg from 561.25 million kg last year while South India production was more or less at par at 162.94 million kg against 164.88 million kg last year. In october, all India output is expected at 99.12 million kg (105.37 million kg in last year). Though North India production during the month was expected to be lower at 81.72 million kg (91.11 million kg last year), South India Crop is expected to increase to 17.40 million kg from 14.26 million kg last year. (UNI) |
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Democratic Congressman promises
help to WASHINGTON, Dec 9: Democratic Congressman Sam Gejdenson has promised to help companies from his Connecticut state that want to pursue trade with India. Speaking at a seminar on "doing business with India," he sponsored in Hartfort, Connecticut, on Monday, he said, "all too often, small and medium-sized companies can’t compete with larger corporations in the global marketplace. This seminar was designed with those concerns in mind." "By providing the initial contacts for these companies, we’re hoping to provide them with a whole new network of resources they can tap into," said Mr Gejdenson, who is taking a trade delegation to India next month. The seminar, which featured a range of speakers from the US Department of Commerce, the Indian Embassy, and the private sector, was attended by over 60 representatives of Connecticut companies. Most of them would join the delegation. Mr Gejdenson, who is ranking member of the powerful international relations committee in the house of representatives, said, "in today’s global economy, companies have to think internationally in order to remain competitive. The fact is-if they don’t become globally competitive, they’re going to become globally marginalised," Mr Gejdenson added. Deputy Chief of Indian Mission T P Sreenivasan, in his keynote address, credited the Connecticut Congressman for being instrumental in the recent improvement in US-India relations and promised that companies participating in the upcoming trade mission to India would find areceptive audience in the Indian private sector and a welcoming business climate. "This is indeed a propitious time for a US business delegation to visit India. The stability of the Government will inevitably provide continuity and stability to economic policies on which a national consensus already exists, " Sreenivasan said. Sponsored in conjunction with the University of Connecticut, the seminar was held at the travelers education centre in Hartford. Over 60 individuals participated, representing local trade associations, business, the chamber of commerce, export assistance centre and Indian representatives from the public and private sector. The seminar is part of Congressman Gejdenson’s efforts to expand Connecticut’s business and trade relations with India. Panelists from the Indian Embassy, US Department of Commerce, the Confederation of Indian Industries and other key players in the field of international finance consulting maintained a constant dialogue with participants through a series of presentations and break-out sessions. Connecticut companies were provided with a comprehensive overview of the opportunities and challenges to be found in the Indian business environment and culture. (UNI) |
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FAA rating assigned to Bata India MUMBAI, Dec 9: The "FAA" rating assigned to the fixed deposit programme of Bata India has been reaffirmed by the Credit Rating Information Services of India Limited (CRISIL). According to a CRISIL release here today, the rating refects the sustained improvement in the company’s risk profile resultings from the successful implementation of the turnaround strategy initiated by the company’s new management,the company’s strong market position in the Indian footwear industry its improving operating efficiency and financial risk profile. The rating is, somewhat, tampered by the instances of indiscipline by its workforce in the past and the company’s moderate operating margins. The rating also factors in the company’s strong relationship with its parent, Bata Shoe Organisation. (UNI) |
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