ATCO’s latest introduction

Excelsior Correspondent

MUMBAI, Nov 5: My Palm Scale a compact electronic weighing scale is the latest introduction for handy use by ATCO.

According to an ATCOM handout the scale can be held on ones palm for weighing upto 200gms items with the accuracy of 0.1gm. It says that My Palm Scale is so light weight that it can be carried conveniently in ones pocket of briefcase.

The weight is indicated by large 10mm, four digit LCD display in user selectable units of grams, ounce, carat and dwt. The unit selected is indicated by bright LED indication.

My Palm Scale works on 9V long life Alkaline Battery. Overload safety for the load cell sensor is provided to protect the Scale from failure against the extra load and also enhances the life.

The handout said the Scale is having flipover pan which serves as cover for weighing scale and also as pan for weighing. The scale is very useful as the portable and handy scale for accurately weighing precious items like diamonds jewellary, chemicals etc.

It said four different weighing units i. e grams, ounce, carat and dwt can be selected as per ones choice and indicated by bright LED display.

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My Palm a latest weighing scale introduced by ATCO.

National insurance company aimed 25 per cent growth

SHIMLA, Dec 5: The National Insurance Company Limited has drawnup a plan to achieve 25 per cent growth in its premium volume during the current year, over its previous year’s figure of Rs 2365 crore.

Disclosing this here today, Company Divisional Manager Nupur K Nadda claimed the company had achieved a growth rate of 21 per cent upto October this year as against 11 per cent during the corresponding period in the last year.

The growth rate is also the highest for the four companies operating in the nationalized sector and considering the average rate of growth of 14 per cent for the public sector companines it is well above the line.

The company is holding its two-day divisional managers’ meet for the northern zone at a resort near here, from tomorrow for a mid year review of its business performance and focusing on customer related issues.

The company is the market leader with the highest premium base in the northern zone comprising the states of Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Delhi, Punjab, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh and Jammu and Kashmir.

With a view to extending its consumer reach, the company is in the process of tying up with banks and other institutional agencies. In this regard, already an MoU has been signed with Indian Overseas Bank. It has also set a target of recruiting 2000 professional agents per region for the current financial year for its 20 regional offices.

Ms Nadda said the Divisional Managers’ meet had been called specially to draw up specific action plans aimed at improving customer service. Particular attention is being paid to retain customers confidence on the strength of quality of service.

The company has lannched a massive drive to fully computerize its operations and interconnect its offices all over the country. It has made substantial investments in this area and is expecting to complete the entire exercise by the middle of the year 2003. (UNI)

Share of agricultural pumps dwindles

MUMBAI, Dec 5: The Indian Pump Manufacturers’ Association (IPMA) said here today that the shares of agricultural pumps have dwindled to less than 20 per cent, in the 1.2 million unit Rs 700 crore market, in the first half of the current financial year.

The IPMA president S G Joshi in a meeting here with Coimbatore-based Southern India Engineering Manufacturers Association (SIEMA) said that more than seven lakh inferior quality pump kits have been sold by unscrupulous manufacturers to the gullible Indian farmers.

SIEMA president G Rajendran said that more than 150 small, medium and large scale, duty paying pump manufacturers with a combined investment of over Rs 250 crore and providing more than two lakh direct and indirect employment opportunities find no takers for their pumps because their pumps are outpriced by 40 per cent as compared to the power guzzling pump kits. These pump kits are sold in kits form avoiding central excise and applicable taxes and duties, he said.

Mr Rajendran said that the Central Government should initiate action against the power guzzling kits-manufacturers and enforce the ISI norms all across. Compulsory registration for excise of the pump kits manufacturers would create a level playing field, he said. (UNI)

Fortis introduces ‘Mobile ICU’ ambulance

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, Dec 5: As a part of its endeavor to take the quality of healthcare delivery to the best international standard, Fortis Heart Institute and Multi-Speciality Hospital today announced the introduction of of "ICU on Wheels" for the people of the region covering Punjab, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu, Western UP and Uttarnchal. Equipped with state of art life saving and monitoring equipment, these ambulances have been manned by trained doctors and nursing staff.

The doctors in these special ambulances will be in constant touch with the senior doctors at Fortis, so that appropriate treatment can be started as soon as patient is picked up.

According to Dr R V Karanjet, Medical Director, Fortis Heart Institute and Multi-Speciality Hospital, "the initial minutes are very critical for saving a patient’s life in a medical emergency and the faster the treatment the more the chances of saving his life. These special ambulances have been equipped and manned keeping this critical fact in mind".

These ambulances are equipped with ICU facilities like Ventilator, Defibrillator, Minitor, Oxygen, Vacuum, Infusion pumps and life saving drugs and consumables.

Speaking on the occasion, Mr Daljit Singh, Chief Executive Operations, Fortis Healthcare Limited said, "at Fortis we aim to deliver the highest international standards of patient care. The introduction of these special ambulances in another step from Fortis in this direction and we are confident that these will save many lives and thereby will benefit the people of the entire region".

Dr Karanjekar further added, "in golden hour concept every second can mean the difference between the life and death, these special ambulances will make the difference. Our goal is to save more lives. This special ambulance service is a critical link in the Fortis System of Healthcare delivery and the rapid treatment and transportation of the patient to the hospital will ensure that the patient gets the best chance of full recovery".

Fortis Healthcare Limited is the expression of a vision, envisaged by late Dr Parvinder Singh, the moving force behind the success of the Ranbaxy Laboratories for delivering world class integrated healthcare in India it will set up a chain of world-class super specially hospitals in key specialities.

IGL operating 100 CNG outlets in capital

NEW DELHI, Dec 5: Indraprastha Gas Ltd is operating 100 CNG outlets in Delhi presently and infrastructure is being increased in a phased manner to meet the growing demands, Lok Sabha was informed today.

Last year there were only 87 CNG outlets in the national capital, Minister of State for Petroleum and Natural Gas Santosh Kumar Gangwar said in a written reply.

In order to meet the growing demand of CNG, the infrastructure in Delhi was being increased in a phased manner, he said.

The compression capacity of CNG will be increased to 16.11 lakh kg per day by June 2003, as against 4.43 lakh kg per day compression capacity an year ago, he added. (PTI)

Withdrawal of industrial incentive effected industrial growth

HOSHIARPUR, Dec 5: Industrial growth in the district has almost been stopped following withdrawl of industrial incentives by the Punjab Government.

According to the official sources, there are 28 large and medium units including Mahavir spinning mill, pressure cooker and appliances, international sonalika tractors, apollo fibre, GNA and JCT Limited with an investment of Rs 150 crore in this backward district. These units are providing direct and indirect employment to about 12.50 lakh persons. The annual production of these units is about Rs 1450 crore. Besides, there are 9100 small scale industrial units with an investment of Rs 112 crore in the district.

To collect correct information regarding investment in the industrial sector to ascertain the causes of sickness of sick units and to enlist all the unregistered industries in the country, third industrial census is being conducted by the Central Government. Sources said that according to the preliminary reports of this census more than 30 per cent units were found sick in the district.

The State Government withdrew all the incentives including sales tax exemption and subsidy on investment from April 2002. This has not only disappointed the owners of existing units but has also discouraged the new entrepreneurs who were interested in setting up their units in the district.

Mr Chander Mohan Puri president Factory Owner’s Association Nasrala said that Hoshiarpur district was declared industrially backward by the Centre as well as State Government in 1972. (UNI)

Reliance to build gas pipeline to connect East coast with West

NEW DELHI, Dec 5: Reliance Industries Ltd, which recently discovered world-class gas reserves off the East Coast, is planning to lay gas pipelines connecting the country’s Eastern Coast with the Western, the Lok Sabha was informed today.

"Gas Transportation and Infrastructrue Co Ltd, a company promoted by RIL, is executing two pipeline projects - Goa-Hyderabad-Kakinada pipeline project and Jamnagar-Bhopal pipeline project, which will be extended to Cuttack in Orissa in phase-ii," Minister of State for Petroleum & Natural Gas Santosh Kumar Gangwar said in a written reply.

RIL, in consortium with Niko resources of Canada, has discovered seven trillion cubic feet of gas reserves in the Krishna-Godavari basin of Andhra Pradesh.

The in-place reserves are equivalent to about 1.2 billion barrels or 165 million tonnes of crude oil, which can deliver anything between 25 to 40 million standard cubic metres of gas per day in three to four years.

Gangwar said for the pipeline projects the process of acquisition of land under petroleum & mineral pipeline (acquisition of right of user in land) act, 1962 is on.

Oman-India pipeline: To another question, Gangwar said Oman-India gas pipeline project has been shelved as technical feasibility of the project could not be established and adequate gas reserves were not earmarked in Oman for the project.

He also cited lack of proven technology to undertake deep-sea repair as another reason for shelving of the project. (PTI)

India non-committal on price cartel for rice exports

NEW DELHI, Dec 05: India has entered the global rice market and its produce is cheaper than its competitors.

The argument put forth by other exporters, he said, is that the present price-scenario favours middlemen and encourages a ‘buyer’s market’ where an importer can "bargain for a lesser price or else threaten to purchase from another exporting country saying it is selling cheaper".

"We are examining the suggestions made by other exporters but have not committed ourselves to any price or cartel regime," he said.

Meanwhile, official sources said the meeting scheduled for tomorrow in Bangkok is unlikely to be attended by Indian representatives due to domestic engagements. Despite hike in ex-granary rates, 25 per cent broken Indian rice is still cheaper than its competitors. (PTI)

Titan industries eyes 10 pc growth this fiscal

NEW DELHI, Dec 5: After successful lay-offs through VRS, Titan Industries Ltd (TIL) is eyeing 10 per cent growth this fiscal, riding on cost-cutting measures and increased focus on its jewellery business apart from the flagship watch and clocks business.

TIL Managing Director Bhaskar Bhat told UNI in an interview that the company, which had a Rs 13 crore profit after tax last fiscal on a turnover of Rs 727 crore, was looking to enhanced profits this year, primarily through cost reduction in production and increasing its margins.

"We plan to achieve through enhanced focus on our multiple strengths, which we believe are the strong after-sales service, distribution network and also a strong reaserch and development team which takes care of the design aspect, very important in the watches and jewellery business," he said.

In the watch segment, the company currently offers customers a variety of options, starting from the low-end and gradually moving up to the high segment.

"For first time watch owners, we have the sonata brand which is popular and competitively priced.

"After this, we have different brands for different categories in the titan brand, thus giving customers a variety of options to choose from," Mr Bhat said.

As part of its sales-promotion strategy and cater to a large segment, the company has offered various brands. While in the ‘status segment’ it offers the Titan Regalia and Nebula, which caters to the top end designer jewellery watches.

"For the tech-savvy people, we offer Titan edge while for women we have titan raga. For the youths, we offer Titan fasttrack while for children, we have the Titan dash brand," Mr Bhat said.

As part of cost-cutting measures, the company has successfully given VRS to about 600 employees, with the managing director stressing that their strength now "is adequate".

He claimed the Titan brand enjoyed 58 per cent market share in the watch and clock segment, with the company making concerted efforts to further increase it.

"We have a strong distribution network which includes 145 stores. To build a brand image, we have made efforts to give a facelift to our stores so that they match the quality of our watches," he added. Asked about their competitors, especially HMT and Timex apart from the foreign brands like Swatch, Tissot, among others, Mr Bhat said the Titan brand was focussing more on delivering quality products at "Indian prices."

"People buy our products for the Titan brand and also because their prices are reasonable, when compared to the foreign brands," he said.

On Tanishq, the jewellery wing of TIL which witnessed a record rise of nearly 50 per cent in its business during the first half of the current fiscal, the company hopes to improve tremendously.

In terms of retail sales till last date of the first half, the company touched Rs 150 crore as against Rs 268 crore in 2001-02.

Mr Bhat said the company had 56 exclusive stores across 44 towns marketing the Tanishq jewellery, which he added had been turned into a retail business.

"We focus on reliability and quality of our jewellery and plan to add another ten stores soon to increase our presence," he said, adding that the jewellery business was growing at a phenomenal 50 per cent rate.

He said TIL was expecting for a Rs 300 crore turnover from its jewellery business by this fiscal-end.

"Tanishq is also doing well in the United States and we are primarily targetting targetting NRI women there for our brand," he said.

On TIL’s exports, he said they were just contributing around eight per cent to their total turnover, with the watches being exported to Mid-East, Far-East and Europe while the jewellery to Mid-East and the US.

"We have plans to focus more on this, especially on the jewellery side to increase our revenue from exports," he added.

After the VRS, the company has identified five key objectives to be achieved through the rollout of a work level program. These include improving speed within the organisation, facilitating mobility of talent within til, faster decision-making and faster career growth for employees. (UNI)

Milkfed directed to supply Ghee to shrines

CHANDIGARH, Dec 5: Keeping in view the religious sanctity of Sri Harimandir Sahib and other Singh shrines, Punjab Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh today directed the managing director of Milkfed to ensure uninterrupted supply of ‘Desi Ghee’ for the preparation of ‘Karaha Parshad’ to Sri Harimandir Sahib and other Sikh shrines under the control of Shiromani Gurdwara Parbhandhak Committee (SGPC).

Singh reiterated his resolve that their would be continued supply of Desi Ghee even if the contract with SGPC for the supply of Desi Ghee had lapsed.

He said that in case the SGPC failed to make payment we would foot the bill for the purchase of ‘Desi Ghee’.

Expressing deep anguish over the uncalled for controversy, Singh categorically said that this news has created durore in the Sikh community and appealed the people not to be misled by the false propaganda being made especially at the behest of former Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal and his cronies.

He said that such political gimmicks would not be allowed to vitiate the harmonious and peaceful situation the State.

Meanwhile, Dr B M Mahajan, Managing Director of Milkfederation Punjab said that on the demand of SGPC for Desi Ghee, Milkfed offered the rate of Rs 1550.40 per 15 kg tin for 300mt.

Looking into the religious cause and on the special request of SGPC, the rate was reduced to Rs 1480 per tin including all taxes and this rate was for 300 mt Verka Ghee to be supplied during the current financial year. (PTI)

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