Education seminar begins today
Chief minister V.S. Achuthanandan will inaugurate a three-day international seminar on ‘Democratic and Secular Education – Kerala Experience’ being organised by the State government on the Kariavattom campus of the University of Kerala on Thursday.
As many as 2,000 delegates are participating in the seminar in which 150 scholars, including 25 from abroad, will present papers in various thematic sessions. Social activist Swami Agnivesh will deliver a special address at the inaugural session which will be held at a specially erected ‘pandal’ in front of the Academic Staff College, Kariavattom.
After the inaugural ceremony — in which Leader of the Opposition Oommen Chandy and Education Minister M.A. Baby, among others will participate — there will be a thematic session on ‘State and Education.’
Following this there will be 17 parallel sessions at the seminar on various topics, including public-private partnership in education, education, culture and textbooks, democracy, decentralised planning and education, education and empowerment of marginalised and minorities, internationalisation of education and national development, education, empowerment and children and media and education in a democratic and secular society.
Thursday, December 4, 2008
MALABAR FETE
Malabar Fete begins tomorrow
The Kozhikode Corporation will organise the 39th edition of Malabar Fest at Swapna Nagari grounds here from Friday.
The festival would feature a variety of programmes . Shri.Sukumar Azhikode will inaugurate the exhibition. Shri.M.P. Veerendrakumar, MP, will open the government pavilions. P. Sathidevi, MP, is scheduled to open the sale of tickets and actor Captain Raju, the cultural events.
The exhibition is being organised with the cooperation of several State governments departments, the Centre and private companies. There will be stalls set up by the Union Ministries of Defence, Railways, Agriculture and Science and Technology.
Stalls will display items ranging from handlooms to electronics and crockery items.
There will be a pavilion for building materials be set up with the help of the Calicut chapter of the Kerala Builders’ Forum, various property developers, prominent banks, steel manufactures, paint companies and other companies catering to the industry.
Three air-conditioned pavilions of 5,000 square feet each would be set up for displaying toys; household items and cosmetics.
The Kozhikode Corporation will organise the 39th edition of Malabar Fest at Swapna Nagari grounds here from Friday.
The festival would feature a variety of programmes . Shri.Sukumar Azhikode will inaugurate the exhibition. Shri.M.P. Veerendrakumar, MP, will open the government pavilions. P. Sathidevi, MP, is scheduled to open the sale of tickets and actor Captain Raju, the cultural events.
The exhibition is being organised with the cooperation of several State governments departments, the Centre and private companies. There will be stalls set up by the Union Ministries of Defence, Railways, Agriculture and Science and Technology.
Stalls will display items ranging from handlooms to electronics and crockery items.
There will be a pavilion for building materials be set up with the help of the Calicut chapter of the Kerala Builders’ Forum, various property developers, prominent banks, steel manufactures, paint companies and other companies catering to the industry.
Three air-conditioned pavilions of 5,000 square feet each would be set up for displaying toys; household items and cosmetics.
Monday, November 24, 2008
PetroleumNon-domestic LPG may cost less
Prices may drop by Rs 350 a cylinder.
Both the players and the customers of non-domestic liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) have something to look forward to next month. Public and private players of the product are betting on a significant drop in prices to revive their fortunes, as it would push demand.
In keeping with the prices in the international market, price of LPG sold for non-domestic purpose is expected to dip in December. The international market has seen the biggest drop in LPG pricing by $320 a tonne from $810 a tonne in September-October.
Industry sources told Business Line that the The price of commercial LPG, which is sold in a 19-kg cylinder at over Rs 1,000 a cylinder, is expected to come down by Rs 350. The dip in commercial LPG prices would also mean that the diversion of domestic LPG for commercial use will be reduced to some extent, as the price gap between the two categories would narrow.Auto gas sector to gain
Due to high prices, the growth in auto gas sector was almost nil in the first six months of the current fiscal. However, the coming six months should be good, industry sources said. The auto gas sector had seen a growth of nearly 40 per cent in last fiscal. However, a robust growth can be expected only next fiscal, industry sources added. Commercial LPG has seen a growth of about seven-eight per cent.
The domestic prices of commercial LPG are reviewed on a monthly basis. In November, the prices increased by a little over 1 per cent, as international prices had seen an upward movement in October and the rupee had depreciated by almost 20 per cent.
While the price of commercial LPG was increased to Rs 1,108.50 a cylinder (Rs 1,095.24 a cylinder in October), that of auto LPG was brought down by 5.34 per cent. Auto LPG prices were revised to Rs 34.38 a litre on November 1 (Rs 36.32). In case of auto LPG, the public sector oil marketing companies are under pressure to keep it at a price lower than the price of petrol in order to make it attractive for the consumers.
“There is a time lag of four to six weeks between the international and domestic LPG prices. The domestic price depends on the Saudi Arabian price and currency value during the month under review,” an official explained. In other words, the domestic pricing is based on the formula of M-1 (price of the previous month). Hence, the December price would depend on the international price of November.
The last one week has seen international LPG prices declining after being stable for sometime, even when there was a sharp slide in crude oil and other petroleum products prices.
LPG for non-domestic purpose is meant for commercial markets such as hotels and for auto LPG
Prices may drop by Rs 350 a cylinder.
Both the players and the customers of non-domestic liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) have something to look forward to next month. Public and private players of the product are betting on a significant drop in prices to revive their fortunes, as it would push demand.
In keeping with the prices in the international market, price of LPG sold for non-domestic purpose is expected to dip in December. The international market has seen the biggest drop in LPG pricing by $320 a tonne from $810 a tonne in September-October.
Industry sources told Business Line that the The price of commercial LPG, which is sold in a 19-kg cylinder at over Rs 1,000 a cylinder, is expected to come down by Rs 350. The dip in commercial LPG prices would also mean that the diversion of domestic LPG for commercial use will be reduced to some extent, as the price gap between the two categories would narrow.Auto gas sector to gain
Due to high prices, the growth in auto gas sector was almost nil in the first six months of the current fiscal. However, the coming six months should be good, industry sources said. The auto gas sector had seen a growth of nearly 40 per cent in last fiscal. However, a robust growth can be expected only next fiscal, industry sources added. Commercial LPG has seen a growth of about seven-eight per cent.
The domestic prices of commercial LPG are reviewed on a monthly basis. In November, the prices increased by a little over 1 per cent, as international prices had seen an upward movement in October and the rupee had depreciated by almost 20 per cent.
While the price of commercial LPG was increased to Rs 1,108.50 a cylinder (Rs 1,095.24 a cylinder in October), that of auto LPG was brought down by 5.34 per cent. Auto LPG prices were revised to Rs 34.38 a litre on November 1 (Rs 36.32). In case of auto LPG, the public sector oil marketing companies are under pressure to keep it at a price lower than the price of petrol in order to make it attractive for the consumers.
“There is a time lag of four to six weeks between the international and domestic LPG prices. The domestic price depends on the Saudi Arabian price and currency value during the month under review,” an official explained. In other words, the domestic pricing is based on the formula of M-1 (price of the previous month). Hence, the December price would depend on the international price of November.
The last one week has seen international LPG prices declining after being stable for sometime, even when there was a sharp slide in crude oil and other petroleum products prices.
LPG for non-domestic purpose is meant for commercial markets such as hotels and for auto LPG
Friday, September 5, 2008
Industries Minister Elamaram Karim has said that a master plan will be prepared for the industrial development of areas near the proposed Kannur airport as Kerala Industrial Infrastructure Development Corporation (Kinfra) has accelerated the process of acquiring land for the airport near Mattannur here.
The Minister told reporters here on Thursday that the government’s plan was to ensure parallel development of industries in areas closer to the proposed airport which could attract investors and entrepreneurs.
A green field airport such as the one proposed in Kannur might not be viable initially unless there was increased industrial and economic activities that would attract more air passengers, he said adding that the process of acquiring 200 acres of land near the proposed airport was under way.
The Minister said that Kinfra would complete the acquisition of land for the airport by January next year. A proposal for appointing a consultant for preparing the master plan was under consideration, he said.Freight station
Listing various developmental projects in the pipeline in the district, Mr. Kareem said that the container freight station sanctioned here by the Central government would be a major push for the region’s development. Its foundation stone would be laid this month, he said. The process of allotment of land at the Textile Park at Nadukani here to entrepreneurs would begin by October, he announced. NIFT campus
The work for developing the campus of the National Institute of Fashion Technology Centre here would start this year as the government had already made budgetary allocation of Rs. 20 crore. The construction would be completed in two year, he added.
Mr. Karim said that the construction of a road to Valiyavelicham near Koothuparamba that was nearing completion would attract more entrepreneurs at the Kerala Industrial Development Corporation’s industrial park there. The government was also considering a proposal for developing an industrial park in Taliparamba and Payyannur areas, he said
The Minister told reporters here on Thursday that the government’s plan was to ensure parallel development of industries in areas closer to the proposed airport which could attract investors and entrepreneurs.
A green field airport such as the one proposed in Kannur might not be viable initially unless there was increased industrial and economic activities that would attract more air passengers, he said adding that the process of acquiring 200 acres of land near the proposed airport was under way.
The Minister said that Kinfra would complete the acquisition of land for the airport by January next year. A proposal for appointing a consultant for preparing the master plan was under consideration, he said.Freight station
Listing various developmental projects in the pipeline in the district, Mr. Kareem said that the container freight station sanctioned here by the Central government would be a major push for the region’s development. Its foundation stone would be laid this month, he said. The process of allotment of land at the Textile Park at Nadukani here to entrepreneurs would begin by October, he announced. NIFT campus
The work for developing the campus of the National Institute of Fashion Technology Centre here would start this year as the government had already made budgetary allocation of Rs. 20 crore. The construction would be completed in two year, he added.
Mr. Karim said that the construction of a road to Valiyavelicham near Koothuparamba that was nearing completion would attract more entrepreneurs at the Kerala Industrial Development Corporation’s industrial park there. The government was also considering a proposal for developing an industrial park in Taliparamba and Payyannur areas, he said
Wednesday, March 12, 2008
Travel and Tourism
India's travel and tourism is poised for continued growth according to a leading international chamber of travel and tourism operators. "India Travel and Tourism is expected to generate approximately Rs 4 trillion ($100 billion) in 2008, rising to Rs 15 trillion ($275.5 billion) by 2018 over the next ten years," says the latest Tourism Satellite Accounting (TSA) research released by the World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC) and its strategic partner Accenture. The TSA results reveal strong performance for travel and tourism demand in India in 2008, growing at 7.3 per cent. The long-term forecasts point to a continued solid phase of growth between 2009 and 2018, averaging at 9.4 per cent per annum. The reports also says that while travel and tourism is expected to contribute 6.1 per cent to India's national GDP, with no increase in the coming decade, the anticipated growth will create 30.5 million jobs in 2008, 6.4 per cent of total employment, rising to 40 million jobs, 7.2 per cent of total employment by 2018.
Friday, February 29, 2008
Bonanza for Salaried Class
In a major bonanza to the salaried class, the government on Friday proposed to increase the income tax exemption limits from Rs 1.10 lakh to Rs 1.50 lakh, in addition to restructuring the tax slabs.
The proposals may result in a benefit of over Rs 50,000 to a taxpayer having an income of Rs 5 lakh annually.
The minimum benefit to a person with an annual income of Rs 1.5 lakh at the threshold will be around Rs 4,000, Finance Minister P Chidambaram said, while presenting the Budget 2008-09 in Lok Sabha.
According to the proposed slabs, income between Rs 1.5 lakh and Rs 3 lakh will be taxed at 10 per cent, between Rs 3 lakh and Rs 5 lakh at 20 per cent, while for Rs 5 lakh and above the rate would be 30 per cent in addition to 3 per cent education cess.
The tax exemption limit for women assessees has been raised from Rs 1.45 lakh to Rs 1.80 lakh, while in case of senior citizens it has been increased from Rs 1.95 lakh to Rs 2.25 lakh
The proposals may result in a benefit of over Rs 50,000 to a taxpayer having an income of Rs 5 lakh annually.
The minimum benefit to a person with an annual income of Rs 1.5 lakh at the threshold will be around Rs 4,000, Finance Minister P Chidambaram said, while presenting the Budget 2008-09 in Lok Sabha.
According to the proposed slabs, income between Rs 1.5 lakh and Rs 3 lakh will be taxed at 10 per cent, between Rs 3 lakh and Rs 5 lakh at 20 per cent, while for Rs 5 lakh and above the rate would be 30 per cent in addition to 3 per cent education cess.
The tax exemption limit for women assessees has been raised from Rs 1.45 lakh to Rs 1.80 lakh, while in case of senior citizens it has been increased from Rs 1.95 lakh to Rs 2.25 lakh
Wednesday, February 27, 2008
RAILWAY BUDGET 2008-09
Railway budget 2008-2009
Railway Minister Lalu Prasad on Tuesday announced a reduction in fares in various classes and provided concessions in some categories of freight charges. Presenting his fifth consecutive Railway Budget, Mr. Prasad focused on improving passenger amenities and implementing mega investment plans for building railway infrastructure, besides announcing 53 new trains, including 10 ‘Garib Raths.’
Living up to the expectations of rail travellers, Mr. Prasad announced a five per cent reduction on second class fares beyond Rs. 50 on all categories of trains, while a Re.1 discount will be given on fares up to Rs. 50. Similarly, the fares for AC-I will be reduced by seven per cent and AC-II fares by four per cent. However, for popular trains and during peak period, the reduction will only be half as in previous years.
Keeping in mind the increased capacity of the newly designed AC-III tier and AC chair car coaches, Mr. Prasad reduced its fares by two per cent. However, the reduction will only be half for fares of popular trains.
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