Friday, May 31, 2013

UNICEF’s annual State of the World’s Children’s report

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Children with disabilities and their communities would both benefit if society focused on what those children can achieve,rather than what they cannot do,according to UNICEF’s annual State of the world’s children’s report.Image
New Delhi, India, 30 May 2013 – Children with disabilities and their communities would both benefit if society focused on what those children can achieve, rather than what they cannot do, according to UNICEF’s annual State of the World’s Children’s report.
Concentrating on the abilities and potential of children with disabilities would create benefits for society as a whole, says the report released today.
“When you see the disability before the child, it is not only wrong for the child, but it deprives society of all that child has to offer,” said UNICEF Executive Director Anthony Lake. “Their loss is society’s loss; their gain is society’s gain.”
The report lays out how societies can include children with disabilities because when they play a full part in society, everyone benefits. For instance, inclusive education broadens the horizons of all children even as it presents opportunities for children with disabilities to fulfil their ambitions.
More efforts to support integration of children with disabilities would help tackle the discrimination that pushes them further into the margins of society.
For many children with disabilities, exclusion begins in the first days of life with their birth going unregistered. Lacking official recognition, they are cut off from the social services and legal protections that are crucial to their survival and prospects. Their marginalization only increases with discrimination.
“For children with disabilities to count, they must be counted – at birth, at school and in life,” said Mr. Lake.
The State of the World’s Children 2013: Children with Disabilities says that children with disabilities are the least likely to receive health care or go to school. They are among the most vulnerable to violence, abuse, exploitation and neglect, particularly if they are hidden or put in institutions – as many are because of social stigma or the economic cost of raising them.
The combined result is that children with disabilities are among the most marginalized people in the world. Children living in poverty are among the least likely to attend their local school or clinic but those who live in poverty and also have a disability are even less likely to do so.
Gender is a key factor, as girls with disabilities are less likely than boys to receive food and care.
“Discrimination on the grounds of disability is a form of oppression,” the report says, noting that multiple deprivations lead to even greater exclusion for many children with disabilities.
There is little accurate data on the number of children with disabilities, what disabilities these children have and how disabilities affect their lives. As a result, few governments have a dependable guide for allocating resources to support and assist children with disabilities and their families.
About one third of the world’s countries have so far failed to ratify the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. The report urges all governments to keep their promises to guarantee the equal rights of all their citizens – including their most excluded and vulnerable children.
Progress is being made toward the inclusion of children with disabilities, albeit unevenly, and The State of the World’s Children 2013 sets out an agenda for further action.
The report urges governments to ratify and implement the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and the Convention on the Rights of the Child, and to support families so that they can meet the higher costs of caring for children with disabilities.
It calls for measures to fight discrimination among the general public, decision-makers and providers of such essential services as schooling and health care.
International agencies should make sure the advice and assistance they provide to countries is consistent with the Convention on the Rights of the Child and the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. They should promote a concerted global research agenda on disability to generate data and analysis that will guide planning and resource allocation, the report says.
It emphasizes the importance of involving children and adolescents with disabilities by consulting them on the design and evaluation of programmes and services for them.
And everyone benefits when inclusive approaches include accessibility and universal design of environments to be used by all to the greatest extent possible without the need for adaptation.
“The path ahead is challenging,” said Mr. Lake in Da Nang, Viet Nam, for the launch of the report. “But children do not accept unnecessary limits. Neither should we.”

Rookie Angad Cheema bags maiden professional title

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Image

Richard Stephen Hilton finishes runner-up

Jaipur, May 30, 2013: Rookie Angad Cheema of Panchkula won the second leg of the 2013 PGTI Feeder Tour at the Rambagh Golf Club in Jaipur on Thursday after he fired an even-par-70 in the third and final round. Cheema totaled five-under-205 for the tournament to bag his maiden professional title. Dehradun’s Richard Stephen Hilton was the runner-up as he finished one stroke behind the winner.

Angad Cheema (69-66-70), who was overnight second, had an ordinary start to the day. He bogeyed the first and third holes after a couple of poor shots. The 23-year-old Cheema picked up his first birdie of the day with an eight feet putt on the eighth. However, he stumbled with another bogey on the ninth.

Angad then produced a far better back-nine as he birdied the 10th and 15th and made a good par to win on the 18th. Cheema, a winner of three events on the amateur circuit, landed his approach shots within five feet and two feet for birdies on the 10th and 15th respectively.

Cheema said, “The turning point for me was the birdie on the 15th as that gave me a two shot lead. I also made a good chip-putt for par to win on the 18th. My putting was much better as compared to last week’s event in Faridabad where I missed the cut. After the poor performance in Faridabad, I came to Jaipur just to prove to myself that I can play much better golf. I wanted to get in the right frame of mind before the season’s bigger events.

“I knew I would do well at the Rambagh Golf Club as I had won a team event at this venue during my amateur days. It’s great to win my first title within five months of turning professional. This victory is of huge significance to me.”

Angad Cheema is now placed second on the PGTI Feeder Tour Order of Merit behind Arjun Singh Chaudhri who won the first leg of the season at Faridabad last week.

Richard Stephen Hilton (68-69-69) was the runner-up with a four-under-206 total. The 25-year-old Richard made four birdies, a bogey and a double-bogey in his final round of one-under-69. Hilton, playing in his second season as a professional, posted the best ever result of his professional career after he finished second at Jaipur.

Overnight leader Honey Baisoya of Delhi secured tied third place along with Amardeep Rawat of Lucknow at three-under-207. Baisoya shot a three-over-73 in the final round.

Vishal Singh of Jaipur and Chandigarh’s Roop Singh were in tied fifth place at one-under-209.

Thursday, May 30, 2013


ONGC post Rs.25,123 Cr NP on a turnover of Rs.76,130 Cr to invest of Rs.11,00,000 Cr

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PUMPING ENERGY: ONGC CMD Sudhir Vasudeva with the Board of Directors of ONGC during a media interaction in New Delhi on Monday.
ONGC, Chairman  on his maiden   media interaction to present the annual reports 2013 in New Delhi.
Mr Vasudeva said, on replying to Nksagar question on IPO of bonds or equity share for sale of  the promoter, for garnering funds on capital expenditure the Government of India must make call on when it wants to go ahead. He further added that the Shares  market has been behaving very erratically and Government has to take a call.Chairman ONGC  Vasudeva said, ONGC  to unlock 450 million tonnes of oil and oil equivalent gas yet to be explored from the  domestic resources, OVL has been tasked to source 60 million tonnes of oil and oil equivalent gas per year by 2030.“We have decided to invest and explore opportunities in 4-5 international hubs, where OVL can atain growth of sufficient scale. Potential growth hubs include heavy oil, conventional plays, shale and deepwater,” he said.
“We have prepared a ‘Perspective Plan 2030′ that envisages doubling production over the next 18 years at 4-5% annual production growth rate,” he said.
These  ‘blue print’ targets doubling production in course of achieving a three-fold growth in revenue and profits. It also aims for a four-fold growth in market capitalisation of the company and a six-fold growth in production from international operations, he said.
“All this will require an investment of Rs.11,00,000 cr,” he said. It posted a net profit of Rs.25,123 cr on a turnover of Rs.76,130 cr.
ONGC expects to raise its crude oil output to 28 million tonnes a year by March 2014, and gas production to 100 million standard cubic metres a day by March 2017. ONGC  to bring in in foreign partners for increasing its output

Wednesday, May 29, 2013

Modi SOS to China to Set Up Textile Spinning Factories – Exclusive
May29, 2013

It is most shameful for Gujarat where first Textile Mills were
installed 1861 has failed to process even 10% of its cotton in to
Yarn, Cloth and Garments in desperation has Invited Chinese Companies
to invest in Gujarat. Since Gujarat processes only 10% of Cotton
produced in to Yarn, Textiles and Garments and produces 35% of Cotton
in India – Gujarat actually processes only 3.5% of cotton in India.

Self Styled DESH-BHAKTS reduced to two other Bimaru states MP and
Chhatisgarh can’t think of Inviting Indian Companies. His
Confrontationist Attitude – Always Creating Mischief Like Sreesanth
Doesn’t Impress Anyone. All BJP Leaders at Center behave like
Scoundrels – Raman Singh and Shivraj Chauhan are the only soft faces
of BJP both Chief Ministers of Chhatisgarh and MP.

I am in favor of China investing in India in Projects that generate
employment where Indian Industry is not interested.

Even the New Textile Policy called ‘Navi Gujarat Vastraniti’ providing
substantial additional incentives to already provided by India
government in its policy.  Vibrant Gujarat Summits committing
investment of 25,000 crores and 20,000 crores 2011-2013 didn’t
materialize.

Addition incentives by GoG are mainly 5% interest subsidy for 5 years
and Rs.1 per unit power subsidy – this could translate to 30% of
project cost.

Earlier Modi ignored Cotton Farmers and Cotton Industry favored Tata,
Ambani, Adani etc now Industry Ignores Gujarat these days. Modi was
happy exporting Cotton to China than processing in India.

But when there ‘Drought of Investment’ and Growth rate dipping to 13th
Rank Modi desperately seeks China Textiles to invest in Gujarat.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Textile_manufacture_during_the_Industrial_Revolution
During the second half of the 17th century, cotton goods were imported
from India. Because of the competition with the wool and the linen
industries, in 1700, the government placed a ban on imported cotton
goods. >>>> The savings that could be made with this technology were
considerable. A worker spinning cotton at a hand-powered spinning
wheel in the 18th century would take more than 50,000 hours to spin
100 lb of cotton; by the 1790s, the same quantity could be spun in 300
hours by mule, and with a self-acting mule it could be spun by one
worker in just 135 hours

In the 19th century, the textile and garments industry received strong
capital investment. On 30 May 1861 Ranchhodlal Chhotalal founded the
first Indian textile mill, the Ahmedabad Spinning and Weaving Company
Limited, followed by the establishment of a series of textile mills
such as the Calico Mills, Bagicha Mills and Arvind Mills. By 1905
there were about 33 textile mills in the city

http://beta.sgcci.in/upload/files/GOG_TEXTILE.pdf
[It is observed that besides the quality production of cotton, Gujarat
is quite strong in
Ginning both in terms of Technology & Productivity. But due to non
availability of
Spinning activities, over 90% of Gujarat cotton goes either for or to
other state for further value addition. Therefore, there is a need to
transform the State Cotton Industry as the leader in manufacturing of
yarn, fabric and garment with a policy to work on five F's - Farm,
Fibre, Fabric, Fashion (Garment) & Foreign (Export). In the export
front, Government of India has already earmarked Ahmedabad, once known
Manchester of India, as Town of Export Excellence in Textile.]

BS article on MoU in Textile Sector annexed

Ravinder Singh
Inventor & Consultant
Progressindia008@yahoo.com

Textile industry reaches out to China
Chitra Unnithan TNN

Ahmedabad: India’s new beginning with China is getting a push from
Gujarat, courtesy the state’s textile industry. In order to spread the
word on the new textile policy, Gujarat government has extended an
invitation to the textile capital of China—Shaoxing City.

    Recently, the India China Economic & Cultural Council (ICEC)
presented a letter, written in hand embroidered textile handicraft of
Gujarat, to the mayor of Shaoxing to visit Gujarat. A delegation of
Chinese textile companies is also expected to visit next month.

    “As there are several Chinese companies that are keen on setting
up units in Gujarat, there is a need to spread the word on the
policy,” said Jagat Shah, chairman, ICEC-Gujarat, who handed over the
invitation.

    Shaoxing city in Zhejiang province of China is considered as the
centre of the Chinese textile industry and the biggest textile base of
Asia. Chinese companies have expressed interest in setting up units in
the state with huge increase in the production of cotton in Gujarat.
The textile industries of China are working out strategies to set up
their units in the state to reduce the cost on transportation of raw
material as well as finished products.

    As part of their visit to Gujarat, Chinese companies will meet
officials of the state government on the new textile policy of the
state. A visit to the textile companies in Ahmedabad and Surat has
also been planned along with meetings with research and development
institutions like ATIRA and trade associations in the state. ICEC has
also organised a seminar in Ahmedabad to encourage partnership of
Chinese companies with Gujarat-based companies.

    Keeping the border tension aside amid the brouhaha in India over
the Chinese incursions in Ladakh, Gujarat has decided to forge
business ties with its Chinese counterparts.

    Chinese Premier Li Keqiang arrived in India on Sunday on a
three-day state visit, his first overseas trip after assuming office
in March. Li held talks with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on a string
of issues including the recent border row.

Ravinder Singh
Progressindia008@yahoo.com

GAIL’s Turnover increases 18% to Rs. 47,333 crore in FY 2012-13

29 05 2013 GAIL’s Turnover increases 18% to Rs. 47,333 crore in FY 2012-13 & 19% in Q4 to Rs. 12409 crore Net Profit up 10% at Rs. 4,022 crore in FY 2012-13 & 28% in Q4 to Rs. 618 crore Board recommends total dividend of 96% on paid up capital
New Delhi, May 28, 2013: GAIL (India) Limited has recorded sustained performance in financial parameters for the Financial Year 2012-13. According to the audited figures, Turnover (net of excise duty) in the year 2012-13 increased by 18% to Rs. 47,333 crore from Rs. 40,281 crore in FY 2011-12. The Gross Margin during the year 2012-13 increased by 16% to Rs. 7,233 crore from Rs. 6,247 crore. The Profit Before Tax during the year 2012-13 increased by 13% to Rs. 6,058 crore from Rs. 5,340 crore in the previous year. The Profit After Tax during the year 2012-13 increased by 10% to Rs.4,022 crore from Rs. 3,654 crore in the previous year. The Board of Directors has recommended payment of total dividend at the rate of 96 percent on the paid-up share capital of the Company for FY 2012-13 inclusive of 40 percent interim dividend already paid.
Segment-wise Revenue
During the current financial year, sales from Natural Gas Trading increased by 20% to Rs. 39,609 crore as against Rs. 33,052 crore in last year. The net sales from Petrochemicals business have increased by 10% to Rs. 3,765 crore as against Rs.3,415 crore in last year. The net sales from LPG and Liquid Hydrocarbons business during the current financial year increased by 44% to Rs. 4,434 crore as against Rs.3,090 crore in last year. Revenues from Natural Gas Transmission business were Rs. 3,347 crore as against Rs. 3,852 crore in last year. Revenues from LPG transmission during the current financial year were Rs. 294 crore as against Rs. 454 crore in last year.
The increase in net profit during the current financial year was mainly due to the increase in Natural Gas Trading, and better price realisation of Petrochemicals and LPG & Liquid Hydrocarbon sales.
Physical Performance
During FY 2012-13, petrochemical production was 437,000 MT as against 441,000 MT in the last year. During the current financial year, polymer sales were 427,000 MT as against 448,000 MT in the last year. During the current financial year LPG and Other Liquid Hydrocarbon production was 1,376,000 MT as against 1,439,000 MT in the last year. The LPG and Other Liquid Hydrocarbon sales during the current financial year was 1,371,000 MT as against 1,441,000 MT in the last year. The LPG transmission during the current financial year was 3,136,000 MT as against 3,362,000 MT in the last financial year. The Natural Gas transmission was 104.90 MMSCMD as against 117.62 MMSCMD in the last year. The Natural Gas sales during the current financial year were 81.44 MMSCMD as against 84.17 MMSCMD in the last year.
During the year 2012-13, as per consolidated financial statements, the total group sales (net of Excise Duty) were Rs. 50,893 crore. The consolidated Gross Margin was Rs.8,312 crore, the Profit Before Tax was Rs. 6,558 crore and Group Profit After Tax was Rs. 4,374 crore.
The Earning Per Share (EPS) was Rs. 31.71 per share in the year 2012-13 as against Rs. 28.80 per share in the year 2011-12. The EPS as per consolidated statement was Rs. 34.48 per share as against Rs. 35.03 per share in the previous year.
Q4 Results of 2012-13
GAIL (India) Limited registered a turnover (net of Excise Duty) of Rs. 12,409 crore in the fourth quarter of FY 2012-13 as against Rs. 10,455 crore, a 19% increase over the turnover in the corresponding quarter during the last financial year. The Gross Margin for the fourth quarter of the FY 2012-13 increased by 47% to Rs. 1,468 crore from Rs.997 crore in the corresponding period of last year. The profit before tax for the fourth quarter increased by 56% to Rs. 1,141 crore from Rs. 731 crore. GAIL’s Net Profit for the fourth quarter increased by 28% to Rs. 618 crore against Rs. 483 crore in the corresponding quarter of previous year.
Segment-wise Revenue
During the fourth quarter of the current financial year net sales from LPG and Liquid Hydrocarbons business during the fourth quarter of the current financial year have increased by 308 percent to Rs. 1,315 crore as against Rs. 322 crore in the corresponding period of last year due to lower contribution to LPG subsidy in comparison to last year. The net sales from Petrochemicals business have increased by 25 percent to Rs. 1,204 crore as against Rs. 963 crore in the corresponding period of last year. Revenue from Natural Gas Trading have increased by 16 percent to Rs.10,552 crore as against Rs. 9,121 crore in the corresponding period of the last year. The revenues from Natural Gas Transmission business were Rs. 458 crore as against Rs. 846 crore in the corresponding period of previous year. The revenues from LPG transmission were Rs. 104 crores as against Rs. 109 crores in the corresponding period last year.
The increase in net profit during the fourth quarter of the current financial year was mainly due to higher price realisation of petrochemical, Liquid Hydrocarbon and lower LPG Subsidy contribution by the Company.
Physical Performance
During the fourth quarter of the current financial year, the Natural Gas sales were 80.13 MMSCMD as against 85.47 MMSCMD during the corresponding quarter of last year. The Natural Gas transmission during the fourth quarter of the current financial year was 99.49 MMSCMD as against 115.62 MMSCMD in the corresponding period last year. During the fourth quarter of FY 2012-13, the petrochemical production was 119,000 MT, up 16 per cent from 103,000 MT in the corresponding quarter last year. The polymer sales during the fourth quarter of the current financial year have increased by 12 percent to 132,000 MT as against 118,000 MT in the corresponding quarter in the previous year. The LPG transmission during the fourth quarter of the current financial year was 745,000 MT as against 879,000 MT during the corresponding quarter in the previous financial year. The LPG and Other Liquid Hydrocarbon production during the fourth quarter of the current financial year was 349,000 MT as against 351,000 MT in the corresponding quarter of last year. The LPG and Other Liquid Hydrocarbon sales during the fourth quarter of the current financial year were 348,000 MT as against 351,000 MT in the corresponding period last year.

bsnl & DIMENSION DATA launch cloud services powered by ‘global cloud exchange’

29 05 2013
New corporate logo
bsnl AND DIMENSION DATA launch enterprise cloud services powered by first of its kind ‘global cloud exchange’
Acquires 15 user enterprises across Private and Government sectors

New Delhi, 28 May, 2013 – Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL), India’s leading telecommunication services provider and Dimension Data, the leading global ICT solutions and services provider today jointly announced the launch of their Enterprise Cloud Services in India. Based on Dimension Data’s Managed Cloud Platform™ (MCP), BSNL forays into the Enterprise Cloud services space through its Internet Data Centres (IDCs). The launch was presided over by Shri Kapil Sibal, Hon’ble Minister for Communications and IT who witnessed the signing-on of 15 user enterprises across Financial Services, IT / ITES, Education and Government sectors.
Based on a standardised architecture, the MCP offers enterprises the advantage of being able to support public, private and hybrid cloud models. All MCPs are enterprise-ready, offering multiple layers of security, administrative controls, highest availability SLAs, 24/7 phone support and integrated management capabilities.
Specifically architected for Large Enterprise needs, these services have already been acknowledged as ‘Leaders’ in Gartner’s Magic Quadrant for Cloud IaaS, and have more than 1,000 clients globally.
Commending the launch of BSNL’s cloud services, Shri Kapil Sibal, Hon’ble Minister of Communications and IT, said, “I compliment BSNL and Dimension Data on being able to successfully launch enterprise class cloud services following up on their earlier initiative of building world-class Internet Data Centres. With the central, as well as State governments strategically investing in strengthening their E-Governance initiatives to benefit citizens, this public-private partnership to offer cloud services is another step towards realising the larger goal of bridging the gap between citizens and the government.”
Shri R. K. Upadhyay, Chairman & Managing Director, BSNL, said “The IDC and Cloud Services have not only enabled us to build and add new strategic capabilities to our portfolio, but also, it has benefited our clients who can leverage our flexible sourcing options or simply host their entire IT assets within our secure environment and with expert care. The fact that we have already signed on 15 leading organizations is a clear indicator of the value we are delivering.”
Further elaborating on the launch, Kiran Bhagwanani, CEO, Dimension Data India said, “India is a key market for Dimension Data and we continue to make significant investments here. Our partnership with BSNL to build the IDCs and offer world-class Cloud Services is testimony to our commitment to the region. We offer a wide range of Cloud Services that support our clients at every step of their cloud journey, be it implementing private clouds or offering public cloud services, very often ending up with a hybrid model for enterprise clients. Our highly secure, enterprise-class, globally connected cloud platform is positioned in the ‘Leaders’ quadrant of Gartner’s Magic Quadrant for Cloud IaaS with more than a thousand global clients already on board.”
-ENDS-

About BSNL:
Bharat Sanchar Nigam Ltd. is the world’s seventh largest telecommunications company, providing a comprehensive range of telecom services in India: Wireline, CDMA mobile, GSM Mobile, Internet, Broadband, Carrier services, MPLS-VPN, VSAT, VoIP services, IN services etc. Presently it is one of the largest and leading public sector units in India. Scaling new heights of success, the present turnover of BSNL is around US$ 6 billion in last financial year. The turnover, nationwide coverage, reach, comprehensive range of telecom services and the desire to excel in new upcoming fields has made BSNL the leading Telecom Company of India. With this new business of Datacenter, Cloud services and IT solutions suites BSNL has further diversified its business portfolio. For more information, please visit http://www.bsnl.co.in

About Dimension Data
Founded in 1983, Dimension Data is an ICT services and solutions provider that uses its technology expertise, global service delivery capability, and entrepreneurial spirit to accelerate the business ambitions of its clients. Dimension Data is a member of the NTT Group.

In Asia Pacific, we operate in over 60 offices across 13 countries. We help clients plan, build, support, manage, improve and innovate their ICT infrastructures. It combines an expertise in networking, security, data centre solutions, Microsoft solutions and converged communications and contact centre technologies, with advanced skills in consulting, integration, training and managed services. www.dimensiondata.com
 
 
 
FY2013 Gross and Net Market Borrowings higher by 9.4% and 7.1% respectively

(Snapshot of the report on Public Debt Management for January-March 2013)
 
The gross and net market borrowing requirements of the Government were reduced in the revised estimated for FY2013 to Rs. 5,58,000 crore and Rs.4,67,384 crore from budgeted levels of Rs.5,69,616 crore and Rs. 4,79,000 crore, respectively. However, during FY2013, gross and net market borrowings of the government were higher than previous year by 9.4%per cent and 7.1%, respectively.
 
Government Finances-- The gross fiscal deficit of the Central Government in revised estimates (RE) was placed at Rs. 5,20,925 crore (5.2% of GDP) in 2012-13 as against budgeted level of Rs. 5,13,590 crore (5.1% of GDP). The gross and net market borrowing requirements of the Government were, however, reduced in revised estimates for FY2013 to Rs. 5,58,000 crore and Rs.4,67,384 crore from budgeted levels of Rs.5,69,616 crore and Rs.4,79,000 crore, respectively. Gross fiscal deficit for FY2014 is budgeted at Rs. 5,42,499 crore (4.8% of GDP) with corresponding increase in gross and net market borrowings to Rs. 5,79,009 crore and Rs. 4,84,000 crore respectively.
 
The fiscal outcome during April-February of FY13 indicates some deterioration in terms of key deficit indicators as % of revised estimates (RE), vis-a-vis their position during the same period of the previous fiscal year, mainly due to increased expenditure. Gross tax collections during the same period at 78.3% of revised estimates were marginally higher than 78% a year ago. In the direct taxes, while collections from corporation tax at Rs. 2,57,984 crore showed a growth rate of 7.7% as against 11.2% growth projected in revised estimates, personal income tax collections at Rs.1,53,134 crore showed a robust growth rate of 22.3% against 21% growth rate in revised estimates for FY2013.
 
Among the major indirect taxes, while collections from customs duties showed growth of 9.3% during April-February 2012-13 marginally lower than revised estimate growth of 10.4%, growth in excise duties at 19.6% exceeded the revised estimate growth of 18.1%. Service tax collections increased by 34.9% during the period under discussion showing a deceleration from 36.1% growth projected in the revised estimates. Total expenditure during April-February 2012-13 at 85.2% of revised estimate was higher than 83.9% during the same period of previous year.
 
As a result of higher expenditure, revenue deficit and fiscal deficit during April-February 2012-13 stands at 101.2% and 97.4% of revised estimates higher than 96.6% and 94.6%, respectively, during the same period a year ago. Primary deficit at 119.2% of revised estimates was also higher than 104.5% during the corresponding period of the previous fiscal year.
 
Fiscal outcome April-February 2013                                                   (in Rs. Crore)
 
Outstanding Public Debt-- The total public debt (excluding liabilities under the ‘Public Account’) of the Government increased to Rs. 40,83,040 crore at end-March 2013 from Rs. 40,64,755 crore at end-December 2012. This represented a quarter-on-quarter (QoQ) increase of 0.4% compared with an increase of 4% in the previous quarter (Q3 of FY13). Internal debt constituted 91.1% of public debt, compared with 90.7% at the end of the previous quarter. Marketable securities (consisting of Rupee denominated dated securities and treasury bills) accounted for 82.3% of total public debt, compared with 81.9% at end-December 2012. The outstanding internal debt of the Government at Rs. 37,18,633 crore constituted 37.1% of GDP compared with 36.8% at end-December 2012.
 
Composition of Public debt
Source: Ministry of Finance
 
In the secondary market, bond yields eased during the quarter due to policy easing by a total of 50 bps as well as OMO purchases by RBI, decline in inflation rate, slowdown in GDP growth rate and reduced supply of securities. Trading volumes increased significantly during the quarter driven by falling yields. Outright transactions during FY13 increased by 89.0 per cent over FY12.The annualised outright turnover ratio for Central Government dated securities for Q4 of FY13 went-up to 6 from 3.2 during the previous quarter.
 
Warm regards,
 
Dr. S P Sharma
Chief Economist

Tuesday, May 28, 2013

3 out of every 4 children are exposed to tobacco advertising

New Delhi, 28 May 2013: The World Health Organization is raising the alarm about the fact that nearly three in four children between the ages of 13 and 15 are exposed to pro-cigarette ads on billboards and pro-tobacco messages at sports and other events. These advertisements have been proven to influence them to start smoking. Urging countries to ban tobacco advertising, promotion and sponsorship, WHO is appealing for stronger legislation and enforcement to prevent tobacco-related deaths. It is estimated that nearly 1.3 million people die of tobacco-related illnesses every year in South-East Asia.

Tobacco products are the only legally available products that can kill up to one half of their regular users if consumed as recommended by the manufacturer. WHO monitors and draws global attention to the activities and practices of the tobacco industry in conformity with World Health Assembly Resolution WHA54.18 and the provisions of the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control.
“Statistics show that banning tobacco advertising and sponsorship is one of the most cost-effective ways to reduce tobacco demand. A comprehensive ban on all tobacco advertising, promotion and sponsorship could decrease tobacco consumption by an average of about 7%, with some countries experiencing a decline in consumption of up to 16%,” said Dr Samlee Plianbangchang, WHO Regional Director for South-East Asia. “Our efforts should focus on preventing the youth from being exposed to all forms of tobacco advertisement, promotion and sponsorship. Enforcement of a ban on sale of tobacco to minors should also be strengthened,” he added.
Effective monitoring, enforcement and sanctions along with high community awareness are essential for implementing a comprehensive ban on tobacco advertising, promotion and sponsorship. Although most countries have tobacco control laws, a ban on advertising of tobacco products needs to be enforced.
Research states that about 1 in 10 students had an object with a cigarette brand logo and 1 in 10 students had been offered free cigarettes by a tobacco company in the Region.  Seven in 10 students saw cigarette brand names when watching sports events on television. These data are alarming as they show how the tobacco industry has been using all kinds of techniques to allure the youth to become addicted to tobacco in the Region. Once young people have experimented with tobacco, they are prone to become tobacco users as adults.
In WHO’s South-East Asia Region, several countries have adopted strong legislation to protect their populations. The Health Law regulation in Indonesia covers provisions such as smoke-free public places, pictorial health warnings, and restrictions on tobacco advertising and promotion. In Bangladesh, the amendment of tobacco legislation has been passed by the parliament on 29 April 2013. In India, taxation on cigarettes has been significantly increased. Many Indian states have banned the sale of gutka, which is prevalent among youth in India. Thailand has increased taxation on manufactured cigarettes and on shredded (roll-your-own) tobacco, while Indonesia has simplified its tax structure and increased the tax rates on cigarettes. Myanmar has also significantly increased its tax rates on all forms of tobacco products.  Nepal adopted comprehensive tobacco control legislation in 2011 and Sri Lanka adopted regulations on pictorial health warnings in August 2012. Very recently, the Minister of Health in Thailand announced that 85% of space on cigarette packages will be covered by graphic health warnings.
Several countries have banned sponsored events by tobacco companies and others have prohibited the tobacco industry from publicizing their Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) activities. The tobacco industry targets the youth as part of their CSR activities by funding of smoking prevention programmes for youth, rescue efforts during natural disasters, education and research grants, sponsoring of sports and social events etc. Research has shown that their smoking prevention programmes for youth did not prevent the youth from smoking. The research funded by the industry also aims to defend the tobacco industry by diluting the strong evidence of the hazards of tobacco on health. These activities are aimed to gain respect of the public while marketing their tobacco brands.
Each year, the tobacco industry spends billions of dollars around the globe on advertising, sponsorships, and other forms of promotion. Tobacco companies develop massive marketing campaigns to entice specific populations, such as women and young people, to become long-term smokers. Studies show that tobacco marketing recruits new tobacco users, maintains use among current users, reduces a tobacco user’s willingness to quit, and encourages former users to start using tobacco again. Therefore, only comprehensive bans on tobacco advertising, promotion and sponsorship are truly effective at reducing tobacco use.
===
WHO’s South-East Asia Region comprises the following 11 Member States: Bangladesh, Bhutan, Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, India, Indonesia, Maldives, Myanmar, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Thailand and Timor-Leste.
More information on World No Tobacco Day can be accessed at our website: www.searo.who.int

Media contacts
Ms Vismita Gupta-Smith, Public Information and Advocacy Officer, WHO Regional Office for South-East Asia.  E-mail:guptasmithv@who.intguptasmithv@who.int
>; telephone +91 11 23370804, ext 26401
Dr Nyo Nyo Kyaing, Regional Adviser Tobacco Free Initiative, WHO Regional Office for South-East Asia.  E-mail:kyaingn@who.intkyaingn@who.int>; telephone +91 11 23370804, ext 26523

Monday, May 27, 2013

Quake of M6.0 – EASTERN UZBEKISTAN




Quake of M6.0 – EASTERN UZBEKISTAN

Preliminary Earthquake Report
Magnitude6.0
Date-Time
  • 26 May 2013 06:08:17 UTC
  • 26 May 2013 11:08:18 near epicenter
  • 26 May 2013 10:08:17 standard time in your timezone
Location40.011N 67.329E
Depth26 km
Distances
  • 27 km (16 mi) N of Bulung’ur, Uzbekistan
  • 40 km (24 mi) NNE of Jomboy, Uzbekistan
  • 41 km (25 mi) ENE of Chelak, Uzbekistan
  • 45 km (27 mi) WSW of Jizzax, Uzbekistan
  • 206 km (127 mi) NW of Dushanbe, Tajikistan
Location UncertaintyHorizontal: 12.3 km; Vertical 6.2 km

Israel's president has urged Israeli and Palestinian leaders to overcome differences and resume peace negotiations, saying the sides could not afford "to lose this opportunity."

President Shimon Peres issued his call ahead of a gathering of Mideast leaders on the sidelines of a conference hosted by the Geneva-based World Economic Forum on the shores of the Dead Sea in Jordan.
Sunday's conference included a rare face-to-face meeting between Israeli and Palestinian leaders, with the participation of US Secretary of State John Kerry, who has devoted much of the past two months to restarting long-stalled peace talks.
"We shouldn't lose the opportunity because it will be replaced by a great disappointment," Peres told reporters in Jordan. "For my experience, I believe it's possible to overcome it. It doesn't require too much time." Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas agreed.
"Enough is enough. A lot of our young people have started to lose confidence in the two-state solution," he said to a loud applause from an audience of more than 1,000 business and government leaders from 23 countries worldwide.
He blamed the growing mistrust on Israeli moves, essentially construction in West Bank settlements and detention of hundreds of Palestinians.
Abbas reiterated his rejection of partial solutions. "We will neither accept interim solutions, nor a state with temporary borders or a peace based on economic perks without progress on the political track," he said.
At one point in the closing session, Kerry joked with Abbas and Peres who exchanged hugs, kisses, handshakes and emotional speeches telling both from the podium that he had an "agreement you can come up and sign." Abbas peeked at Peres, pointing to the podium.
Then both laughed. Palestinian-Israeli peace talks broke down nearly five years ago, in large part due to disagreements over Israeli settlement construction on occupied territories claimed by the Palestinians.
The Palestinians say there is no point in negotiating while Israel continues to build Jewish settlements in the West Bank and east Jerusalem, which they say undermines their quest to set up an independent state.
The Palestinians want both areas, captured by Israel in 1967, as parts of their state.
On his fourth visit to the Middle East since taking office in February, Kerry held talks with Abbas and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu last week.
He said during his latest regional swing that both sides must make hard decisions to move toward direct negotiations.
Peres, who won the 1994 Nobel Peace Prize for helping forge an interim deal with the Palestinians, sounded upbeat and determined to help in peacemaking with Palestinians. "It is time for peace," he said. "I believe this is an important opportunity to (engage), not to waste time, return to negotiations and complete the negotiations with the Palestinians."
He said a peace agreement must be "based on a two state solution: an Israeli state, a Palestinian state living as good neighbors cooperating economically and bringing a message to the young generation."

Sunday, May 26, 2013

Japan PM Abe talks Myanmar's President Thein Sein



Japan's premier Shinzo Abe met Myanmar's President Thein Sein for talks at which Abe is expected to unveil huge aid and investment deals as he promotes trade with the fast-changing nation.

Shinzo Abe, who has pledged "all possible assistance" to kick-start Myanmar's long-neglected economy, went into talks with Thein Sein after touching down in Naypyidaw, according to a Myanmar government official.
The meeting with Thein Sein, a former general turned reformer, heralds a significant uptick in already warm relations between Japan and Myanmar as reforms and the removal of most Western sanctions spur investment in the former pariah state.
Abe said in Myanmar's state media on Saturday that the first visit by a Japanese premier since 1977 would see "further assistance" to Myanmar. He is tipped to unveil almost USD 1 billion in development aid and a plan for a nationwide electricity grid as he looks to cement a role for his country in resource-rich and strategically key Myanmar, formerly called Burma.
Tokyo has already made huge strides, last year vowing to forgive 300 billion yen (USD 3.4 billion) of the 500 billion yen owed by Myanmar.
He said Japan's investment push into Myanmar was both economic and geopolitical, with "rivalry with China" also driving policy. Unlike its Western allies, Japan maintained trade ties and dialogue with Myanmar during junta rule, which ended in 2011, saying a hard line could push it closer to Beijing.
Abe visited the Thilawa project - a 2,400 hectare site which will include a port and industrial park - as part of efforts to promote Japanese firms and infrastructure-building expertise.
The project and associated special economic zone was agreed by the two countries this year and Set Aung, Myanmar's deputy minister of National Planning and Economic Development, said it would create "quick wins" both for local people and Japanese business.
A memorandum of understanding was signed on Saturday for the project between nine Myanmar companies and three from Japan.

Saturday, May 25, 2013


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