Friday, April 30, 2010

Couple Caper

TSI Five-O: Carell and Fey’s chemistry lights up a fairly average plot

“Date Night” is undeniably enjoyable even if a couple of the gags are repetitive and the plot not completely water tight. And the primary reason for the fun is the comic chemistry between Tina Fey and Steve Carell. Their spontaneity in some of the sequences and Carell’s deadpan style, complementing Fey’s expressive enthusiasm, lend the film all the fun you may want in a mad ‘mistaken-identity-lands-couple-in-trouble-on-romantic-night-out’ comedy caper formula.

With a short runtime and a fairly steady supply of gags and one-liners, the story centers around a middleaged couple (Phil and Claire Foster; played by Carell and Fey) looking to put the spark back into their marriage with a special night out. When they can’t get a reservation at the city’s most upmarket restaurant they steal someone else’s, knowing little that they just signed up for a bag full of trouble as they are chased around by the henchmen of a mafia boss and the cops. Mark Wahlberg’s role as a hacker is worth a mention too; in a relatively short but shirtless appearance he manages to entertain.

The story has its fair share of jumps and disconnects but it is fairly snappy and the laughs keep coming rapidly enough to keep you engaged. It is the perfect movie for anybody (couples included) looking for a little fun on the run.

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Source : IIPM Editorial, 2009


An IIPM and Professor Arindam Chaudhuri (Renowned Management Guru and Economist) Initiative

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Wednesday, April 28, 2010

Sania-Shoaib is no big deal

Mix and match
Sania-Shoaib is no big deal. marriages between Indians and Pakistanis are a common phenomenon though it is now on the decline for obvious reasons, writes S Khurram Raza

Former Pakistan cricket captain Shoaib Malik and Indian tennis ace Sania Mirza are now man and wife. The hullabaloo, intrigue and suspense are over. The dust has settled after many twists and turns. Hopefully, the saga that played out morning, noon and night on national television will now recede to the background and the young couple will finally be allowed to get on with their lives – and we with ours.

But questions still remain: is it game, set and match for Sania? Or, is there another double fault awaiting her somewhere around the corner? For one, Shoaib’s cricket career is in a bit of a limbo: he is currently serving a one-year ban imposed by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB). He has lately been in the news more for his off-field activities than his on-field performances. So, will this marital liaison lead to a happy, ever after partnership or will it run aground like the sporting careers of the twosome? But when Cupid strikes, such questions, despite the obvious political, social and class issues at play in this affair of the heart, become wholly redundant.

This cross-border marriage between two sportsmen is the first of its kind in this part of the world. In the mid 1980s, long before 24-hour news television became an inseparable part of our lives, dashing Pakistani opening batsman Mohsin Khan, who also had a brief stint in Hindi films, married Bollywood actress Reena Roy amid a great deal of fanfare. The two have separated since. Mohsin now lives with his second wife in Pakistan while Reena Roy is in India with her daughter, Jannat. Ironically, Mohsin has advised Shoaib and Sania to be wary of the media. But away from the glare of the spotlight, many cross-border couples have over the decades gone about the business of making a success of their marriages. It is a common phenomenon although it is in decline today given the present climate of distrust between India and Pakistan.

Many Muslim families in north India got divided during the Partition. While some members of a family left for the newly carved-out nation abandoning their brothers and sisters in India, others refused to budge even as history cleaved the subcontinent into two parts. These divided family members continued to remain in touch with each other, eventually renewing their bonds through marriage between relatives and acquaintances across the LoC.

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Source : IIPM Editorial, 2009


An IIPM and Professor Arindam Chaudhuri (Renowned Management Guru and Economist) Initiative

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Monday, April 26, 2010

Crime and Punishment

Death-row prisoner seeks court’s permission to sire child

A married couple, who got a death sentence and life term, has filed a petition in the Punjab and Haryana High Court seeking conjugal rights within the prison so that they could give their family an heir.

The couple has been incarcerated in the Patiala Central Jail since 2005 separately. It was only after eight months of their marriage that they were arrested on charges of kidnapping and then killing a 16-year-old schoolboy. Jasvir Singh and Sonia of Hoshiarpur got married in their early 20s. They were a happy couple, but Jasvir was a greedy man who wanted to earn quick money. He decided that the best way to make a fortune was to kidnap a rich boy.

He zeroed in on a wealthy trader Ravi Verma’s only son Abhi Verma. Jasvir was helped by his friend Vikram to commit this heinous crime. They kidnapped the young Abhi and then demanded Rs 50 lakh as ransom money. When the amount did not come, Abhi was given a heavy dose of sedative. He never recovered from it and died. It was after this that Sonia stepped in. She helped her husband in disposing of the boy’s body. They thought that they would not be spotted. But they were busted.

After deliberating on the case, the court gave them death penalty. However, the Supreme Court while upholding the death sentence of Jasvir and Vikram converted the death sentence of Sonia into life imprisonment on the premise that she acted under the pressure of her husband.

Gursharan Kaur Maan, counsel for the couple says: “Both have asked the court to allow them conjugal rights in the jail. This has been allowed to prisoners in many developed countries.” But Jeevan Garg, superintendent of Patiala Central Jail, doesn’t agree with her. He says: “We have no such precedent. So far, we have not received any instruction from the seniors.” Lawyer Maan is not ready to budge. She argues: “In their case, the demand is not for personal sexual gratification. Jasvir is the only son of his parents and they wish to have a child to save the lineage.” The issue that has grabbed headlines across the country has divided society. Some people are fiercely opposing it.

They say child killers should not be allowed to have a child as the crime strips them of their civil rights. However, others argue if the purpose of punishment is to reform the culprits then they should be allowed conjugal rights for the sole purpose of having a child. All eyes are on May 24 when the Punjab and Haryana court hears the case. A positive judgment may have a long-term impact on prison laws and human rights in India.

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Source : IIPM Editorial, 2009


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Friday, April 23, 2010

“Being a husband is a crime”

My mother has a kidney problem and my sister is mentally challenged. After my marriage, instead of taking care of them, my wife started treating them very badly. One day, I was shocked to find a love letter written by my wife to her lover. When I spoke to her about it, my wife became furious and left our Mumbai home. She came back after a year but her behaviour towards my mother and sister did not change. After a few days, she suddenly demanded divorce from me and considering the scenario, I agreed. We filed a writ for divorce but after 18 months, she backtracked and accused me of fraud.

I knew she might file a false case under Section 498A. I wrote a letter to the Human Rights Commission and Mumbai Police Commissioner regarding my case. However, my apprehensions proved right when she actually filed a case and police arrested me and my father on November 24, 2009. We were put behind the bars for three days. If this was not enough, another case was filed against me under Domestic Violence Act. Since my father remained in jail for more than 24 hours, he was suspended from his job. My mother is ill and needs injections at regular intervals. Each injection costs around Rs 2,000, it has become impossible for us to sustain.
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Source : IIPM Editorial, 2009


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Monday, April 19, 2010

Micromax’s quest for the 2nd spot

It was a rather quick climb up the ladder for Micromax. So far, so good. But even after becoming the third-largest handset vendor in India, it has a steep climb ahead, with threats in the names of both new entrants and seasoned players... Will it win the ‘Silver’ soon?

Two years into the business, and you dare to challenge the #1 & #2, even in a cluttered market; that for you is Micromax! It started as a distributor of PC hardware (for brands like Dell, HP and Sony) and after seventeen long years, felt the need to grow as an independent brand. Four friends got together – Rajesh Agarwal, Sumeet Arora, Rahul Sharma & Vikas Jain – and decided to grow their business. Many ideas poured in during the umpteen brainstorming sessions that the four conducted amongst themselves. Finally, they decided to bet big on Sharma’s idea – to marry mobile handsets and rural and price-sensitive India. Thus, the company’s first phone (the X1i), was born in an environment that would transform into what would be proudly called the second-largest mobile market in the world, next only to US, with about 10-12 million subscribers being added every month. Better news for the four friends, as trade pundits are predicting that the current growth momentum in the telecom industry will last till atleast 2012.

Despite all the good tidings, it still comes as a surprise that a new entrant has managed to make such a deep dent in the crowded domestic handset market. Micromax is currently the third-largest GSM vendor in the Indian market, with a share of 8.1%, perhaps just a few notches behind Samsung who at the second position has 10.4% control, as per market reports. [Nokia with 52.7% share is the number 1 vendor]. Micromax has been selling anywhere around a million handsets every month, for the past year, and as company officials state, it has earned about Rs.15 billion in revenues during the past year. So here’s something to digest – going by the numbers, the Indian handset market is estimated to have sold about 130 million handsets units in the last calendar year alone, which implies, that if we were to consider just the sales during the past 12 months, Micromax has a market share of 9.3%, much closer (as compared to the previously stated 8.1%) to the 10.4% share of Samsung!

And there is a lot more to be had from a handset market that currently, only has a tele-density of 49.5% and has supposedly clocked a turnover of over Rs.200 billion over last year. Little wonder, that many global bigwigs like Nokia, Samsung, LG & Sony Ericsson have time and again referred to India as one of their key markets. But with great opportunities, come greater challenges, and the same is true for the #3. Once, Micromax was a challenger; today it is also being challenged by many entrants like Karbonn, Lava, Maxx, Intex, Lemon, Gee Pee, Videocon, Usha Lexus, Orpat, Airfone and many more... Talking about the growing count of challengers, Deepak Kumar, AVP, Research, IDC India says, “The number of emerging mobile handset vendors in the India market had grown to 26 in Q2 CY2009 and their contribution to overall shipments in terms of units crossed 6.3% for the first time during the 12-months leading to June 2009. This is as against only 11 emerging vendors representing a share of 1.2% of overall shipments during the previous twelve-month period.”

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Source : IIPM Editorial, 2009


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Friday, April 16, 2010

Lessons from the past

The rotational chief minister system was experimented with by the BJP and the BSP in 1998 in Uttar Pradesh where a deal was stuck under which Mayawati was to be chief minister for the first six months of the coalition government following which the BJP’s chief minster nominate would have taken over. BJP got the posts of deputy chief minister and leader and deputy chairman of the Legislative Council. However, merely 28 days after her six months got over and Kalyan Singh became the CM, Mayawati did a volte face and withdrew support.

When the Congress and PDP formed a coalition government in Jammu and Kashmir after the 2002 elections, they had decided to share the post of the chief minister for three years each. They had shared power accordingly starting with PDP chief minister Mufti Muhammad Sayeed at the helm. The transfer of power was smooth and Ghulam Nabi Azad took over after three years. However, the PDP never came to terms with the reality and a section of it never actually wanted Azad. In short, they were looking for an opportunity to withdraw support. It came in the form of the Amarnath land issue, following which, PDP left the government in a lurch.
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Source : IIPM Editorial, 2009


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Tuesday, April 13, 2010

1848 Princess Tui Inn, Samoa

Lavishing luxuries galore, 1848 Princess Tui Inn is nestled at an ideal location facing the South Pacific Ocean. Serving pure pleasure on a platter to its customers, the 1848 Princess Tui Inn has always been the epitome of warmth and hospitality. The resort provides the most scenic view of the glistening sun, dusty golden sand and not to mention, the azure waters. Blending tradition with culture, the 1848 Princess Tui Inn provides one wholesome experience of sheer bliss! 1848 Princess Tui Inn is a paradise for travellers – those who like to take it easy and also who like to be on the move 24x7 and prefer to go backpacking...

The View: It’s a marvel to watch the refreshing and energising sunrise and the picturesque golden sunsets from the various terraces and patios at the 1848 Princess Tui Inn. The resort, besides offering a spectacular view of the ocean, and with all the natural beauty surrounding it, also presents the visitor with the opportunity of being one with nature.

Archi Type: This luxurious resort has been built with a deliberate reflection of its tradition and a hint of its culture in its otherwise contemporary interiors. The designs and decorations have been aesthetically chosen to suit the taste of its guests from around the world. With beauty, fitness and spa facilities and with choicest elements – best quality woodwork, subtle colour schemes and interesting artifacts – the resort caters to the needs of one and all…

Bon Appétit: 1848 Princess Tui Inn invites its guests to try the various creations of its chef known to blend classic and exotic flavours. Crabs, prawns and shrimps are a delicacy and blend well with the well-known chilled Vailima beer.

Around the Corner: 1848 Princess Tui Inn is conveniently situated in this miniature paradise with almost all fabulous hideaways at a reasonable distance. The spectacular island of Savai’i is just a stone's throw away from Princess Tui, and is the perfect base for visiting Papaseea sliding rocks, Papapapaitai Waterfall, Mataerva Beach and the markets of Apia.

From Under the Carpet: For those who wish to see everything in one place or those who suffer from lethargy, 1848 Princess Tui Inn may not be the best bet.

In Essence: Nurturing a relationship with sheer originality, apparent cordiality and sweet seduction is the hallmark of 1848 Princess Tui Inn.

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Source : IIPM Editorial, 2009


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Monday, April 12, 2010

A tryst with the Nawabs!

In the heart of ‘babudom’, the city of nawabs is still being built by the government, while private players remain on the periphery, says avinash mishra

In this ‘City of Babus’, commercial plots have never managed to catch the fancy of the masses, or elites for that matter. The real estate sector of capital Lucknow, has witnessed manifold increase in prices of the housing plots. Nevertheless, going against the trend, a number of real estate players invested heavily in commercial properties and launched several malls, multiplexes and commercial complexes prior to the recession. Despite these efforts, they invariably failed to create any buzz in the market or incite any curiosity. And then came the meltdown. Whatever little demand it had been able to elicit got buried altogether.

Nonetheless what proved to be a loss for commercial plots’ proved out to be a gaining ground for housing plots’. In fact, it appears that the city is on a shopping spree for housing plots’. It is almost bordering frenzy; so much so that government housing organizations such as Lucknow Development Authority and Housing Development Board have run out of housing plots altogether. They are trying to utilize whatever space is left by constructing flats and auctioning it. This scarcity of plots has led to a sudden spurt in the price of plots owned by the Authority and Housing Development Board. For instance, in the prestigious Gomati Nagar Project, the Authority is selling plots at the rate of Rs 7,500 per square meters, up from Rs 4,000 per square meters last year. The same plots are going for Rs 25,000 per square meters, up from Rs 15000 per square meters in the resell.

Talking to B&E, Authority’s vice president Mukesh Meshram said, “We have close to hundred fifty thousand properties across the cityand we are developing them in a phased manner. Currently, we are in the process of developing 3,000 flats in Gomati Nagar, 5,000 flats under Sulabh Awas Yojna, 5,000 flats under Golden Installment scheme and 1,000 flats under Shristi scheme.” He further added that under the Kanpur Road project, 5000 flats are being developed in Mansarovar area under Sunrise Apartment scheme. Also, demand estimation has been called for in Gahru Village, Basant Kunj and Para areas which will have low-rise apartments mostly of ground plus four set up.

Given the bad reputation of the private builders , people in Lucknow prefer buying poperty from the Authority. Companies like Omaxe, Parsvnath et al have failed to complete their respective projects in Vibhutikhand area. The flats that were to be ready for possession in 2009 are nowhere near completion and those who made the mistake of booking their flats are often seen running from pillar to post, all in vain. Talking to B&E, Jaikesh Tripathi , Director, Pragati Colonizers, said, “The real estate market in Lucknow is Authority and Housing Board based. That’s why people are more inclined towards their properties. Private builders are still to establish confidence among buyers. They are involved in various irregularities and flaunt standards at will. Also, they use sub-standard material and set premium prices.” Consider the case of Ashiana Colony by Ansal Group. There are no sewer lines laid nor have roads been constructed. Everyday, residents take out agitation marches but nobody gives two hoots about it. However, given the ‘Babudom’ culture, flats are not that popular here. Having said that, really, it’s got to start sometime, somewhere!

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Source : IIPM Editorial, 2009


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Friday, April 09, 2010

Paradise is alive

Kashmir’s beautiful locations are bustling with activity as tourists return to the valley as terror incidents seem to be on the wane

Kashmir, the land of green valleys, beautiful lakes, icy deserts, high mountain passes, rugged terrain, foothills, picturesque plains and of many golf courses is geared up to host more than one million domestic and foreign tourists in the coming months. The state tourism department has declared 2010 as ‘Visit Kashmir’ year. To pull more and more domestic visitors towards Kashmir, the department has been holding road shows and Kashmiri festivals in different cities of the country during the past few months.

“We are expecting more than one million non-pilgrim visitors to Kashmir this year.” Nawang Rigzin Jora, tourism and culture minister told TSI. “We are trying to re-establish the state back as the most favoured tourist spot on the global map by making world class facilities available to visitors.” he added.

The expectations of the Jammu and Kashmir government aren’t misplaced. Visitors across from the country have started to land in Srinagar, the summer capital of the state. The Shahs of Mumbai are in Kashmir on a tour for the last ten days. “Undoubtedly, this is heaven on earth. We plan to extend our stay over here so that we can see many more places,” Pankaj Shah, head of the nine-member family, said.

The family is staying in a houseboat in the world famous Dal Lake. On the shore of the lake, the guests happily posed for a photo session. Everyone in the family seemed thrilled. “We are planning to re-visit Gulmarg tonight,” they said.

Gulmarg, literally the "Meadow of Flowers", is a mountain resort 56 km from Srinagar. It is one of the state's most visited destinations. The legendary beauty of the place, prime location and proximity to Srinagar make it one of the Kashmir’s primary hill resorts. Gulmarg was discovered by a Kashmiri king Sultan Yusuf Shah in the 16th century. The king was inspired by the sight of its grassy slopes emblazoned with wild flowers. Today, Gulmarg is not just a hill resort of marvellous beauty but also the India’s premier ski resort in winter when it is wrapped in snow. The immense beauty and adventure activities make Gulmarg much more than a cool hill resort. The place possess Asia's highest and longest cable car project called Gulmarg Gondola. The two-stage ropeway has a capacity to carry more than 500 hundred people every hour back and forth from Kongdoori Mountain, a shoulder of nearby Afarwat Peak (13,780 ft) of the Pir Panjal Range of the Himalaya chain.

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Source : IIPM Editorial, 2009


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Thursday, April 08, 2010

Southern wilderness - KERALA

If you are not hypnotised by this marvel of nature, something is wrong with your eyes, sense and sensibility

With an unspoilt and serene nature to bank on, Wayanad has turned itself into a popular tourist hub. The hill stations on the Western Ghats of Kerala with their exotic vegetation and vibrant wildlife attract every romantic who is fed up with the boredom and monotony of the day-to-day city life.

Attappady, Idukki, Pakshipathalam, Peerumedu, Silent Valley, Vagamon, Devikulam, Nelliyampathy, Ponmudy....the list of hill stations never ends. The aroma of exotic spices, amazing greeneries, glittering rivers, great ups and downs of topography, thrill of an adventurous drive through the mysterious hair-pin curves....are all a tightly packed combo which guarantees relaxation, peace and trance.

Come to Wayanad and you need not read Wordsworth's lyrics on nature. This entire northern district of Kerala is a full-fledged hill station. Located at an altitude of 700-2100 meters above sea level, Wayanad stands on the southern top of the Deccan Plateau. Kalppetta, Sulthan Batheri and Mananthaavadi towns provide the residential and travelling infrastructure for tourists.

This land was ruled by the renowned Keralavarma Pazhassi Raja among many others. The British took over the reins of Wayanad in the 19th . The wars Pazhassi waged against British with Kurichiya tribals are etched in golden letters in the annals of the freedom struggle. The tomb of Pazhassi Raja, better renowned as the lion of Kerala, is situated in Mananthavady, Wayanad.

Wayanad gives a traveller a unique mix - wildlife, trekking, historical places, pre-historic art and a peek into tribal life. The Wayanad Wild Life Sanctuary at Muthanga is a 344-sq-km abode of elephants, tigers, monkeys, spotted deer, panthers, sloth bears, sambhar, reptiles, bison, jungle cats, civet cats, gaur, wild dogs, wild pigs and other species. Rich in bio-diversity, this sanctuary is an integral part of the Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve. The ideal time to visit is from June to October.

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Source : IIPM Editorial, 2009


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Wednesday, April 07, 2010

God’s Own Hills

Time may have taken its toll on the capital city of Himachal pradesh, but the charm of a bygone era lives on in many relics of the raj that still are an integral part of life here...

It is not without a reason that Himachal Pradesh is referred to as Devbhumi or the Land of the Gods. The state is fascinating in its pristine natural beauty as well as topographic diversity. It is the home of dense green deodar forests, high-altitude desert, apple orchards, terraced paddy fields and the snow-capped Himalayas sending down snow-melt to feed the lakes and streams. It is also the abode of many temples and monasteries. It offers a large variety of travel destinations and a vacation in these hills of the north can be ever so rejuvenating. And there are travellers who come here for a visit and find the environs so charming that there is no going back. Such is the lure of God’s own hills.

Shimla
The first town that comes to the mind when a mention is made of Himachal is Shimla of course. This was the summer capital of the Raj and retains many charming colonial relics. The capital of the state, in spite of its overcrowding and haphazard development, still remains a destination of choice for many. It has also been the second most popular destination for Bollywood films behind Kashmir. This hill town also had the honour of having a yesteryear film named after it. Yes, the real star of the debut film of Sadhna and Joy Mukherjee, 'Love in Simla', was the town and its westernised high life: the Miss Simla competition, dance in Devico’s restaurant and the old Jennyrickshaw being pulled across the ridge by the hero for his lady love were some of the highlights of the film. Located at an altitude of 2,128 metres, Shimla has charming tudorbethan and neo-gothic architecture dating from the colonial era. The Mall is the main shopping street as well as the meeting place for people morning and evening. Christ Church on the Ridge is a majestic structure and the second oldest in North India. When in Shimla, a visit to the Jakhu Hill Hanuman temple, the picnic spot of Glen and the beautiful Viceregal Lodge, which now houses the Indian Institute for Advanced Study, become a must.

There are several getaways close by. One of the most alluring spots is Naldehra, just 22 km from Shimla. The rolling greens of this spot captivated Lord Curzon and it became his favourite camping site. A nine-hole golf course was built here in the early 20th century and later expanded to 18 holes. A major tourist attraction here is the Chalets resort with its charming pine log cottages built with technology from Finland. Yatish Sood, who set up this resort, says: “It is eco-friendly pressed board and no Himachal trees were slaughtered to build this retreat.”
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Source : IIPM Editorial, 2009


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Tuesday, April 06, 2010

Making hay while the sun shines

The generous military aid to Pakistan by the US is a result of its efforts to stop al-Qaeda and the Taliban, reports Shahid Hussain from Pakistan

Faced with the imminent threat that the US might leave Pakistan in the lurch again to deal with extremist forces once it withdraws from Afghanistan in 2011, the Pakistan government, especially its army, is trying its best to make hay while the sun shines and extract as much military and economic aid from the superpower as possible.

No wonder the Pakistan delegation that visited the Washington last week to negotiate with the US leaders comprised Chief of the Army Staff, Gen. Ashfaq ParvezKayani, and the Chief of Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI), Gen. Ahmad Shuja Pasha, something unprecedented in Pakistan’s 62-year-old chequered history.

The message was clear: security issues would be dealt with by the army. The Americans too welcomed the composition of the Pakistan delegation despite repeated suspicion that a certain lobby in the Pakistan establishment plays a double game and keeps its contacts with the Taliban alive. One reason for this complicity could be that it is the Pakistan army that is fighting the “war on terror” against the al-Qaeda and the Taliban and it is better to deal with them directly and assure them that Pakistan-US cooperation would continue despite odds.

Ahead of “strategic dialogue” between Pakistan and the US, Gen. Kayani held parleys with US defense secretary Robert Gates, Navy Admiral Mike Mullen, chairman of the US Joint Chiefs of Staff, Army General David Petraeus, head of the US Central Command, and other senior US military officials, indicating it was the army that calls the shots.

Faced with anti-Americanism at home, it was essential that the Pakistan delegation does not return home emptyhanded. The US leaders did not let them down despite rhetoric for the last couple of months that they expected Pakistan to “do more.” Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has been reported to have said the US has made a “strategic priority” to strengthen its partnership with Pakistan. In a testimony before the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee, she declared that US efforts in Pakistan were vital for America’s success in Afghanistan. The hearings help set the stage for the upcoming debate this spring over the White House requests for $33 billion in new war funding coupled with $4.5 billion in foreign assistance, chiefly for Afghanistan and Pakistan.

According to official figures, US has given Pakistan $15.4 billion since 2002. Two-thirds of the aid is security-related.

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Source : IIPM Editorial, 2009


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Monday, April 05, 2010

Will they ever find a medicine to cure this limping cousin?

With legislations hampering the flow of capital into the Food Processing sector, it’s time for an overarching law to save agriculture’s closest cousin. Many hurdles, one goal – make the Food Processing sector shine!

India basks in the glory of diversity and proudly boasts of being a smoothly run sovereign democracy (Naxalism and Kashmir can be relegated to the footnotes for the sake of argument). Today, we sit on our laurels won in IT services and Pharmaceuticals and steadily, every other sector in services is being opened up to allow foreign participation, thereby create greater competencies and economies of scale. However, an interesting characteristic surfaces the moment we delve into the economics of liberalisation since 1991 – the opening up of all sectors to private and foreign investment, over time, have happened during a time when there were very few lives dependent on them for livelihood. Automobiles, telecom, banking, insurance IT, and pharma all were in their nascent stages and driven primarily by educated Indians. But with private money flowing in, a few million white collar jobs have been created and today, the services sector has scampered far ahead of manufacturing in the country. Sadly however, at the same time, the per capita food intake for the country has fallen below many sub-Saharan nations. Disguised employment in agriculture continues to run the vicious cycle of low capital investment, poor quality, fragmented markets negligible profits and again low investment. Amazingly, food processing, the next in the food value chain (post harvest) has borne the brunt of not only being the industry to absorb the massive numbers from agriculture, but also to create many new jobs related to technology and supply chain. But, the legacy of a socialist ideology and the commitments of coalition politics have made the sector languish till date in the dungeon of low scales, low investment and outdated technology.

Firstly, just for a start, the unorganised segment in food processing, will require an investment of about $23 billion over the next ten years (estimated on the basis of output ratio as 2:1 and capital intensity ratio as 5:1 of organised and unorganised sector). But on the credit side, there’s no dearth of roadblocks. According to the The Cooperative Act, cooperatives in the country, are restricted to borrowing only from Cooperative banks, DCCBs and Regional Rural Banks (RRBs), thus resulting in only a few (and narrow) pipelines of credit available for food cooperatives to start processing operations. Similarly, the private banks are still prohibited to lend to State warehousing corporations which form the bulk of storage for all food products in India. There has been a constant rhetoric to allow the use of warehouse receipts as collateral for attainig credit from banks, however, till date, there has been no resonating tone from the government on the same.
For Complete IIPM Article, Click on IIPM Article

Source : IIPM Editorial, 2009


An IIPM and Professor Arindam Chaudhuri (Renowned Management Guru and Economist) Initiative

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Saturday, April 03, 2010

So what do we do about cancer?

Cancer has become a major concern worldwide. Billions of dollars have gone down the research river, but the results are only visible in developed countries. B&E’s Amir Moin argues that developing nations are the place where the battle has to be won

Cancer has been haunting human civilization for centuries. To begin with, the world’s oldest documented cancer case was recorded in Egypt and dates back to 1500 B.C. Cancer not only leads to loss of lives, but also results in major economic losses. The US basedNational Business Group on Health, representing 185 of the Fortune 500 firms and providing cover to more than 40 million workers estimated in a recent study that productivity loss for US firms resulting from smoking related diseases cost them $157 billion, even larger than the GDP of New Zealand. In fact, Purdue University’s Health Care Special Report takes the same even higher at $234 billion. This dirge is just the tip. The US Office of Technology & Assessment made an emphatic conclusion post a recent study that smokers, on an average, took 300% more sick leaves than non-smokers. Another research highlights strong evidence thatthe probability of smokers to become disabled exceeds their non-smoking counterparts by 600%! But the real eye-popper is the research report by Cappelli, Pauly & Lemaire of Wharton, which states that obese individuals have 30-50% more chronic medical problems than those who smoke or drink heavily! Researchers with the American Institute for Cancer Research looked at seven cancers with known links to obesity and calculated actual case counts that were likely to have been caused by obesity. The result- more than 100,000 cases of cancer each year are caused by excess body fat!

The world is coming together to stand up to cancer. But, according to a report released by the World Health Organization’s cancer research agency, 27 million new cancer cases are expected by 2030 growing at a rate of 1% every year. Emerging economies such as India, China and Russia would be the worst hit. According to the report, around 1.3 billion people smoke globally, making tobacco the major avoidable cause of death and disease worldwide. Experts say that tobacco has killed 100 million people in the last century and will kill a billion in the 21st century. Harvard Medical School told B&E, “Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer-related deaths in both men and women. Although prostate cancer and breast cancer occur more commonly than lung cancer, lung cancer is a more fatal disease.”

Cancer no doubt has become a big issue. Infact, Harvard Medical School says that cancer is second only to heart disease as the leading cause of death in the United States. Cancer kills one in four Americans and is the leading cause of death for women aged 40 to 79 and men aged 60 to 79. Society (common people and the scientific clan included) is doing all it can to spread awareness and at the same time fight this menace. At one end, you have cancer research institutes and the scientific community, working in order to make breakthroughs in the field of cancer cure. On the other hand we have NGOs and other non-profit organizations trying their level best to spread awareness about this deadly disease. For instance, Facebook went colourful a few days back. A strange yet unique – bra colour status updates – made its way into the network, but no one really knew how or why the what-colour-is-your-bra campaign took off. In case you are still confused and don’t see it, women were posting single word updates with the colour of their bra, hence the bombardment of ‘black’, ‘red’, and ‘nothing’ updates from your female friends. The colour update craze was started by women in Detroit who are trying to raise awareness around Breast Cancer. While all this was happening on the awareness front, scientists in Britain made a cancer breakthrough that could pave the way for tailor made treatment of breast tumours and revolutionize the way breast cancer is cured.
For Complete IIPM Article, Click on IIPM Article

Source : IIPM Editorial, 2009


An IIPM and Professor Arindam Chaudhuri (Renowned Management Guru and Economist) Initiative

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Outlook Magazine money editor quits
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Friday, April 02, 2010

Inviting the wolf home...

It may be true that if you’re not on the World Wide Web in the 21st century, you’re practically out of business. But if your business becomes someone else’s business, then you might feel jittery every time you punch in your magic keys. Not everyone on the Internet is as naive as you are... Welcome to the world of illegal hackers!

Con men, burglars, small-time thieves and serious criminals… the web is no stranger to any of these. The Internet sure has given us access to the necessary information and all the knowledge that we might need. But it has also opened the doors of privacy and given unwanted elements access to our personal lives. Compulsive voyeurs or Peeping Toms have been aided with the already there and ever-increasing industry of the ‘Social Networking Sites’. These sites have turned the world around for those who seek comfort while interacting with a long-lost pal. As long as it helps one share and get in touch with buddies, it is good. But the moment undesired weirdos start troubling you with unending ‘Friendship requests’ or meaningless messages, it starts getting uncomfortable. This is when the so-called net-savvy individuals opt for the ‘Block User’ privacy option. In the present day scenario, where status messages have to change with every fresh cup of coffee, resorting to safety measures like blocking a pesky user may not suffice. Informing your dear ones and letting them know where and how you’re going for a vacation or a date or even a meeting (all in good faith) may be just the information needed for those waiting to strike!

Blissful at the look of increasing number of fans and followers or admiring the up-to-mark look of one’s new profile shall soon be passé. Cyber crime is growing by the hour and with every piece of extra information, which may aid even the most uninitiated net-using criminal mind, it is getting simpler too. “There is a huge list of scams such as online earning proposals, duplicate websites, phishing and Spam e-mails, credit card frauds and EFT (Electronic Fund Transfer) frauds.
For Complete IIPM Article, Click on IIPM Article

Source : IIPM Editorial, 2009


An IIPM and Professor Arindam Chaudhuri (Renowned Management Guru and Economist) Initiative

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Outlook Magazine money editor quits
Don't trust the Indian Media!

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Thursday, April 01, 2010

Let me tell you the truth about Iran!

The truth, and nothing else, about the Islamic Republic of Iran

Michael Abraham Levy, President of Jews’ Free School, a friend of Tony Blair and the former chief fundraiser for the UK Labour Party once said, “You can bend it and twist it. You can misuse and abuse it. But even God cannot change the truth.” In the modern world, truth has different interpretations, and it often becomes difficult to comprehend which version is worth believing in. Iran stands as one of the most contemporary cases of this phenomenon.

On February 16, 2010, US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton accused Iran of sponsoring terrorism, when she said at a forum at Jeddah’s Dar Al-Hekma women’s college, “Iran has funded terrorists that have launched attacks within other countries – including the Kingdom.” Not that one harboured any sympathy for her intellect, but the fact that Ms.Clinton chooses to openly reject reality, shows her Sarah Palinisque approach to gain brownie points in the farm and bovine belt – by bleating oft-heard rigmarole. The fact that India recently received a communiqué from the Iranian Government – condemning in the strongest words the latest terrorist attacks in the city of Pune (at German Bakery) – made no difference to the lady. We have heard a lot about ‘Iran’ from Israel, the US and the West as well as from Iran and its allies Syria, Lebanon, China, and Russia. But what’s the truth behind the real Iran? The IIPM Think Tank brings to you our interpretation:

Truth: Mohammed Reza Shah, who was the Iranian King from 1941-1979, was a close ally of the West post World War II.

Truth: Although he promoted reforms (like land reforms, extending voting powers to women), he ruled autocratically, steam-rolling any political or civil opposition, often arresting opponents. His reforms movement was called ‘White Reforms’ – it was America inspired. It included granting blanket immunity to all US personnel and their children in Iran, and removing the requirement of taking oath on the Qur`an while assuming public office.

Truth: In 1979, Reza was overthrown by the pure Islamist Ayatollah Khomeini – a man whom Reza had gotten arrested twice, and even expelled from Iran.

Truth: Khomeini strategised the overthrow with open support from France, which provided him residence in Paris. Truth: Khomeini came into power using force, but legitimised it with a nationwide referendum, which also resulted in instituting the current Islamic Republic of Iran.

Truth: Iran is the only democratic country in the Middle East – UAE, supported vociferously by US, is not.

Truth: The sixth and current democratically elected President Mahmoud Ahmedinejad, like Obama, was a professor. He was elected in 2005 with 62% nationwide majority, and in 2009, again with 62% majority. 85% of the Iranian nation voted. In the 2008 US Presidential elections, 61% of American citizens voted. Obama got 52.9% majority.

Truth: Amidst controversy of missing ballots in the 2009 elections, the Iranian Guardian Council allowed partial recounting, which reconfirmed Ahmedinejad’s election. It may be noted that in 2000, the United States Supreme Court disallowed recount in the controversial Al Gore-George Bush Florida Presidential election standoff, allowing Bush to become the President.

Truth: Mahmoud Ahmedinejad is an evident loose cannon, once saying statements like, “If the Holocaust, as you claim, is true, why don’t you allow a probe into the issue?” and “Israel must be wiped off the map.” Similar to Bush, who went to war with Iraq saying that Iraq had weapons of mass destruction. Ahmedinejad also accepts his mistakes faster than Bush, with apologetic statements like, “I respect Jews very much,” and “I was not passing judgement on the Holocaust.”

Truth: Iran is a founding member of the UN, the NAM, OIC and OPEC.

Truth: Iran releases over 26,000 scientific papers annually. It has also achieved remarkable progress in space, nano-technology, and nuclear technology.

Truth: Iran also happens to be an economic giant with its GDP at $0.82 trillion in PPP terms. The economy is growing by an average of 6% and the country retains a massive 10% of the world’s oil reserves.

Truth: Iran wishes to be a nuclear nation, apparently for civilian purposes. Ahmedinejad’s undiplomatic diatribes with IAEA have ensured that the transition – opposed tooth and nail by the US – will be difficult, if not impossible.

Truth: Israel is a nuclear armed nation. It neither is registered with the IAEA, nor is a signatory of the global Nuclear non-Proliferation Treaty.
For Complete IIPM Article, Click on IIPM Article

Source : IIPM Editorial, 2009


An IIPM and Professor Arindam Chaudhuri (Renowned Management Guru and Economist) Initiative

Read these article :-

Outlook Magazine money editor quits
Don't trust the Indian Media!

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