Thiruvananthapuram Aug 4: The monsoon has caused
widespread destruction in various districts in the state. Following
heavy rains and landslides, at least 315 houses were damaged
fully and 2,059 houses were partly destroyed in various parts
of the state. At least 16 people were killed in landslides and
floods in various parts of the states. Around 1000 people were
shifted to relief camps opened at Idukki, Kasargode and Waynad
districts.
In Nellikkunnu in Kozhikkode district, following
landslip, ten people belonging to two families residing adjacent
to each other were killed. In Kulamaavil in the Idukki district,
five members of a family were killed following the collapse
of the check-dam. In Kannur, around 150 houses collapsed and
in Cherayi in Ernakulam, three people are missing following
the sinking of a fishing boat. The rescue operations are continuing.
In Wayanad due to heavy rains, schools were granted leave. Following
this, the state government has taken necessary measures to start
relief activities in various districts, which are affected by
the rains. Revenue Minister K.M. Mani informed that Rs 80 crore
had been sanctioned for district collectors to take up urgent
relief and rescue measures. -Keralamonitor.com
Entertainment tax for films to be reduced
Thiruvananthapuram Aug 4: Following a ministerial-meeting,
Chief Minister A.K.Anthony announced that decision has been
taken to reduce the entertainment tax for films and also to
stop the show tax. Law would also be introduced to curb the
production of fake CDs. He also said that the state would ask
the centre to pronounce cinema as an industry. -Keralamonitor.com
Admissions made by the Self Financing Medical
Colleges not valid says High Court
Kochi Aug 4: Admissions made by private college
management in Kerala is not valid said the High Court today.
It said that admissions made by the Self Financing Medical Colleges,
on the basis of the Entrance Examination conducted by them,
was "not valid" in the eye of law. The method of admission
to the Professional Colleges is governed by Sect 3 of the Kerala
Self-Financing Professional Colleges (Prohibition of Capitation
Fee and Procedures for Admission and Fixation of Fees) Act,
2004. In view of the Supreme Court's refusal to stay the operation
of Sect 3, it should be deemed that for making admission in
accordance with Sect 3, there is approval of the Apex Court,
Justice K Balakrishnan Nair held while disposing a batch of
nine petitions by the Association of Kerala Self Financing Medical,
Dental, Ayurveda and Siddha Colleges and some students that
came up before the Court. The court also said that it was impossible
at this point of time for the Management Association to hold
a fresh test as provided under Sect 3(4) of the Act. Therefore,
the managements can fill up all the management quota seats from
the list prepared on the basis of the Common Entrance Examination
conducted by the Entrance Commissioner. -Keralamonitor.com
Six new passport cells in Malabar region
Kozhikode Aug 4: The government has opened six
District Passport Cells at Kasargod, Kannur, Vatakara, Kalpetta,
Malappuram and Palakkad in the region, an External Affairs Minister
release said. The cells, attached to the offices of the Superintendents
of Police, in association with the Ministry, for scrutiny and
collection of passport applications have already started functioning.
Overseas job aspirants from Malabar will now get their passports
issued hassle-free in the region. This decision was taken following
the increase in the number of applicants from the region and
the delay caused by this in issuing of passports by the Regional
Passport office -Keralamonitor.com
Price spectrum band for rubber, coffee and tea
announced
Aug 4: The Price Stabilisation Fund Trust, Department
of Commerce, has announced the Price Spectrum Band for the year
2003 for Rubber, Coffee and Tea. The Price Spectrum Band for
each commodity has been calculated on the basis of Seven Years'
Moving average of International price for the commodity. Year
2003 has been categorised as Boom/Normal/Distress year for each
commodity on the basis of the relationship of average annual
Domestic Price to the Price Spectrum Band. Based on the above
methodology, the year 2003 has been categorised as Boom year
for Rubber, Distress Year for Coffee Robusta and Coffee Arabica
and Normal year for Tea. As no tobacco grower was enrolled under
the scheme during the year 2003-04, Price Spectrum Band for
tobacco has not been fixed.
As per the Price Stabilisation Fund Scheme,
the Price Stabilisation Fund Trust and/or the Members, who have
been enrolled under the Scheme upto 31.3.2004, would make the
following contribution to the Members' saving bank account:
" The Price Stabilisation Fund Trust would
deposit Rs. 82.25 lakh for 8225 coffee member growers @ Rs.
1000/- each;
" The Price Stabilisation Fund Trust would
deposit Rs. 9.31 lakh for 1861 Tea Member growers @ Rs. 500/-
each;
" 16240 Rubber Member growers would deposit
Rs. 162.40 lakh @ Rs. 1000/- each and 1861 Tea Member growers
would deposit Rs. 9.31 lakh @ Rs. 500/- each.
Since the year 2003 was a Distress Year for
Coffee, each Coffee Member Grower may withdraw upto Rs. 1000/-
from his Savings Bank account during 2004-05.
The Department of Commerce had launched the
Price Stabilisation Fund Scheme in April 2003 for the benefit
of growers of Tea, Coffee, Natural Rubber and Tobacco. The objective
of the Price Stabilisation Fund Scheme is to provide financial
relief to the growers when the prices of these commodities fall
below a specified level.
The scheme is based on the principle of contribution
from the growers and from the Government depending upon boom
/ normal / distress years, with a provision for withdrawal by
the growers during the distress year. The contribution of the
participant growers as well as that of the Government would
be credited to the savings bank account of the participant growers
opened for the purpose with any nationalised bank. The contribution
of the participant grower / Government in the growers' account
and withdrawal therefrom would be decided with reference to
the price spectrum band which would be fixed and announced every
year. -Keralamonitor.com
Concept Paper on revamping the Company Law launched
Aug 4: The Minister for Company Affairs, Shri
Prem Chand Gupta placed the Concept Paper on Company Law on
the website of Ministry of Company Affairs at http://www.dca.nic.in
here today.
The Concept Paper has been prepared in the legislative model,
along with explanatory notes on chapters, for viewing on the
internet so that all interested may not only express their opinions
on the concepts involved but may also suggest formulations for
the consideration of the Ministry on various aspects of Company
Law.
Speaking on the occasion, Shri Gupta said that the Companies
Act which had come into force on 1.4.1956 has been so far amended
for a number of times. Another Bill was introduced again in
2003. Many representations from the corporates and stakeholders
have been received by the Ministry in this regard. Hence a decision
to prepare a revised Companies Bill has been taken. The salient
features in the new Concept Paper include :
" Simplifying the law and reducing the
size of the Act. The 781 Sections in the present Act are proposed
to be reduced to nearly 289 Sections;
" Removal of Redundant provisions;
" Streamlining some of the existing sections;
" Rearranging of inter-related sections dealing with the
same topic in terms of priorities; and,
" Placing Procedures as part of Rules.
Describing the event as a first step in the consultative process
for comprehensive revamping the existing Company's Act, the
Minister said that over the years, the intensity of the interests
of the stakeholders and general public, including media in corporate
related matters has been rapidly increasing. This has been perceived
as a healthy development towards building a proper legislative/enforcement
mechanism. Keeping this trend in view and the need for comprehensive
development of Company Law in tune with the above stated objectives,
it is felt necessary to have a wide based consultative process
that will allow ideas, comments and suggestions to flow in from
all quarters. This exercise would enable the Ministry to work
out an appropriate legislative proposals that will meet the
requirements of India's growing economy in the years to come,
he added.
The need for streamlining the existing Companies Act had been
continuously felt in the past with as many as 24 amendments
having taken placed since its enactment. Exercises were also
taken up for development of a new Companies Bill from time to
time. A need has been felt for simplifying the Law and making
it compact and amenable to clear interpretation. It is also
increasingly being recognized that a new framework had to be
placed in position in tune with the emerging scenario, encouraging
good corporate governance and essentially including protection
of the interests of the investors and other stakeholders. In
the competitive and technology driven business environment,
while corporates require greater autonomy of operation and opportunity
for self-regulation with optimum compliance costs, this must
be reciprocated by way of transparency through better disclosure
and greater responsibility for improved compliance and enforcement
norms.
The Government have received valuable inputs from various committees
and expert bodies suggesting legislative measures for strengthening
the above stated objectives. Some legislative amendments have
been at an advanced stage of consideration for some time. Keeping
all aspects in view, it was felt that the existing Companies
Act needed to be revamped comprehensively with the following
features:
" Bringing about compactness by reducing
the size of the Act;
" Removing redundant provisions ;
" Reordering of existing provisions under interrelated
categories;
" Rewriting of various provisions to enable easy and unambiguous
interpretation;
" Providing greater flexibility in rule making to enable
timely response to ever-evolving business models. -Keralamonitor.com
Army provides flood relief
Aug 4: The Army was called out to assist the
Civil Administration in various parts of North Western India
following torrential rains.
While 24 Army columns are already deployed in
Assam, two columns of Army were deployed with boats and other
equipment to rescue marooned people in low lying colonies of
Panchkula township as well as some villages of Barwala Tehsil
along the Ghaggar river.
Six Army columns were also deployed for relief
and rescue operations in Rajpura Tehsil of Patiala Districts
along the Zirakpur highway. About 1000 people incl school children
from three schools have been rescued from this region. Medicine
and other relief material is also being delivered by the Army.
Elsewhere two columns of the Army have been operating in Surat
and Valsad; and one in Daman & Diu. -Keralamonitor.com
Shekhar Dutt is Secretary Defence Production
& Supplies
Aug 4: Shri Shekhar Dutt has assumed charge
as the new Secretary Defence Production & Supplies in the
Ministry of Defence. An IAS officer of the 69 batch Madhya Pradesh
cadre, Shri Dutt is a recipient of Sena Medal for gallantry.
Shri Dutt has returned to the Defence Ministry
where he once served as Joint Secretary in the same Department
that he heads now. During this period he was Director in the
Board of Defence Public Sector Undertakings such as Bharat Electronics,
Bharat Dynamics, Bharat Earth Movers, Mazagaon Docks, Garden
Reach Shipbuilders & Engineers and Goa Shipyard.
In his long and distinguished career in the
Administrative service, Shri Dutt held several key posts, which
include Director General Sports Authority of India and Principal
Secretary in the Department of Tribal and Scheduled Caste Welfare
and Principal Secretary, Departments of School Education, Sports
& Youth Welfare both in the Government of Madhya Pradesh.
During his tenure in the Sports Authority of
India, Shri Dutt played a pivotal role in the successful conduct
of the first Afro Asian Games in November 2003. As the Principal
Secretary, Tribal Welfare Shri Dutt was instrumental in drawing
up a number of schemes including special projects concerning
area development, collection and marketing of minor forest produce
and forest village development through joint forest management
mechanism.
In his capacity as Principal Secretary in the
Departments of School Education, Sports & Youth Welfare
Shri Dutt was credited with the introduction of an innovative
programme called Education Guarantee Scheme in which the community
panchayats owned and ran the schools. The scheme helped in universalizing
elementary education in MP to a great extent.
Shri Dutt's previous appointment was Secretary,
Department of Ayurveda, Yoga, Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha &
Homeopathy in the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare. -Keralamonitor.com
Water used in carbonated water to conform to packaged drinking
water standards
Aug 4: The water used in the manufacture of carbonated
water shall conform to the standards of packaged drinking water
as prescribed under Prevention of Food Adulteration (PFA) Rules
1955. A notification amending certain
provisions of Prevention of Food Adulteration Rules, 1955 has
been issued by the Department of Health and Family Welfare.
These amendments will come into force on October 13,2004. -Keralamonitor.com
ICAR suggests sowing of suitable crops in view
of rains
Aug 4: Monsoon has now covered the left out
northwestern part of the country and the rainfall is adequate
for sowing of suitable crops. According to the Indian Council
of Agricultural Research (ICAR), the rainfall is going to benefit
paddy and other crops already planted or sown. It will also
facilitate sowing in unsown areas. In Rajasthan, major emphasis
should be on the cultivation of short duration Bajra (HHS-67),
fodder & forages, mothbean, clusterbean, etc. Cotton, sugarcane
and other row crops should be irrigated with the ridge and furrow
system. Making of the ridge and furrow system in the row crops
will also facilitate better conservation of the subsequent rains
and promote better growth of the crops. If mulching material
is available, it can be applied preferably to fruits and other
high value cash crops. There should be greater use of sprinkler
and drip irrigation to cover more area with limited water.
In parts of Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan and Gujarat,
the groundwater is of poor quality and can be used in conjunction
with good quality canal or groundwater resources. Quality of
the sodic water can be improved by passing it through gypsum
beds or gypsum could be applied to the irrigated fields to counteract
negative effects of poor quality. In the area of some rainfed
fruits and timber trees especially in shallow soils, half moon
shaped rings or ditches can be made around the tree trunk so
as to conserve maximum amount of rainfall. Weeding and hoeing
of the germinated and growing crops is essential to conserve
the limited soil moisture and also to prevent evaporation of
moisture from the soil surface. -Keralamonitor.com
Citizenship granted to non-citizen US soldiers
on fast track
Washington Aug 4: As per an order issued by
President George W Bush, citizenship is being granted to non-citizen
US soldiers who are Permanent Residents or Green Card-holders
on fast track. Green Card-holders are allowed to join the US
military but are not eligible for government jobs. There are
now around 32,400 non-citizens in the US armed forces, which
is 2.3 per cent of the total. Normally a non-citizen who is
in the military should wait for three years to get the green
card, though it has been speeded up since the Iraq war. As yet
more than 16,000 non-citizens have applied for citizenship says
Lt Col Ellen Krenke, a spokeswoman for the Department of Defence.
-Keralamonitor.com
U.S Embassy sections in India to be closed down
owing to security concerns
New Delhi Aug 4(Reuters): In a statement by
the Embassy, it was informed that U.S. would close down a few
selected departments of its embassy in Indian capital city on
Thursday owing to security reasons. U.S. consulates in the other
Indian cities of Bombay, Madras and Calcutta would stay open
for "business as usual". The details of the security
concerns were not given in the statement, which said "In
light of security concerns, the Consular Section and the Department
of Homeland Security - Immigration Office ... and the Information
Resource Center (American Library) ... will close to the public
on Thursday, August 5, 2004". -Keralamonitor.com