December 9, 2002

Cochin Port Reconstruction Project Uplinking for News Channels with Foreign Equity Final results of NDA and Naval Academy Examination 1 2002 India and Kuwait to widen Cooperation in IT, Telecom Now Privatisation of Judiciary also?

India and Kuwait to widen Cooperation in IT, Telecom

Kuwait seeks India's help in ICT Training

Pramod Mahajan meets Kuwait Communication Minister

New Delhi -- India and Kuwait have mutually agreed to widen cooperation in the telecom and IT sectors. The focus would now be on Telecom Infrastructure Development, ICT Training, Exploring the possibilities of widened Indian presence in the growth of telecom in Kuwait, enhanced business linkages in the IT & Telecom Sector with the objective to promote new initiatives, market opportunities between the corporates of both the countries. India also agreed to extend the fullest cooperation in enhancing ICT presence in Kuwait thereby, facilitating the people of the country to enjoy the fruits of the IT revolution. These issues were discussed in a meeting today between Pramod Mahajan, Union Minister of Parliamentary Affairs, Communications & Information Technology and the Kuwait’s Minister of Communications, Sheikh Ahmad Abdullah Al Ahmad Al Jaber Al Sabah, here today.

A key feature of the meeting was the discussion on the possibility of the enhanced role of Telecommunications Consultants India Limited (TCIL) in Kuwait as far as telecom infrastructural growth and development was concerned. While lauding the role played by TCIL, the Communications Minister of Kuwait said that in the present circumstances, the Company could certainly handle more responsibilities in the development of telecom infrastructure in the country. Mahajan during the discussions spoke of the new areas of specialization that had become TCIL’s brand equity in the international telecommunications market. The Minister said that the Company had played a pro-active role in enhancing India’s telecom prowess world wide.

TCIL over the past two decades and particularly since 1992 when a MOU was signed between the two countries for cooperation in the field of telecommunications, has handled telecom projects of about US$ 100 million. It has also served the other organisations like Kuwait Oil Company, Gulfsat etc. of about US$30 million.

The TCIL under a proposal submitted to the Kuwait’s Ministry of Communications has submitted a State-of-the-Art technical solution for upgrading the Access Network to provide for Voice, Data & Video capability by using the Fiber To The Homes(FTTH) technology. The Broadband Network System has been designed by TCIL utilising technology tied up with leading US Companies like AFL & ARRIS Broad Band.

The MoU signed in February 1992 has provided for close cooperation between the two administration in the field of telecommunication services and facilities between the two countries. It provided for utilising to the largest possible extent the telecom facilities to the other administration for the transmission of telecom traffic to third countries, for providing information on tariffs, and, settlement of accounts for telecom services. The MOU also provided for technical & scientific cooperation by exchange of experts training programs and joint R&D activities.

There has been active cooperation between the two administrations, and over the period 1992-2002, following significant progress have been achieved: TCIL was the last Company to leave Kuwait after the invasion in 1991, and, TCIL was the first Company which was invited for restoration of the damaged telecom infrastructure after liberation. TCIL made an excellent job of restoring the communication facilities, working devotedly under the trying circumstances. In 1992-93, TCIL provided services of 60 Experts to MOC, Kuwait for Planning, Operation & Maintenance of Switching and Long Distance Network. It also provided 130 Experts/Technician to Kuwait Oil Company for O&M of the Telecom infrastructure. In 1994-95, an MOU was signed between Mobile Telecom Company, Kuwait & TCIL. Based on this, a joint venture was formed in India for bidding for Cellular Services. Hexacom Limited formed as above, is presently the leading Cellular Operator in the State of Rajasthan. Over the years 1992 to 2002, TCIL has handled turnkey projects for the Ministry of Communications, Kuwait of about US$ 55 million and supply contracts worth US$ 37 million. In addition, it has handled Telecom & Networking Projects for other organizations like KOC, Gulfsat etc. in Kuwait valued about US$ 30 million. Presently, TCIL is handling projects for supply & installation of telecom network in three Governates namely Capital, Ahmadi, Jahara worth US$ 10 million, and providing O&M support to Kuwait Oil Company for Telecom infrastructure. TCIL is executing Fiber to the Desk solutions for the Public Institute for Social Security(PIFSS), which is the biggest dedicated computer and telecom networking project in the Gulf. keralamonitor.com

New Mumbai Port

Jawaharlal Nehru Port at Navi Mumbai is the largest container port in India equiped with state-of-the-art cargo handling facilities with particular thrust on handling of containerized cargo. As per the information contained in the July, 2002 issue of "Cargo Systems", a U.K. based publication, Jawaharlal Nehru Port is in position no.40 amongst the top 100 Container Ports in the world.

Normally, only general cargo is containerisable since the liquid and solid cargoes are effectively handled and carried in bulk as it is economical and faster. The aggregate cargo handled by major ports during 2001-02 consisted of 53.46 MT general cargo of which 37.22 MT, including small parcels of dry bulk and liquid bulk cargoes also, representing about 70%, were shipped in containers.

The container handling capacity in major ports at the end of the Ninth Five Year Plan period in March, 2002 was 37.00 MTPA. During the Tenth Plan (2002-2007) period additional capacities at the major ports are envisaged to be created for container handling to the extent of 24.50 MTPA, mainly through private sector investment, to cope with the anticipated growth in container traffic. This was stated by Su. Thirunavukkarasar, Minister of State for Shipping in a written reply to a question by Prem Chand Gupta in Rajya Sabha today.-keralamonitor.com

Now Privatisation of Judiciary also?

RAJYA SABHA

Carrying out functions, including ancillary functions, of courts is within the domain of courts which work under the control and supervision of High Courts. High Courts may consult the concerned State Government, if required. Recent amendments to the Code of Civil Procedure, provide that summons may be delivered to such courier services as are approved by the court.

The Bombay High Court, as part of the Pilot Project of Computerisation and networking of city courts in Mumbai, which is funded by the Department of Justice, Government of India, is contemplating to enlist the participation of private vendors in certain ancillary functions connected with courts. These functions are: providing certified copies, issue of services and processes, making court related information available to litigant public and lawyers on video display units and internet/e-kiosks/interactive voice response system (IVRS) and processing of plaints, petitions etc. being filed in the court.

The vendors will install their own hardware, software and other equipment, and will be paid by the court on the basis of the actual volume of work done or services performed. Participation of private vendors is expected to bring about speed and efficiency in the delivery of services and ensure proper maintenance of equipment. This information was given by the Union Minister of Law and Justice, K. Jana Krishnamurthi in a written reply to a question from Yadalpati Venkat Rao in the Rajya Sabha today. keralamonitor.com

Liberian Journalist released after five months imprisonment

ABIDJAN, 9 December (IRIN) - Liberian journalist Hassan Bility was released over the weekend after more than five months of detention due what news organisations said was especially pressure from the United States.

Bility, editor of a private weekly, The Analyst, was arrested late June for allegedly collaborating with the rebels of Liberians United for Reconciliation and Democracy, an armed group fighting to remove President Charles Taylor from office.

BBC quoted Information Minister Reginald Goodridge as saying Liberia had released him in its own "national interests". "It is difficult for a small country like us to say no," he said. According to Goodridge, Bility took a Ghana Airways flight out of the country and they had no idea where he was now. The important thing had been to make sure the journalist left Liberia because of people's anger at what he and his conspirators had done, Goodridge added.

"Hassan Bility was a terrorist involved in an Islamic fundamentalist war," he said, adding that he had not been released because of humanitarian concerns. United States Ambassador John William Blaney and embassy officials turned out at Roberts International Airport, 45km south of the capital, Monrovia, to see Bility leave, BBC said.

Late October, Taylor announced that Bility and two fellow detainees would be freed, after they "signed a statement acknowledging that they would be rearrested in the event of any violations".

The two other men were arrested around the same time with Bility. All the three had been held incommunicado. They never appeared in court although judges had ordered the state to produce them. The US and human rights organisations had tirelessly appealed for their release. keralamonitor.com