The Hindu Business Line : Monday, August 16, 2004

ECONOMY
PM sets tone for reforms — Focus to be on seven priority sectors
THE Prime Minister, Dr Manmohan Singh, today outlined a seven-pronged growth plan for economy to bring about reforms in the Government. Addressing the nation on the occasion of the 58th Independence Day, the Prime Minister spoke as a true ... More

Expect some monetary measures soon
No one had ever expected the year-on-year wholesale inflation to shoot up by almost a hundred basis points in a week. One realised later after looking at the break-up of the index that the minerals component of the primary articles had more ... More

Bane of over-politicisation
A RECENT conclave of Chief Ministers in Delhi discussed a report on `The State of the States', which ranked Indian States on 49 parameters in eight categories, including agriculture, the consumer market, education, law and order, health, ... More

FICCI frames agenda for development of Bengal
The federation wants a master plan for the development of industry. More

AP govt plans three-tier strategy for overall development
THE Andhra Pradesh Government would adopt a three-pronged strategy to promote overall development of the State, the Chief Minister, Dr Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy, has announced. Speaking at the 58th Independence Day ceremonial parade at Parade ... More

Petro price hike, boon to State revenues
GALLOPING prices of petroleum products may have hit the common man hard, but for the cash-strapped State Governments, it is proving to be a blessing. This is the reason. Sales tax on petroleum products is levied at 20 per cent ad valorem ... More

FOREIGN TRADE
New Chairman for IACC-AP
HYDERABAD: The Director of Software Technology Parks of India, Hyderabad, Mr M. Vijay Kumar, has been elected the Chairman of the Andhra Pradesh branch of the Indo-American Chamber of Commerce for the year 2004-05, according to a press ... More

PETROLEUM
LPG racket alleged in Kerala
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Residents' associations and consumer and social groups have demanded stern steps to curb what they described as a thriving racket wherein subsidised LPG cylinders meant for domestic use are diverted to commercial ... More

PHARMACEUTICALS
Drug MNCs' interest `could peter out'
IT has been `Destination India' for leading multinational drug companies, who have in the last six-odd months done more than just watch local developments with interest. Top brass from companies such as Novartis, Eli Lilly, Pfizer, Johnson and ... More

POWER
NTPC studying entry into LNG supply business
NATIONAL Thermal Power Corporation (NTPC) is exploring the possibility of entering the Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) supply business for captive purposes. The central power sector undertaking, which supplies a quarter of the country's power, has ... More

Karnataka may allocate Rs 10,000 cr for power reforms
THE Karnataka Chief Minister, Mr Dharam Singh, said on Sunday that the Government was planning to allocate Rs 10,000 crore for power sector reforms in association with Power Grid Corporation of India. Mr Singh, who unfurled the National Flag ... More

AP power utilities to focus on rural consumers
IN tune with the change in the Government's focus towards the rural economy, the Transmission Corporation of Andhra Pradesh Ltd (APTransco) has announced that top-most priority would be given to provide quality and reliable power to the rural ... More

EDUCATION
Syndicate Bank relaxes norms for education loan
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Syndicate Bank has relaxed norms for its education loans, according to a bank spokesman. No collateral or third party guarantee would be required for education loans up to Rs 4 lakh. For loans exceeding Rs 4 lakh ... More

MEDICAL INSTITUTIONS & HOSPITALS
Law soon to regulate clinical establishments
IF you are wondering whether your neighbourhood hospital or diagnostic centre is offering quality service, here is some good news. The Health Ministry is planning to come up with a legislation that will certify and set standards for clinical ... More

INDUSTRY ASSOCIATIONS
FICCI survey sees need for flexible labour laws
A FEDERATION of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI) survey on manufacturing competitiveness has identified flexibility in labour laws and improvement in infrastructure facilities as the two issues of top-most priority that the Indian ... More

NEWSPAPERS & PUBLISHING
YSR launches health scheme for journalists
THE Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister, Dr Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy, has launched a health insurance scheme for working journalists of Andhra Pradesh here on Sunday. This is considered the first of its kind insurance scheme in the country exclusively ... More

SMALL SAVINGS
EPF rates — the number game
INTEREST rates on Employees Provident Fund (EPF) were brought down to 8.5 per cent earlier this week. Trade unions raised a hue and cry and threatened to launch agitations. The Minister was forced to clarify that the rate is only an "interim ... More

Post office is savers' best bet — Mop-up rises 32.45 pc in first quarter
THE post office continues to be a major attraction for savers, going by the 32.45 per cent higher collections under small savings schemes during the first quarter of the current fiscal relative to that mobilised over the same period of ... More

IPR
IPR, patenting training for women scientists
WOMEN qualified in the sciences have one new avenue to specialise — intellectual property rights (IPR). There is good potential for trained women scientists to start self-employed enterprise or find suitable employment with patent ... More

RURAL DEVELOPMENT
Kudumbashree to be expanded in Kerala
THE Chief Minister, Mr A.K. Antony, has said that the scope and reach of the Kudumbashree poverty eradication programme would be expanded to cover more sectors. Delivering his Independence Day speech at a colourful function here, the Chief ... More

EVENTS

Engagements

ALTERNATIVE MEDICINES
Call to standardise, validate traditional medicines
APART from developing as a leading research and development base for the bio-pharma sector, India should also work towards standardising and validating the Indian traditional medicines and exploit its potential worldwide, Prof G. Padmanabhan, ... More

BEARINGS, CASTINGS & FORGINGS
Bengal mulls special zone for bearing units
THE West Bengal Government is considering a scheme to set up a special zone for the bearing industry. Reacting to a proposal by the Eastern India Ball Bearing Merchants Association at its AGM here, the State Finance Minister, Mr Asim Dasgupta, ... More

TOURISM
Marina will be under Govt control: Minister
Kochi's strategic location in the international navigation route is expected to give a boost to the proposed marina. More

Karnataka Govt sets apart Rs 5.3 cr for Kodagu tourism promotion
THE Karnataka Government has earmarked Rs 5.3 crore for the development of tourism in Kodagu, according to Mr B.N. Aradhya, Joint Director, Karnataka State Tourism Department. Participating in the concluding session of a seminar on `Emerging ... More