The Hindu Business Line : Monday, March 28, 2005

On the trail of money that leaves consumers' hands
CONSUMER spending on personal care and effects totalled Rs 34,000 crore in 2002-03. Household expenditure on spices was Rs 1,000 crore higher. Households spent Rs 6,789 crore on personal transport vehicles in 2002-03. More than Rs 75,000 crore ... More

FERTILISERS

Govt yet to finalise new subsidy methodology — Fertiliser industry unable to tie up phosphoric acid supplies
WITH the Government unable to devise an alternative mechanism for calculating subsidy on phosphatic fertilisers for fiscal 2005-06, even though fiscal 2004-05 is ending, Indian fertiliser companies have not yet been able to begin negotiations ... More

HEALTH

PM to launch rural health mission
CONCERNED over India becoming the global capital of diabetes and cardio vascular diseases, the Union Government has decided to launch a national programme to tackle these diseases. Another programme on speech and hearing too would be ... More

INFRASTRUCTURE

Kerala Govt okays housing scheme
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The State Government has approved a scheme prepared by the Kerala State Housing Board to provide either housing or home loans to people from the economically weaker sections of society. According to an official press ... More

PSU

Cumulative losses of 93 PSUs rise 23 pc: CAG
THE United Progressive Alliance (UPA) Government might view public sector undertakings (PSUs) as sacrosanct by suspending sale of PSU equities for the time being and not specifying any target for their disinvestment in the Union Budget ... More

PETROLEUM

BPCL retail outlet with visual identity in Thiruvananthapuram
BHARAT Petroleum Corporation Ltd (BPCL) has announced the launch of its new `retail visual identity' in Kerala. Addressing a press conference in the city today, Mr S. Varadarajan, General Manager Retail - South, BPCL, said the company's ... More

Auto LPG dispensing station in Kerala
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Indian Oil Corporation Ltd has announced the opening of its first automobile LPG dispensing station in Kerala and the simultaneous launch of `Autogas', the company's brand of LPG for automobiles. According to a ... More

PHARMACEUTICALS

Pharma cos bet big on supplements
PHARMACEUTICAL companies have now identified a new business segment in nutraceuticals and dietary supplements. Ranbaxy Laboratories Ltd, Torrent Pharmaceuticals, Cadila Pharmaceuticals, Nicholas Piramal India Ltd, Lupin Ltd and Panacea Biotec are ... More

STEEL

A steely row
THE steel companies, both in the public and private sectors, are up in arms against the Railways for proposals relating to revision in demurrage rates, drastic reduction in free time for wagons and modification in ... More

TAXATION

Post-VAT, household expenses in South may come down
IF you are living in the South of the country, your household expenses may just get reduced post-April 1, thanks to the new VAT regime coming into force across 21 States. But in the North you may not be so lucky. Though individual States are ... More

Slab system in AP cinema theatres to go
THE film industry in Andhra Pradesh is upbeat over the State Government's move to do away with the slab system in cinemas. Exhibitors would now have to pay entertainment tax on the basis of number of tickets sold. The decision puts a full stop ... More

Call for uniform entertainment tax
THERE is a necessity to bring about parity in entertainment tax across the country in order to encourage the film industry, as at present different States are levying tax at different rates, Mr S. Jaipal Reddy, Union Information and Broadcasting ... More

Protest against the VAT
Activists of the National Akali Dal demonstrating against VAT in the Capital on Sunday.

PERSONAL PRODUCTS

Yehi hai right action, baby!
THE recent action of the Maharashtra Food and Drug Administration (FDA) against baby care product manufacturers has attracted worldwide attention. The legislation that got dusted in the process is the Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940, Section 17 of ... More

RADIO/TV

This tune's for me!
Community Radio is slowly making itself felt as a powerful tool of social and economic change. Tune in to a status report on what's crackling, and what more needs to be done. More

Kerala AIR programme on irrigation
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The Kerala stations of All India Radio will broadcast a series of programmes on participatory irrigation management, says an official press release. The programmes will be transmitted on Saturday evenings at 6.50 ... More

EDUCATION

Elite school plans day care centre in Thiruvananthapuram
THE Trivandrum International School has announced the launch of an early learning and day care centre in the city. Addressing a press conference here, Mr Richard Hillebrand, Headmaster, Trivandrum International School, said the objective ... More

`Institutes of higher education not keen on TQM'
THE former Vice-Chancellor of University of Agriculture Sciences, Dr Bisaliah, has expressed concern over the lack of interest in implementing total quality management (TQM) concept in most of the institutes of higher education. Inaugurating a ... More

`Educational bodies should respond to society's needs'
THE Vice-Chairman of the University Grants Commission, Prof V.N. Rajasekharan Pillai, has urged educational and training institutions to respond effectively to the changing needs of society. Delivering the T.A. Pai Memorial Endowment Lecture ... More

Coimbatore engg college inks pact with US co
THE Pollachi-based Dr Mahalingam College of Engineering and Technology is emerging as a recruiting ground for most corporates. Head-hunters have been awed not by the big campus but the infrastructural investment by the college ... More

FOODS & FOOD PROCESSING

CII stresses need for integrated food law
THE Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) has called for putting in place an integrated food law that would encompass several issues in one go, including standard setting, enforcement and consumer safety for the entire food chain. The chamber is ... More

INDUSTRY ASSOCIATIONS

Credit policy must spur more lending by banks: Assocham
THE Associated Chambers of Commerce and Industry of India (Assocham) has suggested the Reserve Bank of India incorporate directives in its forthcoming Credit Policy for 2005-06 which would encourage commercial banks to diversify their credit ... More

Santhanam elected CII-TN Chairman
MR B. Santhanam, Managing Director, Saint-Gobain Glass India Ltd, has been elected Chairman of Confederation of Indian Industry - Tamil Nadu (CII-TN) for 2005-06. Mr Sanjay Jayavarthanavelu, whole-time Director, Lakshmi Machine Works Ltd, is ... More

READYMADE GARMENTS

Kinfra women's hostel
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The Chief Minister, Mr Oommen Chandy, will inaugurate a working women's hostel at the KINFRA International Apparel Park in the city on March 29. Built with financial assistance from the Union Human Resources ... More

MINING & QUARRYING

AP Govt tenders for Galaxy granites soon
THE State Government plans to float global tenders to exploit the potential of three Galaxy granite blocks located in Cheemakurthi in Prakasam district of the State. The State Minister for Mines and Geology, Ms Sabitha Reddy, said this move ... More

EVENTS

In Hyderabad today

Agenda for the week

EXPORTS & IMPORTS

Omnibus scheme to boost exports on cards — Ministry finalising plan to replace `WTO incompatible' DEPB scheme
THE Commerce Ministry is keen on launching an omnibus export promotion scheme in the forthcoming modifications to the new Foreign Trade Policy to be unveiled on April 7, even as the continuation of the Duty Entitlement Pass Book (DEPB) scheme ... More

Ministry seeks proof of export orders to issue new licences
IN an apparent move to put the brakes on duty-free import of raw sugar against advance licences (AL), the Commerce Ministry is now reportedly asking mills to furnish proof of confirmed export orders prior to issue of new licences. ``There is no ... More

NATURAL CALAMITIES

The message is louder — on the Net
The reach of the Internet is truly awesome. As proved by how quickly online aid poured in after the tsunami tragedy. More

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