Indo- Canada FTA to Exclude White Asbestos Trade

Posted on July 6, 2012 by sagarmedia

Govt Must Stop Import of White Asbestos to Prevent Public Heath Disaster New Delhi, July 5, 2012: Even as the central Government has publicly revealed that it does not favour carcinogenic chrysotile asbestos (white asbestos) mineral fibers anymore, a consortium of mostly Indian investors have successfully lobbied hard to rejuvenate the asbestos mines in Quebec, Canada. This mineral fiber has pre-dominantly been used in the construction industry before its incurable disease causing nature came to light. Government of India must resist efforts of Canadian government to dump the cancer causing fibers of white asbestos on to present and future generation of Indians.  
Unmindful of the epidemic of asbestos related diseases, Provincial Government of Quebec’s decision to loan $58 million to one of the country’s two remaining asbestos mines has outraged environmental, health, labour and human rights organizations. This loan will cover more than two-thirds of the cost of renovating and reopening the Jeffrey asbestos mine in Asbestos town of Quebec. Ignoring the moral responsibility to save fellow human beings in India from exposure to asbestos fibers, Quebec government has chosen to be act like a an impediment t o global cancer control as white asbestos causes lung cancer.
Disregarding the concerns of doctors and asbestos victims, this effort will also be funded by private investors, led by Balcorp Ltd., who will add another $25 million. As per figures available, Canada exported 750,000 tons of asbestos in 2006. India has been one of the major importers of Canadian asbestos. The Quebec government loan is aimed at reviving one of Canada’s last asbestos mines, assuring exports of carcinogenic fibers for another 20 years.
It is noteworthy that use of asbestos is banned in some 58 countries including the European Union, Japan, Australia and others. Due to lack of awareness of its health hazards white asbestos has been used in India but ministry after ministry is waking up its dangers and realize that safe and controlled use of asbestos is impossible as is indicated by the misinformation campaign of the global asbestos industry.
ToxicsWatch Alliance (TWA) urges the Quebec government to reconsider its decision and cancel the loan guarantee and help the asbestos disease affected communities in the developing countries. This decision of the Quebec government gives the impression that in Canada ether asbestos industry and the government are one entity or government is subservient to the lust for blind profit at human cost.  
Government of India took the right step on June 21, 2011 when at a meeting of UN’s Rotterdam Convention on the Prior Informed Consent (PIC) Procedure for Certain Hazardous Chemicals and Pesticides in International Trade disassociated itself from Canada and other asbestos producing countries in order to get white asbestos listed in the PIC list of hazardous materials. The listing requires would-be exporters of asbestos to warn governments of developing nations on what is being brought to their countries. It was unbecoming of Canadian government to block the efforts to list it under the parochial influence of Quebec asbestos interests.  
“The Government of India is considering the ban on use of chrysotile asbestos in India to protect the workers and the general population against primary and secondary exposure to Chrysotile form of Asbestos.” It has noted that “Asbestosis is yet another occupational disease of the Lungs which is on an increase under similar circumstances warranting concerted efforts of all stake holders to evolve strategies to curb this menace”. A concept paper by Union Ministry of Labour revealed this at the two-day 5th India-EU Joint Seminar on “Occupational Safety and Health” on 19th and 20th September, 2011. (http://www.labour.nic.in/lc/Background%20note.pdf)
Members of Indian National Congress led United Progressive Government, Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs must act to make India free of carcinogenic asbestos fibers by paying heed to what Union Environment Ministry’s Vision Statement that says, “Alternatives to asbestos may be used to the extent possible and use of asbestos may be phased out”. (http://moef.nic.in/divisions/cpoll/envhealth/visenvhealth.pdf) It should respond to National Human Rights Commission (NHRC)‘s notice issued to it. NHRC issued a notice to the central and states government in the matter of incurable asbestos related diseases on July 6, 2011 and reiterated on June 5, 2012. (http://nhrc.nic.in/dispArchive.asp?fno=2334)
Government of India should also set up a compensation fund to provide compensation to the asbestos victims by making asbestos companies liable for knowingly exposing workers, consumers and citizens to asbestos fibers. It may be noted U.S., Dow Chemicals Company has set aside $2.2 billion in compensation fund to address future asbestos-related liabilities arising out of acquisition of Union Carbide Corporation (UCC) and its Indian investments in 1999. If Dow can assume responsibility for asbestos-induced illnesses among victims in USA, why then it should deny responsibility towards the victims of Bhopal and its continuing toxic legacy. UCC formerly made products containing asbestos, and UCC once mined asbestos for sale to customers. The mine of the UCC was sold in 1985. Hundreds of thousands of people have sued asbestos companies that made products containing asbestos. Many manufacturers of asbestos-containing products are bankrupt as a result of asbestos litigation.
India has taken a position that it considers white asbestos as a hazardous substance. Mining of asbestos is technically banned in India. Trade in asbestos waste (dust and fibers) is also banned. Now government should take the next logical step and phase out asbestos use. Government of India should take immediate steps to ban this killer fiber to save the present and future citizens of the country from incurable lung diseases. After central ministries of environment, labour, mines and chemicals underlined the hazardous nature of asbestos and asbestos based products, ministry of railways has announced phasing out of asbestos based roofing materials from all the railway platforms in India. 
It is noteworthy that a massive protest against an upcoming white asbestos based plant of Kolkata based Utkal Asbestos Limited (UAL) Industries Ltd at Goraul, Vaishali, Bihar on June 14, 2012 has forced the district administration to order stoppage of construction work till further orders. A tripartite meeting on June 30, 2012 with the asbestos company, villagers and the district officials failed to satisfy the villagers. TWA was present at the meeting. In the face of global, national and local movement against such plants which are referred to as Time Bombs for lungs, the construction of lung cancer causing white asbestos plants in Vaishali, Madhubani, West Champaran and production in Bhojpur districts only shows that Bihar Government has adopted Ostrich policy.  Dr Barry Castleman’s world’s foremost expert on asbestos has sent a letter to Bihar Chief Minister asking to side with the villagers and not with the management of the asbestos factory to prevent public health disaster.
Earlier, Kerala State Human Rights Commission made three recommendations banning use of asbestos roofs in its order dated January 31, 2009. The recommendations are: “a) The State Government will replace asbestos roofs of all school buildings under its control with country tiles in a phased manner. b) The Government will take steps to see that the schools run under the private management also replace the asbestos roofs with country tiles by fixing a time frame. c) The Government should see that in future no new school is allowed to commence its functions with asbestos roofs.” Notably, after 2 years of struggle of villagers and all the left and socialist parties in opposition, Bihar State Human Rights Commission announced that the white asbestos plant that was under construction in Chainpur-Bishunpur village, Jakhra Sheikh Panchyat, Marwan block of Muzaffarpur has now been wound up. All State Human Rights Commissions are likely to initiate steps to make their states asbestos free by taking cognisance of the above facts. 
Not only in Bihar, villagers are protesting against the proposed hazardous asbestos cement roofing factory at Naagaon-Lebidi villages, Sohella Block, Bargarh district, Odisha. The company M/s Viswakarma Roofings Ltd. intends to establish 150,000 tonnes per annum of asbestos cement sheets manufacturing project.  In Sambalpur’s Parmanpur village in Odisha too villagers are agitating against the hazardous asbestos based factory of Visaka Asbestos Industries. It is noteworthy that Visaka Industries was promoted as a joint venture between G Vivekanand (a Member of Parliament from Indian National Congress) and the Andhra Pradesh Industrial Development Corporation.
Such hazardous plants are being protested against in other States like Himachal Pradesh and Andhra Pradesh as well. Environmental groups in Himachal are against the setting up of lung cancer causing asbestos based plant at Trilokpur Road in Kheri village of Nahan Tehsil in Sirmaur district. They are demanding asbestos free State. A fact finding team visited Ramco Asbestos Industries plant in Maksi, Madhya Pradesh in July 2011 and found that workers were working with Russian asbestos with any protection from the killer fibers of white asbestos.  Another similar team visited four asbestos units near Vijayawada in August 2011 to take stock of the situation at the sites of Visakha Industries Limited, Jujjuru village, Veerulapadu Mandal, Krishna district, Hyderabad Industries Ltd, IDA in Kondapalli, Ramco Industries Ltd in Ibrahimpatnam and proposed factory site of Sahyadri Industries Ltd in Narasimharaopalem in Andhra Pradesh. The team found that villagers were never informed about the incurable diseases caused by exposure from asbestos fibers. The team interacted with former workers of asbestos factories. The workers informed that they were made to give written undertaking that the company will not be responsible for their health after they quit the job. Some of the members of the fact finding team like Dr Babu Rao, a Hyderabad based chemical scientist had raised objections at the public hearing of the asbestos plant of Sahyadri Industries Ltd which has been recorded in the official minutes on April 21, 2011. The team met a former worker who was sick from asbestos exposure near Visakha Asbestos plant at Jujjuru but he never got any treatment beyond routine medicines. Unmindful of human cost of such factories there was a public hearing for expansion of Visakha’s plant on June 6, 2012 amidst protest.    
Unmindful of the epidemic of asbestos related diseases due to past exposure, new factories are coming up in Uttarakhand and Uttar Pradesh (UP). In UP’s Raebarely, the white asbestos based plant of Visaka Industries reveals that business enterprises have misled political parties like Indian National Congress, the central and state government into ignoring ban on it by almost all the developed countries. 
It is quite disturbing that asbestos cement based building materials are being used in the Union Rural Development Ministry’s Indira Awas Yojna. Central government’s Rs 10, 000 crore worth annual housing flagship scheme endangers the rural poor as it is using carcinogenic asbestos sheets to keep the cost below the ceiling of Rs 45,000 per house under the scheme.
Government of India should resist asbestos industry’s influence in public interest and desist from signing the “Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement” (CEPA) with Canada that allows the export of cancer causing Canadian asbestos to India. The New Democratic Party (NDP) of Canada, the official Opposition party has revealed the efforts of Canadian Prime Minister, Stephen Harper government’s to eliminate trade tariffs on exports of lethal Canadian asbestos to India. “It is a disgrace that the Harper government has opposed the global effort to ban this substance,” NDP said in a release dated December 5, 2011. (Reference:http://www.ndp.ca/press/harper-government-plans-to-increase-asbestos-exports-to-india)
TWA salutes the stance of NDP with regard to asbestos trade. Indian political parties like Indian National Congress should learn something from NDP. Government of India should pay heed to the World Health Assembly Resolution which requested WHO to carry out a global campaign for the elimination of asbestos-related diseases. The resolution of ILO in June 2006 stated, “the elimination of the future use of asbestos and the identification and proper management of asbestos currently in place are the most effective means to protect workers from asbestos exposure and to prevent future asbestos-related diseases and deaths.” How can such glaring scientific and medical facts be ignored? 
While it is quite alarming that Baljit Chadha, President, Montreal based Balcorp Ltd secured loan from Quebec government on June, 29, 2012 in the aftermath of the meeting between Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Stephen Harper on the sidelines of the G-20 summit in Mexico. This appears to reveal the tremendous influence of Chrysotile asbestos cement products manufacturers association in India, global asbestos industry in general and Canadian asbestos industry in particular.  
In 2011-12, union budget, the Finance Minister had announced that those affected by asbestos related diseases will be covered under Rashtriya Swasthya Bima Yojna. Given the fact that asbestos related diseases are preventable but incurable, this is hardly sufficient. The only way to prevent the deadly diseases is to prevent mining, trade, manufacturing and use of all forms of asbestos and asbestos based products.        
For Details: Gopal Krishna, ToxicsWatch Alliance (TWA), 9818089660, E-mail:krishna1715@gmail.com,

Web:toxicswatch.blogpsot.com

XIX International AIDS Conference (Hub) 2012, Kolkata,

Durbar Mahila Samanwaya Committee (DMSC) is hosting the XIX international Conference Hub, 2012 in partnership with Global Network of Sex Workers Project (NSWP) and All India Network of Sex Workers (AINSW) to commemorate 20 years of the completion of Sonagachi Intervention Programme the most successful sex workers’ led HIV Intervention program in the Globe.

Background of DMSC:

DMSC is a sex workers’ organization representing 65 thousand sex workers male, female and transgender in the state of West Bengal, India. DMSC have been running HIV intervention program in 51 sex worker sites in the state of West Bengal since last two decades. I addition to Health program DMSC is engaged in several other development activities to help improve the quality of life of sex workers and their children. DMSC is also engaged with other unorganized labor in the countries.  

The sex workers collective in Kolkata also run Cooperative Society which has a membership of more than seventeen thousands with an annual turnover of Rs. 15 crore.

DMSC also has created its cultural wing called Komal Gandhar through which the organ propagate and carry out campaign program to promote and protect rights of the sex workers in addition to other relevant issues pertaining to health, education, microcredit etc for the sex workers and their children.

DMSC has introduced and unique concept of self regulatory Board (SRB) what has been implemented in 30 red-light districts in West Bengal to combat trafficking and entry of minor in the sex trade. DMSC has successfully removed around 900 minor and unwilling girls from the sex trade through this SRB’s which are chaired by the representative of the local Govt. and managed by the sex workers’ collective.

 

The objective of the conference: Based on the above mentioned theme various sessions of the conference have been designed to focus on rights related issues and its underlying relationship with the HIV transmission as well as its impact on the HIV Intervention Program.

No of sessions: Multiple sessions will run parallely in four auditoriums. There are abstract-driven presentations, symposia, skill building workshops and interactive sessions where community leaders will engage with the technical experts in the field. The satellite communications which will be live and recorded, between the Conferences of Washington D.C and Kolkata in all six days.

What is Global Village: The Global Village will house events and activities where participants could interact and exchange their views and share their experience and emotion round the clock. In addition to all these formal sessions participants shall share spaces for informal meeting and networking. Throughout the conference cultural events will be organized which will highlight cultural heritage of countries representing six continents.

Participants of the Conference: There will be around 900 participants representing 27 countries and from all the continents. Representative from around 30 sex workers organizations all across the Globe will participate in the conference in addition to technical expert, policy makers, donors and representatives from UN agencies.

Highlight of the Conference: The theme of the conference is “Freedom Festival of sex workers”. As the rights of sex workers are often denied by most of the countries,through this conference sex workers are keen to highlight following issues:

·         Freedom to choose one’s own occupation

·         Freedom for free movement

·         Freedom for participation including representation in policy making bodies in Government and other institutions.

·         Freedom of expression

·         Freedom from stigma and discrimination

·         Freedom from violence

Important sessions: There are sessions centering on development of policy framework for sex workers, HIV intervention program. Role of legislation and policies in program development session focusing violence and community led anti trafficking program, economic security to sex workers would be an important session. Another area of interest would be to discuss and share on experience on community led process in development programs including HIV.

The conference would highlight the success of National program including its community led approaches what helped in curving transmission of HIV in India. There are session which will bring about the impact of community mobilization and ownership building in HIV programming. Another objective of the conference would be to showcase successes of ownership building of the marginalized communities to address HIV epidemic e.g. sex workers, IDU’s, MSM and others.

 

Follow-up of the Conference: Unlike in many other conferences, what often ends in sharing information and experiences, this conference shall focus on crystallizing policy issues centering on rights and social justice of the marginalized communities and its implication in health interventions. Sex workers network participating in the Conference would develop a long term plan of action to decriminalize Sex Work and prevent various attempts to conflate trafficking with the sex work and stress on full recognition of Male, female and transgender who are in sex work. The policy guidelines thus developed through these interactions would be documented followed by its dissemination. The Global, Regional or National sex workers’ network will develop strategy to champion these policies in subsequent meetings and programmes to influence Government, Donors and UN Bodies.

BJP PLEDGE SUPPORT TO US NRI’S FIGHT AGAINST TERRORISM

Mr. Shalabh Kumar, an NRI from Punjab, Chairman of National Indian American Coalition (NIAC) and also Chairman of AVG group of companies headquartered in Chicago, USA, is currently visiting India. He met with the leaders of both BJP and Congress to make them aware of the efforts of NIAC to forge a better relationship between US and India, particularly in their fight against global terrorism.

Today, Mr. Kumar along with Mr. Vijay Jolly, BJP Convenor Overseas Affairs met BJP President Mr. Nitin Gadkari at his residence. The BJP President Mr. Gadkari pledged support to US non resident Indians global fight against terrorism. Mr. Kumar invited Mr. Gadkari to visit the United States this year as a guest of NIAC and to meet with US Congressional Leadership. Mr. Gadkari accepted the invitation with a smile.

With more than 3 million Indian Americans in the US with the highest per capita income of any ethnic group in the country, NIAC, with the support of more than 20 key US Congressmen and Senators, has started an intense effort with the US Congress to reduce or cut off US Foreign Aid to Pakistan. So far, the annual aid of US$ 4 billion per year has been cut by half.

Mr. Kumar was a member of President Reagan’s Business Advisory Council in the early eighties. He has deep love for India his motherland & lobbies for India at capitol hill. NIAC’s board consists of a number of highly respected foreign policy experts in the US, such as Stephen Yates, Ex-Deputy National Security Advisor to Dick Cheney and Senator Mark Kirk.

NIAC is holding a first of it’s a kind event billed as “Coffee with Congress” on August 1^st, 2012 at the Capitol building in Washington, DC. It is expected to be attended by Who’s Who of Indian Americans as well as more than 50 US Congressmen and Senators. The purpose of the event is to educate the US Congress on issues related to Pakistan sponsored global terrorism.

India Contact Information

Varun V Nair

Mobile: +91 782 999 0591; E-mail:  varun@avg.net

Vice Presidential election will be held on August 7:EC

Election to the post of Vice President will be held on August 7 and the results would be out on the same day, the Election Commission announced on Tuesday.The term of the incumbent Md Hamid Ansari expires on August 10.Announcing the poll schedule, the Election Commission, after its meeting, decided that it would issue the notification on July 6, which will set the election process in motion.

Last date for filing nominations is July 20, after scrutiny the next day, the last date for withdrawal of candidatures is July 23.The Vice-President is elected by the members of the electoral college consisting of members of both Houses of Parliament. There are a total of 790 members of Parliament. Unlike in the Presidential election, the nominated members of both Rajya Sabha and Lok Sabha are also eligible participate in the election for the post of Vice President.

A nomination paper of a candidate has to be proposed by at least twenty electors and seconded by as many.The Election Commission, in consultation with the Central Government, has decided to appoint the Secretary General to the Lok Sabha as the Returning Officer for the election.

The Commission also decided to appoint Assistant Returning Officer from amongst the officers of the Lok Sabha Secretariat to assist the Returning Officer.MPs in the vice presidential poll will vote in accordance with the system of proportional representation by means of the single transferable vote.

Partial recount in Mexico election

Partial recount in Mexico election

Mexico’s Federal Election Institute told Wednesday that they are recounting nearly  half the ballot boxes  of the weekend's presidential election after finding after inconsistencies.. Of the 143,000 ballot boxes used during Sunday's vote, 78,012 will be opened and the votes recounted, said Edmundo Jacobo, executive secretary of Mexico's Federal Electoral Institute. Mexico’s Federal Election Institute (IFE) gave Enrique Peña Nieto a six percentage point win over second-place finisher Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, who represents the country’s left.


Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador of the leftist PRD had demanded a total recount after initial results put him in second place.He accused leading candidate Enrique Pena Nieto of breaking electoral rules.
Mr Pena Nieto of the PRI denied allegations his party had bought votes. Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, had demanded a full recount citing evidence of widespread irregularities."Where these things happen, there needs to be a recount of the votes. It is not asking for a favour; it is asking for the law to be fulfilled," he said.He has said the process itself was neither fair nor clean, accusing Mr Pena Nieto's Institutional Revolutionary party (PRI) of spending more than their allotted electoral budget and condemning biased media coverage.

Mr Pena Nieto has denied allegations of vote buying. when asked about videos showing voters claiming they received credit with a major supermarket chain in exchange for their votes, Mr Pena Nieto said they had been faked. Preliminary results put Mr Pena Nieto on 38.15% and Mr Lopez Obrador on 31.64%.

TAFE institutes plans to build five schools in India

TAFE institutes plans to build five schools in India

Australia's much popular vocational courses in tourism, retail and hospitality will now be available to students in India as a leading Australian institute is set to open branches in the country. 

Melbourne-based firm Heraud Inc will sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with TAFE NSW - Sydney Institute on 10th July for setting up the TAFE institutes that would offer vocational diploma courses in tourism, retail, automotive engineering, hospitality and construction in the country.

Initially, the compny plans to build five schools in India with first one starting in Gurgaon which is expected to be functional by April next year.

The move is in line with the Indian government's targets to skill 500 million people by 2022 and to build nationwide employability.

Heraud CEO Amit Tikoo said his company has closely worked with the analysts from National Skill Development Corporation in India to understand the gaps between industry requirements and what the education institutes are able to churn.

"There is a recognition by the high circles of industry and the government that although we produce a high number of engineering graduates in India, the quality and deployability of these graduates is not high."

"The initiative has been designed on two-pronged approach -- one is directed towards individuals and the second aims at companies to train its own staff members," he said.

Last year, the two countries had committed to expand the education exchange programme to achieve greater cooperation between their schools, higher education, vocational education and training sectors.

During a visit of HRD Minister Kapil Sibal, the two sides also decided to open more avenues to share expertise in education and launch India-Australia Education Council.

"Heraud Inc educational pattern will be based on Australian traditions and will focus to prepare students for a globalised world" Tikoo said.

"All courses will be based on the TAFE NSW Sydney Institute curriculum but will be developed by TAFE NSW Sydney Institute staff in India in cooperation with the local industry," he said.

After graduating from its institutes, students can also further choose to apply for their internship in Australia, he added.

TAFE NSW institutes are part of the New South Wales Government Department of Education and Communities and are regarded as world's best practice leaders in the provision of high quality education and applied practical training, and are a popular choice for Indian students who wish to study in Australia.

Higgs boson subatomic particle gives mass to matter

An international group of scientists has announced that it has found a subatomic particle that may be the long sought after Higgs boson.The group is working with a theory which suggests the particle gives mass to all matter.

The Higgs boson, of which British physicist Peter Higgs hypothesized the existence in 1964, is the last missing building block which would help physicists explain the formation of the universe.

The 16 other subatomic particles whose presence has been hypothesized since the 1960s in the Standard Model of physics have already been discovered.An international group of scientists, including Japanese researchers, has been trying to discover the Higgs boson at the CERN research center near Geneva in Switzerland since 2008.

The group has been using the Large Hadron Collider, an experimental atom-smasher with a circumference of 27 kilometers, on the Swiss-French border.The experiments involve smashing head-on 2 protons accelerated to the speed of light and analyzing the numerous particles generated by the collision.The group has created some 2,000 trillion collisions, which produced about 2,000 unidentified particles.

The scientists told a news conference at the research center on Wednesday that they have likely observed the Higgs boson, judging by its characteristics.The discovery of the Higgs boson, known as the "God particle," is expected to be an important clue in shedding light on the origin of the universe

National Workshop on Hunar Se Rozgar

National Workshop on Hunar Se Rozgar

The workshop was organized to sensitize the stake holders on Hunar Se Rozgar initiative and motivate them into action mode. The workshop was also attended by Trade Associations, CEO,National Skill Development Corporation, Principals of Institute of Hotel Managements and eminent persons from Travel and Tour Industry

The Hunar Se Rozgar Scheme consists of six weeks training programme in Food & Beverage Services and eight weeks training programme in Food Production. Training is provided in batches of 25 to 30 students and is free of cost. In case the attendance of a student is above 90%, he is eligible to a stipend of Rs. 1500/- per month for F&B Services and Rs. 2000/- per month for Food Production. Uniform and tool kit are provided free of cost to the students. On completion of the training, course test is conducted and certificates are issued to the successful trainees.

In order to deliver maximum benefits to the society, ITDC has entered into tie-ups with eminent organizations and reputed NGOs viz. IL&FS Skills Development Corporation Ltd., DLF Foundation, Ark Shipping Management Goa, Prayas, Campus & Beyond, Martyr Flight Lieutenant Maheesh Trikha Foundation (M-Trix), NIPS School of Hotel Management, Kinship for Humanitarian Social & Holistic intervention in India (KHUSHII), National Institute of Applied Management (NIAM), Basix Academy for Building Lifelong Employability Ltd. (B-ABLE), Neemrana Group of Hotels, Desh Hriday Man Development Society, College of International Management-Nagpur (CIM) , Rural Institute of Skill and Enterprise Development of India (RISE India) and Childreach International India.

The initiative Hunar Se Rozgar has been well received and is one of the successful ventures of the Ministry of Tourism. Youth trained under this scheme have been absorbed in various prestigious hotel chains where they are performing commendably. Thus encouraged, ITDC, under Hunar Se Rozgar banner, has plans to start the training scheme in new trade courses which are designed to enhance the employability aspects based on the demand of the industry viz. Front Office, Security, Retail Marketing and Drivers.

ITDC has ambitious plans to impart training to more than 5000 candidates in the financial year 2012-2013 under Hunar Se Rozgar scheme. So far, the Corporation has trained 2351 students in the areas of Food Production and F&B services through ITDC’s various hotel units. Additionally, 1130 more students are undergoing the training programme in various Hotels of ITDC across the country.

BenQ showcase Gaming Monitor Prowess with XL & RL series

Posted on July 4, 2012 by sagarmedia

 

 

BenQ showcase Gaming Monitor Prowess with XL & RL series – Built to conQuer @ BYOC – Summer 2012, India’s Largest Gaming Event 

 

Showcasing all-time leading range of LED gaming monitors XL2420T, R2240H & RL2450H 

New Delhi, July 04, 2012 – BenQ, an internationally renowned provider of world class gaming monitors and No.1 Projector brand in India was Gold Sponsors at the BYOC- Summer 2012  – India’s largest LAN gaming festival. The event scheduled during June 22nd-24th, 2012, got together more than 3000 gamers from across the country at one platform. Gamers of different profiles enjoyed every movement of this event by competing with the best opponent in their Play. Games such as Counter Strike, DOTA, Call for Duty, Battlefield, NFS and others were being played by the masses which have huge share of popularity. BYOC acts as a perfect ground for gamers of all ages to connect & socialize with each other while having fun & winning loads of prizes and goodies.

Speaking about the Gaming scenario in India Rajeev Singh, Country Head & General Manager, BenQ India, said “Indian PC and Online Gaming Industry in India are poised to grow at a healthy rate due to rising penetration of PC and internet connectivity. This trend is governed by the Young population in India which has the highest demand for gaming.  By being a part of BYOC, we showcase the best of Display technology through XL and RL series gaming monitors to the youth and gave them a firsthand experience of our world class products..”

Commenting on the partnership he added “We are pleased to partner with BYOC ones again this year. Our products offer a great visual experience for the gamers; our XL & RL Series monitors have certainly made their presence felt on the BYOC Summer 2012, the event has been a great success for all of us and for the gaming industry on a larger scale”

BenQ India has an extensive range of gaming monitors featuring world class technologies embedded in them, at BYOC BenQ presented its leading LED products from the XL and RL series. The XL2420T built with 120Hz, 2ms GTG response time and 12M:1 dynamic contrast ratio has exclusive features to provide FPS (First-person shooting) gamers with Full HD 3D gaming experience in addition to these the other gaming features include S Switch, Black eQualizer, Height Adjustment Stand, FPS Mode & HDMI connectivity. In addition the R2240H & RL 2450H are co-developed by internationally well-known StarCraft II team, StarTale to give you superior RTS gaming experience. These 22”W and  24″W LED monitor are packed with the latest features such as the Black eQualizer, Height Adjustment Stand, RTS Mode, HDMI and 12M:1 dynamic contrast ratio to give a complete experience to the gamers.

The Indian gaming industry is evolving as a promising industry for the creative and passionate gamers.  According to the latest FICCI KPMG report, the Indian gaming industry achieved revenue of Rs 13 billion, registering an overall growth of 30%. This is further forecasted to grow at CAGR of 26% to reach Rs 46 billion in few years.

For further information please visit www.BenQ.co.in

§   About BenQ Corporation

BenQ Corporation, a leading provider of networked digital lifestyle devices, is a multi-faceted company with strengths in product design, visual technology and mobile technology. BenQ offers unrivalled breadth and depth of products and integrated technologies across platforms through the brand promise of “Bringing Enjoyment and Quality to Life,” including digital projector, LCD monitors, laptop PCs, Netbooks, All-in-One PCs, LCD TVs, digital cameras, storage devices, eBook reader, mobile phones, storage media and human interface devices such as mice and keyboards. 

 

§   About BenQ Group

The BenQ Group is currently comprised of 16 companies that operate independently while sharing resources and leveraging synergies among them. The BenQ Group companies include BenQ Corporation, AU Optronics Corporation (world’s top 3 manufacturer of large-size TFT-LCD panels), Qisda Corporation, Darfon Electronics Corporation, Daxon Technology Inc., Daxin Materials Corp., Forhouse Corp., Light House Tech, SiPix Imaging, Lextar Electronics Corp. BenQ Guru Software Co., BenQ Hospital, Darwin Precisions, Ltd, Raydium Semiconductor Corporation, Cando Corporation and Wellypower Co., Ltd. 

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Gujarat Government delegation makes a strong headway in Europe

Gujarat Government delegation makes a strong headway in Europe

Gujarat’s Opportunities of investment and policy framework well appreciated by leadership and industry in France, Germany and Switzerland. Twelve  member delegation comprising of Government Officials & Industry representatives completes the visit of Germany, France & Switzerland Investment opportunities in Gujarat, Promotes Vibrant Gujarat Summit-2013 and incubates tie up with industry and commerce

·        Meets political leadership including Ministers, City administrators to cement the developing relationships

·        Builds long term understanding and relationship with the Industry organizations including several Chambers of Commerce & Industry

1. Impressive Investment Promotion Road shows on Vibrant Gujarat organized at: Hamburg and Frankfurt in Germany Geneva, Basel and Zurich in Switzerland Paris and Lille in France 2. Gujarat Delegation meets Mr. Frank Horch–Minister–Economy, Transport & Innovation of Hamburg, Mrs. Eveline Lemke-Minister Economic affairs-Rheinland, and Mr. Volker Hoff, Deputy Mayor, Frankfurt. 3. Gujarat Government signs an Intent of Cooperation with Swiss Indian Chamber of Commerce; reinforces the same with France-India Chamber of Commerce 4. European companies keen to invest in Gujarat particularly in infrastructure projects, engineering, renewable energy, pharmaceuticals, chemicals, textiles, agro & food processing, auto sectors 5. Companies keen to partner with Gujarat-based companies

03 July 2012 – India’s large market size and vast pool of young and talented manpower coupled with Gujarat’s proactive governance, robust infrastructure, friendly business environment drew the top leadership and industry representatives of the three countries towards a keen and focused dialogue with the Gujarat delegation. Several companies showed interest to make Gujarat as their next big investment destination and manufacturing base.

A high-level 12 member delegation of business leaders and government officials from the State of Gujarat, visited Europe between 18^th & 28^th of June, 2012. The delegation arrived in Hamburg on 18^th  June for a day’s visit to meet with corporations, institutions and organizations. The delegation met Mr Frank Horch, Minister for Economy, Transport and Innovation of Free and Hanseatic City of Hamburg to discuss cross border partnerships, investment opportunities and bilateral trade between the two regions. On behalf of Gujarat’s Hon’ble Chief Minister, Narendra Modi, Mr. A. K. Sharma extended an invitation letter to the Minister and German business leaders, investors, corporations, academic leaders and policymakers to the upcoming Vibrant Gujarat Summit, January 11-13, 2013. The delegation also made presentation at a conference jointly hosted by Europe India Chamber of Commerce, Hanseatic India Forum and Hamburg Chamber of Commerce, in which more than 40 companies participated. The conference also included B2B interactions with companies who had interest in investing in the State of Gujarat.

The delegation then moved on to Geneva, where it attended a lunch on meeting hosted by the Hinduja Group (Europe). A large number of Global players including representative of the World Economic Forum, India’s Ambassador in the UNO participated in the event. The discussion was focused on various investment opportunities, particularly in the area of renewable energy, financial services, education, R&D and medical tourism. Later on the same day, the delegation also attended and made presentation at a conference organized by Swiss India Business Forum and the Geneva Chamber of Commerce & Industry, in which more than 25 companies participated.

From Geneva, the delegation moved on to Zurich, to attend and make presentation at a conference organized by Swiss Indian Chamber of Commerce (SICC). Mr. A.K. Sharma, IAS – Secretary to the Chief Minister of Gujarat signed a formal Intent of Cooperation with SICC, to promote information, bilateral investment, training and expert exchanges among businesses and agencies for economic activities, skill development and investment promotion as well as business associations, and to use the Vibrant Gujarat Global Investors’ Summit 2013 and later Summits and similar occasions as platforms for the above purpose. The event was well received by participants representing more than 35 companies. The delegation had similar presentation and meetings at Basel city of Switzerland.

Thereafter, the delegation proceeded to France. An impressive gathering of industrialists and CEOs was presented with the opportunities in Gujarat at Lille city of France. Thereafter, the delegation had a similar conference at Paris organized by the Indian Embassy, and France-India Chamber of Commerce & Industries. His Excellency Mr. Rakesh Sood, Ambassador of India to France was the chief guest for the event at Paris. Around 80 French companies and a number of NRGs participated in the conference. Since 2010, the France-India Chamber of Commerce & Industries has become an active partner of the Gujarat Government in promoting the investment opportunities and the Vibrant Gujarat event. They not only further renewed their commitment in this direction but have also started the activities towards promoting the Vibrant Gujarat event of 2013.

From Paris, the delegation moved to Frankfurt where a conference was organized by the Indian Consul General in cooperation with the Frankfurt Chamber of Commerce. The event was focused on augmenting mutual collaboration between German and Gujarat companies, where more than 75 companies participated. A meeting took place between Mr. Volker Hoff, Deputy Mayor, Frankfurt and the visiting Gujarat delegation.  Both the sides exchanged views on the possible avenues of collaboration between Frankfurt and Gujarat. The delegation was particularly appreciative of the great strides made by Frankfurt city in terms of infrastructure and facilitating the development of financial services.  During the meeting, Mr. Volker agreed that to encourage city to city level collaboration, Frankfurt city may enter into sister city agreement with Gujarat’s city(s) of similar size and nature. This will help the exchange of best practices and further the cooperation and collaboration. Mr. Sharma thanked Mr. Volker for the understanding and promised him that this could be formalized soon.

Later that day, the delegation also met Mrs. Eveline Lemke–Minister of Economic Affairs, Climate Protection, Energy and Regional Planning of the Rheinland-Psalz State in Germany. Both sides discussed avenues of mutual collaboration. An invitation from the Hon. Chief Minister was extended to the Minister for the upcoming Vibrant Gujarat 2013 summit. The minister gracefully accepted the invitation for VG 2013 and conveyed her keenness to come to Gujarat and have a discussion with top officials and the Honourable Chief minister on opportunities of strengthening mutual cooperation on various aspects, including climate protection and energy. The delegation had detailed discussed on the current economic scenario in Europe and India and noted the learning for each other. The minister took keen interest in various potential sectors where both German and Gujarat based companies could forge partnerships.

At all the conferences a detailed and insightful presentation was made by Mr. A. K. Sharma which was appreciated a lot by the participants. The delegates also gave the industry and business perspective in Gujarat. This evoked keen interest in the   opportunities of investment, scope of partnerships, policy framework and recent initiatives of the Government of Gujarat led by Hon. Chief Minister, Mr. Narendra Modi. The importance of the State of Gujarat as an economic region and the strength of its companies can be seen from the fact that a large number of companies showed keenness for investing in Gujarat. In addition, much Government owned investment promotion agencies including at Hamburg, Basel and Frankfurt made presentation to the delegation to attract inward investment or form partnerships. The companies and organisations evincing interest in Gujarat’s investment opportunities were all invited to explore the same. They were also assured of all cooperation on behalf of the State Government, its agencies and industry partners.  

Medvedev arrives at Kuril Islands

Posted on July 3, 2012 by sagarmedia

Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev arrived in Russia’s Far East Kuril Islands on Tuesday, some 18 months after his visit to the disputed territory sparked a diplomatic row between Moscow and Tokyo.
“Today, we planned with my colleagues, including ministers and deputy ministers, to visit the Kuril Islands…but the airport has been closed for several days because of weather so we’ll do it a bit later,” Medvedev said shortly before he set off for the Kurils.He urged the members of the government to visit the Kurils as “it is an important part of the Russian territory.”“We did it [visiting Kurils] before and this practice will definitely be continued by the new Cabinet,” the premier said.
Medvedev sparked a diplomatic row with Tokyo in November 2010 by making the first visit ever by a Russian leader to the Kuril Islands.He later said Russia would increase its military presence there. Japan’s then-prime minister, Naoto Kan, called Medvedev’s visit an “inexcusable rudeness.”
Moscow has been offering Tokyo cooperation in the region under the condition that Japan drops its territorial dispute and focuses on developing Russian-Japanese economic ties.
Russia and Japan have yet to sign a formal peace treaty ending World War II hostilities, due to the dispute over the four South Kuril Islands, former Japanese territory annexed by the Soviet Union at the end of the war.The territorial dispute over the islands, which Japan calls the Northern Territories, has clouded relations between Moscow and Tokyo for decades.
NHK reports Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev has arrived on one of four Russian-held islands claimed by Japan.Russia’s state-run news agency reported that Medvedev, who’s now on a tour of the country’s Far East, landed on Kunashiri Island on Tuesday.He is expected to inspect an airport, a sea port, a power plant and other facilities.President Vladimir Putin expressed willingness to resolve decades-long territorial dispute with Japan in March, before his second term in the post.Putin and Japan’s Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda last month agreed to resume stalled negotiations over the islands.
The islands were seized by Soviet forces weeks after Japan’s surrender in World War 2.
Russia recognized the islands as Japan’s territory under an 1855 treaty. Japan says they are not part of the Kuril Islands that Japan renounced under the 1951 San Francisco Peace Treaty. Moscow never signed the document.Putin says the 4 islands became Russia’s territory as a result of World War Two.
In a recent interview with international media, Putin acknowledged that the 1956 Japan-Soviet Joint Declaration calls for Moscow to return 2 of the islands once a peace treaty is signed. But he said the document does not mention any other territorial demands. Putin also expressed a wish to end the territorial dispute in a way acceptable to both sides.The 1993 Tokyo Declaration calls for the 2 sides to conclude a peace treaty by resolving the issue based on past agreements and documents as well as law and justice. The declaration was signed by then Japanese prime minister Morihiro Hosokawa and then Russian president Boris Yeltsin when he visited Japan.