Friday, November 30, 2012

Seriously, what's new in it?

To be able to maintain peace and security in Iraq, al-Maliki would need approval from the opposition

In what may lead to the withdrawal of American troops from Iraq, the outgoing Bush apparatus and the Iraqi government led by Nuri Kamal al-Maliki are close to signing an agreement that would lay out the setting under which American troops would stay put in Iraq for time being and a roadmap for their eventual departure. The draft text on the context came to Iraq's political council for national security full seven months after the negotiation for the same started. Concurrent commotion in Washington and Baghdad hinted that the agreement – formally called a status of forces agreement – is in its final stage.

If accepted, the text will be presented before the Iraqi Parliament, where it is likely to ignite argument among rival splinter groups resolute to secure partisan gain in advance of next year's regional and legislative vote. Policy-makers are under immense popular pressure to lock an earliest possible time limit for the pulling out of the US troops, as well as to guarantee the reinstatement of Iraq's sovereignty.

The preliminary draft asks for the troops to leave Iraq in a phased manner by 2011, “unless asked to provide training and support.” A shared commission would synchronise US military operations. The government will meanwhile assure co-operation during searches of homes and detention of suspects. However, it is far easier said than done. PM al-Maliki is looking for endorsement of the text by two-thirds of the 275-member National Assembly of Iraq.


Source : IIPM Editorial, 2012.

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Wednesday, November 28, 2012

Rahul attempts to fill fissures

The MP from Amethi needs to stand up to his Punjabi promises

If the great charming grandfather penned the Discovery of India, the heart-throb great grandson is actually out to discover India. With eyes glued on the forthcoming Parliamentary polls, Congress party General Secretary, Rahul Gandhi recently toured Punjab. The 38-year-old heir to the Nehru-Gandhi dynasty discovered many skeletons inside (and outside) the closets of Punjab Congress and the state’s government.

Rahul’s visit to the state, and more so, the Sikh holy shrine of the Golden Temple in Amritsar, affirms that the Gandhi family wants to build bridges with the Sikh community, ending an animosity, which began with Operation Bluestar in 1984. His grandmother, former PM Indira Gandhi, in fact fell to the bullets fired to avenge the operation. Rahul’s father Rajiv Gandhi, who succeeded his mother as Prime Minister, never visited the Golden Temple, but his mother Sonia Ganshi paid obeisance at the Temple in 1990. Rahul is the second member of the family to visit the holy Sikh shrine. Ignoring security threats, Rahul paid his obeisance at the temple adorning a saffron scarf besides partaking food from its langar.


Source : IIPM Editorial, 2012.

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PAKISTAN: TERROR ATTACK

Explosives laden truck rips apart Pakistan's security machinery

He said that 600 kilograms of highly explosive material – RDX and TNT – was used in the blast, leaving questions on how a six-wheeler dumper truck laden with a huge quantity of explosives could enter such a high security zone. “It was the first incident in the capital in which terrorists have used RDX and TNT explosives. Earlier they had used potassium. Aluminium powder used this time caused fire in the hotel,” informs Malik. Marauders chose to strike at a moment when a high-powered Pakistani delegation, led by President Zardari, was about to leave for New York. Pakistan's Prime Minister, Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani said the real target of the suicide bomber was the Prime Minister's House, where top political leaders & Chief of the Army Staff, Gen. Ashfaq Pervez Kayani were present. But the bomber could not reach there because of tight security arrangements. The Marriot is a mile from the PM's residence.

With the deadly attack, Pakistan now tops the list of countries suffering from suicide attacks.


Source : IIPM Editorial, 2012.

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Tuesday, November 27, 2012

Countering Frankenstein

 Bhattacharya's views on bandh makes him go against his party

Swimming against the tide is difficult. West Bengal CM, Buddhadeb Bhattacharya seems to be learning it the hard way. Being a member of Communist Party of India (Marxist), which over the years made bandhs and strikes an inseparable part of its culture, he was supposed to adhere to its ideology and the bandh culture. CPI (M) is the party that believes in protecting the working class by organising bandhs irrespective of the cost. But he shocked his party recently by opposing the bandhs. “Personally, I don't support bandhs. Bandhs do not help us or the country. Unfortunately, I belong to a political party. They call strikes and I keep mum.." he said. Bhattacharya it seems, had taken the Tata’s threat to withdraw from Singur due to farmers’ agitation, very seriously. Earlier too, his attempts to industrialise the state by setting up a chemical hub at Nandigram, were met with a bloody resistance by local farmers supported by Trinamool Congress and Maoists.

The party, predictably, rebuked Bhattacharya by reaffirming its faith in bandhs as an instrument of protest. “It was his personal opinion. Workers will resort to strike as long as capitalism and exploitation are there,” said West Bengal CITU general secretary Kali Ghosh. Others too tried to justify strikes by saying it was a common mode of protest even in developed countries. Bhattacharya however, hasn’t joined the issue with them. Though he is trying to fight the Frankenstein created by his party, few have seen the flip side of the incident. In parties like CPI (M) having iron-hand discipline, it is unusual for the cadre to come out against set principles of the party.


Source : IIPM Editorial, 2012.

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Monday, November 26, 2012

On second thought...

With rising disposable incomes & soaring aspirations, the second hand car market is on a roll

spirations have led man to the moon! The quest of being the best among peers is what spears a man ahead of the race. But all these desires come with lots of constraints – lack of finances being one of them. One such aspiration that has remained long unfulfilled for many Indians is the desire to own a family car. But no more! The second hand car market has made all those dreams of driving an opulent vehicle come true. The growing used car market across the country in the form of both organised and unorganised players is a testimony to the vast potential of this segment.

According to the Society of Automobile Manufacturers in India, the used car market currently in India stands at over one million units, almost as big as the new-car market (1.3 million units). But the used car market in India is highly unorganised, with the organised players accounting for just 20-25%. The main organised players are Maruti (True Value), Hyundai (Advantage), Ford (Assured), Mahindra (Automart India) & Honda (Auto Terrace). The situation is however, completely different in developed markets like the US and Europe, where organised players have grabbed nearly 90% of the used-car market pie. “Consumers’ decisions are fast getting influenced by the quality of after sales service and the value addition. An organised channel definitely adds to the value proposition with quality assurance through warranty,” assures Nikhil Kumar, General Manager Marketing, First Choice, M&M. Buying decision of a consumer really begins with scouring the used-car market for the best bargains. And it’s a known fact that very few Indian buyers pay an expert to evaluate the vehicle and mostly rely on personal mechanics and friends. Thus, a decision of going to an unorganised player might result in a redundant purchase.


Source : IIPM Editorial, 2012.

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Saturday, November 24, 2012

Un‘family’ar

Nirula’s acquisition has brought in welcome change. But the true test of survival starts now...

Like most legendary Indian companies with quality offerings but sans the advantage of scale, this one, too, found the going tough when global sharks like McDonald’s, Pizza Hut and Domino’s swamped the market with their QSR chains. And when Nirula’s found the going tough, it decided to take the M&A route with aplomb; but only as a target.

Nirula’s got off to a promising beginning in the 1930s, when the Nirula Brothers rolled out a restaurant in the heart of capital. Christened as ‘Hotel India’ it became the keystone of today’s Nirula’s. With lots of firsts to its credit, like introducing espresso coffee, snack bar, ice cream parlour – Nirula’s became the pioneer in introducing the QSR concept in India and created a platform for the modern QSR industry.

But the late 1990s saw the entry of Big Mac, KFC and several of their ilk and these players, with their 360 degree branding and massive expansion plans cornered Nirula’s. Add to this the lack of vision of entrepreneurs to take the brand on a pan India basis. Finally in June 2006, the Nirula brothers sold off their stake to Samir Juckreja and PE fund management company Navis Capital Partners.


Source : IIPM Editorial, 2012.

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Friday, November 23, 2012

Finally, a news without Carla

Sarkozy seems to be more of loose cannon than one bargained for

As they say, it was destined to fail from the very start. France’s presidency of the European Union (EU) got off to a wobbly start with Poland flinching at a key agreement and President Nicolas Sarkozy in a public row with European trade chief Peter Mandelson. Sarkozy, ever the lively leader, who had stated publicly, “France is back in Europe,” had seriously hoped that he’ll have support of the entire Europe in concentrating on five key areas when France took over the EU presidency from Slovenia. But nothing of the sort happened.

Sarkozy’s own attitude towards the job did not help either. His criticism of Mandelson – by holding him responsible for the economic woes of Europe – turned into a fight as Mandelson, in turn, launched a scathing attack on Sarkozy. Things got worse as Polish President Lech Kaczynski rejected the Lisbon Treaty.


Source : IIPM Editorial, 2012.

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Thursday, November 22, 2012

Lowdown on how to walk

Here’s B&E’s lowdown on how to walk the ‘green mile’ without losing your way!

Finally, Recycle: Anything that can be recycled. Even if recycling is not an option look for an alternative use of a product rather than dumping it. Besides these, there are other measures that one can take like using CFL bulbs instead of the regular ones, and walking to the nearby grocery store instead of taking the car.

Such is the impact of this revolution that it hasn’t stopped even film personalities from jumping into the fray. Says Sabbas Joseph, Director Wizcraft, “We are currently using the IIFA platform to talk to the world about global warming and climate change. All the stars including Mr. Bachchan, (ambassador IIFA) and Akshay Kumar (ambassador Green Global Foundation) have dedicated time to take up the fight against global warming. The stars are talking about how we can help fight against the problem. Mr. Bachchan is talking about going green while Askhay Kumar talks of planting trees, some others about how you must unplug your mobile charger and still others on why it is better to cool your room at 24 degrees instead of 22 degrees to make a difference. Adds Bittu Sahgal, Editor Sanctuary magazine, “Every time you go out to buy medicines or vegetables for instance, a shopkeeper thrusts a plastic bag in your hand and by accepting it, you add to a very serious problem. Even if each of us uses only one or two bags a day, the problem becomes gigantic in a city where millions of people live.” Point taken. Then with a sense of humour, adds Sahgal, “Carry a cloth bag, like your grandmom used to!

So the next time around your exhibitionist neighbour rolls out of his driveway in a brand new set of wheels, instead of going green with envy just dole out a lesson on living green instead!!


Source : IIPM Editorial, 2012.

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Wednesday, November 21, 2012

ZIMBABWE: PRESIDENTIAL ELECTIONS

People must standup if they want democracy in Zimbabwe

But the question is – even if Mugabe is dethroned this time, will democracy be set up in the country? Michael Schatzberg, Professor, Department of Political Science, University of Wisconsin-Madison shares the same thoughts while talking to B&E, “Free, fair, and transparent elections are a necessary but far from sufficient condition for the consolidation of secure democratic rule.”

For Zimbabwe, the answer lies in grassroot developments and will on the part of both people and politicians to share power. Then alone will democracy and progress prevail in Zimbabwe.


Source : IIPM Editorial, 2012.

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Tuesday, November 20, 2012

TURKEY: AK PARTY

Turkey is increasingly being pushed towards a new kind of extremism

Senior members of the AK party believe odds are staked heavily against them as most of the 11 Judges hearing the case represent the secular intellectual strata that sees AK as a threat to Kemal’s legacy. Nevertheless experts want to differ. “On what base is the court bearing in mind the closure: a compendium of anecdotes from the unfriendly press? The case is so dubious it is tough to envisage that even the staunchest Kemalists take it at face value,” says Mark R. Parris, a retired career diplomat and an expert at the Brookings Institution’s Turkey Project, while talking to B&E.

AK party has pinned hope on the European Union (EU) to mediate and defuse the matter. EU on its part has criticised the case, saying that the kind of charges raised by the chief prosecutor should be debated in Parliament, not courts


Source : IIPM Editorial, 2012.

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Monday, November 19, 2012

Just 2.51%? This is on the t‘rocks’!

Daimler is the fourth foreigner to set foot in Indian truck domain. Will it help break the low foreign sales jinx?

Trucks are ‘huge’. That’s a no surprise. They mean ‘huge’ business. That’s a no surprise either! And the power punch becomes even more brutal when we talk about an economy like India, which is witnessing a radical improvement in its mass transportation system, with billions of rupees set aside for the same. As proof, industry sales released by SIAM show that in March 2008, 404,930 commercial heavy vehicles were sold in the domestic market – a dazzling 14.17% y-o-y growth rate. And where Volvo, Man and Tetra have already set their firm foot on the Indian soil, there is a fourth giant gearing up for the muscle magic – German truck-maker, Daimler.

The company entered into a 60:40 JV with India’s Hero Group, to manufacture commercial vehicles on April 21, 2008. The total capex will amount to $1.1 billion, with Daimler contributing close to $343 million. There has been an energetic scouting for a plant location in South India, with production forecasted to commence from 2010. Andreas Renschler, Head, Daimler Trucks comments on the occasion, “It is an important milestone for Daimler Trucks and our Asia strategy. In the Hero Group we have found an ideal partner, as the two perfectly complement one another in terms of the experience and expertise...”


Source : IIPM Editorial, 2012.

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Thursday, November 15, 2012

Life behind the grease paint

Rahul Bose talks to Prasidha Menon about the making of Shaurya and the trials and challenges of life behind the grease paint

What is your opinion of the legal system in the army and India? Are you conveying any message via Shaurya? I have no clue about the legal system in the army and have got no such experience to share. But then, as far as the legal system in India is concerned, it is no secret that it is a disaster. It is riddled with corruption, inefficiency and archaic loss. Shaurya means courage in Hindi, and the courage to hold on to your principles amidst the danger of losing your job, your career, your money, your friends, your best friend and your popularity, is what Shaurya is all about.

You are talking about courage and standing by one’s principles in this film. How courageous are you in real life? Well, I certainly haven’t bent my principles in the last 10 years. For me, it’s more about individual morality, rules that I fix, are unshakable. They haven’t been shaken by me or any temptations in the last 10 years.

How was it working with Kay Kay Menon and Minissha Lamba? Kay Kay is one the finest actors we have in the country. When you are working with actors with such great calibre, all that you need to do is listen and react. So, the scenes with Kay Kay have a very settled and really intense quality. Like two people playing tennis of a very high calibre. So there is absolutely no struggle to keep it classy.

Minissha is quick, funny, sharp and intelligent. She gets or rather understands what a director wants from a scene very quickly, so there is no need to sit and explain things to her, and then she will go and right away do the things she has to.

You would be playing a fairly serious character in Shaurya and then you play a comic character in Maan Gaye Mughal-e-Azam. Tell me, what kind of roles come more naturally to you? The one that comes most naturally to me is comedy, but people think that it’s the more serious stuff that comes easily to me. But I don’t care, I hope that people would say the same thing about me when it comes to action!


Source : IIPM Editorial, 2012.

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Saturday, November 10, 2012

PROFILE: MANIK SARKAR

Under Sarkar's able chief ministership Tripura has seen its first dose of foreign funding

China has agreed to provide technology to set up bamboo-based industries and livelihood opportunities to farmers and the state’s tribal communities, while the Japan Bank for International Cooperation (JBIC) is providing Rs.3.66 billion as a soft loan to the state. "Germany will also provide Rs.1.12 billion for ecological conservation projects and development of livelihood resources for tribals and other forest dwellers," the chief minister said.

Tripura''s per capita annual income was only Rs.534 when it attained statehood in 1972 and the figure rose to Rs.20,357 in the last economic survey conducted in 2004. People living below the poverty line came down from 68% to 55% during the past eight years under Sarkar. “The System of Rice Intensification (SRI) technology for paddy cultivation has increased productivity of rice from 2.5 tonnes per hectare to about 3.5 tonnes per hectare in the state,” Sarkar proudly says.

Most of all, though, it’s his personal integrity that his people like to speak about. “As chief minister, Sarkar receives a monthly salary of Rs.9,200 and subsidiary allowance of Rs.1,200 per month and these amounts he donates to the party fund, like other partymen,” said Gautam Das, the state spokesman of the CPI(M).


Source : IIPM Editorial, 2012.

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Friday, November 09, 2012

Process of budget making

Introduce basic norms of corporate governance into the entire process of budget making and then see the difference it can make

India needs to adopt something similar when it comes to spending government money. It’s quite simple really. Let each ministry fix its own budget and have the finance ministry function like the clearing house of a bank... merely examining the cheques and passing on the money. At the central, state and local levels, appoint an independent board of directors that will not only scrtunise the policy approach of each ministry, but also monitor implementation of expenditure plans. This independent board would comprise of activists, judges, media professionals, managers, CEOs and politicians from both ruling and Opposition parties. Let there be independent audits to monitor performance. Like in the corporate sector, the boards should have the power to sack a non-performing or corrupt CEO – a bureaucrat in this instance. Those caught with their hands in the till must get the Kenneth Lay treatment.

Let’s face it, though. Activists and the media are fighting an uphill battle just to force politicians and bureaucrats to comply with the provisions of the Right to Information Act. In such an event, expecting the same set of people to give up and get down voluntarily from the gravy train called the Union Budget is perhaps only an exercise in fantasy! 


Source : IIPM Editorial, 2012.

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Thursday, November 08, 2012

Wasted waste

WTE can rid us of energy crisis and pollution problem

The escalating demand of energy in India, which is projected to be 448,000 MW by 2020, could lead to huge environmental damage if the current methods of energy production go on. On the one hand, there is this huge demand-supply gap and on the other hand is the fragile condition of environment. Well, there is a solution for this dilemma too. The Waste-to-Energy (WTE) production technology solves these two problems as it converts waste from landfill sites into energy and reduces greenhouse gas emissions too.

Recently, companies like Tata Power, GMR Energy, Maytas Infra Ltd., Ambuja Cements Ltd., Ramky Enviro Engineers et al showed their interest to invest in the Rs.175 crore WTE plant in New Delhi. This horde makes at-least one thing clear: this technology has got a lot of returns. This first-of-its-kind project in Delhi is aimed at generating about 16 MW of power from waste. The WTE uses waste as fuel instead of coal or gas to run the power plant. The waste undergoes intense mechanical & thermal processes to flush out the combustible elements. This Refuse-Derived Fuel (RDF) is further burnt in a boiler to generate power. However, capital investment in this project is very high compared to typical coal-powered plants. The investments stands at Rs.11 crores per MW compared to Rs.4 crores per MW required by coal plants. But then, this high investment is compensated by almost zero fuel cost.

On global scale, there are about 600 major projects that use landfill gas for energy generation. The WTE technology had also been successful in countries like Germany, where 65% of municipal waste in the form of landfill sites recover energy from landfill gas and in the UK, 40 such schemes are in place.
 

Source : IIPM Editorial, 2012.

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Wednesday, November 07, 2012

A dictator humbled by health

Suharto’s health worsens with each passing day

Life they say is a great leveler. And nothing proves the old adage more than the condition of Indonesia’s former ruler Suharto. The once strongman of a Asia, now lies on a hospital bed in a vegetative state. Suharto who in his heydays ruled Indonesia with an iron hand, is now incapable of even digesting juices. Mardjo Soebiandono, the head of doctors’ team attending Suharto in a statement said that “(Suharto’s) general condition is showing regression again. He developed problems with his digestive system.” One of the most corrupt and brutal leaders of our times, Suharto is blamed by Transparency International of embezzling more than $35 billion during his imposing 32-year rule.

He was anointed to power in the mid-1960s with the tacit support from America & Australia.


Source : IIPM Editorial, 2012.

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Tuesday, November 06, 2012

Kyunki... it runs in the blood!

When Jeetender jump-started a one-of-a-kind family saga...

In the biggest Bollywood blockbuster of the year, Om Shanti Om, King Khan played a junior artiste who was able to fulfil his dream of being a superstar in his next life when he was reborn in a filmstar’s home. Consider a more realistic version now, the life of one of India’s biggest superstars Mr. Ravi Kapoor, aka Jeetendra aka Jeetender. He started off as a junior artiste and devoid of any support from the big shots in the industry, he struggled for years and ultimately managed to get the world at his feet, all in the same lifetime. His two children have done him proud too, for while Ekta sits pretty as the ‘K’ween of the telly, Tusshar’s carving his very own position in Bollywood too.

Jeetender started his career in the 1950s when V. Shantaram gave him a chance as Sandhya’s double in Navrang. Intuitively judging his true calibre, Shantaram gave him his first big break in the film, Geet Gayaan Patthron Ne, in 1964, but it was with Farz that he really came into the limelight and cu-cuckooed into the hearts of his fans. Flaunting some truly fly dancing moves in Mast Baharon Ka Main Aashique, Dhal Gaya Din and Kitna Pyara Vaada, he soon earned the appellation of the Jumping Jack. While the audiences were going gaga over his dance, his trademark white tee-trouser and shoes made him the new style icon.

Stardom brought with it name, fame and many gorgeous dames. He moved out of the chawl to a posh house in south Mumbai’s Colaba area. But all of this did not change Jeetender’s love for his childhood companion, Shobha. He promised to marry Shobha if Bidaai, a film which came to him literally as a life saviour, did well. On October 31, 1974 Jeetendra and Shobha tied the knot and Bidaai went on to celebrate its golden jubilee. This was just the beginning of a long journey of about 200 films. Jeetendra had all that it took to become the No.1 hero; his films consistently achieved commercial success and he became one of the most bankable actors though that didn’t help him impress the critics much.


Source : IIPM Editorial, 2012.

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