NCAER survey pegs car demand growth at 8 pc
Demand for passenger cars in India is slated to grow at a compounded annual rate of growth (CARG) of eight per cent till 2011-12. According to a study undertaken by the National Council of Applied Economic Research (NCAER), the demand for passenger cars will grow from 6,13,000 units in 2002-03 …
Trida to set up fund for infrastructure development
Thiruvananthapuram Development Authority has decided to create a City Infrastructure Development Fund for developing road networks, parking area and construction of pay and use toilets in the city. According to the Budget, which was presented at the Trida general council this morning, a developmental cess will be levied on landowners …
Dying a silent death
For many in the medium and small-scale glassware industry, India's obligations as a founding member of the World Trade Organisation (WTO) have harmed their business. The removal of quantitative restrictions on imports since 1997-1998, under WTO rules, has proved disastrous for them as cheaper, better-quality foreign items have captured up …
Krishna`s promise on Alamatti water
The Karnataka Government has responded favourably to the request of Andhra Pradesh for release of Krishna water from the Alamatti reservoir to meet the latter's needs during the crucial summer months. The promise came from the Karnataka Chief Minister, S. M. Krishna, during an interaction with visiting pressmen from Andhra …
Global economy poised for a long slowdown
The US-led war in Iraq will drain the world economy for years to come, sapping income from a wide range of countries, said Australian Central Bank board member Warwick Mckibbin. The war could milk US$240 billion from the global economy in 2003 alone and world growth is likely to come …
Sikkim`s Plan size fixed at Rs 405 crores
The Annual Plan for Sikkim for the year 2003-2004 was finalised here today at Rs.405 crores during a meeting between the Deputy Chairman of the Planning Commission, K.C. Pant, and the Chief Minister of Sikkim, Pawan Kumar Chamling. The Planning Commission pegged the core Plan size at Rs.405 crores on …
Kalam for rivers` linking
Endorsing the 2020 vision paper of the country, the President Dr A.P.J. Abdul Kalam, emphasised the need to double the growth rate from the current GDP 4.5 to 9 per cent to eradicate poverty and illiteracy. Enumerating the five important aspects, Dr Kalam said if the country was to achieve …
Wide rural-urban divide
The economic condition of Indians is improving, but slowly, with a big proportion quite poor, the latest round of the National Sample Survey reveals. Pertaining to 2000-01, the survey reveals an economy still substantially affected by poverty, but distinctly less so when compared with the results of a decade before.
Statistics overhaul to begin 5 years late
After five years of discussions, work will finally start on the upgradation of India's statistical system. The World Bank will help modernise the Indian Statistical system. The project which will be completed in two phases. In the first phase, the focus will be on activities which will yield visible results …
Jaswant shrugged
For the first time in memory, the Union Budget has not increased the spending on poverty alleviation schemes and rural development. In fact, in Budget 2003-04, finance minister Jaswant Singh kept the expenditure from the Central plan on poverty alleviation schemes and rural development at exactly Rs 10,270 crore, the …
War puts $1.5 b contracts for India in jeopardy
The U.S. war on Iraq has jeopardised India's trade contracts worth $1.5 billion, which were facilitated under the United Nation's 'Oil for Food Programme' for Iraq. Goods worth about Rs 1,000 crores are under shipment as part of the programme and Indian exporters are unsure of the fate of these …
Water wars
Experts predict at least 76 million people dying from water-borne diseases in the next twenty years. That's as much as casualties as on the battlefields of World War II. According to the United Nations, two billion people live without clean water and toilets. India suffers, particularly cities like Mumbai and …
Rural development neglected
While our wrong strategy in Second and Third Plans, which neglected agriculture and rural development, had weakened our economy, other growing economies through a nationwide network of infrastructure, quality health and education facilities which has paid them rich dividends.
Mind over matter
The UN has failed in ending human miseries or in checking income disparities or in preventing the concentration of economic and political power in the hands of few countries. UN conferences create an illusion of helping the deprived while little is actually done. More people are living in abject poverty …
States growth rate slumps to 4.4 pc
The Karnataka State's economic growth slumped to 4.4 per cent of Gross State domestic product during 2002-03 from 5.6 per cent in the previous year. The growth rate contrasts dismally when compared to 10.1 per cent growth rate set by the Planning commission during the first year of the 10th …
`Haryali` scheme to be implemented
'Haryali,' a programme for the rural development in the country launched recently by the Prime Minister at Lucknow would be implemented extensively, said Union minister of state for rural development Anna Saheb Patil. Addressing the concluding meeting of a two day training programme for elected representatives of panchayat raj institutions …
Rs 1,120 crore irrigation project for the State
The Andhra Pradesh state government proposes to cover an area of 2.5 lakh hectares in 487 mandals under the first phase of the Rs 1,120 crore AP Micro Irrigation Project to be launched on April 1.
Hooda slams Haryana Budget
Main Opposition Congress Legilsature Party leader Bhupinder Singh Hooda said unless the Haryana Government waged a war, the Sutlej-Yamuna Link canal in Punjab would not be completed. Initiating general discussion on the 2003-04 budget, Mr Hooda offered full support to the Government in initiating contempt proceedings against the Punjab Government.
