Author Archives: VAN NAMBOODIRI

Churches being turned in to home, supermarkets and Pubs in UK.

02 Wednesday Apr 2014

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There is a news item published in the last page (20th Page) of the Business Line today, 2nd April 2014, which is almost unbelievable for indians. Under the heading ‘When bar counters replaced altars’, the report informs that many churches in UK are being knocked down or converted in to pubs,hotels, homes etc.
It reports that between 1969 and 2011, the Church of England has demolished nearly 500 churches, while about 1,000 were deconsecreted and sold or rented out.
The paper has also published the photo of a former Presbyterian Church, which is now functioning as a pub.

In many other countries, churches, mosques and other religious places are shifted when there is a public requirement for the same.

But think about India. It can well be imagined that if any Temple, Church, Mosque, Gurudwara or other prayer places are shifted, leave alone closed, what will happen? We have got own bitter experience. Even genuine criticism of religion is not being tolerated.

‘Three Men in a Boat’ – an Interesting Book

01 Tuesday Apr 2014

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‘Three Men in a Boat’, authored by Jerome K.Jerome and first published in 1889 is a humorous book, which has been published in many languages and millions of copies sold. I read the book by yesterday and today, while at Bangalore. I took it from the collection of books of my grand daughter Arya. I liked it very much. The journey in a boat through the River Thames by three young men, George, Harris and the author along with their dog Montmorency is hilarious and humorous to the maximum. The author’s description of the various villages, towns etc. on the sides of the Thames, the historical background of the places, the historic events connected with them are informative. And more than that laughing at oneself and others, explaining the thinking of the mind on various occasions etc. are really thought provoking.
It is a classic, most probably written for children. But adults can also read and enjoy. Of course, I enjoyed reading it. Probably most of the visitors of this blog might have read it already.Anyhow, the book is worth reading.

Rescind the proposal to grant new banking licences to Corporates/big business

01 Tuesday Apr 2014

Posted by in General, Neo-liberal policy

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The Election Commission has given clearance to the Reserve Bank of India for grant of new licences to start banks. The RBI had requested for clearance, since the the Model Conduct has started after the General elections have been declared.
The Corporates and big business houses have been continuously pressurising the government to grant them licences to open new banks. 25 applications are pending with the RBI. The Department of Posts has also applied.
It is to be remembered that the private banks were nationalised in the 1960s after it was exposed that customers were being defrauded and the hard-earned money of the depositors were being misappropriated. Now the government wants to grant licences to the corporates/big business once again, which may be misused to benefit their own companies. The Bank Employees Unions have strongly objected to the present proposal.
At the same time, it is understood that the RBI is reluctant to grant Bank Licence to the Department of Posts. In fact, the DoP is already have banking business, including Saving Accounts, Fixed Deposits, Pension Accounts etc. and have more branches than any other banks in the country.Grant of bank licence to the DoP is only regularising the same.
We demand the government to withdraw from their proposals to grant bank licences to the private companies.

Rs. One Lakh Sitting Fee for Directors for attending Board Meetings

01 Tuesday Apr 2014

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I am reproducing a report on the sitting fee to be paid to the Directors of a company to attend the Board/ Company Meetings. It may not be applicable to the full time/executive directors. But it is not clearly spelt out. Whether it is applicable to PSUs is also to be examined.
MUMBAI, APR 1:
Directors on company boards can now be paid more as sitting fee. They can be paid up to Rs 1 lakh per board meeting or a committee meeting thereof.

The new rules notified under Section 197 of the Companies Act 2013, said, “A company may pay sitting fee to a director for attending meetings of the board or committees thereof. Such sum as may be decided by the board of directors thereof which shall not exceed Rs 1 lakh per meeting of the board or committee thereof. “

For Independent directors and women directors, the sitting fee shall not be less than the sitting fee payable to other directors.(Business Line)

CPI(M) meets Election Commission for free and fair poll in W.Bengal

01 Tuesday Apr 2014

Posted by in General, General Elections 2014

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A delegation of the Left Front Committee, West Bengal led by Biman Basu, Chairman and accompanied by the CPI(M) leader in Parliament Sitaram Yechury met the Election Commission of India today on the issue of conducting free and fair Lok Sabha election in West Bengal.

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Only a Non-BJP, Non-Congress Govt. at Centre – CPI(M)

01 Tuesday Apr 2014

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New Delhi, Mar 31 : As senior Congress leader A K Antony asked CPI(M) to prove its commitment to secularism by supporting his party after the elections, the Left party today said only a non-Congress alternative would be able to successfully counter BJP.

“Everyone knows by now that Congress is heading for a big defeat in these elections. Congress has also failed to counter BJP. Only a non-Congress alternative can do that,” CPI(M) General Secretary Prakash Karat told PTI.

Karat was reacting to Antony’s statement that CPI(M) should prove its sincerity in keeping communal forces at bay by cooperating in a front under Congress leadership. “If they are ready to cooperate, we will accept it,” the Defence Minister said.

CPI(M) Politburo member and Kerala unit chief Pinarayi Vijayan also reacted to Antony’s statement saying the moot question was whether Congress would cross two digits to form another government at the Centre.

“Antony says another coalition government is in store under Congress. But will Congress itself be there in such a coalition ministry, since the party’s tally is not going to cross two digits in Parliament,” asked Vijayan at a press conference in Palakkad in Kerala. (PTI)

 

IDA being reduced from 90.5% to 88.4% w.e.f. April 2014 ?

31 Monday Mar 2014

Posted by in BSNL News, PSU

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It is understood that the IDA for PSU employees including BSNL employees will be reduced from 90.5 % from January 2014 to 88.4% from April 2014, a reduction of 2.1%. This is attributed to the decrease in the Consumer price Index (CPI) for the industrial workers.

We are at a loss to understand how the CPI has come down when the prices of all essential commodities have been going up continuously for the last so many months, without any reduction. There is clear indication that the UPA government in its last phase, before the general election has taken its revenge on the working class by manipulating the CPI. An enquiry is to be conducted on how the CPI has come down. The new government should go in to the matter to do justice to the workers

 

 

 

New Delhi, The Capital of India

31 Monday Mar 2014

Posted by in General, History

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New Delhi is the capital of British India from 1st April 1912 and continues to be the Capital of free India since 15th August 1947.

Delhi was the capital of many empires. It is stated to be Indraprastha, the capital of the Pandavas, mentioned in the mythological epic Mahabharata, though no proof is available.

There are clear proof about the city from 6th BC onwards. This was the capital of Maurya Empire, Tomara, Chauhans, Slave dynasties, Lodhi, Khilji and Mogul Empires. It has changed hands umpteen times.The Mogul empire continued from 1526 when Babur attacked and conquered and made Delhi the capital. In between, the capital was shifted to Agra, but again it was brought back to Delhi. The Mogul Empire continued till 1857-58 when the last Emperor Bahadur Shah was exiled by the British after the First War of Independence was crushed.

The British made Calcutta their capital, being their major centre for a long period. Shimla was its summer capital. However, considering all factors, the capital was shifted from Calcutta to Delhi in 1912.

A new city was built at Delhi, which is the present New Delhi. The construction  was completed in 1931, including the Viceroy’s House (present Rashtrapati Bhawan), Central Secretariat buildings, Connaught Place etc. New Delhi is also called Lueton’s Delhi,  based on the architect who planned and constructed the city.

1 April 2014 is the 112 anniversary of the shifting of Capital from Calcutta to Delhi. New Delhi is one of biggest cities in the world and India’s first. It has got a population of more than 2.2 crore according to 2011 census. People from all over India has migrated to New Delhi and it is a real Metro City. It is the city of Qutab Minar, Red Fort, Humayun’s Tomb, Purana Quila and much more heritage sites.

The changes that have taken place in the last few decades after Independence have been phenomenal, both good and bad. It has expanded far beyond the old Delhi. Alwar, Baghpat, Gurgaon, Sonepat,Faridabad, Ghaziabad, Noida, Noida  and other nearby towns in UP, Haryana and Rajasthan are part of the National Capital Region centred by New Delhi.  It is still expanding. People from all over the country reach Delhi for jobs. At the same time, it is one of the most polluted city. Yamuna has moved away from the sides of the Red Fort, Humayun’s Tomb, Purana Quila etc. during the centuries. Metro has come. The Delhi Airport is one of the best in the world. It is the centre of government, the power centre. It is a city non-parallel.

Most of all, one thing. With all its best and worse, those who come to Delhi want to continue in Delhi. It has its own magic and attraction.