TOKYO (TIP): A magnitude 6.8 earthquake hit off eastern Japan on Saturday morning, the Japan Meteorological Agency said, with minor tsunami of up to 20 cm but no reports of damage along the northeast coast that was ravaged by the catastrophic March 2011 tsunami.
No irregularities were reported at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant, which was damaged in the 2011 disaster in the worst nuclear accident since Ukraine’s Chernobyl in 1986.The quake registered a moderate 4 on the Japanese seismic scale of 1-7, meaning that major damage was unlikely.
Month: July 2014
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Magnitude 6.8 earthquake, small tsunami hit east Japan, no damage
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POOR MONSOON THREATENS FIRST DROUGHT IN FIVE YEARS
New Delhi (TIP): Weak rainfall in India since the start last month of the monsoon season, crucial to the country’s agricultural earnings, has raised concerns of a first drought in five years, although weather experts are hopeful rains will revive in the next week. A poor monsoon cuts exports, stokes food inflation and leads to lower demand for products ranging from cars to consumer goods, while a slow start could delay exports of some crops and increase the need for imports.
Rains last week spread to soybean areas in central parts of India and cane areas in the north, but overall rains stood at 43 percent below the seasonal average, a weather office update showed. In 2009 the worst drought in nearly four decades forced India, the world’s top sugar consumer, to buy large quantities of the sweetener from top producer Brazil, driving benchmark New York futures to a 30-year high. The farm sector accounts for around 14 percent of India’s nearly $2 trillion economy, and two-thirds of its 1.2 billion population live in rural areas.
“The monsoon appears to be more unpredictable,” Finance Minster Arun Jaitley said, presenting his maiden budget on July 10. India, one of the world’s top producers and consumers of rice, corn, cooking oil, sugar and cotton, relies heavily on the summer rains as nearly half its farmland lacks irrigation. The lacklustre monsoon could push up edible oil imports by the world’s top palm oil buyer. That in turn could underpin benchmark Malaysian prices of the tropical oil that have plunged more than a tenth this year.
The monsoon this year arrived five days late on the southern Kerala coast, and then covered half of India four days later than the usual date of June 15. Usually, the monsoon covers the entire country around mid-July. “The water-stressed western region is expected to receive good rainfall next week as conditions have become favourable for a revival,” said M. Rajeevan, a senior meteorological scientist with the ministry of earth sciences.DROUGHT CONCERNS
Delayed progress of monsoon rains towards the grain belt of northwest India and oilseed-growing regions of central and western India has prompted concerns about a shortfall in grains output, causing prices of some food items to rise. Jaitley said last week there was no cause to panic about the possibility of higher inflation, after a private forecasting agency said there was a 60 percent chance India would face a drought this year.
“Even if due to inadequate rainfall there is a marginal decline in agricultural production, stocks in the central pool are adequate to meet any exigency (emergency),” Jaitley said. India’s government under new Prime Minister Narendra Modi has moved to ease market concerns over supply shortages and price speculation with a number of steps, including raids against hoarders.
Policy makers in New Delhi fear a failure of this year’s monsoon could push up retail food inflation by at least one percentage point. Soaring prices of basic goods such as milk and potatoes lifted retail food inflation in May to 9.4 percent and the poor monsoon has fanned fears of worse to come. -
‘Grand Old Lady of Bollywood’ Zohra Sehgal dies aged 102
NEW DELHI (TIP): Indian actress Zohra Sehgal – described by many as the ‘Grand Old Lady of Bollywood’ – has died today (10 June ) aged 102. She died of a cardiac arrest on July 10 She was cremated on July 11 at the Lodhi Road crematorium, Delhi. Born on 27 April 1912, Sehgal started her career as a dancer in choreographer Uday Shankar’s troupe, performing in the USA and Japan. She went onto appear in numerous Bollywood films as a character actress, as well as English-speaking films such as Bend It Like Beckham.
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has already paid tribute to the actress on Twitter. Her most famous credits include Neecha Nagar, Afsar (1946), Bhaji on the Beach (1992) and The Mystic Masseur (2001). She also acted in television series Doctor Who from 1964-1965, making her the longest-living actress to have appeared on the show and its only centenarian. She last featured in 2007 romance film Saawariya. Sehgal received some of India’s highest awards, including the Padma Shri in 1998, the Kalidas Samman in 2001, the Sangeet Natak Akademi in 2004, in addition to the Padma Vibhushan in 2010. -
I-T Act changes may herald fresh trouble for Sonia Gandhi and Rahul
NEW DELHI (TIP): Young Indian, a company in which Congress president Sonia Gandhi and her son Rahul hold majority stake, could be in fresh trouble over its takeover of the National Herald publication. The Budget has proposed an amendment in the Income Tax Act empowering officials to cancel registration of charitable trusts is the department is convinced that any income or property of the trust is applied for personal benefit of specified persons like author of trust, trustees etc. The amendment proposed is in the Section 12AA of the I-T Act and will take effect from 1st October, 2014.
The existing provisions of section 12AA had limited jurisdiction where the registration could only be cancelled if the activities of a trust or institution are found not to be genuine, or the activities are not in accordance with the objects of the trust or institution. The I-T department has already served notice on the Young Indian and the Associate Journals which earlier owned the National Herald and other publications of the trusts.
The Associate Journals was taken over by another company called the Young Indian which was incorporated in 2010 and in which Sonia Gandhi and Rahul held majority stake. BJP leader Subramanian Swamy had filed a case against the Congress president and some others, alleging that they had used party funds to acquire the properties of National Herald. -
FIGHTING EXODUS OF DOCTORS FROM ARMED FORCES, GOVT HIKES BOND MONEY
NEW DELHI (TIP): With 85 doctors pre-maturely leaving military service for the much greener pastures in the civilian world since 2011, the government has hiked the bond money to Rs 25-30 lakh in a bid to stem the exodus from the Armed Forces Medical Services (AFMS). Defence minister Arun Jaitley told Lok Sabha on Friday that the amount of the “bond” — which candidates taking admission in the Armed Forces Medical College for MBBS have to execute and pay if they leave service before 20 years — has been raised from the current academic year.
While the pre-revised bond money was Rs 15 lakh for the MMBS course in AFMS colleges, it is now pegged at Rs 25 lakh. Similarly, it has been hiked from Rs 5 lakh for civilian candidates and Rs 15 lakh for AFMS doctors to Rs 25 lakh for those undertaking post-graduate MD/MS courses. The bond for post-doctoral super-speciality courses is now Rs 30 lakh from the earlier Rs 5 lakh. “It has also been decided that the above bond money will be enhanced by Rs 1 lakh per year for the next five years,” said Jaitley.
The number of doctors who opted out of military service by paying the bond money stood at 26 in 2011, 19 each in 2012 and 2013, and 21 till now this year. The AFMS, which looks after the health services in the 13 lakh strong armed forces, has around 5,800 doctors and 620 dentists at present. There were 205 new doctors commissioned in the AFMS in 2011, 234 in 2012, 307 in 2013 and 93 till now this year. -
After Retaining Congress’ Trust, Prithviraj Chavan Eyes Maharashtra Poll Win
Mumbai (TIP): A day after Congress leadership reposed faith in him to lead the party in upcoming Assembly polls, Maharashtra Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan on July 11 said his endeavour would be to win maximum seats in the state. “I met the party leadership in the last two days and requested them to put to rest uncertainty over the leadership issue in the interest of the party’s (poll) prospects. We also discussed poll preparedness and strategy,” he told reporters here. Yesterday, the party high command declared that Chavan will continue in his post and lead Congress in the elections, ending the suspense over the issue of change of leadership in the state since the party’s debacle in the Lok Sabha polls.
Asked about alliance partner Nationalist Congress Party’s (NCP) demand of equal seat- sharing in the 288-member Assembly, Chavan said such issues are not discussed in front of the media.”We will talk about it in the co-ordination committee meeting. This will be our sixth election together (both Assembly and Lok Sabha). My efforts would be to ensure win in maximum seats,” the Congress leader said. On whether Sharad Pawar has been asked by Congress to lead the alliance’s poll campaign, Chavan said, “I have no idea. My leaders have not told me so. I can’t elaborate further.” -
HARYANA ASSEMBLY PASSES BILL FOR SEPARATE SGPC
CHANDIGARH (TIP): Haryana Assembly on July 11 passed a bill paving the way for the formation of a separate body to manage affairs of Gurdwaras in the state even as the main opposition parties INLD and the BJP staged a walkout over the issue. The bill moved by Parliamentary Affairs Minister Randeep Surjewala was passed with a voice vote in the absence of the Indian National Lok Dal and BJP members, who had earlier staged a walkout opposing the legislation, claiming that the move was Congress’ “conspiracy” to “divide” the community.
Bhupinder Singh Hooda-led Congress government in Haryana passed the bill ignoring the stiff opposition of the Amritsarbased Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee, the Shiromani Akali Dal and other groups. Congress had promised the formation of separate SGPC in its poll manifesto in 2005, but the issue remained unsettled in its first term and got carried over to Hooda’s second term. But with assembly elections due in Haryana in October this year, the issue was speeded up. Hooda, Surjewala and other treasury benches members described the bill as “historic” one which was long overdue as the Sikhs of Haryana had been “fighting” to have right over management of their Gurudwaras.
Heated arguments erupted between the ruling and opposition benches during the discussion on the Bill with the latter dubbing it as a “ploy” to garner votes ahead of the polls. “Dont divide the Sikhs on religious lines. They have a long history of sacrifice and the Sikhs of Haryana have not favoured this. This Bill should be taken back,” INLD’s State unit President Ashok Arora said, finding full support from his party MLAs including senior leaders Abhay Singh Chautala and Ramphal Majra. BJP’s senior leader Anil Vij said that the ruling party was “rushing through” and in a “hurry” to pass the 46-page Bill and had not given enough time to the Opposition to study and go through the contents of the important legislation, which was connected to the future of the Sikh community in the State. Vij said that the move was a “Congress conspiracy” to divide the community.
However, Hooda and Finance Minister Harmohinder Singh Chattha, who prepared the report which favoured the separate body, told the House that there was no politics being behind the move as the decision regarding it was taken considering sentiments and aspirations of the Sikhs of Haryana. Earlier in the day, Surjewala introduced the Haryana Sikh Gurdwaras (Management) Bill, 2014 “to provide for the better autonomous management and effective supervision of Sikh Gurdwaras and Gurdwara properties in Haryana and matters related thereto.” Haryana Sikh leaders including Jagdish Singh Jhinda, Didar Singh Nalwi, who spearheaded the campaign for separate SGPC in Haryana, besides Congress leaders from Punjab including state unit chief Pratap Singh Bajwa and some party MLAs watched the proceedings of the House from the visitors gallery.
SGPC wants Centre to intervene, stall move
Chandigarh (TIP): Dubbing the Haryana Government’s initiative to carve out a separate Sikh gurdwara panel for the state as ‘unconstitutional and illegal’, an anguished Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) has urged the Central Government and the President to intervene and stall the move. The Amritsar-based apex religious body of the Sikhs on July 11 said it might take a legal route to block the creation of the Haryana Sikh Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (HSGPC). “The party will decide the next course of action and do the needful. We will see…we might take legal action if necessary,” said SGPC chief Avtar Singh Makkar. The SGPC chief, who presided over a meeting at Nada Sahib, said: “It’s the prerogative of SAD patron Parkash Singh Badal and party chief Sukhbir Singh Badal to take up the matter with the Central Government and the President. We have also requested the Haryana Governor to not give his nod to the Bill for creation of the HSGPC.”
It is learnt that Badal during his recent meetings with top BJP leaders sought the Union Government’s support to stall the ongoing process for creation of a separate HSGPC. On being asked about the Modi government’s response, Makkar said: “It (response) was good.” The sources, however, said SAD leadership was given a ‘cold shoulder’ by central BJP leaders over the issue. Consequently, the SGPC has ‘toned down’ its stand on the HSGPC issue. The panel on Friday renewed its ‘truce’ offer to Haryana Sikh leaders. “We are all for the ‘panthic ekta’. To achieve it, we again offer our Haryana elected members two posts — that of Vice- President and Additional Secretary. We are also okay with Haryana gurdwaras spending the income being generated by them,” said Makkar. -
COLLEGIUM CLEARS UDAY UMESH LALIT AS SC JUDGE
NEW DELHI (TIP): The collegium headed by the Chief Justice of India has recommended to the Centre to appoint senior advocate Uday Umesh Lalit, a sought after criminal law practitioner, as a judge of the Supreme Court. Along with Lalit, the collegium also recommended the names of three chief justices of high courts – Justices Prafull Chandra Pant, Abhay Manohar Sapre and R Banumathi – to the Union government for appointment as judges of the apex court, official sources said. CJI R M Lodha, who has been advocating appointment of competent senior advocates directly to the Supreme Court, had last month recommended appointment of senior advocates R F Nariman and Gopal Subramanium as judges of the SC. But the government returned Subramanium’s name to the collegium for reconsideration citing adverse IB and CBI reports. The clearance for the appointment of Nariman and Justices Arun Kumar Mishra and Adarsh Goel while segregating Subramanium’s name did not go down well with both the CJI and Subramanium.
In fact, both Nariman and Subramanium were designated as senior advocates by the Supreme Court on the same day nearly 21 years ago on December 15, 1993. A miffed Subramanium severely criticized the government and the judiciary before withdrawing his consent for judgeship and declared that he would not practice in Supreme Court till Justice Lodha’s retirement. The lawyer said he had been discriminated against because he, as amicus curiae, sought the prosecution of Amit Shah, now the BJP president, in the Sohrabuddin Sheikh ‘encounter’ case.
Significantly, AAP leader Arvind Kejriwal sought to link the collegium’s choice of Lalit to Shah, saying he was the counsel of the ruling party chief in two cases. Justice Lodha had criticized the Centre’s unilateral decision to segregate Subramanium’s name while expressing shock over the way the lawyer went public with his unpleasant nine-page letter. The Supreme Court presently has 27 judges, four less than the sanctioned strength. If the government expeditiously clears the appointment of Lalit and Justices Pant, Sapre and Bhanumati, the apex court will have full working strength. But a vacancy will arise when Justice C K Prasad retires on July 14. Lalit was designated as senior advocate by the Supreme Court on April 29, 2004. -
Lok Sabha site names Advani a journalist, Rahul a strategy consultant
BHOPAL (TIP): Former deputy prime minister and BJP patriarch LK Advani is a journalist by profession and Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi is a strategy consultant, according to the Lok Sabha website. Strangely, the nation’s top two politicians and members of the 16th Lok Sabha do not have politics as their profession in their profile on the portal. A Madhya Pradesh-based activist has written to Lok Sabha Speaker Sumitra Mahajan to check this crucial information and rectify it if found wrong.
“When they contested elections, Advani stated in his affidavit he was a social worker by profession and Rahul said he was a member of Parliament,” activist Chandra Shekar Gaur said. “I have also requested the Speaker to ensure that contact details like email id and official phone number of Prime Minister Narendra Modi should also be provided on the website as he’s also an MP. If complete details of other MPs are provided, then why should Modi be an exception? It will help people to connect with the prime minister whom they have elected,” Gaur, a resident of Neemuch, said. -
SC orders govt to pay new NREGA wages
NEW DELHI (TIP): The paltry Rs 353 crore increase on last year’s 33,000 crore budget allocation for implementation of Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) may not fit the bill as the Supreme Court on Friday ordered implementation of new wages effective since April 1. The UPA government had on February 13 notified new wages for states. For Bihar, wages increased by 16.6% to Rs 153 a day while in Jharkhand it went up by 14.9% to Rs 158. Wages in Andhra Pradesh, Mizoram, Nagaland, Sikkim and Tripura were increased by 14.8%. Despite the annual increase in wages under MGNREGA since 2011, minimum wages in more than a dozen states are still higher.
This was the reason why the Karnataka High Court had directed the Centre to pay MGNREGA wages in accordance with the Karnataka State Minimum Wages Act. The Centre had appealed against the HC order in the SC, but in January, the apex court refused to stay the HC order saying payment of minimum wages was mandatory under law. This forced the UPA government to revise the wages under MGNREGA. But the revised wages, as specified in the February 13 notification and effective from April 1, is estimated to cost the exchequer an additional Rs 1,000 crore.
However, the increase of Rs 353 crore might not be enough to implement the rural employment guarantee schemes. A bench of Justices S J Mukhopadhaya and S A Bobde disposed of the Centre’s appeal saying implementation of the new wage structure as per the February 13 notification had rendered the petition infructuous. However, it kept open the question — should states pay minimum wages as provided under the law while implementing MGNREGA — open for future and said if any challenge was made to the notification, then the court concerned would decide it on its own merit uninfluenced by the Karnataka HC judgment.
When the national job scheme was started in 2006, the minimum wage for agricultural labourers in each state was taken as the standard wage for MGNREGA workers. However, in 2008, the Centre decided to revise the MGNREGA wage rate by indexing it to consumer price index for agricultural labourers. -
SRI GURU GRANTH SAHIB
|| 1 || God, my Lord and Master, is the highest of all; how can I meet my Dear Beloved? When the True Guru united me, then I was naturally united with my Husband Lord, and now, I keep Him clasped to my heart. I constantly, lovingly cherish my Beloved within my heart; through the True Guru, I see my Husband Lord. The cloak of Maya’s love is false; wearing it, one slips and loses his footing. That cloak is true, which is dyed in the color of the Love of my Beloved; wearing it, my thirst is quenched. God, my Lord and Master, is the highest of all; how can I meet my Dear Beloved? || 2 || I have realized my True Lord God, while the other unworthy ones have gone astray.
I dwell constantly upon my Beloved Husband Lord, and contemplate the True Word of the Shabad. The bride contemplates the True Shabad, attuned to His Love; she meets with the True Guru, and finds her Beloved. Deep within, she is attuned to His Love, intoxicated with delight; her enemies and sufferings are all taken away. Surrender body and mind to your Guru, and then your mind will be happy; your thirst and pain shall be taken away. I have realized my True Lord God, while the other unworthy ones have gone astray. || 3 || The True Lord Himself created the world; without the Guru, there is only pitch darkness. He Himself unites, and causes us to unite with Him; He Himself blesses us with His Love.
He Himself blesses us with His Love, and deals in celestial peace; the life of the Gurmukh is redeemed. Blessed is his coming into the world; he banishes self-conceit, and is acclaimed as true in the Court of the True Lord. The light of the jewel of spiritual wisdom shines within his heart, O Nanak, and he loves the Naam, the Name of the Lord. The True Lord Himself created the world; without the Guru, there is only pitch darkness. || 4 || 3 || WADAHANS, THIRD MEHL: This body is frail; old age is overtaking it. Those who are protected by the Guru are saved, while others die, to be reincarnated; they continue coming and going. Others die, to be reincarnated; they continue coming and going, and in the end, they depart with regret.Without the Name, there is no peace.
According to one’s actions here, so are the rewards received; the selfwilled manmukhs lose their honor. In the City of Death, there is pitch darkness and huge clouds of dust; neither sister nor brother is there. This body is frail; old age is overtaking it. || 1 || The body becomes golden, when one unites with the True Guru. Doubt and Maya have been removed from within me, and I am merged in the True Name. Merged in the True Name, I sing the Glorious Praises of the Lord; meeting my Beloved, I have found peace.
I am in constant bliss, day and night; egotism has been dispelled from within me. I fall at the feet of those persons who enshrine the Naam within their consciousness. The body becomes golden, when one unites with the True Guru. || 2 || We truly praise the True Lord, when the True Guru imparts understanding.Without the True Guru, they are deluded by doubt; going to the world hereafter, what face will they show? What face will they show, when they go there? They will regret and repent for their sins – their actions will bring them only pain and suffering. Those who are imbued with the Naam are dyed in the deep crimson color of the Lord’s Love; they merge into the Being of their Husband Lord. I cannot conceive of any other as great as the Lord; unto whom should I go and speak? We truly praise the True Lord, when the True Guru imparts understanding.
|| 3 || I fall at the feet of those who praise the Truest of the True. Those humble beings are true and immaculately pure; meeting them, all filth is washed off. Meeting them, all filth is washed off; bathing in the Pool of Truth, one becomes truthful, with intuitive ease. The True Guru has given me the realization of the Naam, the Name of the immaculate, unfathomable, imperceptible Lord. Those who worship the Lord with devotion night and day are attuned to His Love; O Nanak, they are absorbed in the True Lord. I fall at the feet of those who meditate on the Truest of the True.
|| 4 || 4 || VAAR OF WADAHANS, FOURTH MEHL: TO BE SUNG IN THE TUNE OF LALAA-BEHLEEMAA: ONE UNIVERSAL CREATOR GOD. BY THE GRACE OF THE TRUE GURU: SHALOK, THIRD MEHL: The great swan-souls are imbued with the Word of the Shabad; they enshrine the True Name within their hearts. They gather Truth, remain always in Truth, and love the True Name. They are always pure and immaculate – filth does not touch them; they are blessed with the Grace of the Creator Lord. O Nanak, I am a sacrifice to those who meditate on the Lord night and day. || 1 || THIRD MEHL: I thought that he was a great swan, so I associated with him. If I had known that he was only a wretched heron from birth, I would not have touched him.
|| 2 || THIRD MEHL: Seeing the swans swimming, the herons wanted to do it too. But the poor herons drowned and died, and floated with their heads down and their feet up. || 3 || PAUREE: You Yourself are Yourself, all by Yourself; You Yourself created the creation. You Yourself are Yourself the Formless Lord; there is no other than You. You are the all-powerful Cause of causes; whatever You do, comes to pass. You give gifts to all beings, without their asking. Everyone proclaims, “Waaho! Waaho! Blessed, blessed is the True Guru, who has given the supreme gift of the Name of the Lord.
|| 1 || SHALOK, THIRD MEHL: The entire creation is in fear; only the Dear Lord is fearless. Serving the True Guru, the Lord comes to dwell in the mind, and then, fear can never stay there. Enemies and pain cannot come close, and no one can touch you. The Gurmukh contemplates God in the mind; whatever pleases God comes to pass. O Nanak, He Himself preserves one’s honor; He alone resolves our affairs. || 1 || THIRD MEHL: Some friends are leaving, some have already left, and those remaining will eventually leave. Those who do not serve the True Guru, come and go regretting. O Nanak, those who are attuned to Truth are not separated; serving the True Guru, they merge into the Lord.
|| 2 || PAUREE: Meet with that True Guru, the true friend, within whose mind the virtuous Lord abides. Meet with that Beloved True Guru, who has subdued egotism from within. Blessed, blessed is that Perfect True Guru, who has given the Lord’s Teachings to reform the whole world. O Saints, meditate constantly on the Name of the Lord, and cross over the terrifying, poisonous world-ocean. The Perfect Guru has taught me about the Lord; I am forever a sacrifice to the Guru. || 2 || SHALOK, THIRD MEHL: Service to the True Guru is the essence of comfort and peace. Doing so, one obtains honor here, and the door of salvation in the Court of the Lord. So perform the tasks of Truth, wear Truth, and take the Support of the True Name. Associating with Truth, obtain Truth, and love the True Name. Through the True Word of the Shabad, you shall be happy forever, and acclaimed as True in the True Court. O Nanak, he alone serves the True Guru, whom the Creator has blessed with His Glance of Grace.
|| 1 || THIRD MEHL: Cursed is the life, and cursed is the dwelling, of those who serve another. They abandon the Ambrosial Nectar and turn to poison; they earn poison, and poison is their only wealth. Poison is their food, and poison is their dress; they fill their mouths with morsels of poison. In this world, they earn only pain and suffering, and dying, they go to dwell in hell. The self-willed manmukhs have filthy faces; they do not know the Word of the Shabad. In sexual desire and anger they waste away. They forsake the Fear of the True Guru, and because of their stubborn-mindedness, their efforts do not succeed.
In the City of Death, they are bound and beaten, and no one hears their prayers. O Nanak, they act according to their pre-ordained destiny; the Gurmukhs abide in the Naam. || 2 || PAUREE: Serve the True Guru, O Holy people; He implants the Name of the Lord, Har, Har, within.Worship the True Guru day and night; He leads us the meditate on the Lord of the Universe, the Master of the Universe. Behold the True Guru, each and every moment; He shows us the spiritual path of the Lord. Let everyone fall at the feet of the True Guru; He has dispelled the darkness of emotional attachment. Let everyone hail and praise the True Guru, who has led us to find the treasure of the Lord’s devotional worship.
|| 3 || SHALOK, THIRD MEHL: Meeting the True Guru, hunger departs; hunger does not depart by wearing the robes of a beggar. Afflicted with pain, he wanders from house to house, and in the world hereafter, he receives double punishment. Intuitive peace does not come to his inner being – he is not content to eat what comes his way. With his stubborn mind, he begs, and grabs, and annoys those who give. Instead of wearing these beggar’s robes, it is better to be a householder, and give to others. Those who are attuned to the Word of the Shabad, acquire understanding; the others wander, deluded by doubt.
They act according to their past actions; it is useless to talk to them. O Nanak, those who are pleasing to God are good; He upholds their honor. || 1 || THIRD MEHL: Serving the True Guru, one finds a lasting peace; the pains of birth and death are removed. He is not troubled by anxiety; the carefree Lord comes to dwell in the mind. Deep within, is the sacred shrine of spiritual wisdom, revealed by the True Guru. Filth is removed, and the mind becomes pure, bathing in the sacred shrine, the pool of Ambrosial Nectar. The friend meets with the True Friend, the Lord, through the love of the Shabad.Within the home of his heart, he finds the Divine Self, and his light blends with the Light. The Messenger of Death does not leave the hypocrite; he is led away in dishonor. O Nanak, those who are attuned to the Naam are saved; they are in love with the True Lord.
|| 2 || PAUREE: Go, and sit in the Sat Sangat, the True Congregation, where the Name of the Lord is churned. In peace and poise, contemplate the Lord’s Name – don’t lose the essence of the Lord. Chant the Name of the Lord, Har, Har, constantly, day and night, and you shall be accepted in the Court of the Lord. He alone finds the Perfect True Guru, on whose forehead such pre-ordained destiny is written. Let everyone bow in worship to the Guru, who speaks the sermon of the Lord.
|| 4 || SHALOK, THIRD MEHL: The friends who love the True Guru, meet with the Lord, the True Friend. Meeting their Beloved, they meditate on the True Lord with love and affection. Their minds are appeased by their own minds, through the incomparable Word of the Guru’s Shabad. These friends are united, and will not be separated again; they have been united by the Creator Lord Himself. Some do not believe in the Blessed Vision of the Guru’s Darshan; they do not contemplate the Word of the Shabad. The separated ones are in love with duality – what more separation can they suffer? Friendship with the self-willed manmukhs lasts for only a few short days. -
THE RAMAYANA
THE Epic relates to the ancient traditions of two powerful races, the Kosalas and the Videhas, who lived in Northern India between the twelfth and tenth centuries before Christ. The names Kosala and Videha in the singular number indicate the kingdoms,–Oudh and North Behar,–and in the plural number they mean the ancient races which inhabited those two countries.
According to the Epic, Dasa-ratha king of the Kosalas had four sons, the eldest of whom was Rama the hero of the poem. And Janak king of the Videhas had a daughter named Sita, who was miraculously born of a field furrow, and who is the heroine of the Epic. Janak ordained a severe test for the hand of his daughter, and many a prince and warrior came and went away disappointed. Rama succeeded, and won Sita.
The story of Rama’s winning his bride, and of the marriage of his three brothers with the sister and cousins of Sita, forms the subject of this Book. The portions translated in this Book form Section vi., Sections lxvii. to Ixix., Section lxxiii., and Section lxxvii. of Book i. of the original text.
AYODRYA, THE RIGHTEOUS CITY
Rich in royal worth and valour, rich in
holy Vedic lore,
Dasa-ratha ruled his empire in the happy
days of yore,
Loved of men in fair Ayodhya, sprung of
ancient Solar Race,
Royal rishi in his duty, saintly rishi in his
grace,
Great as INDRA in his prowess, bounteous
as KUVERA kind,
Dauntless deeds subdued his foemen, lofty
faith subdued his mind!
Like the ancient monarch Manu, father of
the human race,
Dasa-ratha ruled his people with a father’s
loving grace,
Truth and Justice swayed each action and
each baser motive quelled
People’s Love and Monarch’s Duty every
thought and deed impelled,
And his town like INDRA’S city,–tower and
dome and turret brave–
Rose in proud and peerless beauty on
Sarayu’s limpid wave!
Peaceful lived the righteous people, rich in
wealth in merit high,
Envy dwelt not in their bosoms and their
accents shaped no lie,
Fathers with their happy households
owned their cattle, corn, and gold,
Galling penury and famine in Ayodhya had
no hold,
Neighbours lived in mutual kindness
helpful with their ample wealth,
None who begged the wasted refuse, none
who lived by fraud and stealth!
And they wore the gem and earring,
wreath and fragrant sandal paste,
And their arms were decked with
bracelets, and their necks with nishkas
graced,
Cheat and braggart and deceiver lived not
in the ancient town,
Proud despiser of the lowly wore not
insults in their frown,
Poorer fed not on the richer, hireling friend
upon the great,
None with low and lying accents did upon
the proud man wait
Men to plighted vows were faithful, faithful
was each loving wife,
Impure thought and wandering fancy
stained not holy wedded life,
Robed in gold and graceful garments, fair
in form and fair in face,
Winsome were Ayodhya’s daughters, rich
in wit and woman’s grace
Twice-born men were free from passion,
lust of gold and impure greed,
Faithful to their Rites and Scriptures,
truthful in their word and deed,
Altar blazed in every mansion, from each
home was bounty given,
‘Stooped no man to fulsome falsehood,
questioned none the will of Heaven.
Kshatras bowed to holy Brahmans, Vaisyas
to the Kshatras bowed
Toiling Sudras lived by labour, of their
honest duty proud,
To the Gods and to the Fathers, to each
guest in virtue trained,
Rites were done with true devotion as by
holy writ ordained,
Pure each caste in due observance,
stainless was each ancient rite,
And the nation thrived and prospered by
its old and matchless might,
And each man in truth abiding lived a long
and peaceful life,
With his sons and with his grandsons, with
his loved and honoured wife.
Thus was ruled the ancient city by her
monarch true and bold,
As the earth was ruled by Mann in the
misty days of old,
Troops who never turned in battle, fierce
as fire and strong and brave,
Guarded well her lofty ramparts as the
lions guard the cave.
Steeds like INDRA’S in their swiftness
came from far Kamboja’s land,
From Vanaya and Vahlika and from
Sindhu’s rock-bound strand,
Elephants of mighty stature from the
Vindhya mountains came,
Or from deep and darksome forests round
Himalay’s peaks of fame,
Matchless in their mighty prowess,
peerless in their wondrous speed,
Nobler than the noble tuskers sprung from
high celestial breed.
Thus Ayodhya, “virgin city,”–faithful to her
haughty name,–
Ruled by righteous Dasa-ratha won a
world-embracing fame,
Strong-barred gates and lofty arches, tower
and dome and turret high
Decked the vast and peopled city fair as
mansions of the sky.
Queens of proud and peerless beauty born
of houses rich in fame,
Loved of royal Dasa-ratha to his happy
mansion came,
Queen Kausalya blessed with virtue true
and righteous Rama bore,
Queen Kaikeyi young and beauteous bore
him Bharat rich in lore,
Queen Simitra bore the bright twins,
Lakshman and Satruglina bold,
Four brave princes served their father in
the happy days of old!
MITHILA, AND THE BREAKING OF BOW
Janak monarch of Videha spake his
memage near and far,
He shall win my peerless Sita who shall
bend my bow of war,
Suitors came from farthest regions,
warlike princes known to fame,
Vainly strove to wield the weapon, left
Videha in their shame.
Viswa-mitra royal rishi, Rama true and
Lakshman bold,
Came to fair Mithila’s city from Ayodhya
famed of old,
Spake in pride the royal rishi: “Monarch of
Videha’s throne,
Grant, the wondrous bow of RUDRA be to
princely Rama shown.”
Janak spake his royal mandate to his lords
and warriors bold:
“Bring ye forth the bow of RUDRA decked
in garlands and in gold,”
And his peers and proud retainers waiting
on the monarch’s call,
Brought the great and goodly weapon from
the city’s inner hall.
Stalwart men of ample stature pulled the
mighty iron car
In which rested all-inviolate Janak’s
dreaded bow of war,
And where midst assembled monarchs sat
Videha’s godlike king,
With a mighty toil and effort did the eightwheeled
chariot bring.
“This the weapon of Videha,” proudly thus
the peers begun, -
KITCHEN MUST-HAVES FOR YOUR HOME
If you have money to spare and want to invest in your kitchen, there are a number of ways you can upgrade your kitchen. Here’s how:
A modular kitchen cabinet
The kitchen space looks neater and cool with a modular kitchen cabinet. It not only makes the kitchen look clutter free, but also helps one organize things better with many compartments and shelves.
Convection microwave
This saves lot of time and removes the hassle of heating food. And whenever your mood permits, you can freak out with some baking sessions too. Lots of Indian recipes can be cooked in microwave nowadays. And there are a number of recipes for microwave cooking too. You can prepare food with minimum oil too.
Double door refrigerator
This is a must in every household. The more the storage space in a refrigerator, the more stuff can be put in it, thus saving your frequency to going to the market for shopping of essential perishable stuff.
The kitchen wok
This wonderful utensil is a good pick. It would be fun to cook stuff in a wok, plus you can flaunt it when there are guests around. It is definitely a pride possession for anyone who’s cooking and loves cooking.
A knife set
The better the knife set, the wonderful is the cutting experience. Taking from the paring knife to the boning knife, there is a right knife for every cutting need. Spending more on buying a very good quality chef’s knife is always a good idea because it will last longer too.
Cutting board
Avoid going for a plastic cutting board, if you want to enjoy the cooking process. Cutting veggies is always a pleasure when done on a wooden cutting/chopping board.
Wine glass set
Your candlelit dinners ought to be accompanied with a fine serve of wines. So, pick those fine wine glasses of your choice and keep them at a special place. Even if you don’t have a small bar at home, do keep the wine glasses. They add glam to your kitchen
Fine crockery (Bone china)
You have got all the things in the right place. Now, you need an apt crockery to set the mood of dining at your home.
Food processor
A food processor really gives a high to the cooking process. Bring it home once, and you are bound to unleash the master chef within. It also takes away the burden of chopping and cutting when you really don’t have the energy or much time.
Fine cutlery
This is an accessory that you don’t want to go wrong with. The market has a lot of high end cutlery available where you can pick your favourite shape and size. In the end, how you love to have your food matters a lot. -
HOW TO KEEP YOUR WASHROOM CLEAN
There clever pointers will help you keep your bathroom sparkling and fragrant:
-Avoid cluttering your bathroom, since it’s usually the smallest room in the house. If you have many sanitary and beauty products, try to store them inside cabinets below the sink or on the wall. Don’t leave them out.
-Scrubbing the counter of the sink and the toilet daily is a must, as these are used regularly and should be clean. If you do it every day, your weekly cleaning routine will be less tedious.
-If you have shower curtains, make sure you change them regularly. Plastic ones can we washed. Do the same with the hand towel above the sink. Put a clean one every morning.
-Never leave dirty laundry or wet towels inside the bathroom, especially on the floor. Once you’re done using them, take them straight to the laundry or put them in a bathroom hamper. -
UTILISE CITRUS FRUIT PEELS
Citrus peels can be used in various ways at home. It not only saves you money, it also brings wonderful results.
– Use lemon peel to bathe. It leaves your body and hair smelling fresh and clean.
-Add any citrus peel to a pitcher of water and put in the refrigerator. It gives a soothing fragrance and mild flavour to water.
-Add a slice of citrus peel to brown sugar to prevent it from going hard.
-Use dried citrus peel to freshen up that smelly sock or underwear drawer. Place the peels inside a sachet first and it will create a beautiful scent. Place dried citron peel into closets and wardrobes to ward off the moths.
-You can use orange or lemon peels to make your breath smell great. Chew the peel and you’ll find it’s a good substitute for mints and gum. -
WAYS TO PREVENT OBESITY
You don’t need fancy exercise equipment or an expensive gym membership for losing weight. Walking, jogging, running, cycling and swimming are great for weight loss Regardless of whether one is just a little overweight, fat, or morbidly obese – losing weight is the one thing that really tops the list of priorities for most people.
Every second person you know is on some kind of a ‘losing weight’ programme – either with the help of a control diet or with a combination of diets and exercise. Though most do not need to obsess about their weight, it is the obese who really need to do something about it. Dr Muffazal Lakdawala, bariatric surgeon, recommends some practical tips on how to prevent obesity…
-Recognise that obesity is a disease. In fact, in the US obesity has reached epidemic proportions; while most epidemics can be defeated with a pill or vaccine, obesity requires people to change the way they eat and live, making it harder to defeat. Obesity is a major risk factor for serious chronic diseases and conditions including Type 2 diabetes, hypertension, sleep apnea, gallstones, infertility, varicose veins, gout, osteoarthritis and Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT).
-If you are overweight, take action right now to prevent crossing over into obesity. The first step is to make healthier lifestyle choices in your diet and exercise.
-Eat healthy. Include fruits, green vegetables, cereals and whole grain foods in your daily diet. Avoid sweets, fried, junk, packaged and refined foods. Eat small meals and chew your food slowly.
-Set aside at least 30 minutes every day for cardiovascular exercise. You don’t need fancy exercise equipment or an expensive gym membership for this purpose. Walking, jogging, running, cycling and swimming are great for weight loss. It is essential to exercise at least thrice a week.
-Ignore popular quick-fix weight loss methods unless they are medically supervised. This category includes fad diets, weight loss pills and powders and fat burning machines. Not only do these techniques have serious side effects, some of them have a yo-yo cycle wherein you will regain excess weight just as quickly as you lost it.
-If you are overweight, don’t socially ostracise yourself even though it may appear that society is pushing you to it. Weight gain has a deep psychosocial impact in these condemnable “size zero figure” times. Depression and stress further aggravate the condition.
-Become a non-smoker. It’s a myth that smoking induces weight loss. Nicotine suppresses the appetite but its side effects are enormous.
-Avoid drinking. Most forms of alcohol contain a high percentage of fat. The fat content shoots up thanks to sweetened aerated drinks and greasy, fried foods that alcohol is usually paired with.
-If diet and exercise fail in obesity prevention, don’t shy away from bariatric surgery. It’s the only medically proven method for sustained weight loss. Unlike liposuction or the tummy tuck, it’s not a cosmetic option either.
-Reverse the clock. Discouraging as this state of health might be, please remember that you are not a lost cause. Give life a second chance. Depending on which spectrum of weight gain you belong to, there are effective solutions – from lifestyle modifications, diet and exercises to surgery. -
BLAME SEDENTARY LIFESTYLE FOR OBESITY
Cutting down on calories alone may not help you trim your bulging waistline as researchers have found that lack of leisure-time physical activity is linked to increased obesity, particularly in young women. Researchers analysing data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) in the US found that in the past 20 years there has been a sharp decrease in physical exercise and an increase in average body mass index (BMI), while caloric intake has remained steady.
“At the population level, we found a significant association between the level of leisure-time physical activity, but not daily caloric intake, and the increases in both BMI and waist circumference,” said Uri Ladabaum, associate professor at Stanford University School of Medicine in the US. The number of US adult women who reported no physical activity jumped from 19.1 percent in 1994 to 51.7 percent in 2010.
For men, the number increased from 11.4 percent in 1994 to 43.5 percent in 2010. During the period, average BMI has increased across the board, with the most dramatic rise found among young women ages between 18 and 39 years. The study looked at the escalation of obesity in terms of both exercise and caloric intake. -
DETOX FOR OVERALL HEALTH
Detoxing the right way can help optimise body’s functions. It not only boosts energy levels and stamina, but also improves your skin and hair… Though detox literally means getting rid of toxins from your body, it is equally important for your skin and hair. There are too many environmental pollutants and chemicals around and most of the time, your body cannot handle them. You begin feeling listless and restless – and that is the time you need to go on a detox for a day or two.
There are many ways to do it – fasting, being on a juice diet, or going off sweets/salt for a day are a few examples. If you stop overloading the body with food, the system gets some time to rejuvenate. Detoxing does lead to a little weight-loss, but a detox should never be done with that in mind. If one wants to lose weight, the best option is to exercise and follow a regular balanced diet. Detoxing once a week or month helps your system to flush out toxins and here are some simple tips to detox the healthy way…
Minimise all toxin load
Stay away from refined sugar, saturated fats, alcohol, coffee and smoking. Also, avoid using too many chemical products on your face and body for a day.
Have fruits and veggies
When on a detox, include many fruits and vegetables in your diet. Take ones that are different in colour, because each colour family usually has a particular vitamin in it. You could have fresh juices – the canned and packaged ones have too much sugar and preservatives that may be harmful. If you are only on fruits and vegetables, you should aim for at least five-six portions a day. They usually have a wide range of essential vitamins and minerals and are also rich in antioxidants and fibre.
Stay well hydrated
Water is definitely the best option and so are all kinds of fruits and vegetable juices. Have green tea, camomile or rose tea. Avoiding caffeine, alcoholic and nonalcoholic fizzy drinks and aerated beverages are ideal.
Eat less salt
Avoiding salt for a day is a great idea. In your general meals also, you should not have excess salt.
Have fibre-rich food
This is important because the fibre helps cleanse your system thoroughly. It will prevent constipation and also keep your digestive system healthy.
What does detoxing do for you…-
-Your organs get a rest because you are not overloading it with all kinds of food.
-Stimulates your internal organs to remove toxins from the body and eliminate them.
-Toxins and free radicals affect mental functions also so, a detox programme can help you deal with fatigue, sleep problems, memory etc.
– Detoxing refuels the body. -
REASONS TO VISIT KERALA IN MONSOON
During the rains, god’s own country transforms into a veritable paradise with lush greenery gracing its backwaters and hills, cloudy sunsets, cool breeze and the cheerful fervour of an array of festivals. Intermittent showers heighten the romance of the season. It might not be the best time to hit the beaches, but here are five reasons why Kerala in the monsoon will leave you singin’ in the rain.
Snake boat races
The months between July and September are water sports season, with the backwaters around Alappuzha playing host to a series of snake boat races. The most famous of the lot is the Nehru Trophy Boat Race, generally held on the second Saturday of August every year. The regatta takes place on the Punnamada Lake, and features ceremonial processions and magnificent floats. Its star attraction is the synchronised rowing of traditional 30-metre-long snake-boats or chudan valloms, which have a raised prow resembling a snake.
The Onam sadya feast
This ten-day harvest festival celebrates the homecoming of the mythical king Mahabali, but it’s also a good excuse to feast on some of Kerala’s most lip-smacking vegetarian fare. Traditionally served on palm leaves, the ninecourse banquet is held on the last or tenth day. It’s best savoured at a local home, but you don’t manage to get an invite then most local restaurants also offer these meals. The preceding days are filled with costume parades, boat races and shopping discounts.
Great hotel deals
Sandwiched between Kerala’s sweltering summers and its peak tourist season (November to March), the monsoon is a great time to snag deals at otherwise expensive hotels and resorts. If you’ve ever fantasised about an indulgent houseboat trawl through the backwaters, then this is the time to get the best bargains. To avail the best discounts, make sure you plan your visit before the end of September, after which tariffs being climbing up again.
Ayurvedic therapies
Kerala is home to several excellent spas and wellness resorts, and there’s no better time to pamper yourself than the monsoon season. According to Ayurveda, the cool, pleasant weather is ideal for rejuvenation. Sign up for a week-long retreat at top-notch stays such as the Kairali Ayurvedic Healing Village Health Resort in Palakkad or Somatheeram Ayurvedic Health Resort in Kovalam with relaxing oil-based therapies, massages, yoga and a balanced diet that’ll cleanse your mind, body and soul.
Wayanad’s natural splendour
With virescent hills carpeted with plantations, rainforests and tumbling waterfalls, Wayanad is a photographer’s delight. After you’ve had your fill of its misty coffee, tea and spice plantations, head to the Wayanad Wildlife Sanctuary that hosts numerous migrating birds in this period. Wayanad’s tourism department also holds an annual monsoon carnival in July with village excursions, rain treks as well as local sports such as mud football and archery. -
CBDT tells I-T officers to cut down on frivolous appeals against taxpayers
NEW DELHI (TIP): The Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) has issued internal instructions to tax authorities to cut down on frivolous appeals against favourable orders granted to taxpayers. The threshold limit for filing an appeal before the Income Tax Appellate Tribunal (ITAT) by the tax department has been raised. Such appeals can now not be filed unless the ‘tax effect’ is Rs 4 lakh (the earlier threshold was Rs 3 lakh). However, no change has been made in the threshold for appeals filed by the tax department before a High Court and subsequently the Supreme Court. Such appeals can be filed, if the tax effect is Rs 10 lakh and Rs 25 lakh respectively. In addition, the CBDT has instructed that merit must be the guiding factor while filing an appeal with higher judicial bodies — tax tribunals and courts.
“The monetary limits so prescribed (for filing appeals) are merely a guiding factor. They should not be considered as the only factor in arriving at the decision of going ahead with the appeal process,” states CBDT’s instruction. This instruction applies to income tax appeals filed on or after July 10. While CBDT has always sent a signal that appeals should be filed by the tax authorities, only based on merit (even if the ‘tax effect’ is beyond the threshold limits), it has once again stressed upon this point. In the past, the tax department has faced criticism for filing appeals without due application of mind – the end result is that the taxpayer often wins the case after prolonged litigation. Litigation entails costs not just for the taxpayer but also the tax department.
The Public Accounts Committee (PAC) in its report tabled in both houses of the Parliament last August, pointed out the high volume of decisions that go against the tax department. In 2011-12, 35% of decisions given by ITAT went against the tax department. The corresponding figure was 38% for high courts and 33% for the SC. The tax effect, as defined in the CBDT’s internal instruction, means the difference between the tax on the total income assessed by the tax department and the tax that would have been charged if the total income of the taxpayer was reduced by the income relating to disputed issues.
However, to safeguard the interests of the tax department, certain caveats have been built into the instructions. For instance, just because on a particular disputed issue, the tax department has not appealed as the monetary threshold of the tax effect is low, it does not preclude it from filing an appeal on the same issue for another tax payer (where the tax effect limit is beyond the prescribed threshold). Similarly, it can proceed with filing an appeal against the same taxpayer, on the same issue, in a subsequent year if the tax effect exceeds the monetary limit. Further, the instructions on not filing an appeal If the tax effect is below the prescribed monetary limit will not apply in certain instances. These instances include where the constitutional validity of a tax provision is challenged; where the CBDT’s circular has been held illegal or even when the audit objection has been accepted by the tax department. -
MERCEDES TO LAUNCH COMPACT SEDAN ON JUL 22
KOLKATA (TIP): Mercedes-Benz India will launch the much-awaited compact sedan CLA on July 22. This is the third new generation car to be launched in India after the A Class hatch and B Class tourer. The three-pointed star will unveil the CLA 45 AMG, the premium-priced performance variant, before introducing out the regular compact sedan at a later date. To introduce India’s first compact performance sedan, an important first for Merc, the company is rolling out the ‘Ah My God’ communication campaign, its first-ever Indiaspecific television commercial.
The campaign is conceptualized and produced by Mercedes-Benz’s digital agency, CreativeLand Asia. Globally AMG is synonymous with high performance motoring and cutting edge technological innovations. The Mercedes-AMG brand is the undisputed leaders in racing circuit and the current F1 success is a tribute to the brand’s prowess in performance motoring. With the launch of the CLA 45 AMG, the brand intends to open up to new target groups and reach-out to more people. In order to connect with a larger audience, AMG brand is being communicated in a simple and relevant manner.
This communication has been done by connecting AMG with a creative expression: ‘Ah My God”. This is the feeling that current owners or brand enthusiasts get when they get inside an AMG car. Mercedes-Benz will introduce its fourth new generation car, the compact sedan, later this year. With its enhanced portfolio, the company intends to take on rivals Audi, BMW and Jaguar and emerge ahead of the pack next year. -
Infosys beats forecasts despite fall in Q1 profit
BANGALORE (TIP): Infosys’ revenue rose moderately in the quarter ended June, but at the cost of profit, which took a hit partially on account of salary increases. Net profit declined by 1%, to $482 million, over the preceding March quarter. Revenue grew 2%, to $2.1 billion, over the previous quarter. Compared to the year ago period, revenue was up 7.1%, tracking the full-year revenue guidance of 7-9%. The numbers were better than the estimates of brokerage houses, resulting in the company’s share price rising by 1% on a day when the broader market fell steeply. It also helped raise the share prices of other leading IT companies, including TCS, Wipro and HCL Technologies. Infosys said it was maintaining the full-year revenue guidance of 7-9% that it had issued in April.
The guidance is lower than the 11.5% it did last year and the 13-15% that IT industry body Nasscom expects the industry to grow by this fiscal. Infosys CEO S D Shibulal, who retires at the end of this month, said the demand and pricing environments were stable. Some negative trends continue. The employee attrition rate rose to the highest ever level of 19.5% in the quarter. It was already an all-time high of 18.7% in the March quarter. “Employee attrition rates are worrisome and we are implementing various initiatives to retain good talent,” said the company’s COO Pravin Rao. Shibulal said the company “listened hard to employees” and found that they were more interested in a predictable salary and career growth than in the level of the annual increment.
“So even as we have given increments, we have reduced the variable pay and moved to quarterly promotions to support employees’ career growth. We promoted 7,500 employees last quarter,” he said. The company expects these measures to contain the attrition level. The operating margin, which had dropped precipitously in 2011-12 and 2012-13 but which had been rising steadily last year, has once again fallen back.
It is 25.1% in the June quarter, compared to 25.5% in the March quarter. The fall is partially on account of the salary increment effective April. But the operating margin would have been worse but for a 1.1 percentage point increase on account of a change in the way the company estimates the useful life of assets – which increased the life of the assets and consequently impacted depreciation levels. -
Mango ban: EU team to visit India in September
NEW DELHI (TIP): Amid a temporary import ban on mangoes, a team of experts from European Union will visit India in September to check the measures put in place by the country with regard to fruits and vegetables. “In the light of concerted efforts on India’s part, food and veterinary office of European Commission has agreed to send an audit team in September to verify improvement in plant health controls and certification system with regard to fruits and vegetables,” Commerce and industry minister Nirmala Sitharaman said in a written reply to the Lok Sabha.
The EU has prohibited import from India of five fruits and vegetables, which include mangoes, on account of interceptions of export consignments not compliant with EU phytosanitary (relating to plant life) regulations. India has taken several measures, including enhancement of capacity and numbers of inspecting staff and improvement in infrastructure, implementation of a standard operating procedure to guarantee safe exports and routing of all export consignments of perishables to EU through approved pack houses from April 1 to enable better inspection and certification. “India has not only informed the EU regarding implementation of these control systems but have also formally conveyed our disagreement on the temporary restriction imposed by the EU,” she said. In 2013-14, India has exported mangoes worth Rs 5,022 lakh (3,933 tonnes) as against Rs 3,559 lakh in 2012-13 (3,890 tonnes). -
Industrial production up 4.7% in May, highest since Oct ’12
NEW DELHI (TIP): The country’s industrial output rose 4.7% in May on the back of a robust performance by the manufacturing and electricity sectors, bringing relief for the Narendra Modi government, which has vowed to revive the economy. In May 2013, industrial output declined 2.5%. This is the second consecutive month of expansion after output contracted 0.5% in March. The performance in May is the highest since October 2012.
The Modi administration unveiled its Budget for 2014-15 with plans to revive the manufacturing sector and the overall economy. The government has undertaken a series of measures to script a turnaround, including easier approvals and clearing the approvals process. Sluggish industrial growth has hurt overall economic expansion, which slowed to below 5% for two successive years. The government expects growth in the current fiscal year in the 5.4% to 5.9% range.
“With today’s data, the three-month moving average of IP growth has improved to 2.5% in May, from 0.3% in April. Assuming no major disappointment in June, the average IP growth in April-June should be considerably higher than the outturn of the previous two quarters,” Deutsche Bank said in a report. -
SALT MELTED ICE TO FORM WATER ON MARS?
NEW YORK (TIP): Researchers have discovered that water could have flowed on the surface of Mars with the help of salt present in the Martian soil that can melt ice. The findings reveal that Martian salts can help liquid water form but only when the salts touch the ice. “It takes ice to make liquid water on Mars,” said Nilton Renno, a planetary and atmospheric scientist at University of Michigan at Ann Arbor.
Researchers found that the conditions that support salty water on the Red Planet can last for a few hours per day during late spring and early summer at the polar regions of Mars. “They probably can last weeks per year or even longer in the shallow subsurface at mid-latitudes. We are talking about the formation of small amounts of liquid water like droplets, not rivers and lakes,” Renno was quoted as saying in a Live Science report. It means that the shallow subsurface of Mars could be habitable,” Renno added.
To understand this, Fischer and team recreated Mars conditions in their lab in metal cylinders. The scientists mimicked temperatures in the late Martian spring and early summer as well as atmospheric pressure. When the scientists placed calcium perchlorate or salty soil directly on ice layer, drops of liquid water formed within minutes, researchers found. Last year, Nasa’s Mars rover Curiosity has discovered water locked up in the planet’s surface soil.
