by rakesh | Jul 18, 2008 | India News
The kerosene lanterns in the rural areas will be replaced on large scale soon. A solar lantern, which is commonly used for lighting purposes, can save about 50 liters of kerosene in a year by replacing a kerosene lanterns. Addressing leading solar lantern manufacturers of the sector at the ministry today, Shri Vilas Muttemwar, Minister of State for New and Renewable Energy discussed the expansion plans for large scale introduction of solar lanterns for replacing kerosene in the rural areas.He explained that the better quality of light of a solar lantern would also help the children in their education and encourage productive works apart from avoiding health hazards associated with the poor quality light and the pollution due to burning of kerosene. The Government can save kerosene subsidy by providing solar lanterns, he added.
The representatives of the industry assured that the Indian photovolatic industry is fully geared to take up this challenge. The industry can supply up to 4 million solar lanterns in a year and is totally committed to support the initiatives taken by the Ministry in this regard. Various issues relating to manufacturing, distribution, after sale services and product quality etc. were also discussed. The representatives reaffirmed that the quality of the product developed in the country has better quality of light and reliability. The switch over from kerosene lamp to solar lanterns by rural people will be very smooth.
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by rakesh | Jul 17, 2008 | India News
Cabinet has today approved the setting up of eight new Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs) in Bihar, Andhra Pradesh, Rajasthan, Orissa, Gujarat, Punjab, Himachal Pradesh and at Indore in Madhya Pradesh at a total cost of Rs. 6080 crores (@ Rs. 760 crores per IIT) for 6 years period, and consequently approval for forming of Societies for creating legal entities for the new IITs. Academic sessions are going to commence in 6 new IITs starting from 23.7.2008. The IITs of Andhra Pradesh, Bihar and Gujarat are going to commence their classes for about 120 students each for B.Tech programmes through temporary campuses located near the place where the IIT campus is likely to be built. These 3 IITs of Andhra Pradesh, Bihar and Gujarat are going to be mentored by the IITs of Madras, Guwahati and Bombay, respectively. The three IITs of Rajasthan, Punjab and Orissa are going to commence their classes in the campuses of their mentor IITs at IIT Kanpur, IIT Delhi and IIT Kharagpur, respectively.
The Cabinet has also approved the creation of 30 faculty posts per year in the first three years of establishment of each of the new IITs and have also specifically approved the post of a Director in each of the new IITs in the grade of Rs. 26,000 (fixed) and a post of Registrar in the grade of Rs. 16,400-22,400 for each of the new IITs. The Cabinet has also decided to raise the grade of all existing IIT Directors from Rs. 25,000 (fixed) to Rs. 26,000 (fixed).
The balance of two IITs at Indore in Madhya Pradesh and the IIT in Himachal Pradesh are likely to commence their sessions from the next academic year of 2009-10. All the State Governments have identified about 600 acres of land for the location of the new IITs. In case of Andhra Pradesh and Bihar, Govt. have accepted the site recommended by the State Govt. and in the rest of the cases, the Site Selection Committee will inspect the offered sites in due course and will give its recommendations to the Ministry.
With a view to ensure good effective coordination as well as maintenance of excellence in the new IITs also, pending selection of regular Directors for the IITs, it has been decided that the Directors of the mentor IITs will work as Directors of the mentored IIT and the Chairman of the Board of Governors (BoG) of the mentor IIT will also be the Chairman of the BoG of the mentored IIT.
With the creation of new IITs, high quality technical education will become accessible to more bright students as now hardly two percent of about three lakhs students who appear in the Joint Entrance Exam of IITs can get admission in them. The new IITs will also facilitate the increased output of high quality Engineering and Science graduates, postgraduates and Ph.D.s; Teachers for Engineering and Science subjects at College/University level and R&D and Intellectual Property generation in Engineering and Science.
Cabinet also approved in principle approval for taking over the Institute of Technology, Banaras Hindu University – a constituent unit of the Banaras Hindu University, a Central University, its conversion into an Indian Institute of Technology and integrating it with the IIT system in the country.
It would also address State/Region specific technology related problems of States/UTs situated in the IITs’ Zones.
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by rakesh | Jul 16, 2008 | Travellers look
Shri K.C.Jena, Chairman, Railway Board and ex-officio Principal Secretary to the Government of India inaugurated the renovated New Delhi Rail Yatri Niwas, India’s first Ginger Rail Yatri Niwas here today. The renovated Rail Yatri Niwas developed by Indian Railway Catering & Tourism Corporation Limited (IRCTC) and the Roots Corporation Limited (RCL), stands tall sparkling new at the Ajmeri Gate side of the New Delhi Railway Station in new earthly hues and shiny warm reds. This hotel was originally built in 1988 as part of Indian Railways efforts to offer hotel rooms to the railway passengers at reasonable prices.
The property was taken over by IRCTC in April, 2005 with a mandate to upgrade it on PPP basis. Keeping its ultimate objective of world class service at affordable prices in view, IRCTC allotted the task of renovating and operating the hotel on PPP basis, for 15 years, on open tender basis. This task was taken up by M/s Roots Corporation Limited, a 100% subsidiary of The Indian Hotels Company Limited.
The hotel was stripped to its bare shell and renovated in a period of 9 months with an investment of about Rs. 10.5 crores to offer the customers 109 SMART BASICS rooms and a plethora of additional facilities. A guest at the hotel now has a choice of well fitted orange and blue theme rooms with LCD TVs, posturepedic mattresses, anti allergy pillows, tropical duvets, Smart Bev Tea Coffee Maker, complimentary bottles of water and an access card to enter the room.The hotel also offers a gymnasium and a meeting room for the convenience of its guests.
Additionally, it will offer 24 x 7 restaurant, that will offer an array of food from across India and different parts of the world. A book store for catering to a traveler’s intellectual appetite and a Travel Desk for their local site seeing and travel needs are also being made available as a part of offering. There will further be, a 24 x 7 medical store.
The rooms will be offered at an incredible price of Rs. 1199/- inclusive of taxes. Fifty per cent of the rooms will be offered at Rs. 999/- per room per night inclusive of taxes. This hotel will also have four bedded rooms where each bed will be offered at Rs.250/- for a night.
In addition to being in the heart of the Central Business District of the Capital, it is extremely well connected with other parts of the capital located as it is virtually above the Delhi metro station. Rail travelers can call on the Toll Free Number 1800 2093333 OR 011 – 66633333. Bookings can also be made through an email at reservations@gingerhotels.com
by rakesh | Jul 4, 2008 | India News
Rojgar Samachar Now Available on Line A website has been launched in Hindi to cater to the needs of those seeking jobs, the website www.rojgarsamachar.gov.in has been launched by Employment News weekly newspaper, which is a unit of the Directorate of Publications...
by rakesh | Jul 3, 2008 | Business
This was stated by Shri V N Kaila, Controller General of Accounts, Ministry of Finance, while addressing a Conference organized to mark the 60th year of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India, here today. He said that there are definite benefits of accrual accounting that cannot be ignored. The decision makers can know the full cost of services they are providing, and this would result in better resource allocation, better management of assets and liabilities. Overall, it would create a desirable measure of the complete financial health of the Government, Shri Kaila added.
Speaking about the issues involved in transitioning to the accrual system of accounting, Shri Kaila said that there are various factors that have created a demand for a transition to accrual system of accounting, such as the changing information needs of the decision makers, the implications of the FRBM Act, outcome oriented budgeting, etc. Stating that the Government at present follows the cash basis of accounting, he added that the developments in information technology and the accounting profession have brought about changes that may assist in this transition.
The CGA is the principal advisor to Government of India on all accounting matters, and is responsible for maintaining the Chart of Accounts used by the Union and State Governments, as also the administration of Receipt and Payment Rules, and maintaining the exchequer control through the Officials of the Indian Civil Accounts Organisation. Since its creation over three decades ago, the Civil Accounts Organisation has achieved prompt payments and settlements of claims, timely rendition of all accounting information to the stakeholders. This has resulted in greater transparency, accountability and thus a greater confidence in the public.
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