Kerala to launch massive anti-liquor campaign'

Thiruvananthapuram : Kerala Chief Minister Oommen Chandy Tuesday promised to launch a widespread anti-liquor/smoking/drug abuse campaign in the state, a Congress leader said.

State party chief V.M.Sudheeran however said the government was nmot planning to impose prohibition in the state.

Addressing the media Tuesday night after the party's state executive meeting, Sudheeran said speaker after speaker emphasised that whatever gains the state has made in several social indicators is being spoilt by the state leading the country in per capital liquor consumption and also widespread use of other forms of intoxication materials.

'Chandy assured the meeting that very soon a joint task force comprising of the various key ministries - home, local self government, health, youth welfare, excise and social empowerment -would be set up and if necessary fresh laws will also be enacted to see how this menace can be tackled.

'The various non-governmental agencies who are involved in this work would also be invited to strengthen the awareness campaign besides the local bodies also will be playing an important role in this campaign,' said Sudheeran.

He however ruled out bringing in total prohibition in the state.

'In 1996, the then chief minister A.K.Antony went ahead with the bold step of banning arrack and in 2004, Chandy also took steps to see that the number of toddy shops be cut down. All these are the Congress' policy of taking the route of what the Father of the Nation wanted,' added Sudheeran.

The Congress' anti-liquor steps comes at a time when the state recorded a record turnover of Rs.9,300 crore in sales of liquor and beer last fiscal, up from Rs.8,818 crore during 2012-13.

By Wednesday, a broad consensus would be reached to finalise the new liquor policy of the state and also all eyes are on whether a decision would be arrived to reopen 418 bars, which was closed down last month, after they were found to be maintained improperly.

Kerala to launch massive anti-liquor campaign'

Thiruvananthapuram : Kerala Chief Minister Oommen Chandy Tuesday promised to launch a widespread anti-liquor/smoking/drug abuse campaign in the state, a Congress leader said.

State party chief V.M.Sudheeran however said the government was nmot planning to impose prohibition in the state.

Addressing the media Tuesday night after the party's state executive meeting, Sudheeran said speaker after speaker emphasised that whatever gains the state has made in several social indicators is being spoilt by the state leading the country in per capital liquor consumption and also widespread use of other forms of intoxication materials.

'Chandy assured the meeting that very soon a joint task force comprising of the various key ministries - home, local self government, health, youth welfare, excise and social empowerment -would be set up and if necessary fresh laws will also be enacted to see how this menace can be tackled.

'The various non-governmental agencies who are involved in this work would also be invited to strengthen the awareness campaign besides the local bodies also will be playing an important role in this campaign,' said Sudheeran.

He however ruled out bringing in total prohibition in the state.

'In 1996, the then chief minister A.K.Antony went ahead with the bold step of banning arrack and in 2004, Chandy also took steps to see that the number of toddy shops be cut down. All these are the Congress' policy of taking the route of what the Father of the Nation wanted,' added Sudheeran.

The Congress' anti-liquor steps comes at a time when the state recorded a record turnover of Rs.9,300 crore in sales of liquor and beer last fiscal, up from Rs.8,818 crore during 2012-13.

By Wednesday, a broad consensus would be reached to finalise the new liquor policy of the state and also all eyes are on whether a decision would be arrived to reopen 418 bars, which was closed down last month, after they were found to be maintained improperly.

30 Indian builders to showcase properties in US

Thiruvananthapuram : A 15-day property show is being held in the US at which 30 builders from India will showcase their latest projects.

A real estate business group based in the US told IANS over phone that the eighth annual edition of the India Property Show would be held in Edison, New Jersey, Houston, Sunnyvale and Seattle from May 31 to June 15.

Riya Sunny of the Revista Global group, said: 'Builders are coming in from across India. We help them sell their properties in the US and the Middle East by organising property shows. Unlike earlier years, we expect to get a few builders from Kerala.'

30 Indian builders to showcase properties in US

Thiruvananthapuram : A 15-day property show is being held in the US at which 30 builders from India will showcase their latest projects.

A real estate business group based in the US told IANS over phone that the eighth annual edition of the India Property Show would be held in Edison, New Jersey, Houston, Sunnyvale and Seattle from May 31 to June 15.

Riya Sunny of the Revista Global group, said: 'Builders are coming in from across India. We help them sell their properties in the US and the Middle East by organising property shows. Unlike earlier years, we expect to get a few builders from Kerala.'

Move to close down NAFED

Kozhikode: The Union government plans to gradually down the shutters of the National Agricultural Cooperative Marketing Federation of India Ltd (NAFED), an apex organisation of marketing cooperatives for agricultural produce, functioning under the Ministry of Agriculture.

NAFED now functions as a nodal agency of the Centre. Owing to acute funds crunch, a total of 92 staff have been offered voluntaryretirement scheme (VRS) till March 31.

In order to ensure fair price for 29 agricultural produces, including copra, the NAFED used to procure the produces at minimum support price.

The organisation has been facing funds shortage for the last few years. The Centre offers subsidy for the loss it incurs while procuring the commodities at MSP. As per functionaries of an employees union, the NAFED has not suffered any major loss under this.

During 2003-04, the NAFED strayed away from its core objectives and entered into joint ventures with some high –level private firms and also export businesses expecting huge profit. But it proved unsuccessful and the organisation suffered a loss of around Rs 1800 crore.

Now, the debt has touched Rs 4,000 crore, including interest. NAFED had suffered the heaviest loss as the business venture it launched with a private quarry lobby on export of iron ore flopped.

As it started losing ground, the NAFED board was forced to take measures like resizing staff strength by offering VRS. Accordingly, 92 employees, including senior managers, were released in the first phase on March 31. As many as 78 employees, who applied for VRS, will be relieved in the months of April and May.

The NAFED board also enforced a 10 percent pay cut for all staff from January onwards. Moreover, the annual increment was stopped since January. Around 400 contract employees were relieved two weeks back and the staff strength cut to 400 from 520.

Meanwhile, a project was submitted by the Ministry of Agriculture to the Centre to reorganise NAFED and its functioning. But the Centre has not given its nod so far. Accordingly, the existing employees are also waiting to avail the VRS option.

When the copra prices came down in Kerala, the NAFED had provided the farmers much relief by procuring the commodity at minimum support price.

A large number of farmers across the country are also beneficiaries of the various schemes implemented by the organisation.

Given the impact the closure of NAFED could make in the lives of farmers, the farmers unions have sought the immediate intervention of the Centre in the matter. 

Move to close down NAFED

Kozhikode: The Union government plans to gradually down the shutters of the National Agricultural Cooperative Marketing Federation of India Ltd (NAFED), an apex organisation of marketing cooperatives for agricultural produce, functioning under the Ministry of Agriculture.

NAFED now functions as a nodal agency of the Centre. Owing to acute funds crunch, a total of 92 staff have been offered voluntaryretirement scheme (VRS) till March 31.

In order to ensure fair price for 29 agricultural produces, including copra, the NAFED used to procure the produces at minimum support price.

The organisation has been facing funds shortage for the last few years. The Centre offers subsidy for the loss it incurs while procuring the commodities at MSP. As per functionaries of an employees union, the NAFED has not suffered any major loss under this.

During 2003-04, the NAFED strayed away from its core objectives and entered into joint ventures with some high –level private firms and also export businesses expecting huge profit. But it proved unsuccessful and the organisation suffered a loss of around Rs 1800 crore.

Now, the debt has touched Rs 4,000 crore, including interest. NAFED had suffered the heaviest loss as the business venture it launched with a private quarry lobby on export of iron ore flopped.

As it started losing ground, the NAFED board was forced to take measures like resizing staff strength by offering VRS. Accordingly, 92 employees, including senior managers, were released in the first phase on March 31. As many as 78 employees, who applied for VRS, will be relieved in the months of April and May.

The NAFED board also enforced a 10 percent pay cut for all staff from January onwards. Moreover, the annual increment was stopped since January. Around 400 contract employees were relieved two weeks back and the staff strength cut to 400 from 520.

Meanwhile, a project was submitted by the Ministry of Agriculture to the Centre to reorganise NAFED and its functioning. But the Centre has not given its nod so far. Accordingly, the existing employees are also waiting to avail the VRS option.

When the copra prices came down in Kerala, the NAFED had provided the farmers much relief by procuring the commodity at minimum support price.

A large number of farmers across the country are also beneficiaries of the various schemes implemented by the organisation.

Given the impact the closure of NAFED could make in the lives of farmers, the farmers unions have sought the immediate intervention of the Centre in the matter. 

SC forms panel over government advertisements

New Delhi: The Supreme Court Wednesday constituted a three member committee to frame guidelines to regulate issuance of advertisements by the government and its departments with an obvious political message.

The apex court bench headed by Chief Justice P. Sathasivam said that the existing DAVP guidelines do not cover such advertisements.

The three member committee would comprise N.R. Madhavan Menon, founder director of Bangalore's National Law University, T.K. Vishwanathan, former Lok Sabha secretary general and senior counsel Ranjit Kumar.

The court said that I&B secretary would be coordinating and assisting the committee. The committee will submits its first report to the apex court in three months time.

SC forms panel over government advertisements

New Delhi: The Supreme Court Wednesday constituted a three member committee to frame guidelines to regulate issuance of advertisements by the government and its departments with an obvious political message.

The apex court bench headed by Chief Justice P. Sathasivam said that the existing DAVP guidelines do not cover such advertisements.

The three member committee would comprise N.R. Madhavan Menon, founder director of Bangalore's National Law University, T.K. Vishwanathan, former Lok Sabha secretary general and senior counsel Ranjit Kumar.

The court said that I&B secretary would be coordinating and assisting the committee. The committee will submits its first report to the apex court in three months time.

Rupee continues to decline vs dollar, drops 24 paise

Mumbai: The rupee continued to fall against the American currency for the third day today in early trade by slipping another 24 paise to 61.00 per dollar on good Greenback demand from banks and importers despite weakness of dollar in the overseas market.

The rupee resumed lower at 60.88 per dollar as against the last closing level of 60.76 per dollar at the Interbank Foreign Exchange (Forex) Market and dropped further to 61.06 before quoting at 61.00 per dollar at 1000hrs. It hovered in a range of 60.87-61.06 per dollar during the morning trade.

Persistent dollar demand from banks and importers mainly affected the rupee value against the dollar, a forex dealer said.
However, sustained capital inflows into equity restricted the rupee's fall, he added.

Meanwhile, the Indian benchmark sensex rose by 92.99 pts or 0.41 per cent to 22,851.36 at 1000hrs after hitting all-time high of 22,871.27 during the morning trade.

In New York, the U.S. dollar fell against the Australian dollar yesterday as investors looked ahead to Australian first-quarter inflation data that could provide more evidence of a rate hike from the country's central bank. PTI

Rupee continues to decline vs dollar, drops 24 paise

Mumbai: The rupee continued to fall against the American currency for the third day today in early trade by slipping another 24 paise to 61.00 per dollar on good Greenback demand from banks and importers despite weakness of dollar in the overseas market.

The rupee resumed lower at 60.88 per dollar as against the last closing level of 60.76 per dollar at the Interbank Foreign Exchange (Forex) Market and dropped further to 61.06 before quoting at 61.00 per dollar at 1000hrs. It hovered in a range of 60.87-61.06 per dollar during the morning trade.

Persistent dollar demand from banks and importers mainly affected the rupee value against the dollar, a forex dealer said.
However, sustained capital inflows into equity restricted the rupee's fall, he added.

Meanwhile, the Indian benchmark sensex rose by 92.99 pts or 0.41 per cent to 22,851.36 at 1000hrs after hitting all-time high of 22,871.27 during the morning trade.

In New York, the U.S. dollar fell against the Australian dollar yesterday as investors looked ahead to Australian first-quarter inflation data that could provide more evidence of a rate hike from the country's central bank. PTI