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US state of Indiana seeks Indian investments

Eric J Holcomb, Governor of the State Indiana, USA at 'Indiana - India Business Meet'

New Delhi: US State of Indiana has invited Indian companies to explore business opportunities by investing in the state.

Speaking at the ‘Indiana – India Business Meet’ organized by FICCI recently, Eric J Holcomb, Governor of the State said “We are working to strengthen our Government to Government relationships, Business to Business relationships and most importantly, our People to People relationships. The only and most effective way we can do that is to be present here on the ground.”

Holcomb was also conferred with the ‘2019 Gandhi Global Leadership Award’ during the event. 

“We are here to seek new friendships, relationships and partnerships,” he added.

Highlighting the potential areas for investment, Eric said that Indiana government’s priority area is infrastructure development and cited 6 R’s (Roads, Railway, Runways, Rural Hi-speed internet connectivity, Rivers) as potential sectors for investment. “Our infrastructure program is built to connect the business globally and we want to build infrastructure of the best standards,” he added.

Commemorating 150th birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi, Eric reiterated that it was Gandhi who said, “the future depends on what you do today.” He further added that “And really, that’s why we are here today, with an eye on our future, both for India and Indiana.”

T S Tirumurti, Secretary (Economic Relations), Ministry of External Affairs, Government of India said that there is a new energy in India-US relations. “The visit of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to US in many ways is a culmination of hard work everyone has done to make this relationship very vibrant,” he said.

Jim Schellinger, Commerce Secretary, State of Indiana, USA highlighted the business opportunities for Indian companies in Indiana. “If you invest in Indiana, we will offer you mountain of savings and ocean of opportunities,” he added.

Dr Ashwath Narayan C N, Deputy Chief Minister of Karnataka said that the government of Karnataka is unwavering in its commitment to further improve ease of doing business by ensuring an environment that fosters industry, investment and opportunities. He further added, “We will also renew the sister state agreement we have with the State of Indiana, USA for cooperation in economic, educational, sports and cultural fields.”

Govt launches “mHariyali” mobile app to promote green drive

mHariyali app
Urban Development Minister Hardeep Singh Puri launched “mHariyali” mobile app

New Delhi: If you want to partake in green India drive by planting trees but are worried as to how to sustain the saplings in future, the Government has come up with a solution. It has launched a mobile app “mHariyali”, which aims at encouraging people to plant trees which after that will be monitored by nodal officers.

“The app is user-friendly and works on any android mobile phone. It provides automatic geotagging of plants. People can now upload information and photos of any plantation done by them, which is linked to app and will be displayed on the website www.epgc.gov.in.  The App provides for automatic geotagging of plants. This app will also enable nodal officers to periodically monitor the plantation,” said Urban Development Minister Hardeep Singh Puri while launching the app on October 11.

“Our government in June 2019 directed all ministries and departments to take up and implement on the ground within the next 100 days of various public welfare activities. We are strongly committed to improve the quality of life of citizens,” Puri added.

Earlier in October, to promote ease of living, the Directorate of Estates, Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs carried out the following activities at around 103 selected government colonies (76 in Delhi and 29 in other States) through public and stakeholders participation.

The activities include the cleaning and greening of open space through a plantation, Rain Water Harvesting and Sensitization on Source Segregation of Household waste and Orientation and Capacity building on Home composting, said an official statement.

“For each colony, the above activities were taken up in a campaign mode over 100 days from 15.7.2019 to 15.10.2019 and will continue, Nodal Officers were appointed from the Directorate, CPWD and ULBs to liaison with Resident Welfare Association to ensure maximum public participation,” it further added.

Kashmir does not figure in Modi-Xi talks

Modi-Xi Jinping
Prime Minister Narendra Modi along with Chinese President Xi Jinping

Mamallapuram (Chennai)/New Delhi:  In a letdown for Pakistan, Chinese President Xi Jinping did not raise the Kashmir issue during his talks with Prime Minister Narendra Modi here today, even as both leaders agreed on the need to deal with challenges of terrorism and radicalisation.

Foreign Secretary Vijay Gokhale, while briefing the media on the discussions between Modi and Xi since last evening, said the two leaders talked about a host of issues aimed at taking the bilateral relations forward.

Xi, who arrived here yesterday afternoon, had about 6 hours of one-on-one conversation with Modi and delegation level talks during the ‘Informal Summit’.

The nagging issue of trade, investment and services was also discussed and the two sides decided to set up a new mechanism at an elevated level to resolve these.

From the Indian side, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman will lead the mechanism while from the Chinese side, it will be headed by Vice Premier, Hu Chunhua, Gokhale said.

While replying to questions, the Foreign Secretary said, “Kashmir issue was not raised or even discussed. Our stand is otherwise publicly stated that it is our internal matter.”

This would certainly be a letdown for Pakistan which has been urging China to play a role on the issue of Jammu and Kashmir, particularly ever since the special status of the state was revoked.

At the same time, Gokhale said the two leaders agreed that it was important to deal with the challenges of terrorism and radicalisation in an increasingly complex world.

On border question, the two leaders directed the Special Representatives to continue discussions, Gokhale said.

The Foreign Secretary said there was new focus on people-to-people relations and it was decided that public of both countries must be brought in the relationship.

The Chinese President spoke of greater facilitation for ‘yatri’s going to the Mansarovar Yatra and Prime Minister suggested a number of ideas on the connection between state of Tamil Nadu and the Fujian province of China.

Xi invited Modi to China for the next informal summit and the Prime Minister accepted the invitation. Dates will be worked out later, he said.

AIIMS, JIPMER win top cleanliness awards ‘Kayakalp’

Kayakalp awards
Union Health Minister Harsh Vardhan while presenting Kayakalp awards to hospitals for high standards of sanitation, hygiene

The All India Institutes of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) recently hogged the limelight for a reason other than medical excellence— for hygiene and cleanliness. The premier medical institute has bagged the first prize of Rs 3 crore under the government’s Kayakalp scheme for 2018-19 for maintaining high standards of sanitation and hygiene in its premises.

The Kayakalp Award was instituted as part of the ‘Swachh Bharat Abhiyan’ on 15 May, 2015 as a national initiative to recognize and felicitate public health facilities that demonstrate high levels of cleanliness, hygiene and infection control measure on promoting cleanliness in public spaces.

After AIIMS, the Jawaharlal Institute of Postgraduate Medical Education and Research (JIPMER), Puducherry has been adjudged runner-up with prize of Rs 1.5 crore under the Central Government Hospitals A category and Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGIMER), Chandigarh and Safdarjung Hospital, Delhi has won the commendation award of Rs. 50 Lakh each in the same category.

In the group B category, VBCH, Silvassa was the winner with Rs 2 crore prize money, AIIMS Bhubaneswar was the runner-up with the prize of Rs. 1 crore, while NEIGRIHMS, Shillong, LGBRIMH, Tezpur and AIIMS, Bhopal won prizes of Rs. 50 lakhs each as commendation awards.

The Kayakalp awards were given away by Union Health Minister Harsh Vardhan in presence of MoS (HFW) Ashwini Kumar Choubey, here on October 11.

At the ceremony, Harsh Vardhan said, “Kayakalp award has made you inspiration towards ‘swachhta’ in your community and region. Now you should become role models for other health facilities and inspire and lead your community and districts towards achieving the highest standards of cleanliness and hygiene.”

Commending the awardees Vardhan said, “Cleanliness is no more a one-time activity but is integrated into our day-to-day practices and should become a habit. Kayakalp has played a pivotal role in reinstating and reconfirming trust and confidence of the community in public health facilities.”

He further added, “The zest and zeal shown by the hospitals and their collective efforts in improving cleanliness, hygiene and infection control practices should continue unabated. It is now your duty, to take upon the leadership role and mentor and monitor the Ayushman Bharat- Health & Wellness Centers (AB-HWCs) of your Districts, States and UTs.”

Stating health and hygiene as the top priorities of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, He said, “Taking a leaf from the life of Mahatma Gandhi, our Prime Minister has inspired, implemented and monitored the ‘Swachh Bharat Movement’.”

Dreaming of rolling out such an ambitious public health movement in such a vast country in itself is monumental, Vardhan stated. “We must now resolve to come together, make concerted efforts and contribute to his vision of a clean India, a happy & healthy India.”

Addressing the event, MoS Choubey stated, “Our efforts towards cleanliness and hygiene, in any shape and form, are like an offering, a ‘swachhaanjli’ to the father of the Nation, Mahatma Gandhi ji as the nation celebrates his 150th birth anniversary.”

Meanwhile, at the function, Health Minister has also released Kayakalp Coffee Table book documenting the success journeys of the award-winning health facilities and presented the awards to the winners under various categories

The event was also attended by Preeti Sudan (Secretary) Health, B.K Rao, Chairman (NABH) along with representatives from the States and Union Territories.

Health Minister also felicitated the district hospitals,  PHCs and CHCs, wherein 29 hospitals won the first prize, 14 won the second prize and 2 won third prize.

In the current year, for the holistic and comprehensive improvement across the health sector, the Kayakalp scheme was extended to private-sector health facilities, around 11 private health facilities were felicitated at the event

Mobile phone services to be restored in J&K from October 14

Srinagar: In a major step to normalise the life in Jammu & Kashmir, the government has decided to resume the mobile phone services which remained suspended following abrogation of the special status granted to the state under Article 370.The mobile services would be restored from October 14 noon.

J&K Governor

According to the J&K government statement, “Having reviewed the situation in Jammu & Kashmir, a decision has been taken to restore mobile phone facilities in all the remaining areas of Jammu & Kashmir. More specifically, all post-paid mobile phones, irrespective of the telecom service provider, will stand restored and be functional from 12 noon on Monday, 14 October 2019. This will cover all 10 districts of Kashmir province”.

Notably, on October 10 the government had lifted security advisory on Kashmir bound tourists assuring all necessary assistance and logistical support to them.

The statement said, “Tourists will be able to visit the state without being handicapped by the lack of phone connectivity, students can be in touch with parents while attending schools, businessmen can be in touch with customers, transporters can contact clients, and contractors can be in touch with staff”.

While urging businessmen, industrialists, traders, transporters, shopkeepers, hoteliers and contractors not to be afraid of threats by terrorists and separatists and go about their normal activities, the statement said, “The government is firm in its resolve that the attempts of these disruptive elements will be foiled”.

The government also thanked the people of J&K for being cooperative and helping in maintaining peace and public order.

Following the abolition of Article 370, a number of restrictions were imposed from 4 August, 2019 in order to prevent externally aided terrorists from disturbing peace and inflicting casualties on innocent citizens.

The statement said, “It is now a well established fact that there have been sustained attempts from across the border, both in the past and more so in the last two months, to promote militancy and terrorism in Jammu & Kashmir in order to create a sense of fear and terror among the people and keep the place in a disturbed condition. It is also a fact that the attempts from across the border to disturb normal life continue. ”

Credible inputs continue to be received of the likelihood of large-scale terrorist attacks, sponsored by forces inimical to the nation and from outside its borders. These terrorist attacks are meant not only to cause large scale damage to life and property but also create an atmosphere of fear and terror among the people of Jammu & Kashmir, the vast majority of whom are peace loving,” the statement said.

Banned organisations such as Lashkar-e-Toiba, Jaish-e-Mohammed, Hizbul Mujahideen continue to make attempts to terrorise the people of Jammu & Kashmir. It was in anticipation of this that the restrictions were imposed so that externally aided terrorism does not lead to a loss of innocent lives. It is a tribute, both to the people of Jammu & Kashmir and security forces, that these measures have ensured that there is no unnecessary loss of life in Jammu & Kashmir, the statement added.

Since 16 August, there has been a gradual removal of the restrictions that were imposed and by the first week of September, most restrictions were removed. Barring 8-10 Police Stations, movement restrictions have been completely removed. Over 99% of the area of Jammu & Kashmir has no restrictions on movement. Telephone landlines have been fully restored and are functioning for over six weeks. Mobile phone facilities were restored in Jammu and Ladakh and subsequently in two Kupwara district.

The statement added, “Schools were gradually reopened since August and universities, colleges and higher secondary schools were reopened in the last 10 days. Examination schedules have been announced. Air services are operating normally and air booking has been facilitated in Srinagar with new counters in the city”.

First ever ‘India International Cooperatives Trade Fair’ launched

IICTF
Narendra Singh Tomar inaugurates ‘IICTF'

New Delhi: The first ever ‘India International Cooperatives Trade Fair’(IICTF), which offers an international marketing stage for cooperative-to-cooperative trade within India and abroad, has been launched at Pragati Maidan here on October 11. The Fair assumes significance in the backdrop of as many as 94% of total farmers in India being members of at least one cooperative institution.

The 3-day event, being organised as part of the efforts to boost farmers’ income, Union Minister for Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare Narendra Singh Tomar. The Fair will focus on promoting exports of key agriculture commodities and products..

While addressing the inaugural ceremony, Tomar said “Today is a proud day for all as on this pure land of India, an event of this scale is being organised by NCDC along with the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare and Ministry of Commerce”. The Minister said that it is the result of all their combined efforts that we have witnessed such wide participation not just from Indian cooperatives but also from International ones from 35 countries across the globe.

IICTF 3He expressed happiness and said that IICTF offers huge opportunity for the industry and business houses from India and abroad to build alliances, business networking, product sourcing and above all, interacting with the primary producers of a wide range of products and service providers. The Minister said that this event will introduce Indian products to a wider Indian and International market and also provide an opportunity for participating countries to showcase their products in the Indian market.

He added “ that cooperation is at the core of Indian values and culture. He said that any cooperative, if has good cooperative feeling then no one can stop it from progressing but if the cooperative feeling is missing then it will be difficult for them to progress and prosper. This event is a historic occasion for discussing threadbare the challenges being faced by Cooperatives across the nation. He cited the example of Amul saying it is a cooperative which has succeeded in entering every home of the country”.

While inaugurating IICTF Tomar also launched government focus’s programmes like Start-up India and Stand-up India aimed at young entrepreneurs with new and innovative ideas, National Cooperative Development Corporation(NCDC) has formulated YuvaSahakar-Cooperative Enterprise Support and Innovation Scheme 2019. SahakarBharati, the single largest organisation focusing on enlightening masses about the benefit of cooperative movement .

Sustainable, viable power sector prerequisite for India to become developed Nation: Power Minister

Tent City, Narmada: A sustainable and viable power sector is a prerequisite for India becoming a developed nation, Minister of State for Power and New & Renewable Energy RK Singh has said.

Inaugurating the Conference of Power and Renewable Energy Ministers of States and Union Territories here on October 11, he said, “India cannot become a developed country without a sustainable and viable power sector which supplies 24/7 power for all”.

“We have to make sure that Indian power sector attracts investments. That would happen only when there is Ease of Doing Business and sanctity of contracts is not violated,” he said.

He also stressed the need for timely payments by Discoms to the power generators.

Highlighting the need to make power prices competitive and affordable, the Minister said that common man should not be forced to bear the burden of system’s inefficiencies and also stressed upon the consumers’ right for quality service.

To reduce power losses and to increase billing and collection efficiency, the Minister reiterated his vision to switch over to smart prepaid metering.

Highlighting the benefits of smart prepaid meters Singh said, “Smart prepaid meters are pro-poor as consumer is not forced to pay whole month’s bill at one go. Also, it increases ease of bill payments and minimises the chances of power theft.”.

He also urged all states to install these meters in all government departments on priority basis.

Talking about climate change, the Minister said that it had become a major concern world over and India was committed to fight climate change in every possible way.

Mentioning about Kisan Urja Suraksha evam Utthaan Mahabhiyan (KUSUM) scheme, he said that it would solarise agriculture pumps in coming years. This would not only reduce States’ subsidy burden but also benefit farmers who would sell surplus power to government.

“It will also incentivize farmers to use groundwater judiciously and save electricity as they’ll be able earn money by selling the spare electricity to government,” the Minister added.

Power Secretary Subhash Chandra Garg and MNRE Secretary Anand Kumar also spoke in the conference.

In his inaugural address, Anand Kumar said that for India climate change has been a matter of faith and commitment.

Indian, Chinese companies sign 129 MoUs

modi xi
Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping

New Delhi/Chennai: Indian and Chinese companies have signed 129 Memorandum of understanding (MoUs) in the run up to second ‘informal summit’ of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping’s in Chennai, according to Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI).

The MoUs were signed for sectors like – agri-related products, minerals, textiles, food-processing, yarns, minerals etc.

Highlighting China and India’s close ties, Chinese representatives said that the relationship between the two countries was as eternal as the Ganga river.

Currently, both the countries are focussing on trade and India is China’s largest trading partner in South Asia and the Indian companies are expanding in the Chinese market with a cumulative investment of nearly $1 billion.

Representatives of both the countries reiterated that Chinese investment in India and the Indian investment in China has grown many folds in the past few decades with the Chinese players like Xiaomi, Oppo becoming household names in India.

“With a combined market of over 2.7 billion people and GDP of 20 per cent of the world’s total, China and India enjoy huge potential and broad prospects for economic and trade cooperation.” ZHU Xiaohong, Counselor, Embassy of People’s Republic of China said while Speaking at the India-China Business Meeting and Signing Ceremony, organised by the FICCI.  

“From the current $75 billion trade, both the countries are looking at moving towards trade worth $100 billion.”, ZHU Xiaohong added.

Speaking about increased Chinese investment in India, Deputy Director General, Foreign Trade Department of Ministry of Commerce, PR China, LIU Changyu, said “that mutually beneficial cooperation between the two countries is also deepening”.

Chinese enterprises have responded positively to the strategy of ‘Make in India’ and ‘Digital India’ and their investment in India has exceeded $8 billion.

“In the next 15 years, China will import $30 trillion of goods and $100 billion of services from the world. As the only two major developing countries with a population of more than 1 billion in the world, China and India are focusing on development,” LIU Changyu added.

India urges world for UN Convention on global terrorism

naidu in cosmors
Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu and President of the Union of Comoros, Mr. Azali Assoumani

Moroni: India has urged the world community to come together to ensure that the UN Comprehensive Convention on International Terrorism is concluded at the earliest, saying terrorism was increasingly threatening and impeding global progress.

Addressing the parliament of Comoros at Moroni, the capital of the island nation of Comoros on October 11, Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu said “terrorist groups threaten peace and stability and render state institutions vulnerable. Piracy and maritime threats as well as cross border transnational crimes, including cyber crimes, have only added new dimensions to the problem.”.

He said that India was willing to partner with Comoros to neutralize these threats, particularly those in the maritime domain. And Indian Prime Minister, Narendra Modi had articulated a coherent Indian vision for a collaborative security architecture in the Indian Ocean which can ensure security and economic growth for all littoral countries of the region.

Observing that India was committed to work with Comoros in accordance with the principles of South-South Cooperation, he said that the economic ties between the two  countries could become stronger and there was vast potential for trade between the two nations. “India would like to become a valuable partner in the economic development of Comoros”, he added.

Referring to the partnership between India and Comoros under the International Solar Alliance, he said it can help light thousands of homes in a sustainable manner and provide access to energy in the remotest corners. Observing that both the countries were having large youth population, the Vice President said that huge demographic dividend could be reaped “if we can train them, skill them and gainfully employ them”.

Referring to pan-Africa e-network initiative to implement e-Vidya Bharati and e-Arogya Bharati in Comoros, he said “Under it, we are offering free tele-education to 15000 students and free tele-medicine courses to 1000 doctors and paramedics in various African countries. India is happy to share its digital revolution with Africa to enhance the well-being of its people and in particular, empower its youth”.

Touching upon the common challenges faced by various countries, Naidu said that legislators from different countries can benefit significantly from sharing views and perspectives with each other. “We have to address persistent challenges of poverty, illiteracy, income inequality, gender discrimination, environmental degradation and lack of basic amenities in some parts of the world, including some areas in both our countries”, he added.

 The Vice President said that people-centric governance alone would ensure a high quality of life to all citizens and said that parliamentarians have a constitutional responsibility to play a significant role in supporting and monitoring implementation of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Earlier the Vice President had a tête-à-tête with Mr. Abdou Ousseni, the President of the Assembly of the Union of Comoros.

Income Tax raids on Karnataka business group unearth Rs 100 cr black money

INCOME TAX
File Photo

Bengaluru/New Dehi: Income Tax Department has detected Rs 100 crore of undisclosed income and seized Rs 4.22 crore in cash in a massive search operation involving multiple raids on a prominent business group in Karnataka which runs several educational institutions.

During the course of the search, conducted on October 9, the income tax officials unearthed the modus operandi wherein the seats which were originally to be allotted by merit through counselling by MCC were maliciously converted into institutional quota seats through dropout system. Incriminating evidence has been found in the search, substantiating conversion of seats, commission payments to brokers and sale of seats in exchange of cash. Evidence proving the use of multiple agents for the conversion of MBBS and PG seats have also been found.

According to the Income Tax Department, diversion of funds in the form of payment of on-money for the purpose of purchase of immovable assets for the benefit of trustees has also been established including finding of cash in possession of seller, commission in the hands of broker and strong written and audio evidences found in possession of the concerned parties.

Incriminating evidence has been found in the search, substantiating conversion of seats, commission payments to brokers and sale of seats in exchange of receipt of cash. Evidences of use of multiple agents for conversion of MBBS and PG seats have also been found. Diversion of funds in the form of payment of on-money for the purpose of purchase of immovable assets for the benefit of trustees has also been established including finding of cash in possession of seller, commission in the hands of broker and strong written and audio evidences found in possession of the concerned parties. Evidences of handling of such cash generated, diversion for construction of hotels have also been found. Hawala transactions relating to movement of such cash have also been established. A total of Rs.4.22 crore of unaccounted cash has so far been found including Rs.89 lakh in the house of the main trustee.

Certain students whose names were used in conversion of seats have made statements establishing the modus operandi. Agents have admitted to have aided in sale of seats, brokers have admitted to be witness and accomplice to diversion of such cash generated.

Modus operandi of making cash deposits in the accounts of certain employees & their families and diversion of them to fixed deposits which are used to services loans taken by trustees has been unearthed. Evidence has further brought to light the fact that trustees have opened bank accounts in the names of their employees to deposit some of the capitation fee received in cash. Fixed deposits amounting to Rs. 4.6 crore in the names of 8 employees made in the above manner have been seized. It was further found that the interest from such benami fixed deposits have been used to service the loans taken by the trustees in their personal capacity.

Evidences also reveal undisclosed investments in real estate. Overall the total undisclosed income detected so far is around Rs.100 crore considering the cash donations received for 185 seats averaging Rs.50 lakh to Rs.65 lakh per seat and total seizure of undisclosed assets of Rs. 8.82 crore. Further investigations are in progress.

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