Monday 3 September 2012

  1. Intense Mass Struggles Are The Only


    Option: Sudhakar Reddy



    “The international crisis of capitalism, which has hit European countries and the US badly, is having its impact on the Indian economy too. Failure of the monsoons is a big blow in the agriculture front. Inflation, unemployment and price rise are haunting the people. There is a power crisis now and people are afraid that food and water crises may erupt too,” said CPI general secretary S Sudhakar Reddy in an exclusive interview to the journalists of the Party’s national media centre on September 2, 2012.

    Question: The month-long food security campaign that culminated in a five-day dharna in front of Parliament by the left parties is the first national campaign by the CPI after its 21st Party Congress in Patna. How do you evaluate the performance of the campaign and its success in relation to the decisions — political and organisational — of the Party Congress?



    Before I answer this question, I would like to say something about the present situation. The Coalgate scam, which exposed loopholes in allotment of coal blocks to corporate houses brought huge loss to the nation. The total amount of losses in the UPA-II regime is close to Rs 5 lakh crores. This should be thoroughly probed through a judicial enquiry. The BJP’s stand of stalling Parliament is unacceptable. This is a fascist method. They should respect Parliament. At the same time the prime minister should own up moral responsibility.

    Though the food security campaign is the maiden month-long joint national successful campaign after the 21st Congress of the Communist Party of India and the 20th Congress of the Communist Party of India (Marxist), our party had participated and led several statewide campaigns prior to this. Some of them were the campaigns in Maharashtra on the issue of pension, mass land occupation movement in Andhra Pradesh, large-scale rallies demanding the cancellation of mining licences to mines, against price rise in Tamil Nadu, against corruption and price rise in Kerala, for food security in Bihar and on similar issues in various other states. The month-long campaign is undoubtedly a successful one. The four parties together prepared a hand bill, a detailed booklet, issued posters, addressed press conferences, conventions, public meetings and street corner meetings, etc., and created an awareness and atmosphere that is necessary for the success of the campaign. The leaflets were published in all the regional languages and articles were written in local newspapers.

    The five-day dharna before Parliament at Jantar Mantar in the national capital was a big success. Several thousands of people participated every day from Delhi and its adjoining states — Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand. While the dharna was going on here in Delhi, simultaneous dharnas were staged before the state legislatures in Bihar, West Bengal, Odisha, and for a lesser number of days in Madhya Pradesh and other states. The day-long dharna was addressed by national leaders of the four left parties, MPs and left leaders from the states, professors and other intellectuals.

    The media tried to undermine and ignore such a massive dharna on the most important issue of food security. They tried to highlight the hunger strike of Anna Hazare and his group of people. The two campaigns are neither competitive nor against each other but still the media barons did not like the left campaign. But the attention of the nation has been drawn on this important issue. On behalf of the four left parties, we met the prime minister and urged upon him to amend the pending Food Security Bill with the following changes: universal PDS, removal of BPL-APL categories, supply of 35 kg foodgrain, reasonably good quality of foodgrain, at Rs 2 a kg. We suggested edible oil, dal and other food items should also be supplied through PDS as earlier. We also demanded that the amended Food Security Bill should be introduced in the current session of Parliament itself. He replied that he has to wait for the Planning Commission’s final recommendations.

    The left parties decided to observe an all India food security day on September 12, 2012, once again to pressurise the Union government. On the whole, the food security campaign was a great success, even though larger number of masses could have been mobilised. We have to find out ways by which much larger number of masses participated in such campaigns. Certainly sympathy, appreciation and support will enthuse the cadres but the participation and involvement of masses in millions will have a bigger impact and force the government to change its policies. We will carry on the campaign with this task in mind.

    These are certain weaknesses of our party organisation, which we have to overcome by continuous unleashing of such kinds of campaigns.



    2. How do you see the economic and political situation in the country today and what are the party’s plans and suggestions to alter the critical state of affairs?

    The international crisis of capitalism, which has hit European countries and the US badly, is having its impact on the Indian economy too. Failure of the monsoons is a big blow in the agriculture front. Inflation, unemployment, price-rise are haunting the people. There is a power crisis now and people are afraid of food and water crises that are looming large. The world’s biggest black out has taken place in India and then Union power minister Sushilkumar Shinde, who has presided over this massive disaster, was promoted as the central home minister. Also Chidambaram, the man responsible for the mess in the economy by enforcing wrong policy measures was brought back to man the finance portfolio. Worse, many more scams are getting unearthed. The government is working overtime to grant benefits to the corporate houses and MNCs. Paupersiation of people is increasing while corporate houses doubled their assets in the last five-years with additional profit of Rs 5 lakh crores. Still their greed is not satisfied and they pressurise the government for more pro-corporate policies.

    The political situation is reflecting the crisis in the economy. Vast masses of people are unhappy with the miserable failure of the government to tackle the basic issue. With the government discredited, different sections of people are agitating for food, land, against acquisition of agricultural land, against stinking corruption and on various other issues on which the government is insensitive. Poor adivasis are being killed in the name of Maoists.

    The courts and CAG are exposing the bankrupt policies of the government. Instead of making attempts for a consensus in the presidential election, as they did not have enough number of votes, the Congress party leadership managed majority though political manipulation, which helped their candidate enter Raisina Hills while their image suffered a set back. The Congress party is directionless, leaderless and passing through a bankrupt situation.

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  2. On the 8th day of the on going Jal Satyagraha at Ghoghalgaon around 5000 people from 250 villages of 10 districts arrived to extend their solidarity to the Satyagrahis. The daughters of the Satyagrahis tied Rakhsa sutra (security band) to the thousands of people who arrived at the site as a gesture of seeking support & security. 51 Jal satyagrahis continue to stand in water for the 8th day in Ghoghalgaon fighting for their cause in spite of the blisters in their hands & feet.

    A huge gathering of the kith & kin of the oustees came together which increased the Confidence & morale of the Satyagrahis. More than 5000 People from more than 250 villages of districts like Khandwa, Indore, Dewas, Burhanpur, Harda, Badwani, Khargone, Bhopal & Dhar gathered on the call of the Oustees in Ghoghalgaon to lend an overwhelming support to the protesting Oustees. The supporters declared that they would send petition to the Chief Minister through their corresponding Village, Block & District level demanding him to reduce the water level in the dams & rehabilitate the Oustees. Women came in large numbers to Gholghaon in order to support the protesting Oustees. The supporters also declared that if the Government fails to take immediate action they would actively join the struggle with the Jal Satyagrahis.


    The ongoing Jal Satyagraha in Ghoghalgaon entered its 8th day. In spite of the hands & feet of the Jal satyagrahis having turned pale & developed blisters, they are strong & determined in their stand. And their morale & confidence level has increased after receiving the support from the wave of women & men supporters who arrived at Ghoghalgaon today. The meeting concluded by offering prayers to Mother Narmada & an oath taken by the supporters as well as Satyagrahis that they would stand together in this fight for the Rights of the common people.




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  3. Samsung launches the World’s thinnest and most compact premium Notebook Series 9 in India- Series 9, World’s thinnest and most compact premium notebook - Samsung Series 5 550P and Series 3 350V Notebooks also launched
    New Delhi, August 31, 2012: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd, a global leader in digital media and digital convergence technologies, today introduced the second generation of Samsung Notebook Series 9 in the Indian market. Following the previous model’s debut last year, the new Samsung Notebook Series 9 demonstrates Samsung’s advanced innovative craftsmanship in the premium notebook sector. Customized for consumers striving for high-quality items with great design, the new Series 9 boasts the world’s thinnest and most compact notebook chassis. Super-slim components had to be tailor-designed and engineered to fit into the PCs innovative single shell body“The new Samsung Notebook Series 9 represents the ultimate in Samsung craftsmanship towards precision engineering and premium design. The new Series 9 embodies the originality and heritage of its predecessor while eliminating unnecessary factors. The refined aerodynamic design of the new Series 9 represents the best of Samsung’s design with top performance and functionality,” states Mr. Ranjit Yadav, Country Head, Samsung Mobile and IT.
    The Samsung Series 9 required 9,000 hours of design work and 24,000 hours of R&D—a total of 33,000 hours invested by Samsung designers and engineers—to ensure it conserved premium design aspects without compromising performance or functionality. Key components such as the LCD panel, keyboard, motherboard, cables, fan and battery have been precision-engineered to fit precisely into the Series 9’s extra flat single-shell body. The Samsung Series 9 features Samsung’s MaxScreen technology, which minimizes the bezel size while maximizing the screen size by an extra inch. The 13” Series 9 measures only 12.9mm (0.5”) and weighs just 1.16kg (2.5 lbs) — 28 percent smaller than its predecessor, and truly revolutionary for its categoryThe Series 9 is designed with mobility in mind, thanks to dramatic Aluminium single shell body complete with arching curves and remarkable durability. With Samsung’s SuperBright screens, with 400nit brightness, users can enjoy HD movies, games and other favorite media even when viewing in direct sunlight with no annoying reflections.
    With the new state-of-the-art Intel® Core™ i7 Processor, users can get optimized power management while playing the latest 3D games, editing and compressing large-size photos or HD video, or multi-tasking. It has Turbo Boost Technology which accelerates the PC’s performance by intuitively allocating CPU processing power when you need it the most. A 256GB solid state drive (SSD) provides plenty of storage, lower power consumption and improved performance with less noise and heat output. The chance of losing data is also decreased due to the SDD having no moving parts. And it boots up 60% faster than a hard disk drive (HDD). Thereby ensuring less power usage, faster data access and higher reliability.
    The Series 9 delivers mobility and freedom with its power efficient performance and extensive battery life of up to 9 hours. Its advanced Lithium-Polymer battery and Samsung’s innovation PowerPlus charging technology make the battery lifespan last up to three times longer than the typical notebook battery so you can keep going, without worrying how much battery life is left. The Samsung Series 9 is priced at Rs.1, 02,990/-
    Samsung today also announced the launch of its new Notebook Series 5 550P with Intel’s 3rd generation Quad Core processor designed to continue its performance driven offerings within laptop devices. With Intel’s latest 3rd generation Core i7, dedicated graphics, full HD display*, JBL optimized speakers with subwoofer as well as a Blu-ray drive and generous storage capacity, the Series 5 550P delivers boosted multimedia experience even on the go.
    Thanks to Intel®’s 3rd generation Core™ i7 Quad Core processor, the overall performance of the Notebook Series 5 550P has improved up to 25% compared to the 2nd generation CPUs while consuming 20% less power. In addition, 3D gaming and media experience is now up to 2 times faster. All-in-all linked with NVIDIA® GeForce® GT 650M 2GB graphics, Blu-ray drive and up to 2TB HDD, content on various formats will be easily available for creation on top of consumption in no-time. Seamless playback, editing, creating and saving of multimedia content is ensured to users. Benefiting from Samsung’s Superior LCD technology, the Series 5 550P holds a display delivering next generation Full HD 1920x1080 (17”Models) high-resolution viewing experience with SuperBright 300nit and anti-reflective screen. Equipped with a Blu-ray drive, Full HD content playback can be enjoyed in a portable form factor. This rich, vivid and crisp visual experience is further enhanced with the integrated JBL optimized speakers and a Max Bass Boost subwoofer, providing for an enhanced audio visual experience.
    Building on the design heritage of Samsung notebooks, the Series 5 550P has also been crafted for a compact appearance. The 15” model weighs just 2.5 kg and is priced at Rs.62,990/-
    Samsung Notebook Series 3 350 combines top-class performance and usability packed in a stylish manner.
    Sporting up to the latest 3rd generation Intel® Core™ i7 processor, the Samsung Series 3 350 enables users to experience quality performance with reliability and fresh design. For optimum mobility, its anti-reflective display produces sharp, clear images both indoors and outdoors, and its lightweight and portable design features a slim bezel. To further enhance its mobility, the new series 3 350 delivers up to 7 hours of battery life.
    Offered in titan silver, lagoon blue and candy pink the robust Series 3 350 applies the same color on its screen bezel and keyboard for a unique appearance. The Samsung Series 3 350 is priced at Rs.48,490/-
    With the launch of the Samsung NotePCs, Samsung has a range of 32 models priced in the range between Rs 21,990/- to Rs 102,990 /-. ‘Based on our new Note PC launches and our retail expansion, we are confident of doubling our NotePC business this year ’, stated Mr. Yadav.
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  4. The Nehru Memorial Museum and Library
    cordially invites you to The Seminar
    at 3:00 p.m. on Tuesday, 4 September 2012
    in the Seminar Room, First Floor, Library Building
    on
    ‘From the Margins Looking In: The child- state relationship revisited’
    by
                                       Dr. Vijayalakshmi Balakrishnan,
                                                Independent Scholar
    Abstract:
    The proposed talk will ask who all get to be included in the story of the nation-being-built. Based on the book, Growing Up & Away, Narratives of Indian Childhoods, Memory, History, Identity,( 2011) the presentation will explore what happens to our understanding of borders and boundaries, frontiers and faultiness, when children are included as participants in the making of meaning.
    Memory, history and identity play central roles in how childhood is understood and experienced. The potential for violent clashes among and within communities largely involve disputes over history and destiny, linked as they are to the unresolved legacies of the partition of British India.
    Through many historical decisions and select recent illustrations, the presentation will provide evidence of how some of those responses continue to resonate in the ways in which the State responds to situations of conflicted citizenship.
    Growing Up & Away, Narratives of Indian Childhoods, Memory, History, Identity, traces the evolution of the child rights discourse in post-Independence India, suggesting that there are different and political ways of thinking about childhoods. It makes the point that more than any other event or process, the violence and fears aroused by Partition have influenced the course of modern child development policy-making, and the relationship between the political and cultural identities of all the actors who influence the experience of childhoods.  The link will provide more details. (www.growingupandaway.in)
    Speaker:
    Dr. Vijayalakshmi Balakrishnan began her career in journalism and has
    spent the past 15+ years in evidence-based social development
    programme planning and design, working both in India, and overseas.
    She has a Masters degree in Development Studies, from the Institute of
    Social Studies, The Hague and a post graduate diploma in social
    journalism from the Times School.
                                                 
    All are welcome.
    Those wishing to have their names added to the e-mail list may please e-mail us at: nmmldirector@gmail.com

    The Nehru Memorial Museum and Library
    cordially invites you to The Seminar
    at 3:00 p.m. on Thursday, 6 September 2012
    in the Seminar Room, First Floor, Library Building
    on
    ' Kabir and Gandhi as Apostles of Human Unity 
       Transcending all Religion and  Caste-based Distinctions’
    by
                                                    Dr. Saral Jhingran
                                                   Former Fellow, NMML
    Abstract:
    Hinduism has the dubious distinction of upholding a sublime vision of one Atman in all beings, and then supporting extreme caste-based distinctions which deny any suggestion of basic equality. I propose to discuss in this paper two Indian saints who rejected such man made distinctions and declared unconditional human unity.
        Kabir, a 15th century North Indian saint, rejected all man made distinctions and declared emphatically that one Ram (God) inhabits all living beings; and therefore there is no basic distinction between Hindu and Turk (Muslim), or brahmin and shudra. He denied all distinctions categorically first on the basis of God’s indwelling all; and then, significantly, on a rational basis, saying that all have the same blood and meat, and so on. 
         In 20th century India, Mahatma Gandhi was confronted with Hindu Muslim tensions on the one hand and the evil of untouchability on the other. He therefore set upon cleaning Indian society of these two evils, by emphasizing the need for mutual understanding and good will between Hindus and Muslims; and relentlessly campaigning for the removal of the practice of untouchability from within Hindu society.
          Being practical and realist, he accepted the distinct identities of Hindus and Muslims, as also that between the “upper” caste Hindus and the so-called untouchables, in whose case he even at first accepted their separate nomenclature and their compulsory hereditary profession. He was not entirely successful in his efforts at unity and harmony between various groups of Indian society because he started with a somewhat wrong premise of dividing the society on the basis of religion and caste. He, however, continuously affirmed his profound conviction that his Ram lived in the hearts of dumb millions, and could be realized only through their service.
    Speaker:
    Dr. Saral Jhingran got her Ph.D. in Advaita Vedanta and Ethical Action from Rajasthan University in 1972. She has had three   Senior Fellowships of U.G.C. She was also affiliated to NMML  as  Research Scientist B,  from which she retired in 2000 . Her interests range from philosophy of religion and ethics-her prime concern- to sociological issues.
    Her publications are : The Roots of World Religions, 1982; Aspects of Hindu Morality 1989, reprint 1999; Secularism in India :A Reappraisal, 1989; Ethical Relativism and Universalism, 2001; and Madrasa Education in India: A Study, 2010. Besides these she has published more than 40 papers in various anthologies, and philosophical journals.
    She has also presented papers in various Seminars and Conferences, including World Philosophical Congress, New Delhi and one in Washington on World Peace.  She is presently working on the problem, “Why be Moral? A Search for a Justification of Morality.”
    All are welcome.
    Those wishing to have their names added to the e-mail list may please e-mail us at:
    nmmldirector@gmail.com
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  5. Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi's response to a question on malnutrition in an interview with Wall Street Journal
    During an interview with Wall Street Journal Chief Minister Narendra Modi gave elaborate answer to a question regarding malnutrition. 

    Mr Modi said, “We are the first state in the country to raise the issue of malnutrition. It came to our mind that Gujarat is by and large a vegetarian state. And secondly, Gujarat is also a middle-class state. The middle class is more beauty conscious than health conscious – that is a challenge. If a mother tells her daughter to have milk, they’ll have a fight. She’ll tell her mother, ‘I won’t drink milk. I’ll get fat.’ They have money but she’s beauty conscious, she’s not health conscious. So being a middle-class state is also a problem for me. A large segment of the population in my state is middle-class. Second is vegetarianism.

    “So a lot needs to be explained to both the beauty conscious and the health conscious. We have to request to them that there should be a good nutritional situation. We gave a budget of 700 crore rupees ($126 million). But these things are such that you see a sudden change in a child after the age of 13-14 years. They grow up so fast – from zero to 13 you don’t come to know how they got so big. So we are going through that stage.” he said.

    “Even after a lot of improvement – we still have to measure (malnutrition), conduct surveys. Until that is done, this perception will remain. But I’m quite confident. We will try to get a drastic change in this. Just as we’ve become a model in the electricity sector, Gujarat is going to come up as a model in this also. I can’t make any big claims, because I don’t have a survey in front of me yet", he added.

    It is noteworthy that Gujarat government is taking a range of measures to tackle malnutrition problems, including ramping up spending on rural health workers, modernizing nutrition centers, and trying to better track young pregnant women.
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  6. Domino’s Pizza celebrates new milestone
    August 31, 2012

    Domino’s Pizza celebrates new milestone Opens 500th store in India!

    New Delhi, August 30, 2012: Domino’s Pizza, India’s Pizza Delivery Expert and market leader in the organized pizza home delivery segment today inaugurated the 500th store at Rajinder Nagar, Delhi. The landmark store was inaugurated by Mr. Shyam S. Bhartia, Chairman and Mr. Hari S Bhartia, Co-Chairman, Jubilant FoodWorks in presence of Mr. Richard Allison, Executive Vice-President Domino’s Pizza International.

    In the last few years Domino’s Pizza has not only aggressively expanded its footprint, but also has been focused on winning more customer hearts across India through its tasty Pizza offerings, unmatched delivery promise and warm customer service approach. Little wonder then that Domino’s India operations is the fastest growing operations in the Domino’s global system. The company also continues to be market leaders in the organized pizza market with a 55% market share (as per Euro monitor 2012 report) and 70%+ share in the Pizza home delivery segment in India. Having reached the 500th store landmark, the company plans to continue with its aggressive growth path.
    Mr. Shyam S Bhartia, Chairman and Mr. Hari S Bhartia, Co- Chairman Jubilant FoodWorks Limited commented, “The opening of the 500th store is a matter of great pride for all of us and we are working towards further expanding the Domino’s network of outlets to other parts of the country. In our endeavour to expand, we have focussed not just on merely growing the number of stores but more importantly on our product quality, innovation & customer delight. To achieve this, we have put together efficient processes, talented people and robust machinery which has been able to deliver fantastic growth over last few years. We have been able to set new benchmarks in the food service category by creating many firsts. In the global Domino’s system, we are amongst top 4 countries now in terms of absolute number of stores. Our overall growth has been fuelled by customer’s love for our brand and our products”.
    Speaking on the occasion, Mr. Richard Allison, Executive Vice President, Domino’s Pizza International said, “It is a great honour for me to be present here to witness this remarkable achievement by the Domino’s team in India. Globally, Domino’s is present in over 70 markets but certainly India operations have emerged as one of the largest and fastest growing. Domino’s India is a key market in our scheme of things. The 500th store mark achievement in India is because of dedication and constant brand nurturing efforts of the inspired leadership and team members here. The amazing growth of Domino’s India has set new records for us globally, which will certainly spur other countries to emulate the India story.”

    Adding on Mr. Ajay Kaul, CEO, Jubilant FoodWorks Limited – “Every new store launch is an important occasion, as it helps us to reach more customers and offer our range of tasty products. But this 500th store opening marks a significant milestone in our successful journey in India. As a food service company, we believe in innovation; right from our lip smacking products to our exciting consumer campaigns. We are a customer centric brand and our thrust is to delight our customers in every engagement they experience with us. Our relentless focus on winning consumers has helped us to reach this historic landmark today.”
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  7.  Delhi Dehat leaders Dy. Mayor Master Azad Singh & Chairman Stndg Committee Rajesh Gehlot felicitated by Delhi Study Group
    New Delhi, 30th Aug 2012: Delhi Study Group led by Ex. MLA Delhi & President Mr. Vijay Jolly organized a public program to felicitate newly elected Deputy Mayor Master Azad Singh & Chairman Standing Committee Shri. Rajesh Gehlot at Constitution Club, New Delhi. Congress is anti villagers & farmers alleged Mr. Jolly.
    The Chief Guest on the occasion was Chaudhary Ram Karan Solanki, Pradhan 360 village khap panchayat. The distinguished speakers led by Delhi dehat youth leader Mr. Pravesh Sahib Singh Verma, MLAs Dharam Deo Solanki (Palam), Manoj Shokeen (Mundka), Kulwant Rana (Rohini), Parduymn Rajput (Dwarka) & Satprakash Rana (Bijwasan) narrated the tale of woes of Delhi dehat at the hands of Congress led Sheila govt. Senior MCD Councilor Smt. Sarita Chaudhary, Ex. MLA Brahm Singh Tanwar and Mehrauli BJP Leader Sher Singh Dagar accused Delhi Congress Govt. for the total neglect of Delhi dehat.   
    Ex. MLA & Delhi Study Group President Mr. Vijay Jolly revealed that Delhi govt. cabinet do not have even one minister from Delhi dehat. After 66 years of independence and right under the nose of parliament, the village areas in Delhi are ‘abhav grast’ and lack civic amenities. There are no medical health care centers. And no available medicines. People are forced to drink hand pump unfiltered water. It leads to water borne diseases.
    Mr. Jolly demanded relief for Delhi villages in the new master plan. The new building by - laws in villages be scrapped. There is urgent need to regularize extended lal dora aabadi areas. Mr. Jolly stressed for private & public planned housing projects to be promoted in Delhi dehat. Build pucca roads, new schools & colleges, provide drinking water, hospitals & sports facilities were vociferously demanded by Mr. Jolly.       
    Elected Deputy Mayor Master Azad Singh & Chairman Standing Committee Rajesh Gehlot were honored by Delhi Study Group President Vijay Jolly with a shawl, momento & colorful village turbans (rangeen - pagaris) along with program organizer Chaudhary Amrish Kumar from Rangpuri Village & DSG Vice President Bhupendra Kansil.
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  8.  
    2nd ICSI CORPORATE GOVERNANCE WEEK  CULMINATES  AT   NEW DELHI
    The Institute of Company Secretaries of India (ICSI) observed the 2nd ICSI CORPORATE GOVERNANCE WEEK on the theme ‘Good Governance For Sustainability’, from August 27th  to August 31st   2012 across the Country. The idea behind the ICSI Corporate Governance Week is to create awareness, propagate the best practices of corporate governance and mainstream corporate responsibility in the social fabric.
    ICSI 2nd CORPORATE GOVERNANCE WEEK PROGRAMME INAUGURATION
    Dr. M Veerappa Moily, Hon’ble Union Minister for Corporate Affairs & Power, Inaugurated the 2nd ICSI CORPORATE GOVERNANCE WEEK  today at New Delhi  .
    Dr. Veerappa Moily in his inaugural address complimented the Institute of Company Secretaries of India for this initiative and said that ICSI has always demonstrated its commitment to corporate governance and is playing a leaders role in promoting good corporate governance practices amongst corporate India . Dr. Moily said that governance is the character and corporate civilisation will face disaster if there is lack of good governance as “Good Governance is effective leadership, transparency & accountability.”
    He further added that reputation of  corporates contributes 75%  to success of Good Governance  . Dr. Moily briefed about the National Policy on  Corporate Governance which is being drafted by committee headed by Mr. Adi Godrej and Mr. Nesar Ahmad ,President, The Institute of Company secretaries of India  is the convener & member secretary .
    Dr. Moily ensured that the New Companies Bill 2011 will be passed soon  and will be instrumental in  enlightening  the regulator environment for better sustainability . He once again stressed on the need for economic stability & progress intertwined with Corporate Social Responsibility .
    Mr. Sunil Kant Munjal, Joint  Managing Director ,Hero Motorcorp Ltd, while delivering his key note address  complimented ICSI for initiative to observe the ICSI Corporate Governance Week 2012 and observed that there is no single individual who can work without honouring  the environment .He said that governance of Countries, Families and Societies is a reflection of accepted norms. He added that a Company Secretary is a conscience keeper not just to  the corporate but also to themselves. He expressed that there is need build ability and trust and in this there is need  to create simple rules that are easy to understand and simple to follow . He said that people are the best asset of an organisation which appreciates with experience & exposure and the people include not just people within the organisation but also around the company. He concluded that sustainability is the collective responsibility of all of us.
    Mr. U Venkataraman ,CEO –Currency Derivatives Segment and Whole Time Director ,MCX Stock Exchange delivered the Special Address  and said that the Role of Stock Exchanges and institutional investors is vital in ensuring  good governance . Institutional investors can act as whistle-blower, he said.  He emphasised that the industry’s  best practices should be showcased at the same time deterrents   and penalties should be placed for misgovernance. He emphasised on striking a balance of mere compliance and earnest disclosure.”
    CS Nesar Ahmad , President ,The Institute of Company Secretaries of India (ICSI) informed that ICSI has been actively engaged in  its commitment to Corporate Governance and has played a pivotal role in bringing about awareness on various issues impinging upon Corporate Governance . He also informed that Good Governance has intensified  as an international movement .  He expressed that India has Corporate Governance from the Vedic Ages  and now what is needed is a hybrid approach where international practices need to be integrated with our vedic heritage. Mr. Ahamd once again emphasised that Good Governance is a Culture and a climate of Consistency, Responsibility, Accountability , Fairness, Transparency and effectiveness that is deployed throughout the business organization . He stressed upon that the essence of Corporate governance lies in promoting and maintaining integrity ,transparency and accountability in the higher echelons of management
    CS P K Mittal, Council Member, The ICSI emphasised on the Role of Company Secretary  in Good Governance . He reiterated that , Company Secretaries, over a period of time, have developed themselves as professionals having core competence in corporate governance , As a part of  2nd ICSI Corporate Governance Week , the Institute organised  Five Mega Programmes at Bangalore, Hyderabad, Mumbai, Kolkata & New Delhi.
    CS Rajiv Bajaj , Chairman Northern India Regional Council , while introducing the Theme of the 2nd ICSI Corporate Governance week 2012 said that, Good Governance for Sustainability has assumed considerable significance in domain of Corporate governance. Good Governance is vital for sustainability of nations, corporate and even families . Today the concerns with regard to environment, inclusive growth and the challenges posed by globalisation have brought to fore several emerging issues of corporate governance which need to be addressed.
    CS N K  Jain, Secretary & CEO, The ICSI, delivered the Vote of thanks and informed about the Institute’s prestigious  publications released on the occasion of the 2nd ICSI Corporate Governance at the hands of Hon’ble Union Minister for Corporate Affairs , Dr. M Veerappa Moily which are as follows:
    Ø  Good Governance for Sustainability
    Ø  Role of Company Secretaries in Good Governance
    Ø  Sustainability Reporting for Sustainable Future
    Ø  Gender Diversity in Board Rooms
    Ø  Responsibly Managing e-waste
    He Informed that ,in addition, a number of other programmes  were organized  on corporate governance, sustainability & sustainability reporting, integrated reporting, responsible investment, gender diversity, waste management, whistle blowing, risk management & governance, and Good Corporate Citizenship as well as furthering “Go Green” initiatives throughout the length and breadth of the country by the Regional Councils and Chapters of ICSI.
    Sd/-
    Dr. Amita Ahuja
    Senior Director
    (Public Relations & Corporate Communication)
    The Institute of Company Secretaries of India
    ICSI House, 22 Institutional Area
    Lodi Road, New Delhi- 110 003
    Telefax- 011 -24604756, Mob- 9717196255
    Email: dprpp1@icsi.edu
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  9. Washington, D.C.—-The Worldwatch Institute (www.worldwatch.org) and the INCAE Business School’s Latin American Center for Competitiveness and Sustainable Development (CLACDS) are co-hosting two workshops on “The Way Forward for Renewable Energy in Central America” in Managua, Nicaragua and Alajuela, Costa Rica tomorrow and on September 3, respectively. The participative dialogues aim to promote the exchange of ideas and experiences among a select group of experts from regional institutions, civil society organizations, energy sector companies, and government agencies. The workshops will focus on the role of renewable technologies in broadening access to modern energy services and achieving regional development goals.
    The Central American countries of Belize, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, and Panama rely heavily on large hydropower, imported petroleum and traditional biomass for their energy supply. This dependence on conventional energy sources has had wide-ranging and adverse social, environmental, and economic impacts, hampering sustained and sustainable development in the region. Energy needs, particularly of marginalized and low-income communities, have not been sufficiently met. Although Central American governments have embraced various policies to promote renewable energy—-and recent trends in geothermal, wind and solar energy have been encouraging—-the region still faces many challenges in advancing renewables to their full potential.
    With support from the Climate Development Knowledge Network and the Energy and Environment Partnership with Central America, Worldwatch and the INCAE Business School are partnering to design “Sustainable Energy Roadmaps” that help decision makers in the region implement an improved transitional strategy toward an energy system that is socially, environmentally, and economically superior to the one that currently exists. The goal is to help Central America continue to harness its immense potential to utilize renewable energy sources such as wind, geothermal, solar, biomass, and small-scale hydropower.
    During the workshops, Worldwatch and INCAE experts will present and discuss initial findings of the roadmap project, enabling completion of Phase 1 of the project. The goals of this first phase are: to scope existing market trends, given investment conditions and implemented policies; to identify renewable energy success stories that can be replicated elsewhere in the region and discuss what is needed for their scale-up; and to analyze the technical, socio-economic, and political/financial “cold spots” where future data gathering and analysis can add to the information needed to make successful policy choices. In Phase 2, the project team will propose concrete steps toward rapidly expanding the adoption of renewable energy technologies in Central America, and communicate these to key decision makers.
    Experts from a range of renewable energy and policy professions, including representatives from the Ministry of Energy and Mines of Nicaragua; the United Nations Economic Commission for Latin America; and Costa Rica’s Ministry of Environment, Energy and Telecommunications; among others, will present best-practice case studies as well as recommendations on how to replicate such examples. Participants will discuss individual suggestions in break-out groups or ‘action labs’ during the workshops. The involvement of leading thinkers in the project will extend beyond the workshops through ongoing participation in the project’s future activities as well as a moderated online forum, enabling the formation of a community of experts committed to advancing renewable energy in Central America.
    “This project is a joint effort aimed at speeding the development of renewables in Central America,” said Alexander Ochs, Director of Worldwatch’s Climate and Energy Program. “Key energy experts will gather in one room to discuss the region’s challenges and opportunities in embracing renewables, discussing state-of-the-art reforms as well as areas of local, national, and regional best practices.”
    “It’s not just that all countries will need to contribute to mitigating and adapting to global climate change.” continued Ochs. “Central America can become a real leader on renewables, given the high price it pays for its current energy system—-some countries spend 10 percent or more of their GDP on importing fossil fuels. The region has also had exciting early experiences with adopting new, unconventional renewable technologies, including geothermal, solar, biomass, and wind technologies.”
    The first workshop will take place at the INCAE Business School’s Managua campus from 9:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. on Thursday, August 30, 2012.
    The second workshop will take place at the INCAE Business School’s Alajuela campus from 9:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. on Monday, September 3, 2012.
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