Special Economic Zone (SEZ) - Road ahead...

Governments plans to setup Special Economic zone(SEZ) has sparked off widespread debatein public, especially farmers.Whether its Nadigram, Singur in West Bengal or Raigad in Maharashtra or Dadri in UP there is wide spread opposition in setting up SEZ...

What is an SEZ?

SEZ are created for the purpose of attracting huge investment, there by creating job oppurtunities in designated sites. They enjoy the following privileges..

1. Its exempt from Income Tax, Service Tax and Sales Tax

2. Enjoys freedom to sub-contract

3. No examination of import/export cargo by customs.

Current status of SEZ - Facts

Number approved - 237 in 19 states

Notified zones ( land acquired ) : 63

Cleared in principle - 166

Operational - 23 ( 18 in IT sector )

In the pipeline - 500

POSITIVES.....

1. creates 30 lakh jobs

2. Annual turnover of 15,00,000cr

3. 2 % contribution to GDP by 2010

4. Exports will cross $500 billion by 20155.

5. Creates pockets of prosperity in rural areas there by helping to slow down migration to urban areas

NEGATIVES...

1. Results in land scams due to policy loopholes

2. Huge revenue loss due to several incentives. Exchequer will loose 1 lakh crore in next 4 years owing to tax and duty exemptions for SEZ

3. Diverting famrland to SEZ will put pressure on Agriculture


Kamalnath is in favor of SEZ whereas Chidambaram, Sharad Pawar and Jairam Ramesh have reservations about SEZ implementation...

Concerns are more about the policy and the manner in which its implemented. The major concern is thousands of hectares of fertile land being diverted to SEZ. This will reduce arable land and can put brakes on India doubling its food production over the next decade. A/c to Land Acqisition act 1894, state is the ultimate owner of the land and can take over it for public purpose by paying reasonable compensation. But compensation levels are too low.

No one oppose underlying philosophy behind SEZ. No one denies that SEZ will lead to huge social and economic benefits. Its a critical policy tool to make India a truly global superpower. Government is awaiting Mukherjee panel report on SEZ so that clear cut implementation policy which is benefitial to all becomes a reality.

Marriage....Love marriage yaa Arranged ????

Love or arranged marriages is still a debatable topic in the Indian society. People still debate on the issue, which one is better. What should be the basis of the marriage love or social norms? We are still confused about these issues.

I will try to highlight the pros and cons of both arranged and love marriage and leave the judgement part open for discussion..

Let me start with Arranged marriage...

In case of arranged marriages the relation starts when the girl and the boy get to know each other in a couple of meeting before the final commitment. Before deciding anything the parents check the family background and financial stability, Which is also very important.

Parents employ maturity and wise judgment when choosing suitable spouses for their children. Sometimes it helps to rely on another person's opinion and experience when selecting one's partner especially when the people marrying are young and need guidance and advice in marrying a suitable person. This is an advantage...

This does not mean arranged marriages are the ideal sort of marriages. Having an arranged does not mean that the married couple remains happily ever after or that there is harmony in the relationship. Women have been known to stay on in abusive relationships for the sake of family pride, societal norms....

Love marriage...

Education and media played a vital role in changing the perception of the Indian mind. As people started thinking beyond the social customs and traditions of arranged marriages. They realized that they have the right to choose their life partner without any kind of social pressure. It is after all their life. They can decide without having to rely on parents, relatives and matchmakers. This change in the mental set up of the people gave birth to love marriages.

One of the usual questions against an arranged marriage is that how can you marry somebody you don't know. Knowing somebody before marriage allows partners to have better respect and understanding for each other's needs and desires. This way they are better adjusted in the marriage when they finally take their wedding vows.Because when you have decided to spend the life together it is important you know the person. There should be metal compatibility and understanding among both of you. And this happens when you spend time together.

If you know somebody before marriage it allows partners to have better respect and understanding for each other's needs and desires.

Critics of Love marriage argue that when two people are in love they are at their best to impress each other. They behave, they talk and they wear what the other person likes. But it is after marriage that you get to know the real person.

So WHATs an IDEAL MARRIAGE???????

It becomes difficult therefore to predict the ideal sort of marriage. So ultimately it is up to the individual to decide whether he wants to have a love or an arranged marriage after all it is a question of being happy in love.

Successful marriage is all about understanding and respecting each other's feelings, love and concern, responsibility, commitment.. So it's not just about initial love and attraction it needs a lot of dedication and effort to sustain a marriage. After all you should be happy with your life partner irrespective of love or arranged marriage.

There are couples who are still discovering each other even after twenty years of their marriage. This is the actual beauty of a relationship where everyday you discover a new thing about your partner.

FDI in Retial - Entry of Walmart - Impact on Kirana Stores...

Ending months of speculation, Walmart the international retailing giant has announced joint venture with Bharati group. Alliance proviance a back door entry to Walmart...

Though Govt maintains that there is no change in its policy of not allowing foreign direct investment(FDI) in retailing, foreign retailers are taking advantage of loopholes in policy, in particular the decision to allow FDI in single brand and wholesale cash and carry trade business where 100% FDI is permitted...

More such ventures can be expected in the days ahead in the same way as Walmart has exploited obvious loophole in policy regime.

Walmart is likely to follow the footsteps of Metro AG, German retailer who already have presence in Bangalore and is to begin operations in West Bengal shortly, who supply goods in bulk to wholesalers, hotels and large establishments...

Imapct on small Retailers (Kirana stores)

Unorganized retailers account for 96% of retail trade, contribute 10-11% of India's GDP, employs 4 cr Indians in 12 million retail outlets..In India current annual retail sales per employee is about Rs 78000. In contrast each of Walmarts 3.3 lakh employees a/c for average sales of about Rs 74.18 lakh. The fact that Walmart turnover per employee is about 95 times that of an average Indian worker in retail gives an indiacation of extent of employment losses resulting from Wlamart enrty into India.

There is lot at stake for millions of people depending on retailing for their livelihoods. Sonia Gandhi has rightly asked the govt to go slow on allowing 100% FDI in retialing. If 100% FDI is allowed under pressure from global retailing giants who see India as an attractive market, it would prove to be a disaster for 4 cr Indians who depend on these Kirana stores....

DEFENCE EXPENDITURE vs POVERTY IN AFRICA

Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) has released a report on Global Defense Expenditure in 2005.....Any guesses..ITS $1 TRILLION...

The top 15 countries spend 85% of total expenditure....

US tops the list, followed by UK, France, Japan, China.....India, Russia r also part of this 15 elite group....

US spends $ 478.2 Billion

UK spends $48.3 Billion

India spends $ 20 Billion.....

Irony is total debt of Africa is $300 Billion....(Image shown - refugee camp in Somalia)

G-8 industrialised countries recently gave $40 Billion aid to Africa after a decade long deliberations...

If developed and developing countries can take the lead from the front in not only writing off debt but also in intervening into overall socio-economic development of Africa, half of mankind's misery might come to end....

GLOBAL WARMING....Impact on Africa..

Global warming is the most hotly debated concept around the world....Everyone knows that we are not heading in the right direction but steps needed to overcome global warming is rather moving at a sluggish pace....

With the signing of Kyoto Protocol, many countries have set targets to reduce green house gas emmisions...But not many are on target to achieve this....With US and Australia refusing to join the Kyoto signatories and India, China given exemptions because of their developing economies the protocol has come under sharp criticism....

Global warming is going to have a serious impact on Africa....But nobody is bothered...Africa comprise 14% of global population and contribute 3% of global green house gas emissions where as Austrlia, US and Canada put together constitue 5% of global population and contribute 25% of global green house gas emissions....

Africa - comprising 57 nations where most of the inhabitants depend heavily on Agriculture for their survival and thus environment becomes all the more critical for thei sustenence...The world famous Mount Kilimanjaro (shown in picture) in Tanzania would be extinct in another decade as more than 80% of its Ice has disappeared in the last 90 years with almost 33% disappearing in the last decade itself....

The least the developed world could do is to emphatise with the African ecology, knowing very well how critical it is for their survival...To keep up their own industrial growth at the cost of such under developed economies is nothing less than the new world hegemony....

Tatas vs Left vs Mamata - WHO IS RIGHT

The proposed plan to set up a 1 lakh car manufacturing unit at Singur, West Bengal has run into trouble....The left have supported the plan where as Mamata Banerjee has opposed it tooth and nail....She concluded her 25 days fasting recently....

Now the question arises WHO IS RIGHT??????

There are diverse opinions on this....

Lets start with Tatas...1 lakh car...big project....Many have questioned the feasibility of developing 1 lakh car but Tatas have stuck to their stand....Auto experts believe that producing a 1 lakh car is next to impossible....Leaving aside this debate now the question arises Why they have chosen SINGUR??? Singur is a fertile land....Tatas have been granted 900 acres at a throw away price....Compensation provided to farmers is inadequate....Any car plant need not be located in a fertile land....singur is around 40 kms from Kolkata....The plant can easily be based at a location around Kolkata which is benefitial to all concerned...

Left....with Buddhadeb heading the show , the capitalists are having a good time in Bengal....Nothing wrong in it as long as it does justice to everyone concerned...He should be open to suggestions....and bury is ego in his duel with Mamata....

Mamata Banerjee...fierry leader is trying to have her own base after recent setbacks in elections....She has stood behind the farmers....

Whats the solution? Set up an expert committee...Is Singur the only option....If yes look into the compensation package paid to the farmers....Make sure its upto the market standards....All 3 of them should bury their egos and settle it out amicably...