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KCCI calls it an eco-agri budget

[email protected] (The Hindu)
March 1, 2011

budget

Mangalore, March 1: The Union Budget has evoked mixed reaction from industry representatives here.

G.G. Mohandas Prabhu, president, Kanara Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI), said that the Union Budget was an “eco-agri” budget. Its emphasis on agriculture and focus on cold chains was a far-sighted thought made by Union Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee. The concessions to electric vehicles (EVs) would limit country's dependence on fossil fuels.

The Central Excise rates had been maintained, which was welcome. Industry circles expected an increase. However, nothing had been mentioned about tax, he said. About 130 items had been brought under the Central Excise (of a nominal 1 per cent). Implementation of direct taxes from April 2012 and the tabling in Parliament of the Goods and Services Tax (GST) Bill was welcome. The budget could have been more liberal on Income Tax, he said. The fiscal deficit of 4.6 per cent of the GDP indicated a robust economy.

B. Madhava, secretary, Dakshina Kannada district unit of the CPI(M), welcomed the doubling of the “miserably-low” salary of “anganwadi” workers. Connecting the wages of those working within the National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (NREGA) to the consumer price index was welcome, he said.

The Income Tax exemption for the middle classes and the proposal to reduce eligibility age for pension from 65 to 60 were good initiatives, he said.

But the budget was insensitive to the problems of the common man, according to him.

The Finance Minister's speech expressed concern over price rise but said nothing about controlling it. Strengthening of PDS was assured by political parties (that 35 kg of rice at the rate of Rs. 2 per kg would be given to each nuclear family) but never implemented, he said.

B.A. Nazeer, president, Kanara Small Industries' Association (KSIA), Baikampady, welcomed the implementation of Direct Tax Code (DTC) from April 1, 2012, and the introduction of Goods and Services Tax (GST) Constitution Amendment Bill in the present session of Parliament.

The proposal to enhance IT exemption limit by Rs. 20,000 was marginal compared to the high inflation rate. Excise duty could have been reduced to 8 per cent to stimulate the manufacturing sector particularly SSIs.

The SSIs' demand of increasing Central Excise limit to Rs. 3 crore had been ignored. No encouragement to SSI sector had been proposed, he said.


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News Network
March 7,2020

Bengaluru, Mar 7: As a precautionary measure to control the spread of coronavirus in Karnataka, the state government has planned to suspend biometric attendance for the time-being at its offices, also in corporate and IT companies, Medical Education Minister Dr K Sudhakar said on Saturday.

He said the government has taken all precautionary measures to control the spread of the virus in the state.

"Our Additional Chief Secretary has already spoken to IT companies yesterday on behalf of the government regarding guidelines that need to be followed, it is part of it...we will do it in the government also in the days to come," Sudhakar told reporters here.

He was responding to a question about suspending biometric attendance at offices in the wake of the coronavirus outbreak.

Asked about suspending biometric attendanceat government offices, he said, "we have planned to do it yesterday."

Sudhakar said so far in Karnataka not even one case has been identified, to that extent we have been taking precautionary measures effectively.

He said from villages to state capital Bengaluru at all levels the health department officials have been activated as part of the precautionary measures.

Also, committees headed by Deputy Commissioners have been formed in all district, he added.

"We have given certain guidelines to people. We have also included private hospitals. We have taken all precautionary measures to stop the virus from entering the state," he added.

In response to a question regarding masks, the Minister clarified that those who have the symptoms of the disease only should use them.

He said, "N95 masks are required only for those who have tested positive, there is not even a single positive case in the state so far...surgical masks that will have three layers can be used by those who have symptoms like cough, cold, fever."

In the state as a precautionary measure 2,500 beds have been kept ready if the situation arises, despite not having a single case.

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News Network
July 29,2020

New Delhi, July 29: The government of India today announced Unlock 3.0, lifting of night curfew from August 1 and opening of yoga institutes and gymnasiums from August 5 while educational institutes will remain closed throughout August.

According to the Unlock 3.0 guidelines issued by the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), the lockdown in containment zones will be extended until August 30. The new guidelines will be in effect from August 1.

The operation of Metro rail and international flights will remain suspended. Cinema halls, swimming pools, entertainment parks, theatres, bars, auditoriums, assembly halls and similar places will remain shut. Large gatherings are also prohibited.

Yoga institutes and gymnasiums will start operating from August 5 for which the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare will be issuing Standard Operating Procedures. 

Independence Day celebrations will be held with social distancing norms in place.

Restrictions on the movement of individuals during the night (Night curfew between 10 PM and 5 AM) have been removed.

According to the order, states have been given powers to prohibit certain activities outside containment zones or impose such restrictions as deemed necessary based on their assessment of the situation.

"However, there shall be no restriction on inter-state and intra-state movement of persons and goods. No separate permission/approval/e-permit will be required for such movements," the order said. 

In the previous two Unlock guidelines, the government had substantially opened various activities.

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News Network
March 23,2020

Bengaluru, Mar 23: Film producer, philanthropist and entrepreneur V K Mohan committed suicide by hanging himself in a hotel in the city on Monday, police said.

Mohan, who hailed from Kundapur Taluk, Udupi District, was a famous film producer and hotelier.

According to police, Mohan arrived at the hotel on Sunday night and when he did not open the door of his room on Monday, hotel staffs, grew suspicious and peeped through the room window, found him hanging.

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