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[1] From: sanjeev nayyar <exploreindia@vsnl.net> Date: Tue Sep 6, 2005 Subject: Re: [indiathinkersnet] India Tops Arms Spending in Developing World Sukla arms spending is to be seen as a % of GDP, at under 3% we are far less than china, pakis, do do not look at absolute nos, anyway large part of budget goes in salaries and pensions. with prem sanjeev ------------------------------ [2] From: Regi P George <george_regi@yahoo.com> Date: Tue Sep 6, 2005 Subject: Steps to Reduce Impact of Price Rise Proposals But Before the Prime Minister Shri Manmohan Singh by CPI(M) General Secretary, Prakash Karat, and Polit Bureau Member, Sitaram Yechury when they met him today. Steps to Reduce Impact of Price Rise ?· Suspend Road Cess Increase : Government increased the road cess by Rs. 0.50/litre for petrol and diesel from March 2005. This amount may be suspended till international oil prices return to reasonable levels, or till the end of 2005-06. Amount available : about Rs. 1500 crore for 6 months ?· Forgo Increased Customs Duty : Government has been indicating that the crude prices have risen from $ 40/bbl (when the budgetary projection were made February 2005) to $ 60/bbl, a 50% increase. The increase in customs duty, therefore, may be foregone. Amount Available : This would make available about Rs. 3,300 crores ?· Forgo Increased Excise Duty : Government should forgo increase in excise duty, due to higher prices, as it cannot make profit out of an abnormally high international oil price scenario. In additional, excise duty may be frozen at current level so that when price is increased no part accrues to the government. Amount Available: About Rs 1000 crore ?· Make additional crude cess available for stablisation fund: NDA government had raised cess on domestic crude from Rs. 900/MT to Rs 1800/MT in 2002. The incremental cess of Rs. 900/MT should be used for stabilisation fund. Amount Available : About Rs. 2700 crore ?· Duty free benefit for exports should be suspended: While we had advocated this idea many months ago, no action has been taken. Now, China, has withdrawn export benefits for its refineries for petroleum products such as petrol and naphtha. The export benefit should be immediately withdrawn. Amount Available : About Rs. 2000 crore ?· Review and withdraw sales tax concessions to private refineries: Tax concessions are no longer required to sustain or support private refinery operation. Profit of RIL jumped to Rs. 7572 crores in 2004-05 from Rs 5160 crores in 2003-04. Obviously, a company that earns so much does not need any state support whatsoever. Therefore all benefits such as sales tax deferment and export benefits must be immediately withdrawn, as they have not only more than served their purpose but could be better used in meeting needs of the people/developing state infrastructure otherwise. ?· Recover Unpaid Excise Duty From RIL : Newspapers have reported that Reliance Industries Ltd (RIL) has been served a show-cause notice by the Central Excise Department regarding non-payment of additional excise duty to the tune of Rs. 10,500 crore on export of petroleum products from its refinery at Jamnagar in Gujarat. The amount should be recovered and used for absorbing the international price rise. ?· Total amount available: With the above about Rs. 21,000 crores without considering sales tax concessions. ------------------------------- [3] From: EMPOWER INDIA <ttn_empower@sancharnet.in> Date: Tue Sep 6, 2005 Subject: INTERNATIONAL LITERACY DAY, 8 September 2005 INTERNATIONAL LITERACY DAY, 8 September 2005 Message of UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan In this year that marks the start of the United Nations Decade of Education for Sustainable Development (2005-2014), the theme of International Literacy Day is the role of literacy in sustainable development. Literacy is a key lever of change and a practical tool of empowerment on each of the three main pillars of sustainable development: economic development, social development and environmental protection. Experience and research show that literacy can be a major tool for eradicating poverty, enlarging employment opportunities, advancing gender equality, improving family health, protecting the environment and promoting democratic participation. A literate home environment is a boon to child development, having a positive impact on how long girls and boys stay enrolled in school and how effectively they learn. In recent years, many literacy programmes have become increasingly oriented towards local needs, especially through a focus on community development and environmental protection. Such approaches seek to provide an enriched version of literacy that goes beyond the basic mechanics of reading and writing to embrace life skills and relevant content. As the foundation of learning throughout life, literacy is at the heart of sustainable development. Yet today there are an estimated 800 million illiterate adults, two thirds of whom are women. More than 100 million children are not in school. It is clear that support for literacy continues to fall well short of need. On this International Literacy Day, let us recall that literacy for all is an integral part of education for all, and that both are critical for achieving truly sustainable development for all. Cross posted: "UNIC India"/manitham Forwarded by : ---------------------------- Yours in Global Concern A.SANKAR Executive Director EMPOWER. -------------------------------------- [4] From: Sukla Sen <suklasen@yahoo.com> Date: Mon Sep 5, 2005 Subject: The Shameless Liar! http://cryptome.org/nola-breach.htm "I don't think anybody anticipated the breach of the levees." - President Bush, September 1, 2005 National Geographic, October 2004 By Joel K. Bourne, Jr. Photographs by Robert Caputo and Tyrone Turner [photos not provided] The Louisiana bayou, hardest working marsh in America, is in big trouble??”with dire consequences for residents, the nearby city of New Orleans, and seafood lovers everywhere. |
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September08, 2005 - [India Thinkers Net]Sukla..Regi >> |
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