Edited By Cen Fox Post Team
Showing posts with label 1st JULY 2012. Show all posts
Showing posts with label 1st JULY 2012. Show all posts
Saturday, 30 June 2012
Dalai Lama expresses concern over Tibetan's self-immolation-video
Edited By Cen Fox Post Team
Student vouchers preferable to sinking taxpayer money into Aakash tablets
Kapil Sibbal the minister in charge of education and information technology, is clever and honest. So, despite repeated failure, he cannot resist the temptation to try and dazzle the public by promoting this or that educational gizmo.
He has just announced that Aakash 2, an ultra cheap tablet, will be launched in July. Why is there no applause? Because Aakash has already proved a fiasco once before.
Last October, Sibal attracted global headlines by launching the first version of Akash, targeted at secondary- school students. The government decided the specifications and floated tenders.
The contract went to DataWind, which was to supply tablets at $46 each. The government was to provide a subsidy of $111, reducing the price for students to just $35. Sibal proclaimed proudly that this would take cheap computing to the masses.
Poor people are very price-sensitive, yet cheapness doesn't guarantee success. Remember, the Tata Nano was promoted as the cheapest car in the world at $2,500, but flopped. Consumers wanted value for money, not just a low price, and the Nano did not provide that.
Back in the Garibi Hatao era of Indira Gandhi, the government subsidised the production of ultra-cheap janata cloth and janata soap. But the quality was not good enough, so both schemes flopped.
Politicians want to take computing to the masses. So, in 2004, the government promoted a hand-held computer, the Simputer, for $240, very cheap at the time. The government expected to sell 50,000 Simputers. Alas, there were hardly any buyers.
Then, in 2005, the government championed another low-cost computer, the Mobilis, priced at $200. This was launched by none other than Kapil Sibal, who at the time was minister for science and technology. "This marks India's leap into the future of PCtechnology," he declared. Alas, the Mobilis sank without a trace.
Why? These products were ultra-cheap but did not give value for money. Technology kept changing, and constantly produced ever-better computers at ever-better prices. Any product picked and subsidised by politicians quickly became obsolete.
Many politicians, not just Sibal, dreamed of a cheap $100 laptop for all students. But when Apple unveiled the iPad, laptops suddenly looked expensive and obsolete.
So, the government switched its focus from an ultra-cheap laptop to an ultra-cheap tablet. This was the origin of the Aakash.
Sibal started with an order of 10,000 tablets from DataWind. Meanwhile, Data wind produced a commercial version of the Aakash for $60. The ballyhoo yielded more than a million consumer bookings.
But testing of the tablet soon revealed severe quality problems. An embarrassed Sibal aborted the Aakash and opted for an upgraded version, Aakash 2. Former science adviser to the Prime Minister, Ashok Parthasarathi, says nobody knows how much money has already been wasted in the process, or how a new design is going to be translated into production in just a few weeks.
Despite failing miserably with the original tablet, DataWind continues to be the supplier for Aakash 2. Meanwhile, thousands who made bookings for the original Aakash have got neither the tablet nor a refund.
Even if Akash 2 is free of glitches, it does not obviously provide value for money. Many Indian companies have produced cheap tablets from $99 upward, but none has been a hit - consumers prefer to pay more for an Apple.
The massive advance bookings for the Aakash must not be mistaken for true demand. The Tata Nano also attracted mass advance bookings, but these vanished as word spread that the product lacked bang for buck.
History shows that technology and costs shift so rapidly that no government should try and pick winners. The PC gave way to the laptop, which was undercut by the netbook, which was outclassed by the tablet. Neither the government nor anybody else can know which technology will succeed tomorrow.
One Indian analyst thinks the e-book will evolve into the next winner. Maybe. But surely, the biggest threat comes from the evolving cellphone, which now performs many functions that only computers could. Cellphones are available from $15 upward, and calling rates are the cheapest in the world.
A tablet requires an expensive wireless plug-in, plus an expensive wireless service. This is not value for money. Cellphones function in deep rural areas, need little electricity, and can be charged from tractor batteries.
Tablets need much more electricity, plus an extensive network of help centres. If the aim is education rather than entertainment, cellphones can already do most things that a tablet can.
If the government must 'take computing to the masses', let it leave winners to the market. The government thinks it can reap scale economies through mass orders, but the global market for devices already provides huge scale economies that government orders cannot match.
Instead of providing a fixed subsidy of $11 for the Aakash 2 or any other device, the government can simply give a voucher worth $11 to all students for purchasing any device of their choice. That will be less grandiose than Sibal's ambitions for Aakash 2. But it will avoid the flops and financial waste we have seen so far.
Edited By Cen Fox Post Team
Tata Docomo cuts wireless internet services' tariffs by 60%
(Photo credit: Wikipedia)Tata Docomo is the unified telecom brand of Tata Teleservices.
Under the new tariff plan, postpaid customers can choose from unlimited 6GB usage for only Rs 950 rental or unlimited 11 GB for only Rs 1,200. These two unlimited plans also offer cash back of Rs 100 per month for 12 months from date of purchase, the company said in a statement here.
Entry-level packs now cost Rs 250 that offers 1GB of data download compared to Rs 650 earlier. Likewise, Rs 450 pack which earlier cost 750 will offer 2GB now.
For the first time, the company also introduced reload packs for postpaid customers with 1GB data download at Rs 200 and 2GB at Rs 350.
Prepaid customers can now get unlimited 2GB usage on recharge of Rs 700.
Announcing the offers, marketing head Gurinder Singh Sandhu said, "We continue to deliver on our promise to provide value for money plans that suit the various needs of our customers."
Edited By Cen Fox Post Team
Mahesh Bhupathi-Sania Mirza crash out of Wimbledon
Sania Mirza. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)LONDON: French Open champions Mahesh Bhupathi and Sania Mirza crashed out of the Wimbeldon with a crushing straight-set defeat to Australian P Hanley and Russia's A Kudryavtseva in the second round of the mixed doubles competition on Saturday. The fifth seeded Indian combo, who had clinched their second Grand Slam title together earlier this month, suffered a 3-6, 1-6 defeat to the unseeded pair in a 50-minute match at the All England Club.
The Australian-Russian combo sent down six aces and also broke the Indian pair four times out of the seven chances that came their way. In comparison, Sania and Bhupathi failed to create any opportunity and also had three double faults and four unforced errors.
The Indians, who would not be playing together in next month's London Olympics after the All India Tennis Association (AITA) paired Sania with Leander Paes in mixed doubles, were better than their rivals in their first serve but they failed miserably in the second in the opening set.
In the second set, Sania and Bhupathi looked lacklustre as Hanley and Kudryavtseva sent down four aces and pushed the Indians to commit unforced errors and sealed the match comfortably.
The winners also broke the Indians thrice out of the six chances in the second set.
Edited By Cen Fox Post Team
Abdul Kalam was ready to swear Sonia Gandhi as PM in 2004
The then President of India Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)NEW DELHI: APJ Abdul Kalam was ready to swear Sonia Gandhi as the Prime Minister after the 2004 polls when he was the President despite pressure from various political leaders before Manmohan Singh was nominated to head the UPA government. Kalam's stand on the political situation after the Loksabha elections lifted the veil on an episode that has been intensely speculated upon that he was reluctant to appoint the Italian-born Gandhi as the country's PM.
In a forthright account of his five-year tenure as President in a book titled "Turning points", Kalam recalls that had Gandhi staked a claim herself he would have appointed her as it was the only "constitutionally tenable" option available to him.
The former President says he was almost certain that Gandhi would head the UPA government but Rashtrapati Bhavan had to rework the appointment letter after the Congress chief nominated Singh as the Prime Minister.
"During this time there were many political leaders who came to meet me to request me not to succumb to any pressure and appoint Mrs Gandhi as the Prime Minister, a request that would not have been constitutionally tenable. If she had made any claim for herself, I would have had no option but to appoint her," the book says.
In his book, Kalam writes that after the Lok Sabha poll results were announced, no party or coalition came forward to form the government for three days.
During his tenure, he says he had to take many tough decisions.
"I had applied my mind totally in an unbiased manner after eliciting opinions from legal and constitutional experts. The primary aim of all the decisions was to protect and nurture the sanctity and robustness of our Constitution."
Describing the 2004 elections as an interesting event, he writes, "It was a cause of concern for me and I asked my secretaries and rushed a letter to the leader of the largest party - in this case the Congress - to come forward and stake the claim for forming the government.
"I was told that Sonia Gandhi was meeting me at 12.15 in the afternoon of 18 May. She came in time but instead of coming alone she came with Dr Manmohan Singh and had a discussion with me. She said that she had the requisite numbers but she did not bring the letter of support signed by party functionaries.
"She would come with the letters of support on the 19th, she said. I asked her why do you postpone. We can even finish it this afternoon. She went away. Later I received a message that she would meet me in the evening, at 8.15pm"
While this communication was in progress, Kalam received a number of emails and letters from individuals, organizations and parties that he should not allow Gandhi to become the prime minister.
And on May 19 at the allotted time, 8.15pm, Gandhi came to Rashtrapati Bhavan along with Singh.
"In this meeting after exchanging pleasantries, she showed me the letters of support from various parties. Thereupon, I said that is welcome. The Rashtrapati Bhavan is ready for the swearing-in ceremony at the time of your choice. That is when she told me that she would like to nominate Dr Manmohan Singh, who was the architect of economic reforms in 1991 and a trusted lieutenant of the Congress party with an impeccable image, as the Prime Minister.
"This was definitely a surprise to me and the Rashtrapati Bhavan secretariat had to rework the letter appointing Dr Manmohan Singh as the Prime Minister and inviting him to form the government at the earliest," Kalam writes in the book published by HarperCollins India and scheduled to be released next week.
After the swearing-in ceremony on May 22 involving Singh and 67 ministers, Kalam "breathed a sigh of relief that this important task had finally been done".
Edited By Cen Fox Post Team
Rupee posts biggest gain in 3 years as risk assets rally
Edited By Cen Fox Post Team
Yale University offers programme for India’s Parliamentarians
The programme was launched in 2007 in collaboration with the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry and the India -US Forum of Parliamentarians. Till now, more than seventy members of India's parliament have participated in the programme.
The 2012 cohort of 11 members of India's parliament came to the Yale University campus in New Haven, Connecticut on June 20 to complete a six-day leadership program with Yale faculty that is now being be complemented by a four-day program of meetings, discussions, and interactions in Washington, DC with senior officials of the US government. The 2012 participants are drawn from seven different national and regional political parties in India.
In the academic program, the delegation participated in discussions with Yale faculty on global economic governance, the US economy, corruption in government, counter-insurgency efforts in Afghanistan, political developments in the Arab world, the US Presidential elections, the economic and political crises in the Eurozone, Iran's nuclear program, political and economic developments in China, and higher education in India, along with sessions on leadership, strategy, negotiation, and applied game theory.
Edited By Cen Fox Post Team
Dance is not my comfort zone: Sanath Jaysuriya
With an exceptionally great cricket career both in the test cricket and ODIs, Sanath has been a hot favourite of T20 cricket as well. And if that wasn't enough, he has been juggling between cricket and politics for two years now. Currently, he is hogging the limelight as a participant in dance reality show Jhalak dikh la jaa 5. Excerpts from an interview:
Rendezvous With Dance
We dance at post match parties. But it's not anything close to the dance taught here. My legs can move on the cricketing field, not for these dance sequences. It is not my comfort zone. I don't like to dance. Although, my choreographer is making me learn salsa, jive, it is a new learning experience for me.
'Fan'tastic
I am a huge fan of Rajnikanth but I don't think I can manage even half of the dance moves. I love his movies and his dance, but I can't copy him.
Reality Talk
I was approached for many reality shows in Srilanka, but I couldn't do it. I am still pondering over the reasons on what made me take up this show. I'm too shy, and I have never been exposed to camera. Even my parents were concerned about how I will do this dance show. Few of my friends have been encouraging and others are criticizing it as well. Like my fans support me for cricket, I hope they will support me for this show.
Political Take
Politics just happened to me. Juggling between cricket and politics is a tough task. But, it feels good to contribute effectively. I was happy when I learnt about Sachin Tendulkar's political innings, I wish him a good luck.
I, Me, Myself
I'm a simple family person. I love to listen to music, watch TV and I watch many Tamil films and few Bollywood films. I follow Buddhism and like to meditate. It is the spiritual connect that makes me balance the chaos around. I believe in Tirupati Balaji too and am a frequent visitor. Cricket is my passion and it has given me so much!
Edited By Cen Fox Post Team
Ashok Chavan deposes before Adarsh commission
MUMBAI: Former Maharashtra chief minister Ashok Chavan today deposed before the inquiry commission set up by the state government to go into the Adarsh housing society scam.
Chavan, who had to step down as chief minister soon after the alleged scam surfaced in November 2010, is one of the 14 accused in the case filed by the CBI, which is probing several irregularities and violation of rules in construction of the 31-storeyed building in upscale Colaba.
CBI has alleged in its FIR, which also names several retired army officers and bureaucrats, that Chavan as revenue minister okayed inclusion of civilians in the society meant for defence personnel and, as quid pro quo, his relatives got flats in the south Mumbai high-rise.
Chavan was revenue minister during Vilasrao Deshmukh's first stint as chief minister between 1999 and 2003.
In his deposition before the commission on June 27, Deshmukh had sought to absolve himself of culpability in the scam and passed the buck to Chavan, saying the "whole" matter was referred to the revenue department for clearance after which the land was allotted.
Deshmukh, currently Union minister of science and technology, also said the decision to include civilians as members of the society, which was said to be exclusively meant for members of the defence services and war widows, was taken by Chavan.
Before Deshmukh, another former chief minister Sushilkumar Shinde, had appeared before the judicial panel on Monday.
Shinde, Union power minister, who is also under the scanner in the scam, had in his deposition sought to wash his hands off the blame saying the decision on allotting government land and granting additional FSI to the society was taken during Deshmukh's tenure as chief minister.
Edited By Cen Fox Post Team
10 Karnataka ministers loyal to Yeddyurappa resign
While eight ministers-Jagadish Shettar, C M Udasi, Murugesh R Nirani, Basavaraj Bommai, Umesh V Katti, M P Renukacharya, V Somanna and Revunaik Belamagi-handed their resignation letters to Gowda, Shobha Karandlaje and Narasimha Naik (Raju Gouda) were not present.
Within no time, party leaders in Delhi directed the CM not to accept the resignations.
TOI in its June 26 edition had reported that ministers loyal to BSY would resign if the BJP leaders didn't replace Gowda.
After threats on four occasions to resign if Gowda wasn't replaced, the dissident camp gave a handwritten three-line statement (demanding the CM to convene a legislature party meeting) to Gowda at Anugraha, his official residence. They were in such a hurry to be done with it that the eight ministers waiting in Cauvery, official residence of Shettar, which adjoins Anugraha, didn't even give Gowda time to freshen up after returning from Kodagu district. Sending back their official cars, the ministers used private vehicles to reach the CM's residence.
"Though 10 of us have resigned, the CM didn't get the resignations of Shobha and Naik as they were not present. Soon they will meet him and give him the copies. We couldn't tolerate the humiliation anymore as we have been urging the CM to convene legislature party meeting. There is no question of taking back the resignation," dissident leaders Udasi and Bommai said. They hoped they'd get some relief from BJP leaders and maintained it was not blackmail.
The rebel ministers and some legislators met at Shettar's residence on Friday morning and decided to resign. They later met BSY, who has been sulking after being forced to quit last year in the wake of the Lokayukta report on illegal mining indicting him and asked by the party to come clean in the corruption cases. Their decision was endorsed by him. By 3pm, they came back to Shettar's residence and waited for over three hours for Gowda to return.
Dharmendra Pradhan, party in-charge of Karnataka affairs, said in Delhi that there was no question of replacing Gowda as he was "doing a good job". Pradhan was scheduled to be in bangalore on Friday to elicit opinion from legislators on change in guard. As Gowda and state BJP president K S Eshwarappa were not officially informed by Pradhan about his arrival, both along with their loyal ministers exerted pressure on the party leadership and stalled his arrival. They had planned to lead a delegation to Delhi amid speculation of leadership change, but were asked by the leaders to cancel their proposed visit to the capital.
The rebels' move comes a day after the BJP leadership sought to buy more time to resolve the Karnataka crisis. Some ministers loyal to the CM had threatened to resign if Gowda was replaced.
Edited By Cen Fox Post Team
Ten injured in Andhra agrochemical plant fire
Fire broke out at Nagarjuna Agrichem Limited following an explosion in the fifth block of the plant, which produces agrochemicals. The plant is located Chilkapalem in Srikakulam district of north coastal Andhra, about 700 km from here.
The injured were shifted to Rajiv Gandhi Institute of Medical sciences (RIMS) at Srikakulam. About 200 employees were reportedly working at the plant at the time of the incident. The workers ran in panic after the chemical reactor exploded.
Dense black smoke engulfed the entire area including nearby villages and the national highway. Fire tenders rushed to the scene. The district administration has launched rescue and relief operations.
Edited By Cen Fox Post Team
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