(News collection for Management studies)

Volume: 02           Issue: 115          8-December, 2009 – Tuesday  Pages: 9

Focus :  Green Revolution. ( Prepared by. Vuppula Vasanthi,  08D61E0058. )

INTRODUCTION TO GREEN REVOLUTION.

The Green Revolution spanning the period from 1967-68 to 1977-78 changed India from a starving nation to one of the world's leading Agricultural Nation.

NEED FOR THE GREEN REVOLUTION.

The world's worst recorded food disaster happened in 1943 in British-ruled India. Known as the Bengal Famine, an estimated four million people died of hunger that year alone in eastern India (that included today's Bangladesh). The initial theory put forward to 'explain' that catastrophe was that there as an acute shortfall in food production in the area. However, Indian economist Amartya Sen (recipient of the Nobel Prize for Economics, 1998) has established that while food shortage was a contributor to the problem, a more potent factor was the result of hysteria related to World War II which made food supply a low priority for the British rulers. The hysteria was further exploited by Indian traders who hoarded food in order to sell at higher prices.

Nevertheless, when the British left India four years later in 1947, India continued to be haunted by memories of the Bengal Famine. It was therefore natural that food security was a paramount item on free India's agenda. This awareness led, on one hand, to the Green Revolution in  India and, on the other, legislative measures to ensure that businessmen would never again be able to hoard food for reasons of profit.

However, the term "Green Revolution" is applied to the period from 1967 to 1978. Between 1947 and 1967, efforts at achieving food self-sufficiency were not entirely successful. Efforts until 1967 largely concentrated on expanding the farming areas. But starvation deaths were still being reported in the newspapers. In a perfect case of Malthusian economics, population was growing at a much faster rate than food production. This called for drastic action to increase yield. The action came in the form of the Green Revolution.

The term "Green Revolution" is a general one that is applied to successful agricultural experiments in many Third World countries. It is NOT specific to India. But it was most successful in India.

 The Basic Elements of Green Revolution in India.

There were three basic elements in the method of the Green Revolution:

-           Continued expansion of farming areas;

-           Double-cropping existing farmland;

-           Using seeds with improved genetics.

Continued expansion of farming areas

As mentioned above, the area of land under cultivation was being increased right from 1947. But this was not enough in meeting with rising demand. Other methods were required. Yet, the expansion of cultivable land also had to continue. So, the Green Revolution continued with this quantitative expansion of farmlands. However, this is NOT the most striking feature of the Revolution.

Double-cropping existing farmland

Double-cropping was a primary feature of the Green Revolution. Instead of one crop season per year, the decision was made to have two crop seasons per year. The one-season-per-year practice was based on the fact that there is only natural monsoon per year. This was correct. So, there had to be two "monsoons" per year. One would be the natural monsoon and the other an artificial 'monsoon.'

The artificial monsoon came in the form of huge irrigation facilities. Dams were built to arrest large volumes of natural monsoon water which were earlier being wasted. Simple irrigation techniques were also adopted.

Using seeds with superior genetics

This was the scientific aspect of the Green Revolution. The Indian Council for Agricultural Research (which was established by the British in 1929 but was not known to have done any significant research) was re-organized in 1965 and then again in 1973. It developed new strains of high yield value (HYV) seeds, mainly wheat and rice but also millet and corn. The most noteworthy HYV seed was the K68 variety for wheat. The credit for developing this strain goes to Dr. M.P. Singh who is also regarded as the hero of India's Green revolution.

Statistical Results of the Green Revolution

1.         The Green Revolution resulted in a record grain output of 131 million tons in 1978-79. This established India as one of the world's biggest agricultural producers. No other country in the world which attempted the Green Revolution recorded such level of success. India also became an exporter of food grains around that time.

   

2.         Yield per unit of farmland improved by more than 30 per cent between 1947 (when India gained political independence) and 1979 when the Green Revolution was considered to have delivered its goods.

   

3.         The crop area under HYV varieties grew from seven per cent to 22 per cent of the total cultivated area during the 10 years of the Green Revolution. More than 70 per cent of the wheat crop area, 35 per cent of the rice crop area and 20 per cent of the millet and corn crop area, used the HYV seeds.

Economic results of the Green Revolution

1.         Crop areas under high-yield varieties needed more water, more fertilizer, more pesticides, fungicides and certain other chemicals. This spurred the growth of the local manufacturing sector. Such industrial growth created new jobs and contributed to the country's GDP.

2.         The increase in irrigation created need for new dams to harness monsoon water. The water stored was used to create hydro-electric power. This in turn boosted industrial growth, created jobs and improved the quality of life of the people in villages.

3.         India paid back all loans it had taken from the World Bank and its affiliates for the purpose of the Green Revolution. This improved India's creditworthiness in the eyes of the lending agencies.    

4.         Some developed countries, especially Canada, which were facing a shortage in agricultural labour, were so impressed by the results of India's Green Revolution that they asked the Indian government to supply them with farmers experienced in the methods of the Green Revolution. Many farmers from Punjab and Haryana states in northern India were thus sent to Canada where they settled (That's why Canada today has many Punjabi-speaking citizens of Indian origin). These people remitted part of their incomes to their relatives in India. This not only helped the relatives but also added, albeit modestly, to India's foreign exchange earnings.

Sociological results of the Green Revolution

The Green Revolution created plenty of jobs not only for agricultural workers but also industrial workers by the creation of lateral facilities such as factories and hydro-electric power stations as explained above.

Political results of the Green Revolution

1.         India transformed itself from a starving nation to an exporter of food. This earned admiration for  India in the comity of nations, especially in the Third World.

2.         The Green Revolution was one factor that made Mrs. Indira Gandhi (1917-84) and her party, the Indian National Congress, a very powerful political force in India (it would however be wrong to say that it was the only reason).

Limitations of the Green Revolution

1.         Even today, India's agricultural output sometimes falls short of demand. The Green Revolution, howsoever impressive, has thus NOT succeeded in making India totally and permanently self-sufficient in food. In 1979 and 1987, India faced severe drought conditions due to poor monsoon; this raised questions about the whether the Green Revolution was really a long-term achievement. In 1998, India had to import onions. Last year, India imported sugar. 

However, in today's globalised economic scenario, 100 per cent self-sufficiency is not considered as vital a target as it was when the world political climate was more dangerous due to the Cold War.

2.         India has failed to extend the concept of high-yield value seeds to all crops or all regions. In terms of crops, it remain largely confined to food grains only, not to all kinds of agricultural produce. In regional terms, only Punjab and Haryana states showed the best results of the Green Revolution. The eastern plains of the River Ganges in West Bengal state also showed reasonably good results. But results were less impressive in other parts of India.

3.         Nothing like the Bengal Famine can happen in India again. But it is disturbing to note that even today, there are places like Kalahandi (in India's eastern state of Orissa) where famine-like conditions have been existing for many years and where some starvation deaths have also been reported. Of course, this is due to reasons other than availability of food in India, but the very fact that some people are still starving in India (whatever the reason may be), brings into question whether the Green Revolution has failed in its overall social objectives though it has been a resounding success in terms of agricultural production.

4.         The Green Revolution cannot therefore be considered to be a 100 percent success.

The New Manager – Interview -Outlook
How innovation can help rebuild post-crisis -V.K. Varadarajan

The debt woes of Dubai World might have thrown a spanner in the recovery efforts of global economies, following the financial crisis touched off by the collapse of Lehman Brothers last year. But this tech entrepreneur is optimistic that an emphasis on innovation and supported by its technical manpower, India can provide hope for building a stronger economy post-crisis.

“It will take a lot for the world to come out of the financial crisis and completely recover. With investment low and cost-cutting still the order of the day, innovation must become the building block of the new era,” says Sachin Duggal, 25, who co-founded SMX iNet Global Services (a software company focusing on Internet technologies) at the age of 15, and later started Nivio (which has developed a platform for cloud computing). He went on to do his graduation even while he was overseeing his companies' progress.

Blending his technological expertise with social consciousness, the President and CEO of Nivio has also worked for the United Nations and wrote the declaration of youth rights before he completed his first degree from Imperial College.

Duggal, who was awarded the Technology Pioneer Award 2009 for Nivio at the World Economic Forum earlier this year, was recently named Youth Leader of the National Computer and Electronics Committee by Assocham. He shares his views on the importance of innovation as a tool to reshape the world economy post-crisis.

On the role of innovation in rebuilding the economy.

Every crisis, economic or otherwise, gives rise to new opportunities, new growth and new direction. Innovation, and more so technological innovations, will play a key role in creating a new, balanced world. We continue to view innovation as a fancy tie when it is in fact the shirt and jacket we wear. Innovation is not about a wheel that runs fast nor is it about creating business models. It is about solving a problem. This is why successful entrepreneurs are not the ones who build business to earn money, but who aim to solve a problem; money comes gradually. Corporate social responsibility should be in our DNA not a badge on our uniform. This is innovation. It is about a paradigm shift on how we do things.

Is India prepared for a transition to the technology era with innovation as the key, from the service-centric economic environment?

In fact, India has the world's best middle management but lacks talented professionals with leadership skills due to several reasons. With little incentive to work in the country, a large number of bright minds have moved to Europe, the US, and West Asia. What is more, our professionals are followers — they have not been trained to take the lead in creative projects but have the exceptional ability to improve existing projects. That is why we have shown remarkable progress in outsourcing IT technology, for instance, as opposed to developing IT technology in-house.

Another issue is the lack of a gender-balanced working environment. Nivio itself is working on raising the ratio of women on its staff. To accelerate the innovation process, Government support is essential to involve more women in Information Technology and other industries, providing a convenient fiscal and tax policy, encouraging women's education and entrepreneurial attempts.

But innovation lacks both funding and enabling support from the Government. What is your take?

India requires venture capital funds that have the domain knowledge to provide management support to new enterprises, especially the technology start-ups. While some would say the Indian Government should also focus on the next-generation sectors, for example, biotechnology, in order to create an innovation hub, besides industry-academia partnership, research and development investments and funding, we should also focus on capital infrastructure such as telecom, roads and better schools.

The absence of angel and investor funding in India is a constraint. The mindset of Indian venture capital is typically to invest in lower risk or existing revenue-based businesses.

Take our example – we raised capital from outside India and see what we achieved – a computing solution for Rs 3,000.

Creation of new tax incentives, particularly for risk-taking small companies and start-ups, would offset costs for the private sector, reducing their R&D expenditure.

Does India have the talent to achieve good innovation standards in the country? How will innovation act as the key to building the world post-crisis?

While I would stress on leveraging human capital by focusing on technology and, importantly, the potential to convert knowledge to national wealth, I see a good opportunity in the Government's recent initiative, through a platform created by CII and the Ministry of Science and Technology, which stresses on strategies such as industry-academia partnership. If executed well, it will help take our economy to the next level.

We should emulate the example of top universities such as Stanford and MIT in directing students towards market-driven research rather than a basic research. This could be achieved by encouraging bodies such as the Fraunhofer Society and the Indian Institute of Science.

The move mentioned by Mr Sam Pitroda, Advisor to the Prime Minister on Public Information Infrastructure and Innovations, on building 14 universities based on the key theme of innovation is a good idea.

Nivio is itself working on an innovation - a platform which has the potential to increase computer penetration while promoting computing freedom, liberating users from the frustration of data loss, obsolescence, viruses and accessibility. Nivio provides each of its users with a personal, secure, virtual Windows Desktop, running in the Cloud, accessible through Internet connected devices and computers.

DAY FOCUS:  Focused by J.Deepthi, 1-Sem MBA (09D61E0011)

Govt seeks to raise public spending by Rs 25,727 cr

The Government on Tuesday came out with the first batch of supplementary demands for grants in the Lok Sabha seeking to raise public expenditure by an additional Rs 25,725 crore during the current fiscal.

The important expenditure proposal include Rs 800-crore equity infusion into the ailing National Aviation Company of India Ltd (NACIL), the state owned company which operates Air India, according to the supplementary demands tabled by the Finance Minister, Mr Pranab Mukherjee, in the House.

Besides providing funds to NACIL, the Government has earmarked additional money towards Commonwealth Games, National Calamity Contingency Fund, metro projects and food and fertiliser subsidies.

Although the Government is seeking Parliament’s nod to raise public expenditure by Rs 30,943 crore during 2009-10, the net impact would be Rs 25,725 crore as Rs 5,217 crore would be met through savings.

The Government comes out with several batches of supplementary demands for grants during the course of the financial year to modify expenditure proposals made in the Budget and also seek Parliament’s approval for incurring additional expenses not anticipated at the time of formulation of the Budget. For the current fiscal, the Government in its Budget in July had pegged the total expenditure at Rs 10.20 lakh crore, which will now go up marginally by Rs 25,725 crore.

‘2010 hiring levels will be like pre-recession period’

India has once again emerged as the most optimistic nation in terms of hiring plans for the next three months and the recruitment pace is expected to return to the pre-recession level in the New Year, according to global staffing services comp any Manpower.

“There is no more ‘cautious optimism’ among employers anymore; it has given way to ‘definite optimism’. Besides, the pace of hiring will be back to the 2007 level in the next year,” the Manpower India Managing Director, Mr Naresh Malhan, said.

According to the Manpower Employment Outlook Survey, India has a net employment outlook — a measure of recruiting plans — of 39 per cent for the first quarter of 2010, the highest among 35 countries surveyed.

India has been reporting the strongest hiring plans globally since the third quarter of 2008.

The country’s outlook has improved by 11 percentage points on a quarter-on-quarter basis and by 18 per cent year-on-year.

A sectoral analysis shows that hiring outlook has risen across all sectors. Job seekers in the services, public administration, education, mining and construction, finance, insurance, real estate, and the wholesale and retail trade sectors, could look forward to the most favorable hiring environment in early 2010, the survey said.

“The good news is that employers’ hiring expectations across all industry sectors are improving in the first quarter of 2010, and job seekers in key industry sectors can look forward to the most favorable hiring environment in over a year,” Mr Malhan sa id. 

Info-Tech -Symantec, Wipro enter pact for data security

Symantec Corporation and Wipro Ltd on Tuesday inked a new partnership under which Wipro Infotech will offer data loss prevention and backup and recovery infrastructure consultancy services based on Symantech Technology.

Announcing the pact here, Mr Ajay Verma, Director, Channels and Alliances, Symantec India, told reporters “Information is the most valuable asset of any organisation and ensuring it does not fall into wrong hands is critical to its reputation and busines s. The partnership will offer customers a better insight into data risk’’.

Symantec’s content-aware data loss prevention solution spans data at the endpoint, in storage and network. When offered through Wipro’s technology practice, it will provide customers the confidence that their information is secure in today’s connected wo rld, he said.

Wipro’s cross-platform expertise along with Symantec Veritas Backup Reporter’s capability to identify and quantify exposures before they impact backup operations, will help customers achieve greater efficiency, security and cost reduction, Mr Vikas Sriva stava, Vice-President and Business Head, Infrastructure Technology Solutions Division, Wipro Infotech, said. 

Logistics -Disputes settlement blocks Rs 8,508-cr road projects

About a third of the highway projects involving a sum of Rs 8,508 crore are stuck in arbitration despite the Government’s best efforts to speed up road development in the country. According to official data, as many as 123 highway projects out of a total of 406 awarded so far by the National Highways Authority of India since 2000 are caught in the arbitration tangle.

The disputes have arisen due to reasons like input cost escalation, royalty charges on minerals, entry tax and removal of public utilities on acquired land for road construction. “Very few cases are stuck over problems relating to land acquisition. They are mostly over removing utilities and other issues which are to be taken care of by the private developers themselves,” a senior government official said.

Among the major companies engaged in arbitration is Larsen and Toubro which has five projects under dispute settlement involving an amount of Rs 576.45 crore. Similarly, Hindustan Construction Company has three projects worth Rs 73.54 crore under arbitration. Nagarjuna Construction has two projects undergoing dispute settlement involving Rs 66.39 crore and Gammon India has three involving Rs 61.04 crore.

The official said it is convenient for both field officers as well as private parties to blame disputes on land issues. If a private party has problems over acquiring a few km of land somewhere, at least they should develop road on whatever land they hav e and not delay it.

“Similarly, even the engineers on field do not at times complete their home work and encounter problems after a projects starts. Then it is obviously easy blaming disputes on land acquisitions,” the official said.

Out of the 123 projects under arbitration, 103 cases are being settled at the Dispute Review Board formed by the NHAI, while the rest are under various courts. As many as 119 projects under dispute are on Engineering-Procurement-Construction (EPC) basis, while the rest are on build-operate-transfer (BOT) annuity basis.

In an EPC contract, the Government pays the entire cost of developing a project to the private contractor upfront, while in the BOT-Annuity arrangement, the Government gives the investment for construction and maintenance of highways in six monthly insta lments. 

MANAGEMENT TIPS: MEETING DEADLINES

No one will be happy if your team has to rush around at the last minute to complete a project. Follow these tips to make deadlines less stressful for everyone.

Only promise what you can realistically deliver. Don't create deadlines that you know you can't meet. By only promising what you know you can do, you'll be able to finish on time.

Set clear goals. Once you know what you need to accomplish, it helps to know how and when you want to do it. Put your goals down on paper and make sure everyone on your team gets a copy.

Organize a team. Many of your employees will have unique strengths and training that can make them great assets to certain projects. Pick a team that has the right skills to carry out the job.

Delegate tasks. Spread work among your employees in a way that doesn't leave anyone overburdened while also allowing the project work smoothly.

Create milestones. Creating milestones for you and your team will help you keep track of your progress and also give you a sense of accomplishment as you reach each milestone.

Keep communication open. Keeping everyone in touch with the status of the project is key to making sure it's completed on time.

Do it right the first time. Planning ahead will help prevent you from delivering a substandard product. Having to redo something for a client costs money, and, more than likely, future business opportunities.

Stay organized. Staying organized will help keep you from wasting time chasing down important documents and information.

Make sure expectations are clear. Be sure that each member of your team knows what their specific responsibilities are. This will save time and prevent tasks from being overlooked.

Create a plan. Compile your goals and milestones into a comprehensive plan for attacking any project you are given. This way, you can make sure you're staying on schedule and that all of your employees will be clear about how and when things should be done.

Focus – Day Tip Education must implant elevating ideals, and kindle the lamp of wisdom.

(News collection for Management studies)

Volume: 02           Issue: 114          7-December, 2009 – Monday                  Pages: 9

Focus :  Think on it

A Red Indian Chief Speaks….

We are a part of the earth and it is a part of us.

The stillness of the mountains descending upon their green lands children cheerfully playing with their wild forest friends. Men and women living in unison with mother earth and nature. This was the life of the original inhabitants of America – The Red Indians, before it was invaded by Columbus, the Spaniards, The British and many others. The Red Indians, though tribals, were enlightened   people whose life was closely knit with nature.
 

When Theodore Roosevelt became the president of the United States, he sent a letter to the Red Indian Chief in the forest, asking him to vacate the land and move into a secluded territory that would be offered to them by America. Their land would then be converted into one f the modern cities.  

No American’s life was left untouched by the response letter of the pained Red Indian Chief. This widely read letter had a great impact on all Americans, who for the first time recognized the connectivity of all existence.

The letter……..

How can you buy or sell the sky, or the warmth of the land? The idea is a strange to us. If we do not own the freshness of the air and the sparkle of the water, how can you buy them? Every part of this earth is sacred to my people.

Every shining pine needle, every sandy shore, every mist in the dark woods, every clear rain and humming insect is holy in the memory and experience of my people. The sap, which courses through the trees, carries the memories of the Red man.

 The white man is dead. They forget the country of their birth when they go to walk among the stars. Our dead never forget this beautiful earth, for it is the mother of the Red man.

We are a part of the earth and it is a part of us.

The perfumed flowers are our sisters; the deer, the horse, the great eagle these are our brothers. The rocky crests, the juices in the meadows, the body heat of the pony and Man all belong to the same family.

So, when the great chief in Washington sends word that he wishes to buy our land, he asks much of us. The great chief sends word, he will reserve us a place so that we can live comfortably to ourselves.

He will be our father and we will be his children. So, we will consider your offer to buy our land. But it will not be easy, for this land is sacred to us.

The shining water that moves in the streams and the rivers in not just water, but the blood of our ancestors.  If we sell you land, you must remember that it is sacred and each ghostly reflection in the clear water of the lakes tells of events and memories in the lives of my people. The water’s murmur is the voice of my father’s father.

The rivers are our brothers, they quench our thirst. The rivers carry our canoes and feed our children.

If we sell you our land you must remember and teach your children, that the rivers are our brothers and yours, and you must henceforth give the rivers the kindness you would give any brother.

We know that the White man does not understand our ways. One portion of land is same to him as the next, for he is a stranger who comes in the night and takes from the land whatever he needs.

The earth is not his brother, but his enemy, and when he has conquered it he moves on.

He leaves his father’s grave and he does not care. He kidnaps the earth from its children and he does not care. His father’s grave and his children’s birthright are forgotten. He treats his mother, the earth, and his brother, the sky, as things to be bought, plundered, sold like the sheep or bright beads.

His appetite will devour the earth and leave behind only a desert.

I do not know. Our ways are different from your ways.

The sight of your cities pains the eyes of the Red Man. But, perhaps, it is because the Red Man is a savage and does not understand. There is no quiet place in the White man’s cities. No place to hear the unfurling of leaves in spring, or the rustle of an insect’s wings.

But, perhaps, it is because I am a savage and do not understand.

The clatter only seems to insult the ears. And what is there to life if a man cannot hear the lonely cry of the whippoorwill or the arguments of the frog around a pond at night?

I am a red man and do not understand.

The Indian prefers the soft wound of the wind darling over the face of a pond, and the smell of wind itself, cleaned by a midday rain, pr scented with the pinon pine.

The air is precious to the red man, for all things share the same breath – the beast, the tree, the man; they all share the same breath.

The white man does not seem to notice the air he breathes. Like a man dying for many days, he is numb to the stench.

But, if we sell you our land, you, must remember that the air is precious to us, that the air shares its spirit with all the life it supports. The wind that gave our grandfather his first breath also received his last sigh.

And if we sell you our land, you must keep it apart and sacred, as a place where even the white man can go to taste the wind that is sweetened by meadow’s flowers.

So we will consider your offer to buy our land. If we decide to accept, I will make one condition: the white man must treat the beasts of the land as his brothers.

I am a savage and do not understand of any other way.

I have seen a thousand rolling buffaloes on the prairie, left by the white man, who shot them from a passing train.

I am a savage and I do not understand how the smoking iron horse can b e more important than the buffalo we kill only to stay alive.

What is man without the beasts? If all the beasts were gone, man would die from a great loneliness of spirit.

For whatever happens to the beasts, soon happen to man ….. All things are connected.

You must teach your children that the ground beneath their feet is the ash of your grandfathers. So that, they will respect the land, tell your children that the earth is rich with the lives of our kin.

Teach your children what we have taught our children that the earth is our mother.

Whatever befalls the earth befalls the sons of the earth. If men spit upon the ground, they spit upon themselves. This, we know. The earth does not belong to man, man belongs to the earth. This we know.

All things are connected like the blood which unites one family. All things are connected. Whatever befalls the earth befalls the sons of the earth. Man did not weave the web of life; he is merely a strand in it. Whatever he does to the web, he does to himself.

Even the white man, whose God walks and talks to him as a friend to friend cannot be exempt from the common destiny.

We may be brothers after all. We shall see.

One thing we know, which the white man may discover one day – our God is the same God.

You may think now that you own HIM as you wish to own your land; but you cannot. He is the God of man, and His compassion is equal for the red man and the white man. The earth is precious to HIM and to harm the earth is to heap contempt on its creator.

The whites too shall pass; perhaps sooner than other tribes. Contaminate your bed, and you will one night suffocate in your own waste.

But, in perishing, you will shine brightly, fired by the strength of the God who brought you to this land, and for some special purpose, gave you dominion over this land and over the red man.

That destiny is a mystery to us, for we do not understand, when the buffalo are all slaughtered, the wild horses are tames, the secret corners of the forest heavy with the scent of many men, and the view of the ripe hills blotted by talking wires.

Where is the thicket? Gone.

Where is the eagle? Gone.

The end of living and the beginning of survival…

Don’t think you cannot. Think you can ( contributed by C.Prakash Reddy, 09D61E0033 )

Dear Friend,

You can start to maximize your mind power simply by understanding how your mind works and how you store and access information. In fact, you are gifted with the ability to develop your train in order to become able to do more, have more and be more.

In other words, you must know how your mind works and how it accesses information effortlessly; how to programme your mind. You have to remain conscious of the fact that your mind is like an air traffic controller and takes in any information and directs it according to its current knowledge, without your being aware, new information is stored the moment it comes in each time you access it, the more hard wined it becomes.

One thing should never be lost tack of Mind and body constantly interact.  It is your mind which regulates even your breathing pattern which you are always unmindful of. It is your mind which actually ensures that your heart does not skip a beat. You can have an idea of the immense power of mind whenever you perform a habitual but complex task without any conscious effort on your part. For example, when you multiply two figures. You draw upon your memory of multiplication tables. It is done easily and effortlessly, because you had to repeat them as a child for countless times to get them by heart. In other words, keep doing a thing till you get mastery over it. You mind has infinite potentiality. It is simply your will to do a task which matters.

Think you can , you have powers, you never dreams of ,

you can do things, you never thought, you could do

There are no limitations in what you can do.

Except the limitations in your own mind.

As to what you cannot do. Don’t think you cannot. Think you can.

It is the power of mind that has done wonders by winning the most coveted prize in the world., the Nobel peace prize for the US President, Mr. Barack Obama. The committee attached, special importance to obama’s vision and work for a world without nuclear weapons and said he had created a new climate in international politics. Head of the Norwagian Nobel committee Thorbjorn jagland said, Mr. Obama was honors for his extraordinary   efforts to strengthen international diplomacy and co-operation between peoples and added that it was a unanimous decision. The committee said it was seeking to encourage Mr. Obama’s ideals rather than recognize concrete results. The Jury in fact, hailed Mr. Obamas’s extraordinary efforts in international diplomacy and to hasten nuclear disarmament.

So, never thin that anything is impossible. With a positive mind you can readily access the information you have stoned. Training and exercise are tools to programme your mind in a way that you can use it when it is needed.

DAY FOCUS:  Focused by J.Deepthi, 1-Sem MBA (09D61E0011)

Mutual Funds - Markets - Insight

International funds lag domestic equity funds - Only 7 out of 22 funds improve average returns. - Global blues -The rupee appreciating over 7% against the dollar affected the returns on all international funds -Global funds that invested in telecom, consumer durables, semiconductors, and banks lost out - International funds that focused on gold have performed well

If you wanted to make the best of the recent stock market rally, equity funds investing in domestic stocks have been a better bet than funds that invest overseas.

In the market fall last year, overseas funds contained losses better than domestic equity funds.

However, the tables have turned this year with a little over a third (seven out of 22) of the international funds managing to better the average returns of diversified equity funds.

If the more stringent S&P CNX 500 is taken as a benchmark, less than a fifth of international funds managed this act.

Domestic equity funds have returned 90.2 per cent over one year.

Rupee factor

The rupee appreciating over seven per cent against the dollar in the last one year affected the returns on all international funds relative to their India-focused peers.

Funds focused on other emerging markets such as China and other Asian countries or those that invested in a diversified basket of global stocks turned out to be the slow movers among the international funds.

These funds lost out as they invested in sectors such as telecom, consumer durables, semiconductors, and banks, which did not rally as much as ‘hot' themes such as commodities or natural resources.

Others betting on themes such as real-estate or investing in US bonds and treasuries also lost out. Funds such as Sundaram BNP Paribas Global Advantage and ING OptiMix Global Commodities that invest in mutual fund units of other global fund-houses such as Credit Suisse, First State and Martin Currie also underperformed.

Themes that clicked

The out-performers among international funds were the ones which either had a mixed mandate (with some allocation to India) or ones betting on gold or natural resources. Gold prices, which have rallied over 56 per cent over the last one year, have benefited funds investing in this commodity and the companies involved in mining it.

AIG World Gold and DSP BR World Gold, which gained 122.5 per cent and 96.7 per cent respectively for one year, in addition to investing in gold, also invest directly in stocks of mining companies such as Goldcorp, Newcrest Mining, Barrick Gold Corp benefiting from the rally in gold and the stocks.

Overseas funds managed by well-known global houses also did well with Templeton India Equity Income and Fidelity International Opportunities both delivering 120.1 per cent and 92.6 per cent respectively.

These funds have invested about 25-30 per cent of their portfolio in overseas equities and the rest in domestic markets. Apart from the Indian exposure, overseas exposure to mining stocks such as BHP Billiton and Rio Tinto as well as some gold mining stocks also played a key role.

ING Latin America Equity benefited from investing in stocks in countries such as Brazil, which benefited from both rally in oil prices (around 30 per cent in the last one year), and other commodities. Mirae Asset Global Commodities Stock Fund has also benefited mainly by playing the same themes.

Airlines - Logistics - Mergers & Acquisitions

GVK buys L&T's 17% stake in Bangalore airport co for Rs 686 cr –
Now, with 29% stake, gets a seat on the board.

GVK Power and Infrastructure Ltd has acquired 17 per cent stake in Bengaluru International Airport Ltd (BIAL) from L&T Infrastructure Development Projects Ltd for Rs 686 crore.

GVK said on Sunday that it paid Rs 105 a share for the L&T stake. With this, GVK's stake in BIAL has gone up to 29 per cent. The company had earlier acquired 12 per cent stake from Zurich Airport for Rs 484 crore through its subsidiary GVK Airport Developers.

The L&T stake was acquired through the GVK subsidiary, Mumbai Airport Developers, said a spokesperson for the company.

“With the 29 per cent stake, we get a seat on the board. Going forward, we may further increase our stake. But, there is no immediate plan,” said thespokesperson.

Currently, Siemens holds 40 per cent stake in BIAL, the Airport Authority of India and KSIIDC, the financing arm of the Karnataka Government for infrastructure projects, hold 13 per cent each and Zurich Airport five per cent.

“The acquisition of additional stake in BIAL is in line with our objective of expanding GVK's presence in the airports business,” Dr G.V. Krishna Reddy, Chairman of GVKPIL, said in a statement here.

Recently, the L&T Chairman, Mr A.M. Naik, had reportedly stated that the company was planning to sell the stake in the Bangalore airport as it did not want to have a minority holding.

Besides being an equity holder, L&T had been the EPC contractor for the airport project.

GVK, the Hyderabad-based infrastructure major, has already invested over Rs 5,000 crore in various projects. The company holds 37 per cent stake in Mumbai International Airport (MIAL) as well. Dr Reddy had earlier said that the company was also in talks with South African company Bidvest Group to acquire its stake in MIAL. Bidvest has 27 per cent stake.

The Bangalore airport, opened in May 2008, is the second major airport built with private participation, the first one being the Kochi International airport.

Climate & Weather -Industry & Economy - Environment
A global initiative towards clean Earth - The United Nations Climate Change Conference: Copenhagen, December 07-18, 2009.

Climate change refers to changes in the concentration of the greenhouse gases (water vapour, carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide, and chlorofluorocarbons), which trap infrared radiation from the Earth's surface, heating it, much like a normal greenhouse. This is called the greenhouse effect. This effect is a natural phenomenon, which helps maintain a stable temperature and climate on the Earth, essential for life. However, this balance is precarious. An increase in infrared radiation captured by the atmosphere has caused changes in the air temperature, precipitation patterns, sea-level rise, and melting of glaciers.

How is it caused?

A change in the global climate is caused by the greenhouse effect. The concentration of these gases is increasing, mainly due to human activities, such as the combustion of fossil fuels (which release carbon dioxide) and deforestation (because forests remove carbon from the atmosphere). The atmospheric concentration of carbon-dioxide, the main greenhouse gas, has increased by 30 per cent since pre-industrial times. There are natural forces at work that are heating the Earth's surface, as well. Solar radiation, deviations in the Earth's orbit and volcanic activity are some natural processes that can raise the Earth's temperature.

What are some of the possible consequences?

Projections of the effect of global warming and the direction climate change will take are derived from the global climate model or the general circulation model (GCM) experiments. Climatologists of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) review the results of these experiments for global and regional assessments.

One study estimated that the global mean surface temperature will rise by 1.5°C to 3.5°C by 2100. This is a significant increase, and would have a major impact on the climate of almost all the regions on Earth. There is likely to be a major change in rainfall patterns in the tropics. A study found that climate change can affect the frequency and intensity of weather events, such as storms and floods, around the world. The melting of the mountain and polar ice caps will lead to the raising of global sea levels. The global mean sea level is anticipated to rise by 15 cm to 95 cm by 2100. This, in turn, will increase vulnerability to coastal flooding and storm surges. The faster the climate change, the greater will be the risk of damage to the environment. Climatic zones (and thus ecosystems and agricultural zones) could shift toward the poles by 150 to 550 kilometres by 2100. These are but some of the projections of the effect of climate change on the world in the next century.

What is the IPCC?

The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) is a scientific inter-governmental body that is meant to evaluate the risk of climate change caused by human activity. The panel was established in 1988 by the two United Nations organisations, the World Meteorological Organisation (WMO) and the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP). The IPCC does not carry out its own research, nor does it do the work of monitoring climate or related phenomena itself. It, however, published special reports on climate change, its effects, what can be done about it, and the like. The IPCC bases its assessment mainly on peer reviewed and published scientific literature.

What is the Kyoto Protocol? What is expected at Copenhagen?

The Kyoto Protocol is a code to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC or FCCC), aimed at combating global warming. It was adopted on December 11, 1997 in Kyoto, Japan, and put into force on February 16, 2005. As of November 2009, 187 states have signed and ratified the protocol. The most notable non-member of the protocol is the US, which was responsible for 36.1 per cent of the 1990 emission levels.

Under the Protocol, 37 industrialised countries commit themselves to a reduction of four greenhouse gases (carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide, sulphur hexafluoride) and two groups of gases (hydrofluorocarbons and perfluorocarbons) produced by them, and all member countries give general commitments. Annex I countries agreed to reduce their collective greenhouse gas emissions by 5.2 per cent from the 1990 level. The United Nations Climate Change Conference will take place at the Bella Center in Copenhagen, Denmark, between December 7 and December 18, 2009.

What is carbon sequestration?

Carbon sequestration is a technique used to combat global warming by storing carbon dioxide and other forms of carbon on a long term basis. This method has been proposed to mitigate the effect of greenhouse gases released with the burning of fossil fuels.

What is carbon emission trading?

This is a form of emissions trading specifically and currently makes up the bulk of emissions trading. It is one of the ways countries can meet their obligations under the Kyoto Protocol to reduce carbon emissions and thereby mitigate global warming.

Personal carbon trading is a proposed emission trading scheme under which emissions credits are allocated to adult citizens, within national carbon budgets. These citizens then surrender these credits when buying fuel or electricity. Individuals wanting or needing to emit at a level above that permitted by their initial allocation would be able to engage in emissions trading and purchase additional credits. The converse can be true for those who use less than they are allotted.

 

MANAGEMENT TIPS: GO ABOVE AND BEYOND

Managing people isn't just about getting the job done. To truly be a great leader, sometimes you need to go above and beyond what the job calls for.

Lead by example. You can talk until you're blue in the face, but the best way to get a point across is to be the model to emulate. Let employees follow your lead.

Get your hands dirty. Sometimes you need to show your employees that no one's above doing unattractive tasks.

Make a difference to your employees. Don't just be a generic manager — stand out as a leader and role model for your employees.

Gain your employees' trust and respect. You'll have a much easier time managing employees when they respect your rules and boundaries and trust your leadership.

Be empathetic to personal problems. Whether it should or not, what happens outside of work can have a big affect on the quality of work produced. Be sensitive if employees have personal issues that keep them from concentrating on work.

Be unique as a manager. Every position demands something different and you should be proud to be adept at your particular role rather than trying to emulate other managers.

Remember that ethics matter above all. Be honest and reliable in all of your business and personal relationships.

Be on the lookout for new ideas. You never know where your next great inspiration will come from.

Get to know your employees. Learn more than just their names. Get to know your employees' family backgrounds, likes and dislikes. Doing so will make you more personable.

Focus – Day Tip A good friend is one who always has good thoughts, speaks good words and performs good deeds.