FDI IN RETAIL WILL BE A NIGHTMARE FOR THE FARMERS

Posted on November 3, 2012 by sagarmedia

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               FDI IN RETAIL WILL BE A NIGHTMARE FOR THE FARMERS

NO MORE MARKETING OF FDI IN RETAIL IN THE NAME OF FARMERS WILL BE ALLOWED

“The FDI in Multi brand Retail will crush the Indian farmers as it has happened in the countries where global retailers are holding their business operations.  To sustain farmers in farming, the USA Government is trying hard and has been forced to provide One billion dollar subsidy per day to its farmers. Many other European Countries are also following the same path. In this tested backdrop how the global retailers will prove to be beneficial to the Indian farmers is a question which is yet to be answered by the Government”- said thirty leading farmer leaders of the Country at a Press Conference held today at New Delhi under the umbrella of Khudra FDI Virodhi Rashtriya Morcha (KFVRM).” The marketing of FDI in Retail in the name of Farmers by the Government will not be allowed by the farmers of the Country”-said the farmer leaders with firm voice.

Prominent leaders of the Indian farming community who attended the Press Conference include Bhartiya Kisan Union, Bhartiya Kisan Sangh, Kisan Mahapanchayat, Bhartiya Krishak Samaj, Rashtriya Kisan Majdoor Sangathan, Kheti Virasat Mission, Bhartiya Janta Kisan Morcha .

Shri Naresh Sirohi, General Secretary of Bhartiya Kisan Morcha and Convener of the Farmers Cell of the Khudra FDI Virodhi Rashtriya Morcha while addressing the Press Conference said that on the pretext of its claim that FDI in Retail will improve the conditions of Indian farmers as they would be getting better prices for their produce, cold storages will be developed, new technology will be available to farmers to improve their farming, the Government is trying to sell FDI in Retail in India. All these logics were given at the time of introducing Multi Commodity Exchange in November, 2003 and it is a fact that the MCX has ruined the farmers to the extent of committing suicide.

The Government is loudly claiming benefits of FDI to the farmers. On the other hand it is mysteriously silent on the Report submitted by Agriculture Commission Chairman Shri M.S. Swamynathan.

The leaders of the farming community while addressing the media questioned the statement of the Prime Minister that “Money does not grow on trees” then why in last three years a relief of Rs.13.5 lakh crores was given to Corporate sector in taxes and other benefits and on the other hand the government is aggressively advocating lifting of subsidies in Diesel and fertilizers which remains always crucial for the Indian farmers.

The leaders also said that we have hundreds of Agricultural Universities and Agricultural Research Institutes all over the Country which are extensively doing well which is often claimed by the Government. Are they not able to provide innovative technology to Indian farmers for which the global retailers are being invited to India? They alleged that, to justify its decision of allowing FDI in Retail, the Government has gone down to the extent that purely incorrect figures of 40% food wastage in India is being quoted by one and all in the Government despite of the fact that this inflated figure has been contradicted by a survey report of CIPHET, Ludhiana which reports that the food wastage in India is from 0.8% to maximum 18%. The said report has already been accepted by the Government in September, 2010. Even after knowing the correct figures, the propagation of incorrect figures of 40% by the Government organs established the fact that there is some kind of “hidden agenda” which is prompting the Government to even mislead the nation.

The statements of the Government on FDI in Retail speaks that it is not the global retailers but the Government which is keener to allow FDI in Retail at any cost. The leaders further said that logics advanced by the Government so far to justify its decision have not been supported by any authenticated study or research. On the contrary we have number of living examples, surveys,research,reports and global experience which are sufficient to understand that under any circumstances, the FDI in Retail is not going to benefit the farmers rather it will prove to be a nightmare to the Indian farmers. The Government has utterly failed in protecting the interests of the farmers. It has miserably failed to utilize the Nation’s  own resources which could have been used for the betterment of farming in India. It has also failed in evolving a logical and foolproof agricultural policy.

The Government administration has proven to be a case of “dismal performance” even in proper implementation of the handicapped policy of the Government. Now, it has become known to one and all that the Government is of the Corporates, for the Corporates and by the Corporates. Therefore, the format of corporate farming which is an inherent policy of the global retailers will crush and kill the Indian farming sector and the farmers will be cheated and exploited by the global retailers and in the end the farmers will be deprived of their land.

The leaders of the Indian farming community in a united and unanimous voice strongly condemned the decision of the Government to allow FDI in Retail. While demanding immediate withdrawal of the notification the leaders of farmers organizations have decided to join hands together to launch an aggressive agitation all over the Country which will includes protest rallies, Dharna and protest march on mass scale all over the Country.

Shri Sirohi  told that One hundred prominent farmer organisations from all over India extended their full  support to KFVRM’s stand on this issue. List of these organisations inclosed herewith.

Naresh Sirohi

Convenor, Farmers Cell

Khudra FDI Virodhi Rashtriya Morcha

Cell No.9899600011

General Motors India Launches Chevrolet Sail U-VA Premium Hatchback

November 3, 2012

General Motors India Launches Chevrolet Sail U-VA Premium Hatchback

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November 3, 2012

General Motors India Launches Chevrolet Sail U-VA Premium Hatchback
Brings vitality to fastest-growing market segment
New Delhi – General Motors India launched the all-new Chevrolet Sail U-VA today. The premium hatchback takes styling, performance and safety to a new level.
The Sail U-VA hatchback is built on a new global small passenger car platform created especially for fast-growing emerging markets, including India. Engineers at the GM Technical Center-India in Bangalore spent nearly two years adapting the platform for India to ensure that it would meet the requirements of the Indian market and Indian car buyers.
“The much-anticipated Chevrolet Sail U-VA hatchback is an important addition to GM’s small car portfolio in India,” said Lowell Paddock, President and Managing Director of GM India. “It brings a new sense of vitality to the largest, fastest-growing and most competitive segment in the domestic passenger car market.”
Bold, Stylish Exterior
The Sail U-VA hatchback’s exterior exudes Chevrolet’s sporty styling. The front view features Chevrolet’s signature design cues, including a dual-port grille adorned with a gold bowtie that gives it a bold look. The hood features muscular cutlines that provide a three-dimensional appearance. Hawk Wing style headlamps and Shooting Star style front fog lamps further enhance the vehicle’s elegance.
From the side, its unique waistline gives the Sail U-VA hatchback a dynamic stance. Its body proportions offer a perfect ratio of a long front and short rear, with a lower stance in front that moves upward to a higher stance in back. The streamlined shape of the vehicle adds a dynamic styling element while reducing drag, for lower fuel consumption. The panoramic view, big side windows and wide-opening rear door give it the feel of much larger car.
Seven exterior colours are available: Super Red, Switchblade Silver, Summit White, Caviar Black, Linen Beige, Sandrift Grey and Misty Lake.
Smart, Spacious Interior
The interior of the Sail U-VA hatchback is spacious and airy, with a Chevrolet Corvette-inspired dual-cockpit design. The Horizon View dashboard design provides an uninterrupted panoramic view. The Rising Sun style instrument cluster with a three-spoke V-style steering wheel adds to the interior’s sporty feel.
The “smart and spacious” design philosophy was adopted to ensure the ample space of a family car, allowing the Sail U-VA hatchback room for up to five people in comfort. Short front and rear overhangs along with a fuel tank situated in the middle of the car maximize interior space and provide among the best legroom in the segment.
The Sail U-VA hatchback’s high roof design offers ample headroom even for taller passengers. Smart and well-thought-out storage spaces provide room for passengers to stow their belongings.
The smartly designed Flex Flat folding rear seat increases the space in back to 1,134 liters. The hatchback door is low in height but broad in size, making it convenient to load and unload cargo.
The Fun-Wide entertainment system has Bluetooth functionality. It supports five phone pairings and audio streaming.
Advanced, Efficient Powertrains
At the heart of the Sail U-VA hatchback is GM India’s latest family of petrol and diesel Smartech engines, which present an excellent combination of high power, high fuel efficiency and low emissions.
1.3-Litre SDE Smartech Diesel Engine
The 1.3-litre SDE Smartech common rail diesel engine is a revolution in small diesel engine technology. It was developed by the GM Diesel Engine Technical Center in Turin, Italy, with the support of engineers in Pune and Bangalore to achieve a balance between cost, performance and fuel efficiency specifically for car buyers in the Indian market.
The state-of-the-art four-cylinder engine delivers power of 78 PS @ 4,000 rpm and torque of 205 Nm @ 1,750+/-50 rpm along with fuel economy of 22.1 km/l.
Among its cutting-edge technical features are a lightweight aluminum alloy DOHC cylinder head, lightweight pistons with graphite-coated skirts that have anti-friction properties, and low-tension piston rings that decrease weight and increase fuel economy. A short-skirt compact cast iron cylinder block with an aluminum bedplate enhances stiffness.
Torsional vibration dampers are provided for improved noise, vibration and harshness performance. In addition, the engine has a low-inertia valvetrain with hydraulic lash adjusters and a lifetime maintenance-free timing chain.
The engine’s advanced common rail fuel injection system, close-coupled diesel oxidation catalyst, and electrically operated, water-cooled external EGR with pneumatically controlled EGR bypass effectively limit emissions. A fixed-geometry turbocharger with a vacuum-operated waste gate for smooth and efficient operation delivers superior torque from very low engine rpms. An electronic accelerator control further enhances the engine’s smooth operation.



1.2-Litre Smartech Petrol Engine
The Sail U-VA hatchback’s 1.2-litre Smartech petrol engine was created by the GM Technical Center-India in cooperation with GM India’s Talegaon engine plant in Pune. The engine features aluminum cylinder heads, a deep skirt cylinder block and lightweight pistons with low-tension rings, which decrease weight and maximize fuel economy.
The engine also features a DOHC valvetrain with direct-acting valve actuation to further improve efficiency, as well as a long-runner plastic intake manifold for good low-end torque and a lightweight counterbalanced crankshaft that limits noise, vibration and harshness. The engine’s maintenance-free inverted tooth timing chain drive system has chain links that engage at a lower impact speed for quiet operation.
The engine delivers uncompromised power and durability in a small package. The application of an epoxy coating on the cylinder block and anti-corrosion coating on cam cover baffles along with the use of stainless steel core plugs and bay-to-bay ventilation ensure a long life.
Extensive testing and validation of the engines were carried out in India to guarantee top-of-the-line performance. Both engines are being built at GM’s world-class flexible engine plant in Pune.
Taut, Tight Ride and Handling
The driving character designed into the Sail U-VA hatchback’s steering, suspension and braking systems is that of a finely tuned Indian vehicle. It delivers taut, tight handling that enhances connectivity with the driver for confident control with no sacrifice in ride.
Gas-filled front and rear shock absorbers optimize damping to isolate road undulations on rough to coarse terrain. Significant attention was given to short as well as long commutes by reducing fatigue-prone road vibration. Macpherson struts in front and a semi-independent suspension in back along with a rigid chassis work together to maximize ride quality. Large tires enable the Sail U-VA hatchback to negotiate speed bumps and potholes with ease.
Advanced Safety, Extensive Testing
In line with Chevrolet’s global focus on safety, the Sail U-VA hatchback features safety cage body construction supported by the extensive use of high-strength steel.The three-point structure is capable of dispersing 80 percent of the force in a front impact. It also prevents intrusion into the cabin. The fuel tank is protected by steel beam-rolling ribs. Front and rear bumper skins are designed to absorb light-impact energy at low speeds of up to 4 km/h, helping minimize bodywork damage.
An engine immobilizer, central door locking, speed-sensitive automatic door locks and remote keyless entry further enhance active safety. In addition, three of the four variants come with air bags, while anti-lock brakes with electronic brakeforce distribution are available in the top two variants.
The Sail U-VA hatchback has been put through more than 6.3 million km of testing on different terrains and in extreme climate conditions across India and in other countries. To further meet the highest quality expectations of customers, 1,567 parts and components underwent the same stringent global testing that GM applies to its luxury cars. GM’s global quality management processes and standards were also applied in R&D, procurement, quality recognition and manufacturing.
The Sail U-VA comes with a three-year/100,000-km standard warranty. In addition, customers can opt for a unique add-on service maintenance package, the Chevrolet Promise, which provides free maintenance for three years or 45,000 km (whichever comes first).

About Chevrolet
Chevrolet was founded in Detroit in 1911. Chevrolet products are sold in more than 140 countries. The Chevrolet brand was introduced in India in 2003 and is one of the fastest-growing automotive nameplates in the country. Chevrolet provides consumers with fuel-efficient, safe and reliable vehicles that deliver high quality, expressive design, spirited performance and value. The Chevrolet portfolio in India includes the Chevrolet Captiva, Chevrolet Optra, Chevrolet Cruze, Chevrolet Aveo, Chevrolet Aveo U-VA, Chevrolet Spark, Chevrolet Beat and Chevrolet Tavera. More information regarding Chevrolet models can be found at www.chevrolet.co.in.

Media Contact:
GM India
Avishek Dutta: avishek.dutta@gm.com, Ph: 0124-3080125. Saahil Anant: saahil.anant@gm.com Ph: 0124-3080285

Winter Session of Parl from 22nd Nov

The Winter Session of Parliament will begin on 22nd November, it was officially announced on Friday, the Monsoon Session of Parliament was virtually washed away on the issue of CAG report on coal block allocations.

A Lok Sabha press release said that the 12th session of the 15th Lok Sabha is likely to conclude on 20^th December subject to exigencies of government business.

The Monsoon Session of Parliament was virtually washed away on the issue of CAG report on coal block allocations.

This will be the first session since Trinamool Congress, which was a partner of the ruling United Progressive Alliance, walked out of the government protesting the diesel price hike and unveiling of a series of reform measures like allowing Foreign Direct Investment in the retail sector.

Parliament will also meet against the backdrop of scathing attack on the government by the Opposition parties over the controversial decisions.

Main opposition BJP has on several occasions said the UPA government would not last beyond the Winter Session.

AirAsia X’s Fantastic 5 !

Set to celebrate its Milestones with 5 X-citing Events and More…

 

SEPANG, 2 NOVEMBER 2012 – AirAsia X, the long haul, low fare airline affiliate of AirAsia celebrated its 5th Anniversary at the Low Cost Carrier Terminal (LCCT) here today; with a frenzied fun-filled carnival for the public.

                                                                                                                  

From its humble beginnings in 2007, with its first route from Kuala Lumpur to Gold Coast, Australia, the long-haul low fare airline today has a fleet comprising of nine Airbus A330 aircraft; the youngest fleet in the region and have carried over 8 million guests to 12 exciting destinations across Australia, Taiwan, Japan, Korea, China and Nepal.

 

AirAsia X CEO, Azran Osman-Rani said, “We pay tribute to our guests on our triumph as we celebrate our 5^th Birthday today. It has been an amazing but challenging journey, and with strong perseverance; belief and passion, we have proven the skeptics wrong through the success of the long-haul, low fare model with many trailblazing FIRSTs in the industry.”

“AirAsia X is set to grow with an addition of 24 A330-300 aircraft between 2013 and 2017 which would further allow us to expand our network even further and we look forward to our new home base in KLIA2 which will provide enhanced ground facilities and services for our guests. Not one to rest on our laurels, we are prepared to catapult ourselves into the next 5 year period, with many more innovations and X-citing offerings in the pipeline.”

 

AirAsia X transformed the LCCT into a carnival affair, with various activities organized for the public. They were entertained with dance performances, clowns with balloons and tricks, tattoo sticker painting, photo opportunities with our talents dressed in multi traditional costumes from China, Japan, Korea, Taiwan and Nepal, including radio cruisers appearance and freebies giveaways by the announcers.

 

The day was sealed by a cake cutting ceremony, graced by AirAsia X Chairwoman Tan Sri Rafidah Aziz, AirAsia X CEO Azran Osman-Rani, Chairman of Gold Coast Tourism Paul Donovan, AirAsia X Board of Directors and the management team of AirAsia and AirAsia X.

The airline also kicked off a “Fantastic 5” campaign to mark this special occasion:

1.    AirAsia X jointly with Gold Coast Tourism and Tune Hotels rewarded the first 5 guests who flew with us on our first flight to our first destination from Kuala Lumpur to Gold Coast and vice versa. The first 5 guests from Kuala Lumpur and Gold Coast received free return flights + accommodation to Gold coast/Kuala Lumpur.

 

2.    AirAsia X’s Flight Attendant Department today organised in-flight games including free cup cake giveaways for all AirAsia X flights to commemorate this special occasion.

 

3.    AirAsia X launched its 5 hour sale in conjunction with its 5^th Anniversary for its loyal guests who have flown with AirAsia X since its inception. The 5 hour sale begins on November 5, 2012 from 12:00 to 17:00 hrs (GMT+8) for travel between 1 January, 2013 and 31 March, 2013. Guests will be offered fares from as low as MYR195* on Economy and from as low as MYR755* on Premium to all AirAsia X destinations across Australia, China, Taiwan, Nepal, and Korea (excluding Japan).  

 

4.    AirAsia X supported by Tune Hotels launched a 3 week contest, a separate microsite created just for the occasion- a trivia on AirAsia X destinations, and its milestones for public participation. With a total of 25 tickets up for grabs, 5 Grand prize winners will stand a chance to receive a return flight + 4 additional return flights for their selected friends. Contest begins from 5 to 26^th November 2012. Visit aaxmarksthespot.com to participate!

 

5.    AirAsia X welcomes of our “Friendsy” friends arrival in conjunction with the AAX’s 5^th Anniversary- Julie-Ann Foster, 42 is the winner of the “Friendsy” competition which ran on AirAsia’s Australian Facebook page in April 2012. Julie who entered 251 of her facebook friends in the competition was chosen as the winner of the contest. She takes away with her the entire A330-300 aircraft for her friends and family members to Kuala Lumpur from Sydney and celebrates AirAsia X’s 5^th Anniversary onboard an entertaining flight with fun activities and games together with 30 Australian media. Her prize which is worth a total of AUD270,000 including flights + accommodation for 3 nights 4 days stay in Kuala Lumpur Ibis Styles Fraser Business Park is the first contest of this scale, organized by any long-haul low fare airline in Asia.

 

“Special thanks to our business partners, airport authorities and tourism bodies who believed in us and supported us in our journey including our AirAsia and AirAsia X Allstars; who has made this dream possible. We celebrate this special occasion by rewarding our guests and friends with great deals and new offerings and hope our guests are entertained as much as we are. We hope our guests will continue to further X-plore, and X-perience an X-tremely X-citing journey with us!, concluded Azran.

AirAsia X continues to live up to its tagline Now Everyone Can Fly X-tra Long. Together with its affiliate, the AirAsia Group, the airline will continue to offer guests unmatched connectivity from destinations across Asia Pacific to a vast network across South East Asia and beyond.

AirAsia keeps abreast with the social media community via their Facebook and Twitter accounts. Guests are able to receive real-time updates on latest promotions and interact with AirAsia via facebook.com/AirAsia and twitter.com/AirAsia.

Guests may also checkout airasia.com/travel3sixty online where AirAsia now showcases our monthly in-flight magazine in digital format and destination guides on bookshelves for fun reading and downloads. Travel 3Sixty° is primarily a travel related in-flight magazine which features articles that cover travel, fashion & beauty, health, sports, food and other up to date information on AirAsia and AirAsia X.

Quartet of European Delights

Enjoy Czech Cuisine in India

Chef Michal Jerabek, from The Czech Republic, gives a taste of his country’exquisite cuisine at Blooms - the all day-dining restaurant in Eros Hotel – Managed by Hilton

For immediate release : New Delhi, 2^nd November 2012

For the very first time ‘Quartet of European Delights’ a festival of European cuisine from four countries – Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland and Slovakia, is being organized in New Delhi jointly by the Embassy of the Czech Republic in India, and the Eros Hotel - Managed by Hilton.  Blooms - the all day-dining restaurant in Eros Hotel will be the hotspot for Czech delicacies from 31^st October till 09^th November, 2012. Czech Cuisine is known for its wide array of flavors, and will be presented with never heard of soups, sauces and unique dumplings. This cuisine can be truly a heavenly delight for foodies and those with a sweet tooth. 

Chef Michal Jerabek, currently a Sous-Chef in Hotel Hilton Prague has been especially flown in  to New Delhi to create traditional Czech dishes and culinary  specialties from 01^s  to 09^th November at Blooms. The gourmet and fine dining affair is enticing enough with a variety of meats & vegetables, soups, sauces & dressings.

The Czech Republic is known for its beer consumption and variety. Famous Czech Beer brands like Budweiser, Budvar, Kozel, Pilsner, Bernand, and Staropramen are presenting some of the best-known international beers.  Interestingly, not many people know that Pilsner , the popular pale lager takes its name from the Czech city of Pilsen in Bohemia, where it was first produced in 1842, and from where it spread around the world.

Apart from Czech beer and Czech Cuisine what will compliment your culinary journey to the Czech Republic will be special live music by Czech Jazz Band “Matej Benko Quintet, and tasting of nine Czech Beer Brands – What more can one ask for!

There are also many attractive prizes for the visitors to the festival and those who will taste the Czech cuisine. The Gala Prize, offered by Ezeego,  a partner organization of the festival, will take you to the beautiful Czech Republic’s capital, Prague. You can also get lucky every day by winning 10% discount vouchers from Ezeego. Turkish Airline is also a partner in the event, providing efficient service, attractive fares, and convenient connections to Prague from New Delhi and Mumbai.

According to Czech Tourism officials “We would like Indians to know how diverse Czech cuisine is, just like the country itself. Czech Republic is very well known for its cultural heritage, and Prague of course is one of the most visited places in our country. But we would like to show as well new modern aspects such as cuisine, fashion and lifestyle to Indian public, and to make them aware of the variety our country can offer.”

Michal Jerabek – Czech Republic

Mr Michal Jerabek, currently a Sous-Chef in hotel Hilton Prague, has a true cook’s heart.  

Michal was born in Prague in 1977. He started his Chef’s journey from scratch at the Secondary school of cooking in 1991, followed by the High school of cooking in Prague. From 1995 to 2001 he has worked as a demi-chef at Hilton Hotel in Prague, and he rejoined Hilton Hotel Prague again in 2006 after a brief experience as a Chef in other Prague restaurants.

In 1999 he became the first Czech to cook and moderate a culinary TV Show on Czech TV Prima. Since 2003 he also collaborates with lifestyle magazines as a Food stylist for photo shoots. In 2005 and  2012 he represented the Czech Republic at the Expo in Nagoya in Japan, and Shanghai in China, as a Chef of the Czech Restaurant in the Czech Republic pavilion.

When he has free time he usually takes part in sporting activities, gardening, food styling, and of course spending good time with his family.

Traditional Tastes

The most popular Czech dish, and Chef Jerabek’s signature creation, is sirloin in cream sauce, a delicious combination of tender beef, creamy vegetable sauce, cranberries and dumplings. Dumplings are a mainstay of Czech cuisine.  Made from dough, and boiled in water, dumplings are the traditional side-dish of Czech cuisine. They can be served in many varieties and made from different ingredients like potatoes, and bread rolls. Filled with fruits and cream they can be even served as a dessert!

The other Czech specialties are roast pork with sauerkraut and dumplings, and of course goulash in many varieties, even with a vegetarian version. Soups are also an integral part of the cuisine. Potato, garlic and onion soup are the most popular.

Contemporary Haute Cuisine

Those looking for fine flavours in Czech Republic can find chic world-class restaurants serving haute cuisine. In Prague you can find two Michelin Star restaurants with traditional Czech cuisine, and dishes like veal fillet, scallops, foie gras, or truffles. Vegetarians needn’t despair! Czechs are passionate about vegetarian food, and gourmet versions can be found on the menus of all modern restaurants.

For more information contact :

Ms. Jana Peterkova

Embassy of Czech Republic

50-M, Niti Marg, Chanakyapuri

New Delhi – 110021

Ph : 26110205 / 26110318