erage on Saturday exceeded 165 crore, as per the health ministry

Air India's divestment complete; Tata Sons takes over control

transport service, along with air cargo transport service. Air India SATS Airport Services is engaged in the business of providing ground handling services at Delhi, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Mangaluru and Thiruvananthapuram airports, and cargo handling services at Bengaluru airport. Tata Sons' subsidiary Talace had emerged as the highest bidder for the national carrier under the divestment process. It had quoted an enterprise value of Rs 18,000 crore for 100 per cent equity shareholding of the Centre in Air India along with that of Air India Express and AISATS. On its part, the Centre had stipulated a reserve price of Rs 12,906 crore.

Air India comes with over 140 aircraft but no real estate assets for Tata Sons

New Delhi, Jan 27 (IANS): Tata Sons subsidiary Talace, which took over the managerial control of Air India on Thursday, will get more than 140 aircraft and eight logos, among other assets such as human resources. However, the transaction does not include non-core assets, including land and building, valued at Rs 14,718 crore, which are to be transferred to government of India's Air India Asset Holding Limited (AIAHL). Besides, Tatas will also not get the world-famous art collection of Air India. Nevertheless, the group will get Air India's 117 wide-body and narrow body aircraft apart from 24 aircraft of Air India Express. A significant number of these aircraft are owned by Air India. It will also get to operate these aircraft on over 4,000 domestic and 1,800 international routes. Also, eight brand logos would be transferable to the Tatas, which they have to retail for a period of five years. As far as revenues are concerned, more than two-third of Air India's consolidated revenues come from the international market. The airline is still the largest player from India

in the international market, having a strong footprint across geographies like North America, Europe and Middle East, with attractive slots and bilateral rights. Additionally, Air India comes with a frequent flyer programme which has more than three million members. In terms of manpower, the conglomerate will get the total talent pool of Air India and Air India Express, which stands at over 13,000, including permanent as well as contractual employees. Under the agreement with the Centre, no employee will be removed for one-year. In the second year, if an employee has to be removed, a VRS option will be provided. The employees will be provided gratuity, provident fund and post-retirement medical benefits. Financially, Tatas will retain a debt of Rs 15,300 crore. It had to pay Rs 2,700 crore to the Centre as the cash component. In addition, Tatas will need to take care of the Rs 20 crore loss per day that the company suffers. There is also a three-year business continuity clause in the agreement. Tatas would also need to maintain 51 per cent stake in the airline for at least one-year.

'Time to look ahead, journey starts now': Tata Group Chairman tells AI staff

New Delhi, Jan 27: Tata Group Chairman, N. Chandrasekaran, on Thursday called upon Air India employees to work together to build ‘the airline our country needs'. In a communication to the employees, Chandrasekaran said: "Now is the time to look ahead." The communication to Air India employees came on a day when Tata Group subsidiary, Talace Private Limited, formally took over the managerial control of the airline. "I, like many others, have enjoyed reflecting on stories from the airline's brilliant past. My first flight was with Air India in December 1986, and I will never forget how special it felt to be onboard, or the exhilaration as we soared into the sky," the letter read. "Today is the beginning of a new chapter. The entire nation's eyes are on us, waiting to see what we will achieve together. To build the airline our country needs, we need to look to the future," it added. Notably, the purpose of the letter was to welcome the employees into the Tata Group "family". "Our group has its own storied past. I have learned that to preserve what is best about the past, requires constant change. It is by evolving, adapting and embracing the future that we best honour a glorious history," Chandrasekaran said in the letter. It added that the "golden age" of Air India lies ahead and the "journey

towards it starts now". The Centre on Thursday handed over the management control of Air India to Tata Group subsidiary Talace. With this, Air India's strategic disinvestment was complete after the Centre received a consideration of Rs 2,700 crore from the 'Strategic Partner' -- Talace -- which is a wholly owned subsidiary of Tata Sons. Besides the upfront payment, Talace will retain a debt of Rs 15,300 crore. The transaction covered three entities - Air India, Air India Express and AI SATS. Post the formal take over, a new board was constituted which included Tata Group's executives.

In-flight pilot's welcome announcement changed for Air India passengers

New Delhi, Jan 28: If you board an Air India flight on Friday, the pilot will welcome you with a different announcement, as the airline has been formally handed over to the Tata Group. On Friday, the first day post the formal take over by the Tata Group, the pilots were asked to change the welcome announcement which are made after the closure of the cabin. "Dear Guests, this is your Captain (Name) speaking... Welcome aboard this historic flight which marks a special event. Today, Air India officially becomes a part of the Tata Group again, after seven decades," the welcome speech reads as sent out to all the pilots. Further, the pilots are asked to say: "We look forward to serving you on this and every Air India flight with renewed commitment and passion. Welcome to the future of Air India! We hope you enjoy the journey. Thank you." On Thursday, Tata Group Chairman, N. Chandrasekaran called upon Air India employees to work together to build the airline according to the country's needs. In a communication to the employees, Chandrasekaran said: "Now is the time to look ahead." The communication to Air India employees came on the same day when Tata Group subsidiary, Talace Private Limited, formally took over the managerial control of the airline. "Today is the beginning of a new chapter. The entire nation's eyes are on us, waiting to see what we will achieve together. To build the airline our country needs, we need to look to the future," Chandrasekaran added. He added that the "golden age" of Air India lies ahead and the "journey towards it starts now".

Nobody remained hungry during pandemic induced lockdown: Prez

New Delhi, Jan 31: Recalling the multiple beneficial schemes that the government initiated during the last year or two, President Ram Nath Kovind on Monday said nobody was left hungry during the pandemic induced lockdown as the government ensured free distribution of ration to 80 crore people for 19 months. "During the corona pandemic, several countries faced food shortage but my sensitive government ensured that no poor was left hungry. The Pradhan Mantri Gareeb Kalyan Anna Yojana provided free rations to 80 crore poor Indians for 19 months," Kovind said in his Presidential speech on the first day of the Budget Session 2022. "This is the largest free food distribution programme in the world, we have extended till March 2022. We spent Rs 2.60 lakh crore for the same," he said. The President also congratulated the farmers, especially the 80 crore small land holding farmers who helped grow over 30 crore tonnes of food grains and over 33 crore tonnes of horticulture despite the pandemic. He also said, his government continued to help the farmers with minimum support price (MSP) buying Kharif and Rabi crops. "Soch nayi ho to purane sansadhano se bhi naye raste banaye jaa sakte hai (If we think in an innovative manner, we can work wonders even with old resources," he said. The President also lauded the combined efforts put in by the administration, doctors, scientists, health workers and even citizens to fight the Covid pandemic that, he said, exemplified the united power of the democracy. He recounted the steps taken by the government vis-a-vis health sector including vaccination, and said, "Today, 90 per cent or more adults have taken at least one dose of vaccination." The President recounted the achievements in the field of agriculture, infrastructure, education, Digital India, MSME, and also women's empowerment. Towards the end, he reminded the Parliamentarians that "next 25 years would be spent on shaping up India that we want to see in 2047 when we celebrate 100 years of Independence."

Samyukt Kisan Morcha to observe 'Day of Betrayal' on Jan 31

IANS

New Delhi, Jan 28 (IANS): The Samyukt Kisan Morcha (SKM) announced on Friday that it will observe January 31 as a 'Day of Betrayal' across India with largescale protest demonstrations at district and block levels. "All the farm unions associated with the Morcha will observe this protest with great fervour. It is expected that this programme will be organised in at least 500 districts of the country," SKM, a consortium of farmers' organisations, said in a statement after the meeting of its coordination committee. "In the protest demonstrations on January 31, a memorandum will also be submitted to the Union government. The preparation for this programme was reviewed during the meeting," the statement said. The SKM had taken a decision to this effect in its review meeting held on January 15. The farmers claimed that the government has handed them deceit. The farmers had agitated for more than a year, demanding repeal of the three contentious farm laws. After the agitation was called off following the government's decision to repeal the three farm laws, SKM had declared that the agitation could resume if the government fails to meet their other demands, prominent being legal backing for Minimum Support Price (MSP) for all farmers. The anti-farmer stand of the government is evident from the fact that even after the meeting of SKM on January 15, the government did not fulfil any of the promises made in its letter dated December 9, 2021. "No action has been taken in the last two weeks on the promise of immediate withdrawal of cases filed against the protesters, or on compensation to the families of the martyrs (who died during the yearlong agitation). The government has not announced the formation of a committee on the issue of MSP either," SKM said, adding, "Therefore, the Morcha has called upon the farmers across the country to convey their anger to the government through the 'Day of Betrayal'." The SKM also made it clear that 'Mission Uttar Pradesh' will continue, through which "this anti-farmer regime will be taught a lesson". "A call will be made to the people of Uttar Pradesh to punish the Bhartiya Janata Party for not sacking and arresting Ajay Mishra Teni, whose son was allegedly involved in the tragic incident at Lakhimpur Khiri last year," the SKM statement said. To operationalise this campaign, a new phase of the mission will be announced through a press conference on February 3. Under this, a message to punish the BJP will be conveyed by all the organisations under SKM through literature distribution, press conference, social media, and public meetings throughout Uttar Pradesh.

The first phase of voting for the Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections is to be held on February 10. The SKM reiterated that it fully endorses and supports the nationwide strike called by the Central Trade Unions on February 23 and 24 for issues such as the withdrawal of four anti-labour codes, as well as for MSP for farmers. The SKM also reiterated that the name, banner or platform of the Samyukt Kisan Morcha will not be used by any political party or candidate in the run-up to the Assembly polls in Punjab, scheduled on February 20.

Faced with starvation, Afghans sell kidneys: Report

IANS

Kabul, Jan 29: Faced with starvation amid the prolonged humanitarian crisis in Afghanistan and the subsequent economic collapse, some people in Herat province are being forced to sell their kidneys in order to feed their families, a media report said. According to the TOLO News report, these residents from Injil district have sold their kidneys in the black market for little money in order to survive amid the dire poverty. "We sell our kidneys if someone buys in order to bring something for our children to eat," said one of the residents. Among those who have been selling their kidneys are children and women. According to the law of the country, selling organs or parts are the body is illegal, but these families say that they have no other options to survive. "We are happy, the security situation is good, but prices are a bit high in the country," another resident told TOLO News. The sale of kidneys due to poverty in some parts of Herat made headlines last year also. But now as a catastrophic humanitarian crisis looms in Afghanistan, world leaders and officials are taking the warning seriously. The UK's foreign secretary Liz Truss said: "We are working very hard first of all to bring people out of Afghanistan, and we are using various routes to do that, we are also putting in additional humanitarian aid into Afghanistan." When asked, she said reports of selling kidneys "are very concerning." Economic analysts say the lifting of sanctions and the release of billions of frozen dollars of the country's assets from world banks would be effective ways to improve the lives of the people of Afghanistan. "The price of goods rose sharply and caused the most vulnerable sections of society to suffer more," said Abdul Nasir Reshtial, economist. Following the takeover of the country by the Taliban last August, the World Bank, International Monetary Fund (IMF) and US Federal Reserve cut off Afghanistan's access to international funds. Unemployment, poverty and hunger have reached alarming levels in Afghanistan.