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Indo American News • Friday, January 14, 2011

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Friday, January 14, 2011

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IndoAmerican News

STOCKS • FINANCE • SOUTH ASIAN MARKETS • TECHNOLOGY

PM Announces Merging of OCI, PIO Cards to Boost Business NEW DELHI (MALAYALA MANORAMA): Prime Minister Manmohan Singh announced merging of the Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) and the Persons of Indian Origin (PIO) cards into a single facility to simplify visa-free entry and participation of Indian diaspora in business and other activities.

Singh also said that the government had decided to extend the facility of the Indian Community Welfare Fund to all the Indian Missions. Hailing the Indian diaspora, he pointed out that the Government had introduced the OCI and PIO cards to facilitate visa-free travel of NRIs and Indian Origin people to India as well as to provide them rights of residency and participation in business and educational activities.

“We have reviewed the functioning of these schemes, and decided to merge the OCI and PIO cards into a single facility. We hope to iron out some of the problems that have arisen in the implementation of these schemes,” he said addressing the 9th

emigrate for work, Singh said their migration, India has signed Social Pravasi Bharatiya Divas here.

In a bid to encourage PIOs (Indi- welfare is “a matter of special concern Security Agreements with 12 counans who have shifted migrated per- for us”. To improve the conditions for tries and finalized Labor Mobility Partnerships with manently to other two others, he countries over said, adding a gecenturies) to visit neric arrangement and invest in India, is also being nesuch people were gotiated with the given PIO cards.

European Union A PIO card holder also. does not require a Singh said the visa to visit India government has and the card is valid decided to estabfor 15 years. A PIO lish new Indian card holder enjoys cultural centres in several economic the US, Canada, and educational Saudi Arabia, benefits.

France and AusOn the other tralia. hand, the OCI card “I urge the Inis a kind of lifelong dian communities visa and any India in these countries origin person can to support and paapply for it if his tronize these cenhost country allows tres so that they dual citizenship. become effective The OCI, PIO merger will cause less confusion and increase Talking about business and educational opportunities Dr Singh believes.

Merging instruments for the Indians who them will help India advance projecting the di-

versity and splendor of Indian culture,” the Prime Minister said.

Singh asked the diaspora to share their expertise and experience in improving educational infrastructure in India. “We hope to use the wisdom, experience and resources of the global Indian community to develop a world class education system, particularly in higher education,” he said.

The Prime Minister noted that a law has been enacted to provide voting rights to NRIs and appropriate procedures are being framed to give effect to this new legal provision. “I have no doubt that your participation in the (electoral process) will be welcomed by the constituencies in which you do participate. You will bring a breath of global fresh air to our politics,” he said.

Holding that India’s soft power is an important element and needs to do this in expanding the country’s global footprint. He also laid the foundation stone of Pravasi Bharatiya Kendra here which will serve as a centre for research and development relating to NRIs.

Offshoring: Indian Companies to Focus More on European Market NEW DELHI (Business Standard): Indian companies are expected to focus on mainland Europe to tap growth opportunities in the offshore technology services market worth tens of billions of dollars, global research group Gartner has said.

“There will be tremendous focus

at $40 billion.

Iyengar noted that Indian firms would be focusing on European markets such as Germany and France where it would be difficult to expand business without good domestic presence.Even though a major chunk of revenues come from the US market, Indian IT

on offshore technology services in the next two years... Indian players will be mainly looking at mainland Europe for their next growth opportunities,” Gartner’s Vice President and Regional Research Director (India) Partha Iyengar told PTI. Revenue garnered by domestic players from offshore technology services market is estimated to be

entities also have good presence in various European markets.

Going by estimates, the size of the country’s technology services is worth over $60 billion, dominated

by IT services exports. Meanwhile, Gartner has projected global IT spending will touch $3.6 trillion in 2011, an increase of over five per cent as compared to last year.

When it comes to Business

Process Outsourcing (BPO), he said that companies would look at offering high-end services such as those to HR and procurement areas. “High-end services provide more revenues than lower-end offerings like call centre, which are cost driven,” he added. Post global downturn, Iyengar pointed out that Indian players seem to have a “sharper edge” when it comes to offshoring activities. “(Indian entities) have a good and credible services delivery record and coming out of the downturn, they seem to have a sharper edge (than many competitors),” he said.

According to Iyengar, there would be strong levels of consolidation, especially in the BPO sector, in coming years.

Big players are expected to strengthen their market position while relatively smaller entities need to focus on particular business verticals to survive in the highly competitive market, he added.

Gartner Vice President and Regional Research Director Partha Iyengar is optimistic that the Indian firms will strengthen their hold on European markets.

He feels establishing a base in the region of operation will count for more success. Global IT spending alone is projected to touch $3.6 in 2011, up 5% from 2010

Business Minute Google, which reported a global revenues of USD 23.65 billion in 2009, has close to 2,000 people in India.

“India is an important growth country for Google. With Internet users growing at 50 per cent yearon-year, a strong leadership team will ensure that Google captures this tremendous opportunity,” Google President (Japan and Asia-Pacific Operations) Daniel Alegre said in a statement.

Shailesh Rao has been covering two roles -- as Japan and Asia-Pacific Managing Director (Media and Platform Sales) as well as MD and Head of Sales for Google India. “He has been instrumental in getting India off the ground to a successful business operation” Alegre said.

Anandan associated with Microsoft India, responsible for Microsoft’s software, OEM and services business in India is planning to come on board as head of Google operations.

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Indo American News • Friday. January 14, 2011

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Dr. Manmohan Singh Inaugurates Science Expo - 2011 in Chennai CHENNAI (MedIndia): Indian and tactical missiles and some of selection system, life support Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan their sub-systems displaying cutting systems; “Combat free fall system” Singh inaugurated the ISC-2011 in edge technologies that have been capable of dropping paratrooper Chennai. The Defence Research and mastered indigenously, Rustom, from a height of 30,000 feet, Development Organization protective gear for protection (DRDO) participated in the against Nuclear Biological “Pride of India - Science and Chemical agents.

Expo - 2011” organized Major DRDO labs for the during January 3 to 7 as nine technology clusters of part of 98th Indian Science DRDO participated in the Congress (ISC-2011) at SRM expo with over 100 exhibits University in Chennai. and models along with charts The major attraction at and films during this mega DRDO stall was a Main event. Scientific Adviser to Battle Tank (MBT) Arjun, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh flanked by Raksha Mantri and Secretarywhich has become the pride Union Minister G.K.Vasan, TNCC president K.V. Department of Defence R possession of the Army Thangkabalu, and Deputy Chief Minister M.K.Stalin and D, Dr Vijay Kumar and Union Minister P.Chidambaram, who greeted forming two of its armored him at the Chennai airport .

Saraswat, DG DRDO, S. regiments.

Sundaresh, Chief Controller Photo: S.R.Ragunathan (The Hindu) Other items on display R and D (Armaments and included models of “Tejas”, the Nishant and Lakshya unmanned Combat Vehicles) and other senior first indigenous and worlds lightest aerial vehicles; unmanned ground DRDO Scientists were present on flying light combat aircraft, strategic vehicles, computerized pilot the occasion. www.amarchitrakatha.com

www.amarchitrakatha.com

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Indo American News • Friday. January 14, 2011

‘The Markets are in a Catch-22 Situation’ (SMART INVESTOR): Dilip Bhat, joint managing director, spoke to Jitendra Kumar Gupta on the markets.

We have seen the markets trading near their all-time high recently. Looking at the valuations and concerns over inflation and interest rates, where do you see us heading in 2011?

The Indian markets are in catch 22 situation where sudden gush of FII money has pulled the market in little over valued zone.

And the markets have behaved in the skewed way where a few stocks in the index are at a Nifty level of 6400-6500, while the rest of the stock are still are at around 5500 levels. In comparison to this, the mid-caps are still trading at the nifty levels of 5000.

In the year 2011, with inflation refusing to go away and with the RBI all set to do whatever it takes to tame inflation, the tightness in the liquidity, with the enough international problems on the horizon, I think the equity markets in India are headed for the more sober returns. And we think that the Nifty level 5700-6700 should be the range in 2011.

Do you think there is possibility of earnings downgrades for the FY12 given the high interest rates, higher commodity prices or raw material?

The present valuations assumes that Indian will continue to grow

at an upwards of 8-8.5 per cent as such the earnings growth in FY12 of around 20 per cent thus appears to be corollary of that.

However, higher interest rates, tightness in the liquidity, high fiscal deficit of close to 7 per cent (without considering the 3G money) the ballooning trade deficit and current account deficit and the over-heating in the China and tepid growth in US and Europe, it opens up to lot of possibilities.

Any of the measures taken to tackle with some of these problems can easily clip off some points from the India’s economic growth and in the process the earnings growth would also remain venerable for the downgrades. Markets are still not factoring enough for this margin of safety.

Which are the sectors looking good for the year 2011?

I think over the next two year the sectors like pharmaceutical, infrastructures, capital goods (power equipment) and textiles should do well.

What strategy should one follow and could you name of the stocks where one can invest?

As markets in their movement continue to remain skewed, stock specific approach can give huge dividends. Some of the stocks we like BHEL, Tata Motors, Bajaj Auto, Coal India, Nagarjuna Constructions, Mahindra Finance and United Phosphorus.

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Communication is Key to Success

By Richard Branson (LIVE MINT): So you have an idea for a business—one that you believe has the potential to alter the industry. You have put together a simple, straightforward proposition that potential customers find easy to understand. You have raised the

necessary capital, gathered a team and publicized your new venture by every means available. What happens next?

It’s time to deliver on your promises. And the only difference between merely satisfactory delivery and great delivery is attention to detail. Anyone who aspires to lead a company must develop a habit of taking notes. I carry a notebook everywhere I go.

Most of my entries are like this one, from a Virgin Atlantic flight years ago: “Dirty carpets. Fluff. Areas around bow dirty. Equipment: stainless steel, grotty. Choice of menu disappointing—back from Miami, prawns then lobster (as a main course) in Upper Class.

Chicken curry very bland.

Chicken should be cut in chunks.

Rice pretty dry. No Stilton available on cheeseboard.”

What’s most revealing is this final note: “Staff desperate for someone to listen. Make sure

flight staff reports are actioned IMMEDIATELY.” I’m pleased to say that they now are. This is the real key to getting all the other items on the list done—employees are better able to report problems and get them fixed before I come along with my notebook.

And as you decide how best to deliver your product or service, keep in mind the company’s core business values, the medium-term strategic considerations and where the industry is headed in the long term. Make your decisions on the microlevel in light of that bigger picture, and your business should be headed in the right direction.

This problem-solving process should not be limited to the launch.

Owners and leaders of established companies should sample their business’ products as often as possible. Many bosses regularly speak to staff at all levels, but often they do not follow up on problems they uncover. This means that their employees never learn what importance the chief executive places on getting the details right, or see just how necessary and possible it is to address the everyday problems that come up.

If you foster a corporate culture of waiting for someone else to solve problems, the company will suffer the consequences.

Great delivery also depends on great communication, which should start at the top. Be brave: hand out your email address and phone number. Your employees will know not to misuse it or badger you, and by doing so, you will be giving them a terrific psychological boost—they will know that they can contact you anytime a problem comes up that requires your attention.

Instilling attention to detail throughout your new company will prove especially important when the business begins to gain ground. It always tickles me when a spokesman explains to reporters that a company experiencing delays or other problems in delivering a product or service is “a victim

of its own success”—as though it had undergone something rare and freakish. Delivery is not just limited to the company’s first day: Employees across the business should be focusing on getting it right all day, every day.

A few years ago, I saw warning signs that we were starting to stumble when I received a letter from a couple who had planned to travel on Virgin Trains in Britain.

We had seen a rapid 50% increase in passenger numbers, and suddenly people were finding it difficult to get a seat on the busier routes.

The letter writers had not realized that they now had to book seats in advance. When they arrived at the station, they found the staff unhelpful. Given that the husband was disabled and needed assistance, this was pretty terrible of us.

I personally helped them with their problem, and in the process became concerned about the bigger picture for this company. I penned a letter to Ashley Stockwell, the brand and customer service guardian for Virgin Group, asking him to take a look. Thanks to our renewed focus on delivering great service and attention to detail, we got better and soon received plaudits. I’m proud to say that Virgin Trains delivered on its promises—it wasn’t easy.

Finally, if you do start to see success in the form of new and repeat business, remember to keep a cool head. You’re delivering change, and if you are succeeding, other businesses are very probably getting hurt in the rough and tumble.

They will try to shut you down.

Be sportsmanlike, play to win, and then befriend your enemies.

If you do fall out with a partner, colleague or competitor, call that person a year later and take him out to dinner. It is likely you have a great deal in common. After all, why did you both get into the business in the first place? To deliver change, serve customers, reform an industry—does any of this sound familiar? Now, what can you create together?

vinegar and one quart of vinegar for a while.

Cleaning Fixtures Dip a cloth in kerosene or rubbing alcohol to remove scum and spots from your bathroom fixtures.

Yellowed Bathtub Metal Shower Head To clean mineral deposits from a clogged Restore whiteness to a yellowed bathtub by shower head, boil it with half a cup of white rubbing with a salt and turpentine solution

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South Asia News of the Diaspora

Fury Over Doctor’s Book on Sex Education for Muslims

By Aleem Maqbool ISLAMABAD (BBC): Dr Mobin Akhtar is on a mission to educate Pakistanis in sexual matters, but his latest attempt to do so has caused controversy.

The release of his book - Sex Education for Muslims - aims to teach people about sex in a way that is in keeping with Islamic instruction.

Dr Akhtar, 81, says the fact that sex is not discussed in Pakistan is having serious repercussions.

As a psychiatrist, he says he has witnessed them himself, and that is why he felt the need to write his book.

“There’s a huge problem in our country,” he says.“Adolescents, especially boys, when they get to puberty, and the changes that come with puberty, they think it’s due to some disease. “They start masturbating, and they are told that is very dangerous to health, and that this is sinful, very sinful.”

‘Misconceptions’: Dr Akhtar says he has seen cases where teenagers, not understanding what is happening to their bodies, have become depressed and even

“When I started to committed suicide. study what the Koran, “I myself passed Islamic law and religious through that stage with scholars had to say about all these concerns, and it, I realized there is so there’s no-one to tell much discussion about you otherwise, and sex in Islam. One would that these are wrong be surprised. perceptions. It was only “There are sayings when I entered medical from the Prophet college that I found Muhammad about out that these were all sexual matters, and misconceptions.”

He says even now Dr Mobin Akhtar feels that adolescents have no way of historical sources tell in Pakistan, many dealing with the psychological problems they undergo us he answered detailed doctors do not discuss at the onset of puberty. Someone has to explain it to queries on the subject from both men and sexual matters openly, them and he feels his book will. women.” teachers and parents The writings in Dr are embarrassed about the issues. he says.

“When they get a little bigger Akhtar’s book are interspersed There is no sex education teaching and they ask where a child comes with quotes from the Prophet in government schools.

Dr Akhtar says it is not seen as from, you can say it. That doesn’t Muhammad, and also from the appropriate to broach the subject make the child sexually active or Koran, like this one: “You are allowed intercourse at night with of sex in the conservative culture immoral.”

Dr Akhtar says there is also your wives during the month of of Pakistan, and that it might encourage young people to behave nothing un-Islamic about discussing fasting. They are as intimate for sex. you as your own clothes, and vice in an “un-Islamic” way.

He says he felt that the best way versa.” (Koran, Surah Baqra, Verse “They ask me when you should start sex education, and I say as to help people understand that was 187) ‘Quack’: Among many other soon as the child can talk. They to write a book which brought should be told the names of the together basic sex education with topics, Dr Akhtar writes of the genitals just as they are told about information about the Islamic Islamic thinking about masturbation, marital problems and how a man hands and eyes and ears, and nose,” perspective on the subject.

should wash himself after having sex so that he is clean enough to perform prayers.

But many Pakistanis have found Dr Akhtar’s book unpalatable.

He tried to tone down the title Sex Education for Muslims is the name of the English version of the book, in Urdu the title is Special Problems for Young People.

But that has not been enough to appease some. “I have had threats.

Even other doctors have accused me of acting like a maverick, a quack,” he says. “A provincial politician even hauled me into his office and said I was encouraging pornography. I explained I was doing nothing of the sort.”

Dr Akhtar says he has found very few bookshops willing to stock his book, or any newspapers that will print paid advertisements for it.

“It is a very sad reaction.

Ignorance about sexual matters is causing a lot of our young people unnecessary psychological distress, and we have to change that.

“I am only talking about educating people gradually and sensitively, but at the moment we are not even doing that.”

PM to Inaugurate Vivekananda’s 150th Birth Anniversary Celebrations NEW DELHI: The Ramakrishna Mission’s centre in the Capital is gearing up to celebrate the four-year-long 150th birth anniversary celebrations of Swami Vivekananda with a series of programs targeting the youth of the country. Prime Minister Manmohan Singh will inaugurate the celebrations at Vigyan Bhawan here on January 12.

Swami Vivekenanda was born on January 12, 1863. A national committee has been formed with the Prime Minister as chairman to oversee the celebrations. Dr. Singh will also release a book “Awakening India” which contains the selected writings of Swami Vivekananda in which he addressed the youth.

A “Future Leader Discovery Contest” will be held this year for school students and in 2012 for college students which will involve an online competition all over the country to be conducted in three stages. School students can register on the website www.awakeningindia.org from January 12.

An essay competition for college students in Delhi and NCR will be held on January 30.

An education seminar will be held on February 12 and 13 which will focus on education

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for enablement, education for knowledge and education for spirituality which will be inaugurated by Human Resources Development Minister Kapil Sibal.

An Inter-faith Youth Convention will be held on September 10 and 11 in the Capital to be inaugurated by former President A.P.J. Abdul Kalam.

Speaking at a press conference here, Mission secretary Swami Shantatmananda said Swami Vivekananda’s teachings are as relevant today as they were over a century ago when he first espoused them.

“Swami Vivekananda had identified the neglect of the masses as the major problem. He had said the masses had forgotten their individuality and lost faith in themselves.

The one-sided growth story in India today has neglected the masses. Vivekananda’s solution was to restore people’s confidence in themselves. He believed religious awakening and education was the answer,” said Swami Shantatmananda, who added that a main aim of the celebration was to get the youth of the country to connect with Swami Vivekananda’s teachings.

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Indo American News • Friday. January 14, 2011

INDIA

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Indians Growing Richer and Less Healthy

NEW DELHI (Gulf News): Indians are growing richer, but they are also adopting unhealthy lifestyles that could take years off their lives and threaten economic growth, a major study said on Tuesday.

In a wide-ranging review of India’s under-resourced health system published in the British magazine The Lancet, studies by a clutch of top doctors flagged

some particular medical downsides linked to economic progress.

“Rapidly improving socioeconomic status in India is associated with a reduction of physical activity and increased rates of obesity and diabetes,” said a paper on chronic diseases and injuries led by Vikram Patel from the Sangath Centre in Goa. With more money in their pockets, Indians are exercising less, indulging in fatty foods and risking injury by driving more and faster on the country’s notoriously dangerous roads, often under the influence of alcohol.

“The emerging pattern in India is characterised by an initial uptake of harmful health behaviours in the early phase of socioeconomic development,” Patel’s paper said.

The scourges of the newly wealthy, whose ranks swell by millions each year, can only be tackled with education. The authors said bad habits decline once consumers become aware of risks to their health.

Overall in India, the poor remain the most susceptible to disease and are burdened by the effects of paying for care in a country whose health indicators lag behind its impressive economic growth figures.

The study also said it was vital that India, with its young and fastgrowing 1.2 billion population, took steps to prevent injuries and illnesses such as heart or respiratory diseases, cancer and diabetes.

These problems, which suck up resources in hospitals and doctors’ surgeries, can be reduced cost effectively through education, the use of drugs and patient screening, as well as higher taxation on tobacco and alcohol.

The study said India was in the early stage of a “chronic disease epidemic,” with as many as one in five people suffering from a chronic illness, while one in 10 has more than one disease.

“Many chronic diseases can be treated with inexpensive generic drugs and lifestyle modifications,”

Patel’s paper said. “And if action is not taken now, the avoidable suffering and deaths will have an adverse effect on economic development.” Other studies published in The Lancet urged India to do more to reduce inequality and to meet a target contained in the title of the series: “India: Towards a Universal Health-care System by 2020.”

According to research led by S.V Subramanian from the Harvard School of Public Health in Boston, health costs push 39 million Indians back below the poverty line each year, with millions of others forced into even greater penury.

The authors were critical of Indian healthcare noting that payments by individuals account for 71.1 percent of spending on

health, with insurance and the public sector taking up a very small proportion of the burden. The review’s seven studies, which were presented at a symposium in New Delhi on Tuesday, called on India to raise public health spending from 1.1 percent of GDP to 6.0 per cent financed by new taxes on tobacco, alcohol and fatty foods.

“India’s continued economic growth will be at risk if adequate steps are not taken quickly to invest in the health of its citizens,” the authors said in a statement.

The studies on infectious diseases, reproductive health, chronic diseases and injuries, health care and equity, human resources for health, and financing healthcare can be found on The Lancet’s website.

Ambulances: How they came to be!

During the Crusades of the 11th Century, the Knights of St John received instruction in first-aid treatment from Arab and Greek doctors. The Knights of St John then acted as the first emergency workers, treating soldiers on both sides of the war of the battlefield and bringing in the wounded to nearby tents on hand carts and wagons for further treatment.

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wildlife

Indo American News • Friday, January 14, 2011

Planning a Vacation to India? Wild Life Getaways for 2011

By Anitha Ramabhadran (Vogue): It is a daunting task to choose a great wildlife destination for your next visit from over 400 wildlife sanctuaries and 80 national parks in India. Vogue gives you a list of the best wildlife sanctuaries that could make adventure your best accessory to date.

Corbett National Park: Situated in the foothills of the Himalayas in districts of Nainital and Garhwal in the State of Uttaranchal this national park covers an area of 521 sqkms. While the Corbett Tiger Reserve forms the core area of the park, it is also an ecotourism destination with over 450 species of plants and variety of fauna. With large spans of hills, riverine belts, marshy depressions, grass lands including a large lake, this park is a heaven for the daily adventure seeker and wildlife adventure lover.

Ranthambore National Park: Renowned for being one of the best places in India to see the majestic tigers in the jungle, the park that lies at the edge of a plateau is bounded by two rivers and is situated in the Sawai Madhopur district in the southeastern region of Rajasthan. Apart from the tigers, many other animals like the leopard, wild boar, sambar, hyena or event the sloth bear live among some of the largest banyan trees in India. Further the majestic 10th century Ranthambore fort that towers over the entire park area is also an attraction with its three red

Karauli stone temples devoted to Ganesh,Shiva and Ramlalaji.

Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary Being one of many breathtaking wildlife sanctuaries in God’s Own Country, Kerala, the Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary and Tiger Reserve lies in the districts of Idukki and Pathanamthitta. Many varieties of birds, reptiles, amphibians, fish and insects reside among the mammals. The 26 sqkms of Periyar is also one of the attractions with tourists coming in to observe the Indian elephants in their playful best by the Lake.

Chilka Bird Sanctuary: Located near the holy town of Puri, Orissa, this sanctuary is the largest inland salt-water lagoon in Asia.

Studded with smaller islands, this pear-shaped lake boasts of a unique eco-system with a wide range of aquatic flora and fauna.

With a remarkable array of native and immigrant birds, chilka is one of the best places for bird watching. Whether it’s the sea eagles, the flamigoes, the herons or the blackbuck, Chilka is a true bird watchers paradise.

Gir National Park & Sanctuary: Situated in Sasangir, Gujarat, this national park prides itself in being the sole home of the pure Asiatic Lions The large water bodies in the park plays host to several birds and crocodiles. The deciduous forests with its semi-evergreen and evergreen flora and the rocky hills make the park a scenic destination.

Photo: Michael Nichols, National Geographic

W i l d l i f e vacationing can get hair raising and adventrous in India and Africa. With o v e r 8 0 national parks in India alone, and more than 400 wildlife sanctuaries, India is more eco-friendly when it comes to keeping wild and rare species from going extinct.

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INDIAN DIASPORA

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Indian Teacher Introduces Kabaddi to US Classroom

An Indian school teacher has brought his country’s culture into the classrooms of American students by introducing kabaddi. Photo: 5pani.blogspot.com

HOUSTON (PTI): An Indian school teacher has brought his country’s culture into the classrooms of American students by introducing kabaddi.

Ajay Kumar Nair, who teaches English language and literature, has come to Johnsburg , a town with a population of 2,450 in the mountains of the Adirondacks, on a sixmonth-long Fullbright Teacher Exchange grant programme.

In his class, the students, a mix of sophomores, juniors and seniors at Johnsburg Central School, remove their shoes, watch their instructor and try to grab the rules of kabaddi, a popular team sport in India.

Students were advised to play barefoot to gain better traction on the gym floor.

Since September, the students have also taken

an elective on Indian culture, which has introduced them to literature , music, dance, food and games of the country.

This is Nair’s first visit to the US. He has been introduced to Italian food, football and snow.

While Nair said his experience in Johnsburg has been positive, the hardest adjustment has been to the weather.

“I was lucky that I came here. This community at Johnsburg has been very good. They are my family now. When I leave, I will miss them,” said Nair. Nair will be here till January 28, after which will return to India.

“It’s been great getting to know him as a person,” Kevin Connor, a senior taking the course in Indian culture, said of Nair.

“Getting to learn the Indian culture and food has been amazing,” he added.

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By Marc (MarcandAngel): Here are 22 useful tools you should keep in your car.

2-3 Gallons of Water – You can drink it when you’re thirsty, use it as a cleaning/rinsing agent, pour it into your car’s cooling system if it’s overheating, etc.

Portable GPS – Being lost is not a fun feeling. A GPS basically eliminates this possibility. During a recent spring vacation to Costa Rica our Garmin GPS pretty much saved our rear ends on multiple occasions.

Hand Sanitizer – In my mind, hand sanitizer is a tool, a tool that prevents me from infecting my body with germs on a daily basis.

Keep yourself healthy! Sanitize your hands regularly… especially before you eat.

Multi-head Screwdriver – Take a look around. I bet most of the manmade objects around you are being held together by screws.

Keep decent multi-head screwdriver with a wide assortment of screwdriver heads in your car and you’ll be prepared.

Adjustable Wrench – If screws aren’t holding it together then nuts and bolts almost certainly are.

You will eventually need to adjust the bolts on office furniture, your vehicle, and other objects. A basic 3-piece adjustable wrench set should fit the bill just fine.

L i f e l e ssons

Indo American News • Friday, January 14, 2011

22 Tools You Should Keep in Your Car

Pliers – Your hands are not the most effective tool for gripping and maneuvering small objects. That’s where pliers come in handy. One set of pliers will not do the trick either. You’ll likely need a small assortment of pliers for different kinds of jobs. At a minimum, keep a needle-nose, a heavy grooved, and a wire cutting pliers in your trunk.

Hammer – The single greatest tool of all time. The hammer has an infinite set of practical applications. A good old 16 oz claw hammer will do the trick.

Pen and Notepad – If you don’t write it down, you will forget it. Regular note-taking is one of the most productive habits a person can practice. Keep a pen and notepad in your car so you can jot down key ideas and information as they cross your mind.

First Aid Kit – When you or someone you care about gets injured, a basic first aid kit becomes the single most important thing you own. And what good is a first aid kit that’s sitting at home when you’re not at home?

Hands Free Set for Your Cell Phone – Why would any sane person drive one-handed while holding an odd shaped phone to their ear when they have the option to use a hands free set?

Multi-Use Car Charger – Some multi-use car chargers allow you to

charge up to four devices at once.

This unit turns one auto cigarette lighter port into two, has two USB charging ports, and provides a heavy-duty 20 amp capacity. Now you can charge your iPhone, iPod, and other electronics on the go.

Prepaid Calling Card – A calling card basically allows you to call anyone, anywhere from any telephone. They are particularly convenient when you misplace your cell phone or when you’re in an area that lacks cell service.

Duct Tape – If it’s moving and it shouldn’t be, duct tape it. Duct tape may very well be the second greatest invention after the hammer.

Quality Sunglasses – Most people consider sight to be their most important sense. Quality sunglasses protect the human eyes from being destroyed by the sun’s ultraviolet radiation. This radiation can lead to short-term and long-term ocular problems such as cataracts, blindness and eye cancer. So wear

sunglasses when you’re out in the sunlight.

Work Gloves – Unfortunately, human hands are covered with fragile skin just like the rest of the body.

Sometimes you need to use your hands to accomplish a task that requires a durability threshold beyond that of your exposed skin. This is where a rugged set of work gloves saves you from a few days worth of blistering agony.

Wind-up LED Flashlight – What happens if your car stalls at night on a dark road? What happens if you need to search for something in a dark utility closet at work? Always keep a wind-up LED flashlight (no batteries required) in your automobile.

Rubber Bands – Rubber bands are simple, functional and versatile.

There is an endless list of practical uses for a rubber band.

USB Flash Drive – One of the most practical accessories for a computer. I can’t even count the number of times I’ve used my 16 gig flash drive to save some data from someone else’s system. A USB flash drive is an essential tool you always need to have on you.

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Small Fire Extinguisher – This one is a no-brainer. If you don’t keep a fire extinguisher handy, you’re being foolishly optimistic.

Leatherman – This is the all-inone multi-tool you should never leave home without. These little tools can handle a plethora of different jobs. I personally own the Leatherman 830039 and I love it.

Bungee Cords – Tie things down, wrap things together…

Bungee cordsare like giant rubber bands with hooks. They’re darn practical to have out on the road when you need them!

Spare Credit Card and Cash – Let’s go back to the Boy Scout motto again: “Always be prepared.” If you lose your wallet when you’re out and about, it’s always nice to have a back-up plan.

While I’m sure this list could be expanded, these 22 tools are the tools I keep in my car. They have saved me lots of frustration in my moments of need.Indo American News would like to add Jumper Cables to help start your car. Also there are available Portable batteries to help start your car by hooking to your car cigarette lighter.

SHOBA JOSHI

ON AM 1320

Geetanjali Radio

Sat & Sun 2- 6 PM For your business ads Cell: 832-878-4338 | Tel: 281-265-3498 713-545-4749 Fax: 281-265-3498 | 713-932-8037 shobajoshi@hotmail.com

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Anti-Pollution Walkathon Held in Chennai

By Sheela Philomena CHENNAI (Med India): The Coast Guard on Saturday organized a walkathon at the Marina Beach in Chennai to spread awareness about increasing environmental pollution.

Around 2,000 people participated in the walkathon and among the participants were the families of Coast Guard, Army, Navy, Air Force, NCC Cadets, school children and others.

“Along the Marina Beach today, almost about 2,000 people have participated to convey a message to keep not only the area around the beach and the marina clean, but the entire city, as in the times to come it will be the environment which shall be ensuring a clean and good living for our generation,

and hence Coast Guard feels proud to be part of this endeavour to convey a message to Chennai and Chennai people,” said S. P. Sharma, Inspector General of Coast Guard, Coast Guard Region-East.

The chief guest at the event, Latika Saran, Director General of Police, Tamil Nadu, said that such events were required for the betterment of the city and the citizens.

“This walkathon is organized among...things for a cleaner environment and keeping the city of Chennai safe and secure for its people,” Saran said.

“This kind of awareness is definitely required, especially since we do not make any efforts to keep our environment

clean, and the beach is the best place to start with because there are so many people who use the beach,” she added.

The walkathon was conducted by the Coast Guard as a part of their anniversary celebration on February 1.

This Week in History (History): • On January 11, 1908, U.S. President Theodore Roosevelt declares the massive Grand Canyon in northwestern Arizona a national monument.

• On January 14, 1875, the theologian, musician, philosopher and Nobel Prize-winning physician Albert Schweitzer is born in Upper-Alsace, Germany (now Haut-Rhin, France).

• On January 16, 1919, the 18th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, prohibiting the “manufacture, sale, or transportation of intoxicating liquors for beverage purposes,” is ratified and becomes the law of the land.

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Sri Lanka to Scrap Visas on Arrival; Online Visas Now

COLOMBO (ET): Sri Lanka will soon introduce an online visa system to boost the economy and the tourism sector in the country after the end of a three-decade ethnic conflict that ended last May. The new service will enable the tourists to obtain visas without going to embassies. “The president

nationals from over 85 countries.

This was to have come into effect from October.

However, the implementation of the scheme has been delayed following protests from the tourism industry.

Sri Lanka has recorded increasing tourists arrivals after the end

Srilanka is a great tourist spot. In a bid to reduce long lines at embassies, it is now coming out with easy online visas that will validate travel arrangements using credit card and other documents

has given instructions to relevant authorities to start the new system as soon as possible,” president’s office said in a statement.

Last month, a senior cabinet minister announced that the government had plans to adopt the policy of issuing multiple entry visas for investors and business travellers.

Sri Lanka had also proposed to do away with visas on arrival for

of a three-decade war in May last year.

More than six lakhs tourists arrived in the country this year, up from last year’s 400,000 arrivals.

The government forces defeated the Tamil Tiger rebels in May 2009, ending the group’s armed struggle for a separate state. Between 80,000 and 100,000 people were killed in the fighting.

t ra v e l

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Switzerland Wants to Woo the Indian Budget Traveler

(India E-News): Switzerland ans was not confined to marketing The kitchens will be stuffed with sees no let up in the inflow of Indi- and advertising alone. The initia- Indian food,’ saran said.

According to him, the tariff at an tourists to the European country tives include faster and troublethese apartments will range befree visas, accommodation at and hopes to attract even budget tourists in the coming season with economy hotels and ensuring the tween 700-1,500 Swiss franks per accommodations at relatively in- availability of Indian food - major week, which translates into $600$1,275 per week. expensive apartments, loaded with concern for these travellers.

Rainer Blaser, marketing man‘We have also started the conIndian food.

‘In the past few years we have cept of renting apartments. This ager of the organization, said another reason why seen major influx of his country was Indian tourists to Euupbeat on Indian rope in general and tourists was that Switzerland in parthe global meltticular,’ said Swiss down had not afAmbassador Philippe fected the country Welti, launching a maas it had others. jor promotional aimed He said some at the tourists from this of the attractions country. that await the ‘But India is a large Indian tourist inmarket and still there is much more scope Ashish Saran, GM, Switzerland Destination Marketing is looking clude a stunning view of sunrise for growth. One of toward the Indian budget traveler to double tourism in 2011 along the Alpine my purpose during my tenure here is to ensure better tour- is not only cheaper than hotels, settings, wedding packages on top ism promotion,’ Welti told report- but will also give the feeling of of Mt. Rigi and mouth watering togetherness to Indian families. barbecue package with a free-view ers. open air cinema.

Officials representing the country’s tourism and hospitality industry said there was a 15-17 percent growth in the number of tourists visiting Switzerland, but were unable to quantify their numbers.

‘On an average, 12-14 million Indian travellers visit Europe every year - many of them to Switzerland - and we feel this can be double by 2011,’ said Asish Saran, general manager Switzerland Destination Marketing, a new publicprivate initiative.

He said the strategy to woo Indi-

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IPL 2011: How the Teams Stack Up After Eventful Auction

BANGALORE (Cricinfo): Chennai Super Kings No. of players bought: 18 (8 Indian, 10 foreign) Money spent: $8.6 million Big-ticket signings: R Ashwin ($850,000), S Badrinath ($850,000) Bargain buy: Michael Hussey ($425,000) Eyebrow-raiser: Dwayne Bravo ($200,000) Squad Batsmen: Suresh Raina (retained), M Vijay (retained), Michael Hussey ($425,000), S Badrinath ($850,000), George Bailey ($50,000) Bowlers: Doug Bollinger ($700,000), R Ashwin ($850,000), Ben Hilfenhaus ($100,000), Joginder Sharma ($150,000), Nuwan Kulasekara ($100,000), Sudeep Tyagi ($240,000), Suraj Randiv ($80,000), Faf du Plessis ($120,000) Allrounders: Albie Morkel (retained), Dwayne Bravo ($200,000), Scott Styris ($200,000) Wicketkeepers: MS Dhoni (retained), Wriddhiman Saha ($100,000) Deccan Chargers No. of players bought: 14 (5 Indian, 9 foreign) Money spent: $6.88 million Big-ticket signing: Dale Steyn ($1.2 million) Bargain buy: Kumar Sangakkara ($700,000) Eyebrow-raiser: Dan Christian ($900,000) Squad Batsmen: Kevin Pietersen ($650,000), Cameron White ($1.1m), JP Duminy ($300,000), Shikhar Dhawan ($300,000), Michael Lumb ($85,000), Chris Lynn ($20,000) Bowlers: Ishant Sharma ($450,000), Dale Steyn ($1.2m), Pragyan Ojha ($500,000), Amit Mishra ($300,000), Manpreet Gony ($290,000), Rusty Theron ($85,000) Allrounders: Dan Christian ($900,000) Wicketkeepers: Kumar Sangakkara ($700,000) Delhi DaredevilsNo. of players bought: 17 (7 Indian, 10 foreign) Money spent: $8.25 million Big-ticket signing: Irfan Pathan ($1.9 million)

Bargain buy: adkat ($250,000), Andrew McDonJames Pattinson ald ($80,000) ($100,000) Eyebrow-raiser: Allrounders: Umesh Yadav Yusuf Pathan ($750,000) ($2.1m), Jacques Squad Kallis ($1.1m), Batsmen: Shakib Al Hasan Virender Sehwag ($425,000), Ryan (retained), ten Doeschate David Warner ($150,000) ($750,000), Wicketkeeper: Aaron Finch Brad Haddin ($300,000), ($325,000) Venugopal Rao Mumbai Indi($700,000), Travans is Birt ($20,000), Rohit Sharma Colin Ingram was one of only ($100,000) four players to Bowlers: breach the $2m Dhoni and his Chennai Super Kings dominated IPL 2010.

Morne Morkel barrier © Indian ($475,000), Premier League Big-ticket signing: Mahela Ajit Agarkar ($210,000), Ashok Enlarge Jayawardene ($1.5 million) Dinda ($375,000), Umesh Yadav No of players bought: 12 (4 Bargain buy: Brendon McCul($750,000), Robert Frylinck Indian, 8 overseas) lum ($475,000) ($20,000) Money spent: $8.52m Eyebrow-raiser: Ravindra Allrounders: Irfan PaBig-ticket signing: Rohit Jadeja ($950,000) than ($1.9m), James Hopes Sharma ($2m) Squad ($350,000), Roelof van der MerBargain buy: Clint McKay Batsmen: Mahela Jayawarwe ($50,000), Andrew McDonald dene ($1.5m), VVS Lax($110,000) ($80,000) Squad man ($400,000), Brad Hodge Wicketkeepers: Naman Ojha Batsmen: Sachin Tendulkar ($425,000), Owais Shah ($270,000), Matthew Wade (retained), Rohit Sharma ($2m), ($200,000), Michael Klinger ($100,000) Aiden Blizzard ($20,000) ($75,000) Kings XI Punjab Bowlers: Harbhajan Singh (reBowlers: Sreesanth ($900,000), No. of players bought: 11 (4 tained), Lasith Malinga (retained), RP Singh ($500,000), Muttiah Indian, 7 foreign) Munaf Patel ($700,000), Clint Muralitharan ($1.1m), Ramesh Money spent: $6.95 millon McKay ($110,000) Powar ($180,000), Vinay Kumar Big-ticket signing: David Allrounders: Kieron Pollard ($475,000), Steve O’Keefe Hussey ($1.4 million) (retained), Andrew Symonds ($20,000) Bargain buy: Shaun Marsh ($850,000), James Franklin Allrounders: Ravindra ($400,000) ($100,000), Moises Henriques Jadeja ($950,000), Steven Eyebrow-raiser: Piyush Chawla Smith ($200,000), Thisara ($50,000) ($900,000), Abhishek Nayar Wicketkeeper: Davy Jacobs Perera ($80,000), John Hastings ($800,000) ($190,000) ($20,000) Squad Pune Warriors Wicketkeepers: Brendon McBatsmen: Shaun Marsh No of players bought: 14 (4 Cullum ($475,000), Parthiv Patel ($400,000), David Hussey Indian, 10 overseas) ($290,000) ($140,000) Money spent: $8.07m Kolkata Knight Riders Bowlers: Stuart Broad Big-ticket signing: Robin No of players bought: 12 (5 ($400,000), Praveen KuUthappa ($2.1m), Yuvraj Singh Indian, 7 overseas) mar ($800,000), Ryan Harris ($1.8m) Money spent: $8.57m ($325,000), Piyush Chawla Bargain buy: Jesse Ryder Big-ticket signing: Gautam ($900,000), Nathan Rimmington ($150,000) Gambhir ($2.4m) and Yusuf ($20,000) Eyebrow-raiser: Robin Uthappa Pathan ($2.1m) Allrounders: Abhishek Nayar ($2.1m) Bargain buy: Brad Haddin ($800,000), Dimitri Mascarenhas Squad ($325,000) and Shakib Al Hasan ($100,000) Batsmen: Robin Uthappa ($425,000) Wicketkeepers: Adam Gilchrist ($2.1m), Yuvraj Singh ($1.8m), Squad ($900,000), Dinesh Karthik Graeme Smith ($500,000), CalBatsmen: Gautam Gamb($900,000) lum Ferguson ($300,000) hir ($2.4m), Manoj Tiwary Kochi Bowlers: Ashish Nehra ($475,000), Eoin Morgan No. of players: 17 (7 Indian, 10 ($850,000), Murali Kartik ($350,000) foreign) ($400,000), Wayne Parnell Bowlers: L Balaji ($500,000), Money spent: $7.79 million ($160,000), Jerome Taylor Brett Lee ($400,000), Jaidev Un-

($100,000) Allrounders: Angelo Mathews ($950,000), Mitchell Marsh ($290,000), Jesse Ryder ($150,000), Nathan McCullum ($100,000), Alfonso Thomas ($100,000) Wicketkeeper: Time Paine ($270,000) Rajasthan Royals No of players bought: 8 (2 Indian, 6 overseas) Money spent: $6.2m (out of a reduced cap of $7m) Big-ticket signing: Ross Taylor ($1m) Bargain buy: Paul Collingwood ($250,000) Eyebrow-raiser: Johan Botha ($950,000) Squad Batsmen: Ross Taylor ($1m), Rahul Dravid ($500,000) Bowlers: Shane Warne (retained), Johan Botha ($950,000), Shaun Tait ($300,000), Pankaj Singh ($95,000) Allrounders: Shane Watson (retained), Paul Collingwood ($250,000) Royal Challengers Bangalore No. of players bought: 16 (6 Indian, 10 foreign) Money spent: $8.64m Big-ticket signing: Saurabh Tiwary ($1.6m) Bargain buy: Daniel Vettori ($550,000) Eyebrow-raiser: Saurabh Tiwary - Another beneficiary of the frenzy for Indian batting talent. Shone in IPL 2010, but isn’t exactly a big-name star, or a local player who will pull the crowds in.

Squad Batsmen: Virat Kohli (retained), Saurabh Tiwary ($1.6m), Cheteshwar Pujara ($700,000), Tillakaratne Dilshan ($650,000), Mohammad Kaif ($130,000), Luke Pomersbach ($50,000), Rilee Rossouw ($20,000), Jonathan Vandiar ($20,000) Bowlers: Zaheer Khan ($900,000), Dirk Nannes ($650,000), Abhimanyu Mithun ($260,000), Charl Langeveldt ($140,000), Nuwan Pradeep ($20,000) Allrounders: Daniel Vettori ($550,000), Johan van der Wath ($50,000) Wicketkeepers: AB de Villiers ($1.1m)

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