happy christmas to all.......
Tuesday, December 20, 2011
Thursday, December 15, 2011
Christmas
The precise day of Jesus’ birth, which historians place between 7 and 2 BC, is unknown.[13] In the early-to-mid 4th century, the Western Christian Church first placed Christmas on December 25, a date later adopted also in the East.[14][15] Theories advanced to explain that choice include that it falls exactly nine months after the Christian celebration of the conception of Jesus,[16] or that it was selected to coincide with either the date of the Roman winter solstice[17] or of some ancient winter festival.[16][18]
The original date of the celebration in Eastern Christianity was January 6, in connection with Epiphany, and that is still the date of the celebration for the Armenian Apostolic Church and in Armenia, where it is a public holiday. As of 2011, there is a difference of 13 days between the Julian calendar and the more generally used Gregorian calendar. Those who use the Julian calendar or its equivalents thus celebrate December 25 and January 6 on what for the majority of people is January 7 and January 19. For this reason, Ethiopia celebrates Christmas, both as a Christian feast and as a public holiday on what in the Gregorian calendar is January 7.[19]
Business ethics
Business ethics has both normative and descriptive dimensions. As a corporate practice and a career specialization, the field is primarily normative. Academics attempting to understand business behavior employ descriptive methods. The range and quantity of business ethical issues reflects the interaction of profit-maximizing behavior with non-economic concerns. Interest in business ethics accelerated dramatically during the 1980s and 1990s, both within major corporations and within academia. For example, today most major corporations promote their commitment to non-economic values under headings such as ethics codes and social responsibility charters. Adam Smith said, "People of the same trade seldom meet together, even for merriment and diversion, but the conversation ends in a conspiracy against the public, or in some contrivance to raise prices."[1] Governments use laws and regulations to point business behavior in what they perceive to be beneficial directions. Ethics implicitly regulates areas and details of behavior that lie beyond governmental control.[2] The emergence of large corporations with limited relationships and sensitivity to the communities in which they operate accelerated the development of formal ethics regimes.[3]
HAPPY CHRISTMAS TO ALL ZAPIONZ WARRIORS.............
Tuesday, December 13, 2011
Thursday, December 8, 2011
RAJYA SABHA
BACKGROUND
The ‘Council of States’ which is also known as Rajya Sabha, a
nomenclature that was announced by the chair in the House on the 23rd
August, 1954 has its own distinctive features. The origin of the second
Chamber can be traced to the Montague-Chelmsford Report of 1918. The
Government of India Act, 1919 provided for the creation of a ‘Council
of State’ as a second chamber of the then legislature with a restricted
franchise which actually came into existence in 1921. The
Governor-General was the ex-officio President of the then Council of
State. The Government of India Act, 1935, hardly made any changes in
its composition.
The Constituent Assembly,
which first met on 9 December 1946, also acted as the Central
Legislature till 1950, when it was converted as ‘Provisional
Parliament’. During this period, the Central Legislature which was
known as Constituent Assembly (Legislative) and later Provisional
Parliament was unicameral till the first elections were held in 1952.
Extensive
debate took place in the Constituent Assembly regarding the utility or
otherwise of a Second Chamber in Independent India and ultimately, it
was decided to have a bicameral legislature for independent India
mainly because a federal system was considered to be most feasible form
of Government for such a vast country with immense diversities. A
single directly elected House, in fact, was considered inadequate to
meet the challenges before free India. A second chamber known as the
‘Council of States’, therefore, was created with altogether different
composition and method of election from that of the directly elected
House of the People. It was conceived as another Chamber, with smaller
membership than the Lok Sabha (House of the People). It was meant to
be the federal chamber i.e., a House elected by the elected
members of Assemblies of the States and two Union Territories in which
States were not given equal representation. Apart from the elected
members, provision was also made for the nomination of twelve members
to the House by the President. The minimum age of thirty years was
fixed for membership as against twenty-five years for the Lower House.
The element of dignity and prestige was added to the Council of State
House by making the Vice-President of India ex-officio Chairman of the Rajya Sabha who presides over its sittings.
Composition/Strength
Article
80 of the Constitution lays down the maximum strength of Rajya Sabha as
250, out of which 12 members are nominated by the President and 238 are
representatives of the States and of the two Union Territories. The
present strength of Rajya Sabha, however, is 245, out of which 233 are
representatives of the States and Union territories of Delhi and
Puducherry and 12 are nominated by the President. The members nominated
by the President are persons having special knowledge or practical
experience in respect of such matters as literature, science, art and
social service.
Allocation of Seats
The Fourth Schedule to the Constitution provides for allocation of
seats to the States and Union Territories in Rajya Sabha. The
allocation of seats is made on the basis of the population of each
State. Consequent on the reorganization of States and formation of new
States, the number of elected seats in the Rajya Sabha allotted to
States and Union Territories has changed from time to time since 1952.
NARMADA DAM ISSUE
A Brief Introduction to the Narmada Issue
Opponents of the dam question the basic assumptions of the
Narmada Valley Development Plan
and believe that its planning is unjust and inequitous
and the cost-benefit analysis is grossly inflated in favour of building
the dams. It is well established that the plans rest on untrue and
unfounded assumptions of hydrology and seismicity of the area and the
construction is causing large scale abuse of human rights and displacement
of many poor and underprivileged communities. They also believe that water
and energy can be provided to the people of the Narmada Valley, Gujarat
and other regions through alternative technologies and planning processes
which can be socially just and economically and environmentally
sustainable.
We recognise the complexity
of the issues involved. However, once one cuts through all the rhetoric,
lies and subterfuge of the vested interests, the gross inequities are
clear. Large numbers of poor and underprivileged communities (mostly
tribals and dalits) are being dispossessed of their livelihood and even
their ways of living to make way for dams being built on the basis of
incredibly dubious claims of common benefit and "national interest". For
us, this is simply immoral and therefore unacceptable. No purported
benefits can be used to justify the denial of the fundamental rights of
individuals in a democratic society. And given the evidence of past
megadam schemes in India and elsewhere and what has already happened in
the Narmada Valley, we believe that the promised benefits will never be
realised. A mass of research shows that even on purely technical grounds, large dams have been colossal failures. While they have delivered only a fraction of their purported benefits, they have had an extremely devastating effect on the riverine ecosystem and have rendered destitute large numbers of people (whose entire sustenance and modes of living are centered around the river). For no large dam in India has it been shown that the resettled people have been provided with just compensation and rehabilitation. At a more abstract level, the questions that arise in the Narmada Struggle challenge the dominant model of development (of which Sardar Sarovar dam is a prime example) that holds out the chimerical promise of material wealth through modernisation but perpetuates an inequitous distribution of resources and wreaks social and environmental havoc.
Wednesday, December 7, 2011
Armed Forces Flag Day: A Call to Citizens
In the course of achieving victory in various wars that the nation has fought and also in combating the ongoing cross-border terrorism and insurgency, the Indian Armed Forces lose valuable lives while many suffer disability. Such men who are invalidated out of service require care and rehabilitation so that they could start a second innings in their lives.
Keeping this in view, the Armed Forces Flag Day is observed on December 7 every year. On this day, by displaying flags in red, deep and light blue colours which represent the three Services the citizens reinforce their solidarity with the Armed Forces. In some places, Armed Forces formations and units conduct shows to motivate people for the welfare of the men-in-uniform. This helps to boost the morale of the forces and also gives them a sense of assurance that the entire nation is behind them.
On this day, the community, in an effort to supplement the government's efforts to the welfare of the troops, contributes to the Armed Forces Flag Day Fund. The contributions of public towards this fund is collected throughout the country. The fund is operated by Defence Minister at the centre and Governor at the state level. Kendriya Sainik Board is responsible for administration of Armed Forces Flag Day Fund. Contributions made towards Armed Forces Flag Day Fund are exempt from income tax.
The three Service Headquarters collect funds through their subordinate formations. Funds collected by each state government are distributed to the Sainik Boards at the district level which in turn grant financial assistance to needy ex-servicemen and dependents of those who laid down their lives. State governments also utilise these funds to implement welfare schemes for ex-servicemen and their dependents.
great works of our great artist in our class.....
Muthoot Finance gains on fund raising plan
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| Muthoot Finance gains on fund raising plan | |||
| (07-Dec-2011 , 15:36 Hours IST) | |||
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Tuesday, December 6, 2011
Thursday, December 1, 2011
What is the Mullaperiyar dam issue?
The flame over the age-old Mullaperiyar dam row has once again reached Parliament's doorsteps. None of the two conflicting parties -- namely governments in Tamil Nadu and Kerala -- seem to be in a mood to back off, and the controversy is set to become an additional headache for the already cornered UPA government at the Centre. Rediif.com tries to explain the different contours of the issue.
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| Mullaperiyar Dam |
Where is the Mullaperiyar dam, and when was it constructed?
The Mullaperiyar Dam was constructed by the British during 1887-1895 across Periyar River in the then Travancore state (now Kerala) territory. The dam, with full reservoir level of 152 ft. provides for diversion of water from the reservoir through a tunnel to Vaigai basin in Tamil Nadu for irrigation benefits.
A 999-year lease was made, and accordingly, the Tamil Nadu government has been operating the dam. The Periyar power station in TN produces hydro-electric power from these waters and distributes that electricity in the state.
Who benefited from the dam?
Apart from providing drinking water to the people of Madurai, Theni, Sivaganga and Ramanathapuram, the diverted waters helped irrigate about 80,000 hectares of parched land in these districts.
So what is the problem now?
The dam is one of the oldest dam in service in the world, at 105 years. The average life-span of a well-built and well-designed dam is considered to be 50-60 years by experts. When the British built the dam, they expected its life span to be around 2,000 years.
But didn't the British build it?
The Mullaperiyar Dam was made using old technology, and not based on the modern parameters for design of dams. In this case, much of the building material used in the construction has been leached out, by wear and tear.
But then again, in 1930s, Tamil Nadu engineers bored 80 holes in the dam and injected 40 tonne of cement solution to plug seepage. Again in 1933, grouting technology was used to strengthen the dam. In 1960, 502 tonne of cement solution was injected. All this was done without any outside prodding
So, the dam is virtually safe?
Well, after a few minor earthquakes in 1979 in regions surrounding the dam, security issues were raised over its security. Since then, both the Kerala and TN governments have been at loggerheads over the security issue.
Later, experts from Indian Institute of Technology also examined the dam, and mentioned that the dam will not withstand an earthquake.
What does the TN government have to say about it?
The TN government refutes allegations that age has withered the dam. There are arguments that if the world's oldest Kallanai dam (built in the second century AD) in Srirangam in Tiruchirapali district is still functional and continues to irrigate about 4,000 sqkm, why can't the Mullaperiyar be as well.
So, where do the two governments stand?
The Kerala government's contention is that in case the dam breaks, the three dams downstream -- Idukki, Cheruthoni and Kolamavu – will not be able to withhold the pressure, which will put the lives of 3.5 million people in the state.
On the other hand, the TN government maintains that if the Mullaperiyar is demolished, it will create water scarcity in five districts of the state, leading to a draught in the region.
Have they tried no middle path?
Since 1978, Kerala has been demanding the construction of a new dam. As a reaction to these demands, the TN government brought the water level down from 152ft to 132ft to allay the fears. They agreed upon restoring the water levels once the strengthening works were over. But that matter went in court. In 2006, the water levels were restored.
TN has objection on the idea of Kerala constructing a new dam, because it would mean it that the 999-year lease would be void, and it would have to surrender the 8,000 acres of land under its control to Kerala. It also accuses the Kerala government of whipping up a fear wave among its people about the safety of Mullaperiyar.
So is there a solution in the near future?
The matter is still being debated.
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