DRI detects fraud of diverting quake relief material Wednesday, October 17, 2001
TIMES NEWS NETWORK
AHMEDABAD: The Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) has exposed a fraud involving four trusts which had imported duty-free material in the name of relief for earthquake victims, and diverting the material for sale to Delhi and Mumbai effecting a duty evasion of Rs 70 lakh.
Acting on information received at the DRI unit of Gujarat, the Mumbai-based Shri Nopaji Lakhamaji Charitable Trust and Shivam Development Trust in Bhuj had misused the benefit of duty-free imports for relief material meant for earthquake victims. Seventeen consignments were seized by the DRI. These had come from Australia and three other European countries, and contained used winter wear.
The goods cleared from Kandla Customs house had been diverted to Delhi instead of being distributed to quake victims. The DRI Delhi then intercepted the consignments cleared from Kandla and despatched to Delhi in four trucks. The DRI officers then intercepted the truck (HR 47-2816) on October 2 in Delhi.
On the basis of the Delhi telephone number of the recipient, the officers of DRI located the goods brought from Kandla in two other trucks in a godown in Delhi which were located and detained in Delhi. DRI sources said that the whole fraud was masterminded by two persons in Mumbai.
Investigations carried out till date have revealed that 17 consignments were cleared through Kandla Customs in the name of four trusts besides these two. These trusts are Shree Deendayal Gramin Vikas Trust, in Mandvi, Kutch district and Ayurvedic Sevashram Trust in Rajkot.
Most of the goods imported by these four trusts as earthquake relief material were diverted to the markets of Delhi and Mumbai, thus cheating the earthquake victims of Gujarat and also evading Customs duty.
In all the 17 bills of entry, old and used garments have been imported and the total fair value of goods has been approximated by the Customs at the time of importation at Rs 1.80 crore and the Customs duty evaded comes to around Rs 70 lakh. The DRI has intimated the state government about the matter.
News Source : The Times of India [India's best Newspaper]
DRI detects fraud of diverting quake relief material Wednesday, October 17, 2001
TIMES NEWS NETWORK
AHMEDABAD: The Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) has exposed a fraud involving four trusts which had imported duty-free material in the name of relief for earthquake victims, and diverting the material for sale to Delhi and Mumbai effecting a duty evasion of Rs 70 lakh.
Acting on information received at the DRI unit of Gujarat, the Mumbai-based Shri Nopaji Lakhamaji Charitable Trust and Shivam Development Trust in Bhuj had misused the benefit of duty-free imports for relief material meant for earthquake victims. Seventeen consignments were seized by the DRI. These had come from Australia and three other European countries, and contained used winter wear.
The goods cleared from Kandla Customs house had been diverted to Delhi instead of being distributed to quake victims. The DRI Delhi then intercepted the consignments cleared from Kandla and despatched to Delhi in four trucks. The DRI officers then intercepted the truck (HR 47-2816) on October 2 in Delhi.
On the basis of the Delhi telephone number of the recipient, the officers of DRI located the goods brought from Kandla in two other trucks in a godown in Delhi which were located and detained in Delhi. DRI sources said that the whole fraud was masterminded by two persons in Mumbai.
Investigations carried out till date have revealed that 17 consignments were cleared through Kandla Customs in the name of four trusts besides these two. These trusts are Shree Deendayal Gramin Vikas Trust, in Mandvi, Kutch district and Ayurvedic Sevashram Trust in Rajkot.
Most of the goods imported by these four trusts as earthquake relief material were diverted to the markets of Delhi and Mumbai, thus cheating the earthquake victims of Gujarat and also evading Customs duty.
In all the 17 bills of entry, old and used garments have been imported and the total fair value of goods has been approximated by the Customs at the time of importation at Rs 1.80 crore and the Customs duty evaded comes to around Rs 70 lakh. The DRI has intimated the state government about the matter.
News Source : The Times of India [India's best Newspaper]
St Xavier's, Asia caught in GU affiliation tangle Wednesday, October 17, 2001
TIMES NEWS NETWORK
AHMEDABAD: The Gujarat University seems to have a mind of its own when it comes to affiliating new colleges. Despite asking advocate general Suresh Shelat's legal opinion on whether or not to affiliate two colleges, the university's executive council decided to refer the entire matter back to the need committee.
Most applications in the recent batch of trusts wanting colleges have already been approved. Only St Xavier's College and Asia Trust have been left out and may have to wait for a while before they finally get the stamp of approval. Both trusts are known to have excellent infrastructure with St Xavier's even considered a pioneer in computer education in Ahmedabad, but many in the university fear they may not get the colleges.
"I can't understand why the advocate general's advice has to be taken if we finally have to vote on the issue," said advocate Sudhir Nanavati who is a member of the executive council. At the voting on Monday, six out of 10 members to go back to the need committee. "If the matter had to be finally resolved through voting then why did we go in for a legal opinion in the first place? We could have gone back to the need committee without such a lengthy process and wasting time."
Now that the need committee will look at the two applications all over again, yet another long-winded process will start with one committee referring it to another.
The Council will meet again on Wednesday to discuss the issue regarding empty seats in the seven new BCA colleges where only 265 of the more than 900 seats remains vacant.
News Source : The Times of India [India's best Newspaper]
11 foreigners attending entrepreneurship camp at EDI Wednesday, October 17, 2001
BY HARIT MEHTA, TIMES NEWS NETWORK
AHMEDABAD: Entrepreneurship Development Institute of India (EDI) has organised an International Trainers' Training Programme for New Enterprise Creation. Eleven participants from five countries _ Kazakhistan, Egypt, Zambia, Sri Lanka and the Kyrgyz Republic _ are going through the six-week training programme being conducted at the EDI, Ahmedabad.
"The programme will develop a cadre of hardcore professionals who will work for the promotion of economic activities in developing countries. They will be equipped with new tools and techniques to help potential entrepreneurs to start their own enterprises and will help existing small entrepreneurs to grow further," said S B Sareen of EDI, who is the programme director.
According to him, this will lead to the strengthening of the efforts of policy-makers and planners towards economic development of their respective countries. EDI had organised 15 such trainers' training programme in the past and has trained over 265 officers from a number of Asian, African and Commonwealth member countries.
The programme supported by the Indian Technical & Economic Co-operation (ITEC), Government of India, also aims at strengthening educational, training and other support institutions with faculty resources by giving the participants an insight into the soft skills as well as hard skills so that they become competent entrepreneur trainer-motivators (ETMs). India spends about Rs 250 million annually on ITEC activities. Since 1964, India has provided nearly $2 billion worth of technical assistance to developing countries, including neighbouring countries.
The six-week programme aims at achieving its goal by increasing the supply of competent entrepreneurs in all the stratas of society in developing countries and encourage growth of existing small enterprises by way of providing effective business counselling services. "After the four-week classroom sessions, we will take all the participants on a study tour and make them visit the support institutions as well as small and medium enterprises. This will help them to know the practical aspects," said Sareen.
Elmira Faizova, who teaches at the Taraz State University in the Republic of Kazakhstan believes the programme, so far, has been of immense help to her. "The first thing I'll do back home is prepare a proposal for starting such a centre at the university."
Aymen Mounir Badar Sheta, who works with the ministry of manpower and migration, Egypt, admits that the idea of training entrepreneurs' trainers is completely new to him. "I never imagined that entrepreneurship can be taught. And taught effectively," he said.
Echoes Mubita Amakoka, who works with the Zambia Centre for Accountancy Studies, is happy that he is taking a lot of learning with him, which will be of immense help to his country.
According to Sareen, all the participants are asked to prepare a plan of action just before the training comes to an end. "The plan of action talks about how each participant would go about conducting more such programmes in his/her country. We keep in touch with them even after the training is over and try to help them out whenever we can," said Sareen.
News Source : The Times of India [India's best Newspaper]
Where to go this Navratri, the big question Wednesday, October 17, 2001
TIMES NEWS NETWORK
VADODARA: This year, youngsters in Vadodara face a dilemma: where to go to celebrate Navratri. It's a dilemma created due to a problem of plenty with a large number of organisers pitching in with attractive garba grounds, singers and sound system.
This year in addition to the old-timers and favourites like the United Way of Baroda and Way to Unity Trust garba others to have pitched in with attractive promises to make Navratri a fun experience.
Not just that, this time schoolchildren too have their own set of separate garba functions at various city areas. Shishu Sanskrutik Garba organisers Sonia Shah says: "Special children's garba was a felt need of many parents. Younger children between three to 15 years love to dance, but in garbas meant for the youngsters they do not get a chance to dance and get overshadowed. We therefore decided to organise special garbas for toddlers and school children," she said.
According to her, they have organised the children's garbas in such a manner that children would make the most of it. "Even the singers we have are children, so they enjoy more," she says.
Similarly the Way to Unity Trust garbas at the Laxmi Vilas Palace too have slotted a special children's garba at 7 pm. Here too a children's group of singers would be singing for dancers all of who would be schoolchildren.
Another set of garbas have been organised for elderly women who are unable to dance the way they like. These are being organised at the Milan Kunj Club where old garba tunes and dance styles are being followed for those wishing to opt for the traditional garbas.
Those interested in merely watching can opt for the MSU faculty of fine arts garbas where though they cannot participate they can watch girls dance to the resounding beats of the 'dholak'.
News Source : The Times of India [India's best Newspaper]
