ADCB directors oppose move to help weak bank Tuesday, October 16, 2001
TIMES NEWS NETWORK
AHMEDABAD: Two directors of the Ahmedabad District Co-operative Bank (ADCB) have opposed their chairman Amit Shah's reported move to extend credit facility to Visnagar Bank.
Pradip Singh Chudasama and Ilesh N Patel, directors of ADCB in a recent meeting with Shah aired their misgivings on credit options being opened to a financially-weak bank.
The duo in a letter to the ADCB chairman have stated, "Visnagar Bank has been given Rs 15-crore credit facility... The bank has been declared a weak bank and yet you have given Rs 15 crores without any security."
Shah however told TNN, "We have no plans to lend any money to Visnagar Bank. This allegation is baseless and is being propagated by people with vested interest."
Chudasama on the other hand while talking to TNN said, "Now the chairman is contemplating extending credit facility yet again to the bank. Why should the earnings of farmers and common masses, deposited with ADCB, be extended to Visnagar. I am against sanctioning of loan under any circumstances to the bank and endangering public money. Like in Visnagar's case our chairman had hiked credit facility extended to two other co-operative banks in the recent past. Both the banks have downed shutters, we can't have a repetition of the same in Visnagar's case, too."
Chudasama threatened to take Shah to court. "I will file a case against the chairman of ADCB for misusing public money. Investing in Maharashtra Krishna Valley Development Corporation (MKVDC), giving loans to sinking banks despite examples like the Madhavpura Mercantile Co-operative Bank (MMCB) defies logic. I hope that my litigation will work towards making every chairman and director of a co-operative bank accountable to the depositors."
This is the second occasion when Chudasama has openly opposed the ADCB chairman when the latter allegedly tried to give Rs 100 crores at 7.5 per cent interest to bail out MMCB. In September he had joined a hunger strike in front of the bank premises.
News Source : The Times of India [India's best Newspaper]
Cardiac patients could opt for holistic treatment Tuesday, October 16, 2001
TIMES NEWS NETWORK
VADODARA: A decision on whether angioplasty is required or not should be taken after consulting senior cardiologists. A patient should assess his financial ability to undergo multiple angioplasty or opt for bypass, which can be a cheaper option, said Ramesh Kapadia who has treated many patients through his system of 'universal healing'.
Kapadia set up centre for universal healing in 1991. His centres have gained global popularity due to acceptance by medical circles. Vadodara, too, might have a centre for universal healing so that those patients can benefit.
According to Kapadia, experts agree that bypass surgery or angioplasty and medication in themselves are incomplete to end heart problems. "Undergoing a surgery is not enough nor can angioplasty cure all problems. Patients need to bring about a change in lifestyle", he said.
Deciding on whether to go for bypass surgery or angioplasty should be made by the individual as per his financial position and by a senior cardiologist who can explain to him if his medical condition warrants such a procedure", he said.
According to him, unlike the USA where both the medical associations and the insurance companies strictly monitor treatment procedure there is room for indiscriminate treatment options being offered to patients. "Therefore patients should opt for second opinion if they find, it necessary. Financially too these options should be weighed properly. There is no point in taking a treatment that eventually causes financial stress and tension", he said.
"Medical treatment is just half the total treatment. Meditation, deep breathing and relaxation techniques are the only ways to completely combat heart diseases", he said.
"Patients who have undergone heart attacks or angioplasty should not believe that their lives have changed for the worse. On the contrary there are many patients who feel that their lifestyles improve for the better after the heart problems as they consciously bring about a drastic lifestyle change that benefits them", he said.
On Sunday Kapadia met city doctors for a special talk on management of coronary artery disease through holistic methods.
News Source : The Times of India [India's best Newspaper]
Mega mart to boost farm products export Monday, October 15, 2001
BY ANIL PATHAK, TIMES NEWS NETWORK
GANDHINAGAR: The new BJP dispensation headed by Chief Minister Narendra Modi is contemplating on a proposal to set up a mega market for inter-state trade and export of value-added agro products, including high-quality groundnut, castor and fruits like mango and banana, green vegetables and medicinal herbs like Isabgul which have good potential in West Asia and Europe.
The proposed infra-structure to sell and export agro products under one roof has been recommended by the expert committee on strengthening and developing agricultural marketing set up by the government of India.
This committee has in its report to the Centre has suggested setting up of at least 50 mega markets in joint ventures as growth centres, mostly export oriented, along with agri-park nearer to sea and air port and production catchment zones. And two such markets have been sanctioned for Gujarat.
The Union government will provide financial support of Rs.500 crore for each market project under which several agriculture park, godowns, cold storage and food processing units will be created for organised marketing of agricultural commodities through a network of regulated markets.
Experts committee chairman Shankerlal Guru who hails from Unjha in North Gujarat having the country's biggest agricultural marketing yard made a strong representation to the new finance minister Nitin Patel and pleaded that the government should give a serious thought to the proposal as such infra-structure of marketing was crucial for Gujarat as its agricultural production was to reach whooping Rs.25,000 crore once the Narmada project was commissioned.
Now the state's agricultural production is around Rs.10,000 crore but because of non-availability of any marketing network the state`s export is negligible as compared to other states like Punjab, Uttar Pradesh, Himachal Pradesh and Haryana.
A three-member committee set up by former chief minister Keshubhai Patel has made some preliminary study on the proposal.
Nitin Patel who was then entrusted the job told TNN "We have already studied the suggestions made by the committee for making agriculture economy more vibrant through innovative approach and the state government would take some concrete decisions on the basis of the experts committee report".
The state government, he said, would also sympathetically consider the plea made by Guru that all agriculture produce market committees under agriculture department for smooth implementation of new programmes on strengthening of agriculture produce sector.
The APMC federation functionaries have requested Chief Minister Narendra Modi to decide on the issue soon in the larger interests of the farmers. The Karnataka government has made changes in the Act and brought APMC under the control of agriculture department.
Under the proposal farmers will get more remunerative prices for agriculture produce as the committee has recommended that 'allow direct purchase from farmers at his place without licence and government should facilitate rather than control and regulate market system'.
The committee has also suggested scrapping of essential commodities Act and review of 27 other acts to make them enable free trade and competitive system as in South Africa by amending and adapting it to India.
The other important recommendation is that 'Agriculture, co-operation, food, PDS, and consumer affairs should be converged by bringing a Convergence Bill as proposed in case of Prasar Bharati, IT and Communication.
News Source : The Times of India [India's best Newspaper]
Ankleshwar :: Silver worth Rs 18 lakh found on rly track Monday, October 15, 2001
TIMES NEWS NETWORK
VADODARA: Huge quantity of silver, weighing 260 kg, found on the railway tracks near Ankleshwar has become a major cause of concern for the Railway Protection Force officials.
While people have made claims to the silver, the authorities are taking no chances.
Sources said silver bars and biscuits were found lying on Saturday morning at a small bridge on the Piraman nullah near Ankleshwar.
The stock was in two gunny sacks packed neatly. Value of the precious metal is estimated to be about Rs 18 lakh.
RPF officials immediately seized the stock and sealed it after noting down the details on the bars. The silver is said to bear the name and emblem of a company based in United Kingdom.
Initial investigations in the case have indicated that the stock might be Mumbai-bound, but dropped off accidentally at the spot.
"It seems that the stock was loaded in the front brake rack of the 2902 UP Gujarat Mail going to Mumbai. People have come to Bharuch with documents to claim the stock," said RPF commandant S N Pandey.
Pandey, however, added that the authorities were being very careful in the matter. "We would like to ensure that the actual owner gets the stock. Also, the legality of the stock is being looked into," Pandey said.
Customs officials were also called by the railway officials to take stock of the situation. This, sources said, was being done to check whether the stock had been obtained through legal means.
RPF officials have rushed to various destinations, including on the railway route to Mumbai and Ahmedabad. Another major aspect being probed is the way in which the stock fell out of the train.
Fingers are also being pointed at the role of the parcel staff in the entire matter. What has come as a surprise to many is that the stock fell off the train despite the fact that brake vans have to be closed and sealed properly.
News Source : The Times of India [India's best Newspaper]
NSS centre kicks off AIDS-control drive Monday, October 15, 2001
TIMES NEWS NETWORK
VADODARA: To create awareness about HIV-AIDS a special Universities Talk Aids (UTA) programme was started nation-wide.
In Vadodara, MSU Training and Orientation Centre National Services Scheme launched the second phase of the UTA plan which involves training university youth to spread the message through peer group talks.
At a function organised here, MSU Pro-V-C V D Pathak and additional director Gujarat State Aids Control Society inaugurated the programme.
Kiran Shinglot spoke on 'Human Sexuality and Responsible Sex Behaviour' during the inaugural function.
A session on epidemiology and clinical manifestation of AIDS was also conducted. A three-day training programme too was kicked off here on Friday.
"The UTA plan aims to train the NSS training officers in such a manner that they are able to extend awareness to college youth through conducting AIDS campaign and strengthening the youth group for peer education," said Navle, director of the orientation and training centre.
He said the uniqueness of the programme is that it reaches the most vulnerable groups and highlights the need for sex education for control of disease, and this is done through talks by peer groups.
It uses college students to built networks in the communities and would also focus on values and character building among the youth.
As per this plan, university students would create awareness on HIV-AIDS through talks and NSS students would visit villages for the awareness campaign. This has proved successful in its first phase, he said.
The three-day programme will focus on subjects enclosed in the programme schedule along with training and development of requisite knowledge skill and attitude to increase the efficiency and effectiveness of the AIDS awareness and education programme.
The UTA programme includes nine major universities of the state. The project is sponsored by the National Service Scheme Union ministry of youth affairs, culture and sports.
News Source : The Times of India [India's best Newspaper]
