The Hindu Business Line : Monday, March 15, 2004

HEALTH
Eye care: Stress on use of modern kits
FOR acquiring the latest technology that is very expensive but necessary to treat patients suffering from vision disorders, ophthalmologists in various cities in the country are joining hands to acquire the medical equipment for common use. For ... More

PHARMACEUTICALS
Drug access vs MNCs: New theory aims to resolve debate
EMOTIONS run high when the debate is about providing medicine to people at affordable costs, as against rewarding drug companies for doing innovative work and coming out with breakthrough drugs. Rewarding innovative work translates to keeping ... More

POWER
NTPC to retain LNG procurement conditions
Not relenting to the wishes of bidders, the board also decided that it would not allow any `price reopeners' in the LNG contract. More

STEEL
Steel industry says price hike forced by rising input costs
THE Indian Steel Alliance (ISA) has termed the allegations made against the domestic steel industry regarding rising steel prices as "unjustified and baseless." In a statement here on Sunday, the Chairman of the Alliance, Dr Jamshed J. Irani, ... More

TEXTILES
Falling hire rates hits grey cloth weavers
EVEN as the new investment for upgrading the weaving machines is on the rise, weavers offering looms for hire are confronted with decline in hire or conversion charges billed by them for the cloth woven in their loom sheds on job-work ... More

Nabarad plan to promote `Sungudi' saris
THE National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (Nabard) and the Ministry of Textiles have evolved an action plan to promote the famous `Sungudi' saris from the temple city. According to the Nabard Assistant General Manager, Mr R. ... More

WATER
Kerala headed for water crisis; Govt prods officials
THE State Minister for Water Resources, Mr T.M. Jacob, has said that officials under his department have been given a free hand to take spot decisions on ways to reach drinking water to the people affected by severe drought conditions in the ... More

Tamiraparani water for Madurai?
MADURAI: The Madurai Corporation is weighing the possibility of bringing water from Tamiraparani to tide over the drinking water crisis during the ensuring summer. According to Mayor Mr C. Ramachandran, without a fresh spell of summer ... More

EDUCATION
Open courses and e-learning
SOMETHING revolutionary is happening in Kerala's education sector. From the next academic year (2004-05) onwards, all textbooks for students of Class 10 will be available on the Internet. Textbooks for students studying in Kerala where Malayalam ... More

HCV/LCV/TRACTORS
Pick-up truck segment making strides
WILL the next revolution in the automobile industry be in the pick-up truck segment? Going by the trends of the last two years and the plans that automobile companies are drawing up for the future, the pick-up truck segment is set to witness a ... More

REAL ESTATE & CONSTRUCTION
Spiralling costs
Kerala Builders' Forum, backed by the Builders' Association of India, will go on a one-day strike on Monday to protest against the rise in the prices of cement and steel. About 40,000 workers are estimated to be employed in the construction ... More

Brick by brick
Labourers involved in brick-making in Chingleput, Tamil Nadu. With real estate looking up in Chennai and its suburbs, bricks are in great demand. The cost of a brick ranges from Re 1 to Rs 2.50 in the villages depending on quality. ... More

INDUSTRY ASSOCIATIONS
FICCI-Frames meet to focus on animation
STUDENTS of art schools have probably never had it so good if industry indications about prospects in animation are anything to go by. The burgeoning animation industry has thrown up job opportunities for these students in the last few years. ... More

SMALL SAVINGS
PF arrears soar to Rs 1,377 cr — PSUs are drag on recovery
PROVIDENT fund dues stood at Rs 1,377.87 crore at the end of the last quarter despite all-out efforts by the Employees' Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO) to recover the arrears from employers across the country. This may put the EPFO under ... More

EVENTS

Engagements

Meet on working capital in Madurai

ENTERTAINMENT & LEISURE
`Entertainment sector set for big growth'
THE Indian entertainment industry, which is projected to grow at a compounded annual growth rate of 17 per cent from Rs 19,200 crore in 2003 to 42,300 crore in 2008, could gain from improved distribution, better use of technology, consolidation, ... More