The Hindu Business Line : Tuesday, November 21, 2006

FOREIGN RELATIONS
Chinese President Hu Jintao's visit — More hype than substance?
With many ifs in the visit to India of the Chinese President, Mr Hu Jintao, there may not be a turnaround in the relations between the two countries. More

FARM CREDIT
Directed lending — a new approach
Rather than mandating farm credit targets, an enabling environment must be created so as to motivate Rural Financial Institutions to widen credit outreach. More

REGIONAL RURAL BANKS
Not-so-creditable on microfinance
There is a need to evolve uniform regulations and a single regulatory body for the microfinance sector and legislate so as to end all confusions. More

EDITORIAL
Power plan
Needed, an integrated energy policy to diversify fuel sources and encourage the private sector to invest in generation. More

INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY
`India can play leadership role in ICT in the region'
"We have been articulating with the Indian policymakers about the need for India to play a larger role in the region. This can also bring about significant development while serving others through public private participatory mode." — Dr Mohsen A. Khalil, Director Global Information and Communication Technologies at World Bank More

POLITICS
All set for a heated winter session
The session is beginning at a time when the UPA coalition is half way through its five-year term and facing elections in five States. With so many divisive issues facing the Government, the session is likely to see less of legislative business and mo re of political battle. More

BOOKS
Empowerment is expansion of freedom of choice
This week's reading list, recommended by D. MURALI, comprises books that examine initiatives by women to empower themselves, the scourge of female genital mutilation, and the struggles of mothers to be reunited with their children. More