Konkanni Community news
Powered
by Walter, Nandalike
www.daijidubai.com
Three drown in Malpe, Hejamdi beaches
Panel to deal
with sexual harassment
The committee has been constituted based on the direction by the government and the Supreme Court order to prevent and to look into the cases of harassment of women employees at their work places. The planning officer of child development would be the member secretary of the committee, he added.
Forum to file defamation suit against MCC
He alleged that a senior officer of the corporation in collusion with two Congress Corporators had played the mischief of canceling the permission at the last minute. Discussions were held with the authorities concerned regarding the function much prior to the scheduled date, he said while accusing the commissioner who allegedly succumbed to certain corporate lobby. Vidhyadhara Shetty and Ullas Keremane of Suvi Creations were press conference.
Designer eggs
for cholesterol patients
High cholesterol levels in the blood are a major cause of coronary heart disease and are considered an important causative factor in problems leading to obesity and hypertension. Cholesterol deposits in the arteries lead to their narrowing and clogging, causing heart attacks. The recommended intake of cholesterol as per the international standards is 270 milligrams per day. Indian eggs have between 200 to 260 mg of cholesterol. Thus consuming even one egg leaves very little scope for maintaining the cholesterol balance when other food items are also consumed. Almost all nonvegetarian food items as well as oils and ghee contain cholesterol although in lower quantities than in eggs.
Zoologists at PU claim that the eggs have up to 25% reduced cholesterol. In other words, the eggs have cholesterol ranging from 140 to 180 mg. This allows for additional intake of cholesterol in other food items up to a level of 130 to 140 mg. Doctors have traditionally been advising people suffering from hypertension, obesity and heart disease to separate the yolk, which contains the cholesterol, from the white of the egg. "Though it helps people to reduce cholesterol levels, it also takes away all vitamins and phospholipids that help in normal functioning of the brain. The designer eggs can take care of that and allow people to eat the yolk as well as the white," claimed Taneja.
The eggs have been sent to an independent testing laboratory in Bangalore for final tests before the department goes in for marketing tie-ups or transfer of technology. Researchers at the department assert that the eggs are safe since no additives, drugs, hormones or genetic engineering techniques have been used. "It is achieved through careful modification of the feed given to hens," they say. Such eggs are also produced Europe and the United States under trade names like "Super Egg," "England Best Egg" and "Smart Eggs."
Pharma cos
inventing diseases to sell drugs: Report
The author was quoted in a report in The Telegraph as saying that the creation of diseases is turning "complaints of the healthy into the conditions of the sick." Unlike male impotence, female sexual dysfunction has proved difficult for doctors to define. However, over the past couple of years, a range of symptoms including loss of libido and painful sex has been brought under the female sexual dysfunction umbrella.
Creating a single disease out of a range of symptoms, makes it more likely that doctors will prescribe drugs as a solution, says Moynihan. "A cohort of researchers with close ties to drug companies is working to define a new category of human illness," he says. A spokesperson for the Association of the British Pharmaceutical Industry said, "We do not believe this to be the case. It is more about defining diseases accurately. Sexual dysfunction is a sensitive issue. Better definitions may make people more able to seek medical help."
Big surge in Indian exports to US
While the IT/software exports have maintained their 20% growth trend, the surge this time has been brought about by the 20.3% growth in merchandise exports. Diamonds and gold jewelry, textiles, knit and woven apparel, carpets, fish and seafood, iron and steel products and pharmaceuticals have all recorded increases. "We are now the 19th largest exporter to the US. Last year, we were in the 22nd slot," Indian Ambassador Lalit Mansingh announced at a Press conference. For the first time, India will be accounting for more than 1 per cent of US's overall merchandise imports.
In contrast to the growth of Indian exports, US exports to India continue to be weak. For 2002, American exports to India are now put at $7.1 billion, representing a modest increase over the previous year's $6.6 billion. This growth projection will translate into a larger trade gap in India's favour ($10.6 billion as against $7.9 billion in 2001). The trade deficit issue has been a sore point with Washington, which has sought to blame India's "high tariff wall" for the stagnant American exports.
Women farmers
told to become self-reliant
V. S. Acharya, MLC, suggested that all coastal districts be declared horticultural districts. A horticulture college should be established here with more stress on research. The district should also have food procession industries. The agrarian sector could progress only through horticulture. Innovations and reforms were necessary to solve the problems faced by it. The MLC said 50 paddy varieties were cultivated in Dakshina Kannada and Udupi in 1947. Now the paddy crop appeared to have become more of a burden to farmers.
In 1947, 28 crore of the population of 35 crore of the country depended on agriculture for a livelihood. The population had now crossed a billion, and still 56% of it was dependent on agriculture. Foodgrain production in the country was 52 million tonnes in 1947. It rose to 215 million tonnes now. In 2001-02, foodgrains worth Rs. 6,600 crore was exported. In 1947, agriculture contributed 49% of the GNP, and in 2001-02, 26%. U. R. Sabhapathy, MLA, said Bommarbettu, Manipur, Kudhi, and Alevoor villages in the Udupi Assembly segment had been selected for the Adarsha Gram Yojana.
This year, 1,000 pits would be dug for rainwater harvesting. Two lakes, one having an area of 38 acres and the other, 48 acres, would be developed here. There were more than 600 self-help groups in the segment. A Swasahaya Bhavan would be built in Udupi. Watersheds were essential for agricultural development. Women farmers should be educated about the benefits of water conservation, he added.
G. Srikantaiah, Deputy Director, Agriculture, delivered the introductory remarks. Sundar Naik, Chief Executive Officer of the zilla panchayat, presided over the function. AS Kumarswamy, Associate Director of Regional Research Station, Brahmavar, U. Ramesh Poojary, Manager of District Lead Bank, and Shivaji Suvarna, President of Belle Gram Panchayat, was present.
Special Economic Zone in Mangalore
The State Government would only play a facilitator. The Government was keen that the district administration and the KCCI identify the zone and develop it in association with the CATF. Mr. Prabhu said it had now become mandatory for the Centre to ask States to have their own SEZ Act. He said the CATF had presented a copy of the SEZ Bill of Maharashtra to the minister, and he had assured the CATF that the State would extend "statutory backing" for forming the SEZ. However, the Coastal SEZ would be unique. The coastal belt of Karnataka was known for its vast pool of trained human resource and would have enormous potential for SEZ in trade and services area. The OECD countries and the NIC countries had developed enormously in services and this could be replicated in Mangalore when such SEZs were created here, the approach paper on SEZ said.
The SEZ in Mangalore would mainly cater to trade and service. However, it would also have a manufacturing area, keeping in view the regional chemical industries. Nonpolluting units could be allowed in SEZ. The KCCI approach paper said the labour-intensive units such as garments, toys, paper conversion, repacking, and specialised packaging of commodities, value addition in agricultural and horticultural crops, spices, rubber, arecanut, and coconut-based products should be given preference in the SEZ. Units manufacturing all specialised inputs to Indian cooking such as masalas, ready made preparations, dried vegetables, fine ingredients, and inputs, maize, sugar, rice, and rice products, wheat products, potatoes, and onions, vegetables and other dried and processed food could be considered for SEZ. The approach paper cited the target markets of the SEZ as West Asia, East and Western Africa, Asia Pacific, and Russia.
The State Government, in its letter, said the CSEZ would be ideal for a port-based facility as emphasised in the Medium Term Export Strategy 2002-07. The Union Ministry of Commerce and Industry had identified the NMPT as a strategic location for a free port in India in the implementation model study conducted by the Indian Institute of Foreign Trade, New Delhi.