Diwali bonanza: Surat boss gifts cars, flats and jewellery as bonus to his employees

SURAT: The liquidity crisis may have dampened the spirits of Indian diamond industry this year. But it is going to be a glittering festival of lights for nearly 1,200 employees of Harikrishna Exports, the Rs 6,000-crore diamond firm of Surat.

The company's chairman Savji Dholakia surprised his artisans and engineers by asking them to choose from cars, flats and jewellery, as their performance incentive.

The employees, who qualified in what the company calls 'loyalty programme' were given three options, car, flat or jewellery. Around 500 employees opted for brand new Fiat Punto cars, 570 for jewellery and around 207 chose a flat.

"All my dreams have come true only through my workers. A target was set for the artisans and engineers and they have achieved it. This is a big day for the entire Harikrishna family. We are the first company in the world to offer performance incentive valued at around Rs 3.60 lakh to each of the 1,200 diamond workers," said Dholakia.

According to Dholakia, this year, the company has paid a total of Rs 50 crore worth of incentive to the workers.

The company had started the 'loyalty programme' in 2011. In the first year, three artisans were gifted cars. Last year, around 72 artisans were given cars for achieving their annual targets.

Jignesh Makwana, 39, a diamond artisan in the company said, "I received a car as gift last year. So, this year when I qualified in the incentive scheme, I opted for a flat. I will pay Rs 3.60 lakh as down payment in the housing scheme of the company to own a 3BHK flat."

Another employee, Mehul Asalaliya, an engineer said, "I opted for jewellery as I have a car and a house. This Diwali, I will gift the jewellery to my beloved wife."

Savji Kaka, as he is fondly known in the diamond circles, is a native of Dudhala village in Amreli district. He came to Surat in the late 70s in search of a job. Without a single penny in his pocket, he went to his uncle and borrowed money to start off the diamond business on a small level. After years of struggle, he established Harikrishna Exports in 1992.

In just two decades, the company has achieved a turnover of Rs 6,000 crore per annum with the total strength of the workers and employees rising to over 9,000 including Surat, Mumbai and abroad.

"The average monthly earning of each of my artisan and engineer is Rs 1 lakh. There is one diamond artisan, who earns Rs 3.49 lakh per month. Artisans are the backbone of our industry and we have set an example by giving them highest wages in the industry," says Dholakia.

Stay updated on the go with The Times of India's mobile apps. Click here to download it for your device.

22.14 | 0 komentar | Read More

End of ‘Rahul era’ even before it began?

NEW DELHI: Rahul Gandhi addressed ten rallies in Maharashtra and Haryana. When seen in contrast with his own extensive campaigning during the Lok Sabha elections, the reality that mother Sonia Gandhi is not her usual self, and the carpet bombing of rallies by Narendra Modi, it appeared a tame effort betraying lack of optimism.

READ ALSO: People have voted for 'change': Congress leadership

But given the evidence of results, it may have been a calibrated exposure to insulate him from in-party critics likely to point out that he had failed the test of popular appeal once again.

It is a tough time for the Congress heir apparent already under attack for his leadership abilities. The question looming large is if there would be another burst of criticism from Congressmen. In such times, partymen have devised a new slogan to sweeten the bitter pill -Priyanka Vadra should take the plunge to help the brother. Not a very comforting thought for the young leader in crisis.

READ ALSO: Leadership vacuum leaves Congress groping

Priyanka and Congress have time and again clarified there is no such plan. But the incessant demands from Congressmen may find another outlet in the twin assembly defeats. As the results poured out, a group of Congress workers assembled outside AICC headquarters, waving posters of "Priyanka Lao, Congress Bachao" (Bring Priyanka, Save Congress).

A direct outburst against the Gandhi scion seems unlikely, it having happened after the Lok Sabha polls. But partymen are keeping a watch on the criticism of party managers who are perceived to be close to him. That would be an indirect way of questioning Rahul.

READ ALSO: BJP first party to hit century in state since 1990

A weak Congress has witnessed unexpected challenges in the past. Even loyalists like Jitendra Prasad and Rajesh Pilot jumped up to oppose Sonia Gandhi's leadership when Congress under her failed to make a mark and showed signs of heading south in 1998.

There could be compromises in the offing. There are signs that Rahul himself is reconciled to trimmed ambitions amid the unhindered hostility from within. The party has gone to unusual lengths to convey that there would be no wholesale junking of the old guard in the organizational restructuring. This was the theme of endless chatter about the "Rahul era". The appetite for experiments like "democratization" (election of party office-bearers) or "primaries" (to select election candidates through voting by partymen) may have diminished too.

READ ALSO: Cong workers demand Priyanka join active politics

If the rollback of the Rahul model goes on, it would mark his reconciliation with the changed political realities. And that may leave little for Rahul critics to carp about.

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/followceleb.cms?alias=Sonia Gandhi,Rahul Gandhi,Priyanka Vadra

Stay updated on the go with The Times of India's mobile apps. Click here to download it for your device.

22.14 | 0 komentar | Read More

Maharashtra impasse: Uddhav Thackeray meets Shiv Sena MLAs,

MUMBAI: The BJP is caught in a cleft-stick, thanks to a fractured mandate in the Maharashtra assembly elections.

With no political party securing clear majority, a period of political instability looms ahead in Maharashtra.

Hectic politicking has started in the Shiv Sena and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) over the possibility of cobbling up a workable alliance — against the backdrop of the rancour developed in the past one month between the 25-year-old former allies.

Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray on Monday met with newly elected party legislators at Sena Bhavan to decide the future course of action.

"We have accepted the verdict of the people," Sena leader Sanjay Raut told mediapersons after the meeting.

"No decision has been taken yet on alliance with BJP," Sanjay Raut said. MLAs have given Uddhav Thackeray right to elect leader of legislature, Sanjay Raut said.

NCP chief Sharad Pawar also met with his party MLAs in Mumbai.

Despite emerging as the single-largest party with 123 (122+1 ally) seats, the BJP faces a predicament here — it cannot form the government nor does it want to sit in opposition.

READ ALSO: What does the verdict mean?

BJP is new hero, Raj's MNS reduced to zero

It will be entirely dependent on a demanding and belligerent opposition for pushing through any policy initiatives or major decisions, though the prime BJP chief ministerial contender Devendra Fadnavis is considered an aggressive go-getter.

While the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) provided some relief with an offer of unconditional external support, this may come with many hidden strings attached, besides growls from the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS).

One option would be to approach the Sena, but its chief Uddhav Thackeray's body-language on Sunday evening was unnerving for the harangued BJP.

For, the BJP has already said the CM post is non-negotiable, and they would not have the post of deputy CM — and, according to some speculation, it may offer the Sena at best five ministeries.

"In such a scenario, what attraction is left for us to support or join them," wondered a senior Sena leader on Monday.

Sunday's outcome shows that the numbers game has become tricky on all fronts with many distinct possibilities emerging.

The BJP needs minimum 22 seats for a simple majority — with the NCP's 41, it crosses the minimum threshold limits easily.

In another potential scenario, if the Congress (42) and NCP (41) were to unite and offer 'outside support' to Sena (63), the three together achieve the magic figure of 146.

Some smaller parties and independents may also follow suit since all had one objective of keeping the "BJP out" at all costs.

The Congress is no stranger to such politics — it had tried out short-term external support several times to prop up various central governments from Charan Singh, VP Singh, Chandrashekhar, HD Deve Gowda, IK Gujral.

Sena sources pointed out that another option BJP would be to name Pankaja Munde as the next chief minister which has emotional overtones for both parties, and her additional credentials being the first Maharashtrian woman from the OBC to get the post.

Presently, all parties are keeping cards close to their chest and a clearer picture is likely to be seen over the next couple of days.

(With inputs from IANS)

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/followceleb.cms?alias=Shiv Sena,Uddhav Thackeray meets Shiv Sena MLAs,Maharashtra assembly elections,BJP

Stay updated on the go with The Times of India's mobile apps. Click here to download it for your device.

22.14 | 0 komentar | Read More

Google Nexus 9 listed on Play Store in India

The author has posted comments on this articleRavi Sharma, TOI Tech | Oct 18, 2014, 11.06AM IST

The 16GB Wi-Fi version of Nexus 9 costs Rs 28,900 in the country. The 32GB Nexus 9 variant with Wi-Fi and cellular has been priced at Rs 44,900.

Page 1 of 4

NEW DELHI: Just a day after its global unveiling, Nexus 9 tablet has been listed on Google's Play Store website in India. However, the new Google phone, named Nexus 6, has not been listed on the site as of now.

According to the listing, the 16GB Wi-Fi version of Nexus 9 costs Rs 28,900 in the country. The 32GB Nexus 9 variant with Wi-Fi and cellular has been priced at Rs 44,900, making it the most expensive Google tablet ever in India.

There is no official word on when the tablet will be released in India, but sources have told TOI that Nexus 9 as well as Nexus 6 will be available in the country in November itself.

READ ALSO: India may get Nexus 6, 9 as part of global launch

Nexus 9, which is manufactured by HTC, has an 8.9-inch screen with 2048x1536p resolution and is powered by the 64-bit quad-core Nvidia Tegra K1 processor, clocked at 2.3GHz. It is the first tablet to run on Android 5.0 (Lollipop), the latest version of Google's mobile operating system. The tablet has an 8MP rear camera with LED flash and a 1.6MP front camera. According to Google, its 6,700mAh battery lasts up to 9.5 hours on a single charge.

In terms of design, Nexus 9 is madeof plastic but features metallic trims on the sides. It also has front-facing speakers.

Among the chief competitors of Google Nexus 9 in India are Apple iPad Air 2, Samsung Galaxy Tab S 10.5 and Sony Xperia Z2 Tablet.

Article continues

Stay updated on the go with The Times of India's mobile apps. Click here to download it for your device.

22.14 | 0 komentar | Read More

16-year-old Indian hacked Pakistan People’s Party site?

NEW DELHI: He goes by the alias "Bl@ck Dr@gon" and claims to be the one behind the hacking and defacement of the Pakistan People's Party (PPP) website earlier this month. Bl@ck Dr@gon, the Indian hacker who says he is only 16 years old, pulled off one of the major hacking attacks in the massive cross-border website defacement activity earlier this month that saw over a dozen Indian and Pakistani websites hacked. On the defaced PPP website home page, he had left an email address.

READ ALSO: Hackers from India, Pakistan in full-blown online war

Bl@ck Dr@gon told TOI in an email exchange that he and a group of hackers work in tandem to hack and deface websites, mostly as a means of self expression. The attack on the PPP website, which Bl@ck Dr@gon claims to have hacked all by himself, was in response to Bilawal Bhutto's inflammatory statement on Kashmir.

"Statements of foolish politicians drive me to hack and deface these sites — it's the way we express our thoughts. I think Indian cops shouldn't have a problem if I hack Pakistani sites. Me and my team (sic) — Indian Hacker's Online Squad — never hack Indian sites," says the teenager, who did not divulge his real name. He also didn't reply to TOI's follow-up mail for more personal details.

Cyber lawyer Pavan Duggal points out that such actions would be liable for action, albeit only when reported. "If the hacking takes place through a computer resource located within India, it is punishable under section 43 and 66 of the Information Technology Act," says Duggal

The news of a hacking or defacement activity is often quickly circulated through Facebook groups. In the recent attacks and counter attacks that took place in the Indo-Pak cyberspace by hackers from both sides of the border, the targets were varied. They included, among others, websites of Indian actor Mohanlal, singer Sonu Nigam, the Pakistan electricity board, a Lahore university institute, the Press Club of India.

While these may seem random, the choices are made with consideration. Reciprocity seems to trump an independent mandate or a set of principles. "Mainly we try to hack high rank/popular sites, or sites of famous people, so that our message easily gets conveyed to the government and the people. We try not to (harm) sites of innocent people, but as you know, Pakistani hackers are hacking Indian sites of innocent people so we don't have a choice," Bl@ck Dr@gon said.

All said and done, the recent hacking face-off revealed serious lacunae in website security on both sides of the border. "Government websites are not secure enough. The government should get their websites' security tested and patched to prevent hacking," says the student hacker, offering his and his team's services to the Centre for free.

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/followceleb.cms?alias=Pakistan People's Party,Facebook

Stay updated on the go with The Times of India's mobile apps. Click here to download it for your device.

22.14 | 0 komentar | Read More

7 Class IX kids flee Dehradun to get hitched in Mumbai

DEHRADUN: Seven class 9 students - three girls and four boys, all between 13 to 14 years old - of a Dehradun public school who disappeared on October 14 soon after they decided to "get married, find a job in Mumbai and settle down together" have triggered massive panic in the hearts of both family members and cops.

Three vehicles carrying relatives of the missing kids and three policemen helping in the search have now reached Delhi and will be on its way to Mumbai where they are believed to be holed up.

Policemen on the trail of the school children, meanwhile, said on Saturday that "a couple'', hungry and out of money, has returned to Dehradun. The other five are still nowhere to be found.

According to the police, the group first went to Haridwar and took a train to New Delhi from there on October 15. With only limited cash in hand, they lived at platform number 16 of the New Delhi railway station for two long days. Two of the students even sold off their expensive mobile handsets in order to pursue their dream.

Soon, worried parents of this young bunch began approaching the cops and filing separate complaints with the police at the Patel Nagar, Basant Vihar and Lakhibagh stations in the city. SSP Ajay Rautela told TOI, "The minors claimed that they had done elaborate future planning and that they intended to get married and work in a big city."

Station house officer, Patel Nagar, Pankaj Garaula added that the children visited markets in Delhi and also watched a film. "The two who have returned said the remaining five have left for Mumbai, but this fact is yet to be established." He said a police team from Dehradun, along with the family members of the children, is currently in the national capital.

The father of one of the missing boys claimed that the children were misled by someone. "My son had gone for football practice and some of his friends took him to a birthday party. Since then, he has not returned home." He also accused the police of reacting slowly and charged that it was only after concerned family members fervently raised the issue that the "police woke up and came to Delhi with us."

The same parent expressed surprise over the fact that even after the children spent over two days at the railway station in New Delhi, neither the GRP nor the railway staff cared to talk to them. "We checked the CCTV camera footage to find out whether they had left for Mumbai. I personally believe they may be in Haryana or Punjab," he wailed. The family members and the police team will be leaving for Mumbai on Sunday.

Stay updated on the go with The Times of India's mobile apps. Click here to download it for your device.

22.14 | 0 komentar | Read More

Mysterious US space plane lands on California coast

VANDENBERG AIR FORCE BASE, California: A top-secret space plane landed on Friday at an Air Force base on the Southern California coast.

The plane spent nearly two years circling Earth on a classified mission. Known as the X-37B, it resembles a mini space shuttle.

It safely touched down at 9:24am on Friday, officials at Vandenberg Air Force Base said.

Just what the plane was doing during its 674 days in orbit has been the subject of sometimes spectacular speculation.

Several experts have theorized it carried a payload of spy gear in its cargo bay. Other theories sound straight out of a James Bond film, including that the spacecraft would be able to capture the satellites of other nations or shadow China's space lab.

In a written release announcing the return of the craft, the Air Force only said it had been conducting "on-orbit experiments."

The X-37B program has been an orphan of sorts, bouncing since its inception in 1999 between several federal agencies, NASA among them. It now resides under the Air Force's Rapid Capabilities Office.

(A handout photo shows the X-37B Orbital Test Vehicle mission 3 space plane after landing at Vandenberg Air Force Base in California.)

The plane that landed Friday is one of two built by Boeing. This is the program's third mission, and began in December 2012.

The plane stands 9. 1/2 feet (2.9 meters) tall and is just over 29 feet (almost 9 meters) long, with a wingspan under 15 feet (4.5 meters). It weighs 11,000 pounds (4,989 kilograms) and has solar panels that unfurl to charge its batteries once in orbit.

The Air Force said it plans to launch the fourth X-37B mission from Cape Canaveral, Florida, next year.

The US Air Force's first unmanned re-entry spacecraft landed at Vandenberg Air Force Base.

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/followceleb.cms?alias=X-37B,Mysterious US space plane lands,top-secret space plane

Stay updated on the go with The Times of India's mobile apps. Click here to download it for your device.

22.14 | 0 komentar | Read More

Bangalore, 11 other cities will get new names

BANGALORE: Karnataka got a festival gift on Friday when the Centre approved renaming 12 cities, including Bangalore and Belgaum.

Bangalore's new name will be Bengaluru. Mangalore will be renamed Mangaluru, and Mysore will become Mysuru. Bellary will be called Ballari in official records, while Belgaum will be renamed Belagavi. Hubli will become Hubballi. The new names of other cities are Tumakuru (Tumkur), Vijapura (Bijapur), Chikkamagaluru (Chikmagalur), Kalaburagi (Gulbarga), Hosapete (Hospet) and Shivamogga (Shimoga).

Union home ministry officials said the Karnataka government, Survey of India, railway ministry, department of posts, ministry of science and technology and Intelligence Bureau gave their clearance to the proposal. Minister of state for home Kiren Rijiju, too, gave his approval, which will now be followed by a final clearance from home minister Rajnath Singh.

The NDA government waited for the Maharashtra assembly elections to conclude because the decision to rename Belgaum could have cost the BJP votes in villages bordering Karnataka.

Sources said chief minister Siddaramaiah spoke to Union home minister Rajnath Singh on Thursday. Things moved fast after Siddaramaiah, at a meeting with Kannada litterateurs on October 10, announced that Belgaum would be renamed Belagavi.

The issue of renaming Belgaum was triggered by Jnanpith awardee U R Ananthamurthy at a meeting to discuss celebration of Karnataka's golden jubilee in December 2005. He suggested to then chief minister N Dharam Singh that Bangalore be renamed Bengaluru to mark the celebrations. Even as Singh readily agreed, demands from other quarters cropped up — and it became a list of 12 cities.

The state government mooted renaming the cities nine years ago, but the UPA government put the issue on the back burner. The proposal got stuck as the Maharashtra government filed a counter appeal before the Centre stating that the proposal to rename Belgaum had a motive to hurt the sentiments of Marathi-speaking people.

The UPA-I government cleared the names with the rider that Belgaum be dropped from the list as it did not want to antagonize Maharashtra over the Mahajan Commission report. The issue went into cold storage as successive governments did not pursue the matter.

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/followceleb.cms?alias=state government,Rajnath Singh,Minister of State,Maharashtra government,Kalaburagi (Gulbarga) Hosapete

Stay updated on the go with The Times of India's mobile apps. Click here to download it for your device.

22.14 | 0 komentar | Read More

Splitsvilla contestant hits Sunny Leone

Actress Sunny Leone, who's co-hosting and mentoring the contestants on TV show 'Splitsvilla', found herself at the receiving end of a contestant's outburst. Shravan Reddy lost his cool and hurled a heavy Rajasthani jewellery box at a fellow contestant, but ended up hurting Sunny instead.

ALSO READ: What makes Splitsvilla 7 hotter than ever before

The shocked actress hurled abuses at the unruly guy and was in no mood to relent even after Shravan apologises. Says a source, "Sunny had briefed the contestants in the beginning not to get aggressive. The production team had to intervene and sort it out."

Watch: Sunny Leone in Splitsvilla

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/followceleb.cms?alias=Sunny Leone,Splitsvilla,Shravan Reddy

Stay updated on the go with The Times of India's mobile apps. Click here to download it for your device.

22.14 | 0 komentar | Read More

Black money case: Can't disclose names of foreign account holders, Modi govt tells SC

NEW DELHI: The Union government on Friday filed an application in the Supreme Court, saying it cannot disclose details of foreign accounts held by Indians which are governed by bilateral double taxation avoidance treaties.

Petitioner and senior advocate Ram Jethmalani said this is an attempt by Narendra Modi government to shield those who stashed black money abroad.

Jethmalani said such a plea could be made only by crooks who have illegally parked their ill-gotten money abroad and not by a democratically elected government.

The apex court agreed to hear Centre's application on October 28.

Attorney general Mukul Rohatagi said the government cannot reveal names of those foreign account holders against whom no prosecution is launched.

The attorney general told the apex court court that revelation of names of Liechtenstein Bank account holders has been seriously objected to by the German government. The government is on the verge of signing important double taxation avoidance treaties with many countries, including USA in December, the attorney general added.

"If names of those not prosecuted are given out, then it will dry up the foreign government sources which provide the information about Indians stashing illegal money abroad," Mukul Rohatagi said.

READ ALSO: Three years on, govt gets reports on black money

Black money: Switzerland agrees to help India with time-bound information

Outside the court, Jethmalani took a strong critical view of the finance minister and attorney general for making such an application to the court and said it could help only the criminals.

Jethmalani told the court that he has written a letter to the Prime Minister on this issue conveying his strong views against the application and requesting the PM to take it as his last wishes.

The attorney general said Ram Jethmalani's criticism of the finance minister was unwarranted and unfortunate.

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/followceleb.cms?alias=Supreme Court,Black Money,Ram Jthmalani

Stay updated on the go with The Times of India's mobile apps. Click here to download it for your device.

22.14 | 0 komentar | Read More