Government, Travel

Air India Pilots Strike Called Off – 30Sep2009

Air India Executive Pilots have called off the strike today after an assurance from the Civil Aviation Minster, Praful Patel. He had made it clear yesterday that decision to salary cut has been in abeyance and final decision on the extent of cut would be taken with a committee comprising of Pilots. Mr. Patel also warned that if the pilots fail to return, then management has full authority to take action in favour of passengers.

Our View: Finally the customers can take some relief now as they are now relieved of the inconvenience cause due to strike. Happy Air Traveling!

Link: http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/News/News-By-Industry/Transportation/Airlines-/-Aviation/Carrot-amp-stick-may-end-Air-India-stir/articleshow/5070386.cms
http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/news-by-industry/transportation/airlines-/-aviation/Air-India-pilots-strike-called-off/articleshow/5070853.cms

Education, Travel

129 foreign Students, mostly Indians Displaced from Australian College

Australia: Due to the prevailing Australian government’s rapid audit programme to identify and close “high risk” colleges at least 129 students have been displaced. Most of the students are from India. Closure of St George Institute of Professionals, which is fourth in last three months, has lead to such displacements.

The displaced students are expected to be offered a placement in suitable alternative course at no extra fees. The audit is checking everything, from college’s marketing and pre-enrollment materials to qualification of its teaching staff and its training and assessment materials.

Our view: Last few years have seen an upsurge in the number of Indian Students going to Australia for professional studies, closures of such kinds have put a question mark on the authenticity of such colleges.

Indian students — please be careful before applying and joining any such colleges in Australia.

Link: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/news/world/indians-abroad/129-students-mostly-Indians-will-be-displaced-from-Australian-college/articleshow/5066677.cms

Related Links: http://globalhighered.wordpress.com/2009/08/11/indian-students-in-australia-how-did-it-come-to-this/
http://www.thehindu.com/edu/2008/03/10/stories/2008031050181400.htm

Business, Economy, Finance

Indian Banks decide to block all your credit cards if you default on one!

Customers with multiple credit cards will not be allowed to use any of them if they default on any one of them. Credit card companies have revised their terms and condition to implement this. This move has been initiated by ICICI Bank, which has already informed its customers about the upcoming change from 5th October 2009.Now the bank is authorized to block credit card on any other account of ICICI Bank after one defaults in any one of its multiple cards. Banks would not provide any additional notice for this action. Continue reading Indian Banks decide to block all your credit cards if you default on one! →

Business, Government, Jobs, Travel

Air India Pilots on Strike -29Sep2009

Air India canceled over 15 flights and bookings have been suspended for next 15 days after the talks have failed between the pilot and Management. Some 100 non-unionized pilot have gone for agitation, and have been reporting sick, against the cut in the Productivity Linked Incentives. Note that the strike by any union had already been declared illegal as the matter is under the conciliation of Labour commissioner. The cash trapped AI is under pressure to reduce it costs, which everyday owes Rs 4.7 crores in interest alone. AI wants to reduce its costs by 1300 crore a third of this has to come by restructuring the manpower cost.

Our View: This issue needs an early resolution as the passengers are losing out of this battle between management and Pilots. If this elongates the airline would see a costlier impact due to diversion of its customer traffic to other Airlines.

References:

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/news/business/india-business/Air-India-cancels-over-20-flights-suspends-bookings-for-15-days/articleshow/5066873.cms
http://www.ndtv.com/news/india/air_india_strike_no_headway_15_flights_cancelled.php
http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/articleshow/5067094.cms
http://www.rediff.com/money/2008/mar/15ai.htm

Heritage, Nature, Travel

National Parks of India

Besides having numerous wildlife sanctuaries, India also has about 20 national parks, which are aimed to offer the highest quality conservation efforts. Really impressive range of flora and fauna can be found within the boundaries of these national parks.  Following are some of the most popular National Parks of India:

Kaziranga National Park lies on the south bank of the Brahamaputra. The Park was established in 1908 and was declared a National Park in 1974.

Hemis High-Altitude National Park is the largest high-altitude reserve of India. Very close to Leh, in the area of Markha and Rumbak Valleys, the area in general is rocky and sparsely covered. The park comes under the district of Ladakh and represents the Trans-Himalayan ecosystem. The park was established in the year 1981 to preserve the dwindling population of wildlife in Ladakh region with an area of 600 sq km. The park has been earmarked as one of the snow leopard reserves under a central government project to conserve the species, its prey population, and fragile mountain habitat. It takes its name from the world famous Buddhist Gompa situated here.

Sunderbans National Park is located in the Ganga delta in West Bengal and was declared a National Park in 1984. It covers a vast stretch of mangrove swamp, lush forested islands and small rivers near the Bay of Bengal and comprises mainly of estuarine mangrove forests and swamps. The Sajnakhali sanctuary, famous for its rich avian population, is regarded as a part of the Sunderbans National Park.

Sri Venkateshwara National Park extends over two districts of Chittoor and Cuddapah of Andhra Pradesh in an area of 353.62 sq.km. The park established in October 1989, is named after Lord Venkateshwara of Tirupati. It is located in Rajampet of Cuddapah district and Chandragiri and Bailapadu of Chittoor district. The hilly terrain bounded by Seshachalam and Tirumala hills is rugged and beautiful with gorges, steep slopes, plateaus and valleys. The park is also famous for its beautiful waterfalls like Talakona, Gundalakona and Gunjana.

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