Archana Mohan &Amp; Pradipta Mukherjee

Stories by Archana Mohan &Amp; Pradipta Mukherjee

IBM PCs for the poor

IBM PCs for the poor

Rediff.com   20 Nov 2007

Information technology giant IBM is taking computer education to students from weaker sections of society in Kolkata. Five NGOs, CiniAsha, Divya Chaya, Calcutta Rescue, SPAN, and Pratyush identify and bring in students from various parts of Kolkata for training at the IBM centre.

Nandigram: Top recruiters avoid IIM Calcutta

Nandigram: Top recruiters avoid IIM Calcutta

Rediff.com   20 Nov 2007

The Nandigram fracas is taking a toll on placements at the oldest Indian Institute of Management (IIM), in Kolkata, with top-notch recruiters like Goldman Sachs deciding not to visit the campus this year for summer placements.

Jewellery biz to grow on exports

Jewellery biz to grow on exports

Rediff.com   12 Nov 2007

Although exports of gold jewellery have increased from Rs 5,220 crore (Rs 52.20 billion) during FY 2001 to Rs 23,516 crore (Rs 235.16 billion) during FY 2007 (source: Icra industry monitor), the export business has been constrained by an inability to compete in global markets on basis of price and superior design capabilities.

Wellness players target customised services

Wellness players target customised services

Rediff.com   10 Nov 2007

In an attempt to combat competition from local beauty and wellness salons, companies like Lakme, Habibs and VLCC are gearing up to offer specialised and upgraded services. According to market data, the beauty and wellness industry, which stands at Rs 1,500 crore (Rs 15 billion) right now, was only Rs 400 crore (Rs 4 billion-)-strong in 2004.

Xenitis launches 100cc bike for Rs 19,990

Xenitis launches 100cc bike for Rs 19,990

Rediff.com   8 Nov 2007

It was the first company to launch sub-10,000 PCs five years ago forcing major PC makers to offer ultra-low cost entry-level models. Then it launched India's first laptop to be priced under Rs 20,000. And now, it has launched a 100cc motorcycle for under Rs 20,000. Xenitis has launched the mobike for Rs 19,990, with equated monthly instalments (EMIs) fixed at Rs 490.

Sponsors line up for B-school festivals

Sponsors line up for B-school festivals

Rediff.com   7 Nov 2007

Corporate sponsorships for B-school festivals are set to double and almost touch the Rs 1 crore (Rs 10 million) figure in 2008. While established annual festivals of B-schools in eastern India are likely to see a 20-30 per cent increase in sponsors and sponsorships, the newer B-school fests are likely to receive double the sponsorship amounts they received last year.

Want to halt attrition? Go to XLRI

Want to halt attrition? Go to XLRI

Rediff.com   24 Oct 2007

XLRI Jamshedpur, School of Business and Human Resources, has drawn up a number of courses this financial year for companies to help combat attrition rate across industries. These are expected to help managers and senior-level executives, especially HR personnel and team-leaders, to understand ways to retain employees and manage teams effectively.

Website ads rain on TV

Website ads rain on TV

Rediff.com   15 Oct 2007

According to the latest report by AdEx India, a division of TAM Media Research, the growth in Internet portals' overall ad volume on TV during the period was dominated by 'Shopping Portals 'which recorded a maximum rise in advertisements per day. According to the report, average advertisements per day saw a rise of 240 per cent in January-August 2007 over the January-August 2006 figures.

How Bakul Dholakia nurtured IIM-A

How Bakul Dholakia nurtured IIM-A

Rediff.com   15 Oct 2007

Under him, IIM-A went from having 12 partner institutions for student exchange programmes to 50 by 2006-07. The icing on the cake was the one-year programme for management executives, and students in this batch got the highest salaries offered that year, right from the first batch itself.

SMEs to invest $50 bn in telecom

SMEs to invest $50 bn in telecom

Rediff.com   11 Oct 2007

The Indian SMEs have spent over $5 billion on telecom equipment and services last year. Further growth is expected from the cellular market which is set to grow at over 13 per cent.

Oriflame to launch 150 cosmetics

Oriflame to launch 150 cosmetics

Rediff.com   10 Oct 2007

The Sweden-based cosmetics company Oriflame is set to introduce 150 more products in India by next year, as competition among direct-selling companies in India rises with the entry of more multi-national players.

IIM Calcutta in Rs 100 crore facelift

IIM Calcutta in Rs 100 crore facelift

Rediff.com   8 Oct 2007

In one of the biggest such programmes, Indian Institute of Management Calcutta is investing Rs 100 crore (Rs 1 billion) over three years in remodelling its campus to make room for 25 per cent more students and give it an international look.

Hairdressing? A good career option

Hairdressing? A good career option

Rediff.com   12 Sep 2007

While starting salaries range between Rs 8,000 and Rs 15,000, one can also start one's own business after gaining a few years of experience.

IIM-A centre to create $2 mn fund for clean tech

IIM-A centre to create $2 mn fund for clean tech

Rediff.com   29 Aug 2007

Initiative to cover fuel cells, bio-fuels and energy storage techniques.

Microsoft pushes W-Mobile in small towns

Microsoft pushes W-Mobile in small towns

Rediff.com   27 Aug 2007

With growth in mobility and mobile penetration levels in tier II and III towns and cities, Microsoft India is looking at a larger chunk of its mobility business from these regions.

Webel unit to make goods for the challenged

Webel unit to make goods for the challenged

Rediff.com   22 Aug 2007

Kolkata-based Webel Mediatronics Ltd - a subsidiary of West Bengal Electronic Industry Development Corporation Limited, is planning to start manufacturing and designing motorised wheelchair and digital hearing aid

Want paperless office? Go for Xerox Docushare

Want paperless office? Go for Xerox Docushare

Rediff.com   26 Jul 2007

DocuShare makes it easy for corporates to share ad hoc information more efficiently and allows organisations to do away with the time, labour, and cost of maintaining paper files.

Nasscom to roll out cyber security initiatives

Nasscom to roll out cyber security initiatives

Rediff.com   25 Jul 2007

As part of its initiatives to work with Indian law enforcement organisations towards creating more awareness on cyber crimes, Nasscom is in talks with Maharashtra Director of Prosecution to train 40 prosecutors every month.

ITC to scale up FMCG biz

ITC to scale up FMCG biz

Rediff.com   25 Jul 2007

ITC Limited is planning to aggressively scale up its FMCG business and expand the portfolio by staging an entry into the home and personal care market, in an attempt to be the leading FMCG player in the country.

Chairperson may be sole voice of IIMs

Chairperson may be sole voice of IIMs

Rediff.com   25 Jul 2007

Even as the human resource development ministry downplays allegations of interference in the selection of IIM directors, IIM insiders say a democratic selection procedure will depend on the chairpersons of the IIM boards.