T E Narasimhan, Avishek Rakshit And Jayajit Dash

Stories by T E Narasimhan, Avishek Rakshit And Jayajit Dash

Strike stops work at two MRF units

Strike stops work at two MRF units

Rediff.com   12 May 2009

The former unit produces motor tyres and tubes, while the latter makes radial tyres. Union sources said employees also decided to boycott the coming Lok Sabha elections. A meeting on Monday between management and union heads saw no settlement.

Hyundai strike ends

Hyundai strike ends

Rediff.com   8 May 2009

The 17-day strike by workers at Hyundai Motor India's Sriperumbudur factory ended after a meeting of workers' representatives, the company management and the labour board in Chennai.

800 arrested for strike at Hyundai

800 arrested for strike at Hyundai

Rediff.com   7 May 2009

Around 800 workers at Hyundai Motor India's Sriperumbudur factory, who were on hunger strike, were arrested on Wednesday.

In recession, small is bountiful

In recession, small is bountiful

Rediff.com   5 May 2009

Most recession-hit clients, domestic and foreign, are asking for price cuts that large Indian IT firms are unable to offer due to high overheads. However, SMEs can afford to do so, since their employee costs are low. This is the right time to enter the domestic market, which is projected to expand five-fold by 2020 to $90-100 billion, including both technology and business outsourcing, said K Purushothaman, Nasscom's regional director for Tamil Nadu and Kerala.

DLF may pull out of Infopark project

DLF may pull out of Infopark project

Rediff.com   17 Apr 2009

The company, which has already taken possession of land for the project -- it was inaugurated just two months ago -- is facing a cash crunch amid the prevailing economic downturn, which has slackened the demand for commercial real estate projects. A source close to the development said DLF was unlikely to go ahead with the project as its cash position was not comfortable and it did not expect many takers for the project due to the economic downturn.

5.5 mn await job offers from TN govt

5.5 mn await job offers from TN govt

Rediff.com   23 Mar 2009

Of the over 900,000 registered with the exchange for government jobs in 2008, only 26,752 got placed. The previous AIADMK government had put on hold new recruitments, except in departments like police, teachers and medicines. After the DMK government took over, it was decided to fill the vacancies across all departments through the exchange. Since then, 232,417 vacancies were filled, of which 46,931 candidates were appointed in various posts through the employment exchange.

Coal buyers resent EMD hike

Coal buyers resent EMD hike

Rediff.com   20 Mar 2009

Coal consumers across the country sourcing coal from Coal India Limited through the e-auction mode are sore over the recent rise in earnest money deposit for procurement of coal and also the bulk transport of e-auction coal through the road route which has pushed up the cost of the raw material.

Subhiksha's bank account to be attached

Subhiksha's bank account to be attached

Rediff.com   10 Mar 2009

A senior EPFO official said, "(Subhiksha) was given 15 days, starting February 20, to pay the PF dues. Since these were not paid, we will go ahead with the action and set a target to collect the dues before March 31, 2009, when the fiscal year comes to an end." The PF dues to be paid for the June-September period of 2008 were around Rs 1.46 crore. The status of Subhiksha's PF payments in other parts of the country will also be checked.

'7 nuclear reactors to be ready by Sept 2010'

'7 nuclear reactors to be ready by Sept 2010'

Rediff.com   9 Mar 2009

Baldev Raj, scientist and director, Indira Gandhi Centre for Atomic Research, Kalpakkam, said the current installed nuclear power generation capacity is likely to increase five-fold to 25,000 Mwe by 2050 from the current 3,900 Mwe. The proposed expansion would require over Rs 125,000 crore. Nuclear power accounts for 3 per cent of India's total electricity generation and is estimated to go up to 25 per cent in 2050.

General Motors to expand used car business

General Motors to expand used car business

Rediff.com   25 Feb 2009

GM India is banking on the growing used car market in the country to bring incremental revenues amidst sagging sales of passenger cars in the aftermath of economic recession. General Motors clocked a sales volume of 65,702 units in the India market in 2008 as against its targeted sales of 85,000-90,000 units. The auto major had not set any sales target for 2009-10 but expected sales to be flat.

PF office may query ICICI Venture on dues

PF office may query ICICI Venture on dues

Rediff.com   21 Feb 2009

Rules out involvement of nominee and independent directors.

Auto slowdown hits Hosur units

Auto slowdown hits Hosur units

Rediff.com   19 Feb 2009

The town houses some 1,500 small and tiny units, of which 75 per cent are engaged in manufacturing components for the automotive industry. The town houses some 1,500 small and tiny units, of which 75 per cent are engaged in manufacturing components for the automotive industry.

Subhiksha defaults on PF dues

Subhiksha defaults on PF dues

Rediff.com   12 Feb 2009

The Employees' Provident Fund Office in Chennai said it intends to attach the properties of the promoters of struggling retail chain Subhiksha to meet provident fund dues for around 4,500 employees in and around the city.

3 more standalone firms to enter health insurance

3 more standalone firms to enter health insurance

Rediff.com   3 Feb 2009

According to the IRDA's data in 2007-08, the health insurance segment was estimated to be around Rs 5,152 crore, with only 2 per cent of the total population being covered. Realising the potential and advantages -- the segment has been growing at 37 per cent since 2002 -- both life and non-life insurers are offering health insurance products. Health insurance in 2007-08 accounted for 0.2 per cent of the individual regular premium for life insurance companies in India.

Co-promoter Kotecha exits Pyramid Saimira

Co-promoter Kotecha exits Pyramid Saimira

Rediff.com   16 Jan 2009

Nirmal Kotecha, co-promoter of Pyramid Symira, a Chennai-based entertainment company, has sold his entire stake in the company. He was holding 24.89 per cent stake in the company as on September 2008.

Life insurers on recruitment spree

Life insurers on recruitment spree

Rediff.com   8 Jan 2009

A cross section of life insurers, while discussing their expansion and recruitment plans, said most jobs would be created in sales and services. With the industry expected to touch $52 billion in 2010 from $35 billion in 2007-08, insurers were bullish about the prospects. According to an industry analyst, the availability of manpower now is enormous and relatively cheaper since all major industries have stopped recruitment.

IIT alumni to improve ITIs, spur rural jobs

IIT alumni to improve ITIs, spur rural jobs

Rediff.com   23 Dec 2008

The Indian Institute of Technology alumni is planning to create a new fund to support its various social projects. The projects are expected to create job opportunities for rural youth and transform India's Industrial Training Institutes.

Major ports to tighten security

Major ports to tighten security

Rediff.com   2 Dec 2008

Port administrations are planning to install IT gadgets like Radio Frequency Identification tags in trucks, scanners and also use speedboats for patrolling. The boats alone are likely to cost around Rs 40-50 crore (Rs 400-500 million). Union Minister of Shipping T R Baalu has also asked the directorate general of shipping to undertake a special audit on security in all the major ports to ensure compliance with all security measures.

Rs 7,000 cr may come into insurance sector

Rs 7,000 cr may come into insurance sector

Rediff.com   1 Dec 2008

The Union government's recent approval to the insurance Bill, which proposes, among other things, to raise the cap on foreign direct investment to 49 per cent from 26 per cent for private sector insurance companies, is expected to bring around Rs 7,000 crore (Rs 70 billion) into the industry, according to industry representatives. However, the Bill is yet to be introduced in Parliament.

Insurance cover lapse rate set to decrease

Insurance cover lapse rate set to decrease

Rediff.com   27 Nov 2008

A committee headed by Irda's member actuary R Kannan has suggested a grace period of 15 days for policyholders who pay premium on a monthly basis, while a 30 days grace period will be available to those who pay their premium annually, half-yearly or quarterly.