Mumbai, Delhi among world's less expensive cities
New Delhi: The continuing low inflation in the last two years along with a moderate appreciation of the rupee against the US dollar are making Mumbai and Delhi cheaper cities to live in compared to their counterparts in other parts of the world. In the latest cost of living survey for the worlds’ top 144 cities, Delhi has moved down 19 places to become the worlds 109th most expensive city, while Mumbai moved down to 114th position compared to the 92nd during ’02. With New York as the base city scoring 100 points, Delhi scored 63.3 index points and Mumbai scored 62.5. This makes Delhi and Mumbai half as expensive as Tokyo which topped the list with a score of 126.1. However, Chennai and Bangalore, the only two other cities from India to feature in the survey, seem to be getting expensive. During the ’03 survey, Chennai scored 51.1 to be ranked at 132 as against a rank of 136 in ’02 with a score of 49.8. Similarly Bangalore improved its ranking to 138 (47.8) in ’03 from 139 (47.9) in ’02. However, Bangalore continues to remain Asia’s least expensive and one of the world’s seven least expensive cities. There are only four other cities in Asia that are cheaper than Mumbai and Delhi, viz Colombo, Bangkok, Karachi and Manila with scores of 60, 58.3, 56.5 and 49.4 respectively. The survey conducted by Mercer Human Resource Consulting measures the cost of over 200 items in each location which includes housing, food, clothing, household goods, transportation and entertainment.
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Monsanto patents Indian wheat
New Delhi: American seeds giant Monsanto has patented wheat invented by crossing a traditional Indian variety with another wheat line. The wheat variety in question is Nap Hal, a primitive Indian land race. Monsanto says dough from its new wheat will be ideal for making bakery products like biscuits, crackers, wafers and crisps. But gene-scientists and farmers here say this is a clear case of theft with the potential to stymie further breeding of high-quality varieties utilising this heritage wheat seed. Monsanto Technology was granted the patent last month by the European Patent Office based in Munich. The patent has been given both for the biscuits, flour, and dough produced from the wheat, as well as the plant itself. By owning this kind of patent, Monsanto could, in the future, potentially take legal action not only against farmers and scientists trying to breed wheat varieties with similar genetic traits, but also bakeries, confectioners and supermarkets if they produce or sell biscuits and other foods made from patented wheat. When contacted, the Monsanto India office confirmed the patent, but had nothing more to add. International NGO Greenpeace, however, has much to say. In a statement on its website it says, “Monsanto is targeting and stealing from Indian farmers who have cultured this specific variety of wheat for centuries. This patent demonstrates the urgent need for a general legal ban on the patenting of genes, live organisms and seeds.” Greenpeace intends to file an objection to the patent over the coming weeks.
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