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Employees of top BPOs say no need for unions
New Delhi: A section of BPO employees across established companies say they have enough negotiating power and don't need to form unions.

The majority of employees felt unions could be counter-productive to the growth of the sector. Though employees admitted to issues such as high stress levels at workplace, long work hours, and night shifts, many attributed it to the nature of BPO operations where deadlines and data security became crucial.

Some BPO workers said that given the high attrition level and tight work schedules, employees moved from one organisation to another in quick succession and are therefore less inclined to get involved in organised union activities.
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AP Govt says it is committed to supply of free power to farmers
Hyderabad: Chief minister, Dr Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy, has asked for the cooperation of opposition parties to promote water conservation measures while reiterating his commitment to provide free power to farmers.

In an open letter to political parties, Dr Reddy said he was pained by the manner in which different parties have tried to twist the Government's pro-farmer campaign launched keeping in mind the long-term interests of ryots to sustain the energy system.

The Chief Minister reiterated that providing seven hours of power supply with quality and reliability to farmers both for kharif and rabi seasons was the topmost priority of the Government and regretted the stand taken by the opposition parties on the ground that there was nothing new in what the Government is stating now.

He said the twin issues of installation of capacitors by farmers and non-cultivation of paddy during rabi, were being propagated since the 1980s and the same were part of the "modified power policy" brought out by the Government in April, 2005. He said capacitors do not cost more than Rs300-500 and help save 10 per cent of energy and protect motors and transformers.
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PHDCCI puts India- Pakistan growth at 19 per cent in Apr-Aug
New Delhi: Industry body PHDCCI says India's trade with Pakistan grew by over 19 per cent in the first five months of the current fiscal, while the country's total trade with SAARC nations touched Rs 10,396 crore a growth of 17 per cent.

The chamber said while India's exports to Pakistan went up by 10 per cent, imports into India from Pakistan jumped by a whopping 86 per cent during this period.

Meanwhile, India's trade with SAARC countries has grown by 17 per cent in rupee terms and 19 per cent in dollar terms during the first five months of the 2005-06, it said.

Among SAARC countries, Sri Lanka has emerged as India's largest trading partner with bilateral trade registering a growth of 64 per cent at Rs 4,304 crore during the first five months of the curent fiscal.
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Centre may put in place a clear bio-fuel policy by early next year
New Delhi: After the Energy Policy Committee submits its report to the government by November 30 the Central government may come up a clear-cut bio-diesel policy by early next year. The report from the committee is expected to make specific proposals, which will then be forwarded to the Energy Co-ordination Committee for final acceptance by the government.

A detailed project report on a National Mission on bio-diesel based on jatropha specifically was submitted by the Rural Development Ministry to the Planning Commission for in-principle approval, which is now under scrutiny, according to government sources.

Experts have said that the lack of a clear-cut policy on bio-fuels, including incentives for private sector participation and easier land acquisition rules for bio-fuel projects is what is acting as a key speedbreaker for a big boost to the sector. Sugar companies, for instance, have been sitting on barrels of treated ethanol still to be picked up by oil companies despite contracts.
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Govt signs agreement with IIT, XLRI
Bhubaneswar: The Orissa Government has signed two memoranda of understanding (MoUs) with IIT, Kharagpur and XLRI, Jamshedpur for the development of engineering and management courses in educational institutions under the Biju Patnaik University of Technology (BPUT).

IIT will provide support for undergraduate and post-graduate programmes in engineering and allied disciplines, while XLRI will try to make BPUT a model technical university for management education.

The government hopes that the collaboration with IIT, Kharagpur and XLRI, Jamshedpur would help BPUT enhance the quality of technical and management education in the State.
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