‘Affordable’ Homes Just Got Bigger
The Union Cabinet has increased the carpet area of houses under the government’s ‘Affordable Housing scheme’. In the revised scheme, the carpet areas of affordable homes for the middle income category (ie. those who earn between Rs 6-12 lakhs per annum) has been raised from 90 square metres to 120 square metres. Indians who earn between Rs 12-18 lakh per annum are now entitled to homes with a carpet area of 150 square metres, compared to 110 square metres earlier.
But, anyone who assumes that the government intends to upgrade the affordable home buyer from a one bed-room apartment to a three bed-room flat, is terribly mistaken. Since the government has kept the latter part of the latest announcement mute, (unwilling as it is to increase the loan limit and interest subsidy) who the revision actually benefits is anybody’s guess. Technically the new specifications help the rich get into the “affordable housing” net. The builder gets sops granted in the Union Budget.
— C. H. Unnikrishnan
India To Shun dirty Energy
Union Minister for Environment, Harshvardhan, has reaffirmed India’s commitment to move away from coal-based energy systems, stressing in the same breath that it would take time to achieve the targets.
“Steps are being undertaken to de-couple the Indian energy system from carbon in the long run,” Harshvardhan said in his address to Heads of States, ministers and other leaders at the high-level UN-sponsored climate talks, which is the launch of the Global Alliance to Power Past Coal by Canada and the United Kingdom.
“We must also address the issue of climate justice. “We may at times find it difficult to take hard measures to address climate change, ” India’s Environment Minister said, touching on the Paris Agreement. “It often takes a hurricane, a massive hole in the Antarctic ice sheet, a devastating forest fire or an extreme flood event, to humble us, and remind us of our role in the current crisis, and nudge us to take action. We need not always wait for scientific reports to act,” he added.
— Anurit Kanti
Zinc In Soil and GST
Farmers are broadly happy with the five per cent GST on Nitrogen, Potassium and Phosphorus (NPK) fertilisers. Some micro nutrient fertiliser manufacturers in India, though, are unhappy with the higher GST slab. The International Zinc Association (IZA) is among them. Speaking of the need for zinc in the Indian soil, Director South Asia of IZA, Soumitra Das speaks of the need for zinc in the Indian soil in his pitch for exemption of zinc fertilisers from the 12 per cent GST slab. When harrangued about conflicting demands from other fertiliser manufacturers, Das quips that “nutrition” was vital for the economy too.”
— Prabodh Krishna
The Nationalist
Larsen & Toubro’s Group Chairman, A. M. Naik’s biography, The Nationalist, was unveiled in the presence of the who’s who of business and politics. The book was launched by Pujya Bhaishri Rameshbhai Oza in the presence of Maharashtra Chief Minister, Devendra Fadnavis, the National Security Advisor, Ajit Doval and Reliance Industries Chairman Mukesh Ambani, among others.
The book, authored by Minhaz Merchant and published by Harper Collins, reflects on Naik’s rise from humble origins in a village. Mukesh Ambani described Naik as the first ‘Make in India Man.’ “I still remember when Mr Naik was a general manager in group 2 of L&T, for me he was an original make in India man. At that time, we wanted to build capacities in India. We were thinking of importing equipment from Germany and Japan. But he said I can do it,” Ambani said.
— Clifford Alvares
Full circle for rossoGolla
The rossogolla has really come a full circle, now that West Bengal has wrested claims to the soft, spongy, sugar syrup dripping cottage cheese balls under the Geographical Indication Act. Odisha is yet to file its application. Every true-blue Bengali knows that the Rossogolla evolved at the kitchen of Nobin Moira’s sweet shop in north Kolkata in 1868. His descendants now run the famous K. C. Das chain of Bengali confectionaries. But Haldirams and Bikanervala probably sell as many “rasgulleh” or more than K. C. Das does. So, while we know what GI status means for the Champagne, its impact on the Rossogulla is unclear.
– Madhumita Chakraborty
