VigZing

Kingfisher crisis: 'Is it our duty to fly on loss-making routes,' tweets Vijay Mallya

New Delhi: Hours after the government made it clear that a debt recast like was done for Air India was not possible for Kingfisher, the airline's owner and liquor baron Vijay Mallya tweeted, "Every government has gone out of the way to support airlines and connectivity. In India, airlines are over-taxed and over-charged. Wonder why?"

In another post that came in minutes after the first one, Mr Mallya said, "Is it Kingfisher's duty to fly on loss-making routes when state governments tax heavily? Or should we be financially prudent and fly profitably?"

Mr Mallya's cash-strapped Airlines has been in the news for numerous flight cancellations in the past few days. Over the last four days, it has grounded more than 120 flights. On Friday, at least 40 flights were cancelled and scores of pilots and other ground-staff called-in sick.

Kingfisher says flights had to be cancelled because of route rationalisation and due to the airline's efforts at improving productivity. In a statement, the airlines said, "As per the revised schedule, it will offer 300 daily flights connecting 54 cities as compared to its previous schedule of 340 flights."

"Kingfisher has been in business for six years and it will continue to be around. There is no doubt in our mind as a management team or Dr Mallya as a promoter of the airline about the credibility or the future of the airline," Kingfisher's CEO Sanjay Aggarwal said.

Sources say the airline has sought Finance Ministry's help on its loans. But the airline maintains it hasn't asked for a government bailout; it says it has asked banks to increase limits in order to meet escalating operations costs.

Civil Aviation Minister Vayalar Ravi said on Friday that "There is no package and government of India has no plans for a package. He (Vijay Mallya) did not ask for a package. But this is one of the major airlines and the government did not want to see it close down. I hope the banks will come forward. We will talk to them." He said he might speak to banks for the airlines and added that he had spoken to Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee and Oil Minister Jaipal Reddy after Mr Mallya spoke to him seeking help.

The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has issued a notice under Rule 140(A) of the Aircraft Rules, 1937, asking Kingfisher why it had not taken the regulator's prior approval to curtail its flight schedules as required by this rule. It has also sought to know whether the airline had taken any step to facilitate the passengers inconvenienced by the cancellations.

Mr Mallya is said to have spoken to the DGCA on Thursday. He reportedly assured the DGCA that the airline is working out a contingency plan to minimise passenger inconvenience in the coming months. The airline says passengers are being informed via mails about recent developments and changes. It, however, stresses that "reports about flights being cancelled owing to the supposed exodus of pilots appears to be falsified."

Meanwhile, all the oil marketing companies - Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Limited, Indian Oil Corporation and Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited - have denied extending credit line to the airline and asked it to pay for lifting jet fuel on a daily basis.

Sources have said that the Delhi International Airport (DIAL) and the Airports Authority of India have threatened to impose cash-and-carry on the airlines, which means the company will not get any more credit and will have to pay for use on a daily basis. Kingfisher owes about Rs. 220 crore to Airports Authority of India alone.

Shares of Kingfisher Airlines touched an all-time low on Friday before settling sharply down by over 9 per cent as the cash-strapped company continued to face serious financial turbulence. Kingfisher shares settled at Rs. 19.65, down 9.45 per cent.

In the process, the company's market capitalisation eroded by Rs. 102 crore to Rs. 978 crore from Rs. 1,080 crore as on Wednesday. The airline has suffered a loss of Rs. 1,027 crore in 2010-11 and has a mounting debt of Rs. 7,057.08 crore.

Meanwhile, flying back to India after the SAARC summit in the Maldives, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said: ''Private sector companies have to be managed efficiently but if they get into difficulties we have to find a ways and means to get them out of the process. I have not applied my mind to Kingfisher's problems. When I get back I will talk to Mr. Valayar Ravi. He will explore ways and means in which airlines can be helped.''

ಸರ್ಕಾರ ಶಿಕ್ಷಣವನ್ನು ಹಣ ತೊಡಗಿಸಿ ಲಾಭ ಮಾಡಿಕೊಳ್ಳುವ ಉದ್ಯಮವೆಂದೇ ಭಾವಿಸಿರುವುದು ಸ್ಪಷ್ಟವಾಗಿದೆ

ಮಕ್ಕಳ ಹಾಜರಾತಿ ಕೊರತೆಯ ನೆಪ ಒಡ್ಡಿ ಸಾವಿರಾರು ಕನ್ನಡ ಶಾಲೆಗಳನ್ನು ಮುಚ್ಚಲು ಕ್ರಮ ಕೈಗೊಂಡಿರುವ ರಾಜ್ಯದ ಬಿಜೆಪಿ ಸರ್ಕಾರ, ಅದಕ್ಕಿಂತಲೂ ಹೆಚ್ಚಿನ ಉತ್ಸಾಹದಲ್ಲಿ ಇಂಗ್ಲಿಷ್ ಮಾಧ್ಯಮ ಶಾಲೆಗಳ ಆರಂಭಕ್ಕೆ ಅರ್ಜಿಗಳನ್ನು ಆಹ್ವಾನಿಸಿದೆ. ಇದು ರಾಜ್ಯ ಸರ್ಕಾರವೇ ಅಂಗೀಕರಿಸಿದ ಭಾಷಾ ನೀತಿಯ ಸ್ಪಷ್ಟ ಉಲ್ಲಂಘನೆ.

ಮಕ್ಕಳಿಗೆ ಶಿಕ್ಷಣದ ಹಕ್ಕನ್ನು ಕೇಂದ್ರ ಸರ್ಕಾರ ನೀಡಿ ಅದಕ್ಕಾಗಿ ವಿಶೇಷ ಸಂಪನ್ಮೂಲವನ್ನು ನಿಗದಿಪಡಿಸಿದ್ದರೆ, ಅದನ್ನು ಅನುಷ್ಠಾನಗೊಳಿಸುವುದಕ್ಕೆ ರಾಜಕೀಯ ಕಾರಣಕ್ಕಾಗಿ ನಿರಾಸಕ್ತಿ ತೋರಿಸುತ್ತಿರುವ ರಾಜ್ಯ ಸರ್ಕಾರದ ನಡವಳಿಕೆ ರಾಜ್ಯದ ಮಕ್ಕಳಿಗೆ ಮಾಡುತ್ತಿರುವ ಅನ್ಯಾಯ.

ಶಿಕ್ಷಣ ನೀಡುವ ಸಾಂವಿಧಾನಿಕ ಕರ್ತವ್ಯವನ್ನು ಮರೆತಿರುವ ಸರ್ಕಾರ ಅದನ್ನು ವ್ಯಾವಹಾರಿಕ ಲಾಭ ತಂದುಕೊಡುವ ಉದ್ಯಮವೆಂದು ಭಾವಿಸಿರುವುದು ಈ ಕ್ರಮದಿಂದ ಸ್ಪಷ್ಟ. ಉದ್ಯಮ ಆರಂಭಿಸುವವರಿಗೆ ನೀಡುವ ಸೂಚನೆಯನ್ನು ನೆನಪಿಸುವಂತೆ ಇಂಗ್ಲಿಷ್ ಮಾಧ್ಯಮ ಶಾಲೆಗಳಿಗೆ ಅನುಮತಿ ನೀಡುವ ಸಂಬಂಧದಲ್ಲಿ ಸುತ್ತೋಲೆ ಹೊರಡಿಸಲಾಗಿದೆ.

ಇದನ್ನು ಗಮನಿಸಿದರೆ ಸರ್ಕಾರ ಶಿಕ್ಷಣವನ್ನು ಹಣ ತೊಡಗಿಸಿ ಲಾಭ ಮಾಡಿಕೊಳ್ಳುವ ಉದ್ಯಮವೆಂದೇ ಭಾವಿಸಿರುವುದು ಸ್ಪಷ್ಟವಾಗಿದೆ. ಜನತೆ ನೀಡಿರುವ ಅಧಿಕಾರ ಸ್ವಂತಕ್ಕೆ ಕೋಟ್ಯಂತರ ರೂಪಾಯಿ ಆಸ್ತಿ ಮಾಡಿಕೊಳ್ಳುವುದಕ್ಕೆ ನೀಡಿರುವ ಪರವಾನಗಿ ಎಂದು ಅಧಿಕಾರಕ್ಕೆ ಬಂದ ಮೂರೂವರೆ ವರ್ಷಗಳಲ್ಲಿ ಬೆಳಕಿಗೆ ಬಂದ ಹತ್ತಾರು ಹಗರಣಗಳ ಮೂಲಕ ತೋರಿಸಿಕೊಂಡಿರುವ ಬಿಜೆಪಿ ಸರ್ಕಾರ, ಪ್ರಾಥಮಿಕ ಶಿಕ್ಷಣ ಕ್ಷೇತ್ರವನ್ನೂ ಖಾಸಗಿಯವರಿಗೆ ಒಪ್ಪಿಸುವ ಹುನ್ನಾರ ನಡೆಸಿ ರಾಜ್ಯದಲ್ಲಿ ಮುಂದಿನ ಪೀಳಿಗೆಯ ಭವಿಷ್ಯದ ಜೊತೆ ಚೆಲ್ಲಾಟವಾಡುತ್ತಿದೆ.

ಬಾಲ್ಯದ ಹಂತದಲ್ಲಿ ವಿಷಯಗ್ರಹಿಕೆಗೆ ಮಾತೃಭಾಷೆಯಲ್ಲಿ ಶಿಕ್ಷಣ ನೀಡುವುದು ಹೆಚ್ಚು ಪರಿಣಾಮಕಾರಿ ಎಂಬುದು ಜಗತ್ತಿನಾದ್ಯಂತ ಶಿಕ್ಷಣ ತಜ್ಞರು, ಮನೋವಿಜ್ಞಾನಿಗಳು ಮತ್ತು ಭಾಷಾತಜ್ಞರು ಕಂಡುಕೊಂಡ ಸತ್ಯ. ಪರಿಸರಕ್ಕಿಂತ ಭಿನ್ನವಾದ ಭಾಷೆಯಲ್ಲಿ ಕಲಿಯುವುದರಿಂದ ವಿಷಯದ ಗ್ರಹಿಕೆ ಭಾಷೆಯ ತೊಡಕಿನಿಂದ ಕ್ಲಿಷ್ಟವಾಗಿ ಕಲಿಕೆ ನಿಜಕ್ಕೂ ಹೊರೆಯಾಗುತ್ತದೆ ಎಂದೇ ತಜ್ಞರು ಪ್ರತಿಪಾದಿಸಿದ್ದಾರೆ.

ಆದರೆ ಇಂಗ್ಲಿಷ್ ಮಾಧ್ಯಮದಲ್ಲಿ ಶಿಕ್ಷಣ ಕೊಡಿಸುವುದರಿಂದ ಉದ್ಯೋಗ ಮತ್ತು ಭವಿಷ್ಯ ಎಂಬ ತಪ್ಪು ಭಾವನೆ ಪೋಷಕವರ್ಗದಲ್ಲಿ ಮನೆ ಮಾಡಿರುವುದರಿಂದ ಇಂಗ್ಲಿಷ್ ಮಾಧ್ಯಮ ಶಾಲೆಗಳಿಗೆ ಬೇಡಿಕೆ ಇದೆ.

ಈ ತಪ್ಪುಗ್ರಹಿಕೆಯನ್ನು ನಿವಾರಿಸುವ ಪ್ರಾಮಾಣಿಕ ಪ್ರಯತ್ನ ಸರ್ಕಾರದಿಂದ ಆಗುತ್ತಿಲ್ಲ. ಇಂಗ್ಲಿಷನ್ನು ಸಂವಹನ ಭಾಷೆಯಾಗಿ ಕಲಿಯುವುದಕ್ಕೂ, ಅದರ ಮೂಲಕವೇ ಅವಶ್ಯಕ ಜ್ಞಾನ ಶಿಸ್ತುಗಳನ್ನು ಕಲಿಯುವುದಕ್ಕೂ ಇರುವ ವ್ಯತ್ಯಾಸವನ್ನು ಪೋಷಕವರ್ಗಕ್ಕೆ ಮನವರಿಕೆ ಮಾಡಿದರೆ ಇಂಗ್ಲಿಷ್ ಮಾಧ್ಯಮ ಶಾಲೆಗಳ ಕುರಿತ ಮೋಹ ಕಡಿಮೆಯಾಗಬಹುದು.

ಮಾತೃಭಾಷೆಯಲ್ಲಿ ಪ್ರಾಥಮಿಕ ಶಿಕ್ಷಣ ವಿಷಯ ಗ್ರಹಿಕೆಯ ಭದ್ರ ಬುನಾದಿಯನ್ನು ನಿರ್ಮಿಸುತ್ತದೆ; ಅದರ ಮೇಲೆ ಮುಂದಿನ ಭವಿಷ್ಯ ರೂಪಿಸಿಕೊಳ್ಳುವುದು ಸಾಧ್ಯ ಎಂಬ ಪರಿಸ್ಥಿತಿ ನಿರ್ಮಾಣದತ್ತ ರಾಜ್ಯ ಸರ್ಕಾರ ಗಮನ ಹರಿಸಬೇಕು. ಸಂವಹನಕ್ಕೆ ಇಂಗ್ಲಿಷನ್ನು ಭಾಷೆಯಾಗಿ ಪ್ರಾಥಮಿಕ ಹಂತದಲ್ಲಿಯೇ ಸಮರ್ಪಕವಾಗಿ ಕಲಿಸುವ ವ್ಯವಸ್ಥೆ ಮಾಡುವುದಕ್ಕೆ ಸರ್ಕಾರ ಮುಂದಾಗಬೇಕು.

ಆಗ ಕನ್ನಡಶಾಲೆಗಳಿಗೆ ವಿದ್ಯಾರ್ಥಿಗಳ ಕೊರತೆ ಬರಲಾರದು. ಗುಣಮಟ್ಟದ ಶಿಕ್ಷಣ ನೀಡಲಾಗದ ವೈಫಲ್ಯವನ್ನು ಮುಚ್ಚಿಕೊಳ್ಳಲು ಶಾಲೆಗಳನ್ನೇ ಮುಚ್ಚುವ ಹಾಗೂ ಖಾಸಗಿಯವರು ಹಣ ಮಾಡಿಕೊಳ್ಳುವುದಕ್ಕೆ ಶಿಕ್ಷಣ ಕ್ಷೇತ್ರವನ್ನು ಮುಡಿಪಾಗಿಡುವ ಸರ್ಕಾರದ ಈ ಧೋರಣೆ ಖಂಡನಾರ್ಹ.

KSRTC

K.S.R.T.C ಯವರ ಕನ್ನಡ ವಿರೋದಿ ತನವನ್ನ ಒಂದು ವರ್ಶದ ಕೆಳಗೆ ಇದೇ ಸಂಸ್ತೆಯವರು ಕನ್ನಡದ ವೆಬ್ ಸೈಟ್ ಅನ್ನು ಒಂದು ತಿಂಗಳ ಒಳಗೆ ಬಿಡುಗಡೆ ಮಾಡ್ತಿವಿ ಅಂತ ಹೇಳಿದ್ರು ಅವರ ಪೇಸ್ ಬುಕ್ಕಿನ ಪುಟದಲ್ಲಿ ಹಲವಾರು ಜನರ ಒತ್ತಡದಿಂದಾಗಿ, ಹಾಗೂ ಹೀಗೂ ಮಾಡಿ ಒಂದು ತಿಂಗಳು ಅಲ್ಲ, ಒಂದು ವರ್ಶ ಆದಮೇಲೆ ಕಾಟಾಚಾರಕ್ಕೆ ಒಂದು ವೆಬ್ ಸೈಟ್ ಮಾಡಿ ಕನ್ನಡ ವಿರೋದಿತನವನ್ನ ಮೆರೆದಿದ್ದಾರೆ. ಇದು ಹೆಸರಿಗೆ ಮಾತ್ರ ಕನ್ನಡ ವೆಬ್ ಸೈಟ್ ಮೇಲೆ ಕನ್ನಡ ಒಳಗೆ ಹೋದಂತೆಲ್ಲ ಇಂಗ್ಲೀಶ್ ವೆಬ್ ಸೈಟ್ ಗೆ ಕೊಂಡಿ ನೀಡಿದ್ದಾರೆ ಇದಕ್ಕಿಂತ ಒಂದು ಆತಂಕ ಕಾರಿ ವಿಶಯ ಅಂದ್ರೆ ಕನ್ನಡದ ವೆಬ್ ಸೈಟ್ default ಆಗೋಗು ಹೋಗಲಿ ಕನ್ನಡ ವೆಬ್ ಸೈಟ್ ನ ಲಿಂಕ್ ಮುಕ್ಯ ಪುಟದಲ್ಲಿ ದುರ್ಬಿನ್ ಹಾಕಿ ಹುಡುಕಿದ್ರು ಸಿಗಲ್ಲ. ಕನ್ನಡದ ವೆಬ್ ಸೈಟ್ ಅನ್ನು ಈ ಸಂಸ್ತೆಯವರು ಉದ್ದೇಶಪೂರ್ವಕವಾಗಿಯೇ ಜನರಿಗೆ ಸಿಗದ ಹಾಗೆ ಮಾಡಿದ್ದಾರೆ. ತಂತ್ರಜ್ನಾನದಲ್ಲಿ ಕನ್ನಡ ಮುಂದುವರೆದಿದ್ದು ಕನ್ನಡದ ವೆಬ್ ಸೈಟ್ ಮಾಡಿ ಕನ್ನಡಿಗರಿಗೆ ಪರಿಣಾಮಕಾರಿಯಾಗಿ ಸೇವೆ ಒದಗಿಸುವುದನ್ನ ಈ ಅದಿಕಾರಿಗಳು ಕಲಿಯಬೇಕಿದೆ ಅಲ್ವ.

ಕನ್ನಡದಲ್ಲಿ ಸರಿಯಾದ ವೆಬ್ ಸೈಟ್ ನಿರ್ಮಿಸಿ ಅದನ್ನೆ default ಬಾಶೆಯನ್ನಾಗಿ ರೂಪಿಸಬೇಕೆಂದು ಅವರ ಪೇಸ್ ಬುಕ್ ಪುಟದಲ್ಲಿ ಒತ್ತಾಯಿಸೋಣ-

https://www.facebook.com/KSRTC.Karnataka

GMail New Look

For those who haven't logged in to their GMail account, please do so now and you will see another change of look by GMail designers. It's actually been leaked to public since last week when one of the video that is used as the advertisement was uploaded to YouTube. Since then, people have wondered when will the updates being rolled out and their wish is now come true. Google has released this new look on most users.

What's the big change actually? Well, there are some big changes described on GMail's New Look page such as :

Cleaner and more modern design with more themes being included
Improved conversation view
Customization in display densities
More control on the sidebar (you can now drag to your desired size)
Improved search filter (and also filter creation from this box)
Easy switch to contact, task, and mail
New toolbar design

Overall, i'm not too impressed with these changes, mostly with the control on the sidebar. I know it's useful to be able to resize the height, but the idea of automatic display of the labels in the sidebar is not a good thing for me. It gives surprises and why would you hide it anyway? If i wanted to see the messages that has certain labels, i would have to point out my cursor into the label area and wait for a second to load the rest of it.

Indians are poor but INDIA is not a poor country". Says one of the swiss bank directors.

Spectrum Raja's House ....in Tamil Nadu

He says that "280 Lacs crore" of Indian money is deposited in swiss banks which can be used for 'taxless' budget for 30 yrs. Can give 60 0000000 jobs to all Indians. From any village to Delhi 4 lane roads. Forever free power supply to more than 500 social projects. Every citizen can get monthly Rs. 2000/- for 60 yrs. No need of World Bank & IMF loan. Think how rich politicians block our money. We have full right against corrupt politicians.

iPhone 5 Concept Shows Laser Keyboard and Holographic Display

When it comes to the iPhone 5, there are a number of potential leaks that add to the excitement and anticipation of waiting for Apple to share their vision for the next iPhone.

While we have a rough idea of what to expect, including a slimmer body and better camera, we still have to wait for Apple to show off the goods.

Until then, I invite you to drool over the features that San Francisco design shop Aatma envisions on a future iPhone. For the record, I doubt we will see a laser keyboard or holographic display on the next iPhone, but if Apple were able to deliver such a feature packed device, it would be enough to make me say goodbye to Android.

The killer feature for me is the laser keyboard. If Apple were able to put such a feature in the iPhone 5, we wouldn’t need bluetooth iPhone keyboards, and could jump into productivity mode anywhere there was a flat surface. You have to admit the swipe out gesture to turn the laser keyboard on is pretty sweet.

While a holographic display would be amazing, I’d prefer a built-in projector that can display an HD video on whatever wall is closest. You can already purchase pico projectors that do this, and Apple has filed patents showing that the company is investigating integrated projectors. We saw pico projectors in smartphones at CES 2010, so it is possible, but not in such a slim package — yet.

If you could pick one way out there feature to add to the next iPhone, what would it be?

Champions league T20 2011 inauguration-concert---videos

Seeking information under the Right to Information (RTI) Act is all set to get easier. Adding a “smart” layer to the process of applying for information, the Karnataka Government has decided to set up a business process outsourcing centre to handle all applications, enquiries, and even billing.

Streamlining the entire process through a website and a call centre, this project, which is pending Cabinet approval, will simplify the current application process where people are required to visit individual departments to procure information. The contract for the project, which will be executed through a public-private partnership, has been awarded to CMC Ltd., an IT solutions firm, which is a subsidiary of Tata Consultancy Services.

“The details of the project have been worked out. Once it is approved by the Cabinet, we hope to roll out the service in a few months,” said M.N. Vidyashankar, Principal Secretary, Department of e-Governance.

Karnataka will be the second State to implement such an initiative, following Bihar which introduced ‘Jankaari' in 2007. The project, which, in 2008-09, won the national e-governance award for “outstanding performance in citizen service delivery”, has been moderately successful and has managed to simplify the process of applying, experts say.

When Bihar implemented the project, activists hailed this as a significant step towards strengthening the RTI Act by making it accessible in rural areas. As Mr. Vidyashankar explains, for a person living in rural Karnataka, the cumbersome commute to the district headquarters or to the public information officer will replaced by a simple phone call once the project is implemented.

How it works

The process is simple. The company that handles the call centre will take calls, which include both applications and general enquiries on how to file an RTI application, or the status of your application. The call will be a premium one, where the cost of the RTI application will be charged on your phone bill. The Government will collect the bill, which can even include the cost of providing information depending on the materials requested, from the service provider.

Currently, top sources in CMC said, partnerships had been established with two telecom service providers, and more deals were in the pipeline.

Those who apply online could use credit cards to make payments, a CMC official said.

After the application is entered into the database, a token number is issued to the applicant for future reference. The application is then sent to the department concerned. All the other rules that apply to seeking information under the RTI Act remain unchanged. Follow-ups on application status and grievance redressal would also be done through this call centre, an official said.

Currently, the company plans to employ around 15 people to attend to calls for around 12 hours a day. “As a project that has tremendous social benefits, we are interested in also establishing a model that is replicable and scalable so it can be emulated across the country,” the official added.