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WHAT’S
NEW AT CUTS # 23
October 2004
A monthly electronic news bulletin from CUTS International, India, to our network of friends and professionals interested about the new happenings and proceedings of CUTS in various spheres. If you wish to unsubscribe, please scroll down to the bottom of this page for more information.
EVENTS
PUBLICATIONS
CUTS IN MEDIA
- Reckless rides that can spoil your festival
- Safety leash for pandal joyride drivers
- CUTS calls for strict watch over the safety of joyrides during Pujas
- Campaign against medical institutions denying emergency cases – CUTS plans to nip consumer ignorance
ARTICLES
PRESS RELEASES
- Challenges in Consumer Protection
- CUTS calls for strict watch over the safety of joyrides, especially during Pujas
Consumer-friendly Cable TV System CUTS has undertaken a project on Cable TV in India with the support of the Ministry of Consumer Affairs. The project comprises of research and field surveys in the four metros. To discuss these issues, CUTS organised a one-day seminar on “Consumer-friendly Cable TV System” on October 18, 2004 at the India International Centre, New Delhi, India. The meeting seeked to sensitise policy makers on the need for strengthening the cable TV regulation in the country; sensitise cable TV operators, channel providers and others on consumer interests and inject a sense of self-regulation between and amongst them to ensure that these interests are protected; and provide a platform to various stakeholders to air their views on the findings of the project report and come out with recommendations, which would lead to a consumer-friendly cable TV system in the country. More on:http://www.cuts-international.org/Forthcoming_events/forthcoming-events.htm#cabletv |
How to lift income by 8.9 percent The Economic Times, New Delhi, 08 October, 2004 The government, headed by Manmohan Singh, speaks about 8 percent growth as something to aim for and achieve over the next few years, reforming with Mungeri Lal’s face in mind, says Pradeep S Mehta, Secretary General, CUTS International. In the context of the mid-term review of the Tenth Plan, Deputy Chairman Montek Singh Ahluwalia too has been drawn into the debate, sounding the refrain that it will not be possible to achieve 8 percent growth in the balance period of the Tenth Plan. But the million-dollar question, which needs to be addressed, is…. More on: http://www.cuts-international.org/articles2004.htm#lift |
EVENTS
Symposium
on the WTO’s July Package
Palais
des Nations, Geneva, Switzerland, November 3, 2004
CUTS Centre for Trade Economics and Environment (CUTS-CITEE) organised a Symposium on WTO’s July Package at Palais des Nations, Geneva, Switzerland on November 3, 2004. The Symposium hosted a panel of discussions on aspects of the WTO’s July Package and two panel discussions on trade facilitation (TF) and transparency in government procurement, presenting the works of CUTS-CITEE projects and was attended by project researchers, governments and intergovernmental organisations’ officials, academics, media, civil society and business representatives.
More on: http://www.cuts-international.org/Forthcoming_events/forthcoming-events.htm#symposiumgeneva
Outreach
Meeting of the Project “Sustainable
Production in the Leather Industry as a Tool for Enhanced Market Access”
on Impact of Environmental Measures for Increasing Southern Exports
to the North
Geneva, November 2, 2004
CUTS Centre for Trade Economics and Environment (CUTS-CITEE) organised an Outreach Meeting of the Project “Sustainable Symposium on WTO’s July Framework Agreement Production in the Leather Industry as a Tool for Enhanced Market Access” on Impact of Environmental Measures for Increasing Southern Exports to the North, at Geneva, on November 2, 2004. The Seminar presented the findings of the project, which attempt to understand how environmental requirements, both voluntary and mandatory, can help in promoting exports and was attended by project researchers, governments and intergovernmental organisations’ officials, academics, media, civil society and business representatives.
More on:http://www.cuts-international.org/Forthcoming_events/forthcoming-events.htm#leathergeneva
Towards
a Functional Competition Policy for India: Project Review Meeting
Chokhi
Dhani, Jaipur, October 30-31, 2004
CUTS Centre for Investment and Economic Regulation (C-CIER) organised a two-day review meeting of the project entitled “Towards a Functional Competition Policy for India” on October 30-31, 2004 atChokhi Dhani, Jaipur. The project aims to get a better understanding of the competition scenario in India. As an outcome of this project, a report entitled, ‘Towards a Functional Competition Policy for India,’ covering various issues affecting competition in the marketplace would be produced. The review meeting facilitated writers’ presentation of their paper/s; obtained suggestions and comments on the chapters; and assembled and incorporated recommendations that emerged from the discussions.
More on: http://www.cuts-international.org/Forthcoming_events/forthcoming-events.htm#funcomp301004
Peer
Group Review Meeting on “Stocktaking of Progress towards Sustainability”
India
International Centre, New Delhi, India, October 28, 2004
CUTS Centre for International Trade, Economics and Environment (CUTS-CITEE) has conducted a pilot study entitled, “Stocktaking of Progress towards Sustainability (SoPS)”, supported by the Ministry of Environment and Forests, Government of India, the peer group review meeting of which was held on October 28, 2004 at the India International Centre, New Delhi, India. The SoPS project studied how certain environment related laws were implemented in India and their appropriateness vis-à-vis the Johannesburg Plan of Implementation and the UN Guidelines for Consumer Protection. CUTS highlighted the transparency in the functioning of implementation agencies and the transparent system of participation in policy and law-making as the necessary conditions for India achieving sustainability .
More on:http://www.cuts-international.org/Forthcoming_events/forthcoming-events.htm#peer
Seminar
on “Can Africa trade her way out of poverty?”
Nairobi,
Kenya, October 25-26, 2004
CUTS-Centre for International Trade, Economics & Environment (CUTS-CITEE), Nairobi, in partnership with Friedrich Ebert Stiftung, organised a regional seminar: “Can Africa trade her way out of poverty?” in Kenya onOctober 25-26, 2004. The seminar’s main theme was Pro-poor Trade Policy for sub-Saharan Africa. It drew participants from Africa and Asia, and served as a platform for South-South dialogue on lessons and experiences of trade liberalisation and its impact on the poor. The seminar concluded that poverty reduction is not only linked to trade and economic growth and coherent policies, but also to good governance and implementation of appropriate measures to ensure an effective distribution of wealth and provision of opportunities among the people.
More on:http://www.cuts-international.org/Forthcoming_events/forthcoming-events.htm#africapoverty
Launch
Meeting of the Project
“South-South
Economic Cooperation: Exploring Mekong-Ganga Relationship”
Ambassador
Hotel, New Delhi, India, October 8, 2004
CUTS Centre for International Trade, Economics & Environment (CUTS-CITEE), in partnership with Research & Information System (RIS) for Non-aligned & Other Developing Countries organised the Launch Meeting of the Project entitled “South-South Economic Cooperation: Exploring Mekong-Ganga Relationship” on October 8, 2004 at Hotel Ambassador, New Delhi.
The project aimed at cross-fertilisation of experiences and lessons learnt on economic (trade and investment) co-operation between India and select Mekong countries, namely Cambodia, Lao and Vietnam. Senior representatives from the Indian government and Mekong countries attended the meeting, which also involved the participation of representatives from NGOs, international organisations and academia from India, Vietnam, Cambodia and Lao.
More on:http://www.cuts-international.org/Forthcoming_events/forthcoming-events.htm#fce081004
Competition
Policy for India
Hyderabad,
India, October 5, 2004
CUTS Centre for Competition, Investment and Economic Regulation (CUTS C-CIER) organised a seminar on: “Competition Policy for India” on October 5, 2004 at Hyderabad, India. This seminar seeked to bring national and international experts on competition to facilitate exchange of ideas for developing a functional competition policy for India. The seminar was divided into two parts. The first part was on international experiences in competition policy and lessons for India. This focused on current issues of competition policy, cartels of international dimension and consumer protection in the context of developing countries. The second part was on national and sub-national experiences from India. In this part, main findings from the ongoing project undertaken by CUTS C-CIER on Functional Competition Policy for India were presented, besides focusing on evolution of Competition Policy & Law in India and Competition Regulation Interface.
More on: http://www.cuts-international.org/Forthcoming_events/forthcoming-events.htm#fun_comp
PUBLICATIONS
Trade Facilitation and South Asia: The Need for Some Serious Scenario Planning
This paper tries to bring to the fore some practical political, economic and operational issues from the point of view of South Asian countries, in particular, and which may arise as a result of future multilateral agreement on trade facilitation.
WTO Agreement on Agriculture and South Asian Countries
The paper looks into various commonalities in the economic situation of South Asian countries, their sensitivity attached to agriculture, and above all, a common approach to globalisation.
Economiquity
In this quarter, the newsletter covers developments related to competition policy and economic regulations. Macro and micro issues, restructuring process, pharmaceuticals sector, telecom, utilities, financial sector and corporate affairs are also covered in the newsletter.
CUTS in Action
In this quarter, the newsletter reports on policy and regulatory developments with the aim of informing people about them as well as building a constituency for independent regulatory reforms.
The End of WTO’s Agreement on Textiles and Clothing: Opportunity or Threat?
The end of the Agreement on Textiles and Clothing in 2004 will bring about a global re-shift of international Textiles and Clothing trade. Quota beneficiaries may lose out to exporters that are more competitive. Who will gain and who will lose?
CUTS IN MEDIA
Reckless
rides that can spoil your festival
Hindustan Times, Kolkata, October 21, 2004
More on: http://www.cuts-international.org/cutsinmedia2004.htm#reckless
Safety
leash for pandal rides, drivers
The
Telegraph, Kolkata, October 18, 2004
More on: http://www.cuts-international.org/cutsinmedia2004.htm#pandal
CUTS
calls for strict watch over the safety of joyrides during Pujas
Dainik
Vishwamitra, Kolkata , October 14, 2004
More on: http://www.cuts-international.org/cutsinmedia2004.htm#safetyrides
Campaign
Against Medical Institutions Denying Emergency Cases–CUTS
plans to nip consumer ignorance
Asian
Age, Kolkata, October 8, 2004
More on: http://www.cuts-international.org/cutsinmedia2004.htm#campaign081004
ARTICLES
Press
Note 18: A way out of imbroglio
Business
Line, October 15, 2004
The Government is keen to scrap Press Note 18 as it believes that it is restricting fresh FDI flows. Indeed, there is merit in this, and one needs to take a dispassionate view, says Mehta of CUTS.
More on: http://www.cuts-international.org/articles2004.htm#imbroglio
Engaging
states in trade aspirations
Financial Express, October 14, 2004
This year’s trade policy appears to be most ambitious amongst all previous policies as it aims to double India’s share in world trade to 1.5 percent by 2009, says Mehta of CUTS.
More on: http://www.cuts-international.org/articles2004.htm#aspirations
PRESS RELEASES
Challenges in Consumer Protection
Mehta, as the only consumer activist invited by the Planning Commission, Government of India, in a brainstorming session on Industry, highlighted the poor enforcement of the consumer protection system in the country and advocated for modifications in the current scenario.
More on: http://cuts-international.org/news-cuts1.htm#challenges
CUTS calls for strict watch over the safety of joyrides during Pujas
“One can hardly assess the hidden dangers of the many rides that operate during different festivals, which seldom follow any safety standards”, says Soumi Home Roy, researcher, CUTS Safety Watch.
More on: http://cuts-international.org/news-cuts1.htm#joyrides
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Consumer
Unity & Trust Society (CUTS)
D-217, Bhaskar Marg, Bani Park, Jaipur 302 016, India
Phone: 91.141.228 2821, Fax: 91.141.228 2485