Monday, April 28, 2014

India Proposes 10% Budget Increase in defence spending; 3.3% Boost for Procurement


India has proposed a 10 percent increase in defense spending for the financial year beginning April 1, but the plan includes a boost of only 3.28 percent for new weapon procurement compared with a jump of 9 percent the previous year.
Indian Finance Minister Palaniappan Chidambaram announced in Parliament Feb. 17 that defense spending for 2014-2015 would be 2.24 trillion rupees (US $36.3 billion) compared with 2.36 trillion rupees in 2013-2014. Because the rupee was weaker at that time, the defense budget was worth only US $33.95 billion.
For weapon and equipment purchases, the equivalent of US $14.93 billion has been allocated for the next fiscal year, compared with US $14.56 billion for the current year.
The budget allocations proposed by Chidambaram could change, however, when the new government announces its budget after general elections slotted before May. Chidambaram presented an interim budget, which would govern spending only for the next four months.
“The budget proposals are subject to change by the new government after the general elections. As such the latest proposals only give adirection of the defense spending in the year 2014-15, because these figures can be changed by the new government,” said Nitin Mehta, defense analyst.
Resources available to buy new arms over the past year shrunk sharply because of a decline of more than 10 percent in the value of the rupee against the US dollar, and because funds for weapons were diverted for other purposes.
The Indian defense minister diverted US $1.3 billion from the Capital Head of the budget, which was intended for new weapons andequipment, to the Revenue Head, which is largely used to pay salaries, pensions and other day-to-day equipment for the troops, said a Defence Ministry source.
The fund diversion affected the inking of several defense projects, including the purchase of Boeing AH-64-D Apache helicopters worth US $1.16 billion, Boeing Chinook heavy-lift helicopters worth US $833 million, and the purchase of 145 light howitzers from the US subsidiary of BAE Systems for US $583 million.
The fate of defense projects in the pipeline will only be decided by the next government, scheduled to take over in June.
“If the failure to spend [US $1.66 billion] in 2012-13 is also taken into account with the falling rupee and diversion of funds, then the picture is a clear starvation of fresh contracts by the government in the last two years and the trend looks the same given the small increase in money for weapons and equipment,” said Mehta.

Monday, April 21, 2014

URI Annual Youth Camp 2014

UNITED RELIGIONS INITIATIVE
SOUTH INDIA – SRI LANKA REGION
MUNDACKAL BUILDINGS, KARICKAM P.O
KOTTATAKARA


URI Annual Youth Camp 2014

Date    : 17 – 18 May 2014 (Saturday & Sunday).
Venue : Karickam International Public School.
Theme : Golden Rules for World Peace.

Dear friends,

We are happy to inform you that the URI Annual Residential Youth Camp 2014 is scheduled to be held at Karickam International Public School from 17th to 18th May 2014. The theme will be Golden Rules for World Peace. Eminent scholars will be giving leadership.
Each CC is requested to send maximum number of delegates. Registration fees will be Rs. 150 per candidate (Rs. 100 for Dalit Members).
Participants have to register their names before 10th May 2014 at the following address:

URI Office
Karickam P.O                                                                                                     Dr. Abraham Karickam
Kottarakara                                                                                                        (Exe. Secretary, URI Asia Region)
Ph: 04742663903, 9446593013                                                
Email: urikarickam12@gmail.com                                                      Prof. John Kurakar
                                                                                                                                (Regional Chairman)
                                                                                                                               
                                                                                                      Sajan Koshy (Regional Convener)
                                                                                                                               
                                                                                   Anila S.V 
                                                                        (Camp Coordinator)                                                                                                 
                                                                                                               
N.B:
1.       Campers are to bring Plate, Cup, Bed sheet and Pillow.
2.       Best Campers will be awarded Cash prizes.
3.       Talent night and Camp fire arranged on 17th night.

4.       Mobile and Camera not allowed.

Sunday, April 6, 2014

U.R.I INDIA AND SRI LANKA TEAM VISITED BANGLORE LALBAGH BOTANICAL GARDEN

U.R.I INDIA AND SRI LANKA TEAM VISITED BANGLORE LALBAGH BOTANICAL GARDEN


 U.R.I India- Sri Lanka Assembly delegates visted Bangalore Lalbagh Botanical Garden on 2nd April,2014.The Lalbagh Botanical Garden, Bangalore is of royal origin and was started initially as a private garden in an area of 40 acres by Hyder Ali, one of the most famous rulers of old Mysore in 1760. Initially designed in Mughal style, on the model of an extensive garden at Sira in Tumkur near Bangalore, this garden was further developed by Hyder Ali’s son Tipu Sultan and subsequently by the British and Indian doyens of horticulture by extension of area and addition of a number of plant species. Of them, Major Waugh, Dr. Wallich, William Munroe, Sir Mark Cubbon, Dr. Cleghorn, William New, A. Blck, John Cameron, Krumbeigal, Rao Bahadur H.C. Javaraya, K. Nanjappa and Dr. M.H. Marigowda, as the Superintendents of the garden, have made noteworthy contributions to the development of Lalbagh.
Lalbagh is currently under the aegis of the Directorate of Horticulture, Government of Karnataka. The Directorate is housed amidst the splendid environs of the botanical garden. Lalbagh was given the status of a Government Botanical Garden in 1856, and since then, it has been an internationally renowned centre for scientific study of plants and botanical artwork and also conservation of plants. Formal and informal styles dominate the garden in perfect harmony, which is a testimony to the beauty of nature. Today, the garden is a lush green paradise with an area of 240 acres in the heart of the city.
Lalbagh, for its unique achievement in nurturing the concept of horticulture and aiding the development of horticulture, has earned a pride of place among the gardens of the world and it has come to be regarded as one of the best gardens in the East for its layout, maintenance, scientific treasure and scenic beauty. It is the place of legends and beauty, a place of rarity and wonder, a place of paradise and landmarks. It is an important genetic resource centre for introduction, acclimatization and maintenance of plants; it envisages documentation of the variations available in plants of ornamental and economic value. It is an important centre of dissemination of scientific, technical and popular information on plants including offering of regular courses. It aids the development of horticulture in the state. It is a valuable adjunct to botanic study in educational institutions, a vital lung space of Bangalore, a place of beauty that provides healthy recreation to the public and it provides a venue for people to get close to plants and nature.The garden with well-laid out roads, paths, open spaces, shade and a good collection of many types of plant species attracts a large number of visitors. Lalbagh is well protected with stone walls as enclosures and it has four approach gates. The main gate is at the North facing towards Subbaiah circle, the West gate is towards Basavanagudi, the South gate is towards Jayanagar and the East gate is towards the Double Road.
The botanical garden is enriched with numerous native and exotic flora of wide ranging diversity, use and interest. This has been achieved by way of introduction; acclimatization and multiplication of plants obtained from various parts of the world since its inception in 1760. Today, nearly 673 genera and 1,854 species of plants are found in Lalbagh. The collection of the plants has made it a veritable treasure house of plants.Some of the exotic species introduced from different parts of the world include Agathis sp., Amherstia nobilis, Araucaria sp., Averrhoa bilimbi, Bambusa sp., Bixa orellana, Brownea grandiceps, Castanospermum australe, Cola acuminata, Corypha umbraculifera, Couroupita guianensis, Cupressus sp., Eriobotrya japonica, Magnolia sp., Swietenia mahagoni etc. Indigeneous species such as Artocarpus heterophyllus, Bombax ceiba, Butea monosperma, Cassia fistula , Dillenia indica, Ficus sp., Lagerstromia speciosa, Michelia champaca, Mesua ferrea etc., can be seen. In addition, a number of ornamental and economic plant species both of exotic and indigenous origin can be found in Lalbagh.




Thursday, April 3, 2014


Minon Baby (Best Boy actor in India) inaugurates the Assembly by lighting the lamp


 Swami Chaturvedi (Chairman, Ramanuja Mission Trust India) delivering key-note address at the URI Bangalore Assembly
 Dr. W.P.Krishna delivering inaugural address at Bangalore Assembly



Ravi Kandaghe, Sri Lanka (URI Global Council Trustee) addressing Bangalore Assembly




 Dr. Abraham Karickam and Susan Abraham being honoured by Bangalore CCs

 Samuel Nellikkadu receiving best CC award from Ven. Dhammapada during Zonal Assembly at Bangalore



South India Regional Assembly starts with Yoga meditation led by Sowmya Ayyar


 CNN Raju welcomes guests of the Assembly at Bangalore
Band of Odissi dancers who performed for the URI Regional Assembly at Bangalore
Abhivyakthi Dance performers at Dharmaram College during URI South-India -Sri Lanka Regional Assembly

Participants of URI Sri Lanka National Assembly-2014
                                                           Minon Baby at URI office                       





Dr. A. T. Ariaratna inaugurating URI National Assembly in 

Trincomale, Sri Lanka

Concluding remarks by Dr. Abraham Karickam at the Sri Lanka National Assembly of URI, 2014
Indian delegates at the Sarvodaya Centre, Kandy

Ancient site at the Temple of Tooth, Kandy




Near the fountain in front of the Temple of Tooth, Kandy

On the way to Galle CC - in Moratuwa Railway Station near Colombo