WASHINGTON: Corporate America has come down heavily against all those in US who of late have been alleging that Indian companies grab most of the H-1B work visas thus taking away most jobs from Americans.
In a latest report on immigration, US Chamber of Commerce, which is world’s largest chamber with more than three million members, asserted that such an allegation against Indian companies is "hyperbole".
"While some have expressed fears that H-1B professionals hired by Indian companies threaten the US workforce or have expressed concern that Indian companies do not sponsor many of their employees for green cards the actual numbers are such as to make any concerns overwrought, even if using a simplistic, zero-sum view of the labour market," US Chamber of Commerce said in its latest report.
"In FY 2009, Indian tech companies used 4,809 new H-1B visas, which equals to 0.003 per cent of the US civilian labour force, less than 1/100th of 1 per cent," it said, adding "Moreover, H-1B use by Indian companies has declined by 70 per cent between 2006 and 2009."
The new H-1Bs used by Indian companies represented only about six per cent of total initial beneficiaries (new employment), according to US Citizenship and Immigration Services, the report said.
"When information technology services companies whether Indian or non-Indians perform work in the United States it is only because US companies believe such work makes their businesses more profitable," it said.
If such service providers enable US businesses to concentrate on core functions and run more effectively, then US companies can hire more people in the long run, it added.http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/6319071.cms?prtpage=1
2. PM asks Kashmiris, Naxals to end violence, vows flexibility
NEW DELHI : Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Sunday expressed optimism about resolving the Kashmir and Naxalite problems without compromising basic principles or softening his position. His appeal to Kashmiri youths and separatists as well as Naxalites to come forward for talks does not, however, dilute the government’s stance in any way; in fact, it reaffirms the Centre’s longheld policy that any such talks be on the basis of Kashmir being “an integral part of India”, and in the case of Naxalites, that they first abjure violence.
Addressing the nation on India’s 64th Independence Day from the ramparts of the historic Red Fort here, and in the backdrop of the recent unrest in Kashmir, Dr Singh said India’s democracy had the “generosity and flexibility” to address the concerns of any group.
In his 35-minute speech, the Prime Minister also said India was willing to resolve all its differences with Pakistan through discussions, but added that such a dialogue cannot go far if terrorism emanating from that country does not end.
“In Jammu and Kashmir, we are ready to talk to every person or group which abjures violence. Kashmir is an integral part of India, and within this framework we are ready to move forward in any talks which would increase the partnership of the common man in governance and also enhance their welfare.” Also, in an apparent reference to the economic blockade of Manipur, he said such “unpleasant incidents” could only harm the country.
Congress president Sonia Gandhi, Cabinet ministers and top Opposition leaders including BJP parliamentary party chairman L.K.Advani, the three service chiefs, senior bureaucrats and top diplomats were among the select audience in the VIP enclosures on the ramparts of the Red Fort as Dr Singh spoke to the nation. http://epaper.asianage.com/ASIAN/AAGE/2010/08/16/ArticleHtmls/16_08_2010_001_043.shtml?Mode=1
3. Meddling netas, work culture are bureaucrats’ bane
New Delhi: The Civil Services Survey-2010 shows that at least 33% bureaucrats have considered quitting the service at one time or the other. The main reasons for this are better opportunities outside Government, disappointment about lack of recognition, political interference or harassment.
The Civil Services Survey2010, prepared by the Ministry of Personnel, based on the opinions of over 4,800 officers, has brought out interesting facts. The survey was conducted among the 10 services, including IAS, IPS, IFS, IRS, IA & AS, Indian Postal Service and Indian Forest Service. The political influence is most evident in IPS, followed by IAS, IRS and Indian Forest Service.
"It has been commented that political interference is high in police as the force is used to further political interests," says the survey. Another interesting fact is that IRS officers started facing troubles when they initiated tax collection.
"In case of revenue services, it is reportedly a common practice to derail an honest officer by making anonymous complaints against him," the survey finds. It says the lure of postretirement assignments is a major reason for spinelessness of civil servants. Another interesting fact: Around 25 per cent civil servants don’t want their kids to join the service.
The major observation about transfers and posting was about a complete lack of transparency which provided opportunity for political interference and other extraneous factors to interfere with fairness. Suggestions for improvement included an independent committee for transfers and postings, performancebased postings, stability of tenure as well as proper human resource planning. The politicisation of postings and transfers was most strongly felt in States as pulls and pressures from local politicians were much more than those at the Central Government level. The survey also showed deep dissatisfaction among women officers. They felt that though the nation’s political system was almost headed by women, their case is different.
Apart from the dissatisfaction on the political interference, almost all civil servants complained about non-transparency and nepotism inpromotion, postings and transfers.
There was a great deal of dissatisfaction among the officers of central services and IPS and Forest service about the domination of IAS in administration.
The survey also exposed the reluctance of the civil servants to act on the RTI Act.
“The Right to Information Act is seen as inhibiting officers to record notes which may be at variance with the rule book but needed in a particular case.Officers often feel inhibited because of fear of being harassed through the means of RTI, ” points out the survey.
The survey was carried out by the Centre for Good Governance, Hyderabad, in consortium with AC Neilson ORG-Marg by sending out 43 questions to civil servants. http://epaper.dailypioneer.com/THEPIONEER/PIONEER/2010/08/16/ArticleHtmls/16_08_2010_001_059.shtml?Mode=1
4. People defy I-Day boycott call in N-E: report in The Asian Age
Guwahati: Hundreds of people in Assam and other states of the Northeast came out to join Independence Day celebrations, defying calls for a boycott by five militant organisations.
Five militant outfits of north-eastern states had called for a 17-hour general strike on Sunday to boycott the Independence Day celebrations. The militant outfits which had called for boycott included Ulfa, NDFB, the Kamatapur Liberation Organisation (KLO), fighting for a separate homeland comprising parts of Assam and West Bengal, the Manipur People’s Liberation Front (MPLF) — an umbrella group of several Manipuri rebel groups, and the Tripura People’s Democratic Front (TPDF).
Security sources coordinating the security for all the northeastern states however said that most of the trouble-torn states of the region witnessed a largeturn out of the people in the celebrations. The Assam gov ernment renewed its call to banned Ulfa and NDFB militant outfits to accept the offer for talks to bring an end to the insurgency problem afflicting the state for decades.
Addressing the Independence Day’s state function at Latasil playground, the caretaker CM Bhumidhar Barman said that his government was sincere in its approach to resolve conflict situation through talks and restore peace in the state. The chief ministers of militancy afflicted Manipur, Meghalaya and Tripura also appealed to rebel groups to give up violence and come for peace talks with the government. http://epaper.asianage.com/ASIAN/AAGE/2010/08/16/ArticleHtmls/16_08_2010_003_005.shtml?Mode=1
7. Muslim girls in Kerala crave to come out of burqa: VR Jayaraj in the Pioneer, Aug 16
Kozhikode: Even as Islamist forces like PDP of Abdul Nasser Madani and Popular Front of India are allegedly working overtime for Talibanising Kerala by forcing Muslims to adopt strict conservatism, a revolution is taking place within the community against such efforts.
In several places with Muslim concentration in the State, the Islamist outfits are facing stiff resistance, especially from women, to the diktats of the clergy to adopt conservative customs like wearing burqa and hijab. This revolution is proving the Islamists’ cries for freedom of Muslim women to wear traditional dresses a farce. Also, the rebellion is no more a silent one.
The latest example of this intra-community revolution is Riyana R Khasi, a young Muslim woman belonging to Kasaragod, known for strict conservatism among Muslims.
Riyana, an degree-holder aeronautical engineering, made history last week when she earned an order from the Kerala High Court against Islamists who were determined to make her wear burqa and hijab against her will.
The court ordered the police to give her security from her relatives, neighbours and an Islamist outfit, who threatened her with dire consequences if she did not wear the `traditional Muslim dress’.The Kasaragod Police, who had refused to look into the girls’ complaints till last week, has already registered cases against three persons for threatening her in the name burqa.
Riyana had come back to Kasaragod after completing her degree course in aeronautical engineering at Chennai a year ago and since then she and her family were being harassed by conservative elements among her own relatives and neighbours for her special affinity to modern dresses like jeans and T-shirts. When their efforts failed, an Islamist organisation allegedly took over the job of threatening the family.
But Riyana stood her ground arguing that the Holy Qur’an had not made burqa mandatory for Muslim women.
She argued that the women of Arabia were wearing it because of the climatic peculiarities and that it was in no way a symbol of Islam. Her firm stand enraged the conservatives, clergy and the Islamists, and the threats intensified.
Riyana approached the High Court after her complaints to the Kasaragod Police at different levels and the Kerala State Commission for Women proved futile. Last week, the High Court ordered the police to provide security to the girl, her parents and sisters from those who were harassing them with open threats and embarrassing telephone calls.
“India is not a religious State but a democracy. The Popular Front or the conservative clergy has no right to decide how I should dress, ” says Riyana, who is preparing for civil service examinations.
“I am a true believer but I have the right to choose my clothes, ” she says.
Reports from several other places, where concentration of conservative Muslims is high and where Islamists are successfully enforcing their diktats, also suggest that young girls are in the process of breaking off the fetters of religious rigidity. Firdhouse, a pharmaceutical sciences student from Mattanchery, says she has been resisting the dress code compulsions from the clergy ever since she joined the course in Coimbatore two years ago.
“I don’t agree with the burqa ban in France but I don’t also agree with our people’s campaign for the Muslim girls’ freedom to wear hijab in schools, ” says Firdhouse. “It is true that Muslim girls should have the freedom to wear hijab but the clergy should also agree with their freedom to wear the dress they like.
Somehow, our leaders do not want us to live life the way we want to, ” she says.
Haroon, a Kozhikodebased expert on Islamic culture, said revolts by Gen-Y Muslim girls were not isolated cases but it was fast becoming a trend. He said the new generation Muslims had made great progress in lifestyle and professionalism and this was bound to reflect on their outlook.
“You can’t ask a young IT professional to excel in his field and stick to conservatism at the same time. Their professions and the world they interact are sure to have an influence on their perspective and dress. The clergy of any group cannot keep them in the confines of conservative practices, ” he said. http://epaper.dailypioneer.com/THEPIONEER/PIONEER/2010/08/16/ArticleHtmls/16_08_2010_007_006.shtml?Mode=1
