One can't help but seeing this Incredible India@60! campaign all over the World...

A Kaleidoscope of the New India

India is an incredible kaleidoscope of a vibrant democracy with compellingly young demographics, remarkable development within stunning diversity. Incredible India@60! celebrated our arrival at the 60th milestone.


CII National Theme : 2007-08


Building People - Building India


Preamble

Over the last 15 years, Indian industry has worked hard on putting the basic building blocks of competitiveness into place. It has worked strongly to improve operational efficiency, quality, productivity and customer orientation. In this effort, CII has worked closely with its members through structured programmes.

Today, Indian industry is competitive; it has restructured itself; and, it is acquiring a global footprint.

It is now time for Indian industry - as indeed India - to set sights on a new and higher trajectory of competitiveness and globalisation.

The Context

The Indian economy has never had it so good.
Three years of close to 9% growth.
Outstanding performance in the services and industry sectors, both growing at over 11%.
The macro economic indicators of the nation extremely sound.
Investment as a percentage of GDP at a record high.
In the industry and services sectors, innovation, education and dynamism are the order of the day. Indian industry is today resurgent, confident and global in its aspirations.

This is the good news

To catch the next wave of growth, industry has to take note of - rising expectations of customer both in India and overseas; increasing competition from all parts of the globe; the pressure on competitiveness. But the greatest challenge that Indian industry is beginning to grapple with - be it in small, medium or large sectors - is that of talent acquisition and retention. While all sectors seem to be doing extremely well, they also have begun to experience the crunch of people and talent availability in the right measure.

India's Reality

320 million children in India are between the age of 6 and 16. Out of this only 10% will pass school and go beyond.
Approximately 280 million people live below the poverty line and nearly 400 million people in India, live below $2 a day.
India's per capita is at $460, while Sri Lanka is $833 and US is at $30,000.
40 million unemployed people and this numbers are growing. In the next 5 years, the figure could reach to as much as 60 million people, more than entire populations of France, Italy and UK.
90% workforce in the unorganized sector.
30% casual labour with no regular source of income.
India has the youngest population in the world. The median range is 24 and every other population in the world is getting older.
2.5 mn graduates passing out of colleges each year without skills connecting to employment. Mismatch between educational system output and Industry's manpower requirements.
India's opportunity

The correction is not impossible because India also faces a unique opportunity. It is the youngest population in the world; its median age in 2000 was less than 24, compared to 38 for Europe and 41 for Japan. Even China had a median age of 30. Alternatively viewed, this means that India has the unique opportunity to complement what an ageing rest of the world needs the most - productive workers. India in 2025 will have a dependency ratio of 12.1, i.e., for every 100 working-age adults there will be slightly more than 12 persons who are above the age of 65. For China the ratio will be 19.4, for Japan 49, for Europe 33.2.

It is in this context that CII has chosen as its theme for 2007-08 : Building People - Building India.

The Agenda for Action

The core focus of CII work, activities and events will, therefore, relate to people and ways and means of making them efficient, entrepreneurial and innovative - all with the aim of making India and Indian industry even more competitive.

CII will work with the youth in a multi-dimensional mode - adopting the four Missions which were introduced last year :

Missions :

Knowledge & Skills
Manufacturing Innovation
Sustainable Growth
Inclusive Growth
The approach would be to work strongly in identifying manpower needs, talent gaps and working strongly to make India the undisputed global leader in the matter of skills and talent. Every sector would be catered to - Manufacturing, IT, ITES, Telecom, BPO, Engineering Process Outsourcing, Retail and Agri-business.

In its efforts, CII will focus sharply on fulfilling the needs of small and medium enterprises which form a significant portion of the membership.

To sum up

CII - at the National, Regional, State and Zonal levels - would implement a programme of work which begins to effectively convert the human raw material in our country into a productive force to bolster the competitiveness of Indian industry. Massive programmes covering school dropouts to engineers and PHDs will form a key element of our initiative. In addition, the huge requirement of personnel in the growth sectors of the economy will be addressed. This is besides the initiative on affirmative action which is already underway.

In this multi-pronged approach, the four Missions of CII will provide the vehicles of delivery.

CII believes that the next big ticket item on its agenda ought to be BUILDING PEOPLE - BUILDING INDIA.

I Kind of Like this One...

Musa leans over and asks his wife, "Do you remember the first
time we had sex together over fifty years ago? We went behind this
very tavern where you leaned against the back fence and I made love
to you."

"Yes, she says, "I remember it well."

"OK," he says, "How about taking a stroll around there again and we
can do it for old time's sake?"

"Oh Musa, you old devil, that sounds like a crazy, but good idea!"

A police officer sitting in the next booth heard their conversation
and, having a chuckle to himself, he thinks to himself, I've got to
see these two old-timers having sex against a fence. I'll just keep
an eye on them so there's no trouble. So he follows them.

The elderly couple walks haltingly along, leaning on each other for
support aided by walking sticks. Finally, they get to the back of the
tavern and make their way to the fence. The old lady lifts her skirt
and the old man drops his trousers.

As she leans against the fence, the old man moves in. Then suddenly
they erupt into the most furious sex that the policeman has ever
seen. This goes on for about ten minutes while both are making loud
noises and moaning and screaming.

Finally, they both collapse, panting on the ground.

The policeman is amazed. He thinks he has learned something about
life and old age that he didn't know.

After about half an hour of lying on the ground recovering, the old
couple struggle to their feet and put their clothes back on.

The Policeman, is still watching and thinks to himself, this is truly
amazing, I've got to ask them what their secret is. So, as the couple
passes, he says to them, "Excuse me, but that was something else. You
must've had a fantastic sex life together. Is there some sort of
secret to this?"

Shaking, the old man is barely able to reply, "Fifty years ago, that
wasn't an ELECTRIC FENCE!!"

Just For Laughes

Q: What is the similarity between Ah Neh and rats?
A: Both keep searching for new holes.

Q: What is the closest thing similar to a woman's period?
A: Your salary, it comes once a month lasts about 5- days and if it doesn't
come, it means you are in big trouble.

Q: What's the difference between biology and sociology?
A: When the baby looks like his dad or mom, then it is biology.
When the baby looks like the neighbor, then it is sociology.

Q: What's the height of recycling?
A: Sending a sanitary napkin for dry cleaning.

Q: Doctor: You look so weak & exhausted. Are you having 3 meals a day as I
have advised?
A: Lady: Doctor, I thought you said 3 males a day.

Q: Girl friend & boy friend go for a movie. In the dark, a mosquito enters
the girl's skirt. Guess where it would have bitten?!!!!!!!!!!!!
A: The boy friend's hand.

Q: Tarzan and the animals went to the river to take a bath. Tarzan removed
his clothes.
All the animals laughed. Tarzan asked "Why"?

Singh or Ah Neh - The dark Forces!

At the First Youth for Peace Interfaith Symposium organized by the Singapore Soka Association at Singapore Expo Hall, a representative each of five religions, namely Sikhism, Baha'i Faith, Catholicism, Hinduism and Buddhism, spoke on the theme "Humanizing Religions, Creating Peace".

Satwant Singh, told 4,000 youths of different religions how he had handled people who called him "Mang-ka-li", "Bayee Singh" or "Babu Singh". He said that instead of feeling offended, he would explain his religion to the persons concerned over a cup of coffee. He related his experiences to illustrate the points that misunderstanding of others' religions may cause friction and that enlightening others on one's religion is far better than flying into a rage.

In his opening speech for the symposium, Foreign Minister George Yeo underscored the role of the Government in fostering religious harmony. He pointed out that the Government must always be secular and must take into account the interests of Singaporeans as a whole and not just those of a particular religious group. Hence, from time to time, the Government must act to defuse conflicts.

Singapore disallowed publication of Danish cartoons of Prophet Muhammad in Singapore and stepped in when pictures of Jesus Christ were put on the floor of MRT stations as advertisements for the movie Da Vinci Code. When Taoist joss sticks for the Hungry Ghost Festival grew bigger and bigger, causing air pollution, and when the volume of loudspeakers used by mosques for their azan (prayer calls) were found too high, the Government consulted religious leaders before adopting compromise solutions.

Just For Laughes

Musharraf calls President Bush:

Musharraf calls Bush on 11th sept:
Musharraf: Mr President, I would like to express my condolences to U. It is a real tragedy. So many people, such great bldgs...
I would like to ensure that we had nothing in connection with that.. Bush: What buildings? What people??
Musharraf: Oh, and what time is it in America now?
Bush: It's eight in the morning.
Musharraf: Oops...Will call back in an hour!

Just for Laughes

Manmohan Singh and Bush:

Manmohan Singh and Bush are sitting in a bar. A guy walks in and asks the barman, "Isn't that Bush and Vajpayee?"
The barman says "Yep, that's them." So the guy walks over and says, "Hello, what are you guys doing?"
Bush says, "We're planning world war 3"
The guy says, "Really? What's going to happen? and Manmohan, "Well, we're going to kill 14 million Pakistanis and one bicycle repairman."
And the guy exclaimed, "A bicycle repairman?!!!"
Manmohan turns to Bush and says, "See, I told you no-one would Worry about the 14 million Pakistanis!"

Something about Indian Clocks

An Indian man died and went to heaven.
When he arrived at the heaven Gate, Lord Siva said, "Come on in. I'll show you around. You'lllike it here."

Walking through the gates, the man noticed clocks everywhere?
There were grandfather clocks, wall clocks, watches, and clocks in every corner.
It appeared that heaven was nothing more than a giant clock warehouse.

Surprised at how heaven looked, the man asked, "Lord Siva, what's the deal?

Why are all these clocks here in heaven? Lord Siva replied, "The clocks keep track of things on earth. There is one clock for each person.

Every time the person on earth tells a lie, his clock moves one minute."
"For instance, this clock is for Aru, the used car salesman. If you watch it closely, it will move.

"Click" The minute hand on Aru's clock moved one minute. "Click" It moved another minute. "Aru must be into closing a customer right now," said Lord Siva. "The minute hand on his clock moves all day."

The man and Lord Siva continued walking. Soon, they came to a clock with cobwebs on the minute hand. "Whose clock is this?" asked the man. That clock belongs to the Widow Achi. She is one of the finest,God-fearing, people on earth.I bet her clock hasn't moved in a year or two."

They continued walking and touring heaven. The man enjoyed watching the clocks of all his friends. When the tour was finished, the man said,"I've seen everyone's clock but Mr. Samy Vellu's. Where is his clock?

Lord Siva smiled, "Just look up. We use his clock as a ceiling fan."

No wonder He Lost in the Malaysia Election!

Indian Burger

In India, there are no Big Macs because the Hindu people don't eat beef.

However, they have the Maharaja Mac, which is a Big Mac made of lamb or chicken meat. There is also a vegetarian burger, the McAloo Tikki.

Bad Malaysians

The old priest lay dying in the hospital. For years He had faithfullyserved the people of the nation's capital. He motioned to the nurse tocome near.

"Yes, Father?" she said.

"I would really like to see Khairy and Samy Velu before I die", whispered the priest.

"I'll see what I can do, Father" replied the nurse.

The nurse sent the request to them and waited for a response. Soon theword arrived. Khairy and Samy would be delighted to visit the priest.

As they went to the hospital, Khairy commented to Samy "I don't know whythe old priest wants to see us, but it will certainly help our images."
Samy couldn't help but agree.

When they arrived at the priest's room, the priest took Samy's hand inhis right hand and Khairy's hand in his left. There was silence and a lookof serenity on the old priest's face.

Finally Samy spoke. "Father, of all the people you could have chosen, why did you choose us to be with you as you near the end ?"

The old priest slowly replied : "I have always tried to pattern my lifeafter our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ."

The old priest continued......"He died between two lying thieves. I wouldlike to do the same."

(For those unfamiliar with Malaysian politics, Khairy Jamaluddin is theprime minister's son in law and is widely believed among Malaysian to bethe de-facto prime minister like a back-seat driver in a car, while SamyVelu is the works minister)

Singapore is a peaceful island? Not anymore...

Escape of JI leader: How can this happen in S'pore?

MANY Singaporeans reacted to news of the escape of JI leader Mas Selamat Kastari from a high-security detention centre with disbelief and incredulity.

This posting from Jordan Tan in the straitstimes.com discussion board aptly summed up the reaction of many others: 'Hello, this is Singapore. How can this happen?'

Added cc1034: 'How can a highly dangerous person escape from a highly secured prison?'

Another disbelieving reader, who goes by the monicker howaiyee, said: 'Security at the detention centre is 'tight'. He walks with a limp. Yet he managed to escape. What a shame!'
'How can we feel safe anymore?' said a worried Lim Boon Hee.

Mas Selamat, 47, who heads the Singapore Jemaah Islamiyah terror network, escaped from the Whitley Road Detention Centre at 4.05 pm on Wednesday, sparking an island-wide manhunt involving thousands of police, SAF, Gurkha and Special Operations Command forces.

The Straits Times online discussion board has also been buzzing with readers' comments, with postings coming in at 3 am in the morning. As at 2.15 pm, there were 186 postings on this issue, with 16,528 views.

Many readers expressed concern about the breach of security which allowed the terror leader to slip away.

Said raymond_lo: 'I feel throughly let down by our security men.'

A user who signed off as a 'terrified student from SCGS', said she would not be going to school on Thursday.

Several also urged the authorities to provide more information about the escape.

Said shean777: 'Please, Home Affairs Minister, say something or more importantly, DO something!'

Indeed, a user who went by the name lib27 put it bluntly: 'The whole Singapore is waiting for an answer.'

Many readers also offered tips and advice to catch the JI leader.

Suggested mr.speakersir: 'Perhaps the authorities might seriously warn Singaporeans and whoever else in Singapore about the cosequences of sheltering him.. and whoever provides leads to his whereabouts and subsequent capture should be rewarded ... Singaporeans just love rewards!' He also suggested plastering his picture island-wide, terming it the 'great Singapore terrorist hunt.'

A reader readi suggested a CCTV system that could hook up images of all passengers in taxis that could be beamed to a centralised system.

Many also rallied Singaporeans to pitch in the search for the wanted man.

Reader jchlee urged 'all to keep a lookout for this damn fella, and help the SPF nab him before he really wreaks havoc in Singapore.'

Big News! SG Terrorist escape Prison!

Saw the CNA latest: JI leader escape from Detention Center.

This is going to be the biggest incident this year for Singapore.

Wonder Prata man's head will roll or not.

How to check man is virgin

A very 'straight and honest' girl is going to Singapore.
Before shel eft, her mother gave her some advice. Daughter, when you're in SG and if you're looking for a match there, you must take note of the following the requirements Mother set for you. You must find a man that is 'faithful', not 'spendthrift' and must be a virgin'. With these advice from her mother, the girl left town.

After some months later, she came home to her kampung to get her mother's blessings to marry. 'Mother, I've met my match following your instructions. My future husband is faithful because when we went out for a holiday one day, he took care of me specifically even thought here were so many prettier girls around'. Isn't that being faithful?'. Her mother nodded in agreement. 'Then, since the day was getting late in the night and rain was pouring, my boyfriend decided that we staythe night at a hotel. He also suggested that in order not to spend too much, we shared one room only'. 'Isn't he not spendthrift guy?'

For the second time her mother nodded her head in agreement, but with a little concern. 'And finally mum..., I know he is a virgin'. 'How did you know he is still a virgin?'
The mother asked with repidition.

'MMM...his 'that one' is still New......wrapped up in plastic, mum!'

AH NEH Marriage Ads

Reply to a Matrimonial Ad in Bangalore

Madam:
I am an old young uncle living only with myself in Bangalore. Having seen your advertisement for marriage purposes, I decided to press myself on you and hope you will take me nicely.

I am a soiled son from inside Karnataka. I am nice and big, six foot tall and six inches long. My body is filled with hardness, as because I am working hardly. I am playing hardly also. Especially I like cricket and I am a good batter and I am fast baller. Whenever I come running in for balling, other batters start running. Everybody is scared of my rapid balls that bounce a lot.

I am very nice man. I am always laughing loudly at everyone. I am jolly. I am gay.

Especially ladies, they are saying I am nice and soft. I am always giving respect to the ladies. I am always allowing ladies to get on top. That is how nice I am.

I am not having any bad habits. I am not drinking and I am not sucking tobacco or anything else. Every morning I am going to the gym and I am pumping like anything. Daily I am pumping and pumping. If you want you can come and see how much I am pumping the dumb belles in the gym.

I am having a lot of money in my pants and my pants is always open for you.

I am such a nice man, but still I am living with myself only. What to do?
So I am taking things into my own hands everyday. That is why I am pressing myself on you, so that you will come in my house and take my things into your hand.

If you are marrying me madam, I am telling you, I will be loving you very hard every day. In fact, I will stop pumping dumb belles in the gym.

If you are not marrying me madam and not coming to me, I will press you and press you until you come. So I am placing my head between your nicely smelling feet and looking up with lots of hope. I am waiting very badly for your reply and I am stiff with anticipation.
Expecting soon,

Yours and only yours
Jiyo

...
You can stop laughing now, this maybe one of ur relatives.

Just for laughes

One Ah Singh was enjoying the sun at the beach in America . A lady came ?asked him, "Are you relaxing?" Singh answered, " No, I am Banta Singh."

Another guy came and asked him the same question. Singh answered, "No No Me Banta Singh!"

Third one came and asked him the same question again.

Singh was totally annoyed and decided to shift his place.

While walking he saw another Singh soaking in the sun. He went up to him and asked, "Are you Relaxing?" The other Singh was a lot more educated and answered, "Yes, I am relaxing." The Singh slapped him on his face and said, Stupid, idiot.

Everyone is looking for you and you are sitting over here!"

Just for Laughes

Sardar Gurbachan Neh is appearing for his University final examination. He takes his seat in the examination hall, stares at the question paper for five minutes, and then in a fit of inspiration takes his shoes off and throws them out of the window.

He then removes his turban and throws it away as well. His shirt, pant, socks and watch follow suit.

The invigilator, alarmed, approaches him and asks what is going on. "Oye, I am only following the instructions yaar," he says, " it says here, 'Answer the following questions in brief' ..."

Just for Laughes

Jasmeet Kaur caught her husband Santa Singh searching high and low all around his living room.

Jasmeet: "What are you searching for?"

Santa: "Hidden cameras!"

Jasmeet: "And what makes you think that there are hidden cameras here?"

Santa: "That guy on TV knows exactly what I am doing. Why every few minutes he keeps saying 'You are watching the Star World channel'. How does he know that?"

Ha ha... The Malaysian are watching you and making a DVD of your love life...

Just for Laughes

Two Ah Nehs were sitting outside a clinic. One of them was crying like hell. So the other asked, "Why are you crying?"

The first one replied, "I came here for blood test"

Second one asked, "So? Are you afraid ? "

First one replied, " No, not that. During the blood test they cut my finger...
" Hearing this the second one started crying.
The first one was astonished and asked other, "Why are you crying?"

The other replied, "I have come for my urine test."

Just for Laughes

A man was in his front yard mowing grass when his neighbor, a Singh, came out of the house and went straight to the mailbox. He opened it, looked inside, slammed it shut, and stormed back into his house.

A little later he came out of his house again, looking nervous, went to the mailbox, again opened it, and slammed it shut again.

Angrily, back into the house he went.

As the man was getting ready to edge the lawn, here our Singh came again, looking very heated up. He marched to the mailbox, opened it and then slammed it shut harder than ever.

Puzzled by his actions, the man asked him, "Is something wrong?"

To which the ferocious Singh replied, " There certainly is! My stupid computer keeps telling me I have mail!"

Just for Laughes

3 INDIANS and 3 FRENCH are travelling by train to a Cricket match at the World Cup. At the station, the 3 FRENCH buy a ticket each and watch as the 3 INDIANS buy just one ticket for them all.

"How are the 3 of you going to travel on only oneticket?" asks one of the FRENCH. "Watch and learn," answers one of the INDIAN.

They all board the train. The FRENCH take their respective seats but all 3 INDIANS cram into a toilet and close the door behind them. Shortly after the train departs, the conductor comes around collecting tickets. He knocks on the toilet door and says, "Ticket please. " The door opens just a crack and a single arm emerges with a ticket in hand.The conductor takes it and moves on.

The FRENCH see this and agree it was quite a clever idea. So after the game,they decide to copy the INDIAN style on the returntrip and save some money.

When they get to the station, they buy one ticket for three on the return trip. To their astonishment, the INDIANS don't buy ticket at all!!! How are you going to travel without a ticket?" says one perplexed FRENCH. "Watch and learn," answers an INDIAN.

When they board the train the 3 FRENCH cram into one toilet and soon after the 3 INDIANS cram into another nearby toilet.The train departs. Shortly afterwards, one of the INDIAN leaves the toilet and walks over to the toilet where the FRENCH are hiding.

He knocks on the door and says, "Ticket please."The door opens just a crack and a single arm emerges with a ticket in hand. The INDIAN takes the ticket and goes back into his toilet.

New Knights for the King!

President SR Nathan has appointed new members to the Council of Presidential Advisers (CPA). The appointments take effect from 2 January.

Retired High Court judge, Mr Goh Joon Seng, was appointed as a member of the CPA for a term of six years.

Also appointed, as alternate members of the CPA for a four-year term, are chairman of Keppel Corp, Mr Lim Chee Onn, and SIA's chairman and president of the Singapore National Employers' Federation, Mr Stephen Lee Ching Yen.

The President's Office also announced that Dr Cheong Siew Keong has retired as a member of the CPA upon the expiry of his term on 1 January.

The CPA continues to be chaired by Mr J Y Pillay, chairman of the Singapore Exchange. The other members are Mr S Dhanabalan, Professor Cham Tao Soon, Mr Po'ad Bin Shaik Abu Bakar Mattar and Mr Yong Pung How.

Dr Cheong has served on the Council since its inception in January 1992, and President Nathan deeply appreciates his 16 years of invaluable service on the Council.

According to the Istana website, it is obligatory for the President to consult the Council before he vetoes the budgets of the government and key government-linked bodies.