Talk on the “Union Budget” was given by Guest Speaker Mr. M. A. Sundaram.
Some highlights:
Budget seen to be a foresight visionary budget impacts of which will be seen in 2012-13. Path for bring the fiscal deficit to 3% of GDP (and internationally well accepted norm for credit rating of the Country’s economy) has been laid. Budget focused on public spending through PPP where the govt sees value in the delivery system of the private sector. Govt easing the freebies of subsidies to bring the markets and consumer to realistic pricing rather than keep the consumers in the habit of an unwarranted ‘comfort zone’. Budget did make a reference of the start point of the Direct tax Code and the GST (1 April 2011). The process of unified rates for GST has been seen in this budget … Excise duty and Service tax at the same rate (10%). Individual taxation, Research expenditure, Environment related projects saw major pluses in this budget. Ease of compliance to small assesses (no audit requirement….). Dampeners, have been the rise in fuel price and increase in tax rates for MAT.. the later not being a major dampner.
Mr. M. A. Sundaram is highly respected Rotarian and a visiting faculty at numerous colleges. He has been Ex Joint Director (Finance) Railway Board in Delhi, Ex Finance Director Bongaigaon Refineries & Petrochemicals Ltd., Ex Vice-President (Finance) Zuari Industries and Ex Vice- President (Finance) Reliance Industries Ltd. Mr. Sundaram is currently a Non-Executive Independent Director of De Nora India Ltd.
Mr. Sundaram is a Friend of Rotary, and has also been our Guest Speaker last year to explain the Union Budget.
Rotary
Guest Speaker, vocational
Visiting Rotarian Elena Matveeva, Youth Exchange Committee Chair, Rotary District 2220, Moscow, Russia. She talked about Russia, their club and their activities, including purchasing a school bus for orphans by raising funds in a charitable ball.
Also attending were Rotarians from the Vasco club: Prakash, Santosh, Piyush, Servulho.
Rotary
Guest Speaker, International
Rtn. Prakash of RC Vasco, and Rtn. Bharat of RID 7890 talked to us about their visit to the 100th Rotary International Convention held at Birmingham, UK.
Rtn. Bharat elaborated on the proceedings at the Convention while Rtn. Prakash elaborated on the networking effectiveness at an RI convention.
Rotary
club, Guest Speaker, International
Rtn. Mehta described his recent visit down under to R.I. District 9930 in New Zealand under the Rotary Friendship Exchange (RFE) program.
Also see: Tourism New Zealand’s website.
Rotary
Guest Speaker, International
Clinton Vaz talked on “Ideas for Environmentalism & Wildlife Activism in Goa“.
Vaz, aged 27 is a self employed environmental consultant based in Goa. In 2005, he was appointed as a consultant in waste management for the Corporation of the City of Panaji where he offers his services till date. In his free time, he conducts waste management workshops or manages his two e-groups based on Goa’s wildlife and environment.
Vaz talked of the separating and treating different types of waste differently, and eco-friendly options to treat wet waste in your own backyard or community.
Rotary
community, environment, Guest Speaker
Our Guest Speaker Mr. M. A. Sundaram spoke about the current financial crisis in the world, and its origins. The first signs of the impeding crisis started in 2007 with a slow down in SUV demand, and snowballed with the Lehman Brothers incident. He discussed the Indian Budget 2009 considering the prevailing global situation and election year. He also compared Disposable Income to Credit, Exports as a % of GDP, and Domestic Savings Rate of many countries.
Mr. M. A. Sundaram is a highly respected Ex Joint Director (Finance) Railway Board in Delhi, Finance Director B.R.P.L., Vice President (Finance) Z.I.L. He is also a Rotarian from Vasco da gama, and a visiting faculty at numerous colleges.
Rotary
Guest Speaker, vocational
Post 26/11, the country has been flooded with candlelight vigils and memorial meetings. We did share in these moments but it didn’t seem enough. After a while, we would be back to square one – unaware and unprepared. We felt that what the public lacked was awareness and measures to be taken before and during a calamity.
We invited Rtn. Dr. Jorson Fernandes who is an active member of the Red Cross and has had a lot of first-hand experiences at handling casualties, to address the club. Dr. Jorson had a very interactive and eye-opening session on “incident management”. The one hour that he spent with us wan’t really enough to encompass the entire matter and he promised to be back. We strongly feel that this awareness has to reach the public at large and we will surely work towards it.
Rotary
Guest Speaker
