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CPI(M) attacks Kalam, says SMS, e-mails no proof of popularity
New Delhi, June 22 (PTI) The CPI(M) today said it did not look good if an incumbent President expresses his readiness to contest the Presidential poll in the absence of a consensus.
"It doesn't look good if the incumbent President says that I am ready to fight if victory is certain. But he (Kalam) said that. If everybody accepts, that is a different matter. But if that is not the case, then it doesn't speak well of the President or even the office of President," CPI(M) Politburo member Sitaram Yechury told reporters here.
When pointed out that Kalam is described as "people's President" on the basis of various SMS polls and surveys, he said such polls were no proof of popular opinion.
"There is a difference between citizens and netizens. Those who are talking of people's power are in cyber space and not in real space. They are talking in terms of e-mails getting clogged. Please remember, the number of mails you require to clog your e-mail is less than the number of votes you need to win a corporation election. So do not talk in terms of people's President," he said.
After a meeting yesterday with UNPA leaders who urged the CPI(M) to support Kalam for a second term, Yechury had advised Kalam to demit office "gracefully". PTI
Musharraf approves crack down on militant madrassas: report
Islamabad, June 22 (PTI) Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf has approved military crack down on madrassas promoting militancy, particularly in the country's restive northern areas bordering Afghanistan, a news report has said.
President Musharraf gave the green signal to the military and security agencies to crack down on madrassas propagating militancy, particularly in the tribal areas and North West Frontier Province (NWFP), at the National Security Council (NSC) meeting held on June 4, a Daily Times report based on unnamed sources said.
Sources said Musharraf had also approved a fast track operation against militant commanders active in the tribal areas and NWFP.
The meeting unanimously decided to re-deploy 46 platoons of the Frontier Constabulary from other provinces to the restive NWFP immediately, with the army providing artillery and other facilities to the elite security force for its operations, sources said yesterday.
Interior Minister Aftab Sherpao, Education Minister Lt-Gen (retd) Javed Ashraf Qazi, Religious Affairs Minister Ejazul Haq and NSC Secretary Tariq Aziz also attended the meeting.
The authorities have been involved in a stand-off with the baton-wielding students of Lal Masjid and Jamia Hafsa madrassa in central Islamabad that continues its hold on a public library building demanding the enforcement of Sharia in the country.
In the past, plans to storm the mosque and the madrassa adjacent to it were put off, fearing casualties. Some of the students inside were seen moving with weapons including machine guns. The clerics warned of bloodshed saying that suicide bombers would hit back if the mosque was attacked. PTI
BoA nod to 36 SEZs; nine others cleared in-principle
New Delhi, June 22 (PTI) The government panel on Special Economic Zones today cleared 36 proposals, including three zones jointly promoted by RIL chief Mukesh Ambani and Anand Jain, while granting in-principle approval to nine others.
The Board of Approval, which met here today, also cleared Anil Ambani group firm Reliance Infocomm's IT SEZ in Dhirubhai Ambani Knowledge City in Maharashtra.
Among those that received in-principle approval was a multi-product zone in Midnapore, which will be the first such in West Bengal.
The Mukesh Ambani-Anand Jain promoted projects that were cleared are product specific zones -- biotechnology, light engineering and pharmaceuticals -- and would cover an area of 346 hectare in Navi Mumbai.
Also to receive clearance was a hardware manufacturing SEZ promoted by Foxconn, which plans to eventually scale up the zone's size to 100 hectare. PTI
India, US sign pact for tie-up in aviation sector
Washington, Jun 22 (PTI) With the country's aviation industry facing challenges of rising passenger level and cargo volume, India today entered into an agreement with the United States to establish an Aviation Cooperation Programme (ACP) to modernise the sector's infrastructure.
A Memorandum of Understanding to this effect was signed between the visiting Indian Civil Aviation minister Praful Patel and the Secretary, US Department of Transportation, Mary Peters here.
Under the programme, the USTDA, Civil Aviation Ministry, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and public sector entities of both nations will partner with the US industry to identify and support modernisation of India's Civil Aviation sector.
Issues like infrastructure, safety, enhancing air service quality, operational efficiency, flight security, air-space management and system capacity will be covered under the programme.
Besides, it will facilitate and coordinate aviation industry training and technical ties between the two countries.
USTDA would provide the funding for training and technical assistance programmes and the FAA and US aviation companies would facilitate in-kind support, the US Agency said in a statement. PTI
Pak may be building new nuke reactor, says US watchdog group
Sridhar Krishnaswami
Washington, June 22 (PTI) Pakistan appears to be building a new nuclear reactor to produce weapons-grade plutonium at Khushab in Punjab province, an American watchdog group has said citing satellite imagery.
Satellite images taken on June 3 indicates that Pakistan appears to be building a third plutonium production reactor at the Khushab nuclear site, 160 kms southwest of Islamabad, even as the second heavy water reactor, which it began building between 2000 and 2002, is still under construction, Institute for Science and International Security (ISIS) said.
"The third reactor appears to be a replica of the second heavy water reactor and is located a few hundred metres to the north, though construction is progressing much more quickly than the second," former UN inspector David Albright and Paul Brannan wrote in a report.
The ISIS said it has reported on January 18 the resumption of construction of what appears to be a plutonium separation facility at Chashma, some 80 kms west of Khushab.
"The expanded construction at Khushab, and apparent resumption of activity at the Chashma plutonium separation plant, all occurring within the last six years, imply that Pakistan government has made a decision to increase significantly its production of plutonium for nuclear weapons," the ISIS said.
The report said Pakistan may have decided to produce more plutonium for lighter warheads for cruise missiles, or to upgrade weapons aimed at Indian cities. PTI
Russian Titanium major to set up JV with Kerala company
Moscow, June 22 (PTI) Russia's VSMPO-AVISMA Corporation, the world's largest producer of Titanium, is planning to set up a joint-venture with a government-owned company in Kerala to supply aviation metal to Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd.
The corporation, controlled by state-owned arms exporter RosOboronExport (ROE), is in talks with Kerala Minerals and Mining Limited (KMML) for setting up a joint venture for the processing and smelting of Titanium, RBC business daily reported today.
"From the Indian side a protocol of intention has been signed for the construction of a plant for the production of Titanium sponge with an annual capacity of 10 thousand tons," VSMPO-AVISMA General Director Vladislav Tetyukhin said, according to the daily.
"In 2008 we will work out the strategy of the plant and in 2009 it will become operational," he said.
Part of the production of the JV could be imported by Russia and also used in implementation of the joint Indo-Russian Multirole Transport Aircraft (MTA) project.
The Titanium major's JV with KMML is "just first step," the newspaper quoted a source as saying.
"We have an understanding with the Indian Defence Ministry about setting up a venture for the production of Titanium components to meet the requirements of the Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd," a ROE official told the daily.
Indian company Midhani could be picked by VSMPO-AVISMA Corporation as its JV partner for the project, the source said. PTI
SBI MF mops Rs 2,500 cr from SBI Infrastructure fund
Kolkata, June 22 (PTI) The new fund offer of SBI Mutual Funds, SBI Infrastructure Fund -- Series I, has drawn a huge response from investors, mopping up Rs 2,500 crore.
"We have received six lakh applications totalling Rs 2,500 crore," Syed Shahabuddin, managing director & CEO of SBI Funds Management, the asset management company for SBI MF, said here today on the sidelines of a national seminar on integrated risk management organised by SMT group.
SBI Infrastructure Fund, a three-year close-ended, growth-oriented scheme would reopen for continuous repurchases from July 2010.
SBI MF, which has asset under management to the tune of Rs 16,500 crore, was also planning for new schemes like gold traded exchange fund (ETF) and on-shore fund for overseas investment.
"We are looking at gold ETF with some benefits other than what existing funds are offering to draw interest of investors, Shahabuddin said.
Speaking on funds for overseas investment, he said that details are yet to be worked out.
SBI MF was the first bank-sponsored fund to launch an offshore fund -- Resurgent Indian Opportunity Fund-- but it did not draw impressive response. PTI
No role for G-4 in WTO talks: Kamal Nath
New Delhi, June 22 (PTI) India today said there is no future for the grouping of four key WTO members as a platform for breaking the impasse in multilateral trade talks.
The G-4, which comprised the EU, US, India and Brazil, was set up to speed up the process of consensus building among the developed and developing countries on the contents of the Doha round.
"It's the end of the day for G-4... Now its for the full membership (of the WTO) to take the Doha round forward," Commerce and Industry Minister Kamal Nath said.
Nath, who returned from Potsdam in Germany where the G-4 talks failed, said that developed countries wanted greater access to the markets in the developing world but refused to cut their trade distorting subsidies in agriculture. PTI
BSE draws up future business plan, may tap capital market
Kolkata, June 22 (PTI) Soon after completing divestment of 51 per cent for demutualisation, The Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE) might tap the capital market to raise resources as part of its business plan for future growth.
"We will examine the possibility of entering the capital market if we require funds for our future business plans," BSE managing director & CEO Rajnikant Patel told reporters here today.
Patel was here to attend a national seminar on integrated risk management.
Since BSE has already been corporatised, there was no hindrance to hit the market. Patel said the business plan for future growth is currently in the planning stage while declining to disclose the details.
He also refused to divulge whether the bourse was looking at an overseas foray or taking a stake in overseas exchanges as part of the business plan.
BSE has a cash reserve of Rs 1,000 crore and is a debt- free exchange. BSE has recently made private placement of a few overseas investors to meet the 51 per cent dilution of its stake to complete the demutualisation process.
Speaking about the Calcutta Stock Exchange, Patel said the bourse has shown interest in the local exchange. Patel will meet CSE officials to carry forward the negotiations.
CSE has decided to form a negotiating sub-committee to discuss on divestment which would be responsible to finalise investors and valuation at which the divestment would be made. PTI
Five directors of PSB write to PM attacking Chairman
New Delhi, June 22 (PTI) A virtual war has broken out in the public sector Punjab and Sind Bank, with five of its non-official board directors attacking the Chairman and the top brass in turn calling for removal of its "undesirable directors".
It all started with the five directors led by Harcharan Singh Josh writing to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, alleging favouritism by Chairman R P Singh, a senior IAS officer, who was brought in charge of the bank in 2005.
Josh and the other four directors -- K K Sharma, U K Sharma, Krishna Mohini and Kamal Maan -- alleged that Singh sanctioned a Rs 150 crore-loan to Akali leader and Punjab chief minister Parkash Singh Badal's son Sukhbir Singh Badal for his Orbit Resorts project.
They alleged that the loan was provided on a low interest rate.
The PSB chairman, however, said the loan to Badal's Orbit Resorts had been approved only "in principle" and on the basis of merit.
"These allegations are false. These directors are acting on behalf of defaulters of the bank and are trying to defeat the process of recovery. The loan to Orbit had nothing to do with politics," he added.
The five directors said "the sanction of Rs 150 crore to (Badal's) Orbit Resorts Private Limited at a rate of 11.5 per cent per annum is a clear indication of favouritism". PTI
Sharath goes down fighting at Japan Pro Tour
New Delhi, June 22 (PTI) A Sharath Kamal pulled off a major upset in the first round of ITTF Japan ProTour event but bowed out in the next round, going down to world no 9 Ma Long of China in Chiba today.
Sharath, who had to qualify for the top event, churned out one of his best performances, beating world no 19 Lee Jung-Wo of Korea in a see-saw seven-game encounter in the first round.
The national champion, who is way behind in the world rankings at 99, got past Jung-Wo 11-7 9-11 12-10 11-9 6-11 7-11 11-9 to enter the second round.
Sharath showed some firepower against Ma Long as well but was eventually overpowered 11-4 5-11 5-11 11-9 4-11 10-12.
In the doubles draw, Sharath along with Alexei Liventsov of Russia bowed out in the third round of qualifiers.
The duo got a bye in the first round and then got the better of Christoffer Petersen and Kasper Sternberg of Denmark 11-8 11-7 13-11. PTI
Joshna upsets seventh seed at LA Open
Los Angeles, June 22 (PTI) Joshna Chinappa caused a major upset beating seventh seed Aisling Blake of Ireland to enter the quarterfinals of USD 23,000 Epstein Becker and Green LA Squash Open here.
The Indian beat Aisling 9-4 6-9 0-9 9-7 9-7 in a 68-minute contest to become the only unseeded player to enter the last-eight on Thursday.
Joshna took the first game but Aisling rallied to take the lead after blanking the Indian in the third game.
The last two games were hard-fought but Joshna came out on top recovering from 4-7 in the fourth and 0-4 in the fifth to cause the biggest upset of the tournament so far.
"I just lost rhythm in the third, I was trying to win a few cheap points and you just can't afford to do that, especially against Aisling who is fit and will take advantage of anything loose.
"I controlled that well for four games, which were close, I played a lot of thinking shots, trying to make her turn as much as I could, and I didn't for one, which I lost badly," Joshna said after the match.
The Indian has another tough match on hand as she will take on third seed Raneem El Weleily in the quarterfinals. Weleily brushed aside England's Jenna Gates' challenge in just 19 minutes beating her 9-1 9-1 9-1.
Another Indian in the fray, qualifier Dipika Pallikal, lost to sixth seed Manuela Manetta of Italy in the first round. Dipika went down 9-2 9-3 9-7 in 28 minutes. PTI
Vijay Hazare Trophy under-19 Trophy discontinued by BCCI
Mumbai, Jun 22 (PTI) The Cricket Board has decided to do away with the Vijay Hazare Trophy Inter Zonal one-day competition for under-19 cricketers from the forthcoming domestic season.
However, the trophy in memory of the former Test captain will now be awarded to the Ranji one-day champions.
The BCCI has also increased the duration of matches in the Cooch Behar (U-19) Trophy and Col C K Nayudu (Under-22) Trophy from three to four days each.
In another major change decided at the BCCI's Tours and Programmes Fixtures Committee meeting held earlier in the week, the Board has split the Polly Umrigar Trophy under-15 tournament into the Elite and Plate format on the lines of the Ranji Trophy.
This year, there will be a tournament for under-19 and senior women too, said BCCI's Chief Administrative Officer Ratnakar Shetty.
As is the practice, the season will commence with the Irani Cup tie between last year's Ranji Trophy winners Mumbai and the Rest of India at Rajkot from October 1-5.
The N K P Salve Challenger Series would follow from October 24 to 27 at an yet undecided venue.
The Elite and Plate divisions leagues of the Ranji Trophy will be held from November 4-December 25 and November 4- December 9 respectively, leading to the knockout rounds starting from January 2 and December 15.
The Elite and Plate finals are scheduled from Jan 13, 2008 and December 26 this year respectively.
The Duleep Trophy league is to follow from January 24 to February 12, 2008 and its final is slated between February 17 and 21. PTI
Atwal off to a steady start in US
Cromwell (USA), Jun 22 (PTI) Arjun Atwal got off to a steady start with a two-under 68 in the opening round of the USPGA Travelers Championship here on Thursday.
Atwal, the Asia No. 1 in 2003, carded three birdies against a lone dropped shot in the tied 28th position.
Inclement weather suspended play on day one and 39 golfers were yet to complete their first round.
Indo-Swede Daniel Chopra completed his round with a 69 and is in joint 45th place.
American Hunter Mahan grabbed the clubhouse lead after an eight-under 62, which was one off the course. The course record is 61 and held by four players including defending champion Phil Mickelson.
Atwal started with a birdie on second and then dropped a shot on ninth.
However, he played steady golf on back nine with birdies on tenth and 11th and then had seven pars in a row for a 68.
Among other Asian Tour players, Kevin Na was even-par for the day in tied 63rd position. Australia's Andrew Buckle had a slow start with a 71 in joint 85th place alongside Jarrod Lyle of Australia was one-over after 13 holes.
Charlie Wi of Korea, the 2006 Maybank Malaysian Open winner, was even-par with four holes to play.
Mahan shot a 31 on his first nine holes, made par at 10, then birdied his next four holes.
Early leader Chris DiMarco shot a six-under 64. Five golfers finished at 65, including tour rookie Michael Sim. PTI
Jeev 21st, Jyoti recovers well in Munich
Munich, June 22 (PTI) Jeev Milkha Singh may not have found many fairways, but he scrambleed well enough to compile a tidy three-under 69 in the first round of the BMW International Open at the Golfclub Munchen Eichenried.
The Chandigarh golfer, fresh from a 36th place finish at the US Open at Oakmont, was tied 21st. Compatiot Jyoti Randhawa (70) recovered superbly from a poor start to shoot a 70 while Shiv Kapur had a 72.
Randhawa was tied 29th and Kapur 61st.
Portugal's Jose-Filipe Lima (65) eagled the last hole to take a one shot clubhouse lead and was later joined by Raphael Jacquelin, who matched that score. They were one clear of Paul Broadhurst, Marc Farry and Fernandez Castano, who shot 66 each.
Randhawa had a nightmarish start with bogeys on his first two holes, but he recovered very well in the closing stages of the round.
He birdied the sixth and then had back to back birdies on 15th and 16th to ensure he was under par.
However, he dropped a shot on 17th, only to land an eagle on the 18th.
In challenging and rainy conditions, Randhawa managed just three fairways and 11 greens in regulation. But like Jeev, he scrambled well.
Kapur had two birdies on the front stretch and two bogeys on the back nine to card an even par 72. PTI
Blair in greater danger of assassination in Britain than Iraq
London, June 22 (PTI) The outgoing Prime Minister Tony Blair feels he has been in greater danger of assassination on the streets of Britain than in Iraq.
Asked why he had not worn body armour during a recent visit to Baghdad, Blair told The Times: "It's far more likely I'll shake hands with a group of kids today and somebody does something crazy than on a day in Iraq." He was being interviewed in a Birmingham hotel when he made the remark. He said "I don't mean it's more dangerous in Redditch than Baghdad, I mean if I am to be assassinated it's more likely to be in circumstances where I am out mixing with people but my people are not anticipating danger." On why he had not worn body armour, while officials, Press and the military had, he said; "the politicians there don't wear it. So if they don't why should I? It's not a bravura thing." As Blair prepares to step down next week, residents near the 3.65 million pounds townhouse in Connaught Square in London where he is planning to live have spoken for the first time of their anger with Downing Street and the police for failing to disclose the security implications.
Blair has been described by security analysts as one of the top five living targets for a terrorist attack.
His new home is only 100 yards from the heart of London's Arab community and is close to a school and a medical centre. Scotland Yard said that the force could not comment on security matters. PTI
Canadian PM lauds contributions of Indo-Canadian community
Toronto, June 22 (PTI) Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper has lauded contributions of Indo-Canadians in the economic development of Canada.
Harper said that the business leaders of Indian Diaspora were playing a significant role in developing trade links between the two countries and there were unlimited opportunities for growth of trade and investment.
He was addressing a group of 16 Indo-Canadian business leaders and professionals in his office in Toronto earlier this week.
Harper said that he had invited Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to Canada. "They haven't been able to work out a date yet," he added.
The meeting discussed the growing opportunity for Indo-Canadian business community in both countries. PTI
For Gen-Next family, friends are preferred source of news
New Delhi, Jun 21 (PTI) Where does the Gen-X get daily dosage of news from? Newspapers, TV, internet, radio or maybe even you! Schools and college-going teenagers depend for news updates on friends and relatives more than the conventional sources of news, according to a study by the World Association of News (WAN) in ten countries and the story in India is no different.
According to the WAN study, "young people perceive traditional media as more accurate, trustworthy and reliable than new media, but many get most of their news and information from another source entirely - family and friends." "When something as serious as the Gurjar issue happens, I do take the effort to read the papers. But for the rest of the general news, I simply ask my dad," says Ishita Bhatia, second year student of St. Stephens. "With college and assignments and dance classes, who has the time!" she laments. And are the friends and family members reliable enough? "Obviously," says Romina Madan of Hansraj College.
Well, it seems this just might be the case then for the college goers. But why is this social networking becoming a source of news for the young? It seems that mutual trust plays a big role here. Usha Rai of Centre of Media Studies says, "Youngsters look up to their parents and friends. And anything delivered across the table first hand always gets them more." PTI
Book: NE can provide access to one-fifth of world population
New Delhi, Jun 20 (PTI) Northeast India's proximity to Southeast Asian countries can provide foreign investors with an excellent opportunity of intra-regional trade and an access to nearly one-fifth of the world population, a new book says.
"The Northeast has the unique locational advantage of being a gateway to the fast-growing ASEAN countries and China. It has the potential to emerge as a strategic base for foreign and domestic investors to tap vast potential of contiguous markets of East and Southeast Asian countries," authors P L Sanjeev Reddy and P C Shekar Reddy write in "Peace and Development in Northeast: A Virtual Spiral".
According to them, a holistic approach of mapping areas of competency, infrastructure support, policy measures, external linkages, standardisation and effective marketing can invite considerable investment.
The book is the outcome of a multi-disciplinary study undertaken jointly by the Indian Institute of Public Administration and the North Eastern Council.
The study provides a comprehensive interface between a violence-free milieu and socio-economic development. The remote location of the northeast and certain contingencies of history and geography have led to a sense of deprivation and alienation among the people who feel the region has not gained the fruits of development proportional to resources available.
The responses from police departments have brought out a very unique fact that over 71 per cent of the villages in the region have not reported any incidence of crime for the past couple of years, the writers say. (Name of the Book: "Peace and Development in Northeast: A Virtual Spiral"; Authors: P L Sanjeev Reddy and P C Shekar Reddy; Publishers: Mittal Publications; Price: Rs 1,295; Pages: 392). PTI
Newsletter-Orissa: Maoists plan of Pasupati-Tirupati corridor, a security threat
Aurobindo Mishra
Bhubaneswar, Jun 21 (PTI) Is the Maoist plan to have a corridor linking Nepal, the northern states and the southern region through Orissa on the verge of success? Experts believe it is.
The CPI (Maoist) cadres, Left Wing Extremists (LWE) in government parlance, have penetrated into several western and northern Orissa districts over the last few years giving the administration sleepless nights.
While naxal presence in the southern districts bordering Andhra Pradesh has been acknowledged since long, the Ultras are known to have penetrated deep into Orissa from Jharkhand in their effort to establish what is now being described as the Pasupati to Tirupati corridor.
Maoists, many of them local tribals being lured by the ultras into their fold, are known to get into frequent skirmishes with police and CRPF personnel in Sundargarh, Deogarh and Sambalpur districts in western Orissa.
Having entered the jungles of Sambalpur, they now had to cross the Mahanadi river to reach the other side where the Boudh and Kandhamal districts lay adjoining Rayagada.
Once this gap is bridged, the link the ultras are seeking to establish between the north and south will be established, a former senior police officer said adding infact, they are only a step away.
Despite the government efforts to modernise the police and provide them with new arms, the maoists appear to be getting entrenched, he said. PTI
More controversy than recruitment by Chhattisgarh PSC
Prakash Chandra Hota
Raipur, Jun 20 (PTI) With two of its chairmen facing legal actions, Chhattisgarh Public Service Commission has created more controversy than successfully doing its mandated work of conducting examinations.
Because of lukewarm response to the complaints against the CPSC even the Chief Minister Dr Raman Singh came in for criticism after large scale irregularities in conduct of examination came to light.
Two successive heads of the constitutional body are facing legal actions for their alleged involvement in irregularities.
If former state Director General of Police Ashok Darbari was suspended for his gross irregularities in conduct of examinations as the Chairman, his successor Khelan Ram Jangde was facing corruption charges even after retirement as Raipur police has registered a case against him on complaint of a candidate on June 7 last.
"We have prima facie evidences against Jangde, who retired last month as Acting Chairman of the Commission and also against the member Amol Singh Salam, who retired with him," Raipur City Superintendent of Police Sashi Mohan Singh told PTI.
Both Jangde and Salam have been charged with entering into a criminal conspiracy and adopting corrupt practices in conducting State Civil Service Examinations for 2005, Singh said. PTI
Now, resumes that talk!
Heena Jhingan
New Delhi, Jun 19 (PTI) 'Let Your resume speak for you' was considered as the key mantra for jobseekers a few decades back, but in the era of e-recruitment what can actually give a candidate an edge is a "talking resume" or "video resume".
Considering the popularity of such multi-media based CV in US and UK, an Indian jobsite recently launched a free video resume uploading service, the first such service in the domestic market. And now another jobsite is measuring the prospects of this concept and may also soon introduce a similar service.
A video resume which essentially means presentation of an applicant's details and credentials through various media like video and audio might not revolutionise the online recruitment in the country, but experts foresee that is capable of easing out the preliminary selection process. "The concept of video resume is here to stay," believes monsterindia.Com's Vice President Products and Technology Vikas Aggarwal. Monsterindia.Com is the first to launch video resume.
According to Internet and Mobile Association of India (IAMAI), the online recruitment market has leaped to Rs 240 crore in 2006-07 from Rs 145 crore in 2005-06. During the same period, says an IAMAI study, the number of online job seekers has grown from 6.5 million to 9.2 million. The online recruitment growth rate is a remarkable 60- 70 per cent. A recent media survey showed that about 87 per cent of recruiters in America would watch a video resume if submitted to them.
Interestingly, it is now a myth that only e-recruitment serves the purpose of a handful in India. IAMAI research says India's Internet users population stands at 38.5 million and is all set to grow to a 100 million by 2007-08. PTI
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