AYODHYA JUDGEMENT

The nation has heaved a sigh of relief after hearing the Allahabad high court verdict on the  60 year old Ayodhya dispute. It should be welcomed by one and all as it reflects the sentiments of the people. The concerned parties should sit together and put an end to this decades long pending problem without appealing to the Supreme Court.

A member of the Muslim personal law board Mr. Kamal Farooqui has rightly said:

 "I would not like to jump to conclusions right now but there could be a mandir and a masjid existing along side in Ayodhya in the larger interest of the nation. The court has opened up some consensus for us and a chance for reconciliation," He has further said that India has become a "matured nation" and "we will move forward".

I hope that  the Muslim Personal Law Board will do the needful and see to it that no appeal is made on this issue. Let Hindus and Muslims show their brotherly gestures in constructing a temple and a mosque side by side in the Area in Ayodhya and tell the world that even a vexed problem can be solved amicably here in our country India which is well known for its secularism and unity in diversity. Everyone should try to make Ayodhya a shining example for communal harmony and peace for the happiness, progress and prosperity of the people particularly the future generation.

                                                          V.M. Khaleelur Rahman

REAL HAPPINESS OF EID

REAL HAPPINESS OF EID

BY V. M. KHALEELUR RAHMAN

Eid-ul-Fitr or Ramadan Eid is celebrated as a day of thanksgiving to God after successful completion of the month-long fasting from dawn to dusk during Ramadan, the ninth month of the Islamic lunar calendar and on sighting the crescent moon of the 10th month called Shawwal. Ramadan is meant for fasting, worship and charity, and also for self-introspection for the purpose of purification of one's soul and body by giving up bad and attaining good things. The Holy Quran says, "Fasting is prescribed to you as it was to those before you so that you may learn self-restraint." Fasting brings people together and creates a sense of camaraderie among them. It inculcates in them righteous conduct, to be good people and brotherhood of man by eradicating evils such as anger, greed and malice.




Prophet Mohammed (Sal-am) has said, "Do not belittle even the smallest act of kindness even if it is no more than meeting your neighbour with a smiling and cheerful face. We should not consider any charity small or not worth doing. Charity, big or small, should be given in a pleasant manner without hurting the feeling of its receivers and with the thought that we are only discharging a religious duty from the wealth God has given us." According to Islam even our day-to-day acts, like being kind to others at home and outside, are charity and it makes a big difference in our relations with them.



Once when Prophet Mohammed (Sal-am) was on his way to Idgah for Id prayers, he saw a poor boy about five-years-old sitting on the pavement sadly. He went near him and asked, "Why are you alone here, my dear boy?" The boy started weeping and said, "I am an orphan with nobody to care for me." The Prophet could not bear the pathetic words of the poor boy and consoled him saying, "From now on you can look to me as your father and Ayesha as your mother," and returned home with him. When his wife Ayesha fed him and dressed him well for Id prayers the Prophet lifted him on his shoulders and said, "Ayesha, this is the happiest Id for me. I experience true happiness at the happiness of this little orphan boy." He was a great benefactor of humanity and his mission right from the beginning to end was to see that every individual maintained his self-respect free from any sort of slavery.

GOOD DEMAND FOR LEATHER PRODUCTS ABROAD

GOOD DEMAND FOR LEATHER PRODUCTS ABROAD


V.M. KHALEELUR RAHMAN

There is good demand abroad for leather products such as garments, goods and shoes but Indian manufacturers and exporters find it difficult to get their asking prices even though prices of raw and wet blue hides and skins have increased considerably in domestic as well as foreign markets due to hectic purchases made by the products sector to execute their overseas commitments on time without any delay. It is reliably learnt that good orders are available for right and reliable suppliers of these items. When contacted, a reputed shoe manufacturer said that “there is no worry for export contracts as many customers are willing to place orders but the present high raw material prices make business unworkable and we have no other go except to carry on compromising with the present situation and expecting better results in future as we cannot stop our show”

They also import quite large quantities of raw and wet blue hides and skins from abroad. Their units are doing well in almost all places in Tamil Nadu as they are determined to continue to prove their mettle as regular, reliable and quality conscious manufacturers and exporters. Of course the policy of the government is also to encourage the leather products sector.

RS.1050 CRORE STIMULUS TO EXPORTERS

The recent announcement of Rs.1050 crore stimulus by the union government to labour intensive export sectors such as handicraft, leather, handloom, silk carpets, toys, engineering items and sports goods to prevent any slowdown in production and export due to unfavourable international trends is welcomed by all. The Commerce Secretary Mr. Rahul Khullar had pointed out that the policy changes in the offing in the U.S and Europe for cutting down government expenditure, increasing exports and decreasing imports could affect future prospects of developing nations.

The sops include an additional benefit of 2% interest rate subvention for pre-shipment credit, over and above the existing 5%, extension of schemes like Duty Entitlement Pass Book (DEPB) and Export Promotion Capital Goods (EPCG) up to June 2011 and March 2012 respectively to boost technological advancement.

The honourable minister for commerce Mr. Anand Sharma has made it clear that the announcement was because of “the fragile recovery and prevailing uncertainties” in the world markets and hoped that India would be able to achieve $200 billion target set for this fiscal as against the last year export earnings of $178.6 billion. The activities in the leather clusters show that the industry is marching forward increasing its production and export in accordance with the policy of the government.

EXPORT ORDERS SLOW IN FINISHED LEATHERS

While there are good export orders for the leather products, it cannot be said for finished leathers. There is restricted activity in it as exporters of finished leathers are unable to compete with those of leather products in procuring raw materials necessary for them. The present annual holidays in Europe can also be a reason for the slow tendency in the leather sector.

According to reliable sources, there is no much activity in finished leathers. Only some patchy business is taking place in goat upper, suede and lining leathers at almost unchanged prices even though as said above there is considerable increase in the prices of raw hides and skins. It remains to be seen what happens after the holidays are over. It is learnt that some tanners have sold their goat upper, suede and lining leathers at around US$2.00, 1.80 and 1.10 per sq.ft. respectively. This is just for the sake of indications. It is known to all that prices depend on the quality, selection etc.

GOOD DEMAND FOR TANNED AND WETBLUE SKINS

In the Chennai leather market, there is good demand for tanned and wet blue goat and sheep skins as many big shoe manufacturers are buying their requirements but their availability is limited as many tanners have either curtailed or stopped their productions due to unworkable prices now. The good demand which existed for suede leathers from the beginning of this year or so is on the wane now and export sales are reported at somewhat lower prices. Tanned goat skins in selections like A, B and C linings are in good demand at slightly higher prices depending on the quality and selection due to demand from different quarters and shortage of these skins in the market. Even in places like Erode, Vaniyambadi, Ambur, Pernambut, Ranipet and many other places good demand prevailed for wet blue and crust hides and skins. As higher selections are not available in items like cow hides, shoe manufacturers have to depend on imports for it.
(VMK in Indian Leather, September 2010)

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