Category Archives: Business & Economy

All buttoned up

March 1, 2015Business & Economyadmin

Praga was the first button company in India and it was established right here in Coimbatore

Buttons were first made in India about five thousand years ago in the times of the Indus Valley Civilization. In Coimbatore it was a little later when Joseph Nejedly, from Czekhoslovakia, came to India to work for Bata. He took up Indian citizenship, moved to Coimbatore and worked with P.S.G.Ganga Naidu for a while. Subsequently, he started a button company called Praga Industries Limited in 1945. The company started with the production of coconut shell buttons exclusively for defence use. By 1946, Praga began to make buttons made of vegetable-ivory buttons for others. By the 60s the production reached more than half a million buttons per day. Later, the company established a technologically advanced plastic button manufacturing plant.

One A.K.Annaswamy marketed the Praga buttons that was the largest button company in this part of the country. Eventually, the company produced fibreglass boats too. Joseph Nejedly and his family lived in a beautiful bungalow on Race Course and he was a popular member of The Coimbatore Club. He was also the first to produce helmets for the army and was awarded a medal for the same.

Those days there were about 20 button companies in India and they were located in Amritsar, Coimbatore and Kolkata. Our country attained self sufficiency in button production within the first 10 years of independence. There were five factories in Coimbatore alone and they could altogether produce million buttons a day.

S.Kondaswamy, was the second entrepreneur who started Jaga Buttons in Coimbatore. He was working for the Rajapalayam Textile Mills as Manager. He was the promoter of Subbiah Foundry, Madras Forgings and a spinning mill later along with his relatives and his sons Subbian, Jagannathan. N.Subbian who is in his 80s now was the marketing man of Jaga Buttons. He says, “We sold buttons in Mumbai, Kolkatta, Chennai and important commercial centres such as Vijayawada. Andhra was a good market. We supplied goods on a 15 day credit and discount the bills with our bankers Indian Bank and Karur Vysya Bank. Buttons were made in more than hundred colours and the colour pigments were from companies like ICI. We sold to outlets like Bharat Button House in Coimbatore. However our biggest market were the defence services who picked up over ninety per cent of our production. We made olive green buttons for the army and blue buttons for the navy. These buttons were fixed on the defence uniforms at the Shahjahanpur factory in Uttar Pradesh. The orders were through sealed tenders submitted with the Directorate of Supplies and Disposals located at the Fort in Mumbai.

The Inspectorate of General Stores used to inspect the factory. The buttons were randomly tested in boiling hot water for colour and by hanging weights in order to ascertain the strength. Payment was made only after the buttons passed these tests.” .”

Vijaya Industries which was located near the Railway station in Peelamedu was another leading manufacturer who set up shop in the year 1951. It was managed by N.Duraiswamy, and K.Venkatesalu of Ellen Industries was the promoter of this company.

Later competition came in the form of small button facilities that came up at Bengaluru and also in the form of companies such as Ratanchand Harjas Rai of New Delhi whose huge production facilities at low prices were a dampener for others in this field. But the button industry at Coimbatore continued to thrive thanks to the entrepreneurial zeal of its people.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> Features> MetroPlus / by Rajesh Govindarajulu / February 28th, 2015

India’s First-ever Mutual Fund Was Shyam Kothari’s Brainchild

February 24, 2015Business & Economy, Records, Alladmin

Chennai :

Head of the $100 million Kothari Group and brother-in-law of business tycoons Mukesh and Anil Ambani, Bhadrashyam Kothari, breathed his last in the US on Monday. He was 54, and was undergoing treatment for what sources say was cancer.

Son of the late industrialist HC Kothari, a stalwart among Chennai industrialists, Shyam Kothari headed the Kothari Group, an umbrella group that held under it such diversified interests like sugar, petrochemicals, fertilizers, chemicals and textiles to name a few.

Several condolences for the third generation entrepreneur were doing rounds on social media from Monday evening, the most prominent being a tweet from A R Rahman which read: “May God bless your soul dear friend Shyam Kothari. You were a gem of a friend who will always be remembered – love ARR and family.

A graduate of Chennai’s Loyola College, Shyam Kothari took over the reins of the company after his father passed away in the mid-nineties. Over the years, he expanded the group considerably, focusing especially on sugar, textiles and financial services.

In fact, Shyam Kothari is credited with setting up what was India’s first ever Mutual Fund – ‘Kothari Pioneer Mutual Fund’ through a partnership with the American Pioneer Group.

Shyam Kothari was also part of a big legal battle over the control of the Kothari Industrial Corporation, owned by his father’s brother DC Kothari. Allegations of Shyam Kothari using his connections with the Reliance Group to take over the sister group ran rampant after DC Kothari passed away, until it culminated in a legal battle in 1993 with Pradip Kothari, son of DC Kothari. The cousins later patched up their differences, but not before taking the case through both the High Court and the Company Law Board.

The Kothari family also has close connections with some of India’s largest business families. Besides being married to Reliance group patriarch, Dhirubhai Ambani’s daughter Nina Ambani, his daughter Nayantara Kothari is also married to Shamit Bhartia, son of Shobana Bhartia, chairman and Editorial Director of the Hindustan Times Group.

Shyam Kothari’s grandfather, CM Kothari, is also considered a legend among the Chennai entrepreneurial community, having founded Madras Stock Exchange – which incidentally closed shutters last year. He also ran the Madras Safe Deposits Company. The Kothari Group currently has control of Kothari Sugars and Chemicals, Kothari Safe Deposits, Kothari Biotech, and Kothari Pioneer Mutual fund including others, with a gross worth of over $100 million and 800 plus employees.

source: http://www.newindianexpress.com / The New Indian Express / Home> Cities> Chennai / by Express News Service / February 24th, 2015

College students document lives of palmyra climbers, push for conservation

February 24, 2015Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Business & Economy, Green Initiatives/ Environment, Natureadmin

Madurai :

The decline in the population of palmyra trees, the official tree of Tamil Nadu, has raised concern among a group of college students here, who have released a documentary in a bid to promote awareness on the need to conserve these species.

About 30 students from the English department of Fatima College here travelled to Kovilpatti in Tuticorin district under the guidance of Dhan Foundation, an NGO and filmed the lives of palm climbers. The final documentary, titled ‘Waning Wealth’, was released recently.

R Arunadhi, a student of MA English, said, “Through the documentary, we are aiming to create awareness regarding palmyra trees. It portrays the life of palm climber and also speaks in detail about the products that we get from these trees, like the palm drink and palm sugar.”

The group picked Kovilpatti since the place is known for its significant palmyra tree population. The students travelled all the way to Kovilpatti taluk and started their shoot at four in the morning.

A J Bermita, another MA student, said, “Palmyra tree climbers wake up as early as 4am, so we started our day along with them. Out focus was basically on the disappearance of palmyra trees from Tamil Nadu.”

These trees were originally found in African tropical forests. In the state, palmyra trees have great significance since the leaves of these trees were earlier used to write Tamil scripts. However, a reported lack of state support, financially and technologically, to the labourers has caused the trees to disappear as less farmers opt for palmyra cultivation these days.

Kumari Ananthan, former president of Tamil Nadu Palmyra Workers Welfare Board, suggested that leaves of the trees be used to print wedding invitations, to raise more awareness about the trees.

“It is our duty to preserve the palmyra trees, since they are considered Tamil Nadu’s state tree,” she said.

source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / Home> City> Madurai / TNN / February 22nd, 2015

Land of Muniyandi Hotels Gears Up for Festivities

February 23, 2015Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Business & Economy, Records, Alladmin

Madurai :

Thousands of people gathered at Sri Muniyandi Sami temple in the village of Vadakkampatti, in Thirumangalam, Madurai, for the biannual festival.

The village’s claim to fame is the restaurants named after the temple by the people here. Explaining the family practice, P Ramasany, who runs a hotel at Poonamallee in Chennai, said, “When the children reach their teens, they go to a hotel run by a relative. From the basics like cleaning tables, they graduate to supplier, master, cashier and eventually leave and start up their own hotel.”

Priests performing puja at Sri Muniyandi Sami temple in Vadakkampatti village in Madurai district. Biriyani is distributed as prasadam for devotees during the temple festival | N Vajiravelu

Hundreds of hotel owners from the village, like Ramasamy, who owe their success to Muniyandi Sami, gather at the village every year to organise the grand two-day festival, a thanksgiving of sorts that has been on for the past 80 years. “The first bill each day in our hotels is in the name of Muniyandi. The money we save through those bills is donated for the festival,” said M Jeyaraman, whose ancestor was one of the first to set up hotels and also played a role in setting up the temple.

The young generation of hoteliers are, however, moving to other professions. But the hoteliers are hopeful that the festival never loses its grandeur. “Though our children may not get into this business, we teach them never to forget their roots,” said Ramasamy.

Until a few decades ago, the festival remained an annual festival. Difference of opinion between the Naidus and Reddiars led to the festival becoming a biannual festival.

While the Naidu community celebrates it on the second Friday of the Tamil month of Thai, the Reddiar community celebrate it in the next Tamil month of Maasi.

source: http://www.newindianexpress.com / The New Indian Express / Home> States> Tamil Nadu / by Pon Vasanth Arunachalam / February 23rd, 2015

‘Farm-field school’ training for farmers

February 22, 2015Business & Economy, Education, Green Initiatives/ Environment, Leaders, Natureadmin

Veterinary College and Research Institute, Tirunelveli in co-ordination with Agricultural Technology Management Agency conducted a ‘farm-field school’ on ‘improved animal husbandry practices’ at Kalakkudi near Manur for six weeks from last January 7.

A total of 25 progressive farmers from Manur block benefited. Faculties of VC & RI conducted demonstrations including preparation of concentrate feed, conservation of fodder – silage making, cultivation of Co-4 feed, using the milking machine, de-worming and de-ticking for sheep and goat and oral pellet vaccination for Ranikhet disease in desi birds for the select team of beneficiaries.

In the valedictory function on Thursday at Kalakkudi, S. Prathaban, Dean of VC &RI released the training manual, distributed certificates and inputs package consisting of TANUVAS Smart Mineral Mixture, video lessons on dairy farming, sheep and goat farming and desi fowl rearing to the beneficiaries.

In his address, Dr. Prathaban stressed the importance of using scientific techniques in livestock farming to reduce production cost.

V. Saraswathi, Assistant Director of Agriculture, Manur block, narrated the activities of ATMA scheme. C. Manivanan, Professor and Head, Department of Veterinary and Animal Husbandry Extension Education, VC & RI, Tirunelveli presented a report on the farm field school.

S. Senthilkumar, Assistant Professor, Department of Veterinary and Animal Husbandry Extension Education, and Manivannan, a progressive farmer from Kalakkudi, also spoke.

Importance of using scientific techniques in livestock farming stressed

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> National> Tamil Nadu / by Special Correspondent / Tirunelveli – February 22nd, 2015

‘When you cannot find it, make it’

February 22, 2015Business & Economyadmin

Raja and Indira. Photos: M. Vedhan / The Hindu

When they could not find phulkas in their neighbourhood, these chartered accountants began to make them for themselves and others

Did you know over 40 varieties of chapattis are available in Chennai under one roof? Did you know there are over 50 accompaniments to these chapattis? Did you know that Chappatikings, which offers such a plenteous fare, was born out of two people’s desperate search for phulkas.

Two full-time chartered accountants were irked at not getting phulkas in Chennai. They were brought up in North India and could not get over their fondness forphulkas.

And they found out soon that scarcity and craving are the parents of enterprise.

Chapattikings (chapattikings.com) had a difficult birth. From making chapattis at home, employing additional help and then scaling it all up to a full-time commitment — that’s the journey of Chapattikings.

Raja, owner of the enterprise, says at first they offered only chapattis, then they included accompaniments in their offering, then in-house specialities, and then quick bites.

“Today, we draw people to our website because of the variety we offer – all under the same roof,” he says. “Feedback and customer satisfaction are our main concern and that is why we also take customised orders. We do cater to big companies but households are our priority,” he adds. A busy day has them churning out more than 700 chapattis and several side dishes. Besides catering service, they also have run chaat stalls in Annanagar and Korattur.

Indra, the lady behind the eatery, says they supply for a variety of occasions — birthday parties, team lunches and travels.

“Our marketing is by word of mouth. In fact, we rely only on that and nothing else,” says Raja.

He says every month they review the menu, going though the customer interaction register, and a couple of items to the menu. It’s six years since we started and recently, we started our standalone unit in Annananagar due to increasing demand. We hope to turn it into a dine-in too, ” he adds. Chappatikings is located at 973, 38th Street, Korattur, near Nagavalli Amman Temple.

Phone: 9383840003

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> Features> Down Town / by Archana Subramanian / February 21st, 2015

Buddha-era Rice Among Rare Varieties on Display

February 22, 2015Business & Economy, Green Initiatives/ Environment, Nature, Records, Alladmin

Chennai :

Ancient Tamils are known for producing and consuming several varieties of paddy and millets, which kept them hale and healthy. Their daily food even doubled up as medicine and kept them free of diseases. As part of the Sangam Four literary Festival which began on February 13, stalls showcasing ancient varieties of rice and millets have been opened. Apart from these, cookies made of millets and other savouries are also available at these stalls.

Some of the rare varieties of rice are on display at a stall put up by Aral Organics. Among the rice varieties, Kala Namak, known for its aroma and distinct taste, and rich in 40 minerals, is the cynosure of all eyes as this rice variety is believed to have been consumed by Lord Buddha several thousands of years ago.

Kala Namak rice had derived its name from black husk (kala) and a mild salty taste (namak). It is considered one of the finest rice varieties in the international market.

Kala Namak rice is said to be good for the brain cells and prevents cancer. People suffering from kidney problems and those with skin and blood-related ailments are advised to consume this variety of rice. The next important rice variety is Moongil Arisi (Bamboo rice), which interestingly, is not grown in paddy fields. Bamboo blossoms once in 40 years and the flowers of bamboo produce this rice variety. It looks like the miniature version of wheat and is the staple food for tribals. This rice adds immunity to one’s system and helps those having infertility problems.

The other important varieties of rice on display are: Maappillai Samba, Sivappu Kavuni, Kothamalli Samba, Poongar rice, Seeraga Samba, Sona Masoori, Koliyan Samba, etc. Each variety of rice has distinctive medicinal purposes.

Many varieties of millets are also on display. Millets are more nutritious than any other cereals and can be a worthy addition to one’s diet. Cookies made of millets, ragi, kambu, samai, varagu, kuthiraivali and palm candy cookies, using only country made sugar, are available here.

The kodo millet reduces cholesterol levels, enhances kidney function, reduces joint pain and diseases that damage optic nerves, and regulates lymp glands and menstrual disorders. Little millet contains more micro nutrients and regulates the blood flow in the body, reduces cholesterol levels, helps bone development and overcome problems related to the intestine, besides reducing the effects caused by fever and easing constipation.

source: http://www.newindianexpress.com / The New Indian Express / Home> Cities> Chennai / by Express News Service / February 19th, 2015

Cattle display their ‘majestic’ quotient at fair

February 22, 2015Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Business & Economy, Green Initiatives/ Environment, Natureadmin

Pollachi :

It was a beauty pageant with a difference. Participants did not do a catwalk on the ramp, but stood in line for the jury to convey their verdict. And these judges were not looking for hourglass figures but were more concerned about the health of their teeth, eyes, knees and hump. For those still wondering what this is all about, it was a cattle show for indigenous breeds held at Samathur near Pollachi on Friday.

The event dubbed Kongunattu Kalnadai Thiruvizha – 2015, held for the first time by Vanavarayar Foundation, had about 700 cattle belonging to nine native breeds brought from villages far and near. “The cattle were judged based on their health and ‘majestic’ quotient,” said a member of the organizing committee. The prize amount ranged from Rs7000 to Rs50,000.

Kangeyam bulls were brought in numbers while other breeds like Unbalachery and Karuva (a kind of goat breed) also participated. “It is difficult to breed native cattle as it is expensive. Only if our agricultural production is healthy we can breed these kind of cattle,” said A P Periasamy, a farmer from Tirupur, whose family has been breeding native cattle for three generations. “We had close to 500 cattle fifty years ago, but now we have only 25 since we are unable to care for them due to fall in agricultural production,” he added.

A dairy farming couple from New Zealand had also visited the exhibition. “India has so many native breeds. These native breeds should be nurtured,” said Dr John Henry Niezen, specialist, Dairy Herd Development.

“We are unaware of the glory of native breeds. Hence many switch to exotic breeds lured by their high milk yielding capacity. What they fail to understand is that the milk of the native cow has more protein,” said Shankar Vanavarayar, Joint Correspondent, Kumaraguru College of Technology. The event is the brain child of Vanavarayar.

“We have come to a sad state where the significance of Kangeyam bulls has been recognized in Brazil where they are being reared in huge numbers, while we have slowly forgotten their value,” he said. Noting that the show and the exhibition was a first step towards spreading the importance of native cattle, he said that by 2016 the foundation has planned to establish a model farm.

“Once the model farm is established, visitors will be educated on the importance of indigenous breeds,” he said.

Dr K Baskrasethupathy, chief manager of ABT Dairy division, an organizer, said that farmers from across western region of Tamil Nadu and several from adjoining Kerala also visited the cattle fair. The fair also had 60 stalls featuring an array of cattle and dairy products. “The feedback from the farmers was great. We also gave them suggestions on feeding and nurturing native cattle breeds,” said Dr R Gnana Sekaran, veterinarian and nutritionist for cattle from Bengaluru. This exhibition will be open till February 7.

source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / Home> City> Coimbatore / by G. Rajeswari, TNN / February 07th, 2015

VOC Port-Dubai Regular Container Service Begins

February 11, 2015Business & Economy, World Opinionadmin

Thoothukudi :

The first regular container service to Dubai from VOC Port was inaugurated on Tuesday by VOC Port Trust chairman S Anantha Chandra Bose.

The service, which would start from the wee hours of Wednesday, is expected to reduce shipment time by about four days from the port to Dubai as at present ships go via the Port of Colombo.

But now with the services of large container ships such as mv SSL Gujarat, which could carry 487 containers of 507 TEUs and is called in for the inauguration, the Port of Colombo could be avoided, hence saving both time and cost, sources said.

VOC Port will in a month run four container services, which would sail from berth 8 at the port run by Dakshin Barath Gateway Terminal Pvt Ltd (DBGT), to Jebel Ali Port in Dubai.

Addressing the media, DBGT CEO Ramji S Krishnan said with the mainland container service, ships no more need to go to the Port of Colombo for transshipment. “Both time and transshipment tariff should greatly be reduced due to the service.”

It has been taking 10 days for ships to reach Dubai via Colombo, but the service would reduce this to just six days, he said.

Addressing the media after the inauguration, VOC Port Trust chairman S Anantha Chandra Bose said the port, ranked third among 12 major ports in the country, will submit the report on the outer harbour expansion project to the Centre for cabinet approval within a week.

When asked about the ferry service to Colombo, he claimed that two private parties had shown interest in the project and added that VOC Port Trust would offer every help to companies.

The port would also introduce the radio frequency identification (RFID) system for containers which would reduce time and paper work and enable online transactions, the chairman said

source: http://www.newindianexpress.com / The New Indian Express / Home> States> Tamil Nadu / Express News Service / February 11th, 2015

Uninterrupted Water Supply to Vellore for Next 30 Years

February 9, 2015Business & Economy, Science & Technologiesadmin

Vellore :

Velloreans can expect to get uninterrupted water supply for the next 30 years, thanks to the Rs. 1,295 crore water supply scheme, trial run of which is set to commence in the first week of April.

The trial run of the Combined Water Supply Scheme to Vellore Corporation, 11 municipalities, five town panchayats and 944 rural habitations in Vellore district using Cauvery as source will continue for six months.

If successful, Vellore district will begin receiving permanent water supply by the end of this year. The project aims at creating a permanent water supply designed to supply 215 million litres of water/day to Vellore Corporation, 11 municipalities, five town panchayats and 944 rural habitations in Vellore . “During the trial run we will check for reservoir tightness, hydraulic pressure, seepage in pipelines and storage of water in overhead tanks and sumps during the period, ” said a senior official of TWAD Board. Officials of the Tamil Nadu Water Supply and Drainage (TWAD) board said that around 90 percent of the work on the project, began in March 2012 and implemented in three stages, has been completed to date. Officials have been instructed to expedite the remaining work such as pipe main alignment and the inter-connection of overhead tanks and sumps. “The 36 month project was delayed for four months as permission from the National Highways Authorities and Southern Railways had to be obtained for laying pipelines,” said the official.

TWAD has deposited around `17 crore to the Tamil Nadu Generation and Distribution Corporation (TANGEDCO) to erect exclusive High Tension (HT) feeders to the booster stations at Komburankattu, Palakkaranur and Muthampettai and ridge point Kadhathur to pump water to the beneficiaries without any hindrance. “Erection of a feeder in Palakkaranur is nearing completion. Once it’s over, officials of TANGEDCO will inspect the facilities and give clearance for erecting the HT lines. We will obtain the power connection a week before the trial run begins,” said an official.

source: http://www.newindianexpress.com / The New Indian Express / Home> States> Tamil Nadu / by J Shanmugham Sundaram / February 09th, 2015

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