Monday, November 26, 2007
Rupee rise, economic growth make Indian cities costlier for expats
From Economic Times
NEW DELHI: India's fast economic growth and appreciation of rupee have made its cities more expensive for expatriates this year, though they remain cheaper when compared to other leading Asian cities such as Tokyo, Hong Kong and Singapore, a latest survey says. Seven Indian cities - Mumbai, New Delhi, Chennai, Hyderabad, Kolkata, Pune and Bangalore have all moved up by 14-21 ranks in the survey titled "Worldwide Cost of Living Ranking 2007" prepared by Hong Kong-based solution provider for international HR professionals ECA International. "The region's most notable changes have been in India where fast economic growth has pushed up the cost of many goods and services. This, coupled with the appreciation of the rupee against most major currencies, has made Indian locations significantly more expensive for expatriates," a ECA statement said. Mumbai and New Delhi have risen 14 and 16 places to 177 and 178th ranks respectively, while Hyderabad is up 21 places at 189. Bangalore has risen 15 places to 205th position, distancing itself for the first time from the bottom five in the ranking, it said. While Chennai is at the 186th place, Kolkata is at 193rd followed by Pune at 194th. The Cost of Living survey is topped by Korea's Seoul as the costliest city for expats in Asia followed by three Japanese cities Tokyo, Yokohama and Kobe at the second, third and fourth ranks in that order. Hong Kong (5th), Taipei (6th), Beijing (7th), Shanghai (8th), Singapore (9th) and Guangzhou in China (10) are the other cities among the ten costliest places in Asia. Among the Asian rankings, Indian cities Mumbai and Delhi occupy 24th and 25th positions while Chennai comes at 27th place followed by Hyderabad (28), Kolkata (30) and Pune (31). Interestingly, Bangalore (37) has the least cost of living among Asian cities, followed by the Sri Lankan capital of Colombo (38) and Pakistan's capital Islamabad (39). Living costs for expatriates are affected by inflation, availability of goods and exchange rates, all of which can have a significant impact on expatriate remuneration packages, added the statement. "... the commodity boom in recent years has led to considerable currency appreciations in commodity-exporting markets such as Angola, making it an increasingly expensive location for expatriates," said General Manager of ECA International (Hong Kong) Lee Quane. ECA's cost of living survey is based on comparison of a basket of 128 consumer goods and services commonly purchased by expatriates in over 300 locations worldwide. Globally, the most expensive city for expatriates is Luanda in Angola, followed by Norwegian capital of Oslo, Moscow, Stavanger (Norway) and Copenhagen (Denmark). |
Saturday, May 06, 2006
I'm desicritic of the day
Hey all loyal readers. I'm desicritics "Desicritic Of The Day" today.
Read all my articles on Desicritics.org
Read all my articles on Desicritics.org
Sunday, March 12, 2006
I'm not proceeding with this blog for awhile
If any of u have noticed, I haven't been updating this particular blog of mine for awhile. Could b because I'm not reading too many management related articles online these days.
If u r looking for Management or HR related articles, please visit my pal GG's blog
Gautam Ghosh on Management He brings your attention to some really good articles.
If u would like to read more of what I have written, take your choice :
XLRI: News, Views & Reviews
Freein My Mind: Free Thinking, Free Speaking
What's Up in Mumbai (Bombay)
My Reviews of Restaurants & Pubs
Around The World: My Travel Diary
More Pub Reviews from all Over the World
What's Up in Hyderabad
Jobs for MBA's in India
So thats it for now, maybe I will post more on this site in future... that's y I'm not deleting it as yet....
If u r looking for Management or HR related articles, please visit my pal GG's blog
Gautam Ghosh on Management He brings your attention to some really good articles.
If u would like to read more of what I have written, take your choice :
XLRI: News, Views & Reviews
Freein My Mind: Free Thinking, Free Speaking
What's Up in Mumbai (Bombay)
My Reviews of Restaurants & Pubs
Around The World: My Travel Diary
More Pub Reviews from all Over the World
What's Up in Hyderabad
Jobs for MBA's in India
So thats it for now, maybe I will post more on this site in future... that's y I'm not deleting it as yet....
Wednesday, February 22, 2006
Help Required - Manjunath Shanmugam
Hi Everyone,
Most of you must be familiar with the name Manjunath Shanmugam. He was the bright young lad from IIML - 2003 batch who was killed for doing his job honestly & trying to clean up the system. I am sure that when you read the stories in the newspapers last November you would have reacted to them in some way or the other. You might have admired his honesty, felt sorry for the loss of an innocent young life, despaired over the situation in India which allows such things to happen or a million other possibilities.
But did you do something about it ?
Didn't you feel a tiny twinge, a prick of the conscience ?
"What can I do to change the system ?"
Anjali Mullatti - IIML class of '93 is one of those who decided to do something concrete about it. I have pasted her mail below, so you can read in her words, what they are trying to do. It is an onerous task that she has undertaken, the least we can do is help in whichever way that we can. It need not be just financial but also through your network of contacts.
Karthik Karunakaran of the XL 93 batch knows Anjali as a batchmate (albeit a different college) and a friend. He will vouch for her genuineness. If any of you would like to verify any details with him before making a contribution, Karthik can be contacted at
Karthik Karunakaran (BMD'93)
email: kkDELETETHIS@stringinfo.com
mobile: +91-98410-72439
Anjali can be contacted directly at
Anjali Mullatti - IIML class of '93
Catalyst Consulting
Dir: +91.821.4288688
Cell: +91.98801 91323
anjaliDELETETHIS@corporateacademy.com
Now that someone HAS taken the initiative, let's do what we can to help.
Regards,
Karishma
XL 99
-----Original Message-----
From: Karthik Karunakaran
Hi - Here is an appeal for a good cause. Anjali, who is spearheading this, is a friend of mine -KK
-------------------------
All,
Feb 23rd is the birthday of Manjunath Shanmugam - an IIM L (2003) alumnus who lost his life for his fight against corruption. He died on November 19th, 2005.
As a Sales Manager with Indian Oil Corporation Ltd. (IOCL), Manju turned down bribes and ignored threats, to do his job – check rampant adulteration of petrol. He was shot dead in Lakhimpur Kheri by a petrol pump owner and his gang.
To most of us, though we never met him, Manju is extremely familiar and is, in part, within every one of us. This is one cause we CANNOT turn away from. We have no excuse. We must ensure that his death does not go in vain.
The Manjunath Shanmugam Trust is now a legal entity with 2 trustees - Anjali Mullatti (IIML '93) and H. Jaishankar (IIMB '91).
The immediate and urgent focus of the trust is to take up the legal battle and ensure quick justice for the murder case. The murderers must not go free.
The broader objectives of the trust are
a . To establish and maintain an award for individuals/institutions working to uphold the values of truth and honesty in the face of danger to themselves.
b. To provide aid to individuals fighting a legal battle to uphold the values of truth, honesty or justice in the Indian corporate, government or public matters.
For updates on what we have done to date and our next steps, please visit the trust website:
www.manjunathshanmugamtrust.org
How can you help?
Firstly – funds are needed to pay lawyers' fees, case costs, build an award corpus.. this will be a long and tedious battle. Please donate just one day's salary for the cause.
Our first donors: Rs. 44,500 ($ 1000) from Sanjay Khanduri, Wharton Class of 2006, and Rs. 30,000 from Akhil Krishna, IIML 2003.
Secondly, if you can commit time and effort, please write in and be part of the team.
Thirdly, if you have close contacts in media, police, legal, judiciary who can help, please let us know.
It is heartwarming that so many people have already reacted immediately and generously – across the spectrum of media, legal, police and the IIM fraternity. Be part of that group.
How do you donate?
Write a cheque favouring 'The Manjunath Shanmugam Trust' , and courier it to:
2909/1, Raghavapriya, 3rd Main, V.V. Mohalla, Mysore 570 002, India
Write a cheque favouring 'The Manjunath Shanmugam Trust' , and deposit it in any HDFC bank drop box, with a deposit slip, account number 0651000091870.
Do an online money transfer, to the HDFC Bank a/c, from your ICICI /HDFC/Citibank a/c. Account number 0651000091870.
Currently FCRA regulations prohibit us from accepting foreign remittances - we're working on getting special permission. For now, please route all overseas donations via your regular Indian rupee accounts.
We have also applied for income tax exemption for donors under Section 80 (G).
Please contact me for any further clarifications - anjaliDELETETHIS@corporateacademy.com.
Regards,
Anjali Mullatti - IIML class of '93
Catalyst Consulting
Dir: +91.821.4288688
Cell: +91.98801 91323
www.corporateacademy.com
Most of you must be familiar with the name Manjunath Shanmugam. He was the bright young lad from IIML - 2003 batch who was killed for doing his job honestly & trying to clean up the system. I am sure that when you read the stories in the newspapers last November you would have reacted to them in some way or the other. You might have admired his honesty, felt sorry for the loss of an innocent young life, despaired over the situation in India which allows such things to happen or a million other possibilities.
But did you do something about it ?
Didn't you feel a tiny twinge, a prick of the conscience ?
"What can I do to change the system ?"
Anjali Mullatti - IIML class of '93 is one of those who decided to do something concrete about it. I have pasted her mail below, so you can read in her words, what they are trying to do. It is an onerous task that she has undertaken, the least we can do is help in whichever way that we can. It need not be just financial but also through your network of contacts.
Karthik Karunakaran of the XL 93 batch knows Anjali as a batchmate (albeit a different college) and a friend. He will vouch for her genuineness. If any of you would like to verify any details with him before making a contribution, Karthik can be contacted at
Karthik Karunakaran (BMD'93)
email: kkDELETETHIS@stringinfo.com
mobile: +91-98410-72439
Anjali can be contacted directly at
Anjali Mullatti - IIML class of '93
Catalyst Consulting
Dir: +91.821.4288688
Cell: +91.98801 91323
anjaliDELETETHIS@corporateacademy.com
Now that someone HAS taken the initiative, let's do what we can to help.
Regards,
Karishma
XL 99
-----Original Message-----
From: Karthik Karunakaran
Hi - Here is an appeal for a good cause. Anjali, who is spearheading this, is a friend of mine -KK
-------------------------
All,
Feb 23rd is the birthday of Manjunath Shanmugam - an IIM L (2003) alumnus who lost his life for his fight against corruption. He died on November 19th, 2005.
As a Sales Manager with Indian Oil Corporation Ltd. (IOCL), Manju turned down bribes and ignored threats, to do his job – check rampant adulteration of petrol. He was shot dead in Lakhimpur Kheri by a petrol pump owner and his gang.
To most of us, though we never met him, Manju is extremely familiar and is, in part, within every one of us. This is one cause we CANNOT turn away from. We have no excuse. We must ensure that his death does not go in vain.
The Manjunath Shanmugam Trust is now a legal entity with 2 trustees - Anjali Mullatti (IIML '93) and H. Jaishankar (IIMB '91).
The immediate and urgent focus of the trust is to take up the legal battle and ensure quick justice for the murder case. The murderers must not go free.
The broader objectives of the trust are
a . To establish and maintain an award for individuals/institutions working to uphold the values of truth and honesty in the face of danger to themselves.
b. To provide aid to individuals fighting a legal battle to uphold the values of truth, honesty or justice in the Indian corporate, government or public matters.
For updates on what we have done to date and our next steps, please visit the trust website:
www.manjunathshanmugamtrust.org
How can you help?
Firstly – funds are needed to pay lawyers' fees, case costs, build an award corpus.. this will be a long and tedious battle. Please donate just one day's salary for the cause.
Our first donors: Rs. 44,500 ($ 1000) from Sanjay Khanduri, Wharton Class of 2006, and Rs. 30,000 from Akhil Krishna, IIML 2003.
Secondly, if you can commit time and effort, please write in and be part of the team.
Thirdly, if you have close contacts in media, police, legal, judiciary who can help, please let us know.
It is heartwarming that so many people have already reacted immediately and generously – across the spectrum of media, legal, police and the IIM fraternity. Be part of that group.
How do you donate?
Write a cheque favouring 'The Manjunath Shanmugam Trust' , and courier it to:
2909/1, Raghavapriya, 3rd Main, V.V. Mohalla, Mysore 570 002, India
Write a cheque favouring 'The Manjunath Shanmugam Trust' , and deposit it in any HDFC bank drop box, with a deposit slip, account number 0651000091870.
Do an online money transfer, to the HDFC Bank a/c, from your ICICI /HDFC/Citibank a/c. Account number 0651000091870.
Currently FCRA regulations prohibit us from accepting foreign remittances - we're working on getting special permission. For now, please route all overseas donations via your regular Indian rupee accounts.
We have also applied for income tax exemption for donors under Section 80 (G).
Please contact me for any further clarifications - anjaliDELETETHIS@corporateacademy.com.
Regards,
Anjali Mullatti - IIML class of '93
Catalyst Consulting
Dir: +91.821.4288688
Cell: +91.98801 91323
www.corporateacademy.com
Saturday, December 18, 2004
Should We Revert to Classroom-Style Orientations?
E-learning initiatives have not proven as effective as we expected. Hence, we are considering reverting to a classroom-style orientation program. Would this be a good way to assimilate new hires into our organization?
Orientation programs are really the first opportunity to set the stage and create a smooth transition for new employees into the workforce. The session or sessions you run are a great opportunity to represent the organization’s culture. This introduction should not be taken lightly. A good orientation can catapult a new employee to be extremely productive or deliver a sour note that makes an employee question his decision to join your firm.
Orientation programs can run from a few hours to several months, depending on what you want to accomplish during that time. There are a few things to consider:
1) How difficult is the learning curve for the new employee? How long will it take them to be considered fully productive in their work environment?
Read Full Article
Orientation programs are really the first opportunity to set the stage and create a smooth transition for new employees into the workforce. The session or sessions you run are a great opportunity to represent the organization’s culture. This introduction should not be taken lightly. A good orientation can catapult a new employee to be extremely productive or deliver a sour note that makes an employee question his decision to join your firm.
Orientation programs can run from a few hours to several months, depending on what you want to accomplish during that time. There are a few things to consider:
1) How difficult is the learning curve for the new employee? How long will it take them to be considered fully productive in their work environment?
Read Full Article
