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Thanks to Viagra NRIs get a ‘free’ return flight |
| Many US NRIs visiting Gujarat are using the indigenous versions of the erectile dysfunction drug ‘Viagra’ to make a lot of money - enough to pay for their flights back abroad and more.
They buy local versions of Viagra (200 tablets cost approximately Rs.3,000 to Rs.8,000 (US$68 to US$182 approx) depending on its potency, and then sell it abroad for a large profit. In the US the drug can be sold for US$10 per tablet.
Many NRIs are also buying the drug in India to avoid the hassles of purchasing it in the US - as it involves lengthy sittings with consultants before the drug can be prescribed to an individual.
When ‘local’ versions of the drug Viagra was released into the Indian market only specialised medical practitioners were authorised to prescribe the drug. But it is now freely available and any physician can prescribe it.
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Asians generate 10% of Britain’s GDP
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| The Asian community in Britain generates around 10% of the nation’s GDP despite accounting for only 2.5% of the population.
Several NRIs are present in the first Asian Power 100 list, which recognises the most influential and successful members of the British Asian community.
Prominent figures on the list include L.N. Mittal -the steel baron who is the third richest man in the world, Lord Tom Singh -the founder of $1.28 billion New Look group (retailers) and Arun Sarin -the CEO of telecom giant
Vodafone.
Many on the list arrived in Britain without anything to their names, but transformed their lives and founded huge business empires.
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World Sikh University honours NRI entrepreneur |
Non-Resident Indian entrepreneur Gurdip Singh Gujaral has been conferred with an honorary degree of Doctor of Philosophy by the World Sikh University in recognition of his community and social work during the last four decades.
Indian Deputy High Commissioner Ranjan Mathai conferred the degree on Gujral at the 7th Graduation Ceremony of the University on Dec 4.
In all 23 students were honoured. Three were awarded PhD in Sikhism, eight were awarded MA Degrees in Comparative Studies in World Religions: Specialising in Sikh Religion, and another 12 were given certificates in specially run short term courses in Sikh philosophy. Harvinder Kaur Hara and Priya Panesar topped the list of the MA students.
Speaking on the occasion, Vice Chancellor S.S. Kapoor announced that the University would start four new courses from January next year - Chartered Institute of Management Accountants, Degree/diploma in Hotel Management, Hospitality and Tourism, Courses in CARE and degree in animation. |
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NRI scientist wins ‘World Technology Award in Energy’ |
| US based Subhendu Guha has won this year’s World Technology Award in Energy for his innovative work on photovoltaic cells (solar cells).
Over the years Guha has been the recipient of many awards -- the US Department of Energy’s Bright Light Award, the Best Innovation Award in Environment from Discover magazine, and the Best of What’s New Grand Award from Popular Science magazine.
Guha is the president of United Solar Ovonic, a wholly owned subsidiary of Energy Conversion Devices, Inc.
The awards, instituted in 2000, are sponsored by many organizations, including the American Association for the Advancement of Science, Time magazine, CNN, Microsoft and Fortune magazine. They honour individuals and corporations from 20 technology-related sectors, selected by their peers, as innovators who perform work of the greatest likely long-term significance. |
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