New Delhi, July 11: Intercontinental Consultants and Technocrats Private Ltd (ICT), an upcoming civil engineering company, has bagged an overseas contract in the Lao People's Democratic Republic. The contract is for the Asian Development Bank-aided rural roads development project. This is the third overseas contract secured by ICT this year. Earlier, the company was awarded a consultancy contract in Mongolia for the ADB-funded second road development project, which commenced in March.In June this year, it signed a contract for construction supervision of 184 kilometre Darhan-Erdenet Road in Mongolia, which is being funded by Kuwait Fund for Arab Economic Development.
The latest contract was signed on June 26 in Manila by ICT managing director KK Kapila with representatives of the ADB and the Government of Lao People's Democratic Republic. In the first phase, the project involves a study of the country's highway system and preparation of socio-economic profiles.
This will be followed by engineeringsurvey and investigations, preparation of designs and specifications for civil works and road maintenance costs.
All they want is a fair deal
A mojari shoe maker gets raw leather locally. He processes it in his house. On a fellow villager placing an order, he goes about making the shoe of the desired size -- he makes the body of the shoe while the intricate embroidery is done by his wife.
The shoe is not for adornment. It has to be sturdy. The leather has to be such that it can withstand the heated sands of Thar Desert -- the leather really weathers. On an average, the couple makes one pair per day. Rest of the day they are busy with agriculture -- whatever little the desert allows.
Times have changed. His grand father and great grand father used to work for thakurs, zamindars and royalty. Those days money was not important. Payment could be in grains.
Bereft of patrons, branding is the new style he has to adopt. The government babu has told him that Shoe Fair'98 and the many more tocome, will help him in this. But he wonders: "Where will I stay when in Delhi." In Pragati Maidan, night halt is not permissible. But there are enough pavements outside.
A lady in expensive silk likes his shoes but she insists Rs 300 is too high. She will pay only Rs 200. He is surprised. His village folks never bargained. "But this is my labour," he protests.
Inquiries and orders are the modes to clinch business in fairs. It is inquiries which get translated into business at a later date, the government babu assures him. However, as far as across-the-counter earning is concerned, the mojari shoe maker will have to settle for the two hundred which the lady is willing to pay.
Copyright © 1998 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.
