Oil exploration giant Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC) has offered to set apart 50 vacancies for Kargil conflict survivors and their immediate family. The corporation has offered 30 vacancies for permanently disabled soldiers who are boarded out of service and 20 vacancies for rehabilitation of war widows. "The gesture is ONGC's concern for war widows and uniformed personnel disabled permanently in the conflict," the corporation said in a statement.

AICCA to donate over Rs 33 lakh

Air India Cabin Crew Association (AICCA) would contribute a sum of Rs 33.03 lakh to the National Defence Fund. The cabin crew of Air India would also commence a special drive to sponsor the children of Kargil martyrs under an annual child sponsorship programme, an AICCA statement said.

HAL employees donate

The management of the public sector Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd (HAL) and its employees have donated Rs 3,95,47,000 towards the National Defence Fund. HALchairman Dr CG Krishnadas Nair presented cheques for the amount to defence minister George Fernandes at New Delhi.

Sicom staff donate a day's salary

The employees of Sicom Ltd have contributed one day's salary or more to the Army Central Welfare Fund. The amount collected, Rs 1.86 lakh, was handed over by Sicom chairman Subhash Dandekar to ICICI Bank, which maintains Army Central Welfare Fund account.

Surya Roshni net up

Surya Roshni has posted a 7.17 per cent rise in its net profit for the first quarter of fiscal 1999-2000 while gross profit is up by 31.63 per cent during the same period. The profit went up to Rs 3.44 crore from Rs 3.21 crore in the first quarter ended June 1999 while gross profit improved to Rs 11.57 crore from Rs 8.79 crore. The total sales of the company were up at Rs 171.34 crore from Rs 157.26 crore.

Nova Granites declared sick

The Board for Industrial and Financial Reconstruction (BIFR) has declared Nova Granites (India) Ltd as a sick company as itsaccumulated losses have completely eroded the net worth. The board noted that the accumulated losses of the Karnataka-based export oriented unit stood at Rs 8.29 crore as against the net worth of Rs 7.6 crore as on March 31, 1998 and appointed the Industrial Development Bank of India (IDBI) as the operating agency.

Ford `most admired'

Ford Motor Company has been polled as `most admired' automotive company according to Fortune Magazine's annual survey of executives, directors and securities analysts in US. The magazine annually polls 10,000 industry leaders and analysts every year on management quality, innovativeness and financial soundness. General Electric has maintained its number one position as the most admired company while Ford was ranked 69 in the overall category.

Matrix organises exhibition

Matrix Expositions is conducting Arcon '99, an exhibition on architecture, interior design and construction materials from November 12 to 14 in Bangalore. The trade fair is being sponsoredby the the central building research institute, Indian Concreate Institute and Builder's association of India. Over 200 companies are expecting to showcase the latest products, services and technologies at the meet.

Website for polls, Kargil

India Today Group Online has launched IndiaDecides (www.indiadecides.com), a website dedicated to the 1999 general elections. The site holds interactive polls on hot issues and discussion forums for visitors. The company also announced the launch of www.datelinekargil.com site for latest news and action on the Kargil war.