Indian woman or let me say our ‘bharatiya nari’ has always shared a special place in the fancy world of Indian writers and poets. They have always described the beauty of her curves and beautiful eyes in a poetic way. They have dedicated their long poems praising the beautiful bharatiya nari who is vulnerable, compassionate and innocent, unaware of the harsh realities of the world.

But today’s Indian woman has undergone a drastic change because she is no more a vulnerable and innocent creature who is unaware of worldly happenings. Today’s bharatiya nari is confident, independent and highly educated woman who knows how to take care of herself and her life. She is no more dependent on her parents or husbands to make decisions for her life. Her education has made her confident enough to face any challenges with courage and intelligence. She is no more a mere home maker who spends her entire life looking after her family needs.

There is no field in which Indian woman has not made her mark whether it is in the field of education or defense; she has proved herself everywhere. Breaking all the barriers, she has made a place for herself in businesses as well. The success stories of women like Ekta Kapoor Creative Director, Balaji Telefilms, Chanda Kocchar, Executive Director, ICICI Bank are an inspiration for many.

Besides handling her professional world, she also makes sure that her family members are not neglected. She is proving to be a great manager both at her work place as well in her family. Indian woman has truly emerged as a multi task master who has taken the charge of her own life. If she is famous then she knows how to handle her celebrity status and yet at the same time remain grounded and do not let her fame control her life.

She is not afraid of traveling all alone and believes that this life is meant to be lived fully. She does not hesitate in packing her bags and flies to Dutch or Egypt all alone exploring the world around her. She is no more dependent on her boyfriend to pay for her when she goes out with him for date or dinner. She drives her own car and does not feel the need to be dropped or picked by her boyfriend.

And amidst fulfilling her responsibilities and career demands, she also takes care of her beauty and body. She makes sure that she pampers herself with special treatment at spas and parlors on weekends because she knows that she deserves it. Indian woman has come a long way and they have a bright future for them to be explored. It is not by chance that today our country is also run by a woman President only. There is no match for today’s Indian woman who is setting examples for everyone and showing it to the world that she possesses infinite potential within her.

Harmeet Singh, aged, 34 has been charged of sexually assaulting a teenager in his cab. He has been accused of hiding his in-car CCTV camera before committing the crime. Now he has escaped the sentence of serving his time in jail.

He has pleased guilty in the District Court which is located in Brisbane for the crime he committed on 14 November 2009. It was being told to the court that he picked a girl, then aged eighteen years, along with her mate at a cab stand which was located in Brisbane’s Fortitude Valley. Reports also say that both the teenagers were heavily drunk when they took the cab.

After dropping the friend, which is located in St John’s Wood, the cab driver in question went to her house which is at The Gap. The cab was then stopped just before reaching the home of the girl as he went on to cover the CCTV camera of his cab with the help of a tissue paper. He then began assaulting the girl sexually, imposing himself on her with all his kisses and hugs, before going for the real assault.

It was at this moment when the girl managed to escape his hands, running home in quick time. Singh faced arrest after few days of committing the crime.

He lives in Australia on spouse visa, while reports say that his spouse is studying in the country on Study Visa. He soon received a revival of his visa after this incident.

I know Reva is not a car which could be given the status of “My Dream Car” but that’s how I am! I like things which are unique and out of the box and Reva is one of them. The car caught my attention a few months back, and suddenly I started imagining myself sitting on the driver’s seat of this cute and sporty car, driving all the way to my office from my home, a distance which hardly takes ten minutes! So what? I would love to take it to other important places too. After all, office is not the only destination where I land up every day! Right?

You guys must be wondering that if it is my dream car, why am I not buying it at the first go and why for god’s sake have I written an all new article on it! The most important aspect here is that I am not letting myself go crazy about this small car at all (I mean I have taken care that I don’t cross limits and act like a stubborn child, throwing tantrums that “Yes! I want this car”)… No! I am not doing that. (Does that mean that I am being sensible here? Yes I am!

Prior to buying a car, one should remember so many aspects which are required to be taken care of before going for the actual purchase. Many of my friends (who believe they are huge experts when it comes to giving advice to a young kid on the aspects of the sales and purchase of cars) have told me to take care of the mileage issue; a facet which I am told is not very great with Reva.

In addition, it runs on battery! That’s a great thing. I mean it is eco-friendly and is decked with all the fuel saving characteristics. But my people have something else to say on it… What if the battery vanishes in the middle of the road? What if it breaks down at night, that too at an unknown place, where I am alone with my dream car – Reva!

Next comes the capacity. It is a two-seater vehicle! I don’t have any problem in it, I mean that is one of the reasons why I have opted for this car (out of the box idea you see). But, who will explain this thing to my friends and family who say that a price of more than three lacs is not worth spending on a two-seater car! (Is it a nice reason to keep me away from Reva?) May be, in future, I hope that the price slashes to some extent, so that I may get a small ray of hope of buying my own Reva and satisfying my family and friends, who are all against it (What is their problem?)!

No matter what ever is the case, I wish some day or the other I would surely grab the keys of my Reva! Wish me luck guys!

Feeling of independence is above all. As soon as you start earning, you tend to think differently and make independence as your key. No more borrowing money from friends and no more pocket money. The same feeling decked me also. After gaining financial independence, I decided to get a car for myself. But as soon as this thought gain my attention, I found myself stuck into a dilemma that what all things should be taken into mind before buying a new car.

First of all, ask yourself, do you really need a car. I mean is it something of a utility option or you just need it to flaunt it to your friends or colleagues? I am not discouraging you, but think twice as if what is the real motto of buying a car. If the issue is really serious and you desperately need a vehicle for utility purpose, then go for it, but buying one out of sheer nature of flaunting or getting vegetables from supermarket is foolishness.

Keep this in mind that there is no such thing called a perfect car. No matter how much you research, you will find something lacking in some vehicle here and there. Just keep everything simple, be it budget or peace of mind.

Next thing that you can ask yourself is whether to go for a used car or a new one. If your budget doesn’t allow you to get a new car, then there is nothing wrong in buying a second hand car. There are many branded companies which deal in the business of second hand vehicles and provide you with ultimate peace of mind. The deal is always decked with warranties to prove the authenticity. The challenge lies in operating a used car knowing whether you are paying the right money or not.

Check if your favorite car is available at present or has a long waiting list. It would be better to book it in advance.

If you are not one of them who have excellent knowledge on cars, then it is always better to consult your relative or friend who was always popular as a car geek or as a gadget geek in your group. Trust me; there is nothing wrong in asking help from others, especially when the matter involves lacs of money.

Okay now that you have purchased the car. Don’t think as to what others are saying. Some will say, Oh! You have spent a lot. Some will say that this is not the right car to choose from. Just neglect all these talks and have a happy drive!

Immigration does not just have to do with getting a visa and looking for a shelter in a new place or country. It is more than this and it has a great impact on an individual life. Let’s take the example of transportation. When people migrate to a new place, say, the United States, they often feel the urge to have their own car for daily conveyance. And to have their own car and be bale to drive it, they must perform the same things they needed to do to obtain a driver’s license all over again, in case, if they have had vehicles in their home country.

But, it should be also kept in mind that the procedure of obtaining a driver’s license in the US may not be the same as your home country. Again, the procedure and requirements vary from state to state within the US. Still, every state is abided by some general requirements pertaining to issuance of a driver’s license. Well, if you are intending to start a life in the US, below mentioned guidelines can help you learn a few things about the license obtaining procedure.

To start off, a driver’s license is considered as a personal piece of information, which comes handy in many purposes, such as in banks. Talking about the US, each state has its own requirements when it comes to issuance of the license. Usually, all you need to have in order to apply for a driver’s license is a Social Security Number. Other essential credentials you need to carry to the local Department of Motor Vehicles of the state where you reside include-

• Passport
• A proof that could support your legal immigration status
• Foreign driver’s license (your earlier one from home country)
• Birth certificate/permanent residence proof
• In-state residence proof, maybe a lease certificate which usually contains your current address in the US.

Before issuing a driver’s license, your respective Department of Motor Vehicles may require you to undergo a written test, as well as vision and driving tests. These may not be the mandatory requirements in your state, since there are some US states which consider your previous driving experience as the determining factors for issuing a license.

To get an idea of the written test and other procedures, the best thing you can do is to visit the Department of Motor Vehicles in your state or its respective website. If you are an experienced driver, you would probably not have much problem. As far as novices are concerned, they would require a few lessons in driving. However, in both the cases, all you people need to make sure that you have all the essential documents with you!

I am sure you must have all heard of this statement, “It Happens Only in India!” After all, there are many evils which only happen in India. The recent addition to the list is the MPs not paying toll taxes while the common man sweats in the queues waiting for his turn.

The lawmakers of the nation have always enjoyed a separate status making them somewhat more of the deserving people especially when it comes to all the perks and privileges. Ideally, even if half the amount that is spent on a single MP is used more effectively, many homes in India would have had food to eat.

But nobody seems to care…especially those who feel that they are the most important personnel of the nation. The best or the worst part that could be noted here is that many of them are actually illiterate or barely literate. And yet, they get to enjoy all the goodies in the form of free air travel (for self and spouse) which many in India can only dream of. Others include free accommodation, TA/DA, no phone bills to pay…forget bills, free phones as well!

If you think the list has ended…hang on! There is more…not to forget are the commissions taken beneath the table. How can we all forget that? But being human, they do not seem happy at all! And so, another goodie in their kitty in the form of free toll!

So, while you and I would stop and wait in the queue for our turn after a day of slogging at work, these MPs in their free cars would simply get a free ride all the way. This time it is not only on official visits but those not official in nature (which involves their personal vehicles as well) would be treated as being VIP visits. In the meantime, the common man continues to suffer. After all, they deserve to be ahead of everyone for they are taking the most important decision for the nation.

Additionally, as per a bill to be introduced during the monsoon session, enormous salary hikes are being planned by the Parliament for these MPs. This can be considered as the height of shamelessness. It is important for any government of a nation to gain the respect of its people. Here, the opposite seems to happen.

What I don’t understand here is that when these MPs have their pockets already full, is it so difficult for them to pay a few bucks as highway toll? This can be considered as literally being cheap. This feature is not only restricted to the parliamentarians but also the MLAs/MLCs who would be traveling in their respective states.

Another point to be noted here is that these ministers turn out to be equal misers. The other cars accompanying these so-called lawmakers would have to pay the toll. I wonder what is wrong with Pranab Mukherjee who once having opposed this act has gone ahead to approve of this law.

In today’s context when we cannot think of our lives without a car, do we give a thought to the question, “How safe our lives are on the road?” I mean how many of you really care about wearing seat belts when you drive. Remember, these are not just accessories that have been attached to the vehicles; the automotive industry has done a great deal of research on how the risk of road accidents while driving a car can be reduced to a considerable extent.

Come on folks, it is a matter of life and death. A life once lost cannot be revived! Thus, life is precious. Okay, considered you are least bothered about your life, but what about your family and near ones. Do you want them to be unhappy? You are a responsible person and committed to a lot of things in life. So, in a sense, is it not your responsibility to keep yourself sound and healthy to take care of your family?

Car crashes and vehicle accidents perhaps account for the major reason of human deaths next to natural death. More of these accidents are fatal, in fact. Well, a lot has been delivered through different media in order to spread the awareness on how important it is to buckle up the seat belts while you hit the road! No matter how the governmental agencies and other private agencies take this thing seriously, there is no dearth of foolish people around us who take it as simple as a Santa-Banta joke! Take the example from daily life…the bus driver that gets you commute from places to places. If you have not noticed, just try once. But, it’s not funny at all. I mean he’s aware of the traffic rule that he must wear the seat belts, but just does not have the common sense that it is for their safety and for sake of their lives. No wonder, there are people who just like to break the rules. Road safety is a matter of high importance and one should not ignore the rules set by the authorized body.

When nothing can catch the conscience of some foolish people/drivers, I thought to share this one (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h-8PBx7isoM). A very touchy video representation initiated by the Sussex Safer Roads Partnership. Its message is “Embrace Life- always wear your seat belt”. Even though the concept of the campaign is simple, what catches your attention is its treatment. It is well demonstrated! Thanks to SSRP that has been trying to remind the masses once again the importance of buckling up seat belts.

For those who are still not aware of the significance of vehicle seat belts, it is the three-point safety belt restraint that is attached to the front seat of cars that can protect your internal organs when you confront a road accident. During a crash, the belts control the leaning of your body towards the front, thereby saving you from fatal injury. Besides, there are several other advantages of wearing seat belts. Wearing seat belts has the intensity to decrease the chances of occurring fatal injuries to maximum percentage.

So next time, when you hit the road, don’t just THINK ABOUT YOURSELF, THINK ABOUT YOUR LOVED ONES TOO!

The Government of India has announced and proposed its Union Budget for 2010 – 2011. The following have been announced.

Better income tax slabs which would benefit almost 60% of the tax payers. This can be elaborated as follows:

• For those with income range between Rs.1.6 lakhs – Rs. 5 lakhs, the tax liability would be 10%.
• For income varying between Rs. 5 lakhs – Rs. 8 lakhs, the tax liability would be 20%.
• Income above Rs. 8 lakh will have a tax liability of 30%.

Keeping aside the above, the following key points should also be noted:

• A proposed hike in the fuel prices has been a major amend. So, some of the benefits that come from the above tax savings would be catered to the fuel.
• The higher inflation in food prices and related items would come from the above hike in fuel prices.
• Fiscal deficit is proposed to be higher at around 5.5% for the coming year.
• Enhanced deficit for current financial year is expected to be at 6.9% which is a huge disappointment.

Collectively, this stresses on the fact that benefits coming out of tax savings would be deviated towards paying more for the daily needs and utilities.

Higher fiscal deficit means that the Government income is less than its earnings. It meets this additional expense by printing surplus currency or by selling public assets. These public assets are basically made and supported by tax payers like us.

The budget certainly raises a hope as it has proposed to bring down the fiscal deficit in the next two years. But as has been seen in the past, the interim sees higher non-plan expenditure and that means increased fiscal deficit by the time the fiscal year comes to an end. So, we need to wait and watch to see what happens next!

There is no hike in service tax and which is welcoming for now. However, it remains to be seen if new occupations are being brought into the service tax bracket. But, until then, the public has to keep its fingers crossed.

Gems and jewel prices such as gold, silver and other precious stones are all set to rise. So, a warning to all those planning to get married or investing in a wedding must keep their pockets a bit more flexible!

It is agreed that the defence of the country is paramount and cannot be compromised on, still one fails to understand hike of another 4% in its expense on the country’s defence. This is especially when India continues to have a misfortune of having the majority of poor in the world and especially when they are dieing of hunger. Are we still afraid of others taking over our country despite being a nuclear power? At such a point, it is hard to understand the investment in nuclear resources if it is still not a good enough deterrent?

Excise duty is being increased for most of the manufacturing and capital goods segment. This is an effort towards fiscal discipline and management. But then, these minor benefits are taken away by pay commission reports that are recommended and implemented.

Almost Rs. 35,000 Crores have been raised by selling equity of public sector undertakings (supposedly owned by public) but none of this will be used for general benefit of public. It is likely that all will go into meeting the fiscal deficit.

You will pay more for your new television sets, air conditioners and cars. When will the Government understand that these items are no longer luxuries but utilities? It is tragic that these items get the same tax treatment as cigarettes and tobacco.

On the other hand, the extension of banking and interest facilities for real estate and housing sector is a step in the right direction. This would lead to stimulating many other related sectors like steel and cement in the economy. But it has to be ensured that these benefits are passed on to the general public by builders and developers through affordable housing.

It is not yet clear regarding the benefits of introducing new private banks. Rather than giving licenses to new banks, it is better to support existing banks in expanding their current networks. It has to be realized that the Indian financial market is still developing and major part of the population is still illiterate. They being subjected to aggressive private banking would mean that there will be more shocks and financial indiscipline. Many in public may end up losing money by trusting their savings to these new private banks.

In the end, let us hope that budgetary targets are met and no mid year surprises are thrown on the general public. They need to plan their budget too and it is possible only against a certain, stable Government budget.

There are many aspects that must be considered and worked on before actually getting on to the flight and post landing in Australia. Some such activities include banking your money, car, telephone and internet, utilities and so on.

Ensuring that all your savings are safely transferred is the key of all aspects. For this, efficient banking is a must. Thus, opening a bank account is a must which would require you to present an ID such as that of a passport. Certain banks in Australia permit you to open an account prior to your landing in Australia. Once you land, you must to go the particular branch within the first 6 weeks with an identification proof. You must provide with a current residence address. This can also be a temporary address till you find a decent accommodation for yourself. After getting the bankcards, you can subscribe to phone as well as internet banking.

However, it has to be remembered that banking in Australia might turn out to be quite different from that in your native country. Here, it is followed on a points system based on which an individual is permitted to open a bank account. Ideally, a minimum of 100 points have to be acquired to open one. Additionally, a passport and a driving license are also mandatory to be produced.

Also, there are many different types of bank accounts that are available. The most common ones opted for are the deposit or the transaction accounts meant for daily purposes. The interest charged on these accounts is not more than 0 – 1%. A savings bank account is another option that could be considered. Credit cards are also available for immigrants but its takes time to build a good credit history.

Another important aspect is subscribing to a telephone and an interest connection. For this, a service provider could be contacted to fit a connection. You might have to pay some amount to get the connection active.

You must know that Telstra and Optus are the biggest telecom companies in Australia. Either of the above could be contacted for a connection. You would have to be pay monthly bills and there are a number of packages to for you to select from based on your needs.

You would need to buy a new mobile handset since the ones from your native country might not work here. All the major mobile handset companies are present in Australia. You can get a connection along with handset itself. Regarding the network coverage, be careful on the connection you opt for. To know more, contact the Australia Department of Broadband, Communications and Digital Economy.

Next in line are the utilities. If you are living in a rented accommodation, your landlord would look into it for you and pay for you. To know more on the water supply, you can visit the Australian Government National Water Commission.

For gas and electricity, the Energy Australia is the largest service provider. To get a connection, a simple phone call to them would do. However, Utilityone is one single service provider for all your needs of water, gas and electricity, telephone and internet.

A driver’s license is another important document which would prove your identification. If you have an international driving license, you would be permitted to use it in Australia for the initial one year. Post one year, you would have to take a written test to convert your current license into an Australian one.

Last, but not the least, having an independent mode of transport is of utmost importance. You would not find any problems buying a car in this country. However, look around for the best possible deal available. Your vehicle must be registered for you to legally drive. The registration would involve a fee, a pink slip, proof of purchase and ownership, insurance and an ID proof.

All in all, there are many aspects that must be looked into. The above were some of the most important aspects to be considered. To know more on the same, you can get in touch with an Immigration and Visa expert. He can guide you more on the post landing issues.