Scientist of the day - Kitaw Ejigu

Kitaw Ejigu

Kitaw Ejigu was an Ethiopian American engineer and political leader; he was one of Ethiopia’s first aerospace scientists. With the completion of his studies in the late 1970s, he was drawn towards aerospace technology and started working for NASA as a system engineer and space research scientist. He invented two aerospace mechanisms which were patented under NASA’s new technology. He collaborated with other scientists to create space shuttles and rockets that assisted in planetary science research and exploration of planet earth. Among his greatest achievements while working on space technology were his innovative creations of the Global Positioning System (GPS), and a revolutionary and dynamic flight simulator for the Boeing Company. Apart from his work as an aerospace scientist, he was also known for his efforts to bring about political change in Ethiopia. Because of his deep concern and love for his motherland and its people, he dedicated most of his later years serving as a visionary leader. He established the major opposition party, The Ethiopian National United Front, and worked towards the liberation of people in his homeland. He earned the respect of millions of followers due to his visionary leadership and personal accomplishments. 

Childhood & Early Life

• He was born on February 25, 1948, in Bonga, Keffa, Ethiopia, and received his early education from the Miazia 27th High School in Jimma province.
• He attended the ‘Bahr Dar Polytechnic Institute’ and received his diploma in 1966 in mechanical engineering with specialization in agricultural technology. After graduation, he worked at the ‘Ethiopian Automotive Services and Sales Company (EASSCO)’ as Chief Technical Advisor and Assistant Manager for two years.
• In 1972, he won a scholarship from the Japanese Overseas Technical Association on the basis of which he studied automotive engineering at Hiroshima University, and language and Japanese economics at Osaka University.
• Later, he moved to the United States and began his intensive research and training and earned an MS/MBA in business administration in 1979. Then he completed his doctorate in space vehicle systems engineering from Northrop University in California.

Major Works

In 1978, while working with other NASA scientists and the Apollo astronaut Buz Aldrin, he invented two aerospace mechanisms which were patented under NASA's new technologies programs. 

Personal Life & Legacy

• He married Stella Ejigu, who also became one of his ardent supporters. They have three children, Sarah Abigail, Benyam and Yared.
• On January 7, 2006, he was enjoying with his family in Austin, when he fell and hurt himself. The team of neurosurgeons was unable to stop the internal brain hemorrhage and his condition deteriorated.
• He died an hour past midnight on January 13, 2006, four days after he underwent surgery at North Austin Medical Center in Austin Texas. A memorial service was held at Lake Avenue Church in Pasadena, California, followed by his burial at Forest Lawn Cemetery, Covina Hills.

Central Excise Day 2016

 

Central Excise Day in India

Central Excise Day is commemorated every year all across the India on 24^th of February to encourage the employees of excise department to carry out the central excise duty all over the India in better way in order to prevent the corruption in goods manufacturing business as well as implement other rules to carry out best possible excise services.

Central excise has become the vital source of the financial development of the country for the better socio-economic development in India. In the back years, the financial revenue of the country has become double through the better service delivery standards of the central excise departments.

The revenue collection through the central excise department is used in the following schemes such as education, health including other schemes of the social sector. Central excise supports a lot to improve the Indian economy for eliminating the poverty and illiteracy, offering better education and health services and etc to make the country a healthy and developed country.

Why Central Excise Day is Celebrated

A day, 24^th of February, has been decided by the government of India to celebrate this special event all through the country. The event celebration means to collect tax over the goods and by the people earning over the limit which has been decided according to the terms of Central Excise Act in the year 1944. The tax payable rate has been set under Schedule I and II according to the Central Excise Tariff Act in the year 1985.

According to the Central Excise law, the payable event is mainly over the manufactured goods, which has been managed by the Central Board of Excise and Customs (CBEC) through various field offices (means Central Excise Commissionerates) all over the country. Central Board of Excise and Customs fall under the Department of Revenue managed by the Ministry of Finance, Government of India.

The department of Central Board of Excise and Customs has been established in order to make and implement policies related to the tax payable and its collection by the people all through the country. To do this in better way, Customs and Central Excise duties has been implemented to prevent negative business ways means smuggling as well as to manage all the issues related to the central excise, customs and narcotics in India to a great level. To handle and manage all the matters in the country, whole India has been divided in 10 zones and each of the zones is headed by the Chief Commissioner of Central Excise. Almost 61 Commissionerates is headed by the Commissioner of Central Excise in all the Zones.

Following two types of the processes are carried out by the Central Excise department in order to put into effect all the laws and collections of the central excise:

Physical Control Process

Physical control process has been implemented in order to manage the central excise duty for cigarettes only. Through this process, first of all an evaluation is done under the custody of Central Excise officers for the approval purpose.

Self Removal Process

Self removal process has been implemented in order to manage the central excise duty for all other goods getting manufactured all through the India. In this process, all the legal responsibilities on the goods are self accessed by the manufacturers in order to clear the goods.

Importance of Celebrating the Central Excise Day

Central excise day in India is celebrated every year on 24^th of February to encourage the equality among the officers of the Central Board of Excise and Customs Department as well as assist them to ensure better tax observance. It is also celebrated to commemorate the establishment of the Central Excise and Salt Act on 24^th of February in the year 1944.