Saturday 7 June 2014

Boko Haram, bananalisation of racism & elusive unity

7062014
 
 
Pambazuka Editor
To pambazuka-news
 
Today at 6:54 AM
PAMBAZUKA NEWS 681: BOKO HARAM, BANANALISATION OF RACISM & ELUSIVE UNITY
The authoritative electronic weekly newsletter and platform for social justice in Africa
Pambazuka News is delivered free to you with the support of donations from Friends of Pambazuka.
KEEP PAMBAZUKA FREE AND INDEPENDENT! BECOME A FRIEND OF PAMBAZUKA NOW! http://www.pambazuka.org/en/friends.php
Follow Pambazuka #PambazukaNews
Pambazuka News (English edition): ISSN 1753-6839
CONTENTS: 1. Features, 2. Announcements, 3. Comment & analysis, 4. Advocacy & campaigns
/\/\//\/\/\//\/\/\//\/\/\//\/\/\//\/\/\//\/\/\//\/\/\//\/\/\//\
1 Features
BOKO HARAM A BLESSING FOR IMPERIALISM IN AFRICA: US TRAINING DEATH SQUADS
Glen Ford
The danger of America’s military assistance to Africa – whether it is in fighting Boko Haram or Al-Shabaab – lies in the fact that the US has a lethal history of training death squads around the world. These death squads are now coming to Africa via the blessing of Boko Haram
http://www.pambazuka.org/en/category/features/92005
******
THE MENACE OF BOKO HARAM AND FUNDAMENTALISM IN NIGERIA
Horace G. Campbell
The hardline military approach to Boko Haram by the Nigerian government is inadequate. Boko Haram’s challenge has economic, political and social dimensions that government ignores to the detriment of Nigerians. All progressive forces will now have to wade in to oppose both Boko Haram and the states that provide the enabling conditions for the growth of terror elements
http://www.pambazuka.org/en/category/features/91999
******
BOKO HARAM: THE NECESSARY STATE OF EMERGENCY FOR TRANSFORMING THE INTRACTABLE CONFLICT IN NIGERIA
Toyin Ajao
As Boko Haram adopts new strategies for shaking up Nigeria, the government must understand that they cannot respond effectively with force. The government must provide effective social services, thereby instilling trust in the state and discouraging discontent and radical action.
******
THE BANANALISATION OF RACISM
Ana Maria Goncalves
The ‘banana campaign’ against racism is cheap as it fails to address the fact that racism is a serious crime that should be punished. Such depoliticised reactions from athletes, artists, opinion-shapers and policy-makers help to cover up the real meaning of racism (http://pointblanknews.com/pbn/exclusive/president-jonathan-queries-cbn-governor-over-apex-banks-audited-report-n1b-donation-to-political-party/ )
http://www.pambazuka.org/en/category/features/92004
******
THE AFRICAN UNION AND THE ELUSIVE PROMISE OF UNITY
All across the continent and the Diaspora imperialism tightens its grip on the people
Abayomi Azikiwe
http://www.au.int/en/ ) 51 years after the founding of the OAU, now AU, Africa has largely failed to build effective unity, with countries ravaged by internal conflict and the AU failing to have any impact in global power. Internal failures are exploited by imperialist powers to continue their meddling in African affairs. A political alternative based upon revolutionary Pan-Africanism, anti-imperialism and socialism provides the only hope for Africa
http://www.pambazuka.org/en/category/features/92000
******
FGM: KENYAN WOMAN USES FILM TO FIGHT SCOURGE
Valentina Acava Mmaka
Circumcision of women and girls continues around the world even in countries where it has been expressly banned by law. More and diverse efforts are need to win this struggle, as this Kenyan film-maker explains ( http://www.pambazuka.org )
http://www.pambazuka.org/en/category/features/92002
******
THE INTERNATIONAL CRIMINAL COURT’S RELATIONSHIP WITH AFRICA: AN UNFAIR BIAS?
Arlette Afagbegee
All current cases before the ICC are from Africa and case referrals are restricted by international politics. However, this should not be an excuse for African leaders to circumvent justice. As no African Court with efficient jurisdiction and capacity exists, the ICC remains vital to African victims and ending impunity.
http://www.pambazuka.org/en/category/features/91998
******
THE MANDELA LEGACY: FAREWELL TO BLACK NATIONALISM
Shaun Whittaker
The neoliberal policy stance of the African National Congress and the socioeconomic consequences of these policies mark the death of the conservative Black Nationalist movement. The working class and the revolutionary Left must now move away from ‘black consciousness’ to ‘mass consciousness’ to challenge social injustice.
http://www.pambazuka.org/en/category/features/92003
******
/\/\//\/\/\//\/\/\//\/\/\//\/\/\//\/\/\//\/\/\//\/\/\//\/\/\//\
2 Announcements
PAMBAZUKA SPECIAL: WHEN WILL PEACE BE CREATED FOR THE PEOPLE OF THE DRC?
The special issue on the DRC seeks to expose not only the realities of war that continue to have a traumatic and tragic impact on the lives of those directly affected, but also to address the complex realities and issues that the Congolese have faced in the past since the assassination of its valiant leader, Patrice Lumumba
http://www.pambazuka.org/en/category/announce/92009
******
PAMBAZUKA NEWS: CALL FOR VOLUNTEER TRANSLATORS
Pambazuka News needs volunteers to translate articles. Published weekly in English and French, and every 15 days in Portuguese, our electronic newsletter sometimes translates articles from one language to another. Through this, we aim to break down language barriers, give more audience to relevant analysis for our contributors and encourage exchanges between linguistic communities in Africa and around the world. In this Pambazuka is unique.
To deal with our increasing translation needs, we are looking for volunteers to strengthen our team of volunteer translators who assist us in this task and contribute to what Pambazuka is.
We engage to sign all translated articles with the name of their authors.
If you are a student or professional translator, we are counting on you. Write to the editors at the following address: editor@pambazuka.org
******
SPECIAL ISSUE ON GMOS, FOOD SOVEREIGNTY AND AFRICA: CALL FOR ARTICLES
Pambazuka News invites articles on the vexed question of GMOs and food sovereignty in Africa to help readers make sense of the debate in order to effectively play their roles as citizens
http://www.pambazuka.org/en/category/announce/91748
******
/\/\//\/\/\//\/\/\//\/\/\//\/\/\//\/\/\//\/\/\//\/\/\//\/\/\//\
3 Comment & analysis
MALAWI’S CHAOTIC ELECTION
Dewa Mavhinga
Previously touted as transparent, Malawi’s recent election proved chaotic amid polling day havoc and vote counting anomalies. Incumbent Joyce Banda cried foul over preliminary results, but an electoral commission recount upheld opposition leader Peter Mutharika’s win. Malawi’s leaders, the AU and SADC must now continue to promote stability to protect democracy and the will of the Malawian people.
http://www.pambazuka.org/en/category/comment/92006
******
/\/\//\/\/\//\/\/\//\/\/\//\/\/\//\/\/\//\/\/\//\/\/\//\/\/\//\
4 Advocacy & campaigns
CIVIL RIGHTS LEADER WRITES TO WORLD BANK CALLING FOR ACTION AGAINST RACISM
The Chair of The National Congress of Black Women wants the World Bank to expeditiously establish an independent high-level commission to review the current situation of racism against blacks at the institution and provide recommendations for fundamental reforms.
http://www.pambazuka.org/en/category/advocacy/92008
******
REV JACKSON’S LETTER TO THE WORLD BANK BOARD OF GOVERNORS
Rev. Jesse Jackson urges the Bank to address the issue of rampant racism against Black people.
http://www.pambazuka.org/en/category/advocacy/92007
******
THE POLITICAL PERILS OF CRIMINALISING ACADEMIC FREEDOM IN MOZAMBIQUE
Bridget O’Laughlin
A well-respected Mozambican academic is facing trial for a comment he made on Facebook critical of President Guebuza. This is flagrant violation of the professor’s freedom of opinion and of expression. Such repression may close down public debate and lead to self-censorship.
http://www.pambazuka.org/en/category/advocacy/91997
******
/\/\//\/\/\//\/\/\//\/\/\//\/\/\//\/\/\//\/\/\//\/\/\//\/\/\//\
Fahamu – Networks For Social Justice
http://www.fahamu.org
Pambazuka News is published by Fahamu Ltd.
(c) Unless otherwise indicated, all materials published are licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 Unported License. For further details see: http://www.pambazuka.org/en/about.php
Pambazuka news can be viewed online: English language edition ( http://www.pambazuka.org/en )
Edicao em lingua Portuguesa ( http://www.pambazuka.org/pt )
Edition francaise ( http://www.pambazuka.org/fr )
RSS Feeds available at http://www.pambazuka.org/en/newsfeed.php
Pambazuka News is published with the support of a number of funders, details of which can be obtained here (http://www.pambazuka.org/en/about.php ) .
To SUBSCRIBE or UNSUBSCRIBE go to:
http://pambazuka.gn.apc.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/pambazuka-news
or send a message to editor@pambazuka.org with the word SUBSCRIBE or UNSUBSCRIBE in the subject line as appropriate.
The views expressed here are those of the authors and do not necessarily represent those of Pambazuka News or Fahamu.
With around 2,600 contributors and an estimated 600,000 readers, Pambazuka News is the authoritative pan-African electronic weekly newsletter and platform for social justice in Africa providing cutting edge commentary and in-depth analysis on politics and current affairs, development, human rights, refugees, gender issues and culture in Africa.
Order cutting-edge climate titles from Pambazuka Press:
‘Earth Grab: Geopiracy, the New Biomassters and Capturing Climate Genes ( http://fahamubooks.org/book/?GCOI=90638100969040 ) ‘ – OUT NOW
To Cook a Continent: Destructive Extraction and the Climate Crisis in Africa ( http://fahamubooks.org/book/?GCOI=90638100628980 ) – OUT NOW
* Pambazuka News is on Twitter. By following ‘@pambazuka’ on
Twitter you can receive headlines from our ‘Features’ and ‘Comment & Analysis’ sections as they are published, and can even receive our headlines via SMS. Visit our Twitter page for more information: http://twitter.com/pambazuka.
* Pambazuka News has a Del.icio.us ( http://Del.icio.us/ ) page, wh


 

Quake of M6.0 – NORTHERN ALASKA

7062014

 

Preliminary Earthquake Report
Magnitude6.0
Date-Time
  • 7 Jun 2014 04:43:34 UTC
  • 6 Jun 2014 20:43:34 near epicenter
  • 7 Jun 2014 08:43:34 standard time in your timezone
Location67.883N 162.376W
Depth13 km
Distances
  • 42 km (26 mi) NE of Noatak, Alaska
  • 731 km (453 mi) NW of College, Alaska
  • 736 km (456 mi) NW of Fairbanks, Alaska
  • 745 km (461 mi) NW of Badger, Alaska
  • 1526 km (946 mi) NW of Whitehorse, Canada
Location UncertaintyHorizontal: 0.5 km; Vertical 0.6 km


 

White House

7062014
 
To Me
Today at 12:24 PM
Hi, everyone –
This past Monday, the Environmental Protection Agency proposed national limits on carbon pollution from existing power plants for the first time.
Since then, folks across the country — on editorial boards, in classrooms, on front porches — have been weighing in on why this is so important. And with that in mind, here’s something I want to make clear:
We’re already experiencing the effects of climate change today — but don’t just think about this proposed rule in terms of the country we’re living in right now. Think about the one we and our children are going to be living in by 2030.
Thanks to these limits, that country will have a 30 percent reduction in carbon pollution from the power sector. It will also have 25 percent less smog and soot, meaning children will have an estimated 150,000 fewer asthma attacks each year — and they’ll miss an estimated 180,000 fewer days of school. Americans across the board will have up to 3,300 fewer heart attacks a year.
And now that the rule has been proposed, you can participate in the process.
Right now, we’re accepting comments from the public about the proposed power plant rule.
And if you want to get some more details about why this is good for the environment and public health — or spread the word about why it’s a big deal –you can take a look at this infographic, and then pass it on.
Right now, we’re in the process of developing the policies that will keep our planet clean and our kids healthy for years to come.
Thanks,
Administrator Gina McCarthy
Environmental Protection Agency

Visit WhiteHouse.gov
This email was sent to nksagar_1@yahoo.com.


 

The FISME Factor, June 1, 2014

7062014
 
 
 
 
FISME
To Me
 
Today at 1:37 PM






If you are unable to view this mailer, click here.

 The FISME Factor 

President’s Message
” Public Procurement Policy for Micro and Small (MSEs) 2012 is undoubtedly a watershed development in MSME support initiatives. It is sad that most agencies not only have failed to inform MSEs about their procurement plans, but also have dragged their feet in extending even the basic facilities to MSEs whether it is exemption from earnest money or exemption from security deposits by successful tenderers. It looks highly unlikely that a mandatory procurement target of 20% from MSEs will be met by government agencies in such a situation. There is a need to make the Policy work for MSEs as was envisaged. ”
Dr. D. Gandhikumar, President, FISME
Vol IV, Issue 54: March 15, 2014
Activities

Training Sessions of KNN in Eastern and Western India

As part of the capacity building of MSME associations, special sessions were convened for leaders of associations in Eastern and Western Part of India on how they could leverage Knowledge and News Network (KNN) for advocacy and knowledge dissemination. The two day workshops on “Emerging Roles of MSME Business Membership Organizations (BMOs)” were organized under EU Switch Asia Project. Over twenty four associations were present in Ahmedabad and 20 in Bhubaneshwar. KNN is a new age internet based media platform which enables aggregation of MSME related news and also dissemination of knowledge across MSMEs and institutions. Over 165 associations and 110 institutions are networked in KNN.
Do pre-election opinion polls influence voters? *
 
  •  Yes
  •  No
 
Business Banter: Lessons from Entrepreneurs

Don’t let over-confidence hinder your success

- Jason Fell is the managing editor of Entrepreneur.com in New York
After starting and growing a company to early success, entrepreneurs can sometimes let confidence go to their heads. Not only can over-confidence be a turn off for others, it can blind you to important changes you need to make at your company. Being confident shouldn’t make you think you can do no wrong. When markets shift, you can’t always stay the course and ride the success you’ve enjoyed so far. A confident entrepreneur will know when to make the changes that will set his or her company up for success.
[Adapted from 7 Ways to Be a Confident, Rock Star Leader]
Writing on the Wall

Stuck in neutral

The index of industrial production (IIP) numbers for January 2014, published on Wednesday, showed that industry was still stagnant. Production grew by a minuscule 0.1 per cent over January 2013, a hair’s breadth better than the revised 0.2 per cent estimated for December. More importantly, manufacturing, accounting for almost 80 per cent of the index, declined by 0.7 per cent. Looking at the different use-based segments within manufacturing, both capital goods and consumer durables, reflective of long-term spending commitments by businesses and consumers, declined in January – the former by 4.2 per cent and the latter by an even more dismal 8.3 per cent.
[Adapted from Business Standard, Opinion Section]

Media Monitor

Macro Metre

RBI hikes trade transaction limit from Rs 2 lakh to Rs 5 lakh with immediate effect

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has hiked the trade related remittance limit from Rs 2 lakh to Rs 5 lakh per transaction with immediate effect, amid increased number of transactions handled by Exchange Houses. “On a review of the permitted transactions under the Rupee Drawing Arrangements (RDAs), it has been decided to increase the limit of trade transactions from the existing Rs 2 lakh per transaction to Rs 5 lakh per transaction, with immediate effect,” RBI said in a notification. For this necessary changes have been made in the Memorandum of Instructions for Opening and Maintenance of Rupee/ Foreign Currency Vostro Accounts of Non-resident Exchange Houses.
Read More   Bach to Top

MPEDA’s co-branding drive for seafood exports

India’s seafood export industry, dominated by small and medium enterprises (SMEs), and growing at 20 per cent a year, will soon get a shot in the arm. In a bid to help entrepreneurs, the Marine Products Export Development Authority (MPEDA) under the ministry of commerce is undertaking a major co-branding drive, which will promote the brand equity of Indian marine products in regulated markets. Seafood exports from India are expected to touch $4.3 billion in the current fiscal year and $10 billion a year by 2020, according to MPEDA.

Hardly any growth in industrial output for Jan; retail inflation tad lower in Feb

India’s industrial production just about reversed the trend in January, 2014 turning from a negative trend in December, 2013 but a mere growth of 0.1 per cent is no consolation as half of the industry segments continued to contract. For the April-January period, there was no growth in the Index of Industrial Production, though some glimmer of hope was visible in the form of slight fall in the retail inflation. The inflation based on consumer price index for February was a tad lower at 8.10 per cent from 8.79 per cent in January, 2014.
Read More   Bach to Top

India launches safeguard investigation on sodium citrate

India has informed the World Trade Organisation’s (WTO) Committee on Safeguards that it has initiated a safeguard investigation on sodium citrate, to protect domestic producers of the substance against threat caused by increased imports of the same. The Director General (Safeguards), Customs and Central Excise has initiated the safeguard investigation following a petition from domestic producers who account for 90 per cent of the production of sodium citrate.
Read More   Bach to Top

Domestic Digest

SEBI asks stock exchanges for half-yearly audits & inspections in compliance of new norms

The Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) has tightened norms to prevent money laundering through the capital market and has asked stock exchanges including the BSE-SME platform to monitor compliance of the new norms through half-yearly audits and inspections, and inform SEBI. The market regulator has asked capital market entities to conduct a detailed risk assessment of their clients, including those linked to countries facing international sanctions. Registered intermediaries shall carry out risk assessment to identify, assess and take effective measures to mitigate its money laundering and terrorist financing risk with respect to its clients, countries or geographical areas, nature and volume of transactions, payment methods used by clients. The risk assessment shall also take into account any country-specific information that is circulated by the government and SEBI from time to time,” the regulator said in a circular yesterday.

Exports may fall more as India loses preferential status in EU

The rupee has been on a winning streak since the start of this year. Despite the US cutting back its bond-buying programme, the rupee has held its own. In fact, it has appreciated 1.5 per cent over the past month, driven by steady foreign capital flows into Indian bonds and stocks The sharp improvement in the current account deficit (CAD) has contributed in equal measure to the rupee’s stability. Since last June, Indian exports have shown a pick-up, as India’s competitiveness improved with the rupee’s fall.
Read More   Bach to Top

RBI panel to review credit flow to MSME sector

A meeting of the Reserve Bank of India’s Standing Advisory Committee has been convened this month to review the flow of institutional credit to the micro, small and medium enterprises (MSME) sector, according to the fortnightly e-newsletter of the Federation of Indian Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (FISME). The RBI has constituted the Standing Advisory Committee (SAC) with Deputy Governor K C Chakrabarty as chairman. The officials of the ministry of micro, small and medium enterprises, banks and associations of the MSME sector are members of the SAC.
Read More   Bach to Top

Nasscom, Google launch ‘Girls in Technology’

To increase the representation of women in the Indian technology sector, Nasscom on Friday announced the launch of ‘Girls in Technology (GIT)’, a programme to promote women entrepreneurs in India The initiative will bring more women into the technology ecosystem by conducting technical workshops, tech talks and hackathons (events in which programmers and other software developers collaborate on projects). Nasscom’s 10,000 Start-ups is part of the Google for Entrepreneurs #40Forward campaign. It is among the 40 start-up communities working on new approaches to increase the representation of women in the technology space 25 per cent this year.
Read More   Bach to Top

Nearly 15% SME foundries shut shop due to demand slump

Several small and medium-sized foundries across the country have been forced to stop production, owing to a demand slump. Industry insiders say that most of these units cater to automotive manufacturers and ancillaries, and that 10-15 per cent of them have either closed down or stopped production temporarily. About 80 per cent of India’s $12 billion foundry industry comprises SMEs, 15 per cent are medium-sized players and only five per cent are large units. Reena Bhagwati, joint managing director of Bhagwati Autocast Ltd and president of the Institute of Indian Foundrymen (IIF), said that while average capacity utilisation in the overall foundry industry is around 70 per cent, for those supplying to automotive players, especially manufacturers of heavy commercial vehicles and passenger cars, average utilisation is down to 50-55 per cent.
Read More   Bach to Top

Climate change can run MSMEs out of biz

Most businesses, especially those belonging to the micro, small and medium enterprise sector are affected by the changing climate which causes damage to their premises and processes, so much so that, at times it runs them out of business, a report has said. This was stated by the Gujarat Institute of Competitiveness (GIC) which has now designed a project to help MSMEs prepare for changes in weather patterns and adapt to climate change. On the need for such a programme, “awareness about these risks among businesses still remains low,” Director, GIC, Jagat Shah said.
Read More   Bach to Top
State Scan

Andhra Pradesh    

Yarn Bank, Market & Design development centres for Andhra handloom clusters

Towards integrated development of the Andhra Pradesh Mega handloom cluster, Textile Ministry wants to set up Market Development and Publicity Centre; Design Development and Product Diversification Centre; and Yarn Bank in the Prakasam and Guntur districts of the state. The project is being implemented under the Comprehensive Handlooms Cluster Development Scheme (CHDS). The Development Commissioner, Handlooms has invited bids from private agencies for implementation of the project.

Punjab    

Educated farmers in Punjab venture into dairy farming

Worried over diminishing returns from small holdings in the state, young and educated farmers in Punjab with an entrepreneurial streak are venturing into commercial dairy farming. The farmers say that a commercial dairy farm gives them high returns compared with conventional agriculture on small land-holdings, which is proving unsustainable. There are about 6,000 progressive dairy farmers in Punjab and the state has more such farmers than any other Indian state, with farms varying in size from 10 to 500 high-yielding breeds of cows. Also, the daily production of milk by these farms is about 12-15 lakh litres.

Uttar Pradesh    

UP industries happy about mandatory online application for SMEs ‘if sustained’

The Uttar Pradesh government’s announcement asking small, medium and major enterprises to submit applications online for setting up new industrial units in the state from May 1 has been welcomed by the units, although they are doubtful about the sustainability of the process. “Submitting applications online will be really good for the industry but we don’t know how the government will sustain it,” said Managing Director of Chakradhar Chemicals, Neeraj Kedia from Meerut. Last week the Uttar Pradesh Government made an announcement to make it mandatory to submit applications online for setting up industrial units in the state including small, medium and major categories from May 1.

Uttarakhand    

Centre to help build more tourism capacity in Uttarakhand

With the view to finding new places for developing tourism destinations in Uttarakhand, the Union Ministry of Tourism wants to conduct a study on tourism carrying capacity of existing and potential destinations for planning for infrastructure development in the state. “It has been realized that there is a need of conducting a study to assess the carrying capacity of the destinations of Uttarakhand for better planning in construction of infrastructure and other operational development activities for tourism to ensure climatic resilient tourism. “Therefore, Ministry of Tourism has decided to conduct a study on tourism carrying capacity of existing and potential destinations and planning for infrastructure development in Uttarakhand,” according to a ministry notification.
World Watch

Africa    

India & Africa to strengthen bilateral relations, focus on SME development

In the broader framework of India-Africa cooperation, the two countries should give increasing focus to SME development and cooperation, said Executive Director, International Trade Centre, Arancha Gonzales. Speaking at the 10th CII-EXIM BANK Conclave on India Africa Project Partnership held here from March 9-11, she urged India and Africa to direct sharper focus on SME development and cooperation in the broader framework of India-Africa cooperation. She said that Africa’s SME sector could leverage the experiences of India’s SME development in the services sector. Citing this, she said the success of ‘Incredible India!’ promotion could inspire an ‘Amazing Africa’ initiative, a CII press release said.
Read More    Back to Top

Australia    

India, Australia trade relations can improve further

Trade relations between India and Australia have been growing steadily and with the “right mindsets” they can be enhanced further, Australian High Commissioner in India, Patrick Suckling has said. On the agreement of Uranium exports to India from Australia, he said the two countries were working on it and there has been “good progress”. “…(through this deal) we would just like to be assured that Uranium will be exported to India. That is how the frame- work is. Negotiations are currently underway. We are making good progress,” he said.
Read More    Back to Top

Japan    

6.8% growth in tourists availing VoA scheme; maximum tourists from Japan

Government’s “Visa on Arrival” (VoA) Scheme has helped attracting more foreign tourists to India, with maximum number of Japanese tourists, as there was a growth of 6.8 per cent per cent in the number of tourists availing of this scheme during the period January-February, 2014. A total number of 3,883 VoAs have been issued in this period as compared to 3,637 VoAs during the corresponding period of 2013,” said official data. During the month of February 2014, a total of 1,980 VoAs were issued under this scheme as compared to 1,947 VoAs during the month of February 2013, registering a growth of 1.7 per cent, the data said.
Read More    Back to Top

United Kingdom    

UK trade body to forge tie-ups with Indian firms, including MSMEs

The UK Trade and Investment (UKTI) will be launching a hard-sell marketing initiative in India to forge tie-ups with Indian firms, including MSMEs, for promoting British investment in India. Last December, UK’s Secretary of State (Minister) for business, innovation and skills, Vince Cable visited India to explore business opportunities and strengthen existing partnerships in engineering, education skills and innovation. He was accompanied by a 25 member UK business delegation who visited four cities (New Delhi, Coimbatore, Bangalore and Chennai) with an aim to push business collaboration and work towards doubling trade with India by 2015.
Read More    Back to Top
Upcoming Events

B2B Meetings with Pakistani SME delegation

Date: 19 March, 2014
Venue: New Delhi
Date: 21 March, 2014
Venue: Bangalore

FISME TRADE DELEGATION TO TAIWAN

Date: 06th May 2014 to 11th May 2014
Venue: TAIWAN
See Details

FISME’s China office opens in Shanghai

FISME’s China office has become operational in Shanghai.
Other Events

Automotive Testing Expo India

Date: 19-21 Mar 2014
Venue: Chennai Trade Centre, Chennai
See Details

Technotex India

Date: 20-22 Mar 2014
Venue: Bombay Convention & Exhibition Centre, Mumbai
See Details

Electrical, Electronics & Energy Expo and Conferences

Date: 21-23 Mar 2014
Venue: Holly Hock Gardens, Jalandhar
See Details

Hometex Tech Expo

Date: 21-23 Mar 2014
Venue: Huda Ground, Panipat
See Details
RBI Standing Advisory Committee
Your Views

India should go for Presidential system

According to the FISME Factor, 63 per cent of the Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs), are of the opinion that after the scenario of the last session of Parliament, India should go for Presidential system.
Knowledge Store

HR Heuristics

Women on board

The ascent of a few bright women to top posts in large Indian banks and financial firms gives the impression that India Inc is gender-neutral when it comes to providing career opportunities. But the truth is that women occupying top management positions in Indian firms are a rarity. Of the 10,000-odd directors who sit on the boards of NSE-listed companies, it is estimated that only 5 per cent are women. As for the Nifty companies, the figure is 7 per cent.

Finance Fundamentals

Apps and sites for a D-I-Y approach to money management

The market for professional financial advisors is not dying any time soon. However, technology has transformed the money management space as well. Your finances are today literally on your fingertips. Here are a few popular sites and apps that can help you manage your money on a day to day basis; some of them even offering integrated financial planning and portfolio management.

Marketing Mantras

From spectacles to eye candy: How this distributor did it

If the Indian consumer is spoilt for choice when it comes to eyewear, blame it on the opening up of the Indian economy in the ’90s. For that’s when Deepak Panchamia spotted an opportunity to import and distribute top-notch brands of optical wear, spectacle frames and sunglasses in India. Yes, pretty farsighted! Launching his venture, Pearl Enterprise in Mumbai in 1989, Panchamia boasts names like Puma, Esprit, Tru Trussardi, Giordano and many more in his portfolio.

Policy Polemic

Ludhiana bi-cycle industry turning sick as Chinese dumps parts through SAFTA

More and more small units manufacturing bi- cycle parts here are turning sick due to severe loss being faced by the local industry due to import of Chinese goods through South Asian Free Trade Areas (SAFTA) route, mostly Nepal , Bangladesh and Sri Lanka.

SME Special

A clean-up act in Ahmedabad

Soon your kabaadiwala (scrap dealer) could be seen wielding a smartphone and calculating how many green points you have earned even as he weighs old newspapers and other dry waste at your doorstep. That is the vision shared by Sandeep Patel and his partners Dhrumin Patel, Chirag Patel and Ravi Patel at the Ahmedabad-based Nepra Resource Management, the start-up behind Let’s Recycle. Launched in December 2011, the venture has revolutionised dry waste collection and management in Ahmedabad.

Success Story

‘As a woman, you bring in more discipline and passion’

Life throws challenges when you least expect them. But what if life tosses you a bouquet of challenges? The answer to that question is written into the script of CICO Technologies, a reputed name in the construction chemicals business in India. An entrepreneur by accident, Chairperson and Managing Director, CICO Technologies, Anasuya Gupta, remarks with measured ease, “Every morning, there are fresh challenges and one needs to stay calm and do what is right for the moment, with honesty and a sense of purpose. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn’t. The important thing is to stay focused.”

Stockpile

The Central Statistical Office (CSO) released the Provisional indices for the month of December 2013 and also final indices for November 2013.

Quotable Quotes

” The most valuable thing you can make is a mistake- you can’t learn anything from being perfect. ”
- Adam Osborne, was a Thailand-born British-American author, book and software publisher, and comp
 


 

Urgent Report on MANMADE Power Outages North Region

7062014
 
 
 
 
Ravinder Singh
To Ajit Jhaamitabhth@yahoo.comAnand Ganesh and 355 More…
 
 
 Today at 2:24 PM
Urgent Report on MANMADE Power Outages North Region
June07, 2014
Honorable Lt. Governor,
Delhi Government
New Delhi – 110005
Copy to Honorable PM of India & Honorable MO Power,
Honorable Chief Minister of UP
Respected Sir,
This is in response to your comments and news reports about power
shortages in North India. Following figures are June06, 2014.
Peak Shortage 1800 MW – Outages 25,305 MW (N+W Region)
Power supply in North India was 42,122 MW against demand of 43,922 MW
but North Region has over 61923 MW installed capacity.
Against Peak Shortage of 1800 MW total forced outages were 8756 MW
including 2348 MW of Planned Shortages due to ‘Low Demand’, some new
generators are not operating.
Outages in Western Region too are huge 16549 MW. Obviously Western
Region stretches along Northern Region for over 3000 KM and can
transfer all the short term Peak Requirements.
Bhakra Dam is has huge Unused Water Storage Capacity, but out of 2900
MW capacity generated just 1428 MW average capacity could have
generate 2111 MW or more or 700 MW additional power when most
Valuable.
Poor Maintenance + BAD REGULATION
As reported a week earlier there are HUGE Technical Losses exceeding
30% mainly due to Inefficient Rural Agriculture feeders.
T&D is pathetic condition and Maintenance Procedures are Extremely
poor. BRPL/NDPL/BYPL engage staff of ‘Short Contracts’ are paid a
fraction of Salary charged in ARR.
I have made over 50 complaints in 30 years but there was yet another
breakdown on 3-06-2014 at 6 PM due to over loading but instead of
restoring power from Alternate Source within 15 minutes indentified
fault in three hours before restoring power.
What is logic of keeping Shops and Businesses beyond 6 PM in peak
shortage situation? USA, CANADA, ITALY, UK shut down shops and offices
by 4PM to 6PM.
100% Torture
Instead of Shutting Down 1-2 Largest Consumers connected to a
Transformer or 1% to 2% major consumers to feeder and entire Feeder is
shut down subjecting 100% of consumers to Power Cuts.
INVERTER USE 10% to 20% POWER & GENERATOR ESSENTIAL
100% Consumers are subjected to power cuts. This means except the poor
who can’t afford install Inverters and Generators that draw power all
the time and draw over 10% to 20% power.
ROOFTOP SOLAR NOT ALLOWED/ CFL LAMPS NOT SUPPLIED
In connivance with Corrupt DERC DISCOMS opposed Rooftop Solar. There
is no need of Special Meters as made out – Consumers can connect Light
and Fan Loads to Rooftop Solar directly during day time and switch to
Grid Power in the evening. Delhi needs 2000 MW of Rooftop Solar.
CFL Lamps of Good Quality & Reasonable Price not supplied or subsidized.
Substandard Appliances adds to Consumer Load.
ENERGY GUZZLING HOME WATER SUPPLY
Delhi Water Supply is at Zero Pressure for 30 minutes to 60 minutes
therefore most consumers had to install Booster Pumps. Small Booster
pumps are Energy Guzzlers consuming more than 10% power supplied in
city.
Delhi and States can reduce Energy Use by 50%+ – by installing Energy
Efficient Gadgets, Solar Power, Load Management, 24 Hour Water Supply,
Reliable Power Supply.
Thank you,     
Faithfully
Ravinder Singh,
Inventor & Consultant
INNOVATIVE TECHNONLOGIES AND PROJECTS
Y-77, Hauz Khas, NewDelhi-110016, India.
e.mail; progressindia008@yahoo.com
Ravinder Singh* is a WIPO awarded inventor specializing in Power,
Transportation, Water, Energy Saving, Agriculture, Manufacturing,
Technologies and Projects.


 

Boletín de Noticias de Nueva Tribuna [07/06/2014]

7062014
 
 
 
 
Nuevatribuna
To Boletín de Noticias de Nueva Tribuna
 
Today at 2:47 PM
 
Boletín informativo. Sábado 7 de Junio 2014.
Portada
PETICIÓN DE IZQUIERDA PLURAL Y AVALADA POR EL GRUPO MIXTO, EN LA JUNTA DE PORTAVOCES POR EL BNG 
Los diputados votarán la ley de abdicación en pie y en voz alta 
José Luis Centella ha registrado un escrito en el Congreso en el que solicita que la votación del proyecto de ley, que tendrá lugar el próximo miércoles, sea “pública por llamamiento”, conforme al artículo 85 del Reglamento del Congreso.
      
Lo que no se dice sobre la abdicación del Rey 
Por Vicenç Navarro | La abdicación es un intento de revertir el descenso de la popularidad de la Monarquía y, con ella, del establishment español. Refleja su enorme preocupación sobre la viabilidad del sistema político establecido durante la Transición inmodélica…
      
EL PP EN LA ASAMBLEA HA APORTADO DOS ENMIENDAS 
La Asamblea de Madrid pedirá al Gobierno que apoye a los 8 sindicalistas de AIRBUS 
CCOO de Madrid se congratula de la aprobación por unanimidad de la Proposición No de Ley de apoyo y petición de retirada de la acusación para los 8 imputados de AIRBUS.
      
MEDIDAS APROBADAS EN EL CONSEJO DE MINISTROS 
“Las medidas para el empleo son actuaciones ya comprometidas y resultan insuficientes” 
UGT emplaza al Gobierno a cumplir su compromiso con el diálogo social
      
REBAJA DEL 30 AL 25% EN EL IMPUESTO DE SOCIEDADES 
“La rebaja del impuesto de sociedades sólo beneficiará a las grandes empresas” 
El secretario de Protección Social y Políticas públicas de CCOO, Carlos Bravo, ha lamentado que “una vez más, el ejecutivo haya decidido orientar su propuesta de reforma hacia medidas que acentúan la injusticia y el desequilibrio que ya existe en nuestro sistema tributario”
      
AVALADO POR LA AUDIENCIA NACIONAL 
El juez Pedraz continuará investigando la muerte del periodista José Couso 
Los magistrados presentes en la reunión han rechazado el recurso presentado por la Fiscalía en el que pedía que el juez instructor cerrara la causa y la elevara al órgano superior para su archivo.
      
LECTURAS SUMERGIDAS | REVISTA LITERARIA 
Banville: “La literatura es una vía de escape” 
Por Emma Rodríguez | John Banville, el nuevo Premio Príncipe de Asturias de las Letras, acababa de publicar “Venganza”, de la serie detectivesca firmada con el seudónimo de Benjamin Black.
      
CUERPO DE GUARDIA 
Impuesto de respiración 
Capitán Lagarta | Fuentes creíbles han informado al capitán de que el legislativo, para financiar esta gozosa agonía que llaman bienestar, anda pergeñando un nuevo impuesto…
      
CINE: PROPUESTAS PARA LA SALA OSCURA 
Metéora 
      
ASOCIACIÓN EN DEFENSA DE LOS ANIMALES 
Manifiesto en defensa de los Grandes Simios 
La ‘Asociación Parlamentaria en Defensa de los Animales’ (APDDA) y ‘Proyecto Gran Simio’, a través de su Director Ejecutivo, Pedro Pozas, han reivindicado los derechos de los grandes simios en el Congreso de los Diputados.
      
Opinión
· Juan Torres López: ¿Cospedal sí y Susana Díaz no? 
Cuando personas de otras comunidades me preguntan por qué el PSOE lleva gobernando tanto tiempo en Andalucía…
      
· Eugenio Hernandez: Reforma, ruptura y referéndum 
Coincidencia o no, en un breve lapso de tiempo se han sucedido hitos como la devastadora crisis económica, el desmantelamiento de un sistema social…
      
· Emilio Jurado: Tener y no tener 
Si hablamos de igualdad o de reducción de la desigualdad, la cuestión tiene que ver con tener y no tener…
      
· Alex Vidal: Gnósticos, agnósticos y ateos 
Estoicos o epicúreos, platónicos o aristotélicos, escépticos o dogmáticos, idealistas o empiristas…
      
· Pascual Mogica Costa: Los caminos de la Justicia 
El 20 de noviembre de 1991, un periódico provincial publicaba unas declaraciones del que fuera exmagistrado…
      
MODIFICAR / CANCELAR SUSCRIPCIÓN
Está recibiendo este boletín tras solicitar este servicio a través de la web de Nuevatribuna. En cualquier momento puede modificar o cancelar su suscripción accediendo a esta dirección
Nuevatribuna Información continua y análisis para una ciudadanía comprometida con los valores de libertad, igualdad y justicia.
 
Nuevatribuna 
© medio digital de información genera


 

Invitation to Executive Development Programme at Birla Institute Campus, Greater Noida.

7062014

Invitation to Executive Development Programme at Birla Institute Campus, Greater Noida.
 
 
 
FDP BIMTECH
To Me
 
 
 Today at 3:13 PM
Dear Sir/Madam,

Greetings from BIMTECH…!!!

The Decision Science area of BIMTECH is organizing an Executive Development Programme on “Performance Evaluation for Benchmarking”at Birla Institute of Management Technology (BIMTECH) Campus, Greater Noida from 18 – 20 September, 2014.

In evaluating the performance of a business the Owners or the Managers would typically like to know:

●              Is the company making the best use of the resources?
●              Is it possible to produce more from the same input bundle? If so, which out puts and how much more?
●              Can the firm economize on the resource used? If so, which inputs and by how much?
              Is the firm’s input-mix consistent with the relative prices of the inputs? If so, which input should be substituted and for what?
●              Is the firm of the right size? If not, is it too big or too small?
              Would a potential merger with another specific firm enhance the efficiency?
              The list goes on.

This programme should enable the participants to answer such questions in light of actual data from the Firms and the Industry concerned.


The brochure of the program is attached herewith OR you can download it from BIMTECH website at: www.bimtech.ac.in OR www.bimtech.ac.in/research/fdp/ 


I request you to kindly nominate 2-3 executives from your esteemed organization. In case of any clarifications, please feel free to contact   me(Dr. G.N. Patel) on Mob.: 09818618611 & email: gn.patel@bimtech.ac.in   the Programme Director. 

Looking forward to hearing from you. 

Note:  All correspondence should be address to the Programme Coordinator:

Mr. Madanpal
Programme Coordinator
Birla Institute of Management Technology
Plot No.-5, Knowledge Park-II, Greater Noida – 201 306 (Delhi/NCR)
Mob.: +91-9971355808, Tel: 0120-2323001-10 (Extn – 379), 

With warm regards,
G.N. Patel
Professor & Programme Director 


 

COMMISSIONING OF FAST PATROL VESSELS

7062014
COMMISSIONING OF FAST PATROL VESSELS (FPVs)
ICGS ACHOOK AND ICGS AGRIM – 07 JUN 14

THE INDIAN COAST GUARD SHIPS ‘ACHOOK’ AND ‘AGRIM’, THE FIFTH AND SIXTH IN THE SERIES OF TWENTY FAST PATROL VESSELS (FPVs), DESIGNED AND BUILT BY M/S COCHIN SHIPYARD LIMITED, WERE COMMISSIONED ON 
07 JUN 14 AT MUMBAI BY SHRI ARUN JAITLEY, THE HON’BLE DEFENCE MINISTER IN THE PRESENCE OF VICE ADMIRAL ANURAG G THAPLIYAL,AVSM & BAR, DIRECTOR GENERAL INDIAN COAST GUARD, INSPECTOR GENERAL SPS BASRA, YSM, PTM, TM, COMMANDER COAST GUARD REGION (WEST), AND OTHER SENIOR DIGNITARIES OF THE CENTRAL AND STATE GOVT.
          THE 50 METER INDIGENOUS FPVs DISPLACE 270 TONNES AND CAN ACHIEVE A MAXIMUM SPEED OF 33 KNOTS WITH AN ENDURANCE OF 
1500 NAUTICAL MILES AT ECONOMICAL SPEED OF 13 KNOTS, EQUIPPED WITH STATE-OF-THE-ART WEAPONRY AND ADVANCED COMMUNICATION AND NAVIGATIONAL EQUIPMENT. THEY MAKE AN IDEAL PLATFORM FOR UNDERTAKING MULTIFARIOUS CLOSE-COAST MISSIONS SUCH AS SURVEILLANCE, INTERDICTION, SEARCH AND RESCUE AND MEDICAL EVACUATION.  THE SPECIAL FEATURES OF THE SHIPS INCLUDE AN INTEGRATED BRIDGE MANAGEMENT SYSTEM (IBMS), INTEGRATED MACHINERY CONTROL SYSTEM (IMCS) AND AN INTEGRATED GUN MOUNT WITH INDIGENOUS FIRE CONTROL SYSTEM (FCS).
THE SHIPS HAVE BEEN NAMED ICGS “ACHOOK”, MEANING ‘UNERRING’, AND ICGS “AGRIM” STANDS FOR ‘FIRST’ WILL BE BASED AT MUMBAI UNDER THE ADMINISTRATIVE AND OPERATIONAL CONTROL OF THE COMMANDER, COAST GUARD REGION (WEST).
         


IN HIS ADDRESS DURING THE COMMISSIONING CEREMONY, HON’BLE FINANCE AND DEFENCE MINISTER TERMED THE FAST PATROL VESSELS AS THE WORK HORSES OF COAST GUARD. THE HON’BLE RAKSHA MANTRI ALSO DWELT UPON THE FAST PACED DEVELOPMENT OF THE INDIAN COAST GUARD AND ACKNOWLEDGED THE SUPPORT OF GOVERNMENT FOR THE COAST GUARD’S PLAN TO INCREASE FORCE LEVELS SUBSTANTIALLY TO FACE THE EMERGING SECURITY CHALLENGES IN THE MARITIME DOMAIN. HE EMPHASISED THE IMPORTANCE GOVERNMENT OF INDIA ACCORDS TO COASTAL SECURITY IN VIEW OF THE ASYMMETRIC THREATS FROM THE SEA. INDIAN COAST GUARD WILL HAVE 150 SHIPS/BOATS AND ABOUT 100 AIRCRAFT OVER THE NEXT 
FIVE YEARS. IN ADDITION TO THESE OPERATIONAL ASSETS, A COASTAL SURVEILLANCE NETWORK IS ALSO BEING ESTABLISHED WITH 46 STATIONS TO ENSURE REAL TIME COASTAL SURVEILLANCE.

HE ALSO APPRECIATED THAT THE INDIAN NAVY AND THE INDIAN COAST GUARD ARE WORKING IN TANDEM IN A SYNERGIZED MANNER TO ACHIEVE THE OVERALL OBJECTIVE OF MARITIME SECURITY OF OUR COUNTRY. SIMILARLY, IT IS INCUMBENT ON ALL THE CONCERNED AGENCIES TO PROACTIVELY INTERACT AND ACHIEVE THE COMMON GOAL OF MARITIME AND NATIONAL SECURITY.

          ICGS AGRIM IS COMMANDED BY COMMANDANT UMED SINGH AND 
ICGS ACHOOK IS COMMANDED BY LT. COMMANDER RAHUL GAUTAM. THE SHIPS HAVE COMPLEMENT OF 05 OFFICERS AND 34 OTHER RANKS EACH.


 

Morning Post

7062014
समाचार4मीडिया
To Me
 
Today at 4:11 PM
Saturday 7 June 2014
 
 
लाइफ ओके ने कलर्स को दी मात, सोनी-जी टीवी ने और अधिक दर्शकों को जोड़ा अपने साथ
रेटिंग एजेंसी टैम द्वारा 2014 के 22वें हफ्ते (25-31 मई) के जारी किए गए सब्सक्राइबर्स के आंकड़ों के मुताबिक जनरल एंटरटेनमेंट चैनल्स में इस बार बदलाव देखने को मिला…


‘जियो न्यूज’ का लाइसेंस 15 दिनों के लिए रद्द, चैनल ने किया ISI पर मुकदमा
पाकिस्तान के सबसे बड़े निजी टीवी चैनल ‘जियो न्यूज’ का लाइसेंस निलंबित कर दिया गया है…


गुजरात लोकायुक्त जांच की खबर देना अब पत्रकारों को पड़ेगा महंगा
गुजरात लोकायुक्‍त जांच की खबर यदि किसी पत्रकार ने छापी तो उसे दो साल तक की जेल हो सकती है…


गोल्डन टेंपल पर हुए ऑपरेशन में प्रयुक्त हुए थे वरिष्ठ पत्रकार मार्क टुली और सतीश जैकब की किताब के चित्र
साल 1984 में 6 जून को पंजाब में हुए ऑपरेशन ब्लू स्टार के बाद हो सकता है कि पुलिस और सुरक्षा बलों के पास आतंकी ठिकानों के नक्शे और खुफिया जानकारी हों…


वरिष्ठ पत्रकार विजय त्रिवेदी ने ‘फर्स्ट इंडिया’ को कहा अलविदा, फिर लौटेंगे दिल्ली
वरिष्ठ पत्रकार विजय त्रिवेदी ने ‘फर्स्ट इंडिया’ न्यूज को अलविदा कह दिया है…


प्रसार भारती ने दिया पत्रकार पूनम डबास को आखिरी दस दिन का टाइम
दूरदर्शन की प्रिंसिपल कॉरस्पोंडेंट पूनम डबास के लिए प्रसार भारती ने कड़ा रुख अख्तियार कर लिया है। प्रसार भारती सेक्रेटिएट ने पूनम डबास को केवल दस दिन का वक्त दिया है…


भारत और चीन देंगे फिल्मों, टेलिविजन और न्यू मीडिया के क्षेत्र में आपसी सहयोग को बढ़ावा
भारत और चीन फिल्मों, टेलिविजन धारावाहिकों और न्यू मीडिया के क्षेत्र में आपसी सहयोग को बढ़ावा देंगे…


जानिए फैन्स ने ट्विटर पर टीवी जोड़ियों को दिए है कैसे-कैसे नाम
हमारी ज्यादातर टीवी जोड़ियां एक दूसरे के साथ प्यार में पड़ रही है। वहीं उनके फैन्स ने उनके नामों को ब्रैंजलीना ट्रीटमेंट दिया है…


 
इन गर्मियों में दूरदर्शन टीवी के दर्शकों के लिए कुछ खास कार्यक्रम लेकर आ रहा है। मनोरंजन के साथ-साथ रोचक जानकारी देने वाले ये कार्यक्रम दर्शकों को काफा पसंद आएंगे…
देश की हिंदी भाषा को अब नए पंख लग गए हैं, वह अब उड़ान पर है। देश के बाहर भी अब उसे ख्याति मिलने जा रही है और इसकी मूल वजह है प्रधानमंत्री नरेंद्र मोदी…
twitterfacebook) Copyright 2011 Adsert Web Solutions Pvt. Ltd. All Rights Reserved.



 

Nursing Mrunal back to Health 

7062014

 
On-Screen Mother Supriya Shukla doubles up as mum on the sets as 
Mrunal Thakur takes ill during a hectic wedding shoot on 
Kumkum Bhagya




ItⳠendearing to see reel life love of a mother & daughter translating into real life too! Such was the case on the sets of  Zee TVⳠpopular show Kumkum Bhagya, where actress Mrunal Thakur (who plays Bulbul) fell ill right in the middle of a grueling shaadi shoot and her on screen mother Supriya Shukla (Mrs. Sarla Arora in the show) took utmost care of her just like her real mother would have!

Recently, Mrunal was running high temperature and was advised bed-rest. But owing to the hectic schedule for the upcoming marriage track of Rockstar Abhi (Shabbir Ahluwalia) & her screen sister Pragya (Sriti Jha), MrunalⳠpresence was extremely important for all the major sequences being shot. So, she could not manage to take even a single day off from the shoot. Fortunately for her, she found a mother on the sets in Supriya ji who took utmost care of Mrunal on the sets.

Supriya ji gave strict instructions to everyone on the sets that Mrunal should not be made to work for long stretches at a go or bothered unnecessarily when not required. She ensured that Mrunal was given adequate rest between takes and took her medicines, food and juice on time so that she could recover fast. Knowing that she canⴠhave outside food in such a vulnerable state, she made it a point to carry homemade food for her every single day through the shaadi shoot. Along with Supriya ji, who was taking good care of  Mrunal, even Krishnaji too (playing the role of her Dadi) looked after her & ensured her well-being on the sets.The entire unit on the sets was raving about Supriya jiⳠgesture and it once again proved why she is loved by all her co-stars.

Extremely touched by Supriya jiⳠlove & affection, Mrunal says ㉠canⴠexpress my gratitude towards Supriya ji, she took care of me like my own mother would have. She ensured that I took enough rest on the sets which helped me in recovering fast from my fever. Her warmth & caring approach makes her such a lovely person. We have bonded so well off screen that it easily translates into our on screen performance too. I have immense respect for her as a person and as an artiste, she is an absolute pleasure to work with䠼o:p>

In the show, Rockstar Abhi (Shabir Ahluwalia) and Pragya (Sriti Jha)have been at loggerheads for a while and intensely dislike each other. But destiny is about to play a game whereby Abhi will choose to marry Pragya with an agenda of his own. Pragya, too, will be forced by the circumstances of her own life to accept his marriage proposal 堗hat will become of a wedding based on anything but love? Will two starkly opposite people with several misgivings about each other be able to even co-exist peacefully as man and wife? To find out stay tuned to Kumkum Bhagya at 9 PM, every Monday to Friday, only on Zee TV.   


 

When Bharti made Tiger Shroff blush!

7062014

Tiger Shroff & Kriti Sanon rock the DID L’il Masters stage
with their ‘Heropanti’ 
 

It’s time to pull up your collar and put on your dancing shoes as the ‘Heropanti’ stars Tiger Shroff & Kriti Sanon will entertain the audience with their cool moves on ‘Whistle Baja’ & ‘Pappi Song’ this weekend on DID L’il Masters. Promising to be a rollercoaster ride of fun, laughter and dancing this celebrity special episode is not to be missed on Saturday, June 7that 9pm.
Adding an extra punch of madness with her wisecracks, comedienne Bharti Singh will co-host this masti-packed episode with Jay Bhanushali. Making a smashing entry, Tiger Shroff left the audience awestruck with his flexible moves. Later, he was joined by his co-star Kriti Sanon whose aerial entry with fireworks was equally stunning!  The star cast was joined by the Masters, Skippers and the contestants on stage as they matched steps on the peppy song ‘Whistle  Baja’ from Heropanti.
Tiger who floored everyone with his Heropanti, was himself left speechless when he witnessed the incredible swagger of the L’il Masters, their edgy dance moves and most importantly, their kick-ass ‘bachchagiri’! Skipper Sanam & whiz kid Hardik rendered an amazing performance with a jaw dropping aerial act which received a standing ovation and the coveted ‘Nataraj’ statue from Master Ahmed. Paul & Sadhwin drew thunderous applause for their lyrical hip-hop act. Skipper Swarali & ‘Lady Don’ Aditi entertained the audience with their stupendous jazz performance.

Shayari king Sachin Choudhary who usually impresses the female celebrities with his romantic couplets, this time threw a challenge to Tiger Shroff to match his steps…Tune in on Saturday to find out who wins the challenge finally!  

The audience was left in splits when Bharti claimed that she is in love with Tiger and kept flirting with him, which made him blush a beetroot red! Jokingly, she even mentioned that Jackie Shroff is her father in law and she would like to marry Tiger and have lots of kids with him. Sending ripples of excitement amongst the women in the audience, Bharti asked Tiger to take off his shirt but the comedy queen herself fainted looking at young actors perfect 6 pack abs on stage! One can’t say no to Bharti if she requests for anything with her cute smile, so when she asked Master Ahmed to do a special rain song with her on the iconic ‘Pyaar Hua Iqraar Hua’, he readily agreed and did an impromptu jig with her…

On their visit to DID Lil Masters, Tiger & Kriti shared their experience with a huge smile,“These kids possess exceptional dancing skills and unwavering dedication towards dance. We are glad that we could experience this level of perfection today. Without a doubt, we enjoyed sharing the stage with them. And we’re still reeling under the effect of Bharti Singh’s antics … she’s adorably cute and so funny!”  

Witness the bachagiri of these kids with Tiger Shroff and Kriti Sanon on Lifebuoy DID Lil Masterson Saturday 7th June at 9 pm only on Zee TV.


 

DALIT YOUTH FELICITATED FOR BREAKING WORLD RECORD

7062014


7 June 2014 New Delhi  Malavath Poorna and S. Anand Kumar were today felicitated in recognition of their historic accomplishment to climb the world’s tallest peak, Mount Everest.  The ceremony was organized by the National Campaign on Dalit Human Rights (NCDHR) in association with the All India Dalit Rights Federation, the Centre for Social Equity and Inclusion, AP Bhavan Employees’ Welfare & Cultural Association, and AP Bhavan SC/ST Welfare Association. The function was held at Andhra Bhavan in New Delhi and was attended by Union Civil Aviation Minister Ashok Gajapthi Raju and members of parliament  Bandaru Dattatreya, K Kesava Rao and Rapolu Anand Bhaskar. 75 underprivileged children from Dalit and Adivasi communities in Delhi attended the ceremony. The children even moderated part of the ceremony.

For the 13-year-old  tribal girl, opportunities are very rare. But undeterred by the adverse circumstances, she still pursued her dream to reach the top. “It was very difficult to climb the steep mountains but when I reached the top i felt great and proud. i hoisted the Indian flag and the Telangana flag and placed Dr BR Ambedkar’s and Shankaran’s photo,” a beaming Poorna tells her audience at the felicitation ceremony. Poorna, whose father works as a farm labour,  is a Class IX student, while Anand, whose father works as a mechanic, is in Class XI. They both hail from Khammam district of Andhra Pradesh. Anand too spoke about the rigorous training they had to undergo. “I had never trekked in my life like this before,” said Anand.

Last year, the Andhra Pradesh Social Welfare Residential Educational Institutions Society chose the duo from among 150 children from economically weak families who were identified and shortlisted for advanced training in adventure sports. 

“We believe that if Dalit children are given equal opportunities, they can excel anywhere. They only need support to utilize these opportunities effectively,” said Beena Pallical, National Co-ordinator- Campaigns, NCDHR. “We dream of an India where every child’s potential is realised so that they can be where Poorna is today. At the top,” added Annie Namala of the Centre for Social Equity and Inclusion. “We are very proud of Poorna’s achievement, she has done the entire country proud at the tender age of 13,” said Karumanchi Anand Rao of the AP Bhavan SC/ST Welfare Association.

Poorna is now not only on the top, but also a role model for other children from similar backgrounds. At the function, Poorna was seen interacting with the children. Said Kanchan, a student of Rajkiya Sarvodaya Kanya Vidyalaya, “She is my role model because she has made an identity for herself and has done our country proud. I too want to be like her someday.” 

ENDS/-
For more information:
Orchie Bandyopadhyay
Media and Communications Manager
National Campaign on Dalit Human Rights (NCDHR)
8/1 South Patel Nagar, 2nd Floor
New Delhi – 110 008
Mobile: +91 9650170077
orchie@ncdhr.org.in


 

BJP’s Vision for Bharat

7062014
This paper had broken the story that some of us from the academia had been roped in by the BJP to help in the preparation of a Vision Document that would be presented to the people. As one of the academics so involved, I had a terrific time working on the project which involved getting inputs from a very large number of domain experts, business leaders, trade union representatives and ground level party functionaries. I benefited from a huge amount of learning. And it was really quite thrilling to put together a volume that brought together India’s traditional and structural strengths with a set of feasible aspirations across the range of sectors. The exercise aimed at achieving rapid, sustainable and equitable growth to make India the largest economy in the world in PPP terms by 2050 when we celebrate a hundred years of our Republic. It is clear that the BJP has won its historical mandate in significant measure due to its promise of fulfilling the people’s aspirations.
These are in summary encapsulated in the idea of India becoming a developed economy in the next four decades while nurturing and indeed celebrating its diversity, plurality and democracy. It is now time that the BJP can elaborate such an idea in a Vision for the country and the path it will adopt to make it a reality.
There are fears, we are told, in the senior most leadership of the Party, that such an exercise will pin the BJP down to actual targets and to a set of deliverables to which the electorate will hold them responsible. I sincerely believe this story about being scared of accountability is not true. Mr. Modi has rightfully claimed a track record in Gujarat that is based on performance, accountability and effective governance, which is essentially about delivering on the promise or targets announced and hence accepting accountability.
Therefore, good governance demands that we have specific long term targets that are disaggregated into medium and short term goals on the basis of which a clear road map or plan of action is laid out and implemented. Both Japan and China, two countries that Mr. Modi is known to be impressed with, have periodically adopted and announced such development Visions to provide the goals and momentum for their development agenda and involving the citizens in that exercise. May I appeal to Mr. Modi to also reveal his Vision for India which will fire the imagination of those who supported him so whole heartedly and galvanize them into a plan of action that serves a national purpose. The purpose of creating a Shreshta and Swabhimani Bharat.
Mr. Modi demonstrated this line of thinking and his own support to a Visioning exercise on that memorable evening on the Ghats of the Ganges in Varanasi when he participated in the Ganga Aarti. He used the occasion to ask for people’s participation in his Vision of a clean Kashi and Nirmal Ganga and to achieve it by 2019, the 150th anniversary of the Mahatma. I am sure his chosen minister Ms. Uma Bharti will take this as her target, for which she should have her bureaucrats prepare a time bound plan of action and to which she should be held accountable by the people of Varanasi. Clearly, Mr. Modi’s reputation is on the line and if he forces the pace as he should, we would have made the critical transition to ‘accountable governance.’ We need similar long term Visions, medium term goals and short term targets for all our sectors. These could then become guide books for government departments. They could also help Mr. Modi to get other chief ministers on board and achieve a policy convergence across the political spectrum. That will minimise the dissonance that presently characterises our democracy.
Perhaps the start has already been made by Mr. Modi asking all heads of important ministries and departments to present their plans on 4th June. It is of course important that the bureaucrats have a 100% buy-in to any Vision the government may adopt and announce. However, I am sure that Mr. Modi will not allow his Vision to be limited by those presented to him even by an enlightened bureaucracy, let alone by a bureaucracy that has been left demoralised and de-motivated by the policy drift of the past five years. He needs fresh inputs from all those within the country and the NRIs abroad who want to participate in India’s resurgence under his leadership. What is needed today is a set of clearly stated vision statements for each sector that are translated into quantitative targets for which the bureaucracy would be asked formulate detailed time-bound plans of action. This will respond to the people’s desire for him to tell them how he will make a difference to their life and to the lives of successive generations.
The most important role of adopting and announcing such a National Vision is to give a sense of national purpose to all our citizens from all walks of life. Mr. Modi, in his Varanasi speech, had emphasised that India’s development effort has to be as broad based as was its national movement for independence. The current situation of the government being alone responsible for development and the rest of us being outsiders and passive recipients of government policies and their outcomes has to be completely jettisoned. This can only happen if the government takes the people into its confidence and invites participation in the implementation of its development plans. This will also imply the actual implementation of a revolving door policy through which the government can tap the vast talents available in the private sector and civil society. The announcement of a Vision for making India First in the global community will bring all Indians on board this endeavour. It is time that development becomes a collaborative national movement and not a preserve of the Lutyens establishment. For that to happen, Lutyens Delhi should open its doors to outside talents. A clearly stated Vision with a detailed plan of action could be the trigger for such a revolutionary change in the country’s style of governance. Otherwise we will all suffer from the horrible feeling of Deja Vu.
Author is a Senior Fellow Centre for Policy Research. He is also the former Director of ICRIER and former Secretary General of FICCI.
Dear  Mr.Sagar
I am forwarding my latest article BJP’s Vision for Bharat that appeared in the newspaper Mail Today on Friday 6th May 2014.
Your comments are always appreciated.
With Best Regards
Rajiv Kumar 


 

Salman Khan spots the star in the making Armaan at Ridhima’s Sangeet!!

7062014

 
Yes! you read it right Salman and Armaan have been in touch since a very long time!! Not many are aware that Salman Khan s mother and Armaan’s grandmother Krishna Raj Kapoor are fast friends and also play cards together!
 
Thus their children Salma Khan’s son Salman and Krishna Raj’s daughter Rima Jain have  been friends for a long time. 
 
While Armaan is the second youngest grandson who will be making his bollywood debut with Arif Ali’s Lekar Hum Deewana Dil, it was Salman who first saw Armaan at Riddhima’s (Ranbir Kapoor’s sister) sangeet and said that he too would be a star. Remembering the incident, Armaan said, “I was practicing along with my brother Aadar and my friends for Riddhima Di’s sangeet, where Salman bhai was also there chilling out with us.I was really fat and must  have been close to 100 kilos then. He was first watching us and then even joined us, teaching us his steps for the song O O Jaane Jaana, on which we had been practicing. After practicing at Rishi uncle’s house, we all moved to Salman’s house where we continued our party . At that time, Ranbir was debuting in films and the media asked Salman about t and he said, `Mashallah! 
 
Well! with Salman giving a pat to Armaan we are sure this young lad is the superstar in the making!!


 

 Power cuts in Delhi unacceptable and shameful

7062014

  Jume 7,2014 The unjustified and long power cuts across different parts of the national capital are unacceptable and a matter of shame. The sorry state of affairs reflects wrong priorities of those running the Delhi administration in the absence of an elected government.
It is shocking that the people of Delhi are being subjected to torture in this scorching heat for no faults of theirs and the new BJP-led NDA’s central government, which is now ruling the national capital through a back door, appears unconcerned.
The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) questions the kid glove approach of the BJP-led new central government in dealing with the private power distribution companies (discoms), who have a track record of consistently deceiving the people.
The approach of the new government in dealing with the erring discoms appears to be similar to that of the former regimes of the Congress at the centre and also in Delhi, who were more keen to protect the interests of discoms at the cost of miseries being heaped by them on the people.
It is beyond any reasonable understanding that why the new central government, which is keen to keep Delhi under its indirect control as long as it can, has so far failed to direct the city administration to take the private discoms to task for their failure in dealing with the situation ?
The long and frequent power cuts have forced the people, facing numerous hardships, to take to streets even during the night, and the central government and those running the Delhi administration need to answer who will take responsibility for restoring normalcy ?
The private discoms are not doing a charity to the people of Delhi and they need to be given a clear message in no uncertain terms that their repetitive lapses will not be tolerated. These companies have developed a habit of throwing tantrums to avoid being made accountable for their performance.       
Since February 14, first the Congress-led UPA and now the BJP-led NDA central governments have been ruling Delhi by proxy and both of them need to explain whether discoms were directed to ensure adequate electricity supply to meet the demands of summer months.
When people are paying for electricity then why should they be deprived of it for long hours in the torrid heat ? Instead of having sent the top bureaucrats at this critical juncture to study the so-called Gujarat development model, the priority should have been to ensure uninterrupted basic amenities for the people of Delhi.
The central government and the city administration should not test the patience of the people and without any further delay uninterrupted electricity supply, failing which a vigorous agitation remains the only way out to wake them up from their slumber. 


regards

AAP Media Cell


 

 Acharya Mahashraman Ji “Badlega Dil, Badlegi Dilli”.

7062014

The welcome ceremony of the world renowned spiritual and humanitarian leader H H Acharya  Shri Mahashraman Ji will be held on the 8 June 2014 at the Talkatora stadium.

The Information and Broadcast Minister, Mr Prakash Javadekar and The Union Health and Family Welfare MinisterDr Harsh Vardhan will preside as Chief Guests. Besides the chief guests, the event will be dignified by the benign presence of all the 7 Members of Parliament from Delhi, the 3 Mayors of Delhi and the Delhi region president of the Indian National Congress.

His Holiness has travelled thousands of kilometers on foot and has journeyed Haryana, Punjab and Rajasthan with his disciples to reach New Delhi where they will stay for the next four months as the chaturmas (continuous stay for four months) begins. His fight against corruption, immorality and crime has become his purpose through which he aims at building better human beings and then a better India. Acharya’s first visit to the capital after taking over as the heir to the Terapanth Dharm Sangh has filled in immense joy and enthusiasm in his devotees.

Mr. Parvesh Verma, Member of Parliament welcomed the Acharya’s advent in Delhi on the 30th June, 2014. The welcome ceremony was being organized under the able leadership of Mr K L J Patawari, the President of Anuvrat Anushahta Acharya Shri Mahashraman Pravas Vyavastha Samiti, Delhi. General Secretary, Mr Shanti Kumar Jain also offered his token of gratitude.

The Nagrik Abhinandan on 8th June, 2014 will be graced by the presence of eminent personalities from different sectors. It will be presided over by the 7 MPs namely Parvesh Verma, Udit Raj, Mahiesh Girri, Meenakshi Lekhi, Ramesh Vidhuri, Avinash Khanna and Manoj Tiwari. Mayor Yogendra Chindalia, Khushiram Chunar, Ms Minakshi, INC Delhi President Arvinder Singh lovely and Northern India Sarsangh Sanchalak Bajran Lal Gupta have confirmed their presence. Home Minister Rajnath Singh and General V K Singh have sent across their best wishes.

His Holiness, through his Ahimsa Yatra has been constantly working for environmental issues and female infanticide & feticide. Leaders of different communities, especially Muslims and Sikhs have regularly helped and praised the efforts being put by Acharya for the upliftment of societal values and society as a whole. Acharya will travel across different regions of NCT of Delhi prior to his Chaturmas in the city for making a moral change in the hearts of the people of Delhi. He firmly believes in the slogan “Badlega Dil, Badlegi Dilli”.


– 
Regards,

Nishi Singh
Senior Executive-Media
Regional Public Relations

S-359 Third Floor, Greater Kailash-I | New Delhi 110 048 | INDIA
Tel: 91-11-40623129 | Mobile: +919999828059
nishisinghrpr@gmail.com


 

“Training workshop on Routine Immunization (RI) for Radio professionals”

7062014

6-7 June 2014

Radio for Routine Immunization (Are you Up-to-date?)

NEW DELHI, 6 June 2014: Over 40 Radio jockeys and National Programming Heads of private FM radio stations gathered in the capital today for a first-of-its kind brainstorming and hands-on training workshop on Routine Immunization (RI) for radio professionals. The workshop was organized by UNICEF in partnership with AROI (Association of Radio Operators of India), as part of its efforts to build awareness on Routine immunization.
The two-day workshop brought together India’s top FM players from 9 priority states to stand up for a common cause- saving childrens’ lives from vaccine preventable diseases.
AROI president Anuradha Prasad, Prof. M. Obaid Siddiqui, Director, AJK Mass Communication Research Centre, Jamia Millia Islamia University, Ms. Monica Chaturvedi, Senior Advisor, Strategic Communciations, ITSU, Mr Tapas Sen, Chief Programming Officer, Radio Mirchi, Ms Pallavi Rao, Group Head, Radio Mirchi and Mr Anand Raj, National Programming Head, RED FM, also took part in the initiative.
Organized as part of the World Immunization Week, the workshop focused on how radio’s unparalleled reach and dedicated listenership could be leveraged to highlight the importance of vaccination for saving children’s lives.
Speaking at the occasion, Ms Anuradha Prasad, President AROI said, “FM radio has brought in vibrancy to radio broadcasting and is extremely popular across various sections of people—students, housewives, vendors and executives. It can play a significant role in promoting important social issues while weaving them in regular programming.”
Dr Obaid Siddiqui underscored that radio has always been an effective platform to disseminate information on social causes. “People can listen to radio anytime and anywhere they want. It is also a free medium. At places where literacy rates are low, where people cannot afford a TV set, radio is the only medium that can be relied on for information dissemination,” he stressed.
Currently, the radio sector is witnessing a boom, with private radio (allowed through FM) operating in 91 cities across the country, where there is about 70 to 80 percent radio penetration. There were 245 private FM radio stations operational by March 2012, besides the public service broadcaster – All India Radio (AIR), serving 99.18 percent of the population.
UNICEF is leveraging the strengths of FM radio to ensure a sustained discourse on immunization. Ms Caroline Den Dulk, Chief of Communication, UNICEF India, said, “All children have the right to survive and thrive and vaccines protect children for a lifetime. There is need for diverse stakeholders to focus on reaching out to the most vulnerable and marginalized children. As part of our media engagement, we realise the importance of engaging with radio as it has enabled us to reach key messages to audiences across the country.”
Of the 27 million children born in India every year, some 7.2 million remain unvaccinated. These children are mainly from the most marginalized sections, living in difficult-to-reach areas with lack of access to essential services.
Giving a brief on India’s Universal Immunization Program (UIP), Ms Genevieve Begokian, Chief of Health UNICEF India said the program is one of the largest public health initiatives in the world, in terms of geographical reach and number of children covered. However, on account of bottlenecks on both demand and supply side, there is still a long way to go as far as the program’s coverage was concerned.
Dr M K Agarwal, Deputy Commissioner (UIP), in the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, spoke about the measures taken by the Government for increasing the immunization coverage. and enhancing the cold chain network.
Nearly 4000 children die in India every day and in most cases, these deaths are due to vaccine-preventable diseases like pneumonia, diarrhoea, measles and new born complications like sepsis.
Highlighting radio’s critical role in the fight against polio, Dr Sunil Bahl of the World Health Organization urged radio professionals to join forces for raising awareness on RI. 
AROI’s Secretary General Uday Chawla said, “As so many child deaths can be avoided everyday through routine immunization, it is imperative for all stakeholders, especially media in India to focus on achieving 100 % immunization.”
Panelists Anand Raj, Mr Sen and Ms Rao welcomed the UNICEF-AROI initiative and said that FM radio was not all about music and entertainment. Each FM channel has its own target groups, its own brand positioning and was doing its bit in various program formats, they emphasized. 

Prof Pervaiz Alam, Dean, School of Journalism and Mass Communication, Apeejay Stya University, who also spoke at the conference, said that radio has a very strong connect with the people. “The good part is you cannot teach anyone how to do good radio. But you can tell the radio professionals what are the areas that need the personal touch, that need special attention and that can trigger change,” he observed. 
Radio Mirchi’s RJ Naved, whose pranks on Mirchi Murga are hugely popular among listeners, said,”Apart from entertaining their audience, RJs too can act responsibility and use the platform that radio gives them to take up social causes.
Top Radio professional RJ Simran Kohli who is the creative consultant for this initiative, has contributed to making the workshop more attuned to the needs and requirements of radio as a medium. She has initiated an online forum to bring all the RJs working on the issue together on Facebook page radio4child.
Dipping their palms in colours, participating RJs took the “pledge of life”, promising to raise awareness on RI on airwaves. RJ from Rajiv Nair of Big FM, Bhubaneswar very enthusiastically said, “Improving immunization coverage across poor performing states like Odisha is very important. Through my evening show that targets the youth and those driving back from office, I hope to get the message across.”

Awards have been instituted by UNICEF-AROI for the best program innovations and communication bytes on RI.

In the coming months, this national initiative will be expanded to states through a series of nine workshops in states with lowest immunization rates, namely Assam, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Bihar, Rajasthan, Gujarat, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand and Odisha.
The workshop also came out with a set of recommendations that will be disseminated to policy makers, civil society institutions, and media research institutions.

Certificates of participation were distributed at the end of workshop.

About UNICEF
UNICEF promotes the rights and wellbeing of every child, in everything we do.  Together with our partners, we work in 190 countries and territories to translate that commitment into practical action, focusing special effort on reaching the most vulnerable and excluded children, to the benefit of all children, everywhere. 
For more information about UNICEF and its work visit: www.unicef.org and www.unicef.org/india
For more information, please contact:

• Caroline den Dulk, Chief of Communication, UNICEF India
Tel: +91-, Email: @unicef.org

• Geetanjali Master, Communication Specialist, UNICEF India
Tel: 91-981 810 5861, E-mail: gmaster@unicef.org

• Sonia Sarkar, Communication Officer- Media, UNICEF India
Tel: +91-981 017 0289, E-mail: ssarkar@unicef.org

No comments:

Post a Comment