FII inflows in debt market cross Rs 1 lakh cr mark in 2014
21092014
Overseas investors have pumped in a staggering over Rs 1 lakh crore into the Indian debt market since the beginning of the year primarily on account of government’s reform agenda.
As per the latest data, foreign investors have purchased debt securities worth Rs 2,82,194 crore in this year so far, while they offloaded bonds to the tune of Rs 1,64,820 crore during the same period, resulting into a net inflow of Rs 1,17,374 crore (USD 19.45 billion).
These huge inflows included a net investment of Rs 14,900 crore in this month so far.
According to market experts, improved fundamentals of the Indian economy, a decisive mandate to the BJP-led NDA at the Centre, various reform measures announced by the government and high interest rate have caught the fancy of overseas investors (Foreign Institutional Investors, sub-accounts and Foreign Portfolio Investors).
The inflow is also significantly higher in debt compared to equities, which till date have attracted Rs 85,330 crore (USD 14.2 billion).
Interestingly, most of the inflow into Indian debt has gone into government securities.
Since 16th May, when the election results were announced, overseas investors have poured in close to Rs 86,000 crore in the Indian debt market, as the verdict met foreign investors’ expectations in the Lok Sabha polls.
In 2013, foreign investors had pulled out a net amount of Rs 50,848 crore from the country’s bond market.
The strong inflows in the recent months have taken the cumulative net investments of foreign investors into Indian debt market to Rs 2.22 lakh crore, while their investments in dollar terms is USD 44 billion.
This is based on the data since November 1992 when overseas investors began investing into Indian markets.
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Categories : Business
Sania-Cara win doubles title at WTA Toray Pacific Open
21092014
Sep 20,
Indian tennis ace Sania Mirza and her Zimbabwean partner Cara Black have bagged the women’s doubles title at the WTA Toray Pacific Open tournament.
In the final in Tokyo today, the pair recorded a 6-2 7-5 victory over Spain’s Garbine Muguruza and Carla Suarez Navarro.
With the win, Sania and Cara have successfully defended their Tokyo Open title, which is a 1 million US dollar event.
For Sania, it will be icing on the cake after her US Open mixed doubles triumph with Brazilian partner Bruno Soares.
She would now spearhead India’s challenge at the Incheon Asian Games in what will be a depleted tennis contingent in the absence of Leander Paes, Rohan Bopanna and Somdev Devvarman.
Sania, will either pair with left-handed Divij Sharan or big-serving Saketh Myneni in the mixed doubles event, where India have a genuine chance of winning a medal.
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Categories : Business
Incheon Asian Games: Indian men’s team win bronze in 10m air pistol event
21092014
Sep 21, 5:52 PM
On the second day of the Incheon Asian Games, India bagged a Bronze medal in Shooting this morning, the second day of the events. The trio of Jitu Rai, Samresh Jung and Prakash Nanjappa finished third in the Men’s 10-metre Air Pistol Team event to give India it’s first medal of the day. This is India’s third medal of the Incheon Games, and all have come in Shooting. Jitu Rai had bagged the country’s first Gold of the Games yesterday finishing at the top of the podium in the 50-metre Pistol event. Shweta Chaudhary had won the Bronze in the Women’s 10-metre Air Pistol event. Jitu Rai, however, had to face elimination in the Men’s 10-metre Air Pistol Individual Finals today. He ended at the fifth spot. He had advanced to the finals after finishing second in the qualification. India shooters could not make a mark in the Men’s Trap events.
The squash has assured 2 medals today. In the Men’s Singles event Sourav Ghoshal defeated Pakistan’s Nasir Iqbal 3-1 in the five setter game to be placed in last 4, thus guaranteeing India a medal. In Women’s singles Dipika Pallikal registered victory over compatriot Joshana Chinappa 3-2 in the quarter finals. Hence, another medal assured from the event.
The Indian Women’s Badminton team is taking on Hosts South Korea in the semi-finals. India was even at 1-1 in the team event.
In Tennis, the Indian Men’s Team progressed into the quarterfinals. It defeated Nepal in the second round. Yesterday Indian Women’s team had advanced to the next round beating Oman 3-Nil.
Indian Men’s Hockey team defeated SriLanka in the pool match fixture, 8-nil. India will next play Oman in another Pool Match. The Women’s team will kick start their campaign tomorrow against Thailand.
In handball, the men’s team lost to South Korea 19-39 in Group preliminary round.
Indian swimmers fail to qualify for the finals of the three events. Saurabh Sangvekar ended fifth in the men’s 200m freestyle heat with a timing of 1:53.33. In the men’s 100m backstroke heats, Madhu Nair clocked 57.81 to finish seventh. In men’s 200m butterfly event, Agnel Dsouza finished a creditable fourth with a timing of 2:04.74.
In the Basketball court India faced defeat from the hands of Saudi Arabia 67-73 in Qualifying Round Group match.
In Football – India women’s team suffers a crushing 10-0 defeat against Thailand in Group A match.
Cycling Track saw – Deborah and Mohan Mahitha finish ninth and 11th, respectively, in women’s keirin individual track event.
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Categories : sports
Bangladesh invites Indian companies to set up SEZ
21092014
Sep 21,
Bangladesh says it wants to become India’s number one friend. It invited Indian companies to set up special economic zones and invest in sectors like automobile, power and manufacturing.
After chairing the third Joint Consultative Commission (JCC) meeting in New Delhi on Saturday with External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj, Bangladesh Foreign Minister Abul Hassan Mahmood Ali, said, the two countries are expanding bilateral cooperation in diverse areas.
He said, his government would offer land to Indian companies across the country to set up Special Economic Zones.
In the JCC meeting, both leaders rev
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Typhoon Kalmaegi kills 8 in China
21092014
The death toll in the heavy rains triggered by typhoon Kalmaegi rose to 8 on Saturday, even as nearly 400 students were rescued from an inundated school in China’s southwestern Yunnan province.Heavy rains caused by the typhoon, which is the fifteenth typhoon to hit China this year, since Wednesday have flooded 53 counties and cities in Yunnan, leaving 390,000 people affected and resulting in an economic loss of USD 55.86 million.Typhoon Kalmaegi made a landfall in Hainan at a speed of 40 meters per second at 9.40 AM on September 16 and has affected 5.97 million people in the southern Chinese areas of Hainan, Guangdong and Guangxi after it landed in the island province of Hainan.
More than 500 rescuers have rescued 396 students and teachers from the Babu Township Middle School that was flooded yesterday, state-run news agency reported.
The meteorological bureaus in the affected areas are monitoring the typhoon closely and local governments are preparing against any potential landslides.
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CBI director alleges perjury by Prashant Bhushan
21092014
CBI Director Ranjit Sinha on Saturday moved the Supreme Court over the conflicting positions taken by NGO CPIL’s counsel Prashant Bhushan and Kamini Jaiswal on the identity of the source that provided them the alleged original copy of the entry register maintained at the gate of his official residence.
Sinha in his application said that when Bhushan handed over on Sep 8 the alleged entry register to the apex court in a sealed cover, he said it was given to him the previous night (Sep 7) by some unknown people who had come to his residence.
The CBI director said Bhushan’s statement was recorded by the court in its Sep 8 order as it took the register into its custody.
However, Sinha said that when the court on Sep 15 asked the NGO to disclose the identity of the source in a sealed cover, the NGO in another affidavit said the entry register was received from a “trustworthy and reliable source”.
He said it was noteworthy that the affidavit did not refer to the fact orally submitted by Bhushan and also recorded in the court’s order that on “the night of Sep 7, some unknown people had come to his residence and handed over the original entry register/guest register of the residential establishment of the director of the Central Bureau of Investigation”.
Pointing to the shift in stand of the petitioner NGO and its counsel, Sinha in his application Saturday said it was clear that the identity of the source referred to by Bhushan was in the “active knowledge” of the petitioner NGO and its counsel.
“All these contradictory/false statements have been deliberately and intentionally made to cause a circumstance to exist with the objective of misleading” the court and hence “Bhushan is punishable under various sections of the IPC including section 193″ that provides for punishment for false evidence.
Sinha also denied that he made any attempt to bail out former telecom minister Dayanidhi Maran in the Aircel-Maxis deal case.
Seeking registration of a first information report, Sinha said the NGO’s plea that he should stay away from participating in the 2G investigation and trial was “clearly mischevious and based on untruth facts in which mis-statements have been deliberately made so as to obtain a favourable order from the court”.
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Categories : Law, Legal, Media
India, Bangladesh for Coordinated Border Management Plan
21092014
Sep 21,
India and Bangladesh has stressed for an effective implementation of Coordinated Border Management Plan to prevent cross-border criminal activities, illegal movement, incidents of violence and tragic loss of lives through regular coordination and exchanges between nodal officers at different levels.
After third Consultative Commission meeting held in New Delhi on Saturday, a joint statement said that the two countries also agreed on the need for early completion of fencing of remaining vulnerable patches along the border.
The meeting was jointly chaired by External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj and her Bangladeshi counterpart Abul Hassan Mahmood Ali.
The two Ministers welcomed the new arrangement of holding meetings of Deputy Commissioners and District Magistrates of clusters of bordering districts alternately in India and Bangladesh.
They also agreed to work together to hold a Conference of all Deputy Commissioners and District Magistrates of bordering districts of both countries in early 2015 in India.
To facilitate greater people-to-people contact, both ministers agreed to increase diplomatic representations in each other’s countries.
The two sides appreciated the addition of AC coaches to Indian Railways rake of Maitree Express from Tuesday and increase in the frequency of services from two round trips in a week to three round trips in a week within two months.
Both sides resolved to hold the 38th Meeting of the Joint Rivers Commission in Dhaka at a mutually convenient date.
The two sides also agreed upon the expeditious holding of the 3rd meeting of the Sub group of JRC on Tipaimukh hydro- electric project and further exchange of data of ongoing study.
Welcoming progress in discussions on commencement of coastal shipping operations, External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj and her Bangladeshi counterpart Abul Hassan Mahmood Ali agreed that trial runs would be held next month.
They also agreed to expeditiously conclude a bilateral Coastal Shipping Agreement and decided to hold the next round of Shipping Secretary level talks in Dhaka next month.
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Categories : Politics
CBI examines P Chidambaram’s wife Nalini in Saradha scam probe
21092014
Sep 21,
Nalini Chidamabaram, wife of former Finance Minister P Chidambaram, has been examined by CBI in conection with the alleged multi-crore Saradha chit fund scam.
Quoting official sources the agency said that CBI examined Nalini, a Supreme Court lawyer, yesterday evening in Chennai in connection with the legal fee paid to her by the Saradha group,
The sources said Saradha Chairman Sudipta Sen, at present in jail, had mentioned about hiring Nalini as a lawyer at the request of Manoranjana Sinh, estranged wife of Congress leader Mantang Sinh.
Sen, who had written a letter to CBI last year, had claimed that one crore rupees had been paid to the lawyer as her legal fee by the Saradha group
Sen, who had written a letter to CBI last year, had claimed that one crore rupees had been paid to the lawyer as her legal fee by the Saradha group
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Sena & BJP Coalition logjam: Uddhav’s offer 151 for Sena, 119 for BJP
21092014
Shiv Sena on Sunday made it clear that it won’t make any more concession for BJP, offering to cede it only 119 out of the total 288 seats in Maharashtra Assembly for the next month’s polls, and said this was the final attempt to break the logjam over seat-sharing.
“Today I am making a final attempt to ensure that the Mahayuti (grand alliance of opposition parties) stays intact. Sena had initially asked for 160 seats. But now we are ready to part with nine seats. Shiv Sena will fight on 151 seats, leaving 119 seats for BJP. The remaining 18 seats will be given to our allies,” he said in Mumbai on Sunday.
“I cannot go any further,” said Thackeray, who addressed his party workers on Sunday morning after a meeting of the party’s state executive.
“Maharashtra will be the number one state in the country if Sena comes to power. I want power and I will take it at any cost. But this power is to give Maharashtra something and not to take away, like other parties do,” he said. Uddhav Thackeray declared this formula in the party office bearers meeting in Mumbai today.
But at the same time, he also made it clear that this is the final proposal and there will be no change in the formula.He also gave the indication of his capability of fighting the election without alliance. Thackeray expressed his displeasure over the delay on the seat sharing decision.He said that this is the best opportunity for both BJP and Shiv Sena to come into the power and both of them should not lose this opportunity.At the same time, he also told his party workers to be ready for any situation, that is to work for the alliance or for the party separately.
He said that he does not want to break the 25 years’ alliance with BJP but if it happens, he will be very disappointed.
He said that he does not want to break the 25 years’ alliance with BJP but if it happens, he will be very disappointed.
BJP Central Election Committee is meeting Sunday evening at 5 pm to decide on the Shiv Sena’s final proposal.Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Party Prtesident, Amit Shah and other prominent leaders are likely to attend the meeting.
NCP yesterday gave an one day ultimatum to its ally Congress to finalise seat sharing formula for the assembly elections.
Addressing a press conference in Mumbai, senior NCP leader Prafulla Patel rejected Congress’s praposal of 124 seats and reiterated the demand of 144 seats in 288 member state assembly.
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Categories : Media, Opinion, Uncategorized
Afghan presidential rivals finally sign unity deal
21092014
Afghanistan’s two rival presidential candidates signed a power-sharing deal on Sunday, ending a prolonged stand-off over disputed election results at a pivotal moment in the war-weary nation’s history.
The final vote count is also scheduled for release, after being delayed for last-minute talks to break a deadlock that plunged Afghanistan into crisis as US-led troops end their 13-year war against the Taliban.
The final vote count is also scheduled for release, after being delayed for last-minute talks to break a deadlock that plunged Afghanistan into crisis as US-led troops end their 13-year war against the Taliban.
Ashraf Ghani – who won June’s run-off presidential vote, according to preliminary results – will become president, with Abdullah Abdullah nominating the person to fill a new post of “chief executive officer” (CEO), which will be similar to prime minister.
Both Ghani and Abdullah claimed to have won the fraud-tainted election. The United Nations has pushed hard for a “national unity government” to avoid a return to the ethnic divisions of the 1990s civil war.
The two candidates signed the agreement at a ceremony inside the presidential palace, before they embraced each other and outgoing President Hamid Karzai began a speech.
Under the constitution, the president wields almost total control, and the new government structure will face a major test as the country’s security and economic outlook worsens.
The vote count has been plagued by months of setbacks amid allegations of massive fraud, emboldening the Taliban insurgents and further weakening the aid-dependent economy.
Independent Election Commission officials said official result would be released later Sunday, after the deal was signed.
The future of Afghanistan’s relationship with the US-led NATO alliance also hangs in the balance after Karzai refused to sign a security pact to ensure a continued foreign military presence after this year.
NATO’s top military commander said a unity government would enable the rapid conclusion of the pact.
“We are hoping for very fast signatures. And that would be important because it brings great stability to the conversation of our continued support,” US General Philip Breedlove had said.
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Categories : Business, culture, Education, Media, Opinion, Pact, Politics, world News
Obama nominates Richard Verma as new US envoy to India
21092014
President Barack Obama has nominated Indian-American, Richard Rahul Verma, as the next US Ambassador to India, ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Washington later this month.
If confirmed by the US Senate, Verma, who earlier served as the Assistant Secretary of State for Legislative Affairs and is now in the private sector, would be the first Indian-American to serve as the top US diplomatic position in New Delhi.
Obama announced his nomination along with several other key administration appointments.
“I am grateful that these impressive individuals have chosen to dedicate their talents to serving the American people at this important time for our country. I look forward to working with them in the months and years ahead,” Obama said in a statement.
The US Embassy in New Delhi is currently headed by a Charge d’affaires, Kathleen Stephens.
Verma, 45, said to be a close confidant of the President and also former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, currently serves as Senior Counselor at Steptoe & Johnson LLP and Albright Stonebridge Group.
He is also a Senior National Security Fellow at the Center for American Progress.
Previously, he was Assistant Secretary for Legislative Affairs at the Department of State from 2009 to 2011 and Partner at Steptoe and Johnson LLP from 2007 to 2009.
He was Senior National Security Advisor, Counsel and Foreign Policy Advisor to the Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid from 2002 to 2007, and an Associate at Steptoe & Johnson from 1998 to 2002.
Verma served on active duty in the US Air Force from 1994 to 1998 and received, among other decorations, the Meritorious Service Medal and Air Force Commendation Medal.
Earlier in his career, Verma was a Field Representative for the National Democratic Institute in Eastern Europe and worked in the House of Representatives for Congressman John P Murtha.
He served on the Commission on the Prevention of Weapons of Mass Destruction, Proliferation and Terrorism in 2008 and has been a member of the Secretary of State’s Foreign Affairs Policy Board.
Verma currently serves on the boards of Human Rights First, the Clinton Foundation, and the National Democratic Institute.
He received a BS from Lehigh University, a JD from American University, and an LLM from Georgetown University Law Center.
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The Lure of Mars | Space X Delays | Experts Weigh in on Space Taxis
21092014Edit : Edit
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Categories : Science
Boletín de Noticias de Nueva Tribuna [21/09/2014]
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Categories : Business
Former Bigg Boss contestant Sofia Hayat alleged
21092014Former Bigg Boss contestant Sofia Hayat alleged Director Anil Goyal of cheap behavior
Sofia Hayat who earlier alleged Arman Kohli for hitting her in Bigg Boss house in 7th season is now seem very unhappy with the director/actor of an upcoming film “Bhai Ka Maal hai”, Anil Goyal for supposedly taking her name for the publicity of his unfinished film, that too when she is not a part the film anymore and reportedly abused her.
Sofia says, “They signed me for the film “Bhai ka Maal hai” nearly three years ago and said that they would pay me a scanty amount but I agreed because I was told that they would have a great cast and it would be a good film to be added to my bollywood career. I even took part in the promotion with baba Ramdev Look-a-like a few years back. After, I did not hear anything for 3 years, finally, after they saw me in Bigg Boss, they decided to re start the film and I guess my name was used to sign other actor cast also. I, then clearly refused as I was not interested anymore and my contract was null and void, So to which, Anil (director Anil Goyal) got furious and sent me abusive messages saying that I am a Prostitute who shows her body”
“Of course, I got mad and decided not to talk to him but he, further fake-accused me for blackmailing him for money. He then again contacted me pleading to do his film, but I put a condition and said, I would do his film only if he pay for my business class air tickets but he refused to do so instead he offered me his next film to sign if I would complete his unfinished film “Bhai ka Maal hai” but I said a big NO as my self-respect didn’t allow me to join hands again with that person who once called me with cheap name” added Sofia
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Categories : Entertainment
World Alzheimer Day
21092014
RISING STATISTICAL TREND OF ALZHEMIER’S DISEASE PREVALENCE
New Delhi: 20 September 2014
In the light of the hectic lifestyles of today, it is not surprising to find a rising statistical trend of the prevalence of Alzhemier’s disease. The WHO (2007) estimates that while there are currently about 18 million people worldwide with Alzheimer’s disease, this figure is projected to nearly double by 2025, especially in the developing countries.
Dr. Samir Parikh, Director, Mental Health & Behavioural Sciences, Fortis Hospital, As we get busier in our daily lives, running behind deadlines, multitasking and getting stressed, it is fairly common for most of us to experience lapses of memory. We might not remember the deadline for a submission until the last minute, we may miss our appointment for our doctor’s visit, may forget to shop for groceries on the way back home, or might stand in front of an open cupboard and wonder what we were looking for!
While forgetfulness and memory decline is accepted as a normal part and parcel of the degenerative ageing process, it is necessary to spread an awareness of the warning signs, which could enable the earlier identification of an Alzheimer’s disease. Earlier identifications would pave the way for beginning the treatment process. Even though the deterioration caused by Alzheimer’s disease cannot be reversed or stalled, its progress can be slowed, with the provision of appropriate support networks for the person as well as the family in order to help preserve the functioning for a longer period of time.
Whenever a person is suffering from memory loss that disrupts the person’s functioning in his or her daily life, there is an indication of suspecting the diagnosis for an Alzheimer’s disease. Even though its lifetime prevalence rates are significantly higher in the older populations, nevertheless an earlier onset is not uncommon, and hence we should be aware of the signs and symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease.
Inability to recall previously learnt information – The most common signs of Alzheimer’s disease include misplacing things frequently, forgetting names, appointments, important dates or events; asking the same questions repeatedly. Such individuals begin to depend on others’ guidance and assistance for things they might have previously been confident of completing independently.
Difficulty in recalling vocabulary of common words – Often these people might have problems with new words both in oral as well as written forms. They might have problems in following or joining conversations, and hence would often be seen avoiding communication in social situations. They might stop in the middle of a conversation, not knowing how to continue, forgetting where they left off, and ending up repeating themselves. They can struggle to find the right word, and often get confused in spellings as well.
Social withdrawal – Such people may end up excluding themselves from social situations, in order to avoid an embarrassment due to their confused state. They avoid making conversations, and prefer staying alone.
Difficulty in recognizing familiar people – It can be very distressing for family and friends, as the person may start getting confused and misrecognizing the familiar people around them, mixing up their names, and at later stages even being unable to recognize their near and dear ones, treating them like strangers instead.
Disturbances in executive functioning – They are unable to plan and organize activities, and find it difficult to keep track of monthly accounts, forgetting the sequence of a familiar recipe, along with difficulty in concentrating on tasks, with delayed reaction times, and slower responses.
Disorientation – Such people may often get confused with time or place, losing track of days, seasons, years and even the passage of time very easily. They might forget where they are, or how they reached there, and for how long they have been there.
Daily tasks become a chore – Even familiar and routine tasks may end up becoming a challenge, as they might find it difficult to complete tasks at home, work or for leisure. Often such people do not admit that they do not recollect how to go about such mundane chores, and are even labelled as being lazy and unmotivated to complete their routine tasks.
Changes in mood and personality – People with Alzheimer’s disease usually tend to become irritable and easily upset. It is annoying for them to realize their helplessness, and this frustration often leads to suspiciousness and mistrust of others around them. They remain confused, and may also become anxious or depressed.
It is important to realize that Alzheimer’s disease does not just impact the individual’s life, but further more also has an adverse influence on the caregivers. In fact getting support from the family and friends is a vital step towards the management of Alzheimer’s disease. Since it is a progressive degeneration, enabling an earliest identification and seeking professional help is imperative to be able to reduce the pace of deterioration. With the help of medications as well as neuropsychological support, it is possible to help the individual preserve his level of functioning for a longer period of time.
The relation between memory and emotions is clearly established, and research has shown evidence for changes in lifestyle to help improve our memory.
Lifestyle management – Regular physical exercise, and adequate sleep and appetite are essential to help in reduction of our stress levels, thereby helping us stay mentally active. We should organize our daily schedule in order to manage a healthier lifestyle.
Memory aids – Using visual cues like wall charts, post-it notes, checklists, and calendar diaries helps in planning as well as remembering. Repetitive practice and mental retracing helps in learning newer information, using methods like chunking, first letter acronyms, method of loci and word games.
Intellectual stimulation – It is important not only to keep ourselves physically fit, but also mentally active. Solving Sudoku, mazes, and other puzzles, reading, or learning any novel activity like a new language or musical instrument, that makes us use activate our brain cells is the best exercise we can provide to maintain our memory.
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Categories : Automobile, health
India Social Good Summit 2014
21092014
The first ever India Social Good Summit organised by UNDP in partnership with IIT Delhi will be held this Sunday, 21 September from 1600-1730 hrs at Dogra Hall*, Indian Institute of Technology in Delhi. It has an exciting line up of speakers and young innovators who will discuss the ways in which technology is and can be used to create a better world.
Lise Grande, United Nations Resident Coordinator and UNDP Representative will kick start the event in conversation with noted filmmaker Shekhar Kapur, followed by a host of social innovators who will showcase cutting edge, innovative, low-cost technologies that can make a fundamental change to people’s lives.
The India Social Good Summit is part of the global Social Good Summit, a yearly event held in New York during UN week from September 21-22. The global conversation, led by UNDP HQ with participation from 50+ UNDP country offices, examines the impact of technology and new media on social good initiatives around the world, and brings together a dynamic community of global leaders, grassroots activists and innovators to discuss solutions to address the greatest challenges of our time.
So are you coming?
- Join us via live webcast | 21st September, 4 to 530 PM
- You can also join the conversation on our Twitter hand @UNDP_India and #2030NOW
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/events/1478725539048630/?context=create&source=49
Be part of the conversation, and spread the message on
Looking forward to having you with us,
India Social Good Summit
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Tourism in Himachal getting a veritable facelift
21092014
Nestled in the western Himalayan region, the State of Himachal Pradesh is proud to be part of the Himalayas. Himachal has abundant natural beauty in the form of snow clad peaks, low rolling hills, valleys, rivers & lakes and has tremendous potential for various kinds of tourism activities. Tourism is one of the main sources of income and employment generation in the State and contributes 9.75 per cent to the State Gross Domestic Product (SGDP).
Keeping in view this fact, the State Government has accorded top priority for the development of tourism in the State. This is evident from the soaring number of tourists flocking to the State every year. Adventure tourism, religious tourism, heritage tourism, rural tourism or eco- tourism are some of the areas which has got special attention in tourism development. The State Government has submitted various Tourist Circuits/ Destinations projects worth Rs. 2600 lakh to Government of India for seeking financial assistance for developing tourist infrastructure in the State.
Tourism is being given a veritable facelift with the introduction of several schemes by the State Government. For the promotion and development of tourism, the State has framed Sustainable Tourism Development Policy 2013. The objective of the Policy is to establish Himachal Pradesh as a global brand in domestic and international market and to ensure sustainable tourism primarily to benefit host communities, support natural and cultural heritage preservation, create an enabling environment for investment in the tourism sector. The State will also focus on diversification of tourism to the other potential areas where good infrastructure will be created. This will not only reduce pressure in the existing tourist destinations, it will also offer new areas to the tourists.
For further strengthening the tourism infrastructure in the State, Asian Development Bank (ADB) is providing a financial assistance worth 95 million American dollars under infrastructure development investment programme for tourism (IDIPT) and in Tranche-I the projects worth 33 million US Dollar were approved by ADB. Under Tranch-1, 20 projects for infrastructure development are being undertaken by the Department of Tourism & Civil Aviation in four districts namely Shimla, Kangra, Una and Bilaspur. The major projects of development under ADB assistance are restoration of Town Hall and beautification of Mall Road at Shimla, Development of Tourist Reception Centre & parking at Chintpurni and development of Jetty, camping sites, tracks and bird watching towers in Pong Dam area. Process for implementation of these mega projects is underway.
There has been a tremendous flow of tourists to the State in last few years. In the year 2013 (January to December) the state was visited by 1, 51, 29,835 tourists including 4, 14,249 foreign tourists while in the year 2012, the state was visited by 1.61 crores tourists, out of which about 5 lakhs were foreign tourists. This year till June 2014 the State was visited by approx. 83 lakh tourist including about 1, 93,387international tourists. Presently, the State has 2377 registered hotels/guest house with bed capacity of about 61,236. Himachal was earlier known only for summer season. With the efforts being made to break the seasonal factor and tourism products have been diversified to attract the tourists in other seasons also. Now Himachal is known as “A Destination for All Seasons and All Reasons.”
The Government has given the status of Industry to the tourism and the entrepreneurs setting up tourism ventures are entitled to same incentives as are available to the Industry. In order to encourage private entrepreneurs for setting up of tourism units, the State Government is providing incentive of 15 per cent Capital Investment Subsidy on Tourism Units subject to maximum Rs. 50 lakhs. The incentive scheme is effective till 31st March, 2017. New, Hotel units being set up in Tribal areas are exempt from paying luxury tax for a period of 10 years with effect from 1st April, 2012. Similar incentives have been provided to the units being set up in backward Panchayats with effect from 1stApril, 2013.
With a view to provide tourists a glimpse of the rich heritage and culture of the State in natural environs, rural tourism and Home Stay Scheme is promoting in a big way. A rural household with minimum one room and a maximum of three rooms can register under the scheme. The registered Home Stay units in the rural areas are exempt from paying VAT, Luxury Tax etc. The water and electricity consumption charges are at domestic rates. Presently, in the State there are about 550 registered Home Stay units. The scheme has been instrumental in generating employment opportunities to the rural population.
State has numerous opportunities for setting up tourism projects in the area of tourist Resorts, Ropeways, Golf courses, amusement parks etc. The Government has created a land bank for setting up of tourism units under PPP mode in the State and the sites are available at Suketi (Sirmaur), Baddi (Solan), Bilaspur, Jhatingari (Mandi), 15 Mile Baragaon near Manali, and at Shoja (Kullu).
The State Government has submitted Rs. 500 lakh project for the Integrated Development of Una-Nadaun as a Tourist Destination to Government of India for seeking financial assistance for developing tourist infrastructure in the State. The other projects including Rs. 800 lakh Integrated Development of Buddhist Destinations, Rs. 800 lakh Integrated Development of Shimla-Suburbs and Rs. 500 lakh Integrated Development of Tourist Transit Zones in the State to Government of India for seeking financial assistance for developing tourist infrastructure in the State.
In order to promote the alternative mode of transport for the tourists, the sites of Chamunda ji-Adi Himani Chamunda, Dharamshala-Mcleodganj/Triund and Neugal-Palampur in district Kangra, Shahtalai-Deotsidh in district Hamirpur, Toba –Sri Naina Devi ji in district Bilaspur and Tutikandi-Lift-Mall Road Shimla in district Shimla have been identified for setting up of passenger Ropeways in the State on Public Private Partnership (PPP) mode. In addition, it has also decided to explore the possibility of setting up Ropeway at Sarahan-Bashal in district Shimla & Kinnaur on public private partnership (PPP).
Himachal enjoys comparative advantage as it has stable polity, accessible administration, clean environment, cordial industrial relations, ease to do business and abundant cheap power. Above all, the cool and clean environment of the State is congenial for the growth of tourism industry. Himachal is an important brand by itself and is well recognized tourist destination.
Issued by:
Director,
Information & Public Relations,
Himachal Pradesh, Shimla-2
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Subject: Press Invitation
21092014
Subject: Press Invitation
From: Media Cell AAP <mediacellaap@gmail.com> Sun, 21 Sep ’14 11:40a
To: undisclosed-recipients:;
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Dear all,
Arvind Kejriwal & Yogendra Yadav will address public meetings today (Sunday), 21 Sep, in Matiala assembly constituency (West Delhi) 5:00 PM : Roadshow to begin near St Thomas School, (Goyla Dairy) 5:30 – public meeting, Pandwala Kalan. 6:30 – public meeting, Shyam Vihar, main road, Dinpur.
Regards.
AAP Media Cell
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