Tuesday, 9 December 2014

Promotion of Agricultural Markets
As per the Millennium Study conducted by Ministry of Agriculture (2004), the producer’s share in the consumer’s rupee varies from 56% to 89% for paddy, 77% to 88% for wheat, 72% to 86% for coarse grains, 79% to 86% for pulses, 40% to 85% in oilseeds and 30% to 68% in case of fruits, vegetables and flowers.

Agri marketing is the domain of the States. However, in order to strengthen the agri marketing sector, the Government has taken various measures from time to time including engaging with the States to reform their respective agri marketing sectors. These measures include formulation of Model Act in 2003 as a template for reform of the agri marketing regulations of the States/Union Territories (UTs). The Model Act inter-alia provides for promotion of alternate channels of marketing such as direct marketing of farmers’ produce outside the market yard by processors, bulk buyers, exporters, contract farming, setting up of markets in private/cooperative sector, farmers consumer markets and e-marketing. Such channels, when implemented, will provide the farmer with many more options for sale of his produce at more remunerative price. Moreover, the recent Government advisory to States and UTs to deregulate fruits and vegetables outside the marketing yards is, if implemented, expected to promote more and more such channels. Such measures could help reduce the role of middle men and more such channels. Such measures could help reduce the role of middle men especially where there is no value addition. Further, Small Farmers Agri Business Consortium (SFAC) is promoting formation of Farmer Producers Organisations (FPOs) to enable farmers to get the benefit of aggregation specially for market linkages.

Other measures are implementation of schemes for creation and strengthening of marketing infrastructure including scientific storage namely Agriculture Marketing Infrastructure (AMI) sub-scheme of Integrated Scheme for Agricultural Marketing (ISAM) and Market Research Information Network (MRIN) scheme, under which information on prices and arrivals of agri commodities is disseminated through Agmarknet portal to farmers to enable them to take more informed production and marketing related decisions.

This information was given today by the Minister of State for Agriculture, Shri Mohanbhai Kundaria in the Lok Sabha.

Plantation of Fruit Bearing Trees
The Department of Agriculture and Cooperation, Govt. of India is implementing the centrally sponsored scheme, Mission for Integrated Development of Horticulture (MIDH) for promotion of horticulture crops including fruit bearing trees like mango, guava, sapota, citrus etc. under area expansion programme. Under MIDH, assistance is provided for establishment of new gardens with integrated package and without integrated package. Under integrated package, assistance is provided up to the maximum of Rs.0.60 lakh per ha. (40% of actual cost) for meeting expenditure towards planting material, cost of drip irrigation, integrated nutrient management, integrated pest management and canopy management etc. For area expansion programme without integration, maximum of Rs.0.40 lakh per ha. (40% of actual cost) is provided for meeting the expenditure on planting material, cost of integrated nutrient management and integrated pest management. The above assistances are provided in three instalments with a maximum coverage of 4 ha per beneficiary. In case of North Eastern Himalayan States, Tribal Sub-Plan Areas, Andaman & Nicobar and Lakshadweep Islands, assistance will be at the rate of 50% of cost. National Mission for Sustainable Agriculture (NMSA) under Rainfed Area Development (RAD) provides financial assistance of 50% of input cost limited to Rs.25000/- per ha. for fruit bearing trees like mango, ber, guava, tamarind and jackfruit etc. up to 2 ha per beneficiary.

The ‘Guidelines on Landscaping and Tree Plantations’ published by the Indian Road Congress provide for plantation of fruit bearing trees on both sides of National Highways, along with other species, based on the suitability of particular species to a particular climate and ground conditions.

Ministry of Rural Development is implementing a scheme on Roadside Tree Plantation under Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA). Fruit bearing as well as non fruit bearing trees are planted along National Highways. The selection of tree species is done in consultation with the local gram panchayat, forest/horticulture departments considering the suitability & availability of the plants. The cost incurred for a period of five years (1+4) is borne by MGNREGA and National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) in convergence. After five years period, the beneficiary (to whom tree patta is provided) takes care of the tree.

This information was given today by the Minister of State for Agriculture, Shri Mohanbhai Kundaria in the Lok Sabha.
Organic Spices Hub
The Department of Agriculture and Cooperation under Government of India implements two schemes viz., Mission for Integrated Development of Horticulture (MIDH) and National Mission for Sustainable Agriculture (NMSA) for promotion of organic farming. Under MIDH, financial assistance is provided for horticulture crops including spices as per details given below :-

For adoption of organic farming – 50% of cost limited to Rs.10000/- per ha. for a maximum area of 4 ha in three instalments.

For organic certification – Rs.5 lakhs for a cluster of 50 ha. in three installments.

For establishment of vermicompost units- 50% of the actual cost of Rs.1 lakh per unit for permanent structure i.e. Rs. 50000/- and 50% of the actual cost of Rs.16000/- per unit for high density poly ethylene vermibed i.e. Rs.8000/-.

Financial assistance is provided to the States as per their proposals in the Annual Action Plan under organic farming component.

Under NMSA, assistance is also extended for soil health management, agro vegetable waste compost production unit etc. The National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development provides back ended subsidy for adoption of organic farming through cluster approach as well as through adoption of organic village under participatory guarantee system. Financial assistance to the tune of Rs.10 lakhs per village is provided for organic village adoption (maximum 10 villages per annum/state).

Spices Board under the Ministry of Commerce and Industry is also promoting cultivation and export of organic spices from India with special emphasis on organic production of spices in North Eastern States.

Various development programmes are being implemented by Spices Board by providing financial assistance to growers and growers groups producing organic spices. 50% subsidy is extended for various programmes like support for vermicompost units, setting up of bio-agent production units, organic seed banks (production of organic planting materials/nurseries), organic value addition/processing unit, organic farm certification assistance. 12.5% of cost of production subject to the maximum of Rs.12500/- per ha. is provided for organic cultivation of spices like ginger, turmeric, chillies, seed spices and herbal spices.

This information was given today by the Minister of State for Agriculture, Shri Mohanbhai Kundaria in the Lok Sabha.
Rural Cooperative Committees
Financial condition of rural cooperative credit institutions including Primary Agricultural Cooperative Societies (PACS) have been impaired due to several factors which, inter-alia, include low resource base, poor recoveries, lack of business diversification, huge accumulated losses, lack of professionalism in the management, lack of skilled manpower poor internal control systems etc.

A revival package for the Short Term Cooperative Credit Strcuture (STCCS) was approved by the Government of India in 2006. Assistance under the package was to be released in the phases, on completion of agreed benchmark activities, as per the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed by respective State Governments with Government of India and National Bank for Agricultural and Rural Development (NABARD). The revival package provided financial assistance for cleansing of balance sheets of Primary Agricultural Cooperative Societies (PACS), District Central Cooperative Banks (DCCBs) and State Cooperative Banks (St CBs) as on 31.03.2004 and strengthening their capital base for attaining capital adequacy of 7% as on 31.3.2004.

However, such financial assistance was contingent upon the State Governments bringing legal reforms encompassing amendment to Cooperative Societies Act, Rules and Bye laws to strengthen democratic and autonomous functioning and supremacy of the elected Board and institutional reforms to build up proper accounting, monitoring and internal control systems in the cooperative credit institutions with computerization. As per MoU, the period of implementation of Revival Package was for three years from the date of signing of MoU, which was extended till 30.06.2011 for all the States. The package was closed on 30.06.2011.

The Government of India had released an amount of Rs. 9245.27 crore under the package.

This information was given today by the Minister of State for Agriculture, Shri Mohanbhai Kundaria in the Lok Sabha.
Farmer Producer Companies
Small Farmers Agri-business Consortium (SFAC) was mandated by Department of Agriculture and Cooperation, Ministry of Agriculture, Govt. of India, to support the State Governments in the formation of Farmer Producer Organizations (FPOs). The initiative which started in 2011-12 under the two Central Sector Schemes of Vegetable Initiative for Urban Clusters (VIUC) and Integrated Development of 60,000 Pulses Villages in Rainfed Areas has expanded in its scope and covers special FPO projects taken up by some State Governments under general Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana (RKVY) funds as well as under the National Demonstration Project under the National Food Security Mission (NFSM) and Mission for Integrated Development of Horticulture (MIDH).

So far, 235 Farmer Producer Companies have been registered, and another 370 are in the process of mobilization. The total number of farmers covered in these two categories are 433198.

In many of the Central Sector Schemes like National Vegetable Initiative for Urban Clusters (VIUC), Mission for Integrated Development of Horticulture (MIDH) and National Food Security Mission (NFSM) under which funds are allocated to States, there is a provision for promotion of Farmer Producer Organizations (FPOs)’. After Central allocations are made under these programmes to the States in a particular financial year, States prepare the Annual Action Plans for approval by the State Level Sanctioning Committee (SLSC) chaired by the Chief Secretary. In doing so, many of the States provide for adequate outlay for the FPO promotion component also, amongst others. After approval of the Action Plan by the SLSC, many of the States approach SFAC and transfer requisite funds to it for implementation of the FPO promotion work.

In order to support the FPOs in terms of strengthening their capital base, SFAC has launched a new Central Sector Scheme “Equity Grant and Credit Guarantee Fund Scheme for Farmers Producer Companies” on 1st January, 2014. The Scheme has two major components:

a) Equity Grant Scheme: A grant of upto Rs.10.00 lakh is provided to each registered Farmer Producer Company (which is registered under the special provision of the Companies Act) to mach the member equity raised by the institution. This will enhance the equity base of the FPC and enable it to approach financial institutions for raising working capital.

b) Credit Guarentee Fund (CGF): The CGF will offer a cover of 85% to loans extended by banks to Farmers Producer Companies without collateral, upto a maximum of Rs.1.00 crore.

This information was given today by the Minister of State for Agriculture, Shri Mohanbhai Kundaria in the Lok Sabha.

 


Dec 9












Nation take sign of relief with two violent state goes for 3nd phase of poll without any incident of violence thus will engrave solid imprint of development to federal government in the center and it entire credit goes to one person who has provided novel diction to saffron with touch of class. With such grandeur political competition the political fraternity may work out for citizen of this land and not working the self sustaining economy. Grand Old Mass party Congress the big brother of the entire gambit which is deeply injured by its backbiting,proxy rule,Jee hazoors is in hibernation may also come out with decentralized space of  power to its regional leaders,national leaders.

Thus the official media reports,

The third phase of assembly elections is underway in the states of Jammu and Kashmir and Jharkhand. In Kashmir valley despite posters coming up in various constituencies urging people to boycott the poll, people are defying the diktats of separatists and are coming out to exercise their franchise. By noon 27.03% polling was recorded in 16 assembly segments, spread over three districts of Baramulla, Badgam and Pulwama which went to polls in the third phase of five-phased elections today.

Charar-i-Sharief assembly segment in Badgam district where-from J&K Finance Minister Abdul Rahim rather is contesting for the record 7th time had recorded 37.60 % voting . Concerned over the recent spurt in militant violence the authorities have made unprecedented security arrangements for free fair and peaceful polling in the 16 constituencies going to polls today. Uri Assembly segment in Baramulla which was rocked by fidayeen attack on an Army camp on Friday last recorded impressive 37% voting by noon while another assembly segment Tral in Pulwama which too saw militant violence on Friday recorded over 17 % polling.

Beerwah assembly segment in Badgam district recorded about 30 % polling by noon. J&K Chief Minister Omar Abdullah who chose to contest from Beerwah in Budgam district instead of his family bastion of Ganderbal is facing a stiff challenge from sitting PDP MLA and Congress nominee from there. So far no major untoward incident has been reported from any assembly segment barring a minor incident of hurling a petrol bomb by unidentified men at a polling station in Gulmarg constituency of Baramulla district. However, no one was injured in the incident.

In Jharkhand, polling is being held peacefully in all the 17 seats of third phase. In 14 of the 17 Assembly seats, it will end about an hour from now at 3 PM, while voting in Ranchi, Hatia and Kanke would continue upto 5 PM due to use of V. V. PAT by which voters are being shown their voting details slips after voting . Till 11 AM, 30 percent votes were cast. About 50 lakhs voters in this phase have choice to choose from 289 candidates through 9073 Electronic Voting Machines in 5865 polling.

The election trends suggest that this time voting percentage would be higher. Election Commission has made good arrangements for smooth and peaceful voting. There are 472 model booths. More than 35 thousands Central and State police force are employed to provide security .A minor attempt by naxals to create disturbance in Giridih district was foiled by quick retaliatory fire by the police. Today election will decide the fate of some important figures like ex-Speaker CP Singh, ex- Chief Minister Babulal Marandi, AJSU Chief Sudesh Mahto and Ministers Rajendra Prasad Singh and Anapurna Devi .
Dullards Crippled Planning Commission, Montek-Pitroda-Parikh
December07, 2014 (C) Ravinder Singh ravinderinvent@gmail.com

In response to Lame Duck debate on issue of usefulness of the Planning
Commission – it is important to first understand the functioning of
Planning Commission which Montek never understood and dullards in
Pitroda & Kirit Parikh crippled its functioning.

Idea of Planned Economy was floated and implemented due to FICCI led
initiative. Most good things are not implemented even today.

3.) ‘We contemplate that under the central government there will be a
national planning committee in which the various interests concerned
will be represented and to which the responsibility for drawing up
plans will be delegated.’ - A PLAN OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT FOR INDIA
or Bombay Plan 1944.

5.) ‘We suggest that, in the production of these essential consumption
goods, the fullest possible use should be made of small-scale and
cottage industries. This will, besides providing employment, reduce
the need for purchasing expensive plant and machinery.’

11.) -- per capita requirements of a balanced diet in India would
amount to about 2,800 calories per day.

14)  -- the accommodation required would be about 100 square feet of
house room per person.

1.]  Planning Commission is Extension of Prime Minister Office as an
Independent Institution which is an ‘Expert Body’ Advising PM on
Development Issues.

2.]  Coordinating between Centre and States on Budgeting & Development Issues.

3.]  Check on functioning of all too Powerful FINANCE MINISTRY & RBI.

Montek Alhuwalia led Planning Commission FAILED in performing its
assigned function – he as Economist failed to distribute manage
Resources & Income Distribution, Sam Pitroda & Kirit Parikh were
dullards – Misled India on R&D and Energy & Project matters which led
to Crash of Manufacturing, Crisis in Agriculture and Corruption &
Inefficiency in Services.

Bank Credit to Industry was not monitored led to diversion and economy
dependent on Imports. Industry didn’t source capital from market –
IPOs & Fixed Deposits, neglected R&D, Crippled Patent Office, Farmers,
Small & Cottage Industry was starved of funds and support. Food
Processing alone could create 200m jobs.

Here is an illustration of how ‘Trading Booming’ - Flipkart within 5
years became $10b company. But such boom didn’t materialize in Most
Industries & Services sectors.

‘One of the first investors in Flipkart back in 2009, Accel had put in
a million dollars in the company, which is now valued at over $10
billion.’ TOI

Instead of Funding & Supporting ENTREPRENEURS & R&D requiring Start Up
Funds and Patents-IPRs - GOI funded Infrastructure projects upto 100%.

R&D Companies serve $70 Trillion World Market, didn’t materialize.
IITs as clipped here are reported SHORT OF FACTULTY, in actuality
IITans FLYOUT or take Sales/ IT Jobs – even IITs are ZERO Intellectual
Property Institutions.

India need VITALIZED Planning Commission Led By ‘Super Think Tanks.’
UP Government agrees to constitute high power committee for GAIL’s Jagdishpur - Haldia pipeline

Committee to provide Single Window Clearance to boost speedy implementation

‘Energy Highway’ to help revive FCI, Gorakhpur plant; CGD networks to be built in Varanasi, Allahabad, etc.

Lucknow, December 9, 2014: Giving a boost to the speedy implementation of GAIL (India) Limited’s Jagdishpur – Haldia natural gas pipeline project in Uttar Pradesh, the state Government has agreed to constitute a high power committee to provide Single Window Clearance for the pipeline construction activities.

During a presentation on the pipeline project, GAIL highlighted that the pipeline will bring growth in UP as the fertilizer plant of Fertilizer Corporation of India at Gorakhpur may be revived with Central Government support. Further, new City Gas Distribution networks are expected to come up in Varanasi, Allahabad, Azamgarh, Gorakhpur, etc., depending on the potential of the city. This will contribute in generating additional revenue for the state Government.

The decision to set up the committee was taken at a meeting between senior state Government and GAIL officials held here which was presided over by Shri Alok Ranjan, IAS, Chief Secretary, Uttar Pradesh. Dr. Ashutosh Karnatak, Director (Projects), GAIL, who headed the GAIL team, apprised about existing as well as upcoming infrastructure of GAIL in UP.

For timely execution of the project, GAIL requested for support from the UP Government and it was agreed to constitute the high power committee consisting of officials of various departments for Single Window Clearance. The committee will help in securing various statutory clearances like forest, environments, PWD, irrigation, industries, etc., and also give administrative support for the pipeline construction activities.

During the meeting, the Chief Secretary declared that Shri Sanjiv Saran, IAS, Principal Secretary, Infrastructure & Industrial Development, UP would be nodal officer to co-ordinate all the activities related to Jagdishpur – Haldia pipeline project. The nodal officer will review the activities on fortnightly basis.

GAIL’s 2,050 km Jagdishpur – Haldia natural gas pipeline will serve as the ‘Energy Highway’ to carry the efficient and environment-friendly fuel to Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Jharkhand and West Bengal.

Monday, 8 December 2014

Dr Arun Book Launch "Road Accident "


DISABILITY SPORTS WORKSHOPS FOR DISABLED PERSONS IN INDIA
Workshops on Wheelchair Basketball and Boccia being held in five locations in India this month
New Delhi, 7th December 2014: The Wheelchair Basketball Federation of India, in collaboration with Choice International, the International Red Cross and other partners, is conducting workshops on Wheelchair Basketball and Boccia for disabled persons in five locations in India from 5th-24th December 2014.  
The workshops are free of cost and are being conducted by international coaches from around the world. Mr. Mark Walker from Australia, Mr. Jess from the USA, Mr. Mike from Nepal, Mr. Manoj Soma from the United Kingdom and Mr. Aram Voerman from the Netherlands are the international coaches involved in this initiative. Former Captain of the Indian National Basketball Team and Asian All-Star, Mr. Jayasankar Menon, is also extending his support to the initiative.
The workshops were inaugurated at the Indian Spinal Injuries Centre (ISIC) in Vasant Kunj, New Delhi on the 5th of December 2014. The Chairman of the ISIC, Maj. HPS Ahluwalia was present at the inauguration and said, “While Wheelchair Basketball is one of the leading international paralympic sports, it is hardly played in our country. We need to promote the sport not only to create professional sportspersons but also for rehabilitating people with disability.”
The workshops aim to increase awareness on the positive impact of disability sports, specifically Wheelchair Basketball and Boccia, among disabled persons in India. The workshops specifically target the disabled persons, coaches, community leaders, referees, physiotherapists interested in disability sports. The organisers seek to use disability sports as a tool to promote equality and access to disabled persons and also, to develop and train disabled sportspersons to enable them to compete at national and international disability sports tournaments.
The workshops will cover various areas on Wheelchair Basketball such as the fundamentals (basic basketball skills with an introduction to the rules of the game), contact, stretching, basic chair skills, ball handling and passing.
The workshops will be rounded off by a mini-tournament in Chennai with the best wheelchair basketball players selected from the workshops competing against each other.
The schedule for the workshops and the tournament is provided in the attached flyer.
 
"10.9 million new jobs. 10 million more Americans with health insurance. Manufacturing has grown. Our deficits have shrunk. Our dependence on foreign oil is down. Clean energy is up. More young Americans are graduating from high school and earning college degrees than ever before...
The United States of America continues to outperform much of the world. And we are going to keep it up until every American feels the gains of a growing economy where it matters most—in your own lives." —President Obama

Saturday, 6 December 2014

Thursday, 4 December 2014


​
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE       

                                                          AIRASIA X LAUNCHES MULTI-CITY BOOKING
Offers Multiple Destinations in One Booking Option


​
  
 

SEPANG, 4 DECEMBER, 2014 – AirAsia X, the long-haul, low fare affiliate of the AirAsia Group, has officially launched its multi-city booking option to ensure easy bookings for those planning to fly across its networks in Australia (Gold Coast, Melbourne, Sydney, Perth, Adelaide), China (Shanghai, Beijing, Hangzhou, Chengdu, Xi’An, Chongqing), Japan (Tokyo, Osaka, Nagoya), South Korea (Seoul, Busan), Taiwan (Taipei), Nepal (Kathmandu), Sri Lanka (Colombo), and Saudi Arabia (Jeddah).

Multi-city flight booking is an option on airasia.com website which allows guests to book a minimum of two flights and a maximum of six flights in one go, and through a single transaction. Depending on the choice of destinations and fare types, guests can book multiple flights for the same trip.

The booking option which has gone through its pilot phase since 7th August, 2014, has been made available 4th December 2014, offering guests with greater deals and flexibility for their multiple city travel plan.

Guests will also be able to book the Business Class and Premium Flex fares for point-to-point and fly-thru journeys via the booking option.

Azran Osman-Rani, CEO of AirAsia X said, “We are excited to introduce the latest enhancement in our booking engine with multi-city booking option. Now our guests will be able to book multiple destinations, take advantage of trip breaks and stopovers all in one booking. It will be easy for them to manage their travel plans as it allows our guests to arrive or depart from different ports with the benefit of our wide route network. This is part of our commitment to provide a seamless booking experience to our guests.”

A multi-city itinerary can consist of both point-to-point and Fly-Thru sectors in one booking. For instance, passengers will be able to book a flight from Kuala Lumpur to Beijing followed by a flight from Shanghai to Sydney.
Hero Women's Indian Open kicks starts tomorrow at the Delhi Golf Club

NEW DELHI (India) Dec3, 2014: The 18 strong Thai women professionals are staking a strong claim to emerge winner in theHero Women's India Open beginning tomorrow at the New Delhi Golf Club. 

The Thais have a good record in the Hero Women's India Open with rising star PHATLUM, PORNANONG winning it three times (2008; 2009 and 2012) and defending champion SUWANNAPURA, THIDAPA (2013). 

Even in the inaugural event in 2007, another Thai Russamee Gulyanamitta, lost in a playoff with Tseng Ya Ni (who was playing in her first professional event after turning pro months earlier). 

While Phatlum is not here to increase her wins, Suwarnapura is ready to go the extra mile to seal another win. 

"Yes, I'm prepared for this, mentally and physically. It's now left to me to execute the actions," said the lass from Bangkok. She believes her main challengers are from within the Thai camp. I know my compatriots are all out to dethrone me and I take it as a challenge. 

"Then again you have the challenge from the Ladies European Tour (LET) players. So the path to victory is not going to be easy for me," she added. 

Two other past winners from LET Laura Davies (2010) and Caroline Hedwell (2011) are missing from this year's event. 

The challenge from India will come from a young popular star Sharmilla Nicollete and evergreen veteran Smriti Mehra. 

"I don't want to be complacent. Although I know this course inside out, it doesn't mean I can win. In this beautiful course you need to manage your game and I hope this will carry me through. The weather is perfect just a little chilly when the winds blow. I want to enjoy my game and do well this time around," said Simi, as she aptly known. 

“A study on the Indian perspective on internet governance.”

4122014
    • CCAOI -A Study on the Indian Perspective on Internet Governance
      .pdf

    Wednesday, 3 December 2014

    December 3: – Widows and single women from India, Nepal and Sri Lanka met together with government representatives and international organizations in New Delhi to address current gaps in policies and programmes that prevent them from claiming their rights.  ‘There are an estimated 245 million widows worldwide, 115 million of whom live in poverty and suffer from social stigmatization and economic deprivation largely because they have lost their husbands. However, UN Women strongly believes that we can harness the potential of widows as change agents!’ said Patricia Barandun, Deputy Representative of UN Women. According to the UN Women study on ‘Empowering Widows: an Overview of Policies and Programmes in India, Nepal and Sri Lanka’, widows in Asia are still relegated to a status of the ‘unwanted insiders’. They often face a ‘triple burden’, in the form of stigma associated with widowhood, severe constraints on access to resources, and sexual vulnerability, which makes them one of the most marginalised and vulnerable communities in this region. This is a stark contrast to their male counterparts, who are not subject to similar socio-economic exclusion within households and society at large. Mr. Dhana Bahadur Tamang, Secretary Ministry of Women, Children & Social Welfare, Nepal highlighted that ‘Widows are the most vulnerable group of women and they are discriminated in many ways in the South Asian society’ ‘Women lack access to resources, they face discrimination when it comes to inheritance rights, the situation is even worse for single women and widows’ said Ms. Lalitha Kumaramangalam, Chairperson, National Commission for Women, India. Ms. Chaggi Bai, a widow from Rajasthan said ‘I faced violence and discrimination as a widow but I continued to fight for my rights and the rights of widows in my community’ UN Women’s study also highlights that widows are not a homogeneous group. Their situation changes considerably, depending on age, social and cultural practices, their geographical location, educational levels and also on who their husbands were. The different schemes in India, Nepal and Sri Lanka do not reflect this diversity. In India for instance, only widows between 40 and 60 years of age can have access to pension under the Indira Gandhi National Widow Pension Scheme (IGNWPS) introduced in 2009. In Sri Lanka, widows whose husbands were not part of the government system are excluded from the pension programme and although Nepal has an inclusive pension policy, challenges in implementation deprive many widows of their entitlements.

    Tuesday, 2 December 2014

    December 2014  

    Dear citizens and guests of Zagreb,
    The Advent sentiment and Christmas spirit envelop the metropolis in December. The end of the year is the time when stock is taken of results and successes in business, tourism and sports. The best and the most successful ones receive recognitions and awards.


    Dear friends and business partners!
    December gets many people's vote as the most beautiful month of the year. This may be due to the fact that, at least for a moment, we believe that we are leaving all the worries, hardships and doubts of the previous year behind us and that the year ahead of us will bring us more happiness, health and success.
     
    Advent in Zagreb
    A Christmas fairy-tale
    Advent has begun, and the Christmas atmosphere can be felt everywhere. Join the Zagreb holiday season fairy-tale and discover why Advent in the Croatian capital truly is different, more diverse and romantic than anywhere else.
     
    Zagreb Be There
    The Advent tour on a mobile application
    The Zagreb Tourist Board has added a new tour, Advent in Zagreb, to the five thematic routes around the city already featured on the popular mobile application Zagreb Be There.
    our pick
    :A Musical Treat - Parov Stelar at Boćarski Dom
    :The Croatian National Theatre - A theatre’s secret history
    :A movie music legend - The famous Ennio Morricone at Arena Zagreb
    :A gastronomic experience - Cook at Kuhaona!
    :The Plitvice Motel - Ring in the New Year in the rhythm of samba
    :A race up the stairs - Zagrepčanka 512
    :Air traffic - Introducing flights between Zagreb and Belgrade


    MORE INFORMATION AT:
    ZAGREB TOURIST BOARD
    Tel: +385 1 48-14-052 / 053
    e-mail: info@zagreb-touristinfo.hr
    www.zagreb-touristinfo.hr
    It’s all about the celebration
    Let us ring in the New Year 2015 with joy!
    Zagreb has a great tradition of New Years’ celebrations, so its citizens and guests from all over the world can enjoy music and other entertainment programmes on the city squares, at hotels, clubs and restaurants, as they enter yet another year of new opportunities.
    A Warm-up to the 10th INmusic Festival
    Morrissey at the Zagreb Fair
    As part of the 10th anniversary celebrations of the INmusic Festival, which is scheduled to take place between June 22nd and 24th 2015 at Jarun Lake, the British musician – Morrissey, whose concert marked the first edition of this popular festival, will perform at the Zagreb Fair on December 12th.

    The 47th Golden Pirouette
    The greatest figure skaters come to town again
    Between December 4th and 6th, the Dom Sportova Sports Hall will be the venue for the 47th Golden Pirouette, once again featuring the greatest figure-skaters in the world. This year’s contest counts for participation at the European and World Championships in figure-skating.

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