Giving Impetus to Strategic Partnerships and Knowledge Sharing, Vibrant Gujarat 2013 Summit hosts more than 122Events

·       More than 18 Country and State seminars

·       Series of knowledge-sharing and thematic events lined up

·       Strategic Partnerships and global collaborations across various sectors

Gandhinagar, January 5, 2013: This year’s Vibrant Gujarat Summit has become larger than any other such event across the nation. With more than 122 events under the umbrella of Vibrant Gujarat Summit, the event is dedicated to discussion on themes of innovation, sustainability, youth and skill development, knowledge sharing and networking.

Briefing the media representatives on the salient features of theseseries of events, Mr Maheshwar Sahu, IAS, Principal Secretary, Industries and Mines Dept, Government of Gujarat said that, “The year’s summit focuses on forging knowledge-based strategic partnerships and global collaborations. You would see from the list of events that our efforts have been directed towards organising multiple events concentrating on focus areas of the summit and to provide maximum opportunity to participants to exchange ideas and reap real business benefits. The events address current needs of the nation and the global business and socio-economic environment. We have completed many sectoral seminars as on today and have seen overwhelming response from the participants. Now, the knowledge events will occupy the centre-stage during the event.”

The core areas of innovation and technology, sustainability, youth and skill development, knowledge and networking will cover the following events inter-alia:

• Innovation and technology
1. Innovation convention
2. Technology convention
3. Discussion forum on innovation
• Sustainability
1. Panel discussion on Rurbanisation
2. Discussion forum on CSR
3. Panel discussion on Good Governance
4. Green ratings of the companies
5. Discussion forum on sustainability
6. Seminar on Green Innovation: solar energy and smart GRID

• Youth and skill development
1. Young Entrepreneurs Meet
2. Panel Discussion on Youth Development 
3. Youth Convention - Empowering Youth 
• Knowledge sharing and networking
1. International Conference for Academic Institutions 2013
2. Over 20 events - Country Seminars, Tax &Regulatory Seminar, State Seminars, Partner Countries seminars
• Thematic seminars and other events on 11^th and 12^th January:13 Thematic Seminars  in areas of –  Green Innovation,  Transportation, Green and Efficient  Water management , Ports development,  Smart Cities, Environment, Construction Chemicals,  Employability, Waste Management, Land Use Efficiency. Other important events like SME Convention, higher education and employability, enablers for affordable housing: technology &institution are planned.
• Lecture series: Eminent management guru Mr JagdishSheth’slecture on ‘Gujarat – A global business destination’

Most of these events begin from 5^th January 2013 continue with a series of knowledge-sharing events till 13^th January 2013.  With Gujarat rising as the economic power-house of India, the business outfits from many developed economies have announced their partnership with the Government of Gujarat.

Considering the focus on knowledge-based partnerships, one of the most important events is the International Conference on Academic Institutions (ICAI) where-in Gujarat-based and other universities from the country will be setting up collaborations with foreign universities. Few of the respectful universities /institutions like University of Toronto, Times Higher Education, Institute of International Education, Seneca College, Canada, University of Wollongong, Australia, University of Houston, and many more will be present for collaboration with their Indian counterparts.

For more information and registration, please log on to www.vibrantgujarat.com

NCC REPUBLIC DAY CAMP 2013 COMMENCES

January 5, 2013 by sagarmedia

The NCC Republic Day (RD) Camp 2013 began at the NCC Camp, Garrison Parade Ground, Delhi Cantt on Tuesday. Lt Gen PS Bhalla, AVSM, Director General National Cadet Corps delivered the opening address to all Cadet on 01 Jan 2013. The camp will culminate with the Prime Minster’s Rally on 28 Jan 2013.
2004 Cadets, both boys and girls, drawn from 17 NCC Directorates, covering all the States and Union Territories of the Country are participating in this Camp. This also includes 91 cadets from J&K and 111 cadets from North Eastern Region (NER). The cadets are selected through tough selection process and Crème de la crème’ of the NCC. The cadets attending the camp will follow an intense schedule over the month. They will participate in a number of activities like Cultural and National Integration Awareness Programme and Institutional Training Competitions. The camp will also be visited by a large number of dignitaries including the Hon’ble Vice President of India, Hon’ble Raksha Mantri, Hon’ble Chief Minister of Delhi, Hon’ble Raksha Rajya Mantri, and the Service Chiefs.The aim of the RD camp is to expose the NCC cadets to rich culture and traditions of our nation and the important events that take place in the National Capital during the run up for Republic Day besides projecting to the nation the cherished ideals and capacity of the cadets of the National Cadet Corps. The camp portrays a reflection of “Mini India”.
While speaking to the media, the Director General highlighted the major achievements of the NCC in Nation Building, Social Awareness and Campaigns, Community Development, Environment Protection and Sports and Adventure.
The DG also mentioned that the Training Philosophy of the Cadets had been refined to accommodate the changing aspirations of our youth and expectations of the society. The focus was to facilitate soft skills and personality development of the Cadets. DG brought out that while last year was dedicated to revision of training curriculum, this year the focus will be on ‘training of trainers’ and on issues related to Environment. Each cadet will plant one tree, spread culture of waste disposal in their respective institutions as also in major towns and participate in rallies connected with ‘Save Energy’. In order to give more quality time to training during camps, NCC academies are being raised in all the states by the State Govt’s. Two such academies was raised last year in Punjab.
Lt Gen PS Bhalla, AVSM, Director General National Cadet Corps addressing the media said soon the NCC subject will be taught in various universities to inculcate nationalism,values quality of life to be better and prepared citizen which is need of the hour. Briefing the media he further said the entire project valued at 900 Cr spend 70% for wages and salaries, 30% on logistics and training.

I will reveal the truth in Sarabjit’s case, freeing him is the best CBM Islamabad can offer:Awais Shekh

I will reveal the truth in Sarabjit’s case, freeing him is the best CBM Islamabad can offer, says his lawyer in Pakistan Awais Sheikh

Justice Katju criticizes fanatic elements in both countries, asks govts to treat them with iron hand

New Delhi, Jan 5, 2013: Incarcerated Indian citizen Sarabjit Singh's lawyer in Pakistan Awaish Sheikh said today that he is visiting India to reveal the truth in the case.

“I have come here to tell the truth and I am not afraid of doing this. I got threats for becoming lawyer of Sarabjit but I had to be with humanity and justice,” he said. 

He further said, “By freeing Sarabjit, Pakistan will offer the best confidence building measure to improve ties with India. He said the gesture will be a major milestone in Indo-Pak relations in recent history. I have come to India to tell the people about the truth behind Sarabjit’s case," Sheikh said addressing a press conference here along with Press Council of India Chairman Justice Markadeya Katju and Sarabjit's sister Dalbir Kaur.

Sheikh, who reached Delhi via Wagah border today on a 15-day tour, to join the kick start of “Sarabjit Mukti Abhiyan” and official release of his book book launch titled ‘Sarabjit Singh - A Case of Mistaken Identity (Sarabjit Ki Ajeeb Dastan) published by Rajkamal Prakashan in Hindi and English.

Sheikh, along with Sarabjit’s sister Dalbir Kaur will be visiting cities of India to tell people the truth about Sarabjit case and gather support for 'Free Sarabjit campaign.

Speaking on the occasion, Justice Katju said, “Sarbjit is innocent and Indian Sub-continent faces a grim situation of religious intolerance. It is my strong view that India, Pakistan Bangladesh must unite themselve under secular governmental framework and  fanatic elements must be treated with iron hand.” 

Justice Katju has also written about half a dozen letters to President and Prime Ministers of Pakistan requesting them to release Sarabjit.

Managing director of Rajkamal Prakashan Ashok Maheshwari said, “This book will bring the hidden truth behind Sarabjit’s story before the world and a part of the total profit from the sale of this book will be devoted to “Sarabjit Mukti Abhiyan.”


Sarabjit’s sister Dalbir Kaur said when she visited Pakistan last year people said Sarabjit was innocent. She said, “I will urge the governments of both countries that mere a thin line on the land has separated my brother from me. It should not happen with anyone and I hope that my brother will be released one day”.


Talking on the mistaken identity of Sarabjit Singh, former union minister and member of the Free Sarabjit Committee Kamal Morarka said, “It would be in the fitness of things that President Zardari pardons him. I hope that government of both sides will seriously take up this matter to exchange prisoners who have not done anything wrong, so that the relation between the two countries can improve further.”