TATA STEEL GROUP & PGTI ANNOUNCE THE 16TH TATA OPEN GOLF
~Top names in the field are Udayan Mane, Shamim Khan, Mukesh Kumar, Om Prakash Chouhan, Mithun Perera
Jamshedpur, December 12, 2017: The TATA STEEL Group and PGTI have announced the 16th TATA Open Golf which will be held in Jamshedpur from 14th – 17th December, 2017. The four-day tournament will be hosted at the Golmuri Golf Course in Jamshedpur. The Pro-Am will be played on 13th December, 2017. The event offers a rich prize purse of Rs. 1 crore.
The tournament will feature some of the top Indian professionals such as Udayan Mane, Shamim Khan, Mukesh Kumar, M Dharma, Om Prakash Chouhan, Shankar Das and Amardip Sinh Malik, to name a few. The top foreign players in the field are Sri Lankans Mithun Perera, Anura Rohana, N Thangaraja and K Prabagaran, Kunal Bhasin of Australia, Bangladesh’s Md Zamal Hossain Mollah, South African Damian Naicker and Swaziland’s Arthur Horne.
The local challenge will be led by professional Karan Taunk of Jamshedpur. The field also features two leading amateurs from Jamshedpur, Kurush Heerjee and Navtez Singh.
Speaking about the initiative, Mr. Sunil Bhaskaran, Vice President Corporate Services, Tata Steel said “We are pleased to host the 16th Tata Open Golf Pro – Golf event at our Golmuri Golf Course. The event has grown from strength to strength over the years. The golf course has also matured and we are looking forward to witness some very competitive golf.”
Mr. Uttam Singh Mundy, CEO, PGTI, said, “We thank the TATA STEEL Group for partnering with the PGTI in laying a strong foundation for professional golf in India. The 16th edition of the TATA Open promises to bring out the best from the Indian and foreign professionals playing on the PGTI as they strive for the honour of winning the coveted PGTI Order of Merit title. We wish the players all the best.”
89% of auto sales in India are digitally influenced:
89% of auto sales in India are digitally influenced: Google & Kantar TNS Report
~Smartphones, Search and Online Video are poised to disrupt auto sales in India~
New Delhi, December 13, 2017: Google India, along with Kantar TNS, today released a comprehensive report on the influence of digital on the decision-making journey of an automobile shopper. The report titled “The Drive to Decide” states that in 2017, 89% of Indian car purchases are digitally influenced, up from 75% in 2016. These auto shoppers exhibited three key digital behaviours: 96% of them are searching online, 80% are watching online videos and 88% of them prefer to research on their smartphones.
Talking about how digital is transforming this industry, Vikas Agnihotri, Industry Director, Google India said, “Online video has emerged as the biggest disrupter for the four-wheeler industry in India. YouTube has over 225 million* Indian smartphone users watching online video every month, auto content itself has witnessed an astounding 225% year-on-year watch time growth. From an advertiser perspective, what makes this trend even more relevant is that car manufacturers can now measure the exact impact that online is having on offline sales, and we believe that is a real game changer.”
Elaborating on the influence of digital on the path to purchase, the report shows in the last two years, there has been a 2.5x increase in consumers who are taking only two months to buy a four-wheeler. Concurrently, the number of dealer visits have also dropped by 50% in the last three years. Finally, two-thirds of digitally influenced buyers are searching and discovering dealers online. Together, all of these are leading to shorter, more efficient buying cycles.
As per the report, online video is fast becoming a preferred information source that is allowing buyers to explore a new car from different perspectives. The percentage of online video usage in the process of buying a car in 2017 has nearly doubled, to 80% from 43% in 2016. Breaking up the types of videos consumers are watching; the report shows that 41% are vehicle safety tests; 41% showcase the technology and features of the car; 38% are on performance and 33% of them are customer reviews. Further, the report highlights that 79% of consumers who are watching online video are taking an action – underscoring the important role of online video in the decision-making process.
Speaking about the challenges that marketers face today and some future trends, Gabri Herrmann, Kantar TNS said, “The modern auto shopper walks into the dealership armed with a staggering array of information. Delivering on research needs and inspiring the consumer is critical — brands that succeed in this will win the sale!”.
Report Methodology:
These findings were based on research conducted by Kantar TNS. The research covers 500+ respondents in each of the 27 markets (overall 13828 respondents in 27 markets) via online or face-to-face with an average survey length of 15 minutes.
About Google India Private Limited:
Google India Private Limited (Google India) is a wholly owned subsidiary of Google LCC. It is engaged in the business of marketing & selling advertisement space and rendering Information Technology (IT) and Information Technology Enabled Services (ITES).
About Kantar TNS
As one of the largest research agencies worldwide, we provide powerful insights on how to unlock the moments that will help our clients flourish. We are part of Kantar, one of the world’s leading data, insight and consultancy companies.
For further information please contact:
Dipti Mehra
Google India
+91 98118 20160
Riddhi Sharma
Six Degrees Cohn & Wolfe
“Plugging In: Electricity Consumption in India Homes”
Dear All,
In the seventh post of the series, “Plugging In: Electricity Consumption in India Homes“ by the Centre for Policy Research (CPR) and Prayas (Energy Group), we examine electricity demand in the NCR.
The burden of managing energy demand is particularly relevant to the National Capital Region (NCR), with Delhi being among the highest residential electricity consuming areas in India. Yet, in spite of the scale of current and future residential electricity use, an understanding of Delhi and the NCR’s household consumption patterns and their drivers is limited. In this post, we examine electricity demand in the NCR, which comprises Delhi, much of Haryana, and parts of Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan.
The NCR covers approximately 130 cities and towns, a land area of 22,500 square miles, and has an urban population of over 30 million that is growing at about 20% per decade. We focus our findings around three questions: How much electricity does the NCR resident consume? What are the electricity services that households in the NCR most consume? How is the ownership of cooling appliances changing with increasing incomes and the ability of households to consume more?
Click here to read the full post.
I look forward to your comments, feedback, and questions.
4th Digital India Awards
Dear Sir/ Madam,
As we all know, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has embarked on a vision to transform India into a digitally empowered society and a knowledge economy. In a bid to give an impetus to this vision, Times Network hosted the flagship ‘Digital India Summit & Awards’.
The first three editions of the Digital India Summit drew an overwhelming response among both industry and policy makers who deliberated on goals, evaluated performance and identified areas where more attention is required.
Not only this, the Digital India Awards felicitated digital initiatives in the social and corporate world that harnessed the power of ICT and digital tools to transform business processes, improve delivery of public services and create a positive impact on society.
Through power packed deliberations & debates revolving around our theme Constructing An Action Plan: 2020, the 4th Edition of Digital India Summit will unearth key challenges, lay emphasis on the headway made on the Digital India Initiative & chart out a definitive roadmap to build an empowered society & knowledge economy. The Digital India Awards 4.0 will continue to recognise those who are converting India’s digital-dream into a reality.
Join us for the power packed day long sessions & awards ceremony on 16th December 2017 at Hyatt Regency, New Delhi from 10am onwards. (Click here for Google Map)
The summit consists of 6 sessions:
Ø Special Address: Honourable Minister for Law & Justice and Information Technology, Mr. Ravi Shankar Prasad
Ø Plenary Session: Digital India: Where do things stand? A Real-Time Assessment
Ø Session Two: Developing A Digital Workforce: The Ground Realities
Ø Session Three: 5G in India: The Avenue to making the Digital India Vision A Reality?
Ø Session Four: Fintech: The Digital India Game-changer
Please treat this as a personal invitation for you and your association or organization members to be a part of the audience and take part in the proceedings.
Request you to register interested members with the below details to attend this Event.
Name :
Company Name :
Designation :
Mobile No :
E Mail Id :
To register for the sessions send an email to digitalindiasummit@acquist. co.in OR can call us on 022 – 3946 4317
We look forward to your presence at this exclusive event.
Rights of admission reserved.
Thanks & Regards,
Acquist – Client Desk
Acquist Marketing and Information Solutions Private Limited.,
1st Floor,Tulsi Kunj,
Mukteshwar Ashram Road,
Powai, Mumbai – 400076.
Mobile Number: + 91 95948 91420
BRPL Trippings in Delhi at 1227 MW, Connected 10,000 MW
December12, 2017 (C) Ravinder Singh progressindia2015@gmail.com
There are Frequent tripping of power in South Delhi like Rural Feeders for three days at a time when BRPL Load Fluctuates between 1483 MW to as low as 422 MW today against connected load of over 10,000 MW perhaps over 11,000 MW at present.
Maximum ‘Delhi Load’ today was 3539 MW at 10:10:58 hrs as given in the graph and table and minimum load was 1335 MW at 3:00:25 hrs against connected load exceeding 25,000 MW.
BRPL is not concerned with damage to Rs.Lakhs of Croresworth of equipment connected to it – sensitive gadgets like Computer Systems or Lifts or Traffic Lights or Metro Railway etc.
It was shocking Chairman and a Member Posts are Vacant of three member regulatory board.
Entity
|
Peak Load
|
Peak Load Time
|
Min. Load
|
Min. Load Time
|
Avg. Load
|
Delhi
|
3539
|
10:10:58
|
1335
|
03:00:25
|
2722
|
BRPL
|
1483
|
10:33:08
|
422
|
03:00:29
|
1060
|
NDPL
|
1202
|
11:27:14
|
424
|
03:00:27
|
890
|
BYPL
|
738
|
07:21:54
|
348
|
00:25:16
|
582
|
NDMC
|
176
|
12:54:43
|
96
|
00:29:04
|
139
|
MES
|
32
|
06:37:37
|
19
|
03:29:16
|
26
|
Ravinder Singh, Inventor & Consultant, INNOVATIVE TECHNOLOGIES AND PROJECTS
Y-77, Hauz Khas, ND -110016, India. Ph: 091- 8826415770, 9871056471, 9650421857
Ravinder Singh* is a WIPO awarded inventor specializing in Power, Transportation,
Smart Cities, Water, Energy Saving, Agriculture, Manufacturing, Technologies and Projects
Doug Jones has won Alabama’s special Senate election
Naresh, we did it! Doug Jones has won Alabama’s special Senate election and is headed to Washington to become the state’s next U.S. Senator.
This is a victory for hardworking Alabama families and for Democrats nationwide. Hundreds of thousands of supporters from all over the country rallied to make phone calls, send text messages, share social media posts, and donate whatever they could to help Doug get out the vote today.
And we got the job done. Together.
We’ve proven all year long that we can win anywhere when we invest in our state parties, mobilize the grassroots, and employ all of our best practices, tools, and technologies to help our candidates win.
We have all of the momentum heading into the new year — but we know that Trump and his Republicans are going to fight tooth and nail to keep control of Congress.
Tonight, we proved yet again that we can beat the GOP — with your help, we can take the fight to them in all 50 states.
EU rebuffs Netanyahu’s call
EU’s foreign policy head Federica Mogherini said she told Netanyahu that the bloc supports a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
She said the EU will continue to respect the international consensus on Jerusalem until the city’s final status is determined through direct negotiations between the parties concerned.
She said the EU will continue to respect the international consensus on Jerusalem until the city’s final status is determined through direct negotiations between the parties concerned.
The EU plans to invite Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas to Brussels in January to convey its stance on the issue.
Europe to follow the US in recognizing Jerusalem as his country’s capital. But the EU’s foreign policy chief has rejected the idea.Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu spoke to reporters ahead of a meeting with EU foreign ministers in Brussels on Monday.
He said US President Donald Trump’s decision does not obviate peace but makes it possible.
French President Emmanuel Macron met with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Paris on Sunday. Macron expressed disapproval of the US decision.
He urged Netanyahu to make some courageous gestures toward the Palestinians, suggesting that Israel freeze construction of new settlements in East Jerusalem and other occupied lands.
But Netanyahu made no mention of the settlements during the news conference.
He said the sooner the Palestinians come to grips with reality, the sooner they will move toward peace.
UNICEF: Make the digital world safer for children
UNICEF: Make the digital world safer for children – while increasing online access to benefit the most disadvantaged
Flagship report highlights digital divides and explores current debates about the impact of the internet and social media on children’s safety and wellbeing
NEW YORK, 11 December 2017 – Despite children’s massive online presence – 1 in 3 internet users worldwide is a child – too little is done to protect them from the perils of the digital world and to increase their access to safe online content, UNICEF said in its annual flagship report released today.
The State of the World’s Children 2017: Children in a digital world presents UNICEF’s first comprehensive look at the different ways digital technology is affecting children’s lives and life chances, identifying dangers as well as opportunities. It argues that governments and the private sector have not kept up with the pace of change, exposing children to new risks and harms and leaving millions of the most disadvantaged children behind.
“For better and for worse, digital technology is now an irreversible fact of our lives,” said UNICEF Executive Director Anthony Lake. “In a digital world, our dual challenge is how to mitigate the harms while maximizing the benefits of the internet for every child.”
The report explores the benefits digital technology can offer the most disadvantaged children, including those growing up in poverty or affected by humanitarian emergencies. These include increasing their access to information, building skills for the digital workplace, and giving them a platform to connect and communicate their views.
But the report shows that millions of children are missing out. Around one third of the world’s youth – 346 million – are not online, exacerbating inequities and reducing children’s ability to participate in an increasingly digital economy.
But the report shows that millions of children are missing out. Around one third of the world’s youth – 346 million – are not online, exacerbating inequities and reducing children’s ability to participate in an increasingly digital economy.
The report also examines how the internet increases children’s vulnerability to risks and harms, including misuse of their private information, access to harmful content, and cyberbullying. The ubiquitous presence of mobile devices, the report notes, has made online access for many children less supervised – and potentially more dangerous.
And digital networks like the Dark Web and cryptocurrencies are enabling the worst forms of exploitation and abuse, including trafficking and ‘made to order’ online child sexual abuse.
The report presents current data and analysis about children’s online usage and the impact of digital technology on children’s wellbeing, exploring growing debates about digital “addiction” and the possible effect of screen time on brain development.
Additional facts from the report include:
- Young people are the most connected age group. Worldwide, 71 per cent are online compared with 48 per cent of the total population.
- African youth are the least connected, with around 3 out of 5 youth offline, compared to just 1 in 25 in Europe.
- Approximately 56 per cent of all websites are in English and many children cannot find content they understand or that is culturally relevant.
- More than 9 in 10 child sexual abuse URLs identified globally are hosted in five countries – Canada, France, the Netherlands, the Russian Federation and the United States.
Only collective action – by governments, the private sector, children’s organizations, academia, families and children themselves – can help level the digital playing field and make the internet safer and more accessible for children, the report says.
Practical recommendations to help guide more effective policymaking and more responsible business practices to benefit children include:
- Provide all children with affordable access to high-quality online resources.
- Protect children from harm online – including abuse, exploitation, trafficking, cyberbullying and exposure to unsuitable materials.
- Safeguard children’s privacy and identities online.
- Teach digital literacy to keep children informed, engaged and safe online.
- Leverage the power of the private sector to advance ethical standards and practices that protect and benefit children online.
- Put children at the centre of digital policy.
“The internet was designed for adults, but it is increasingly used by children and young people – and digital technology increasingly affects their lives and futures. So digital policies, practices, and products should better reflect children’s needs, children’s perspectives and children’s voices,” said Lake.
Equity is an important focus of children’s participation in the digital space in India. Internet penetration is higher in urban areas, however the potential to grow is huge. The Internet in India is still a ‘male preserve’, with on average only a third of users being female. There are potentially serious consequences for girls excluded from the digital age: the continued isolation in countries and cultures where girls are restricted in their movement or activity online and offline because of their gender; inability to access online services and information on issues related to their health; inability to further their education; and no chance to further skills that could help them participate in the global economy of the 21st century.
“Girls and boys in India have the unique opportunity to benefit from the connectivity that the digital world can provide. India is famous as an IT Hub and no matter where they live, every girl or boy should have a digital advantage,” said UNICEF Representative in India, Dr Yasmin Ali Haque at the launch in Delhi.
“UNICEF is working with the Government in developing a comprehensive plan on digital safety for children. The Internet and social media provide incredible opportunities for children to learn, participate and socialize but it also brings significant risks of online abuse and violence. Digital literacy is therefore key to ensure that all girls and all boys can stay informed, engaged and safe online,” said Dr Haque.
On 17 December UNICEF is organizing a digital carnival involving children, parents and digital experts at the National Bal Bhawan in Delhi. Child hackathon awards in partnership with Google and Learning Links Foundation will also be presented. In Hyderabad on 18 December NASSCOM and UNICEF will bring together some 50 key corporate leaders together with child digital champions to discuss child participation and online safety.
About UNICEF
UNICEF works in some of the world’s toughest places, to reach the world’s most disadvantaged children. Across 190 countries and territories, we work for every child, everywhere, to build a better world for everyone. For more information about UNICEF and its work for children visit www.unicef.org. Follow UNICEF on Twitter and Facebook
For more information, please contact:
UNICEF India:
Geetanjali Master, Communication Specialist,
Tel: +91 981 810 5861, email: gmaster@unicef.org
Sonia Sarkar, Communication Officer,
Tel: +91 981 017 0289, email:sarkar@unicef.org
Azadpur Wholesale Market Rates 10% to 40% of Retail Price
December12, 2017 (C) Ravinder Singh* progressindia2015@gmail.com
This is biggest Tragedy of India farmers and labor particularly in villages don’t earn enough to sustain normal healthy living – over50% Indians are malnourished, 20% are Stunted, 600m are below poverty line defined as $1 per day expenditure or Rs.32 per day, real figure could be 1000m at $2 per day expenditure UN Standard for poverty.
India is yet to learn how to Distribute Foods to 1.3b People Without Middlemen Loot & Physical & Nutritional Loss, Minimize Logistics Cost and Urban Waste Generation.
Ravinder Singh, Inventor & Consultant, INNOVATIVE TECHNOLOGIES AND PROJECTS
Y-77, Hauz Khas, ND -110016, India. Ph: 091- 8826415770, 9871056471, 9650421857
Ravinder Singh* is a WIPO awarded inventor specializing in Power, Transportation,
Smart Cities, Water, Energy Saving, Agriculture, Manufacturing, Technologies and Projects
Wholesale Price Farmers Get in Azadpur Mandi including Unloading & Mandi Charges
We Pay 2-10 Times of Wholesale Price Depending on Items and Locations
Rates are Per 100 kg – Modal Price is in Bold
This is the latest price available in Digital India
Current Bazar Rate of APMC azadpur (as on Tuesday, November 21, 2017)
S No.
|
Commodity
|
Variety
|
Arrival
|
Unit
|
Max Price
(in Rs) |
Modal Price
(in Rs) |
Min Price
(in Rs) |
1.
|
Apple
|
R. Delicious
|
38446
|
Qtl
|
8000
|
4379
|
1750
|
2.
|
Apple
|
American
|
–
|
–
|
4063
|
2245
|
938
|
3.
|
Apple
|
Delicious
|
–
|
–
|
4688
|
3307
|
1250
|
4.
|
Apple
|
Golden
|
–
|
–
|
6000
|
3833
|
2000
|
5.
|
Apple
|
Maharaji
|
–
|
–
|
2500
|
1510
|
500
|
6.
|
Banana
|
Banana – R
|
798
|
Qtl
|
1400
|
1245
|
1100
|
7.
|
Banana – Green
|
Banana – G
|
12
|
Qtl
|
1500
|
1250
|
1000
|
8.
|
Beans
|
Beans
|
231
|
Qtl
|
4500
|
3470
|
2750
|
9.
|
Bhindi
|
Bhindi
|
496
|
Qtl
|
4000
|
2889
|
2000
|
10.
|
Bitter gourd
|
Bitter Gourd
|
125
|
Qtl
|
2400
|
2025
|
1750
|
11.
|
Bottle gourd
|
Bottle Gourd
|
868
|
Qtl
|
1000
|
733
|
533
|
12.
|
Brinjal
|
Brinjal
|
473
|
Qtl
|
1100
|
756
|
400
|
13.
|
Cabbage
|
Cabbage
|
929
|
Qtl
|
1500
|
995
|
600
|
14.
|
Capsicum
|
Capsicum
|
1622
|
Qtl
|
2500
|
2067
|
1500
|
15.
|
Carrot
|
Carrot
|
5686
|
Qtl
|
3000
|
1938
|
1250
|
16.
|
Cauliflower
|
Cauliflower
|
1008
|
Qtl
|
2000
|
1130
|
500
|
17.
|
Chikoos(Sapota)
|
Other
|
–
|
–
|
4500
|
3133
|
2200
|
18.
|
Coconut
|
Big
|
101
|
Qtl
|
2571
|
1934
|
1250
|
19.
|
Coriander
|
Coriander
|
577
|
Qtl
|
3000
|
1900
|
1150
|
20.
|
Cucumbar
|
Cucumbar
|
1978
|
Qtl
|
1750
|
1238
|
500
|
21.
|
Garlic
|
Average
|
482
|
Qtl
|
9500
|
3819
|
1250
|
22.
|
Guava
|
Guava
|
132
|
Qtl
|
6000
|
1772
|
625
|
23.
|
Gwar
|
Gwar
|
3
|
Qtl
|
1875
|
1592
|
1250
|
24.
|
Kakada
|
Other
|
–
|
–
|
4000
|
2875
|
2000
|
25.
|
Karbuja
|
Karbhuja
|
355
|
Qtl
|
5625
|
2708
|
1000
|
26.
|
Lemon
|
Other
|
295
|
Qtl
|
1714
|
1467
|
1142
|
27.
|
Little gourd
|
Other
|
123
|
Qtl
|
1000
|
875
|
750
|
28.
|
Mango
|
Badami
|
16
|
Qtl
|
5500
|
3900
|
2000
|
29.
|
Methi
|
Methi
|
121
|
Qtl
|
1500
|
1300
|
1000
|
30.
|
Mousambi
|
Mousambi
|
10
|
Qtl
|
5000
|
2750
|
1000
|
31.
|
Onion
|
Onion
|
4138
|
Qtl
|
3500
|
2258
|
1000
|
32.
|
Papaya
|
Other
|
394
|
Qtl
|
1000
|
808
|
625
|
33.
|
Peas Wet
|
Other
|
841
|
Qtl
|
5250
|
4281
|
3500
|
34.
|
Pine Apple
|
Other
|
53
|
Qtl
|
2700
|
1867
|
1000
|
35.
|
Potato
|
Potato
|
4163
|
Qtl
|
1400
|
682
|
280
|
36.
|
Pumpkin
|
Other
|
312
|
Qtl
|
1000
|
800
|
500
|
37.
|
Raddish
|
Other
|
599
|
Qtl
|
450
|
356
|
250
|
38.
|
Season Leaves
|
Other
|
229
|
Qtl
|
1250
|
988
|
750
|
39.
|
Sugarcane
|
Other
|
135
|
Qtl
|
500
|
450
|
400
|
40.
|
Sweet Potato
|
Sweet Potato
|
1043
|
Qtl
|
1000
|
813
|
625
|
41.
|
Sweet Pumpkin
|
Other
|
–
|
–
|
1200
|
1125
|
1000
|
42.
|
Tomato
|
Tomato
|
2611
|
Qtl
|
4000
|
2966
|
1600
|
43.
|
Water Melon
|
Other
|
122
|
Qtl
|
1100
|
900
|
700
|
44.
|
Yam (Ratalu)
|
Other
|
–
|
–
|
1200
|
990
|
800
|
Campaign for Judicial Accountability and Reforms
Dear Prashant Bhushan, your clarion call, is here and shall be wide publicity but be visible in social media, Facebook,twitter, LinkedIn, etc
Dear Naresh Kumar Sagar,
Greetings from Swaraj Abhiyan!
You may be aware that a citizens Campaign for Judicial Accountability and Reforms has been campaigning for the last several years, seeking far reaching reforms in the judicial system to make the judiciary accessible, responsive, credible and accountable, so that it becomes an effective and functional system for delivering justice. In particular, we have campaigned for a proper system for investigating complaints against Judges and seeking their accountability for any misconduct.
In a recent petition regarding a Medical College, where the CBI had registered a FIR that there was a large conspiracy and planning to procure a favourable judgement from the Supreme Court by paying bribes to judges, we petitioned the Supreme Court that such a sensitive investigation can be used by the government to compromise the independence of the Supreme Court and therefore it should be handled by a SIT monitored by the Supreme Court and headed by a former Chief Justice of the Court. Unfortunately however, this petition led to a series of unfortunate and ugly developments which culminated in a bench of junior Judges of the court, not only dismissing the petition but also imposing costs of 25 lakhs on the Campaign. The Campaign has decided to fight this unjust judgement and we are seeking a review and other legal remedies. A statement has also been issued by former Judges and others for supporting the Campaign.
In response to the suggestions by a large number of well wishers, the Campaign decided to put out a crowdfunding appeal for taking forward the campaign and if that eventuality arises, to also use the money for paying the costs imposed on the Campaign.
I request you to support the Campaign through the crowdfunding effort. This is the link to make your contribution. https://www.bitgiving.com/cjarcampaign
Do sign the online petition started by Justice Shah, Justice Singhvi and others in support of the Campaign –
Join the Campaign by visiting this page and signing up now – http://judicialreforms.org/join-us-now/
With warm regards,
Prashant Bhushan
UN WESP 2018: Lift in global economy prompts opportunities to tackle deep-rooted development issues
A three per cent upturn in the global economy has paved the way to readjust policy towards longer-term issues, such as addressing climate change, tackling existing inequalities and removing institutional obstacles to development, according to a new United Nations report on global economic prospects.
Launched in New York on Monday, among other things, the World Economic Situation and Prospects (WESP) 2018 offers policy imperatives that include tackling inequality and delinking economic growth from environmental degradation.
“The World Economic Situation and Prospects 2018 demonstrates that current macroeconomic conditions offer policy-makers greater scope to address some of the deep-rooted issues that continue to hamper progress towards the Sustainable Development Goals,” stated UN Secretary-GeneralAntónio Guterres in the Foreword.
According to the report, 2017 global economic growth had reached three per cent – its highest since 2011 – as crisis-related fragilities and the adverse effects of other recent shocks have subsided.
The improvement is widespread. Roughly two-thirds of the world’s countries have experienced stronger growth in 2017 than in the previous year, and movement is expected to remain steady at three per cent in 2018 and 2019.
Noting that the recent pickup in global growth stems predominantly from firmer growth in several developed economies, the report states that East and South Asia remain the world most dynamic regions.
Despite the improved short-term outlook, the global economy continues to face longer-term challenges, including trade policy changes and rising geopolitical tensions.
The report highlighted that the improved macroeconomic situation has opened a door for reorienting policies, including to increase economic diversification; reduce inequality; support long-term investment; and tackle institutional deficiencies. It noted that addressing these challenges can generate stronger investment and productivity, higher job creation and more sustainable medium-term economic growth.
Uneven Growth
However, the recent economic improvements have been unevenly distributed across countries and regions.
Through 2019, negligible per capita income growth is expected in several parts of Africa, Western Asia and Latin America and the Caribbean – underscoring the urgent need to foster an environment that will both accelerate medium-term growth prospects and tackle poverty through policies that address income and opportunity inequalities.
The report also found that – hindered by institutional deficiencies, inadequate basic infrastructure and greater exposure levels to natural disasters, along with challenges to security and political instability – very few least developed countries (LDCs ) are expected to reach the Sustainable Development Goal target for GDP growth of “at least 7 per cent” (SDG 8.1) in the near term.
In addition to mobilizing financial resources to meet LDC investment needs, policies must also focus on conflict prevention and removing barriers that continue to hinder more rapid progress.
After remaining flat for three consecutive years, preliminary estimates suggest that 2017 global energy-related CO2 emissions increased, according to WESP.
“While the upturn in global growth is a welcome sign of a healthier economy, it is important to remember that this may come at an environmental cost,” said Under-Secretary-General for Economic and Social Affairs Liu Zhenmin.
As the frequency of weather-related shocks continues to rise, the urgent need to build resilience against climate change and prioritize environmental protection is becoming more prevalent.
International shipping and aviation emission polices, which do not fall under the purview of the Paris Agreement, must be strengthened as their emissions continue to grow faster than those from road transport.
“This calls for stronger efforts to delink economic growth and environmental degradation – as also emphasized by the UNClimate Change Conference in Bonn last month,” stressed Mr. Liu.
Third Edition of Smile International Film Festival for Children
Third Edition of Smile International Film Festival for Children and Youth Opens with Raveena Tandon and other national and international dignitaries
The third edition of the ‘Smile International Film Festival for Children & Youth’ (SIFFCY) was inaugurated today in the esteemed presence of actress Raveena Tandon, along with Shantanu Mishra, Executive Trustee of Smile Foundation & Chairman – SIFFCY and Jitendra Mishra, Festival Director – SIFFCY. The weeklong festival started from today will continue till 17th December, 2017 at Sirifort, New Delhi.
This year, apart from prestigious International juries, SIFFCY also have a young jury board where children have given their inputs in selection of films. International jury consists Mr. Arend Agthe (Germany), a celebrated film maker known for Karakum and My Friend Raffi; Mr. Gert Hermans (Belgium), Chief-editor, European Children’s Film Association; Ms. Judita Soukupova (Czech Republic), Festival Director, Junior Fest, Ms. Michal Matus (Israel), Head of Education Department, Cinematheque and Festival Director, Tel Aviv Int’l Children’s FF and Ms. Chantal Bowen (Canada), a veteran film maker and Executive Director – Youth Media Alliance and National award winning film maker from India Anwar Jamal. The panelist for the film festival includes Ms. Laurie Gordon (Canada), a film maker; Festival Director – Montreal Animation FF and Ms. Marlaine Cover (USA), Spokesperson & Trainer, Life Skill Parenting 2.0.
Speaking on the occasion, Raveena Tandon said, “I am so thankful to all of you to be here on the inauguration morning on the very own SIFFCY, it is something that is to be very proud of children that there is a film festival, that is only and wholly for children. I want kids to take a vow that whatever they will learn from here, they will follow in their daily life. Movies are the best media to educate our children, so I also want to thank SIFFCY which has acted as a media to communicate goodness to our children, as it is the right time to educate them what is good and what is bad for them”.
Santanu Mishra, Executive Trustee of Smile Foundation & Chairman – SIFFCY said, “I hope through SIFFCY, we will be able to channelize the energy of children and youth in a positive way and engage them proactively in the process of initiating social change. The idea behind SIFFCY is to design a rich mix of film programmes to build and support the growing interest in the infotainment industry. This includes programming that cultivates an audience for World Cinema while supporting filmmakers in career development, so that this powerful medium can be explored in a more focused manner for disseminating serious yet effective social messages”.
“SIFFCY is a unique platform to encourage and support the growing interest in meaningful cinema among young, aspiring, independent people without any favouritism. This year we have been fortunate enough to have many international partners, who have extended their support towards our initiative to entertain, engage, educate & empower the children & youth through various cinematic experiences & related capacity building workshops. We have scheduled Panels discussions & forums on ‘Environment & Climate change’, ‘Road Safety’, ‘Like Skill development’ and Role of Cinema, apart from the regular technical workshops by industry experts on Film making, Cinematography, Sound design, Production design, Storytelling & Photography” added Mr. Jitendra Mishra, Festival Director – SIFFCY.
SIFFCY is a reflection of Smile Foundation’s efforts to use films as a medium for sensitizing masses, especially children and youth, and engaging them proactively in the process of bringing Social change.
