FM Launches New Website of PFRDA

27082014

Releases Its First Annual Report; Says the Pension Reforms will Help in Releasing Resources for Better Deployment and Utilisation in other SOCIAL SECTORS
The Union Finance Minister Shri Arun Jaitley said that to build a consensus on issues such as pension across the political spectrum is not easy. He said that the Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority (PFRDA) legislation has however gone through a process of guided development and adequate sensitisation. He highlighted the important aspects and implications of pension reforms, a key area of financial sector and economic reforms in the country. He said that an amendment to the Insurance Act to enhance the limit of FDI to 49% will also mean similar provision for the pension sector. The increase in the FDI limit to 49%, will permit inflow of foreign capital, investment expertise and new technology.

The Finance Minister Shri Jaitley was speaking after launching a new user friendly and informative website of PFRDA at First Pension Conclave held here today. The Finance Minister also on this occasion released the First Annual Report of PFRDA for 2013-14 post notification of the PFRDA Act. Releasing the Report, the Finance Minister hoped that the Regulatory Authority would provide a conducive and enabling environment for expansion in pension industry with larger number of players.

The Union Finance Minister Shri Arun Jaitley said that considering that pension pay-outs, particularly unfunded and uncertain are to be borne by the Public exchequer, the pension reforms will mitigate this burden releasing resources for better deployment and utilisation in other social sectors. He highlighted the need to build up corpus of funded resources to eventually act as the source for pension pay outs in future, and also as a source for financing critical sectors as infrastructure and also capital market.

Highlighting the importance of NPS Swavalamban scheme for the unorganised sector people, the Union Finance Minister Shri Arun Jaitley said that this segment requires special support and he urged PFRDA to promote this scheme vigorously across the country. Expressing confidence about the role of PFRDA in promoting Swavalamban Scheme, he expressed that the scheme signifies an element of self-pride through participation of the less fortunate and excluded segments. The Finance Minister expressed confidence that the regulatory authority will formulate regulations for sound and sustainable growth of the pension system with due regard to the interest of the subscribers including setting-up an efficient and responsive grievance redressal mechanism, He exhorted the industry to come up with more and more new products which could compete with each other with benefit accruing to the pension subscribers.

Invitation to Launch of Boondein: Celebrating Budget Private Schools

Centre for Civil Society

To Me

 Aug 26 at 5:31 PM

CENTRE FOR CIVIL SOCIETY Social Change Through Public Policy Press Launch Invitation to Celebrate Boondein: Budget Performing SchoolsSaturday, 30 August 2014 | 10:30 am- 1 pm Lecture Room II, India International Centre, New Delhi I would like to invite you to the launch ofBoondein, our campaign and coffee table book on the Stories of Hope from Budget Private Schools in India hosted by Centre for Civil Society on 30 August, 10:30am-1pm at Lecture Room-II, India International Centre (Annexe Building)​, Max Mueller Marg, Lodhi Estate, New Delhi, DL 110003. Mr Gurcharan Das, Author and Columnist, will be delivering the keynote address at the launch, followed by sharing of CCS’ recent study/research in Punjab on school closures of budget private schools. At the launch, school leaders and BPS owners will personally share the plight these schools are going through due to the mandatory legislations under RTE. The recent decades have witnessed an upsurge in budget private schools (BPS) – low fee schools which currently function at one-third the cost of government per-child expenditure in public schools, serving the poorest sections of society (with equal or better learning outcomes). While the RTE legislation mandates that these schools are not in compliance with RTE norms and standards, severely restricting the scope of private edupreneurs to operate budget private schools. Media reports that since the passing of the RTE in 2010, 2,983 schools have been shut down across 17 states, and another 5,907 face threat of closure. In Punjab alone, 1,170 schools have been shut down. The actual numbers are even greater affecting over 18,00,000 students. These figures are alarming and we believe the time to ACT is now! Boondein, the coffee table book, captures 45 stories of fortitude spread across four states and showcases the essence of these schools, why parents prefer these schools to their government counterparts, what made these edupreneurs start these schools; building evidence for their relevance and acknowledging their contribution in achieving universal education for all children in India. Please find the invitation attached. Your support is critical and we’d be honoured to have you join us for an endeavour of meaningful dialogue on this profound issue. Due to limited space, attendance is by confirmation only. Please RSVP ​to me at samta@ccs.in | +91 99538 27773 latest by 28 August 2014. For the Right to Education of Choice! Samta AroraCentre for Civil Society

Join me in demanding a change - Daler Mehndi

Join me in demanding a change – Daler Mehndi

27082014

Daler Mehndi

To Me

Aug 26 at 8:30 PM

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Turbans are Dangerous? 2 Indian basketball players were asked to remove their turbans before an international game. Ask FIBA to change its rule on headgear. This is a ridiculous international basketball rule. Join me in demanding a change. We have 1 day before FIBA meets to decide this.  More people means more pressure on FIBA. Sign this petition and forward it to your friends as well. Sign the Petition Here Share Tweet +1 Share Forward

Honda launches unique ‘Mobile Service Van’ initiative

Honda launches unique ‘Mobile Service Van’ initiative

26082014

Honda launches unique ‘Mobile Service Van’ initiative           

to tap rural customers further to its last touch-point

·       The all new Mobile Service Van (MSV) takes Honda to rural customer doorsteps

·       Honda’s mobile 3S set-up is equipped with Sales-Service-Spares facility

·       Next step under Hub & Spoke model to expand Honda’s Brand footprint in remote areas

New Delhi, August 26, 2014: Honda Motorcycle & Scooter India Pvt. Ltd. (HMSI), the only Honda in Indian two-wheeler industry, today took its next step in rural ladder.

Entering the new and empowered Era in India, Honda has developed its Wave 2.0 strategy blue-print which encapsulates how Honda wings aims to realize its potential in hinterlands and achieve its goal of increased market penetration.

It is in this context that Mr. Keita Muramatsu (CEO & President, Honda Motorcycle & Scooter India Pvt. Ltd.) and Mr. Prabhu Nagraj (Vice president, Customer Service, Honda Motorcycle & Scooter India Pvt. Ltd.) today launched its next rural outreach initiative – Mobile Service Van(MSV).

As opposed to a traditional service van, Honda’s Mobile Service Van is unique as it combines a dealership & service outlet in a truly mobile format – a boon for reaching out to prospective and existing customers in rural areas at very effective cost.

Within the Mobile Service Van there is ample space for a display two-wheeler, seating arrangement for customers, LED display for better visual understanding of Honda’s two-wheeler, provision for test rides and public address system to create customer awareness via regular announcements. The two service bays translate to quality service and genuine spare parts closer to customer. Additionally, the mobile service van is a crucial platform through which Honda will train local service technicians at every hamlet.

Honda aims to expand the concept to 11 mobile service vans by the year end. 

Announcing the Honda’s Mobile Service Van solution Mr. Keita Muramatsu, CEO & President, Honda Motorcycle & Scooter India Pvt. Ltd., said, “As the only Honda, we are expanding our network into hinterlands. In fact 70 per cent of the approximately 1,000 touch-points that we aim to add this year will be in rural areas. The new Mobile Service Van (MSV) is designed to take Honda one step ahead of even where the reach of its last touch-point ends.

As part of its go-rural approach, Honda has already stepped on the gas. On the product front, Dream series of affordable motorcycles has expanded to include CD 110 Dream, Dream Neo and Dream Yuga. Reaching closer to its customers, Honda plans to take its sales and service network to 3800 by the year end. Parallely, a new rural vertical has been internally created in early 2014 wherein close to 15 people and foot soldiers are closely overseeing Honda’s rural strategy, communication and implementation.

________________________________

For further information, please contact:

Public Relations Department

Honda Motorcycle & Scooter India Pvt. Ltd

public.relations@honda2wheelersindia.com

UNICEF deploys its largest emergency supply operation ever in a single month

Record amount of emergency aid delivered to children caught in record number of crises

COPENHAGEN/GENEVA/NEW YORK, 26 August 2014 – This August UNICEF shipped 1,000 metric tonnes of life-saving supplies for children caught in the world’s most urgent crises -- the largest emergency supply operation in the organization’s history in a single month. The amount delivered would fill 19 cargo jumbo jets.

“UNICEF’s massive deployment responds to a massive need in many different countries at the same time,” said Shanelle Hall, UNICEF’s Director of supply and logistics operations.  “Now it is vital to keep humanitarian corridors open so these supplies continue to reach the children who desperately need them.”

Foreseeing the need to ramp up the response to conflict in Iraq and the Ebola outbreak in West Africa, UNICEF secured as many chartered flights as possible.  In 27 days, the organization’s Copenhagen supply hub has dispatched 33 emergency cargo loads to the world’s most troubled regions:

·         Central African Republic received 26 MT in medical equipment, vaccines, emergency food rations and hardware to dig water wells.  Among essential medicines, anti-malarial supplies have been critical in protecting children from the country’s leading cause of death.  

·         Iraq’s displaced families and children in the northwest received 500 MT that included emergency food rations, water, medical supplies, tents, and ready-to-use therapeutic food. UNICEF’s dispatch of 4 million doses of polio vaccine will protect children’s health in the wake of the re-emergence of the disease due to the breakdown of health systems in neighbouring Syria.

·         Liberia’s effort to contain the Ebola outbreak has been strengthened by 248 MT of supplies from UNICEF such as latex gloves, safety goggles, and overalls to protect health workers, concentrated chlorine disinfectant and a range of essential medicines. UNICEF is also helping the government assess the country’s supply chain capacity, which is strained by the crisis.  

·         State of Palestine has received 3.5 MT in supplies, mostly in the form of essential medicines for Gaza to restock hospitals and health facilities that have been damaged in the conflict. UNICEF has also suppliedvaccines which are essential to protect children who become especially vulnerable during massive population displacements.

·         South Sudan has received 34 MT of life-saving nutritional support and supplies, including ready-to-use therapeutic foods for vulnerable children, 50,000 of whom are at risk of dying from malnutrition. Nearly one million children under five years old in South Sudan will require treatment for acute malnutrition this year.

·         In Syria, UNICEF’s supply response, which began as cargo airlifts four years ago, has evolved into a steady pipeline of supplies that in August included 89 MT of water purification tablets and education kits. UNICEF is also bringing in over 156 MT of health, education, and water supplies for displaced Syrian families in Lebanon and Jordan.  Preparation for winter is underway as UNICEF stockpiles children’s winter clothing sourced from local suppliers in the region.

“During multiple crises of this magnitude children must come first. UNICEF is committed to staying the course. As long as children are in need we will continue to undertake these urgent, complex and vast supply operations,” said Hall.

###

About UNICEF

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

Follow us on Twitter and Facebook

For multimedia content, please visit: http://weshare.unicef.org/MediaResources

For further information, please contact:

Joan Howe, UNICEF Copenhagen, Mobile: + 45 29 65 71 94 jhowe@unicef.org
Chris Tidey, UNICEF Geneva, Mobile: +41 79 204 2345 ctidey@unicef.org

Marixie Mercado, UNICEF New York, Office: +1 212 326-5188 Mobile: +1 917 213 5188, mmercado@unicef.org
Melanie Sharpe, UNICEF New York, Mobile +1 917-485-3344 msharpe@unicef.org

Rita Ann Wallace
Press Officer 

KATHLEEN STEPHENS, CHARGE D’ AFFAIRES OF US EMBASSY CALLS ON MANEKA SANJAY GANDHI

Kathleen Stephens, Charge d' Affaires of US Embassy calls on Maneka Sanjay Gandhi, Union Minister of Women & Child Development Both sides to hold a Dialogue on Women’s Empowerment by year end

Ms Kathleen Stephens, Charge d` Affaires of US Embassy in New Delhi today called on Smt Maneka Sanjay Gandhi, Union Minister of Women & Child Development. Both sides discussed the issue of empowerment of women as a global issue as well as the common concern of increasing number of incidents of crime against women. Mrs Maneka Gandhi stated that her government is seized of the matter and that all possible steps are being taken to address the issues. She enumerated the steps like one-stop crises centres being set up in each of the districts across the country which will have attached to it a panel of police, lawyers, a trained 24 hour caretaker, nurses, counsellors, a rescue vehicle to attend to women in distress. Other steps include introducing the concept of foster care for children being introduced for the first time in India and adoption reforms through the Juvenile Justice (Protection & Care of Children) Bill, 2014 which has been introduced in the Parliament, Mrs Gandhi added. The Minister said that she has personally written letters to Chief Ministers of all the states to have at least 33% women in police force. Ms Kathleen Stephens offered to extend the US cooperation to women in the field of infrastructure, institutionalize approaches and bring about change in attitude towards bringing empowerment to women. To give effect to this cooperation, both sides agreed to hold a high level Women`s Empowerment Dialogue by the end of this year. Mrs Maneka Gandhi said that the Dialogue should translate into a working programme to address women’s needs and to find practical ways to assist them. It should comprise of committed NGOs from both sides, she added. Both sides agreed to have an immediate round of meetings to finalise details of the Dialogue on Women’s Empowerment.

Kathleen Stephens, Charge d' Affaires of US Embassy calls on Maneka Sanjay Gandhi, Union Minister of Women & Child Development Both sides to hold a Dialogue on Women’s Empowerment by year end

Ms Kathleen Stephens, Charge d` Affaires of US Embassy in New Delhi today called on Smt Maneka Sanjay Gandhi, Union Minister of Women & Child Development. Both sides discussed the issue of empowerment of women as a global issue as well as the common concern of increasing number of incidents of crime against women. Mrs Maneka Gandhi stated that her government is seized of the matter and that all possible steps are being taken to address the issues. She enumerated the steps like one-stop crises centres being set up in each of the districts across the country which will have attached to it a panel of police, lawyers, a trained 24 hour caretaker, nurses, counsellors, a rescue vehicle to attend to women in distress. Other steps include introducing the concept of foster care for children being introduced for the first time in India and adoption reforms through the Juvenile Justice (Protection & Care of Children) Bill, 2014 which has been introduced in the Parliament, Mrs Gandhi added. The Minister said that she has personally written letters to Chief Ministers of all the states to have at least 33% women in police force. Ms Kathleen Stephens offered to extend the US cooperation to women in the field of infrastructure, institutionalize approaches and bring about change in attitude towards bringing empowerment to women. To give effect to this cooperation, both sides agreed to hold a high level Women`s Empowerment Dialogue by the end of this year. Mrs Maneka Gandhi said that the Dialogue should translate into a working programme to address women’s needs and to find practical ways to assist them. It should comprise of committed NGOs from both sides, she added. Both sides agreed to have an immediate round of meetings to finalise details of the Dialogue on Women’s Empowerment.

 Coal blocks allocation case exposes all govts since 1993 onwards

From: AAP MEDIA CELL  Mon, 25 Aug '14 5:40p

To: undisclosed-recipients:;

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                                              Monday, August 25

The Aam Aadmi Party welcomes the Supreme Court decision declaring the allocation of 218 coal blocks allocated by successive governments between 1993 and 2010 as illegal, arbitrary and non-transparent.

The Supreme Court’s view will go a long way in protecting the natural resources of the country which have been mercilessly plundered by different political parties in power at the Centre, with the sole motive of allowing corporate houses to make huge financial gains at the cost of the country.

It may be recalled that when Arvind Kejriwal and his colleagues had undertaken an indefinite fast in July 2012, demanding a CBI probe against corrupt UPA ministers, one of their key demands was cancellation of these coal blocks.

The then UPA government and many other parties, including the BJP had ridiculed the demand of Kejriwal and his colleagues at that time. The AAP would like to ask these parties, what they have to say now.

The AAP will now wait for the final verdict of the Supreme Court on September 1, but it is very clear that all allocations made during the 17 year period mentioned above are now clearly illegal and have no legal effect any longer.

The only question that the country’s top court has left open to be decided now is what would happen in those few cases where the state governments have signed mining leases and people are actually mining.

Without exception, all governments since 1993 beginning with the late PV Narasimha Rao’s regime till the Manmohan Singh government, including the Atal Behari Vajpayee government, have been held responsible of having allocated coal blocks through the unfair route of screening committees.  

The AAP demands that the BJP’s central government should immediately cancel all these allocations without waiting any further, since the Supreme Court direction is absolutely clear in this regard.

Regards.

AAP Media cell

Protest outside Harsh Vardhan's residence to demand his resignation

From: AAP Media Cell  Mon, 25 Aug '14 5:54p

To: undisclosed-recipients:;

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                                       Monday, August 25

Please find enclosed the photographs of the protest by the residents and volunteers of the Aam Aadmi Party’s Krishnanagar Vidhan Sabha assembly segment, outside union health minister Dr Harsh Vardhan’s residence.

The protest was organised against the health minister’s direct compromise with corruption by shunting out whistleblower officer, Mr Sanjeev Chaturvedi from the post of Chief Vigilance Officer of AIIMS.

The protestors displayed placards and posters demanding the health minister';s resignation for victimising an honest officer at the behest of BJP leaders, who were angry with Chaturvedi for exposing corruption at AIIMS.

The health minister is changing his stand everyday and is making false statements in a desperate bid to wriggle out of his unjustified and untenable decision to compromise with corruption by having shunted out a honest officer on the instructions of BJP leadership.

The health minister had tweeted on Friday (August 22) that Chaturvedi had been twice rejected by the CVC and that his continuation as CVO of AIIMS was “irregular and indefensible”.   

The minister on Saturday changed his stand from rejection to opposition by the CVC in 2012 and 2013. The AAP dares the health minister to put in public domain any document which has support his claim.

The fact is that the CVC did not either reject or oppose Chaturvedi’s appointment as the CVO of AIIMS, a clarification sought by the commission is being twisted and wrongly presented by the health minister to mislead the country in a desperate bid to divert attention since his direct compromise with corruption now stands fully exposed.

Regards.