Tuesday, January 31, 2017


Meghalaya’s first ever Apparel and Garment Centre inaugurated at Ampati


Centre will create employment opportunities for both men and women of the region: Union Textiles Minister
Leverage handloom legacy, become enterprising entrepreneurs: Smt. Smriti Zubin Irani, to youngsters of Meghalaya
The Union Textiles Minister Smt. Smriti Zubin Irani, along with Chief Minister of Meghalaya Dr. Mukul Sangma, inaugurated the first ever Apparel and Garment Making Centre in Meghalaya, near Ampati in South West Garo Hills today, in the presence of Union Minister of State for Home Affairs, Shri Kiren Rijiju.
Dedicating the centre to the people of Ampati in particular and to the state as a whole, Smt. Irani said that the project was testimony to the true convergence of efforts of Central and State Governments. She said that the Apparel Centre will create employment opportunities for both men and women of the region, thereby empowering them economically.
Smt. Irani informed that the Union Ministry of Textiles is implementing projects worth Rs. 70 crore in sericulture and weaving sectors for Meghalaya alone. The Textiles Minister said that around Rs. 32 crore has already been sanctioned for the state of Meghalaya, for promotion of handlooms. She appealed to the youngsters, particularly women, to leverage their handloom legacy and become enterprising entrepreneurs. As the region is well-known for regional dyes, Smt. Irani urged upon the weavers of the state to register with India Handloom Brand, which she said can directly connect the weavers with big multinational companies. The Union Minister said that once the centre starts functioning to its full potential, it will give an indication to investors across the country that the youth of the region are ready for economic engagement and expansion.
The sprawling Apparel and Garment Making Centre, covering an area of 45,000 sq. ft, has been set up at Hatisil near Ampati, at a cost of approximately Rs. 14.26 crore, under the North East Region Textiles Promotion Scheme (NERTPS) of the Ministry of Textiles. The centre has three units, two of them housing 105 sewing machines each, and the third one having seventy machines. The foundation stone for this centre was laid in 2015 by the Chief Minister of Meghalaya, in the presence of the then Union Textiles Minister. Its construction was completed by NBCC, in a record time of less than two years.
Speaking on the occasion, Chief Minister Dr. Mukul Sangma expressed his gratitude to the people of the region, for creating a conducive atmosphere and enabling completion of the huge infrastructure before timeline, without cost overruns.  He expressed confidence that the garment centre at Hatisil would grow to become the most sought-after export unit in the state. He spoke of the advantage provided by the availability of international market in neighbouring Bangladesh, and the opportunity it offers in forging business partnerships with investors of Bangladesh. Stating that the weavers of the region are a ready workforce and that they only require advanced training, he highlighted the importance of providing training for their technological up-gradation.
Union Minister of State for Home Affairs, Shri Kiren Rijiju said that the Centre has given special focus to Meghalaya, particularly Garo Hills, in creating job-oriented programmes. He added that there could not be a better programme for women than this, for promotion of textiles and handlooms in the state. Dwelling on the huge potential of the region, he said there was a need to create industries and employment opportunities to harness the potential of sectors such as like sericulture and weaving.
Minister for Sericulture and Weaving, Government of Meghalaya, Clement Marak; Minister for Sports and Youth Affairs, Government of Meghalaya, Zenith Sangma and several other dignitaries and officials from both Central and State governments were present on the occasion. The inaugural programme was also attended by hundreds of weavers from various parts of the region.
Background
The Apparel and Garment Making Centre is being set up as part of a landmark initiative announced by the Honourable Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi in Nagaland, on 1st December, 2014. The Prime Minister had announced that an Apparel and Garment Making Centre shall be constructed in all North Eastern states. Each Apparel and Garment Making Centre set up under the initiative is estimated to generate direct employment for 1,200 people.
For local entrepreneurs with requisite background, required facilities to start a unit will be provided in ‘plug and play’ mode. Once such entrepreneurs get established, they can set up their own units, allowing the facility to be provided to new entrepreneurs. The project will be fully funded by the Ministry of Textiles, with an estimated expense of Rs. 18.18 crores for each state. The initiative comes under the North East Region Textile Promotion Scheme (NERTPS) of the Ministry of Textiles. NERTPS is an umbrella scheme for the development of various segments of textiles, i.e. silk, handlooms, handicrafts and apparels & garments.

IPPB branches launched in Ranchi & Raipur

Finance Minister, Shri Arun Jaitley and Minister of Communications Shri Manoj Sinha launched the operations of the India Post Payments Bank (IPPB) here today as two pilot branches at Raipur and Ranchi through video conferencing from Delhi.
Speaking on the occasion, Shri Jaitley said that about 650 IPPB branches will be opened by September this year and that will have a multiplier impact as far as banking in India is concerned. He said with IPPB, banking at the doorstep will no longer remain a mere slogan, but will become a reality due to huge postal network in the country. He said that financial Inclusion is critical for the socio-economic development of the country, but there are significant gaps in this area and a large proportion of country’s population remain unbanked or underbanked. IPPB will effectively leverage the ubiquitous post office network with its pan-India physical presence, long experience in cash handling and savings mobilization, backed by the ongoing project of IT-enablement, to bridge this gap in Financial Inclusion.
In his address, Minister of Communications Shri Manoj Sinha has commended the hard work done by the Department of Posts in setting up the India Post Payments Bank and hoped that both organizations will work in tandem to take the benefits of government schemes and financial services that are not easily available in rural areas to customers across the country and to the marginalized population in urban and rural areas alike. He said, the objective of IPPB will be public service rather than promoting commercial interests.
Secretary, Department of Posts, Shri B.V.Sudhakar said that the IPPB is widely expected to be a game changer for financial inclusion in the country as the USP of this initiative is doorstep banking, particularly in the rural areas.
As mandated by the RBI, the India Post Payments Bank (IPPB) would focus on providing basic financial services such as all kinds of payments; including social security payments, utility bill payments, person to person remittances (both domestic and cross-border), current and savings accounts up to a balance of Rs 1 lac, distribution of insurance, mutual funds, pension products and acting as business correspondent to other banks for credit products especially in rural areas and among the underserved segments of the society.
Set up us a 100% Government of India owned Public Limited Company under the Department of Posts, it will open around 650 branches in district HQ locations. All 1.55 lacs post offices including the 1.39 lac of the rural post offices will be mapped to the IPPB branch at the district headquarter and function as access points for IPPB. IPPB will usher in state of the art internet and mobile banking platforms, digital wallets and use innovative and emerging technologies to catalyse the shift from a cash dominant to a less cash economy.
While many other banks and financial institutions are working on the same theme, the USP of IPPB will be its ability to ease access and handhold the adoption of new age banking and payments instruments among citizen of all walks of life through the delivery by postmen and Grameen Dak sevaks, savings agents and other franchisees who will take banking to door steps. IPPB thus aspires to the most accessible, affordable and trusted bank for the common man with the motto – “No customer is too small, no transaction too insignificant, and no deposit too little”.
Given ‘in principle’ approval by the RBI along with 10 other aspirants on 19th Aug 2015, IPPB received the cabinet’s approval on 1st June, 2016 and was incorporated as on 17th Sept, 2106. Today it became the second payments bank to launch its operations. Having got its final banking license from the RBI on the 20th Jan 2017 it has commenced operations in record time of 10 days in partnership with the Punjab National Bank, after obtaining all necessary approvals and registrations from the RBI, NPCI etc.

INVITE: Press Conference by ADR and Goa Election Watch

INVITE: Press Conference by ADR and Goa Election Watch on ‘Goa Assembly Elections 2017:Criminal, Financial,

Dear Friends,
You are cordially invited for a Press Conference organized by Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR) and Goa Election Watch  to release a comprehensive report on
 ‘Goa Assembly Elections 2017: Criminal, Financial, Educational, Gender and Age details of Candidates of all Political Parties’.

The report will cover analysis of criminal, financial and other background details of the candidates of all political parties contesting this election and shall be based on the inputs provided by the candidates in their sworn affidavits with their nomination papers. Maj. Gen. Anil Verma (Retd.), Head of ADR, will be present among others to discuss the report and interact with the members of the press.
Details of the Press Conference:Topic: Goa Assembly Elections 2017: Criminal, Financial, Educational, Gender and Age details of Candidates of all Political Parties
Venue: Goa Chamber of Commerce and Industry Hall, Panaji
Date: 31st Jan, 2017: Tuesday
Time: 3:00 PM
Yours sincerely,  

Dear Mr. Sagar, Budget 2017 big bets: Arun Jaitley must make it:

Dear Mr. Sagar
Budget 2017 big bets: Arun Jaitley must make it attractive for private sector to invest in infrastructure, housing
Budget 2017 is expected to be a ‘big’ budget. With GST on the anvil and demonetisation already undertaken, the ground has been laid for the government to announce some big-bang measures for promoting investment and lifting the economy to a…
Rajiv Kumar and Palakh Jain
New Delhi | Published: January 26, The Financial Express
pi
According to a PwC report, India will require investment to the tune of trillion over the next seven years to meet its infrastructure and housing demand, of which approximately 70-80% of the demand will come from housing. (Reuters)
Budget 2017 is expected to be a ‘big’ budget. With GST on the anvil and demonetisation already undertaken, the ground has been laid for the government to announce some big-bang measures for promoting investment and lifting the economy to a higher growth and employment-generation trajectory. The forthcoming budget will be perhaps the last chance for the Modi government to usher in necessary reforms to stamp out corruption and the concomitant black economy. Some more reforms of the direct tax regime and the FRBM, on which a high-powered committee will have submitted its report at the end of December 2016, may also be on the anvil in this budget which will be presented amidst the turbulent global environment. These measures, which will be seen as a follow up to the large number of incremental measures across a wide range of sectors taken over the last 30 months and some bold structural reforms like the GST and demonetisation, could also yield a strong electoral lift for the NDA as it approaches the four provincial elections lined up for 2017. The forthcoming budget will surely be not an ordinary one.
The writing on the wall is that this budget will be a follow-up on the recent demonetisation exercise and, hopefully, also a major step towards the implementation of GST. The finance minister could also take advantage of the larger fiscal space available to the government as a result of the demonetisation, higher indirect tax collections and the recommendations of the Committee on FRBM to announce major increases in public capital expenditure that could trigger the tepid investment cycle of the present. In this context, the finance minister could consider the following as focus areas for the upcoming budget.
Infrastructure and housing
According to a PwC report, India will require investment to the tune of $1 trillion over the next seven years to meet its infrastructure and housing demand, of which approximately 70-80% of the demand will come from housing. The funding gap will be the primary challenge, and new avenues of funding like credit enhancement schemes for key projects and development of strong bond markets would be important steps for generating alternative capital. To meet the funding needs, government will need to proactively work on attracting private sector investment in this sector.
Budget 2017: Focus On Green Vehicles, Make In India, Says Ravi Shingari Of KPMG
Employment
India adds nearly 1 million people every month to the workforce. All this is combined with the challenge posed by disguised unemployment in the agriculture sector and bad working conditions in the unorganised sector. According to the Economic Census, the numbers for the percentage change in employment for various key industries are not encouraging (as shown in the accompanying graphic). The only way to prepare the labour force for new jobs is intense reskilling and reimagining India’s education; without this, India’s demographic dividend is not going to be realised. The government should incentivise industries such as robot technology and futuristic cars.
Exports
India’s export growth has been lacklustre since 2012. Worse, the country is on the verge of losing its competitiveness in manufacturing. This is on account of the high logistics costs, combined with poor productivity. If this continues, then the increase in local demand will primarily benefit foreign producers and cause a trade-deficit problem. Defence and MSME sector offer some hope in terms of renewing the competitiveness of the Indian economy.
pi
Cashless economyIn November 2016, the government initiated demonetisation of 500- and 1,000-rupee notes to curb black money and fake currency. An important impact of this step will be on cashless payments. These will pick up, and the government will have to support this progress by incentivising e-payments. According to a government website, Electronic Transaction Aggregation and Analysis Layer (eTaal), 3.53 billion transactions were done in 2014, which almost doubled in 2015 to 6.95 billion. Given the preference of Indians for technology, this figure will increase manifold after demonetisation. Giving adequate and right incentives to companies operating in this domain will be an important signal to the world in India’s journey from developing to developed world.
E-commerce
With India at the cusp of a digital revolution, there is a need to provide the necessary ecosystem for this sector to flourish. Incentivising this sector will not just benefit the e-commerce companies by further accelerating their growth, but will also position India as industry-friendly and attract more investments from foreign investors which, in turn, creates a ripple effect by generating infinite employment opportunities. Introducing tax incentives for start-up employees and funding of start-ups can be some initiatives which will help this sector immensely.
With this background, Budget 2017 is an opportunity for the government to outline its priorities for the year to come.
Rajiv Kumar is founding director, and Palakh Jain is senior fellow, Pahle India Foundation
Warm regards,
Rajiv Kumar
Founder Director
Pahle India Foundation
C4/54 First Floor
Safdarjung Development Area
New Delhi – 110016
(+) 91 11 41551498


India launches another Scorpene Submarine INS Khanderi



Khanderi, another Scorpene class submarine with superior stealth and the ability to launch a crippling attack with torpedoes along with tube-launched anti-ship missiles both underwater or on surface, was today launched at the Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited (MDL) .
Union Minister of State for Defence Subhash Bhamre presided over the function to initiate the launch of Khanderi (Yard 11876). The submarine was launched by the Union minister’s wife, Bina Bhamre.
Chief of the Naval Staff, Admiral Sunil Lanba was also present on the occasion when the submarine was separated from the pontoon on which it was assembled.
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Monday, January 30, 2017

Dear N.K, East Africa Rail in partnership with Rift Valley Railway

If you have trouble viewing this email, read the online version
Dear N.K,
East Africa Rail in partnership with Rift Valley Railways brings the leading rail operators, authorities and government from across the region as well as the rest of Africa together to source solutions to their challenges. 
If you want the chance to speak alongside these operators and the likes of the Rwanda Transport Development Agency, LAPSSET, COMESA, Indian Railways, Japan Railway Group and many more then you need to sponsor East Africa Rail.
For sponsorship opportunities,  Download the exhibitor brochure to get involved!
There are only a handful of speaking opportunities available so call me now to secure one. 
Kind Regards,
Tarryn Theunissen
Project Director
+27 11 516 4044
Ps- the floorplan is limited to 30 stands only- book now!
In partnership with: 

Philippines: Airstrikes killed 15 IS -militants

Philippines, 15 militants, including a suspected Indonesian militant, linked to the Islamic State group have been killed in airstrikes, the military said today.
Military Chief of Staff General Eduardo Ano said the body of the suspected Indonesian militant, known by his nom de guerre Mohisen, was recovered by troops along with three dead Filipino followers of militant leader Isnilon Hapilon, who was seriously injured in the hilly outskirts of Butig town in Lanao del Sur province.
The military will ask Indonesian authorities for help in confirming the identity and background of Mohisen. Eleven other militants were reportedly killed, Ano said, citing intelligence, but added their bodies have not been
Found.

Washington:Pakistan could be in immigration ban list

A top US official says, there is a possibility in the future of Pakistan being included in the list of countries from where immigration has been banned in the United States.
White House Chief of Staff Reince Priebus told CBS News that the reason United States chose those seven countries is that both the Congress and the Obama administration had identified these countries being most identifiable with dangerous terrorism. He said now, one can point to other countries that have similar problems, like Pakistan and others.
This is for the first time that the Trump Administration has publicly acknowledged about considering putting Pakistan into that list. Currently as per the executive order, visitors from countries like Pakistan and Afghanistan are subject to extreme vetting. Priebus asserted that Americans have to be protected first.

Samachar4Media.com

Today at 11:13

‘Safe zones’ in Syria & Yemen

Trump & Saudi King talk on creating ‘safe zones’ in Syria & Yemen

US President Donald Trump and the Saudi King, Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, have discussed the so-called ‘safe zones’ in Syria and Yemen during their phone conversation on Sunday, the White House said in a statement. The Saudi monarch has agreed to support the creation of the zones, which Trump earlier said should be created to protect Syrian refugees, without providing details. The two leaders also discussed Iran, agreeing there should be strict implementation of Iran’s nuclear deal while also addressing what the statement called “Iran’s destabilizing regional activities.” King Salman invited Trump to “lead a Middle East effort to defeat terrorism and to help build a new future, economically and socially.”

Over 3 million have signed the open letter to Trump

Over 3 million have signed the open letter to Trump — including you! With the announcement of the Muslim ban, it’s time to make this the worldwide symbol of resistance — share it everywhere, and help hit 4 million!
—–
Dear friends,
With the Muslim ban, Trump has shown that the worst fears about his Presidency are true.
This is the start. He’s threatening to tear down international agreements. He’s threatened to start a nuclear arms race. Didn’t believe it before? Believe it now.
And this is happening in all our countries. We must build the global movement to stop it. Over 3 million have already signed the open letter, below, from the world to Trump, and it’s been covered across major media. Today it becomes a symbol of resistance. Help it become an even more powerful message — forward it widely and sign below:

 ADD MY NAME

Dear Mr. Trump,
This is not what greatness looks like.
The world rejects your fear, hate-mongering, and bigotry. We reject your support for torture, your calls for murdering civilians, and your general encouragement of violence. We reject your denigration of women, Muslims, Mexicans, and millions of others who don’t look like you, talk like you, or pray to the same god as you.
Facing your fear we choose compassion. Hearing your despair we choose hope. Seeing your ignorance we choose understanding.
As citizens of the world, we stand united against your brand of division.
Sincerely,
Recent signers -- Add my name
 ADD MY NAME
As Americans take to the streets in resistance, we can show them the world is at their back. Instead of dividing us, let’s make Trump a force to bring us together, to fight for everything we love.
With hope,
Emma, Alice, Christoph, and the whole Avaaz team.

Farmers Suicide PIL, Badly-Incompetently Drafted Now in SC

January29, 2017 (C) Ravinder Singh progressindia2015@gmail.com

There were Two Critical issues in PIL dismissed by GHC on July10, 2013.
First that it is Entirely Up To VOTERS to ‘Exercise Their Voting Right Properly and Elect Party Which is Making Honest Promises’.
1.    Petitioners Didn’t FILE PIL As Soon As Possible to Make ‘REGISTRATION
OF Election Manifestoes With Election Commission Well In Advance [6 Months] Compulsory for Recognized Political Parties’ to enable Voters to Evaluate Promises Made By Parties & Compare it with other manifestoes.
2.    Make Available All Past Manifesto ‘Public on EC Websites’.
3.    CAG to be Directed to ‘Evaluate Promises Made in Manifestoes & Actual
Delivery 4 Months Ahead of Scheduled Elections.’ [I Can Do It in 24 Hours – RBI Data of Say 20 Parameters of States]
4.    All Ministers, Secretaries and Cabinet Rank Positions Should Pass
Through ‘CONFIRMATION PROCESS’ to keep out Corrupt, Unqualified & Incompetent Candidates like Senate Confirmation in USA.
https://indiankanoon.org/doc/27338691/
GHC order on PIL – 10/07/2013
12. We may only say that if any citizen of this State feels that a particular Government has not been able to fulfill its promises as made at the time of election through its political manifesto or has not been able to meet with the expectations of the people, then in that case, it is for the people to correct the defects by exercising their franchise properly in the next elections and voting for candidates who will fulfill their expectations or by other lawful means in a peaceful manner to arouse the conscience of the Government, but the remedy is surely not by approaching the judiciary and asking it to scrutinize the functions of the other organs.
Second related to Poorly & Incompetently Drafted of PIL on Farmers Suicide, Point Wise Comments By This Inventor are.
A. Direct that financial compensation of Rs.5 lac be paid by Government to the family of the deceased farmers who have committed suicide due to crop failure in the State;

PIL limited itself to ‘FARMER SUICIDE CASES DUE TO CROP FAILURE’ when State Contest CAUSE OF DEATH. FARMER SUICIDE COULD HAVE BEEN TERMED AS UN-NATURAL DEATHS. 500m Farmers With No Irrigation Can’t Sow Rabi Crop Due GoI or State failure and PIL Doesn’t Cover Farm Suicide or NATURAL DEATH From CRASH in MARKET PRICE THAT FARMERS DON’T EVEN RECOVER COST OF INPUTS, Money-Lender Extortion, Not Allowed to STORE & ADD VALUE.

B. Direct that financial aid to farmers at the rate of Rs.30,000 per hectare be paid to the farmers who have suffered crop failure;

500m Indian Farmers Can’t Raise RABI Crop, in addition to Khariff Drought due to Inadequate or Erratic Rainfall. Rs.30,000 Per Hectare Barely Covers INPUTS & Repay LOANS, Nothing For Survival Till Next Harvest.

C. Direct that the loans obtained by the farmers from the banks and financial institutions for agricultural purposes be waived and further loans be given;

Convert Short Term CROP LOANS to Farmers to LONG TERN LOANS to Insulate Farmers from Seasonal Ups & Downs – Store Foods When Prices are Low, Add Value.

D. Direct that prompt payment of crop failure insurance be ensured by the Government;

Very Few Farmers Take CROP INSURANCE for Insurance doesn’t Cover 500m Farmers Who Couldn’t Raise Rabi Crop in absence of irrigation. Insured Must Be Compensated Automatically based on Weather Reports.

E. Direct that interest on loans obtained by the farmers from Co-operative Societies be waived;
F. Direct that the principal amount of loan obtained by the farmers from the Co-operative Societies be waived;

As Already CLAIMED – FARMERS SHOULD BE FULLY COMPENSATED LOSSES + ALLOWED LONG TERM CREDIT.  

G. Direct that water conservation and management policy be laid and implemented by the Government;

THIS IS MOST WEIRD – (i) 80 BCM of Surface Water in Gujarat is Lost to Sea Every Year against 15 BCM Utilized. 35 BCM to 50 BCM Narmada Water Overflows SSP in to Sea. (ii) Minimum 90% to 80% Water Supply & Conveyance EFFICIENCY Norms Be Prescribed. (iii) Surface Water linked to Crop Needs.

H. Direct that the Government to offer and implement some financial package/policy for the farmers who are facing crop failure;

Promote Storage of Foods, Micro-Small Scale Food Processing & Preservation, Small Scale Cold Storages, 300 Liter Deep Freezer to Keep Fruits, Vegetables, Meats & Milk Fresh.

I. Direct the Government to follow the guidelines of National Disaster Management;

NDMA to Prevent Disasters By Advance WARNING, Rapid Deployment of Aid.

J. Direct the Government to provide employment to the families of drought affected farmers who have committed suicide.
Most WEIRD – All RAINFED AND DROUGHT AFFECTED FARMERS TO GET MICRO-SMALL FOOD & NON FOOD INDUSTRY.
Ravinder Singh, Inventor & Consultant, INNOVATIVE TECHNOLOGIES AND PROJECTS
Y-77, Hauz Khas, ND -110016, India. Ph: 091- 9871056471, 9718280435, 9650421857
Ravinder Singh* is a WIPO awarded inventor specializing in Power, Transportation,
Smart Cities, Water, Energy Saving, Agriculture, Manufacturing, Technologies and Projects

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