Trump and other world leaders to address the Annual Apec summit

ON NOVEMBER 10, 2017 BY NARESH SAGARLEAVE A COMMENTEDIT

US President Donald Trump and other world leaders are to address the annual Asia-Pacific Economic Co-operation (Apec) summit in Vietnam, with trade and growth high on the agenda.

US President Donald Trump today hailed Prime Minister Narendra Modi saying he has worked to bring people together. Talking in Vietnam Mr. Trump said India has achieved astounding growth.

Mr Trump has vowed to correct a huge trade imbalance with China and Japan. China yesterday said it will ould lower market entry barriers to some sectors, during Mr Trump’s visit to Beijing.

Talks between Mr Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin are yet to be confirmed at the summit in Danang. Apec brings together 21 economies – the equivalent of about 60% of the world’s GDP.

Belgian Royalty and Cricketer Virender Sehwag team up for Child Rights

ON NOVEMBER 10, 2017 BY NARESH SAGARLEAVE A COMMENTEDIT

MUMBAI, 10 November 2017 – Their Majesties the King and the Queen of the Belgians advocated for children’s right to play and learn during a cricket match with cricketer Virender Sehwag and boys and girls from two Mumbai schools at Mumbai Maidan Oval, India.

“No matter the country we live in, we have to ensure that children grow up in a safe family environment. We need to protect girls and boys from all kind of violence and harmful practices and prevent child maltreatment. As a UN Special Advocate, I attach importance to the Right to Education for all children,” said Her Majesty.

Girls are particularly vulnerable in India. Nearly one fourth of 20-24 year-old-women[1] were married before they turned 18. Close to 12 per cent of girls are not attending upper primary school. [2] Around 4.5 percent of women age 15-19 experienced sexual violence.

“It is high time we empower our women and girls, and sports is a wonderful way of doing so,” said cricketer Virender Sehwag following the cricket match attended by Their Majesties. “While speaking with the children we learnt that UNICEF’s work with sport is grounded in its mission to ensure that every boy and girl irrespective of their ability and background have the right to play and participate in sports in a safe and healthy environment.”

Her Majesty Queen Mathilde had a closed-door meeting with school children from Maharashtra who discussed personal safety, the importance of life skills and adolescent empowerment, especially the empowerment of girls and prevention of child marriage.

“Child marriage negatively influences children’s rights to education, health and protection. These consequences especially impact the girl directly, but also her family and community. Girls and boys married as children more likely lack the skills, knowledge and job prospects needed to lift their families out of poverty. They are unable to contribute to their country’s social and economic growth,” said Her Majesty.

During her stay in Maharashtra, Her Majesty the Queen inaugurated a song about hand-washing. Coordinated by the University of Hasselt in collaboration with Belgian students and volunteers, the song was donated to UNICEF to serve as another creative tool to generate awareness around the already successful Swachh Bharat Mission (Clean India Mission) in the country. Queen Mathilde underlined the importance of good hygiene practices to increase school attendance and reduce the incidence of disease.

“Sustainable development can only be realized if children are healthy and are living in a safe environment. Quality education at school and at community level should pay attention to hygiene and handwashing. Good hygiene practices significantly reduce the incidence of several diseases. Something as simple as handwashing saves lives, “she said.

“We have to ensure that schools and communities are fully engaged in this process at all stages using participatory processes, local knowledge and tool. Through song and dance we can reach children and change behaviours. As a UN Special Advocate for the Sustainable Development Goals, I support UNICEF in its efforts to promote widely this life-saving practice of washing hand with soap at critical times,” she added.

UNICEF works with schools to empower children as hygiene ambassadors within their families and communities. Children are catalysts and agents for change that can encourage community members to wash their hands at critical times.

Their Majesties are in India on a State Visit from 5 to 11 November 2017. During her stay, Queen Mathilde, in her capacity as Honorary Chairperson of UNICEF Belgium, had the opportunity to witness a full range of programmes where UNICEF supports the Indian Government to achieve results for children, notably in the areas of water and hygiene, child protection, child participation and girls’ empowerment.

The visit comes ahead of the first World Children’s Day set for November 20 to mark the anniversary of the Convention on the Rights of the Child. A day for children and by children, it aims to give a voice to the voiceless and allow children from around the world to take over key roles in media, politics, business, sport and entertainment to help save children’s lives, fight for their rights and fulfil their potential.

Note to Editor: (Data for the state of Maharashtra, India)

Education:

While the national average for literacy stands at 74 per cent, the literacy rate is higher in Maharashtra at 82.3 per cent. While 98 per cent children are enrolled in schools, 50 per cent of the out-of-school children belong to the Scheduled Tribes and Scheduled Castes.

Newborn mortality

Maharashtra has shown rapid reduction of under five mortality rates in recent times. However every year, about 48,000 children die before their fifth birthday in Maharashtra, out of which 30,000 are newborns.

Reduction of Open Defecation

Rural Maharashtra accounts for seven per cent of the national Open Defecation load.

It also ranks at the fifth position in the country among states with the highest number of rural households without individual toilets.

An estimated 21 per cent of Zilla Parishad district) schools in the rural areas of the state lack

hand washing facilities.

48th International Film Festival of India (IFFI) 2017 announced 

ON NOVEMBER 10, 2017 BY NARESH SAGARLEAVE A COMMENTEDIT

Indian Panorama selection of Feature and Non Feature films for 48th International Film Festival of India (IFFI) 2017 announced

Indian Panorama 2017 today announced its final selection of Feature & Non-Feature films to be screened in Goa at 48th International Film Festival of India, 2017 which is scheduled to take place from 20th to 28thNovember, 2017.

Five Mainstream films have also been selected under Indian Panorama Section of 48th International Film Festival of India, 2017. The final list of 26 feature films selected for the Indian Panorama 2017 are as follows:

Sl. No.	Title of Film	Language	Director
1.	Pihu	Hindi	Vinod Kapri
2.	Kshitij A Horizon	Marathi	Manouj Kadaamh
3.	Kachcha Limbu	Marathi	Prasad Oak
4.	Manusangada	Tamil	Amshan Kumar
5.	Muramba	Marathi	Varun Narvekar
6.	Railway Children	Kannada	Prithvi Konanur
7.	Juze	Konkani	Miransha Naik
8.	Newton	Hindi	Amit Masurkar
9.	Pimpal	Marathi	Gajendra Ahire
10.	Village Rockstars	Assamese	Rima Das
11.	Maza Bhirbhira	Marathi	Yogesh Soman & Vivek Wagh
12.	Maacher Jhol	Bengali	Pratim D. Gupta
13.	Bisorjon	Bengali	Kaushik Ganguly
14.	Take Off	Malayalam	Mahesh Narayanan
15.	Redu	Marathi	Sagar ChhayaVanjari
16.	Rukh	Hindi	Atanu Mukherjee
17.	Kadvi Hawa	Hindi	Nila Madhab Panda
18.	Idak	Marathi	Deepak Gawade
19.	Xhoixobote Dhemalite	Assamese	Bidyut Kotoky
20.	Khyanikaa	Oriya	Amartya Bhattacharya
21.	Kaasav (Best Feature – 64thNFA)	Marathi	Sumitra Bhave & Sunil Sukthankar
	Mainstream Cinema selections
22.	Jolly LLB 2	Hindi	Subhash Kapoor
23.	Baahubali 2: The Conclusion	Telugu	S Rajamouli
24.	Ventilator	Marathi	Rajesh Mapuskar
25.	Poorna	Hindi	Rahul Bose
26.	Meghnad Bodh Rahasya	Bengali	Anik Datta

The opening film of the feature film section of Indian Panaroma is Pihu which has been directed by Vinod Kapri.

As per Clause 8.6 of the India Panorama 2017 Regulations, the Best Feature Film of 64th National Film Awards 2016, titled “Kaasav” directed by Sumitra Bhave & Sunil Sukthankar has been included in Indian Panorama 2017 by virtue of direct entry.

The Jury for Feature Films was headed by acclaimed film director, actor and screenwriter, Shri Sujoy Ghosh. The Jury previewed 153 eligible entries. The Jury comprised of the following Members:

1. Shri Suresh Heblikar, Filmmaker, Director & Actor
2. Shri Rahul Rawail, Film Director
3. Ms. Satarupa Sanyal, Film Director, Producer, Actress, Poet &Social Activist
4. Ms Gopi Desai, Film Director & Actress
5. Shri Nishikant Kamat, Filmmaker
6. Shri Gyan Correa, Film Director
7. Shri Merlvin Mukhim, Actor & Producer
8. Shri Nikkhil Advani, Film Producer, Director & Screenwriter
9. ShriApurva Asrani, Film Maker, Film Editor & Screenwriter
10. Shri HariViswanath, Film Director, Screenwriter & Producer
11. Shri Sachin Chatte, Film Critic
12. Ms.Ruchi Narain, Film Director & Screenwriter

The complete list of 16 Non – Feature Films selected for Indian Panorama section for 48th International Film Festival of India 2017 is given below:

Sl No.	Title of Film	Language	Director
	Pushkar Puran	Hindi	Kamal Swaroop
	Aaba	Apatani	Amar Kaushik
	Dugga	Bengali	Chandrasish Ray
	Our Grandparents Home	Bengali	Supriyo Sen
	Palash	Bengali	Vaibhav Hiwase
	A Very Old Man With Enormous Wings	English	Prateek Vats
	The Waterfall	English	Lipika Singh Darai
	Amma Meri	Haryanvi	Tarun Jain
	Name|Place|Animal|Thing	Hindi	Nithin R
	Chutney	Hindi	Jyoti Kapur Das
	8½ Intercuts- Life And Films Of KG George	Malayalam	Lijin Jose
	Gi	Malayalam	Kunjila (Akhila Henry)
	Baluta	Marathi	Ajay Kurane
	Khidkee	Marathi	Rohan Parshuram Kanawade
	Epil	Santali	R K Soren
	Fireflies in the Abyss (64th NFA – Best Non Feature)	English	Chandrasekhar Reddy

The opening film of the non-feature film section of Indian Panorama is Pushkar Puran which has been directed by Kamal Swaroop.

As per Clause 8.6 of the India Panorama 2017 Regulations, the Best Non-Feature Film of 64th National Film Awards 2016 titled “Fireflies in the Abyss” directed by Chandrasekhar Reddy has been included in Indian Panorama 2017, by virtue of direct entry.

The Non – Feature Film Jury was chaired by well-known film director and screen writer Shri Sudhir Mishra. The Jury previewed 154 eligible entries. The Jury comprised of the following Members:

1. Shri Tuhinabha Majumdar, Film Director and Film Writer
2. Shri Shankhajeet De, Film Maker
3. Shri Mithuchandra Chaudhari, Film Director
4. Ms. Shiny Jacob Benjamin, Film Producer, Film Director and Writer
5. Ms. Tinni Mitra, Film Editor
6. Shri K.G Suresh, Journalist & Columnist

Korean researchers use acupuncture for cancer treatment

ON NOVEMBER 10, 2017 BY NARESH SAGARLEAVE A COMMENTEDIT

09 November 2017

The group has developed nanoporous needles with microscopic holes on the surface of the needles.

Image credit- healthline.com

Researchers at the Daegu Gyeongbuk Institute of Science and Technology (DGIST), Korea are using nanotechnology-enhanced acupuncture needles to treat cancer.

The group has developed nanoporous needles with microscopic holes on the surface of the needles, ranging from nanometer to micrometers. The needles were created relatively simply using electrochemical nanotechnology. By increasing the surface area of the needle by a factor of ten, the nanoporous needles doubled the electrophysiological signal generated by needle stimulus.

In rats that were chemically induced to develop colorectal cancers, those receiving periodic acupuncture treatment with nanoporous needles had a much lower incidence of abnormal vascular clusters, which are a precursor to colorectal cancer in the initiation stage, than those in the control group.

Treatment using acupuncture needles has been commonly practiced for thousands of years for treating musculoskeletal disorders, pain relief and addiction relief. Recently, acupuncture has emerged as a promising treatment for brain diseases, gastrointestinal disorders, nausea and vomiting, and studies are underway to use acupuncture to treat more severe diseases such as cancer.

The researchers want to develop a new medical market by conducting a follow-up convergence study that identifies the potential benefits and efficacy of acupuncture.

biospectrum

Patrick Vallance named, UK Government’s Chief Scientific Adviser

ON NOVEMBER 10, 2017 BY NARESH SAGARLEAVE A COMMENTEDIT

GSK current R&D president Patrick Vallance to become UK Government’s Chief Scientific Adviser

He will be responsible for providing scientific advice to the Prime Minister and advising the Government on aspects of policy on science and technology

GlaxoSmithKline plc has announced that Dr Patrick Vallance, President, R&D, has informed the Board of his intention to leave the company to become the UK Government’s Chief Scientific Adviser and Head of the Government’s Office for Science.

He will be responsible for providing scientific advice to the Prime Minister and advising the Government on aspects of policy on science and technology. He will leave GSK at the end of March 2018 to take up his new role.

Since joining GSK in 2006 as Head of Drug Discovery, Dr Vallance has held roles of increasing responsibility within the Group’s Pharmaceutical R&D organisation, becoming a member of GSK’s executive team in 2010 and being appointed President, R&D, in 2012.

Under his leadership, GSK has delivered a number of innovative new medicines to patients in areas including Respiratory, Oncology and HIV: a new portfolio of inhaled respiratory medicines that includes Trelegy, the only once-daily single inhaler triple therapy for COPD; Nucala, a first-in-class biologic therapy for severe asthma; two targeted therapies to treat metastatic melanoma, Tafinlar and Mekinist; and, in HIV, Tivicay and Triumeq. In the field of Rare Diseases, Strimvelis became the first ex-vivo stem cell gene therapy to be approved for patients with the very rare immunodeficiency disease ADA-SCID.

Dr Vallance played a pivotal role in GSK’s strategy of re-personalising R&D, through the creation of Discovery Performance Units and put external partnership at the centre of GSK R&D which is an approach that has led to collaborations with more than 1,500 organisations around the world, including the UK’s Francis Crick Institute, the US National Institutes of Health, Wellcome Trust and UK Biobank.

Emma Walmsley, CEO, GSK, said, “Patrick has made a lasting contribution to GSK and helped deliver innovative medicines to patients around the world. His championing of science and ensuring a patient focus have brought him a dedicated followership throughout GSK. Personally, I have benefited from his advice and support, which I have enormously appreciated. I wish him every success in his new role, for which he is uniquely qualified.”

Philip Hampton, Chairman, GSK, said, “On behalf of the Board I would like to thank Patrick for his contribution to the company, which has benefited from his approach to research and his medical expertise. His new role will enable him to demonstrate his broad talents and experience and I’m sure he will play a crucial role in enabling the UK to stay at the forefront of science.”

Patrick Vallance, President, R&D, said, “I am hugely excited about this opportunity to serve the UK government at a time when science has never been more important to the UK’s economy and future. Yet it has been a very difficult decision to leave GSK and the many talented scientists who work here to create innovative medicines that can make a real difference to patients’ lives. I feel honoured to have played a part in that and I will miss the intelligence, warmth and passion of all the people who work in every part of R&D. I believe GSK has a very promising pipeline with great potential to positively build on the many medicines that GSK has successfully brought to patients in recent years. I wish Hal every success in leading the R&D organisation.”

/biospectrumasia.com

‘Exhibition of Books on Prime Ministers of India’_ 13 November, 2017 at 10.00 am

ON NOVEMBER 10, 2017 BY NARESH SAGARLEAVE A COMMENTEDIT

Sir/Madam,

The Nehru Memorial Museum and Library is pleased to invite you for an Exhibition titled ‘Exhibition of Books on Prime Ministers of India’. This would be inaugurated on Monday, 13th November, 2017 at 10.00 am in the Ballroom, Museum Building by Dr. A. Surya Prakash, Member Executive Council, NMML will inaugurate the exhibition. This is second in series of exhibitions on the life and times of Prime Ministers of India.

We hope that you would find time to drop in.

Regards,

धन्यवाद 

Thanks 

अजीत कुमार 

Ajit Kumar

पुस्तकालय एवं सूचना  अधिकारी, नेहरु स्मारक संग्रहालय एवं पुस्तकालय 

Library and Information Officer, Nehru Memorial Museum and Library

(संस्कृति मंत्रालय,भारत  सरकार) तीन मूर्ति भवन, नई दिल्ली-११००११ 

(Ministry of Culture, Government of India) Teen Murti Bhawan, New Delhi-110011

कार्यालय न‌. ०११-२३७९४४०७,  मोबाईल न‌.

 +९१ -९९६८३०१५४३ 

Office No.-011-23794407, Mobile No. +91-9968301543

China To Build World’s Highest Planetarium In Tibet Next Year

ON NOVEMBER 10, 2017 BY NARESH SAGARLEAVE A COMMENTEDIT

9 November, 2017
Tibet has clear skies, ideal for astronomical studies, as it is 4,000 metres above sea level.
The planetarium, which is China’s first, will have the region’s largest optical astronomical telescope, with a 1- meter-diameter lens, and become a major regional base for astronomical research and public science education, the Science and Technology Department of Tibet said.
China will begin construction of the world’s highest planetarium next year in Tibet, local officials said.

The planetarium, which is China’s first, will have the region’s largest optical astronomical telescope, with a 1- meter-diameter lens, and become a major regional base for astronomical research and public science education, the Science and Technology Department of Tibet said.

The telescope will be jointly developed by the planetarium and the National Astronomical Observatories, and be used for variable star, state-run Xinhua news agency quoted the Department as saying today.

“The instalment of the device will enable the planetarium to carry out professional astronomical research,” said Wang Junjie, deputy head of the department.

“The planetarium, with the highest altitude in the world, will become a ‘perfect window’ for the public to get to know the stars and explore the universe, thanks to little air or light pollution in the region,” Wang said.

Planned to be completed in 2019, the planetarium will be built within the Tibet Museum of Natural Sciences in Tibet’s provincial capital Lhasa, the department said.

Dubbed the “Roof of the World” on account of its position 4,000 meters above sea level, Tibet has superb clear skies, ideal for astronomical observation, it said.

whimsical Helicopter Water Spray, Delhi Streets Never Cleaned

ON NOVEMBER 10, 2017 BY NARESH SAGARLEAVE A COMMENTEDIT

November10, 2017 (C) Ravinder Singh progressindia2015@gmail.com

When NGT, Gadkari and Kejriwal talk of Water Spray by‘Helicopters’ it reflects administrative LUNATICS. Irrigation Sprinklers can be Mounted on High Rise Buildings – Connected to Fire Pumps – Provide Artificial Rain for 1-2 hours every day. 4 Story Homes with booster pumps can also provide Rains for 30 minutes every day.

Farm Irrigation Sprinklers is Better Option the High Cost DRIP IRRIGATION – a set of Portable Sprinklers can irrigate 10-20 Times more area than Fixed Drip Irrigation. Obviously Sprinklers can suppress DUST Particles.

Desert Cooler I use clean 100,000 M3 air every day of use for 15 hours – Home space is only 300 M3 – 300 Times. 1 million of these can Clean 30 Billion Cubic Meter of air every day; in 200 days in a year in Delhi shall clean 6 Trillion Cubic Meter of air annually.

Kerosene Stove, Desert Cooler and Sprinklers were my SIGNIFICANT Inventions in 1975-78 but Thugs in NRDC-DST didn’t support these.

Sunita Narain and Bhure Lals are extreme DULLARDS – were actually supporting BRT for example giving FAKE DATA.

Himalayan Foot Hill States Punjab to Bihar produces 50% ofFoods from 16% Land – so pollution generated by Farming activity get trapped.

Ø 16% area burns 200 million tones of Coal and around 60 million tones of petroleum

Ø 100% of Power in the BELT could come from HYDRO-POWER, 140,000 MW from J&K to Nepal. We can bakeBricks in Electric Ovens like Biscuits. Region could be so clean.

Ø Water in Storages could 50% released in Rivers to keep them Clean forever.

Ø UP alone produces 145 million tones of Sugar Cane which harvested during Winter, Compared to 6 million tones in Punjab.

Ø Stubble is not the real issue, GROSSLY INCOMPTENT Press has made it FOCUS ISSUE. Why can’t DELHI Ban registration of Motorized Vehicles? Over 10m in Delhi or 3 per household if we exclude Slum Dwellers.

Ø 50% cut in Petrol & Diesel supply to PRIVATE CARS in Winter– Ban 1500 CC Plus Diesel Vehicles in Winter – would be effective.

Ø Punjab cultivates Paddy on 6.86% area produces 11.33% Rice by Weight – 20% by Value – half of area under Basmati. BUT —

Ø Why can’t Delhi UBERISE Bus service in Delhi – in addition to shared Taxis, High Capacity Electric Rickshaws like in Thailand?

Ø Delhi Streets are Frequently Dug Up several times a year – but not Cleaned even once but for rains. Broom Cleaning couple of times in a year – creates dust cloud that settles soon after on the road itself. AT THIS TIME WATER CONSUMPTION reduces so Roads can be WASHED once a week – and Drains cleaned once a month.

Ø Corrupted ‘Almost All High Level’ Highway & Infrastructure Projects are BIGGEST Source of Earth Movement – Haven’t seen Sprinklers use at such sites – diversions through farm land throw tones of Dust.

BUT

Ø GOI has no LOCAL FOOD PRODUCTION Policy. Wheat & Rice produced by Punjab is Exported, Punjab imports Vegetable Oils for Example.

Ø CROP Diversion failed in Punjab when ADANI Procured OILSEEDS from Punjab and processed in its own oil mills in MP or Gujarat. There is actually Two Way Flow of Vegetable Oils. Most Fruits and Vegetables and Foods can be locally produced.

Ø 80% water released in Rajasthan Canal is WASTED and leaked in to ground – but not available to Punjab to EARLY Transplanting of Paddy from April End to Be Harvested in by September end.

Ø Long Transplanting & Harvesting Can completely avoid LABOR SHORTAGE – Manual Harvesting can EFFECTIVELY Solve the STUBBLE Burning.

Ø GoI may consider MNREGA Funds for Paddy Harvesting in Punjab – this second intervention and Paddy Straw can be exported to Rajasthan for Foddar or burn in Power Plants.

Ravinder Singh, Inventor & Consultant, INNOVATIVE TECHNOLOGIES AND PROJECTS

Y-77, Hauz Khas, ND -110016, India. Ph: 091- 8826415770 [4G], 9871056471, 9718280435,

Ravinder Singh* is a WIPO awarded inventor specializing in Power, Transportation,

Smart Cities, Water, Energy Saving, Agriculture, Manufacturing, Technologies and Projects

Govts told to act fast to tackle air ‘emergency’

HC Gives Union Environment Secy 72 Hours To Draft Plan To Cut Pollution

Calling it an “emergency situation”, Delhi high court on Thursday issued orders to water roads and gave 72 hours to the Union environment secretary to chalk out a plan to improve air quality in the capital.

However, a bench of Justices S Ravindra Bhat and Sanjeev Sachdeva questioned the decision of authorities to hike parking fee four-fold while recommending full ban on construction activity.

“If you bring odd-even for a few days we understand, but increasing parking fee, what is this? If people go for some emergency, why would they pay four times? This is forcing people to keep walking,” the bench remarked, as it gave a slew of directions to improve deteriorating air quality.

The court also asked the state government to consider the option of cloud seeding to induce rainfall artificially as an immediate step to bring down dust and particulate matter in the air, along with watering of roads.

It also directed Delhi government to seriously consider a ban on further construction in the city and implement odd-even vehicle usage scheme as a short-term measure.

“Chief secretaries of Delhi, Punjab, Haryana and Uttar Pradesh as well as the Union secretary shall hold a meeting immediately in the next three days and work out a joint short-term action plan to ensure that air quality lev el comes down within acceptable limits. The said officials should also consider feasibility of cloud seeding. Meeting should be chaired by the Union environment secretary,” the bench directed.

HC’s intervention came after senior advocate and amicus curiae Kailash Vasdev told the court that emergent steps were required to improve the air quality in the city and sought an urgent hearing earlier in the day.

The court then directed standing counsel Naushad Ahmed Khan to ensure there is no vehicular congestion on the roads and traffic police exercises “zero tolerance“ to violations. It also said the top brass must provide masks to personnel on duty as they are being subjected to the “deadly mixture of vehicular pollution, construction and road dust and stubble burning.”

Recalling the London smog, HC identified it as “pea soup fog. It is a killer. Stubble burning is the visible villain in it, but there are other elephants in the room.”

The court also took on record the steps proposed to be taken by Delhi Pollution Control Committee, including quadrupling of parking fees in the city, ban on entry of trucks, except those carrying essential commodities, prohibition on construction activities, increasing services of metro and DTC, cleaning of roads, banning brick kilns and stopping use of firewood and coal in hotels.

The court was hearing a PIL initiated by it to curb air pollution in the national capital. It has been issuing directions time-to-time in this regard. On Tuesday, HC had sought reports of action taken by all neighbouring states to clamp down on stubble burning. Amicus Vasudev had then called for contempt proceedings against key officials blaming them for sitting on court orders.

Stubble burning an economic issue that needs real solution, not political rhetoric

Captain Amarinder Singh

The winter season is yet to fully set in and we are already in the midst of a serious crisis resulting from the rising air pollution and smog levels in the northern states of India. It is not my intent here to undermine or negate this problem which has grave implications for all of us, including Punjab. What I do have an issue with is the manner in which Punjab is being crucified for a problem that is far more deep-rooted and complex than is being made out to be.

Amidst the loud political rhetoric, the real issue is all but getting sidelined, with a clear lack of understanding about the problem, which is more economic than political in nature. The search for political solutions to the issue is, therefore, meaningless.

Coming now to the economic aspect of the problem, let us look at the options available to the farmers. There have been suggestions that the paddy straw could be collected and transported out of the fields for collective technological management. Now that would be an excellent solution if only it were feasible. The sheer cost involved in so managing the huge amount of paddy straw left behind every season is mind-boggling and simply out of the reach of the farmers. And, unfortunately, the state government also lacks the funds needed to take on such an onerous task.

In any case, I am told by agricultural experts and scientists that there currently exist no sustainable technological solutions to collect and transport the large quantities of paddy straw, nor is there any effective biological solution to decompose the paddy straw within the 15-day window existing between harvesting of paddy and sowing of wheat. In the circumstances, burning the residue emerges as the simplest and cheapest solution to the problem.

There are many who, without really grasping the intricacies of the issue, talk of strict enforcement of the law banning stubble burning. Let me ask them, in all honesty, whether they really expect me and my government to penalize the farmers for trying to earn their livelihood and ensure the survival of their near and dear ones? Would that not be more criminal than the act for which we are condemning them?

That is not to say that we are in favour of burning paddy straw, which, admittedly, is a dangerous way of managing residue. My only submission is that instead of crucifying my government or my farmers, let us put our heads together to find an impactful and permanent solution to the problem.

At our end, we have been raising the issue at various fora and I have personally taken it up with the Prime Minister. I had requested him in July to provide Rs.100 per quintal on paddy MSP as incentive to farmers for crop residue management. I have now again written to him, underscoring the urgent need to address the problem through incentivisation of the farmers. I have also requested him to convene a meeting of all the chief ministers concerned and Union ministers of agriculture, food and environment to resolve the matter. Punjab is a sufferer and would be most happy to find a solution to the problem.

At the state level, I have held various discussions with representatives of farmer unions, who agree that the problem is serious but also, at the same time, feel that simply registering criminal cases against farmers will not solve it.

In another initiative, my government has set up a Paddy Straw Challenge Fund of $ 1 million dollars for scientists globally to come up with a technological solution. I have also met the Japanese industry to explore large-scale production of ethanol from paddy straw. The industrial methodology for it is still in a nascent stage and I have personally urged various Japanese companies to help us in the matter.

In the meantime, it is my humble request to all not to make sweeping and simplistic judgements and obfuscate the real issue. The problem needs to be understood before it can be solved. And real problems need real solutions, not political rhetoric.

(The writer is the chief minister of Punjab)

Time to team up and end gas chamber: CM

Kejri Invites States, Centre To Dialogue Table

Announcing implementation of the odd-even scheme from Monday for five days, chief minister Arvind Kejriwal on Thursday appealed that keeping political differences aside, the Centre, Haryana, Punjab and Delhi governments should come together to find a permanent solution to stubble burning that leads to high pollution year after year.

Kejriwal said that the “gas chamber-like situation” will remain “till viable economic alternatives to crop burning are found by the states.” He added that banning entry of trucks, construction activity and introducing odd-even are just emergency measures and not the solution to high pollution levels.

“North India becomes a gas chamber when crop burning happens. It cannot be stopped by force. It is an economic problem for which the governments of Punjab and Haryana will have to find a viable economic solution. I have, therefore, sought time from both CMs. I don’t know what the problems of those states are, but I thought that if they are raising their voices on the issue then I want to join forces with them to find a solution,” Kejriwal said.

The CM said that two of the state chiefs are yet to give him time to discuss the matter. “I appeal again that we must rise above politics and come together to assess the situation and the economic costs involved in making way for alternatives to stubble burning,” Kejriwal added.

“Data on crop burning and its impact should be collated and studied as to how it is impacting health and the cost of treatment for the common man. Even if the economic alternatives to stubble burning are high, so are the health costs. The governments must consider taking measures to protect precious lives,” the CM said.

Asking the other states to understand the gravity of the problem, the CM said that the data on pollution is an alarm bell for all parties and all governments taking into consideration the health of every single person and child.

“Crop burning starts from October 25 and goes on till November 15. Data from September shows that PM10 level was 300 and PM2.5 was 160. Now PM10 level is 940 and PM2.5 750. The increase is clearly not due to local reasons. We cannot find a solution till we understand the problem,” Kejriwal asserted.

Delhi government, on its part, has initiated all emergency measures required for now, said Kejriwal citing the meeting with the LG on Wednesday.

CTA’s refusal to give answers about Penpa Tsering, Representative, Office of Tibet, USA raises more questions

ON NOVEMBER 10, 2017 BY NARESH SAGARLEAVE A COMMENTEDIT

9 November, 2017
The Deputy President of the Central Tibetan Administration (CTA) Karma Gelek convened a press conference concerning the dismissal of the current Representative of the Dalai Lama to North America, but didn’t provide any information about it.Kashag (the Exile Tibetan Cabinet) has asked Penpa Tsering to leave the post at the end of this month. The current Education Minister of CTA Ngodup Tsering will take charge in his place.
Gelek’s dissembling press conference created more confusion than clarity as to why Penpa Tsering has been relieved of his duties.

He said that Penpa Tsering had been served three warning notices asking him to mend his ways regarding the performance of his duties. He refused to give any details what the warnings were about, saying that it was an internal matter.

This reporter requested Gelek to take two questions, but he said that journalists were to ask only one question each, and that the press conference had to be finished in ten minutes.

As this story would remain incomplete without getting answers to the two questions, this reporter walked out to express dissatisfaction with Gelek’s overbearing manner.

On Tuesday CTA President Lobsang Sangay had no comments when journalists asked him questions after Penpa Tsering’s ouster was announced.

During the elections last year, differences between Lobsang Sangay and Penpa Tsering, the two contenders for the post of Sikyong (President of the Central Tibetan Administration), led to discord in the exile Tibetan community.

The Dalai Lama, who has retired as the political leader of exile Tibetans, but still remains as the head of state of the Tibetan people, gave a dressing-down to both the men for their aggressive election campaigning, causing disharmony in the exile Tibetan community.

It is believed that at the suggestion of the Dalai Lama, Lobsang Sangay appointed Penpa Tsering as the Representative of North America to pacify the divided exile Tibetan community.

It seems that Penpa Tsering has now been dismissed in a continuation of election grudges.
There are rumours on the Internet that Penpa Tsering faced this retribution after they engaged in a squabble during a meeting of the Representatives of the various Offices of Tibet after the 5/50 Conference in Dharamshala a month ago.

Penpa Tsering is said to have raised the issue at the meeting of a loan taken for purchase of a new building to house the Office of Tibet in Washington DC. A loan of 1.5 million dollars was taken from Tibet Fund is not being shown in any Office of Tibet’s records for remittance. The purchase was made during the term of Tsering’s predecessor Kaydor Aukatsang, who is a close friend of Sangay.
One of the questions this reporter intended to ask was concerning this issue.

There is growing call for the Kashag to reveal the reasons for Penpa Tsering’s dismissal. Due to the Kashag’s unaccountable behaviour, there are more questions than answers.

RBI: Directions on managing risks and code of conduct in outsourcing of financial services by NBFCs

ON NOVEMBER 10, 2017 BY NARESH SAGARLEAVE A COMMENTEDIT

Naresh Kumar Sagar

Admin · 1 min

RBI releases directions on managing risks and code of conduct in outsourcing of financial services by NBFCs

The Reserve Bank of India releases Directions on Managing Risks and Code of Conduct in Outsourcing of Financial Services by Non-Banking Financial Companies (NBFCs). NBFCs are advised by RBI to conduct a self-assessment of their existing outsourcing arrangements and bring these in line with the aforesaid Directions within two months from the date of this circular (November 9,2017). The details of the directions are mentioned below.

1. Introduction

1.1 ‘Outsourcing’ is defined as the NBFC’s use of a third party (either an affiliated entity within a corporate group or an entity that is external to the corporate group) to perform activities on a continuing basis that would normally be undertaken by the NBFC itself, now or in the future.‘Continuing basis’ includes agreements for a limited period.

1.2 NBFCs have been outsourcing various activities and are hence exposed to various risks. Further, the outsourced activities are to be brought within regulatory purview to a) protect the interest of the customers of NBFCs and b) to ensure that the NBFC concerned and the Reserve Bank of India have access to all relevant books, records and information available with service provider. Typically outsourced financial services include applications processing (loan origination, credit card), document processing, marketing and research, supervision of loans, data processing and back office related activities, besides others.

1.3 Some key risks in outsourcing are Strategic Risk, Reputation Risk, Compliance Risk, Operational Risk, Legal Risk, Exit Strategy Risk, Counterparty Risk, Country Risk, Contractual Risk, Access Risk, Concentration and Systemic Risk. The failure of a service provider in providing a specified service, a breach in security/ confidentiality, or non-compliance with legal and regulatory requirements by the service provider can lead to financial losses or loss of reputation for the NBFC and could also lead to systemic risks.

1.4 It is therefore imperative for the NBFC outsourcing its activities to ensure sound and responsive risk management practices for effective oversight, due diligence and management of risks arising from such outsourced activities. The directions are applicable to material outsourcing arrangements as explained in para 3 which may be entered into by an NBFC with a service provider located in India or elsewhere. The service provider may either be a member of the group/ conglomerate to which the NBFC belongs, or an unrelated party.

1.5 The underlying principles behind these directions are that the regulated entity shall ensure that outsourcing arrangements neither diminish its ability to fulfil its obligations to customers and RBI nor impede effective supervision by RBI. NBFCs, therefore, have to take steps to ensure that the service provider employs the same high standard of care in performing the services as is expected to be employed by the NBFCs, if the activities were conducted within the NBFCs and not outsourced. Accordingly, NBFCs shall not engage in outsourcing that would result in their internal control, business conduct or reputation being compromised or weakened.

1.6 (i) These directions are concerned with managing risks in outsourcing of financial services and are not applicable to technology-related issues and activities not related to financial services, such as usage of courier, catering of staff, housekeeping and janitorial services, security of the premises, movement and archiving of records, etc. NBFCs which desire to outsource financial services would not require prior approval from RBI. However, such arrangements would be subject to on-site/ off- site monitoring and inspection/ scrutiny by RBI.

(ii) In regard to outsourced services relating to credit cards, RBI’s detailed instructions contained in its circular on credit card activities vide DBOD.FSD.BC.49/24.01.011/2005-06 dated November 21, 2005 would be applicable.

2. Activities that shall not be outsourced

NBFCs which choose to outsource financial services shall, however, not outsource core management functions including Internal Audit, Strategic and Compliance functions and decision-making functions such as determining compliance with KYC norms for opening deposit accounts, according sanction for loans (including retail loans) and management of investment portfolio. However, for NBFCs in a group/ conglomerate, these functions may be outsourced within the group subject to compliance with instructions in Para 6. Further, while internal audit function itself is a management process, the internal auditors can be on contract.

3. Material Outsourcing

For the purpose of these directions, material outsourcing arrangements are those which, if disrupted, have the potential to significantly impact the business operations, reputation, profitability or customer service. Materiality of outsourcing would be based on:

· the level of importance to the NBFC of the activity being outsourced as well as the significance of the risk posed by the same;

· the potential impact of the outsourcing on the NBFC on various parameters such as earnings, solvency, liquidity, funding capital and risk profile;

· the likely impact on the NBFC’s reputation and brand value, and ability to achieve its business objectives, strategy and plans, should the service provider fail to perform the service;

· the cost of the outsourcing as a proportion of total operating costs of the NBFC;

· the aggregate exposure to that particular service provider, in cases where the NBFC outsources various functions to the same service provider and

· the significance of activities outsourced in context of customer service and protection.

4. NBFC’s role and Regulatory and Supervisory Requirements

4.1 The outsourcing of any activity by NBFC does not diminish its obligations, and those of its Board and senior management, who have the ultimate responsibility for the outsourced activity. NBFCs would therefore be responsible for the actions of their service provider including Direct Sales Agents/ Direct Marketing Agents and recovery agents and the confidentiality of information pertaining to the customers that is available with the service provider. NBFCs shall retain ultimate control of the outsourced activity.

4.2 It is imperative for the NBFC, when performing its due diligence in relation to outsourcing, to consider all relevant laws, regulations, guidelines and conditions of approval, licensing or registration.

4.3 Outsourcing arrangements shall not affect the rights of a customer against the NBFC, including the ability of the customer to obtain redress as applicable under relevant laws. In cases where the customers are required to deal with the service providers in the process of dealing with the NBFC, NBFCs shall incorporate a clause in the relative product literature/ brochures, etc., stating that they may use the services of agents in sales/ marketing etc. of the products. The role of agents may be indicated in broad terms.

4.4 The service provider shall not impede or interfere with the ability of the NBFC to effectively oversee and manage its activities nor shall it impede the Reserve Bank of India in carrying out its supervisory functions and objectives.

4.5 NBFCs need to have a robust grievance redress mechanism, which in no way shall be compromised on account of outsourcing.

4.6 The service provider, if not a group company of the NBFC, shall not be owned or controlled by any director of the NBFC or their relatives; these terms have the same meaning as assigned under Companies Act, 2013.

5. Risk Management practices for Outsourced Financial Services

5.1 Outsourcing Policy

An NBFC intending to outsource any of its financial activities shall put in place a comprehensive outsourcing policy, approved by its Board, which incorporates, inter alia, criteria for selection of such activities as well as service providers, delegation of authority depending on risks and materiality and systems to monitor and review the operations of these activities.

5.2 Role of the Board and Senior Management

5.2.1 Role of the Board

The Board of the NBFC, or a Committee of the Board to which powers have been delegated shall be responsible inter alia for the following:

approving a framework to evaluate the risks and materiality of all existing and prospective outsourcing and the policies that apply to such arrangements;

laying down appropriate approval authorities for outsourcing depending on risks and materiality;

setting up suitable administrative framework of senior management for the purpose of these directions;

undertaking regular review of outsourcing strategies and arrangements for their continued relevance, and safety and soundness and

deciding on business activities of a material nature to be outsourced, and approving such arrangements.

5.2.2 Responsibilities of the Senior Management

Evaluating the risks and materiality of all existing and prospective outsourcing, based on the framework approved by the Board;

developing and implementing sound and prudent outsourcing policies and procedures commensurate with the nature, scope and complexity of the outsourcing activity;

reviewing periodically the effectiveness of policies and procedures;

communicating information pertaining to material outsourcing risks to the Board in a timely manner;

ensuring that contingency plans, based on realistic and probable disruptive scenarios, are in place and tested;

ensuring that there is independent review and audit for compliance with set policies and

undertaking periodic review of outsourcing arrangements to identify new material outsourcing risks as they arise.

5.3 Evaluation of the Risks

The NBFCs shall evaluate and guard against the following risks in outsourcing:

Strategic Risk – Where the service provider conducts business on its own behalf, inconsistent with the overall strategic goals of the NBFC.

Reputation Risk – Where the service provided is poor and customer interaction is not consistent with the overall standards expected of the NBFC.

Compliance Risk – Where privacy, consumer and prudential laws are not adequately complied with by the service provider.

Operational Risk- Arising out of technology failure, fraud, error, inadequate financial capacity to fulfil obligations and/ or to provide remedies.

Legal Risk – Where the NBFC is subjected to fines, penalties, or punitive damages resulting from supervisory actions, as well as private settlements due to omissions and commissions of the service provider.

Exit Strategy Risk – Where the NBFC is over-reliant on one firm, the loss of relevant skills in the NBFC itself preventing it from bringing the activity back in-house and where NBFC has entered into contracts that make speedy exits prohibitively expensive.

Counter party Risk – Where there is inappropriate underwriting or credit assessments.

Contractual Risk – Where the NBFC may not have the ability to enforce the contract.

Concentration and Systemic Risk – Where the overall industry has considerable exposure to one service provider and hence the NBFC may lack control over the service provider.

Country Risk – Due to the political, social or legal climate creating added risk.

Gambia, EU, IOM Launch Joint Initiative for Migrant Protection and Reintegration

ON NOVEMBER 10, 2017 BY NARESH SAGARLEAVE A COMMENTEDIT

Banjul – IOM, the UN Migration Agency and the Government of The Gambia last week (03/11) officially launched the EU-IOM Joint Initiative for Migrant Protection and Reintegration: The Gambia at a ceremony in the capital Banjul, attended by the EU Ambassador to The Gambia, Attila Lajos and the country’s Minister of Interior, Mai Ahmed Fatty.  The launch was also attended by representatives from Government, the diplomatic community, civil society, the UN system and the media.

The three-year project is funded by the European Union Emergency Trust Fund for Africa (EUTF) for a total of EUR 3.9 million.

The initiative comes at a crucial time as a significant number of Gambians who have left the country become stranded on the migration routes to North Africa and Europe, with no means to continue their journeys. With little hope of reaching their intended destinations, many of them decide to return home but lack resources to do so.

The new project, part of a regional initiative addressing 14 countries in the Sahel and Lake Chad region as well as Libya, proposes to contribute to strengthening migration governance and to the sustainable reintegration of returning migrants in The Gambia, with the following three objectives:

To support 1,500 migrants returning to the Gambia to reintegrate into their communities of origin and to contribute to the strengthening of the Government of The Gambia’s capacity to provide sustainable reintegration support, including specialized assistance for vulnerable migrants;
To raise awareness of 250 communities and 2,500 potential migrants of safe migration options and alternatives to irregular migration;
To support national and local authorities and development partners in having access to data on migration factors, flows and trends to support evidence-based policy development and programmes.

IOM Chief of Mission in The Gambia, Fumiko Nagano, noted that the Joint initiative “aims to ensure that migrant rights are respected, that returning migrants are able to contribute positively to their communities, and that the migration process is safer and better managed. At the core, the Joint Initiative’s aim is to respond to migrant needs.”

The Joint Initiative’s inclusive approach will involve key stakeholders, such as migrants’ associations, community based organizations, and local communities to ensure the sustainability of reintegration and that Gambian migrants in the future will be opting to migrate via regular means as a matter of choice, rather than necessity.

IOM will be working very closely with the Government of The Gambia, particularly the Ministry of Interior, which has the mandate to lead on migration governance and management in the country.

In a separate but closely related event, IOM supported the government in holding the validation workshop in Banjul (02-03/11), on the country’s national migration policy, the first of its kind in The Gambia. This was part of IOM’s ongoing collaboration with the Ministry of Interior, financially supported by the EU-funded regional project, Support to Free Movement of Persons and Migration in West Africa (FMM West Africa). Once approved by the Cabinet, the policy will ensure that the Gambian Government has a comprehensive approach to migration management and governance.

“This policy is anchored on the ideals of African solidarity as well as shared values as informed by existing African Union frameworks including the AU Migration Policy Framework for Africa, the African Common Position on Migration and Development of 2006, the Common African Perspective for Valetta Summit on Migration of 2015, and Agenda 2063,” Minister Mai Fatty noted, as he urged EU and other stakeholders to act in partnership to address the root causes of irregular migration.

The FMM West Africa project, jointly funded by the European Union and the ECOWAS Commission, covers the 15 ECOWAS Member States and Mauritania on different thematic areas of migration, such as, trafficking in persons, border management, migration policy development and labour migration.

The FMM West Africa project is driven by the ECOWAS Commission and implemented jointly by the International Organization for Migration (IOM), the International Centre for Migration Policy Development (ICMPD) and the International Labour Organization (ILO).

For more information please contact Fumiko Nagano, IOM The Gambia, Tel: +220 232 0060, Email: fnagano@iom.int

Refugees Seek Media Platform to Change Bulgarian Minds

ON NOVEMBER 10, 2017 BY NARESH SAGARLEAVE A COMMENTEDIT

Faced with an upsurge of hostility from Bulgarian citizens, refugees and activists want to set up a media platform that will show people what they are really like.”author”>Mariya Cheresheva

BIRN

Sofia

Ahmad, Martin and their team in Sofia. Bulgaria. Photo: HITL: Human in the Loop

Ahmad left his home country of Afghanistan a year ago. Living there as a translator for NATO troops was “no longer safe” for him.

Having no legal way to enter Europe, he entered Bulgaria illegally, where he has been living ever since, and enjoying his new life.

“I just needed a safe place where I can be far away from bad people. For me, Bulgaria is a nice country – my life is much better here,” he told BIRN.

Having now obtained asylum in Bulgaria and moved away from the refugee centre in the Voenna Rampa neighbourhood of Sofia, he wants to help other refugees avoid some of the problems he faced during his first year in Bulgaria.

That is how he met Iva Gumnishka, a Bulgarian activist who works to provide job opportunities for refugees in the country.

Together, they organized a brainstorming meeting at the end of October, which brought together programmers, entrepreneurs, designers and refugees, to develop innovative solutions that could help asylum seekers cope with their new life in Bulgaria.

The idea that won most support from the participating refugees was setting up True News – a web platform to counter the negative narratives about refugees in the media and provide reliable information about the real situation in their home countries.

A team led by two Bulgarian developers, assisted by a group of Afghan refugees, has already developed a prototype for a video-sharing platform, which can be used to share clips on experiences, opinions and news among refugees and their network.

“Most people think refugees are terrorists. But most of us are just people who had wars in our countries and had to leave. We want to wipe the bad image from our faces,” Ahmad said.

A recent poll, carried out by the Sofia-based sociological research centre “Trend”, has confirmed Ahmad’s impressions about the negative attitude of most Bulgarians towards refugees.

About 84 per cent of the 1,004 participants in the poll said their country should not accept any more refugees from the Middle East.

A similar share, 82 per cent, seemed convinced that taking in economic migrants from war-torn regions was not a good idea generally.

Martin Dimitrov, one of the software developers engaged with the project, said the platform would allow asylum seekers to share information about themselves and about their life in the refugee camps, while at the same time showing Bulgarians that they are “just ordinary people”.

The original content, generated by the refugees, would then be monitored and moderated by locals responsible for the site, which would target the general public and the Bulgarian media.

“We need to find a common language. The bad reputation of refugees comes from the fact that usually it’s third parties that are the ones that talk and write about them,” Dimitrov said.

He and Iva Gumnishka believe that such a platform would have much potential and they are currently seeking additional funds and volunteer software developers to bring the idea to life.

Gumnishka acknowledged that such a project contains some risks for the refugees who take part.

“I would be afraid to open it up for comments as this would attract so much hate speech,” she said.

“I am not sure to what extent Bulgarian society is ready for this – but I still hope that the refugees will have a platform where they can express themselves,” she noted.

Ahmad, however, is positive that sharing his own experience and views with Bulgarians could bring about positive change.

“I want to show Bulgarians who am I, and what my goals and ambitions in life are,” he said. “Maybe I can be a very effective person for this community.”

BJP and AAP to wok together

ON NOVEMBER 10, 2017 BY NARESH SAGARLEAVE A COMMENTEDIT

जनता के स्वास्थ्य के लिए राजनीति को किनारे कर दिल्ली सरकार के साथ मिलकर काम करें बीजेपी-कांग्रेस: गोपाल राय 

दिल्ली मे फ़िलहाल वायु प्रदूषण का स्तर बढ़ा हुआ है जिसे लेकर दिल्ली की आम आदमी पार्टी शासित सरकार वो सबकुछ कर रही है जो उसके अधिकार क्षेत्र में है। लेकिन बड़ा ही दुर्भाग्यपूर्ण है कि भारतीय जनता पार्टी और कांग्रेस इसमें राजनीति कर रही हैं क्योंकि केंद्र में और नज़दीकी राज्यों में उनकी सरकारें हैं और उनसे कोई सहयोग नहीं मिल रहा है। आम आदमी पार्टी दोनो ही पार्टियों से ये अपील करती है कि इस मुश्किल वक्त में राजनीति छोड़ कर दिल्ली और पूरे उत्तर भारत के लोगों के स्वास्थ्य के बारे में सोचें और दिल्ली की सरकार के साथ काम करें।

प्रेस कॉंफ्रेंस में पत्रकारों से बात करते हुए आम आदमी पार्टी के वरिष्ठ नेता एंव दिल्ली संयोजक गोपाल राय ने कहा कि ‘यह बड़ा ही दुर्भाग्यपूर्ण है कि इस मुश्किल वक्त में बीजेपी और कांग्रेस पार्टियां एक ऐसी तस्वीर बनाने की कोशिश कर रही हैं कि जिसमें वो ये साबित करने में लगे हैं कि दिल्ली में जो वायु प्रदूषण है वो दिल्ली के लोगों की वजह से है, जबकि हम सब जानते हैं कि ये अचानक बढ़े प्रदूषण की वजह आखिर है क्या? इन सबके बीच ये दोनो ही पार्टियां राजनीति करने में व्यस्त हैं।

आम आदमी पार्टी इन दोनों ही पार्टियों से अपील करना चाहती है कि इस मुश्किल वक्त में राजनीति को छोड़कर दिल्ली और पूरे उत्तर भारत के लोगों के स्वास्थ्य के बारे में सोचें और दिल्ली सरकार के साथ मिलकर और एकजुट होकर काम करें। 

“Not only our Government but Censor board is also corrupted”,

ON NOVEMBER 10, 2017 BY NARESH SAGARLEAVE A COMMENTEDIT

“Not only our Government but Censor board is also corrupted”, says the team of upcoming controversial movie ‘Ik Onkar’

The entire team of upcoming highly controversial film, which was showcased in America and Canada but banned in India by Censor Board & The Censor Board Tribunal, “Ik Onkar” leaving no bars highlight the fault of Government as well as Censor Board too. As the entire team along with several known political personalities were today present in the press conference held in The Hotel Royal Plaza, Delhi. Which includes politicians like Jarnail Singh (MLA Tilak Nagar & Vice Chairman of Punjabi Academy), Somnath Bharti (Ex Law Minister, Delhi), Alka Lamba (MLA Chandni Chawk), Gurmukh Singh (Counsellor Tilak Nagar), Raghav Chhadha (AAP Spokesperson), Direcctor of the movie Aviral Raj and Producer Talwinder Singh and NRI from Canada, Mandeep Singh Chhatwaal(Distributor) and many others.

The entire team came together and shared their issues regarding the movie and the negative result they faced by the Censor board and government to showcase the movie in India. While interacting with media they stated their views which show their similar point of view and disappointment. Somnath Bharti Ji stated, “It feels like Censor Board is also corrupted along with our Government. I would say the entire scenario is corrupted. Yes this move was shown in America and Canada but why not in India? We made this movie for the goodwill of Punjab and other religions as well, but as per Cesnor board this movie can give a negative impact and can be hazardous to society. But this is absolutely wrong, this movie reveals the problems of Punjab. Our Censor board is biased.”

Whereas, Alka Lamba shared the similar points, she said, “Not only Punjab but the entire India is facing the issue of drug abuse, this is what the highlight of the movie, but our government is not allowing us to showcase the rights and wrongs of the society. We all are standing together for the movie and the corruption too.” As per Somnath Ji, “Government is not giving positive impact to public. There is no institution left in India, which are burdened by the them, nothing is going right.” The director and producer of the movie also seemed disappointed, Aviral Raj told meida, “Ik Onkar is a greta movie, which talks about the youngsters and farmers and the problem they faces in their daily lives, The concept came from Canada is Commendable.”

Well, “Ik Onkar” The Revolution as a title itself portrays the message of Oneness in the society. It will show you evils like drug addiction, corruption, rape, killing and injustice prevailing in the society and will create awareness towards it. The film has been made under the banner of Nanak Films International which is directed by Aviral Raj Sharma and produced by Talwinder Singh.