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<a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/DoYou-Need-Aadhaar-Card-Govt-Says-Yes-Supreme-Court-Says-No/articleshow/22981267.cms">Controversy</a> is still raging over the mandatory use of <keyword id="144117" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="100" keywordseo="AADHAAR">Aadhaar</keyword>, but an expert <keyword id="2006823" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Committee-on-financial-inclusion">committee on financial inclusion</keyword> has already recommended that the <keyword id="6354335" type="CITY" weightage="100" keywordseo="reserve-bank-of-india">Reserve Bank of India</keyword> should leverage the <keyword id="2006820" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Aadhaar-network">Aadhaar network</keyword> to ensure that every Indian has a <keyword id="2006817" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Free-bank-account">free bank account</keyword> by January 2016. The recommendation has come from the Committee on Comprehensive <keyword id="2006821" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Financial-Services-for-Small-Business">Financial Services for Small Business</keyword> and Low-Income Households, which is headed by <keyword id="311391" type="PERSON" weightage="100" keywordseo="Nachiket-Mor">Nachiket Mor</keyword>, an <keyword id="2006825" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="RBI-board-member">RBI board member</keyword> and former <keyword id="6653" type="CITY" weightage="100" keywordseo="ICICI-bank">ICICI Bank</keyword> executive. 
 <keyword id="30067" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="100" keywordseo="RBI">RBI</keyword> set up the committee last September and it has now sought comments from the public on the <keyword id="1180163" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="draft-recommendations">draft recommendations</keyword> on or before January 24, 2014. Other key members of the panel include former <keyword id="44473" type="CITY" weightage="80" keywordseo="Citigroup">Citigroup</keyword> CEO <keyword id="25396" type="PERSON" weightage="100" keywordseo="Vikram-Pandit">Vikram Pandit</keyword> and <keyword id="2006826" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Axis-Bank-CMD">Axis Bank CMD</keyword> <keyword id="6356453" type="PERSON" weightage="100" keywordseo="Shikha-Sharma">Shikha Sharma</keyword>. 
 According to the report, every Indian resident over 18 years of age should be automatically issued a “universal <keyword id="2006829" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Electronic-bank-account">electronic bank account</keyword> at the time of receiving his/her <keyword id="485058" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Aadhaar-number">Aadhaar number</keyword>.” One can choose his/her <keyword id="2006832" type="COMPANY" weightage="100" keywordseo="Preferred-bank">preferred bank</keyword> from the empanelled ones and need not pay any fee for opening an account. However, the bank can levy <keyword id="162862" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="transaction-charges">transaction charges</keyword>, the committee says. It also recommends setting up of a ‘unified’ redressal agency under the <keyword id="47209" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="100" keywordseo="Finance-Ministry">finance ministry</keyword> to deal with <keyword id="786199" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="customer-complaints">customer complaints</keyword>. 
 About 90% of small businesses have no links to a <keyword id="154831" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="100" keywordseo="financial-institution">financial institution</keyword> and 60% of Indians do not have bank accounts, the report states. “Aadhaar is the key piece of infrastructure to enable a customer to be identified and authenticated so that repudiation and fraud risks are minimised and therefore, should become the universal basis for authentication,” it adds. 
 The panel has also suggested that a special type of <keyword id="6368751" type="PERSON" weightage="100" keywordseo="Banks">banks</keyword> should be introduced to provide payment services and deposit products to small businesses and low-income households. Such banks could be categorised as <keyword id="2006841" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Payments-banks">payments banks</keyword> and “they will be restricted to holding a <keyword id="2006842" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Maximum-balance">maximum balance</keyword> of Rs 50,000 per customer,” the report says. Even <keyword id="2006844" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Existing-lenders">existing lenders</keyword> can set up these payments banks as <keyword id="4128451" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="subsidiaries">subsidiaries</keyword>. The report also recommends setting up another category of wholesale banks that will provide funds to other banks and financial institutions that directly lend to low-income households. 
 On the face of it, the recommendations to introduce a multi-layered <keyword id="6354778" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="100" keywordseo="Banking">banking</keyword> system make sound sense as these ‘proposed’ entities will be serving the <keyword id="2006855" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Financially-weak">financially weak</keyword> segment of the country and overall, the inclusion plan for 2013-2016 looks good. 
 
Except for the Aadhaar part. 
 But before we go ahead, let us have a look at Aadhaar and what all it offers. Launched by the <keyword id="86474" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="100" keywordseo="Unique-Identification-Authority-of-India">Unique Identification Authority of India</keyword> (<keyword id="6355252" type="CITY" weightage="100" keywordseo="UIDAI">UIDAI</keyword>), the <keyword id="804646" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Aadhaar-scheme">Aadhaar scheme</keyword> was initially introduced to ‘promote inclusion and benefits of the <keyword id="1389586" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="marginalised-sections">marginalised sections</keyword> of the society that has no <keyword id="2006861" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Formal-identity-proof">formal identity proof</keyword>.’ Even today, Aadhaar-enabled services are essentially linked to various <keyword id="580043" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="government-welfare-schemes">government welfare schemes</keyword> – so that its beneficiaries can access the same in a hassle-free manner. 
 However, the ‘<keyword id="2006816" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Banking-for-all">banking for all</keyword>’ initiative in its ‘suggested’ format cannot be a marginalised movement, aimed to serve only the under-banked/unbanked regions or the weaker section or those below the <keyword id="141042" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="100" keywordseo="poverty-line">poverty line</keyword>. It has to have a <keyword id="2006866" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Unified-structure">unified structure</keyword> across the country – involving every Indian citizen. In other words, it will be much like the ‘<keyword id="49358" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="voter-card">voter card</keyword>’ mechanism we have in place right now. At the age of 18, an Indian is entitled to get a voter card irrespective of the <keyword id="2006868" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Financial-divides">financial divides</keyword>. Going forward, if the central bank intends to follow the same principle and wants to bring the entire population of the country under its <keyword id="2006870" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Inclusion-umbrella">inclusion umbrella</keyword> (after all, one cannot leave one section of the citizens out of a <keyword id="2006871" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Mass-initiative">mass initiative</keyword> just because they are financially more stable), opening an account at the stipulated age should become mandatory and that means a mandatory <keyword id="1953676" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Aadhaar-validation">Aadhaar validation</keyword>. 
 And that brings us back to the basic question – what is the legal status of Aadhaar in India? Is it just a <keyword id="107911" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="100" keywordseo="Financial-inclusion">financial inclusion</keyword> tool for the economically weak or do the government agencies intend to turn it into an ‘all-inclusive’ tool required for every social and <keyword id="672932" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="100" keywordseo="economic-activity">economic activity</keyword> – right from <keyword id="427269" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Marriage-registration">marriage registration</keyword> to <keyword id="854003" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="land-registration">land registration</keyword>, from banking to <keyword id="6368952" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="100" keywordseo="shopping">shopping</keyword> and more? 
 The RBI has already asked banks to ensure <keyword id="1953683" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Aadhaar-authentication">Aadhaar authentication</keyword> for <a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/Now-RBI-Wants-Aadhaar-Validation-For-Card-based-Transactions/articleshow/26473660.cms">card transactions</a> at merchant locations. “All new card present infrastructure has to be enabled for both <keyword id="1953693" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="EMV-chip-and-PIN">EMV chip and PIN</keyword> and Aadhaar (<keyword id="1953679" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Biometric-validation">biometric validation</keyword>) acceptance,” the central bank stated in a notification on November 26 last year. 
 Although the <keyword id="6354977" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="80" keywordseo="Supreme-Court">Supreme Court</keyword> has ruled that the <keyword id="6356006" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Aadhaar-card">Aadhaar Card</keyword> is not mandatory to get <keyword id="1739662" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="government-benefits">government benefits</keyword> and services, and the <keyword id="1878758" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="National-Identity-Authority-of-India-Bill">National Identity Authority of India Bill</keyword> is yet to get Parliamentary nod, Aadhaar seems to be enjoying a more hallowed status and getting its teeth deep into every key financial transaction one can think of. That might not be quite desirable at this stage as divulging <keyword id="441301" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="biometric-data">biometric data</keyword> (required for Aadhaar Card) is still considered voluntary and <keyword id="2006881" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Secure-storage">secure storage</keyword> of the same cannot be guaranteed even now. 
 The rest of the recommendations by the committee dwell on the structure and requirements of the <keyword id="2006882" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Proposed-banks">proposed banks</keyword>, <keyword id="6597293" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="priority-sector-lending">priority sector lending</keyword> and deposits, and classification of non-banking financial companies (NBFCs). 
 Interestingly, the payment banks will be required to meet the standard <keyword id="35038" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="80" keywordseo="crr">CRR</keyword> terms and must also deposit the balance proceeds in approved <keyword id="838337" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="SLR-securities">SLR securities</keyword> with duration of no more than three months. As they won’t be permitted to assume any kind of <keyword id="854662" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Credit-risk">credit risk</keyword>, which literally rules out any risk of default, the <keyword id="2006891" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Minimum-entry-capital">minimum entry capital</keyword> for them will be Rs 50 crore instead of the Rs 500 crore required for full-service commercial banks in the country. Also, the wholesale banks cannot accept deposits bigger than Rs 5 crore from a single depositor. 
 The RBI had launched a three-year financial <keyword id="2006853" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Inclusion-programme">inclusion programme</keyword> in April 2010, which prompted banks to open outlets in 200,000 villages. The current recommendations seek to deepen such access and experts even feel that the new banking licences, to be announced soon, can be categorised accordingly. But both the government and the RBI should ensure that the programme becomes ‘inclusive’ in the true sense of the term and validation issues should not throw a spanner in the works.

Aadhaar Gaining More
Teeth, To Play Key Role In ‘Banking For All’

New Delhi, Dec 26 () Khadi and Village Industries Commission (KVIC) distributed bee boxes, pottery wheels and advanced leather tool kits to farmers, potters and leather artisans in Agartala to support the weaker sections of the society.
 Addressing an event held recently, Tripura Chief Minister Biplab Kumar Deb expressed hope that the equipment distribution and capacity building drive will create a livelihood and will provide employment to 700 people.
 He further said that programmes like 'Honey Mission', 'Empowerment of Leather Artisans' and 'Kumhar Sashaktikaran Mission' will not only instill self-confidence but give a much required boost to strengthen the weaker sections of the society. It is an endeavour to reach out to the maximum number of people and help them achieve a life of respect and dignity.
 "The objective of this event is not only to empower the rural artisans and help them gain confidence in bee keeping, pottery and leather artistry, but also improve their quality of life. Tripura has a lot of potential of Bee Keeping and Pottery because of large scale cultivation of rubber plants and use of traditional terracotta products in their households," Saxena said.
 Nearly 20 per cent of the beneficiaries of the equipment distribution were women, and around 80 per cent of the total beneficiaries belonged to the marginalised communities, the KVIC stated. RSN MKJ

KVIC distributes bee boxes, potter wheels in Agartala to support weaker sections

The government's decision to remove <keyword id="22142879" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="indexation-benefit" source="keywords">indexation benefit</keyword> on sale of old property will result in huge <keyword id="22544904" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="inflow-of-black-money" source="keywords">inflow of black money</keyword> in <keyword id="19895040" type="General" weightage="100" keywordseo="real-estate" source="keywords">real estate</keyword> and investments in the sector will go down, AAP Rajya Sabha member <keyword id="19934326" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Raghav-Chadha" source="keywords">Raghav Chadha</keyword> said on Thursday. Asking the government to roll back the proposal, Chadha, while taking part in the discussion on the <keyword id="19908389" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Union-Budget" source="keywords">Union Budget</keyword> 2024-25, said people will never be able to buy their "dream homes". "Restore indexation on <keyword id="20584761" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="long-term-capital-gains" source="keywords">long-term capital gains</keyword>. Throughout the world, to woo investors to invest they are incentivised. In this country, by removing indexation we are disincentivising the investor class," he said, adding that removing indexation is not imposing <keyword id="19987671" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="tax" source="keywords">tax</keyword> but it is equivalent to "penalising investors". He said as a result of the step proposed by <keyword id="19956758" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Finance-Minister" source="keywords">Finance Minister</keyword> Nirmala Sitharaman in the Budget 2024-25, individuals selling old properties will incur higher tax outgo. "If you do not bring back indexation three things will happen in this country. First, <keyword id="19895437" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="investment" source="keywords">investment</keyword> in real estate will go down and people will never be able to buy their 'dream homes'," Chadha asserted. He further said there will be undervaluation of property deals, people will buy properties at 'circle rates' and will never disclose the real value of the property. "Third, there will be a huge inflow of <keyword id="20592248" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="black-money" source="keywords">black money</keyword> if you don't roll back this decision to withdraw indexation," he said. In the Union Budget 2024-25, the government proposed reducing the long-term capital gains tax on immovable properties to 12.5 per cent from 20 per cent, but removed the indexation benefits to adjust for inflation. As per the Memorandum to the Union Budget, with rationalisation of rate to 12.5 per cent, indexation available under Section 48 of the Income Tax Act has been proposed to be removed for calculation of any long-term capital gains, which is presently available for property, gold and other unlisted assets. Chadha also highlighted the high tax burden faced by common people and asked for a comprehensive review of both direct and indirect taxes. "We impose taxes like the Europeans do, to get services like sub-Saharan countries," he added. Taking part in the discussion, Debashish Samantaray of the BJD said the central government has given a raw deal to all eastern states like Odisha, Jharkhand, West Bengal in the Budget. He charged that in spite of Odisha giving 20 seats to the BJP, there was hardly anything for the state in the Union Budget. He noted that "regional aspiration should be addressed", and asked the central government to treat all states as equal. RJD's Sanjay Yadav attacked the government stating the Budget had nothing for the poor and marginalised and only catered to the rich and powerful. He noted that his party has been demanding special category status for Bihar for a very long time. Yadav said instead of dividing people on the basis of religion and caste, the government should work towards generating employment in the country. Medha Vishram Kulkarni of BJP and Rajani Ashokrao Patil of INC also participated in the debate. C V Shanmugham of AIADMK said allocation in the Budget does not significantly address the pressing needs of Tamil Nadu's infrastructure, health care, Social justice and education. The government has mentioned 76 projects in Tamil Nadu, but most of them are pre-existing ones getting a facelift. Moreover, in the Budget, no help in flood mitigation was provided, despite the state being prone to cyclones. There is no mention of a linkage of Kaveri and Godawari in the Budget, he said. Samirul Islam of AITC said this Budget is anti-people, anti-poor and anti-Bengal. It only satisfies Bihar and Andhra Pradesh's allies and is to save the government. "The Budget has deprived Bengal," he said. It has also ignored the people, especially the unorganised sector. 83 per cent of India's workforce is employed by unorganised sectors and failed to announce a comprehensive scheme for them and migrant workers, he said. M Mohamed Abdulla of the DMK said the Budget has provoked a constructive debate and disappointment in Tamil Nadu, a state known for its economic contributions. Tamil Nadu expected support and recognition in the budgetary allocations, but received nothing. The government is supposed to represent the people of the country as a whole. However, it is very unfortunate and unfair to see unequal distribution to the state governments, especially for the non-BJP ruled states like Tamil Nadu which provides the highest tax for the government, he said.

Removal of indexation benefit will lead to huge inflow of black money in real estate: Raghav Chadha

"You had your time, you had the power, you've yet to have, your finest hour, <keyword id="12905" type="General" weightage="100" keywordseo="radio" source="Orion">radio</keyword>..." Thirty-nine years after Queen's cult song "Radio Ga Ga" rocked the airwaves, listeners agreed the best may still be around the corner for that much-loved and evolving with the times 'audio device'. Quite simply, the radio. It was sometime in the 1960s. Nemichand Barola was about 10. And remembers vividly tunes from Radio Ceylon playing from a radio in a paan shop in his hometown Ajmer adding to lazy afternoon vibes. Some six decades later, Barola, now a retired school principal, still prefers radio over television and turns to it for that odd melody from his younger days and also for the essential news broadcast from an All India Radio channel. "Radio doesn't disturb me when I am writing or doing any work, it is not possible with TV or mobile phones. I don't have to stop my work to listen to the radio," Barola told PTI. It's his connection from his yesterday to his present, the great societal leveller that binds cities to villages, rich to poor. Once a lifeline to keep in touch with music trends, cricket matches, and the news in distant corners of the country and still a mainstay for many. On World Radio Day on Monday, it is the simplicity, reach and accessibility of the medium that still connects the likes of Barola to the old-worldly charm of the radio in an age of innumerable news channels and music streaming services, say experts. "Radio is a very convenient and easy medium that can be accessed by anyone anywhere. You don't require internet connection, you don't require electricity to operate it. And you don't need to sit in front of it to listen," said <keyword id="5885814" type="General" weightage="50" keywordseo="jainendra-singh" source="Orion">Jainendra Singh</keyword>, retired broadcaster and additional director at All India Radio. The days of transistor sets are long over but the means of listening to the radio have increased with smartphones, audio platforms that customise playlists, FM radio in cars and devices such as Sony's music streaming 'box' Caravan'. In rural areas and economically marginalised sections, a large number of people rely on basic mobile phones that come with an in-built radio feature: a real gamechanger, according to Arti <keyword id="6001550" type="General" weightage="50" keywordseo="jaiman" source="Orion">Jaiman</keyword> of community radio station Gurgaon <keyword id="5314325" type="General" weightage="50" keywordseo="ki-awaaz" source="Orion">Ki Awaaz</keyword>. "During the lockdown, when people were short on money to recharge their phones for the internet, they turned to their basic phones and listened to educational programmes free of charge on the radio," she said. While Barola's love for the radio comes from an era when the visual medium hadn't reached the masses, 25-year-old media professional Falak Afshan from Hyderabad says radio was her first love because of its refined mix of chaste Hindi and Urdu. "I started with All India Radio to improve my Hindi and Urdu, which eventually became second nature. Also, my father loved to listen to music on the radio, so be it Mehdi Hasan's ghazals or Usha Uthup's songs, something would always be playing," Afshan said. Listeners from two different eras, Barola and Afshan are but few of an increasing number of Indians who are connected by the undeniable charm of the radio. The enduring attraction of the radio is evident from the latest Economic Survey which noted that FM radio has flourished in the last few years. According to it, the number of private FM radio stations has increased from 243 in the quarter ending December 2015 to 388 in the quarter ending June 2022. FM radio, generally associated with entertainment programmes, also catered to the migrant population of urban areas through community radio stations. Jaiman noted that it creates a "media space" for local villagers, migrant workers and their families to talk about their issues and find a cultural connection in a city that was urbanised at a breakneck speed. "The way this city has urbanised over the last 30 years, there is no space for local culture or for languages. A lot of people say there is no culture, not realising the culture got built over, and got surrounded by tall buildings. Our effort was to create that bridge, where you can turn on the radio and listen to songs in Bhojpuri, Garhwali, Maithili and Haryanvi," Jaiman said. Since its inception in 2009, Gurgaon Ki Awaaz has grown to over five lakh unique listeners and more than 50,000 who listen to the online radio programmes. "These people are not just from India but all over the world. So that is a big shift that has happened," she added. It is also the ability to connect with the broadcasters at a personal level that has given radio an edge over its more modern and visual counterparts. Apart from the simple pleasures of listening to music all day long sitting in his balcony in Delhi's Burari, Vinod Gautam, a retired government employee, finds joy in connecting with presenters and takes pride when relatives call up to tell him they heard his name. "I have talked to so many presenters of Vividh Bharati and FM Gold over the years, I still do. I once even complained to a presenter that they don't take calls from regulars, the slack was readily rectified," the 64-year-old said. He added that the low hum of even a quiet radio channel soothes him. Television, on the other hand, has increasingly become a "source of stupid nonsense", he said. To be able to connect with their listeners at a rather personal level is a gift of the radio, according to RJ <keyword id="248191" type="General" weightage="50" keywordseo="prateek" source="Orion">Prateek</keyword> of Radio City Lucknow. "We love that people of every age group talk to us like friends. They share their emotions, their feelings with us. We have even discussed global issues with our listeners," Prateek said. With increasing penetration of the Internet, radio presenters like Prateek have also started connecting with their audiences on social media platforms. To get back to "Radio Ga Ga"... for Barola, Afshan and Gautam and countless others, radio is that old friend who should "stick around, 'cause we might miss you, when we grow tired of all this visual". SEE ALSO: <a target="_blank" class="c-link c-message_attachment__title_link" href="https://www.businessinsider.in/tech/mobile/news/best-deals-on-mobile-phone-under-30000-in-amazon-fab-phones-fest-sale/articleshow/97855605.cms">Amazon Fab Phones Fest Sale – best deals on smartphones under ₹30,000</a> <a target="_blank" class="c-link c-message_attachment__title_link" href="https://www.businessinsider.in/thelife/news/galentines-day-all-you-need-to-know-about-its-origins-the-perfect-gift-to-buy-more/slidelist/97856403.cms">Galentine’s Day – All you need to know about its origins, the perfect gift to buy &amp; more</a>

World Radio Day: Just tune in, radio's charm persists on simplicity, accessibility

<keyword id="817405" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Super-30-founder">Super 30 founder</keyword> and mathematician Anand Kumar has been invited for a virtual session with the University of California, Berkeley students in a bid to boost their morale in view of the unprecedented COVID-19 pandemic which has killed over 80,000 people in the US. Executive vice-president of Berkeley India Speaker Series Shubham Parekh extended the invitation to Kumar for the virtual session on May 16, according to a statement issued on Monday. <div type="Article" hostid="261" msid="75687575" title="86% Indian consumers are worried about repaying loans after moratorium, says a new BCG survey" mstype="2" mssubtype="0"></div> The objective is to pep up students, many of whom face depression and anxiety due to the fatal impact of the pandemic and growing uncertainty about how long it would last and at what cost, it said. UC Barkley engages speakers from India in the political, social activism and cultural spheres and eminent names from varied fields have spoken there. "As someone who has grown up in India and witnessed the dire situation of the public education system, I have realised the importance of your contribution to the upliftment of the marginalised sections of the society through education. Your work in the education sector has been awarded, praised across the globe and we would like the students of <keyword id="201630" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="UC-Berkeley">UC Berkeley</keyword> to gain your invaluable advice," said the invite to Kumar. Kumar, globally acclaimed for his pioneering 'Super 30' initiative which has a phenomenal success rate of grooming students from the underprivileged sections for India's highly competitive IIT entrance exams, said that he was looking forward to the opportunity. "In the difficult times, as we are in today, there is a need to hold on to our nerves and be positive. I will tell the students the success stories of my own students who never gave up despite seemingly insurmountable odds to make a mark for themselves. Challenges always come with opportunities. All that is required is to recognise them," Kumar added. The US has recorded 830 COVID-19 deaths in the past 24 hours, taking the death toll to 80,352, according to Johns Hopkins University on Monday. More than 1,300,000 people have been infected. SEE ALSO: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/business/startups/news/70-of-oyo-hotels-in-china-have-reopened-and-bookings-are-rising-slowly-the-company-says/articleshow/75687657.cms" data-type="tilCustomLink" target="_blank">70% of OYO hotels in China have reopened ⁠— and bookings are rising slowly, the company says</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/business/news/only-one-in-five-car-dealerships-have-opened-for-business-after-india-relaxed-lockdown-norms/articleshow/75687421.cms" data-type="tilCustomLink" target="_blank">Only one in five car dealerships have opened for business after India relaxed lockdown norms</a>

Super 30 founder Anand kumar invited to UC Berkeley amidst COVID-19⁠ to 'boost students' morale'

New Delhi, Dec 23 () Experts from health, education and rural development sectors on Monday suggested a dedicated fund for the protection of children, a policy to encourage healthy food habits, and more financial allocations for secondary-level schools.
The main areas of discussion were related to improving efficiency in the delivery of health services; devising innovative ways to reach primary healthcare facilities for marginalised sections; and improving learning outcomes at primary level while also making secondary and higher level education accessible and affordable; among others, said an official release.
The 10th and final Pre-Budget Consultation meeting was chaired by Minister of State for Finance Anurag Thakur attended by senior government officials.
Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman is scheduled to present the Union Budget in February.
The experts discussed benefits of child budgeting; collecting gender disaggregated data by a national mission; broadening, expanding and strengthening PDS; land titles to women; changes in general procurement guidelines to include disabled-friendly technology; and waiver of tax on assisted technology for disabled persons.
As per the release, they also suggested setting up of a dedicated national fund for protection of children; eradication of child labour; policy to encourage healthy food habits via measures like higher taxes on sin products; better compliance of Right to Education and employment generation with skill matching for youth in urban areas.
Representatives from Rashrtiya Sewa Bharati, Right to Education Forum, SEWA Bharat, Save the Children, Right to Food Campaign, Bill &amp; Melinda Gates Foundation, WHO India, Help Age India, CRY-Child Rights and You, UNICEF, The Hans Foundation, and Action Aid Association among others, participated in the meeting. NKD MR
MR

Experts call for policy on healthy foods, fund for protection of children

New Delhi, Apr 7 () In a bid to support the country's fight against COVID-19, JK Tyre and Industries Ltd on Tuesday said is providing food supplies to over 10,000 daily earners and migrants in every region, besides organising health camps in 25 villages in the vicinity of its manufacturing facilities across India. The company, in a statement, said it is extending support to government officials, police department and government hospital employees with packed food and drinking water with the help of NGOs.Already, more than 50 plus medical camps have been set up in several villages to conduct first-level screening for COVID-19 symptoms among citizens and awareness drives were conducted for 5,000 truck drivers, suppliers and vendors.Additionally, district health departments have been provided with ambulance, safety materials, masks, soaps and hand gloves. Isolation wards have been created near the plants and infrastructure support is being provided at primary health centers, it added.Further, the company has also set up a Corona Task-Force to undertake measures for supporting the needs, health and well-being of colleagues, partners, and their families.Initiatives like virtual training sessions and interactive webinars with medical experts are being organised to help them cope with the impact of COVID-19, it added."We all are faced with an unprecedented challenge and the world has become as one community in its efforts towards arresting the spread of COVID-19," JK Tyre and Industries Chairman and Managing Director Raghupati Singhania said. While the company is ensuring the safety of employees, there is a large section of society that remains deprived of basic facilities, he said adding that JK Tyre is humbled to play its part in the relief efforts aimed towards the marginalised communities.Among other steps, the company said it has fumigated nearby villages covering more than 25,000 people, distributed more than 20,000 hand sanitizers and masks, created awareness about safety precautions in more than 150 villages through door-to-door visits, banners and posters at prominent locations and public address systems. LUX SHW RUJRUJ

JK Tyre provides food supplies to over 10k migrants, daily workers

New Delhi, Apr 18 () State-owned gas utility GAIL India Ltd on Saturday said it is in readiness to resume construction of various hydrocarbon infrastructure projects of national importance post lifting of the COVID-19 lockdown. "In order to kick start the crucial infrastructure projects to enable expansion of the gas based economy, GAIL along with its subsidiary and joint venture companies has chalked out catch-up plans for various locations and work fronts to ensure timely completion and avoid any slippages," the company said in a statement here. Before the March 25 nationwide lockdown stopped all construction activities, GAIL was building multi-crore gas pipelines to connect fuel sources with consumption centres as well as setting up city distribution networks to sell CNG to automobiles and piped cooking gas to households. "Graded measures in the short to medium term shall be rolled out starting from April 20 with the support of local administrative authorities across the states," the company said, adding it has facilitated arrangements for continued stay of the migrant labourers working at various sites/camps during the lockdown period for ensuring safety of all concerned. Detailed SOPs / protocols have also been devised for ensuring hygiene and social distancing norms, promoting use of masks at the project sites and work stations in compliance with the instructions/ guidelines issued by the Government of India, it said. In parallel, GAIL has also maintained safe and uninterrupted supplies of LPG to oil marketing companies and natural gas to the crucial downstream utilities such as fertilizer, power, refineries and city gas distribution, the statement said. "Management of the company is in regular communication with the nodal ministry to seek guidance on issues requiring support for resuming full-fledged activities, post the phase of lockdown. Key stake holders are also kept informed on the current developments as well as the proposed line of action under GAIL's complete readiness plan for returning to normalcy in the near term," it said. Besides ensuring operational commitments, GAIL and its employees have been at the forefront in fighting this disease by contributing about Rs 54 crore to the PM CARES Fund. In addition, GAIL has so far provided support aggregating over Rs 3.5 crore to various district administrations across the country for procuring PPE, ventilators, masks and other medical equipment. Distribution of food packets and ration kits are also being undertaken for extending immediate support to the marginalised and needy sections of the society at many locations, it added. ANZ ABMABM

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