Category: India

India

Handicare Intl Presents: “Athipattil Oru Adhyayam!”

On August 24, 2019, Mississauga Creations is staging an unique social drama as a fundraiser for HCI at Oakville Theater of performing arts – Liebherr auditorium.  Special features include cast by Ary – A Canadian singer who sings in Tamil and Christopher Sterling, an actor, along with well known actors from our Indian community.. All proceeds from this fundraiser will go towards the Early Intervention therapy for children under 6 years of age in poor rural India. Money raised will be matched by Grand Challenges Canada.

“Athipattil Oru Adhyayam!” depicts the dynamic story of two families from diverse backgrounds. When the very remote probability of a reunion turns into a reality, problems arise, truths are discovered and relationships blossom. Follow these families on their journey to uncover their not-so-unrelated stories, beginning in the small town of Athipattu, Tamilnadu. This play is a testimony to how above all differences, what matters most is the love and friendship that builds everlasting relationships.

Handi-Care Intl. was founded as a Canadian registered charity in 1992. HCI has focused on the “Education, Rehabilitation, Vocational Training and Empowerment” of children and youth with disabilities from poor, rural South India. Currently, there are 500 children and youth under sponsorship. In addition, 900 children, below age 6, with disabilities are under Early Intervention program, that is co-funded by Grand Challenges Canada. Our program includes training, educating and creating awareness to the family members and surrounding community so the children will receive ongoing support in the home environment.

  • Handi-Care Intl. is run by volunteers. It is run in a home office.  Office space and all administration hours donated. The organization is supported by a host of enthusiastic, dedicated and committed volunteers.  This has enabled HCI to consistently  disburse in excess of 97% of  funds  it has raised towards charitable activities. How do we compare with other Canadian charities?
  • HCI is a registered charity, tax receipts are issued for all donations of $20.00 or more received.
  • HCI conducts annual fund raising events, apart from sustained commitments from kind hearted, empathetic persons of the community. Continue reading “Handicare Intl Presents: “Athipattil Oru Adhyayam!”” →
Global, India

J&K would become a true part of India in letter and spirit : Article 370 scrapped

Announcing a path breaking decision by the Government, Shri Shah said that the Government is moving a resolution which would repeal the provisions under Article 370 of the Constitution of India,which granted a special status to the state of J&K. The provisions of Article 370 would cease to exist from the date President of India issues a notification in this regard, after the recommendation of the Parliament. Consequently, the Constitution of India would get applicable to J&K, on par with other states/UTs of the country, the Minister added.

Responding to apprehensions on the resolution and the future of J&K,Shri Shah said,“I would just say that the bill that the Government is bringing is historic. Article 370 has prevented J&K to merge with India rather than being a basis of its merger. The politics of vote bank has looted the youth of the state for over 70 years. I would call on the opposition members to debate and discuss on why the benefits of development were not allowed to reach the common people of J&K till now. Politics of religion must be avoided at all costs. Article 370 is equally harmful for people of all religions”, the Minister said.

Further, the Minister termed the provisions of Article 370 as discriminatory on the basis of gender, class, caste and place of origin. The youth is being taken for a ride by the political elite. This provision was temporary in the first place and it has to go in the larger interest of the people of J&K, he added.

Under article 370(3), there is a provision that President, on recommendation of the Parliament, has the power to amend or cease the implementation of article 370,through a public notification. This has already happened on a number of occasions in the past. The Home Minister pointed out to the opposition that everyone knows how the article 370 is hampering the development of the people of the state.

Shri Shah said that post the repeal of the Article 370, doors to private investment in J&K would be opened, which would in turn increase the potential for development there. Increased investments would lead to increased job creation and further betterment of socio-economic infrastructure in the state. Opening of buying of lands would bring in investments from private individuals and multinational companies and give a boost to the local economy, Continue reading “J&K would become a true part of India in letter and spirit : Article 370 scrapped” →

Global, India

Americares India Responds to Flooding in Assam and Bihar

 Americares India is organizing medical teams to treat survivors of the monsoon rains that have inundated South Asia.

More than 25 million people in India, Bangladesh and Nepal are affected by flooding, as monsoon rains have washed out roads, submerged homes and triggered landslides. To date, more than 500,000 people are displaced and over 600 people have died, according to the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs.

Beginning Monday, Americares India will organize medical teams in three districts in Assam and two districts in Bihar, where continuous rains and contaminated water have heightened health concerns. The teams, operated in partnership with local health care organizations, will provide medical care and dispense medications as needed. Americares also plans to deliver hygiene kits.

“With homes and roads submerged in several feet of standing water, we expect to see an increase in infections,” said Americares India Managing Director Shripad Desai. “Our medical teams will focus on providing primary care and basic first aid for the most vulnerable survivors, including pregnant women, children and the elderly.”

Americares India, based in Mumbai, provides emergency medical and humanitarian aid in response to floods, cyclones, earthquakes and other disasters. Most recently, the Americares India team responded to Cyclone Fani in Odisha, deploying medical teams to care for more than 5,200 patients. Americares India also provides health education, supports health worker safety programs and operates seven mobile health centers that provide free primary care services in 13 municipal wards across the slums of Mumbai.

In Nepal, where more than 100 people have died as result of the flooding, the Americares team in Kathmandu is working closely with the Ministry of Health and Population and local partners to restock health facilities with essential medicines and relief supplies.

Donations to Americares Worldwide Disaster Relief Fund will support its response to the flooding in India and Nepal. To make a donation, please go towww.americares.org/worldwide Continue reading “Americares India Responds to Flooding in Assam and Bihar” →

Articles, Global, India

Sudarshan Pattnaik , Sand Artist from Odisha, India wins People’s Choice Award

Sand artist, Sudarshan Pattnaik won ‘People’s Choice Award’ at Boston International Sand Art Championship. Pattnaik, a Padma Shi awardee, hails from Odisha, India. He represented India at the 2019 Revere Beach International Sand Sculpting Festival held in Boston, U.S.A.

Pattnaik sculpted a sand art on plastic pollution with a message “Save the Ocean”, which brought him the achievement.

The festival started on July 26 and concluded on July 28. There were 15 sculptors from around the world, including India, who participated in this festival. Belgium got sculptor”s choice and Canada got the jury”s choice prize.

“I have created sculpture on ”Stop Plastic Pollution” with the message “Save the Ocean”. Happy to see lots of people voted for my sculpture,” said Pattnaik.

Pattnaik, who is known for his sand sculptures on social awareness, has participated in more than 60 international sand sculpture championships across the world and won many awards for the country. A Padma Shri recipient, he is also a Guinness World Records holder.

Sudarshan has won a number of awards and accolades, including consecutive gold medals in Russia in 2016 and 2017, the Danish grand prize at the International Sand Art Competition in Denmark, and awards from Spain, Canada and many countries around the world.

Pattnaik attended the 2013 World Sand Sculpting Championship in Atlanta. In 2010, he won three gold medals at the North America Solo Sand Sculpting Competition. His sand recreation of the Taj Mahal in 2005 at the Houston International Sand Art festival is what first got him noticed in the United States.

The Revere Beach, the first public beach in the Boston area, hosts this unique annual competition- sand sculpting, every year.

Continue reading “Sudarshan Pattnaik , Sand Artist from Odisha, India wins People’s Choice Award” →

Global, India, Travel

Incredible India Wins Pata Gold Award 2019

The Incredible India “Find the Incredible You” campaign released globally by the Ministry of Tourism during 2018-19 has been declared winner of the PATA (Pacific Asia Travel Association) Gold Award 2019 in the “Marketing – Primary Government Destination” category. This year’s awards attracted 198 entries from 78 organisations and individuals worldwide.

The Ministry of Tourism, as part of its promotional initiatives annually releases Global Media Campaigns under the ‘Incredible India’ brand-line in the Television, Print, Digital and Social Media, in key and potential source markets overseas.

To take the Campaigns to the next level, the ‘Incredible India 2.0’ Campaign was launched in September 2017, which marks a shift from generic promotions undertaken across the world to market specific promotional plans and content creation. The campaign focuses on digital and social media and the promotion of Niche Tourism products of the country.

As part of the 2.0 Campaign, five new television commercials were produced by the Ministry, which were aired globally in the television, digital and social media. These were:

  1. Yoga   :           “The Yogi of the Racetrack”
  2. Wellness :      “The Reincarnation of Mr. and Mrs. Jones”
  3. Luxury  :        “The Maharani of Manhattan”
  4. Cuisine  :       “The Masala MasterChef”
  5. Wildlife :       “The Sanctuary in Paris”

The campaign strategy was to shift the focus from the external experience of tourist destinations to the internal experience of travelers themselves. This series of transformative experiences was brought alive through unique storytelling in the format of autobiographies of travelers, with the tagline “Find the Incredible You”.

The series of films have received a very good response and have registered over 153 million views on social media. They were earlier awarded the First Prize in the category of TV Cinema Spot at the International Golden City Gate Tourism Awards at Berlin in March 2019. Continue reading “Incredible India Wins Pata Gold Award 2019” →

Global, India, Sports

Final four target World Cup history as they prepare for semi-final showdowns

 

  • India finished top of the group standings after overtaking Australia with victory over Sri Lanka
  • The semi-finals will see India take on New Zealand before England face Australia

After seven weeks, 45 matches and plenty of standout performances with both the bat and ball, the four semi-finalists for the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2019 have been confirmed.

On the face of it, the top four sides are as expected – with India, Australia England and New Zealand going into the tournament ranked the best four ODI teams in the world.

But as hosts England can attest to, the journey to reach the knockout stage has not been plain sailing for all of the sides that remain in contention to be crowned champions.

Australia will now continue the defence of their 2015 crown against England at Edgbaston, while India face New Zealand at Old Trafford in the other semi-final showdown.

And as the race to reach the tournament showpiece at Lord’s on 14 July draws to a close, here’s a look at the World Cup records of the four teams who are still in contention for silverware.

INDIA

The tag of being one of the favourites can weigh heavily on some – but India have shown no signs of being burdened by the pressure as they topped the standings after the round-robin stage.

India won seven of their nine games to finish at the summit, with their defeat to tournament hosts England the only blot on their record following a complete washout against New Zealand. Continue reading “Final four target World Cup history as they prepare for semi-final showdowns” →

Community, India

Global Passport Seva Program for Indian Citizens

The Consulate General of India (CGI), Toronto, rolled out the Government of India’s flagship Passport Seva Program (PSP) on 12 June 2019 to cater to the Indian passport services to Indian citizens living under its consular jurisdiction. ConsulGeneral Mr. Dinesh Bhatia handed over first few passports printed on the new system to the applicants at a function organized at the Consulate in the presence of community members and media.

The new system will further streamline and expedite passport services with better automation and user-friendly interface combined with data integrity and information security. It will facilitateefficient delivery of
passport servicesby the Consulatewith effect from Thursday, 13 June 2019.  Indian citizens living under the consular jurisdiction of CGI Toronto are advised to henceforth use the new portal – https://embassy.passportindia.gov.in for availing passport services, including new passport, passport renewal, reissue, Police Clearance Certificate (PCC) and Surrender Certificate.

The link to the new portal will be available on Consulate’s website – https://www.cgitoronto.gov.in/ and
Consulate’s outsource agency’s website – http://www.blsindia-canada.com.

All the applications would need to be completed online only.  The PSP was launched by the Ministry of External Affairs in partnership with TATA Consultancy Services (TCS). It has completed 7 years of service in India and is now entering into the 8th year.

The consular jurisdiction of the CGI Toronto includes Ontario (Except applicants residing at Postal Code starting with letter K),Quebec (except applicants residing at Postal Codes starting with letters J,H, K),Manitoba, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island and Newfoundland Labrador. Continue reading “Global Passport Seva Program for Indian Citizens” →