Government of India ,Department of Science and Technology Call S&T based Proposals for managing issues related to elderly population (Technology Intervention for Elderly – TIE).
The Department of Science and Technology (DST) invites proposals on focused initiatives for S&T interventions to benefit of elderly population in the country. The Proposals should focus on R&D for technological solutions with multidisciplinary approach to ameliorate problems and improve quality of life of the elderly population in both rural and urban areas.
Some challenges identified for providing S&T solutions are:
1. Development of assistive devices required by the elderly population in the urban/semi-urban/rural areas characterized by:
• Cost effective and affordable by elderly of different segments in society
• Inclusive designs
• Potential for commercialization.
2. Field testing of newly developed technology for acceptance evaluation and further adaptation.
3. Modulation of already existing technology specific for use of elderly to suit Indian conditions.
4. Development of technology package for healthcare of elderly to include preventive care in the area of:
• Area specific nutritional package
• Cost effective visual/hearing aids
• Cost effective dentures/dental implants, etc
• Documentation and validation of traditional health practices for elderly in codified Indian health system
• Cognitive support for elderly (Alzheimer/Parkinson/Dementia, etc.).
5. Safe Kitchens for elderly.
Some indicative technology areas are given below:
• Assistive devices for improving functionality, cognitive and assisted safety measures, excretion defects and related issues.
• Assistive device for various form of monitoring devices/non-invasive measuring devices/systems (injury preventions, blood parameters for non-communicable diseases, standing and balance training).
• Assistive devices for frequently occurring muscular-skeletal problems such as osteoarthritis of knee, ankle joints and the osteoporosis.
• Special devices/footwear for diabetic foot and care, biosensors for clinical diagnosis, automated pill box and methods for learning and analyzing computer signals of medical changes.
• Devices/programmes for fitness of elderly.
• Simple controlled devices for operating household devices.
In addition to the above themes, other novel/innovative idea/concept related to enablement and comforts of Elderly people in the country are welcome.
Eligibility criteria: Projects can be undertaken by academic/R&D institutions, NGOs. Collaborative projects between Institutions, Industry and NGOs working in the area of the elderly are encouraged. Proposals covering Areas of social sciences are not under the purview of this programme.
Project proposals (10 hard copies and 1 soft copy) can be submitted in the prescribed format available on the Website: www.scienceandsociety-dst.org to the address mentioned below.
HEAD
Science for Equity, Empowerment and Development Division (SEED)
Department of Science and Technology, Technology Bhavan,
New Mehrauli Road,
New Delhi 110 016
Tel: 011-2659 0339, e-mail: headseedglp@gmail.com)
The envelope should be subscribed as ‘Proposal Under Tie-Programme’. The proposals can be submitted throughout the year. Proposals received up to 31 July 2010 can be considered for evaluation in the next PAMC meeting.
For further information contact:
In-charge TIE-Programme, Science for Equity, Empowerment and Development
Division (SEED), Department of Science and Technology,
Technology Bhavan,
New Mehrauli Road,
New Delhi
110 016 (usha.dixit@nic.in , phone: 011-2659 0322).
Source: The Times of India, Mumbai Edition dt.29th May 2010 pg.24
Forget yourself for others, and others will never forget you.
Monday, May 31, 2010
Friday, May 21, 2010
3rd Annual Essay Competition 2010
On the occasion of World Elder Abuse Awareness Day 2010, Silver Inning Foundation, a ‘Not for Profit’ dedicated organization for senior citizens and their family members will be commemorating Elder Abuse Day on 15th June’2010. It has taken the initiative to create awareness among civil society and Government to eliminate elder abuse at both micro and macro level.
SILVER INNING FOUNDATION invites an Essay of maximum 2000 words in following category and topics:
1) For all age group:
‘Elders Abuse - The Change Has to Start at Our Home’
2) For School Students - Class 5th to class 10th:
“My Grandparents - Our Golden Treasures”
3) For Students - 1st year College to Post graduation :
'No Excuse for Elder Abuse - Signs and Solutions'
Silver Innings - Blog for Senior Citizens: 3rd Annual Essay Competition 2010
Forget yourself for others, and others will never forget you.
SILVER INNING FOUNDATION invites an Essay of maximum 2000 words in following category and topics:
1) For all age group:
‘Elders Abuse - The Change Has to Start at Our Home’
2) For School Students - Class 5th to class 10th:
“My Grandparents - Our Golden Treasures”
3) For Students - 1st year College to Post graduation :
'No Excuse for Elder Abuse - Signs and Solutions'
Silver Innings - Blog for Senior Citizens: 3rd Annual Essay Competition 2010
Forget yourself for others, and others will never forget you.
Thursday, May 20, 2010
Closing the Digital Divide for Those with Disabilities
"Mobile Ability: The Transformational Impact of Wireless Innovation for People with Disabilities - A Report"
In each of our modern lives, broadband holds a pivotal key to enhancing economic opportunities, expanding access to education, improving our health and participating in civil society. Nowhere is this potential more powerfully on display than at the intersection of broadband and mobility. And, arguably no community has put this nearly limitless potential to more transformational use in their daily lives than the 1 in 5 Americans who, today, are living with disabilities.
From leading wireless carriers to devoted garage innovators, the mobile innovation community is embracing the true spirit of mobile broadband’s much-touted promise to bring opportunity and quality of life enhancements to all Americans. From people with disabilities who are finding innovative uses for connected smartphones and mainstream mobile applications to technologists who are thinking and creating for the unique needs of specific communities, profound innovation is underway today.
This report is intended as a celebration of this innovation—and an exploration of the common elements, values and commitments that can ensure it is continually nurtured. Twenty years ago, our nation made an extraordinary commitment to accessibility and opportunity in passing the landmark Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Wireless grew up in this era. And, today, it is ushering in a second wave of quality of life advances and inclusiveness for 54 million Americans with disabilities.
From voice-activated GPS technology that can guide a blind person down the street , to access to closed captioned video on the go, to the fact that kids with disabilities now can go to school with smartphones in their pockets rather than large, cumbersome assistive devices, these innovations reflect awe-inspiring progress. Equally encouraging is the certain fact that we have barely scratched the surface of what mobile innovation can do to expand the horizons and grow the range of opportunities available to this community.
On behalf of the Mobile Future community, we thank the organizations and technologists who contributed their insights to the development of this report. It is our hope that this paper reflects just one small contribution to a growing conversation and further exploration around unlocking opportunities in the digital/mobile age.
With the release of its National Broadband Plan and subsequent report on broadband for people with disabilities, the Federal Communications Commission is signaling its own commitment to encouraging these life-changing innovations. At this important juncture, we offer this paper to help inform both great products and meaningful policy.
Jonathan Spalter
Chairman
Mobile Future
Read Full Report: http://mobfut.3cdn.net/07bf12aba705fafb8f_fym6bat6i.pdf
Source: http://www.mobilefuture.org/content/pages/mobile_ability
Forget yourself for others, and others will never forget you.
In each of our modern lives, broadband holds a pivotal key to enhancing economic opportunities, expanding access to education, improving our health and participating in civil society. Nowhere is this potential more powerfully on display than at the intersection of broadband and mobility. And, arguably no community has put this nearly limitless potential to more transformational use in their daily lives than the 1 in 5 Americans who, today, are living with disabilities.
From leading wireless carriers to devoted garage innovators, the mobile innovation community is embracing the true spirit of mobile broadband’s much-touted promise to bring opportunity and quality of life enhancements to all Americans. From people with disabilities who are finding innovative uses for connected smartphones and mainstream mobile applications to technologists who are thinking and creating for the unique needs of specific communities, profound innovation is underway today.
This report is intended as a celebration of this innovation—and an exploration of the common elements, values and commitments that can ensure it is continually nurtured. Twenty years ago, our nation made an extraordinary commitment to accessibility and opportunity in passing the landmark Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Wireless grew up in this era. And, today, it is ushering in a second wave of quality of life advances and inclusiveness for 54 million Americans with disabilities.
From voice-activated GPS technology that can guide a blind person down the street , to access to closed captioned video on the go, to the fact that kids with disabilities now can go to school with smartphones in their pockets rather than large, cumbersome assistive devices, these innovations reflect awe-inspiring progress. Equally encouraging is the certain fact that we have barely scratched the surface of what mobile innovation can do to expand the horizons and grow the range of opportunities available to this community.
On behalf of the Mobile Future community, we thank the organizations and technologists who contributed their insights to the development of this report. It is our hope that this paper reflects just one small contribution to a growing conversation and further exploration around unlocking opportunities in the digital/mobile age.
With the release of its National Broadband Plan and subsequent report on broadband for people with disabilities, the Federal Communications Commission is signaling its own commitment to encouraging these life-changing innovations. At this important juncture, we offer this paper to help inform both great products and meaningful policy.
Jonathan Spalter
Chairman
Mobile Future
Read Full Report: http://mobfut.3cdn.net/07bf12aba705fafb8f_fym6bat6i.pdf
Source: http://www.mobilefuture.org/content/pages/mobile_ability
Forget yourself for others, and others will never forget you.
Wednesday, May 19, 2010
Worlds Schizophrenia Awareness Day , Pune ,India
Our Association has been observing the World Schizophrenia Awareness Day every year on 24th May to focus on social awareness about the illness and as a part of educating people in this regard so that the stigma and the feeling of shame attached to it get eradicated.
This year also the Association would observe the World Schizophrenia Awareness Day on Monday the 24th May 2010 by organizing Public Meeting at Nivara Vrudhashram off L.B. Shastri Road, Navi Peth,Pune at 6.00 p.m.
Honorable Justice Ajit Prakash Shah former Chief Justice of Madras and Delhi High Courts has kindly consented to deliver the keynote address at the public meeting .The meeting will be presided over by Dr. Mohan Agashe.
We request you to attend the Public Meeting as per programme.
Thanking you
Yours Sincerely
Schizophrenia Awareness Association, Pune , India
Y.N. Oak
saa.help@gmail.com
RSVP_
Ms. Pooja Chauhan: 020- 64700920 / 24391202/ 9049750675
Forget yourself for others, and others will never forget you.
This year also the Association would observe the World Schizophrenia Awareness Day on Monday the 24th May 2010 by organizing Public Meeting at Nivara Vrudhashram off L.B. Shastri Road, Navi Peth,Pune at 6.00 p.m.
Honorable Justice Ajit Prakash Shah former Chief Justice of Madras and Delhi High Courts has kindly consented to deliver the keynote address at the public meeting .The meeting will be presided over by Dr. Mohan Agashe.
We request you to attend the Public Meeting as per programme.
Thanking you
Yours Sincerely
Schizophrenia Awareness Association, Pune , India
Y.N. Oak
saa.help@gmail.com
RSVP_
Ms. Pooja Chauhan: 020- 64700920 / 24391202/ 9049750675
Forget yourself for others, and others will never forget you.
Thursday, May 13, 2010
Women’s representation in media is 24%: monitoring study report
The 2010 preliminary report of the Global Media Monitoring Project (the final report will be out in September 2010), which has been monitoring gender equality in the media since 1995, has produced mixed results, showing improvement in many areas though not always at the expected pace.
The fourth in the series ‘Who makes the news?’ used data from 42 countries in Africa, Asia, Latin America, the Caribbean region, Pacific Islands, and Europe to gauge the representation of women in the news, and how women fare in the delivery of news and in journalistic practice.
While there is a marked improvement in representation of women in the news in this fourth report, over the previous one, the largest increase in women’s visibility is in stories on the topic ‘science and health’ which receives the lowest media attention. And while women are visible as givers of popular opinion in news stories, very few are called upon as experts.
Representation
* Twenty-four per cent of people interviewed, heard, seen or read about in mainstream broadcast and print news are female. In the first report, in 1995, only 17% of people in the news were women. This went up to 18% in 2000 and 21% in 2005. The report says the pace of progress in gender balance in the news has remained “persistently slow in the last 10 years,” but is more rapid than the rate registered between 1995 and 2000.
* The largest rise in women’s visibility is in stories on ‘science and health’ (from 22% of news subjects in 2005 to 37% in 2010). In reality, this topic receives the lowest media attention (10% of total news stories). In topics that are high priority on the news media front, the increase in women as subjects was much smaller -- from 20% to 21% in stories on the ‘economy’ and from 14% to 18% in stories on ‘politics and government’.
* Further, a significant component of the 3% increase in women in the news can be attributed to the notable increase in women as providers of popular opinion, and much less to women appearing as experts. Men and women are represented in almost equal numbers when it comes to providing popular opinion, but an overwhelming 81% of experts and 82% of spokespersons are male.
* Only 16% of all stories focus specifically on women. Overall, this is an increase from 10% of stories in 2005. There has been an improvement in the ratio of women to men who are central in news stories -- in news on politics/government (from 8% of stories in 2005 to 18% in 2010) and on the economy (from 3% of stories in 2005 to 7% in 2010). Nevertheless, the percentage of stories in which women are not central far outweighs the percentage of stories in which they are.
* Issues of special concern to women contained in the Beijing Platform for Action receive an average of less than 1.5% media attention each.
Of the stories appearing in the news during the monitoring day, 1.3% were on gender-based violence, 0.3% on women’s economic participation, 1.2% on poverty, and 0.9% on peace. ‘Women and political participation’ received the highest coverage, at 3.4%. Print news contained the highest proportion of stories on all five themes, suggesting that newspapers would be the most effective medium for issues of concern to women to find space in the mainstream news agenda.
Delivering the news
* Overall, news stories by female reporters are much fewer than news stories by male reporters. In 2010, the percentage of stories by female reporters on radio was lower than in 2005, a drastic drop from 45% to 27%. Television reporting by women went up from 42% to 44% and newspaper stories by female reporters increased from 29% to 35%.
* News stories by female reporters are almost twice as likely to challenge gender stereotypes than stories by male reporters -- 11% by female reporters compared to 6% by male reporters.
* News stories by female reporters have considerably more female news subjects than stories by male reporters -- 26% of news subjects in stories by female reporters, compared to 19% of news subjects in stories by male reporters.
Journalistic practice
* Almost half (48%) of all news stories reinforce gender stereotypes, while 8% of news stories challenge gender stereotypes. News stories are six times more likely to reinforce gender stereotypes than to challenge them. No conclusions can be drawn on the change over the past five years owing to revisions made to the method of collecting data on stereotyping in news coverage.
* Only 12% of news stories highlight issues of gender equality or inequality. The percentage of news stories that shed light on an aspect of gender equality or inequality in the story has tripled in the last five years. Nevertheless, stories that miss the opportunity to highlight (in)equality issues are by far more numerous.
* Women are five times as likely as men to be portrayed in their roles as wives, mothers, etc. Nineteen per cent of women appearing in the news are identified by their family status as compared to 4% of men in the news.
* Only 9% of news stories mention gender equality policies or human and women’s rights legal instruments. The report says ‘this finding suggests that numerous stories miss the opportunity to create awareness on instruments enacted to protect human rights, women’s rights or gender equality’. It says that this finding also ‘supports an observation by gender and communication groups that human rights, and in particular women’s human rights, are relatively invisible in mainstream media coverage’.
Latin America leads as the region with the highest percentage of stories that challenge stereotypes (14%) as well as the region with the lowest percentage of stories that reinforce stereotypes (24%).
Stories in Asia are almost eight times more likely to reinforce as to challenge stereotypes. In Africa, stories are almost 16 times more likely to reinforce than to challenge stereotypes. In the Middle East, stories are 13 times more likely to reinforce than to challenge stereotypes.
Read the full report: http://www.whomakesthenews.org/
Forget yourself for others, and others will never forget you.
The fourth in the series ‘Who makes the news?’ used data from 42 countries in Africa, Asia, Latin America, the Caribbean region, Pacific Islands, and Europe to gauge the representation of women in the news, and how women fare in the delivery of news and in journalistic practice.
While there is a marked improvement in representation of women in the news in this fourth report, over the previous one, the largest increase in women’s visibility is in stories on the topic ‘science and health’ which receives the lowest media attention. And while women are visible as givers of popular opinion in news stories, very few are called upon as experts.
Representation
* Twenty-four per cent of people interviewed, heard, seen or read about in mainstream broadcast and print news are female. In the first report, in 1995, only 17% of people in the news were women. This went up to 18% in 2000 and 21% in 2005. The report says the pace of progress in gender balance in the news has remained “persistently slow in the last 10 years,” but is more rapid than the rate registered between 1995 and 2000.
* The largest rise in women’s visibility is in stories on ‘science and health’ (from 22% of news subjects in 2005 to 37% in 2010). In reality, this topic receives the lowest media attention (10% of total news stories). In topics that are high priority on the news media front, the increase in women as subjects was much smaller -- from 20% to 21% in stories on the ‘economy’ and from 14% to 18% in stories on ‘politics and government’.
* Further, a significant component of the 3% increase in women in the news can be attributed to the notable increase in women as providers of popular opinion, and much less to women appearing as experts. Men and women are represented in almost equal numbers when it comes to providing popular opinion, but an overwhelming 81% of experts and 82% of spokespersons are male.
* Only 16% of all stories focus specifically on women. Overall, this is an increase from 10% of stories in 2005. There has been an improvement in the ratio of women to men who are central in news stories -- in news on politics/government (from 8% of stories in 2005 to 18% in 2010) and on the economy (from 3% of stories in 2005 to 7% in 2010). Nevertheless, the percentage of stories in which women are not central far outweighs the percentage of stories in which they are.
* Issues of special concern to women contained in the Beijing Platform for Action receive an average of less than 1.5% media attention each.
Of the stories appearing in the news during the monitoring day, 1.3% were on gender-based violence, 0.3% on women’s economic participation, 1.2% on poverty, and 0.9% on peace. ‘Women and political participation’ received the highest coverage, at 3.4%. Print news contained the highest proportion of stories on all five themes, suggesting that newspapers would be the most effective medium for issues of concern to women to find space in the mainstream news agenda.
Delivering the news
* Overall, news stories by female reporters are much fewer than news stories by male reporters. In 2010, the percentage of stories by female reporters on radio was lower than in 2005, a drastic drop from 45% to 27%. Television reporting by women went up from 42% to 44% and newspaper stories by female reporters increased from 29% to 35%.
* News stories by female reporters are almost twice as likely to challenge gender stereotypes than stories by male reporters -- 11% by female reporters compared to 6% by male reporters.
* News stories by female reporters have considerably more female news subjects than stories by male reporters -- 26% of news subjects in stories by female reporters, compared to 19% of news subjects in stories by male reporters.
Journalistic practice
* Almost half (48%) of all news stories reinforce gender stereotypes, while 8% of news stories challenge gender stereotypes. News stories are six times more likely to reinforce gender stereotypes than to challenge them. No conclusions can be drawn on the change over the past five years owing to revisions made to the method of collecting data on stereotyping in news coverage.
* Only 12% of news stories highlight issues of gender equality or inequality. The percentage of news stories that shed light on an aspect of gender equality or inequality in the story has tripled in the last five years. Nevertheless, stories that miss the opportunity to highlight (in)equality issues are by far more numerous.
* Women are five times as likely as men to be portrayed in their roles as wives, mothers, etc. Nineteen per cent of women appearing in the news are identified by their family status as compared to 4% of men in the news.
* Only 9% of news stories mention gender equality policies or human and women’s rights legal instruments. The report says ‘this finding suggests that numerous stories miss the opportunity to create awareness on instruments enacted to protect human rights, women’s rights or gender equality’. It says that this finding also ‘supports an observation by gender and communication groups that human rights, and in particular women’s human rights, are relatively invisible in mainstream media coverage’.
Latin America leads as the region with the highest percentage of stories that challenge stereotypes (14%) as well as the region with the lowest percentage of stories that reinforce stereotypes (24%).
Stories in Asia are almost eight times more likely to reinforce as to challenge stereotypes. In Africa, stories are almost 16 times more likely to reinforce than to challenge stereotypes. In the Middle East, stories are 13 times more likely to reinforce than to challenge stereotypes.
Read the full report: http://www.whomakesthenews.org/
Forget yourself for others, and others will never forget you.
Agartala to become India’s first ‘green city’
Residents of Agartala now have a choice of giving their loved ones an eco-friendly funeral. Instead of using the traditional firewood, they can opt for a cost-effective pyre run on compressed natural gas (CNG). CNG-run pyres are both cheaper and more environment-friendly and are becoming popular among the city’s residents. The Battala crematorium, the largest in Agartala, supports three ovens run on CNG.
The Agartala Municipal Council has in fact adopted a policy of encouraging the CNG-based crematorium over conventional fuelwood and electricity-based ones.
Shankar Das, chairperson of the Agartala Municipal Council, explains that using the CNG pyre costs a family only Rs 150; the conventional pyre costs Rs 350. “There are some sentiments involved but we try to reassure the relatives of the dead that burning CNG costs less and is less polluting,” he says.
Agartala, capital of the northeastern Indian state of Tripura, is located 2 km from the Bangladesh border. The city is maintained by the Agartala Municipal Council (AMC), and is divided into a number of wards, each with an elected ward representative or municipal councillor.
Recently, the Tripura government announced plans to switch all public and private vehicles in the capital to compressed natural gas by 2013, making it ‘India’s first green city’. CNG is a fossil fuel substitute for petrol, diesel and propane. Although its combustion does produce greenhouse gas, it is cleaner than the abovementioned fuels, and safer in the event of a spill (natural gas is lighter than air and disperses quickly when released).
CNG is economical and safe to use as an automotive fuel. It is dispensed to vehicles at 200 kg/cm2 pressure. It is used in traditional petrol internal-combustion-engine cars that have been converted to bi-fuel vehicles (petrol/CNG). Natural gas vehicles are increasingly being used in Europe and South America due to rising petrol prices.
Due to the absence of lead or benzene in CNG, the problem of sparkplugs fouling is eliminated. CNG-powered vehicles have lower maintenance costs too, compared with other-fuel-powered vehicles. CNG fuel systems are sealed, preventing spillage and evaporation loss. Another practical advantage is the increased life of lubricating oils, as CNG does not contaminate and dilute the crankcase oil. Being a gaseous fuel, it mixes easily and evenly in air.
According to Das, autorickshaws plying in Agartala city and other parts of the state are already using CNG. “We are trying to encourage its use in other public transport as well. The Tripura Road Transport Corporation will soon be plying buses that run on CNG. An average car can run 22.05 km on 1 kg of CNG, against 25 km on 1 litre of petrol,” he says.
Tripura Natural Gas Co Ltd (TNGCL), a joint venture of the Gas Authority of India Ltd (GAIL) and the Tripura and Assam governments, has undertaken to supply CNG to all private and government vehicles. GAIL is India’s largest natural gas transportation company, integrating all aspects of the natural gas value chain. GAIL was listed by Forbes as one of the world’s 2,000 largest public companies, in 2007. The first CNG station in eastern India was set up at Arundhuti Nagar, Agartala, Tripura, by TNGCL.
“The bottling of gas for cooking purposes is now done here itself though it comes from sources in the neighbouring state of Assam. CNG will also be available to those using electricity, petrol and diesel to run various machines,” says Das.
Housewife Shikha Sutradhar has been using CNG in her kitchen for over five years, and she’s not complaining. “It emits no soot or smoke. It even cooks faster than the normal liquid propane gas (LPG). Moreover, it’s cheaper,” she says. Her family of five used to require two cylinders of LPG every month; one LPG cylinder cost her Rs 350. Now, she spends just Rs 350 for piped gas for the month. Shikha’s entire neighbourhood has converted to CNG.
TNGCL has been supplying piped natural gas (PNG) to almost one-third of the city, covering over 7,500 families and two-thirds of hotels, restaurants and sweet shops in Agartala. Pabitra Kar, chairperson of TNGCL, says: “By 2013, we plan to cover the entire city of Agartala with PNG and turn the city into a ‘green’ city. We are also planning to set up more CNG stations and, in another three years’ time, we will covert more than 70% of autorickshaws and smaller private vehicles to CNG.”
Agartala has become the fourth city in India, after New Delhi, Mumbai and Lucknow, to run CNG vehicles on a large scale. The authorities have also issued circulars to all government departments stating that they should hire only CNG-run vehicles. Kar explains: “We already have abundant natural gas in our region. By replacing fossil fuels like petrol and diesel with CNG we are being both eco-friendly as well as economical.”
The trend has spread to all sectors. The Indira Gandhi Memorial Hospital in Agartala now has a CNG connection in its operation theatres, kitchen and bio-medical waste-disposal section. Almost 10 units at the Budjung Nagar industrial area use CNG as fuel in their furnaces; this has the added advantage of no power supply interruptions. Even laboratories at educational institutions are turning to natural gas.
“All the power projects are running on CNG. Two more power projects are coming up in the state which will also be gas-based,” says Kar. TNGCL is going to lay a gas pipeline from Maharajganj Bazaar to the Lichubagan area to cater to the needs of the new capital complex and adjacent areas. This will expand the CNG network to the entire northeast.
Efforts to turn Agartala into a ‘green’ city will also involve a sustained campaign on afforestation in and around the city. Agartala’s population in 2004 was 367,822 (it was 189,327 in the 2001 census). “It was a ‘green’ city and we want it to remain one. Already, 10,000 saplings were planted last year. This year, in the months of May and June, we will have a Briksha Mahotsav, or ‘tree festival’, where we will plant trees and guard them,” says Das.
Also on the cards is solar energy. The Tripura government has decided to make using solar energy mandatory in commercial, government and private buildings. This will help reduce dependence on conventional energy. The project will be undertaken by the Tripura Renewable Energy Development Agency (TREDA), an autonomous body.
In fact, the Union Ministry of Non-conventional and Renewable Energy has pledged to turn 60 cities across India into ‘solar cities’ within the next few years; the initiative includes the state capitals of all the northeastern states. To set an example for other cities, the ministry has decided to develop two cities as model solar cities, where an entire solar energy system will be set up to include street lights, garden lights, traffic lights, hoardings and solar water heaters. Energy-efficient ‘green’ buildings will be promoted on a large scale. The initiative, called ‘Development of Solar Cities’, will be implemented during the Eleventh Five-Year Plan (2007-12), and will be based on a model already being practised in New York, Tokyo and London.
Contact
Agartala Municipal Council
City Centre Complex
Paradise Chowmuhani
Agartala 799001
Tel: (0381)-2325507/2325646/2325149
By Teresa Rehman
Source:
http://infochangeindia.org/201005078288/Environment/Stories-of-change/Agartala-to-become-India-s-first-green-city.html
Forget yourself for others, and others will never forget you.
The Agartala Municipal Council has in fact adopted a policy of encouraging the CNG-based crematorium over conventional fuelwood and electricity-based ones.
Shankar Das, chairperson of the Agartala Municipal Council, explains that using the CNG pyre costs a family only Rs 150; the conventional pyre costs Rs 350. “There are some sentiments involved but we try to reassure the relatives of the dead that burning CNG costs less and is less polluting,” he says.
Agartala, capital of the northeastern Indian state of Tripura, is located 2 km from the Bangladesh border. The city is maintained by the Agartala Municipal Council (AMC), and is divided into a number of wards, each with an elected ward representative or municipal councillor.
Recently, the Tripura government announced plans to switch all public and private vehicles in the capital to compressed natural gas by 2013, making it ‘India’s first green city’. CNG is a fossil fuel substitute for petrol, diesel and propane. Although its combustion does produce greenhouse gas, it is cleaner than the abovementioned fuels, and safer in the event of a spill (natural gas is lighter than air and disperses quickly when released).
CNG is economical and safe to use as an automotive fuel. It is dispensed to vehicles at 200 kg/cm2 pressure. It is used in traditional petrol internal-combustion-engine cars that have been converted to bi-fuel vehicles (petrol/CNG). Natural gas vehicles are increasingly being used in Europe and South America due to rising petrol prices.
Due to the absence of lead or benzene in CNG, the problem of sparkplugs fouling is eliminated. CNG-powered vehicles have lower maintenance costs too, compared with other-fuel-powered vehicles. CNG fuel systems are sealed, preventing spillage and evaporation loss. Another practical advantage is the increased life of lubricating oils, as CNG does not contaminate and dilute the crankcase oil. Being a gaseous fuel, it mixes easily and evenly in air.
According to Das, autorickshaws plying in Agartala city and other parts of the state are already using CNG. “We are trying to encourage its use in other public transport as well. The Tripura Road Transport Corporation will soon be plying buses that run on CNG. An average car can run 22.05 km on 1 kg of CNG, against 25 km on 1 litre of petrol,” he says.
Tripura Natural Gas Co Ltd (TNGCL), a joint venture of the Gas Authority of India Ltd (GAIL) and the Tripura and Assam governments, has undertaken to supply CNG to all private and government vehicles. GAIL is India’s largest natural gas transportation company, integrating all aspects of the natural gas value chain. GAIL was listed by Forbes as one of the world’s 2,000 largest public companies, in 2007. The first CNG station in eastern India was set up at Arundhuti Nagar, Agartala, Tripura, by TNGCL.
“The bottling of gas for cooking purposes is now done here itself though it comes from sources in the neighbouring state of Assam. CNG will also be available to those using electricity, petrol and diesel to run various machines,” says Das.
Housewife Shikha Sutradhar has been using CNG in her kitchen for over five years, and she’s not complaining. “It emits no soot or smoke. It even cooks faster than the normal liquid propane gas (LPG). Moreover, it’s cheaper,” she says. Her family of five used to require two cylinders of LPG every month; one LPG cylinder cost her Rs 350. Now, she spends just Rs 350 for piped gas for the month. Shikha’s entire neighbourhood has converted to CNG.
TNGCL has been supplying piped natural gas (PNG) to almost one-third of the city, covering over 7,500 families and two-thirds of hotels, restaurants and sweet shops in Agartala. Pabitra Kar, chairperson of TNGCL, says: “By 2013, we plan to cover the entire city of Agartala with PNG and turn the city into a ‘green’ city. We are also planning to set up more CNG stations and, in another three years’ time, we will covert more than 70% of autorickshaws and smaller private vehicles to CNG.”
Agartala has become the fourth city in India, after New Delhi, Mumbai and Lucknow, to run CNG vehicles on a large scale. The authorities have also issued circulars to all government departments stating that they should hire only CNG-run vehicles. Kar explains: “We already have abundant natural gas in our region. By replacing fossil fuels like petrol and diesel with CNG we are being both eco-friendly as well as economical.”
The trend has spread to all sectors. The Indira Gandhi Memorial Hospital in Agartala now has a CNG connection in its operation theatres, kitchen and bio-medical waste-disposal section. Almost 10 units at the Budjung Nagar industrial area use CNG as fuel in their furnaces; this has the added advantage of no power supply interruptions. Even laboratories at educational institutions are turning to natural gas.
“All the power projects are running on CNG. Two more power projects are coming up in the state which will also be gas-based,” says Kar. TNGCL is going to lay a gas pipeline from Maharajganj Bazaar to the Lichubagan area to cater to the needs of the new capital complex and adjacent areas. This will expand the CNG network to the entire northeast.
Efforts to turn Agartala into a ‘green’ city will also involve a sustained campaign on afforestation in and around the city. Agartala’s population in 2004 was 367,822 (it was 189,327 in the 2001 census). “It was a ‘green’ city and we want it to remain one. Already, 10,000 saplings were planted last year. This year, in the months of May and June, we will have a Briksha Mahotsav, or ‘tree festival’, where we will plant trees and guard them,” says Das.
Also on the cards is solar energy. The Tripura government has decided to make using solar energy mandatory in commercial, government and private buildings. This will help reduce dependence on conventional energy. The project will be undertaken by the Tripura Renewable Energy Development Agency (TREDA), an autonomous body.
In fact, the Union Ministry of Non-conventional and Renewable Energy has pledged to turn 60 cities across India into ‘solar cities’ within the next few years; the initiative includes the state capitals of all the northeastern states. To set an example for other cities, the ministry has decided to develop two cities as model solar cities, where an entire solar energy system will be set up to include street lights, garden lights, traffic lights, hoardings and solar water heaters. Energy-efficient ‘green’ buildings will be promoted on a large scale. The initiative, called ‘Development of Solar Cities’, will be implemented during the Eleventh Five-Year Plan (2007-12), and will be based on a model already being practised in New York, Tokyo and London.
Contact
Agartala Municipal Council
City Centre Complex
Paradise Chowmuhani
Agartala 799001
Tel: (0381)-2325507/2325646/2325149
By Teresa Rehman
Source:
http://infochangeindia.org/201005078288/Environment/Stories-of-change/Agartala-to-become-India-s-first-green-city.html
Forget yourself for others, and others will never forget you.
Wednesday, May 12, 2010
Silver Innings: Bridging the Chasm - Youth Leader India
Silver innings takes the fear out of ageing by empowering the elders and bringing dignity in their lives Who’s afraid of ageing? Is what the team at Silver Innings believes in.
Silver Innings is a, a social enterprise dedicated for the cause of elderly. Silver Innings is a new beginning for our elders. It is a new path, the journey of successful ageing.
The idea was germinated by Sailesh and took root with the support and contribution of these individuals and SilverInnings took form as a one stop destination for information for the elderly and their family members. The social enterprise opened a platform for discussing issues regarding the elderly and soon a need for a social organisation emerged. Taking on this gaping need, Silver Inning Foundation was born to address the micro and macro level issues of the elderly to create an elder friendly world.
Silver Innings: Bridging the Chasm | Youth Leader India
Forget yourself for others, and others will never forget you.
Silver Innings is a, a social enterprise dedicated for the cause of elderly. Silver Innings is a new beginning for our elders. It is a new path, the journey of successful ageing.
The idea was germinated by Sailesh and took root with the support and contribution of these individuals and SilverInnings took form as a one stop destination for information for the elderly and their family members. The social enterprise opened a platform for discussing issues regarding the elderly and soon a need for a social organisation emerged. Taking on this gaping need, Silver Inning Foundation was born to address the micro and macro level issues of the elderly to create an elder friendly world.
Silver Innings: Bridging the Chasm | Youth Leader India
Forget yourself for others, and others will never forget you.
Saturday, May 8, 2010
Elder abuse on the rise
With changing demographical equations, the elderly are being marginalised globally. International visitors at TISS discuss elder abuse.
This aspect was discussed at length at the Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS) by Susan B Somers, General Secretary, International Network for the Prevention of Elder Abuse (INPEA) on Monday. She was accompanied by Sailesh Mishra, founder president, Silver Inning Foundation, a Bandra-based NGO working for the cause of Senior Citizens and Reis Woollen, a geriatric nurse working on a module for the care of the elderly in India for Silver Innings. Somers was in India to explore the possibility of networking with groups working in this field.
INPEA, an international NGO is a legal entity in the US and was started around 14 years ago by Welsley Wolf, considered to be a pioneer in the field of elder abuse and the organization works in an international framework coordinating with the already existing care-givers and holding orientation programmes for such workers.
Somers, a practising lawyer in the field in the USA, says, “The implications of ageing in India and South Asia with regard to frailty, dementia or Alzheimer’s need to be studied and what we could do to support the family structure can be explored. Even if cultures are different the issues are similar.”
Referring to her visit to Nepal, she says that already there were a few individuals and groups working in the field and adds, “We have just tried to develop a curriculum for their training for updating of knowledge.” Dr Nusreen Rustomfram of the TISS feels that it is important to look into the possibility of how the elderly can stand up against abuse. In India, she feels the situation is complex as the elderly do not bring the injustice done to them in the open.
“There are always the defences, rationalizations and denials like saying that the son or daughter must have done it in anger, it may not recur, etc,” she says.Dr S Parasuraman, director of TISS states, “Considering the breakdown of the family system and migration, the number of caregivers in this category is small and training poor.
There is a great need across the country for proper training of these groups.” The situation he feels is complex considering the various socio-economic strata in the country: these need to be identified and some sort of universality could be worked out but he admits that it is a huge agenda. The challenge is even greater as 70 percent of the elderly in India are poor and vulnerable.
There is a staggering population of 90 million elders in India and the government has given no proper guidelines on the issue of care or abuse of the elderly.
Besides physical and mental abuse, Sommers has come across even sexual abuse of the elderly which is horrifying. “In the US,” she explains, “the elders have a right to a lawyer, right not to be discriminated against on grounds of age and the right to choose health and medical care.
Elders need to know that they are valuable. In the American legal system the penal aspect of crime against the elders is taken care of as there is an enhancement of a sentence for a crime against an elder as it sends a strong message to the perpetrator of the crime.”
Dr Nusreen Rustomfram of the TISS also informed about the course ‘Diploma in Gerontology’ which will create HR for our Elderly.
By Vrunda Moghe Dev for Times of India, Chembur – Ghatkopar plus, Mumbai Edition 8th May 2010
Source:http://www.mumbaipluses.com/chemburghatkoparplus/index.aspx?page=article§id=1&contentid=20100508201005061608158871e8c7a0§xslt=&comments=true
Forget yourself for others, and others will never forget you.
This aspect was discussed at length at the Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS) by Susan B Somers, General Secretary, International Network for the Prevention of Elder Abuse (INPEA) on Monday. She was accompanied by Sailesh Mishra, founder president, Silver Inning Foundation, a Bandra-based NGO working for the cause of Senior Citizens and Reis Woollen, a geriatric nurse working on a module for the care of the elderly in India for Silver Innings. Somers was in India to explore the possibility of networking with groups working in this field.
INPEA, an international NGO is a legal entity in the US and was started around 14 years ago by Welsley Wolf, considered to be a pioneer in the field of elder abuse and the organization works in an international framework coordinating with the already existing care-givers and holding orientation programmes for such workers.
Somers, a practising lawyer in the field in the USA, says, “The implications of ageing in India and South Asia with regard to frailty, dementia or Alzheimer’s need to be studied and what we could do to support the family structure can be explored. Even if cultures are different the issues are similar.”
Referring to her visit to Nepal, she says that already there were a few individuals and groups working in the field and adds, “We have just tried to develop a curriculum for their training for updating of knowledge.” Dr Nusreen Rustomfram of the TISS feels that it is important to look into the possibility of how the elderly can stand up against abuse. In India, she feels the situation is complex as the elderly do not bring the injustice done to them in the open.
“There are always the defences, rationalizations and denials like saying that the son or daughter must have done it in anger, it may not recur, etc,” she says.Dr S Parasuraman, director of TISS states, “Considering the breakdown of the family system and migration, the number of caregivers in this category is small and training poor.
There is a great need across the country for proper training of these groups.” The situation he feels is complex considering the various socio-economic strata in the country: these need to be identified and some sort of universality could be worked out but he admits that it is a huge agenda. The challenge is even greater as 70 percent of the elderly in India are poor and vulnerable.
There is a staggering population of 90 million elders in India and the government has given no proper guidelines on the issue of care or abuse of the elderly.
Besides physical and mental abuse, Sommers has come across even sexual abuse of the elderly which is horrifying. “In the US,” she explains, “the elders have a right to a lawyer, right not to be discriminated against on grounds of age and the right to choose health and medical care.
Elders need to know that they are valuable. In the American legal system the penal aspect of crime against the elders is taken care of as there is an enhancement of a sentence for a crime against an elder as it sends a strong message to the perpetrator of the crime.”
Dr Nusreen Rustomfram of the TISS also informed about the course ‘Diploma in Gerontology’ which will create HR for our Elderly.
By Vrunda Moghe Dev for Times of India, Chembur – Ghatkopar plus, Mumbai Edition 8th May 2010
Source:http://www.mumbaipluses.com/chemburghatkoparplus/index.aspx?page=article§id=1&contentid=20100508201005061608158871e8c7a0§xslt=&comments=true
Forget yourself for others, and others will never forget you.
India to First World: ‘You pollute, we restrain’ won’t work
India has made it clear that the global goal of limiting temperature rise to 2 degrees Celsius would be acceptable if the available carbon pace -- the total amount of carbon that can be spewed into the atmosphere -- is shared between developed and developing countries in an equitable manner, taking into account the history of emissions by developed countries.
“Global atmospheric resource is the common property of all mankind and each human being has an equal entitlement to use of this resource on the basis of per capita accumulative convergence of emissions,” New Delhi said in its submission to the working group that is finalising long-term actions that need to be taken to tackle climate change.
The submission is rooted in the position formulated by the BASIC countries at a recently concluded meeting in Cape Town. The submission clearly anchors India within the G77 and China, regarded as the developing country bloc.
Per capita emissions, as enshrined in the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, have been at the heart of India’s argument in the climate debate. However, the Copenhagen Accord, which India helped finalise, only mentioned ‘equity’ and was vague about whether this equity had to be ensured through per capita.
New Delhi has also rejected the idea of defining a ‘peak year’ for emissions for developing countries. The Copenhagen Accord said that countries needed to cooperate in achieving the peaking of global and national emissions “recognising that the timeframe for peaking will be longer in developing countries”.
“Considering the fact that emissions in developing countries are bound to rise in the course of eradication of poverty and social and economic development, there can be no ‘peaking year’ for their emissions,” it said.
India and the United States were among the key players involved in formulating the Copenhagen Accord. The US has been pushing to make the Accord the basis for negotiations, a move resisted by developing countries.
The US submission once again makes the case for making the Accord the basis for negotiations. It states that the ad hoc working group on long-term cooperation (AWG-LCA) under the convention was not able to “crack through” certain “crunch issues” and that the Copenhagen Accord “was the locus of progress”.
India repudiates this position. It makes clear that the Accord is a “political understanding among the participants” which should facilitate the two-track process of negotiations under the long-term cooperative action (Bali track) and Kyoto Protocol.
Meanwhile, Germany’s top newspaper Spiegel has released audio transcripts claiming India and China forced western countries on their knees at the Copenhagen climate meet held last year.
In the article (http://www.spiegel.de/international/), Spiegel says it has obtained secret recordings which show ‘China and India prevented an agreement on tackling climate change at the crucial meeting. The powerless Europeans were forced to look on as the agreement failed’.
The article describes in three parts minute-by-minute discussions and how the Europeans felt deceived at the hands of the emerging powers -- India and China. The meeting ended without a proper conclusion.
It added that China and India, behind the backs of the Europeans, had apparently reached their own agreement with Brazil and South Africa. “China and India have not been in best of relations but at a crucial juncture they joined hands, a move that no European leaders anticipated.”
Source:
http://infochangeindia.org/201005078286/Environment/News/India-to-First-World-You-pollute-we-restrain-won-t-work.html
Forget yourself for others, and others will never forget you.
“Global atmospheric resource is the common property of all mankind and each human being has an equal entitlement to use of this resource on the basis of per capita accumulative convergence of emissions,” New Delhi said in its submission to the working group that is finalising long-term actions that need to be taken to tackle climate change.
The submission is rooted in the position formulated by the BASIC countries at a recently concluded meeting in Cape Town. The submission clearly anchors India within the G77 and China, regarded as the developing country bloc.
Per capita emissions, as enshrined in the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, have been at the heart of India’s argument in the climate debate. However, the Copenhagen Accord, which India helped finalise, only mentioned ‘equity’ and was vague about whether this equity had to be ensured through per capita.
New Delhi has also rejected the idea of defining a ‘peak year’ for emissions for developing countries. The Copenhagen Accord said that countries needed to cooperate in achieving the peaking of global and national emissions “recognising that the timeframe for peaking will be longer in developing countries”.
“Considering the fact that emissions in developing countries are bound to rise in the course of eradication of poverty and social and economic development, there can be no ‘peaking year’ for their emissions,” it said.
India and the United States were among the key players involved in formulating the Copenhagen Accord. The US has been pushing to make the Accord the basis for negotiations, a move resisted by developing countries.
The US submission once again makes the case for making the Accord the basis for negotiations. It states that the ad hoc working group on long-term cooperation (AWG-LCA) under the convention was not able to “crack through” certain “crunch issues” and that the Copenhagen Accord “was the locus of progress”.
India repudiates this position. It makes clear that the Accord is a “political understanding among the participants” which should facilitate the two-track process of negotiations under the long-term cooperative action (Bali track) and Kyoto Protocol.
Meanwhile, Germany’s top newspaper Spiegel has released audio transcripts claiming India and China forced western countries on their knees at the Copenhagen climate meet held last year.
In the article (http://www.spiegel.de/international/), Spiegel says it has obtained secret recordings which show ‘China and India prevented an agreement on tackling climate change at the crucial meeting. The powerless Europeans were forced to look on as the agreement failed’.
The article describes in three parts minute-by-minute discussions and how the Europeans felt deceived at the hands of the emerging powers -- India and China. The meeting ended without a proper conclusion.
It added that China and India, behind the backs of the Europeans, had apparently reached their own agreement with Brazil and South Africa. “China and India have not been in best of relations but at a crucial juncture they joined hands, a move that no European leaders anticipated.”
Source:
http://infochangeindia.org/201005078286/Environment/News/India-to-First-World-You-pollute-we-restrain-won-t-work.html
Forget yourself for others, and others will never forget you.
Thursday, May 6, 2010
Workshop on Understanding Insurance in Mumbai
INSURANCE IS YOUR SAFETY NET.FALI PONCHA TELLS YOU HOW TO GET IT RIGHT
Fali A Poncha is a veteran of the Indian insurance industry and has held many important positions in the pre- and post-nationalisation periods of the sector. He was a member of the Insurance Advisory Committee to the Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority (IRDA) and also served as an Independent Director, Swiss Re Services India Private Ltd from 2000 to 2005. During the workshop, he will enlighten us about various issues related to the insurance sector.
Date: 22 May 2010
Time: 2.30pm to 4.30pm
Programme
2.30-3.30pm: Talk by Mr Poncha
3.30-4.30pm: Discussion
4.30pm onwards: High Tea
Venue: 305, 3rd floor, Hind Service Industries Premises, off Veer Savarkar Marg, Shivaji Park, Dadar, Mumbai 400028 (turn left from Chaitya Bhumi, 3rd building on left)
RSVP: Deepa 2444 1058 or mail@moneylife.in
Forget yourself for others, and others will never forget you.
Fali A Poncha is a veteran of the Indian insurance industry and has held many important positions in the pre- and post-nationalisation periods of the sector. He was a member of the Insurance Advisory Committee to the Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority (IRDA) and also served as an Independent Director, Swiss Re Services India Private Ltd from 2000 to 2005. During the workshop, he will enlighten us about various issues related to the insurance sector.
Date: 22 May 2010
Time: 2.30pm to 4.30pm
Programme
2.30-3.30pm: Talk by Mr Poncha
3.30-4.30pm: Discussion
4.30pm onwards: High Tea
Venue: 305, 3rd floor, Hind Service Industries Premises, off Veer Savarkar Marg, Shivaji Park, Dadar, Mumbai 400028 (turn left from Chaitya Bhumi, 3rd building on left)
RSVP: Deepa 2444 1058 or mail@moneylife.in
Forget yourself for others, and others will never forget you.
Programme Director required by NGO in India
Programme Director, India
Fixed term contract for four years
Salary: INR 1,733,808 to 1,963,864
Based: Delhi, India
Closing date: Sunday 16 May 2010
Poverty is an outrage against humanity. It robs people of dignity, freedom and hope, of power over their own lives. Christian Aid has a vision – an end to poverty – and we believe that vision can become a reality. We are striving to bring lasting change to the lives of the poorest communities. We work wherever there is great need, helping people to find their own solutions to the problems they face, irrespective of their religion, caste or creed. If you’re passionate about positive change across the world, then this job might be for you.
Christian Aid is looking for a Programme Director for the Poorest Areas Civil Society (PACS) programme, supported by DFID. The Poorest Areas Civil Society programme (PACS) is the flagship initiative of the UK government’s Department for International Development (DFID), to work with civil society organisations in India, to improve the uptake of rights and entitlements of women and socially excluded communities. PACS aims to reach five million people and their households in 120 districts across seven states – the states of Bihar, Jharkhand, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Orissa and West Bengal.
The PACS Director is a senior management position within the PACS programme and the post-holder is expected to lead and manage the effective delivery of the PACS programme. S/he would be responsible for managing all human resources linked to the programme; to ensure a strong link between the programme and civil society; to represent the PACS programme in all relevant forums as appropriate; to engage with effective liaison and networking with all relevant actors with relation to the programme and the contract between DFID and Christian Aid led IFIRST Consortium.
Candidates need to have a master’s degree in a development-related discipline; advanced qualifications in management and/or finance would be an added advantage; substantial knowledge of social exclusion and other social development issues in India; experience of working with institutional donors; substantial experience of leading and managing multi partner development programmes and teams. Other essentials are excellent writing skills in English, as well as IT skills and ability to communicate effectively in English, Hindi and/or other regional languages. This is a fixed-term contract for four years.
We value the contribution each person makes to the success of our organisation. So you can expect a wide range of rewards and benefits that will ensure you enjoy a good work/life balance.
Preference will be given to applicants who are Indian nationals or who are eligible to work in India.
We value diversity and aspire to reflect this in its workforce. We welcome applications from people from all sections of the community, irrespective of caste, race, colour, gender, age, disability, sexual orientation, religion or belief. We encourage applications from socially excluded communities, ie SC, ST, religious minorities and PWD and especially women candidates to apply.
Third Sector Partners, a leading senior management and board search firm in the Not for Profit sector has been retained by Christian AID for this recruitment. To apply for this post, please send in your CVs along with three references and a cover note to pacs.dir@thirdsectorpartners.com. Please mention in the subject line the position for which you are applying. Tel: +91 22 43493333. Only short-listed candidates will be contacted.
Forget yourself for others, and others will never forget you.
Fixed term contract for four years
Salary: INR 1,733,808 to 1,963,864
Based: Delhi, India
Closing date: Sunday 16 May 2010
Poverty is an outrage against humanity. It robs people of dignity, freedom and hope, of power over their own lives. Christian Aid has a vision – an end to poverty – and we believe that vision can become a reality. We are striving to bring lasting change to the lives of the poorest communities. We work wherever there is great need, helping people to find their own solutions to the problems they face, irrespective of their religion, caste or creed. If you’re passionate about positive change across the world, then this job might be for you.
Christian Aid is looking for a Programme Director for the Poorest Areas Civil Society (PACS) programme, supported by DFID. The Poorest Areas Civil Society programme (PACS) is the flagship initiative of the UK government’s Department for International Development (DFID), to work with civil society organisations in India, to improve the uptake of rights and entitlements of women and socially excluded communities. PACS aims to reach five million people and their households in 120 districts across seven states – the states of Bihar, Jharkhand, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Orissa and West Bengal.
The PACS Director is a senior management position within the PACS programme and the post-holder is expected to lead and manage the effective delivery of the PACS programme. S/he would be responsible for managing all human resources linked to the programme; to ensure a strong link between the programme and civil society; to represent the PACS programme in all relevant forums as appropriate; to engage with effective liaison and networking with all relevant actors with relation to the programme and the contract between DFID and Christian Aid led IFIRST Consortium.
Candidates need to have a master’s degree in a development-related discipline; advanced qualifications in management and/or finance would be an added advantage; substantial knowledge of social exclusion and other social development issues in India; experience of working with institutional donors; substantial experience of leading and managing multi partner development programmes and teams. Other essentials are excellent writing skills in English, as well as IT skills and ability to communicate effectively in English, Hindi and/or other regional languages. This is a fixed-term contract for four years.
We value the contribution each person makes to the success of our organisation. So you can expect a wide range of rewards and benefits that will ensure you enjoy a good work/life balance.
Preference will be given to applicants who are Indian nationals or who are eligible to work in India.
We value diversity and aspire to reflect this in its workforce. We welcome applications from people from all sections of the community, irrespective of caste, race, colour, gender, age, disability, sexual orientation, religion or belief. We encourage applications from socially excluded communities, ie SC, ST, religious minorities and PWD and especially women candidates to apply.
Third Sector Partners, a leading senior management and board search firm in the Not for Profit sector has been retained by Christian AID for this recruitment. To apply for this post, please send in your CVs along with three references and a cover note to pacs.dir@thirdsectorpartners.com. Please mention in the subject line the position for which you are applying. Tel: +91 22 43493333. Only short-listed candidates will be contacted.
Forget yourself for others, and others will never forget you.
Tuesday, May 4, 2010
‘Blind With Camera’ is looking for volunteer for photo exhibition at Mumbai
‘Blind With Camera’ is looking for volunteer for photo exhibition at Olive Bandra from May 10th - 16th. Please spread the word around, forward this mail or twitter or blog it.
People interested may contact by Saturday 8th. Details are given below.
Blind With Camera www.blindwithcamera.org (a project of Beyond Sight Foundation) is looking for ONE volunteer for the coming exhibition of photographs by the visually impaired at Olive - Bandra. Olive is one of the India's best know upmarket restaurant and popular for nightlife with regular from top corporate, MNCs and personalities from film, fashion, ad, entertainment and art world.
Purpose of the exhibition is to spread awareness, networking and to raise fund by sale of photographs. Marketing and PR of the event is handled by Olive.
Dates: Monday May 10th - Sunday May 16th (except Thursday May 13th)
Timings: Monday to Friday 7 pm - 12 midnight. Saturday & Sunday 12 noon - 12 midnight
Role of Volunteer: On generation of enquiry, volunteer has to brief the guest about the exhibition, give out exhibition catalogue and provide details of photographs the buyer is interested in and take down his / she in a Purchase Requisition Form and get a signature on the form. (Details of photograph like print size, quality of print, price etc are written in the requisition form).
Skills Required: Volunteer should be smart, fluent in English, excellent in communication, flair for marketing and desire to support the cause.
Payment: Volunteer will be paid Rs.2000/- Volunteer has to make own arrangement for food.
Partho Bhowmick
Founder
Beyond Sight Foundation
Mumbai, India
Mobile: +91-982147473
www.blindwithcamera.org
www.parthobhowmick.com
Beyond Sight Foundation promotes social integration of people with visual impairment through art and cultural practices, by providing training in arts - photography, visual, performance and literary, development of creative skills, opportunity to exhibit artworks, access to art, economic opportunity and support, capacity building for disability art culture and enriching community through renewed art and by offering sensitization workshops.
Forget yourself for others, and others will never forget you.
Saturday, May 1, 2010
Run the Sunfeast Marathon 2010 with Nightingales and make a difference to life of an Elderly
In just 2 years Bangaloreans have made the Sunfeast World 10K Run so successful that its the first 10K Run of Asia and 3rd of the world to get a gold label! 23rd May 2010, once again Bangalore is getting ready for the world's biggest 10km run, thousands from the voluntary sector, corporates, media, celebrities and the enthusiastic public of Bangalore will be pounding the track around the city's centre for the World 10K!
Run for Nightingales Medical Trust (NMT) and help the Elderly.
NMT provides family based support services like day care, activity centers, helpline, home care , Ageing home etc., for elders.
Our dream is To see happy and healthy elders living with dignity and security.
Our work / Achievements - NMT is an organisation dedicated to eldercare. We believe that elders should remain an integral part of their family. Through innovative services like day care, helpline, and home care programmes we work towards bringing comfort, health and dignity in their lives. Nearly 400 elders served everyday.We sensitize the community and the government to the problems elders face and encourage public participation to create various families based support systems for elders.
Specific needs - Right now, we're seeking funds for a Mobile Memory Clinic that will cover whole of Bangalore city plus a major part of Bangalore rural district. This clinic will facilitate the early detection, intervention, and rehabilitation of Alzheimer patient.
Donation cheques / demand drafts should be in the name of: 'Nightingales Medical Trust'
The last date for registration has been extended to 5th May, 2010.
Kindly help us to reach out to the elders who are suffering from this dreaded disease Dementia & Alzheimer . Support our cause and run Sunfeast Marathon and raise as much as you can for this noble cause.
NMT was Established in 1998 ,its Registered as Trust and FCRA registration and Tax exemptions u/s: 12A, 80G (valid upto 2013-03-31).
Visit the Appeal page : http://dementiabangalore.in/2010Sunfeast.php
Contact:
ARDSI Bangalore Chapter
Daycare Address: Sandhya Kirana
Next to Divyashree Chambers
Opp. Sita Bhateja Nursing Home
Akkithimmanahalli, Shantinagar
Bangalore - 560025
http://www.dementiabangalore.in
http://dementiabangalore.blogspot.com
Mobile: 9342730936 OR 9342730959
Tele: 41248448 OR 41248449
Forget yourself for others, and others will never forget you.
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