Deliberations on alternative medicine for animal welfare at ayurveda expo

Times of India | 1 month ago | 08-12-2022 | 02:40 am

Panaji: Aside from discussions on the advances in ayurveda, experts and researchers will formulate policies for the development and propagation of ayurveda, including the use of alternative medicine for animal welfare, said the organisers.The deliberations will be held at the 9th World Ayurveda Congress & Arogya Expo which will be attended by 5,000 delegates from India and 60 other countries. The four-day event will also see over 200 industry players showcase their contribution to alternative medicine.“This provides a platform for future development of policies for the propagation of ayurveda for the world,” said secretary general of the World Ayurveda Congress and professor at the Institute of Teaching and Research in Ayurveda (ITRA) Anup Thakar. “The best academicians, delegates, ayurveda practitioners and experts will debate during plenary sessions. The demand for ayurveda has increased manifold across the world.”The event aims to prepare a roadmap to promote ayurveda as a reliable, scientific and alternative healthcare system. “Goa has a lot of potential for ayurveda. The way Kerala has used branding and promotion, Goa has a big opportunity to make ayurveda a strong point for wellness tourism and boost its economy,” said Thakar.Director general at the Central Council for Research in Ayurvedic Sciences (CCRAS) Rabinarayan Acharya said that for the first time, a dedicated two-day conclave on veterinary ayurveda will be held on the sidelines of the expo where scientists and professors will share scientific research in the field of animal healthcare.Deputy director of the Ayush export council Ashutosh Shrivastava said that in order to increase export of Ayush and alternative medicines, 50 buyers from foreign nations along with regulators from other nations have been invited for the conference. “We will get them connected with Indian exporters and manufacturers. There will foreign drug regulators who will bring in information about their practices so that India can see how to meet their standards,” said Shrivastava.

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Goa: Citizens allege river diversion and coal handling linked, protest at MPA

Times of India | 7 hours ago | 31-01-2023 | 08:44 am

Times of India

7 hours ago | 31-01-2023 | 08:44 am

VASCO/MARGAO: Citizens protested outside the Mormugao Port Authority (MPA) on Monday demanding that the MPA stop coal operations and immediately shift to green cargo and cruise tourism. They said that a large number of steel and power plants, which are water-guzzling industries, have been proposed near the Malaprabha river basin, and that coal handling in Goa and the diversion of the Mhadei are linked.The protesters said that the Mhadei is being diverted only to benefit these steel plants and not for the farmers or drinking water purposes for locals, as is being falsely portrayed. The coal used by these steel plants is being transported from MPA to Karnataka via the rail network, they alleged.“If coal handling is stopped in Goa, the water consumed by steel plants, which is much more than the diversion proposed, will be available for farmers in Karnataka. If coal handling is allowed in Goa, the diversion of the Mhadei at Kalsa and Bandura and, subsequently, the diversion of other rivers flowing across state borders is inevitable,” the protesters stated in a memorandum to the MPA chairperson. A large number of citizens held a peaceful rally under the banner of United Vascokars and Goans. “The coal transportation is purely for the steel plants and the profit of private corporations. There is no benefit for Goa,” the citizens stated in their memorandum to the MPA. “The Mhadei water crises will be resolved only when coal handling and transportation are stopped at MPA,” said green activist Abhijit Prabhudesai. The protesters condemned the state government for its failure to protect the state’s interests.

Tatas for major expansion in Goa, set to pump in Rs 300 crore

Times of India | 8 hours ago | 31-01-2023 | 08:18 am

Times of India

8 hours ago | 31-01-2023 | 08:18 am

PANAJI: Indian Hotels Company Limited (IHCL), the hospitality arm of the Tata Group, has prepared a robust expansion roadmap for Goa, and intends to invest around Rs 300 crore in new properties in the state. The company is looking to add to its existing portfolio of 23 hotels in Goa by opening up several new resorts over the next two to three years.Among the new projects IHCL intends to set up is a “super luxury dream project” at the Fort Aguada and Taj Holiday Village, Sinquerim.“There are a lot of projects in the pipeline that we want to showcase in the next few years. One of our dream projects is going to come up at the Fort Aguada and Taj Holiday Village. We want to pump in a lot of money into the state,” senior vice-president, IHCL-Goa, Vincent Ramos, told TOI in an exclusive interview.Currently, IHCL operates 23 resorts and homestays in the state, and has emerged as the largest hospitality chain in Goa’s tourism sector. IHCL operates resorts under a group of brands, which includes Taj, SeleQtions, Vivanta, Ginger, and homestays under the ama Stays & Trails brand.Led by IHCL’s chief executive officer and managing director Puneet Chhatwal, IHCL aims to have around 1,700 rooms in Goa under its portfolio by December 31.“Goa has been the largest market. Goa’s expansion has been the largest in our portfolio, and it has been the fastest. We are growing in other states, but not as aggressively as the way we are growing in Goa, and that is why you can see the huge profits,” said Ramos.In 2021-22, amidst the pandemic, IHCL raked in a profit of Rs 160 crore just from Goa. The state contributed 45% to IHCL’s topline in 2021-22, but going forward, this is expected to settle at around 40%.Despite Covid-19 acting as a dampener on tourism and travel, IHCL saw sustained demand from domestic and international travellers for Goa. The opening of Goa’s second international airport at Mopa has also prompted the Tata Group to place large bets on North Goa.“We are expanding exponentially in Goa. SeleQtions, Ginger, and ama Stay & Trails will witness new additions. Right now, our investment in the hotels that are in the pipeline and the ones that have been recently opened up would be around Rs 300 crore,” said Ramos.Asked if IHCL has identified plans to set up a resort next to the greenfield airport, Ramos said that the company would certainly like to be the first mover. “We are looking at potential opportunities around the new airport, however, nothing has been confirmed yet,” he said.Ramos said that the company is in close discussions with the government and local partners to set up the new resorts. He said that over the next 24 months, IHCL will focus on the Ginger brand, which has proved to be a success for the company. “Ginger is our success story in Goa because we make 60% of our profit there,” he said.Given the rapid expansion plans for the state, IHCL is well en route to strengthen its position as the largest hospitality chain in Goa.

The Numbers Game | BJP, Congress: As go the votes, so go the notes

The Indian Express | 1 week ago | 20-01-2023 | 02:40 pm

The Indian Express

1 week ago | 20-01-2023 | 02:40 pm

As per the annual reports of political parties released by the Election Commission (EC) Tuesday, the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has shown total receipts of Rs 1,917.12 crore and expenditure of Rs 854.46 crore in Financial Year 2021-’22. It received contributions through electoral bonds to the tune of Rs 1,033.7 crore.The Congress in its annual audit report for Financial Year 2021-22 has shown its expenditure at Rs 400.41 crore and receipts of Rs 541.27 crore. It has shown grants, donations and contributions to the tune of Rs 347.99 crore.The 2019 to 2020 financial year, which saw the previous Lok Sabha polls, saw the highest income and spending by parties over the last five years. In this period, the BJP’s income touched Rs 3,623.28 crore, as per the Election Commission reports. That year, it declared its expenditure as Rs 1,651.02 crore. The Congress also saw its income go up to Rs 682.2 crore, while its expenditure was Rs 998.15 crore.Analysis of data over the last five years shows that there has been a fluctuation in the incomes and expenditures of the two parties. Besides the poll year, the BJP’s income in the year 2017-’18 was relatively high at Rs 1027.3 crore. The following financial year, 2018-’2019, it was the lowest at Rs 241 crore.A look at how the two parties income and expenditure fared in the previous years:BJP Income over the yearsCongress income over the years

All eyes on BJP as party is yet to decide on candidate for Kasba bypoll

The Indian Express | 1 week ago | 20-01-2023 | 02:40 pm

The Indian Express

1 week ago | 20-01-2023 | 02:40 pm

With more than a month to go for the Kasba Assembly bypoll in Maharashtra, all eyes are on the BJP, which is yet to announce its candidate. The bypoll was necessitated due to the demise of sitting BJP legislator Mukta Tilak. While a few local BJP leaders have demanded that the party field a member of the Tilak family to enable an unopposed election as a tribute to Mukta Tilak, a former Pune mayor, other aspirants are waiting in the wings.After Tilak succumbed to cancer last month, BJP leader Ujjwal Keskar publicly made a statement urging the party to consider her husband Shailesh or son Kunal as their candidate for the bypoll scheduled on February 27.“The Kasba bypoll should be unopposed as a tribute to Mukta Tilak and the party should support a member of the Tilak family. Thus, a request has been made to BJP leaders to provide a ticket to a Tilak family member,” said Keskar.According to BJP sources, while the party is yet to take a decision, the Tilak family is not averse to contesting the election if a family member gets a party ticket.However, as the Tilak family members lack political experience, this has raised hopes among other aspirants, including Ganesh Bidkar, Hemant Rasane and Dheeraj Ghate. The name of Medha Kulkarni, former BJP legislator from Kothrud Assembly seat, is also making the rounds. She was asked to refrain from contesting elections to make way for then state BJP chief Chandrakant Patil to contest from the Kothrud seat, which was considered to safe seat for BJP. Kulkarni had registered her protest but was later pacified and made vice-president of the national unit of the BJP women’s wing.From the Opposition, Congress leader Arvind Shinde, the city unit chief who lost to Mukta Tilak in 2019, said he has already conveyed to the party that the local unit was ready to contest the seat. The Congress also has another aspirant, Ravindra Dhangekar, who contested the seat as a Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) candidate in 2014 and lost to Girish Bapat.Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) leader Rupali Patil Thombare, who recently switched sides from MNS, has also expressed her wish to contest the Kasba bypoll if her party permits. Thombare had pointed out that the BJP has been fielding candidates in bypolls for seats that were vacated due to the demise of other politicians. However, she was pulled up for going public with her wish to contest.Local Shiv Sena (UBT) leaders have also conveyed their readiness to contest the Kasba bypoll.The Opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) alliance is likely to come up with a strategy for the bypoll elections. They are presently contesting state Legislative Council seats as an alliance.

Bharat Jodo Yatra: A wayward yatra and Kashmir

The Indian Express | 1 week ago | 20-01-2023 | 02:40 pm

The Indian Express

1 week ago | 20-01-2023 | 02:40 pm

The ill-conceived “Bharat Jodo Yatra” led by Rahul Gandhi cannot redeem the Congress party’s missed opportunity in Kashmir. Beginning from the dawn of independence, for over six decades to follow, the Congress leadership had an opportunity which it squandered through a series of self-righteous retrogressive experiments, starting from what history records as the infamous “Nehruvian” blunder.Now that the course correction has been effectively accomplished by Prime Minister Narendra Modi by abrogating Article 370, exercising zero tolerance against Pakistan-sponsored terrorism, and mainstreaming Jammu and Kashmir not only physically but even in the hearts and minds, the Congress has once again sought to rekindle the inglorious past in a vain bid to revive Rahul Gandhi’s extinct political career.As Rahul Gandhi’s “Bharat jodo” passes through Jammu and Kashmir, it is essential to set the record straight by recalling the serial blunders by successive Congress-led governments in J&K since 1947. The cumulative effect of these acts of omission and commission was that it created a ground for separatism, terrorism, nepotism and corruption, while severely curtailing economic development.If only Nehru had allowed his home minister, Sardar Patel, to handle J&K in the same manner as Patel was handling the other princely states of India, the history of the Indian subcontinent would have been different and Pak-occupied Jammu Kashmir (PoJK) would have been with India today.The nightmare of the Congress’s misguided approach began with the introduction of Article 370, which sowed the early seeds of separatism soon after independence, at a time when all the other princely states of India were seeking closer integration. The subsequent 1954 order issued by the Centre provided numerous exceptions to the Indian Constitution as applicable to J&K and this virtually “institutionalised” separatism.If Article 370 institutionalised separatism, then Article 35A institutionalised “discrimination” against certain sections of society including the daughters of J&K. For 70 long years after independence, till Prime Minister Modi arrived, the Balmikis and the Pakistani refugees were denied their basic rights of citizenship and voting. Deliberate denial of certain rights including the right to reservation for Scheduled Tribes was another opportunistic tactic of the Congress leadership motivated by vote bank consideration.Unlike in the rest of the country, Congress governments did not allow Lok Sabha elections in J&K till 1967 and later refused to set up local bodies. District Development Councils were set up only after the government headed by PM Modi took over and so also the 73rd & 74th Amendments of Panchayati Raj Act were introduced.Lack of jurisdiction for central laws, like Prevention of Corruption Act, led to corruption and misgovernance in J&K. Non-implementation of provisions like Dowry Act, Child Marriage Act, POCSO, etc. led to social oppression. All this could get corrected only after Modi took over as the prime minister.I had once said in Parliament that history will one day answer the question as to whether on Kashmir, Nehru or Mookerjee was right. Today, history has delivered its judgement. Nehru missed the opportunity to bring about full integration of J&K with the rest of India. Successive Congress governments used every subsequent opportunity to promote their opportunistic dynastic politics.The Bharat Jodo Yatra can hardly redeem the Congress’s missed opportunity in Kashmir because the directionless Yatra is in itself yet another addition to the party’s long list of misdoings in Kashmir.The writer is Union Minister for Science and Technology and Earth Sciences

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