The recent landslide and floods in Uttarakhand have caused extensive devastation. Many people have lost their lives and thousands have been rendered homeless. At this moment, the affected people in Uttarakhand need help to tide over the calamity that has fallen upon them, to survive and to rebuild their lives.
The Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (ICAI) has decided to stand with distressed fellow countrymen, and actively participate in the national effort to support them at this difficult time. The ICAI has appealed to all its members, students and others to donate generously for the cause. A truck containing relief material, clothes, groceries and other necessities was flagged off from Delhi on June 26, 2013 at 3.30 pm by CA Subodh Kumar Agrawal, President, ICAI.
High on handicrafts
looking that Japan represents tremendous business opportunities for Indian exporters in growing Asian market, the Export Promotion Council for Handicrafts (EPCH) is participating in the three-day Giftex World 2013 — Eigth International Variety Gift Expo — ongoing till June 28 at the Tokyo Big Sight, Japan.
Deepa Gopalan Wadhwa, Ambassador, Embassy of India, Tokyo-Japan inaugurated India Pavilion on June 26. Japan is the second largest market in the world, after USA but slightly ahead of Germany for consumer and capital goods.Japan imports goods & services worth $700 billion and is presently India’s key trading partner in the Asian region.The Japanese have many gift giving traditions and exchange many high value gifts during the year. The Japanese lucrative gift market is estimated to be worth $150 billion.
Twenty one Indian handicrafts exporters are showcasing a wide range of products, spread over an area of 178.2 sqm which includes variety gifts, accessories, interior goods, home accessories, kitchenware, tableware, home textile, Christmas accessories, fashion goods, fancy goods, gift-wrapping supplies.“Handicrafts occupies an important place in the Indian economy and society. This product group is a large foreign exchange earner, employment generator for economically and socially backward classes and promoter of Indian ethnic, cultural heritage worldwide,” the Executive Director of the Council added.
An act of deliverance
Relief arrangements made by the Moradabad division of northern railway at Haridwar, Dehradun and Rishikesh railway stations for victims of Uttarakhand tragedy which were in position from June 20 to 24.
Emergency offices set up at Haridwar, Dehradun and Rishikesh railway stations.
May-I-help-you booths set up and manned round the clock by Commercial staff and scouts & guides.
Free telephone facilities provided for victims from these counters.
Extra counters for PRS and booking set up. Special counters for refunds.
Extra commercial and other departmental staff staff deployed. Scouts & guides used for assisting passengers, for guiding them to their trains and for disseminating information.
Announcements, cleanliness, availability of water, lighting etc monitored.
Free coolie services and free pay & use facilities permitted for victims.
Medical counters set up, manned by doctors and para-medical staff round the clock.
Coordination with Uttarakhand and other state govts., district administration, NGOs, ashrams etc for collecting and disseminating information.
District administrations, NGOs, other volunteers provided space and given permission to distribute food, medicines and other relief materials.
Free travel arrangements in special trains provided to victims of Uttrakhand flood affected passenges.
Maharashtra and West Bengal govts provided space and permitted to set up booths at Haridwar station for offering relief.
Special trains run after collecting requirements from our own may-I-help-you booths, district administrations, NGOs.
NTPC extends 1 crore for Trauma Centre at Korba
NTPC, as an industrial partner, has contributed Rs 1 crore for construction of a trauma centre at Korba district headquarter. In this connection, a cheque worth Rs 25 lakh for the last installment was presented to Chandrasekhar Sahu, Agriculture and district-incharge minister, during his visit to Korba. SK Roy, General Manager, NTPC Korba presented the cheque during a meeting at the Collectorate. Rajat Kumar, Collector, Korba and seniors of the district administration and NTPC were present on this occasion.