Anshul’s last-ball six helps Chandigarh taste win

……….while his team mate, the in-form opening batsman Manan Vohra, slams his second century of the tournament

ENJOYING a rich form with the bat, Manan Vohra once again rose to the occasion and struck his second century of the tournament to help Chandigarh record an exciting three wicket win over Mohali on the last ball of the last league match of the Punjab State Under 22 Cricket Tournament played at the Sector 16 Cricket stadium on Wednesday.

Resuming from their overnight score of 6 for no loss, Chandigarh lost opener Amit Prashar (9) and skipper Simrat Bawa (3) in quick succession early in the morning. Then, in the company of Anil Sihag, Manan stitched a third wicket partnership of 75-runs before Sihag perished while going for a shot and was caught in the slips by Yuvraj off the bowling of Arshdeep for 28 runs. Another fruitful stand of 52 runs for the fourth wicket between Manan and Ankit Kaushik helped the team make a good recovery before Navneet was caught by Navneet off Gunjot’s bowling for 21. Manan, who had earlier scored a century against Kapurthala, completed his century (108) off 183 balls with the help of eight boundaries. His 220 minute vigil came to an end when he was snapped by Yuvraj off Arshdeep’s bowling with the team’s total score reading 198 for 5.

Still left with plenty of work to do, Anupam Gambhir and Gurinder Singh got together and were involved in a match-winning stand of 135 runs for the seventh wicket as the team reached 351 in 93 overs. Gambhir was unlucky to miss out on a century when he was run-out for 88 off 128 balls. Gurinder continued in similar fashion while Anshul Tripathy gave him good company at the other end. In fact, it was Anshul who hit a last-ball six to help the team win. Gurinder remained unbeaten on 92 off 94 balls. With the win Chandigarh topped Pool A with six points.

Brief scores :

Mohali (1st innings): 377 all out; Chandigarh (1st innings): 380 for 7 in 95 overs (Manan Vohra 108, Gurinder Singh 92 no, Anupam Gambhir 88, Anil Sihag 28, Ankit Kaushik 21, Arshdeep Brar 3 for 118, Gunjot 2 for 71)

Taruwar bats Jalandhar to win

A GOOD batting performance by Taruwar Kohli coupled with some useful partnerships helped Jalandhar beat Patiala on the basis of first innings lead in the match played at Jalandhar.

Continuing from their overnight score of 40 for 1, Jalandhar mustered 322 for 4 in 95 overs. Skipper Kohli once again came out with guns blazing and struck a majestic unbeaten century to see the team through. Earlier, Robin Singh and Kohli put on 77 runs for the third wicket before Robin was castled by Jeevanjot Singh for 69. Then Abhishek Gupta and Kohli stitched a fruitful 86-run partnership for the fourth wicket, and later an unbeaten stand of 67 runs between Kohli and Love Kumar for the fifth wicket saw the team win. Kohli remained unbeaten on 116 off 180 balls which included ten boundaries and two huge sixes. Love Kumar made 28 runs off 63 balls. Jalandhar has now seven points after winning all the three matches and entered the semi-finals.

Brief scores :

Patiala (1st innings): 308 all out in 82 overs; Jalandhar (1st innings): 322 for 4 in 95 overs (Taruwar Kohli 116 no, Robin Singh 69, Abhishek Gupta 48, Pargat Singh 32, Love Kumar 28 no, Kunwar Raina 2 for 75)

Amritsar thrash minnows Mansa

AFTER skittling minnows Mansa for 131 in their first innings and then piling up a big score, a win was always round the corner for Amritsar. On the second day, Amritsar completed the formalities by thrashing Mansa by innings and 11 runs.

Amtisar made 331 in 76 overs after they resumed from their overnight score of 176 for 3. Sharad Loomba scored 95 runs, while Aman Bharti completed a five-wicket haul.

In their second innings, Mansa batsmen once again failed to get going and were bundled out for 189. Gurpreet Singh top scored with 53 runs. Charanjit Singh took three wickets.

Brief scores :

Mansa (1st innings):131 for all out in 50.2 overs; Amritsar (1st innings): 331 all out in 76.1 over (Sharad Loomba 95, Mohit Handa 55, Charanjit Singh 55, Aman Bharti 5 for 80, Manpreet Singh 3 for 80); Mansa (2nd Innings): 189 all out in 47 overs (Ashish Rana 58, Gurpreet Singh 53, Lakshay Seth 4 for 59, Charanjit Singh 3 for 42).

Baltej, Deepak set up win

SUPERB bowling performances by their bowlers handed Ludhiana a win on the basis of first innings lead during their match against Kapurthala. In the first innings, Baltej Singh took eight wickets, while Deepak Bansal claimed five wicket in the second to set up an easy win.

Resuming from their overnight score of 57 for 5, Kapurthala were bowled out for 106 in 25.2 overs. Following on, Kapurthala scored 378 for 9 in 65 overs. After losing three wickets for just 31 runs, Kapurthala were bolstered by a 99-run partnership for the fourth wicket between Rohit Jassal and Krishan. Thereafter, Krishan and Mandeep Singh put on 97 runs for the sixth wicket. Later on, Krishan and Suraj were engaged in 91-run partnership for the ninth wicket. Krishan was the fulcrum around which their batting revolved as he finally perished after an outstanding knock of 197 off 172 balls.

Ludhiana got 2 points on 1st innings lead and qualified for the semi finals.

Brief scores :

Ludhiana 399 for 8 in 95 overs; Kapurthala (1st innings): 106 all out in 25.2 overs (Mandeep Singh 42, Baltej Singh 8 for 47, Deepak Bansal 2 for 48); Kapurthala 2nd innings 378 for 9 in 65 overs (Krishan 197, Rohit Jassal 41, Mandeep singh 42, Suraj no, Deepak Bansal 5 for 95).

Chandigarh will clash with Patiala at Dhruv Pandove Stadium, Patiala while Jalandhar will take on Ludhiana at Burlton Park, Jalandhar. The 4-day semi finals will be played from May 28 to 31.

ICC World Cup 2011 Schedule | ICC Cricket World Cup Match Schedule | 2011 World Cup Schedule | ICC World Cup 2011 Schedule | 2011 World Cup Match Schedule | 2011 World Cup Match Dates | ICC World Cup 2011

ICC World Cup 2011 Schedule | ICC Cricket World Cup Match Schedule | 2011 World Cup Schedule | ICC World Cup 2011 Schedule | 2011 World Cup Match Schedule | 2011 World Cup Match Dates | ICC World Cup 2011

The Schedule of 2011 World Cup is finally Out…

The 2011 ICC Cricket World Cup will be the tenth Cricket World Cup, and will be hosted by three South Asian Test cricket playing countries; India, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh.

The World Cup was originally to have been hosted by Pakistan as well, but in the wake of the 2009 attack on the Sri Lanka national cricket team in Lahore, the capital of the Pakistani province of Punjab, the International Cricket Council (ICC) were forced to strip Pakistan of its hosting rights.

2011 World Cup Schedule :

The World Cup will take place during the months of February and March 2011, with the first match being played on 19 February 2011.

Saturday 19 Feb – Bangladesh v India, Dhaka
Sunday 20 Feb – New Zealand v Kenya, Chennai
Sunday 20 Feb – Sri Lanka v Canada, Hambantota
Monday 21 Feb – Australia v Zimbabwe, Ahmedabad
Tuesday 22 Feb – England v Netherlands, Nagpur
Wednesday 23 Feb – Pakistan v Kenya, Hambantota
Thursday 24 Feb – South Africa v West Indies, New Delhi
Friday 25 Feb – Australia v New Zealand, Nagpur
Friday 25 Feb – Bangladesh v Ireland, Dhaka
Saturday 26 Feb – Sri Lanka v Pakistan, Colombo
Sunday 27 Feb – India v England, Kolkata
Monday 28 Feb – West Indies v Netherlands, New Delhi
Monday 28 Feb – Zimbabwe v Canada, Nagpur
Tuesday 1 Mar – Sri Lanka v Kenya, Colombo
Wednesday 2 Mar – England v Ireland, Bangalore
Thursday 3 Mar – South Africa v Netherlands, Mohali
Thursday 3 Mar – Pakistan v Canada, Colombo
Friday 4 Mar – New Zealand v Zimbabwe, Ahmedabad
Friday 4 Mar – Bangladesh v West Indies, Dhaka
Saturday 5 Mar – Sri Lanka v Australia, Colombo
Sunday 6 Mar – India v Ireland, Bangalore
Sunday 6 Mar – England v South Africa, Chennai
Monday 7 Mar – Kenya v Canada, New Delhi
Tuesday 8 Mar – Pakistan v New Zealand, Pallekele
Wednesday 9 Mar – India v Netherlands, New Delhi
Thursday 10 Mar – Sri Lanka v Zimbabwe, Pallekele
Friday 11 Mar – West Indies v Ireland, Mohali
Friday 11 Mar – Bangladesh v England, Chittagong
Saturday 12 Mar – India v South Africa, Nagpur
Sunday 13 Mar – New Zealand v Canada, Mumbai
Sunday 13 Mar – Australia v Kenya, Bangalore
Monday 14 Mar – Pakistan v Zimbabwe, Pallekele
Monday 14 Mar – Bangladesh v Netherlands, Chittagong
Tuesday 15 Mar – South Africa v Ireland, Kolkata
Wednesday 16 Mar – Australia v Canada, Bangalore
Thursday 17 Mar – England v West Indies, Chennai
Friday 18 Mar – Sri Lanka v New Zealand, Mumbai
Friday 18 Mar – Ireland v Netherlands, Kolkata
Saturday 19 Mar – Australia v Pakistan, Colombo
Saturday 19 Mar – Bangladesh v South Africa, Dhaka
Sunday 20 Mar – Zimbabwe v Kenya, Kolkata
Sunday 20 Mar – India v West Indies, Chennai
Wednesday 23 Mar – First quarter-final, Dhaka
Thursday 24 Mar – Second quarter-final, Colombo
Friday 25 Mar – Third quarter-final, Dhaka
Saturday 26 Mar – Fourth quarter-final, Ahmedabad
Tuesday 29 Mar – First semi-final, Colombo
Wednesday 30 Mar – Second semi-final, Mohali
Saturday 2 April – Final, Mumbai

BCCI finalises venues for ODI series against Australia

The Indian cricket board Wednesday finalised the seven venues for the one-day series against Australia in October-November.
The Tour Programme and Fixtures Committee of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) that met here to decide the fixture of the 2009-10 season at the Cricket Centre decided that Guwahati, Mumbai, Jaipur, Hyderabad, Delhi, Mohali and Nagpur will be hosting the series from Oct 25 to Nov 11.

The BCCI in a statement said that the schedule will be finalised after working out the logistics.

The fixture for the tri-series in Sri Lanka involving India and New Zealand will be finalised at the BCCI working committee meeting in August.

The committee also decided that the Duleep Trophy will be played on a knock-out basis while the inter-state Twenty20 tournament will be named the Mushtaq Ali T20 Trophy.

There was some disappointment for women cricketers as they will not get to play any Tests in the 2009-10 season and would be concentrating on ODIs and Twenty20s.

In the junior group, both the C.K. Nayudu (under-22) and the Cooch Behar Trophy (under-19) will be played in elite and plate format on home and away basis. (IANS)

Punjab Govt. curbs AC usage to save electricity

Chandigarh, June 27 (ANI): In a bid to conserve electricity, the Punjab Government has asked all the government-run offices to do without air conditioners for the time being.

The initiative has been taken to provide eight hours of uninterrupted power supply to the farmers during the paddy-sowing season.

“We have learnt about it from the item in various newspapers. We are not using any air conditioners and we have issued a circular to all concerned, the whole of staff of DC (Deputy Commissioner) office that they should be careful with the use of electricity,” said P. S. Mand, deputy commissioner, Mohali.

However, some employees said it was difficult to carry on without air conditioners because computers require constant cooling.

“It has definitely impacted us as the whole system is computerised and without air conditioners computers cannot work,” said Jagnandan Singh, a computer operator.

The electricity situation has become grimmer with Bhakra Nangal Dam deciding to restrict the outflow of water due to the delayed monsoon.

According to the National Meteorological Department, the total rainfall from the crucial June-September monsoon would be only 93 percent of the long-term average, coming in below normal for the first time in four years.

Four of 36 national zones were still to receive any monsoon rain. Rains were normal in two areas and excess in three during the week, while 27 zones recorded deficit to scanty rains.

The monsoon hit the southern coast on May 23, ahead of the normal date of June 1, but has since progressed weakly. (ANI)

Chandigarh, an important fashion destination

Chandigarh, June 26 (ANI): Chandigarh has emerged as an important fashion destination from market as well as promising designers’ perspective.

Fashion has taken centre stage in the region following the setting up of several fashion technology institutes like NIIFT, IIFT and IIFD in and around Chandigarh. These institutes provide talented young designers an opportunity to make their mark in the rapidly growing industry.

Top models recently sashayed down the ramp in Chandigarh in outfits created by budding fashion designers. The show full of style and glamour got an excellent response.

Apparel industry leaders, renowned fashion designers and marketing gurus were all there to pick best out the best designer. There is great enthusiasm in the industry despite the global meltdown.

“Because of the recession that impact is there on garment industry but its not that much that have affect on IT sector because in garment industry, they want fresh / young designers to come and show their talent because now a days new generation is so practical and these designs itself shows that it’s a very practical collections of the industry demands the young designers from us and they want us to send our students from GMT, who have learnt the garment manufacturing techniques, who have learnt the designing section. Students from the apparel merchandising also they want from us,” said Shamir Kaur, Principal of International Institute of Fashion Technology, Mohali.

Punjabis are becoming more fashion conscious. And, the NRI influence has played a major part in triggering this off.

Budding designers are now keep in mind the desires and aspirations of their well-heeled customers in Punjab and across India. From ethnic to contemporary, there is tremendous scope to explore.

Models who have performed in Chandigarh say that the city has arrived on the fashion scene due to high-level of fashion consciousness among girls and boys here.

“Chandigarh has improved a lot in terms of fashion. The young designers who are coming from Chandigarh are simply amazing, the kind of collection that they have got. The shows that I do here for two best institutes, I think their collections are amazing. They are becoming better year after year, so talent in Chandigarh is growing and its world class. I feel that its high time that Chandigarh’s designers should be a part of India Fashion Week and I also suggested last time when I came here that there should be a Chandigarh Fashion Week. If somebody offers me, I will be there to choreograph the show. A Chandigarh Fashion Week showcasing the collection only by Chandigarh and Punjab designers,” said Kaushik Ghosh, Fashion Choreographer.

The upcoming Fashion Technology Park in Mohali displays the rapidly expanding global fashion market.

The boom necessitates a streamlined and synergized organization of talent and resources in the Fashion and Lifestyle sectors. The Indian fashion industry is in the process of building future brands. And Punjab’s contribution in this direction is creditable. By Sunil Sharma (ANI)

Ludhiana has air-conditioned taxi service

p
Ludhiana, June 22 (ANI): An air-conditioned Radio taxi service has been introduced in Ludhiana, which makes it the third city after Mohali and Amritsar to have such a facility in Punjab. /pp
Air-conditioned radio cabs will now ensure a comfortable journey in Ludhiana. /pp
The new service was recently flagged off by Punjab’s transport minister Master Mohan Lal. /pp
The service can be availed by just dialling 4141414 anytime of the day and within no time a metered taxi will arrive to take you to your destination. /pp
We have launched this service to provide commuters hassle-free traveling. It is already running successfully in cities such as Amritsar, Chandigarh, Mohali and Patiala, said Master Mohan Lal, State transport minister of Punjab. /pp
The reliable Mega Cabs offer perfect transport metering system and point-to-point charges of 3 USD per km fixed by the Punjab government. Each cab has been fitted electronic tamper-proof meters ensuring accurate billing of passenger ride. /pp
The service is available within a radius of 25 miles covering places like Khanna, Jagraon, Malerkotla and Phagwara. /pp
Ludhiana is an industrial hub and it entertains business travellers from Punjab and from across India. Commuting within the city was a major problem for visitors. The launch of the radio taxi service will hopefully solve this problem. /pp
I have come from Delhi. When I came out of the station I saw that mega cab, whose service were started from today so I thought why not enjoy the service. The rates are very reasonable. It costs only 15 rupees per kilometer. There is a big problem of parking in Ludhiana, said Jasminder Singh, a visitor. /pp
Ludhiana will benefit a lot from this service. It is an international hub where sewing machine, cycle parts and hosiery industry has a very big market. Whenever we go be it Delhi or Mumbai, taxi service is available at a call. Now we can also avail of this service in Ludhiana, said Harinder Pal, a resident. /pp
Punjab Government’s main agenda is to improve public transport in the state. Such radio taxi services will shortly be launched in other cities like Jalandhar. /pp
The transport ministry also intends to transform at least 50 per cent of the busses of the Punjab transport into air-conditioned vehicles as well as construction of ultra modern air-conditioned bus stands at Mohali, Patiala and Bathinda. By Karan Kapoor (ANI)/p

Masterline Telebiz, a leading SIM card-manufacturer in India

Mohali, June 19 (ANI): The telecom revolution in India has proved to be a boon for the related firms of this sector.

One such company is Mohali-based Masterline Telebiz, which is producing mobile recharge cards for most of the mobile telecom operators in India. It is now foraying into mobile telephone SIM cards for international players too.

Masterline Telebiz has revolutionized the phone card industry by positioning itself among the leading SIM card-manufacturers in India.

Naresh Nanda, an electrical engineer from Punjab Engineering College Chandigarh, started the company with a small team in Chandigarh and began supplying recharge cards at Rs. 17 a card to telecom service providers.

Today, the same card fetches him 60 paise i.e. almost a cent per card. It’s still viable for the company, as the volume have grown manifold.

Nanda tells that his company deals with all leading mobile operators who have head on competition for survival. Today, call charges have fallen drastically. They have to compress their operational costs and that pressure comes on us.

“We have to learn from their example so I have a lot of competition. We are the first movers in these industry. We have learnt a lot and still manages survival better than the new entrants because there is advantage of skill sets. There is the advantage of length in these business and plus the expertise know how with the vendors who support us. Now, going forward, the recharge cards hold big growth potential. It is not being fully supported by the numbers of vendors who lack experience and lack professional deliverance. So we have looked them very prospectively about the card business,” said Naresh Nanda, Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Masterline.

Masterline has in-house Artwork Studio, which offers expert advice and guidance for the project, right from initial concept through to the finished product.

As the revenue sharing propositions are better with the players in South America and America, Masterline prefers a partnership with global players to offer value added services for 3G Spectrum.

The financial meltdown, according to Nanda came as a blessing as it led to compression in costs.

“The services and the products which we try to sell are necessity based products and I think necessity is quite safeguarded from any recession and the second for our advantage is that the telecom industry which have tremendous growth potential. And, having said that with these potential still lying there, we see a lot of room for us vis-a-vis the competition is concerned competition. Competition is in every line of business but it is the intelligence of every manufacturer to be able to steer his way through the competition by re-engineering the product the concept you can put in the product,” says Nanda.

As the financial markets in India are improving, the company expects the SIM card business to touch two million dollars.

Besides, the company is also in the process of getting a separate trademark for supplying integrated state-of-the-art security systems in Indian market. It has plans to import a range of security equipment from Italy, Spain, Singapore, Malaysia and Taiwan. By Sunil Singh (ANI)

SC rejects Amarinder Singh’s petition against Prakash Singh Badal

New Delhi, May 14 (ANI): The Supreme Court on Thursday dismissed Congress leader Captain (retired) Amarinder Singh’s petition, which requested a shift of the trial of corruption cases against Punjab Chief Minister Prakash Singh Badal and his family members outside the State.

A Bench headed by Chief Justice K. G. Balakrishnan stated that by the material placed on record, Singh had not made out a case that there was a reasonable apprehension of getting justice if the trial was held in the state.

Amarinder Singh had sought the transfer of case again Badal and his family from a special court in Mohali in Punjab to any other State.

The case against Badal, his wife and son Sukhbir Singh Badal was registered in 2002 when Amarinder Singh was the chief minister.(ANI)

Rahul says, Congress will always stand for ordinary person

Amritsar, May 11 (ANI): Congress General Secretary Rahul Gandhi on Monday said that his party would always stand for the ordinary man unlike the National Democratic Alliance, which ignored various sections of society, including the poor, the farmers and the Dalits during its tenure.

“When the Congress government came to power in 2004, Sonia Gandhi, Manmohan Singh and we all made just one promise that we will work for the ‘aam admi,’ farmers of Punjab, mazdoor (labourers), Dalit and it will be there government. We functioned as per our promise,” he said, slamming the NDA for “thinking” about the rich and upper classes.

Rahul said the opposition parties made a new promise daily. He ridiculed NDA’s slogan of ‘India shining’ during the Lok Sabha elections in 2004, by terming the English slogan intended for the privileged.

Gandhi lampooned the BJP leaders for telling the entire country that India was shining. “But they did not go to the houses of the poor, the farmers, the Dalit and other weaker sections. They just went to the houses of the rich. You (voters) then showed them the door,” Rahul said.

He claimed that the biggest achievement of the UPA in its five-year rule was employment guarantee scheme, providing for 100 days of assured employment during the year.

Rahul Gandhi said that the Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh was the “pride of Punjab and the country” who took the country forward in all spheres.

“Manmohan Singh is pride of Punjab and India,” said Rahul Gandhi while sharing a stage in any election rally for the first time with the prime minister Dr. Singh.

During his earlier visits to the state on 5th and 9th May, Rahul addressed election rallies at Barnala, Mohali, Ludhiana, Moga and Hoshiarpur. (ANI)

TERI, DELL launch “The Climate EduXchange Initiative” in India

Mohali, Apr 29 (ANI/Business Wire India): Dell in partnership with The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI) today announced the launch of “The Climate EduXchange Initiative”, an IT-enabled Climate initiative to improve environment education in schools across India.

The primary objective of this partnership is to create a motivated force of students, who through technological advancements are aware of and concerned about the environment and its associated problems.

The campaign aims to raise awareness and understanding about climate change issues amongst students and teachers of all disciplines. It will focus on findings of IPCC to disseminate knowledge to students and teachers and promote engagement on these issues with students in other parts of the country.

It also aspires to familiarise all to the importance of the internet and the computer as powerful tools for knowledge and motivate them to take action and bring about desired change in the environment.

Talking about the youth’s role, Dr. RK Pachauri, Director-General TERI, said, “Youth of today carry out extensive search for knowledge through the internet. The spread of Information Technology in India has dramatically altered the scenario for education on a vast range of subjects. Given the importance of climate change for the entire human race and the stake that citizens of the 21st century have in dealing with this major challenge, TERI and Dell have jointly launched The Climate EduXchange Initiative. This would be a unique programme for creating awareness and understanding on climate change by which schoolchildren and students can take the future into their own hands and find solutions to the rapidly increasing threat of climate instability.”

Elaborating on DELL’s vision, Ganesh Lakshminarayanan, VP and MD Dell International Services, said, “Considering the large youth population in India, it is imperative to educate them about issues that govern the future of this planet. This initiative is aimed at empowering the youth with tools and platforms for knowledge sharing that will help them build a better future. The power of youth is certain to bring about a change – and that change needs to start now.”

The Climate EduXchange program is in harmony with Dell’s YouthConnect initiative, which has an underlying vision of developing a generation of young people who can leverage technology resources to unleash their highest potential.

The initiative is designed to ensure that youth all over the world have access to relevant education and information technology.

As a part of the Youth Connect campaign Dell plans to increase overall corporate giving to a level of one percent of company pre-tax profits by the beginning of the company’s fiscal year 2011, which begins in February 2010.

The programme will reach out to six cities-Bangalore, Delhi, Hyderabad, Chennai, Mohali and Pune. It will include children from classes 5 to 11 from 50 schools in each city. They will be divided in five clusters and one school from each cluster will be identified as the nodal school (Knowledge Centres).

The Climate EduXchange Initiative will harness the power of ICT (Information Communication Technology) providing a platform for students from identified parts of the country to share information and ideas across disciplines, about how climate change is affecting them and how they can do their bit in bringing about change.

Lauding the initiative, Ibrahim H Rehman, Director Social Transformations, said, “The youth are not only the decision makers and leaders of tomorrow but, more importantly the custodians of environment and the natural resources in this planet. We hope that the EduXchange initiative will encourage the students and youth to take a pro-active role in reversing climate change.”

Sandeep Gulati, Site Director, Dell Mohali said, “Climate change is a sensitive issue today that has gripped the attention of many. Building awareness and educating students about the same needs to be supplemented with a robust platform that facilitates dialogue and discussion. The ‘Climate EduXchange Initiative’ with TERI is an effort to engage with students through a powerful medium like the Internet and promote an environment that is conducive to learning and knowledge sharing.”

Young people offer a powerful and unique perspective on climate change. Their engagement with the issue is, however, long overdue.

The Climate EduXchange programme intends to reach out to students, teachers, and the community in general to spread awareness about this key issue. (ANI)

Smartdata enterprises, the offshore software outsourcing company

Mohali, April 20 (ANI): Smartdata enterprises, an offshore software outsourcing company, has expertise in web and software applications development in the ever-growing software development offshore outsourcing global market.

In 1996, SmartData Enterprises Incorporation, a consulting company was formed in Silicon Valley, California.

It was three years later in 1999, the company saw the vast potential in the IT sector in India and set up SmartData Enterprises (India) Ltd, a database company with four members.

Over the years, the company has grown and today boasts of having over a dozen clients globally. Its preferred partners are in the U.S. and Europe.

Based in Mohali and Nagpur, SmartData Enterprises today makes websites and databases for real estate, healthcare, e-commence, community portals and infotainment.

It’s an ISO certified company, which has over 300 staff including professionals in Microsoft technologies and Open Source platforms.

On an expansion spree, the company is looking at new markets, sustaining and enlarging them globally and getting accustomed to cultural challenges.

“Major customer base is still the U.S. But over a period of 4/5 years we have reduced the dependency. We have reduced the dominance of U.S. customers in terms of percentage pie.

We have customers in Europe then. We have customers in pen pacific ring, which includes Singapore, Australia, New Zealand. We are actually trying to get more customers even by giving them extra discount,” says Ajay Tewari, Chief Executive Officer of the Smartdata Enterprises (I) Ltd.

SmartData Enterprises provides quality graphic design, flash and animations to its foreign clients. Besides, it provides graphic designing solutions for customers linked to small and medium enterprises and the entrepreneurial community.

SmartData is also a Microsoft Gold Partner certified company and a leading player on B2C market place Odesk and has done business over 1.2 million dollars with Elance, a California-based company.

The company also has clients in Israel, Greece and the Caribbean.

To serve its global partners, SmartData Enterprises is planning to expand its facilities in India.

“At this point we are putting those plans little on the back shelf because of the current economy but definitely we will not be a 2-city company. We have plans which place will depend on what assistance we get from the local government and what kind of resource pool is available,” says Ajay Tewari.

The company has been able to work out excellent operations management by establishing its credentials in the global market and has been able to overcome the teething problems of having the right resource for the right job.

The company’s ability to manage complex-challenging projects like Macromedia and Bank of America has ensured that it attracts the right talent.

Its reach from small to medium sized projects to enterprise level clientele – means that it has achieved phenomenal success.

Smartdata Enterprises was selected by Ernst and Young worldwide as one of the 15 potential growing Indian companies suitable for possible funding opportunities. By Sunil Sharma (ANI)

Indian student drowns in sea in New Zealand

Mohali (Punjab), April 9 (IANS) Rajdeep Singh, a 25-year-old from Punjab who had gone to New Zealand in pursuit of a bright future and better job prospects, died after drowning in the sea there, his family said here Thursday.

‘Rajdeep, had gone to the University of Technology in Auckland to do a two-year diploma course in February 2009. He was an intelligent student and always wanted to do big in life,’ Sohan Inder Singh, maternal uncle of the deceased, told reporters here late Thursday evening.

Singh added, ‘He went for a picnic at a sea beach there and drowned while playing with friends last Saturday. The family members are still very shocked.’

Rajdeep was the only son of his family that resides here in Sector-71, Mohali, around 10 km from Chandigarh. His father Sukhbir Singh is a retired bank manager while his mother Harpreet Kaur is a teacher.

‘The body of my nephew has reached New Delhi and I would go there on tomorrow (Friday) to bring it back to Mohali. His cremation will be done here Saturday,’ said Singh.

6 nabbed for east Delhi temple heist

NEW DELHI: The east Delhi police arrested six people for allegedly looting the Siddhi Vinayak temple in Mayur Vihar. With their arrest, the police
claimed to have busted an interstate gang of robbers which targeted various temples and gurdwaras.

“We have found that the accused have been involved in more than 21 robberies in the past two years,” said Anand Mohan, DCP (East).

The accused have been identified as Kulwant Singh alias Raju, a resident of Gadarpur in Uttarakhand; Ranjeet Singh alias Bode, a resident of Hastinapur in Uttar Pradesh; Sharanjeet Singh alias Sonu also from Hastinapur; Sonu Singh, a resident of Dhampur in UP; Munna Lal and Ved Ram; both of whom are residents of Pooth Kalan in Delhi. The accused allegedly looted the east Delhi temple in the wee hours of March 17.

According to Rajesh Kumar, who did the investigations, the gang was headed by Kulwant and Ranjeet.”While Kulwant has nine cases registered against him in various police stations of Uttarakhand, Ranjeet has seven cases registered against him at Haryana and UP,” said Kumar.

The DCP said the gang used to loot various temples across Kotdwar, Mohali, Panchkula, Chandigarh, Meerut and Delhi and bring the booty to Delhi. “Kulwant, Ranjeet and Sharanjeet would actually carry out the operation, while Sonu provided his three-wheeler to ferry the loot. The four accused used to come to Delhi and meet Munna and Ved Ram to whom they would sell off their booty,” said Mohan.

The police have recovered more than 11 kg of silver, one silver crown belonging to the deity of Kotdwar, a chatra (umbrella) of the same deity and lock- breaking equipment.

According to the police, the gang’s modus operandi was simple.”The gang would visit a well-known temple or gurdwara hoping to get easy cash. They arrived in the morning and carried out a detailed recce. By evening, they would plan the strike after midnight if they were convinced that the security in the temple or gurdwara was lax. After the heist, they would return to Delhi and stay at Rohini, Kalyanpuri, Govindpuri, Jaitpur and Tilak Nagar,” Mohan added.

Sources in the police further claimed that the gang was planning more strikes at other temples like Balaji Temple at Churu (in Rajasthan), Sai Baba Mandir at Meerut and Neelam Mata Mandir at Mayur Vihar Phase-II, Delhi. Further investigations are on to nab the other accused.

Fire tragedy averted in Majra village

Timely action of fire brigade averted a major fire tragedy at a chemical manufacturing unit at Majra village in Mohali on Wednesday. Several tanks filled with chemicals in the factory caught flames around 5 pm and a fire tender doused the blaze before it could spread to other tanks.

Station Fire Officer K C Sood told Newsline that the chemical fire was controlled with foam within five minutes.

“Had the blaze reached the chemical-filled tanks, it could have resulted in a major tragedy leading to heavy loss of life and property in the factory and its vicinity,” said Sood, while apprehending that the fire could be a result of a short circuit.

Mullanpur SHO H S Bal also reached the spot accompanied by police personnel, which cordoned off the entire factory premises to avert any possible loss of life.

Fire tragedy averted in Majra village

Timely action of fire brigade averted a major fire tragedy at a chemical manufacturing unit at Majra village in Mohali on Wednesday. Several tanks filled with chemicals in the factory caught flames around 5 pm and a fire tender doused the blaze before it could spread to other tanks.

Station Fire Officer K C Sood told Newsline that the chemical fire was controlled with foam within five minutes.

“Had the blaze reached the chemical-filled tanks, it could have resulted in a major tragedy leading to heavy loss of life and property in the factory and its vicinity,” said Sood, while apprehending that the fire could be a result of a short circuit.

Mullanpur SHO H S Bal also reached the spot accompanied by police personnel, which cordoned off the entire factory premises to avert any possible loss of life.

Kiran Bedi calls on students to be agents of change in Indian legal system

NOIDA (UP), Mar.23 (ANI): Ramon Magsaysay Awardee and former Indian Police Service officer Dr. Kiran Bedi has expressed her concern over the status quo being perpetuated in the legal and judiciary systems of the country, and called on students pursuing law to be agents of change.

“We are still resisting change in the judicial and legal framework of the country. We can achieve meaningful democracy only when we keep on evolving and stop being stagnant,” she said.

The need of the hour is to create vibrant, dynamic and proactive legal society,” she added.

She strongly urged students pursuing law to become agents of change, and suggested that after completion of their respective degrees, they should not take up an occupation but try and become real professionals.

She advised students to hold legal awareness camps for the needy and pick up the cause of needy people.

A senior advocate of the Supreme Court said law colleges needed to follow uniform curriculum.

Delivering a valedictory address after the Eighth Amity Moot Court Competition here, Amarjit Singh Chandiok Sr. said since 43 percent of Asians were lawyers around the world, a common curriculum would provide students a level playing field to compete.

The Amity Law School organized the Eighth annual Amity Moot Court Competition from March 20- 22, which saw the participation of students from over 26 prestigious law colleges.

Among them were the NALSAR University of Law, University Law College, Bangalore, Banga lore Institute of Legal Studies, Law Centre II, New Delhi, New Law College, Bharti Vidyapeeth University, Pune, National Law University, Jodhpur, Gujarat National Law University, University School of Law and Legal Studies, Army Institute of Law, Mohali and Symbiosis Law School, Pune.

Apart from Chandiok and Bedi, the other luminaries present were Mr. Justice A.K. Sikri of the Delhi High Court, Vivek Krishna Tankha, a senior advocate of the Supreme Court; Padma Shree Awardee; Prof. (Dr.) Madhava Menon- Member of the Commission on Centre – State Relations and Dr. Ashok K Chauhan- Founder President, Amity University. (ANI)

IPL will go smoothly: Vijay Mallya

New Delhi, Mar 19 (ANI): The owner of the IPL franchise Bangalore Royals, Vijay Mallya, on Thursday backed the tournament to pass off smoothly.

Addressing reporters here, Mallya said India had all the resources required to provide security during the tournament.

“I think we have a duty to provide the security and I believe we have all the resources to provide the security. I have said to many people who have asked me this question, particularly the international media that there is absolutely no question of comparing security in India with that of Pakistan. I reminded them that the English cricket team actually came back to play after the Mumbai terrorist attack. And I think, that the IPL will go on very smoothly without any nasty incidents and it will be blockbuster of the tournament as we all expect,” he added.

The authorities want the Indian cricket board to reschedule the event, as security has to be provided for the general elections scheduled to be held between April 16 and May 13.

Mallya said match schedules and polling dates would not clash and there would not be any problem during the tournament.

“As you know elections need protection and I think adjustments have been made to schedule the IPL matches and the polling dates. So, there should not be any problem at all,” Mallya said.

IPL sources said that Mumbai, Bangalore, Mohali, Chennai, Kolkata, Hyderabad, Ahmedabad and Dharamshala were confirmed as venues for the event and were expected to get security clearance from various State governments.

Nagpur and Raipur are also being considered as venues, but no final decision has been taken as yet. (ANI)

Home Ministry asks IPL organizers to re-chart schedule

New Delhi, Mar. 13 (ANI): The Home Ministry has advised IPL organizers that it may not be possible to hold the cash-rich Twenty20 series as per BCCI’s revised schedule.

Due to the concerns of the various State Governments, the ministry has advised the IPL organizers to further revise the schedule and submit it for approval the ministry. The IPL organizers are meeting this evening on the matter.

Karnataka has expressed its inability to provide security for two Bangalore matches, but has agreed to accommodate the rest of the matches.

For Chennai, Tamil Nadu has agreed to provide the required security as all the matches are scheduled to be held after the elections.

Andhra Pradesh has expressed its inability to provide security for the Hyderabad and Visakhapatnam matches as they fall during the election period.

Delhi said it cannot provide security and has asked for the matches to be rescheduled after May 7.

Punjab and West Bengal have agreed to provide security for the matches at Mohali and Kolkata if they are not required to release state police personnel for election duty.

For Mumbai and Nagpur, Maharashtra has made it clear that it would be able to provide security only if additional companies of central paramilitary forces are provided to them on all matches, which fall around the Lok Sabha elections.

Rajasthan has taken the same line for Jaipur.

Earlier, the home ministry held a 90-minute video conference with senior officials of the states where IPL matches are scheduled to be played in April.

The states are understood to have again told the home ministry that it was not possible to hold the Twenty20 matches without additional security personnel from the central grid.

Concerned over the availability of paramilitary forces in view of the forthcoming elections, the Home Ministry had sent a revised schedule to the states concerned on March seven, avoiding the polling dates. (ANI)

Tendulkar’s dismissal was Butler’s second coming as a cricketer

Wellington (New Zealand), Mar.5 (ANI): Dismissing Indian batting maestro Sachin Tendulkar for 20 in the Napier ODI has to be seen as a second coming on the international stage for New Zealand fast bowler Ian Butler.

It has taken four years of toil and reinvention for New Zealand fast bowler Ian Butler to make a comeback to the national squad.

When Butler had the Australian all rounder Shane Watson caught behind by Brendon McCullum under the roof at Melbourne’s Docklands Stadium in December 2004, he never imagined there would be a hiatus of over four years before the New Zealand wicketkeeper helped provide the reconstituted seam bowler with his next one-day international wicket.

According to a New Zealand Press Association report, that moment arrived in Napier on Tuesday when the Indian batting prodigy-turned-legend Sacin Tendulkar edged to McCullum’s gloves four balls into Butler’s second coming as a ODI cricketer.

Tendulkar’s dismissal for 20 also fired the imagination – Butler scarcely believed he would ever bowl to the world’s record setting test and one-day rungetter.

Their paths had crossed once before in Mohali six years ago when Butler toiled hard for figures of one for 116 on a flat track that previously enabled four New Zealand batsmen to record hundreds.

Since Butler’s first run-in with the “Little Master” their careers have taken contrasting paths.

Tendulkar carried on tormenting pace bowler’s of Butler’s ilk while the injury-plagued right armer sought to reinvent himself as a batsman after his back could no longer sustain those long spells.

Four years ago a scan of his lumbar region revealed a degenerative disc and two others bulging, a diagnosis that could have proved career ending.

Instead, after a two year break he expanded his batting repertoire and learned how to manage his fragile frame by qualifying as a personal trainer.

After a couple of domestic seasons as a specialist batsman for Northern Districts B and occasionally the top side, Butler relocated to Otago last year, where he was coaxed to roll the arm over.

By applying the brakes on his speed in favour of perfecting control and disguising variations, Butler eventually made a remarkable return to the international stage in Sydney on February 15.

Picked for the one-off Twenty20 match against Australia at the SCG on the strength of his provincial form in the shorter versions of the game, Butler resurrection then extended to the ODI team.

His numbers justified selection.

Part way through the domestic one-day competition he has 19 wickets at 21.00 while in the Twenty20 league his 14 scalps at 16.57 have helped Otago take the championship.

His economy rates, despite bowling at the death, also stand up to scrutiny.

Butler has been less successful in the four-dayers – seven wickets at 43.42 – but the fact he is able to bowl longish spells is a success story in itself.

His workload is regulated to 16 or so overs a day, a touch below a standard fast bowler’s output, but so far so good.

Butler’s return may have caught some by surprise but the 27-year-old never gave up hope.

“I never considered giving it up completely. That’s why I played a couple of seasons just as a batter. Then my body allowed me to come back and bowl a bit. You know if you perform you’re going to get a chance eventually,” he said.

Butler took one for 42 against the Indians and included a maiden in his eight over spell.

Butler has played eight tests for New Zealand, taking 24 wickets at 36.83, but doubted his resurgence would include a ninth cap.

“I’m not unavailable but I wouldn’t have thought I’d be in the top five test bowlers.” (ANI)

Small sector companies reaping dividends in global financial slowdown

Chandigarh, Feb.20 (ANI): While several major companies across the world are today blaming the global financial slowdown for their all ills, the same reason has proved to be a boon for many small-scale units in Punjab.

Making best in the ‘worst’ times, small-scale units in Punjab are not only surviving but they are doing impressively well, as many clients are approaching smaller firms to get products at lower prices.

Even as bigger units cut down production and costs, orders are being re-routed to the small-scale sector.

Over 1,200 small-scale units in Mohali alone, are mostly engineering goods and automobile manufacturing units that have grabbed low volume orders that have come their way.

It happened after the bigger units started reducing their production and focusing on cost-cutting methods, which ultimately led to orders coming to the small-scale sector in the State.

“They operate on lower-levels. They don’t have many overheads. Major saving is from the overheads, as in the large scales, the overheads are very high but in small industries overheads are low, so they are competitive and they can operate on low volumes also. The demand is also lesser,” said B.S. ANAND, the President of the Mohali Industries Association.

Chandigarh-based Techaids caters to a wide spectrum of industries like Dry and Wet Textile Processing, Textile and Paper calendaring and Embossing Cold Rolling Mills.

The company has many new clients and believes that innovation is the key to success even in a demand-starved economy.

“This is the real test, when you are really having depth in your thoughts, actions, words and thinking. These are the times when you really reap the richest harvest because these are the times when all the weak competitors will just vanish. We only have to be little more assertive. These are the times when good people will be available at a moderate cost. These are the times when you really can invest into technology at a moderate cost, so I would like to say [in a way] that recession times must happen,” said H. M. Singh, Managing Director, TECHAIDS.

“I don’t say it should really remain for a long but unless these happen, people don’t realize what God has given to them. They take everything for granted so the moment the things are being taken for granted, that time the recession really comes,” said Singh added.

Punjab’s thrust for latest technology in sectors like textile and garments will also be fulfilled. Foreign companies are making a beeline to the state to sell their technology at discounted rates.

Industry experts say that the companies strategizing in terms of adding new product lines and re-deployment of workforce, will be the ones to survive the economic slowdown.

“I think it’s a question not to sit idle if there is a recession and if I sit idle, it would affect me more. My profits will be low and so I have to think of how to increase my profits. I don’t have to go in for my existing business because I am not getting this business. I have to think what business can be combined with the existing business,” said Dr. A. K. Vashisht, and Industry Expert.

Be it textiles, leather, auto components, sports goods or agro-processing, Punjab state has a strong industrial base in these sectors.

Besides, the State government is ensuring that there are no hitches in the industrial take-off with natural resource development, infrastructure and human resource development and creation of an investor friendly environment. By Sunil Sharma (ANI)