Tag: Chennai

Chennai firm mulls training Jharkhand women in commercial driving

Source: dailypioneer.com

Impressed by the idea and execution of the pink auto initiative in Ranchi, a Chennai-based organization – involved in empowering women by training them in driving commercial vehicles – is planning to make inroads in Jharkhand. A senior representative of the organization has already met members of Associated Chambers of Commerce and Industry (ASSOCHAM) and some politicians from the ruling party to facilitate their entry in the tribal State.

Zaclon India Limited – a company that claims to have trained at least 5000 women in Tamil Nadu, Telangana, Maharsahtra and Haryana in driving 11-seater shuttle vehicles for commercial use – is likely to meet representatives of GAIL next week to seek Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) support for their expansion plans in Jharkhand, a senior official of the company said.

Director of Zaclon India, Poonam Chopra was in Ranchi recently to finalise a meeting with the authorities here and proceed with the project. However, she is yet to meet any Government authority and discuss her plans for Jharkhand. “I have heard a lot about tribal women and their sincerity towards work.

The pink auto project in the city is impressive. We want to work in Jharkhand and train the women here in driving commercial vehicles, especially 11-seater shuttles for city plying,” Chopra said.

One of the objectives of the company’s skill development initiative is to empower women by providing livelihood to them, she said, adding that the company saw immense potential in Jharkhand and was looking forward to launch their driver training project here. “Women empowerment is one of the main objectives of our skill development projects. We want to impart driving training to women here, so they can become self-sufficient and financially independent,” Chopra said.

The pink autorickshaws – run by women and for women – was launched in Ranchi back in 2013 in order to ensure safe travelling experience to women in the State capital. The initiative gained appreciation from across the country. Today, pink autos are driven by women but they can be used by passengers from all genders.

Chopra met Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) General Secretary Supriyo Bhattacharya in Ranchi during an ASSOCHAM event at a city hotel and briefly explained the concept to him last week. “He seemed impressed with the idea. The ASSOCHAM event was based on the role of CSR and I truly believe that proper CSR boost to this project can do wonders for the women of the State,” said Chopra.

Chandigarh to have direct connectivity to Goa, Chennai and Patna from March.

Source – hindustantimes.com

Come summer, and Chandigarh will have direct air connectivity to important domestic destinations such as Goa, Patna, Surat and Chennai, taking care of both leisure trips and official business of residents.

The summer flight schedule, which will be enforced at Chandigarh International Airport on March 29, has another good news for travellers — the number of flights are proposed to be doubled from 32 to 65.

However, putting a dampener on this welcome development, the schedule makes no provision for new international flights even as 24×7 operations became a reality at the airport in April last year. Only the two existing flights to the UAE — Sharjah and Dubai — have been listed.

Meanwhile, IndiGo is all set to resume its Dubai flight from February 15. The flight was suspended from December 14 onwards, citing cancellations and delays due to poor visibility.

IndiGo to operate 28 flights

IndiGo is likely to operate 28 of the 65 proposed flights. These include flights to Goa, Chennai, Surat and Patna. The one to Goa will take off past midnight. Even GoAir will operate a flight from Goa to Chandigarh.

Vaneet Sharma, director of a travel agency in Sector 17, said the new destinations will boost pan-India connectivity and also help in boarding international flights from Delhi. “For going to Goa, people first have to go to Delhi, but now it will be easier for them to reach the tourist destination. Moreover, the flight timings are very flexible.”

Sanjeev Vashisht, member of the airport advisory committee, who is also former president of the Mohali Industry Association, said the new destinations, especially Goa and Patna, will boost the tourism sector. “We are hopeful that international flights will start from October this year after installation of the advanced instrument landing system CAT-3,” he said.

Welcoming the direct flight to Patna, Jatinder Pal Singh, senior vice-president, gurdwara coordination committee, Mohali, said: “It was a long-pending demand of residents of our region, as Patna Sahib is the birthplace of Guru Gobind Singh. Devotees have to travel by train, which takes a long time. Now, they will be able to take a direct flight.”

New domestic destinations

Flight to and from Goa, Surat and Chennai will begin on March 29.

IndiGo flight 6E-6137 will arrive at Chandigarh from Goa at 6:40am and will depart for Ahmedabad from Chandigarh at 8:10am.

GoAir flight G8-814 will arrive at Chandigarh from Goa at 9:45am and will depart for Surat (G8-815) at 10:15am.

IndiGo flight 6E-6147 will arrive at Chandigarh from Bengaluru at 11pm and the same flight (6E-6144) will depart to Goa after midnight at 12:40am.

IndiGo will also provide direct connectivity between Chandigarh and Chennai. Flight 6E-8052/8053 will arrive at Chandigarh at 1:30pm and depart for Chennai at 2pm.

IndiGo is also going to operate two flights between Chandigarh and Patna from March 30.

The first flight (6E-6141) will arrive from Ahmedabad at 11:35am and then depart for Patna (6E-6148) at 12:05pm.

The second flight (6E-6926) will arrive from Patna at 6:35pm and will resume its return journey at 7:05pm.

All these flights will operate six days a week, from Monday to Saturday.

JMB operative arrested in Chennai, more inroads into Burdhwan, Bodhgaya blast cases

Source: oneindia.com

Chennai, Sep 10: A terrorist suspected to be associated with the Jamaat-ul-Mujahideen Bangladesh has been arrested from Chennai.

The arrest comes in the wake of the National Investigation Agency (NIA) making several arrests from in connection with the Bodhgaya and Burdwan blasts case from South India.

The arrest was made on the basis of the investigation of Habibur Rehman, a close aide of Jahidul Islam arrested by the NIA last year from Ramanagara near Bengaluru. The sleuths of the NIA are currently questioning Rehman and during the interrogation, it came to light that he had travelled to several places across the country.

He told the NIA during interrogation that he had travelled to Bengal, Bengaluru, Kerala and Chennai. During the interrogation of Islam to the NIA had learnt that he had travelled to several places across the country and the agency suspects that it was to strengthen the activities of the Jamat-ul-Mujahideen Bangladesh (JMB).

Rehman according to the NIA landed in Bengaluru in 2015. He then took up a job with a contractor in K R Puram. However, following an NIA crackdown which led to arrests in Maharashtra, he moved out of Bengaluru. The case of Islam too is similar. He was residing in Bengaluru and following the crackdown, he moved to Ramanagara, the NIA has learnt.

NIA officials tell OneIndia that these persons had a free run all these years. They would mingle with the local population and take shelter. They were so convincing that their contractor for whom they worked had no idea about their activities. The NIA is now trying to ascertain, where these persons had transported the bombs that they had prepared. It may be recalled that hours after Habibur’s arrest, two bombs were found in a drain at Ramanagara.

Rehman was a close associate of senior JMB leader Jahidul Islam alias Kausar. He was also associated with other JMB leaders like Rahamatullah and Moulana Yusuf. He was an active member of JMB, Bolpur Module in West Bengal. He had attended a number of training camps conducted by JMB.

Jharkhand: Farmer’s jugaad turns scooter into plough

Source: dnaindia.com

A farmer from of Hazaribagh district of Jharkhand has built a plough with ‘jugaad’ technology.

This equipment made with the help of the engine of a discarded scooter is making a splash in the whole area.

Located 40 kilometres from Hazaribagh, Unchaghana village of Tathizharia area is now the talk of the town as one man’s resolve to overcome his problems through homemade, self-thought technology invited praises and admiration.

People from the district often migrate for jobs due to lack of opportunities here, and Mahesh Karmali was no exception. He went to Chennai to earn a living in a Bajaj workshop.

However, Karmali had to return home as he couldn’t secure a permanent job in metropolis for not having a high school certificate. Though he owns farmland, he had no plough or bulls to till the land. He couldn’t afford to buy those for more than Rs 50,000.

A tractor was beyond his dreams and after a long thought, Karmali decided to make a plough for tilling all by himself. He bought a second-hand scooter from a friend and improvised it to a plough for nearly Rs 6,000.

His wife is very happy with his success and says that now it is very easy to do farming. “For less money, the entire farm gets tilled and time is also saved. I’m able to give more time to my children and household.”

Karmali’s innovation has caught the attention of farmers from many villages and they are coming to see this plough with some also willing to buy. They are driven by the cost advantage of the plough over tractor or bulls and the work efficiency of the device.

Karmali’s innovation can be beneficial for the hilly regions of the state and can be a boon for farmers if such techniques are supported and promoted by the government.