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Wednesday, October 29, 2014

INDIA IS ONE OF THE POLIO FREE NATION IN WORLD

What global significance does India being polio-free hold?

ification of the Southeast Asia region now, four of the six WHO regions will become polio-free, leaving only WHO's African region and East Mediterranean region to be certified.

India's polio-free status has demonstrated that global eradication of polio is an achievable goal. Best practices and lessons learned from India's initiative are being applied by polio-endemic countries like Nigeria, Afghanistan and Pakistan. The programme now serves as a model for health programmes globally - it's demonstrated that it's possible to achieve ambitious health goals through high vaccination coverage, even in areas with weak health systems.

How did WHO help India eradicate polio?

WHO, in collaboration with the government of India, established the 'National Polio Surveillance Project' (NPSP) in 1997 to provide technical support in key areas of surveillance for polio and mass vaccination campaigns.

Over the years, NPSP's role expanded to include additional areas such as routine immunisation, polio-free certification and end-game strategy. Cross-cutting areas include evidence generation, research and immunisation monitoring, programme strategy development, capacity building of government staff, accreditation of laboratories and providing timely feedback to government for action at all levels.

How was the campaign spread amongst large, diverse populations?

Mass awareness was created by banners, posters, hoardings and engaging celebrities through television and radio. Newspaper advertisements in local languages also created awareness. Vaccinators were trained to enhance their interpersonal skills, so they could mobilise communities better.

In some areas where communities remained hesitant, special efforts were made through the involvement of local, religious and opinion leaders.

What measures should be taken to prevent further cases now?

With continuing transmission in Afghanistan, Pakistan and Nigeria and outbreaks in Syria, Somalia, Ethiopia, etc, India faces the risk of resurgence due to an importation from any of these countries. Since 2000, more than 45 countries that were polio-free suffered from importations of wild poliovirus.

To ascertain that no case emerges here, the programme in India is maintaining high population immunity through mass vaccination campaigns and surveillance to pick up any importation - India is in a state of emergency preparedness to respond urgently to any importation.

The government also recently made polio vaccinations a prerequisite for travellers of seven polio-affected countries coming to India to mitigate importation risks.

Who would you like to credit for India achieving this remarkable feat?

The strong will of political leaders and support of international partners like WHO, Unicef and Rotary International played a critical role in the initiative in India. The contribution of committed, hardworking frontline workers, who implemented innovative strategies for improved vaccination coverage, and the involvement and support of communities also can't be ignored.


Source:

Sale of Penta mobile; a success or failure - a review

India Post recently started sale of Penta mobile phones through Post Offices.  As a pilot phase this facility was started in selected Post offices in selected Postal circles.  Even though the launch was very successful, the Pantel was failed to supply adequate stock for each Post Offices.  

Now all the Post office selected for the sale of Penta phones are in trouble because they collected advance amount from customers and they have given wide publicity for the sale of mobile phones but they cannot deliver the phone timely and they cannot even answer the questions from customers.
























I think decision of India Post for making a tie up with Pantel was in a hurry because the commission rate for sale of each mobile phone was very low.  This is not in accordance with the commission rate prevailing in the market.  India post will get only 10% of the sale amount as commission for sale and after sale service.   Now the online shops are paying 5% to 7% of the sale amount to its affiliate marketers as commission for sale of electronic gadgets.  The commission rate is even more for some other type of consumer goods.  (Affiliate marketing is nothing but placing just one link or ad banner in one website and achieving commission for the purchase effected through this link)  Online stores are giving this much amount only after taking their commission.  The case is very different in direct marketing and affiliations.

Pantel is offering one year replacement warranty and they will execute it through Post Offices.  Replacing the phones, keeping the old phones in safe custody and answering the queries in this regard are purely an after sales service.  But there is no provision for commission for after sales service.  This is very big loss for India Post while comparing the work hours spent for this extra activity.

The same types of Penta mobile phones were available in the online shops few weeks back.  There was slight difference in the model name but specifications and physical appearance was same.  Some shops had sold the same for Rs 1250 to Rs 1350.  The screenshot taken from the website of one online shop is shown above.

Pantel is offering 1999 minutes of BSNL ONLY credit (1800 minutes only in activation time) but only 100 minutes can be used in one month.  So the customer has to use the same BSNL SIM for 18 months to get the full talk time offer.  This is very profitable for BSNL because the customer has to pay additional amount for calling to other phones having non-BSNL SIM and for calling beyond 100 minutes to BSNL phones.

If the call rate for BSNL to BSNL is 25paise/minute the cost of 100 minutes will be Rs. 25 and for 18 months it will be Rs 450.  According to my view the Pantel has to pay around Rs. 500 per phones to BSNL for giving the talk time offer.  Even then the cost will not reach up to the MRP if we consider the sale price as shown in the online stores.

If India Post rethink and increase their commission for the use of their goodwill for the sale of gadgets it will be more worth and attractive.


Let us leave the cost and profit factor and take the opportunity factor.  If we consider the opportunities that have opened before India Post through this sale of Penta phone, it is a big success in all respect. 

-http://www.postbankofindia.org/


IMPORTANT SUMMITS INFORMATION

1.BRICS summit ( Brazil, Russia, India, China, South‐Africa.) :-

● 5th Summit 2013 : (Durban) South Africa:
● 6th BRICS Summit 2014: to be held in Fortaleza, Brazil from 15‐17 July 2014.
● Next 7th BRICS Summit to be held in Ufa, Russia

2. BIMSTEC Summit :-

● 3rd BIMSTEC summit 2014: Nay Pyi Taw (Myanmar)
● 4th BIMSTEC summit will be held in Nepal.

3. Nuclear security summit :-


● 2nd Summit 2012 – Seoul, South Korea.
● 3rd Summit 2014 - Hague, Netherland
● 4th Summit 2016 - United States

4.G 8 Summit :-


● 39th Summit 2013: United Kingdom. (Northern Ireland)
● G‐8 Countries: Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Russia, Britain and the US.
● 40th G‐7 summit 2014 held at Brussels.

5. G 20 Summit :-


● G‐20 meeting (2014) of Finance ministers and central bank governors held in Sydney (Australia).
● G20 Leaders Summit (2014) will be held in Brisbane, Queensland Australia, in November 2014.

6. SAARC Summit :-


● 3rd SAARC ministerial meet on poverty alleviation 2013 Kathmandu (Nepal)

● 18th SAARC Summit 2014‐ Kathmandu (proposed)

7. NATO Summit :‐


● NATO Summit 2014 will be held in Britain. (Britain last hosted the summit in 1990, when Margret Thatcher was Prime Minister).

8. IBSA Summit :-


● India will host the next summit of IBSA (India, Brazil, South Africa) in New Delhi in 2015.

#OTHERS_SUMMITS


● 18th BASIC Ministerial Meeting held in New Delhi.
BASIC - (Brazil, South Africa, India and China)
Note : 17th Meeting on Climate Change was held in Hanzghou, China

● ASEAN foreign-minister-meeting held in Myanmar.

● Fifth Indo-US Strategic Dialogue held in New Delhi during which
the two sides discussed “transformative initiatives” in key areas of
security and energy.

● 3rd India-Africa Summit will be held in New Delhi.

● 6th International Nuclear Energy Forum ATOMEXPO-2014 held
in Moscow.

● World Economic Forum 2014: held in Abuja (Nigeria). Bharti Enterprises founder and Chairman Sunil Bharti Mittal co– chair this year’s edition of the World Economic Forum on Africa.

Does new Right to Information circular endanger activists?

A recent department of personnel and training (DoPT) memorandum, directing all ministries and government departments to upload applications received under the Right to Information (RTI) Act and replies given on their websites, has opened a Pandora's box. 

Owing to lack of clarity in this circular, several RTI activists and legal experts fear the process may result in disclosure of applicants' names and endanger them. Some others, though, say such a disclosure is in the interest of transparency. 

Uploading RTI applications and replies (including appeals) is expected to bring in transparency. Further, it will avoid queries on information already available in public domain. However, the DoPT memorandum dated October 21 makes no specific mention of whether information seekers' personal details will be revealed while uploading their queries, thus sparking off fears. 

If names are revealed, there are fears that RTI activists could face attacks. Till date, around 42 RTI activists have been murdered and over 300 assaulted, says Venkatesh Nayak, RTI activist and programme coordinator at the Commonwealth Human Rights Initiative. 

"India doesn't have overarching privacy laws like the UK's Data Protection Act," says Nayak. In the UK, replies to queries given to applicants under the Freedom of Information Act (akin to our RTI Act) are uploaded with applicants' names blanked out. However, RTI applicants' identity could possibly be protected by an earlier DoPT memorandum issued on January 6, based on a Calcutta high court order. 

This order held that applicants need not disclose any personal details while filing RTI queries, other than their post office (PO) box numbers. Government bodies could insist on personal details, only if they are faced any difficulty with the PO box number. In this scenario, though, the court stated: "It would be the solemn duty of the authorities to hide such information, particularly from their websites so that people at large would not know of the applicant's personal details." 

However, a high court order, unlike that of the Supreme Court is not the law of the land. "DoPT's memorandum based on the Calcutta high court order and its recent memorandum are only binding on the DoPT. It would only have 'persuasive powers' on other government departments and ministries. Thus, a ministry can choose to upload RTI queries with or without applicants' names or choose not to upload any RTI query, because DoPT's OMs strictly speaking are only guidelines and not law," says Nayak. 

TOI spoke with a few officials from various ministries who agree that a clarification regarding disclosure of the applicant's name would be helpful. 

"If India wants to protect RTI activists' identity, it must amend the RTI Act or pass a government-notified rule on the matter," adds Nayak. 

Opinion is divided on the need to do so. "Responses to RTI queries are public documents. Information should be denied only as per exemptions in the Act and no general exemption can be sought for the names of RTI applicants," says Shailesh Gandhi, RTI activist and former Central Information Commissioner. 

"Everyone who takes on powerful interests, whether or not they use RTI, put themselves in danger. Why should RTI activists have separate protection? We are trying to create better systems for all and not create a new class of VIPs," says Gandhi. 

"If very sensitive information is asked for we are aware of the fact that it is usually not provided by the PIO and during the process of appeals the applicant's name is leaked to the affected party. Unfortunately, this will continue irrespective of whether peoples' names are on government websites. A very few (probably less than 1% to 2%) do use RTI to harass officers or get a favour. Displaying the RTIs would deter them," he says.

Source:-The Economic Times

Tuesday, October 28, 2014

Meditation: Origin, Practice and Benefits

Definition of Meditation
There are different definitions of meditations, depending on the religions and groups of people practicing it. Although meditation has nothing to do with God and religion, many people practice it as a religious ritual. Meditation generally is practiced by theists to go closer to God and for getting other benefits, while people belonging to Atheists religions and others practice it to get the benefits that meditating offers.

Some people mix prayers or chanting the name of God with meditation, but such things are not called as meditation.



Then what is meditation?

Meditation is silencing your mind by keeping all the thoughts away from it. Any activity done withawareness is known as meditation. In other words, meditation is staying in present movement and keeping our mind away from thinking about past or future, and also thinking about 'other' persons and things. As we know, our mind is restless and always think about past, future and many useless things.

You can meditate while working, studying, watching, listening or any other activity. You do not need a specific pose of your body to meditate, you can do it while walking, sitting, sleeping, working etc.

In simple words, meditation is being alert about our present actions including thoughts, feeling and emotions. Remember that meditation is not concerned about the actions and activities, but awareness and alertness of our mind. It is not a goal to achieve. Also remember that meditation is not concentrating of mind. Nor it is thinking about God or Praying to God.

Pure meditation is related to self consciousness.


The Origin of Meditation

The origin of meditation can be traced to the ancient Indus Valley Civilization which was prevalent in present day Pakistan and Western India 5000 years ago. The archeologists have found many clay seals at various sites of this civilization with images of persons in meditating poses. It suggests that there were ascetics in Indus valley civilization who were practicing meditation. Later, this practice was spread all over south Asia, as well as in Tibet mainly through the religious traditions like Jainism, Bon Po, Buddhism, Ajivak, Shaivism etc. Practicing meditation was a must thing for ascetics of all these religions. This fact is well preserved in the literature, art and architecture related to various ancient religions of South Asia.


Benefits of Meditation

There are many spiritual and worldly benefits of practicing meditation. The foremost benefit is that we learn to control your mind and keep away yourself from anger, hate, anxiety, greed and a wide range of all such wrong things. We learn to avoid reacting quickly, and reacting without thinking. Our mind stops to irritate by small things. We get peace of mind.

By practicing meditation, we learn to detach ourselves from worldly things, and start to live in simplicity.

By practicing mediation, we learn to take all our day to day decisions carefully, which helps us to be successful.

Meditation helps us to reduce stress and anxiety. On health side, most of the health problems related to stress are automatically cured.

On social side, meditation can help a lot to solve many problems, as society is made out of individuals, and if individuals start to practice meditation, the society will automatically get benefited.


How to Meditate?

There are different ways of meditation depending on the traditions. I suggest you to avoid meditating in the way which is promoted by any religious tradition, as I have experienced that joining any religious tradition can not show you the true path of pure meditation.

Please watch following video clips for getting thorough idea of meditating. But ultimately, you have to choose you own way to meditate.


Meditation Quotes

Dalai Lama, the renowned Buddhist monk says, "Sleep is the Best Meditation"

Osho, the great spiritualist of 20th century said, "To be alone and to be drunk with your own aloneness is what meditation is all about"

“Meditation is the dissolution of thoughts in Eternal awareness or Pure consciousness without objectification, knowing without thinking, merging finitude in infinity.” -Voltaire

"Only one thing is going to remain with you: that is your witnessing, that is your watchfulness. This watchfulness is meditation" -Osho

FILE HOSTING SITES..


Monday, October 27, 2014

VERSATILE ACTOR SURYAKANTHAM BIRTHDAY SPECIAL

“Suryakantham”… the very mention of the name is a nightmare to the daughters-in-law of Andhra Pradesh. She was Character artist, Comedian and a Film Producer.When a woman argues in public, immediately she would be branded as “Suryakantham”. The audience used to heap curses on her and showed aversion toward her. This is the greatness of Suryakantham as an actress.


She was born at Venkata Krishnaraya Puram near Kakinada in East Godavari district on 28 October, 1924. She was the 14th child to their parents, while ten children had died. She learnt dance and singing at a tender age of six.

Career


She got an opportunity as dancer in “Chandralekha” produced by the Gemini Studio. Thanks to the efforts of Leela Kumari, she got her first role as character artiste in “Narada Naradhi”. But little roles did not satisfy the artiste in her. She dreamt of going to Bombay (Mumbai) for better opportunities. When Gemini Studio makers failed to provide her roles other than a dancer, she had quit her job. But her financial position would not permit her chase after her dream.

Later, she got a good character artiste role in the movie “Grihapravesam”. Though, she got an opportunity to do the heroine role in “Soudhamini”, God had decided something really worthwhile for her. The heroine chance slipped away from her, when she was met with a car accident (in which Suryakantham was hurt in the face). But she consolidated her position by playing the role of a cruel mother-in-law in “Samsaram”.There was no looking back thereafter. The audience began to abuse her Suryakantham (of course her character).


Once again, the most-wanted “heroine” role tapped her door through Mumbai tinsel world. Knowing that the producer had dropped a heroine from his movie on personal grounds; and the same was given to her; Suryakantham rejected the offer, saying “I can’t live on the unhappiness of other artistes.” Such was the integrity of Suryakantham, as an artiste. “Kodarikam” lifted her to lofty heights. Ace directors or the era, B Nagi Reddy and Chakrapani would not dare to do a movie without Suryakantham. They had even produced a movie “Gundammakatha”, starring N.T. Rama Rao, Akkineni Nageswara Rao and S.V. Ranga Rao. The entire story would revolve round Suryakantham. Audience all over state wondered at the title. But when the movie released, it became an instant hit.

Awards and Titles

* Mahanati Savithri Memorial Award

Titles

* Sahaja Nata Kala Shiromani
* Haasya Nata Siromani
* Bahumukha Natanaa Praveena
* Rangasthala Siromani
* Arungalai Maamani (Tamil)

Trivia

* Suryakantham was a very sensitive woman outside the shooting sets.
* She used to prepare delicious food stuff for the entire unit.
* A delicate-hearted lady, Suryakantham
once had to chide ace artiste Nagaiah in one
of the scenes. After the completion of the scene, 
she virtually fell at his feet,
seeking his forgiveness.

* She is famous for delivering the dialogues in a single take.
* She used to contribute huge amounts to the artistes welfare associations.
* She was married to Reputed advocate Peddibotla Chalapati Rao.
* Sri Padmavati Mahila University had conferred the D. Litt honor on Suryakantham in 1994.
* She had acted in more than
700 movies.
* The month of December always
has a special significance in her life.
She came to Madras in the month
of December. Her first movie started
in the month of December. And finally,
she breathed her last on
December 18th, 1994, after
a prolonged illness.

Filmography

Actress:

1. Govindha Govindha (1993)
2. Bandhuvulostunnaru Jagratha (1989)
3. Hai Hai Nayaka (1989) .... Suryakanthamma
4. Yamudiki Mogudu (1988) .... Kali's grandmother
5. Gundammagari Krishnulu (1987)
6. Pelli Choopulu (1983)
7. Shri Ranganeethulu (1983)
8. Pelleedu Pillalu (1982)
9. Andame Anandam (1977)
10. Secretary (1976)
11. Shri Rajeshwari Vilas Coffee Club (1976)
12. Muthyala Muggu (1975)
13. Yamagola (1975)
14. Andala Ramudu (1973) .... Samalamma
15. Ganga Manga (1973)
16. Iddaru Ammayilu (1972) .... Sundaramma
17. Koduku Kodalu (1972)
18. Vichitra Bandham (1972) .... Kantham
19. Dasara Bullodu (1971)
20. Shrimanthudu (1971)
21. Balaraju Katha (1970)
22. Poola Rangadu (1970)
23. Aatmiyulu (1969) .... Mahankali
24. Buddhimanthudu (1969)
25. Grihalakshmi (1967)
26. Kanne Manasulu (1966)
27. Navarathri (1966)
28. Dr. Chakravarthy (1964)
29. Murali Krishna (1964)
30. Velugu Needalu (1964) .... Kanaka Durgamma
31. Narthanasala (1963)
32. Tirupathamma Katha (1963)
33. Paruvu Prathishta (1963)
34. Lava Kusa (1963/I)
35. Chaduvukunna Ammayilu (1963)
36. Mooga Manasulu (1963)
37. Punarjanma (1963)
38. Atma Bandhuvu (1962) .... Widowed daughter
39. Raktha Sambandham (1962)
40. Gundamma Katha (1962) .... Gundamma
41. Bhishma (1962)
42. Kula Gothralu (1962)
43. Manchi Manasulu (1962)
44. Mohini Rugmangada (1962)
45. Siri Sampadalu (1962)
46. Kalasivunte Kaladu Sukham (1961)
47. Bharya Bharthalu (1961)
48. Iddaru Mitrulu (1961)
49. Sabash Raja (1961)
50. Vagdanam (1961) .... Baalamani
51. Shantinivasam (1960)
52. Jayabheri (1959) .... Ratnalu
53. Krishna Leelalu (1959)
54. Appu Chesi Pappu Koodu (1958) .... Rajaratnam
55. Mangalya Balam (1958)
56. Maya Bazaar (1957/I) .... Hidimbi
57. Bhagya Rekha (1957)
58. Dongallo Dora (1957)
59. Todi Kodallu (1957) .... Anasuya
60. Chiranjeevulu (1956)
61. Charana Daasi (1956) .... Seshamma
62. Donga Ramudu (1955)
63. Kanyasulkam (1955) .... Meenakshi
64. Chandraharam (1954)
65. Chakrapani (1954) .... Manorama
66. Ammalakkalu (1953)
67. Bratuku Theruvu (1953) .... Kotamma
68. Daasi (1952)
69. Pelli Chesi Choodu (1952)
70. Prema (1952)
71. Samsaram (1950) .... Venkamma
72. Dharmangada (1949)
73. Narada Naradi (1946)

Punch lines of Commercial Banks in India



Punch lines of Commercial Banks in India:


* Hum Hai Na— ICICI

* Good People To Grow With — Indian Overseas Bank

* Pure banking nothing else, —State Bank OfIndia

* Tradition Of Trust—Allahabad Bank

* Trusted Family Bank— Dena Bank

* Good People To Bank With —Union Bank OfIndia

* World's Local Bank—HSBC

* We Understand Your World—HDFC

* Much More To Do With YOU In Focus—Andhra Bank

* A Friend You Can Bank Upon—Vijaya Bank

* Together We Prosper— Bank Of Rajasthan

* Your Perfect Banking Partner—Federal Bank

* Taking Banking Technology To The Common Man— Indian Bank

* Experience Our Expertise— Yes Bank

* Build A Better Life around Us—Central Bank Of India

* Serving To Empower—J & K Bank

* The Changing Face Of Prosperity —Lakshami Vilas Bank

* Where Every Individual Is Committed —Oriental Bank Of Commerce

* Aao Soche Bada—IDBI

* A Faithful & Friendly Financial Partner— Syndicate Bank

* Relationships Beyond Banking— Bank Of India

* Honours Your Trust—Uco Bank

* Smart Way To Bank—Karur Vaisya Bank

* A Passion To Perform—Deutche Bank

* Experience Next Generation Banking—South Indian Bank

* The Name You Can Bank Upon—Punjab National Bank

Pin code System In India

Pin code System In India 

First Digit—Region— States Covered 

1 —  Northern - Delhi, Haryana, Punjab, Himachal Pradesh and Jammu & Kashmir 
2 —  Northern - Uttar Pradesh and Uttaranchal 
3 —  Western - Rajasthan and Gujarat 
4 —  Western - Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh and Chattisgarh 
5 —  Southern - Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka 
6 —  Southern - Kerala and Tamil Nadu 
7 —  Eastern - West Bengal, Orissa and North Eastern
8 — Eastern - Bihar and Jharkand
9 — APS - Army Postal Service

PIN Code System in India