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Tag: Nitin Gadkari

  • Castrol CRB TUBROMAX brings Pragati Ki Paathshaala in association with TV9 Network

    Castrol CRB TUBROMAX brings Pragati Ki Paathshaala in association with TV9 Network

    Mumbai: Castrol India Ltd, lubricant manufacturer, in association with TV9 Network, announces the ‘Castrol CRB TURBOMAX Pragati Ki Paathshaala’ initiative, building on the ethos of its latest campaign ‘#BadhteRahoAagey’. This purpose-led initiative aims to spur entrepreneurial zeal and enhance the professional competencies of truck drivers across India with an on-ground planned reach to over 100,000 truckers. In a show of support,  Nitin Gadkari union minister of road transport and highways of India, launched the campaign by unveiling the logo, along with Castrol India Ltd managing director Sandeep Sangwan, and TV9 Network chief growth officer (Broadcasting & Digital) Raktim Das.

    In its first phase ‘Castrol CRB TURBOMAX Pragati Ki Paathshala’ will embark on a two-and-a-half-month journey on two specially designed trucks taking different routes covering all four regions across India. The enroute journey will engage truck drivers in interactive, on-ground Paathshaalas across planned Transport Nagars on their way. The knowledge sessions have been curated to upskill truckers around four key aspects—Driving Safety, Truck Ownership, New Technology and Business Profitability—empowering them to #BadhteRahoAagey.

    Appreciating the initiative, Nitin Gadkari, union minister of road transport and highways, said, “The road ministry of India is committed to ensuring the safety, well-being and progress of truck drivers by undertaking multiple initiatives. The Government has built state-of-the-art expressways and enacted laws to curb road accidents, but lack of fear and discipline among motorists is a huge challenge. I congratulate Castrol India for launching Pragati Ki Paathshaala’ which is a step towards building awareness and encouraging truckers to #BadhteRahoAagey.”

    Castrol India managing director Sandeep Sangwan stated, “The trucking community has always been an integral part of Castrol India, and we have been continuously striving to ensure their safety and livelihood through various transformative initiatives. ‘Castrol CRB TURBOMAX Pragati Ki Paathshaala’ is a purpose-led programme through which we aim to reach more than 100,000 truckers on-ground across India, upskilling over 10,000 truck drivers with live Paathshaalas enabling them to #BadhteRahoAagey. We are humbled by the encouragement from Shri Nitin Gadkari, as he himself has steered initiatives to ensure the safety and well-being of truck drivers over the years. His show of support vindicates our commitment to improving the lives of India’s trucking community.”

    Highlighting the challenges of the trucking community and the benefits availed through the initiative, Sangwan added, “More than 50 per cent of India’s truckers operate in unorganised

    fleets or as individual owners. The programme aims to boost their entrepreneurial mindset and directs them towards the path of progress – bringing alive the idea of #BadhteRahoAagey.”

    Bollywood actor Sonu Sood, well-known for his earnest altruism in helping the common man, has come on board to endorse the noble cause as the campaign ambassador for ‘Castrol CRB TURBOMAX Pragati Ki Paathshaala’. He will pay tribute to the often-unsung trucking community for their selfless service and encourage them to #BadhteRahoAagey.

    “I salute our unsung heroes of the transportation industry – the truck drivers – for their relentless hard work. ‘Castrol CRB TURBOMAX Pragati Ki Paathshaala’ will help truck drivers equip themselves with the skills and expertise to progress in life. I wish them luck on their journey to a brighter future and would like to tell them ‘Pragati ki Paathsaala ke saath #BadhteRahoAagey,” Sonu Sood, said.

    TV9 Network, which has been championing the cause of truck drivers through multiple campaigns, is again at the forefront of empowering this often-neglected community. Commenting on the partnership, Mr Raktim Das, Chief Growth Officer (Broadcasting & Digital), TV9 Network, said: “Truck drivers literally keep the wheels of India’s economy moving but they are rarely accorded any recognition and promise of a better life. As India’s No. 1 news network, we deeply care about people and their progress. Our association with Castrol CRB Turbomax for the pathbreaking Pragati Ki Paathshaala campaign shows our unwavering commitment to the empowerment of our truck drivers. We believe a skilled truck driver will steer the country on the path of progress.”

    Talking about the social cause initiative, he added: “Upskilling of truck drivers assumes importance, especially in the backdrop of India’s automotive space witnessing a rapid transformation. Truck drivers also need to constantly hone and upgrade their skills. This campaign aims to provide them with the essential knowledge and guidance needed for success and growth.”

  • India Today Conclave returns with its Mumbai edition on 4-5 November

    India Today Conclave returns with its Mumbai edition on 4-5 November

    Mumbai: The India Today Conclave – Mumbai, is back with its latest edition, scheduled to be held on 4,5 November 2022. An extension of the India Today Conclave, this edition will provide a platform for an intellectual and informed exchange of ideas between voices.

    Branded as the ‘Mumbaikar special’ the conclave positions itself as offering a full spectrum for the intellectual appetite of Mumbai.

    The India Today Conclave brings together entrepreneurs, authors, cultural icons, artists, and political leaders from across the region to share their ideas on various topics. This year’s edition in Mumbai will feature voices such as Nitin Gadkari, Piyush Goyal, Kiren Rijiju, Eknath Shinde, Devendra Fadnavis, Deepak Bagla, Neelkanth Mishra, Pavan K. Varma, Alex Ellis, Swami Gaur Gopal Das, and others.

    The conclave will also touch upon important topics in the entertainment industry, which will be addressed by Yash, Abhishek Bachchan, Varun Dhawan, Rajkummar Rao, and others.

  • Sachin Tendulkar to lead India Legends Road Safety World Series season 2

    Sachin Tendulkar to lead India Legends Road Safety World Series season 2

    Mumbai: Master Blaster Sachin Tendulkar will lead defending champions India Legends in the second edition of the Road Safety World Series (RSWS), scheduled to be played from 10 September to 1 October 2022 in Kanpur, Raipur, Indore and Dehradun.

    Kanpur will host the opener, and Raipur will host the two semi-finals and final.

    New Zealand Legends are the new team in this edition and they will join the Legends of India, Australia, Sri Lanka, West Indies, South Africa, Bangladesh, and England during the 22-day event played primarily to create awareness towards road safety in the country and around the globe.

    The Road Safety World Series (RSWS) is supported by the ministry of road transport and highways, the ministry of information and broadcasting, and the ministry of youth affairs & sports. 27th Sports, backed by US-based 27th Investments, is the exclusive marketing rights holder of the league, while Professional Management Group (PMG) is the event management partner.

    Speaking about the Road Safety World Series Season 2, Road Transport & Highways union minister Nitin Gadkari said, “The Road Safety World Series is a very good initiative to create awareness towards road safety through cricket. We want every individual in this country to be aware of and obey every rule and regulation while on the road, and for that to happen, we have to create awareness among the people. I strongly believe that this series will be able to do and achieve the goal of saving lives on Indian roads.”

    Wishing all success to the event, I&B and Youth Affairs & Sports union minister Anurag Thakur said, “I am sure the Road Safety World Series will drive social change and work as an ideal platform to influence people’s mindset towards their behaviour on the road and road safety.”

    Viacom18 Hindi movies cluster business head Rohan Lavsi said, “Cricketing legends, a burning social cause and media platforms with unparalleled reach across India… The Road Safety World Series Season 2 has all the hallmarks of being a blockbuster! The league just got bigger with the inclusion of the New Zealand Legends and multiple cricketing legends across eight teams. This season we will be broadcasting the league on Colors Cineplex, Colors Cineplex Superhits and the newly launched Sports18 Khel while it will be digitally streamed on Voot and Jio. We want to ensure that cricket lovers throughout the country can watch the league across multiple platforms like cable TV, DTH, Free Dish and digital.”

    27th Sports CEO and co-founder Sangeet Shirodkar said, “The good thing about the Road Safety World Series is that it has support from all quarters. It is also not just about the legends, but a great platform for the automobile industry and road safety campaigners to show their commitment towards road safety using India’s most popular medium — cricket. We expect the RSWS to be a massive success with the audience on the ground and on television.”

  • WION concludes its first ever conclave addressing climate crises

    WION concludes its first ever conclave addressing climate crises

    Mumbai: WION – the international news channel from India held its first-ever climate summit rundown – Climate Calling on 15 March. The conclave was a successful attempt at initiating conversations in the mainstream global media by throwing light on the practical solutions to address climate change. 

    At the conclave, minister of road transport and highways Nitin Gadkari highlighted the need for import substitute, cost effective and pollution free alternative to the growing fuel demands in the country. He further added that India will soon be able to launch hydrogen powered automobile. 

    He also highlighted the need for developed countries to reassess their lifestyles rather than pressurise developing countries to compromise on economic growth.  

    Climate change represents one of the 21st century’s most important drivers of value creation and destruction in the global economy. By 2030, global climate change impacts are projected to reach $700 billion annually, with trillions of dollars of coastal, urban and agricultural assets at risk. 

    The summit included panel discussions, where the experts promoted ways to combat climate change. The conclave was graced by Nitin Gadkari; minister of environment and climate change Bhupender Yadav; former president – Mauritius Ameenah Gurib-Fakim; Minster of forest and environment – Nepal Ram Sahay Prasad Yadav; Nepal; India deputy head-UN Environment Divya Datt; UK diplomat COP 26 ambassador for Asia/Pacific and South Asia Ken O’Flaherty; former minister of international development of Norway Erik Solheim; Royal Danish Embassy New Delhi ambassador Freddy Svane; member of the Ghana parliament and former minister of environment, science, technology and innovation Akwasi Oppong Fosu; climate ambassador, Netherlands Laura De Vries, and professor, Environmental Sustainability Research Centre, Brock University Tim Smith and others.

    Speaking of the conclave, WION editor-in-chief Sudhir Chaudhary said, “The mainstream media has only reported about the consequences of the climate change. However, we feel there is a need for more practical solutions towards addressing climate change issues. This is an honest attempt at bringing light to practical ways of incentivising actions taken towards climate changes.” 

    During the event, speakers addressed global energy crisis and its effects on fossil fuel market. The panel discussions also put forth methods to improve investments in solutions to a crisis caused due to climate changes – such as forest fires, floods, droughts, melting ice caps, rising sea levels, etc. 

    The panels instilled a sense of urgency in ensuring the accountability of the developed nations towards contributing to the high emissions. There was a strong focus on the need to switch to alternative solutions such as electric vehicles, solar energy, wind power etc. 

    The event was sponsored by GoMechanic and co-powered by Fujitsu General and Mobius Foundation. 

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  • Network18, Amitabh Bachchan and Reckitt Benckiser join hands for #MissionPaani to lead a nationwide water conservation campaign

    Network18, Amitabh Bachchan and Reckitt Benckiser join hands for #MissionPaani to lead a nationwide water conservation campaign

    New Delhi: One of the greatest challenges facing humanity is the day when the taps run dry. While many grapple with the basic need for cooking, washing, drinking and even farming, there are many more facing the calamities of climate, as floods and lashing storms ravage home & landscapes. Managing this water crisis is today an alarmingly high global concern. Inspired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s appeal during his Independence Day address to come together for the critical cause of water conservation with ‘JalAndolan’, Network18, India’s most diversified media conglomerate, along with Amitabh Bachchan, the campaign ambassador and Reckitt Benckiser world’s leading Hygiene Home products company with its premium brand Harpic, today announced a partnership for #MissionPaani, which will be a nation-wide campaign.

    At a media conference held in Mumbai today, Amitabh Bachchan officially launched the campaign in the presence of Shri Nitin Gadkari, Hon. Minister of Road transport and highways. The launch also featured video interactions with Shri Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, Hon. Jal Shakti Minister, Shri Devendra Fadnavis, Hon. Chief Minister, Maharashtra, ShriYogi Adityanath, Hon. Chief Minister, Uttar Pradesh and Sadh guru Jaggi Vasudev, Founder, Rally for Rivers, who connected Via a Live Link to express their support to this cause.
     
    With a three-fold objective, #MissionPaani will focus on:

    A.    KNOW – Raise Awareness, making it a mass movement- JAN ANDOLAN
    B.    ACT – Take the Jal Pratigya (pledge to conserve water)
    C.    IMPACT – Highlight Innovative Pilot Projects with Measurable Change

    Speaking about the campaign, legendary actor and Campaign Ambassador, Amitabh Bachchan said, "While some of us have been fortunate enough to have water to fulfil all of our needs, there are close to 600 million people in our country who face water scarcity every day. Keeping that in mind, I believe that it is our duty and responsibility to preserve water for these people as well as our future generations. It is the small changes that will lead to a national transformation, which can also lead to impactful results. With this campaign, each of us should pledge our support the cause of water conservation in the country.”

    Expressing his views on this initiative, Mr. Narasimhan Eswar, Senior Vice President and Managing Director, RB Hygiene & Home, South Asia at RB, said, “In the last few years, we have focused on creating successful sanitation programs following the GOI’s initiative on Swachh Bharat aimed at ensuring access to clean and hygienic sanitation to all. Now, with both water and sanitation being topmost priorities, we are delighted to partner with Network18 on the Mission to Save water. It is crucial to take responsibility and take a step in the right direction towards water conservation. We are humbled to play our part in this major program to not only heighten awareness around the issue but also enable lasting behavior change focused on saving water so we all make every drop count.”

    Speaking about Mission Paani, Shri Nitin Gadkari, Minister of Road Transport & Highways as well as Medium/Small Enterprises said, “The government has undertaken various measures to conserve water. The first step towards that is raising awareness among the people of the nation about intelligently putting to use available water and devise action-based solutions that can further aid us in water conservation. Among the initiatives, we can start by treating drainage water before releasing it into the ocean thereby lowering the hazardous consequences of damaging the environment. This campaign is an excellent platform to start impending conservation on the importance of harvesting and conserving water."

    Adding to the views regarding Mission Paani, ShriDevendraFadnavis, Chief Minister of Maharashtra said, “I would like to extend my gratitude to Network18 for undertaking the initiative of raising awareness regarding the cause of water conservation. PM Narendra Modi has prioritized water crisis and has urged each of us to be careful and judicious with water usage. I believe with the onset of climate change, it is imperative to take actions that will lead to building a positive impact towards the cause. It is an alarming situation for the entire nation which is why Maharashtra has implemented large scale water conservation solutions. By exploring scientific approach, at present, 19,000 villages follow strict water budgeting and have invented water conservation structures that can also be replicated in other parts of the state. As a result, even during drought and extreme conditions we have some relief. Through the campaign, I would urge everyone to become a water warrior and conserve water for us as well as for our future generations."

    Speaking about the campaign and the undertakings of the UP Government towards the cause, Shri Yogi Adityanath, Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh said, “As a nation, we should be thankful to PM Narendra Modi for urging people towards a noble cause like ‘Water Conservation’. It is extremely important for us, to come together as a nation to work towards a sustainable future. We should encourage homes and individuals to adopt rainwater harvesting and making small changes in their daily lives to see the change. In our home state Uttar Pradesh, we have implemented numerous changes both at the governmental as well as the individual level, encouraging our state’s population to take up rainwater harvesting, tree plantation drives and judicious use of water. We have also initiated a drive to revive 10 rivers in our state and hope that we see fruitful results soon. Since the water scarcity in UP in 2017, till today, our state has seen a massive transformation in the availability of water for its populace.”

    Sharing his thoughts about the campaign and the cause, Shri Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, Union Minister of Jal Shakti said, "I am so thankful and glad that a media giant company such as Network18 has undertaken this initiative to assist in PM Narendra Modi in our nation's mission to conserve water. As we are heading towards a water crisis, it is of paramount importance to come together and preserve water for the coming generations. It should be the responsibility of each one of us to ensure that we conserve water through inculcating small changes in our daily lives. By re-use and re-cycle we can start a people movement that will ensure a bright future for all of us."

    SukhleenAneja, CMO, Marketing Director, RB Hygiene & Home, South Asia at RB, said,“For over 100 years, Harpic has been committed to providing access to clean and hygienic sanitation solutions across the world. We are extremely proud and delighted to partner with NW 18 on co-creating ‘Mission Paani’ – A solution-oriented partnership to spread awareness, action and widespread impact towards conservation of water and improvement of sanitation in India. Standing with purposeful marketing and creating business with purpose is a matter of pride for all of us at RB and we are hoping to make a small start by raising awareness about the growing need and importance of water conservation to save our future.

    Priyanka Kaul, President, Marketing & CEO, Forbes India at Network18 Group said, “We believe that as a country, India needs to fundamentally change the way we use and conserve water. With PM Modi’s appeal, we hope water conservation will become a people’s movement. ‘Harpic News 18 Mission Paani’ is our initiative to help build this Jal Andolan.  We are very grateful to Mr Amitabh Bachchan for partnering with us and Shri Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, Hon. Minister of Jal Shakti for lending his support to the campaign.”

    SaidAnamika Mehta, COO of IPG Media-brands,India said, “RB India over the past 5 years has been leading the charge in weaving its brands with the country’s agenda to positively impact the lives of millions around. Extremely proud and excited about co-creating Mission Paani in partnership with Reckitt Benckiser and Network 18. A small step in driving awareness and consciousness about Water Conservation will result in giant strides for India overtime.“

    The campaign launch in India will be followed by an international launch on the 29th of August by Shri Gajendra Singh Shekhawat at the Stockholm World WaterSummit. The campaign will see months of programming across 21 channels in 18 languages focusing on the national issue of water conservation. As it grows in momentum, the #MissionPaani campaign will reach out to different stakeholders across the country.

    To stay updated about the campaign and contribute your ideas and suggestions, follow #MissionPaani.

  • News Nation Budget Conclave: grids of reforms for new India’s $5-trillion economy

    News Nation Budget Conclave: grids of reforms for new India’s $5-trillion economy

    MUMBAI: News Nation hosted a mega event decoding how the Modi Sarkar will achieve the Herculean task of $5-trillion economic growth.

    Spread over four sessions, eminent speakers such as Union Minister Nitin Gadkari, Niti Aayog Vice-Chairman Rajiv Kumar and veteran journalist Gautam Chikarmane dissected the finer points of the most important event in India’s fiscal calendar.

    Day after Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman presented her maiden Union Budget for the second term of the Narendra Modi government, News Nation on Saturday hosted a mega event decoding how the Modi Sarkar will achieve the Herculean task of $5-trillion economic growth. Spread over four sessions, eminent speakers such as Union Minister Nitin Gadkari, Niti Aayog Vice-Chairman Rajiv Kumar and veteran journalist Gautam Chikarmane dissected the finer points of the most important event in India’s fiscal calendar.

    In the first session, talking to News Nation’s Deepak Chaurasia, Union Minister Nitin Gadkari said that, “There will be ‘magical’ growth in India in next five years.” Highlighting the national water and road grid framework, Gadkari said that, "The allocation for the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways has been increased to Rs 83,016 crore in the budget as against Rs 71,000 crore in 2018-19 which was revised to Rs 78,625.50 crore".

    On promoting electric vehicles, Gadkari said the main objective of phase-II of FAME scheme approved by the Cabinet is to have cost effective vehicle system and curb pollution. “We need to develop a cost effective, pollution free and indigenous transport system,” he said. GST for electric vehicles has been reduced to 5 per cent whether they are three wheelers, four wheelers or two wheelers. This can help us making leader in electric vehicle manufacturing unit.

    In second session, MoSfinance Anurag Thakur said that the focus of Modi government is to renew the fight against corruption. He also lauded the Centre’s special initiatives that have lessened the corruption in corporate sector. "Jo brasht hai, usse kasht hoga, " Thakur said. "Government proposed a 100 percent foreign direct investment (FDI) in the insurance intermediaries in the Union Budget 2019. Less than 3.5 crore people used to pay tax earlier. It is only because PM Modi's efforts that the taxpayers have doubled," Thakur added.

    The third session of experts discussed about the new ways how India can achieve holistic growth.  The experts included MK Venu, Sachin Chaturvedi and NC Saxena. 

    Chaturvedi said that infrastructure is expanding in the country, this shows governments commitment towards development. BJP's spokesperson Zafar Islam said that the government delivered in the last five years, we will continue the development work. Attacking the Modi government, Saxena said that, “Rate of growth of bottom 50 per cent need to be looked into. There’s a need to increase number of doctors and nurses in rural areas. Agrarian distress needs our immediate attention. Total number of jobs have gone down. Section of society jobless. Women empowerment overlooked this budget,” Saxena added.

    In last session, Niti Aayog’s Rajiv Kumar gave an optimistic tune to the exercise, saying there are many sectors in which we can easily achieve double digit growth. The economist said the government's focus is on 8.4 per cent growth and to maintain it further just like China maintained it for nearly 30 years between 1978 and 2005. During the time, China maintained a stable economic growth of 9.6.     
     

  • Delhi Transport authority Mirrors women’s safety efforts

    Delhi Transport authority Mirrors women’s safety efforts

    MUMBAI: As a result of putting people’s issues first and consistent follow-up to bring a change, Mirror Now has succeeded in its attempt to urge authorities to initiate steps to ensure safety against child lock in cars.

    The State Transport Authority of Delhi made it mandatory for all commercial vehicles to prominently display a sticker that informs passengers on steps to disable the child lock facility available in the car.

    In May 2017, Mirror Now initiated a campaign demanding removal of child locks in cars used for public transport as a potential security hazard for women travelling alone. A video shot by Faye D’souza educating women to check child locks before boarding cabs (as most crimes against women take place in a cab if a child lock is activated), went viral on social media and Whatsapp.

    Mirror Now called upon authorities to demand removal of child locks from cabs or put stickers warning passengers to that effect. Subsequently, a petition to this effect was also submitted to the minister for surface transport Nitin Gadkari. The Delhi Commission for Women (DCW) lately took cognisance of the campaign and raised this demand with the ministry and the state transport department.

    The latter promptly responded.

  • Gadkari unveils Marathi edition of Subhash Chandra’s ‘The Z Factor’

    MUMBAI: Maharashtra celebrated the birth anniversary of its most beloved poet Kusumagraj as ‘Marathi Bhaasha Diwas’ on 27 February, 2017. Extending the celebrations, prominent political leaders of the country hailing from Maharashtra came together on 2 March to express their love for Marathi Bhaasha and Maharashtra.

    On this auspicious occasion, Essel Group chairman and Rajya Sabha MP Dr. Subhash Chandra released the ‘Marathi Edition’ of his best-selling autobiography ‘The Z Factor – My Journey as the Wrong Man at the Right Time’ as his small contribution towards the Marathi language. The glittering ceremony held at the ITC Grand Central Hotel in Mumbai was graced by eminent politicians including Minister of Road Transport & Highways and Shipping, Govt. of India Nitin Gadkari, CM Devendra Fadnavis, former CM and Rajya Sabha MP Sharad Pawar, and former CM Prithviraj Chavan.

    Stalwarts from the Marathi Film & Television industry including Madhur Bhandarkar, Sonali Kulkarni, Manoj Joshi, Sai Tamhankar, Sunil Barve, Mahesh Kothare and Sidharth Jadhav, were also present at the function.

    The English edition of Dr. Chandra’s best-selling autobiography was launched by PM Narendra Modi in January 2016 followed, by the launch of the Hindi edition by the Nobel Peace prize recipient Kailash Satyarthi in September 2016. The book has greatly influenced the minds of students and aspiring entrepreneurs across the country, encouraging them to pursue their dreams and ambitions.

    Paying a tribute to the city of Mumbai and Marathi culture, Dr. Chandra said, “While Haryana is my ‘janmabhoomi’ (homeland), Mumbai is my ‘karmabhoomi’ (land of work). After living and working in Mumbai for the last 35 years, I feel that I have been accepted as a Maharashtrian. Mumbai is the land of dreams, where like me, millions of people strive to make their dreams come true. At Essel Group, it has always been our endeavour to preserve and promote the true essence of Marathi culture through our various ventures such as Zee Marathi, Zee Talkies, Zee Yuva, Zee 24 Taas and our Marathi films like ‘Natarang’, ‘Fandry, ‘Killa’,‘Lay Bhari’, ‘Natsamrat’ and ‘Sairat’.”

    Unveiling the Marathi edition of ‘The Z Factor – My Journey as the Wrong Man at the Right Time’, Gadkari said:

    “My association with Subhashji has extended for over 30 years. His most striking feature is that he never hides behind his words. It was on my recommendation that he stepped into the infrastructure sector. However, for one road project, I felt that he would lose Rs. 250 crores, so I recommended him not to continue with that project. He then told me that once I have put my hand into a project, I will see it into completion, whether or not there is any loss. And with this resolve and determination, Dr. Chandra has completed more than 2000 kilometres of road projects in the country over the years.”

    Fadnavis said: “Subhash Chandra is a person who has shown us that a common man can do extraordinary work. It is a miracle that Subhashji came to Delhi with only Rs. 17 in his pocket and now he has established such a successful empire.”

    Pawar said: “When I read his book, I got to know various aspects of his personality. The most important aspect of his life is that he is never scared of challenges, he faces all the problems with full determination.”

    Chavan said: “Subhash Chandra’s life is a direct inspiration. Each youth and Marathi person must read his autobiography. Subhashji left his education mid-way but he never got defeated.”

    Even today with his busy schedule, he manages to share his experiences with students and guide them for a better life.”

    From the book:

    It was 14 December 1991 when Ashok Kurien of Ambience ad agency and I reached Star TV’s office in Hong Kong. There were 10 to 12 senior and junior executives in the room. Richard Li, head of Star TV, was not there. So we waited awhile. It was like waiting for the king to come in and give his blessings.

    Richard walked in suddenly and sat opposite me. ‘OK, Indian channel… Hindi channel. Where is the money in India?’ Richard was very dismissive. ‘I am not interested in a joint venture.’

    Most of us in the room, including his executives, were shocked. It appeared that Richard had already made up his mind about the futility of the project.

    So I addressed him directly. ‘Mr Li, if you are not interested in the joint venture, can you consider leasing the [satellite] transponder to us?’

    ‘There is no transponder available for less than $5 million per year,’ Richard said. It was a haughty statement to put me off. ‘That is fine. I will pay $5 million!’ It was a spur-of-the-moment decision. I did not realize the implication of what I had said…

  • NDTV and Diageo launches second season of Road to Safety campaign

    NDTV and Diageo launches second season of Road to Safety campaign

    MUMBAI: After a successful launch, United Spirits-NDTV Road to Safety, a Diageo initiative returns in its second year to address one of the biggest concerns for the Indian government and society today the appalling state of road safety in our country.  Last year, to make India’s roads safer, a 7-point road safety agenda was presented to the government. The agenda covered a lot of aspects ranging from the laws that need amendment to the traffic police force that needs training.

     

    This year too, the campaign attempts to address this issue by encouraging citizens to take a pledge to never drink and drive. As a part of this initiative, in conjunction with the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways a special talk show was hosted with the honorable Minister of road transport and highways Nitin Gadkari at the Gateway of India, Mumbai.

     

    Union Minster for Road Transport & Highways, Nitin Gadkari stressed on the importance of making airbags mandatory in every type of car. It is the primary duty of the government to establish measures to protect the life of people irrespective of caste or creed. He further highlighted the significance of having a scientific process of issuing licenses. 30% of driving licenses are bogus. He promised to open 3000 centers in the country for driving and fitness measurement in order to procure those licenses He also requested people to identify accident prone areas on highways and report them on the government website. There are a total of 726 accident and black spots in the country. The government is investing 11,000 crores to improve the condition of these spots and working in the right direction to make Indian roads safer.

     

    In its second season, United Spirits-NDTV Road to Safety, a Diageo Initiative, a social campaign attempts to make our roads safer and reduce the number of ‘preventable accidents’ by encouraging citizens to demonstrate more responsible behavior behind the wheel. While lack of awareness, bad road designs, poor maintenance of roads is definitely a part of the problem, a majority of the accidents are a result of drunken driving too.

     

    This year, the event was attended by some of the country’s leading experts, policy makers, and NGO’s to highlight local issues, agendas and recommendations for the road ahead. 

     

    Speaking about this landmark initiative, United Spirits Ltd. business head luxury vertical and corporate relations Abanti Sankaranarayanan said, “The United Spirits-Diageo ‘Road to Safety’ initiative aims to create the necessary impact to address the abysmal state of road safety in our country. In collaboration with local and national partners – the government, civil society, individuals, families, and the industry; we aim to take Phase-II of the programme to greater heights by encouraging more people to drink responsibly and put safety first.”

  • Aaj Tak’s power packed fourth summit to kickstart on 11 December

    Aaj Tak’s power packed fourth summit to kickstart on 11 December

    MUMBAI: The fourth edition of Hindi heartland’s biggest summit – Agenda Aaj Tak also known as the Hindi Jagat ka Mahamanch will be held this year on 11 and 12 December.

     

    The two day conclave will see the convergence of key names across politics, entertainment and sports.

     

    The event, in its fourth year, will focus on the biggest subjects in the national mind space right from politics, social issues, industry initiatives, culture and more, thus setting the stage for the most crucial national decisions.

     

    The list of speakers include prominent politicians like Arun Jaitley, Nitin Gadkari, Suresh Prabhakar Prabhu, Ravi Shankar Prasad, Smriti Irani along with the likes of Brinda Karat, Akhilesh Yadav, PA Sangma, Shivraj Singh Chouhan, Salman Khurshid, Asaduddin Owaisi and Mehbooba Mufti Sayeed.

     

    From the sports background eminent personalities like Imran Khan and Kapil Dev along with stars from the entertainment industry like Ranveer Singh, Deepika Padukone, Sonam Kapoor, Sunny Deol, Anupam Kher, Adnan Sami and Annu Kapoor will also be present at the summit.

     

    The conclave will open with the session, Vikas Ka Express Way with Minister of Shipping, Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari and Lok Sabha Congress leader Mallikarjun Kharge.

     

    The Congress party leader Anand Sharma and CPI leader Brinda Karat with cabinet minister Ravi Shankar Prasad will discuss the impact of PM Narendra Modi in the session Thehar Gayi Modi Lehar? UP CM Akhilesh Yadav will lay out his plans in the session Akhilesh Ki Agni Pariksha, while CBI director Anil Sinha will answer the big question of Kab Aayega Dawood?

     

    Kiren Rijiju and P.A. Sangma will share their point of view during North East Par Seedhi Nazar. Senior BJP leader and CM of Madhya Pradesh Shivraj Singh Chouhan will outline his achievements during Dus Ka Dum.

     

    The World Cup winning captains from both sides of the border Imran Khan and Kapil Dev will speak on Sabse Bade Khiladi.

     

    The second day of the conclave will start with finance minister Arun Jaitley explaining his vision and plan to revive Indian economy during Main Hoon Na, while J&K leader Mehbooba Mufti Sayeed will share plans for Jammu Kashmir in Mission Kashmir.

     

    Shayari v/s Smiley will add to the entertainment quotient with poets Munawwar Rana, Kumar Vishwas, author Amish Tripathi and actor & TV presenter Annu Kapoor.

     

    The session of Terror Ka Tension will have discussions on plans to counter terrorism with the police commissioners of Delhi, Mumbai and Bangalore, Bhim Sain Bassi, Ahmed Javed and N. S. Megharikh respectively.

     

    Sunny Deol will speak in the session Yamla, Pagla, Deewana while Anupam Kher and Ashutosh Rana will discuss the contentious issue of intolerance.

     

    Pakistan’s High Commissioner to India, Abdul Basit will share his views in Pakistan Ke Dil Mein Kya Hai, while Bollywood heartthrobs Ranveer Singh and Deepika Padukone will let their heart out during the session Bollywood Ke Mastaane.