IIHS announces joint programme with UNDP on Building Resilience through Integrated Development Practice

IIHS announces joint programme with UNDP on Building Resilience through Integrated Development Practice

Patna: The Indian Institute for Human Settlements (IIHS) in association with United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) is conducting a short course on Building Resilience through Integrated Development Practice. This is the first time in the country that such a course has been conducted. The course focuses on an integrated understanding of planning interventions that reduce the vulnerability of people, built assets and natural assets, to climate and disaster risks. The first cycle was on 18–23 November 2013, which was attended by planners, policymakers and practitioners from the state government and other agencies from Karnataka, Kerala and Tamil Nadu. The second iteration of the course will be held from 9 to 14 December 2013 at the IIHS City Campus, Bangalore.

The course will be taught by leading international and national experts in this field. The faculty includes Aromar Revi, Director, Indian Institute for Human Settlements (IIHS), Seeta Prabhu, Former Head of UNDP’s Human Development Resource Centre, G. Padmanabhan, Officer in Charge DM Unit, UNDP,  Sumetee Pahwa Gajjar, Gautam Bhan and Neha Sami, Faculty at IIHS , Amir Bazaz, Faculty at Symbiosis School of Economics (Pune).

When disasters occur, their impact is deeper on communities and households with low human development, impacting their ability or rate of recovery, or exacerbating their susceptibility to risk. Current planning approaches to development, climate change and disaster management often overlook the magnitude of damage certain populations face because of their continuing vulnerability. Development plans often focus on large, infrastructure-led projects, and tend to exclude vulnerable groups from decision-making processes. Climate change concerns are a recent addition to the planning portfolio of state governments in India, and are yet to be mainstreamed.  The emphasis of disaster risk reduction has been on large, relatively low frequency catastrophic events. Furthermore, small, everyday risks are often as significant as larger, more intense events, since they play a key role in the persistence of vulnerability.

This course aims to equip practitioners to build resilience through the integration of Climate Change Adaption (CCA) and Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) practice with a human development focus. The objective is to design and implement CCA, DRR and development plans, policies and programmes across different sectors and scales such that they reduce the vulnerability of people, assets (natural and built) and businesses to climate and disaster risks.

Application to this course is open to all interested individuals and will be most relevant for professionals from State Governments and Urban Local Bodies; public and private sector practitioners, NGOs and research institutes.

About IIHS

The Indian Institute for Human Settlements (IIHS) is a national education institution committed to the equitable, sustainable and efficient transformation of Indian settlements. IIHS is India’s first prospective independently funded and managed inter-disciplinary National University for Research and Innovation that focuses on its ongoing urban and development transformation. It is a first-of-its-kind, practice and innovation-oriented knowledge institution that seeks to bridge the conventional excellence, scale and inclusion divide. For more information, see www.iihs.co.in.

Honda inaugurates its 10th New Zonal Office in India

Honda inaugurates its 10^th New Zonal Office in India 

·         New Zonal office at Patna - key step towards Honda’s expansion in India

·         Aims to Connect closer with customer for faster market response

·         Zonal office equipped with State of the art service training center

Patna: In line with its commitment to realize ‘The Power of Dreams’ for a Billion plus Indians, Honda Motorcycle & Scooter India Pvt. Ltd. (HMSI), the only two-wheeler company of Honda in India, today inaugurated its tenth zonal office in India at Patna in Bihar state.

Since inception in 1999, Honda has expanded its presence in a phased manner. Currently, Honda is operational with a Regional Headquarter for each of its 5 Regions in India.  Now, re-aligning with Honda’s vision to expand its reach by in India being closer to the market (Customer and Network), new zonal offices are planned in a phased manner across regions.

What sets Honda apart is that each zonal office comes equipped with advanced State-of-the-art Honda Service Training Center through which Honda will be able to continually train and upgrade skills of service personnel at their network (Dealer, Sub-Dealer and Authorized Service Centers) resulting in efficient Field operations and faster market response.

As a major contributor to East region, HMSI chose Patna as the logical step towards its regional expansion. HMSI presence and future expansion in Bihar is poised to play a key role in strategizing and planning regional Sales & Customer Service approach.

 “Bihar is a vital market for Honda and we look forward to reaching closer and serving our Customers with new speed. Starting with Patna, Honda will continue to expand zonal offices to reach closer to customers and also to connect, communicate and create faster for Indian market in a planned manner”, said Mr.Keita Muramatsu - President and CEO, Honda Motorcycle and Scooter India.

HMSI In Bihar:                                                                                                                                  
The 2wheeler industry in Bihar is rapidly growing and contributes 3% to total 2W sales in India. While 2W industry in Bihar has grown by average of 11%, Honda has grown by an overwhelming 46% in first 7 months of FY12-13 (YoY basis) and consolidated its position as the ‘Fastest Growing 2Wheeler Company in India’. Honda meets the expectations of customers in Bihar with its 42 sales and service outlets. The entire range of 13 Honda’s automatic scooter and motorcycle products including the recently launched 110cc mass motorcycle Dream Yuga & Dream Neo meet expectations of customers in all categories.

For further information, please contact:

Atul Malikram

09827092823

breakfastnews@gmail.comBottom of Form

A Unique Tale of Marriage, Prison and Hidden Identity in Life OK’s Ek Boond Ishq

A Unique Tale of Marriage, Prison and Hidden Identity in Life OK’s Ek Boond Ishq

A new series starring Vishwajeet Pradhan, Viraf Pheroz Patel and Chavvi Pandey starts 9^th September at 8.30 pm

 It is said that Marriages are made in heaven…but a wedding ceremony can happen anywhere. While some elope to stay together forever, some arrange it in the presence of thousands of guests. Life OK, India’s fastest growing General Entertainment Channel, brings out a unique tale of a girl who realizes that she is set to tie the knot in a Prison Cell, in its new show – Ek Boond Ishq – that premiers on September 9th.

Meet Tara, an energetic independent girl who agrees to marry a wealthy boy, Mrityunjay to save her family from an impending financial crisis. Little does she know that Mrityunjay is in prison and awaiting verdict on a rape and murder accusation! Played by newcomer Chavvi Pandey and Viraf Pheroz Patel respectively, the actors bring out the true essence of emotions that their character is going through. In her new home, Tara stumbles upon a secret that changes the course of her life. Tauji, a staunch aristocrat who demands respect from his family in the day, is actually a eunuch named Kalavati by night. Essayed by Vishwajeet Pradhan, both his characters are treated with respect and dignity. It is the first time that a fictional TV series will showcase a eunuch’s character as one of its pillars.

Commenting on the launch of the new show, Ajit Thakur, General Manager, Life OK said, “We have made one promise to our viewers – to offer never-seen-before content. In Ek Boond Ishq, we have three strong characters narrating their own tales of circumstance. While Tara is a prisoner in a palace, Mrityunjay is a convict in prison. We also have Tauji or Kalavati, a unique personality never seen before on Indian Television. Audiences will see each character differently with their own strengths and weaknesses. We are confident that our viewers will accept this unique storyline and will appreciate our modest attempt to providing quality entertainment.”

“We are delighted to associate with Saba Mumtaz and the team at Life OK to put together BBC Worldwide’s first daily fiction series in India. Together we have assembled a very talented team and we look forward to bringing this unique story to Life OK’s viewers”, said Myleeta Aga, SVP and General Manager BBC Worldwide, India.

“Ëk Boond Ishq is a great mix of mysterious and unique characters, romance and suspense. It is the first venture by RBW telefilms and a dream come true for me to present an extraordinary love story in a completely different setting. I am grateful to the team at Life OK and BBC Worldwide for the unflinching faith in my vision”, said Saba Mumtaz, Writer and Producer, RBW TELEFILMS. 

Ek Boond Ishq traces the journey of Tara as she treads the path to unravel the truth and mysteries around Mrityunjay and Kalavati. 

Watch Ek Boond Ishq, starting 9^th September 2013, Monday to Friday at 8.30pm on Life OK

Max Ka Bada Ticket, Ab Apke Sheher Mein!

Max Ka Bada Ticket, Ab Apke Sheher Mein!

Jeetne ke liye sirf ek missed call kafi hai!

Get ready to win 100’s of mobiles, water purifiers, generator sets and a grand prize of an all paid trip to Mumbai!

Uttar Pradesh: MAX, the leading Premium Hindi Movie and Special Events channel is all geared up to take its Uttar Pradesh viewers by storm with its latest mega activity cum contest “MAX KA BADA TICKET”.Spread over 2 months, this unique weekend contest commences from 24th August and will runon MAX every fortnightduring the airing of the primetime movie of Saturday and Sunday.

To enter the “MAX Ka Bada Ticket” contest, viewers need to register by giving a missed call on the number ‘1800 103 77 88’. The aspirants will then receive a call from MAX for registration and to share the details of their name, age and city of residence. All those people who are registered will get sms on the days of contest reminding them to participate. During the movie, these people will be asked two questions related to the movie through IVR calls. All those people who participate in all 4 questions between movies on Saturday and Sunday will qualify to win. The contest weekends are 24^th& 25^th Aug, 7^th& 8^th Sept, 21^st& 22^nd Sept and 5^th& 6^th October.

MAX has initiated this exclusive contest especially for its viewers of Maharahstra and Uttar Pradesh to increase the interface with the channel while entertaining and engaging audiences. To promote this activity on a large scale, MAX has initiated a huge on-ground road show across more than 200 towns. The activity will have MAX branded vans making the rounds in these cities distributing the MAX Ka Bada Ticket and inviting ardent filmi fans to participate in this one of a kind contest.

The winners of the MAX BADA TICKET can win a range of exciting prizes from mobile phones to generator sets to water purifiers and last but not the least the BADA TICKET for an all-expenses paid trip to Mumbai. The channel will also be recognizing the grand winners and making local heroes out of them by putting up billboards with their name and photograph in their hometown.

Commenting on the same, Vaishali Sharma, Vice President, Marketing & Communications – MAX said, “MAX has always believed in engaging and exciting its viewers with remarkable events and making them feel special. We all know that the passion for Hindi films runs strong across India. We hope to increase the engagement and the entertainment quotient for all our movie buffsthrough this unique ‘MAX Ka Bada Ticket’ contest and also gratify them for their passion to watch movies”.

About MAX:

MAX, India’s No. 1 Hindi Movie channel, backed by Sony Pictures Television International (SPTI), provides its viewers with the biggest and best of Hindi Movies and Special Events.  MAX is the exclusive broadcaster of the world’s biggest entertainment extravaganza, the PEPSI Indian Premier League (PEPSI IPL). With “extraaa innings”, MAX changed the rules of cricket presentation throughout the world during the ICC Cricket World Cup 2003, and made it an entertaining affair that continues to set viewership records. Some of the on-air movie properties of MAX, such as ‘AbTakBachchan’, ‘Maha Movie’ and ‘Mera Movie’ have become a staple diet of millions of viewers across India. Exciting World Television Premiers of new Bollywood films and monthly festivals showcasing the hottest stars of Indian cinema have made MAX the favourite movie channel of India.

MAX has also been widely acclaimed and distinguished in the media marketplace with a host of awards recognising leadership and marketing excellence. Today, MAX reaches out to over 50 million households in India.

Media Contact:

Atul Malikram

9827092823

pr@atulmalikram.in

Life OK’s Amrit Manthan bids goodbye

Life OK’s Amrit Manthan bids goodbye

As they say, all good things must come to an end! One of the longest running show from the Life OK stable, Amrit Manthan is set to bid adieu to the audiences. The show will see its last episode aired on 2nd August, 2013. Ravi Ojha Productions’ Gustakh Dil replaces Amrit Manthan at 7.30 PM.

The show which garnered a good response from the audiences since the first episode will now meet its logical conclusion. What started off the journey of Amrit and Nimrit will now end with Amrit’s Manthan.

Says a tearful Adaa Khan,” I simply can’t believe that Amrit Manthan is going off air. It has been a wonderful journey as Amrit and I have learnt and grown as an actor in the entire process. The cast and crew has been my second home and I am going to miss each and every moment I have spent with them. The audiences have always supported us in every endeavour and I take this opportunity to thank them for all the love and blessings they have showered us with.”

Gustakh Dil starring Sana Sheikh, Meghana Malik, Vibhav Roy and Parvati Sehgal replaces Amrit Manthan starting 5^th August, 2013 at 7.30 PM on Life OK