Category Archives: Business & Economy

Cell to innovate, incubate young entrepreneurs

Business & Economy, Records, All

Lucknow :

A provision of Rs 5-crore for setting up incubators in Lucknow is a first in UP budget, say experts. It’s probably for the first time that that the government has focussed on entrepreneurial development in the state. UP never had an incubation centre or cell beyond institutions like IIT, Kanpur or IIM, Lucknow .

“It will turn students into employers and not employment-seekers,” says Prof Manish Gaur, founder director, Institute of Advanced Studies, APJ Abdul Kalam Technical University, and a member of the innovation and incubation cell. In UP, since students do not have the money for start-ups, they mostly hunt for jobs. That’s where the role of incubation cell becomes important.

These cells are meant to support under-graduate and post-graduate students willing to set up industrial units or a start-ups. They provide a conducive environment to students as far as designing the product, finding the market and addressing legal issues is concerned.

Once the start-up or the industrial unit becomes matured and strong enough to be a stand-alone set up, the entrepreneur can migrate. The incubation cells can be set up in universities or private institutes which are matured enough to provide the support an incubation cell.

Industrial Investment and Employment Promotion Policy 2017 emphasises on promoting start-ups by reducing regulatory burden on them; creating venture capital fund; setting up incubation centres to connect start-ups with resources for running their businesses and connect them to network of experts and opening up incubation centres in government and private engineering colleges, management institutes and other technical organizations.

“But government should guard against start-ups migrating to other states once matured,” the professor adds.

source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / News> City News> Lucknow News / TNN / July 12th, 2017

Faqeer Khera village in Uttar Pradesh electrified 69 years after Independence

Business & Economy, Records, All, Science & Technology

Majra Faqeer Khera finally became one of hundreds of villages across the country that has been provided electricity for the first time since independence in a special drive to electrify all the villages of state.

35 connections have been given to below poverty line families.(HT Photo)

Power reached Majra Faqeer Khera village in Mohanlaganj area of state capital 69 years after independence. Villagers danced when the first bulb was switched on in the house of a villager Bechan.

The village finally became one of hundreds of villages across the country that has been provided electricity for the first time since independence in a special drive to electrify all the villages of state.

On the first day, 35 connections to BPL families and 1 to APL family was given, said GM LESA Ashutosh Srivastava who adopted the village and ensured power lines within 20 days of adoption of village.

“ I have directed all the engineers to adopt a village in their respective areas which do not have power yet. However, in this village under Grameen Vidyutikaran Yojana of the centre, only Rs 21 lakh were spent for creating the power infrastructure ,” said Srivastava.

For Bitana Devi 31, Electrification means a lot as her son can study any time he wants. “My son, a student of Class 5 was not able to study at nights. Now he can do so,” she said.

Shatrughan, 59, another resident, said, “ We have studied and spent our lives using lanterns. Now our kids can live a better life.”

Chandan, a shop owner said, “ Earlier our day started with sun rise and finished with sunset but now we will have a life after sunset too. Electrification will help students, traders and farmers in increasing their output. ”

Gaj Prasad cleaned his refrigerator today which he received in his marriage as a gift from his in laws five years back. H would be able to use it at last, he said, adding gleefully, “Now we can drink chilled water and save our food from rotting.”

source: http://www.hindustantimes.com / Hindustan Times / Home> Cities> Lucknow / by HT Correspondent, Hindustan Times,Lucknow / June 12th, 2017

Varanasi based NGO gets National Intellectual Property Award

Business & Economy, Records, All

Varanasi :

A city based NGO Human Welfare Association (HWA) has been selected as a winner of National Intellectual Property (IP) Award for the year 2017 in the category of “top individual/organisation for best facilitation of registration of GI and promotion of registered GI in India.” The award will be given by the union minister of commerce and industry Nirmala Sitharaman at a function jointly organised by the Indian Intellectual Property Office and Confederation of Indian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CII) in New Delhi on April 27, a day after the World Intellectual Property Day (April 26).

Human Welfare Associations’ Director Rajni Kant

“It is a great honour to our organization and our efforts for the promotion of GI goods. We received the letter yesterday from the office of Controller General of Patents, Design and Trade Marks & Registrar of Geographical Indications,” the HWA director Rajni Kant told TOI on Tuesday before leaving for New Delhi to receive the award, which carries an amount of Rs. one lakh, a citation and a memento. The Indian Intellectual Property Office confers National IP Awards on outstanding innovators, organisations and companies in the fields of patents, designs, trademarks and geographical indications on the occasion of World IP Day every year.

“The HWA has facilitated for IPR through GI registration of nine products like including Banaras Brocades and Sarees, Handmade Carpet of Bhadohi, Champa Silk Sarees and Fabric, Mirzapur Handmade Dari, Banaras Gulabi Meenakari, Varanasi Wooden Lacquerware & Toys, Nizamabad Black Pottery, Varanasi Metal Repousee craft,” he said adding that three more handicraft products including Varanasi Stone undercut work, Chunar Sand Stone, Jute Wall Hanging of Ghazipur are under process of GI registration.

Registered in 1991 the HWA has been working to address the need of deprived sections of dalit, OBC and minority community in Varanasi with focus on women, children, youth and artisans and weavers. Kant, a doctorate in soil and agriculture chemistry from Banaras Hindu University, took this initiative in 1993. Organization is working for promotion of India Handloom Brand, Handloom mark, gender issues, and communal harmony. It is also involved in the advocacy on child rights, handloom, handicraft, weavers, artisans, marginalized farmers, women literacy initiative and future rnergy issues.”

We have conducted various GI awareness and post GI workshop in Varanasi and other part of UP,” he said adding that he had also participated in World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) Conference at Geneva, Switzerland held from October 5 to 11 in 2015 on the issue of GI Registered IPR product of the India – Make In India event.

source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / News> City News> Varanasi News / by Binay Singh / TNN / April 25th, 2017

Praise For Paytm Boss Vijay Shekhar Sharma. All The Way From Aligarh

Business & Economy, Education, Inspiration / Positive News and Features, Leaders
Vijay Shekhar Sharma, Founder and CEO of Paytm, spent his childhood in Aligarh

New Delhi :

It’s always a nice feeling to reconnect with old friends from school. Something similar happened to Paytm Founder and CEO Vijay Shekhar Sharma. From his humble beginnings in Aligarh to heading a multibillion-dollar company, Mr Sharma has come a long way. And a word of appreciation came from an old classmate of the Paytm boss. The 43-year-old shared a screenshot of a WhatsApp conversation on Twitter. In the conversation, a person informed Mr Sharma that his Uber driver belonged to the same school as the Paytm boss and was proud of his achievements.

“My Uber driver says Namaste to you. He says he was in your school. His name is Vijay Upadhyay s/o Pramod Kumar Sharma,” read the message. A delighted Mr Sharma quickly responded by recalling the school they went to. “Awww. Agrasen Inter College. Harduaganj,” he wrote. Harduaganj is a town in Aligarh district in Uttar Pradesh where Mr Sharma is from.

As the conversation went on, he was told that his former classmate was happy to admit that the two went to the same school and how proud he was of Mr Sharma’s success. “He is saying you have made everyone proud,” the message read. Vijay Shekhar Sharma shared the heartening conversation on Twitter.

Vijay Shekhar Sharma spent his childhood in Aligarh. At the age of 15, he enrolled at Delhi College of Engineering. In 2010, he founded digital wallet platform Paytm which is now valued at over $4 billion. The online payment app saw a huge surge after PM Modi’s demonetisation policy in November 2016. Now at 43, he is the second Indian on Time Magazine’s ‘100 Most Influential People list’ along with Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Disclosure: Paytm’s parent company One97 is an investor in NDTV’s Gadgets 360.

source: http://www.ndtv.com / NDTV / Home> Sections> Off-Beat / by Meghna Nijhawan / May 02nd, 2017

UP’s longest bridge turns into a specimen of #KaamBoltaHai

Business & Economy, Records, All, Travel
Chahlari Ghat Bridge, UP’s longest over a river, has become a unlikely picnic spot, attracting families and youth to Sitapur and Bahraich, the two districts it connects

Chahlari (Sitapur / Bahraich):

For local residents, it isn’t a bridge too far.

Chahlari Ghat Bridge, UP’s longest over a river, has become an unlikely picnic spot, attracting families and youths to Sitapur and Bahraich, the two districts it connects.

The 3.26 km-long bridge is called the “mini Agra-Lucknow Expressway” by the people here. “That’s because it takes less than 10 minutes to drive over the stretch now …Earlier, someone travelling to the district (Bahraich) had to come via Mahmudabad, which took more than 90 minutes,” Vinay Mishra, the owner of a medical store, said.

“The bridge is being used by Samajwadi Party supporters to campaign for the candidate in Sevata and the word has spread,” said Akhilesh Bajpai, a businessman and social worker from Sevata.

Local candidate Shiv Kumar’s supporters started telling people to take a ride on the bridge for an Agra-Lucknow Expressway-like experience. Talking to TOI, a supporter, Ajay Singh, said, “Bridge saboot hai ki kaam hua hai … tabhi bolta hai. (The bridge is proof that work has been done, that’s why it speaks (for development).”

He said chief minister Akhilesh Yadav urging Prime Minister Narendra Modi to drive down the Agra-Lucknow Expressway to see the work done by his party was the cue. In one of his speeches, the CM, in fact, had said that if the PM used the Agra-Lucknow Expressway once even he would vote for the Samajwadi Party. “If the PM can’t take the expressway, he can come here,” said another supporter, Rajesh Kumar.

Word of mouth turned the place into a picnic spot. On hearing about the place, Vimal Maurya and his friend Kishor Prajapati visited the place on Valentine’s Day. “Hum Sidhauli se aa rahe hain … check karne ki jo bola hai woh sachh hai ya nahi (We have come from Sidhauli to check if what is being said is true),” said Vimal, who was impressed.

Mohammed Kamil and his family came from Biswa for the sunset. “This is beautiful… Though not comparable with the Agra-Lucknow Expressway, the locals may surely get a feel,” he said.

Clicking selfies and taking pictures of the place, Haroon Rasheed, a marketing executive for a Bahraich-based solar panel manufacturer, even walked up to the old pontoon bridge. “Pipay ka pul toh ab itihas hai.. isliye photo kheech rahe hain,” he said, adding that he loved the bridge because it had added Sitapur market to his area.

Before the bridge was built, one had to take a boat across the Ghaghra and Sharda rivers to reach the other end.

source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / News> City News> Lucknow News / by Shailvee Sharda / TNN / February 18th, 2017

Aero India 2017: Kanpur-based MKU showcasing its armouring solution Polyshield V6 that can cut helicopter weight 40%

Business & Economy, Science & Technology, World Opinion

Indigenous companies to go full throttle. Kanpur-based MKU is showcasing its armouring solutions at the five-day aerospace exhibition.

Around 270 Indian companies and 279 foreign companies are expected to participate in the premium aerospace and aviation exhibition, which starts on February 14.

With the Make in India initiative on everyone’s mind, Aero India 2017 will be showcasing both Indian and international new technologies, including ultra light armour protection for helicopters, 3D printing for parts, nano technology, smart materials, AESA radar, infrared seeker and sensor technology, engines, and rotors. Around 270 Indian companies and 279 foreign companies are expected to participate in the premium aerospace and aviation exhibition, which starts on February 14.

Kanpur-based MKU Pvt Ltd is one of the Indian companies showcasing its cutting edge technology for mission critical modular protection for helicopters. Of all the factors that affect the performance of a helicopter, weight is the most important one, followed by lift, thrust and drag. MKU’s 6th Generation Polyshield V6 armouring technology uses advanced composite materials and techniques that reduce the weight of armour for aircraft and helicopters by approximately 40% compared to standard armouring solutions.

“Keeping the multi role operations and survivability of utility and assault helicopters in consideration, the company designs helicopter armour kits using the proprietary ‘Modular Schutz Technik’, which uses precision engineered composite armour panels along with patented aero-grade attachment systems,” said Neeraj Gupta, managing director, MKU. “These kits are installed in the existing structure of the helicopter, and do not require any structural changes or tampering with the aerodynamics of the helicopter. Hence, re-certification of the aircraft for airworthiness does not become an obligation.”

Given that aircraft and helicopters are big machines, they are prone to terminal attacks through armed fire from militants or enemy forces. The belly of the helicopter or aircraft, cockpit and the engine are most susceptible to attacks. Therefore, aircraft armouring solutions have been crucially important to decrease the susceptibility of the fixed wing and rotary aircrafts and their crew. Without the necessary protection, they can become flying death-traps, making armour protection an absolute necessity. Armour shield can protect against large-caliber anti-aircraft fire or armour piercing ammunitions typically with a great weight penalty, which affects the performance and load carrying capacity of the aircraft, among other things.

“We can armour any helicopter for the Indian Armed Forces as well as paramilitary forces, as we have done almost 20 different types of helicopters worldwide including MI-8/17; Lockheed C-130; Pilatus PC-6 Turbo Porter; Boeing CH-47; Eurocopter BO-105; Sikorsky S-70 Black Hawk, UH60,UH 60M,” says Gupta. The Indian Air Force and BSF have evinced interest in this technology for their aircraft. Besides MKU, there are three major companies in the world that offer this technology including TenCate from Netherlands and Plasan Sasa from Israel.

At the Aero-India 2017, the UK based Rolls Royce is showing Advanced Military Fan Concept—a full scale model of military fan for a 5th generation fighter aircraft engine. This concept is designed to improve core efficiency while minimising installation effects. France’s Thales will demonstrate its mastery of advanced technology and industrial prowess by displaying a wide range of its cutting-edge products. It will provide insights into rocket systems, underwater systems (sonars), surveillance and fire control radars, surface warfare systems (missiles), among others.

US firm Textron Systems will display a full-size Aerosonde Small Unmanned Aircraft System, as well as models of the Shadow v2 Tactical Unmanned Aircraft System (TUAS), Shadow M2, and models of Textron Systems’ precision-guided munitions.

source: http://www.financialexpress.com / The Financial Express / Home> Industry / by Huma Siddiqui / February 13th, 2017

UP pips Maha, is now top producer of sugar

Agriculture, Business & Economy, Records, All

Lucknow :

At a time when cane-growers in western UP, hit by demonetisation, missed the rabi season and were considering to quit farming, the fact that the state has surged past even Maharashtra to become the country’s top sugar producer might restore their confidence.

Maharashtra, which was so far the largest sugar producer, is struggling with around 40 lakh tonne from the earlier 110 lakh tonne a year because the water table sank alarmingly leading to drought like conditions. Majority of the sugar mills are shut and distressed and indebted cane-growers are reportedly facing near starvation.

The highest ever production estimation was revealed by a state delegation at a high-level meeting called by the Centre in Delhi two days ago to assess sugar production in the country. UP’s figures of around 80 lakh tonne surprised the Centre and representatives of other cane growing states as with this the state is all set to record the highest ever sugar production.

Talking to ToI, secretary general of UP Sugar Mills Association, Deepak Guptara said that the farmers deserve special mention for introducing varietal changes in the crop and researchers for the new high yielding crops, while the state government played a key role in implementation of the plans and programmes which resulted in another feather to UP’s cap. He, however, added that the climatic changes in Maharashtra were also a factor in sharp decline in sugar production in that state.

With the highest sugar production in UP this year, to be declared officially by March end, the sugar industry is all set for a revolution as cane and related activities are to get a boost and its benefits are to be harvested by the farmers, mainly nearly 35 lakh sugarcane growers.

The record production of sugar will not only stabilise the price of the product in the market, but would also result in timely payments to cane-growers, even as sugar mills would profit from selling more. In the previous cane year, the state had produced 68.55 lakh tonne. Guptara shared, “We are selling the sugar substantially in sugar deficient states this time.”

The record production in sugar is linked to increase of sugar recovery in sugarcane from around 9 per cent till last year to more than 10 per cent this year. It also got a push with growth in productivity from 59 tonne per hectare to 67 tonne per hectare. Moreover, the government has been able to overcome the barrier of transfer of hybrid and high quality seeds of sugar from lab to land.

The government is confident that a record sugar production will not only invite more investment in sugar mills’ expansion and modernization programmes, but also restore the faith of cane-growers in cane cultivation.

source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / News> City News> Lucknow News / by Subhash Mishra / TNN / February 10th, 2017

Bead jewellery of Kashi gets GI tag

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Business & Economy, Records, All

Lucknow :

The beautiful bracelets, earrings and necklaces tourists never fail to pick from Varanasi became officially exclusive to the temple town with Geographical Indication Registry of India registering the handicraft.

The uniqueness of these beads, known as `kaanch ke moti’ (glass beads), could be gauged from the fact that `no two beads can be identical even when they show striking similarity’.

An application to this effect was presented in July , 2009 by export promotion commissioner, department of small scale industries and Banaras Glass Beads Association. The GI certificate, awarded on November 10, 2016, will remain valid up to July 2019. Raahul Dutta, counsel for the UP government who is pursuing the case, said, “The GI tag would benefit craftsmen by safeguarding its uniqueness which has been challenged by men and machines in China.The state would also be able to generate revenue from the work.”

Alok Kanungo -assistant professor, archaeology department, IIT, Gandhingar, who has studied glass beads of India -shared why the Varanasi glass beads are unique. “India has three major glass bead industries -Papanaidupet (Chitoor, Andhra Pradesh), Puralpur (near Hathras) and Varanasi -which are segregated on the basis of the technique used,” he said.

Asserting that Banaras glass bead was a pure handicraft, he added, “The technique used in Varanasi, called lamp winding, makes it unique. In this, glass is transformed into rods or sticks known as canes.Workers melt them at a small heat source, usually a lamp (hence the name). The glass is wound around a wire. While it is still hot, the bead may be shaped or given colour. Once cooled, beads are knocked down.”

President of Banaras beads association Ashok Gupta said more than 5,000 artisan families in Varanasi, parts of Mirzapur and Sonbhadra manufacture 50,000 varieties of glass beads in various shapes and sizes. A worker may take 5-20 minutes to make a single bead.

source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / Home> News> City News> Lucknow News / by Shailvee Sharda / TNN / November 23rd, 2016

Meet the RTI activist who anticipated Modi’s denotification move

Amazing Feats, Business & Economy

Bareilly:

Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s announcement that Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 currency notes would no longer be legal tender from November 9 might have come as a surprise and shock to most citizens, but not for Mohd Khalid Jilani, a Bareilly-based RTI activist, who had anticipated it in October this year.

On October 17, Jilani filed an RTI query with the Union ministry of finance asking whether there was a proposal pending with the government about scrapping notes in the two denominations after the income declaration scheme (IDS) had ended. Jilani had also asked for names and address of those people and organisations who had suggested scrapping of the two notes. The reply to his query is still awaited.

Jilani had two more questions for the ministry. In his RTI request, he had asked what were the reasons responsible for domestic black money which had come to light during the review fo the IDS. The final question was about the amount of money the finance ministry had spent on publicity of IDS.

Since the RTI Act states that queries must be replied to within 30 days, Jilani is awaiting the completion of the deadline in a week.

“By not replying to the query, the finance ministry maintained secrecy about its decision to scrap both currency notes,” Jilani told TOI.

Asked what prompted him to file the query, Jilani said, “The Modi government was criticised by everyone for not fulfilling the promise to clamp down on black money made by him before elections. After the last date for IDS ended on September 30 this year, I thought that the Centre could now take some strict action against black money. Civil society has been demanding a ban on circulation of Rs 500 and Rs 1000 notes for a long time. I myself had filed a memorandum in this regard with the finance ministry nearly three years ago.” He added that the Centre’s decision to denotify the two currency notes was delayed because of the festive season, which began when the IDS deadline expired.

Welcoming the move by the Centre, Jilani said, “It will impact black money, which is being used for funding terrorism and purchasing votes for politicians. However, the government should adopt a transparent system for exchanging old with new currency and conduct inquiry against persons found to be hoarding unaccounted money. Besides, public should support the government to make the country corruption-free instead of complaining about the inconvenience faced by them for some time.”

source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / News> City News> Bareilly News /by Priyangi Agarwal / TNN / November 09th, 2016

Two from city get first Kalam award

Business & Economy, Records, All, Travel

Lucknow:

Two key personalities from the city have won the first edition of Dr APJ Abdul Kalam Award for ‘Innovation in Governance’.

Lucknow Metro Rail Corporation managing director Kumar Keshav and National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC) chief operating officer Jayant Krishna were awarded for showing exemplary work in improving governance and delivering value to the citizens.

The awards were given on Saturday during the memorial summit organized at Vigyan Bhawan, New Delhi, to commemorate Kalam’s 85th birth anniversary.

source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / News Home> City News> Lucknow / TNN / October 16th, 2016