State to host two-day Investors Summit in October: Chief Secretary

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May 9, 2018

Uttarakhand government will be organizing an Investors Summit in October. For the two-day Summit, Prime Minister Mr. Narendra Modi would be invited. Before the Investors Summit, four mini Conclaves would be organized. This decision was taken during a meeting organized under the chairmanship of Chief Secretary Utpal Kumar Singh.

In the meeting of Uttarakhand Investors Summit 2018 held at secretariat on Tuesday, it was decided that before the meet, mini conclaves would be organized in Tehri, Udham Singh Nagar, Nainital and Haridwar. In Tehri – Wellness and Tourism Conclave; in Udham Singh Nagar – Food Processing and Auto Conclave; in Nainital – Film Shooting and Tourism Conclave and in Haridwar–Ayurveda, Herbal, Aromatic and Aayush Conclave would be organized.

About the present capital investment in Uttarakhand, road shows would be taken out in Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Mumbai, Delhi, Kolkata and other major places. A total of 12 sectors have been shortlisted for investments. Showcasing would be done for these sectors, which include Food Processing, Forestry, Floriculture, Tourism & Hospitality, Wellness & Aayush, Automobile & Component, Pharma, Sericulture & Natural Fiber, IT, Herbal & Aromatic Products, Renewal Energy, Film Shooting and Bio-Technology. The main programme of the Investors Meet would be held at the International Sports Stadium Raipur in Dehradun. An exhibition showcasing the facilities available here for setting up industrial units would also be organized.

In the meeting, Principal Secretary, Industry, Manisha Pawar; Secretary, IT R.K.Sudhanshu; Secretary, Power Radhika Jha; Secretary, Tourism, Dilip Javalkar; MD SIIDCUL Saujanya; Director, Industries, Sudhir nautiyal, Pankaj Gupta from CII; Vinay Goyal from Industries Association, Uttarakhand among others were present.

Veil Done: Does well at home and abroad

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Tania Saili

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May 8, 2018

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This National Award ceremony had good news for Uttarakhand as well. One of its daughter’s, with ancestral roots in Pithoragarh Juhi Bhatt won the ‘Best Film on Social Issues’ National Award for her maiden mainstream documentary ‘Veil Done.’

The 30-minute documentary was shot over a period of ten days, in the overcrowded area of Nizammudin Basti in New Delhi. Talking about the shoot, Juhi tells us, “I chanced upon the idea from a newspaper article and filmed the documentary on the lives of three middle aged Muslim women struggling to find their own voice and making independent choices.”

“Veil Done’ was chosen from 166 short-films shortlisted for the coveted National award. In early March this year, ‘Veil Done’ was also adjudged the ‘Best Shoot Documentary’ at the Karachi International Film Awards,” stated Juhi’s proud father, Retired Inspector General of the Indo Tibetan Border Police MC Bhatt who along with her brother Jayant Bhatt who were by her side when Juhi received the Award.

Bitten by the ‘Directors bug’ at an early stage, Juhi completed her Mass Communication Degree from Jamia Milia Islamia Institute, New Delhi and after a brief stint in Delhi, she moved to Mumbai, the-land-of-possibilities.

While in Mumbai, Juhi worked in advertisement world and made couple of documentaries/short film for NGOs, lifestyle shows for the past nine years, but her first love was documentaries and that too on women and social issues.

On receiving the National Award, an elated Juhi says, “ It means a lot to me to get this award for my maiden documentary. I was overwhelmed and its great when your work gets recognized on a national platform as all you want is for your work to be shared with as many people as possible, I couldn’t have asked for a larger platform.”

As we sign off, Juhi adds, “I am looking for suitable subjects in Uttarakhand as well, for I feel that the region isn’t being showcased as it should be, and I am sure there is a story there being waiting to be discovered.”

We wish her all the very best in her future endeavours.

FTII film appreciation course comes to Dehradun in June

By

Tania Saili

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May 8, 2018

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In keeping with its mission to spread film literacy and promote better understanding of cinema, Film and Television Institute of India, Pune is conducting a 5-day Film Appreciation course in Dehradun, Uttarakhand.

The Course is being held in association with the Information Department, Directorate of Information and Public Relation Office, Laadpur, Ringroad, Uttarakhand.

Beginning June 6th, participants will be presented several streams of ideas about Cinema across 5 days. The main elements will be, basic concepts about Film medium, selected topics in the history of cinema, how films are made, kinds of films, experimental, animation etc, selected topics in Film styles, short film analysis and general screenings.

The five day course in Dehradun will begin at 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. from 6th of June to 10th of June, the last date to submit application for the course is 24th of May along with a draft for 2,500/-. The basic requirement for the course would be for the participant to be above 18 years of age with a fair knowledge of English and Hindi both written and spoken.

“From a once-a-year-course of 4 weeks benefiting only 100-odd people in Pune, Film Appreciation has metamorphosed into a mass movement, an ASHWAMEDH RATH that is straddling the length and breadth of the country, touching thousands of people, promoting film education in courses which are open to all. This democratisation will lead to better understanding of cinema, will unravel cinema as an art & craft and not mere entertainment,” Bhupendra Kainthola, Director FTII said.

FTII has so far conducted successful Short-duration Film Appreciation Courses in Mumbai, Pune, Nagpur, Amravati, IIT Bombay, IIT Roorkee, Srinagar, Ahmedabad University, Ahmedabad, Bhubaneswar, Jaipur, Gurgaon, Guwahati, Haridwar, Nainital and Srinagar (Uttarakhand).

For Application Form:

www.uttarainformation.gov.in / www.ftiindia.com

Completed Application Form along with DD can be speed post/couriered to:

K.S. Chauhan, Deputy Director, Information and Public Relations Office (DIPR), Information Office, Laadpur, ring Road, Dehradun – 248005

For more Information Contact:

Mr. K.S Chauhan:7055007005 or Mr. Suresh Bhatt: 9719157901

In the coming months, Film Appreciation courses will be conducted in Dehradun, Mussoorie and Jaipur.

Dinesh Lal: Chiseling Uttarakhand’s Heritage

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Lucky Singh/Tania Saili

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May 7, 2018

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37 year old Dinesh Lal is a living example of how God works in mysterious ways. This skilled artisan calls his talent of turning wood into a piece of art, a gift from god, which has left everyone spellbound. Earning his bread and butter in Dubai’s hotel industry, Dinesh gave it all up in 2009-2010 and returned to his home in the hills. After four years of not doing much, Dinesh decided to follow his heart’s calling and put his skill to use.

Pahadi ghar, Garhwal-ki Dharohar is a virtual art gallery of a self-taught artisan who for the past decade has made wood his playground. Carving, hammering, polishing, designing pahadi miniature homes/Chardham Temples, Mortar, Hukka, Oxen models or anything that reminds you of the hills, and Dinesh will chisel it in wood.

With an eye for detailing, there is minimal margin for error in his work. Each of his work of art is detailed to perfection. Speaking to Newspost, Dinesh adds, “I have been translating every detail of Uttarakhand’s rich culture and tradition by translating them onto wood to keep them preserved for future generations.”

Cutting, installing, designing and then putting it all together, Dinesh Lal and his family of four have put their village of Jakhnidhaar in Tehri District on the map of famous artisans in the hill-state. With every completed masterpiece, which can take anywhere between 10-12 days Dinesh seems to hone his skills with such finesse and passion that it all seems life-like.

Today his work is being seen as a befitting souvenir to take back from here, not only the Chief Minister of Uttarakhand, but also the President of India and the Prime Minister, along with innumerable dignitaries, senior bureaucrats and MLAs have been smitten by this work.

Dinesh Lal tell us, “I have been working in this field for the past ten years. I work with my hands and my skill is god gifted. I try to bring in minor details onto my wooden canvass, from traditional pahadi homes to Chardham temples along with every minor detail in place. I want to preserve our culture in wood.”

As we sign off, burning the midnight-oil Dinesh Lal is busy adding finishing touches for the Tehri Lake Festival, making miniature models of Hukka; Oxens, Wooden Jars and more, all of which will soon be the center piece in someone’s home or office giving a glimpse of Uttarakhand’s unique heritage.

FTII STUDENT FILMS RECEIVE HONOURS AT NATIONAL FILM AWARDS

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newspost

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May 5, 2018

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Three films by FTII alumni received honours in the Non Feature Films Category at the 65th National Film Awards ceremony held in New Delhi yesterday.

Arun Kuppuswamy (Dir : MONDAY), Medhpranav Powar (Dir : HAPPY BIRTHDAY) and Swapnil Kapure (Dir : BHAR DUPAARI) received the Awards along with Bhupendra Kainthola, Director, FTII Pune in a glittering ceremony at the hands of Ms Smriti Irani, Minister of I&B and Col. Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore, Minister of State, Ministry of I&B.

“Unlike all others, National Awards matter the most because they are truly representative of the country’s creative diversity and are most competitive ; they are selected from amongst dozens in their categories. In FTII excellence comes easy thanks to a rigorous training ecosystem and a free creative environment. Students are encouraged to think differently. FTII joins them in celebrating their success. The credit also goes to the teachers and staff for their contribution in this success,” said Bhupendra Kainthola,Director, FTII in a message on the occasion.

Uttarakhand Hathkargha: Weaving dreams

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Lucky Singh/Tania Saili

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May 5, 2018

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Ashish Dhyani, a 29-year-old lad has put Uttarakhand handloom fiber on the international map of Fashion. An IIT Roorkee alumnus Ashish, unlike his peer group, didn’t get attracted by inflated salaries or a lucrative job in foreign shores, instead, he set up first-of-its-kind handloom entrepreneurship named Uttarakhand Hathkargha in Roorkee, giving handloom and traditional weavers the perfect platform to showcase their art.

Speaking about Uttarakhand Hathkargha, a model of social entrepreneurship Ashish tells us, “When I planned Hathkargha I never dreamt of it being such a success. I brought weavers living in and around Roorkee on board, but very soon I found myself bringing in traditional weavers from far off places as well.”

The more Ashish learned about the vanishing art of traditional weavers, he realized, “why mass migration was still a sad reality in the hills, and why such a beautiful art form needed to be nurtured, documented, learned and conserved for the future.” This thought brought about the birth of Uttarakhand Hathkargha in 2015. Three years down the line, 500 weavers on- board, Ashish and his team of like-minded youth are working on encouraging reverse migration through this handloom enterprise.

Ashish a B.Tech engineer in Production and Industrial Engineering from IIT Roorkee worked for Maharatna PSU, Steel Authority of India, Rourkela Steel Plant but then he gave it all up and decided to launch a start-up in his hometown Roorkee. Today, Uttarakhand Hathkargha is a consortium of like-minded IIT and NIT former students who want to promote and revive the art of weaving.

So from pashmina, Marino, harsil, angora, cotton and silk shawls to saris and woolen clothing all these, plus shrugs, ponchos, kaftans are available in this one-stop shop. Women weavers from Niti-Mana, the bordering villages of Uttarakhand, supply Marino fabric which at present is being used to make children caps and sweaters.

Uttarakhand Hathkargha items have made their way onto e-commerce websites such as amazon.com and Amazon.in to garner customers and buyers across boundaries as well.

This win-win model has given that much-required impetus to a dying art form, and with the likes of Ashish Dhyani around, rest assured, weavers, handloom, and fabric of the hill-state are in safe hands, for now.

Uttarakhand Police unfurls tricolour atop Lobuche East

By

Tania Saili

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May 3, 2018

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A team of 15 members including 11 climbers from the 17 year old hill-state of Uttarakhand and the first of its kind Civil Police Team from India, were flagged off from Dehradun on the 29th of March by Chief Minister Trivendra Singh Rawat, on a mission to scale Mount Everest.

After more than a month, this daring Team is winning accolades for unfurling the tricolour on Nepal’s Lobuche East Summit at a height of 6119 meters, the-first-ever feat accomplished by any Civil Police Team of India.

While inclement weather did try to play spoil sport with the spirit of the young men, they weren’t deterred. The group split up into two groups and with sheer grit and determination made their way to the Lobuche East Summit on 28th and 29th April respectively, and accomplished the feat in 14 hours.

Finishing this daring mission under the watchful eyes and constant guidance of their team leader IG Sanjay Gunjiyal and Additional SP Navneet Singh, the team successfully completed this feat. Now on 15th of May this very team will set course for Mount Everest if the formidable weather permits.

For now, the team members will be setting up base in Everest base camp one and two and continue rigorous exercise, training and use this time to acclimatise themselves before they take on the summit of the World’s highest Peak, Mount Everest. Wishes have been pouring in to wish the team all the very best in achieving their next and final goal, ever since news of their scaling Lobuche East Summit was shared by the media. We too, at Team Newspost wish this enterprising team to be on the Top of the World, soon.

The team consists of:

Sanjay Gunjiyal
Deputy Leader Navneet Singh
Sanjay Upreti
SI Satish Sharma
SI Manoj Rawat
Ravi Chauhan
Virendra Kala
Roshan Kothari
Suryakant Uniyal
Manoj Joshi
Vijendra Kothiyal
Sushil Kumar
Digambar Singh
Yogesh Rawat and
Praveen Kumar

Plaques/signboards on vehicles passé in Uttarakhand

By

Tania Saili

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May 3, 2018

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For all those people who proudly strutted around with their fancy plaques/signboards mounted on private vehicles be it two wheelers or four, will now face some strict action from the Uttarakhand State Police.

On the first of May, under the instructions given by SSP Nainital Janmejaya Khanduri, this unique initiative has been undertaken by the Nainital District Police to physically remove plaques/signboards mounted in front or rear of private vehicles which portray any status/ department/ social / religious/ institution / human rights / national symbol of any kind followed by a challan. Exempted are only those entitled by the government.

Locals and outsiders, all those who happen to have any kind of plaque mounted on their vehicles will not be spared by the vigilant police. Within 48 hours since this initiative was rolled out in Nainital, an enthusiastic Haldwani police took off 4 such plaques and also challaned vehicle owners.

Talking to Team Newspost SSP Khanduri who has been pioneering many first-of-its-kind initiatives in the District says, “this is a mission mode exercise for fifteen days as of now and it is being implemented all over district Nainital. Mounting plaques of any kind except those entitled by the government, is misuse of law, and hence illegal.’

Following quick on the heals of Nainital are districts of Dehradun and Udhamsingh Nagar who started the exercise in their respective districts as well. In Dehradun, the town has been divided into eight zones and within four hours i.e. from 4:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m in the evening, 105 vehicles were challaned and mounted plaques on 34 vehicles were physically removed by the district police, yesterday.

This unique initiative will go a long way in not only filling the treasury of the State ex-chequer but also make people aware of traffic rules and regulations, leading to safer roads in the hill-state.

Pahadi Homestay: Your Home in the Hills

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Lucky Singh/Tania Saili

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May 2, 2018

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Pahadi Homestay, is a leading example of how abandoned homes in ghost villages of Uttarakhand and two young men who lost their livelihood to natural disaster, with clear vision and determination can put to use their never-say-die attitude as a recipe for success.

In the year 2015, two young men Abhay Sharma and Bipendra Bhandari brought their skills and mind together to bring about an off-beat destination which in the past 3 years has been home to over 3000 tourists from not only India, but foreign shores as well.

Speaking to Newspost, Abhay Sharma tells us, ”We lost our rafting business in the 2013 June deluge, but we dint loose hope. We chanced upon the idea of pahadi homestay. As the name suggests, this is an eco-friendly homestay which have been created from abandoned homes in our villages.”

Neglected, falling apart houses which was once ‘Home’ to a family, is a common sight in the hills of Uttarakhand. Mass migration continues to drain the hills of its families who move to the plains in search of a better future, leaving behind ghost villages.

Today many derelict houses have been painstakingly repaired, keeping their structure and quaintness intact by Abhay and Bipendra. So while the walls of the houses are still covered with mud and cow dung, with wooden panelling and slanting slate roofs, the team has tried hard to retain the beauty of the ‘home in the hills’ but fitted them with the latest gadgets for comfort such as cottages with attached washrooms, Tea/coffee maker and In-house chef to name a few.

At present, Pahadi Homestay has been set up in three picturesque places, Kanatal, Rishikesh and Haathipaon, Mussoorie giving employment to over a dozen youth who not only assist in maintaining these properties but also double-up as nature guides for organic farming, bird watching, trail-walks, star gazing and promoting village tourism as well.

This season Pahadi Homestay plans to partner with ten such homestay in the hill-state and also also restore a few derelict homes in Dyule and Kunaun region as well.

So if you are in the mood to head to the hills, but are done putting up in concrete hotels with ultra-luxuries, then perhaps, Pahadi Homestay is that perfect getaway to make your stay, a trip of a lifetime.

Chuk dhoom dhoom: The next big thing in Dehradun!

By

Tania Saili

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May 1, 2018

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‘CHUK‘ as in ‘throwaway,’ is a well thought-out idea by a Welham Boy alumnus Ved Krishna who runs Yash Papers Limited, in Faizabad, Uttar Pradesh. For all of us, who have spent time in the lush green cover of Dehradun and Mussoorie, the sheer mountains of plastic that are choking our rivers struck Ved, Sumant and Sujata Paul Maliah. Unlike those who prefer to talk about the adversity of plastic, thermacol and other harmful products but do nothing about it, the trio wanted to make a change.

Set on a mission, Ved went on to produce compostable packaging material that would not harm the planet when disposed. He knew that Nature packages best! One just had to observe, learn and find solutions!

And Voila! he nailed it!

Today CHUK is synonymous with nature conservation. Disposable tableware, made of bagasse (dry pulpy residue after the extraction of sugarcane juice ) is a compostable product which turns into manure after 60 days of being disposed.

To make the product more user-friendly Ved decided to use the lego brick base design so that the products would easily fit into one another. Sujata Paul, tells us, “I was a teacher and had taught Sumant Pai way back in 1997-98 and thanks to social media we kept in touch. I was born and brought up here and have been a witness to our rivers getting chocked and mountains are becoming garbage heaps, Sumant knew about my passion and I came on board.”

Today while Sumant is the Head of Sales for the product, Sujata looks after the marketing of their products in the hill-state. “Initially we did face some resistance from wholesalers,” Sujata tells us, “but now things are improving. We pay 12% GST on the product which I feel should be done away with,” and rightly so.

Today, CHUK has give an alternate to consumers looking for healthy, good quality and not too expensive meal trays, bowl, plates and containers. CHUK keeps food for 72 hours without getting soggy and if that is not all, products are micro-able, freezable and can be used in the oven too.

Departmental stores such as Fresh and Easy, Organic Tree, Wholesale Store, Home Basket, Rajpur Food Truck as well as World of Waffles use their products. Hospitals such as Indresh and Himalayan too have come on board along with Hotels such as Nine Palms in Badripur and Madhuban Hotel and a few caterers following suit.

Today, CHUK markets nine products and is in the process of making more. There are two meal trays: four and five compartments each; three plates 7/9/11 inches, with bowls in two different sizes 180/250 ml, containers used mostly by hotels and hospitals with a carrying capacity of 500/750 ml and the product price ranges from anywhere between 1.50 to 7.50 paisa for all the products.

With private institutes taking the lead, Government departments can’t be far behind. The State Forest Department and the Garhwal Mandal Vikas Nigam promise to use CHUK along the Chardham route this season, a step welcomed by everyone.

CHUK is definitely the next big-thing when it comes to conservation of our environment. And if you too want to be part of this unique initiative then CHUK and its team is looking for passionate, like-minded people wanting to make a positive change by marketing their products.

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