Developmental Stories

                                           BOOST TO MICD

 Till two decades ago, Aurangabad in central Maharashtra was known as a trading centre whose claim to fame was its proximity to the world heritage sites of the Ajanta and Ellora caves. But, today it has emerged as an investment destination and is en-route to becoming a manufacturing hub for a swathe of industries.

Mr Kulathu Kumar, President, Endress & Hauser Flowtec (India), and Vice-Chairman, Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) Marathwada zonal council, said the investment climate in Aurangabad was conducive. “There has been a significant investment in the last few years in the region of at least Rs.10,000 crore. Given the location of Aurangabad, it also offers excellent connectivity to major centres such as Pune, Nashik and Mumbai.”

SPECIAL ECONOMIC ZONES

The growth of city can be traced to the time the Maharashtra Industrial Development Corporation (MIDC) started acquiring land to set up industrial estates. Today, Shendra, Chikalthana and Waluj MIDC Industrial areas are significant zones just outside Aurangabad. These three have, over the years, witnessed a steady flow of investment and are today populated by both national and multinational giants which have set shop there.

There are five Special Economic Zones (SEZs) – one each in automotive, aluminium and renewable energy and two in pharmaceuticals.

According to Mr Kumar, the sectors that have attracted investment in the region have been the automotive, engineering and biotechnology-pharmaceuticals sectors. “Endress & Hauser has invested over Rs. 170 crore in the last five years to increase its presence in instrumentation,” he said.

Mr Sunil Todi, Managing Director, Akar Tools, which makes alloy steel for the forging and automotive components, said that his group had invested over Rs. 200 crore in the last two years. “In the last few years, the engineering and automotive sectors have picked up very significantly. Pune is almost saturated now. Aurangabad offers similar facilities and land and labour are still relatively cheap,” he added.

Wockhardt was among the first companies to invest in Aurangabad in 1979 and Glenmark Pharmaceuticals and Orchid Pharmaceuticals followed suit.

Bajaj Auto has invested in Waluj for two and three wheelers and last year announced a Rs. 500-crore investment to make four-wheelers through its joint venture with Renault-Nissan there.

Mr Kumar said the largest Indian two-wheeler manufacturer, Hero Honda, was scouting for land for a Greenfield plant around Aurangabad. “If that happens, it will give a fillip to auto ancillary units here as Aurangabad already has the second highest concentration of these units after Pune.”

AUTO CLUSTER

Aurangabad also boasts of being the third city in Maharashtra after Pune and Nashik to offer an automotive cluster. Skoda Auto makes its models Superb, Laura and Yeti and also Passat and Jetta for Volkswagen and the A4, A6 and Q5 for Audi from its Aurangabad facility.

Other significant projects in the region include Siemens which has a invested Rs. 200 crore to make rail coaches, besides others such as Man Diesel, Goodyear, Endurance Systems, Hindalco-Almex Aerospace and Videocon.

Mr Sanjay Sethi, Development Commissioner – Industries, Government of Maharashtra, said that sectors such as automobile, engineering and pharmaceuticals were well established in Aurangabad and the new industrial policy to be announced end-March will focus on core sectors and also the agro-processing sector holds huge potential.

There is already a significant presence of seeds companies like Mahyco, Nath Seeds, Monsanto and Seminis Seeds. “We would like to tap the entire value chain from ‘farm to fork',” he said.

IN-DEPTH STORY

                          CHILD LABOUR

Child labour takes place when children are forced to work at an age when they are expected to work, study and enjoy their phase of innocence. It implies lost or deprived childhood that leads to exploitation of children in various forms: mental, physical, social, sexual and so on

Not all children in India are lucky to enjoy their childhood. Many of them are forced to work under inhuman conditions where their miseries know no end.  Though there are laws banning child labour, still children continue to be exploited as cheap labour. It is because the authorities are unable to implement the laws meant to protect children from being engaged as labourers.

Unfortunately, the actual number of child labourers in India goes un-detected. Children are forced to work is completely unregulated condition without adequate food, proper wages, and rest. They are subjected to physical, sexual and emotional abuse.

Causes of Child Labour: Factors such as poverty, lack of social security, the increasing gap between the rich and the poor have adversely affected children more than any other group. We have failed to provide universal education, which results in children dropping out of school and entering the labour force. Loss of jobs of parents in a slowdown, farmers’ suicide, armed conflicts and high costs of healthcare are other factors contributing to child labour.

A widespread problem: Due to high poverty and poor schooling opportunities, child labour is quite prevalent in India. Child labour is found in rural as well as urban areas. The 2001 census found an increase in the number of child labourers from 11.28 million in 1991 to 12.59 million. Children comprise 40% of the labour in the precious stone cutting sector. They are also employed in other industries such as mining, zari and embroidery, dhabas, tea stalls and restaurants and in homes as domestic labour.

Conclusion: Government authorities and civil society organisations need to work in tandem to free children engaged in labour under abysmal conditions. They need to be rescued from exploitative working conditions and supported with adequate education. Above all, there is a need to mobilize public opinion with an aim to bring about an effective policy initiative to abolish child labour in all its forms.Another reason is that vested interests deliberately create child labour to get cheap labour as a factory hand, a domestic servant or a shop assistant.

The state of Child Labourers: Children often work in dangerously polluted factories. They work for 9 to 10 hours at a stretch including night shifts. No wonder that a large number of child workers have sunken chests and thin bone frames which give them a fragile look. They are made to work in small rooms under inhuman conditions which include unhygienic surroundings. Most of these children come from extremely poor households. They are either school drop-outs or those who have not seen any school at all.

Child labourers run the risk of contracting various diseases. They are vulnerable to exploitation by all. There is no strict enforcement of laws against child labour, so, employers continue to circumvent the provisions of the law in the full knowledge that the child workers themselves will not dare to expose them.

Conclusion: The authorities should incorporate a provision for surprise checks and establish a separate vigilance cell. Employers should compulsorily take steps for the intellectual, vocational and educational well-being and upliftment of a child worker.

We need policies which try to alleviate poverty and inequality as they can have a significant and decisive impact on economic conditions and social structures that have a bearing on child labour. Such initiatives may incorporate agrarian reforms, employment-generation programmes, use of improved technology among the poor, promotion of the informal sector and creation of cooperatives and social security schemes. Also required is effective enforcement machinery to punish the violators of laws. Labour-inspection and related services need to be strengthened.

FLIM REVIEW

                       SECRET SUPERSTAR

Insia Malik  (Zaira) is a talented 15-year-old school girl from Baroda whose spirit is ripped because her mother is in a troubled and violent marriage. Of course she still dares to pursue her dream of becoming a singer and she also valiantly attempts to free her mother from her conservative father.

REVIEW: When Aamir Khan backs a film, you expect quality. The actor who plays an obnoxious music director, Shakti Kumaarr, in this outing, doesn't let you down on that count. Debutant director Advait Chandan, who schooled under Aamir gives you a simple heartfelt film but one in which you run the entire gamut of emotions  joy, tears, excitement and ebullience.

Nothing is new here. Whether it is batting for the girl child or freeing a battered housewife from the shackles of a loveless marriage, the material at hand has been touched on earlier. But what makes 'Secret Superstar' stand out is the adventurous narrative that keeps you rooted and guessing. You can feel the frustration of the Malik household in which not just people, even emotions are trapped. When the protagonist breaks free, you find yourself simultaneously wiping your tears and doing a victory lap.

Aamir is the scene-stealer. His character — a cross between the brash American Idol judge Simon Cowell and your crass Bollywood music directors from the 80-90s — appears like a caricature at the start. But you invest in him eventually because of the nuances he brings. It is also commendable that he never really attempts to steal the limelight from young Zaira, who is an absolute delight to watch. Najma (Meher) as the submissive wife says so much without spelling it out. And others like — Chintan (Tirth Sharma) and child-actor Guddu (Kabir) are adorable.

Amit Trivedi's music is pleasing but the score doesn't have the winning quality needed for a film like this. The lyrics by Kausar Munir just about pass muster.

ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUE

                 THREAT TO ENVIRONMENT 

Our environment is constantly changing. There is no denying that. However, as our environment changes, so does the need to become increasingly aware of the problems that surround it. With a massive influx of natural disasters, warming and cooling periods, different types of weather patterns and much more, people need to be aware of what types of environmental problems our planet is facing.

Global warming has become an undisputed fact about our current livelihoods; our planet is warming up and we are definitely part of the problem. However, this isn’t the only environmental problem that we should be concerned about. All across the world, people are facing a wealth of new and challenging environmental problems every day. Some of them are small and only affect a few ecosystems, but others are drastically changing the landscape of what we already know.

Our planet is poised at the brink of a severe environmental crisis. Current environmental problems make us vulnerable to disasters and tragedies, now and in the future. We are in a state of planetary emergency, with environmental problems piling up high around us. Unless we address the various issues prudently and seriously we are surely doomed for disaster. Current environmental problems require urgent attention.

MAJOR PROBLEMS ARE

 1 Pollution of air, water and soil require millions of years to recoup. Industry and motor vehicle exhaust are the number one pollutants. Heavy metals, nitrates and plastic are toxins responsible for pollution. While water pollution is caused by oil spill, acid rain, urban runoff; air pollution is caused by various gases and toxins released by industries and factories and combustion of fossil fuels; soil pollution is majorly caused by industrial waste that deprives soil from essential nutrients.

2 Global Warming: Climate changes like global warming is the result of human practices like emission of Greenhouse gases. Global warming leads to rising temperatures of the oceans and the earth’ surface causing melting of polar ice caps, rise in sea levels and also unnatural patterns of precipitation such as flash floods, excessive snow or desertification.

3 Natural Resource Depletion: Natural resource depletion is another crucial current environmental problems. Fossil fuel consumption results in emission of Greenhouse gases, which is responsible for global warming and climate change. Globally, people are taking efforts to shift to renewable sources of energy like solar, wind, biogas and geothermal energy. The cost of installing the infrastructure and maintaining these sources has plummeted in the recent years.

4 Climate Change: Climate change is yet another environmental problem that has surfaced in last couple of decades. It occurs due to rise in global warming which occurs due to increase in temperature of atmosphere by burning of fossil fuels and release of harmful gases by industries. Climate change has various harmful effects but not limited to melting of polar ice, change in seasons, occurrence of new diseases, frequent occurrence of floods and change in overall weather scenario 

5 Ozone Layer Depletion: The ozone layer is an invisible layer of protection around the planet that protects us from the sun’s harmful rays. Depletion of the crucial Ozone layer of the atmosphere is attributed to pollution caused by Chlorine and Bromide found in Chloro-floro carbons (CFC’s). Once these toxic gases reach the upper atmosphere, they cause a hole in the ozone layer, the biggest of which is above the Antarctic. The CFC’s are banned in many industries and consumer products. Ozone layer is valuable because it prevents harmful UV radiation from reaching the earth. This is one of the most important current environmental problem.

5 Public Health Issues: The current environmental problems pose a lot of risk to health of humans, and animals. Dirty water is the biggest health risk of the world and poses threat to the quality of life and public health. Run-off to rivers carries along toxins, chemicals and disease carrying organisms. Pollutants cause respiratory disease like Asthma and cardiac-vascular problems. High temperatures encourage the spread of infectious diseases like Dengue.

Tourism

                       Mahabaleswar Tourism

Mahabaleshwar is known for its green hills and points offering beautiful views of the western ghats. These articles on Mahabaleshwar tell you all you need to know about the hill station so that you can plan your trip well, reach your destination safely and have a great time during your vacation.

Located in lush green mountain ranges of the Western Ghats, Mahabaleshwar is a popular summer retreat in Maharashtra. Mahabaleshwar, which means ‘God of Great Power’ in Sanskrit, offers stunning panoramic views, temples and a pleasant climate that draws in many nature lovers.

As the summer capital of the Bombay Presidency during the British Raj, its colonial past is reflected in its architecture. The British-built mansions, cottages and bungalows around the town only add to the overall charm of the city. Mahabaleshwar is also famous for its strawberry gardens and honey

With a room to suit every budget, Mahabaleshwar offers tourist bungalows, holiday resorts and luxury hotels. There are also a number of accommodations provided by Maharasthra Tourism Development Corporation(MTDC)

Even though the restaurants in Mahabaleshwar serve all kinds of cuisines — from Maharashtrian to Italian and Chinese – it will serve you well to try out local delicacies such as the lip-smacking vada pav..

Food culture

                FOOD ON WHEELS

Aurangabad is much more famous for its Historical monument and Tourism. Food and cuisine constitute one of the most important determinants  of tourism. The culture of Aurangabad city is heavily influenced by Hyderabad. Food is much like Mughlai or Hyderabadi cuisine with its fragrant pulao and biryani. Aurangabad cuisine is aloso influenced by Maharashtrian style food.

But today’s generation is much more street food lover. In this era Food on wheel i.e Truck food is much more famous and its in new trend. The food truck can carry any number of foods, and in some cases more sophisticated serving food. Planning menu is most important part of this hotel another main points are Perfecting Recipes and Buying Ingredients.

Traditional food trucks were know for providing lunch. But now they are much more know as mobile restaurants. They do much business in corporate parks and places that have limited hotels or restaurants. starting  their menu from sandwich to sizzler they have almost every style of food.