Category: National

Run by Dr. Shagun Gupta, the Foundation has until now focused its efforts on education, women empowerment, and helping cancer and acid attack survivors

Mumbai (Maharashtra) [India], January 27: Shagun Gupta Foundation, the NGO run by well-known cosmetics and permanent makeup expert Dr. Shagun Gupta, will now also work for the cause of equal rights of the third gender.

For the past many years, the Foundation has focused its efforts on promoting education, women empowerment, and helping cancer survivors and acid attack survivors. It has instilled hope in the lives of thousands of beneficiaries so far and has now taken up the challenge of working for the third gender; often the most discriminated against by society.

“Those belonging to the third gender are also humans and are equal to the other two genders. However, people belonging to the third gender have to face widespread discrimination in every possible sphere of life. The foundation will dedicate its efforts to promoting understanding about the third gender’s basic right of equality. We will also provide necessary help and support to causes related to the welfare of the third gender,” said Dr. Shagun Gupta.

The foundation announced its latest mission on the occasion of Republic Day on Wednesday at an event in Mumbai.

It was the ‘1st Foundation Day’ of Shagun Gupta Foundation, and the occasion was graced and supported by veteran actors Surendra Pal and Sunil Pal, politicians, representatives from other NGOs, and leading personalities from different fields.

“It took me six years of non-stop work and perseverance to create awareness about permanent makeup. Permanent makeup is not limited to makeup but is an effective way of revamping facial features. It is an art that gives another chance to all the women who feel disheartened about their looks after an acid attack or after surviving cancer. We have instilled the lost hope in their lives, and this is what we aim to do with our work for the third gender,” she said on occasion.

Dr. Gupta, who has become a beacon of hope in the lives of thousands of persons who have benefitted from her work in permanent makeup and cosmetics, added that the Foundation’s objective is to save lives, promote social protection, and conquer poverty, and sought support for the noble endeavours.

January 26: On the occasion of 73rd Republic Day, Morari Bapu hoisted the national flag and saluted the nation. While delineating the true meaning of the tricolor Morari Bapu said, “The saffron colour of our flag is a symbol of truth for the truth is above all. The white is a symbol of pure love, for love must be unstained and bright. The green below is a symbol of compassion. Our floras are green, and so we call our mother earth green. The Chakra in our flag signifies how beautifully great and energetic our nation is. On this sacred day, my best wishes go to every Indian. May our flag forever fly with pride in every part of the world.”

While paying tribute to the unswerving dedication and valour of the nation, he said, ” We hoist the national flag for nine days at all the places where Ramkatha is being held. Be it any country in the world,  we together unflur the national flag in any part of the world on every Independence Day and on Republic Day so as to celebrate the glory of India. We beseech the Almighty to bestow our nation with prosperity, peace and well-being of every citizen.”

Raise Funds for a cause through crowdfunding and get rewarded

 Mumbai (Maharashtra) [India], January 23: Filaantro, a reliable online crowdfunding platform helps individuals and organizations to fundraise and get grants to support through participation in a unique contest called ‘Raise To Win.’

The Raise To Win contest provides an exciting opportunity to NGOs and Individual participants to make fundraising a truly gratifying experience. ‘Raise To Win’ (RTW) contestdiffers from the support offered by other crowdfunding platforms and is unique as it offers grant support in cash to campaigners who give their best for fundraising.

Filaantro was founded by Mr Jiji John, Mr Sunil Varghese, Mr Jugender Singh and Mr Rajendra Pathak in the year 2019. Its vision is to connect individuals and communities through its platform and inspire them to raise funds for the greater good. The platform caters to a Pan India audience and offers assistance and guidance to those who need monetary support for personal and social causes that are legal in nature.

Talking about the ‘Raise To Win’ (RTW) campaign, Spokesperson, Co-Founder and CEO of Filaantro Online Ventures Private Ltd Mr Jiji John said, “We are excited announcing about this unique contest ‘Raise To Win’ (RTW) on Filaantro which offers a user-friendly platform with an efficient and dedicated support team. We invite individuals and NGOs supporting a social cause and desire to raise funds. Our team will provide support throughout the campaign period which will also include training sessions on ‘how to run a successful fundraising campaign online.”

He further added, “Our mission is to help the campaigners achieve their goals through trust, transparency and simplicity. Together is how we can grow and build a better community.”

The winners and participants of the ‘Raise To Win’ Contest are also eligible for the following freebies besides the cash grant support.

• Campaign Kit, which includes (SEO friendly content writing with keywords and factual information)
• Social Media Creatives (design effective social media marketing campaigns for businesses, constant social media posts for various platforms, creativity on related topics etc)
• Online Fundraising Training Tutorials
• Whatsapp, SMS and Email Templates
• Certificates for participation & winning

Six NGOs have already registered for the first season of the ‘Raise To Win’ contest.

The names of these participating NGOs are:

Anant Penticost Mission Foundation- An NGO working to enhance various skills of youth by conducting sports, education, social-cultural events, handwriting, art, drama and other educational programmes.

Bright Future Welfare Association- Strives to empower women and provide quality and equal education to all underprivileged children.

Hanuman Ashram Seva Trust- A Mumbai based NGO that works for the welfare of the Tribal Community in the city and provides aid to support their cattle farming.

Auxilium Skills Academy- The Auxilium Skills Academy is the Mumbai Province of the Salesian Sisters of Don Bosco’s flagship thriving to encourage and promote skill development for school dropout students and help them lead a successful life.

Shree Ram Charitable Trust- The trust’s mission is to provide education to all children and other social activities like resolving family disputes, natural calamity relief and medical aids.

Shramik Kisan Seva Samiti Ratnagiri- A well-known educational society working towards imparting quality education to all children.

So if you want to perceive fundraising from a different perspective with a user-friendly experience, then hurry up and enroll in the Raise To Win (RTW) contest for Season 2 now.

To know more, visit:  https://filaantro.org/home

About Filaantro

Filaantro is an online crowdfunding platform helping individuals or organizations to raise funds by collecting donations for Social, Personal and Charitable causes.  Any entity, by starting a fundraiser on Filaantro, can use digital media to spread awareness as more potential donors can be reached compared to traditional forms of fundraising.

They help raise funds for multiple causes such as Education, Medical, Technology, Women, Entrepreneurship, Human Rights, Arts & Media, Rural Development, Animals, Environment, Old Age, Religion  Children, Community, Emergencies, Memorials, Sports, Technology, Covid, Personal Causes, Alliances. Filaantro offers consultancy to Non-Government Organizations on effective social media strategies to run successful fundraising campaigns on its crowdfunding platform. Filaantro also acts as a helping hand for the campaigners by providing online fundraising mentorship, tele-campaigning support, training and capacity-building support to organizations.

January 22: Gold medalist from Campus Law Centre, Delhi University, Advocate Alakh Alok Srivastava has always been into the spotlight since he started his litigation. This ace entrepreneur is also a First Generation Lawyer and works as Advocate-On-Record, Supreme Court of India.

It is interesting to know for a fact that he was not initially into litigation. He got selected into Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Limited as a law officer soon after his graduation in 2012 and started working there as a law officer.

Advocate Srivastava told us that it was a chance encounter with former Chief Justice of India SH Kapadia that led him to quit a well-paying law officer’s job in the government sector and join litigation.

He recalls- “Justice Kapadia had come to the Indian Law Institute convocation in 2012. I was the topper that year. While giving me the gold medal and certificate, he told me that young people like me should fight for the marginalized sections of the society,”

Advocate Srivastava quit his job as a law officer in Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Limited soon after. In 2014, he started his own practice. As he started the litigation he chose to do more and more pro bono cases concerning the society. Not soon after his name got synonymous with social cause public interest litigations (PILs). He reached great heights in his litigation but did not forget his roots and the cause why he came into litigation.

The most important PIL of his life has been the one through which capital punishments were amended to be granted as a punishment for rape against minors. As a result of his PIL in 2017, the cabinet ministers amended various provisions of POCSO and included capital punishments in the sections. Advocate Alakh Alok Srivastava had filed the PIL in his personal capacity seeking justice for an eight-month-old girl who was brutally raped by her 28-year-old cousin in Delhi.

“I read about the case in newspapers and went to see her. It was a heart-wrenching experience. Her parents are daily wagers and could not afford her treatment. I decided then that I will move to the Supreme Court seeking justice for her. The only punishment for a crime of such depravity can be death,” shares Advocate Alakh Alok Srivastava.

Following his PIL that the SC set up a medical board to examine the girl and directed the concerned authorities to ensure proper treatment. The girl survived due to his intervention and her family can’t thank him enough.

Even today Advocate Alakh Alot Srivastava is always keen to take up cases concerning social strata to the Supreme Court of India. He takes up these case PRO BONO (free of cost). Recently put up PILs concerning migrant workers and their right which also gained appraisals from around the legal fraternity. He is always ready to take up cases of brutality against women, especially minors, and fights them with conviction. Few months back a couple had set themselves on fire at the premises of Supreme Court and even this incident was out up to the court in the form of an application by Advocate Srivastava himself.

It is a general notion that advocates are bad and stone-hearted people. This notion is broken by Advocate like Alakh Alok Shirvastava. We need more advocates like him who can work for the social upliftment of society.

Pooja Sharma, CMD Pooja Movie creations

New Delhi (India), January 20: Despite the growing threats of COVID19, unemployment is increasing throughout the country as a result of the lockdown; millions of people have lost their jobs in the previous two years, and COVID19 is spreading rapidly across the country again in the third wave. The employment crisis has resurfaced in front of thousands of eligible youngsters as a result of the news of the lockdown. Pooja Movie Creation, the country’s leading media company, is emerging as a new light of hope for the youth at this strange hour of wide-spreading unemployment.

India’s leading media firm Pooja Movie Creation, which is providing a wonderful opportunity to thousands of young people around the country to earn jobs while sitting at home, has delivered the lowest TV media to hundreds of FMCG and product manufacturing companies during the first and second waves of COVID19 and set an example while hundreds of businesses gained substantially as a result.

Pooja Sharma, CMD, Pooja Movie Creation Group, says, “We all countrymen have been dealing with numerous challenges and economic crises owing to COVID  for the last two years, and due to this imposed lockdown, the world markets have been continuously dropping down. Thousands of young people in the country have lost their jobs. The government, on the other hand, is making every effort to improve the lives of its citizens and is succeeding too. Along with boosting people’s courage during the first and second waves, our government set an example for the rest of the globe by launching the world’s fastest vaccination campaign. Not only should the government do so much for the country, but citizens should also participate fully in the government’s campaign. So that the country’s overall development can be achieved.”

While adding further, she says,  “Our company, Pooja Movie Creation, is making a significant effort for the youth by participating in the government’s “Sabka Saath Sabka Vikas” program. We are providing a great opportunity for the youth to work from home, and individuals in the sales or marketing fields can take advantage of it. PMC Group will give all services to the youths in this campaign, including online interviews, free online training, and work-from-home opportunities. This employment is open to males and females of all ages. Candidates can begin their work from a faraway or even distant location under the work from home concept. Candidates can apply by sending their CV to Poojamoviecreationsindia@Gmail.Com or calling 7042438293.

January 20: Dr. Dinesh Sabnis is Ex. Ranji Player (National Level) & Sports Mentor; he has been working in the Education Industry for the last 15 years as a Senior Educationist and Administrator. He is also involved in Humanitarian projects for various International NGOs for past six years, which are on the roster of United Nations ECOSOC as General Consultative status Organisations. Dr.Dinesh Sabnis has successfully completed various projects related to Diplomacy, Humanity, and Education in India & Abroad in the past few years.

Recently for his consistent efforts & contribution in projects related to Humanity & Education, Dr.Dinesh Sabnis was conferred with the Honorary Decree of Colonel by Mr.Andy Beshear, Governor of Commonwealth of Kentucky- United States of America.

Kentucky Colonel is the highest title of honor bestowed by the Commonwealth of Kentucky-USA. A Kentucky Colonel Commission (the certificate) is awarded in the name of the Commonwealth by the Governor of Kentucky to individuals with “Honorable” titular style recognition preceding the names of civilians, for noteworthy accomplishments, contributions to civil society, remarkable deeds, or outstanding service to the community, state, or a nation. A person who is recognized as a Kentucky Colonel is obliged to the idea of using the honorable title styling of ‘Col’, and he is reciprocally acknowledged in being officially known by the United States of America as the Goodwill Ambassador of Kentucky-USA.

January 20:Truth is a powerful thing, and it takes courage to stand by the truth in a world full of lies. Not just that, standing up for what you believe in is also easier said than done, many people cave under pressure put on them by society to believe what the masses believe in. Everyone wants to be accepted by society, and that’s why most people follow the path that everyone else is following rather than being true to themselves and their beliefs.

I witnessed a lot of opposition to the idea of me changing my name from Mohit Kamboj to Mohit Kamboj Bharatiya. But I knew what I wanted to do, and I stuck by my beliefs because deep down I found my truth a truth that changed my life forever. I discovered my inner urge to help my fellow countrymen, unite them, lead them, and guide them towards a better future. Hence, I was sure about my decision to change my name to Mohit Kamboj Bharatiya.

I believe that we have to step out to step up because the world is filled with lies, and it’s easier to stand by and live a life full of lies, surrounded by liars, but what good is that life if it isn’t true?

Standing by the truth does not only build your own self-respect, but it also helps you gain respect from others, even if they don’t see things the way you do. It makes you feel strong because you’re following through with the values that define the true you. Trust me, it’s a lot more convenient to go against the truth and your beliefs. But having the guts to stand up for yourself shows the type of person you really are, and that courage is admirable because it shows that you’re a strong & independent human who’s not a pushover.

At first, it may seem tough to speak the truth, stand by it, stand by your beliefs, and it is tough, but that shouldn’t stop you. There’ll be a lot of moments when you’ll be hesitant, you’ll have doubts about everything you do. But the more you do it, the easier it gets for you to step out of your comfort zone and accept the harsh truth of the world we live in.

The one thing that I’ve learned about our society is that some people can’t stand the fact that you can challenge the status quo by following your own path. When you follow the status quo, you’re not in control of your life anymore, you can’t differentiate between the truth and the lies of the society, you’re letting that very society dictate your life. By standing by your truth and your beliefs, you are able to express who you are and where you want to be, the more you do it, the more you’ll discover about yourself as well as about society.

My advice to you would be to let go of the fear of what people might think about you block out the noise. It is tough, but it’s necessary. Remember that people will always judge and oppose something that goes against their beliefs, so why should you go against yours?

There are so many instances in life where you’ll face a decision, either to stand by the truth or take the easy way out. The decision you make in these situations will define you and your life. It can either be a life where you’ll be proud of everything you did or a life wherein you never truly lived. I want you to be positive about your thoughts, about your reality. I want you to voice your opinion, not to put someone down but to pull yourself up.

I know that it’s easy to stay in our cozy little shells doing things that we’re comfortable with, but trust me, we fail to realize that we have the power to change our lives and that of others, let’s use it in the best way possible. The truth can be scary sometimes, but you’re stronger than you think you are, and dealing with the truth is only going to make you stronger.

So go on, be fearless, we only get one life, live it on your own terms, live a life that’s truly yours, don’t fall for the lies that fill our society.

Janaury 20: Pakistan High Commission of Nigeria recently honoured Akbar Ali Shah in Abuja. Akbar Ali Shah is the CEO of Reckitt Nigeria, a subsidiary of the global MNC which owns brands like Dettol, Mortein, Harpic, Durex and many others. Akbar Ali Shah, who was the CEO of Reckitt Pakistan till March 2021, moved to Nigeria, where he is now appointed as the CEO of Reckitt Nigeria and the cluster head of Sub Saharan Africa.

Akbar is generally known for his passion for helping & supporting the communities wherever he has worked. During his time in the UAE, he worked closely with the Pakistan Association of Dubai, a founding member of the Youth Club of Pakistan. As the founding member, Akbar Ali Shah helped the Pakistan Association of Dubai to raise support for flood victims in Pakistan. His club promoted Pakistani music and allowed the professional community networking through conferences & various professional gatherings. He was also the founder & the first President of the Institute of Business Administration Alumni in the UAE. He was very actively engaged in the Pakistan First forum, where he worked closely with the former President of Pakistan, Gen Pervez Musharraf.

During his stint in Pakistan, he worked on developing & exporting professional talent. He worked with the tech industry & helped many to scale up nationally and a few internationally. He worked with the NDMA during COVID relief and drove many social causes, including a few with Salman Sufi Foundation.

The Pakistani High Commission in Abuja, Nigeria, recently honoured Akbar Ali Shah for being one of the most distinguished Pakistanis in Nigeria and for his contribution & passion for the country. Maj Gen Tayyab, the High Commissioner in Abuja & Akbar Ali Shah, discussed matters related to the community and ideas around bridging stronger bonds between Nigeria and Pakistan.

https://instagram.com/akbaralishah?utm_medium=copy_link

The global movement catches on in India with celebrity and corporate supporters

January 20: Veganuary-the global pledge to try vegan for 31 days- has hit a new record, with more than 6Lakh people participating globally this year. The movement has taken a firm hold in India, too, with its catchy desi content, celeb supporters, corporate partnerships and more. Every January, lakhs of people try a vegan lifestyle to improve their health, reduce animal suffering and reduce the climate impact of industrial animal farming.

The movement launched officially in India in December 2021 (see the India launch video here- https://youtu.be/4fHEmANyDNE ) and has been a huge hit. This is consistent with the findings of a new YouGov survey^* which reported that a whopping 65% of Indians plan to eat more plant-based/vegan foods in the new year.

The survey also reported that inability to stick to the habit (21%), affordability of vegan alternatives (20%), unavailability of meal plans and recipes (20%), and not able to find more vegan food while eating outside (18%) were top reasons for people not transitioning to vegan. Responding to this, Veganuary Indiahead, Prashanth Vishwanath, says: “Creating an ecosystem conducive for a shift to plant-based diets is important in India. Being part of a community of people who are all trying vegan at the same time and better availability of vegan alternatives makes it a lot easier. That’s exactly what Veganuary is doing”.

Putting money where their mouth is, Veganuary has created free material, meal plans for different needs, shopping guidance and a celebrity cookbook for Indians signing up to try a vegan diet. Participants also get to be part of an exclusive global support group with access to experts and previous participants for free advice. Addressing the need to make vegan food more accessible, Veganuary has worked with more than 40 Indian brands to launch new products and introduce special offers in January. These include Dr.Oetker, Milkin Oats, BlueTribe foods, Hello Tempayy, Vezlay, Good Dot, to name a few. Prashanth adds, “Veganuary is creating a new wave of vegan consumers and shoppers with a big appetite in 2022. Indians have shown that they are willing to change how they eat for better health and a better planet; and businesses are responding to this demand.”

To demonstrate that a vegan diet is healthy, glamorous, fun and can support an active lifestyle, many popular public figures have shared messages of encouragement as Veganuary ambassadors. Actor Soundarya Sharma has said ‘I am vegan, I feel fabulous, and I have the energy to slay it on camera every single time. Veganuary’s 31-day pledge helps you make a smooth transition to a plant-based diet, for your health, for animals and for the planet. Join my squad, try vegan today!’

Mountaineer and two-time climber of Mt.Everest Kuntal Joisher said, “I have never eaten meat in my entire life and turned vegan 17 years ago. I was successfully able to build top of the world level muscle and endurance and not only survive but thrive in the -50C temperatures on top of Everest, not just once, but twice! Goes to show that no animal needs to suffer or die for our dreams to come true.”

The celebrity cookbook is one of the free materials people signing up to Veganuary receive. Sneha Ullal, who has donated her favourite recipe – Tofu Makhani – to the cookbook, says, “I don’t need animals harmed to live my life. Veganism is that simple.”

Singer Anushka Manchanda, actor Sadaa Sayed, actor and pro 3×3 basketballer Arvind Krishna and pro tennis player Vishwajeet Sangle have also joined the star cast of Veganuary Ambassadors. In addition, Michelin Star chef Suvir Saran and TV actor Raghav Tiwari are participating in Veganuary to raise awareness on a vegan lifestyle. Suvir says, “Indian cuisine is full of flavours, and our masalas are legendary around the world. We use a wide array of veg, grains, legumes, pulses, fruits, herbs and aromatics in our cooking, which is rich sources of nourishment for the mind, body and soul. I am very happy to associate with Veganuary and share some of my favourite plant-based recipes with my fellow participants of Veganuary 2022. I hope they will warm your hearts and win your minds into adopting a fulfilling plant-based lifestyle.”

Pointing at increasing interest in plant-based eating in India, the YouGov survey says more than 60% of Indians have a more positive perception of plant-based/vegan diets compared to 2 years ago. Sadaa Sayed encourages this shift and says, “The wonderful thing about Veganuary is that there is no pressure/ judgment. You can try eating vegan for January and get all the support, advice and materials curated especially for Indians, all for free.”

This past year, the climate emergency and health were among the top concerns on everyone’s mind. Therefore, this year’s Veganuary campaign focused on showing the link between climate change and what we eat.

Veganuary enlisted the support of the mythical ‘Bigfoot’ to persuade people to take climate action into their own hands. This has clearly turned out to be a great success, as shown by the record participation. Watch the Bigfoot video here- https://youtu.be/AETJp95KWI8

With unseasonal monsoons, floods, cyclones and corresponding loss of livelihoods, climate change has affected the lives of Indians as much as the covid pandemic. The record participation shows that Indians are ready to take action where it is most impactful- by changing how they eat. Anushka Manchanda sums it up well and says, “we are the culture that gave the world Ahimsa. The planet, with all its beings, needs us to practice it now more than ever. Together, we have the power to bring positive change. Try vegan today.”

January 20: Young Indians these days are showing that it is quite possible to follow your passion while being responsible for your community and the people around you. Gursimran Singh, the 27-year-old man, who is a sportsperson as well as an entrepreneur, is a living example of an all-around youngster. That is the reason why Gursimran was recently placed at No. 67 in the list of “The Top 100 Sikhs under 30 Around the World.” However, this honor wasn’t easy to earn. It is hard-earned and well-deserved for Gursimran.

The Sikh 100 is a list of the “most powerful, influential and contemporary Sikhs in the world.”

Born on December 15, 1994, Gursimran has been a field hockey player at the National-level. He used to play at the forward position. Hockey for him is like second nature, and even after having his fill on the field, Gursimran is today serving the national sport as Vice President for Delhi Hockey. In this role, he has become even more popular as someone who is doing more than just lip-service to Hockey. Gursimran was in school when he first got introduced to this sport. He began by playing for his school’s senior team when he was in the tenth grade. During this period, he was also the captain of the school team. He also represented his school at the School Games Federation of India games in 2012. Besides that, Gursimran was also a team member of the Delhi Junior National Championships in 2013. For his exemplary display of sportsman spirit and his contribution to the world of sports, he was also presented with a sports award by Member Parliament, Shri Parvesh Verma.

After playing hockey for the country, Gursimran has turned a new leaf in his life with Grays Electric, an LED lighting brand. In this field, Gursimran is considered an Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM). But for him, the real meaning of life is to be able to do something for others.