Man-made Drought in Maharashtra

By Dr. Parvez Mandviwala for TwoCircles.net, Drought is an extended period of months or years when a region notes a deficiency in its water supply-...

Why Bihar’s only Muslim majority district Kishanganj is ailing behind on development indices?

The latest NITI Aayog report states that 64.75 per cent of Kishanganj’s population are multidimensionally poor. This TCN Ground Report looks at the reasons...

Kerala’s timber market sustained by imports

By Jeevan Mathew Kurian, IANS Kozhikode (Kerala) : Kerala may be one of the greenest states in India with about 28 percent of its total area covered by forests but it is dependent on imports, especially from Southeast Asia, for timber. The imported timber is popularly called Malaysian wood. But according to timber traders, it is mostly sourced from Myanmar.

Maulana Azad Minorities Finance & Development Corporation comes up with loan schemes

By TwoCircles.net staff reporter,

Mumbai: Now the lower income groups among the minorities need not worry about getting a loan for education or business as the Maulana Azad Minorities Financial Development Corporation (MAMFDC) has got huge funds for the purpose.

Is Bitcoin Shariah Compliant?

By Mansoor Durrani Islamic finance is not just a business. It is, essentially, a system to ensure economic justice followed by economic growth. This is achieved...

Meet Manjuwara Mullah from Assam’s riverine sandbank who is leading Muslim women to social,...

Manjuwara Mullah from the north-eastern state of Assam is a social activist whose initiative Amrapari has changed the lives of many women in the...

Khwairamband Bazaar: a symbol of women empowerment

By Anjuman Ara Begum, TwoCircles.net,

Shah Rukh Khan calls off deal with Lux Cozy

By Manzar Bilal,Twocircles.net , Kolkata: In respect to the sentiment of Rizwanur Rehman’s family and the community at large, Bollywood star and owner of Kolkata Knight Rider, Shah Rukh Khan has called off business deal with the famous company Lux Cozi maker of innerwear. Lux Cozi is owned by Ashok Todi who is accused in the infamous Rizwanur Rehman murder case.

A fashion designer turns her village home into garment manufacturing unit

Tabassum Jabeen's entrepreneurial journey began amidst the Covid lockdown. Sufi Parween | TwoCircles.net  PATNA (BIHAR) — A whirring sound from a nondescript building in the middle...

In Kolkata, a Sunday paradise for pet and plant lovers

By Sreya Basu, IANS, Kolkata : If you are an animal, bird or plant lover, a visit to the weekly market at Shakher Haat on north Kolkata's Galiff Street is a must on a Sunday morning. The market brings together an unending variety of animals - from dogs, cats, rabbits and white mice to birds and fish - besides a vast range of flowering and decorative plants. "This is the oldest animal market of the city. Most of the animal and plant sellers have been doing business here for generations," Shankar Jana, who sells dogs and rabbits, told IANS.

This Muslim-run NGO run in Hyderabad helps women build sustainable livelihoods

SAFA is an NGO that has changed the lives of thousands of women from poor economic groups in Hyderabad and given them hope...

Pushed from Charminar- Samira’s death symbolises the exploitation by moneylenders

From Mohammed Siddique, TwoCircles.net Hyderabad: The heart wrenching story of Sameera Begum, who died after being pushed down from the Hyderabad’s historic monument Charminar by her tormentor Arshad Ahmad, has brought the cruel exploitation of the poor families by the money lender in to sharp focus.

Toni & Guy to set up four hairdressing academies in India

By Shweta Thakur, IANS New Delhi : Global hairdressing brand Toni & Guy is set to give India's hairstyling institutes a run for their money with its decision to set up four academies in the country by the end of March 2009. "We want to convert hairstyling into a career option. Hence, we are planning to open four Toni & Guy hairdressing academies in the country," says Rohit Sood, director, sales and marketing, Brushman India Limited. The Delhi-based company distributes, markets and promotes the UK based brand Toni & Guy.

“Death knell for our trade,” almost year after new anti-cow slaughter bill, cattle traders...

The introduction of the controversial new anti-cow slaughter bill in Karnataka in December 2020 has badly impacted the cattle traders and meat sellers of...

Bihar: Hopes and hurdles for minority communities in much-hyped caste census

The ongoing caste-based census in Bihar is considered a possible game-changer in policy-making for all the backward castes of the state. Muslims too...

Problems and Prospects of Islamic Banking in India – Road Map ahead

By H Abdur Raqeeb, Modern, secular and industrialized countries like Britain, Singapore, Hong Kong and Japan have become hub of Islamic finance and banking. If London, Tokyo, Singapore and Hong Kong can become hub and house of Interest free Islamic finance and banking, why not Mumbai and Cochin? asks the author while analyzing problems and prospects of Islamic banking in India. The paper was presented at an Islamic banking conference in New Delhi recently— Editor Banking

Goa’s feni shows sharp decline in production

By Frederick Noronha, IANS, Panjim : Feni, that uniquely Goa drink distilled from the cashew apple, is showing a sharp decline in production. This despite the fact that it is one of the best-known local liquors in India. An unorganised as well as complex manufacturing and sale process, which has failed to improve with time, has led to a steep decline in the production of feni.

New property tax imposed in Rajasthan

By IANS Jaipur : The government in Rajasthan has imposed a new property tax in urban areas of the state. In a notification issued here late Wednesday evening the state government imposed urban development tax with immediate effect. The urban development tax is being levied as an alternate to house tax, which was abolished in January. Abolition of house tax was one of the promises made in the Bharatiya Janata Party manifesto released at the time of the assembly elections in 2003.

Uttarakhand: Muslim area residents protest court order for demolition of over 4000 houses, demand...

The High Court ordered the authorities to evict unauthorised occupants of the railway land adjacent to Haldwani Railway Station, known as Gaffur Basti,...

Odisha’s applique artisans are struggling to conserve this 12th century traditional artform

Once known as the hub of applique works in Odisha, a market in Chandua has lost its shine with most of the shops selling...

Thousands denied drinking water, farmers denied water for irrigation: The true cost of Sabarmati...

By Siddhant Mohan, TwoCircles.net The ‘Sabarmati Riverfront’ has been for many, one of the crowning jewels of the Gujarat government during the period of Narendra...

Farmers in Himachal Pradesh turn to kiwi cultivation

By Vishal Gulati, IANS, Shimla : Fruit growers in Himachal Pradesh are increasingly taking to commercial cultivation of the exotic kiwi fruit. Horticulture experts say it's a good step towards crop diversification and fetching them good returns too. Successful cultivation of kiwi along with pomegranate, cherry and strawberry by progressive farmers in the state has encouraged the horticulture experts to promote the cultivation of this fruit crop, a shift from traditional apple cultivation.

‘Nothing will be same ever again,’ say residents of Delhi’s Shiv Vihar three years...

In northeast Delhi's Shiv Vihar area, most of the Muslim residents are yet to recover from the traumatic episodes of violence and the...

BJP wants beef ban, but is happy to take exporters’ money

By Afroz Alam Sahil, TwoCircles.net, New Delhi: Bharatiya Janta Party may strongly pitch for beef ban across the country, but the ruling party...

“We struggle for our basic needs, don’t have time to think if we are...

Golla(s) are nomadic tribes from the state of Andhra Pradesh. For generations, the gollas have been practising migratory pastoralism. Gollas in other states are...

New Citigroup CEO has a strong religious streak

Nagpur(IANS) : He may be a financial wizard with a keen eye for a flaw in the market and a rare acumen to turn around a bad economy. But in personal life, Vikram Shankar Pandit, the newly appointed CEO of New York-based Citigroup, remains an exceptionally "simple and unassuming man" with a strong religious streak.

“We need employment, not help,” Nagpur’s sex workers decry ban, barricading of area

Ganga Jamuna area of Nagpur in Maharashtra is the oldest Red Light area of the city and has always been bustling with people. In...

Jharkhand poultry sales hit, fish and meat dearer

By IANS Ranchi : The outbreak of avian influenza in neighbouring West Bengal has hit poultry sales in Jharkhand and sent fish and mutton prices soaring even though no bird flu case has been reported in the state. The price of broiler chicken has gone down from Rs.70 per kilogram at the beginning of this year to just Rs.35-40 a kg.

Rubber gets a new home in Maharashtra’s Konkan region

By Quaid Najmi, IANS, Raigad (Maharashtra) : Rubber plantations are taking strong roots in Maharashtra's coastal Konkan region, thanks to a salubrious climate, improved yield and the state's own initiative to popularise the cash crop. And the fact that several farmers from Kerala, the traditional home for rubber plantations, have invested in the business in the coastal districts is only helping the trend catch on further.

India’s oldest British law firm returns to London after 152 years

By Dipankar De Sarkar, IANS London : India's oldest British-established law firm is now back in Britain. Fox Mandal and Little, India's largest law firm that began life as Little & Co. in 1856, opened its London office Wednesday to offer India-specific legal services to British companies. "The timing is just right," said Som Mandal, a partner in the firm and the man who will be overseeing operations in London.

TCN इम्पैक्ट : बदल गई ‘अजहरुद्दीन’ की किस्मत,अमेरिका से पढ़ाई का...

आसमोहम्मद कैफ। Twocircles.net कबाड़ से इलेक्ट्रिक कार बनाने वाले मेरठ के मजदूर के बेटे अजहरुद्दीन की किस्मत बस बदलने ही वाली है। टीसीएन में...

Goat sellers begin flocking to Jaipur’s Bakra Mandi

By IANS Jaipur : Like every year, Mohammad Ahmad, the resident of a nearby village, is once again in this city for the next 15 days or so. He has brought with him three goats weighing 15, 18 and 20 kg. He desperately hopes to get lucky like last year and make a few thousands before heading back to his village.

Parvez Damania turns passion for films into business

By Jivraj Burman, IANS Mumbai : Entrepreneur Parvez Damania shocked his friends when he went into the aviation business days after the government ended its monopoly in the sector in the mid-1990s. And once again he has surprised them by venturing into Bollywood as a producer. Watching sensible movies in his spare time had always been his way of relieving the cares of the world. But the idea of making films occurred to him rather late, but not so late as to abandon it as wishful thinking.

Orissa titanium plant offers villagers jobs, work resumes

By IANS, Bhubaneswar : The work at the site of a proposed titanium dioxide plant in Orissa's Ganjam district was resumed after the company assured employment opportunities to villagers affected by the project, a government official said Monday. "The local villagers and administration allowed the company to resume work after it assured that it will provide work on priority basis to all the people who lost land due to the project," additional district magistrate Madan Mohan Deo told IANS.

Giving shoes a new life in Patna

Shazia Qaiser runs the state’s first shoe laundry service. Sufi Parween | TwoCircles.net PATNA (BIHAR) — A black and green board reading “Revival: Service Centre for...

In photos: Kozhikode sewage treatment plant faces stiff opposition from locals

Since January this year, a Muslim fisherman community in Kozhikode, Kerala is up in arms against the administration for its plan to construct a...

Islamic banking may solve farmer suicide crisis: Swaminathan

By TCN News, Chennai: Eminent economist and Father of Indian green revolution, M S Swaminathan sees Islamic banking and finance system as solution to the farmer suicide crisis. At an award ceremony here yesterday Swaminathan said Islamic banking may be the solution to farmer suicide crisis in Vidarbha.

SBI to launch sharia compliant mutual fund in December

India to become second country outside the Islamic world to run sharia compliant MF, will Islamic banking follow? By M Reyaz, TwoCircles.net, New Delhi: Country’s largest public sector bank the State Bank of India is launching an ‘open ended equity scheme’, complying with the Islamic laws, popularly known as ‘Sharia equity fund’ in December. The new fund will open on December 1, and closes on December 15, 2014.

Ahead of UP polls, report on socio-political condition of Muslim community paints a picture...

The report by the Centre for Development Policy and Practice (CDPP) ‘Development of Muslims in Uttar Pradesh—released on January 9, paints a picture...

Himachal Pradesh approves 13 hydropower projects

By IANS, Shimla : Himachal Pradesh has given the go-ahead to independent power producers for executing 13 hydropower projects having a total generation capacity of 1,583 MW. A senior government official associated with power project allocation said the selected companies include Moserbaer, DCM Sriram Infrastructure and Jindal Steel and Power. The official, on condition of anonymity, said the selected companies have been invited to sign pre-implementation agreements with the government and deposit the fixed upfront premium of Rs.2 million (Rs.20 lakh) per megawatt.

Hapur, a hub of flower, vegetable production

By S.P. Singh, IANS, Hapur (Uttar Pradesh) : Exporting fresh flowers to Europe, the Middle East, Southeast Asia and selling high-value vegetables to hotels and embassies in Delhi, this town in western Uttar Pradesh has become the hub of flourishing new businesses. While much of the flowers and vegetables are exported, a lot go to hotels and embassies in New Delhi, and the rest is sold in Connaught Place, Khan Market and INA Market in the capital.

What does EWS quota mean for SC, ST, OBCs?

The Supreme Court's reservation for economically weaker sections, especially for the forward castes, has sprung up a debate that it will only create...

Charring the Kutch desert with charcoal

By Yoginder Sikand The Great Rann of Kutch, stretching over much of the northern part of Gujarat’s remote Kutch district and spilling over across the border in Pakistan’s Sindh province, is a fragile desert ecological zone. It consists of flat sandy and stony plains that stretch as far as the horizon, interspersed with small rocky hillocks, dotted, in some parts, with thorny, ankle-length bushes. Large parts of the area do not boast of any vegetation at all, being covered with massive sheets of salt.

In riot-hit Khargone, WhatsApp forwards advocate economic boycott of Muslims

More than two weeks after the communal clashes, calls for boycotting Muslims are repeatedly being made both offline and online causing fear among the...

Drip by drip, farmers grow more in Rajasthan’s vegetable basket

By Rajeev Ranjan Roy, IANS, Chomu (Rajasthan) : Farmers in this vegetable-growing oasis amid Rajasthan's semi-desert scrubland are improving yields from their farms, thanks to drip irrigation and financial help from a soft drinks major. Young and old, the farmers keep thronging the Krishi Vigyan Kendra (KVK - agriculture science centre) at sub-divisional headquarters town Chomu, 40 km from state capital Jaipur, to learn new tricks to grow more and better vegetables.

Credit society run by Muslims offers respite for low-income wage groups

Headquartered in a small building in the state capital Patna, Al-Khair Co-operative Credit Society, with thirteen branches in four states, has transformed lives by...

Bollywood producer keen to set up studio in Ajmer

By IANS Jaipur : Bollywood film producer and director K C Bokadia has shown interest in setting up of a film studio and an acting school in Ajmer. Bokadia, who hails from Rajasthan, has directed and produced Hindi movies like "Police Aur Mujrim", "Phool Bane Angaarey", "Lal Baadshah" and "Aaj Ka Arjun" among others, met officials of Ajmer Urban Improvement Trust (UIT) Wednesday to discuss the project.

Amul innerwear eyes Rs.2.1 bn turnover in fourth quarter

By IANS Kolkata : J.G. Hosiery Pvt Ltd, owner of the leading brand Amul Macho, Tuesday projected a turnover of Rs.2.1 billion ($52.6 million) at the end of the fourth quarter in March 2008 against Rs.1.5 billion in the corresponding period of last fiscal, with a net profit of over 10 percent. "The company is currently on a major expansion spree. We are planning to enter the premium range of kids and ladies' innerwear market in a big way," Sandeep Seksaria, director of the company said here.

Chhattisgarh to set up three cashew nut processing units

By IANS Raipur : Chhattisgarh will set up three cashew nut processing units in the iron ore rich Bastar region, a government official said Saturday. The three units will be set up at Kumharvand, Karmari and Turenaar. These are remote areas having tribal stronghold.

Kishor Kharat appointed as CEO and MD of IDBI bank

By Yogesh Maitreya, Twocircles.net, Mumbai: Kishor Kharat has been appointed as the CEO and MD of IDBI Bank. The announcement was made on August 14,...

Explained: Why is resentment growing in Ladakh three years after UT status?

Leaders from two regions of Ladakh - Kargil and Leh, have put forth four agenda points for the Centre to fulfill.  TCN Staff Correspondent  SRINAGAR...

India’s much neglected periodic Haats or weekly markets: An equitable model for small farmers?

Amid the farmers' protests in India, a TCN Ground report from the weekly markets or haats of West Singhbhum district of Jharkhand demonstrates a...

Closure of slaughter houses in UP brought 400-year-old bone carving trade to an end

Over-400-year-old bone carving trade in UP has been hit hard by the government’s crackdown on illegal slaughter houses.  A Tripathi | TwoCircles.net  UTTAR PRADESH — Abrar Ahmed,...

2020 Delhi riots: ‘My soul trembles when I recall that day,’ shopkeepers at Gokulpuri...

Shopkeepers at Gokulpuri tyre market, where 97 shops were set ablaze during the 2020 Delhi riots, are still struggling to rebuild their lives...

‘Picked up from garbage, dropped in gutter,’ Muslim slum dwellers in Ahmedabad see no...

Local Muslims residing in the ghettos of Vatva and Ajit Mill complained about negligence from government officials and elected representatives. Aquilur Rahman and Vipul...

Northeast India’s biggest steel plant begins production

By IANS, Agartala : The biggest gas-based steel plant in northeast India started commercial production in Tripura Friday. The Noida-based Dharampal Premchand Ltd (DPL), manufacturers of the "Baba" brand of tobacco products, has diversified into steel production to set up the Rs.250-crore steel plant at Bodhjungnagar, 12 km north of Tripura's capital Agartala.

Bogey of ‘economic jihad’: a conspiracy to target livelihood of Indian Muslims

The purpose of these bogus conspiracy theories is to target the livelihood of Muslims and weaken them economically.  Md Asif Khan | TwoCircles.net The term ‘economic...

Farmers abandoning opium cultivation in Uttar Pradesh

By IANS Lucknow : What was once considered a lucrative cash crop, opium cultivation has become a losing proposition in Uttar Pradesh. Many opium growers, concentrated in parts of Barabanki, Shahjahanpur and Barielly districts, have switched over from opium to other crops. While Lucknow-based Deputy Narcotics Commissioner Ashok Kumar declined to comment on the issue, official records show a steady fall in opium cultivation and production in the state.

Castor farming project to help distressed Vidarbha farmers

By Shyam Pandharipande, IANS Nagpur (Maharashtra) : A Mumbai-based oil firm has launched an ambitious contract farming project in the crisis-ridden western Vidarbha region under which it will procure castor seeds from farmers at an assured price. The programme by Jayant Oils and Derivatives Ltd (JODL) hopes to support at least 25,000 farmers.

Wearing slogans on sleeves: Rupali Jadhav designs her activism on T-shirts

33-year-old Rupali Jadhav started designing and selling T-shirts in early 2020, a year after the arrest of six activists of Kabir Kala Manch (KKM). Riya...

Sun Fruits to cultivate stevia in West Bengal, northeast

By IANS Kolkata : Sun Fruits Ltd, a Pune-based natural sweetener producing major, is looking at cultivating a sweet herb in northern districts of West Bengal and in the northeast states to tap the growing potential of natural sweetener market in India. "We will grow stevia rebaudiana bertoni (SRB) 128 variety by bringing about 1,000 acres of land under its cultivation. We are already in talks with tea estate owners who have huge volume of unused land in north Bengal districts and the northeast states," Sun Fruits director Shivraj Bhosle told IANS here Thursday.

Bihar gets increased budget for minority welfare, observers raise questions on implementation

After Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar recently announced an increase in the budget allocation for minority welfare in the state, observers from the...

Locals of a West Bengal village decry construction of Dolomite factory in area, say...

The construction of a Dolomite factory in Sishujhumra village of West Bengal has left residents aghast as the factory poses health and environmental hazards....

In Pictures: Amid pandemic, award winning Chennai based Dalit folk artist Karthick Annan takes...

Karthick Annan is a 35-year-old Dalit folk artist from Chennai, mastered in different folk art forms produced from an indigenous culture in Tamil Nadu...

May Day: ‘No way out of tea estates,’ housing woes, low wages compel workers...

Assam’s tea estates contribute to more than fifty percent of the total tea production in India. However, the workers working at these estates have...

Ragpickers seen through the prism of art

The underprivileged and marginalized ragpicker community has rarely been depicted in art forms in India. Aatika S | TwoCircles.net NEW DELHI - The work of progressive...

इनोवेशन | एक माह में सोलर बाइक बनाने वाले असद की कहानी

फिल्म देखकर सात सीटर सोलर बाइक बनाई, आईआईटी कानपुर से बुलावा यह कहानी है 23 वर्ष के असद की, जो बचपन से ही काफी...

JPMorgan Chase’s Anil Bhalla appointed to USIBC Board

By Arun Kumar, IANS, Washington : The US-India Business Council (USIBC), an advocacy group seeking stronger US-India commercial ties, has appointed Anil Bhalla, Vice Chairman (Investment Banking-Asia Pacific) of JPMorgan Chase, to its Board of Directors. "We are delighted to have someone of Anil's stature and reputation as a member of the USIBC Board," said Indra Nooyi, chairperson of USIBC, which represents 280 of the largest US companies investing in India, joined by two dozen of India's largest global companies.

New attraction in Bangladesh: Taka 1000 currency note

By IANS, Dhaka : Bangladesh has introduced new Taka 1000 currency notes and they are much in demand with many heading to street vendors in the capital and even paying extra money to get hold of one. While Bangladesh Bank, the country's central bank that issued the new currency notes Oct 27, deals with the banks, the general public can collect them from vendors at Gulistan and Nababpur localities and at Sadarghat, the river front on the Buri Ganga.

India’s growing rich-poor divide: Richest 1% gross 73% wealth in 2017

Davos (IANS): India's richest, just 1 per cent of its 1.3 billion people, grossed 73 per cent of the wealth generated in 2017 while the...

Kalpakkam fast breeder reactor project on schedule

By IANS Kalpakkam (Tamil Nadu) : The project to build the 500-MW prototype fast breeder reactor (PFBR) at Kalpakkam was well on schedule, and the safety vessel for it will be lowered into the reactor vault early November. The safety vessel, 13.4 metres in diameter and 13.4 metre tall, with a dish bottom has been fabricated by Larsen & Toubro Limited (L&T) at the project site. "This is the first time the reactor vessel has been fabricated at site," Prabhat Kumar, project director, told the media here Tuesday.

पाठा का अमूल्य पानी : भौरा तेरा पानी ग़ज़ब करी जाए,गगरी न फूटै, खसम...

चित्रकूट से ज़ियाउल हक़ Twocircles.net के लिए जैसे जैसे गर्मियां बढ़ती है वैसे वैसे पाठा के जलश्रोत सूखने लगते हैं। आलम यूं हो जाता है...

Adivasi villages in Jharkhand, Odisha face severe neglect, reveals new report

The report titled “Status of Adivasi Livelihoods 2021” highlights the difficulties and scarcities faced by the tribal communities. Muhammed Nihad PV | TwoCircles.net NEW DELHI —...

“Nothing has been left our homes. Where will we go?” Patna’s Nat community face...

Scores of families belonging to the marginalized Nat community of Patna, Bihar were left homeless after a demolition drive carried out by the Patna...

“Land is our only source of income,” Kashmir village erupts against land transfer to...

On November 29, scores of villagers from Pulwama assembled in Press Enclave Srinagar and protested against the "allotment of their agricultural land to CRPF"...

‘Was forced to change name of restaurant & menu, fire Muslim staff, and hire...

In the temple city of Mathura in Uttar Pradesh, a Muslim hotelier claimed to change the name of his restaurant from Hotel Taj to...

Muslim Professionals Network launched a crowdfunding site for charity projects

By TCN News Hyderabad: A network of Muslim professionals working for the empowerment and development of the community announced the launch of www.idohelp.org, an online...

TI to peddle premium cycles for niche market

By Venkatachari Jagannathan, IANS, Chennai : The Rs.23.48-billion Tube Investments of India Ltd (TI) is negotiating with three foreign companies to enter the ultra premium cycle segment - price range starting from Rs.13,000 and going up to Rs.160,000. "Though the market size is small we cannot afford to be absent in this segment," TI Cycles senior vice-president Arun Alagappan told IANS. The proposed range will be in addition to the division's existing premium range bikes sold under the Hercules brand.

How and why to organize workers for a democratic and secular India

By Kashif-ul-Huda, TwoCircles.net Cambridge, Massachusetts: Thousands of miles from Bihar, Kamayani Swami and Ashish Ranjan of Jan Jagaran Shakti Sangathan (JJSS) talked about their...

They only come for the poor: Tughlakabad residents who received demolition notices

The Archeological Survey of India (ASI) posted notices in over 1000 homes in Tughlakabad area of New Delhi earlier this month, causing consternation...

Mahindra opens defence vehicle plant in Haryana

By IANS, New Delhi : Auto major Mahindra and Mahindra (M&M) Tuesday inaugurated a defence-vehicle manufacturing plant in Haryana's Prithla region. The Rs.400-million (Rs.40-crore) facility is expected to roll out 200 vehicles by year-end. "The company is also looking for a long-term strategic partner for its naval business," Mahindra chief executive Khuttub Hai told reporters. The factory, which started production in January, will initially build armoured version of Mahindra's Scorpio and Bolero sports utility vehicles (SUV).

Modi to face farmers’ anger in 2019: Yogendra Yadav

New Delhi (IANS): Swaraj India leader Yogendra Yadav on Tuesday warned that Prime Minister Narendra Modi will face the anger of the farmers in...

Chhattisgarh electricity board split into five companies

By IANS, Raipur : The Chhattisgarh government Thursday announced that it has split the state electricity board into five entities - one holding company and four others to manage transmission, distribution, production and trading. The new companies are - Chhattisgarh State Power Transmission Co. Ltd, Chhattisgarh State Power Generation Co. Ltd, Chhattisgarh State Power Distribution Co. Ltd, Chhattisgarh State Power Trading Co. Ltd and Chhattisgarh State Power Holding Ltd.

High on honey: Uttar Pradesh could become largest producer

By Rajat Rai, IANS, Lucknow : The buzz is Uttar Pradesh could become the largest producer of honey in India in the next 10 years with some encouragement. Apiculture and horticulture experts say conditions in the state augur well for beekeeping. "As the state has a variety of flora and crops, honey could be produced here throughout the year. States like Bihar and Jharkhand tribals are doing exceptionally good," said R.K. Lakra of the Indian Council of Agriculture Research.

Hunar Haat – Modi govt’s mega mission for economic empowerment of artisans

TCN News Indore (MP), 09th Feb, 2020: Celebrated as “mega mission” of economic empowerment, “Hunar Haat” has been inaugurated at Vijay Nagar in Indore by...

“Modi talks about self-sufficient India but in Kashmir, they are doing opposite,” 15000 engineers...

By Shakir Mir Srinagar: Hilal Rasool (now 45) was a young engineering graduate in 2003 when Kashmir was starting to emerge out of a decade...

Modern slavery: Adivasi labourers in Gujarat’s sugarcane fields

Every year more than two lakh Adivasis from the Maharashtra-Gujarat border region immigrate to work in sugar mills as sugarcane harvesters—but without any...

‘No designation and delayed salaries’: Hard lives of Delhi’s Dengue Breeding Checkers

Even after rendering their services for more than 25 years now, these contractual workers feel exploited and left out.  Sanjana Chawla | TwoCircles.net NEW DELHI —  Thousands...

Jharkhand: For last 56 days, Adivasis are on hunger-strike against ‘illegal’ mining; govt unmoved

While the government of India makes claims of Sab Ka Vikaas (Development for everyone)—the concerns and voices of Dalits and Adivasis are often...

For many rural women in Bihar, Kheta embroidery work aims to boost livelihood

Kheta is said to be a 500-year-old quilting heirloom practised exclusively by Shershahabdi women. Today, Kheta embroidery work is getting popular among non-Shershahabdi people...

Why are tribals from Jammu and Kashmir protesting inclusion of Paharis in ST list?

Members of the Gujjar Bakarwal community in Jammu and Kashmir are on a protest march from Kupwara to Jammu against the government of India's...

Dying of hunger in an age of food apps

By Nikhat Fatima, TwoCircles.net For most of us especially those living in urban spaces, food items are now available at the mere touch of a...

“Want affected people to have security,” activists raise concern over world’s second-largest coal block...

The Deocha Pachami Harinsingha Dewanganj Coal Mine Project, in Birbhum, West Bengal is the second largest coal mining block in the world. While the...

Indian firm to build sugar mill in Ethiopia

By Groum Abate, IANS, Addis Ababa : An Indian company is planning to build a new sugar mill in Ethiopia, the east African nation that is attracting a lot of Indian investment and attention.

Promoting Muslim entrepreneurship

By Shahid Sayed, 'Threshold India 2009' is brain child of Shahid Sayed to promote entrepreneurship amongst the Muslim youth, to bring them closer to the mainstream and make them committed global citizens that value life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness as a goal worth achieving by their own efforts.

The magic wand of Mr. Modi

By Shaiq Ali Khan for TwoCircles.net If you repeat a lie often enough, people will believe it, and you will even come to believe it...

Punjab to auction vehicle registration numbers

Chandigarh, Nov 5 (IANS) The Punjab government has decided to auction vehicle registration numbers, taking a cue from the union territory of Chandigarh that auctions all VIP and preferential vehicle numbers, generating millions in revenue annually.

ERP (SAP-HR) inaugurated in BHEL Bhopal unit

By Pervez Bari, TwoCircles.net

Bhopal: In a simple programme held at IFX conference hall in Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited, (BHEL), Bhopal unit ERP (SAP-HR) was inaugurated by RK Singh, Executive Director, BHEL, Bhopal.

Dying handloom industry in Azamgarh

By Salman Sultan, TwoCircles.net Special Correspondent, Varanasi: Mr. Imam Ali s/o Mr. Muzammil Husain originally belongs to Mohalla Pura Diwan of Mubarakpur (District Azamgarh). He migrated to Varanasi in November 2000 after prolonged sectarian violence in Mubarakpur. He is involved in manufacturing Banarasi Silk Sarees and has continued this business in Varanasi.

DMK to launch two new TV channels

By IANS

Chennai : Tamil Nadu may soon get two new television channels sponsored by the ruling DMK and its leader M. Karunanidhi, with one being launched on June 3 - his 84th birthday.

Pran to be India’s first Bangladeshi investor

By IANS Dhaka : Bangladeshi beverage producer Pran is to set up a food and soft drink processing plant in Tripura with an eye on the vast market potential in India's northeastern region. Pran, one of Bangladesh's leading brand names, Wednesday announced plans to build a factory, it first foreign manufacturing bid, taking advantage of India's recent decision to lift its ban on Bangladeshi investment.

Manmohan Singh’s 10-point social charter for India Inc

By IANS

New Delhi : Prime Minister Manmohan Singh Thursday presented a 10-point charter to make the country's growth process inclusive and invited the corporate sector to become the government's partner in creating a "culture of caring, sharing and belonging".

Privatization gone sour, EPFO turns to NIC for modernisation

By Devirupa Mitra, IANS New Delhi : The modernization of the Employees Provident Fund, which has 40 million subscribers across the country, is now back in the hands of a government body - after Rs.60 million and seven years spent on a private consultant. 'Reinventing EPF' was launched in 2001 as a way to modernize one of the world's largest social security organisations to manage its corpus of over Rs.2 trillion through computerisation of records, distribution of smart cards and access to online accounts, as well as faster processing of withdrawal claims.

‘There is rift after 2020 riots,’ say Brahmpuri residents after posters surface urging Hindus...

Most residents of Brahmpuri expressed displeasure against the appearance of such posters while some supported it.  Shruti Sharma | TwoCircles.net  ​​NEW DELHI — Early last...

Muslim clerics launch Islamic investment advisory board, pitch for Islamic banking

By Mumtaz Alam Falahi, TwoCircles.net, New Delhi: India’s eminent Islamic clerics today pitched for introduction of Islamic banking and financial system in the country while opening to the public the Islamic Investment & Finance Board, an advisory committee headed by clerics to assist both corporations and markets as well as common people regarding Shariat-compliant investment and finance.

Uttar Pradhesh’s Tharu tribals fear growing privatization will result in lack of govt jobs

Growing privatization of public sector units during the current government is giving sleepless nights to the people belonging to the Tharu tribe in Uttar...

India develops hybrid mustard seed, better yield expected

By IANS, New Delhi : India has developed a better variety of hybrid seed of mustard, which it is saying will catapult the output of the country's key oil crop. The new hybrid of the rapeseed-mustard seed has been developed by scientists at the National Research Centre (NRC) in Bharatpur, Rajasthan. NRC is an affiliate of India's premier farm research body, the Indian Council of Agriculture Research (ICAR). The Delhi-headquartered ICAR under the ministry of agriculture Thursday claimed the new rapeseed-mustard seed was the first hybrid one ever developed by Indian scientists.

Gujjar Lung or Covid-19: Explaining cause of deaths in Gujjar-Bakarwal community in Jammu and...

The Gujjar-Bakarwal live in the hilly areas of the Indian subcontinent, especially in Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, Rajasthan, Pakistan, Tibet. The nomadic community...

Cement price in Himachal reduced

By IANS, Shimla : Three cement majors Thursday reduced the price of cement by Rs.25 per bag in Himachal Pradesh, said Chief Minister Prem Kumar Dhumal.

“No one’s helpers,” West Bengal’s women domestic helpers stare at bleak future as livelihood...

The predominance of informal employment in the unorganized sector has been one of the central features of the labour market scenario in India. According...

Empowering Wardha’s Dalits through e-commerce

Sanghamitra Store is an online e-commerce platform run by five Dalit youth that showcases affordable handicrafts and art made by the community. Riya Talitha...

Challenges in Implementation of National Food Security Act discussed

By TCN News New Delhi: The Institute of Objective Studies (IOS) in association with FIAN India and The Child Trust organised a consultation on “National...

‘Think global, act local’ new slogan of Indian advertising

By Madhusree Chatterjee, IANS New Delhi : A new Coca-Cola advertisement featuring Bollywood star Hrithik Roshan is pegged on the theme "Jashan Mana Le" or just have fun. It's simple. A group of youngsters venture out for a late night bite, only to find the eateries shut. They meet Hrithik on the way and go on a magical midnight tryst with the star. Cola adds the fizz.

Sustainable development goals for char areas presented at Al Ameen meeting in Guwahati

TCN News The 16th annual general meeting of Al-Ameen Welfare Society (AWS), a leading welfare organisation of Assam, was held at the Bishnu Nirmala Bhawan...

“They only demolish homes of defenseless and weak,” despite UN intervention, demolition at Khori...

The Supreme Court ordered the demolition of a settlement in Khori Gaon in Faridabad, Haryana on June 7 and given the municipal corporations until...

“We celebrated abrogation of Article 370 but we didn’t know Jammu will be its...

Two years after the BJP government abrogated Article 370 of the erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir, the region where it promised the abrogation...

In Pictures: The last Bhil Adivasi folk artists of Gujarat

The Bhil Adivasi folk musicians of the Narmada district in western Indian state of Gujarat are facing extinction as these musicians and artists are...

Advocacy group set up in Kashmir to educate people about Islamic Banking

By Raqib Hameed Naik, TwoCircles.net Srinagar: Mehboob Makhdoomi, an expert on Islamic Banking and alumnus of Harvard and Pennsylvania University, has...

Dalits in Punjab bank on land reforms for economic, social prosperity

With the new Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government promising to bring reforms, it will be interesting to see how things unfold for Dalit farmers...

Kerala to build urban entertainment centre

By IANS, Thiruvananthapuram : State-owned Tourist Resorts Kerala Limited (TRKL) will set up an urban recreation-cum-commercial centre in the city through public-private partnership to boost tourism in the state further. TRKL head T.K. Manzoor told IANS that the centre would come up at a cost of Rs.1,500 million on a 20-acre plot overlooking the Veli Lake. "The project is being implemented by TRKL. Twenty-one major players, including experienced groups such as Tata Infrastructure Limited, Oberoi Constructions, Chalet Hotels (Raheja Group), have shown interest," said Manzoor.

Tatas’ Singur withdrawal `slap’ for West Bengal: Biman Bose

By IANS, Kolkata : The withdrawal of the Tatas from Singur is a "slap" for West Bengal, Biman Bose, chairman of the state's ruling Left Front, said Saturday. "The withdrawal of the Tatas from Singur is a slap on West Bengal. The Trinamool Congress and its partners are responsible for this loss," Bose told reporters at a press conference at the party headquarters at Alimuddin Street here. "However, the government must continue to implement industrialisation here despite all obstructions and arrange for job security of the unemployed youths," he maintained.

SJVNL upgrades Dhaula Sidh hydropower project in Himachal

By IANS, Shimla : Hydropower company Satluj Jal Vidyut Nigam Ltd (SJVNL) has upgraded the power-generation capacity of one of its projects under execution in Himachal Pradesh, an official said here Sunday. "We have decided to upgrade the power-generation capacity of the Dhaula Sidh hydropower project in Hamirpur district. Now, its generation capacity would be increased to 66 MW from 40 MW. This will, of course, help make the project more economically viable," SJVNL Deputy General Manager V.K. Verma told IANS.

BSNL launches IPTV in Jaipur

By IANS, Jaipur : Indian public sector telecom major Bharat Sanchar Nigam Ltd (BSNL), in association with optical fibre cable maker Aksh Optifibre Ltd, launched the Internet Protocol Television (IPTV) in the state of Rajasthan here Monday. Aksh Optifibre, which posted total revenues of Rs.1.8 billion in the last fiscal ending September 2007, said in a statement that with the launch of its IPTV brand icontrol here the company has become the first to launch IPTV services in Rajasthan and in this city and will revolutionize TV viewing.

New trend in jewellery industry attracting Muslim consumers

By Ziaulla Nomani, India is the world's second largest single consumer of gold after China. The consumption of gold in India is about 50% in jewelry, 40% in investments, and 10% in industry.

Sowing the SEED of progress among Indian Muslims

By Mohd. Ismail Khan, TwoCircles.net, Hyderabad: India may have the third- largest concentration of Muslims around the world and 10% of total world’s Muslim population,...

Why are minorities disappointed with Union Budget 2023?

Slashing the budget for minority affairs from Rs 5020 crore last year to Rs 3079 crore this year has led some to question...

RIL establishes innovation leadership centre at Pune

By IANS Mumbai : India's most valuable firm, Reliance Industries Ltd (RIL), has set up Reliance Innovation Leadership Centre at Pune, the company said Monday. Inaugurating the centre, RIL chairman Mukesh Ambani said that it would drive the company's innovation agenda. "The innovation centre aims to propel RIL to the forefront of global business leadership by implementing innovation strategies in operation as well as in research and technology domains," said Ambani.

Economic success of Mappilas

By Kashif-ul-Huda, TwoCircles.net TCN Malabar series: Part 9

Shariah Index launched at Bombay Stock Exchange

By Rehan Ansari, TwoCircles.net,

Jharkand’s Bamboo artisans experience livelihood crunch amid lockdown, worry for future of profession

By Nazish Hussain, TwoCircles.net Jaggarnath Mahli of Hesal village, situated 20 kilometres from Ranchi city, makes bamboo articles for a living. Due to the coronavirus...

Azadi ki or Chalo: The future of India’s farmers’ protest

One battle appears won but the war for India’s soul rages on. Pieter Friedrich | TwoCircles.net When the Kisan Morcha — the Farmers Protest — was...

For these underprivileged girl students in Bihar, availing higher education is a long mile

By Sami Ahmad, TwoCircles.net Rumi Khatoon is an aspiring graduate but the online selection system for admission in the colleges is keeping her running and...

Part II: Gujjar-Bakerwal community in Jammu and Kashmir face depleted livelihood, exclusion, fear of...

The Gujjar-Bakarwal community live in the hilly areas of the Indian subcontinent, especially in Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, Rajasthan, Pakistan, and Tibet. In...

Assam Evictions: “No longer having land to cultivate is death sentence to us,” 250...

The Darrang district authorities in Assam have taken over the farmland of over 250 Muslim families in Niz Shalmara village and asked them to...

Pray tell us where is the economy going?

Dr Mohammad Manzoor Alam Over the last several months we have been hearing claims about the economy going great guns. Government leaders tell us that...

Unorganized mica workers in mineral-rich Jharkhand in disarray as govt disallows ‘illegal mining &...

For nearly two lakh unorganized workers involved in mica business in Jharkhand, the March 2 directive by the government has put their livelihood at...

Meet Shiekh Asif from Kashmir, a tech entrepreneur who believes an idea can change...

Twenty-eight-year-old Sheikh Asif from Kashmir’s capital Srinagar never thought that "an idea" will change his life and he will become an owner of a...

Van Versus Vikas: New documentary dismantles mythology of India’s “progress” from worldview of Adivasi...

The film chronicles the resistance of an Adivasi family, along with other city activists and residents, to stop the Mumbai Metro Rail project...

Devoid of work, artists of Kathputli colony in Delhi turn to odd labour jobs

As part of India's first in-situ slum redevelopment project in a public-private partnership, Kathputli Colony in Shadipur, Delhi, is being developed as a mall...

Adivasis from Chhattisgarh march to save their habitats from ‘hazards of coal mining’

Nearly 350 residents from the villages of central Chhattisgarh are on a 300-km long march that started on October 2 to reach the capital...
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