India makes new Guinness World Record in Kabaddi with a participation of 128 players

Haryana Governor, Sh Bandaru Dattatreya presented the Guinness World record certificate to President HIPSA Smt Kanthi D Suresh

Panchkula, 24 March: On the occasion of World Kabaddi Day today, India has made a new Guinness World Record with a participation of 128 players. The Guinness World Record attempt was for ‘Most players in a Kabaddi exhibition match’. 

 The attempt begins at Tau Devi Lal Stadium at 11 am in the presence of adjudicators from the Guinness team, and after three hours of continuous play, the record was finally broken at 2 pm with a participation of 128 players as declared by the Guinness adjudicator, Mr Swapnil Dangarikar. The Guinness World Record attempt was for ‘Most players in a Kabaddi exhibition match. While Guinness had set the record benchmark for 84 players to break the record, the organizers had challenged an attempt for 154 players.

 Haryana Governor, Sh Bandaru Dattatreya was the Chief Guest and the Guinness World record certificate was presented to him by the Guinness team. The Governor then handed over the coveted certificate to the President of Holistic International Pravasi Sports 

Association (HIPSA), Smt Kanthi D Suresh, and the President of World Kabaddi, Sh Ashok Das.  

 Sh Dattatreya in his speech was appreciative of the efforts of Ms Kanthi D Suresh, President HIPSA, who played a crucial role in the vision of the event. He spoke about the importance of Kabaddi as a sport for India and a desire to make it an Olympic Sport.

 A charged-up venue at the Tau Devilal Stadium saw Team Arjuna and Team Abhimanyu jointly break this World Record. The technical rules for the Guinness Record attempt have been designed together by the Guinness team and members of World Kabaddi. Most of the rules are the standardized rules followed World over except for rules regarding the time length of the match and number of substitutions allowed in a standard match. Qualified witnesses and referees are some of the mandatory requirements laid down by the Guinness World Records team. 

 The World Kabaddi has been celebrated every year on March 24, from the year 2019. This year the World Kabaddi Day was celebrated in India and the venue chosen for the same was Tau Devi Lal Indoor Stadium, Panchkula. HIPSA along with World Kabaddi, jointly organized this years event. To promote Kabaddi, globally, was one of the main reasons to choose India as a venue and Haryana in particular, for the event.

  Foreign delegates from different member countries of World Kabaddi made their presence at the event, who were honoured to be felicitated by the Governor. 

  Dr D Suresh, Principal Secretary, Haryana Human Resources Department and Resident Commissioner Haryana Bhawan, New Delhi was also present at the event. 

  Ms Kanthi, President HIPSA, later spoke to the media and said that it was a proud moment for all and with India keen to host the Olympics in 2036, this Guinness Record is an initiative to get the sport of Kabaddi on the World map. Breaking a Guinness World Record requires dedication, preparation, and perseverance. The Guinness World Record ‘Officially Amazing’ certificate for the most players in a Kabaddi exhibition match was presented to HIPSA and World Kabaddi, at Panchkula, she added. 

   Secretary World Kabaddi S.T Arsu, Deputy Commissioner Sushil Sarwan, Deputy Commissioner of Police Himadri Kaushik, SDM Gaurav Chauhan, Media Coordinator Deepak Sharma, CEO Zila Parishad Gagandeep Singh, Naib Tehsildar Hardev Singh and other dignitaries were also present on this occasion. 

Shah Rukh Khan La Trobe University PhD Scholarship of $225,000 (AUD), awarded to New Delhi Student

CHANDIGARH 20th March 2024 The second prestigious Shah Rukh Khan La Trobe University PhD Scholarship was today presented to a New Delhi student with a passion to improve health outcomes for vulnerable communities, to study in Australia.

During a Gala Dinner in Delhi, La Trobe University’s Vice-Chancellor, Professor Theo Farrell presented Sumaira Khan with the 2024 Shah Rukh Khan La Trobe University PhD Scholarship, valued at more than $225,000 (AUD).

Sumaira was selected from a competitive field of applicants from across India for the four-year scholarship, which recognises the humanitarian and social justice achievements of Shah Rukh Khan (SRK). The PhD scholarship was made possible through La Trobe’s long-standing partnership with the Indian Film Festival of Melbourne.

Designed to support aspiring female Indian researchers who want to make a meaningful impact in the world, the scholarship enables Sumaira to undertake research at La Trobe’s state-of-the-art facilities in Melbourne, Australia.

Sumaira will work with medical anthropologists Dr Tarryn Phillips and Dr Catherine Trundle to identify ways to improve healthcare for South Asian migrant women in Australia with an elevated risk of Type 2 diabetes. The study seeks to understand the factors that shape and constrain the ability to practice self-care, and inform improved healthcare design, access and equity for healthcare programs in Australia and India.

“I’m very grateful to receive the Shah Rukh Khan scholarship. It’s life-changing for me and my family, and I’m excited to interact with La Trobe’s global community of researchers. It really is my proudest achievement,” Sumaira said.

Shah Rukh Khan said he was delighted to support the development of Indian women to pursue solutions to challenges affecting not just Indian communities, but global issues.

“Sumaira’s passion to improve health outcomes for vulnerable communities is inspiring, and her journey is a wonderful lesson to other Indian women who want to improve lives through scientific study,” Mr Khan said.

“I am pleased to be able to support Sumaira’s ongoing development and education with this scholarship at La Trobe University in Melbourne.”

La Trobe Vice-Chancellor, Professor Theo Farrell, said the University was proud to continue the Shah Rukh Khan La Trobe University PhD Scholarship to a student, whose goal is to support some of the most vulnerable in our community.

“This ongoing scholarship is testament to the strong relationship and shared vision La Trobe has with Mr Khan to inspire positive change through education and find solutions for some of the most challenging issues facing the world,” Professor Farrell said.

“We are delighted to welcome Sumaira to La Trobe.”

Indian Film Festival of Melbourne Director Mitu Bhowmick thanked La Trobe for its ongoing support for furthering the educational opportunities for Indian women.

“I am delighted our festival has been able to bring together SRK and La Trobe University for this scholarship, which provides life-changing opportunities for young Indian female students and inspires future generations,” she said.

Sumaira’s passion for public health grew from her own family’s experiences accessing care for her younger brother when he was diagnosed with severe autism.

 

 

 

In 2022, Sumaira graduated with a Master of Public Health from Mumbai’s Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS), where she received the academic prize for best first year student for achieving the highest grades in her cohort.

She has since completed an internship with Save the Children and Sangath, investigated women’s experiences of open defecation in Delhi and explored the research area of early childhood development in India. Sumaira has also worked with a social development research organization in India exploring the domains of primary health care system strengthening and vaccine hesitancy.

“I’m amazed that I have this opportunity to do research in Australia, I hope my story can connect with young girls across India to inspire them to achieve more, to believe that it’s possible for young women to follow their dreams,” she said.

The first recipient of the Shah Rukh Khan La Trobe University PhD Scholarship, Gopika Kottantharayil Bhasi, has completed the first year of her PhD into a field-deployable diagnostic test for honeybee viruses, and with the aim of developing therapies to aid honeybee health.

La Trobe was the first Australian university to award Shah Rukh Khan with an Honorary Degree, Doctor of Letters (honoris causa) during a ceremony at the University’s Melbourne campus in 2019. In recognition of SRK’s wide-ranging humanitarian work, including establishing the Meer Foundation to support and empower women who have survived acid attacks in India.

Background

• La Trobe University is a founding partner, supporting the Indian Film Festival of Melbourne (IFFM) since 2010, as the festival’s exclusive University and Learning Partner. Providing a tangible demonstration and differentiation of La Trobe’s support for Indian culture

• La Trobe is one of two Australian universities to teach Hindi

• Since La Trobe University’s inception in 1964 more than 11,000 students from the Indian subcontinent have graduated from the University

• La Trobe University is ranked in the top one per cent of universities worldwide (Times Higher Education, 2021) Media Release Media Release: Tuesday 19 March 2024 3:3

• Dignitaries that La Trobe University has hosted from the Indian subcontinent include, Prime Minister Mrs Indira Gandhi, Shah Rukh Khan, Kapil Dev, Malaika Arora Khan, Amitabh Bachchan, Rajkumar Hirani and Abhijat Joshi

• In 2005, La Trobe’s Melbourne campus in Bundoora was featured in the first major Bollywood blockbuster film to be made entirely in Australia. Salaam Namaste, the film, collected close to $10million US at the box office.

• The La Trobe Library collection houses more than 38,000 volumes of monographs, journals, magazines and government publications from India, one of the largest collections in Australia.

National Martial Arts Training Camp organized for the children of Budo Kai Do Mixed Martial Arts Federation of India

Chandigarh, 15 March 2024

National Martial Arts Training Camp was organized in Jaipur, Rajasthan for the children of Budo Kai Do Mixed Martial Arts Federation. In this camp, under the leadership of coaches Ravinder Pal Sharma, Harpreet Kaur, Manish Sharma, Swarn Singh Birdi and Lakhwinder Singh, Harjot Singh, Rajveer Singh, Dilpreet Singh, Jashanpreet Singh, Ritesh, Mintu Singh, Lovejot Singh, Sajanpreet Singh, Sukhjeet Kaur, Komalpreet Students like Kaur, Harpreet Kaur, Kuldeep Singh, Kulwant Singh and Kulwinder Singh, Karanveer Singh, Jaswinder Singh, Pritam Das, Balram Hakla, Pardeep Kumar, Vikas, Gurmeet Kumar etc. participated.

Giving information related to the camp, Budo Kai Do Mixed Martial Arts Federation, President, Sharanjit said that his federation keeps organizing such camps for the students. He said that our best wishes are with all the students for this camp.

11 मुखी हनुमान मंदिर में होता है काफी बीमारिओं का ईलाज :-संत रघुवंशी

चंडीगढ़ 

17 मार्च जेठे रविवार को देव भूमि हिमाचल प्रदेश के 11 मुखी हनुमान मंदिर धाम सुबाथू तलाब (कठनी) जिला सोलन में बाल ब्रहमचारी संत रघुवंशी ने चौंकी के दौरान श्रद्धालुओं की अनगिनत समस्याओं पर गोर कर उनका समाधान किया जायगा,

यहां पवन पुत्र हनुमान जी की कृपा से बाल ब्रहमचारी संत रघुवंशी सभी तरह की बीमारियों की जड़ी बूटी देते हैं, जिससे बहुत सारे लोगों का इलाज हुआ है।  

जिन मरीजो को कैंसर जैसी लाइलाज बीमारी जिस डॉक्टर भी हाथ खड़े कर चुके हो उनका इलाज किया जाता है I

उनका कहना है की जहा श्रद्धा है वह हर बड़ी से बड़ी समस्या छोटी होने लगती है, क्युकी कलयुग के दोर में श्रद्धा और आत्मा बल ही हर समस्या की पहली दवा है जिसकी शुरुआत स्वयं से ही की जा सकती है I

उन्होंने भगतों को हनुमान की भगवान राम के प्रति आस्था के बारे में बताते है और राम नाम जप अपना जीवन सफल बनाने को कहते है। उनका कहना है की हमें भगवान श्री राम चन्द्र जी के जीवन से प्रेरणा लेनी चाहिए और उनके बताए मार्ग पर चलना चाहिए। 

बाल ब्रह्मचारी श्री संत रघुवंशी जी द्वारा प्रभु श्री राम एवं 11 मुखी हनुमान जी की कृपा से सभी भक्तों और मरीजों पर अनंत कृपा बरसेगी इस शुभ पावन उपलक्ष पर विशाल भंडारे का भी आयोजन किया जा रहा है I

Kasauli Music Festival all set to take place on Mar 29-30

Renowned Bollywood singer Kavita Seth – “Am excited and looking forward to singing at the Kasauli Music Festival- a music fest in the hills.”

 

Chandigarh, March 13, 2024: Renowned Bollywood singer, sufi composer and a music director Kavita Seth will be headlining the upcoming Kasauli Music Festival(KMF) on Mar 29-30 at WelcomHeritage Santa Roza, Kasauli. The singer who has given hits like ‘Rangi Saari’, ‘Iktara’, ‘Tum Hi Ho Bandhu’ etc. interacted with the media at a press meet held in the run up-to the iconic music festival. She was joined by Dr Zoya Singh, Director, WelcomHeritage Santa Roza – a resort in Kasauli and Nanni Singh CEO ShowCase Events, who is also and curator of the festival. Angad Singh, MD, Tranza Studios the video partner of KMF was also present.

KMF is being held jointly by WelcomHeritage Santa Roza and ShowCase Events; with support partner City Woofer, a leading online ticketing platform from Chandigarh.

“Am excited and looking forward to singing at KMF - a music fest in the hills, it will be a great setting. It will be a fine music event where the ‘Who’s Who’ from the world of music will entertain the audience,” said Kavita Seth, while speaking to media persons at the Press Club here.

Speaking on the occasion, Nanni Singh, the curator of the festival said, “Apart from ‘Main Kavita Hoon’ featuring celebrated singer Kavita Seth, the famous Rajasthani folk singer Kutle Khan’s ‘Kutle Khan Project’ will also be a major draw. What’s more, music composer and instrumentalist Abhijit Pohankar’s ‘Bollywood Gharana will present a fusion of Classical, Folk and Bollywood music.”

According to Dr Zoya Singh, “The uniqueness of KMF is its venue - Santa Roza - A WelcomHeritage Resort, which located in the heart of a lush green forest, is itself an ode to the great natural beauty of Himachal. The ambience will be one-of-a kind with melodious, musical performances reverberating in the middle of the enchanting ‘pines’ and the pristine environs of our resort.”

Nanni added, “Fouzia Dastango & renowned vocalist Vidhi Sharma’s Musical Dastangoi on Meena Kumari - 'Meena Kumari Ki Dastaan', is specially being done to commemorate Meena Kumari’s death anniversary, which falls on March 31.”

Dastangoi is an ancient way of ‘telling a tale or story.’ 

Sharing his thoughts, Kutle Khan, famous Rajasthani folk singer, in a statement said, “KMF-2024, is going to present an eclectic line-up of both established and emerging artists from various genres. I am sure the festival will captivate attendees with its diverse musical offering.” 

Kavita Seth added, “The festival I have been told will also provide a platform to local singers and musicians of Himachal. In addition to this the music fest will also promote the rich culture of Himachal’s folk music.”

Dr Zoya added, “There is going to be a specially curated festival food menu for all palettes and age groups. There is a surprise take away gift for all attendees. There will be radio contests and contests on social media with prizes to be won. There will be contests on ground too.”

The details of the musical extravaganza are also available on the website of KMF kasaulimusicfestival.com.

For tickets https://www.citywoofer.com/e/kasauli-music-festival-2024  

https://in.bookmyshow.com/events/kmf-kasauli-music-festival-2024/ET00384562  

the official ticketing partners of the musical extravaganza.

SVKM’s NMIMS Chandigarh Successfully Concludes the Second Edition of Narsee Monjee Half Marathon 2024

Highlights:

The marathon, themed 'Mental Well-Being', aimed to promote physical wellness, community building, team spirit, and celebrate achievements.

Dr. Vijay Namdeorao Zade, Finance Secretary, Chandigarh Administration and Mr. Amar Chauhan, Elite Runner, were the Chief Guests at the grand event.

Mr. Rajiv Tewari, Director, Public Relations, Chandigarh Administration, was the Special Guest of Honour.

Chandigarh, India, March 10, 2024 – SVKM’s NMIMS Chandigarh successfully completed the second edition of the Narsee Monjee Half Marathon 2024, held on March 10, 2024. With this year’s theme being ‘Mental Well-Being’, the marathon aimed to promote physical wellness, community building, team spirit and celebrate achievements. The half marathon witnessed overwhelming participation from enthusiastic participants across various age groups and fitness levels. Dr. Vijay Namdeorao Zade, Finance Secretary, Chandigarh Administration and Mr. Amar Chauhan, Elite Runner, graced the grand event as Chief Guests while the Special Guest of Honour was Mr. Rajiv Tewari, Director, Public Relations, Chandigarh Administration. The second edition of the Marathon saw a pan-India presence.

Prominent people present at the two-day event included Mr. Saurabh Duggal, President of the Press Club, and several elite runners from various cities such as Bangalore, Patiala, Amritsar, and running clubs including Tr-City Runners (CTR), Runners of Amritsar (ROAR), CDR, The Run Club, The Hell Race, IIT Mandi, to name a few. 

The event featured race categories including a 5 km run, a 10 km run, and the flagship 21.5 km half which was open to men and women of all ages. Participants were provided with T-shirts, finisher medals, timing BiB, a finisher e-certificate, hydration and nutrition support, and medical assistance which resulted in the marathon being a memorable and safe experience for all.

The winners of the Narsee Monjee Half Marathon 2024 (men and women categories) were Sahil and Bhagirathi (21 KM), Jagdev Singh and Anjali (10 KM), and Abuzar Khan and Khushi Sharma (5 KM). Exciting cash prizes up to Rs 1 lakh, trophies, and gift hampers were presented to the winners across each category.

The Narsee Monjee Half Marathon 2024 received tremendous support and collaboration from industry and academia leaders, as was evident at the successful Poster Launch Ceremony held at the campus auditorium a few days before the actual event. Jasminder Chahal, State Head Punjab, ICICI Bank, and other leading organizations graced the occasion and displayed a collaborative spirit toward promoting health, fitness, and community engagement.

At a press conference held earlier at the NMIMS Chandigarh campus, Dr. Jaskiran Kaur, Director, NMIMS Chandigarh, took the opportunity to acknowledge the generous support of sponsors including CityWoofer, ICICI Bank, Scott Edil, Max Healthcare, Suprasaad, UJI Foods, Chandigarh Bytes, and Amputation Free India. She said their shared commitment to promoting mental well-being and holistic wellness contributed significantly to the success of the marathon.

Further talking about the marathon's success, Dr. Jaskiran Kaur said, "The Narsee Monjee Half Marathon 2024 was a testimony to the enthusiasm and spirit of community building among our participants. This year's event not only promoted physical fitness but also focused on promoting mental well-being and building a sense of togetherness. We are proud to have hosted an event that celebrates achievements, encourages teamwork, and promotes holistic wellness."

SVKM’s NMIMS Chandigarh looks forward to continuing its commitment to promoting health, fitness, and community engagement through such initiatives in the future.

India Book of Records recognizes remarkable work

New Delhi, March 9, 2024: The achievers from the India Book of Records (IBR) are shining bright with their unique achievements. Even the automobile giants like Tata Motors have created nine records in one go. One of their leading records was the highest fuel efficiency by a diesel-powered medium commercial vehicle on the Mumbai-Chennai stretch. 

Meanwhile, Dr Shangavi Balasubramanian of Bengaluru set a record for the full-face Vitiligo Camouflage done in minimum time. Achievers like Molnlycke Health Care India, Football 5 Association, ShareChat, Saee Ajay Deshpande, Novo Nordisk India, Dabur Pudin Hara Fizz, Jain Social Groups Int. Federation, and Brainovision Solutions India, also made the country proud with their extraordinary feats.

This month's other prominent records included the largest sacrum-shaped bandage by Molnlycke Health Care India Pvt Ltd of Gurugram, a Cricket tournament with maximum teams of different categories by Jain Social Groups Int. Federation, the maximum number of participants in an online cloud infrastructure faculty development program by Brainovision Solutions India Pvt. Ltd. of Hyderabad, the longest non-stop 5-a-side football tournament by Football 5 Association in Belgaum, and the maximum number of wishes shared on a festival online by ShareChat application.

The maximum pencil portraits of Indian artists made for a book by a female artist (Saee Ajay Deshpande) of Nagpur were the talk of the town. A record for the maximum pledges signed by health care professionals to support and appreciate insulin usage was set by Novo Nordisk India Pvt Ltd of Bengaluru, Karnataka. Similarly, the record for the largest functional demonstration of a product was set by Dabur Pudin Hara Fizz at the Nauchandi Mela in Meerut (Uttar Pradesh).

Some other Tata Motors records were: highest fuel efficiency by a diesel-powered medium commercial vehicle on the Kolkata–Delhi stretch, Delhi- Mumbai stretch, and Chennai-Kolkata stretch. It also set a record for the maximum distance covered by a medium commercial vehicle in a month, the highest fuel efficiency by a diesel-powered medium commercial vehicle covering the golden quadrilateral once, the highest fuel efficiency by a diesel engine-powered medium commercial vehicle truck, the fastest to cover golden quadrilateral by a medium commercial vehicle truck, and fastest to cover 30,000 Km by a medium commercial vehicle truck.

IWD: Celebrations at Olive Café & Bar (OCB) are an ode to their women staff

A unique cocktail menu that reflects #WomenOfOlive’s unique personalities unveiled

A unique cocktail menu that reflects #WomenOfOlive’s unique personalities unveiled

Chandigarh, March 8, 2024

Where there's a woman, there's magic! This International Women's Day (IWD), Olive Café & Bar (OCB), Sector 26, announced a unique celebration dedicated to the incredible #WomenOfOlive which will be on till Monday, 18 March, 2024. They are honouring the spirit of womanhood with a special twist, offering an exclusive cocktail menu dedicated to the hardworking young women behind OCB’s success. As a gesture of appreciation on IWD on March 8, all ladies visiting the café were greeted with a complimentary cocktail from the menu.

The specially curated cocktail menu that was unveiled reflects the unique personalities of #WomenOfOlive and each drink is inspired by and named after them.

The cocktail “Marvelous Anjana” reflects staff member Anjana’s happy-go-lucky attitude; “Jiry’s Jubilee” is a cocktail created in tune with Jiry’s passion for adventure; “Dazzling Neelam” is a tribute to Neelam who is a force in the kitchen; “Resplendent Reena” is for Reena who is always punctual; “Natty Nikita” is for Nikita who loves to be the centre of attraction; “Vivacious Komal” for Komal, a free-spirited girl; “Jazzy Jasneer” for Jasneer who likes living life queen size; “Uniquely Arti” is named after  Arti whose hard work fuels her big dreams and “Sparkling Shalu” after Shalu a woman with many hidden talents. The best part is that the ingredients used to craft the cocktails also go with the unique personalities of the young ladies.  

Nishtha Anand, Partner at Olive Café & Bar, said, "We're excited to dedicate this special occasion to the wonderful women of Olive and our guests. It's an opportunity for us to showcase our admiration for the women who have helped OCB, Chandigarh create a niche in the region. This curated cocktail menu is just one of the many ways we're felicitating them."

The women staff members also interacted with members of the media to share their thoughts on OCB’s initiative. They complimented Olive Café & Bar for the special tribute given to them and said that this shall further motivate them to serve guests with enthusiasm. The women staffers added that they will continue maintaining the high professional standards set by the café.

Last Man Stands India Super Series (Chandigarh 2024) – Auckland Warriors & Cheshire Cats sets to lock the horn in Plate Final at JR Institute, Barwala

Chandigarh, March 08, 2023:

Plate Semi Final Update: Teams who couldn’t make it to the main round play the Plate Round, wherein each team gets only 12 overs

Plate Semi Final 1: Auckland Warriors Won by 6 wickets against Perth Power | Player of The Match: Quintin Taljaard for his bowling figures of 9 runs and 3 wickets in 3 overs

Plate Semi Final 2 - Cheshire Cats Won by 8 wickets against Brisbane Burners | Player of The Match: Carwyn Johnson for his bowling figures of 6 runs and 3 wickets in 2.3 overs

Tournament Format:

Last Man Stands (LMS) is a 2 hour, 8-a-side, T20 cricket game played globally, by approximately 180,000 players. AB De Villiers, is an official Global Ambassador of LMS

Last Man Stands India Super Series (Chandigarh 2024) started from 3rd March at 2 Venues, Cricket Hub Banur and JR Institute Barwala

This is the first time Tri-city has hosted such a tournament for corporate players at global level with the support of SPS Realty and Royal Sportsters Private Limited

10 International Teams from Sydney, Brisbane, Perth, Melbourne, Johannesburg, Durban, London, Liverpool, Warwickshire, Auckland and Dhaka

10 Indian Teams from Chandigarh, Mohali, Punjab, Delhi, Erode, Gurgaon, Mohali, Kathiwada, Vasai, Bangalore and Jaipur

Out of 20 teams - Punjab Tigers, Dhaka Thunder, Delhi Lions and Jaipur Dolphins made it to the main Semi Final Round of this season, which will happen on 8th March at JR Institute from 9:30am, followed by Finals from 2pm onwards

We are super excited to see the atmosphere and energy of all our International and Indian Players. We loved the city Chandigarh and the hospitality. We would love to come back here again and plan much bigger tournaments in India like these with the support of Royal Sportsters team – Wayne Greeve, Co-Founder Last Man Stands.

Thanks for choosing Tricity to host your India Series tournament and we would love to host you again. Thanks for entertaining us over the past 6 days and giving exposure to all the players. SPS Realty will continue to be part of such activities and exposure – Rohit Singla, Director SPS Realty

Supported By: SPS Realty, Hosted By: Royal Sportster Private Limited: by Last Man Stands Team.

Visa application volumes from Chandigarh records 20% YoY growth in 2023, exceeds pre-pandemic levels by 22%

Acceptance of personalised services such as Visa At Your Doorstep (VAYD) see over four-fold rise against 2019

Popular destinations for Indian travellers include Canada, China, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Netherlands, Saudi Arabia, Switzerland, UK, and US (in alphabetical order).

Travel momentum to sustain in 2024 as well; applicants advised to apply for their visas in advance to avoid last-minute rush.

Visa application volumes from Chandigarh in 2023 remained strong and exceeded pre-pandemic levels as outbound travel from continued to surge. According to VFS Global, the visa application volume from Chandigarh registered a 20% year-on-year growth in 2023. When compared to the pre-pandemic numbers, visa application volumes from Chandigarh exceeded the 2019 levels by 22%.

The demand pattern in Chandigarh was in line with the overall growth trend registered in India, which saw a 16% year-on-year in visa applications in 2023. In comparison to the pre-pandemic numbers, visa application volumes from India reached 93% of the 2019 levels.

“We continued to witness robust demand from India and the entire South Asia region in 2022 which led to an extended peak outbound travel season with steady volumes witnessed throughout the year. We remain committed to providing exceptional customer service through technology-led, seamless, highly secure and reliable solutions,” said Vishal Jairath, Head – South Asia, VFS Global.

Jairath added that applicants must be wary of fake websites/social media pages impersonating VFS Global and selling appointments in exchange of money. “Appointments are free and available only on www.vfsglobal.com on first come; first serve basis. As a responsible service provider, we will continue to create awareness against the menace and urge applicants to plan their travel early.

A few of the popular destinations preferred by travellers from India in 2023 were Canada, China, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Netherlands, Saudi Arabia, Switzerland, UK, US (in alphabetical order).

Strong demand for personalised services continued to be a defining trend in the 2023 visa application patterns as well. VFS Global recorded a strong uptick in customised services such as the Visa At Your Doorstep (VAYD) service that empowers applicants to complete their entire visa application submission process from the comfort of their homes or any other location of their choice. Through this premium service, customers can submit their applications, enroll for biometrics, and get their passport couriered back to their location of choice. VAYD bookings in 2023 in India registered around five-fold increase when compared to 2019. VFS Global offers VAYD services for 16 countries in India – Austria, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Slovenia, Switzerland, and UK.

Similarly, the demand for Premium Lounge, an optional service which provides end-to-end personalised assistance with visa application submission from the comfort of a lounge, is rising with the rise in application volumes. Another service named Prime Time, which allows visa application submission outside of working hours and even on weekends, has seen a healthy adoption since pandemic. 

Please note that all these premium services are optional and has no bearing in expediting applicant’s visa process or favourable decision-making.

“We continue to see a healthy adoption of contactless and personalised services such as VAYD and Premium Lounge by discerning travellers post the pandemic due to health considerations. These services enhance the overall experience for applicants by offering them greater comfort and convenience when submitting their visa applications. We foresee higher demand for such premium services prioritising safe travel this year as well,” added Jairath.

VFS Global is the trusted partner to 52 sovereign governments in India and provides visa services on their behalf through a network of over 560 visa application centres spread across 19 cities. VFS Global’s role in the visa application process is limited to front-end administrative tasks only, which include collecting visa application forms, required documentation as per the checklist, and enrol biometrics, if applicable. VFS Global has no role in the decision-making process of granting or refusing a visa.

For more information, please visit www.vfsglobal.com.

Peak Season Travel Guide

#ApplyinAdvance

It is recommended to apply for visas as early as booking flights and stay. Most countries accept visa applications up to 90 days (3 months) before your date of travel. According to the revised Schengen Visa Code, effective 09th February 2020, you can apply for a Schengen visa up to 6 months before your date of travel. Particularly this year with higher demand and limited appointment slots available, we urge applicants to apply for their visa as early as possible.

#DoNotFallForFraud

Visa applicants are advised to beware of fraudulent entities who charge fees from customers for scheduling appointments or providing any other services using VFS Global’s name or independently. VFS Global does not charge any fee for booking appointments on www.vfsglobal.com which is the official website catering to visa applications. However, some governments require pre-payment of the service fee at the time of booking the appointment. This payment will be reimbursed or deducted during the application process. This step is only to ensure genuine travellers use appointment booking and the system is kept safe from misuse by fraudulent entities. For any assistance, feel free to reach out to one of our staff and to report any instances of fraud, visit https://secure.ethicspoint.eu/domain/media/en/gui/108559/index.html.  

Enjoy our optional value-added services for a seamless visa experience such as:

Visa At Your Doorstep: Apply for your visa and enrol biometrics from the location of your choice.

Premium Lounge: Get an end-to-end personalised visa submission experience from the comfort of a lounge.

Prime Time: Apply for your visa beyond normal working hours or even on weekends.

Form-filling assistance: Allow our expert staff to assist you in completing your visa application on phone or at a visa application centre

Courier Service: We deliver your passport and documents. It’s quick, safe, and convenient. 

Travel Medical Insurance: Get your mandatory Travel Medical Insurance including Covid-19 coverage from global insurers.

SMS Alerts: Stay updated on the progress of your visa application.

About VFS Global 

As the world’s leading outsourcing and technology service specialist, VFS Global embraces technological innovation including Generative AI to support governments and diplomatic missions worldwide. The company manages non-judgmental and administrative tasks related to applications for visa, passport, and consular services for its client governments, increasing productivity and enabling them to focus entirely on the critical task of assessment. 

With a responsible approach to technology development, adoption and integration, the company prioritizes ethical practices and sustainability while serving as the trusted partner to 67 client governments. Operating over 3,300 Application Centres in 149 countries, VFS Global has efficiently processed more than 278 million applications since 2001.

Headquartered in Zurich and Dubai and backed by majority shareholder Blackstone, along with the Swiss-based Kuoni and Hugentobler Foundation and EQT, VFS Global is committed to creating value for all stakeholders and leading in responsible, innovative solutions making government services more effective and efficient.

‘Humsafar’ 19th Blind Challenge Car Rally 2024 organised

Team of driver -Anurag Agarwal & blind navigator Arjun Sharma wins rally  

Chandigarh, Mar 3, 2024 ‘Humsafar’ the ‘19th Blind Challenge Car Rally' was organised by Non-Governmental Organisation(NGO) Arushi India(Bhopal) in association with Caryakshetra in Chandigarh. The rally which was flagged off from Sukhna Lake, covered around 25 kms and ended at Omaxe Club, New Chandigarh. The concept of the rally was unique. While the vehicle was driven by a sighted person the navigator was blind, the visually challenged navigator read the route given to him or her in braille and very skillfully guided the driver to the final destination. Cars were driven at a slow speed.

The team of driver -Anurag Agarwal and navigator - Arjun Sharma came 1st. The second position was taken by the team of driver-Inderjeet Singh and navigator - Veerpal. The 3rd spot was awarded to driver -Swaijeet Brar and navigator Ramjanam. Cash prizes were given to the top three navigators and trophies too were awarded to the winning teams. 

 

Fifty cars participated in the rally with each car having a blind child navigating the drive and a sighted person driving. These cars were flagged off by Col Karaminder Singh (Retd), Secretary, Society for Handicapped Patiala which also provided 50 blind children to act as navigators;H S Gujral, IFS (Retd.), Chairman, State Environment Society Punjab; Dharminder Sharma (IFS), Chief Wildlife Warden Punjab; Garima Singh, Commissioner of Income Tax(Audit), NW Region; Brig. Vikram Goswami (Retd.); and Maj D P Singh, Kargil War Veteran also popularly called ‘Blade Runner'.

Anil Mudgal, Co-founder of the NGO Arushi India said, "The Blind Challenge Car Rally is an annual feature of Arushi-India Bhopal. For the last eighteen years Arushi has organized this car rally in Bhopal. The 19th edition was held in Chandigarh. The event tried to spread a social message – the urgent need for eye donation for corneal blind people. "

What’s alarming is that India with one-fourth of the world’s blind population has 30 lakh corneal blind people and 60% are below 12 years of age.

Garima Singh, Commissioner of Income Tax(Audit), NW Region said, “I have been informed about the huge shortage of ‘eye donations’ for corneal transplants. What's worrying is that only 25000 corneas are donated every year in India while 30,000 new patients are added each year to the long list of 2 lakh patients already waiting to be cured. I would appeal to fellow Indians to pledge to donate their eyes so that after death their eyes help the ‘corneal blind’ see the world.”

Yogesh Gera, Volunteer, NGO Arushi India said, “The idea behind the rally was also to showcase the skills that the visually impaired possess.”

The prize distribution ceremony was held at the rally’s concluding point. It is noteworthy that Omaxe, Salus Pharma, Om Group and AutoVogue were some of the corporate entities that lended support to the rally.The proceeds of the rally shall be utilized towards therapies, education and treatment of blind & special children.

यूनाइटेड सिख्स ने किसानों के विरोध प्रदर्शन में घायल हुए किसानों को सहायता देने के लिए जारी कियाहेल्पलाइन नंबर

चंडीगढ़ 2 मार्च 2024

यूनाइटेड सिख्स द्वारा किसानों के विरोध प्रदर्शन के दौरान घायल हुए किसानों को कानूनी सहायता के संबंध में जानकारी देने के लिए एक प्रेस कॉन्फ्रेंस का आयोजन किया। उन्होंने बताया कि यूनाइटेड सिख्स आसपास के अल्पसंख्यकों और हाशिए पर रहने वाले वर्गों और नागरिक अधिकारों की वकालत करने सहित आपदाओं के दौरान पूरी दुनिया में मानवीय सहायता प्रदान करता रहा है। 

यूनाइटेड सिख्स के निदेशक गुरप्रीत सिंह ने कहा कि विरोध के दौरान घायल हुए किसानों के लिए यूनाइटेड सिख्स ने किसानों को मेडिकल सहायता के साथ साथ तीन एम्बुलेंस तैनात की हुई हैं। इसके साथ साथ घायल हुए किसानों को न्याय प्रदान करने के लिए कानूनी सहायता देने का निर्णय भी लिया है। उन्होंने कहा कि वकील गुरमोहनप्रीत सिंह किसानों को कानूनी सहायता प्रदान करने के लिए यूनाइटेड सिख्स के साथ काम कर रहे है। उन्होंने कहा कि जो किसान घायल हुए हैं, उनके लिए न्याय पाने के लिए रिट याचिकाएँ दायर की जा रही हैं। उन्होंने

शांतिपूर्वक प्रदर्शन कर रहे किसानों पर रबर की गोलियों, पैलेट गन और आंसू गैस के गोलों के इस्तेमाल पर सवाल उठाते हुए कहा कि यह सीधा मानवाधिकारों का उल्लंघन है। 

उन्होंने हरियाणा पुलिस द्वारा किसानों की गिरफ्तारी, अत्याचार क्षेत्रीय अधिनियमों का उल्लंघन, पर भी सवाल उठाए है।

उन्होंने कहा कि हमने अमृतपाल सिंह, जसकरन सिंह, प्रीतपाल सिंह की किसानी आंदोलन में घायल होने के साथ साथ और शुभकरण सिंह की मौत के केस लड़ रहे हैं।

किसान नेता बलदेव सिंह सिरसा ने किसानों को चिकित्सा सहायता प्रदान करने के लिए यूनाइटेड सिख्स को धन्यवाद दिया और कहा की संगठन ने 2021 के विरोध प्रदर्शन के दौरान भी मानवीय और चिकित्सा सहायता प्रदान की थी। उन्होंने कहा कि कोविड 19 महामारी के दौरान भी संगठन द्वारा ऑक्सीजन सांद्रक उपलब्ध कराए गए थे। 

किसान नेता अशोक बल्हारा ने कहा कि देश भर के सभी किसान संगठनों को एक साथ आना होगा और किसानों के विरोध प्रदर्शन का समर्थन करें।

यूनाइटेड सिख्स के निदेशक अमृतपाल सिंह ने दानदाताओं और समर्थकों को उनके समर्थन के लिए धन्यवाद दिया, जिसके परिणामस्वरूप किसानों को मानवीय, चिकित्सा और कानूनी सहायता प्राप्त हुई। उन्होंने किसान राहत हेल्पलाइन नंबर +91 9999053503 शेयर किया, जिसका उपयोग किसान कानूनी सहायता लेने के लिए कर सकते हैं।

Bachpan Play School, Zirakpur Celebrated its " Barbie & Ken " 14th Annual Day

Chandigarh, March 2, 2024:

14th Anuual Day Celebration of Bachpan Play School, Zirakpur celebrated at Mahatma Gandhi State Institute of Public Administration, Sector-26, Chandigarh. Mr. Manish Bansal, Ld. Public Prosecutor, UT, Chandigarh, Punjab & Haryana High Court 

was the Chief Guest of this program. 

Dr. Mukta Sharma, Director, Bachpan play School said, “We are happy to celebrate our annual day and hope that the school will progress more in the coming years. We are committed to making Bachpan play School a great center for the development of children. ”The program began with the lighting of the lamp. The children presented ganesh vandana. After that, the little ones gave a message of rescue of the tree through dance.

LKG's little Nanhe Munhe performed an enchanting dance. And the art of karate was also shown through dance.

Children performed bhangra and the parents also enjoyed. The program concluded with the national anthem.

About Bachpan: Bachpan Play School is a pioneer in early childhood education, dedicated to providing a nurturing and stimulating environment for young learners. With a commitment to excellence, Bachpan has been shaping young minds since its inception, promoting holistic development and a love for learning.

For more information: https://www.bachpanglobal.com/