Dinesh Kamath's Editorial 'Tailoring education and training for Navi Mumbai residents' that was published in Newsband

Tailoring education and training for Navi Mumbai residents

For those women and girls who wish to learn the art of tailoring, Navi Mumbai Municipal Corporation’s social welfare department is coming up with tailoring training program specially for them. The admission for the 2019-20 batch will soon begin. This course has been recognized by Career Education and Training Board of the government.  

This course will admit two batches per year, one in July 2019 and another in December 2019. The minimum qualification for admission to this course is seventh standard pass. The syllabus will included teaching of preparing 30 types of clothes for small children, ladies and gents. There will be specialization courses like ‘Specialisation in blouse’ or ‘Blouse fashion designing’ for which the minimum qualification is eighth standard pass. It is necessary to pass even the basic tailoring course.

For this course, just for namesake, examination entrance fees will be charged. The beneficiaries of this course will strictly be residents of Navi Mumbai. There will be need to submit the following documents: property taxt receipt/ voting card/ aadhar card/ ration card – all these as proofs. The course will be conducted in Marathi, Hindi and English. Other documents needed to join this course are school admission and conduct certificates. Married women should forward their marriage certificate. The beneficiaries have to submit aadhar card and pan card.

The last date for filling up the application and submitting it is 31 March 2019 and the entry fees is Rs 300. Late fee of Rs 350 will have to be paid between 1 and 7 August 2019 before taking admission. Late fee of Rs 500 should be paid to take admission between 8 and 18 August 2019. Normally, the training is free of cost and only government’s entrance fees will have to be paid.  

For more information, contact 022-27563505 or Navi Mumbai Municipal Corporation Training Class, Dattguru Nagar, NMMC Library, Second Floor, Sector 15 Vashi, Navi Mumbai. Clatt teacher – contact 9867185830 or Old Grampanchayat Office, Khairane-Bonkode, Navi Mumbai. Class teacher – contact 9769901354 or Socail Welfare Department, NMMC, Belapur Bhavan, Sector 11 CBD Belapur, Navi Mumbai (Shir Dadasaheb Bhosale, social worker – 9702974123)

This is a great facility that NMMC is providing to those girls and women who have failed to complete their academic education and who are badly in need of a profession to pursue. This is a good example that NMMC is setting for other corporations in the country to follow. NMMC should keep up this spirit in future too.

Dinesh Kamath's Editorial 'Coaching classes and nurseries should be secure from fire' that was published in Newsband

Coaching classes and nurseries should be secure from fire

Within the jurisdiction of Navi Mumbai Municipal Corporation, there are various types of private coaching classes and nursery schools for small children. Most of these classroom are located anywhere from first floor to fourth floor of residential or commercial buildings or at the places which are for public use. It has been found that these coaching classes do not have proper fire security system.

Just recently, one such kind of coaching classes in Surat had caught huge fire which had led to severe injuries to 18 students.

NMMC has learnt a lesson or two from this fire incident in Surat. The NMMC authorities have alerted the fire department as well as the owners of the buildings as well as cooperative societies where such private coaching classes and nurseries for small children are located. NMMC authorities have warned these people that there should be proper fire security system installed in such classes. Those who run these classes have been told to obtain license from Maharashtra Fire Service Directorate and also get fire audit done and next provide a report related to that to the MMMC’s fire department. NMMC has clearly warned that if such fire incident takes place then the organization or building owner or cooperative housing society who hold such classes will be held responsible and legal action will be taken against them. All these people will have to get fire extinguishing gadgets installed within their buildings. In order to obtain fire license, the following site: www.maharashtrafireservices.org can be used.

This is a good thing that NMMC is doing. It is a good thing to learn from experiences of others. That a fire in Surat should make NMMC take quick steps in their own jurisdiction to avoid such fire incidents here is the sign of how alert our NMMC authorities are. This alertness they displayed should be lauded by one and all.

Dinesh Kamath's Editorial 'Super suggestions by NMMC' that was published in Newsband

Super suggestions by NMMC

Electricity lamp gadgets, to provide light and brightness to those residing in Navi Mumbai Municipal Corporation buildings, public places, roads etc,, are coming up in the city. The corporation, through electricity department has been doing the supervision and repairing works of these lamps as and when necessary.  

Through the building and lamp post, the corporation provides 3 phase, 440 volts electric supply. Hence the city residents should take care to see that they don’t mess with electric lamps and gadgets, as a kind of security measures. They should not even try to steal electricity from lamp posts, feeder filler etc.

Hence NMMC has sent suggestions to all the residents of Navi Mumbai as well as outsiders who visit the city to follow the following rules in order to be on the safe side: (1) Don’t mess with electric lamp posts or gadgets. (2) The lamp posts, feeder feelers etc. on the roads should not be touched. (3) The lamp posts and feeder fillers in gardens, playgrounds, lakes, jogging tracks etc should not be touched at all. (4) Never tie any animal to the lamp post. (5) Never tie a wire or rope to the lamp post in order to dry the clothes. (6) No construction work should be carried out around the lamp posts. (7) Never allow small children to work near electric lamp, filler etc. (8) Don’t hang hoarding or flex on the lamp post and feeder feeler. (9) Never steal electricity illegally from lamp posts, mini pillar etc.

All these suggestions have been made to ensure security to city residents. Such careless acts by any one person can prove to be risky for other city residents too. If any city resident indulges in such careless act and if any untoward incident has to occur owing to it, NMMC will not be held responsible. This has been made very clear to all the city residents.

By coming up with such list of suggestions, NMMC is doing a yeomen service which might save many lives.

Dinesh Kamath's Editorial 'The Union Budget 2019-20 to spur the economy?' that was published in Newsband

The Union Budget 2019-20 to spur the economy?

The Union Budget 2019-20 is focusing a lot on the financial sector. Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman has chosen to be fiscally conservative, opting to play the long-term game, though it could lead to pain in the short term. Her big ₹70,000 crore capital infusion in banks might give tremendous boost to the economy.

The budget has sought to address the problems that have plagued the non-banking finance companies (NBFC). She has made available ₹1 lakh crore to public sector banks through the Reserve Bank of India to buy pooled assets of NBFC. The housing finance companies, which have been the main villains of the piece, will come under the RBI’s regulatory ambit. There are important reform measures for NBFCs.

The corporate sector has got a minor sop with the turnover limit for the 25% tax bracket being raised to ₹400 crore per annum from ₹250 crore. Real estate companies may have reason to cheer as the generous tax concession for affordable housing may create demand.  

The Finance Minister to push forward two of this government’s pet themes — increasing digitalisation of money and promoting electric mobility. This is a commendable measure, but it could lead to genuine problems for businesses such as construction and real estate that are forced to deal in cash for wage payments.

More interesting ‘nudge’ is towards electric vehicles where those taking loans to buy one will get a tax deduction of up to ₹1.5 lakh on the interest paid by them. This incentive will create a market for e-vehicles and development of the ecosystem.

There will be increase in customs duty on everything from cashew kernels to PVC, newsprint and even auto parts. This is well-intentioned to promote domestic manufacturing.

No budget is appreciated 100%, because of political compulsions. Within the availability of resources, the budget is to be evolved. If larger funds are to be spent, from where do you get the money? We do not want to increase tax rates, at the same time we want everything on earth. Suddenly we cannot change the course of economy, because it causes disruption. It should be gradual over a period of time, with step by step strong base.

On the whole, the Finance Minister has come up with excellent budget. No doubt about it.

Dinesh Kamath's column 'Movie World: Kareena Kapoor looks great in the film Angrezi Medium' that was published in Newsband

Movie World

Kareena Kapoor looks great in the film Angrezi Medium

By Dinesh Kamath

Kareena Kapoor Khan and Akshay Kumar are coming together once again in the film ‘Good News’. After giving some sizzling performances together in films like ‘Kambakht Ishq’ and ‘Aitraaz’, Kareena Kapoor Khan and Akshay Kumar are all set to come together yet again in Karan Johar’s ‘Good News’. While this piece of news itself has got all of their fans excited, titbits regarding the film have been raising their anticipation levels.

In one of the pictures clicked recently, Kareena and Akshay have been shot candid as they stand in front of a table with a chocolate cake on it. While Akshay is seen cutting the cake, Kareena is seen standing beside him.

‘Good News’ also stars Diljit Dosanjh and Kiara Advani in pivotal roles. Meanwhile, on the work front, Akshay has his pockets full of his upcoming films which include, ‘Mission Mangal’, ‘Housefull 4’, ‘Laxmmi Bomb’, ‘Sooryavanshi’ and a film on Prithviraj Chauhan. Kareena too has films like, ‘Takht’ and ‘Angrezi Medium’ in her pipeline.

The two had worked together on two films — 'Aitraaz' and 'Kambakht Ishq' and their on-screen chemistry was loved by the audience. And even after 10 years after they last worked together, they are considered one of the hit jodis of Bollywood.

Kareena is currently in London, shooting for 'Angrezi Medium'. She also has Karan Johar's 'Takht' with her. Kareena Kapoor Khan and her trademark pout are taking over London. Kareena Kapoor Khan posed with her team for a selfie in London, where she is filming Angrezi Medium with Irrfan Khan. The actor is filming Angrezi Medium in the British capital.

Before beginning filming, Kareena was on an extended vacation she was joined by filmmaker Karan Johar, who will direct her in his upcoming historical epic Takht. Kareena took a break from her vacation on a couple of occasions, making quick round trips to Mumbai to fulfil her contractual obligations on the reality show Dance India Dance, on which she serves as a judge.

Angrezi Medium is being directed by Homi Adajania, who has previously directed Saif in Being Cyrus and Cocktail. The film marks the return of actor Irrfan Khan after he spent several months being treated for cancer.

Kareena Kapoor Khan is one of the most stylish actresses of Bollywood. The diva is also one of the bankable stars in the industry. Over the years, Kareena Kapoor who is also known as Bebo has delivered several hits. The actress was last seen in Sonam Kapoor starrer Veere Di Wedding. She shared screen space with Sonam K Ahuja, Swara Bhasker, Sumeet Vyas and Shikha Talsania in the same. Veere Di Wedding was Bebo's comeback film post pregnancy and her acting, as always, was loved by many.

Kareena Kapoor Khan is a badass cop in Angrezi Medium. A behind-the-scenes video of Kareena Kapoor Khan from the sets of Angrezi Medium is going viral on the internet. Kareena Kapoor Khan, who is playing a cop in Angrezi Medium, is currently shooting for the film in London. Kareena Kapoor Khan will be seen playing a police officer for the first time in Homi Adajania's Angrezi Medium, the sequel to the sleeper hit Hindi Medium. A slow-motion video of her badass cop avatar has surfaced on the internet and is being widely shared by several fan clubs. Netizens were blown away by her swagger and the comments section was filled with compliments. Fans wrote that they were eagerly waiting for the release of Angrezi Medium.

Kareena Kapoor Khan sports an intense look in Angrezi Medium. Someone had clicked a picture of the actress where she can be seen sporting an intense look. With open tresses and her shades on, she looks gorgeous as ever. ‘Angrezi Medium’ is reportedly the sequel of ‘Hindi Medium’ and is being helmed by Homi Adjania’.

Kareena Kapoor Khan is currently in London shooting not only for Angrezi Medium but also for Jawaani Jaaneman which will feature Saif Ali Khan in the lead role. Both the films are being shot in London and the actress has been juggling her time between London and India to ensure that neither of the shoot, her film Angrezi Medium or reality show Dance Indian Dance get affected because of her commitments.

Pictures of the actress from the sets of Angrezi Medium have been doing the rounds on the internet and the fans have been gushing over her cop avatar. But, looks like fans will witness her in a never before seen avatar after all since this video of the actress doing the cop walk has been winning the internet and believe that no one can do it like Bebo. For what seems to be a first, Kareena aka Naina is definitely going to win hearts with this film. Kareena Kapoor Khan looks fierce and strong as Naina in one of the picture.

Karan Johar's multi-starrer film Takht, the shooting of which has been the most awaited since it stars, besides Kareena, the likes of Anil Kapoor, Ranveer Singh, Alia Bhatt, and others.

Kareena will be sharing space with Irrfan Khan for the first time in Angrezi Medium. Though the film is not exactly a meaty one, Kareena is taking it in her stride and considering it a learning experience. It is a small part and she did not want to miss the opportunity to be working with Irrfan Khan. As an artist one gets to learn so much when you are part of a good film, she says. The two are dramatically different actors. They don't do the same kind of movies. But when this role came, Homi told her to do it as it is a cool part even though if it is small as she would get to work with Irrfan. Angrezi Medium will hit the screens on April 25 next year.

The makers had unveiled the first look of the actress and it is sure to impress you! Sporting a beige tank top, a layered neck piece and black boots, Kareena looked ravishing on the Day 1 of her forthcoming movie.

Dinesh Kamath's Editorial 'Is Rahul Gandhi’s stand just a farce?' that was published in Newsband

Is Rahul Gandhi’s stand just a farce?

Rahul Gandhi stated categorically that he would not continue as Congress president. But this culmination does not end the disorder and chaos in the party.  By sticking to his decision to quit as party chief, he has thrown a challenge at his colleagues to find a life outside the shelter of the Nehru-Gandhi family.

Gandhi’s limitation is not in his understanding of the challenges before the party or the country, or in his vision for both or his inexact articulation. His real failure has been his inability to free the party from the clutches of what his father Rajiv Gandhi had famously called power-brokers. The example Gandhi is setting by accepting responsibility for the defeat might help inspire a resuscitation of the party.

Gandhi himself will remain active in politics, as he has made clear, but how much authority he would want to exercise remains an open question. He realizes that the dynasty tag is more a drag than a booster for his politics, and the party, in the current environment.

The process of reducing the Congress to a family enterprise had started with Gandhi’s forbears and their supporters as much as their opponents. If the absence of a Nehru-Gandhi at the helm was a precondition for the reconfiguration of the Congress and the formation of a viable alternative to Hindutva, Gandhi has created that situation.

How did the dynasty rule come into existence? GL Nanda took over the reins of power on Nehru's death and Lal Bahadur Sastri then became the elected leader of the Congress MP's and became the next PM. After Sastri's untimely demise, the clique of power brokers like Kamaraj, Nijalingappa and others hoisted Indira to power, hoping that they would be the de-facto rulers of India. Only that, in the Machievellin game, Indira outwitted them and sent them packing. The decay of democracy started with Indira. Here the 'Nehru-Gandhi dynasty came into full form. This dynasty managed to suppress the Sangh Parivar for a long long time.

The lack of inner-party democracy and giving precedence and more and more importance to the leader with the final or only say paved the way for the rot that reduced the importance of the colossal institution. If this renunciation or abdication is a forerunner to making the party people based more than leader based it should be a good, new beginning.

But do we really believe Congress will be led without the dynasty giving backseat direction? What happened when a non-Nehru were the party president such as Sitaram Kesri or Narsimha Rao? This could be all just charade as long as the dynasty members are still in politics and MPs, they are going to nominate a figurehead president without mass base who won't be able to challenge dynasty control from behind the curtain.

Dinesh Kamath's column 'Movie World: Did Alia Bhatt commit a blunder by signing the film ‘RRR’?' that was published in Newsband

Movie World

Did Alia Bhatt commit a blunder by signing the film ‘RRR’?

By Dinesh Kamath

Alia Bhatt is working in the film RRR. Alia Bhatt has less scope in RRR. Did she commit a mistake by signing SS Rajamouli's film? Alia Bhatt's role in SS Rajamouli's RRR, which stars Jr NTR and Ram Charan, has no substance as per a latest report. Filmmakers make a beeline to work with Alia Bhatt. Her ability to pick the right scripts and doing justice to her roles have been the hallmark of her success in Bollywood. She is one of the top actresses in Hindi film industry, but she has now headed down south to conquer more hearts.

It was based on Karan Johar's recommendation that Alia Bhatt got the offer to work in RRR. It had been her dream to work with SS Rajamouli and when the project came her way she grabbed it.

Will she repent signing the project and end up as her bigger blunder in her career? Her role has "no substance" and the 28-year old appears just in a couple of scenes and a song.

Alia's role could have been done by any Telugu actress. It has no substance. The film is all about the two heroes, Ramcharan Teja and NTR Jr. If a Bollywood star of Alia's stature came on board, it is only natural that the feminine dynamics would improve for the better. They didn't. Alia is just a prop in RRR. It might also end up becoming more like a guest appearance role.

However, looking at the recent past movies of SS Rajamouli. Anushka Shetty's character in Baahubali series is a classic example of it. She also had a weak role.

All the hype surrounding Alia Bhatt’s role in S.S. Rajamouli’s upcoming film has turned out to be a damp squib, but the actress remains unfazed. She signed the film only because S.S.Rajmouli was her dream director and she thought that she would be given a long screen space for her character.

But now, it looks like Alia, who plays only strong author-backed roles in Hindi cinema, has no more to do than participate in one song and a few dialogues. So much so that the actress may only get a “guest appearance” tag in the film. Meanwhile, Alia, who’s working with the crème de la crème of Bollywood and had specially learnt Telugu for her role in RRR, is unfazed by the happenings. She is happy that she is working with Sanjay Leela Bhansali and S.S. Rajamouli. What more could she ask for, she says.

It is known news that British actress Daisy Edgar has walked out from the upcoming project RRR in which Jr NTR and Ram Charan are playing the lead role. Daisy Edgar was supposed to play the love interest of Jr NTR in this film and now the team is in the hunt of another female lead. On the other side, if ongoing buzz in media and film industry, Alia Bhatt is also interested to walk out from RRR.

The sources say that the actress has already allotted bulk date for RRR but now it seems she is not interested to act in this movie.

Alia Bhatt has been making headlines for her personal and professional reasons. The actress, who’s currently shooting for Brahmastra with Ranbir Kapoor, has her hands full of different projects. The Raazi actress also signed SS Rajamouli's multilingual RRR. Will Alia regret signing the film as the film can end up being a big mistake in her career.

Earlier, Alia had revealed that she had begged SS Rajamouli to cast her in his film. She had bumped into Rajamouli at an airport and she begged him that whatever part he has (for her) she will do it. Thus she got the role.

SS Rajamouli's RRR is making all the noise since the official announcement of Alia Bhatt joining its cast. The film stars Jr NTR and Ram Charan in the lead roles along with superstar Ajay Devgn. The movie is a fictional account of two real-life freedom fighters.

 Alia fell sick on the sets of one of her films and had to take medical treatment soon. All this had led to her delay in the shoot of Brahmastra which in turn had resulted in a delay of Bhatt joining the team of RRR which was scheduled for next month. However, the makers along with Jr NTR and Ram Charan decided to continue with the shoot and cover up for Alia Bhatt’s portions until the time she recovers and joins the RRR team. There was even news that Alia Bhatt is learning Telugu for the film RRR.

SS Rajamouli's much-awaited RRR's overseas theatrical rights has been sold for a staggering Rs 70 crore to Phars Films. Phars Films is a movie distribution house based in Dubai.

The first schedule of the film has already wrapped up, and the makers are planning on a second schedule now. The film was launched in November 2018, with the cast of the film attending the event along with Chiranjeevi and Raghavendra Rao. The movie will narrate the stories of well-known revolutionaries — Alluri Sitarama Raju and Komaram Bheem.

This will be a fictional story on the lives of Alluri Sitarama Raju and Komaram Bheem. There are gaps in the lives of these legendary freedom fighters that we don’t know about. We don’t know what happened in their lives in these years. It is through this fictional story that the filmmakers would like to show what could have happened in their lives and what would have happened if they met and bonded.

RRR, which has a massive budget of Rs 300 crores, will open in theatres in ten Indian languages worldwide on 30 July, 2020.

Alia Bhatt who is capable of delivering a stellar performance shouldn't be reduced to an extended cameo. Her nod for the film would be worth and learning the Telugu language to dub for her own voice is also another commitment she took for the movie. We hope Alia Bhatt gets enough screen space in 'RRR' along with Charan and Tarak.

Made on a huge scale of Rs 350-400 crores, RRR will showcase the grandeur set up like Baahubali. Touted to be the huge money spinner, the movie has already started its record-breaking journey even before its release.

Filmmaker S.S. Rajamouli, who raised the bar for Indian cinema with the epic “Baahubali” series, said the just-concluded international show “Game Of Thrones” (GoT) was an emotional roller-coaster ride and would be tough to emulate for years to come.