US researches to study Hubli-based NGO's work

US researches to study Hubli-based NGO's work

Rishikesh Bahadur Desai, TNN, 30 January 2010, 09:45pm IST

HUBLI: A team of researchers from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) will descend on Hubli with a special mission in a few months.The researchers will have a focused agenda __ to study the activities of Deshpande Foundation (DF) here.

The researchers will not only study the impact made by the NGO that promotes social business, but also highlight the creations of Indian inventors on the world stage. "This will, in turn, help us design the way ahead," foundation founder-trustee Gururaj Deshpande told the 'Sunday Times of India'.

"Several top officials, including a former director of MIT, visited India last week. Apart from areas of our operation, I took them around IISc and IITs. They came to Hubli also," Deshpande said.

"There is a lot of invention going on in India. But it is not being recognized by the right people. The MIT study will help us bridge the gap between those who invent and those who support inventions," he said.

'LEAD'ING FROM THE FRONT

The foundation, located at BVB Engineering College here, aims at shaping a participative education module for students. Its LEAD programme supports over 4,000 students across north Karnataka to develop technologies and come up with new ideas to solve problems of everyday life. It also has several leadership promotion qualities for schoolchildren, parents and NGO leaders.

"The LEAD (Leaders' Accelerating Development) programme supplements students' education. Their participation in such a programmes will boost their confidence. The student may end up being an inventor or a corporate leader or an NGO activist. But he or she will be among the best," Deshpande said. The MIT study will help the foundation to fine-tune LEAD and other programmes.

DF has a strong MIT connection. Gururaj and his scientist-wife Jaishree Deshpande also founded the Deshpande Center at MIT School of Engineering in 2002 to increase the impact of MIT technologies in the marketplace.

What is Deshpande Foundation?

The Deshpandes started the foundation in 1996. DF fosters social entrepreneurship by supporting a variety of non-profit organizations in India in the areas of health, education, micro-credit and agriculture. Its various programmes aim at creating local leadership.

The Stoneham-based foundation operates in USA and India. It has attracted the attention of social change leaders worldwide due to its unique programme like Venture Philanthropy and the Sandbox scholarships that help foreign nationals to work in Indian NGOs.

Karnataka beckons investors

Karnataka beckons investors

New Delhi, Jan 29,DHNS:

Five major industrial houses, including Hero Honda, evinced their interests in investing in Karnataka when the state government kick-started its investment road show on Friday.

Karnataka Industry Minister Murugesh Nirani told newsmen that these five companies had, during his interaction with them, promised to invest Rs 4,645 crore in the state.The projects can generate around 8,000 jobs, he said.

Nirani held a series of meetings with industrialists here as part of the road show ahead of the global investors’ meet in Bangalore in June.

Confident minister

The minister is confident of clinching a deal with Hero Honda soon. The two-wheeler major, which is looking for setting up its fourth plant in the country, is interested in setting up a plant at Dharwad or Hubli with an investment of Rs 2,000 crore.

Nirani said the company has said it will send its technical team for evaluating the project next month. The company has sought 50 to 100 acres. It has promised jobs to 800 people directly. And 5,000 people may get jobs indirectly. A number of auxiliary units can also come up if the project is set up.

Nectar Lifesciences is also keen on setting up a plant for manufacturing life-saving drugs with an investment of Rs 1,500 crore. The proposed plant has the potential to generate 800 jobs. The State government has asked the company to submit a project report.

Mosarbaer has come forward for setting up a 50 MW grid-connected solar photo voltaic project with an investment of Rs 850 crore in Chickaballapur district. Kajaria Ceramics plans to set up a unit for manufacturing ceramic tiles with an investment of Rs 150 crore in Belgaum. It has the potential to provide direct employment to 200 people.

The government has already conducted road shows in many countries. The Delhi programme is its first in India. Similar shows will be held in Mumbai and Chennai.

Walls of twin cities will turn aesthetic

Walls of twin cities will turn aesthetic

TNN, 29 January 2010, 09:03pm IST

HUBLI: The residents of Hubli-Dharwad will get to see tourist places of Karnataka, its rich temple architecture, cultural heritage and traditions on the walls of the cities.

Taking a cue from the Bruhat Bangalore Municipal Corporation, the Hubli-Dharwad Municipal Corporation has decided to smarten up the cities by painting its walls. The intention is to curb defacement, promote state's tourist destinations and highlight its rich and vibrant culture, according to civic officials.

However, the beautification project will not cost too much for the HDMC. It will sell the space for advertisers who will get about 80% of the upper portion of the wall painted free of cost. In turn, they will get the remaining space for advertising their products. The advertisers themselves will see that no posters/ bills will be glued on the paintings.

HDMC special officer N H Naregal said the beautification project has already started in Hubli and Dharwad. "We have begun by painting the walls of HDMC-owned Lamington School in Hubli and Azad Park in Dharwad. Tenders will be invited in a few days to reflect the same elsewhere," he added.

Twin cities to come under the ambit of JnNURM

Twin cities to come under the ambit of JnNURM
TNN, 17 January 2010, 09:29pm IST

HUBLI: Union minister S Jaipal Reddy has assured a delegation led by the mayor of Hubli Dharwad, Veeranna Savadi that the twin cities will be included in the JnNURM project in the next financial year.

"Reddy has assured us that all cities that have a population of five lakh or more will be brought under the scheme by next year. Mangalore, Hubli Dharwad and Belgaum have a population of more than five lakhs and we are hopeful these cities will be included,'' Savadi told reporters here on Saturday. The union minister said they will consider including 29 cities under the scheme next year.

Bangalore and Mysore are already covered under the scheme. HDMC will construct a large super market in Dharwad at the cost of around Rs 5 crore. This will have around 1,000 shops. These will be rented out to petty shop owners and to farmers who sell fresh vegetables. "If successful, we will construct similar markets in Hubli,'' Savadi said.