Daily Voice

Namaste Orchha goes global A giant Baobab tree, dimly lit banks of Betwa river and a spate of music is the never imagined mystical experience you can expect from the  “Namaste Orchha”  festival in Madhya Pradesh. Hindustani classical vocal singer Shubha Mudgal will perform alongside a giant African Baobab, a 500-year-old tree planted by Maharaja Vir Singh Deo. Additionally, there will be performances by Swanand Kirkire, Manoj Bajpayee, Shilpa Rao, and Indian Ocean. Organisers have put together a “Maha-Aarti on the banks of river Betwa for a complete experience of the mythical city of Ram Raja. For the three-day festival, starting on March 6 the Madhya Pradesh Tourism Board is imparting training to tourist guides in foreign languages. The natural beauty, the archaeological and historical significance of Orchha, local food and folk arts will also be promoted in the festival. The Madhya Pradesh government plans to develop the ancient Ram Raja Temple in Orchha...

Kamal Nath says time has come to re-think Speaking at a state organised workshop in the state capital of Madhya Pradesh Montek Singh Ahluwalia said the need for considering a rewriting the Fiscal Responsibility and Budget Management Act in the changing contexts in view of the increasing financial needs and fiscal limitations of States is impending Madhya Pradesh chief minister Kamal Nath said the time has come for states in India to rethink about their finances and economy. Speaking at a workshop organised by the state on ‘Alternative Finance for Projects’ Nath said: “Global economies are changing rapidly hence the financial institutions and government must reconsider their economic processes.” He said that it is becoming challenging to mobilize financial resources for the changed and constantly changing India and its States. India has the largest young population and we need funds to fulfill their ambitions. Therefore, banks, state governments, and private sector instituti...

CM Kamal Nath with textile and food processing leaders in Delhi Madhya Pradesh chief minister Kamal Nath on Friday inaugurated the round table discussion with the textile and food processing sector in presence of more than 70 representatives from both the sectors, in Delhi. Delivering the keynote speech the CM said “I am here to be at the hearing end. I want you (industrialists) to tell us how Madhya Pradesh could develop in the industrial sector. At the same time remain assured we are committed for it.” He said that Madhya Pradesh has much more to offer than any other state. We have all the land you want. 60 percent of market is around Madhya Pradesh. Logistically there is no better state than MP, he said. The first session began with top industrialists from the textile sector. Exhorting the industrialists in the meeting he said I want you (industry leaders) to introduce to the real potential of Madhya Pradesh through this meeting. I want to sensitise you all that MP is most...

Move to woo investors to Madhya Pradesh Moving ahead of the Magnificent Madhya Pradesh investors’ summit the government of Madhya Pradesh is organizing a round table of industry captains from food processing and textile sector in Delhi on February 14. MP CM Kamal Nath had announced in the Magnificent MP investors’ summit over organizing industry specific meets and the Delhi round table is being seen as the first episode of the same. Chief Minister Kamal Nath is also participating in the event organised by department of Industry, Madhya Pradesh in association with CII and EY. Chief secretary SR Mohanty along with top shot bureaucrats of MP will also take part. The round table conference is being organised at Hotel Taj Mahal Palace. Also, the 15 th  finance commission (FCC) has made it very clear to the states that they have to develop new sources of income and work out their finance to meet up the ends. The state of Madhya Pradesh that is dealing with a financial crunch has ...

SUV-EVs dominate the show The much-awaited biggest Auto Expo-2020 has finally arrived. This year they have themed the expo as ‘Explore the world of Mobility.’ Here we are sharing the highlights of the auto expo.  Visitors from all over the country are turning up in huge numbers to visit the expo. Once again predicting the Indian market SUV’s ruled the show with electric vehicles (EVs) expanding their presence in the market. China based GWM (Great Wall Motors) has come up with their lot including SUV Haval H9, F5, F7 & F7X. The electronic cars that GWM displayed are Ora, IQ, R1 & Haval electronic. The company claims that with the help of fast charger, IQ sedan can charge up to 80% in just 40 min. and the range after a full charge is 401 km. The Morris Garages have showcased a range of its products at the expo 2020. They have displayed sedans, hatchback & crossover. But over eyes were looking for their SUV, the MG ...

Kamal Nath says won’t allow New Delhi : Flares of political turmoil over CAA-NRC-NPR has closed in on to the tribal state of Madhya Pradesh that constitutes of India’s 40 percent of total tribal population. Madhya Pradesh chief minister Kamal Nath has cautioned the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) to avoid its agenda of creating a divide in the tribal population of the state by registering themselves as Hindus in the upcoming census of 2021. A Hindi daily from Madhya Pradesh had  reported  that RSS in its agenda has included the census of 2021 and Hindu population has reduced significantly due to tribal registering themselves as “other religion”. The report named Arun Kumar, a senior RSS functionary and national Prachar Pramukh informing coordination meet of RSS in Bhopal that Hindu population in 2011 came down to 69 percent from 84 percent in 1991 census. The news, however, did not clearly mention about how the Sangh will be carrying out the task and articula...

Coronavirus is spreading as fast in the businesses as it is affecting humans. As containment is of the virus remains a threat, global business in China are either closing stores or scaling down operations.   The  origins   of the virus are yet to be determined as Chinese authorities remain tight-lipped and have gripped well over 7,000 in China and the global count is over 30,000  people . Global supply chain is disrupted as airlines are suspending flights and container ships are being stopped and checked, as China increases  restrictions . WSJ   in a report on employee travel bans quoted Kraft Heinz spokesman Michael Mullen: This will help reduce the unnecessary risk of virus exposure or transmission and is the most prudent measure to take while we continue to closely monitor the situation in China Among other companies to opt for the same measures are JP Morgan Chase &Co and Ford Motors. Earlier,  Google   shut down its offic...

Delhi: The union government in its second attempt to divest air India a day after the 71 st  Republic Day  invited  preliminary bids. The bid calls to divest the entire stake of Air India, its subsidiary Air India Express along with its joint venture Air India SATS Airport Service Private limited. Fully government owned the Air India is under debt of Rs 58,000 crore. The total debt of Air India and Air India Express to be taken on by the new buyer is Rs 23,286 crore. The balance of nearly 25,000 crores has been absorbed by the government. Meanwhile Air India employee unions are expected to meet in Delhi to discuss proposed privatisation of airline. The last date for submission of bids is 17 March, and qualified bidders will be notified 31 March, according to bid document issued by the Department of Investment and Public Asset Management. Ernst & Young LLP India is the transaction advisor for the deal. “The Government of India (GOI) has given ‘i...

The government of Madhya Pradesh recently approved a “Hybrid Renewable Energy and Energy Storage” policy in the state. The policy mandates development of three projects in the state. This will include electricity generation from two or more renewable energy sources at a project site in the Hybrid Power Project (HPP), which may also include energy storage. The Energy Storage Project (ESP), includes projects developed with various storage techniques like mechanical, chemical (battery), compressed air, hydrogen, pumped hydro storage etc. with or without energy sources and expansion of existing renewable energy project under above the mentioned categories. An official release stated that “Madhya Pradesh Hybrid Renewable Energy and Energy Storage Policy”, co-located or stand-alone energy storage plants can be set up in existing renewable energy project sites so that renewable energy sources can be properly utilized and efforts can be made towards grid stability. So, why does small s...

Are you the one who loves heritage, architecture, cobblestoned streets, ethnic cuisine and all of it beside a river bed? The tiny town Orchha is the answer destination for you. Imbued with the might of India against the British rule and a pinch of Mughal architecture once a princely state the river front town casts a spell with its erstwhile medieval ambience. Though modern housing has progressed but nostalgia is still here. Now, with clean India campaign the small town dotted with forts, palaces and temples is cleaner than ever. The government of Madhya Pradesh state has finally laid its focus on the value of the small town and is now working to preserve the chivalry and romance of it. The state government is organising a  festival  from March 6 to March 8 to attract more exposure to a tourist wealth that had been lying unused for years. Orchha, once a princely state and bastion of Bundela Kings with still best-preserved architecture, paintings, culture and everythi...

In a bid to provide a lucrative platform for budding designers, the Madhya Pradesh government will showcase designs by students of National Institute of Fashion Technology (NIFT) at state-run  Mriganayanee  Emporium. NIFT students will earn royalties if any of their designs are liked by customers at the emporium that sells handicraft and handloom products made in the state. Mriganayanee showrooms have been opened in Hoshangabad and Betul districts of the state, he said, adding that the store has now got branches in Hyderabad, Kevadia (Gujarat) and Raipur as well. MoUs have been signed with other states to provide a wide market for handicrafts and handlooms in the state. New activities have been started in Gauhar Mahal Bhopal, Urban Haat Indore and Shilp Bazar Gwalior to provide employment and instant market facility to handicraftsmen and weavers. Under the National Handloom Development Scheme and state government’s Integrated Cluster Development Scheme, 280 weave...

The world of Bollywood will make Madhya Pradesh is home as the state is all set to host IIFA Awards Madhya Pradesh next month. The official announcement of film industry's biggest award show - The International Indian Film Academy Award was made on Monday at the state capital's Minto Hall, in presence of actors Salman Khan, Jacqueline Fernandez, Chief Minister Kamal Nath and other officials of IIFA, Wizcraft and MP government. According to the official announcement, IIFA Storm Festival will be held in Bhopal on March 21 at Minto Hall, a week ahead of the final event. The IIFA Storm will witness a myriad of celebrities along with performances of singers and DJs. On March 27 and March 29, the state's financial capital - Indore will play host to IIFA's award ceremony. Musical performances by Arijit Singh, Sachin - Jigar, Jubin Nautiyal, Tanishk Bagchi and many others will be held on March 27 along with a fashion event and technical awards. However, the main awards...