Financial inclusion: Of opt-out options, RBI diktats, and banks’ own foot-dragging
A policy cornerstone of every government in modern India, financial inclusion is the delivery of financial services in the ruraI areas and to the poor and marginalised sections at affordable costs – in other words, segments that banks would not normally serve had
Where is this useless, meandering talk on sustainability taking us?
‘Why worry about minor little details like clean air, clean water, safe ports and the safety net when Jesus is going to give the world an “Extreme Makeover: Planet Edition” right after he finishes putting Satan in his place once and for all?’
Camel Art Foundation invites entries from professionals and students
[dropcap size=big]T[/dropcap]he Camel Art Foundation (CAF) 2016 contest is open to all professional artists and students. There is no entry fee and the age criteria for applying is 18 years and above. Launched in 1998, CAF, which is the philanthropic wing of Kokuyo
Alibaba Group launches Mission Million Books in India
[dropcap size=big]T[/dropcap]he organisation has invited Indian citizens to donate textbooks and educational material for the benefit of the underprivileged. Mission Million Books is a pan-India initiative aimed at providing the underserved with access to quality educational materials for their growth and advancement. Alibaba
Things NGOs do for the sake of religion, in the name of religion
Think of NGOs and the mental image is usually of hard-at-work, dedicated people doing all they can to alleviate the suffering of others – animals, plants, environment and fellow humans. One usually doesn’t associate NGOs with divisive concepts such as religion. Secularism is
Five Delhi hospitals asked to pay Rs 600 crore for refusing free treatment to the poor
[dropcap size=big]T[/dropcap]he Delhi government has asked five private hospitals in the city – Fortis Escorts Heart Institute, Max Super Specialty Hospital (Saket), Shanti Mukand Hospital, Dharamshila Cancer Hospital and Pushpawati Singhania Research Institute – to deposit ‘unwarranted profits’ of over Rs 600 crore
CSR: Tax of the matter
[dropcap size=big]O[/dropcap]ne side effect of the corporate social responsibility (CSR) law is that a mundane concept like taxation has been rendered rather exciting. When the law was passed in 2013, some corporates made subtle statements that seemed to say they were feeling quite
Infosys launches household biogas digester project in Ramanagara, Karnataka
[dropcap size=big]U[/dropcap]nder the project, Infosys aims to build 7,620 household biogas units and provide an equal number of biogas stoves to as many families in the district. Infosys will spend nearly 22 crore rupees on the project. Over a 10-year period, the project
Backed by celebrities, UN campaign seeks to mobilise millions to end illegal trade in wildlife
[dropcap size=big]T[/dropcap]he United Nations, backed by celebrities from across the globe, has launched a campaign against the illegal trade in wildlife which is pushing species to the brink of extinction, robbing countries of their natural heritage, and profiting international criminal networks. ‘Each year,
CSR in India: Companies will have more implementation partners to choose from
[dropcap size=big]I[/dropcap]ndia’s corporate affairs ministry has amended the CSR rules to allow corporates to carry out CSR activities through non-profit entities and societies set up by governments despite not having three years’ track record in undertaking such projects. Earlier, only those implementing agencies