July 2005
Glamour crazy young Indians crowd talent
shows
Mumbai: An
year ago no one in India had heard of either Abhijeet Sawant
or Amit Sana. And now there is rarely anyone who doesn't know
them. Both were dicovered eight months ago through India's
biggest television talent show, "Indian Idol." In this competition
more than thirty thousand had applied and only thirty were
selected for the televison round. After gruelling eight months
of competetition, Abhijeet Sawant emerged as a winner with
the help of popular votes. Reports say that nearly half a
million Indians voted in the finale episode of the talent
hunt programme. Abhijeet is now a rich lad. His award booty
had over 10 million rupees, a luxury car and endorsement money.
The young millionaire, however, has his head firmly on his
shoulders and is fully aware of the pressure and trials that
come with overnight fame and fortune. "I feel really great
because I am getting so much love. Who would have thought
that somebody from a television contest would get so much
recognition, so much fame and hype as I am getting. I feel
great but at the same time I have fear and knowledge of the
fact that I have much more responsibility and I am trying
my best to keep up the good work," said Sawant.
The first runner
up of the same show, Amit Sana, too has his hands full. Apart
from performing in various parts of India, this talented singer
is keen about his upcoming Bollywood film "Sun Zara," where
he is singing for the male lead. He too thanks the talent
show that made it possible for him to avail this golden opportunity.
"It is really great and I am doing this project with so many
singers. And yet I am chosen to sing songs for the male lead
in the film. The voice is very important in the film and my
voice is going to be used for the hero," said Amit Sana. Apart
from this many other talent shows are also being organised
by several other television channels and organisations, the
effort of which is being appreciated by the people in the
film industry too. As for them this makes their task far more
easier. "It is very difficult for the common man to be able
to meet us. But talent tv shows such as "Indian Idol,' provide
a good platform for them to come. As after all those who are
recieving training in music have come forward . And I have
heard people belonging to different backgrounds have participated
in this. And my advise to everyone will be to first recive
a good training, take part in a talent show and then come
to us, so that we can do something too," said Dilip Sen, music
director. Talent show indeed are the platform for the upcoming
singers and artists as no matter what talent doesn't remain
hidden for long and it is time just time that makes it all
possible.
-July 17, 2005
Andhra's apparel park, an example of women
empowerment
Hyderabad:
East Godavari Apparel Park in Andhra Pradesh, which is
being supported by around 250 women,presents a fine example
of empowerment of women. This Apparel Park boasts of an all-women
work force.The women groups of Technical Training Development
Centres (TTDC) in Samarlakota, Kakinada came together and
started a Fashion technology project with an Memorandum of
Understanding (MoU) with East Godavari Apparel Pvt Ltd. in
May 2004. The women are mostly from very poor economic background
; agricultural labourers, who have formed self-help groups
for the work. An apparel export company outsources their requirement
to the women groups to execute. "Earlier we used to work on
small scale at home only. Now after 75 days training imparted
by TTDC we are in a position to earn our livelihood. Here
the buyers are invited and they give orders and we work according
to the orders provided to us. Apparels are exported to United
States of America," said Laxmi Kumar, a worker. "We were imparted
training. They give us cloth and trained us. We earn around
Rs. 1,200 to 1,300 a month," said Fatima, another worker.
The enterprise is a bold example of women breaking into yet
another male bastion. In th future, the company intends to
expand by opening up many such centres. It also plans to provide
extensive training to women. "In future we are developing
more centres. The centres will have more than 3,000 women
working in them. We are expecting that directly 5,000 women
will be benefited by this project," said Uma Maheshwar Rao,
Managing Director, East Godavari Apparel Pvt. Ltd. "We would
also like the Government give some training to these workers
for skill upgradation," Rao added. The company provides the
raw material and initial financial help, besides logistics,
while the women self help groups have acquired the necessary
equipment. The company, which was formed just over a year
ago, plans to enter the export market directly by next year.
Currently, they execute export orders through a brokering
company and the turn over so far has been about one crore
rupees. The MoU between the self-help groups and the company
mandates sharing of profit on 60:40 ratio with 60 per cent
retained by the company and 40 per cent given to the women
groups. Currently, 1,200 women benefit from the enterprise.
-July 17, 2005
India International Jewellery Show 2005
opens in Mumbai
Mumbai: Union
Civil Aviation Minister Praful Patel has predicted that Indian
jewellery will take on global competitors head on very soon,
given the wide range of designs now available across the country.
Addressing partiticipants at the India International Jewellery
Show 2005, which began here on Thursday, Patel said the Indian
jewellery industry has grown tremendously in the past few
years. He also agreed with the view that a convention center
is extremely necessary, and offered to make available 20 acres
that was currently under the control of the Airports Authority
of India, in order to build one. "Indian jewelery has really
grown to such proportions that they do need to have better
fascilities to exhibit their product for international buyers
and sellers and this is applicableto other businesses too.
so I will suggest this and even talk to my people in Finance
and Commerce and find a solution to this. I would be happy
to be associated to this and see that this problem is resolved,"
said Patel. The India International Jewellery Show (IIJS)
has grown steadily over the years and is now among the five
largest gem and jewelry trade shows in the world and the second
largest in Asia. Little wonder then, that the gem and jewelry
industry had recorded an impressive growth of 29.27 percent
in fiscal year 2004, when compared with 2003, to touch $15.7
billion. Jewelry alone had recorded a whopping 42.23 percent
growth. Overall, the industry contributed 19 percent of India's
total foreign exchange earnings and employs close to 1.3 million
people. The exhibition has 1500 stalls spread out over 46,000
sq. meters. It has over 686 exhibitors, of which 117 were
international exhibitors, catering to the needs of over 12000
domestic visitors. If numbers are to be believed India International
Jewellery Show (IIJS) 2005 promises to be a grand glittering
affair. Every exhibitor present at the exhibition expressed
that such exhibitions are the need of today's India. And this
will help to put the Indian on the world Jewellery market.
"This is the fourth time that we are exhibiting here and it
is growing up tremendously and is coming up to the international
standards and the visitors are purely on business here. And
I also find the growth rate good enough," said Vinod Tejwani,
Exhibitor from Mumbai. Massimo Decina, Exhibitor from Italy
said, " This is the first time that we are displaying our
products here and I would like to develop relations with the
people in Indian market because we kniw that we have many
opportunities here. We already have some customers in India
but look forward for more and so we are looking for more opportunities."
The exhibition will conclude on July 18.
-July 15, 2005
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