The Indian Panorama

Tag: Bhilwara

  • Rising Rajasthan: A New Dawn for Investment

    Rising Rajasthan: A New Dawn for Investment

    By Prem Bhandari

    NEW YORK (TIP): Prem Bhandari, President of the largest and most influential Rajasthani organization outside Rajasthan, based in New York, expressed his excitement about the Rajasthan government’s bold move to host an investment summit in its first year. “This is a remarkable initiative, and Rajasthan may well be the first state in India to take such a visionary step,” he remarked.

    Reflecting on similar events in the past, Bhandari noted that while summits in Rajasthan and other states showcased ambitious goals with multi-billion-rupee MoUs, only 10-15% of these commitments materialized. These efforts often incurred substantial costs, yielding limited tangible outcomes.

    However, this time, Bhandari voiced strong confidence in the summit’s potential success, largely due to the direct involvement of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. “With PM Modi’s unparalleled global stature and personal interest, there’s no doubt this summit will be a resounding success. His leadership inspires global trust, and international investors see his vision as a foundation for stability and growth,” Bhandari asserted. He emphasized that Modi’s third term not only signifies enduring popularity but also ensures stability, which is a critical factor for attracting global investments.

    Bhandari also highlighted Rajasthan’s potential to emerge as a leader in tourism, solar energy, and mining, industries where the state already holds a strong foothold. He further pointed out an opportunity in the textile sector, particularly in light of shifting dynamics in Bangladesh. “With established textile hubs like Bhilwara, Pali, and Jodhpur, Rajasthan is well-positioned to seize the moment and become a national leader in textiles,” he said.

    Bhandari underscored the importance of Rajasthan’s role in realizing Modi’s vision of making India a developed nation by 2047. “For this dream to come true, states like Rajasthan must harness their full potential,” he stated.

    He also urged the Rajasthan government to align its efforts with Modi’s vision by appointing capable and dynamic officials to engage with investors and cultivate a pro-business atmosphere. “This summit has the potential to set a new benchmark for Rajasthan’s development,” Bhandari concluded, expressing hope that it would pave the way for a brighter future for the state.

  • Singer Nikhita Gandhi helps raise funds for Rajasthan charity in UK

    Singer Nikhita Gandhi helps raise funds for Rajasthan charity in UK

    She performed at The Rajasthan Foundation charity’s annual Diwali Ball in London to help raise funds for children’s causes in the state, including a special needs school in Bhilwara and a government school in Barmer

    LONDON (TIP): Popular singer Nikhita Gandhi performed at The Rajasthan Foundation charity’s annual Diwali Ball in London to help raise funds for children’s causes in the state, including a special needs school in Bhilwara and a government school in Barmer.

    Gandhi, the playback singer behind several chart-toppers from box-office hits across five different languages, said she was overwhelmed by the response of audiences in the UK.

    “Sometimes I do get nervous about doing a show abroad because I wonder if the Indian population here also is listening to the same music as we are in India, or do they have a different taste in music and Indian films,” shared Gandhi at the conclusion of her UK visit earlier this week.

    “But I was so overwhelmed and happy during my show. Everyone knew my old songs to the recent ones that dropped this year. When I was singing ‘O Sajna’ (from the film ‘Ek Tha Raja’) everyone was singing along and they knew all the lyrics. It just felt so good to receive such love and reciprocation and I really had a blast while performing for such a good cause,” she said. The Rajasthan Foundation (TRF) was set up to alleviate poverty, hardship, and distress among underprivileged women and children primarily in the state of Rajasthan.

    Its aim is to bring together the Rajasthani community in the UK through initiatives across three pillars of community, culture and charity.

    “At the Diwali Charity Ball 2024, we raised thousands of pounds to support the ‘Home Based’ programme at Sona Manovikas Kendra in Bhilwara, a school for children with special needs. The funds will also help reconstruct a new girls’ washroom, a classroom and a drinking area at the Government Girls’ School in Barmer district,” said TRF board member Poonam Goel, a London-based philanthropist of Rajasthani heritage.

    Since its inception in 2005, TRF claims to have been focused on a mission to raise funds for charitable causes and has supported special needs educational institutes like Sona Manovikas Kendra (SMK) in Bhilwara and Navjoti Manovikas Kendra (NMK) in Jodhpur. The charity says its donations have helped construct new buildings and improve wider infrastructure facilities for projects in the state over the years.

    TRF has also supported Jaipur-based charity Jagruti to rebuild derelict and abandoned schools in slum areas. During the pandemic in 2020, TRF worked on food banks and also launched a “Connecting Elderly at Carehomes with Families” campaign, distributing electronic devices to care homes around London to enable self-isolating elderly inhabitants stay in contact with their families and loved ones.
    (Source: PTI)