DALLAS (TIP): Flood waters submerged Texas highways and threatened more homes Friday when a squall line stalled over Dallas overnight Thursday, dropping record-setting rainfall and triggering a Flash Flood Emergency in North Texas.
The most recent rain added to the damage inflicted by thunderstorms that have killed at least 23 people statewide, including two overnight in North Texas, and left 13 missing.
The rain seeped into homes and stranded hundreds of drivers across the Metroplex, many of whom lingered along Dallas’ Loop 12 for six hours Friday morning after being gridlocked by high water and abandoned vehicles.
Overnight, Dallas Fire-Rescue crews responded to more than 270 calls that included trapped vehicles and crashes, authorities said.
Mesquite Fire Department Capt. Kelly Turner said a man’s body was found early Friday morning after his truck had been swept into a culvert and submerged.
The Dallas County Medical Examiner’s Office identified the flood victim as 47-year-old John Jeffrey Usfrey.
In Dallas, police said Friday afternoon the body of a man was found near California Crossing and Northwest Highway as flood waters receded. Police did not release the man’s identity, but did say he was not found in a vehicle.
Recent storms are being blamed for killing seven people in Oklahoma and at least 23 in Texas, where 13 remain missing or unaccounted for.
Rainfall Sets New Record
Thursday’s storm, which dropped nearly five inches of rain overnight at Dallas Love Field and more than two inches elsewhere around the Metroplex, helped set a record for the wettest May in Dallas-Fort Worth history.
The previous record for May rainfall was set in 1982 at 13.66 inches and was eclipsed at midnight when 13.87 inches had been recorded for the month. By 8 a.m., the total rose to 16.07 inches; 8.62 inches received in the last week alone.
According to The National Weather Service in Fort Worth, those 16 inches of rainfall amount to more than 35 trillion gallons of rain.
The Indian Panorama was the First to report this story which is now been picked by other News agencies like CNN
DALLAS (TIP): The 16-year-old is scheduled to receive gubernatorial honors for completing much of his undergraduate studies and pocketing eight — yes, eight — associate degrees along the way.
How’d he do it? Chari is one of hundreds of students who have taken part in the Richardson Independent School District’s dual credit program, where qualifying students can garner credit for both high school and college at the same time.
Joshua Chari, son of Raj & Manjusha Chari of Richardson, Texas has earned a record 8 Associate degrees, moving past the known US record of 4 A.S degrees in parallel with the high school diploma. Joshua achieved this mostly through the “Early College Education” program in some US states which allow high school students to sign up for advanced level classes which give high school and college credit at the same time.
Joshua attended Richland College, Dallas, from where he earned his degrees in Liberal Sciences, Computer Science, Electrical, Bio-Medical, Telecommunications, Software and Computer Engineering. Joshua started taking college credit classes since he was in the 7th grade. He got his 8th and final Associates’ degree in Mechanical Engineering this May as he got his high school diploma.
Joshua has been honored by various government and educational institutions for his stellar academic achievements by proclamations and awards, pictures and videos of which could be seen on the internet. he Texas State legislature has recognized and honored Joshua by passing a bill exclusively in his honor through house bill HR480.
After high school, Joshua plans to go to Univ. of Texas at Dallas, in for a fast-track BS/MS degree with Dual Majors in Bio-Medical and Mechanical Engineering with dual minors in Nano-Technology and Business. He already has a full ride Academic Excellence Scholarship for the entire college studies.
PHOENIX (TIP): An anti-Muslim activist is planning a “Draw Muhammad” cartoon contest and rally Friday, May 29 at a Phoenix mosque.
The event is being dubbed a “Freedom of Speech Rally” and comes three weeks after a similar event in Garland, TX., that prompted violence by two alleged ISIS sympathizers who attended the mosque.
The president of the Islamic Community Center of Phoenix said he has been notified by Phoenix police and the FBI about the event. Usama Shami said he respects the protesters’ right to free speech.
“Everybody has a right to be a bigot. Everybody has a right to be a racist. Everybody has a right to be an idiot,” Shami said. He added that members of the mosque have been encouraged to attend prayer services Friday evening as scheduled.
“It will be the same as every Friday evening and we’re going to tell our members what we’ve told them before: not to engage them,” said Shami. “They’re not looking for an intellectual conversation. They’re looking to stir up controversy and we’re not going to be a part of it.”
The organizer of the event, Jon Ritzheimer, has held two protests in Phoenix since the Texas shootings. The chants and slogans at the protests are brash and hateful. Some supporters wear t-shirts that state, “(expletive) Islam.” Ritzheimer says he is using provocative methods to draw attention to a religion he believes at its core promotes violence.
“I want this to be about pushing out the truth about Islam,” said Jon Ritzheimer. “I’ve read the Koran three times… the ones flying the planes into the tower, those are Muslims following the book as it is written.”
A Facebook page dedicated to the event, titled “Freedom of Speech Rally Round II,” states: “This will be a PEACEFUL protest in front of the Islamic Community Center in Phoenix AZ… Everyone is encouraged to bring American flags and any message that you would like to send to the known acquaintances of the 2 gunmen.”
Phoenix roommates Elton Simpson and Nadir Soofi drove to Texas and shot a security guard during the May 3 “Draw Muhammad” contest there. Police shot and killed the two men.
Simpson and Soofi attended the Islamic Community Center of Phoenix until 2010 and, according to mosque leaders, never expressed extremist or violent views while attending during that time.
The Facebook announcement for the rally also encourages participants to “utilize their second amendment right at this event just in case our first amendment right comes under the much anticipated attack.”
As of Wednesday afternoon, the website showed 131 people confirming their attendance.
One Facebook post on the page states, “Death to Islam! No coexistence!” Another comment states, “I am proud to be part of this rally and will continue to be a part of it until we have the freedom that all our vets and current military fight for!!! This is my way of joining their efforts!”
Phoenix police declined to comment about security measures for the protest.
Muslims consider images of the Prophet Muhammad offensive for various reasons. They compare drawn depictions of the religious figure to how Christians might view the burning of a cross.
NEW YORK (TIP): With Rick Perry, Carly Fiorina, Bobby Jindal, Jeb Bush, Chris Christie, Ben Carson, Marco Rubio, Ted Cruz and Scott Walker ready to throw their hats in the 2016 Presidential ring, the party’s top leaders are growing increasingly fearful about the manner and method of the upcoming debates. On Wednesday, May 20, Fox News said that it planned to limit the number of debaters based on how candidates are performing in polls. Such a threshold has drawn pushback from lesser-known candidates who say they lack the national name recognition to dominate early polling.
New York Times had an interesting report on the issue which said : “Is there a more novel and fair way to select the candidates? As a service to the debate organizers, First Draft contemplated alternative criteria.
Spanish Speaking: Speaking Spanish seems to correlate with success in this Republican field: Jeb Bush and Senator Marco Rubio, two early favorites who sit atop many polls, would automatically be included under this criteria. Senator Ted Cruz has some facility with the language, but is not known to be fluent. In 2012, when running for Senate, he declined an offer to debate his opponent in Spanish.
Ivy Leaguer: A proud Princeton graduate, Mr. Cruz would be a shoo-in under this rule. Gov. Bobby Jindal would also get a ticket to the debate, thanks to his degree from Brown University. Ben Carson, who attended Yale, would also be included despite his soft polling numbers. Former Gov. Jeb Bush’s brother George W. Bush went to Yale, too, but Jeb himself would not make the cut: He went to the University of Texas at Austin.
Embroiled in Scandal: The lane closings in New Jersey at the George Washington Bridge would give Gov. Chris Christie a ticket to the big stage if scrutiny by prosecutors was the price of admission.
But he would not be alone. Former Gov. Rick Perry remains under the cloud of a criminal felony indictment for abuse of power in Texas. And Gov. Scott Walker faces continuing allegations over a “John Doe” scandal in Wisconsin in which he is accused of mixing official business with political business.
Musical Proficiency: Debates don’t have to be all about yelling. Some of the candidates can carry a tune.
According to Carly Fiorina’s campaign, the former Hewlett-Packard chief executive is a talented pianist. In this situation, she would face off with former Gov. Mike Huckabee, who was not only a Baptist pastor but also skilled with the bass guitar. While capitalism and religion do not always mix, Ms. Fiorina and Mr. Huckabee could make for an entertaining evening as a duo, if they bring their instruments.
Surely, Hillary Clinton is amused. So are democrats.
HOUSTON (TIP): An 44-year-old Indian-American policeman has been awarded the prestigious “Top Civilian Supervisor of the Year” award for his efficient services to the Houston Police department in the US state of Texas.
Harkeert Singh Saini received the award from Police Chief Charles A McClelland And Houston Mayor Anise Parker during a function held at the Hyatt Regency Hotel here earlier this week.
Saini, a police records supervisor has been working for the Houston Police department for the last 15 years.
“Harkeert Singh Saini is a very efficient officer and very worthy of this award. Houston police department is proud of Saini” said Muzaffar Siddiqi, senior police officer of city Police department.
Various community leaders including Gurdip Singh Buttar, S Gurnam Singh Sandhar, Ajinder Singh Dhatt were present during the occasion and congratulated Saini for his achievement.
Saini, a graduate from Deshbandu College in New Delhi, hails from Hoshiarpur in Punjab. He came to the city in 1998, joined Houston Police Department in March 2000 and was subsequently promoted as an office supervisor in the following years.
AUSTIN (TIP): In a surprise move that supporters hailed as a historic victory, the Texas House Criminal Jurisprudence Committee approved legislation Wednesday that would make it legal to buy and sell marijuana in the state.
Two Republicans joined with the panel’s three Democrats in support, giving House Bill 2165 a decisive 5-2 victory.
The proposal, which would make Texas the fifth state in America to OK pot for recreational purposes, has virtually no chance of clearing any other hurdles on the path to becoming law in this year’s legislative session.
Still, advocates described the committee vote as a big step toward future success.
“Marijuana policy reform continues to make unprecedented progress this session,” Phillip Martin of the liberal group Progress Texas tweeted just after the vote.
The move came just two days after the same panel voted 4-2 in favor of a bill to decriminalize marijuana, marking the first time such a proposal had made it out of a Texas legislative committee.
House Bill 2165, while more of a dramatic change, did even better Wednesday, drawing support from Republicans David Simpson of Longview and Todd Hunter of Corpus Christi. Committee chairman Abel Herrero, D-Robstown, vice chair Joe Moody, D-El Paso and member Terry Canales, D-Edinburg also voted in support.
Herrero said he had some reservations with the bill but would support it in the hopes it could be improved.
Simpson, a deeply conservative member supported by the tea party, sponsored the bill. In an opinion piece published last month, he explained that, “I don’t believe that when God made marijuana he made a mistake that government needs to fix.”
Plano Republicans Matt Shaheen and Jeff Leach voted no.
The final vote came after the committee tweaked the bill to make clear that marijuana would still be illegal to consume for minors, except with parental supervision.
It will next go to the committee that controls the state House floor calendar.
AUSTIN (TIP): A nearly $2.3 billion pipeline project that would deliver water from East Texas to Dallas-Fort Worth made the priority funding list for one of the first loans from a $2 billion fund for water projects approved by Texas voters in 2013.
Voters approved the project amid concerns over how rapidly growing cities are going to meet future water needs.
Dallas Water Utilities seeks a $140 million loan and the Tarrant County Regional Water District $300 million for their proposed pipeline project from the state water board’s revolving bank. State water planners announced Wednesday that the 150-mile Integrated Pipeline Project ranks in the top 20 for its first round of funding.
Customers in both districts would contribute about $820 million to the project, which is expected to be completed by 2035. Construction began last year on the pipeline, which would transport water from Lake Palestine, Cedar Creek Reservoir and Richland Chambers to Tarrant Regional and Dallas customers.
Supporters say the project is needed to supply the booming Dallas-Fort Worth area. But the pipeline has also drawn the ire of some of the 900 owners whose land is along the project’s path, according to news reports.
The Texas Water Development Board has put on the priority list about $4.4 billion in water projects expected to be financed over the next decade. Being named on the priority list is an invitation for those projects to submit a formal application.
A spokesman said the board is expected to begin cutting checks for projects this fall. The board will finance $1.7 billion this year for immediate projects. The remaining $2.7 billion for water projects around the state is expected to be financed in the next decade, the spokesman said.
FORT WORTH, TEXAS (TIP); American has joined the list of airlines flying the Boeing 787 jet, which it hopes will appeal to passengers and open new, profitable international routes.
Passengers boarded at Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport on Thursday morning for American’s debut flight of a 787 to Chicago. Domestic service is just a warm-up. Next month, American will begin using 787s on flights to Beijing and Buenos Aires and eventually other places.
American joins United as the only U.S. airlines using the plane, which Boeing calls the Dreamliner.
CORPUS CHRISTI, TX (TIP): A 13-year-old South Texas girl has been accused of taking a knife to school and stabbing a 12-year-old girl during an argument.
Corpus Christi police detained the older girl following Tuesday, April 28 afternoon’s incident at Flour Bluff Junior High School.
The Corpus Christi Caller-Times reports authorities say the younger girl has injuries not believed to be life-threatening.
School administrators did not immediately say what apparently prompted the fight. Police say the 13-year-old girl faces a juvenile charge of aggravated assault.
A school statement says that student safety is always the utmost concern.
The magnitude 7.8 earthquake in Nepal was one that many had anticipated, although there was little strategic planning or advance preparation.
The youthful tectonic plate wrinkle called the Himalayas was long overdue to shake up the region.
The initial days after the quake have proven unstable and insecure, both literally in terms of the hourly aftershocks that have made sleep impossible and politically in the global response to this disaster.
This event threatens to become a catastrophe, largely because of the difficult relationship that has long existed between Nepal and the international development industry.
As aid arrives into the country, old patterns are emerging. International aid responses have mimicked the petty bureaucratization that hampered reactions in Haiti in 2010. Diplomatic and political concerns are taking precedence over saving lives, as they did in New Orleans in 2005.
Likewise, Nepal’s own governmental instability is staying the course, as politicians unable to write a constitution for seven years are proving (unsurprisingly) also unable to direct relief within their own country, although they are showing a strong desire to control priorities.
Having closely watched Nepal’s interactions with the development apparatus for some time now, I believe there here is an opportunity to change the patterns of behavior that have made the development industry a domain of despair rather than hope.
To do this, two groups have to behave differently- the Nepali people and the global public sphere.
Only the first have already taken up the challenge.
I find myself glued to my computer, watching with amazement as youth groups mobilize to send support to inaccessible areas.
As one of my research collaborators said, “My family is okay but other things are very bad here. I took my family to a safer place and now we youth are sending volunteers, medicine, tents and food to villages.”
A group called “Bibeksheel Nepalis” or “Responsible Nepalis” is organizing online to send volunteer teams to various neighborhoods to distribute supplies and recruit those with vehicles to rescue the injured.
Dozens of social service organizations in Nepal’s vibrant civil society like the Association of Youth Organizations of Nepal (AYON) have set up bases under whatever tarps they can find to protect them from the rain and are organizing water distribution and creating emergency supply kits.
This is a citizenry that has long known it cannot rely on its government, and in this time of crisis one sees the very best of the country’s character.
Nepal cannot wait seven years for water or electricity as it has waited futilely for seven years for a constitution.
I am less confident about the international community’s ability to change their modes of response to distant disasters.
Far too much media coverage has focused on Mount Everest and the climbers.
While we all mourn those who died on Sagarmatha, there are pressing issues across the country. Every few hours I receive messages from friends and colleagues across Nepal describing their decimated villages and how they have yet to see anyone from the outside.
Unreachable except by helicopter at present, these remote towns will not make the cover of the newspaper. If events like Haiti and Fukushima have taught us anything, it is that recovery from disaster is both a short and a long-term process.
It is incumbent upon everyone to learn more about this event that is becoming a catastrophe to look beyond the celebrity endorsements and heart-wrenching stories to ask questions about the region, about aid efforts and how priorities are being set.
In the current era of clickable humanitarianism, it is easy to text-to-donate for the latest cause and then move on to the next social media event.
Currently, there is a desperate need to get bandages, clean water and medical teams to remote areas quickly. Even as that immediate need occurs, we are also seeing preventable secondary calamities erupt.
People are sheltering in tents out of fear of aftershocks and the limited-sanitation provided in these open-air camps provide the ideal conditions for a cholera epidemic. Without a forward-thinking aid plan, these concerns could last for years and kill far more people than the initial quake.
Latrines are not a great seller on social media.
In both acute crises and long-term development, aid priorities are often overwhelmed by politics – both national and international.
Soon, we will approach a stage where a more substantial and long-lasting process of rebuilding will begin, a new area that will require foreign aid to serve civil society, not the reverse.
But Nepal’s relationship to international aid is deeply conflicted.
Nepalese scholars like Dor Bahadur Bista, Nanda Shrestha, and Devendra Raj Panday question the progress that more than a half century of engagement with development has brought to Nepal. These authors suggest that the priorities of aid in Nepal have often been decided by Nepal’s elites or the donor countries’ and organizations’ priorities, rather than the needs of the people.
A silver lining?
The devastation of this earthquake provides an opportunity for a new mode of international development, one that is driven by voices on the ground, rather than the ever-changing fashions of the aid industry. Connecting people to people, without the politics of government or the bureaucratization of the traditional aid community is the best hope for Nepal’s recovery.
This would require caring members of the global community to do some research, move beyond the easy-to-click buttons, and understand more about the situation in Nepal – and then demand that the organizations they give to do the same due diligence.
The youth of Nepal are stepping forward to rebuild their own country. The international aid community and the world can do is meet them half-way.
(The author is Associate Professor, Department of Asian Studies at University of Texas at Austin, Texas).
A Hindu Temple in Lake Highlands is looking at increasing after vandals covered it in graffiti this week. The number 666 and an upside down cross now appear on the door of the North Texas Hindu Mandir.
“It makes me sad inside, said 9 year old Gracie Reed. “To me, it’s really horrifying because I don’t know who would do this to a church.” Krishna Singh is on the temple’s board and says members discovered the graffiti Monday.
“That was a big shock, really… The whole things has been very disturbing to the community.”
Neighbors are upset, too. “The sentiment of the neighborhood is that we all find it appalling,” said Ted Hoffman, who lives across the street.
Hoffman said neighbors have offered to help paint over the symbols.
Singh says, the temple wants to add surveillance cameras, better lighting, and a fence to prevent this from happening again.
A believer in karma, though, he says he won’t lose sleep waiting for the person responsible to be caught. “The forces will take care of it. We don’t have to worry about that.”
(Dallas, Texas – April 20, 2015) CEO of Dallas-based home textiles company Nextt, Arun Agarwal, was among 16 successful Indians honored at the second annual “TIMES NOW/ICICI Bank NRI of the Year Awards” at a ceremony in Mumbai on April 14, 2015, attended by top government officials, celebrities and entrepreneurs.
TIMES NOW, India’s No. 1 news channel, and ICICI Bank, India’s largest private sector bank, celebrated the success and achievements of Indians across the world with the announcement of the winners in seven different categories – Entrepreneur, Professional, Academics, Art & Culture, Philanthropy, Special Jury Award, and India’s Global Icon Award. The achievers are contestants from four regions – North America, United Kingdom, Middle East and Asia Pacific.
Dallas-based home textiles company Nextt is as a key supplier to big retailers such as Walmart, Target, Kohl’s and Dillard’s; the $500-million company manufactures home textiles, garments, apparel fabrics and polyester yarns, primarily from India, and sells under popular name brands such as Trina Turk, Kathy Ireland, Jessica McClintock and Raymond Waites.
“I am thrilled to be honored with this group of the most accomplished people in their fields around the world,” said Agarwal. “Due to their perseverance and creativity, non-resident Indians are making their mark in various industries, and we salute platforms such as these which recognize the diligence and accomplishments of those of living away from the mother land.”
Agarwal, who studied at Harvard University before pursuing his dream to become an entrepreneur, has been building and nurturing the Indian home textiles sector in the U.S. for the past 15 years. Under his leadership last year, Nextt unveiled a 17,000 square feet flagship showroom on Madison Avenue in Manhattan. For more information about Nextt, please visit: www.nextt.com.
SINGAPORE: Oil prices fell in Asia on Tuesday as dealers monitored last-ditch efforts between global powers and Iran to reach a deal on Tehran’s nuclear programme and ease sanctions imposed on the crude producer.
US benchmark West Texas Intermediate fell 69 cents to$47.99 while Brent eased 55 cents to $55.74 in mid-day trade.
Singapore United Overseas Bank said prices “tumbled as hopes for a nuclear deal with Iran climbed”.
Foreign ministers of US-led major world powers are racing to beat a midnight Tuesday deadline to nail down a framework deal with Iran they hope will put an atomic bomb out of the Islamic republic’s reach.
“There are marathon meetings happening all over the place. There are several issues that have not been resolved yet. These are important issues,” an Iranian negotiator in the Swiss city of Lausanne said late Monday.
US Secretary of State John Kerry, in Lausanne since Wednesday for the latest in a series of meetings with Iranian counterpart Mohammad Javad Zarif that have criss-crossed the globe, said Monday there was still work to do.
“There still remain some difficult issues,” Kerry told CNN. “We are working very hard to work those through. We are working late into the night and obviously into tomorrow.”
AUSTIN, TEXAS (TIP): More kids across the state and the country are starting the day with a healthy meal, as the latest study shows another increase in the number of low-income children taking part in school breakfast programs.
The report from the Food Research and Action Center shows that on an average day last year, more than 1.5 million Texas kids ate free or reduced-price school breakfast.
FRAC’s director of school and out-of-school-time programs Crystal FitzSimons says that number should keep rising with the law passed in 2013 to expand eligibility taking effect this school year.
“That required breakfast be made available to all students at no charge in high-need schools and that had a dramatic impact on breakfast participation,” she says.
Nationally, an average of 11.2 million low-income kids ate breakfast at school each day last year, and research shows that a healthy meal to start the day is one key to improved academics. FitzSimons says many factors are driving the upward trend in school-breakfast participation, including states and districts looking at more innovative and accommodating ways to offer morning meals, such as breakfast-in-the-classroom programs.
“Kids are eating breakfast in the morning in the classroom together,” says FitzSimons. “They’re doing grab-and-go programs, where kids kind of grab a breakfast on their way into school and take it to the class with them. They are really taking a look at creative ways to make sure that the breakfast program is available to kids who want to participate.”
EL PASO, TEXAS (TIP): On April 6 the border security subcommittee of the Senate’s Veteran Affairs and Military Installations Committee is scheduled to hear Senate Bill 1819, a piece of legislation that would repeal a 2001 law that allows undocumented immigrants to pay in-state tuition at Texas colleges and universities.
House Bill 1403, also known as the Texas Dream Act, passed in 2001 to extend in-state tuition and grant eligibility to non-citizen residents of the state.
But if the new Senate bill passes, it would abolish the in-state tuition provision for undocumented students and they would be forced to pay out-of-state tuition as a result.
The bill has received backing primarily from Republicans who argue that having undocumented immigrants pay in-state tuition, encourages more undocumented youth to come to Texas.
Texas Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick has also shown support for repealing the Texas Dream Act. When Patrick was running for Lt. Gov he had an adwhich said “he is the only candidate to oppose in-state tuition for illegal immigrants.” A footnote in the ad also pointed out that Dan coauthored a floor amendment to SB 1581 in 2011 that would have abolished in-state tuition.
But State Sen. Jose Rodriguez, D-El Paso said that many of these undocumented students are already in living in the state of Texas. He said in a phone interview with KFOX 14 that providing them an opportunity at an affordable education is the right thing to do.
“Over the last 13 years it’s benefited hundreds of students who are now productive members of our society,” Rodriguez said. “There is really no reason why this kind of bill should be having this priority in the Texas Legislature.
Data from the Center for Public Policy Priorities showed that in 2010 undocumented residents paid $1.6 billion and state and local taxes. The data also said that in part, these taxes helped support Texas institutions of higher education.
Pamela Ornelas is a sophomore at UTEP majoring in special education.
A native of Chihuahua City in Mexico, Ornelas is a non-citizen resident student who currently pays an in-state tuition of $4,000 a year.
“That’s kind of a big help from the university to me as a student,” Ornelas said.
But if Senate Bill 1819 passes, she said she could have to pay out-of-state tuition which is double or even triple what she is paying now.
“If it’s going to pass, I’m going to be at risk to have to go back and study in my home town,” Ornelas said. “The United States is supposed to accept everybody from everywhere, so why take us away.”
The border security committee was scheduled to hear the bill on Monday, March 30 but the hearing has since been rescheduled to Monday, April 6.
If Senate Bill 1819 were to pass, Rodriguez said it could take effect as early as Sept. 1.
DALLAS (TIP): Authorities say a small plane crashed into a North Texas home, leaving at least two people seriously injured. FAA spokesman Lynn Lunsford says a Beechcraft B35 aircraft smashed the house’s roof Sunday, March 29 afternoon, and then landed in the yard of a home in Gordonville, about 85 miles north of Dallas. Trooper Mark Tackett of the Texas Department of Public Safety said the engine and propeller came off the plane, which struck an unoccupied home before the plane landed in a backyard. Lunsford says two adults and two children were injured, and were taken to Texoma Medical Center. Tackett said the pilot and one passenger had serious injuries and the other two people were not seriously hurt. No bystanders were injured.
SINGAPORE (TIP): Another surge in US stockpiles pushed oil prices lower again on Thursday, giving up some of the big gains in New York that came after the Federal Reserve cooled the chances of an early summer interest rate hike.
US benchmark West Texas Intermediate (WTI) for April delivery was down $1.11 to $43.55 while Brent crude for May tumbled 78 cents to$55.13 in afternoon trade.
WTI gained $1.20 in US trade and Brent jumped $2.40 after the US central bank signalled it was in no hurry raise rates, which sent the dollar tumbling.
A weaker US currency makes dollar-priced oil cheaper, fuelling demand and boosting prices.
But the rally was shortlived as the fundamentals of an oversupplied market and weaker demand took hold of sentiment following the US crude inventory report, analysts said. The US Department of Energy on Wednesday said stocks jumped 9.6 million barrels for the week ending March 13.
“The report indicates a build up in the global supply glut that has been pushing prices down thus far,” said Shailaja Nair, associate editorial director at energy information provider Platts.
Daniel Ang, an investment analyst with Phillip Futures in Singapore, said prices would remain under pressure for as long as supply was outpacing demand.
“Fundamentals have not changed and just a short-term jolt in prices from the weakening US dollar will not change that fact,” he said in a market commentary.
LOS ANGELES (TIP): The National Federation of Indian American Associations (NFIA), which is the largest umbrella organization in the US, representing over 3.5 million Americans who trace their roots to India, held its 18th biennial convention, March 6-8, 2015, at the Sheraton Cerritos Hotel in Cerritos, California,
The three day event was replete with intellectually stimulating seminars, graced by three members of the US Congress, Mayor of the city, Consul General of India San Francisco, Minister from Indian Embassy and other political leaders. On the nights of both Friday and Saturday were filled with excellent entertainment by local talent.
The convention started with a welcome reception/dinner and inauguration by Indian Consul General Venkatesan Ashok and California State Treasurer John Chiang on Friday, March 6th, followed by a full day of conference on Saturday.
The convention theme was “Indian Americans Making an Impact in America”. After an opening session on the theme chaired by NFIA Founder President Dr. Thomas Abraham, three more sessions followed: Indian Americans Contributing to India, chaired: Inder Singh, Past NFIA Chairman; Indian American Impact in The Area of Technology & Medicine, chaired by Boeing Company Technical Fellow Paul Sikand and Impact in US-India Trade & Business, chaired by Amritt Inc. Managing Director Gunjan Bagla. Various eminent speakers included: Long Beach Vice Mayor Suja Lowenthal, former Anaheim Councilman Harry Sidhu, Stem cell therapy practitioner Dr. Gaurav Goswami, and Attorney Sunny Kalara.
Newly elected Board
In the election for the new NFIA Board, many of the positions were unopposed. However, the elections were conducted for the other positions, in a very fair and transparent manner by the Election Committee chaired by Dr. Thomas Abraham of Connecticut (Founder of NFIA), Pramod Kamdar of San Diego and Inder Singh of Los Angeles.
At the General Body Meeting (GBM) chaired by President Sohan Joshi of Chicago, various reports were presented including reports from President and Secretary (Satheesan Nair of Chicago). Secretary Nair also presented treasurer’s report. Selfless and lifelong service of the Executive Director, Dr. Joydeb Roy, was acknowledged and applauded.
Coming off from a successful Convention the night before, the mood was upbeat and reinvigorating. A general discussion ensued on the progress and future of NFIA with many former NFIA Presidents making enlightening and spirited statements. Three (Dr. Thomas Abraham, Subash Razdan and Dr. Parthasarthy Pillai) of the former NFIA presidents are also accomplished global NRI leaders and recipients of the Pravasi Samman Award from the Government of India.
As part of the unfinished businesses from the past GBM, the subject of change of the 2 year term of office to a 1 year term was discussed and voted on after former President Subash Razdan (of Georgia) made the motion to change the 2 year term to a 1 year term with some qualifiers. This was seconded by Om Sharma (of Washington DC) and was approved by a voice vote, with a near unanimity.
At the conclusion of the GBM the general elections were declared open along with a sumptuous luncheon. The delegates from across the USA made a beeline for electing the remaining officers of NFIA for the term of 2014-2016 and as follows:
In the election of NFIA officers, Ashok Madan from Southern California was elected as President without opposition. Sudip Gorakshakar from Washington State was elected as Executive Vice President. The three vice presidents elected without opposition were Ajoy Dube from California, Babu K. Patel from Illinois, and Satheesan Nair also from Illinois.
The position of the NFIA secretary went to Dr. Yogendra Gupta from Maryland, VA, and Joint Secretary to Vasu Pawar from Southern California. Makam Subbarao from Southern California was elected as the Treasurer.
The seven Directors-at-Large were Rachel Verghese (Texas), Anjali Sachdev (Washington State), Dr. Satish Misra (Maryland), Madhavan Nair (Illinois), Ramesh Ramnani (Southern California)., Sachin Amin and Ashok Patnaik from California.
The six Regional Vice Presidents (RVP) elected unopposed were: Dr. Om Sharma (National Capital Region), Vandana Jhingan (Illinois), Mihir Patel (New York), Raj Razdan (Georgia), Lavanya Reddy (Washington State), and Kewal Kanda (California)
In closing and customarily, NFIA veteran Dr. Rajen Anand administered the Oath of Allegiance to the NFIA for the newly elected officers, with assurance of contribution of the newly elected leaders of their personal time, money, communication and talent.
The new Board under the presiding officer, Ashok Madan met after the elections and appointed:
Chandu Patel from Southern California as Chairman of the NFIA Foundation,
Dr. Hari Har Singh from NCR as Executive Director (Administration)
Dr. Joydeb Roy from NCR as Executive Director
Angela Anand was appointed by the President to chair the taskforce on Women’s Affairs.
The remaining 6 vacant RVPs positions are yet to be filled, for which the NFIA leadership under the newly elected Board will seek qualified and well-known community leaders from the following regions: Great Lakes (IN, MI, OH); Mid Atlantic (DE, PA, NJ); New England (CT, ME, MA, NH, RI, VT); Mountain (ID, CO, KS, MT, NE, ND, SD, UT, WY); South (AK, AL, KY, MS, LA, TN); South-West (AZ, OK, TX, NM).
After review of their resumes, their commitment of time, talent, money and connections, the NFIA Board will appoint them in the next Board meeting. NFIA has urged its media partners to help promote and help find qualified candidates for the above vacant positions. The main qualifier being the interested RVP has to belong to that region and commit to do a major activity in the region in compliance with NFIA goals, objectives and Bylaws.
The event on Saturday night was very successful with a packed hall for the Gala Awards Banquet. Indian Embassy was represented by Counsel General of India San Francisco, Mr. Venkatesan Ashok and Minister of Personnel and Community Affairs, Mr. N.K. Mishra from Washington DC.
Congresswomen, Judy Chu, Loretta Sanchez, Linda Sanchez, and Mayor of Cerritos, Mark Pulido graced the banquet and enlightened the audience with their thoughts on India and the Indian American community in the USA.
NFIA, with Lal K. Motwani as the chair of awards committee, honored high achiever Indian Americans including, physician Bharat Barai and Aparna Hande for community service, TV Asia chairman H.R. Shah for mass media, musician Rita Sahai and Kathak dancer Amrapali Ambegaokar for performing arts, psych-pharmacologist Rangaesh Gadasalli for medicine and health sciences, and management consultant K.V. Kumar and attorney Navneet S. Chugh in business and finance. The late New York cardiologist B.N. Viswanath was honored posthumously for his lifetime contribution to NRIs through broadcasting and philanthropy. In addition, Heart and Hand for Handicapped, a New York-based organization, received an award for its outstanding services to the handicapped in the U.S. and India.
The 16-year-old is scheduled to receive gubernatorial honors Thursday for completing much of his undergraduate studies and pocketing eight — yes, eight — associate degrees along the way.
How’d he do it? Chari is one of hundreds of students who have taken part in the Richardson Independent School District’s dual credit program, where qualifying students can garner credit for both high school and college at the same time.
Joshua will soon be a Berkner High School alumnus, but at the time this article was published, his only alma mater was Richland College.
[quote_box_right]The Indian Panorama was the First to report this story which is now been picked by other News agencies like CNN[/quote_box_right]
DALLAS (TIP): A Richardson ISD and Richland College student. Aged 16 has earned a world record of 7 A.S degrees while still in his final year of high school.
Joshua Chari, son of Raj & Manjusha Chari of Richardson, Texas has earned a record 7 Associate degrees, moving past the known US record of 4 A.S degrees in parallel with the high school diploma. Joshua achieved this mostly through the “Early College Education” program in some US states which allow high school students to sign up for advanced level classes which give high school and college credit at the same time.
Joshua attended Richland College, Dallas, from where he earned his degrees in Liberal Sciences, Computer Science, Electrical, Bio-Medical, Telecommunications, Software and Computer Engineering. Joshua started taking college credit classes since he was in the 7th grade. He will get his 8th and final Associates’ degree in Mechanical Engineering in May, 2 weeks before he gets his high school diploma.
Joshua has been honored by various government and educational institutions for his stellar academic achievements by proclamations and awards, pictures and videos of which could be seen on the internet. he Texas State legislature has recognized and honored Joshua by passing a bill exclusively in his honor through house bill HR480.
After high school, Joshua plans to go to Univ. of Texas at Dallas, in for a fast-track BS/MS degree with Dual Majors in Bio-Medical and Mechanical Engineering with dual minors in Nano-Technology and Business. He already has a full ride Academic Excellence Scholarship for the entire college studies.
Links to some of Joshua’s TV interviews and honors and articles in the news are as follows:
1. Text of the Bill HR480, honoring Joshua Chari, by the 84th Texas House of Legislature:
https://legiscan.com/TX/text/HR480/1119381
3. Richardson School District Newsletter, Joshua Chari’s article:
http://www.risd.org/SchoolTimes/010915/index.html#a2
4. Richardson Mayor and City Council presenting Joshua with a Proclamation:
https://www.facebook.com/video.php?v=754213557950559&se t=vb.100000857648884&type=2&theater
5. Dallas County Commissioners and County Judge recognizing Joshua for his achievements at the county
administration offices:
https://www.facebook.com/video.php?v=741545482550700&se t=vb.100000857648884&type=2&theater
6. WKRC TV channel:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J5lVvsGucug
DALLAS (TIP) It was a rich fare for three days for film lovers in Dallas during the first ever South Asian film festival held in Dallas, Texas which saw over a thousand film lovers attending the event that featured films focusing on issues affecting the continent. The three-day Dallas-Fort Worth South Asian Film Festival, held at the Angelika Film Center in Plano, North Texas from Feb. 27 to Mar. 1, featured 14 shorts, documentaries and feature films. Carefully selected films had a focus on issues affecting the South Asian subcontinent and explored the lives and stories of the South Asian Diaspora in the United States.
“The response was fabulous, especially given the crappy weather as news reports warned North Texans not to leave their homes because of the snowstorm, and we still had completely packed theaters for our screenings. It has been a very humbling experience, and we’re already preparing for DFW SAFF 2016,” said Jitin Hingorani, Jingo Media CEO and DFW SAFF founder and festival director.
The Indian Panorama team of editor Prof. Indrajit Saluja, Dallas Bureau Chief Lovllien Kaurr and Photo journalist Zia Khan attended the film festival on Saturday, February 28. Prof. Saluja and Lovllien Kaurr are seen with Jitin Hingorani, Jingo Media CEO and DFW SAFF founder and festival director, and festival organizers
The producers, directors and actors who attended the festival and walked the red carpet included Viveck Vaswani, Tannistha Chatterjee, Mahesh Pailoor, Jeffrey D. Brown, Jane Charles, Dylan Mohan Gray, Suma Reddy, Fahad Mustafa, Deepti Kakkar, Tarun Verma, Arun Sukumar and Ryan Matthew Chan.
The festival kicked off with the opening night film “Brahmin Bulls” Feb. 27, followed by shorts and documentaries “Katiyabaaz/Powerless,” “Asian Pride Project,” “Fire in the Blood” and “Tomorrow We Disappear,” and women’s programming “Blouse,” “Happy Raksha Bandhan” and centerpiece film “Sold” Feb. 28.
Makers of “Sold” and “Blouse” were honored at Angelika Film Center, Plano.
The showcase films screened Mar. 1 included family programming “Ravi and Jane” and “The World of Goopi and Bagha,” followed by youth programming shorts “Therapy,” “Just Friends” and “Acceptance.”
A question answers session on February 28th night after the screening of “Sold” and “Blouse” was indeed remarkably interesting. The makers of the two films candidly answered questions from a number of spectators. The Indian Panorama editor Prof. Indrajit Saluja congratulated the director and producer of “Bold” for highlighting the issue of girl trafficking which is a serious challenge to society everywhere, not just Nepal and India, the locations in the movie. He said the movie had stirred the conscience of viewers.
Film makers at the film festival pose for a photograph with Jitin Hingorani
AUSTIN (TIP): U.S. Border Patrol agents in one part of Texas have noticed a disturbing trend: a spike in sex offenders trying to sneak in to the country illegally.
KRGV-TV said just in the past five months, agents from the Rio Grande Valley Sector apprehended 144 sex offenders crossing the border from Mexico. In the same period last year agents in the valley nailed 93 sex offenders trying to slip into the U.S.
The sector covers Rio Grande City to Brownsville on the border. It also includes Corpus Christi.
The station, in a report Friday, March 13, said apprehensions in December included a woman from El Salvador with a 2009 child sex assault conviction and three sex offenders who were Mexican nationals.
In February seven sex offenders were rounded up near McAllen, Harlingen, Falfurrias and Kingsville.
Less than a week later another two sex offenders were caught. A few days ago two Guatemalan men convicted of sex crimes were arrested.
Early in the month, border patrol in another border sector in South Texas, Del Rio, apprehended two convicted sex offenders.
The second man was arrested March 4 by agents patrolling a ranch near the Rio Grande River. Agents said Jose Margarito Rivera-Mendez, 35, an undocumented immigrant from Mexico had been convicted of a felony in North Carolina in 2003 for indecency with a child. He was sentenced to 15-18 months confinement and after serving his time was deported in 2005.
“Our agents are committed to keeping the country safe,” Del Rio Sector Chief Rodolfo Karisch said after the arrest. “Apprehending criminals previously convicted of felonies, as they attempt to enter the United State illegally, is one of the many ways we accomplish our mission.
KRGV said sex offenders go to great lengths to avoid capture. Agents said they trek through South Texas brush and try to blend in with large groups of illegal immigrants.
KRGV said agents cannot say why more sex offenders are attempting to sneak into the U.S.
Border Patrol have access to databases that search criminal records worldwide. Agents use technology that scans fingerprints, scans retinas and has facial recognition.
DALLAS (TIP): An Orthodox Jewish Dallas rabbi was the victim of vandals who defaced his vehicle by spray painting it with the very emblem of hatred — a swastika. The incident happened in the early evening hours of Wednesday, March 11, according to a Breitbart Texas report.
“I feel completely violated. As a Jew, the swastika is the most offensive symbol that there is. They didn’t just attack me; they attacked every Jew in the City of Dallas. I am very grateful, however, that the members of Congregation Toras Chaim are banding together to ensure that there is no disruption in our activities,” the synagogue’s Rabbi Yaakov Rich told Breitbart Texas. Congregation Toras Chaim is a small Orthodox Jewish community that serves 20 families in North Dallas where they meet in a home for private worship.
Last month, Breitbart Texas reported that a Collin County district judge dismissed a lawsuit by the neighborhood home owner’s association that attempted to stop the rabbi’s congregation from worshiping inside the residence.
On Monday, March 2, the City of Dallas turned around and filed a lawsuit against the Congregation Toras Chaim, demanding that they get a certificate of occupancy for the home and make improvements that comply with building, fire, safety and parking codes or face fines of $1,000 per violation per day. The residential property in question sits in the City of Dallas in a portion of the neighboring Collin County.
The act of vandalism came the week after the City of Dallas filed that lawsuit. The timing is a little suspicious, although the rabbi only speculated that he thought the hate-crime may have been perpetrated by a juvenile, one who did not fully understand the heinous connotation behind the swastika historically associated with Adolf Hitler, Nazi Germany and the Holocaust.
Texas is not one of the five states that mandate Holocaust education. Those states are California, New York, New Jersey, Florida and Illinois. However, states that teaches the Holocaust as part of a larger study on genocide in the high school grades.
The incident was disconcerting to the rabbi regardless of whether or not the swastika was spray painted onto his car by a juvenile. Rich feared the possibility of a copy cat crime. “We have to be vigilant about what’s going on,” he told Breitbart Texas.
This is not the first time the congregation has dealt with anti-Semitism. Liberty Institute Senior Counsel Justin Butterfield, who has represented Congregation Toras Chaim in its legal battles to remain at its residential location, previously told CBS DFW that the religious signpost on the door frame of the Jewish house of worship was ripped off.
“They’ve also had people drive in front of the home screaming obscenities at them,” said Butterfield.
“Acts of violence against religious beliefs are being perpetrated around the world. But these acts should never be tolerated in America, which was founded on the principle of religious liberty for all,” said Butterfield who affirmed Liberty Institute’s commitment to stand by Rabbi Rich, his family, and Congregation Toras Chaim until their religious freedom rights are secured and justice is done.
Breitbart Texas reached out to the Anti-Defamation League (ADL) in Dallas, which serves North Texas and Oklahoma, and attempted to speak to its Regional Director Roberta Clark, who did not return our calls before press time.
The ADL, which was founded in 1913, is the world’s leading organization fighting anti-Semitism through programs and services that counteract hatred, prejudice and bigotry. Although they applauded the condemnation of students in the Oklahoma University in this week’s SAE fraternity racism scandal and recently, they commended the City of Plano for its Equal Rights ordinance, there was no mention of the anti-Semitic hate-crime against the rabbi on their news web page at the time of this report.
For now, the hate-crime appears to have rallied the community and their neighbors together. Rich told Breitbart Texas that residents of many religious faiths and backgrounds have reached out to the congregation since the incident.
He said that someone “very graciously donated a security system” to the synagogue.
The incident has also brought the congregation closer. Rich said that because of concern for his safety congregant’s husbands are walking him home after services.
The rabbi believes that, in the end, this may have the opposite effect of what the individual who defaced his vehicle with a swastika may have intended.
He told Breitbart Texas that on the day after his car was spray painted, Thursday, March 12, he was walking to the synagogue and was stopped by a neighborhood man who was driving down the street. The man rolled down his window and asked, “Do you know the rabbi that worships at that house by Mumford and Meandering Way?” Rich looked at the man and said, “I am that person.”
The rabbi said that the driver’s eyes welled up with tears and then, he began to cry as he told the rabbi, “After everything that your people have gone through and all that you have suffered, this should never have happened and I want you to know from the bottom of my heart I am apologizing on behalf of everybody. This is not indicative of the people of this neighborhood and I am so sorry this happened to you.”
The rabbi was quite touched by the stranger’s heart felt words. He told Breitbart Texas, “This was really special and amazing.”
He added about uplifting moments like, “I feel like it has motivated people not to want to give up.”
SINGAPORE (TIP): Oil prices climbed in Asian trade as signs that a refineries strike in the United States is weakening overshadowed a rise in US crude stocks, analysts said.
US benchmark West Texas Intermediate added 21 cents to $51.74 a barrel and Brent gained four cents to$60.59 in afternoon trade.
Daniel Ang, an investment analyst with Phillip Futures in Singapore, said despite the rise in US inventories, traders focussed on signs that a refineries strike the the US could be settled, allowing more crude oil to be processed.
“Although they have not come to a conclusion (on ending the strike) it seems that workers are coming back to work, which shows weakness in the strike and suggests that the strike is coming to an end soon,” he said.
Workers and management are trying to end the strike at three major US refineries operated by Royal Dutch Shell following a stalemate on February 20.
More than 5,000 workers spread across around a dozen installations have been on strike since February 1 demanding improved wages and safety conditions.
The US Department of Energy (DoE) on Wednesday said commercial crude inventories jumped by 10.3 million barrels in the week February 27, higher than analyst forecasts.
Inventories have set new records for five straight weeks, and US oil production is already high at 9.3 million barrels per day.
Sanjeev Gupta, who heads the Asia-Pacific Oil and Gas practice at professional services firm EY, said the oil market is also closely watching developments in the talks between Iran and the US on Tehran’s nuclear ambitions.
“Any positive news about likelihood of lifting of sanctions will lead to downward pressure on the price of Brent,” Gupta said.
US Secretary of State John Kerry and his Iranian counterpart Mohammad Javad Zarif wrapped up three days of “intense” nuclear negotiations in the Swiss lakeside town of Montreux on Wednesday with still no deal, as a March 31 deadline for a framework agreement looms.
Iran and the so-called P5+1 – Britain, China, France, Russia, the United States and Germany – are trying to strike a deal that would prevent Tehran from developing a nuclear bomb, a goal it denies having.
In return, Iran is seeking an easing of punishing economic sanctions.
AUSTIN, TEXAS (TIP): While many of the dangers of smoking have been well known for some time, new research shows that the consequences may be larger and deadlier than previously thought.
According to the U.S. Surgeon General, 21 different causes of death are attributed to smoking, with some 480,000 deaths in the United States each year. A study co-authored by epidemiologist Brian Carter with the American Cancer Society examined the corollary health impacts even further.
“We identified at least six new causes of death that we think are probably associated with smoking,” Carter said, “and if you look at these as an aggregate, that would add about 60,000 deaths per year to that 480,000 number.”
The additional smoking-related death links include kidney failure, hypertensive heart disease, infections and various respiratory diseases, Carter said. The study looked at data covering about 1 million people from 2000 to 2011 and was published in the New England Journal of Medicine.
The analysis also found an association between smoking and increased mortality rates for breast and prostate cancer, and Carter said the links to these deaths and the others identified should spur more scrutiny.
“I think researchers really need to look at them in a much more focused manner to see exactly how smoking might cause these diseases,” he said. “If they’re replicated in other more focused studies, I think they need to be incorporated into annual estimates of the number of deaths caused by smoking.”
Current estimates, which don’t take into account the additional health issues outlined in the study, put the number of smoking-related deaths in Texas at 28,000 per year.
The study is online at nejm.org. U.S. data is atcdc.gov.
Texas smoking data is at tobaccofreekids.org -See more at: http://www.publicnewsservice.org/2015- 02-20/health-issues/study-smoking-deaths-higher-than-figures-reported/a44670-1#sthash.XFpSmDHI.dpuf
SAN FRANCISCO (TIP): The India Diaspora Investment Initiative, a unique program President Barack Obama unveiled during his visit to India for the Republic Day celebrations, is seeking investment from Indian American and other investors to support sustainable development in India.
In an interview to the media here Manpreet Singh Anand, deputy assistant administrator in the Asia bureau of the U.S. Agency for International Development, said that it is the first time an initiative earmarked for a specific diaspora community in the U.S. has been launched by USAID.
If it is successful, he added, it could be a model for the agency in other countries.
“It is a new model for development,” Anand said. “It is a more efficient use of resources to leverage innovation through the private sector.” USAID staff has been working on the initiative for about a year, he added.
India was not a random choice for the initiative.
USAID said in a fact sheet that there are three factors why India was selected: “An increased desire on the part of Indian Americans to make a development impact in their home country; a strengthened diaspora connection to India after the election of Prime Minister Narendra Modi; and a strong demand from Indian social businesses seeking debt capital to scale up their programs targeting ‘Base of the Pyramid’ populations.”
USAID, working with a partner – Bethesda, Md.-based Calvert Foundation, a nonprofit with experience in offering “Community Investment Notes” for sustainable development – plans to mobilize at least $50 million in debt financing from private sector financial sector institutions in India and abroad over the next 18 months.
USAID will provide “up to a 50% credit guarantee” to three non-bank finance companies (Caspian Impact Advisors, Intellegrow and Gramen Impact India) and two Indian banks (YES Bank and Ratanakar Bank), who make the loans to small- and medium-sized enterprises in India.
Anand pointed out that without USAID’s credit guarantee, the barriers for Indian SMEs to get the loans “would be almost impossible to overcome.” “We want the Indian diaspora to become engaged and stay engaged,” he added.
It works like this: Investors – Indian Americans or those wanting to support sustainable development in India – purchase a Calvert Foundation Investment Note. Investors can receive fixed interest payments every six months and select investment tenors from one, three, five, seven and even 10 years.
The notes will be available later this year, Anand said. USAID is negotiating on terms of the loan credit guarantees with all five partners.
Calvert will make the loans to the Indian NBFCs and banks, which invest in social projects in healthcare, small businesses, education, agriculture, renewable energy, and other priority areas for India. USAID provides its 50% loan guarantee.
“Our new Indian Diaspora Investment Initiative will allow folks back home to generate a new stream of financing for Indian businesses that are investing in non-traditional, and too often overlooked, markets – from providing healthcare to rural communities, to improving water and sanitation, to opening up those new bank accounts,” Obama told the U.S.-India Business Summit in New Delhi Jan. 26.
USAID Administrator Rajiv Shah, who in February left the agency, said in India in January, “We’ll match the diaspora community’s immense passion and resources to the small businesses that form the backbone of India’s economy.”
“By creating a transparent investment vehicle, any investor can contribute to sustainable, social businesses that create jobs and train a new generation of local entrepreneurs.”
USAID’s annual funding to India -negotiated between the Obama administration and Congress – is currently “just short of $100 million a year,” Anand sadi.
It is the Indian American’s second stint at the agency. Previously, he was a presidential management fellow in the Office of the Global Development Alliance.
He also worked as a senior policy advisor on geopolitical and socioeconomic issues at Chevron Corp., was a senior policy advisor for South and Central Asia issues on the U.S. House Committee on Foreign Affairs, and served in the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative.
Married to a physician, Anand has an MBA and an M.A. in international studies from U.C.-Berkeley and a B.S. in electrical engineering from the University of Texas at Austin.
Another significant program announced by USAID during Obama’s visit was support of Modi’s Jan Dhan initiative to prioritize financial inclusion for all Indian citizens.
USAID is partnering with over 20 U.S., Indian and international private sector organizations and the World Economic Forum to extend the ability for Indian consumers and businesses to participate in the formal economy.
“More than 110 million people have signed up in India (under Jan Dhan) for bank accounts in the last few months,” said Anand, who accompanied Shah and Obama on the India trip in January. “It will really empower consumers in India when they can use cards instead of cash.”
USAID said that currently only six percent of retail enterprises in India can accept digital payments.
One particular area of focus for USAID in India is reducing child mortality rates. “India constitutes 24 percent of the preventable under-five deaths in the world,” Anand said. “There’s a lot we can and are doing (to reduce child mortality rates) in India.”
Last year USAID formed the U.S. Global Development Lab within the agency to leverage science and technology advancements for public-private partnerships around the world, Anand said.
Experts from Google and other technology companies are forming a think-tank within the agency to work with NGOs to solve some of the most pressing social problems around the world.
For more information on the Diaspora Investment Note, visit: http://www.calvertfoundation.org/india.
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