Latest news with #Kanwal
Time of India
10-05-2025
- Time of India
Kafal boom brings economic relief to U'khand villages
1 2 3 Bageshwar: The Himalayan forests of Uttarakhand are experiencing an exceptional harvest of kafal( Myrica esculenta ), the cherished wild berry that heralds summer's arrival. The combination of suitable weather patterns, adequate rainfall and fewer forest fires has created optimal conditions for kafal trees to fruit abundantly, bringing economic opportunities and cultural significance to remote hill berries, commanding prices up to Rs 500 per kilogram, have become a significant source of temporary income for residents, especially those living near national highways. Local women and children can be seen displaying their freshly gathered berries in roadside Flyati village, Shobha Kandpal, 45, traverses five kilometres of forest daily to gather the fruit. "The last two years were completely dry," she said. "This year, we hope to earn enough in 20 days to meet some of our basic needs." Her family, previously reliant on resin collection, now depends on kafal sales for essential Kanwal, a Class 6 student, assists her family in the harvest. "I buy pens, notebooks, and biscuits with the money we make," she shared with a smile. "And going into the forest is so much fun!" Her words demonstrate the vital link between younger generations, nature and traditional income berry has gained popularity among tourists visiting Nainital, Ranikhet, Bhowali, Almora, Kausani and Bageshwar. "This isn't just a fruit—it's an experience," said tourist Richa Srivastava. "It holds the flavour of the hills, the scent of the forest, and the hard work of the people."Forest officials report that substantial rainfall in March and April contributed to larger, more succulent berries. Ranger Shyam Singh Karayat said, "Fruits like kafal are not only crucial to the region's biodiversity but also deeply tied to its economy and traditional lifestyle."Social activists advocate for increased govt support. Bageshwar-based social worker Ramesh Krishak highlighted the importance of developing fruit processing facilities, market access and eco-tourism integration. "Promoting seasonal produce like kafal can strengthen rural livelihoods while enriching the tourist experience," he said.
Economic Times
29-04-2025
- Business
- Economic Times
Jana Small Finance Bank to apply for universal bank license in May
Live Events (You can now subscribe to our (You can now subscribe to our Economic Times WhatsApp channel Kolkata: Jana Small Finance Bank has ticked all the boxes to become eligible to seek a universal banking license, making it the third lender in this space to earn this bank would submit the application in May, Jana managing director Ajay Kanwal told ET."It's a defining year for us. We have created a more stable and diversified book amid the ongoing microfinance crisis . We have raised the share of the secured portfolio to 70% now from 60% a year back," Kanwal bank made an accelerated provision of Rs 305 crore in this fiscal against Rs 73 crore in the preceding one, besides regulatory provision of Rs 448 crore as against Rs 606 crore, to bring down the net non-performing assets ratio below 1%, which is one of the key eligibility criteria for become eligible to apply for universal bank net NPA stood at 0.94% at the end of FY25 as compared with 0.56% in the preceding fiscal. Its gross NPA ratio stood at 2.71% against 2.11%, below the 3% threshold as per the eligibility Reserve Bank of India regulation says that a small finance bank needs to be listed, profitable, have a minimum Rs 1000 crore net worth and a diversified portfolio and have gross NPA and net NPA ratios below 3% and 1% respectively for the two fiscals in a row to apply for the license. AU Small Finance Bank and Ujjivan Small Finance Bank have already applied for the universal bank upgraded licence for small finance banks would ease regulations. If granted the coveted licence, their capital adequacy requirement would come down from 15% while the priority sector lending target would be lower at 40% instead of 75%. The norm for having at least 50% of the loan portfolio in loans less than Rs 25 lakh would not apply anymore. A universal tag would invariably improve the branding as on Tuesday reported a net profit of Rs 123 crore for the fourth quarter which was 62% lower than the net profit of Rs 322 crore seen in the year ago period. Its annual profit stood at Rs 501 crore for FY25 against Rs 670 crore in the preceding operating profit for the fourth quarter was 14.3% lower at Rs 293 assets under management grew 19% year-on-year to Rs 29,545 crore, with secured assets growing 40% to Rs 20663 crore. Deposits grew 29% to Rs 29120 crore at the end of the last fiscal.
Time of India
26-04-2025
- Business
- Time of India
NDTV appoints Rahul Kanwal as CEO
Veteran journalist Rahul Kanwal has been appointed as the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and key managerial personnel of NDTV , the company announced in a filing with the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE) on April 25, 2025. The appointment is set to take effect from June 16, 2025. The decision, made by NDTV's Board of Directors during a meeting held on April 25, 2025, follows the recommendation of the Nomination and Remuneration Committee. The appointment is also subject to the approval of the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, said the company. Prior to this, Kanwal was with India Today Group for 22-years where he served as the news director for channels India Today and Aaj Tak , and also held the position of executive director at Business Today. Kanwal joined India Today Group in 2002 as principal correspondent and anchor at Aaj Tak. With more than 25 years in the media sector, Kanwal has built a strong profile in Indian journalism. He is known for his roles as a prime-time anchor, election analyst, and investigative reporter. His career includes a long tenure at the India Today Group, as well as senior editorial roles at Headlines Today and Zee News . An alumnus of the prestigious General Management Program (GMP) at Harvard Business School (HBS), Kanwal is also a Chevening Scholar who studied journalism at Delhi University and completed a program in International Broadcast Journalism at Cardiff University. His dedication to journalism has been recognized with the Roy Peck Trust Grant for Hostile Environment Journalism and numerous other awards for journalistic excellence.
Express Tribune
31-03-2025
- Express Tribune
Flawed investigations keep victims from justice
In November last year, 22-year-old Kanwal, a pregnant woman from Peshawar, was allegedly found hanging from a fan at home. While the in-laws of the deceased girl initially framed the case to be of suicide, the girl's parents accused the husband and waited for the post-mortem report. The police however, had put the case under the Section 174 inquiry, which only meant that the victim's family would remain stranded at the door of justice. The victim's father, Jehanzaib, told The Express Tribune that, as a poor family, they had to plead persistently to seek justice. "Even though an FIR was registered, the weak investigation procedures prevented the accused from getting a serious punishment. In our society, the oppressed not only endure cruelty but also have to struggle tirelessly for justice," cried Jehanzaib, while speaking of his son-in-law, who was released after a few court appearances. This is just one example of cases of gender-based violence undergoing weak investigations under Section 174, which is invoked to prevent murder cases from being labelled as suicide. Earlier this year, another case in Peshawar involved a man who tortured his pregnant wife to death. Yet the pregnancy was not even mentioned in the FIR. Similarly, in Nowshera, a husband attempted to kill his pregnant wife by dousing her with petrol and setting her on fire. The victim was transferred to Peshawar's burns unit, where she continues to fight for her life. According to information received by the Express Tribune from the investigation department of K-P Police, 27 cases under Section 174 are currently pending in Peshawar, while more than a hundred others are pending across the province. Shabbir Hussain Gigiani, Senior Advocate at the Peshawar High Court, revealed that it was not necessary to invoke Section 174 in a criminal case. "Section 174 is invoked only in specific types of crimes and in special conditions. However, in K-P, cases of rape, harassment, and pregnant women's deaths are investigated by the same officers who handle narcotics, kidnappings for ransom, and routine crimes. There should be a separate team in each district for such cases, including a forensic officer, a medical officer, a technical expert, and a legal expert. Only then can inquiries, investigations, and FIRs under Section 174 be properly handled to ensure justice," opined Gigiani. "If evidence collection and investigation are strong from the beginning, the chances of convicting the accused increase significantly. On the other hand, weak investigations result in a lower probability of conviction. Section 174 has been part of the legal system since the British era to prevent murders from being disguised as suicides. However, in practice, delays in inquiries under Section 174 often benefit the accused. The longer an FIR takes to be registered, the weaker the case becomes," said Ali Gohar Advocate, a human rights lawyer at the Peshawar High Court. Dr Anoosh Khan, Professor of Gender Studies at the University of Peshawar, highlighted the fact that specific barriers prevented women from reporting gender-based violence. "In many places, women cannot file an FIR. Furthermore, women police officers and personnel in K-P do not even have the authority to register an FIR, for which they have to go to the nearest police station. Hence, female victims are further victimized by the criminal justice system," informed Dr Khan. K-P's new police chief, IGP Zulfiqar Hameed, also acknowledged these shortcomings. In an informal discussion with The Express Tribune, he stated that the investigation department was the backbone of the police force and needed significant improvements. The provincial police's investigation department, however, cited excessive caseloads and staff shortages as the main reasons for inefficiency. The department claims that Peshawar alone has a shortage of 800 personnel across 34 police stations. Each investigation officer is responsible for handling over 100 cases per month. The same officer has to visit crime scenes, appear in court, and interrogate suspects, yet they lack proper funding for investigations or even fuel allowances.
