By our reporter

Melbourne, 11 May:Premier Ted Baillieu today launched the program for the 2012 Indian Film Festival of
Melbourne which will showcase the Indian film industry next month.

Mr Baillieu joined Festival Ambassador and Indian film star Vidya Balan and Festival Director
Mitu Bhowmick Lange to announce the program, which will feature 40 films and activities from
India and the sub-continent.

“The Victorian Government is committed to strengthening ties between Victoria and India as
well as developing a greater mutual understanding of our respective screen industries,” Mr
Baillieu said.

“The festival delivers on the Government’s election promise to develop an Indian film festival
and bring the best of Indian cinema to Victorian audiences and screen practitioners.

“We’ve established this festival as a key highlight on Victoria’s cultural and arts calendar as a
way of sharing the diversity and breadth of Indian cinema with Victorians.

“This festival program is packed with more than 40 films and activities, and it is a great
opportunity for Victorians to enjoy a unique film experience.”

Mr Baillieu said the festival would feature films from nine languages across India, Nepal,
Bangladesh, Pakistan and Sri Lanka.

“There will also be more than 20 Australian premieres, one world premiere and an amazing
lineup of guests, including some of India’s biggest film stars who will be in Melbourne to open
the festival,” Mr Baillieu said.

“Leading actors including former Miss World Priyanka Chopra, Shahid Kapoor and Tamil
superstar Vijay will be in Melbourne for the festival which kicks off on June 11 with the
opening night film Kahaani.”

Released in India earlier this year, Kahaani stars Festival Ambassador Vidya Balan and has
already been a huge critical and commercial hit in India.

Mr Baillieu said leading filmmakers from all genres would attend the Festival to present their
films and interact with film lovers in Melbourne.

Minister for Innovation, Services and Small Business Louise Asher said India had one of the
most dynamic film industries in the world and offered exciting opportunities for collaboration.

“The Indian Film Festival of Melbourne not only promotes Indian cinema to Victorian
audiences, it also adds to our expansive array of film industry events held annually,” Ms
Asher said.

“The Festival complements a number of initiatives the Government has implemented to build
ties with India’s film industry.

“Others include the Victoria-India Co-production Initiative and the Victorian Screen
Fellowships program which will be officially launched this year.”

Festival Director Mitu Bhowmick Lange said the Festival encompassed the true spirit of the
Indian film industry – right from mainstream Bollywood blockbusters through to more edgy
new wave Hindi films, to regional gems in Tamil, Bengali, Malayam and other languages.

“We invite Melburnians to celebrate the films and filmmakers of the world’s biggest cinema
producer, right in the heart of Melbourne,” Ms Bhowmick said.

Mr Baillieu announced Mind Blowing Films as the successful tenderer for the presentation of
the Festival and Vidya Balan as Festival Ambassador during the Super Trade Mission to India
earlier this year.

The Indian Film Festival of Melbourne will take place from June 11 to 22 at Hoyts Melbourne
Central and Hoyts Chadstone, with free screenings at Federation Square. For further
information visit www.iffm.com.au

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By Neeraj Nanda

Melbourne, 8 May: Overseas students from China and India are on top applying for courses in Australia. Applicants from India who have been granted student visas have also considerably jumped. Among the sub continent countries Nepal has shown slight decline of from 5,799 (last year) to 5,471 (2011-12) and Pakistan has slightly increased from 3,907 (last year) to 4.378 (2011-12).

Applications increased by 2.1 per cent in 2011-12 (217,690) up from 213, 185 (previous year). The increase has been 16 % higher from India and 0.8 % higher from China, says The Student Visa Program Quarterly Report (quarter ending at 31st March 2012) released by the Australian Department of Immigration & Citizenship.
Total student visas granted in 2011-2012 (up to 31 March) were 191, 619. This is up 4.5 % compared to 183, 433 (last year).The grant rate for March 2012 was 89.6 per cent.
On March 2012 there were 344,468 student visa holders in Australia as compared to 381,080 last year. There was a decline of 9.6 % as compared to last year.
Offshore visa grant rates for Indian nationals increased considerably to 61.5 per cent compared to the previous three quarters (where they were 39.6, 45.0 and 53.8 per cent). Offshore grant rates for Chinese nationals remained high at 88.4 per cent compared to the previous quarter where it was 88.9 per cent, the report discloses.

Related posts:

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By our community reporter

Melbourne: The Hindu community in Victoria now has a big cultural & heritage centre. The Hindu Society of Victoria’s Cultural & Heritage Centre was inaugurated on 5th May adjacent to the Sri. Shiva Vishnu Temple in Carrum Downs. The Centre’s stage one started in 2007 has an estimated cost of ten million dollars.

The centre was inaugurated at a glittering program by Hon. Nicholas Kotsiras,MP with leaders and VIPs from both sides of politics present. The gathering was addressed by HSV and political leaders followed by a beautiful cultural program.

The Cultural & Heritage Centre has a big hall for social functions, a library, meditation centre, museum and a canteen. It is situated at 52 Boundary Road, Carrum Downs, Victoria.

Related posts:

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By our correspondent

Thursday, 03 May 2012

Melbourne: The Federal Government has allocated more than $7 million towards overseas assistance projects supporting displaced and vulnerable people overseas, the Minister for Immigration and Citizenship, Chris Bowen MP, said today from Sri Lanka.

Mr Bowen, who is on a five–day visit to India and Sri Lanka, said funding was allocated for 15 projects, including five projects supporting displaced Sri Lankan people through improved health services and provision of shelter and protection.

‘The government’s Displaced Persons Program (DPP) focuses on improving the lives of displaced people across the globe, with more than $2.7 million this financial year going to assisting displaced Sri Lankans,’ Mr Bowen said.

‘The Australian Government is committed to helping people overseas return to their homes safely after fleeing dangerous situations.’

‘By improving the quality of life for people in their home countries, this funding also helps to remove the incentive for people to pay people smugglers and attempt dangerous boat journeys to Australia.’

‘Through this program, international and non–governmental organisations have been funded to implement a range of projects that look to long–term solutions for refugees and displaced persons.’

‘Only this week I visited one of the projects we have previously funded in New Delhi that helps refugees in India gain skills and employment, and saw first–hand the positive impact this program can have.’

Among the organisations to receive funding for their proposed projects are the International Organization for Migration (IOM), the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), CARE Australia and ChildFund Australia.

The 2011–12 DPP is focused on assisting displaced persons with their basic needs, through projects such as the one operated by ChildFund Australia, which provides food security by supporting farm–based livelihoods for vulnerable people.

‘Australia continues to show its strong support for vulnerable and displaced people through vital programs such as this,’ Mr Bowen said.

The 2011–12 Displaced Persons Program projects include:

ChildFund Australia – $535 508 to assist internally displaced Sri Lankans
Strengthening farm–based livelihoods and food security of returnees
The goal of this project is to provide displaced persons and returnee populations of the Kilinochchi district in Sri Lanka with livelihood support for their economic recovery and stability through improving farm–based livelihoods and ensuring food security. The aim is to assist 2350 families to re–establish agricultural farming as a steady source of food throughout the year.

IOM – $551 019 to assist internally displaced Sri Lankans
Enabling health protection in northern Sri Lanka
This project aims to strengthen fragile health systems in northern Sri Lanka by providing transportation of health workers (especially to remote and marginalised sites), six hire–ambulances to provide 24–hour emergency care, and rehabilitation of two health facilities.

CARE Australia – $677 531 to assist internally displaced Sri Lankans
Developing livelihoods and life skills of youth in northern Sri Lanka
This project aims to improve the socio–economic wellbeing of youth in northern Sri Lanka by providing 900 young men and women with increased access to skills development and employment opportunities. In partnership with local government and community service providers, this will result in improved community access to a range of services.

Act for Peace – $463 116 to assist internally displaced Sri Lankans
Protection, advocacy and assistance for returnees to northern Sri Lanka
This project will provide identity documentation for 22 000 returnees, shelter assistance for 50 families, and livelihood support for 150 families. Several self–help community groups will also be formed to provide and identify relevant training suitable to the region, aimed at providing long–term stability.

Danish Refugee Council – $509 658 to assist Sri Lankan Tamils in India
Protection and livelihood assistance for Sri Lankan refugees living in camps in Tamil Nadu, India
This project aims to increase protection for refugees – in particular women, girls and youth – and to enhance their livelihood opportunities through skills development. It will also improve the shelters of 50 vulnerable families, repair 40 latrines and provide for improved water distribution systems to at least seven camps.

CARE Australia – $619 728 to assist Iraqis in Jordan
Jordanian community assistance to Iraqi refugees
This project aims to address the immediate needs of displaced Iraqis through the provision of basic items such as mattresses, blankets, clothing, sanitary materials and food parcels (for 1000 households or 3800 individuals), vocational and livelihood training (for 500 individuals) and counselling services (for 1500 individuals).

CARE Australia – $600 000 to assist internally displaced Afghans
Ghazni Livelihood Enhancement Project for returnees and those vulnerable to displacement
This project’s aim is to contribute to stability and reduce the risk of displacement by supporting sustainable livelihood opportunities in Afghanistan. The project will directly reach 585 individuals and indirectly benefit 3510 people through distribution of livelihood assets, income generation, skills building, and improved access to markets and credit in rural and urban areas.

IOM – $468 177 to assist Rohingyas in Thailand
Reducing the vulnerability of Rohingyas through community outreach, and increasing their access to social and health services
This project aims to support displaced Rohingya populations in Thailand by up–scaling three drop–in health centres to Community Resource Centres, facilitating meetings and joint activities between migrant community based committees and local government authorities, providing vocational and life–skills training to improve levels of employment and economic wellbeing for 40 youths, and improving health and social services.

IOM – $800 000 to assist Afghans from Pakistan
Post–arrival assistance to vulnerable Afghan returnees from Pakistan
This project enables better emergency response to Afghan refugees returned from Pakistan, and includes upgrading of border reception facilities, provision of transportation and other services to 3600 families, and provision of family Non Food Item kits for 1500 families.

University of NSW – $345 375 to assist African refugees in Kenya
Building services and support to improve the identification and protection of at–risk refugee women and girls in Dadaab, Kenya
This project provides support to refugee women and girls by strengthening community–led psychosocial services. By working closely with the UNHCR, implementing partners, local community workers and refugee communities, the project aims to provide relevant training on psychosocial support issues identified by the refugee population, and establish support centres in Dadaab camps.

UNHCR – $534 007 to assist Iraqis in Jordan
Assistance to persons with disabilities and provision of information on refugee rights
This project is designed to assist 351 refugees with disabilities, including the elderly, improving their wellbeing and independence, including through the equipment, physical therapy and emotional support, as well as by providing training on refugee rights.

IOM – $500 000 and $150 000 to assist Afghan returnees
Two projects for emergency transport and accommodation, and upgrading and equipping processing and accommodation facilities
These projects provide emergency funding for transport and accommodation assistance to vulnerable undocumented Afghan returnees from Iran, as well as upgrading processing and reception facilities.

UNHCR – $234 000 for refugees in Malaysia
To assist with the increased resettlement of refugees moving from Malaysia to Australia
To support the processing in Malaysia of 1000 additional refugee referrals per year to Australia.

Minister’s Council on Asylum Seekers and Detention (MCASAD) – $46 227
Scoping study in transit countries
This project engaged with governments and non–government organisations in transit countries, including Indonesia, Malaysia and Thailand, on irregular migration and displaced and vulnerable people.

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By our reporter

Melbourne: Inspired by the huge success and influence of Bollywood movies, SBS is bringing a taste of Bollywood to Australia with a brand new show, Bollywood Star.
This four-part series, made for SBS by WTFN Entertainment (Bondi Vet, Keeping up with the Joneses), follows the search for an Australian Bollywood star: an unknown who will go on to win the prize of a lifetime – renowned Bollywood producer and director Mahesh Bhatt is offering a coveted place in his next movie to one Australian to become the next Bollywood Star.
Michael Ebeid, SBS Managing Director, explained the competition saying, “The series will follow the hundreds of hopefuls who will audition for a part in a Bollywood movie as they’re whittled down to six finalists who will travel to Mumbai to immerse themselves in Indian culture and experience the glitz and glamour of the Bollywood movie scene. The final winner will be selected by Mahesh himself and take away the prize of a role in his next feature film.”
National auditions will be held in Sydney on Saturday October 22 at the National Art School, Taylor Square, Sydney. More information on how to audition is available at www.sbs.com.au/bollywoodstar.

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By News Bureau in New Delhi

INDIA’s NUCLEAR DETERRENCE (NO – FIRST – USE) IN ACTION : The 17 meter Agni-5 ICBM launched successfully by India from Wheeler island (Chandipur), Orissa on 19th April 2012.The three-stage, 17-metre tall Agni-V, weighing 50 tonnes, is capable of carrying a nuclear warhead of 1.1 tonnes. This missile can go up to 5000 km and can hit any country in the world except the US. India joins the U.S., Russia, France and China, which have ICBM capability. With India’s policy of no-first-use of nuclear weapons, Agni-V will provide the country with depth in deterrence. How much did it cost is not known?

No related posts.

By our Sydney Correspondent

Sydney: India’s Consul General in Sydney, Mr. Amit Dasgupta has been shifted to Manila. He will take over as Ambassador of India to Philippines. He is expected to take up his assignment shortly a MEA media release says.

No related posts.

You went to a Catholic college but most Indians must be Naxals, dear
Sri Sri, because they went to government schools?

By JOHN DAYAL

Mukund Murari Singh of Haridwar and Ravi Shankar Ratnam of Bengaluru
do not know each other, but Singh does not like what Ratnam says. In
a rejoinder on the internet to well publicised speech of Ratnam,
Mukund Murari Singh rubbished his claim that students who go to
government schools end up as Naxalites. “Dear Mr Sri Sri, I did my
schooling from Government Schools (Kendriya Vidyalaya Sangathan)
across the length and breadth of India. I also completed my
engineering from a Government College (IIT). I assure you, none of my
classmates or me have ended up as Naxals. Ignorant statements like
these reek of upper-class ignorance and indifference. Sincerely, Proud
Indian and a Patriot.”

Ravi Shankar Ratnam, as everyone knows, is the name Sri Sri Ravi
Shankar was born with before he heeded a complaint from Pandit Ravi
Shankar, the Sitar maestro, not to copy his name. In 1990, the former
student of Maharishi Yogi shed the Ratnam, added two Shris and
founded the Art of Living movement, going on to open an ashram and an
NGO in Geneva, the city of the United Nations offices. His official
website, and his hagiographers, will of course not tell you such
interesting titbits. They are busy rewriting a nice persona for him.
His official bio notes he was a child prodigy, reciting the classics
at age four, and graduating in Physics at age seventeen. A little
research unearths the fact that he studied at St Joseph’s college in
Bangalore, as it was then, and graduated at the more normal age of
twenty-one.

Sri Sri, to use the name h gave himself rather than the one his
parents did, is not unknown to controversy. He has drawn much flack
for his absolute support to Hindutva and to the “sants” of the Vishwa
Hindu Parishad, the same ones who so strongly supported the demolition
of the Babri Masjid and the hate campaign against Christians. Sri Sri
will not be remembered for any major campaign in support of the Muslim
victims of the 2002 Gujarat violence or the 2008 pogrom against
Christians. He also has a controversial position on Kashmir, taking a
hyper nationalist and religious line that entirely ignores the
suffering of the Muslim population of the valley at the hands of not
just the terrorists, but the Army and paramilitary forces garrisoned
there for their protection. When the chips are down, Sri Sri has the
exact same position as any other Hindu religious persona in the corral
of the Rashtriya Swayamsewak Sangh.

It is not surprising that with his ideological mooring, Sri Sri takes
a “nationalist” position on political dissenters and those who rebel
against administrative and political situations that lead to large
scale internal displacement, cast violence, usury in farm loans and
the alienation of forests and tribal lands to Indian and national
monopolies. This is the conclusion I reached after a solitary
interaction with him at Vellankani during an annual general meeting of
the Conference of Catholic Priests of India not too long ago. It is a
moot question if the god man understand the factors that have led as
many as nine states of the Indian union, as an effective ground for
the Maoists, the contemporary inheritors of the Naxalite image. One
is tempted to give him the benefit of the doubt in statements he
makes. Specially since he has backtracked, as explained in his
statement made in the holy city of Haridwar on 24 March., when he
clarified that not “all” students of government schools were becoming
Naxalites. “Children who have joined the Naxal movement, most of them
have come out of the government schools. This same statement has also
been said by Mr. Jairam Ramesh, Union Rural Development Minister, on
January 22, that the Maoists have recruited these children from tribal
and government schools. But I never said that all students coming out
of government school are becoming Naxalites, there have been some
really talented students who have come out of these schools as well.
The lack of spiritual and moral education in government schools has
made the students of these schools more vulnerable to join the
Maoists. The truth is that I never said that all such students are of
violent tendency, but those children who have shown such tendency have
not come out of mission schools where moral and spiritual education is
imparted without generalizing it.” he added.

This certainly was an improvement on his original reported statement
which, simplified further by news agency reporters and headline
writers, had said that state-run schools are turning into a breeding
ground for Maoists. “I feel that all state-run schools and colleges
should be privatised and that the government should not run any
school. Often it is seen that students from government schools end up
as Maoists or militants,” news agencies had reported him saying at
Jaipur. The threat of spreading extreme ideologies stemmed from a lack
of quality education. “All regions, which are inflicted with Maoists
and militancy do not have good schools. If students are able to get
education instilled with Indian values, they will never deviate onto
the path of violence and corruption,” he had said at the silver
jubilee celebration of Adarsh Vidya Mandir Jaipur in Ambabari.

The Adarsh Vidya Mandir school is run by the RSS. The RSS, through its
Ekal Vidyalaya programme, has promised to set up a school each in the
country’s 500,000 villages in India. It already has several thousand
of such schools. It is another point that at the village level
schools, the RSS has kept its academic programme out of official
scrutiny. The educational standards, teachers qualifications – in many
schools, there is just one teacher – and the curricula and pedagogy
have never been examined by the state and central governments and
their agencies. Religious minorities have charged these schools with
the teaching of a warped Indian history and a focus on hate for
minorities and against those who do not fit the Sangh definition of
nationalism and patriotism.
The guru could not go unchallenged. Teachers present at the function
protested,, as did others. The Art of Living volunteers present at the
main gate got into a heated argument with the protesting teachers who
demanded a public apology for the remark. Police present in the
auditorium swung to action and disperse the teachers outside the
venue. A criminal complaint was later filed by local lawyers -
Surendra Dhaka, Jai Prakash Sharma and Manu Pancholi – in a lower
court charging Sri Sri with the offence of spreading hatred in society
and defaming people passing out of government schools. “We also feel
that his statement is anti-Constitution as it goes against Article 21-
A where the government is bound to provide free and compulsory
education to children of the age group six to 14 years,” one of the
petitioners said. “Ravi Shankar is reproducing the ideology of hate as
presented by Golwalkar and Savarkar which schools like Adarsh Vidya
Mandir teach in the country when he said that Adarsh schools should be
set up everywhere in the name of Bharatiya Sanskriti,” said Kavita
Srivastava, general secretary of PUCL

Sri Sri has however still not clarified that when he talks of private
schools full of culture and tradition and values, he is referring to
just Christian, or Muslim and, more plausible, Hindu missionary
schools including such as run by the RSS, the RK Misison and the Anlgo
Vaidic societies, or is he talking of private schools run by
mercenaries, fly by night operators, and big corporations who run high
income chains, branding their schools as so much merchandise. Of the
last, the Delhi Public School society is one example, with schools in
every state, practically, an several abroad. One school in Delhi
offers its rich clientele – there is no other word to describe the
families who send their wards here – not just education with a
laptop for everyone in the totally air conditioned building, but
also such extra curricular as golf, horse riding and polo and,
indoors, billiards. The fees is perhaps Rs 50,000. A school in
Bengaluru, I was authoritatively told, charges Rs 10,00,000. Even a
school run by the society named after the philosopher Jiddu
Krishnamurthy charges Rs 100,000.

The Sage of Bengaluru – his ashram is in the countryside outside the
IT city – could more fruitfully have called for a learned and
constructive debate on how to reach quality education to every child
in the age group of 6 years onwards covered in the Right to Education
Act, in effect to every young citizen of India, be he or she be born
in a hut in a hamlet or in a hospital in a metropolis.

As the data goes, less than 20 per cent of children go to private
schools. Researchers Geeta Kingdom and colleagues say “In India,
human capital formation has traditionally occurred in government
funded schools but since liberalisation in 1991, private schools
increasingly offer an alternative. According to household survey
data, private schooling participation in rural India has grown from
10% in 1993 to 23 percent of the student population in 2007; this is
much higher than in most developed countries. Private school
participation is considerably higher in urban India. The high demand
hints at dissatisfaction with government schooling and the superior
results of private schools suggest that these schools may do a better
job, on average, than government schools.

They however record that private schools in India have generally less
qualified teachers than government schools and operate using much
lower levels of capital. However, private schools operate within the
market and as a result have strong incentives to be competitive.
Private schools hire teachers who often do not have a teaching
certificate and pay them a fraction of the salaries of government
schools, but they hire more teachers to reduce class sizes. The heads
have far greater control over hiring and firing of teachers and thus
are able to exhibit tighter control, have higher attendance and only
retain effective teachers.

Observers note that the “opportunity for the business of education in
India” is huge. India has the world’s largest population of school
going children at over 200 million. There are only about 75,000
private schools in India. While some of the ultra rich schools have
found avenues to bend the law by sharp auditing practices, schools
have to, by law, remain non profit. Human Resource Development
Minister Kapil Sibal is on record saying those seeking to make profits
out of schools “can take a hike”. According to a research report
published in January 2009 by IDFC SSKI, only $180 million of private
equity investment has taken place in the formal education sector –
from playschools, to coaching classes, online tutoring and digital
content for schools.

According to research studies, of the total schools, about 87.30
percent schools are located in the rural areas. The number of primary
schools has increased 8,09,108, influenced by the impact of Sarva
Shiksha Abhiyan under which a large number of schools have been
opened. As of 30th September 2008, as many as 1,26,335 primary and
48,994 upper primary schools/sections have been opened under
Government management since the inception of SSA.

The condition of schools run by the government is improving from its
dark ages in the 1970s and 1980s before Operation Blackboard and other
Missions were launched. There still remain many schools without
blackboards About 88 percent of the 1.29 million schools that impart
elementary education in the country now have drinking water facility
in school. And 67 percent schools in the country now have access to
common toilets in 2008-09 compared to only 62.67 percent in the
previous year, government data shows. More than 50 percent of total
1.29 million schools now have girl’s toilet compared to 50.55 percent
in the previous year. 14 percent schools have computer in schools
with percentage of such schools as high as 85.88 percent in
Chandigarh, 85.84 percent in Delhi, 79.93 percent in Kerala and 89.74
percent in Lakshadweep compared to only 0.68 percent in Bihar and 3.59
percent such schools in Uttar Pradesh.

Researchers say enrolment both at the primary and upper primary level
of education has also increased significantly. The enrolment increased
from 101.16 million in 2002-03 to 131.85 million in 2006-07 and
further to 134.38 million in 2008-09. Over a period of time, enrolment
in upper primary classes has also shown consistent increase. From a
low of 37.72 million in 2004-05, it has increased to 53.35 million in
2008-09.

A very significant research finding is that at the primary level, the
share of Scheduled caste and Scheduled Tribe enrolment with respect to
total enrolment works out to 19.94 and 11.68 percent respectively.
Notably, at all levels, government schools are the main providers of
educational needs of both SC and ST children. The share of OBC
enrolment in the elementary classes is 42.26 percent. The apparent
survival rate (to Grade V) improved to 76 percent in 2008-09. This is
also reflected in retention rate at primary level which is estimated
to be 75 percent.
The national government educational data is staggering in all
segments. The total number of teachers in 2008-09 suggests that about
5.79 million teachers are engaged in teaching in schools imparting
elementary education in the country. The data also shows appointment
of a large number of teachers across the country consequent to the
Sarva Siksha Abhiyan.

The curricula – much of it approved and formulated by the National
Centre for Educational Research and Training, NCERT, brings a certain
uniformity is the standard of education. It is no one’s point that the
government’s – both state and central – educational programme can be
at par with the best in the private sector. But many government
schools, especially those run by the centre, compete effectively with
their private counterparts in the results for the Class Tenth and
Twelfth board examinations. Much remains to be done to make education
a reality for every single child, and even more remains in the areas
of higher education, vocational studies and brining technological
courses to rural India, but the progress has been significant.

And there is no data available from the Bureau of Police Research and
Development has no data that would go to show that students of
government schools, and colleges, join the Maoists any more than
anyone else.
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar will, perhaps, next time not take on the very,
very large alumni of government schools, or the collective might of
the teaching faculty.
- The writer is a prominent human rights activist & former Editor of Mid Day (New Delhi).

No related posts.

Purpose of the Event: To show case the multi-cultural nature of the Little India Traders by utilizing

the Indian Bollywood Theme to bring families together as fun day. The word Bollywood is easily

identify with in all communities consensus meaning dance, music, film and clothes.

Bollywood Festival will transform the street into Indian Bazaar feel, where the shops will have

market style stalls on the pavement. So take a moment to visualise the shops strewn with

garlands of paper flowers to enhance this look, using the featured colour scheme of pink, gold, red

and yellow. Smell the fragrance incense and wafting smells of fresh curries being cooked and serve

alfresco outside the five cafes and restaurant.

Listen to the sounds of tabla players and dancers weaving their way down the footpath. Take a

moment to stop at the chai cart set up serving freshly brewed chai, letting visitors new to this

refreshing drink to sit and linger taking in the sounds and sights. Or to sit and allow the henna

artist to tattoo ones hands are with age old symbols.

Behind the shops, central stage will be host to the famous Bhangra Dancers, Fijian Meke, Dhool,

DJ Baba, Belly Dancers,Tabla, Sitar players, African Drumming and M.C. Azim and Nalihi to name

just a few who will entertained with music and dance. Colours that are dazzling to the eyes as

beautiful Saris, Salwaar Kameeza, Punjab outfit and alternative clothing are parade on stage

showcasing the clothing traders.

One segment is Bollywood dance for those who would love to learn this. And some basic lessons

in stress release through yoga which will be held later in the afternoon at the Pop/Up/ Park. Other

activities at the Pop/up/ Park for children will be Vic Cricket workshop, Jumping Fun castle, face

painting, clowning and small rides for younger children.

Vic Cricket will be hosting coaching lessons that are age related, so for the younger children, it will

be focused on eye hand co-ordination and balance. Older age group will focus on friendly matches

and pointers on skills. Cricket creates a sporting activity for children that break down cultural

barriers, creating physical fitness, team players, good sportsmanship. One could hope the next

upcoming Australian players could come from these many nationalities. Cricket has the ability to

break down barriers as it’s so strongly followed by the south Asian population.

We the traders of the Little India precinct are proud of the cultural diversity of Indian, Fijian

Indian, Fijian, Egyptian, Serbian, Cambodian, Pakistani, Afghani, Australian and Lebanese who

work together in creating this amazing community.

Sponsors are the Office of Multiculturalism, ANZ Mobile Lenders Rowville, Clayton, Places Victoria,

Bank of Melbourne, Mission Australia, Punjab Sweets Bikaneer Sweets and the Greater City of

Dandenong.

Big thank you to Bristol Paints Doveton\ and the following presenters on stage Bollywood Jhoom,

Shem Belly Dancing, Mai Nachungi Dance, Shriram Iyer, Kubra Elyas, Vikrant Raj Bollywood

Dancer , Kushaal Prasad Dhool Drum, Valvish Dhool Drum, Raj Kumara, Traditional Dancer, David

Pal Tabla & Harmonia, Naval Moudgil , Radhey Sitar with more to come

Media Partners Indus age, Hello Bollywood, SAT, Santa Banta, Beyond India, Indian Link will be

identified on the events programme and posters and will be publicly thanked on stage for their

help in bringing this festival to fruition.

Little India hopes there will be continuing festivals held within this cultural precinct. Will transform

the street into Indian Bazaar feel, where the shops will have market style stalls on the pavement.

So take a moment to visualise the shops strewn with garlands of paper flowers to enhance this

look, using the featured colour scheme of pink, gold, red and yellow, incense and smell the fragrance.
- Media Release

No related posts.

By our community reporter

Melbourne: Finally, Liitle India traders in Dandenong won the battle. The Victorian Premier Ted Baillieu’s office intervened in the matter and clinched the issue. A letter to the traders association on 28th February brought the good news of compensation from Places Victoria. The compensation will be paid individually to traders for loss of business as a consequence of the Dandenong Revitalization Project.
The compensation news was announced by Little India spokesperson Kaushaliya Vaghela at a largely attended traders meeting. The welcome announcement was celebrated with sweets and all those who supported the movement were thanked. It was resolved to take things in their stride and move ahead to hold the Bollywood Festival at Little India on 15th April.
Talking to SAT, Mrs. Kaushaliya Vaghela said, “We are thankful and pleased the Victorian Premier Mr. Ted Baillieu intervened to get the traders compensation demand accepted”.
Last month following Premier’s super trade mission to India and importance of boosting trade with India, the Premier’s office got directly involved to end the ongoing issues and disputes between Dandenong’s Little India traders and Planning Minister Matthew Guy over a redevelopment by the Places Victoria.
The offer from the government to consider compensation came as Mr Baillieu visited Delhi, Bangalore and Mumbai with 220 Victorian businesses as part of a mission to boost the state’s exports. A group of 37 traders at the Little India argued they were badly affected by the works and that plummeting foot traffic had seen their trade dry up. The traders demanded the government’s Places Victoria agency, which is their landlord, compensates them for the impact on their businesses.
Following the traders demonstration at the Victorian Parliament on 6th December, 2011, on Christmas day Mr. Matthew Guy, who was negotiating with the traders, offered them six months’ rent relief.
It was discussed in the community that the Premier’s office had to intervene because of lack of action on the part of the Planning Minister. He had said in the Parliament that the Little India issue was a mess left by Labor. But the danger of giving a wrong message in India during the trade mission made a solution possible. So, before the Premier left for India he instructed the issue be wrapped up with a solution.
The other factor was the ALP support to the Little India issue and its rising clout in the community. The trade mission blessing ceremony did not see any Lib attending giving a negative message. Obviously, Labor could not be blamed for this. The community was already discussing who was supporting and who was opposing on the social networking sites.
Manoj Kumar active in support of Little India traders feels “its great news and every Victorian must be happy to see protection of jobs of about 100 people and livelihood of 37 traders including the unique Little India multicultural icon.”
SOURCE: SAT, March 2012

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