United Nations selects Punjab company to tackle malnutrition

To realize its ambition of a world free of malnutrition and hunger, IIMSAM joined hands with Hash Biotech Labs Private Limited from the Republic of India. Hash Biotech Labs Private Limited which has been declared as an Official Working Partner and Technology Facilitator by the IIMSAM, shall help the organization carry and secure its mandate in India and South Asia- a region that has the worst malnutrition statistics in the world.
Spirulina that was declared as the best food for the future by the United Nations World Food Conference in the year 1974 holds tremendous potential to eradicate malnutrition, achieve food security and bridge health divide.
Hash Biotech Labs is part of the Hash Group of Companies which is led by young entrepreneur Mr. Vikrant Sandal who firmly believes that businesses have to play a larger and leading role in the 21st century sustainable development agenda. The young scientific team of the Hash Biotech Labs works under the able guidance of world renowned scientist Dr. Surendra Singh who has done significant and exemplary work in the field of micro-algal research.
IIMSAM along with the Hash Biotech Labs and Kanwaljit Sandal Foundation is also developing an IIMSAM-KSF Model for Grassroots Development which is a self-sustainable micro-entrepreneurship development programme which has a specific relevance for the developing countries.
Initially to be launched in India and South Asia, the programme shall soon spread to whole of the developing world.
(H.E. Amb. Manish Uprety offering prayers and homage to Late. Mr. Kanwaljit Sandal in Dasuya, Hoshirapur, India)
(Spirulina Educational Centre of Hash Biotech Labs in Dasuya, Hoshiyarpur, Punjab, India)
Besides providing free state of the art scientific technology for Spirulina cultivation to the poor farmers, women and self help groups; the programme shall encompass a unique Spirulina-Buy Back Guarantee arrangement which shall safeguard the socio-economic interests of the farmers.
Spirulina cultivation has specific relevance for the developing countries as the size of land holdings is continually decreasing with the years
leading to disempowerment and loss of capabilities of farmers and small land holding dwellers.
IIMSAM not only aspires to make Spirulina a key driver to eradicate malnutrition, achieve food security and bridge the health divide but also wants to establish lasting capacities and capabilities at the grassroots that initiate a self-sustainable empowerment process.
IIMSAM specifically chose Hash Laboratories as the Spirulina facilities of the organization are in Dasuya, Hoshiyarpur District of Punjab in India which has been declared as a backward. Not only the very facilities shall provide local employment opportunities but would also establish the district as a leading bio-technological hub in the country and the world. IIMSAM recognizes the relevance of Spirulina to eradicate malnutrition and to achieve the United Nations Millennium Development Goals. Our hybrid approach that has United Nations Global Compact as the bedrock recognizes the important role that businesses can play to achieve common goals; and our initiatives have a special priority for the marginalized.

HASH biotech labs is official working partner of the UN

A company based in Chandigarh, Hash Biotech Labs Private Ltd has become the “Official Working Partner” and “Technology Facilitator” of the United Nations in the organization’s mission of eradicating unemployment, poverty, malnutrition and hunger as part of the United Nation’s Millennium Development Goals. This feat is a rare honor for the city of Chandigarh as much as it is for the company.

February 17 2009 will remain etched in the memory of the company, as this was the day when the company was honored with a Certificate of recognition bearing the title of “The official Working Partner and Technological Facilitator”. This certificate was presented to His Excellency Ambassador Remigio Martin Maradona of the United Nations Economic and Social Council by the Director General, IIMSAM, Head of Observer Delegation. This honor was well deserved and was got after a thorough inspection of the facilities and research capabilities of Hash Biotech Labs Pvt. Ltd. by none other than H.E. Ambassador Manish Uprety, special envoy to south asia of the “Intergovernmental Institution for the use of Micro-algae Spirulina Against Malnutrition” (IIMSAM) in the first half of this month.

Further, Mr. Vikrant Sandal, Chairman, Hash Group of Companies received a letter from H.E. Ambassador Maradona praising him for bringing the uses of spirulina to the forefront and also wishing him in his efforts to stamp out malnutrition, achieve food sufficiency and narrow the health divide between the developed, developing and the under developed countries.

The IIMSAM has 14 official working partners, which includes the Mahatma Gandhi Foundation among others, but Hash Biotech is the only corporate body to have been granted this special status. So Hash Biotech is the only company which has the double status of the ‘Official Working Partner’ and ‘Technology Facilitator’.

IISAM and Hash Biotech will now partner together to implement the Rome declaration on world food security 1996. According to the Rome declaration, every individual has the right to access safe and nutritious food, adequate food and it is a fundamental right of every individual to be free from hunger. The declaration is committed to using its political will to bring together nations to decimating hunger and achieving food security in all the countries. The declaration targets to bring down the numbers of undernourished people to half their present level by the year 2015.

IIMSAM is a highly commended international institution that advocates the use of spirulina to counter malnutrition and has an international panel of experts who provide scientific, technological and operational assistance combined with sound engineering counsel. The ‘United Nations Economic and Social Council’ recognizes IIMSAM as a ‘Permanent Observer Mission’ and is one of the 16 intergovernmental organizations working within the ambit of the United Nations.

Hash Biotech Labs Private Limited, part of the Hash Group of Companies having interests in many fields is a leader in the field of Nano Bio-technology research. Under the fine entrepreneurship of Mr Vikrant Sandal ,Hash Biotech has revealed to the world its competence and potential in this field with the launch of its pilot project recently, which is a mass outdoor cultivation algal farm built from a single algal cell strain!

Sikhism is foundation of human rights: Burney

Mr.Burney said that he always bow his head in reverence to Sri Guru Nanak Dev ji who was the founder of Sikhism because the very foundation of this Cosmopolitan religion is based on the ideology of human rights. He said the concept of community kitchen (Langar) started by Guru Nanak Dev ji with just Rs.20 was a fine blend of social and moral values. He said to provide free food and shelter to a needy and poor was nothing but a sheer respect to the basic values of mankind with a sense of selfless service....read here....

Mohali gets 307 crore under Jawaharlal Nehru scheme

The Government of India has approved an outlay of Rs.307 crore for [tag]SAS Nagar[/tag] ([tag]Mohali[/tag]) to be included in Jawahar Lal Nehru Urban Renewable Mission (JNNURM) to upgrade the existing infrastructure and ensure planned development of the city.
http://www.punjabnewspaper.com/wordpress/2007/12/09/mohali-gets-3070-million-under-urban-scheme/
Talking to the media persons after inaugurating the annual Fete 'Vibes 07' here at [tag]St. Soldier School Mohali[/tag], Punjab Chief Minister Mr. Parkash Singh [tag]Badal[/tag] said that 50% of the entire project cost would be borne out by the Center and remaining by the State government. He said that an amount of Rs.27 crore had already been released and placed at the disposal of Municipal Council Mohali and the remaining Rs.180 crore would be released soon.
It may be recalled the municipal council Mohali had formulated project proposals to the tune of Rs.360 crore for Mohali town under JNNURM which mainly included local transit system connecting Chandigarh, Mohali and Panchkula (mono rail/city bus service) besides enhancing water supply both residential and commercial, installation of sewage treatment plant, solid waste management, multi storied parking and widening of major road network. A comprehensive city development plan for the Mohali would be prepared by the reputed consultancy firm.
Asked to comment on the financial position of the state, Mr. Badal retorted that the previous government had put the state under the staggering debt of Rs.50,000 crore due to its wrong and ill conceived economic policies. He termed the callous attitude of congress government for creating financial mess in the state as a 'criminal act'. He said when SAD-BJP government demitted office in 2002 Punjab ranked at the top slot in the country but now it had been relegated to 5 th position owing to mismanagement of the congress regime. Mr. Badal said: "It is all on the record and we are ready to bring the factual position on the floor of the house in Vidhan Sabha".
Squarely holding responsible the former Chief Minister Capt. Amarinder Singh for stalling Rs.16000 crore [tag]Bathinda[/tag] [tag]Oil Refinery[/tag], Mr. Badal said: "I fail to understand what prompted Amarinder to shelve the Refinery project who termed it as a 'white elephant'. Has this project not economically viable this would have not been implemented that too by one of the richest business man in the world Mr. [tag]Lakshmi Niwas Mittal[/tag] of [tag]Mittal[/tag] Group who has put in huge investments in the prestigious project in collaboration with [tag]Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Limited[/tag] ([tag]HPCL[/tag])".
Asked to make comment about taking certain tough measures and withdrawing few subsidies to improve the financial heath of the state, Mr. Badal said that the state government would cautiously deliberate upon all the related issues before taking such hard decisions. He however said that the people must contribute and be partners in the development process because the government alone could not carry out all the development plans and schemes on its own.
Earlier addressing the students on the occasion Mr. Badal said that education played a vital role in shaping one's personality in general and destiny of any state or nation in particular. He said our government has laid special emphasis on the quality education by opening Adarsh Schools intended to impart free and quality education to the poor and bright students. Outlining the need to make education compulsory for girls, the Chief Minister said that girls had outshined boys in every field viz academics, sports, extra curricular activities, administration and even in the trade and commerce. They have even captured the male dominated bastion of Army, Navy and Air Force by proving their mettle.
He called upon the students to launch a crusade against the social evils of female feticide and drug addiction through bringing awareness amongst the masses especially in the rural areas. He asked the management of the school to reserve few free seats for the poor and un-privileged sections of the society.
Later the Chief Minister accompanied by the Chairman of the School Mr. Karnail Singh Brar and Director Mr. Karandeep Singh Brar took around of different stalls put up by the students in the fete.


Technorati Tags     mohali,SASNagar,LakhsmiMittal,Bathinda

souvenirs from PU, Chandigarh

Souvenirs, gift items and memorabilia from Panjab university, Chandigarh have been launched. They can be purchased here.
http://www.cafepress.com/puchandigarh