What Is The Corpse Flower Sensation? And Why Is Viral Science A Learning Opportunity?

Source: National Geographic


It\’s rare that a single flower becomes a viral, stakeout sensation. We admit that we\’ve been fixated. While YouTube eyes are currently obsessed with a grotesque and freakish bloom, educators may be missing an opportunity.

Yesterday the New York Botanical Garden (NYBG) announced that after a decade of cultivation, the Amorphophallus titanum finally began to bloom. Commonly known as the \”corpse flower,\” this plant from Sumatra in Indonesia exudes the smell of rotting meat as it opens. The putrid odor and the otherworldly shape are keys to its appeal, as its startling height. The flower has notched the Guinness World Record for the tallest bloom in cultivation at over 10 feet (and even larger in its natural habitat).

The New York Botanical Garden first hosted a successful bloom of the corpse flower in 1937. A second emerged in in 1939, but generations have past to witness the third revelation of this dreamy, rancid blossom. Visitors have been lining up, and online watchers have been glued to the YouTube livestream, mostly because the scare appearance lasts for only 24 – 36 hours.

Why is this floral oddity relevant for teachers and students? On a basic level, this quirky natural artifact offers countless avenues for science learners to explore biology, botany, morphology, behavior, pollination, inflorescence, germination, dormancy, regionality, and cultivation. For example, the bloom is not actually one large flower. Instead it comprises a leaf-like ring of outbursts surrounding a central column.

On a higher level, the fascination with this shy and fetid flower speaks to every teacher\’s desire (and angst): how can we make make learning relevant? How can we pinpoint the moving target of our contemporary kids\’ attention spans? If they are attracted by a weird plant, what can we learn from this momentary buzz to inform our curricula?

Is it too much to ask that a daily lesson is unexpected? Is it pandering to give students something to anticipate, to look forward to? The allure of the NYBG \”Corpse Flower Cam\” lies in the waiting. It rests in the charisma of the macabre. Why does a flower smell so bad? What is the evolutionary attraction for carrion creatures that will come and spread the pollen?

Source: NYBGChicago Botanic Garden


Source: University Of Wisconsin-Madison

In other words, all classes should unfold like a mystery. Children ought to be rapt in the one-in-a-million stories: the collapse of the Spanish armada, the elegance of Euler\’s identity, the chance of penicillin\’s discovery, or the lightning of a boy\’s forehead.

For locals, the occasion to visit a monstrous plant that reeks of spoiled flesh is priceless. Would that all of our classes were as exhilarating. For the rest of us, this is a neat moment that we should remember in September, to excite STEM learners and to wake up the drowsy kids who don\’t think our \”Do Now\” exercise lives up to their Snapchat feed.

Scenario planning for educators – session 1

Well here I am again on another MOOC train. Hopefully, this one will be designed so the activities are achievable.  Luckily I already had a workable blog so that has saved some time. This series of workshops is on Scenario planning for educators. If I remember right, I was first introduced to this concept in 2004 when Wayne Macintosh spoke about the concept at the Third Pan-Commonwealth Forum conference. I found the concept fascinating then albeit a little hard to comprehend.

A lot has happened since then in education – change has accelerated in the tertiary sector.  Now the concept of MOOCs and Open Education Resources (OER) and Open Education Practices (OEP) is at the forefront along with mobile learning, and predictions about gamification and the concept of seamless learning. I have written about these predictions in the Trends module for the Flexible Learning course

One of my goals for this course is to understand how scenario planning can be used for engaging teams with strategic change within an organisation. I am sure that more goals will unfold as I learn more about the process. 

Visualizing The Summer Olympics – Mapping The 2016 Rio Torch Relay

Source: Rio 2016 Olympics Wiki


On Friday, August 5, 2016, the eyes of the world will be fixated on Rio de Janeiro for the opening ceremonies of the Games of the XXXI Olympiad. The #RoadToRio has notoriously been potholed by damaging news stories about Zika mosquitoswater pollutionconstruction delaysfinancial collapse, and rampant crime. Still, the tenacity of the tireless athletes and the nobility of the Olympic quest will unite the globe for two weeks and will present terrific opportunities for visualizations and education.

Source: Rio 2016


The torch relay, in particular, inaugurates the Games as the flame travels from its Greek origins to then crisscross Brazil in an escalating parade of famous athletes and historic sites. Mapping this journey through graphics and animations offers valuable chances to learn about geography and c

Have you got a happy place – my introduction

Welcome to my blog. I will be using this to connect with you in the Learning and Teaching in Practice course. I reckon it is my role as the course coordinator to show you how it all works.  Do you know how scary that is? I have to write something interesting so you will read it. I am going to use this blog less formally to share my thoughts and ideas about the topics, and also any information that I come across. I hope you will take the time to leave me comments.

I see this as my chance to develop a digital portfolio alongside you….and find out if it really is going to work. Can you see the link to my ePortfolio top right? More detail about my profile and how I got to this space can be read on there. I see the portfolio as a more formal record of the evidence and learning for each module of the course. It will become an exemplar that I hope you find useful. 

I am a little nervous about all this because getting teachers to use blogs and digital portfolios can either be an adventure for everyone or something they want to avoid, and then it doesn\’t work so well. Perhaps I should book that ticket to Bhutan now. I mention Bhutan because that is my favourite place at the moment – they have Gross National Happiness – how cool is that! I guess it is my happy place to retreat to when things get challenging. Have you got one?

For all this to work requires everyone to make time to read each others blogs/portfolios and leave comments. Since there are 16 people in the course you will need to be selective and to rotate around the blogs you read. Don\’t expect to read every blog every week – just do what you can manage. It is surprising what you can learn from others\’ ideas, and that can sometimes save you time. In time you may decide to only follow those people who are more in tune with your context.

Designing The Iconic Flame – A Visual History Of The Olympic Torch

Source: Rio 2016
Design is the marriage of message and motif. It is the intersection of identity and icon. In crafting a logo or a slogan or a character, the end symbol is the summation of both the shape and the story.
That’s why the images of the Olympic Games have reached such exalted status. The five rings are a beacon of continental unity. The posters and medals and mascots have linked arms through the years to provide an intriguing portrait of episodic design trends and nationalistic pride.
Source: Rio 2016
Looking back at the summer and winter Games, we have offered reviews of: 
The Olympic torch is an often-overlooked aspect of sports history. Many viewers might remember the televised cauldron lightings, but few can recall the specifics of each particular torch style. This is a shame, because the Rio 2016 cresset is a testament to careful design and deeply embedded meaning.
The Rio torch, as always, represents “peace, unity, and friendship.” This particular beacon, however, features many other subtle elements to personify the flair and landscape of Brazil. For example, this torch is the first to extend and grow. From the official Olympics site:

Source: Rio 2016

The hues and textures of the expanded torch pay tribute to the gold Brazilian sun, the green mountain curves, the blue ocean ripples, and the grounded Copacabana promenade. The winning design from Chelles & Hayashi was chosen unanimously from 76 nationwide submissions. Additionally, “each torch – crafted from recycled aluminum and resin with a satin finish – weighs between 1kg and 1.5kg and stands 63.5cm high when contracted and 69cm when expanded.”

For a look back at past Olympic torches, this wiki outlines a complete list of manufacturers and designers. For a visual gallery, the Olympic site includes icons going back to the 1936 Berlin Games.
Personally, our historic favorites are the art deco Innsbruck 1976, the knifed Sydney 2000, and this year’s evocative Rio 2016:

Source: Olympic.org

Our least favorites are the spatulaed Montreal 1976, the cucumbered Albertville 1992, and the twizzlered Sochi 2014

Source: Olympic.org

For other ideas about teaching with the Olympics, we recommend:

Expert learners: Learning and Teaching in Practice

The concept of Expert Learners, became a whole lot clearer to me after the workshop last week. This is one of the topics in the first module, Learner Characteristics, Knowing the Learner.  

We brainstormed some ideas about what being an expert learner might involve. As you can see, having some experience with learning,  knowing how to process information at high levels including metacognition and critical thinking were on the list. Flexibility, seeking out information and making connections to prior knowledge and proven theories was also regarded as important. After that we did some activities located on the Excellence Gateway Treasury, a UK site for learning and skills improvement.

For me learning at the level of metacognition and using critical thinking is really important. To do this you have to be really aware of how you learn and also how you regulate your cognitive processes. For me, this involves setting goals and engaging in reflective learning, and also knowing how to find, use and critique information and resources (including people) to develop new knowledge. It also means having the confidence to get on with it rather than waiting for someone to tell me what to do and how to do it. This confidence also means being able to problem-solve, be persistent, take risks and come out the other side with a different take on things. As an expert learner, I need to be open and flexible to whatever comes along, curious and autonomous, and for me learning collaboratively and sharing knowledge is high on the list. 

 This takes lots of experience and the development of many skills. Now that I have completed a PhD, I feel as if I now know how to learn. But should we have to go to that extreme to become an expert learner? I think not.

So what do the experts say? According to my reading, expert learners have many of the characteristics, I have mentioned and more. The resources and activities available for Developing the Expert Learner, also got us thinking about which characteristics were more important (high impact) or less important (low impact). Each group had different priorities. For example, one group considered that curiosity, being well organised and setting goals were important whereas the other group thought these characteristics were less important, choosing things like organising and analysing information and understanding the course or qualification requirements as priorities. 

When we thought  about which characteristics were more likely to show at each stage of the learning journey – from recruitment, induction, through an initial assessment, learning plans and the learning process, until assessment and graduation – a different set of priorities emerged. For example, at induction the group thought that a potential expert learner would be more likely to demonstrate flexibility when approaching new situations and be able to understand the qualification requirements, possibly already understanding how they learn but less able to establish goals and monitor progress, and be an autonomous learner since these are skills that would develop later on with experience and support.

Wild and Heck\’s (2011) website (ID 4 the Web) has a great synopsis about the characteristics of expert learners – who engage actively in learning by participating to develop their knowledge and understanding, take responsibility and lead their learning. They do this through self-regulation by planning, monitoring and evaluating their learning. I agree with their take on the expert learner since it relies heavily on active learning, metacognition and as such involves reflective learning. From my perspective an expert learner engages in reflective practice using critical reflection and as such transforming their behaviours, attitudes and perceptions about the knowledge they are developing. I wonder what you think about my view?

This 4 minute video about active learning by NWIACOMMCOLLEGE gives some ideas about basic activities that can encourage this in the face-to-face and online classrooms – it involves three types of approach: teaching strategies, small tasks and methods for \”discovering, processing and applying information\”. According to the message in the video, anything that encourages participation is active learning because deeper learning occurs when the students \”analyse, define, create and evaluate information\”. By doing this they retain \”90% of what they do\”. Compare this to retaining \”10% of what they read\” or \”20% of what they hear\” or \”70% of what they say and write\”. 

So the message is, you can read as much as you want or hear and write all sorts of stuff but unless you actively do something with the information to process it, you wont retain the knowledge or understand it adequately, and learning won\’t be as effective. Do you agree?

Recess Rescue: Why Play Time Should Be Written Into The Students\’ Bill Of Rights

Source: ASIDE 2016


As our nation’s children head to back to the classroom, many schools find themselves trying to rein in kids’ summer impulses. Strict conduct policies are emphasizing rules and enforcing straight lines on students who are used to gamboling in backyards and lolling for hours.

Many Scandinavian countries, most brain science, and all veteran teachers would encourage the exact opposite. They would argue that instead of limiting play, educators should expand the amount of free time dedicated to socialization and creativity. Imagination itself is not learned, but it can be unlearned due to the drone of worksheets and mandates.


Source: ASIDE 2016


While many schools nationwide are reducing free play opportunities, our neighboring Patchogue-Medford district here on Long Island has actually doubled recess time from 20 to 40 minutes. In fact, a few Texas and Oklahoma schools now schedule recess four times a day. These changes are not capricious; they are part of studies such as the LiiNK Project, which has found that physical activity increases students\’ emotional well-being and reduces instances of bullying and stress. The American Academy of Pediatrics supports these findings with its seminal white paper about \”The Crucial Role Of Recess In School.\”

Across the board, students, teachers, parents, administrators, kinesiologists, therapists, and test graders are all witnessing the positive outcomes of enhanced play time. The scientist Jaak Panksepp has devoted a career of research to answering two pivotal questions: Where in the brain does play come from? And is it a learned activity, or is it a basic function?

Source: ASIDE 2016


NPR has highlighted Panksepp’s studies, showcasing that play is deep and instinctive, shared across mammals, and integral to survival. Important social skills stem from play, in testing interactions, probing limits, and navigating hierarchies. In other words, play is primitive, the natural outcome of time and trust.

Children need this unstructured time to make mistakes and develop friendships on their own terms. The arena of the soccer field or the sand box is ideal in nurturing successful adults. Recess is not a privilege. It should not be an afterthought. It should instead be written into the students’ Bill Of Rights.

Source: KOIN


Otherwise, what are our playgrounds? Are they monuments to eras past? Are they the still testaments to the naivety of earlier generations? Are they just another hallmark of the sped-up modern day, the never-enough-time-for day, when the things we wish for are just that — wishes?

Recess Rescue: Why Play Time Should Be Written Into The Students\’ Bill Of Rights

Source: ASIDE 2016


As our nation’s children head to back to the classroom, many schools find themselves trying to rein in kids’ summer impulses. Strict conduct policies are emphasizing rules and enforcing straight lines on students who are used to gamboling in backyards and lolling for hours.

Many Scandinavian countries, most brain science, and all veteran teachers would encourage the exact opposite. They would argue that instead of limiting play, educators should expand the amount of free time dedicated to socialization and creativity. Imagination itself is not learned, but it can be unlearned due to the drone of worksheets and mandates.


Source: ASIDE 2016


While many schools nationwide are reducing free play opportunities, our neighboring Patchogue-Medford district here on Long Island has actually doubled recess time from 20 to 40 minutes. In fact, a few Texas and Oklahoma schools now schedule recess four times a day. These changes are not capricious; they are part of studies such as the LiiNK Project, which has found that physical activity increases students\’ emotional well-being and reduces instances of bullying and stress. The American Academy of Pediatrics supports these findings with its seminal white paper about \”The Crucial Role Of Recess In School.\”

Across the board, students, teachers, parents, administrators, kinesiologists, therapists, and test graders are all witnessing the positive outcomes of enhanced play time. The scientist Jaak Panksepp has devoted a career of research to answering two pivotal questions: Where in the brain does play come from? And is it a learned activity, or is it a basic function?

Source: ASIDE 2016


NPR has highlighted Panksepp’s studies, showcasing that play is deep and instinctive, shared across mammals, and integral to survival. Important social skills stem from play, in testing interactions, probing limits, and navigating hierarchies. In other words, play is primitive, the natural outcome of time and trust.

Children need this unstructured time to make mistakes and develop friendships on their own terms. The arena of the soccer field or the sand box is ideal in nurturing successful adults. Recess is not a privilege. It should not be an afterthought. It should instead be written into the students’ Bill Of Rights.

Source: KOIN


Otherwise, what are our playgrounds? Are they monuments to eras past? Are they the still testaments to the naivety of earlier generations? Are they just another hallmark of the sped-up modern day, the never-enough-time-for day, when the things we wish for are just that — wishes?

Recess Rescue: Why Play Time Should Be Written Into The Students\’ Bill Of Rights

Source: ASIDE 2016


As our nation’s children head to back to the classroom, many schools find themselves trying to rein in kids’ summer impulses. Strict conduct policies are emphasizing rules and enforcing straight lines on students who are used to gamboling in backyards and lolling for hours.

Many Scandinavian countries, most brain science, and all veteran teachers would encourage the exact opposite. They would argue that instead of limiting play, educators should expand the amount of free time dedicated to socialization and creativity. Imagination itself is not learned, but it can be unlearned due to the drone of worksheets and mandates.


Source: ASIDE 2016


While many schools nationwide are reducing free play opportunities, our neighboring Patchogue-Medford district here on Long Island has actually doubled recess time from 20 to 40 minutes. In fact, a few Texas and Oklahoma schools now schedule recess four times a day. These changes are not capricious; they are part of studies such as the LiiNK Project, which has found that physical activity increases students\’ emotional well-being and reduces instances of bullying and stress. The American Academy of Pediatrics supports these findings with its seminal white paper about \”The Crucial Role Of Recess In School.\”

Across the board, students, teachers, parents, administrators, kinesiologists, therapists, and test graders are all witnessing the positive outcomes of enhanced play time. The scientist Jaak Panksepp has devoted a career of research to answering two pivotal questions: Where in the brain does play come from? And is it a learned activity, or is it a basic function?

Source: ASIDE 2016


NPR has highlighted Panksepp’s studies, showcasing that play is deep and instinctive, shared across mammals, and integral to survival. Important social skills stem from play, in testing interactions, probing limits, and navigating hierarchies. In other words, play is primitive, the natural outcome of time and trust.

Children need this unstructured time to make mistakes and develop friendships on their own terms. The arena of the soccer field or the sand box is ideal in nurturing successful adults. Recess is not a privilege. It should not be an afterthought. It should instead be written into the students’ Bill Of Rights.

Source: KOIN


Otherwise, what are our playgrounds? Are they monuments to eras past? Are they the still testaments to the naivety of earlier generations? Are they just another hallmark of the sped-up modern day, the never-enough-time-for day, when the things we wish for are just that — wishes?

NCC committed to groom youth into responsible citizens, says DG NCC Lt Gen Rajeev Chopra

Director General of National Cadet Corps (NCC) Lt Gen Rajeev Chopra has emphasised that the NCC is committed to grooming the youth into responsible citizens who contribute immensely in nation building. Addressing the annual press conference during the NCC Republic Day Camp (RDC) here today, the DG NCC highlighted the major role of NCC in empowering the youth in nation building, creating social awareness, community development, environment protection, sports and adventure among them.

Lt Gen Chopra said, the training philosophy of the NCC cadets has been refined to accommodate the changing aspirations of the youth and expectations of the society. “The focus is now on personality development, leadership traits and improving soft skills of the cadets, so as to equip them for future challenges,” he added.

The DG NCC highlighted that Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) have been signed with 10 countries for Youth Exchange Programme (YEP). However, to give the cadets a wider exposure, YEP with seven more countries is in an advanced stage of approval, he said.

The RDC 2020 commenced at the Cariappa Parade Ground on January 01, 2020. Lt Gen Chopra addressed the cadets & officials and asked the cadets to participate wholeheartedly and derive maximum benefits from each activity during the camp.

The aim of the RDC is to provide an exposure to the rich culture and traditions of the country through important events that take place in the national capital during the run up to the Republic Day as well as to enhance the personal traits of the cadets by strengthening their value system. Cadets attending the camp participate in a number of activities like cultural competitions, national integration awareness programme and various institutional training competitions.

A total of 2,155 cadets, including 710 girls, drawn from all 28 states and nine Union Territories (UTs), are participating in this month-long camp. They include cadets from UTs of Jammu & Kashmir, Ladakh and 120 cadets from the North Eastern Region. Portraying a reflection of ‘Mini India’, the camp will be visited by a number of dignitaries, including Raksha Mantri, Raksha Rajya Mantri, Chief of Defence Staff, the Chiefs of the Army, Navy and Air Force and the Chief Minister of Delhi. The camp will culminate with the customary Prime Minister’s rally on January 28.

A number of competitions will take place during the camp, wherein all 17 directorates compete for the coveted Prime Minister’s Banner which is presented by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi during the PM rally. A large number of selected cadets will get an opportunity to participate in the prestigious Republic Day Parade on January 26 at Rajpath.

 

****************

AI & machine learning will contribute Usd 1 trillion to Indian economy by 2035; government committed to ensuring stable environment for investors and startups- Piyush Goyal

Commerce and Industry & Railways Minister Piyush Goyal today inaugurated the National Stock Exchange (NSE) Knowledge Hub in New Delhi, an Artificial Intelligence (AI) powered learning ecosystem that will assist the banking, financial services and insurance (BFSI) sector. Speaking on this occasion Commerce & Industry Minister said that although India has developed as the second largest fintech hub in the world, a lot of work still needs to be done in the BFSI sector. He hoped that the Knowledge Hub created by NSE will fill in these gaps and help the financial sector to move into the future.

The NSE Knowledge Hub will enhance skills and help academic institutions in preparing future-ready talent for the financial service industry. It is also available on mobile and attempts to bring together world class content and learners through this state- of- the- art and future- ready platform.

Commerce and Industry Minister said that this industry driven learning eco systemwill help India in building next generation skills and capabilities in the BFSI sector. The use of AI will ensure that the skill upgradation is affordable and accessible and helps in the creation of a workforce that is adequate for the requirements of the sector said Piyush Goyal. AI and Machine Learning will contribute USD 1 trillion by 2035 and this is a good beginning by NSE to tap the potential of AI and use it as a tool to create a workforce in the BFSI sector in India added the Minister.

Commerce and Industry Minister assured continued Government support to investors and startups and said that India is a safe investment destination today for investors, even the smallest of investors and this Knowledge Hub by NSE will strengthen and empower those working in the BFSI sector and will benefit investors and the financial services to give world class services through knowledge, innovation and value- addition.

***

Election Commission of India Announces Schedule for General Election to the Legislative Assembly of NCT of Delhi, 2020– Polling to be held on 8th February, 2020 and Counting on 11th February, 2020

Election Commission of India  today announced the Schedule for General Election to the Legislative Assembly of NCT of Delhi, 2020.  Please see the following link for due details.

            Pl. click here to see the details

 

*************

Call on Prime Minister by Mr. Tharman Shanmugaratnam, Senior Minister and Coordinating Minister for Social Policies, Singapore

Mr. Tharman Shanmugaratnam, Senior Minister and Coordinating Minister for Social Policies, Singapore called on Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi today.

Prime Minister welcomed Mr. Shanmugaratnam to India and extended his warm wishes on the occasion of New Year to Mr. Shanmugaratnam and through him to Mr. Lee Hsien Loong, Prime Minister of Singapore.

Prime Minister and Mr. Shanmugaratnam expressed satisfaction at the rapid pace of bilateral relations.  They discussed several matters of mutual interest in the sphere of economic cooperation, including infrastructure, skills, India-Singapore Comprehensive Economic Cooperation Agreement (CECA), and digital economy.  Mr. Shanmugaratnam lauded Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi’s leadership in social transformation of India and in encouraging digital economy.

Prime Minister also expressed his desire to strengthen further cooperation between India and Singapore in the areas of infrastructure, tourism, digital payment systems, innovation and governance.

*************

PM attends the centenary celebrations of Kirloskar Brothers Ltd.

Prime Minister Shri. Narendra Modi graced the centenary celebrations of Kirloskar Brothers Ltd. (KBL) organised in New Delhi today. Prime Minister released a postage stamp to commemorate 100 years of KBL. The PM also unveiled the Hindi version of the biography of Late Shri. Laxmanrao Kirloskar, founder of Kirloskar Brothers, titled ‘Yantrik ki Yatra – The man who made machines.’

Congratulating the Kirloskar Brothers Limited for their centenary celebrations, PM said that this sense of taking risks, expanding into new areas, is still the identity of every Indian entrepreneur. India’s entrepreneur is impatient for the development of the country and to expand his capabilities and successes.

“Today, when we are entering a new year, we are entering a new decade, I have no hesitation in saying that this decade will be for Indian entrepreneurs,” PM added.

PM stated that the true power of the people of the country can come to the fore only when the government stands not as a hindrance to India, Indian and Industries, but as their partner.

’Reform with Intent, Perform with integrity, Transform with intensity’ has been our approach in the last few years. We have tried for a governance that is professional and process driven. In the last five years there is an environment in the country to work with integrity and complete transparency. This has given the country the courage to set big goals and achieve them on time.

PM said, “In the Financial Year 2018-19, there was a transaction of about 9 lakh crore rupees through UPI. In this financial year till December only about 15 lakh crore rupees have been transacted through UPI. You can guess how fast the country is adopting digital transactions. The Ujala Scheme has completed 5 years only yesterday. It is a matter of satisfaction for all of us that more than 36 crore LED bulbs have been distributed throughout the country”.

“Similarly success stories of Make in India campaign are the strength of our industry. I want success stories from every field of Indian industry”, the PM added.

Text of PM’s speech at the centenary celebrations of Kirloskar Group

आप सभी को नववर्ष की बहुत-बहुत शुभकामनाएं। Kirloskar समूह की और उनके लिए तो ये एक दोहरे से‍लिब्रेशन का अवसर है। राष्‍ट्र निर्माण में सहयोग के सौ वर्ष पूरे हो रहे हैं और Kirloskar समूह को मैं बहुत-बहुत बधाई देता हूं।

साथियो, Kirloskar समूह की सफलता भारतीय उद्यम और भारतीय उद्यमियों की सफलता की भी पहचान है। सिंधु घाटी सभ्‍यता से लेकर आज तक भारतीयों की spirit of enterprise देश के विकास को नई ऊर्जा, नई गति दे रही है। जब देश गुलामी की जंजीरों में जकड़ा हुआ था, तब श्री लक्ष्‍मण राव किर्लोस्‍कर जी ने और ऐसे उद्यमियों ने भारत की spirit को, इस जज्‍बे को जीवित रखा; किसी भी परिस्थिति में उसे कमजोर नहीं होने दिया।

यही वो भावना थी, जिसने स्‍वतंत्रता के बाद भी देश को आगे बढ़ने में मदद की। आज का ये दिन लक्ष्‍मण राव किर्लोस्‍कर जी की सोच और उनके सपनों को सेलिब्रेट करने का तो है ही, उद्यमियों के लिए innovation और dedication  की प्रेरणा लेने का भी एक अमूल्‍य अवसर है। आज के दिन लक्ष्‍मराव जी की बायोग्राफी का और नाम भी बहुत अच्‍छा रखा है- यांत्रिकी यात्रा- उसका विमोचन, ये भी मेरे लिए एक सौभाग्‍य की बात है। और मुझे विश्‍वास है कि उनकी यात्रा के अहम पड़ाव भारत के सामान्‍य युवा को innovation और enterprise spirit के लिए प्रेरित करते रहेंगे।

साथियो, कुछ कर गुजरने की ये भावना, जोखिम उठाने की ये भावना, नए-नए क्षेत्रों में अपना विस्‍तार करने की ये भावना आज भी हर भारतीय उद्यमी की पहचान है। भारत का उद्यमी अधीर है देश के विकास के लिए, अपनी क्षमताओं और सफलताओं के विस्तार के लिए। आप सोच रहे होंगे कि आज जब world economy और साथ ही हमारी अर्थव्‍यवस्‍था की गति को लेकर अलग-अलग तरह की खबरें आ रही हैं तो मैं इतने विश्‍वास से ये कैसे कह रहा हूं।

सा‍थियो, मेरा विश्‍वास भारतीय उद्योग जगत पर है, आप सभी पर है। परिस्थितियों को बदलने के लिए, हर चुनौती से पार पाने के लिए जिस इच्‍छा शक्ति की जरूरत होती है, वो भारतीय उद्योग जगत की रग-रग में समाई है। और इसलिए आज जब हम एक नए वर्ष में प्रवेश कर रहे हैं, नए दशक में प्रवेश कर रहे हैं, तो मुझे ये कहने में कोई हिचक नहीं है कि ये दशक भारतीय उद्यमियों का होगा, भारत के entrepreneurs का होगा।

सा‍थियो, इस दशक में five trillion dollar की अर्थव्‍यवस्‍था का लक्ष्‍य तो एक पड़ाव है। हमारे सपने और बड़े हैं, हमारी उम्‍मीदें और बड़ी हैं, हमारे लक्ष्‍य और बड़े हैं। और इसलिए 2014 के बाद से देश में निरंतर ये प्रयास हुआ है कि भारतीय उद्योग जगत के सपनों को, उनके विस्‍तार को किसी रुकावट का सामना न करना पड़े। इस दौरान हर फैसले, हर कार्रवाई के पीछे एक ही सोच रही है कि भारत में काम करने वाले हर उद्यमी के सामने की हर प्रकार की रुकावट दूर हो, उसके लिए एक बेहतर business environment बने।

साथियो, देश के लोगों को उनका सही सामर्थ्य तभी सामने आ सकता है, जब सरकार, इंडिया, इंडियन और इंडस्ट्रीज के आगे बाधा बनकर नहीं, बल्कि उनका साथी बन करके खड़ी रहे। बीते वर्षों में देश ने यही मार्ग अपनाया है। बीते वर्षों में देश में reform with intent, perform with integrity, transform with intern city, process driven and  professional governance देने की कोशिश लगातार होती रही है। उद्योग जगत की मुश्किलों को समझा गया है, उन्‍हें दूर करने का प्रयास किया गया है।

साथियो, आजकल insolvency और bankruptcy  code IBC की इतनी चर्चा होती है, लेकिन ये सिर्फ इतना पैसा वापस आया, उतना पैसा वापस आया- वहां तक ही सीमित रहती है। लेकिन वो उससे भी आगे है। आप सभी ये बेहतर जानते हैं कि कुछ स्थितियों में धंधे से बाहर निकलना ही कई बार समझदारी माना जाता है। ये जरूरी नहीं की जो कंपनी सफल न हो रही हो, उसके पीछे कोई साजिश ही हो, कोई गलत इरादा हो, कोई लालच हो; ये जरूरी नहीं है। देश में ऐसे उद्यमियों के लिए एक रास्ता तैयार करना आवश्यक था और IBC ने इसका आधार तय किया। आज नहीं तो कल, इस बात पर अध्‍ययन जरूर होगा कि IBC ने कितने भारतीय उद्यमियों का भविष्‍य बचाया, उन्‍हें हमेशा-हमेशा के लिए बर्बाद होने से रोका।

साथियो, भारत के टैक्‍स सिस्‍टम में पहले किस तरह की कमियां थीं, इससे आप भलीभांति परिचित हैं। इंस्‍पेक्‍टर राज, टैक्‍स से जुड़ी नीतियों में भ्रम, और अलग-अलग राज्‍यों में टैक्‍स के जाल ने भारतीय उद्योग जगत की स्‍पीड पर जैसे ब्रेक लगाया हुआ था। देश अब इस ब्रेक को भी हटा चुका है। हमारे टैक्स सिस्टम में transparency आए, efficiency आए, accountability बढ़े, taxpayer और tax departments के बीच human interface समाप्त हो, इसके लिए एक नई व्यवस्था का निर्माण किया जा रहा है। आज देश में corporate tax और corporate tax rates जितने कम हैं, उतने पहले कभी नहीं रहे।

साथियो, goods and services tax reform या public sector bank reform, इनकी मांग लंबे अर्से से होती रहती थी, हर किसी ने मांग की। ये सब आज सच हुआ है तो इसी सोच की वजह से कि India industry के सामने की हर रुकावट दूर की जाए, उसे विस्‍तार का हर मौका दिया जाए।

साथियो, कुछ लोग ये छवि बनाने में अपनी ऊर्जा लगाते हैं कि भारत सरकार उद्यमियों के पीछे डंडा ले करके चल रही है। कुछ बईमान और भ्रष्‍टाचारियों के खिलाफ कार्रवाई को India industry पर सख्‍ती का रूप दिया जाना मैं समझता हूं एक बहुत बड़ा दुष्‍प्रचार है। भारतीय उद्योग, एक पारदर्शी माहौल में भय के बिना, बाधा के बिना, आगे बढ़े, देश के लिए wealth create करे, खुद के लिए Wealth create करे, यही हम सभी का प्रयास रहा है। ये निरंतर कोशिश की गई है कि भारतीय उद्योग जगत को कानूनों के जाल से मुक्ति मिले। देश में डेढ़ हजार से ज्‍यादा पुराने कानून इसी कोशिश की वजह से खत्‍म कर दिए गए हैं। कम्‍पनी लॉ से जुड़ी छोटी-छोटे technical mistake के लिए भी उद्यमियों पर किस तरह criminal prosecution होता था, मैं इसके विस्‍तार में जाना नहीं चाहता। अब ऐसी अनेक गलतियों को decriminalize किया जा चुका है। जिन labor courts पर अभी काम चल रहा है, वो भी labor compliance को simplify करने की प्रक्रिया है, जिसका लाभ industry और workforce, laborers, दोनों को होगा।

साथियो, भारतीय अर्थव्‍यवस्‍था को मजबूत करने के लिए देश में तत्‍कालिक उपायों के साथ ही long term solution पर एक साथ काम किया जा रहा है। देश में ऐसे फैसले लिए जा रहे हैं जिनसे न सिर्फ वर्तमान, बल्कि आने वाली पीढ़ियों को भी लाभ मिलेगा।

सा‍थियो, पिछले पाँच साल में, देश में निष्ठा के साथ काम करने का, पूरी ईमानदारी के साथ काम करने का, पूरी पारदर्शिता के साथ काम करने का माहौल आज देश में सर्वत्र दिखाई देता है। इस माहौल ने देश को बड़े लक्ष्य तय करने, और तय समय पर उसे प्राप्त करने का हौसला दिया है। भारत में 21वीं सदी के infrastructure के लिए 100 लाख करोड़ रुपए से ज्‍यादा का निवेश हो, लोगों की ease of living के लिए हर स्‍तर पर योजनाएं हों, देश की human capital पर invest करना; हर मोर्चे पर काम चल रहा है और पहले के मुकाबले कई गुना ज्‍यादा तेजी से काम हो रहा है।

साथियो, मैं जिस transforming with intensity की बात आपसे कर रहा हूं, वो आंकड़ों में भी नजर आती है। तेज गति ये जमीनी स्‍तर पर काम करने का ही नतीजा है कि सिर्फ पांच साल में ease of doing business  की ranking  में 79 ranks का सुधार आया है। इनोवेशन को बढ़ावा देने के लिए देश में जिस तेज गति से नीतियां बनाई गई, निर्णय लिए गए, उसी का असर है कि सिर्फ पांच साल में Global innovation index में 20 rank का सुधार आया है। लगातार कई सालों से एफडीआई आकर्षित करने वाले दुनिया के top 10 countries में बने रहना भी भारत की एक बहुत बड़ी उपलब्धि है।

साथियो, बीते कुछ वर्षों में देश में एक और बहुत महत्वपूर्ण परिवर्तन आया है। ये परिवर्तन आया है युवा उद्यमियों की संख्या में। आज देश के युवा उद्यमी, नए Ideas, नए Business Models लेकर सामने आ रहे हैं। अब वो दौर भी बीत रहा है जब इंडस्‍ट्री के कुछ खास सेक्टर्स जैसे कमोनिटीज, माइनिंग, हैवी इंजीनियरिंग पर ही जोर रहता था। हमारे आज के युवा नए सेक्‍टर्स को भी विस्‍तार दे रहे हैं। और इसमें भी खास ये कि देश के छोटे से छोटे शहरों से निकलकर ये नौजवान बड़ी मंजिलें हासिल कर रहे हैं।

साथियो, एक जमाना था जब कहा जाता था कि Bombay Club देश के उद्यमियों का, उनके बिजनेस इंटरेस्‍ट का प्रतिनिधित्‍व करता था। अब आज अगर ऐसा कोई Club बने तो उसे Bharat Club ही कहा जाएगा, जिसमें अलग-अलग क्षेत्रों में अलग-अलग सेक्टर्स, पुराने दिग्गज और नए entrepreneurs, सभी का प्रतिनिधित्व होगा। मैं समझता हूं कि भारत के बदलते बिज़नेस कल्‍चर, उसके विस्‍तार, उसके सामर्थ्‍य, उसका बहुत उत्‍तम उदाहरण होगा। और इसलिए भारत के सामर्थ्‍य को, भारतीय उद्यमियों के सामर्थ्‍य को कोई कम करके आंक रहा है, तो वो गलती कर रहा है। नववर्ष की शुरुआत में, आज इस मंच से मैं भारतीय उद्योग जगत को फिर कहूंगा कि निराशा को अपने पास भी मत फटकने दीजिए। नई ऊर्जा के साथ आगे बढ़िए, अपने विस्तार के लिए आप देश के जिस भी कोने में आप जाएंगे, भारत सरकार आपके साथ कंधे से कंधा मिलाकर चलेगी। हां, आपका मार्ग क्‍या होगा, क्‍या होना चाहिए- इस बारे में मैं लक्ष्‍मणराव जी के जीवन से ही प्रेरणा लेते हुए इसे विस्‍तार देना चाहता हूं।

साथियो, लक्ष्‍मणराव जी देश के उन प्रेरक व्‍यक्तियों में से एक थे, जिन्‍होंने भारत की आवश्‍यकताओं के अनुसार टेक्‍नोलॉजी के इस्‍तेमाल और मशीनों के निर्माण का बीड़ा उठाया। देश की आवश्‍यकताओं और उससे जुड़े निर्माण की यही सोच भारत के विकास की गति और इंडियन इंडस्‍ट्री के विकास की गति को तेज करेगी। हमें zero defect, zero effect के मंत्र पर चलते हुए विश्‍व स्‍तर के प्रोडक्ट बनाने होंगे, तभी हम एक्‍सपोर्ट बढ़ा पाएंगे, विश्‍व बाजार में अपना विस्‍तार कर पाएंगे। हमें Indian solutions, Global applications के बारे में सोचना होगा, उसी के मुताबिक अपनी योजनाओं को अमल में लाना होगा। मैं यहां पर दो योजनाओं की चर्चा करना चाहता हूं। एक है Financial transaction से जुड़ी UPI योजना और दूसरी है देशभर में LED bulb पहुंचाने वाली उजाला योजना।

साथियो, आज का भारत तेज banking transaction चाहता है, टेक्‍नोलॉजी का बेहतरीन इस्‍तेमाल होते हुए देखना चाहता है। सिर्फ तीन साल में UPI के बढ़ते हुए नेटवर्क ने उसकी इस इच्‍छा को पूरा किया है। आज स्थिति ये है कि 24 घंटे-सातों दिन देश आसान और online transaction कर रहा है। आज Bhim App बहुत बड़ा ब्रांड बन चुका है।

साथियो, 2018-19 के Financial Year में, UPI के जरिए करीब 9 लाख करोड़ रुपए का ट्रांजेक्शन हुआ था। इस वित्तीय वर्ष में दिसंबर तक ही लगभग 15 लाख करोड़ रुपए का लेनदेन UPI के जरिए हो चुका है। आप अंदाजा लगा सकते हैं कि देश कितनी तेजी से डिजिटल लेन-देन को अपना रहा है।

साथियो, देश को ऐसे समाधान की जरूरत थी जो बिजली कम बिजली के पीछे कम खर्च करे, रोशनी ज्‍यादा दे और उसकी कीमत भी कम हो। इसी आवश्‍यकता ने उजाला योजना को जन्‍म दिया। LED manufacturing को बढ़ावा देने के लिए जरूरी कदम उठाए गए। नीतियों में परिवर्तन किया गया। इससे बल्‍ब की कीमत कम हुई और एक बार लोगों ने इसके लाभ को अनुभव किया तो डिमांड भी बढ़ी। कल ही उजाला स्कीम को 5 वर्ष पूरे हुए हैं। ये हम सभी के लिए संतोष की बात है कि इस दौरान देशभर में 36 करोड़ से ज्यादा LED बल्ब बांटे जा चुके हैं। इतना ही नहीं देश के Traditional Street Light System को LED आधारित बनाने के लिए भी 5 साल से प्रोग्राम चल रहा है। इसके तहत एक करोड़ से अधिक LED Street Light Install की जा चुकी हैं। इन दोनों प्रयासों से ही करीब 5,500 करोड़ kilowatt/hour बिजली की बचत हर वर्ष हो रही है। इससे हर वर्ष हजारों करोड़ रुपए का बिजली खर्च कम हो रहा है और कार्बन डायआक्‍साईड के emission  में भी बड़ी कमी आ रही है। और ये हम सबके लिए खुशी की बात है कि भारत से निकले ऐसे innovations चाहे UPI हो या उजाला, दुनिया के कई देशों के लिए भी प्रेरणा का माध्‍यम बन रहे हैं।

साथियो, ऐसी ही Success Stories हमारे मेक इन इंडिया अभियान, हमारे उद्योग जगत की शक्ति है, ताकत है। मुझे ऐसी ही Success Stories भारतीय उद्योग जगत से, हर क्षेत्र में चाहिए। जल-जीवन मिशन हो, renewable energy हो, electric mobility हो, disaster management हो, डिफेंस हो; हर सेक्‍टर में आपके लिए अनेकों Success Stories आपका इंतजार कर रही हैं। सरकार हर तरह से आपके साथ है, आपकी हर जरूरत के साथ है।

आप इस माहौल का पूरा लाभ उठाएं, निरंतर innovate करते रहें, invest करते रहें, राष्‍ट्र सेवा में अपना योगदान देते रहें। इसी कामना के साथ मैं अपनी बात समाप्‍त करता हूं और एक बार फिर किर्लोस्‍कर समूह को, किर्लोस्‍कर परिवार को अनेक-अनेक शुभकामनाएं देता हूं। शानदार शतक के लिए भी बहुत-बहुत बधाई देता हूं।

धन्‍यवाद।

*****