It is better to fix a problem when it is small than to wait and let it become a bigger problem.A Stitch in Time Saves Nine is a wise saying. This phrase refers to a hole in a cloth. This hole would certainly get bigger if not fixed in time. It means that a timely effort that will prevent more work later. It certainly means prevention is better than cure. Furthermore, this important phrase tells us procrastination is a bad habit. Hence, if a problem exists, then one must fix it immediately. If not fixed in time, then even more problems can arise.It is an idiom, which is a phrase whose symbolic or intended meaning is different from the literal meaning of the words themselves.Historians believe it first appeared in print in 1732 in Thomas Fuller’s Gnomologia, Adagies and Proverbs, Wise Sentences and Witty Sayings, Ancient and Modern, Foreign and British. Of course, if Fuller considered this saying to be a proverb in 1732, it was probably around for many years before that.In our life, it is always wise to remember that a stitch in time saves nine. This famous proverb reminds us that any task we perform in our life, if done properly will be established easily. We should be sincere and punctual in performing our tasks as planned. A small lag in any process might lead to great complications and lead to failure in nay task we take up in our life. If we work hard and execute our actions in a smart way, we can complete any task within the anticipated time. Instead of performing a task without proper planning, organized plan of any task would avoid repeating the same process again and again.

This phrase not only relates to our personal issues but also connects to the common or social problems existed in this world and we are becoming the part of these social issues in some protocols like:
In our nearby areas, many under age children are employed as child labour but we just ignore or stay away of it, sometime we employ children under age for house hold activities.Same like, at many places girls child are killed before birth which is a crucial crime and the worst part is that the guilty and the victims are one of us and we just silently watch this crime happening in our country.The third social problem of dowry system is thriving in this country among us but again we become the part of such marriages.

According to many successful individuals, time is money. This precious blessing of time is very limited. There are only 24 hours in a day. Also, the average human life expectancy probably ranges from 80 to 90 years. This certainly means that one can’t afford to waste time at all. Hence, “A Stitch in Time Saves Nine” avoids wastage of time.

Another advantage of this concept is less effort. This is due to early dealing with a problem. Dealing with a problem early requires a certain amount of effort. However, with delay the problem becomes ugly. Now to rectify this even more difficult problem means much more effort. So, following “A Stitch in Time Saves Nine” saves effort.

People use “a stitch in time saves nine” to express that it’s better to spend a little time and effort to deal with a problem right now than to wait until later, when it may get worse and take longer to deal with. Many believe procrastination — putting off doing something until later — creates more work in the long run.

Although no one knows for sure who came up with this saying or what significance stitches or the number nine have, many people believe it was started by mothers weary of mending their children’s clothing.

The phrase thus might be stated more clearly as, “One stitch, in time, saves nine stitches,” meaning that mending a tear right away would only require one stitch instead of the 10 stitches necessary later if the tear goes unfixed and worsens.

A Stitch in Time Saves Nine” has another advantage. It is better decision making. Following this concept means that a person has sufficient time to handle a problem. Therefore, a person can prepare solutions efficiently. In contrast, a person who delays problems will have a shortage of time. Consequently, this person would become stressful and nervous. Due to this, poor decision making would result.

When we do not focus on a task and just try to complete it without an objective, we end being a failure. The main essence of success lies in planning what we do before starting the task. If we do not plan our day/any task we will end up performing actions that would require repetition of the same task again and again. This reminds us of another famous saying ‘Haste Makes Waste’. We also should remember that “Time and Tide Waits for No Man”. So if we keep delaying our tasks with imperfections, we will miss to obtain the targeted results on time.Sincerity in what we do helps us focus on a task till it is completely successfully. Hard Work accompanied with smart work lets us to complete the task as planned in shorter time. Being Punctual helps us to complete our tasks on time. If we try to inculcate these habits in our day to day life, we can be successful without any hindrances in between and gain attraction in any big crowd.

So… little effort expended sooner to fix a small problem prevents it from becoming a larger problem requiring more effort to fix later.

The Election Commission of India is going to organize  an International Webinar on 21^st September 2020, on the Theme ‘‘Issues, Challenges and Protocols for Conducting  Elections during COVID-19 : Sharing Country Experiences’ on its completion of one year of Chairmanship of the Association of World Election Bodies (A-WEB).

2. The Association of World Election Bodies (A-WEB) is largest association of Election Management Bodies (EMBs) worldwide. At present A-WEB has 115  EMBs as Members & 16 Regional Associations/Organisations as Associate Members.  ECI has been very closely associated with the process of formation of A-WEB since 2011-1    ECI hosted   the 4th General Assembly of A-WEB on 03 Sep 2019 at Bengaluru and took  over as Chair of A-WEB for 2019-2021 term. 

3. In accordance with the decision taken at the Extraordinary meeting of the A-WEB Executive Board held at Bengaluru on 02 Sep 2019,  an India A-WEB Centre  has been established at New Delhi,  for world class documentation, research and training for sharing the best practices and capacity building of officials of A-WEB members.     ECI has provided all the resources for this Centre.  A number of initiatives, led by  Shri Sunil Arora, Hon’ble Chief Election Commissioner of India and Chairperson, A-WEB are being taken under the aegis of India A-WEB Centre.

4. This is the first Webinar being held by the India A-WEB Centre.   Over 120 delegates from 45 countries across the world (viz.   Angola, Argentina, Australia, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Bosnia & Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Cambodia, Cameroon, Colombia, Democratic Republic of  Congo, Dominica, El Salvador, Ethiopia, Fiji, Georgia, Indonesia, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Republic of Korea, Kyrgyz Republic,  Liberia, Malawi, Maldives, Moldova, Mongolia, Mozambique, Nigeria, Palestine, Philippines, Romania, Russia, Sao Tome and Principe, Solomon Islands, Sierra Leone, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Suriname, Sweden, Taiwan, Tonga, Turkey, Uzbekistan and Zambia) and 4 international organizations (viz. International IDEA,  International Foundation of Electoral Systems (IFES), Association of World Election Bodies (A-WEB) and European Centre for Elections)   are going to participate in the Webinar.   

5. The India A-WEB Centre   has, in a very short period of its existence,  come out with two very useful publications viz. ‘Brief Profiles of the Countries, member EMBs and Partner Organisations of A-WEB’  and ‘COVID 19 and International Election Experience’ which will be released at the Webinar for the benefit of the entire A-WEB community.   The Centre is going to bring out a number of publications and documents, including a world class quarterly ‘A-WEB India Journal of Elections’.  A brochure on the Journal is  also being released at the Webinar.       

6. At the Webinar, presentations will be made by participating EMBs and organisations.  Session I which will be chaired by Shri Sushil Chandra, Hon’ble Election Commissioner will include presentations by Fiji, Republic of Korea, Mongolia and Taiwan  as well as International IDEA and A-WEB  where these EMBs and organisations are going to   share the   challenges faced as well as their experiences  and perspectives for  holding elections during COVID 19.   Session II, which will be chaired by Shri Rajiv Kumar, Hon’ble Election Commissioner will have presentations from  South Africa, Indonesia, Bangladesh, India, Malawi and IFES.

7. It is hoped that interactions and discussions at the International Webinar on 21 Sep 2020 will provide a good opportunity to all the participants to exchange ideas and learn from each others’ experience of holding and managing elections in challenging times of COVID 19 pandemic to ensure free, fair, transparent as well as safe elections. 

Contingency planning is not just about major natural calamities and natural crisis but it can also mean the problems such as loss of data, staffs and customers related to the company or any other business relationships. So it is very much important to conduct contingency planning a routine part in your business.

In this article, we together will explore the key elements of contingency planning in business so that there is a backup option, which your things turn out wrong. So without any further roll, let’s begin.

You must conduct a risk assessment

Contingency planning is one who response to high risk. But in some cases it may be safer and even cost-effective to tackle.

Conduct a risk assessment to avoid any kind of risk. Prepare a risk probability chart to analyse the impact of each risk. These are best way to determine the impact.

What does a contingency plan cover?

A well and good contingency plan prevent your business from ‘going under’ when any unexpected things occur. So it is must to prepare a good contingency plan.

Below are some of the key elements of contingency plans. Scroll it down to read.

1. Scenarios: You should always refer to your risk assessment chart and select the most damaging scenario and you plan accordingly to recover from it. Always aim to include a broad range of scenarios like- structural problems of your business premises, absence of staffs for a long time and many more.
2. Triggers: Try to figure out the exact cause you will put your contingency plan into action. One or each incident can also have multiple triggers which will initiates a different part or angle of your plans.
3. Who to inform: You have to identify the people whom you need to about what is happening. These may include employees, suppliers, customers and mass media public, as it appropriate. You must be aware of your legal obligations and it must reported to the proper authority whenever needed.
4. Identity your main responsibilities: You must be responsible for defining who is most responsible for each element of the contingent plan and who will in-charge at each stage and step and what you expect them to accomplish.
5. Timeline: Create a your own timeline- what things you need to do first within the first hour of day, week. You must implement the plan in a proper manner. Also mention details of when you would expect regular and normal business and what will signify that your organization is prepare for it.

Developing your contingency plan for your business

Whenever you create or develop your contingency plan for your business, you must remember that your main and first objective is to maintain or restore critical business operations. So you have to keep a deep look at how these situations may affect by each scenario. Be aware of know on effects and crisis.

Keep it a simple fluid language

When you prepare your contingency plans, you must use simple and fluid language. You do not know who will read and implement it, so it is better to keep the plans for your business in a plain and lucid language. This will help to keep your plans relevant without forming any changes in personnel.

How to maintain your contingency plans for your business

The simplest and easiest way to maintain your contingency plans for your business is to review and update regularly, if you want to remain useful and credible. Keep a back- up plan, so if there any occur of problems you can check the back-ups in your convenient time.

This pandemic COVID-19 has shed light on the importance of business and its supporting communities. Observing the success of corporate social responsibility from the beginning of lockdown session, there are many business leaders, are now trying to consider that their company should support charitable for the very first time.

Here are certain tips how entrepreneurs can launch charitable partnership which will support their company values, ethics and resonate with customers, employees, stakeholders and the media.

Read down this article to find the tips. So without further delay lets dive into the main content.

1. You have to consider and communicate about your business’ ethics and values: CSR is very much increasing now-a-days and it has a deep-rooted connection of the customers’ emotions with the particular brand. There are many entrepreneurs who set up their business with a good ‘purpose’ and effectively has a good CSR policy, which helps a lot in gaining customers. These CSR campaigns can actually help you to get in touch or communicate your business’ ethics and values to mass customers and it provides you the opportunity to gain customers loyalty towards a brand. But make sure that these initiatives coincide with the corporate social values and norms and goal of your company. It increases company engagement and staff retention in a particular company.
2. You cannot be one dimensional in business: To create a proper culture of giving from recruitment time to the retirement time, it is very important to keep in mind that you must involve your employees from the get-go or the very first of job. This will enable you to retain a good bonding or partnership with your staff and it will also the help the employees to connect with and they will be exited to get support throughout their job life and career. Community Grants Programme is a program which encourages housing and charity projects which actually provide support for local communities. Motivate your staffs so that there is job satisfaction among the staffs. This helps to create and maintain the future relationship with the staffs or employees.
3. Know and create your business strategy: When you much focusing on the potential partnership, you must consider the importance of charities which will complement your business’ goals and outlook. If you have your business on a very large scale, you might approach your local community foundation for guidance and for your concern. It will guide you with links of different charity services. It will help to create and secure your funds and how to make use of that fund effectively.

So now you know that these are the certain steps that you must follow to launch charitable partnership. These certain small tips are really helpful to create excitement among the employees and stakeholders and your customers. Just launch an exciting CSR strategy. To avoid being side-lined, all you need to do is make the jump at the right time.

Hope you all enjoyed reading this article. Do not forget to stay connected with us for more recent updates. Till then goodbye. Have a nice day.

The Indian nationalist, journalist, orator, social reformer and movement activist Bipin Chandra Pal. The Lal Bal Pal triumvirate was one third. Pal, along with Sri Aurobindo, was one of the key Swadeshi architects. He resisted the British colonial government’s division of Bengal.

Bipin Chandra Pal was born into a Hindu Bengali Kayastha family in Poil, Habiganj, District of Sylhet, the Bengal President of British India. His dad Sylheti was a Persian scholar and tiny landowner, Ramchandra Pal. He studied and taught at the University of Calcutta Church Mission Society College. His son Niranjan Pal, one of Bombay Talkies’ creators, was his son. ICS cop, S., his son-in – law was. K. Dey, then a minister of union. His other lawyer, Ullaskar Dutta, was a freedom fighter and, after many circumstances, married Lila Dutta at her last age, he loved interest.

Pal was as innovative in politics as he was in his privacy. He married a widow and entered Brahmo Samaj after the death of his first wife.

Pal was one of India’s freedom fighters, known by the name of Revolutionary Thinking Father. Pal became the Indian National Congress’ big leader. Bipin Chandra Pal made a powerful appeal to abrogate the Weapons Act, which was discriminatoric in nature, at the Madras session of the Indian National Congress in 1887. He was a member of the “Lal, Bal, and Pal trio” that was affiliated with revolutionary activities along with Lala Lajpat Rai and Bal Gangadhar Tilak.

The chief exponents of a new nation-style movement revolving around the principles of Purna Svaraj, Swadeshi boycott and national training are Sri Aurobindo Ghosh and Pal. His curriculum included Swadeshi, boycott and education. The use of Swadeshis and the boycott of international products to eliminate poverty and unemployment was preached and promoted. He wished to eliminate social evils from the type and, by national critique, invoke feelings of nationalism. In the context of no collaboration with British colonialists, he had no confidence in mild protests. On that matter, Mahatma Gandhi was uncommon for the assertive nationalist leader. He split his business with the Congress and lived a secluded life over the last six years of his life. Sri Aurobindo named him one of nationalism’s most influential prophets. Bipin Chandra Pal did his utmost to prevent economic and social disasters. He criticised the caste system and defended the remarriage of widows. He called for a 48-hour work week and for a workers’ pay increase. He revealed his contempt for the ways in which Gandhi had become embedded in “magic,” rather than “logic” in his critique.

Pal worked for Bengal’s popular opinion, the Tribune and New India, as a journalist, spreading his nationalist name. He has written numerous papers informing India of developments in China and other geopolitical circumstances. Pal wrote the title “Our real hazard” in one of his writings explaining from what is going to be the future danger for India.

In 1919 Pal had, although originally considered moderate within the National Indian Congress, been moving closer to Bal Gangadhar Tilak, one of the leading nationalist politicians, with more radical policies. Later on, Pal joined with fellow Bengalists, resenting the personality cult of the most famous nationalist leader, Mahatma Gandhi. Pal’s overarching concern in his 1912-1920 writings was that the various regions and communities within India must be brought together. He remained a distant from domestic politics after 1920, but continued to contribute to Bengali reviews.

Diana (July 1, 1961, to August 31, 1997) was born to aristocratic parents who divorced when she was six. With her mother gone and her father deep in depression, she had a lonely childhood. “I’d have 20 stuffed animals… that was my family.”, remarked Diana about her childhood. She grew up to be introverted and had multiple insecurities. She was physically active and learned ballet and tap dancing. At nineteen, she was engaged to Prince Charles and that marked the beginning of her long-drawn battle with Bulimia Nervosa (Binge-eating/Purging Type). “The bulimia started the week we got engaged. My husband put a hand on my waistline and said, ‘Oh, a bit chubby, here aren’t we?’”, said Diana. Her eating disorder was inflamed by the intense media scrutiny she received, which was not always positive.

She had scar tissue and trauma from her childhood, and the onslaught of media attention magnified her insecurities, making her feel like an outsider. Her pregnancies were surrounded by speculations which plagued the lives of her children. She suffered from Postpartum Depression, which she revealed after her separation. At the peak of her popularity, cable TV news emerged. This socio-cultural development stoked the media frenzy, and many of her trusted friends and acquaintances sold information about her to the press, which led to distress and paranoia. She was attracted to suffering which motivated her to support charities for HIV, addiction and the homelessness. As a public figure, she outshone the members of the royal family, rebranding and popularising a dynasty whose approval ratings were getting dangerously low.

Her family life was fraught with difficulties. While she enjoyed a close relationship with her sons, her husband was in love with another woman. “The worst day of my life was realising that Charles had gone back to Camilla.”, said Diana. In the search for love and support, she had affairs with the likes of Barry Mannakee, James Hewitt and James Gilbey. Post the announcement of her separation, she slowly became obsessed about being viewed favourably by the public. She lived her life in the public eye, and her popularity eclipsed that of Prince Charles. Every move of hers was watched closely, and emulated by admirers from around the world.

Her death, which was caused by a car accident while she was being chased by the paparazzi, was mourned by the world on an unprecedented scale. Millions watched her funeral online, and the grieving public confronted the newly emerging tabloid culture that intruded on Diana’s life, forcing her to take extreme measures to find privacy. Her life and death serve as an admonishment to those media houses that are willing to overlook the ethics of journalism as long as their stories sell. More than twenty years after her death, when we witness the steady rise of tabloid journalism, we need to ask ourselves if we could afford to have another death weigh on our collective conscience. 

“A girl given the name of the ancient goddess of hunting was in the end, the most hunted person in the modern world.”- Charles Spencer, Diana’s brother.

“I have always imagined that Paradise will be a kind of library.”
― Jorge Luis Borges

Books are our best friends is what we have heard since childhood. And probably experience it. A book lover enjoys his coffee while reading a book and that is his definition of “Peace”. The smell of a new book or the excitement of starting to read a book is something different . Books prove to be the best guide for us or may be a source to feel better. Having a collection of books is a matter of pride for certain people. Some love going to the library and reading books and some create their own library.

Reading is one of the best habits one can have. When you read you go in a different zone altogether. You feel good you feel lively. One of the best ways to increase your fluency in English or even for improving your vocab is reading . Traditionally, there was only paper books available. You spend on them and then you get to read. In today’s era things have changed. Now you google the book you want to read and download it on your PC/Mobiles and read it whenever and wherever you want to. E -books have become a trend and grown over years. A lot of people have adapted this new way of reading. There are a lot of apps that offer you to read books online. Kindle is one of the most famous way of online reading.

However, the demise of printed books as a result of e-books has not materialized, but instead, the two formats have existed simultaneously. Both have their pros and cons and choosing one would be unjust.

Paper Books : You have an advantage of turning pages or underlining something you learnt or maybe folding a page to re read again. They do not affect your eyesight rather it keeps you away from technology for a span of time. You can enjoy reading the book while in a balcony at your favorite spot . You can exchange good books with your friends to read and exchange thoughts. They help you sleep better, since while going to sleep you can comfortably read your book without and eye constraint. You possibly can have a mini library that will be your mantra for peace.

Drawbacks : Physical books can be difficult to handle. You can not read paper books anywhere. If you are travelling and want to take your book along it can be difficult if it is a heavy book. The paper books are not eco-friendly since a lot of paper is involved thus increasing the cutting down of trees. Even the cost of publishing books are really high and also publishers take a lot of chance while publishing an author’s book since they do not know whether it will work or not. Buying books can at times be expensive or even out of stock thus leading you to wait for a couple of days or maybe months.

E-books : E-books have an advantage of anywhere and anytime reading .You can use your mobile phones while sitting in a cafeteria or may be in a boring house party and read your book. E books are easier to carry while travelling and also downloading an E-book is free of cost leading to less expense. The cost of publishing is low while online. Technology saves the use of paper thus eco friendly. You can share the content at any online platform in just one click. E- Books have been designed with text to speech or read aloud features. This allows people to listen to the eBooks if they are too busy to read it, for example, while driving, or while doing some chores.

Drawbacks: E-books cause strain to eyes and you feel uncomfortable while reading it before sleeping. You can flip the pages or fold or underline if you want to. You can not gift a friend an E-book on their birthday or may be a special ocassion. E-books include the cost of graphic designing. There are many people who are not tech savvy and they can not enjoy the benefits of reading an E-book. You are distracted at times since there are certain notifications that keep coming while you are on your phones and that leads to distractions.

Although both Books and E-books have their pros and cons both provide you knowledge and enhance your skills. At the end what matters is to read whether online or offline. Happy reading !