#fair in india 2017

[afeelgoodblog]

The Best News of Last Week - March 20, 2023

🌱 - Okra to the Rescue and Other News You Can't 'Lettuce' Miss This Week

1. 4 day work week being pushed in Congress

Progressive Democrats, led by Rep. Mark Takano of California, are pushing for a four-day workweek to give Americans more time for leisure outside of work. The proposed Thirty-Two Hour Workweek Act would amend the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938 to require overtime pay for any employee working more than 32 hours in a week at a rate of time and a half.

More than 70 British companies have started to test a four-day workweek, and halfway through the six-month trial, most respondents reported there has been no loss in productivity.

2. Governor Walz signs universal school meals bill into Minnesota law

Minnesota just became the fourth state in the US to provide breakfasts and lunches at no charge to students at participating schools! The bill was signed into law by Governor Tim Walz on Friday, and it's set to ease the burden on parents who struggle to provide meals for their children.

The new legislation will cover the cost of meals for all students, regardless of household income. This means that families who don't qualify for free and reduced meals but who struggle to pay for food will also be covered. The bill is also meant to prevent "lunch shaming" practices, where children are denied food or given substitutes that indicate their family is struggling financially.

3. Texas Researchers Use Okra to Remove Microplastics from Wastewater

Researchers from Tarleton State University in Fort Worth, Texas discovered that food-grade plant extracts from okra have the power to remove microplastics from wastewater. Polysaccharide extracts from plants like fenugreek, cactus, aloe vera, tamarind, and okra were found to be effective non-toxic flocculant alternatives to remove microplastics from water.

Polysaccharides from okra and fenugreek were best for removing microplastics from ocean water, while a combination of okra and tamarind worked best for freshwater. Furthermore, plant-based flocculants can be easily implemented in existing water treatment facilities.

4. In the northern California snow, stranded cows are getting emergency hay drops

The recent wave of unprecedented snowfall in California has left cattle stranded and starving. When rancher Robert Puga ran out of hay, neighboring Humboldt County officials put together an emergency rescue operation called "Operation Hay Drop." State, federal, and local officials airdropped stranded cattle bales of hay to feed them.

Humboldt County Sheriff William Honsal went to the Coast Guard with the idea of a helicopter rescue, and by midday Sunday, March 5, Operation Hay Drop was underway. So far, Operation Hay Drop has been a success, said rancher Puga. The mission covers about 2,500 head of cattle over several miles.

5. Make-A-Wish Foundation no longer considers Cystic Fibrosis to be automatically qualifying due to improvements in life outcomes for patients

Given the ongoing life-changing advances in cystic fibrosis, beginning in January 2024, cystic fibrosis will no longer automatically qualify for a wish.

6. 1st woman given stem cell transplant to cure HIV is still virus-free 5 years later

In 2017, a woman known as the "New York patient" underwent a stem cell transplant to treat both her cancer and HIV. Now, about 30 months later, she has been virus-free and off her HIV medication, leading some researchers to suggest that she may have been cured of HIV.

The New York patient, received stem cells taken from umbilical cord blood that also had the HIV-resistance genes. However, it's important to note that there is no official distinction between being cured and being in long-term remission, and the medical team is waiting for longer-term follow-up before making any definitive statements.

7. Cheetahs Back in Wild in India After Seven Decades

Namibian cheetahs have been successfully reintroduced to India after the world's fastest land animal was declared extinct in the South Asian country more than 70 years ago. Two cheetahs, Obaan and Asha, were released into the wild of Kuno National Park after being brought to India last September.

The species is being reintroduced on an experimental basis as part of a major prestige project for Prime Minister Narendra Modi. India aims to bring in about 100 of the big cats over the next decade. The African cheetah is a different subspecies from the extinct Asiatic cheetah, which once roamed the sub-continent in great numbers.

Lastly, I recently opened a Youtube channel. Subscribe for a weekly compilation of feel good videos.

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Let's carry the positivity into next week and keep spreading the good news!

[mariacallous]

Bangladeshis made history in July when a mass uprising, led by student protesters, toppled Sheikh Hasina and the Awami League’s government, which had become increasingly dictatorial over the course of 15 years in power. Before she fled to India on Aug. 5, Hasina oversaw the killing of thousands—at least 90 people were killed by the police on the day before her departure alone. Children were not spared.

The end of Hasina’s dictatorship has turned a new chapter in Bangladesh’s history. The country’s lone Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus, now heading an interim government, called it Bangladesh’s second liberation. But Bangladesh has to step carefully over the mess Hasina has left behind—both in domestic and foreign affairs.

And the mess is huge. Historically, Bangladesh’s politics has been a game of pass the parcel played between Hasina’s center-left Awami League and Khaleda Zia’s center-right Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), with the two regularly exchanging power for years—until Hasina broke the norms of democracy in 2011. That was the year she abolished the caretaker government system, where neutral civil society leaders headed an interim government to conduct the elections in a free and fair manner. Since then, the country has witnessed one rigged election after another. The BNP said about half of its 5 million members faced legal charges.

The democratic institutions that have been destroyed over the years can’t be rebuilt overnight. In his first speech to the nation, Yunus talked about bringing back the “lost glory of these [government] institutions.” The country effectively has no police force left. Hasina used members of the Border Guard Bangladesh, who were supposed to be posted at the border, against the protesters. Now they are facing widespread public anger too.

The damage is everywhere from administration to law enforcement to the military. Nothing has been spared. Hasina destroyed the country’s judiciary by handpicking judges. In 2017, the chief justice of Bangladesh’s Supreme Court, Surendra Kumar Sinha—a Hindu in a Muslim-majority country—was forced to resign and seek asylum in Canada after being threatened by the Directorate General of Forces Intelligence, the country’s military intelligence service.

The economy is in tatters, and corruption is rampant. Hasina herself has said that her manservant is worth $34 million and commutes via helicopter. According to Transparency International, around $3.1 billion is laundered from Bangladesh every year, which is more than 10 percent of the country’s total national reserves.

With the Awami League now hated by most of the public, the only political force left this political vacuum is the BNP. Zia, the party chairperson, is 79—and she is now gravely ill and was hospitalized multiple times since this summer. Tarique Rahman, her firstborn child and deputy, is 56. Rahman, often seen as his mother’s successor and the future head of state, has been living in a self-imposed exile in the U.K. for the last 16 years and the extent he is in touch with the country’s new reality is a question up for debate. He faces a slew of corruption charges—although these may not stand up in a fair trial as they were trumped up by Hasina.

After 15 years of autocracy, most of the remaining politicians are greying, while the median age in Bangladesh is a little over 25. The uprising that saw Hasina’s rule crumble was spearheaded by mostly by members of Generation Z. Their leadership of these supposedly apolitical groups in the July revolution has caught the politicians off guard, proof that Bangladeshi politicians are not capable of reading the pulse of the young.

Amid this chaos, the West needs to start playing a far more positive role. One of the reasons Hasina’s rule lasted so long was because the U.S. turned a blind eye to her misrule. Months before the one-sided elections in January, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken threatened to “restrict the issuance of visas for any Bangladeshi individual, believed to be responsible for, or complicit in, undermining the democratic election process in Bangladesh.” But after the polls, no punitive measures materialized. On the contrary, U.S. President Joe Biden wrote a letter to Hasina, expressing his government’s wish to “work together on regional and global security” and “commitment to supporting Bangladesh’s ambitious economic goals.”

U.S. complicity depends in part on its desire for India, a close ally to Bangladesh, to contain China in the Indo-Pacific. According to the Washington Post, last month Indian officials told their U.S. counterparts, “This is a core concern for us, and you can’t take us as a strategic partner unless we have the same kind of strategic consensus.”

India supported successive Awami League regimes due to its own security and strategic concerns. India’s landlocked northeastern states, also known as the Seven Sisters, are linked to the rest of the country through the narrow 60-kilometre-long Siliguri Corridor. This tiny passage, known as the Chicken Neck, separates Bangladesh from Nepal and Bhutan. The strategically important Tibetan Chumba Valley controlled by China is only 130 kilometers away.

The Seven Sisters are inhibited by 220 ethnic minorities and are home to active insurgent groups, especially in Assam, Manipur and Nagaland. India also has the world’s fifth-longest land border with Bangladesh. All this gives India a potent stake in Bangladesh—but instead of making new friends or giving Bangladesh’s democracy a chance, India placed its chips entirely on Hasina and the Awami League. Anti-Indian sentiment now runs high in Bangladesh—the Indian Cultural Center in the capital was torched within three hours of Hasina’s fall.

India has a long way to go to win the hearts and minds of ordinary Bangladeshis, and blaming Pakistan and its intelligence agency, the ISI, for every problem won’t help. India’s old narrative is dead, and New Delhi must realize this.

The U.S. must stop seeing Bangladesh through India’s eyes. Time and again U.S. policymakers have misread Bangladesh’s importance, looking at it as an extension of India instead of a state in itself. Bangladesh is potentially crucial to containing China in the Indo-Pacific. It has a young population who hold their ethno-religious identities close to their hearts but are pro-Western, too, with more than 13 million Bangladeshis living abroad.

Hasina herself was playing both sides, turning herself into China’s closest ally in South Asia. In July, Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Mao Ning described the relationship between Bangladesh and China as “good neighbors, good friends, and good partners.”

China dislodged India as Bangladesh’s top trading partner nine years ago. Bangladesh imports more goods from China than from any other country, and is in debt to China to the tune of $17.5 billion, which was mainly invested in white elephant infrastructure projects. After Hasina’s fall, China’s reaction, however, has been muted—hoping to build a relationship with whoever emerges afterwards.

The U.S. and the European Union have welcomed Yunus and his interim government. Mathew Miller, a State Department spokesperson, said last month the U.S. wants the interim government to “chart a democratic future for the people of Bangladesh.” The best way to do this is for the U.S. to offer support to U.N.-led efforts to support order and democracy in the country.

The interim government immediately needs to establish law and order. It can start by bringing the perpetrators of the July carnage to the book. A national office of missing persons should be established to look into all the incidents of enforced disappearances. It can seek technical support from the United Nations, which should lead an independent U.N.-led fact-finding program into the revolution and fall of the Hasina regime. Western nations should support the establishment of a new, fairer constitution that takes the range of Bangladeshi identities into account.

The presence of torture cells inside Dhaka cantonment and the alleged involvement of the Directorate General of Forces Intelligence tells us that a section of the armed forces were involved in crimes against humanity. Bangladesh has been a major contributor to U.N. peacekeeping—but that needs to stop until responsibility for these crimes has been established.

The ongoing civil war in Myanmar is also an existential threat to Bangladesh’s national security. With Bangladesh’s security forces in disarray, the U.S. should support Bangladesh by setting up a temporary base that will provide the Bangladesh Armed Forces and intelligence agencies with arms, training and other logistical support, while maintaining a firm emphasis on the political neutrality of the army and its support of human rights.

Bangladesh has survived a dire time to potentially chart a brighter future. Washington should see it not as an extension of Indian interests, but as an independent country that is capable of making its own decisions, an important ally, and a partner in the Indo-Pacific.

[mysteriouslyjovialcolor]

Brazil 2017

-Valterri on pole!

-“Kimi Raikonnen and Max Verstappen make up the second row”

-Aw Daniel grid penalty. Pierre too?

-Where’s Lewis? Oh, starting from the pit lane?

-Ferrari starting off so slow on the formation lap?

-“Just an amazing feeling being here in Brazil for my last home last. Thank you so much. I love you a lot” Felipe leaving next season for real 😢

-Oh it’s an uphill start. Interesting

-“There’s a Mercedes at the back, there’s a Mercedes in the front”

(Apparently Lewis crashed in qualifying?)

-Sebastian leading!!

-Daniel?!?

-Aaaaah Esteban and Grosjean!

-And that’s a safety car first lap!

-Some of these guys already coming to pit? It’s the second lap?

-Kevin out too??

-“Gasly and Hartley from the back row of the grid are up to 10th and 12th respectively”

-Some people win, some people lose

-“Force India are picking up only their second retirement of their year for either of their cars” Oh that’s unfortunate

-“I hope I never get invited to be a driver steward. That is the worst unpaid job in the world” Unpaid???

-Max laughing on radio. Please let him finish this race istggg

-Lewis up to 13?? Let’s go!!

-Why is Daniel p17?!

-Lewis back in points. Gasly and Hartley out of them

-“Daniel is the best over taker in the game” WHY DID YOU LET HIM GO THEN CHRISTIAN

-I feel like jumping off a cliff everytime they call him “last of the late breakers”

-Aw they’re calling the Force India the pink panther, very cute

-Daniel up to P9!!

-Lewis and Daniel just casually going from the end of the grid to top ten in a couple of laps

-Aah Lewis and Max incoming

-Every other driver, on the radio, complaining

-“Super soft’s looking quite good huh” Well everyone except for Lewis

-“Yeah this is almost un-drivable now” Honestly, if Max has to retire again, I will scream

-“Mercedes have triggered the undercut and Ferrari, have they been caught napping once again?”

-Woah! That was very close! Sebastian still came out ahead though

-Checo being passed by both Daniel and Max in the span of one lap…there are levels to this

-“Quite a good pace in the rears” Lewis is just having a good time out there, from the pit lane to now leading the race

-Young Charles!!!

-Nico Hulkenburg in points!!

-“Perez, I don’t care, he will come, there’s nothing we can do” Fernando radios are always so fun

-And a Toro Rosso is out

-“They just keep racing” Hehe that was cute

-“Okay Lewis P5 at the moment, we are chasing a podium” That would be such a recovery drive

-“Top points scorer in the last 4 races” Surely they’re not talking about Max? With that engine?

-“The battle between Hamilton and Verstappen is tantalizing on our doorstep”

-Oh Lewis just did a record breaking lap

-“He’s never won a race after he’s sealed a championship” ???

-Ohmygod Lewis just keeps doing fastest lap after fastest lap

-Oh lol Max Verstappen stole the fastest lap record

-Kimi’s been holding Lewis off for like five laps now

-To be fair to Lewis though, I think his tires are dying

-Final lap…

-Massa, Fernando and Perez have been going at it forever. It’s actually been fun

-“It’s Sebastian Vettel who wins the Brazilian Grand Prix!”

-“Grazie, Forza Ferrari”

-Ooh yay donuts!

-Aww Fernando standing by his car to applaud Massa on his last home race

-Massa with his family >>>

-“Daddy I’m so proud of you. Wherever you go I’ll support, by the way, I loved your start” Oh my god I might tear up

[neurasthnia]

women in translation month: publishers

while we're on the subject of translations & female authors, i wanted to throw out a couple of names of publishers that i've loved.

Zubaan Books: an independent feminist publishing house based in New Delhi.

academic books, fiction, memoirs and popular nonfiction, children and young adults' books

tons of translations into english & many books by & about women

they offer pdfs or epubs thru their website & some of their books are available on everand

for physical copies they ship regionally to Bangladesh, India, Nepal, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka

Comma Press: a not-for-profit publisher based in Manchester.

centered around short stories & anthologies but they do publish the occasional novel

they have a very popular series of anthologies where they put ten short stories by authors from international cities together into individual anthologies - they've got two dozen cities by this point.

every anthology i've seen has at least a couple of female authors, sometimes half, altho of course i haven't checked them all.

i'm also pretty obsessed with their alternate history anthology series, so far with authors from Palestine, Kurdistan, Egypt & Iraq.

i think they have worldwide shipping but it does cost the big bucks.

Hoopoe Fiction: an imprint of the American University in Cairo publishing house.

their focus is the Middle East in English translation and English-language originals by Middle Eastern authors

i found them through everand & just posted about one of my favorite books, published by them. i'm obsessed.

they do worldwide shipping & have some books available in a ton of different online bookstores

And Other Stories: a not-for-profit literary fiction & poetry publisher based in Sheffield.

i'm a huge fan - i actually recently became a subscriber <3

they do a lot of frontlist translations, which is super fun & i love their general ethos. it seems like around half of their authors are women.

this is also incredibly shallow but i'm veryyyy in love with their cover art & couldn't resist a shout-out.

they have worldwide shipping! i also get free shipping in the u.s.

Transit Books: a nonprofit publisher for literary fiction & narrative nonfiction based in San Francisco.

they have a full section for Women in Translation on their site + almost all of their frontlist this quarter are by women & like half are translations.

i first 'met' them thru one of their first publications, back when they started in 2017 - Kintu by Jennifer Nansubuga Makumbi. (i love u Kintu <3)

these guys have a lot of books available thru my library & they ship locally to the u.s., mexico & canada. i do think they're available thru a fair few other online stores, though.

Charco Press: a publisher based in Edinburgh focused on Latin American fiction translations.

99% translated & ~50% originally by women!! <3

literary fiction, short stories, some in the original language, & they're branching out more every year!!

they do worldwide shipping & are also available in several online shops (& thru my local library)

[justinspoliticalcorner]

Lauren Aratani at The Guardian:

The US supreme court on Thursday ruled against a Washington couple who argued they were unconstitutionally taxed $15,000 for their investment in a foreign company – in a case some have argued was a backdoor attempt to ban future wealth taxes. The case, Moore v US, put into question what assets are considered taxable income. Some experts say the case was used as a vehicle to give the supreme court an opportunity to weigh in on a hypothetical billionaire’s tax, which would raise similar questions on what assets can be taxed. As the court was hearing the case in December, experts were worried that it put into question the long-established tax code, threatening to wreak havoc on what Americans may be taxed for. The vote was 7-2 with Justice Clarence Thomas and Justice Neil Gorsuch dissenting. In his opinion, Justice Brett Kavanaugh described the ruling as “narrow”, leaving an opening for future challenges.

Senator Elizabeth Warren hailed the ruling. “Right-wing billionaires hoped an obscure legal case would blow up the tax code to avoid paying what they owe, but this effort failed at the supreme court. The fight goes on to tax the rich, pass a wealth tax on ultra-millionaires and billionaires, and make the system more fair,” she wrote on X. The case focused on Charles and Kathleen Moore, a couple from Washington state who owned a small stake in an India-based company that sells affordable farm equipment in India. Charles Moore met one of the future founders of the company, KisanKraft, when he was a software engineer at Microsoft. The Moores invested $40,000 into the company, which gave them an 11% stake. In 2017, as part of a way to fund Donald Trump’s tax giveaway to US corporations, Americans who owned at least 10% of a foreign company were charged a one-time Mandatory Repatriation Tax (MRT) on their holding, regardless of whether the investment remained in the company, whereas such investments were previously exempt. Total tax revenue raised by the MRT is estimated to be $340bn.

SCOTUS issued a 7-2 (or 5-2-2) ruling in Moore v. United States dealing with the Mandatory Repatriation Tax in which Justice Brett Kavanaugh issued the ruling that rejected bans on wealth taxes.

See Also:

HuffPost: Supreme Court Turns Back Stealth Attack On Wealth Tax — For Now

[boltedgarlic]

taglist~

you’ll have to use the search function unfortunately :( i am no longer linking all my tags. if you’re on desktop, my theme should have a search bar!

dated by year

1980 | - | 1994 | - | 1997 | - | 1999 | - | 2002 | 2003 | 2004 | 2005 | 2006 | 2007 | 2008 | 2009 | 2010 | 2011 | 2012 | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | - | 2039

dated by month

january | february | march | april | may | june | july | august | september | october | november | december

holidays/seasons

christmas | easter | fall | halloween | valentines day | winter

locations

australia | belarus | belgium | brazil | bulgaria | canada | china | france | georgia republic | greece | holland | india | ireland | italy | japan | medellín | netherlands | new zealand | palestine | peru | poland | spain | sweeden | switzerland | syria | russia | thailand | uk | ukraine | uae | usa

alabama / alaska / arkansas / california / connecticut / idaho / illinois / indiana / iowa / kansas / kentucky / louisiana / maryland / missouri / new mexico / new york / north carolina / ohio / oregon / pennsylvania / tennessee / texas / utah / west virgina / wisconsin

Chuck E Cheese | Dongdaemun Market | Hershey Park | Moody Gardens | NASA | Rocky Mountain National Park | Treasure Island Beach | Walmart

animals

anemone | birds | bees | bugs | bunnies | cats | chickens | cicadas | cows | crabs | deer | dogs | ducks | ferrets | fish | goats | goldfish | guinea pigs | horses | kittens | sheep | snakes | swans

pets

Abby | Augustine | Azuki | Bert | Bob | Mr. Boot | Bruce | Cupid | Donna | Dusty | Ellsie | Fiona | Fudge | Gizzy | Huckleberry | Itzl | Kiwi | Mattie | Mookie | Muffy | Newt | Noose | Ollie | Pepe | Mr. Punky | Ramses | Shika | Smokey | Tamako | Tucker | Xoco | Ziggy | Zoey

art/mediums

art car | ceramics | collage | crayons | crochet | drawings | food art | glass art | installation | knitting | miniatures | mural | oil pastels | origami | ornaments | paint | painting | paper crafts | patchwork | quilt | sculpture | tapestry | tiles | yarn

artists

Anne-Sophie Landou | Enrico Delponte | Jen | Keith Haring | Mark Schaer | Ryan Gander | Terry Ravan

Ween

colors

red | orange | yellow | green | blue | purple | pink | brown | black | gray | white | silver | gold | multicolor

food & drink

baking | batter | bento | birthday cake | bread | breakfast | cake | candy | cereal | cheese | coffee | cookies | cooking | curry | dessert | drinks | fake food | fruit | hot pot | ice cream | meat | onigiri | pancakes | pastries | pie | potluck | pumpkins | salad | sashimi | smores | soup | sushi | tea | torte | vegetables | wine

characters/licenses/media

animal crossing | anpanman | boognish | candy land | dora | doraemon | evangelion | garfield | giant microbes | hannah montana | hello kitty | hoops & yoyo | joe cool | miffy | moomin | moppy | muppets | nasa | powerpuff girls | sanrio | sesame street | snoopy | sonic (the hedgehog) | spongebob | texas chainsaw | universal studios japan | wallace and gromit | winne the pooh | yotsuba | yugioh

interior

apartment | attic | bar | basement | bathroom | bedroom | cabin | chandelier | dining room | dorm | foyer | hallway | home | hostel | hotel | kid’s room | kitchen | library | living room | mall | playroom | shelves | stairs | studio | unfurnished | window

bead curtains | beds | bookshelf | computer | crt monitor | chairs | curtains | desk | fishtank | fridge | furniture | kitchenware | lamp | laptop | lava lamp | salt lamp | sewing machine | stove | tablecloth | tables | tv | vase | whiteboard | wood paneling | wood stove

exterior/outside

backyard | balcony | beach | bridge | building | canal | car show | cemetery | chapel | chicken coop | church | city | clothesline | dam | fair | fence | ferris wheel | gate | highway | hills | house | iron gate | mailbox | neighborhood | park | patio | picnic tables | plants | pool | porch | road | street | tables | train | train station | tunnel | wind chimes | wreath | yard

clouds | creek | dirt | field | flowers | fog | forest | frost | garden | mountains | mushrooms | nest | night | lake | lawn | ocean | path | plants | rain | rainbow | sky | snow | snowman | sunset | topiary | trail | trees | waterfall | woods

miscellaneous tags

altar | angel | antlers | astrology | beekeeping | baby shower | bamboo | basket | bicycle | birthday | birthday cake | blankets | books | brick | bowling | camera | candles | chain | cherub | chess | clock | clothing | car | card game | cards | chess | cigarettes | collection | construction | decor | desk | dollhouse | dolls | dusty | figure | figurines | flowers | fortune telling | gift | globe | gloves | hay | installation | karaoke | kite | knife | knives | lace | landmark | lanterns | leak | lock | machinery | mannequins | market | moving | nursery | objects | orbs | party | pearls | people | piano | pillows | plane | playing cards | plush | polaroid | posters | preschool | pyrex | rail | remodel | religion | retail | roadtrip | school | school bus | sculpture | seashells | shoes | sign | silverware | smoke | spirits | suburbia | sunlight | stained glass | swords | tech | toys | trinkets | vehicle | vhs | video games | visual clutter | water | wedding | window

blur | edit | fisheye | flash | frame | glow | low quality | panorama | photo collage | text | timestamp | video | vignette | watermark

my tags

11:11 | baby tag | birthday tag | fav | grandmas house | magic tag | personal | thank you post

updated: 09/13/2024

[brookstonalmanac]

Holidays 8.29

Holidays

According To Hoyle Day

Arbor Day (Argentina)

Bill & Frank Day

Black Book Clubs Day

Celestial Marriage Day (a.k.a. Polygamy; Mormons)

Clean Your Keyboard Day

Day of Loose Talk

Day of Remembrance of the Defenders of Ukraine (Ukraine)

Fennel Day (French Republic)

Flag Day (Spain)

Galatea Asteroid Day

Gamer’s Day (Mexico, Spain)

Happy Housewives Holiday

Head Day (Iceland)

Hurricane Katrina Anniversary Day (New Orleans)

Individual Rights Day

International Day Against Nuclear Tests (UN)

Judgment Day (in the film “The Terminator”)

Marine Corps Reserve Day

Michael Jackson Day

Miners’ Day (Ukraine)

Municipal Police Day (Poland)

National Caretaker Appreciation Day (Canada)

National College Colors Day

National Day of Lesbian Visibility (Brazil)

National Monterey County Fair Day

National Police’s Day (Poland)

National Sarcoidosis Awareness Day

National Sport Sampling Day

National Sports Day (India)

Nut Spas (Russia)

Potteries Bottle Oven Day (UK)

Targeted Individual Day

Telugu Language Day (India)

World Day of Video Games

Zipper Clasp Locker Day

Food & Drink Celebrations

Chop Suey Day

Gnocchi Day (Argentina)

International Peppercorn Day

Lemon Juice Day

More Herbs, Less Salt Day

National Swiss Winegrowers Day

Independence & Related Days

Hjalvik (Declared; 2020) [unrecognized]

Mivland (Declared; 2018) [unrecognized]

Popular Consultation Anniversary Day (East Timor)

Slovak National Uprising Anniversary Day (Slovakia)

Veyshnoria (Declared; 2017) [unrecognized]

New Year’s Days

First Day of Thoth (Ancient Egypt)

5th & Last Thursday in August

Cabernet Day [Thursday before Labor Day]

Daffodil Day (Australia) [Last Thursday]

National Banana Pudding Day [Last Thursday]

National Cabernet Sauvignon Day [Last Thursday]

Thirsty Thursday [Every Thursday]

Thoughtful Thursday [Thursday of Be Kind to Humankind Week]

Three-Bean Thursday [Last Thursday of Each Month]

Three for Thursday [Every Thursday]

Thrift Store Thursday [Every Thursday]

Throw Away Thursday [Last Thursday of Each Month]

Throwback Thursday [Every Thursday]

Weekly Holidays beginning August 29 (4th Full Week of August)

National Sweet Corn Week (thru 9.2)

Festivals Beginning August 29, 2024

The Blue Hill Fair (Blue Hill, Maine) [thru 9.2]

Chicago Jazz Festival (Chicago, Illinois) [thru 9.1]

Dragon Con (Atlanta, Georgia) [thru 9.2]

Epcot International Food & Wine Festival (Lake Buena Vista, Florida) [thru 11.23]

Gatineau Hot Air Balloon Festival (Gatineau, Canada) [thru 9.2]

Hopkinton State Fair (Contoocook, New Hampshire) [thru 9.2]

Kamiah BBQ Days (Kamiah, Idaho) [thru 8.31]

Key West BrewFest (Key West, Florida) [thru 9.2]

Lindisfarne Festival (Berwick-upon-Tweed, United Kingdom) [thru 9.1]

Louisiana Shrimp & Petroleum Festival (Morgan City, Louisiana) [thru 9.2]

National Championship Chuckwagon Races (Clinton, Arkansas) [thru 9.1]

Peach Days (Hurricane City, Utah) [thru 8.31]

Rocklahoma (Pryor, Oklahoma) [thru 9.1]

Taste to Remember (Dublin, Ohio)

Volksfeest and Bloemencorso Winterswijk (Winterswijk, Netherlands) [thr 9.1]

Feast Days

Adelphus of Metz (Christian; Saint)

Beheading of St. John the Baptist (Christian)

Blobfish Day (Pastafarian)

Day of Loose Talk (Shamanism)

Dr. Lily Rosenbloom (Muppetism)

Eadwold of Cerne (Christian; Saint)

Euphrasia Eluvathingal (Syro-Malabar Catholic Church)

Feast of Agios Ioannis (Halki, Hittitie God of Grain)

First Day of Thoth (Egyptian New Year)

Gahan Wilson Day (Church of the SubGenius; Saint)

Gelede (Mask-Wearing Ritual; Yoruba People of Nigeria)

The Great Visitation to Guaire (Celtic Book of Days)

Hajime Isayama (Artology)

Hathor’s Day (Pagan)

Jean Auguste Dominique Ingres (Artology)

John Bunyan (Episcopal Church)

John Leech (Artology)

Maurice Maeterlinck (Writerism)

Medericus (a.k.a. St. Merry; Christian; Saint)

Midnight Muffins Day (Starza Pagan Book of Days)

Nativity of Hathor (Egyptian Goddess of Joy & Drunkenness)

Oliver Wendell Holmes (Writerism)

Papin (Positivist; Saint)

Pardon of the Sea (Festival to Ahes, Pagan Goddess of the Sea; Brittany; Everyday Wicca)

René Depestre (Writerism)

Sabina (Christian; Martyr)

Sebbi (a.k.a. Sebba), King of Essex (Christian; Saint)

Sorel Etrog (Artology)

Thiruvonam (Rice Harvest Festival, Day 2; Kerala, India)

Thom Gunn (Writerism)

Vitalis, Sator and Repositus (Christian; Saints)

Lucky & Unlucky Days

Prime Number Day: 241 [53 of 72]

Sakimake (先負 Japan) [Bad luck in the morning, good luck in the afternoon.]

Unlucky Day (Grafton’s Manual of 1565) [38 of 60]

Urda (The Oldest Fate)

Premieres

At Your Service Madame (WB MM Cartoon; 1936)

Balls of Fury (Film; 2007)

Butcher's Crossing, by John Williams (Novel; 1960)

Cat-Tails for Two (WB MM Cartoon; 1953)

A Date for Dinner (Mighty Mouse Cartoon; 1947)

Definitely Maybe, by Oasis (Album; 1994)

The Early Bird Dood It! (Tex Avery MGM Cartoon; 1942)

4’33”, by John Cage (Modernist Composition; 1952)

The Fugitive final episode (Most Watched TV Show; 1967)

The Full Monty (Film; 1987)

Here Today, Gone Tamale (WB LT Cartoon; 1959)

Independent Women, by Destiny’s Child (Song; 2000)

It’s A Pity To Say Goodnight, recorded by Ella Fitzgerald (Song; 1946)

Kid Galahad (Elvis Presley Film; 1962)

Mary Poppins (Film; 1964)

Movie Mad (Ub Iwerks MGM Cartoon; 1931)

Move It, by Cliff Richard and the Drifters (Song; 1958)

One of Our States Is Missing (Super Chicken Cartoon; 1967) [#2]

Popalong Popeye (Fleischer/Famous Popeye Cartoon; 1952)

Pretty Woman, by Roy Orbison (Song; 1964)

Ridiculousness (TV Series; 2011)

Runaway, by Janet Jackson (Song; 1995)

Saint Errant, by Leslie Charteris (Short Stories 1948) [Saint #29]

Shanghai Surprise (Film; 1986)

Signing Off, by UB40 (Album; 1980)

The Skeleton Dance (Ub Iwerks Silly Symphony Disney Cartoon; 1929) [1st SS]

Twinkletoes in Hat Stuff (Animated Antics Cartoon; 1941)

Today’s Name Days

Beatrix, Johannes, Sabine (Austria)

Anastas, Anastasi, Anastasiya (Bulgaria)

Bazila, Ivan, Sabina, Sebo, Verona (Croatia)

Evelína (Czech Republic)

Johannes (Denmark)

Õnne, Õnnela (Estonia)

Iina, Iines, Inari, Inna (Finland)

Médéric, Sabine (France)

Beatrice, Johannes, Sabine (Germany)

Arkadios (Greece)

Beatrix, Erna (Hungary)

Battista, Giovanni, Sabina (Italy)

Aiga, Aigars, Armīns, Vismants (Latvia)

Barvydas, Beatričė, Gaudvydė, Sabina (Lithuania)

Jo, Johan, Jone (Norway)

Flora, Jan, Racibor, Sabina (Poland)

Nikola (Slovakia)

Juan (Spain)

Hampus, Hans (Sweden)

Candace, Candice, Poppy, Sabina, Sabra, Sabrina (USA)

Today is Also…

Day of Year: Day 242 of 2024; 124 days remaining in the year

ISO: Day 4 of Week 35 of 2024

Celtic Tree Calendar: Coll (Hazel) [Day 27 of 28]

Chinese: Month 7 (Ren-Shen), Day 26 (Yi-Chou)

Chinese Year of the: Dragon 4722 (until January 29, 2025) [Wu-Chen]

Hebrew: 25 Av 5784

Islamic: 23 Safar 1446

J Cal: 2 Gold; Oneday [1 of 30]

Julian: 16 August 2024

Moon: 18%: Waning Crescent

Positivist: 18 Gutenberg (9th Month) [Black]

Runic Half Month: Rad (Motion) [Day 7 of 15]

Season: Summer (Day 71 of 94)

Week: 4th Full Week of August

Zodiac: Virgo (Day 8 of 32)

[sun-in-retrograde]

Pluto Eris Square

I woke up from an awful dream in June of two thousand sixteen In a far right fake news fucked up universe And though we sang the Mountain Goats loud enough to bruise our throats Every year that followed still got worse and worse

-Grace Petrie “Fixer Upper”

So 2016 was a weird year, wasn’t it? Brexit, Harambe, Trump, clown attacks, The Orlando Shooting, Syria. Things got weird, and then, in 2017 they got weirder. I think it’s fair to say 2020 was the weirdest of years and things are still pretty weird now, to the extent that normality starts to feel, in itself, weird.

I would never want to blame everything on one astrological aspect, but it has to be noted, the 2016-2025 Pluto-Eris square maps really well onto this period.

Within 1 degree

16 February 2019 - 28 June 2018

27 December 2019 - 13 March 2020

24 April 2020 - 23 July 2020

8 November 2020 - 9 Jan 2021

9 July 2021 - 24 November 2021

Within 3 degrees

31 Jan 2018 - 2 June 2018

2018 15 december - 2019 August 9

22 October 2019 - 24 January 2022

23 June 2022 - 10 December 2022

Within 7 degrees

8 Jan 2016 - 15 May 2016

23 November 2016 - 10 March 2024

10 May 2024 - 11 January 2025

19 July 2025 - 26 July 2025

This year, for the first time in years, the Eris Pluto Square let up a little bit. We’re heading back into it now as Pluto retrogrades back towards Capricorn. But for the first time in a while this particular energy has cleared, leaving us to see what normality looks like without this square active.

What is Pluto-Eris Energy?

People often talk about Pluto and Eris as the Higher Octaves of Mars, but this is inaccurate. It’s useful to say because our society is obsessed with the idea of higher, transcendental truths and astrologers who study new astrological objects are going to want to associate their findings with higher truths because that’s good capitalism. But it would be more accurate to say that Pluto is a lower octave of Mars and Eris is a lower octave still. 

Mars covers all the planets in the zodiac in just 2.1 years. Its time in any one sign is measured in months. Pluto takes 244 years and its time in any one sign is measured in about a generation. Eris has a 557 year cycle and because its orbit is extremely elliptical it’s in Aries from 1922 to 2044 - 122 years, or 21.9% of this entire cycle. 

What this means is that in terms of octaves Pluto and Eris are much lower and slower than Mars. This seems to give them an element of depth. If Mars is attraction, Pluto is obsession. If Mars is violence, Pluto is trauma. If Mars is energised, Pluto triggers the survival drive. I’d argue Eris goes deeper still. It is cutting so deep that what you get to are the things that can’t be removed. 

When Eris and Pluto meet you have irreconcilable differences, major conflicts, things that are foundational to society coming into conflict. This is especially true this cycle. 

This Eris - Pluto cycle began with the conjunction on 17 December 1756 at 18°36 of Sagittarius. Despite this they had their waxing square, waxing trine, opposition, waning trine and waning square while Pluto was in Aries and that’s where Eris will be for their waning sextile. Eris is in 6 signs during this Eris-Pluto cycle but all but two of the key aspects happened with Eris in Aries so has an active, martial energy to it.

If you’re following this, and agree with me that Eris is fundamental planet alongside Pluto, you will be unsurprised to hear the last Pluto-Eris square was 1936-1949 and was at its strongest during World War Two.

What this means for us now

2024 is the last hurrah for the current Eris-Pluto Square. It’s not as strong as it’s been in the past but it’s still an underlying important energy of our time. In 2024 over half the world’s population is having an election and in the UK, USA and India the far-right are leading the conversation. We have ideological conflicts, a moral imperative to engage in anti-fascist work and deep fears for how this period will impact the survival of all of us, but especially the most vulnerable people. 

We know this energy. If you’ve been fighting in this time, you probably have the methods to fight ready to go when the next inevitable crisis comes up. But there’s a bigger problem coming up and that’s normality. What happens when the current square ends and the fight for marginalised people stops being such a fiery spectacle? For years the fight against global fascism has been massive, dramatic, and very visible. What happens when there is no crisis and we’re stuck with the new normal that’s emerged from all this? 

Sadly, it seems unlikely that the end of the Eris-Pluto square will be the end of extreme violence, fascism, and war. What I would expect is these conflicts becoming more a matter of attrition and normalisation - the banality of evil. The genocides continue, but they no longer shock us. 

The promise offered by the astrology of Eris and Pluto is that we come out of the Eris-Pluto Square into a quintile, where the skills and experience we’ve gained harden into a playbook of methods to keep fighting. We have experience and we have knowledge and we keep going.

In natal astrology

The oldest people with an Eris-Pluto square in their birth charts are now eight. That’s still young but this is a generation that’s going to come up and start looking into astrology before you know it. Mars-Pluto squares in a birth chart are often indication of pretty bad trauma. Eris-Pluto Squares in charts will mean an early childhood defined by traumatic experiences. Just the nature of being raised by parents experiencing the pandemic ensures that. The astrology indicates that this generation could replicate some of that trauma throughout their life and astrologers will be seeing that for years to come. 

As most astrologers don’t use Eris, I would argue they’ll be cutting themselves off from a key diagnostic criteria that would really help explain the lives of the 2016-2025 generation. But whatever. There are usually more than one tell for a traumatic experience in a chart. The underlying, fundamental, Eris-level truth of this square that all of us have to face is a generation who will need care and time and understanding beyond what we might expect looking at their lives now. We can do that, that’s what we need to offer younger generations. 

[brigitteblackwood]

hiii thanks for rbing my horror recs post! here's your recs! :)

based on ginger snaps i'd recommend let the right one in (2008), the lure (2015), the witch (2015), the living dead girl (1982), stoker (2013), bones and all (2022) and carrie (1976) about (blood thirsty) outcast girls who want to be loved :(. 

based on hausu i'd recommend suspiria (1977), beetlejuice (1988), eraserhead (1977), the love witch (2016), the cell (2000) and the rocky horror picture show (1975) because they have unique aesthetics that they really commit to, and tetsuo: the iron man (1989), brain damage (1988), possessor (2020), killer klowns from outer space (1988), the machine girl (2008) and videodrome (1983) because they're some of the more unhinged batshit insane movies i've seen.

based on we're all going to the world's fair i'd recommend i saw the tv glow (2024), pulse (2001), skinamarink (2022), may (2002), censor (2021), swallow (2019) and eraserhead (1977) which are all strange but beautiful movies with themes of loneliness. 

based on scream i'd recommend urban legend (1998), behind the mask: the rise of leslie vernon (2006), house of wax (2005), you're next (2011), haunt (2019), the final girls (2015), totally killer (2023) and the cabin in the woods (2011) because they're all about (masked) killers starring cool female characters.

based on the blair witch project i'd recommend the ritual (2017), horror in high desert (2021), the strangers (2008), the tunnel (2011) and them (2006) which are all quite simple but effective horrors about something lurking in the shadows.

hope there's some you haven't seen yet! :)

Thanks for the recommendations! Some of these I've seen already, but there are plenty I still haven't watched. In fact, a few have been on my watchlist for a while, so I'll take this as a sign to get to them soon (or, in the case of Let the Right One In, hurry up and read the book since I want to finish it before checking out any of the adaptations).

I thought it might be fun to share my thoughts about the ones I have seen:

The Witch (2015) - I read The Crucible when I was far too young (I stole it off my parents' bookshelf after I got bored with reading Junie B. Jones) and was obsessed with dark fairy tales about witches living in the forest as a child. So this was very much my shit.

Stoker (2013) - After watching this, I spent so many nights just wondering whether India Stoker and Merricat Blackwood would get along or try to kill each other if they ever met. I still don't have an answer.

Carrie (1976) - Love the use of split screen and Sissy Spacek really only moving her eyes during the attack on the gym. Hate the aggressive male-gazeyness of the locker room scene and the under usage of Amy Irving (I thought she was a interesting choice to play Sue, and I'm forever bitter she and Carrie didn't get to have their confrontation at the end like they do in the book).

Suspiria (1977) - The colours! The Goblin soundtrack! Sure, the actual plot barely makes any sense, but I adore it so much!

Beetlejuice (1988) - The last time I watched this was back in high school, so I should probably give it a rewatch soon. I remember loving the Maitlands and the Deetz family but absolutely hating Betelgeuse; I think he's the weakest character and would argue that you could still get a great story without him, but I understand I'm likely in the minority here.

Eraserhead (1977) - God, I always get so mad on the baby's behalf. He cries all the time! Well, he probably wouldn't cry so much if you didn't leave him lying on a hard table 24/7! 🙄

The Love Witch (2016) - I'm conflicted about this one. I thought it was beautifully shot, and I love anything that pays homage to older films. But since Anna Biller has gone full TERF since its release, I've found my viewing experience somewhat soured (which sucks because I was really interested in seeing her upcoming Bluebeard adaptation before I found out).

Videodrome (1983) - Another one I need to revisit. I'm a big Cronenberg fan, but I don't think I really gelled with this one the first time I watched it. James Wood (🤢) being the star probably didn't help.

I Saw the TV Glow (2024) - I got to see it at my local indie cinema as a double feature with The People's Joker last month! I bawled my eyes out, but thankfully, so did everyone else around me.

May (2002) - She's so me (minus the murder and mutilation, of course).

Swallow (2019) - Has one of my favourite ending shots in film history.

The Cabin in the Woods (2011) - The script was far too Whedon-y for me to enjoy, but I cheered so loud when they unleashed all the monsters on the staff.

Rocky Horror (1975) - I have fond memories of my mother sneaking 14-year-old me and my 10-year-old sister into our first live viewing (I think the only reason she succeeded was because my sister hit puberty early and looked a lot older). We'd known about the show for most of our childhood because both our parents worked in theatre and would often play showtunes around the house, so we'd already memorized most of the songs (minus Touch-a Touch-a Touch Me, which our parents would skip for obvious reasons).

I'd love to hear some of you're thoughts on these films. If you're comfortable sharing.

[theprofessionalscompass]

Unraveling the Minimum Wage Quandary in India: A Triangulated Exploration

In India, the promise of a minimum wage, meant to be a lifeline for a decent life, gets lost in a tangled web of how it's actually used. Like flashlights exploring a dark room, three research articles shine on different parts of the problem. The first exposes unfair enforcement, where messy rules and weak checks hurt people most, especially women in informal jobs. It calls for a simpler, stricter system to give everyone a fair chance. The second, armed with numbers, delves into jobs and money. While raising the minimum wage could help some, it might also widen the gap between what men and women earn. This article suggests focusing on companies that cheat and making changes specific to different sectors. The third article takes a big leap, asking for "living wages" and "fair wages" based on skills and economic realities. It says the current system isn't enough to live on and proposes a whole new way of setting wages that can change based on skills and other factors. Though different in their approaches, all three articles agree: India's minimum wage needs a major fix. Understanding these diverse perspectives is key to building a fairer wage system that works for everyone.

IDENTIFICATION OF ISSUES : 

Labor Market Efficiency and Gender Dynamics: (Subbiah,A. (2021), A STUDY ON ROLE OF ENFORCING MINIMUM WAGE POLICY IN PROMOTING EQUALITY AND SOCIAL JUSTICE IN AN ECONOMY: A CASE OF INDIAN ECONOMY)

The first research article sheds light on a crucial aspect of this challenge: the inadequacies of enforcement mechanisms. It illuminates how a complex patchwork of state-specific rates, coupled with lax monitoring, disproportionately impacts vulnerable groups, particularly women in the informal sector. In order to effectively address these issues, there is a need for a revamped and stricter enforcement system that will ensure equal access to the desired advantages of the minimum wage policy. While recognizing the potential impact of the minimum wage in improving overall welfare, the article underscores the cruciality of strong enforcement measures to bridge the gap between ambition and actuality.

Minimum Wage Effects and Gender Bias: (Menon, N., & Van Der Meulen Rodgers, Y. (2017). The impact of the minimum wage on male and female employment and earnings in India. Asian Development Review, 34(1), 28–64.)

Taking a different perspective, the second article focuses on the core labor economics concept of minimum wage effects, analyzing its impact on employment and earnings, with a specific focus on gender bias. Employing an econometric model with individual-level data and state-level variables, the study finds positive effects of minimum wage increases on rural earnings but identifies a widening gender wage gap. This phenomenon, the authors argue, is likely due to weak compliance in informal sectors where a large female workforce is concentrated. The article strongly suggests the importance of reinforcing enforcement measures, specifically targeting companies that employ a large number of female workers, in order to reduce the detrimental effects on gender disparities.

Minimum Wages VS Living Wages: (Datta, R. A STUDY ON WHY IS INDIA INCAPABLE OF PROVIDING THE LIVING WAGE TO ITS CITIZENS?  2021)

In a bold and thought-provoking move, the third article dares to challenge the confines of the minimum wage system and proposes a transformation to prioritize living and fair wages. It critically examines the legal provisions surrounding worker rights and exposes the implementation challenges that hinder their effectiveness. Employing a legal analysis framework, the article scrutinizes relevant articles in the Indian Constitution and minimum wage legislation, contrasting the theoretical goals of fair and decent wages with the lived realities of workers, especially in the informal sector. The authors find the current system inadequate in providing fair and decent wages, leading to exploitation and declining living standards. Their policy suggestions are comprehensive, advocating for a living or fair wage model based on skill levels and economic factors, along with strengthened enforcement, skill-based wage scales, and worker awareness campaigns.

Summary of Relevant Literature:

Article 1 : (Subbiah,A. (2021), A STUDY ON ROLE OF ENFORCING MINIMUM WAGE POLICY IN PROMOTING EQUALITY AND SOCIAL JUSTICE IN AN ECONOMY: A CASE OF INDIAN ECONOMY)

Social and Economic Objectives: The article discusses the dual objectives of minimum wage rates—sufficient purchasing power for workers and economic growth motivation. It argues that minimum wages contribute to poverty reduction, gender pay gap narrowing, and overall improvement in living standards.

Role in Combating Inequality: Enforcing minimum wage policies is deemed crucial for protecting workers from unjustifiably low pay, reducing wage disparity, and promoting social justice. It plays a pivotal role in fostering inclusive growth and economic development.

Article 2 : (Menon, N., & Van Der Meulen Rodgers, Y. (2017). The impact of the minimum wage on male and female employment and earnings in India. Asian Development Review, 34(1), 28–64.)

Minimum Wage Effects: The article draws on a rich body of research examining the complex and often contested effects of minimum wage policies on employment and earnings.

Gender Bias and Informal Economies: Studies exploring the intersection of minimum wage policies, gender bias, and informal economies inform the article's focus on gendered impacts within specific sectors.

Article 3 : (Datta, R. A STUDY ON WHY IS INDIA INCAPABLE OF PROVIDING THE LIVING WAGE TO ITS CITIZENS?  2021)

Living Wage and Fair Wage Concepts: The article delves into the theoretical frameworks of living wages and fair wages, contrasting them with the limitations of the existing minimum wage system.

Legal Analysis and Comparative Studies: Comparative studies of minimum wage models across nations and legal analysis of relevant Indian legislative provisions inform the article's critique and proposed reforms.

Comparing and Contrasting (Disparities in Data) :

As I delved into each article, I noticed a recurring theme among them - an examination of various facets of the minimum wage dilemma. All three bring to light the shortcomings of the existing system, shedding light on the difficulties of enforcement, inconsistent implementation across different regions and industries, and the detrimental effects on marginalized populations such as women and those in the informal economy.However, their approaches diverge when it comes to solutions. The first focuses on improving enforcement and policy design within the existing minimum wage framework, while the second advocates for strengthening enforcement within the existing framework but specifically targeting gender inequalities. The third article takes a radical departure, proposing a complete overhaul of the system toward living or fair wages based on skills and economic realities.

Methodological Approach: 

The methodological choices further reveal the distinct viewpoints of each article. Both the first and second articles utilize quantitative techniques, such as data analysis and statistical models, in order to accurately measure the effects of minimum wage policies on employment and earnings. On the other hand, the third article takes a qualitative approach, drawing on legal analysis, policy documents, and case studies to provide insight into the legal framework and the difficulties faced in its implementation.  This diversity in methods strengths the overall analysis by providing complementary perspectives on the complex issue of minimum wage in India. 

Variations in Analysis and Interpretation:

Impact of State-Specific Wage Rates: The article argues that the diverse tapestry of minimum wage rates across states creates confusion and opportunities for employers to exploit loopholes, hindering efficient labor allocation and exacerbating disparities between regions.

Econometric Model and Differential Impacts: Utilizing an econometric model with individual-level data, the study finds that minimum wage increases positively impact rural male earnings. However, it raises concerns about a widening gender wage gap due to potential non-compliance in female-dominated informal sectors.

Regional and Sectoral Diversities: The analysis acknowledges the need for further research to account for regional and sectoral variations in the impact of minimum wage policies, particularly on vulnerable groups like women and informal workers.

Insufficient for a Decent Life: It is evident through the article that the existing minimum wage structure falls short in offering an income that meets basic necessities and meets acceptable living standards. This flaw is further emphasized by the escalating expenses and economic disparities.

Skill-Based Differentiation and Dynamic Adjustment: The analysis proposes a shift towards a living or fair wage model that takes into account skill levels, regional economic factors, and dynamic adjustments to inflation and changing living costs.

Conclusive Findings:

The article delves into the close connection between ineffective enforcement and its detrimental effects on labor market efficiency and equitable access to the minimum wage.

It sheds light on the alarming vulnerability of women in informal sectors to non-compliance, which is caused by ineffective enforcement strategies and their lack of bargaining power. 

While minimum wage increases can potentially benefit rural earnings, they can also reinforce gender inequalities if strict enforcement measures are not put in place, especially in industries predominantly dominated by women.

To effectively address issues of gender equity and fair treatment for all workers, it is essential to implement targeted enforcement strategies and customize policies according to different industries. 

The current minimum wage system lacks the necessary provisions for decent living conditions, resulting in widespread exploitation and a decline in workers' living standards. 

We must take a holistic approach by adopting a living or fair wage model and incorporating skill-based differentials. This must be coupled with robust enforcement mechanisms and initiatives to increase worker awareness to create a more just and sustainable wage system.

Policy Implications and Future Directions:

The article highlights the importance of implementing a simplified and consistent wage structure across all states in order to minimize confusion and provide greater clarity for both employers and employees. It proposes various measures to achieve this, such as strengthening enforcement through increased inspections, stricter penalties for non-compliance, and better worker education programs. While the specific policy suggestions may vary, they all share a common goal: to create a fair and efficient minimum wage system. Improved enforcement, simplified wage structures, gender-sensitive policy design, and increased worker awareness are common themes across all three. The radical shift towards living or fair wages proposed by the third article, while posing significant implementation challenges, offers a long-term vision for a more just and sustainable wage system.

Critical Evaluation:

Each article offers valuable insights into the challenges and opportunities surrounding India's minimum wage policy. However, limitations exist. The quantitative analyses of the first and second articles face potential data limitations and require further research to confirm their findings across diverse sectors and regions. The qualitative approach of the third article, while illuminating legal and ethical concerns, may lack concrete empirical evidence to fully substantiate its claims. Further research should consider longitudinal studies, comparative analyses with other countries, and in-depth investigations into informal sector dynamics to provide a more robust understanding of the minimum wage issue in India.

Conclusion:

While united by the goal of a fair minimum wage in India, these three articles illuminate distinct paths towards reform. The first navigates enforcement challenges, calling for a simpler, stricter system to protect vulnerable workers. The second, wielding data, uncovers potential benefits for rural workers but warns of a widening gender gap, urging targeted enforcement and sector-specific adjustments. The third boldly envisions a paradigm shift towards dynamic "living wages" based on skills and economic realities. Despite their diverse approaches, these articles converge on the urgent need for reform. By embracing their complementary perspectives, we can weave a richer understanding of the challenges and navigate towards a fairer wage system that fulfills its promise for all workers in India.

[kanejw]

What was read 2023

The Lottery & Other Stories - Shirley Jackson (1949~)

A Life Standing Up - Steve Martin (2007)

Blood Meridian - Cormac McCarthy (1985)

Licks of Love -John Updike (2000)

Lovesickness Collection - Junji Ito (2011)

Flowers for Algernon - Daniel Keyes (1966)

The Anarchy The relentless rise of the East India Company - William Dalrymple (2019)

The Wisdom of Insecurity - Alan W.Watts (1951)

War and Peace - Leo Tolstoy (1869)

The Course of Love - Alain de Botton (2016)

Tender is the Night - F Scott Fitzgerald (1934)

Housekeeping - Marilynne Robinson (1980)

Moby Dick - Herman Melville (1851)

A Faint Heart (1848)White Nights (1848) A Little Hero (1857)An Unpleasant Predicament (1862) The Crocodile (1865) Bobok (1873) A Gentle Spirit/The Meek One* (1876) T1877) Fyodor Dostoevsky

The Maltese Falcon - Dashiell Hammett (1929)

Haunted - Chuck Palahniuk (2005)

The Name of the Rose - Umberto Eco (1980/3)

Diary - Chuck Palahniuk (2003)

Darkness Visible - William Styron (1990)

The Poorhouse Fair - John Updike (1958)

The Sound and the Fury - William Faulkner (1929)

The First Forty-Nine Stories - Ernest Hemingway (1939)

Mythos - Stephen Fry (2017)

The Good Earth - Pearl S. Buck (1931)

The Road to Wigan Pier - George Orwell (1936)

The House of the Dead - Fyodor Dostoevsky (1861)

Walden - Henry David Thoreau (1854)

The Gambler - Fyodor Dostoevsky (1866)

Normal People - Sally Rooney (2018)

Joy in the Morning - P. G. Wodehouse (1947)

After Dark - Haruki Murakami (2004)

The Lodger - Marie Belloc Lowndes (1913)

The Thing Around Your Neck - Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie (2009)

The Right Stuff - Tom Wolfe (1979)

Family Happiness - Leo Tolstoy (1859)

The Death of Ivan Ilyich - Leo Tolstoy (1866)

The Kreutzer Sonata - Leo Tolstoy (1889)

The Devil - Leo Tolstoy (1911)

Nausea - Jean-Paul Sartre (1938)

True History of the Kelly Gang - Peter Carey (2000)

Foucault’s Pendulum - Umberto Eco (1988/9)

Inferno - Dante Alighieri (~1308-1321)

Iliad - Homer (Samuel Butler translation 1898)

Carry On, Jeeves - P.G. Wodehouse (1925)

The Passenger - Cormac McCarthy (2022)

Stella Maris - Cormac McCarthy (2022)

Fear: Trump in the White House - Bob Woodward (2018)

Rubber Balls and Liquor - Gilbert Gottfried (2011)

kiss me like a stranger* - Gene Wilder (2005)

The Adventures of Auguie March - Saul Bellow (1953)

Rickles’ Book A memoir - Don Rickles (2007)

The ‘Rosy Crucifixion’ Trilogy. Sexus - Henry Miller (1949)

The Heart of a Dog - Milhaud Bulgakov (1925)

Dracula - Bram Stoker (1897)

The Grapes of Wrath - John Steinbeck (1939)

Albert & the Whale - Philip Hoare (2021)

A Waiter in Paris - Edward Chisholm (2022)

The Road to Oxiana - Robert Byron (1937)

[brookston]

Holidays 10.9

Holidays

Abolition Day (Saint Barthelemy)

Buckwheat Day (French Republic)

Commonwealth Cultural Day (Northern Mariana Islands)

Community Day (Spain)

Constitution Day (Sint Maarten)

Curious Events Day

Day of National Honor (a.k.a. Day of Dignity; Peru)

Earth Science Literacy Day

Fire Prevention Day (Canada, US)

Fungus Day

Give Peace a Chance Day

Hangul Day (a.k.a. Korean Alphabet Day; South Korea)

Indian Foreign Service Day (India)

Instant Karma Day

International Subscription Day

Leif Erikson Day (Iceland, Norway; Minnesota, Wisconsin)

Magic Lantern Day

Manhattan Project Day

Messenger Appreciation Day

Mop Fair (Tewkesbury, England)

National Absentee Ballot Day

National Chess Day (Original Date)

National Class Ring Day

National C60 Day

National Dance Marathon Day

National Day Commemorating the Holocaust (a.k.a. Ziua Nationala de Comemorare a Holocaustului; Romania)

National Day Without Stigma

National Digitool Day

National Heritage Day (Turks and Caicos)

National Nanotechnology Day

National Send a Booty Pic Day

National Sneakers Day

Nautilus Night

Pans/Pandas Awareness Day

Region of Valencia Day (Spain)

Samitinget Establishment Day (Norway)

Scrubs Day

Strawberry Fields Day

Tavistock Goose Fair (Devon, England)

Valencian Community Day (Valencia, Spain)

World PANS/PANDAS Awareness Day

World Post Day (UN)

Food & Drink Celebrations

Beer and Pizza Day

International Beer and Pizza Day

Cupcakes For Life Day

National Moldy Cheese Day

Submarine-Hoagie-Hero-Grinder Day

Yukon Gold Potato Day

2nd Monday in October

Bartolomé Day [2nd Monday]

Columbus Day observed [2nd Monday] (a.k.a. ... 

American Indian Heritage Day

Amerigo Vespucci Day

Anti-Columbus Day

Descubrimiento de América (Mexico)

Día de la Hispanidad (a.k.a. Fiesta Nacional de España; Spain)

Dia del Respet a la Diversidad Cultural (Argentina)

Dia De La Raza (a.k.a. Day of the Race; Mexico)

Dia de la Resistencia (a.k.a. Day of Indigenous Resistance; Venezuela)

Dia de las Americas (a.k.a. Day of the Americas; Uruguay)

Dia de las Culturas (a.k.a. Day of the Cultures; Costa Rica)

Dia del Descubrimiento de dos Mundos (Chile)

Dia del Respet a la Diversidad Cultural (Argentina)

Discoverer's Day (Hawaii)

Discovery Day (Bahamas, Colombia)

Encuentro de Dos Mundos (Ecuador)

Fraternal Day (Alabama)

Indigenous People's Day

Leif Erickson Day

National Heritage Day (Turks and Caicos Islands)

Native American Day (South Dakota)

Native Americans Day

Pan America Day (Belize)

Piomingo Day (Chickasaw Nation)

Two Worlds Day

US Virgin Islands-Puerto Rico Friendship Day

Federation Day (Star Trek) [2nd Monday]

Health and Sports Day (Japan) [2nd Monday]

Lotu-a-Tamaiti (American Samoa) [Monday after 2nd Sunday]

National Heroes Day (Bahamas) [2nd Monday]

National Kick-Butt Day [2nd Monday]

National Online Banking Day [2nd Monday]

Thanksgiving (Canada) [2nd Monday]

World Rainforest Week begins [2nd Monday]

Yorktown Victory Day (Virginia) [2nd Monday]

Independence Days

Frivia (Declared; 2019) [unrecognized]

Guayaquil Independence Day (Ecuador)

Malvern (l.k.a. Malvern and Roslyn; Declared; 2017) [unrecognized]

Republic of Skovaji (Declared; 2014) [unrecognized]

Uganda (from UK, 1962)

Union of Piedmont (Declared; 2017) [unrecognized]

Feast Days

Abraham the Patriarch (Christian; Saint)

Atilla the Hun Day (Church of the SubGenius; Saint)

The Count (Muppetism)

Day of Tuonela (Pagan)

Denis (Christian; Saint)

Denis Ghislain (Christian; Saint)

Dionysius the Areopagite (Christian; Saint)

Domninus (Christian; Saint)

Felicitas (Old Roman Goddess of Good Luck & Joy)

Festival for Venus (Ancient Rome)

Frank Duveneck (Artology)

Ghislain (a.k.a. Guislain; Christian; Saint)

Innocencio of Mary Immaculate and Martyrs of Asturias (Christian; Saint)

Jean-Baptiste Regnault (Artology)

John Henry Newman (Christian; Saint)

John Leonardi (Christian; Saint)

Knot Day (Pastafarian)

Luis Beltran (a.k.a. Lewis Bertrand; Christian; Saint)

Nicholas Roerich (Artology)

Robert Grosseteste (Church of England)

Roger Bacon (Positivist; Saint)

Simeon Solomon (Artology)

Takayama Autumn Festival begins (Japan)

Wilfred Grenfell (Episcopal Church (USA))

Lucky & Unlucky Days

Tomobiki (友引 Japan) [Good luck all day, except at noon.]

Unfortunate Day (Pagan) [47 of 57]

Premieres

Babe, by Styx (Song; 1979)

Big Top Scooby-Doo! (WB Animated Film; 2012)

Boulder Wham! (WB MM Cartoon; 1965)

The Boy Bounders or Plane Punchy (Rocky & Bullwinkle Cartoon, S2, Ep. 61; 1960)

Buzzard Bait or The Carrion Call (Rocky & Bullwinkle Cartoon, S4, Ep. 167; 1962)

Carry On, Jeeves, by P.G. Wodehouse (Novel; 1925)

Couples Retreat (Film; 2009)

Dance Dance Dance,, recorded by The Beach Boys (Song; 1964)

Holy Man (Film; 1998)

The Iceman Cometh, by Eugene O’Neill (Play; 1946)

Libeled Lady (Film; 1936)

Little Big Man, by Thomas Berger (Novel; 1964)

Little Einsteins (Animated TV Series; 2005)

Microcosmos (Documentary Film; 1996)

Mogambo (Film; 1953)

The Olympic Champ (Disney Cartoon; 1942)

A Peek at the Peak or Your Climb is My Climb (Rocky & Bullwinkle Cartoon, S2, Ep. 62; 1960)

Phantom of the Opera (Broadway Musical; 1986)

Prisoner of Love, recorded by Russ Columbo (Song; 1931)

Pursuit of the Po-Ho (Animated TV Show;Jonny Quest #4; 1964)

Rocky Rides Again or Small in the Saddle (Rocky & Bullwinkle Cartoon, S4, Ep. 168; 1962)

Rover’s Rival (WB LT Cartoon; 1937)

Rushmore (Film; 1998)

Thomas & Friends (Animated UK TV Series; 1984)

Timewasters (BBC TV Series; 2017)

Under Siege (Film; 1992)

Wild Night, by Van Morrison (Song; 1971)

Today’s Name Days

Doings, Dionysius, Günter, Johannes, Sara (Austria)

Abraham, Dionizije, Sara (Croatia)

Sára, Štefan (Czech Republic)

Dionysius (Denmark)

Mariina, Riin, Riina, Riine (Estonia)

Ilona (Finland)

Denis (France)

Doings, Elfriede, Günter, Sara, Sibylle (Germany)

Avraam, Lot (Greece)

Dénes (Hungary)

Abramo, Dionigi, Ferruccio, Lorenzo, Sara (Italy)

Elga, Elgars, Helga (Latvia)

Dionizas, Virgailė (Lithuania)

Leidulf, Leif (Norway)

Arnold, Arnolf, Atanazja, Bogdan, Dionizjusz, Dionizy, Jan, Ludwik, Przedpełk (Poland)

Iacob (Romania)

Dionýz (Slovakia)

Abraham, Abrahán, Dionisio, Héctor, Juan, Luis, Sara (Spain)

Inger, Ingrid (Sweden)

Rebecca (Ukraine)

Denice, Denis, Denise, Dennis, Denny, Dion, Gunnar, Gunther, Leif (USA)

Today is Also…

Day of Year: Day 282 of 2024; 83 days remaining in the year

ISO: Day 1 of week 41 of 2023

Celtic Tree Calendar: Gort (Ivy) [Day 7 of 28]

Chinese: Month 8 (Xin-You), Day 25 (Geng-Zi)

Chinese Year of the: Rabbit 4721 (until February 10, 2024)

Hebrew: 24 Tishri 5784

Islamic: 24 Rabi I 1445

J Cal: 12 Shù; Fiveday [12 of 30]

Julian: 26 September 2023

Moon: 22%: Waning Crescent

Positivist: 2 Descartes (11th Month) [Roger Bacon]

Runic Half Month: Gyfu (Gift) [Day 13 of 15]

Season: Autumn (Day 16 of 89)

Zodiac: Libra (Day 16 of 30)

[bloggingforu]

National Science Day 2023: History, Theme, Quotes, Significance

What is National Science Day 2023

National Science Day is a day of celebration across India at the end of February, on 28th day of February each year, to celebrate an important discovery of the Raman Effect by Indian physicist Sir C. V. Raman in 1928.

There is a belief that the Raman Effect is a scientific phenomenon in which light scatters when it passes through the medium. Its discovery led to an award of Sir Chandrasekhara Venkata Raman the Nobel Prize in Physics in 1930.

The aim is to emphasize the significance of science in our daily lives as well as to acknowledge the achievements of Indian scientists and to foster curiosity and enthusiasm for science for people of all age groups.

The celebrations are organized by organizing a variety of events including scientific fairs, exhibitions, and seminars, in addition to scientific lectures, debates and quizzes.

The National Council for Science and Technology Communication (NCSTC) of the Ministry of Science and Technology, Government of India, organizes celebrations for National Science Day in collaboration with various research institutes as well as educational institutions and other organizations across the country.

bloggingforu Provides You with knowledgeable and Informational content.

History of National Science Day

The genesis of National Science Day date back to 1986 when the Indian government created the National Council for Science and Technology Communication (NCSTC) under the Department of Science and Technology (DST) to foster the scientific method and develop the development of a scientific mindset in the general population.

The NCSTC set the 28th of February to be National Science Day to commemorate the discovery of the Raman Effect by Sir Chandrasekhara Venkata Raman in 1928. First National Science Day was observed on February 28, 1987, with various scientific activities that were held across the country.

The day was inaugurated by the prime minister of the time India, Rajiv Gandhi, in order to encourage research in the field and create a spirit of curiosity about science throughout the country. Since its beginning, it is observed each year on February 28 in celebration of science and technology.

The themes selected are designed to highlight different aspects of scientific research and its effect on society. Some examples could be “Science for Sustainable Development,” “Science and Technology for a Sustainable Future,” “Science and Society,” and “Women in Science.”

National Science Day Theme 2023

The theme for National Science Day 2023 is “Global Science for Global Wellbeing”.

here are some of the past themes for National Science Day in India:

2022: “Science and Technology for Sustainable Development with Equity.”

2021: “Future of STI: Impacts on Education, Skills, and Work.”

2020: “Women in Science.”

2019: “Science for the People and the People for Science.”

2018: “Science and Technology for a Sustainable Future.”

2017: “Science and Technology for Specially Abled Persons.”

2016: “Scientific Issues for Development of the Nation.”

2015: “Science for Nation Building.”

2014: “Fostering Scientific Temper.”

2013: “Genetically Modified Crops and Food Security.”

These themes reflect the changing priorities and challenges facing Indian society, and emphasize the role of science and technology in promoting sustainable development, social inclusivity, and scientific temper.

National Science Day Quotes 2023

Here are a few National Science Day quotes that highlight the importance of science and technology:

“The science of today is the technology of tomorrow.” — Edward Teller

“Science knows no country, because knowledge belongs to humanity, and is the torch which illuminates the world.” — Louis Pasteur

“Science is not only compatible with spirituality; it is a profound source of spirituality.” — Carl Sagan

“The important thing in science is not so much to obtain new facts as to discover new ways of thinking about them.” — William Bragg

“Science is a way of thinking much more than it is a body of knowledge.” — Carl Sagan

“Science is simply the word we use to describe a method of organizing our curiosity.” — Tim Minchin

“Science is a beautiful gift to humanity; we should not distort it.” — A. P. J. Abdul Kalam

“Science without conscience is but the ruin of the soul.” — François Rabelais

[mysteriouslyjovialcolor]

Belgium 2017

-I’m not sure why I watch these 2017 races when I know most of these engines suck

-“It’s a sleepy part of the world” I wanna be there

-Lewis 68th pole, 200th Grand Prix

-Max and Daniel always qualifying one after the other>>

-Oh yay, there’s the chaotic duo of Ocon and Checo!

-Ohmygod Nico Hulkenburg and Fernando Alonso! Double overtake on that Force India!

-One of the lesser chaotic turn 1s I’ve seen actually

-“For the moment we can go with him, no problem” I like when Sebastian’s confident about his car

-“I think the Force India actually touched wheels going into that lap 1” They can’t ever stop

-“It’s quite a personal battle I’m sure for those at Renault, to try and see if they can beat Red Bull” Hah

-“The top 6 are behaving themselves” That’s what’s really new

-“Embarrassing, that was really embarrassing” Yeah I can imagine- having that great start and then losing pace

-Fernando without a seat for the next season at this point??

-“How do you stop them (Ocon and Perez) from doing that?”

“Threaten to sell them to a worse team” Hahaha unhinged

-WHAT DID I SAY ABOUT THE ENGINES??

-Max DNF

-Stupid mechanical failure

-6 retirements in 12 races?!

-“You can understand why he wants, if the reports are right, out of Red Bull this moment” sighhh

-“Lewis it’s hammer time” It’s so stupidly cool

-At this point I really do believe Red Bull has to have a bad day for Toro Rosso to do well

-Both of them are surprisingly in the points right now

-I’ve said this before but I really enjoy watching Kimi go wheel to wheel with other drivers

-Lewis did overtake him here but it was still very cool on his part

-10s penalty for Kimi?! Failing to slow for yellow flags?! When were there yellow flags?

-“No more radio for the rest of the race” Fernando’s race is so not going well

-Kimi: “What do you mean?! He was on the side of the road!” Like??

-“My car is actually really nice now” Oh? Okay then Kimi

-“Ricciardo will pass me in the next lap. I have no protection now but anyway doesn’t change my life” Lol, the passive aggression

-“The F2 leader Charles Leclerc is being lined up for a seat. We wanna see Charles Leclerc in F1 next year. He’s winning races superbly well at the moment in that series”

“He’s the new Ferrari protégé I think”

Yesss

-Checo getting a five second penalty but still being in the points, meanwhile the Toro Rosso pit and then dropped to p15 and 16

-My theory about them needing Red Bull to do bad, to do well was completely wrong

-Sebastian has been 1s (more or less) away from Lewis this whole race

-Nico and Kimi>>

-“The Incredible Hulk there knows he’s racing the Force India really” Haha never really heard that nickname for him before

-Honestly thought Checo already served his 5s penalty but apparently not

-Still made it back into the points faster than the Toro Rosso though

-“Fernando Alonso is out of the race” Honestly, I think he gave up and apparently so did his engine

-When did Daniel pit? I don’t think I ever saw him come in

-“There’s no love lost between these two” “Ocon and Perez, they really do go for it”

-“Guys, why did he pit before me” “Well he had a five second penalty, so he shouldn’t have got you”

-Ah! They touched again! Damage for Checo. Yellow flag

-At least all the other teams are benefiting from their tussle

-Yay the cars are weaving

-“Ferrari are really benefiting from this safety car aren’t they”

-Lewis: “Why have they got the safety car out? This is ridiculous”

-Honestly, to be fair to Lewis, this is a really long safety car for a minor incident

-Ohmygod Sebastian and Lewis are so close!

-Kimi!! He’s gotten past Valterri!

-Ohmygod Daniel too! He’s p3!!

-That was actually so cool! Daniel moving past Valterri first and then Kimi from the other side!

-Sainz back in points!

-Unfortunate for Kevin tho, he’s out of them. P9 to dead last.

-Sebastian’s been so close to Lewis this whole time. Lewis has been defending so well

-Checo retiring with one lap left???

-Lewis, Sebastian, and Daniel on podium!! That’s such a fun lineup! Plus one person from each top team, very nice

-✨Mark Webber✨

[upscalelegal]

Peer to Peer Lending and its Regulation in India

INTRODUCTION

The advent of technology has led to various changes in the traditional ways of conducting business operations. One such change has been the emergence of Peer to Peer (hereinafter “P2P”) lending platforms for raising loans by businesses and individuals. The P2P lending platforms provide an alternative to traditional banks and societies for obtaining finances.

P2P lending is essentially a way in which businesses and individuals acquire required funds from online platforms. The route enables fundraising directly without the presence of financial institutions as intermediaries. The P2P lending platforms act as marketplaces or aggregators bringing together lenders/ investors and borrowers on online channels. Under the arrangement, the lenders are benefited by availing loans with shorter repayment terms and need for security. It has become a widely acceptable and preferred way of raising finances due to the lower interest rates, easier approval, and minimal documentation involved.

Legal framework for P2P lending platforms

The regulation of P2P lending platforms is governed by the Reserve Bank of India (hereinafter “RBI”) vide the Master Directions – Non-Banking Financial Company – Peer to Peer Lending Platform (Reserve Bank) Directions, 2017[1]. The Master Directions under Section 4 (1) (v) define P2P lending Platform in the following manner:

“Peer to Peer Lending Platform” means an intermediary providing the services of loan facilitation via online medium or otherwise, to the participants as defined at item (iv) of sub-paragraph (1) of paragraph 4 of these directions;”[2]

The Master Directions provides that apart from a company, no non-banking institution can undertake the business of P2P lending platform[3]. Further, any NBFC intending to carry out the business of P2P (hereinafter “NBFC-P2P) lending is to do the same by obtaining a Certificate of Registration (hereinafter “CoR”) from the RBI.[4] The Master Directions also provide for the conditions for obtaining a CoR, eligibility for registration of an NBFC-P2P, the necessary financial capital structure, the scope and extent of activities, operational guidelines etc. Additionally, the Master Directions are accompanied by Annexures which have other elaborate detailing of the technical aspects of the above-mentioned rules.

In addition to these Directions, the RBI regularly updates the framework by the way of the circulars that are released for the purpose of monitoring and regulating the activities of the P2P lending Platforms. For instance vide a recent update to the Master Directions was brought vide an amendment in December 2019.[5]

Compliance requirements before raising P2P loans

NBFC-P2P

The Master Directions expressly provide the obligations of the NBFC-P2P towards the lenders and borrowers. The Directions state that the NBFC-P2P is to undertake due diligence on the borrowers and lenders[6]. The NBFC-P2P is further obligated to undertake credit assessment and risk profiling of the borrowers and disclose the same to their prospective lenders.[7] They must require the prior and explicit consent of the borrowers and lenders to access their credit information.

The Master Directions under its scope of activities provides that it is the responsibility of the NBFC-P2P to undertake documentation of loan agreements and other related documents, provide assistance in disbursement and repayments of loan amount and render services for recovery of loans originated on the platform. The Master Direction specifically mandates the maintenance of a minimum Leverage Ratio[8] of 2[9]. The NBFC-P2P are restricted from accepting deposits, lending its fund, providing any credit guarantee[10], allowing the international flow of funds,[11] and trading of any products except loan specific insurance products[12]and trading in securities.

The NBFC-P2P is expected to follow the Fair Practices Code, as prescribed by RBI from time to time, to maintain utmost confidentiality with respect to the transactions as undertaken through the platform and maintain a grievance redressal mechanism at all times for the internal as well as outsourced activities.

Borrowers

The Master Directions do not contain any specific requirements as to compliances to be observed by the borrowers. However, there are certain practical considerations to be kept in mind of the borrowers before availing a loan through P2P lending Platforms. It is recommended that the genuineness of the P2P Platform should be adequately checked. The borrowers as per the prudential norms are required not to taken aggregate loans exceeding Rs. 10,00,00/- (Rupees Ten Lakhs) across all P2P lending Platforms at any point in time.[13] The prudential norms also state that the maturity of the loans shall not exceed thirty six (36) months.[14]

Additionally, it is also recommended that the borrower should furnish all the required details by the platform, and ensure the complete truth in every piece of furnished information to the P2P lending Platforms. It is also recommended that due diligence is conducted on their part before investing and at the time of repayment.

Lenders

The Master Directions state that an aggregate exposure of a lender to all borrowers at any point of time, across all P2P platforms, shall be subject to a cap of Rs. 50,00,000/- (Rupees Fifty Lakhs) provided that such investments of the lenders on P2P platforms are consistent with their net-worth.[15] The Directions further state that a lender investing more than Rs. 10,00,000/- (Rupees Ten Lakhs) is required to produce a certificate to P2P platforms from a practicing Chartered Accountant certifying a minimum net-worth of Rs. 50,00,000 (Rupees Fifty Lakhs).

Other guidelines/ regulations with respect to P2P lending Platforms

Apart from the above mentioned considerations to be ensured for transacting through P2P lending Platforms are the following:

Fund Transfer Mechanism: All the fund transfer between participants is to take place through escrow accounts operated by a bank promoted trustee.

Interest Rate: The interest rate should be in annualized percentage rate format.

Conclusion The fintech space is an ever-expanding and in the wake of the covid-19 pandemic the movement to the digital space from the traditional ways of lending and borrowing is inevitable. The preference of P2P lending platforms due to the easy availability of loans and negligible requirements as to collaterals have increased the market players in the field and borrowers in these platforms. However, the activities in the platforms have to be carried out in a way to be complaint with the all the guidelines including the ones mentioned in the proceeding paragraphs provided in the Master Directions. The P2P platforms with its growth bring along with them various governing issues and increase a need to regulate such platforms with more laws and rules.

References

Master Directions – Non-Banking Financial Company – Peer to Peer Lending Platform (Reserve Bank) Directions, 2017, RBI/DNBR/2017-18/57, October 4, 2017. Updated on December 23, 2019

Section 4 (1) (iv) “Participant” means a person who has entered into an arrangement with an NBFC-P2P to lend on it or to avail of loan facilitation services provided by it.

Section 5 (1) (i) of the Master Directions – Non-Banking Financial Company – Peer to Peer Lending Platform (Reserve Bank) Directions, 2017.

Section 5 (1) (ii) of the Master Directions – Non-Banking Financial Company – Peer to Peer Lending Platform (Reserve Bank) Directions, 2017.

RBI Circular, DOR.NBFC(PD) CC.No.106/03.10.124/2019-20, dated December 23, 2019, retrieved from: https://m.rbi.org.in/Scripts/BS_CircularIndexDisplay.aspx?Id=11764

Section 6 (2) of the Master Directions – Non-Banking Financial Company – Peer to Peer Lending Platform (Reserve Bank) Directions, 2017.

Section 6 (2) (ii) of the Master Directions – Non-Banking Financial Company – Peer to Peer Lending Platform (Reserve Bank) Directions, 2017.

Section (4)(ii) as “Leverage Ratio” means the Total Outside Liabilities divided by Owned Funds, of the NBFC-P2P”

Section 7 (1) of the Master Directions – Non-Banking Financial Company – Peer to Peer Lending Platform (Reserve Bank) Directions, 2017.

Section 6 (1) (iv) of the Master Directions – Non-Banking Financial Company – Peer to Peer Lending Platform (Reserve Bank) Directions, 2017.

Section 6 (1) (viii) of the Master Directions – Non-Banking Financial Company – Peer to Peer Lending Platform (Reserve Bank) Directions, 2017.

Section 6 (1) (vii) of the Master Directions – Non-Banking Financial Company – Peer to Peer Lending Platform (Reserve Bank) Directions, 2017.

Section 7 (3) of the Master Directions – Non-Banking Financial Company – Peer to Peer Lending Platform (Reserve Bank) Directions, 2017.

Section 7 (5) of the Master Directions – Non-Banking Financial Company – Peer to Peer Lending Platform (Reserve Bank) Directions, 2017.

Section 7 (2) of the Master Directions – Non-Banking Financial Company – Peer to Peer Lending Platform (Reserve Bank) Directions, 2017.

[acquisory]

Finance Act 2017 – An Overview

The Finance Bill, 2017 which was introduced in the Lok Sabha on 1st February, 2017 which has now been made Finance Act 2017 w.e.f. 1st April, 2017 after receiving the assent of the President of India on 31st March, 2017.

Major changes in the Finance Act, 2017

Income Tax Rate for the AY 2018–19 (FY 2017–18)

For individual tax payer the new slab of surcharge of 10% for Total Income of Rs. 50 Lacs to Rs. 100 Lacs has been introduced. Whereas for the income exceeding Rs. 100 Lacs, the surcharge shall be 15% of total income. Presently a tax rebate of Rs. 5000/- is allowed if the total income does not exceed Rs. 5,00,000/-. With effect from 01/04/2017, the limit has been reduced to Rs. 2500/- up to the total income of Rs. 3,50,000/-.

In case of companies, where the total turnover or gross receipt does not exceed Rs. 50 Crore during FY 2015–16, the tax rate would be 25% for FY 2017–18.

Applicability of Tax Deducted at Source (TDS) Rate for FY 2017–18

The Finance Act, 2017 now specifies that every individual/HUF, not covered by Tax Audit Provisions, shall be liable to deduct TDS at the rate of 5%, if the monthly rent exceeds Rs. 50,000/- per month as compared to the earlier provision wherein the individual/HUF who comes under the tax audit provision (Turnover exceeding Rs. 1 Crore) were liable to deduct TDS on rent (whether used for business or residence) if the total rent exceeds Rs. 1,80,000/- per annum.

Provisions w.r.t Capital Gains

Holding Period of Capital Asset:

The Finance Act has reduced the holding period of Land/Building to 24 months. For various other assets such as All listed Shares, Units of Equity Oriented Mutual Funds and Securities the holding period has been reduced to 12 months and for any other type of capital asset including units or Debt Oriented Mutual Fund the period has been reduced to 36 months.

Exemption on Sale of Long Term Capital Gain on Equity Shares

With the Finance Act, 2017 coming into force one of the major amendment that has been made is w.r.t. exemption provided on Sale of Long Term Capital on Equity Shares (after paying Securities Transaction Tax STT) which shall be subject to the following conditions –

- The shares should have been purchased after paying STT if these were acquired after 01/10/2004.

- However, the above mentioned condition would not be applicable if the acquisition is out of IPO, Follow-on IPO, Right Issue or Bonus issue for which separate notification would be issued by Government.

Applicability of Joint Development Agreement on Land/Building owned by Individual/HUF

The Finance Act has tried to curb the problems faced by the owner’s w.r.t. Capital Gain liability which is triggered as soon as the Joint Development Agreement (JDA) is entered and possession of the property is handed over for development to developer, though the sale of the developed property which might take several years. Thus, to address such problems, new provisions under section 45 (5A) has been inserted in Income Tax Act, 1961 which lays down the following conditions-

a) There should be a registered agreement between the owner of the Land or Building or both and developer, to develop the real estate in consideration of land or building or both or part in cash.

b) Capital gain shall be chargeable to tax as income of the previous year in which the certificate of completion for the whole or part of the project is issued by the Competent For this purpose, the stamp duty value shall be the value on the date of issuing the completion certificate.

Shifting of Base Year for Computation of Capital Gains

The Finance Act, 2017 has provided the option to assessee to substitute the fair market value (FMV) as on 01/04/2001 in case of of asset acquired prior to 01/04/2001. Earlier this date was 01/04/1981.

Capital Gain applicability for Unquoted Share

With the introduction of new Section 50CA w.e.f. 1st April, 2017, the Fair Market Value (FMV) would be deemed to be the full value of consideration if actual sale consideration is less than the FMV on the date of sale of shares. Thus, the both seller and buyers would have to pay tax on the difference if the FMV is higher than the actual consideration.

Tax Provisions on Acquisition of Asset without consideration or inadequate consideration by firms/Association of Persons (AOP) and widely held companies

Until the present tax norms, firms, AOP and widely held companies were not liable to tax on difference between Fair Market Value (FMV) and actual consideration.

The recent Finance Act, 2017 now provides that firms/AOPs and widely held companies to pay tax under section 56(2) on the difference if the Fair Market Value is higher than actual consideration of movable or immovable asset. However trusts, transactions between relatives, HUF partition etc. are still out and not liable to pay the tax on the difference amount.

Setting off of Interest on Housing Loan on Rented Properties

The present tax structure allows the setting off of interest on housing loans in respect of let out properties against other income without any limit. With the Finance Act, 2017 in place, the loss under the `Income from House Property’ would be kept limited to Rs. 2,00,000/- for adjustment against…

Read More: https://www.acquisory.com/ArticleDetails/35/Finance-Act-2017-%E2%80%93-An-Overview