1. Travelling is easier than you think.

We believe that travelling around the world shouldn’t be hard: it’s actually something everyone should be able to do at least once in their lives. Whether you choose to spend a few years or just a couple months travelling this beautiful planet, it’s important to see what’s out there. It’s up to you to make the dream come true and take the first step. Launch Trip planner to piece together and price your ideal route. Not sure where to start?  You can always call one of our travel consultants and get some complimentary advice!

2. Travel opens your eyes.

If you’re open and willing, travel will make you an incredibly better-rounded human being. And that’s really the goal, isn’t it? If you don’t know where to start, check out our Around the World planning guide.

3. Travelling helps you learn who you are.

All the challenges and opportunities travel lays at your feet help you discover who you are in a way that’s only possible on the road.

4. Travel creates meaningful relationships

People you meet while on the road become some of the most valued names on your contact list. They become places on the map to visit later on. These folks give you a glimpse outside your hometown circle of friends, and force you to take in new and refreshing perspectives, and ultimately realize that everyone is the same.

5. Travelling develops skills you didn’t know you had

Sometimes it’s only far from home that you realize you you’ve got skills you’ve never used. It’s travel that brings them to the surface and makes you smile, satisfied to have reached the mountain top, or  crossed a gorge  or helped a villager clean up after a storm, or even to have successfully ordered a meal at a rural Chinese restaurant.

6. Travel helps you learn new languages

There’s something satisfying about being able to throw around a few words of Greek, knowing how to say thanks in Thai, pulling out that long dormant Spanish to book a room in Santiago, or simply hearing a language you didn’t know existed just a few weeks before.

7. Travel means adventure

Zip-lining over the jungle canopy in Peru, successfully navigating the maze-like streets of Venice, bartering for the best price in the traditional markets of Marrakech, taking a speedboat ride in New Zealand, or hopping in a Land Rover and heading out to watch animals grazing  in Tanzania: these are adventures worth having. People are hardwired for the excitement of adventure and travel may just be the best way to tap into it.

8. Travelling gives you perspective

Meeting people from other cultures will teach you that the way you’ve been looking at the world isn’t the way everybody else does. In fact, your point-of-view might have some major blind spots. Seeing the world for yourself will improve your vision and your grip on reality.

9. Travel helps you move forward

If you’re between jobs, schools, kids, or relationships, around the world travel can be a perfect way to move from one of these life stages into your next great adventure. A big trip won’t just ease your transition into the next stage of your life, it’ll give you a chance to reflect on where you’ve been, where you’re going, and where you want to end up.

10. Travel is education

Seeing the world provides an education that’s absolutely impossible get in school. Travel teaches you economy, politics, history, geography, and sociology in an intense, hands-on way no class will.  Fortunately, the school of travel is always taking applications, no entrance exam required.

11. Travel challenges you

Getting your daily latte at the same place and staring at your screen at your nine-to-five every day not nearly interesting enough? Even if you choose to work on the road (and keep staring at the screen), you’ll have to find a new place to drink your latte, and depending on your destination, finding coffee, and foamy milk or a good place to sip them could prove to be a sizeable challenge. Travel is full of moments of joy and challenges. Overcoming the challenges gives you some of the greatest joys of all.

12. Travel shakes things up

It sucks to be stuck in a rut. Everyone knows what that’s like. A big trip can be your perfect solution. Fly around the world, stopping over in all of the places you’ve always wanted to visit. Go ahead and plan your ideal route around the world (it’s easier than you think!)

13. Travelling proves that dreams do come true

You imagined it, daydreamed about it, and envisioned it. Guess what? It can be done. Around the world travel is possible, you just have to decide you’re willing to take the first step and start planning your itinerary.  What are you waiting for? We’ve put together some specials to inspire you to live your dream.

14. Travel gives you cool stories

Let’s face it. Even for folks who can’t tell a story, just the words “last year in Mongolia” get you instant party points.  Even when events seem trivial, nostalgia and distance create an irresistible spin that makes mundane things like getting your laundry done in Zanzibar, entertaining. Just don’t be that person and overdo it!

15. Travel is literally food for thought.

You’ll be constantly surprised at the flavours the world has to offer.  The way people in other cultures and countries prepare food, and break bread together (not that all cultures even eat bread) will astound you.

16. Travel gives you a sense of accomplishment

If you’re the kind of person that dreams big, you’re probably one to reach for new challenges. Finishing a trip gives you the satisfaction that you were able make a goal to travel and accomplish what you set out to do–see the world.

COUNTRIES WITH CURRENCY ALMOST EQUIVALENT TO INR

1. Sri Lanka

Named as the top country to visit in 2020 by Lonely Planet, Ravan’s Lanka is famous for its pristine beaches and great food. The picturesque landscapes, flora and fauna, rural lifestyle and archaeological remains are a treat to photographers. Tourists need to purchase a permit to photograph the principal ancient monuments in Sri Lanka. If you’re travelling on a budget, Rs 500-700 should be sufficient for a day. The stay can be as cheap as Rs. 700-1000 per night. And also not to mention, it is one of the cheapest countries to visit from India.

Visa: Can be obtained easily online. Sri Lanka issues an ETA that allows you to enter the country for 30 days. 

Distance: Colombo, Sri Lanka is at a distance of 682 km from Chennai and it takes 1 hour, 21 minutes for travel by flight. 

How to get there: The easiest and quickest way to reach Sri lanka is to take a flight. The tickets cost Rs. 3000-4000 from Chennai to Colombo.

Number of tourists in the year 2018: Sri Lanka receives 2.3 million tourists 

Best time to visit: November to March 

Currency: 1 Sri Lankan Rupee = 0.39 INR

Suggestions: Places to visit in Sri Lanka

Booking: Sri Lanka Tourism

2. Bhutan

Bhutan, “Thunder Dragon”, is located between India and China. It is known to be the happiest country in the world. Tourists can immerse oneself in the rich culture, mountain monasteries and be a part of colourful Bhutanese festivals. Adventure seekers can explore the wilderness of the country. Prices for stays and food is typically similar to what it would cost in India, depending on the kind of choices. It is one of the cheapest countries to visit from India.

Visa: Not required for Indians (Passports/voter Id’s are sufficient)

Distance: Distance between Bagdogra and Thimphu, Bhutan is 333 kms. Flights from Bagdogra to Paro take about 30 minutes for arrival.

How to get there: The easiest way to reach Bhutan from India is to take a direct flight to Paro. The quickest way is to fly from Bagdogra. The cheapest option is to take a shared taxi from Bagdogra Airport through Nepal border.

Number of tourists in the year 2018: Bhutan received a total of 274,097 visitors

Best time to visit: October to December or January to February.

Currency: 1 Ngultrum = 1 Rupee. Indian currency is accepted for transactions in Bhutan expect for values Rs 500 and above. 

3. Nepal

Tucked in between the Himalayas and forests, Nepal is rich in wildlife and spiritual culture. If you want to escape to a land of quiet and peace this is the place for you. Adventure seekers have numerous mountains for trekking and forests to explore and also among the cheapest and nearest countries to visit from India. Average budget in Nepal can be Rs 400-700 per day. 

Visa: Not required for Indians (Passports/voter Id’s are sufficient)

Distance: Flight distance between Delhi to Kathmandu is 813 kms. The nonstop flight takes 1 hour 45 minutes for arrival.

How to get there: Cheapest flights to Kathmandu cost just Rs 3900 from Delhi. You can travel to Nepal by road, by train, bus or drive there, but it is a long and tedious affair.   

Number of tourists in the year 2018: Nepal received a total of 1.17 million tourists

Best time to visit: October to December

Currency: 1 Nepalese Rupee = 0.62 INR

4. Philippines

Philippines is a dream paradise for beach lovers. With an average of 700 islands, monuments, lush green forests and the fathomless beaches, Philippines is a country one can never miss. Local travel, stay and food are least expensive. Flight tickets are the major expense on a trip to the country. It is extremely affordable for the people looking for cheapest countries to visit from India.

Visa: Indian Nationals with a valid passport can apply for a tourist visa at the Embassy in New Delhi, for trips longer than 21 days. 

Distance: The shortest distance between India and the Philippines is 4,631 km. It takes about 5.14 hours to arrive by flight.

How to get there: Flights to Philippines from major cities in India are easily available. You can get cheaper tickets if you opt for off-season travel.  

Number of tourists in the year 2018: Philippines received 7.1 million foreign tourists 

Best time to visit: December to February

Currency: 1 Philippine peso = 1.39 INR

COUNTRIES WHERE YOU CAN BE RICHIE RICH

5. Cambodia

One of the cheapest countries to visit from India in Southeast Asia, Cambodia is known for its rich history, spectacular coastlines and inexpensive delicacies. An average of Rs 800 is sufficient for a day in Cambodia.

Visa: Cambodian visa can be obtained online within 4 days.

Distance: The shortest distance between India and Cambodia is 2,912 km. It takes about 3.23 hours to arrive by flight.

How to get there:  Cheapest flights can be availed between March and June, with tickets costing as low as Rs 5600.

Number of tourists in the year 2018: Cambodia received 6 million tourists

Best time to visit: May to October

Currency: 1 INR = 57 Cambodian Riel

6. Indonesia

One of the most sought out destination Bali is located in Indonesia, but there’s more to the country than just Bali. It is home to active volcanoes, vast beaches and high mountain ranges. Visiting Indonesia during April and October is a budget friendly option with the accommodation prices going down by 30-60%. An average of Rs 1000-1500 should be sufficient for a day.  One of the best thing is that it is one the cheapest countries to visit from India.

Visa: Not required for Indian nationals.

Distance: The shortest distance between Indonesia and India is 4,483 km. It takes around 5 hours to arrive by flight.

How to get there: Flights can be as cheap as Rs 6000 to Jakarta. 

Number of tourists in the year 2018: Indonesia received 15.8 million foreign tourists.

Best time to visit: April and October

Currency: 1INR  = 190 Indonesian Rupiah

7. Vietnam

One of the gems in Southeast Asia, Vietnam has green mountains, happening cities and pristine beaches. It is famous for its rich history and distinguishing heritage. If you choose to stay in the backpacker’s hostels, your stay can cost you only Rs 1000 per night. You can have a filling large meal in a mid-range restaurant for about Rs 800. If you are on a budget then opting for cheaper options can cost you about Rs 500-700 per day. It is one the most beautiful and budget friendly Countries to visit from India.

Visa: Visa to Vietnam can be obtained through a simple online procedure.

Distance: The shortest distance between India and Vietnam is 3,094.38 km and it takes 4 hours 20 minutes to arrive by flight.

How to get there:  You can get the lowest prices for tickets from India in April. Mondays and Wednesdays are the cheapest days to fly to Vietnam.

Number of tourists in the year 2018: Vietnam received 15.5 million international tourists.

Best time to visit: February to April and August to October

Currency: 1 INR = 323 Vietnamese dongs

8. Laos

Laos is a palette of all the shades of green located in Southeast Asia. Dark forests, bright green rice fields, and glistening tea leaves on the mountains, the landscape all make it a treat to the eyes. It is also known for its Buddhist monasteries and French architecture. Dorm rooms are the cheapest option ranging from Rs 400-800 per night. Food is extremely inexpensive whether it is a high restaurant or on the streets, the prices starting from Rs 100-300. You can rent bikes for sightseeing inside the country for just Rs 150-300. 

Visa:  Indian travellers can get a visa on arrival from any of the international checkpoints or by going to the Embassy in Delhi and completing the visa procedure to avoid last minute queues.  

Distance: The distance between India and Laos is 2572 km. The quickest way to get from India to Laos is to fly which takes around 9 hours.

Number of tourists in the year 2018: Laos received 4.1 million tourists

Best time to visit: October to April

Currency: 1 INR = 123 Laotian Kips

9. Myanmar

Nature walks, historical tours and hot air balloon rides are a major tourist attraction in Myanmar. Gigantic mountains, pristine beaches, beautiful islands and peaceful lakes are the highlights of the country. 

Visa: Indian Nationals with a valid passport can apply for an e-Visa online.

Distance:  Flight distance between India to Myanmar is 1,986 km. It takes 3 hours to arrive by flight.

How to get there: You can travel by road to Myanmar through Manipur. Taking a flight is the quickest option.

Number of tourists in the year 2018: Myanmar received 3.55 million tourists 

Best time to visit: November to February

Currency: 1 INR = 21 Myanmar Kyats

10. Lebanon

Lebanon is an ancient country with a rich history, diverse culture, and wondrous scenic beauty. It is located in Western Asia, bordering Syria and Israel. A trip to Lebanon is similar to a European city in terms of its cost, approximately Rs 6000 is required for a day in Lebanon including the stay, food and travelling inside the country.

Visa: Indians can apply for a Visa online or at one of the respective Embassies.

Distance: The shortest distance between India and Lebanon is 4,478 km. It takes 5 hours to arrive by flight.

How to get there:  Flights from major cities are easily available to Lebanon

Number of tourists in the year 2018: Lebanon received 1,963,917 tourists

Best time to visit: March to June and October to December

Learning and enhancing your skills are vital in this technological era. This helps you to prepare yourself for getting the highest paying jobs in the field of your choice. And if you are a professional already, learning new technologies and tools will take you an inch closer to the promotion you always dreamt of. Widening your arsenal of tools also enhances your value as a professional in your company.Here are some of the latest technologyconcepts that are sure to dominate the IT industry,

1. Artificial Intelligence

Artificial intelligence (AI) is the technology used for equipping computer systems with the ability to make decisions like humans. When AI programs are fed to systems, the aim is to mimic human intelligence for performing complex tasks such as pattern recognition, speech recognition, weather forecast and medical diagnosis.AI is used in navigation based applications like Uber, voice assistants like Siri, video streaming services like Netflix, IoT devices and in search engines like Google and Bing.AI helps in automating tasks such as traffic, scheduling trains, making business predictions and designing driverless cars!

2. Data Science

Next up in the list of latest technology concepts is not surprisingly Data Science. Data Science is the technology that helps to make sense of complicated data. You know that data is produced in a humungous amount every day by companies. This includes business data, sales data, customer profile information, server data, and financial figures. Most of this data is in the form of huge data sets that are unstructured. The role of data scientists is to convert these unstructured data sets into structured datasets. Then, these data sets can be analyzed to identify patterns and trends. These patterns are useful for understanding the company’s business performance, customer retention, and how these areas can be improved.

3. Internet of Things

The IoT (Internet of Things) is a network of devices that are connected to each other. Their devices caninteract and share data with each other. These devices may be connected via WiFi, and they share data about their environments and how they are being used. These devices have a computer chip that facilitates this exchange. IoT not only enables the connection between different devices but also their remote access. For example, you lock doors of your car remotely, preheat your ovens and geysers. The FitBit that you use for tracking the number of calories you burn also runs on IoT technology. IoT chips embedded on machines help businesses to assess the performance of those machines and assist in their maintenance. 

4. Blockchain

Blockchain is the foundational technology that powers electronic currencies such as Cryptocurrencies. In simple terms, a Blockchain is an electronic ledger that can be shared among different users. This helps in creating a record of transactions that cannot be altered. Each of these records is time-stamped and linked to the previous one. So every time a new transaction is added to the ledger, it is stored as another block in the chain of transactions – hence the name. Blockchain is updated after the different parties contributing to the ledger agree. After new data is fed into a block, it cannot be erased. This makes technology verifiable and secure.

5. Robotic Process Automation (RPA)

Robotic Process Automation (RPA) is a technology used for automating daily tasks, similar to artificial intelligence. Here, the software is used for automating repetitive tasks such as handling and replying to emails, processing transactions, and handling business data.This technology is used for automating tasks for low-level employees to higher-ranking officials. RPA can automate more than 40% of daily tasks. According to McKinsey, more than 60% of all repetitive tasks can be partially automated using RPA. So, this technology is going to threaten a lot of jobs.

PATTIKONDA:22/07/2020.

The textile industry(cotton originated) in India traditionally, after agriculture, is the only industry that has generated huge employment for both skilled and unskilled labour in textiles, continues to be the second-largest employment generating sector in India. It offers direct employment to over 35 million in the country. India was ranked as the fourth most promising market for apparel retailers in 2019.

The Textile industry was the major component of economic income in India before the English colonies. India is the second largest producer of fibre in the world and the major fibre produced is cotton.In 2000, the Government of India passed the National Textile Policy. The major functions of the Ministry of Textiles are formulating policy and coordination of man-made fiber, cotton, jute, silk, wool industries.

COTTON TEXTILE: The cotton textile industry was concentrated in the cotton growing belt of Rajasthan, Maharashtra and Gujarat. There are 1,900 cotton textile mills in India,of which about 18% are in the private sector and the rest in the public and cooperative sector.India exports yarn to Japan, United States, United Kingdom, Russia, France, Nepal, Singapore, Sri Lanka and other countries. India has the second-largest installed capacity of spindles.

Jute: India is the largest producer of raw jute and jute goods and the third largest exporter after Bangladesh. There were about 80 jute mills in India in 2016-17. The jute industry was supporting 0.37 million workers directly and another 400,000 small and marginal farmers who were engaged in the cultivation of jute

Silk in the Indian subcontinent is a luxury good. In India, about 97% of the raw mulberry silk is produced in the five Indian states of Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, West Bengal and Jammu and Kashmir. India is the largest producer of silk in the world and has long tradition of manufacturing silk textile. (ii) It also make four distinct variety of silk namely mulberry, eri, tasar and munga. India also has its control over yellow munga silk produced from Assam

With 44% production of wool, Rajasthan leads all states in India. Rajasthan is followed by Jammu & Kashmir(13 percent), Karnataka (12 percent) Gujarat, Uttar Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh, Haryana (23 percent). This is mainly collected from sheep and more labour involved in this textile

PATTIKONDA:21/07/2020

Perennial rice are varieties of long-lived rice that are capable of regrowing season after season without reseeding; they are being developed by plant genetics at several institutions. These are adapted for different climates and cropping systems, their lifespan is so different from other kinds of rice that they are collectively called perennial rice

perennial crops is an excellent way to stabilize and improve the soil, and provide wildlife habitat.Domesticated Asian rice, Oryza sativa is a short-lived plant. Most cultivars die after producing seeds, though some can regrow and produce a second crop under favorable conditions,that seeds can be developed under perennial.

The Benefits if this rice is Perennial plants regrow quickly after being harvested, re-establishing a protective cover. The fields do not need to be plowed after the initial planting. Improve the sustainability of food production in the hilly uplands and downstream. It reduced the Environmental impacts of this cropping system include loss if biodiversity, carbon dioxide emissions, increased runoff and decreased rainfall. Due to this Deforestation is reduced quickly.

But it has some drawbacks like Improved habitat for pests, Makes crop rotation more difficult, Builds soil organic matter at the expense of plant productivity, Hydrological impacts like Perennial plants may intercept and utilize more of the incoming rainfall, Reduced nutrient delivery to downstream farms. 

WHY PERENNIAL RICE TO BE PRODUCED: Perennial rice could produce critically needed food year after year on the same plot of land without degrading the soil. This is a potent recipe for soil degradation. Its continuously living roots and thick cover of vegetation would prevent such erosion.Rice with deeper roots, as would be predicted with perennial rice, could exploit the moisture and nutrients in a greater soil volume than short-rooted types.

Reduce the need for transplanting, weeding, and other backbreaking labor. Because of migration to cities, many rural parts of Asia actually suffer from severe labor shortages. In India this plantation grows rapidly.

The debate regarding direct-to-digital release has witnessed a massive rift in the film industry. The ongoing COVID-19 lockdown has impacted several industries across the
world—however, one of the most hit industries in the film and television industries.

Several producers have decided to release their film directly on the OTT platforms rather than theatres; after all, theatres are not going to open anytime soon. This particular decision has been taken owing to the monetary and logistical factors. However, the “OTT vs. theaters debate” has just begun and is not about to end in the unforeseen future.

WHAT IS AN OTT PLATFORM?

An over-the-top (OTT) media service is a streaming media service that directly offers viewers through broadcast, internet bypassing cable, and satellite television platforms. These are the traditional platforms for distributions of such contents. The emergence of OTT platforms has resulted in a disruption in the entertainment sector. It is being thrust upon by the rise in the evolution of smartphones, the standard of living, changing preferences of the audience, and above all, the ubiquitous and affordable Internet connectivity coupled with increasing penetration in rural areas.

“Content is the king” phrase is truly living up to its real sense in recent times. It is personalized and provides the opportunity for wider focused distribution. According to a recent report by the Boston Consulting Group, it predicted that the OTT divisions in India are currently secured $0.5 billion, and is expected to grow around $5 billion by 2023. Affordability and convenience are the key factors that have propelled the OTT revolution in India.

MULTIPLEX CHAIN OWNERS PERSPECTIVE

Various multiplex chain owners have openly criticized this move by the producers. India’s largest multiplex chain, INOX, had even released a statement regarding the same. They called out on the film industry of not standing by their partners in times of need. They even threatened about ‘retributive measures’ that will be taken in the future. This was followed by Producers Guild India as well making a statement contradictory to theirs.

MULTIPLEX CHAIN OWNERS PERSPECTIVE

Various multiplex chain owners have openly criticized this move by the producers. India’s largest multiplex chain, INOX, had even released a statement regarding the same. They called out on the film industry of not standing by their partners in times of need. They even threatened about ‘retributive measures’ that will be taken in the future. This was followed by Producers Guild India as well making a statement contradictory to theirs.

Siddharth Jain from the INOX chain of cinemas was surprised by the movie industry’s producer friends’ move. Cinemas and exhibition share a century-old relationship. So, the least they were expecting from their friends was that they all at least ponder over the situation before making any announcements. No one from the other side was consulted about the same, and suddenly a line of cinemas announced their release on Amazon Prime, Zee5, and Netflix, to name a few. Also, once the theaters open, one cannot expect the viewers to pay to watch an old film that is already out in the market.

As a result, even PVR urged the producers not to release their films until theaters do not reopen. Kamal Gianchandani, CEO of PVR Pictures, in a conversation with HuffPost India, stated that they are disappointed with Gulabo Sitabo being directly released on the OTT platform. Tamil Nadu Theatre and Multiplex Owners’ Association had also expressed its displeasure when it was announced that Suriya and his company 2D Entertainment Ponmagal Vandhal, would be directly released on OTT platforms. They even threatened to ban their films in the future. Nevertheless, on 29th May 2020, the movie was released on Amazon Prime. Eastern India Motion Pictures Association (EIMPA) had written to the government regarding their apprehension on films getting released on OTTs directly.

The theatre owners do have a point. Huge investments have been made on the infrastructure. apart from the revenues, such exhibitions do generate huge employment opportunities. Currently, around 2 lakh people are earning their bread and butter from this industry. So, if this trend continues, there will be a cause of worry.

Rs, 10-15,000 crore of yearly revenues, are generated from the box-office. Due to the lockdown, this quarter of that business is already lost. Now with the producers skipping, the theatrical release would make the matter worse. It is estimated that with the release of Gulabo Sitabo and Shakuntala Devi, there will be an additional loss of Rs 100-125 crore. Leaving aside what has been done, one will realize that straight-to-OTT is not a wise decision at all. Revenues from other avenues such as TV satellite rights are also lost.

PRODUCERS AND FILMMAKERS PROSPECTIVE

Renowned filmmakers like Shoojit Sircar believe this is a time to experiment with other platforms for releasing the films. It is because the theatres would not be opening anytime soon. The rising cases in the country have forced the state governments to put the reopening of the theatres at last in the priority list. The business of a film can only be taken into consideration by the pan-India box office. So rather than incurring losses by shelving the movie for so long, it is better to release them on OTT to curb the losses. But it is a short-term phenomenon.

However, it does not mean that the films give to the OTT are at a loss. It will allow the filmmakers to cover the damage and earn a premium so that they can begin working on other films; and Amazon Prime, Zee5, and Netflix having that kind of money to buy the rights. This way, it is a win-win situation for both of them.

Once the theatres open, people would be back watching their favorite actors on the big screen. Also, several films will be lined up for the screening. According to an analysis, approximately six films will be lined up every Friday for the release. So, it is better this way to cut the competition and the losses. Theatres are the best medium to watch a film. Also, it is the best way to pay one’s respect and love for the genius and the hard work of the filmmakers.

CHALLENGE TO THE THEATERS

According to the 2020 FICCI-EY report of 2020, about 50 low budget films were released directly on OTT in India in 2019. OTT guarantees a broader audience for small films with less saleable names. It cuts costs on printing and advertising. A theatrical release is a costly affair for them as distributors do not show much of an interest. Thus, it acts as a saviour for smaller films, but it cannot replace the exhibition industry.

So, the digital release of feature films is not a new trend. There has been a 100% increase in the streaming subscription revenues last year. Besides offering live entertainment, several OTT players are creating noteworthy web series and film that has managed to capture the eyeballs. It has created a tension that the filmmakers will lose out on the theatrical experience. Video streaming platforms have certainly made experiencing movies convenient, affordable, and available ‘on the go,’ especially for those who prefer binge-watching.

So, although the theatres still draw an enormous footfall, the streaming platforms’ presence cannot be made palpable. A digital release is a different game, and every film has a unique strategy to stand out. Nevertheless, the exhibition model will endure this challenge a well. Earlier as well, there were challenges such as VCRs, VCD, and DVDs. Now the streaming platforms have come up. During every trial, people though that the theatres would perish. But all the problems have been done and dusted very time. It too shall pass

They are watching movies by going out of the house, and using it as an opportunity to socialize is embedded in India’s social fabric. Movies, coupled with dinner, is escapism for the next-gen from their daily routine. Although streaming has made the movie-watching experience cheap and comfortable, the fun to go out of the house using this occasion cannot be replaced.

Currently, both the mediums are holding on to their exclusive formats and the USP attached to it. Both of them serve almost the same type of content, but the purpose and consumer variables are different. People might look up to the theatre experience for 3D animation or much-awaited-films. While on the other hand, the audience will rely on the OTT platforms more On-The-Go with more like podcasts, exclusive interest content, history documentaries, interviews, or web series. It is more likely that OTT has been impacted by the ongoing TV viewership rather than a theatrical experience.

The co-existence of both theatres and OTT platforms in the long -run is something that we all can foresee in the future. It is merely because of the relevance these two platforms hold in terms of viewers and the content. While people watch OTTs on weekdays, on the other hand, people watch movies over the weekend. However, the technological revolution will redefine theatre for a type of content such as genre movies for sure.

The current audiences are not willing to shy to shed an extra penny to seek a completely transformative experience for fresh, relatable, and engaging content. Thus, exaggerating either of them is incorrect.

Nevertheless, it is safe to assume that customers today have a platter full of options and the freedom to choose any of them as per their interest. So, it is up to the various mediums to adapt to the changing scenario.

The stranger came early in February, one wintry day, through a biting wind and a driving snow, the last snowfall of the year, over the down, walking as it seemed from Bramblehurst railway station, and carrying a little black portmanteau in his thickly gloved hand. He was wrapped up from head to foot, and the brim of his soft felt hat hid every inch of his face but the shiny tip of his nose; the snow had piled itself against his shoulders and chest, and added a white crest to the burden he carried. He staggered into the Coarch and Horses, more dead than alive as it seemed, and flung his portmanteau down. “A fire,” he cried, “in the name of human charity! A room and a fire!” He stamped and shook the snow from off himself in the bar, and followed Mrs. Hall into her guest parlour to strike his bargain. And with that much introduction, that and a ready acquiescence to terms and a couple of sovereigns flung upon the table, he took up his quarters in the inn.Mrs. Hall lit the fire and left him there while she went to prepare him a meal with her own hands. A guest to stop at Iping in the wintertime was an unheard-of piece of luck, let alone a guest who was no “haggler,” and she was resolved to show herself worthy of her good fortune. As soon as the bacon was well under way, and Millie, her lymphatic aid, had been been brisked up a bit by a few deftly chosen expressions of contempt, she carried the cloth, plates, and glasses into the parlour and began to lay them with the utmost éclat. Although the fire was burning up briskly, she was surprised to see that her visitor still wore his hat and coat, standing with his back to her and staring out of the window at the falling snow in the yard. His gloved hands were clasped behind him, and he seemed to be lost in thought. She noticed that the melted snow that still sprinkled his shoulders dripped upon her carpet. “Can I take your hat and coat, sir,” she said, “and give them a good dry in the kitchen?””No,” he said without turning.She was not sure she had heard him, and was about to repeat her question.He turned his head and looked at her over his shoulder. “I prefer to keep them on,” he said with emphasis, and she noticed that he wore big blue spectacles with side-lights, and had a bushy side-whisker over his coatcollar that completely hid his cheeks and face.”Very well, sir,” she said. “As you like. In a bit the room will be warmer.”He made no answer, and had turned his face away from her again, and Mrs. Hall, feeling that her conversational advances were ill-timed, laid the rest of the table things in a quick staccato and whisked out of the room. When she returned he was still standing there, like a man of stone, his back hunched, his collar turned up, his dripping hat-brim turned down, hiding his face and ears completely. She put down the eggs and bacon with considerable emphasis, and called rather than said to him, “Your lunch is served, sir.””Thank you.” he said at the same time, and did not stir until she was closing the door. Then he swung round and approached the table with a certain eager quickness.As she went behind the bar to the kitchen she heard a sound repeated at regular intervals. Chirk, chirk, chirk, it went, the sound of a spoon being rapidly whisked round a basin. “That girl!” she said. “There! I clean forgot it. It’s her being so long!” And while she herself finished mixing the mustard, she gave Millie a few verbal stabs for her excessive slowness. She had cooked the ham and eggs, laid the table, and done everything, while Millie (help indeed!) had only succeeded in delaying the mustard. And him a new guest and wanting to stay! Then she filled the mustard pot, and, putting it with a certain stateliness upon a gold and black tea-tray, carried it into the parlour.She rapped and entered promptly. As she did so her visitor moved quickly, so that she got but a glimpse of a white object disappearing behind the table. It would seem he was picking something from the floor. She rapped down the mustard pot on the table, and then she noticed the overcoat and hat had been taken off and put over a chair in front of the fire, and a pair of wet boots threatened rust to her steel fender. She went to these things resolutely. “I suppose I may have them to dry now,” she said in a voice that brooked no denial.”Leave the hat,” said her visitor, in a muffled voice, and turning she saw he had raised his head and was sitting and looking at her.For a moment she stook gaping at him, too surprised to speak.He held a white cloth—it was a serviette he had brought with him—over the lower part of his face, so that his mouth and jaws were completely hidden, and that was the reason for his muffled voice. But it was not that which startled Mrs. Hall, It was the fact that all his forehead above his blue glasses was covered by a white bandage, and that another covered his ears, leaving not a scrap of his face exposed excepting only his pink, peaked nose. It was bright, pink, and shiny just as it had been at first. He wore a dark-brown velvet jacket with a high, black, linen-lined collar turned up about his neck. The thick black hair, escaping as it could below and between the cross bandages, projected in curious tails and horns, giving him the strangest appearance conceivable. This muffled and bandaged head was so unlike what she had anticipated, that for a moment she was rigid.He did not remove the serviette, but remained holding it, as she saw now, with a brown gloved hand, and regarding her with his inscrutable blue glasses. “Leave the hat,” he said, speaking very distinctly through the white cloth.Her nerves began to recover from the shock they had received. She placed the hat on the chair again by the fire. “I didn’t know, sir,” she began, “that—” and she stopped embarrassed.”Thank you,” he said dryily, glancing from her to the door and then at her again.”I’ll have them nicely dried, sir, at once,” she said, and carried his clothes out of the room. She glanced at his white-swathed head and blue goggles again as she was going out the door; but his napkin was still in front of his face. She shivered a little as she closed the door behind her, and her face was eloquent of her surprise and perplexity. “I never,” she whispered. “There!” She went quite softly to the kitchen, and was too preoccupied to ask Millie what she was messing about with now, when she got there.The visitor sat and listened to her retreating feet. He glanced inquiringly at the window before he removed his serviette, and resumed his meal. He took a mouthful, glanced suspiciously at the window, took another mouthful, then rose and, taking the serviette in his hand, walked across the room and pulled the blind down to the top of the white muslin that obscured the lower panes. This left the room in a twilight. This done, he returned with an easier air to the table and his meal.”The poor soul’s had an accident or an operation or something,” said Mrs. Hall. “What a turn them bandages did give me, to be sure!”She put on some more coal, unfolded the clothes-horse, and extended the traveller’s coat upon this. “And they goggles! Why, he looked more like a divin’-helmet than a human man!” She hung his muffler on a corner of the horse. “And holding that handkercher over his mouth all the time. Talkin’ through it! . . . Perhaps his mouth was hurt too—maybe.” She turned round, as one who suddenly remembers. “Bless my soul alive!” she said, going off at a tangent; “ain’t you done them taters yet, Millie?”When Mrs. Hall went to clear away the stranger’s lunch, her idea that his mouth must also have been cut or disfigured in the accident she supposed him to have suffered, was confirmed, for he was smoking a pipe, and all the time that she was in the room he never loosened the silk muffler he had wrapped round the lower part of his face to put the mouthpiece to his lips. Yet it was not forgetfulness, for she saw he glanced at it as it smouldered out. He sat in the corner with his back to the window-blind and spoke now, having eaten and drunk and been comfortably warmed through, with less aggressive brevity than before. The reflection of the fire lent a kind of red animation to his big spectacles they had lacked hitherto.”I have some luggage,” he said, “at Bramblehurst station,” and he asked her how he could have it sent. He bowed his bandaged head quite politely in acknowledgement of her explanation. “To-morrow!” he said. “There is no speedier delivery?” and seemed quite disappointed when she answered, “No.” Was she quite sure? No man with a trap who would go over?Mrs. Hall, nothing loath, answered his questions and developed a conversation. “It’s a steep road by the down, sir,” she said in answer to the question about a trap; and then, snatching at an opening, said, “It was there a carriage was up-settled, a year ago and more, A gentleman killed, besides his coachman. Accidents, sir, happens in a moment, don’t they?”But the visitor was not to be drawn so easily. “They do,” he said through his muffler, eyeing her quietly through his impenetrable glasses.”But they take long enough to get well, sir, Don’t they? . . . There was my sister’s son, Tom, jest cut his arm with a scythe, Tumbled on it in the ‘ayfield, and, bless me! he was three months tied up, sir. you’d hardly believe it. It’s regular given me a dread of a scythe, sir.””I can quite understand that,” said the visitor.”He was afraid, one time, that he’d have to have an op’ration—he was that bad, sir.”The visitor laughed abruptly, a bark of a laugh that he seemed to bite and kill in his mouth. “Was he?” he said.”He was, sir. And no laughing matter to them as had the doing for him, as I had—my sister being took up with her little ones so much. There was bandages to do, sir, and bandages to undo. So that if I may make so bold as to say it, sir—””Will you get me some matches?” said the visitor, quite abruptly. “My pipe is out.”Mrs. Hall was pulled up suddenly. It was certainly rude of him, after telling him all she had done. She gasped at him for a moment, and remembered the two sovereigns. She went for the matches.”Thanks,” he said concisely, as she put them down, and turned his shoulder upon her and stared out of the window again. It was altogether too discouraging. Evidently he was sensitive on the topic of operations and bandages. She did not “make so bold as to say,” however, after all. But his snubbing way had irritated her, and Millie had a hot time of it that afternoon.The visitor remained in the parlour until four o’clock, without giving the ghost of an excuse for an intrusion. For the most part he was quite still during that time; it would seem he sat in the growing darkness smoking in the firelight, perhaps dozing.Once or twice a curious listener might have heard him at the coals, and for the space of five minutes he was audible pacing the room. He seemed to be talking to himself. Then the armchair creaked as he sat down again.Story by—H. G. Wells

The right to health has so far not been accorded the status of a Fundamental Right to the Indian citizens. It is not even a statutory right, unlike education.

Moreover, health is a subject which is assigned to State Governments as per our Constitution. This is reflected in the way we finance it, with about two-thirds of the total governmental expenditure on health coming from the State Governments and the balance one-third being provided by the Government of India. Despite this, it is also a reality that the Government of India has significant influence in the policy space with pathbreaking schemes such as the National Health Mission (NHM) and Ayushman Bharat, with its twin prongs of the Health and Wellness Centres to deliver comprehensive primary health care and Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (PMJAY).

India is also a signatory to the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, whereby it has committed as a nation to “ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all”. In the last decade, millions of Indians have escaped from extreme poverty because of the rapid economic growth. As would be expected of rapidly growing economy, the health system and population level health outcomes have also improved significantly albeit at a much more gradual pace. Despite notable gains in improving life expectancy, reducing maternal and child mortality, and addressing other health priorities, our health system needs a lot of improvement judged by the rather modest benchmark of countries with similar levels of economic development. Furthermore, there are huge variations across States in their health outcomes and health systems’ performance. It is unfortunate that by and large, health has not received the kind of political and administrative salience that this vital sector deserves. With the federal compact among the Central and the State Governments having been clearly defined in the Constitution, the key questions that motivated the team involved in the design of Health Index were as

follows:

a. Can we develop a tool to bring health into greater political focus to ensure that what gets measured gets done?

b. Can we benchmark the performance of the health system of various States which can be put forth in the public domain in a timely manner? Is it possible to capture the diversity and yet ensure that high performing states do not get complacent and the low performing States are not discouraged?

c. Can appropriate instrument or incentives be put in place that can nudge the States to try and radically improve their health system performance? Can this be done in a manner that respects the federal compact and allows autonomy to individual State Governments to make policy choices to achieve the specified benchmarks?

d. What are the parameters that could credibly capture the complex story of health system performance? Can those parameters capture outcomes at the system level rather than merely tracking inputs such as budget, number of facilities or outputs such as number of OPDs/IPDs? Is data relating to those parameters available from third party source? Is the data of reasonable quality and available at least annually? What is the emphasis (weights) to be provided on each of the individual parameters? The answer to these questions– admittedly imperfect-was to craft a Health Index – a journey which NITI Aayog embarked upon in 2017 in collaboration with the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW) and the World Bank. It is the firstever systematic exercise for tracking the progress on health outcomes and health systems’ performance across all the States and Union Territories (UTs) in India on an annual basis. The Health Index is a weighted-composite

Index based on select indicators in three domains:

(a) Health Outcomes;

(b) Governance and Information; and

(c) Key Inputs and Processes, with the health outcomes carrying the most weight across the different category of

States/UTs. For generation of ranks, the States are classified into three categories (Larger States, Smaller States and UTs) to ensure comparability among similar entities.

A range of indicators such as the neo-natal mortality rate (deaths occurring in the first 28 days of life), full immunisation coverage, treatment success rate of confirmed tuberculosiscases, stability of tenure of key administrators, vacancy of doctors and specialists in health facilities, and functionality of primary health centres, first referral units and cardiac care units, are included in the Index. In February 2018, the first round of the Health Index report on ranks and scores was released which measured the annual and incremental performance of the States and UTs over the period of 2014-15 (base year) to 2015-16 (reference year). This was followed by the second round of Health Index that tracked performance for the period 2015-16 (base year) and 2017-18 (reference year). The same set of indicators and weights were used for the first two rounds.

The Health Index is a useful tool to measure and compare the overall performance and incremental performance across States and UTs over time. It is an important instrument in understanding the variations and complexity of the nation’s performance in health. The critical factors that contributed to the success of the Health Index include: a) Timelines of the report so that it stimulates action and not merely academic discussions; b) Provision of financial incentives based on the annual incremental performance of states under the National Health Mission; and; c) Verification of self-reported data by states by a third party, independent verification agency to enhance credibility. However, there are limitations to the Index as no single index can purport to comprehensively capture the complex story of the evolution of the health system. Also, due to constraints of availability of quality data critical areas such as non-communicable diseases, mental health, and private sector service utilisation could not be captured. Thus, the Health Index is a work in progress and continuous refinements will be made as additional quality data becomes available and data systems improve.