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Mukesh Ambani and Nita Ambani's bahu Shloka Ambani reveals how she built her NGO using chaos and...

Mukesh Ambani and Nita Ambani's bahu Shloka Ambani reveals how she built her NGO using chaos and...

India.com21-07-2025
Shloka Ambani, daughter of diamond magnate Russell Mehta and wife of Akash Ambani, son of business tycoon Mukesh Ambani and Nita Ambani, has carved a distinct identity as a social entrepreneur. Educated at Princeton University and the London School of Economics, she chose to channel her efforts into philanthropy upon returning to India in 2014. Her early experiences with NGOs highlighted a disconnect between willing volunteers and organizations in need, inspiring her to co-found ConnectFor with childhood friend Maniti Shah. What did Shloka Ambani plan with Maniti Shah?
ConnectFor, often described as a 'Shaadi.com for volunteering,' aims to bridge this gap by connecting volunteers with non-profit organizations. The initiative began modestly, with Shloka and Maniti using a whiteboard to outline their plan: identify 15 volunteers, connect with 10 NGOs, and facilitate meaningful engagements. Their hands-on approach included visiting over 100 NGOs in 20 days, emphasizing their commitment to understanding the sector's needs firsthand. Used to work with
During a conversation on Masoom Minawala Show, Shloka said, 'The smaller ones were really excited about our idea, and one of the first NGOs we signed, used to work with sexually exploited workers, and we were excited that they came on board. They needed 10 or 15 volunteers for everything. From working on their website to coming out and taking classes on weekends, they needed people with different skillsets. When we couldn't find a volunteer like I volunteer, I would go and teach them creative writing.'
Over the years, ConnectFor has facilitated over 18,000 hours of volunteering, collaborated with more than 1,000 NGOs, and partnered with 120 corporates and 150 student groups across India. This has resulted in an estimated savings of Rs 21 crore for non-profits.Shloka's dedication extends beyond her professional endeavors. As a mother of two, she emphasizes the importance of leading by example.
She often tells her children, 'Mama has to go to the office,' instilling in them the value of personal growth and responsibility. Her journey underscores the impact of purpose-driven work and the importance of bridging gaps in the social sector. Through ConnectFor, Shloka Ambani continues to inspire a culture of volunteering and community engagement in India.
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Decade-long delay: New Chandigarh farmers still await plots under 2013 pooling scheme
Decade-long delay: New Chandigarh farmers still await plots under 2013 pooling scheme

Time of India

time39 minutes ago

  • Time of India

Decade-long delay: New Chandigarh farmers still await plots under 2013 pooling scheme

Chandigarh: Even as the AAP govt is promoting its new Land Pooling Policy, 2025, farmers of Hoshiarpur village in New Chandigarh for over a decade have been waiting for commercial sites they were promised by Greater Mohali Area Development Authority (GMADA) for the Eco City II (extension) scheme after their land was acquired in 2013. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now While landowners who opted for monetary compensation were paid, those who chose plots are still waiting for their final allotment of commercial plots. They have only received a letter of intent (LoI), which is not the same as a final plot allotment. Landowners say their plans to rent out showrooms and booths have been stalled since their fertile farmland, their main source of income, was acquired. For those who chose plots over cash compensation by GMADA, the delay has left them in limbo. Satnam Singh, whose five acres were acquired for Eco City II, opted for plots under the land pooling scheme and received an LoI for two commercial sites. "Even though the letter of intent was issued to me, I am yet to get the allotment," he said, adding, "By now, I would have developed the sites and given them on rent." He did, however, receive possession of his residential plots — 2 of 500 square yard, 2 of 300 square yard, and 2 of 200 square yard. "We were given Rs 25,000 per acre for three years and then this compensation too was stopped. However, we have not been compensated for the delay in the case of commercial sites. There is certainly a need for commercial sites in the area as there is not even a milk booth to cater to the locals," he added. "People in my village had the option to opt for cash compensation on a part of the acquired land, which made them comfortable despite the delay," he explained. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now "However, the new land pooling policy does not include this option." Manjit Singh, another landowner, said while his family received three residential plots promised for their 12 acres acquired in 2018, the 12-square-yard showroom site they were also promised is still pending. He noted they hoped to receive all the sites within two-three years and advised others to "be very cautious when making choices when their land is acquired". Gurdial Singh's family, which opted for land pooling for their five acres, was promised two to four showroom sites of 121 square yards. The delay in receiving these sites has created a significant financial strain on the family. "It has made things difficult for us financially," he said. In 2013, GMADA acquired approximately 96 acres of land in Hoshiarpur village for the Eco City II (Extension) scheme. As part of the land pooling policy, landowners were given the option of receiving plots in return for their land. GMADA carved out 106 residential plots and 66 commercial plots for this purpose. "This area has not developed as expected despite its proximity to Chandigarh. Many residential sites have no takers. These ambitious projects have not been delivered on it," added Satnam Singh. The villagers also pointed out a contradiction, stating that GMADA is selling plots to the public from land acquired for the schemes, while beneficiaries of the land pooling policy are still waiting for their promised allotments. Meanwhile, the GMADA officials claimed last month that tenders were floated recently to carry out development works. BOX: 'BOTH RESIDENTIAL, COMMERCIAL SITES NOT GIVEN' Avtar Singh Walia, vice-president of the Resident Welfare Association for Eco City II, is among those affected. His 10 acres were acquired for the Eco City II (extension) project, but he has yet to receive either the promised residential plots (150 and 200 square yards) or the commercial plots. Citing a lack of development on the Eco City II (extension) site, he noted that landowners only have a letter of intent (LoI) and have repeatedly raised the issue with GMADA. "We have not been allotted residential and commercial plots in Eco City II... even though people have built houses in the project. At the same time, no commercial site has been developed in Eco City II, and people have to go four km to get daily needs," he said. MSID:: 123097679 413 |

After 137 years, Kashmir's oldest hotel loses battle for legacy
After 137 years, Kashmir's oldest hotel loses battle for legacy

Time of India

time39 minutes ago

  • Time of India

After 137 years, Kashmir's oldest hotel loses battle for legacy

Picture: Nedous Hotel's website SRINAGAR: Edwina Mountbatten sipped tea here. Khrushchev's Soviet delegation walked its wooden halls. In 1947, foreign correspondents wrote dispatches from its snow-wrapped verandas as Kashmir burned during the tribal invasion. Today, it lies sealed. J&K govt took control of Nedous Hotel in Gulmarg — a colonial-era landmark established in 1888 — ending a 137-year-old legacy tied to royalty, revolution, and the region's political aristocracy. Gulmarg Development Authority (GDA) issued Saturday a 24-hour eviction notice to what it called an 'unauthorised occupant'. The lease had lapsed 40 years ago. Perched beside Gulmarg's golf course with views of Mount Apharwat, the heritage property was widely regarded as the region's first hotel. Historian Khalid Bashir Ahmad said the Gulmarg property was leased in the late 1800s by Maharaja Pratap Singh's govt at Rs 500 a year. Its original founder Michael Adam Nedou — a hotelier from Dubrovnik — had earlier established lodges in Lahore and Srinagar. His son Michael Henry 'Harry' Nedou embraced Islam and took the name Ghulam Qadir. He married Mir Jan, a Gujjar Muslim woman, and had a daughter named Akbar Jahan — who would go on to marry Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah, founder of National Conference. 'The elder Nedou also repaired the Maharaja's huts, while his son ran a pony-cart service between Tangmarg and Gulmarg,' Ahmad said. Known for its wooden log-cabin design, the 24-room Nedous Hotel combined Kashmiri architecture with alpine warmth, offering a panoramic view of meadows and snow-capped peaks. Bollywood touched it too: a hut near the property was the backdrop for the iconic 1973 song 'Hum Tum Ek Kamre Mein Band Ho' from Bobby. Historian MJ Aslam said the hotel was the epicentre of Kashmiri hospitality till the 1940s. Lord Mountbatten and Edwina stayed there, as did Maharajas of Gwalior and Kolhapur. In 1955, it hosted a top-level Soviet delegation led by Khrushchev and Nikolai Bulganin. Major Gen Hiralal Atal referenced it in his memoirs Nehru's Emissary in Kashmir. Despite its pedigree, the legal foundations crumbled. Govt had leased the 12-plus acre property to Col Harry Nedou in 1963. That lease expired in Dec 1985. The Nedou family petitioned for renewal but received no formal response for years. In 2015, GDA informed them that the administrative department had rejected the request. A show-cause notice was issued the same year. The family, represented by Umer Khaleel Nedou, took the matter to J&K high court. Their petition cited a 2009 committee formed to review such leases and submitted rent receipts of Rs 12,272 from the 1980s. The court didn't agree. A division bench ruled on Sept 6, 2018, that no rent had been paid since 1990. 'The property has been occupied without legal right for over 28 years,' it said. The Supreme Court later upheld the judgment, dismissing the family's special leave petition. For years, however, no action followed — until now. With the takeover, Gulmarg's past — stitched together with colonial footsteps, princely holidays, and Cold War diplomacy — slips quietly behind a locked door.

India's Wealthiest 1% Holds 60% Assets In Real Estate, Gold: Report
India's Wealthiest 1% Holds 60% Assets In Real Estate, Gold: Report

NDTV

time43 minutes ago

  • NDTV

India's Wealthiest 1% Holds 60% Assets In Real Estate, Gold: Report

New Delhi: The top 1 per cent of India's wealthiest citizens have parked 60 per cent of their money in real estate and gold, according to a report on Monday. This segment of 'wealthiest citizens' is comprised of Ultra High Net Worth Individuals (UHNI), High Net Worth Individuals (HNI) and the affluent class, which accounts for only 1 percent of Indian households but controls nearly 60 per cent of the country's total assets, the report by US-based wealth management firm Bernstein said. This segment holds $11.6 trillion in total wealth and 70 per cent of India's financial assets, the report said. India's total household wealth is estimated at $19.6 trillion, out of which $11.6 trillion, or 59 per cent, is held by this wealthy segment of the population. Out of this, only $2.7 trillion is invested in serviceable financial assets that can be actively managed or reallocated, such as mutual funds, equities, insurance, and bank or government deposits. The remaining $8.9 trillion is held in non-serviceable assets, including gold, cash holdings, promoter equity, and physical real estate, according to the report. The report indicates huge growth potential for asset management firms to grow their assets under management (AUM) over the next decade, as India's affluent class is looking for avenues to diversify their portfolios beyond gold and real estate. The report highlighted how this wealth segment remains largely underpenetrated by formal wealth management services, with a considerable portion of financial wealth unmanaged. In a previous report, Bernstein had mentioned that specialised wealth managers currently hold only 11 per cent share in the liquid financial asset pool of India. The findings also underscore a broader structural trend in India: while income inequality is high, wealth inequality is even starker. "The top 1 percent earns 40 percent of all income, while the 'Rest of India' holds only a small fraction of both income and assets," the report said. There are approximately 35,000 UHNI households whose net worth surpassed $12 million (Rs 100 crore). These households have an average asset value of $54 million (Rs 472.5 crore), including $24 million (Rs 210 crore) in financial assets. According to the report, this affluent segment collectively held $4.5 trillion in financial assets, which amounts to 70 per cent of the country's total financial wealth.

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