It was a very usual Friday afternoon for most of the Mumbaikars on 19^th March, 2010 when the Mumbai Community Card program was officially launched. The Mumbai Community Card program has been in the news quite often due to its novel idea that promises benefits to all the associated people namely consumers, businesses and the underprivileged.

The launch took place in the heart of Mumbai at Marine Drive and was witnessed by numerous media persons and other notable dignitaries from the business field and other domains.

The launch program began with a welcome speech from Nikhil Dhoka, Director-Founder of Mumbai Community Card who welcomed the honorable Sheriff of Mumbai Dr Indu Shahani and Madhura Kapdi Dep. Gen. Manager CRY. The welcome speech was followed by a brief program introduction which the audiences appreciated with their applauses.

Subsequently, Sheriff of Mumbai Dr. Indu Shahani was presented a large sized Mumbai Community Card and she became the first member of the program amidst deafening applause and camera flashes. Dr. Shahani then expressed her delight and support for the program. “It is commendable to see such social enterprises in the city which helps the underprivileged in a substantial and sustainable way. The benefit of uniting merchants, consumers and the society for a social cause is tremendous as demonstrated by this IITian effort,” Shahani said.

Madhura Kapdi representing CRY in her small speech communicated the benefits that this partnership will provide to the society. Puja Marwaha CEO CRY said “The tie-up makes it possible for people from all walks of life to make a difference to the rights of India’s children in different ways. This is an initiative that enables citizens to contribute to ensuring rights for all children.”

Finally a question-answer session followed and with all the queries resolved the pleasant evening ended over a cup of tea and snacks.

To read the media coverage on this event click here.

Time magazine has paid tribute to Sachin Tendulkar who recently scored a double century in a one day international match. With an unending desire to excel and a everlasting spirit to win despite all odds he has been an inspiration for millions of Indians in this cricket loving country.

Mumbai Community Card is proud to pay tribute to this exemplary son of India and a true Mumbaikar.

Time magazine says: When Sachin Tendulkar travelled to Pakistan to face one of the finest bowling attacks ever assembled in cricket, Michael Schumacher was yet to race a F1 car, Lance Armstrong had never been to the Tour de France, Diego Maradona was still the captain of a world champion Argentina team, Pete Sampras had never won a Grand Slam.

When Tendulkar embarked on a glorious career taming Imran and company, Roger Federer was a name unheard of; Lionel Messi was in his nappies, Usain Bolt was an unknown kid in the Jamaican backwaters. The Berlin Wall was still intact, USSR was one big, big country, Dr Manmohan Singh was yet to “open” the Nehruvian economy.

It seems while Time was having his toll on every individual on the face of this planet, he excused one man. Time stands frozen in front of Sachin Tendulkar. We have had champions, we have had legends, but we have never had another Sachin Tendulkar and we never will.

Every year the last week of February brings cheer and complains from Indians all of whom think that the budget has affected them either for good or bad depending on their personal evaluations. Yet there are many others who remain aloof from all the tantrums and trumpets due to ignorance or a conviction that their reactions will not make any difference.

Anyways, what is a budget? In simple words it is a financial document used to project future income and expenses. Everyone wants to maximize income and reduce expenses. Mumbai Community Card firmly believes that a rupee saved is a rupee earned and we certainly help you do so.

Like every year the 2010 budget has brought both relief and pain for everyone. Now you could save money resulting from alterations in the income tax slabs but your will have to regularly shell out more bucks for fueling your travel, buying electronics, cars and even new houses. So finally it might means that your money could go out of one pocket to the other or to someone else’s pocket.

Plan allocation for school education has been increased from Rs 26,800 crore to Rs 31,036 crore to support the children’s right to free and compulsory education. Mumbai Community Card along with CRY has been ensuring that the common man can make savings as well as donations to ensure children their basic rights.

A fair examiner would definitely claim that budget 2010 is a fairly balanced one and one should not be worried about it more than the raging inflation that has resulted in higher prices for essential commodities.

The common man or the ‘Aam Aadmi’ has forever been the focus of all policy makers. This time it is no different. The opposition parties are trying to be the messiah of ‘Aam Aadmi’ and have raised a hue and cry blaming the government for the inflation.

What can control this price rise and bring relief to common man. The budget, the opposition parties Surely no!! It is the ‘Aam Aadmi’ himself that can make a difference to his and others’ lives, whatever be the budget.

Mumbai Community Card is a tool that you can use to make savings with convenience and raise money for your poor fellow citizens.

So leave the worries, stop the tantrums and join Mumbai Community Card.

The global campaign  for  ‘Save the Tiger’ has attracted enough esponse for the endangered Asian wild cat. Once upon a time nearly 40, 000 of them prowled as the proud jungle badshah in the forests of the Indian sub-continent. Now, there are only 1,400 striped tigers left in India! Most of them have been shot dead, killed as man-eaters, poached for their smooth skin, bones and heads literally. In the entire world only 3,200 remain. The world wild life conservationists have panicked. The habitat that once constituted the domain of the 1, 00, 000 tiger population has been diminishing due to humans poaching on their territory.

The appeal to ‘Save the Tiger’ met with a positive response in Mumbai. Some people who have responded to the project have hardly seen the animal in reality, except perhaps in movies, circus and cages in the badly kept zoos. What has made Mumbaikers sign up for this campaign? The cute Tiger cub that looks on orphaned has become the face of the endangered species.

Will we be telling legendary stories to our children about the Royal Bengal Tiger, Amur, Indo-Chinese, Sumatran and Malayan sub species 25 years from now like the Dinosaur tales?

The Jim Corbett Park and Sariska which attracted tourists for their Tiger populace are already worried. They have a twin problem-of killing man-eater tigers that endanger humans and of saving the dwindling species.

Is this campaign sending signals to the right authorities? How can we keep the pressure on the Government to save the dwindling species? Will the tiger trail be successful? Only time will tell.