Today is 12th March’2010! – “THE ULTIMATE DAY” – At least for all those cricket fanatics who wait for this day throughout the year! It’s the start of the IPL season guys!

TV, Internet, Newspapers… Every medium is flooding with DLF IPL, a private event; that above all, explains the success of Indian Premier League. For a private event, entire media is fighting to give free of cost coverage! Strange, but Interesting! So what marketing and branding strategy has worked in favour of IPL?

One, “Packaging of the Event” from day 1 as entertainment is the biggest strategic hit. Cricket just happens to be there!

Two, to keep it focussed in 20 overs and inviting International players, not only enhanced the entertainment value but also factored in the fastest growing segment of high income youth. This segment is short of time and wants everything to be packaged small.

Three, It structured teams around states thereby ensuring team and brand loyalties and assured eyeballs when it comes to media.

Five, by following a well tried international model of clubs and player auctions, it got players interests and their willingness to give the tournament their 110%. Knowing that players are going to play attacking entertaining cricket attracts paid audience to the stadium and draws them towards other forms of media like TV, internet and print press.

Six, the public and press relations during the first two versions meant media hype was maintained and that has lead to immense unpaid publicity. Interestingly in IPL3, the organisers have offered strict terms for freebies for non-official media. The initial purpose having been achieved, the official TV channel is getting its due. That again hints to a well planned strategy.

Seven, getting International Cricket Council to keep a window for IPL season was the biggest strategic coup. Now cricket boards all over the world want to have similar event but may not be able to get well known players for their events!

Eight, do not forget that (Board of Cricket Control in India) ensured that the event got all international recognition and gave it the required financial backup to conceive and execute the event.

Nine, attracting the movie stars like Shah Rukh Khan, Preity Zinta and Shilpa Shetty along with highly placed industrialist as team owners, ensured ample media and public interest which further contributed to the success of the event.

Ten and finally, organisers packaging of all above and ensuring the event was always in controversies and news, meant branding exercise of the kind that has not been seen in sports. At the end of the end, we have a happy lot of bunches - public, sponsors, media and most importantly IPL bankers!

Good job done IPL, Lalit Modi and team- keep the IPL and Indian flag flying! IPL is one of the ways of telling the world that India has arrived.

As I start writing this piece, I am well aware of the slits that it will open. But let me assure you all that my purpose is to share a few aspects of our upbringing. When compared to our generation, I wonder if the current generation of the fair sex has actually gained anything in the real sense of women emancipation and freedom. With more and more women becoming part of the workforce, is it really impacting the Indian family positively?

I am in mid forties and I still remember most of my peer group had mothers who were homemakers. I have personally felt which many children today are unaware off. We had our mother waiting for us at all times which played a very important role in our overall development. My father had a travelling job and my mother was one constant factor in our lives. Even amongst friends where fathers did not have a travelling job, mothers ensured the overall balance and were the unifying factor. Today, her place has been taken by housemaids. I wonder whether both parents manage to fulfill the emotional need of their children. Are housemaids bothered how much time children spend watching television and surfing the Internet? In our times, mothers ensured that we did our homework on time and where required guided us through teething problems. Today, a tutor is appointed for that where in again there is no supervision involved.

However, the biggest challenge for a couple is to balance work and home at the same time. In our times, mother being the homemaker and father as the breadwinner, ensured that this challenge was not faced in the first place. A mother of our times always ensured that her husband, children and the home was always in harmony with life. Did it not mean balanced or happier family unit? I agree that happiness is a relative factor when different families are compared but the fact is families then were much happier than today’s. They had lesser number of stress and work related factors to deal with. To say that children and relations between husband and wife are not affected in case of a working couple would be similar to avoiding the reality. Ever increasing divorce rates are symbolic of this symptom.

Fact remains that the role of motherhood, her softness, emotions and family instincts has been imparted to women by nature herself. Am I wrong in saying that? If not, then why it is that only women have the child bearing capacity?

And is it not a fact that families with both spouses working has resulted in more nuclear families in India? The fact is that for all its failings, joint families did offer definite security blankets to its members and women and children in particular.

There is no doubt that ability to work has lead to more women emancipation and enhanced her ability to be able to support herself and her family financially. Most importantly, it has made her financially independent. But is it not a fact that it has added onto to her responsibilities and caused excessive physical demands on her? Is it not a fact that balancing work and life may be more challenging for women than men because of how nature made them? She cannot avoid the responsibility of child bearing and the related upbringing factors especially during those critical years of growth. She must also go for work and look after family commitments on both sides as well as look after the needs of her children.

Or is it that today’s women are happy being a part of this struggle and demand that it places on her very being? Only women can respond to that.

I have seen our (and those of our peer-group) mother play the most important role in our upbringing. They (more than father) prepared us to face all challenges and situations that life had to offer. I see her aging gracefully and I have never seen her complaining probably because she was not working. Being a homemaker did not mean that her family exploited her and her rights as women were compromised. I saw her take rest when she wished to rest and has till date the command and respect over the family that only a women can have. She has never had regrets being a homemaker. She continues to be the one unifying factor for the entire family that anyone can call without worrying that she might be busy in office. And this is not only about me. I can vouch for my friend’s families as well. And I am sure that majority in mid forties, including women, would agree to my statements.

I feel this is best responded by women of today. Were their mothers happier as homemakers or they (children) are better off as working women?

When you intend to go and study in a foreign country, it is necessary to indulge in little research and keep up with the things that may come handy once you are landed in that country. Especially, when you are going to study in that country, you are bound to do your homework properly and that may include a lot of work.

Foremostly, if you have made your mind to study in New Zealand, be little proactive! To start with, you must start the application procedure a few months, say eight to twelve months before the set date of admission. You can get the application for the university or institution that you are contemplating to join by requesting an application form the University websites. Since, today most education institutions have their online presence, you will not find it difficult to get an application form over the Internet.

One of the most important things you should ensure when applying for any course and institute/university is that the New Zealand Qualifications Authority (NZQA) accredits the both. You can perform assessment of you qualifications by three different ways, namely Pre-assessment Results (PAR); International Qualification Result (IQA); and Overseas Study Assessment (OSA). The NZQA lets you enter your qualifications and determine if they are listed on its database or not.

The academic calendar for majority of institutions in New Zealand begins in February, which ends in the month of November. If you are all set to apply for any institution in New Zealand, start contacting an Immigration and Visa Consultant for the immigration part!

For all the netizens out there, the term “Hinglish” is definitely not new! For those who don’t know, Hinglish is a combination of English and Hindi used while communicating. It is known that English is the most widely spoken language whereas Hindi is the second largest spoken in the world. When it comes to India, it is one of the most populated countries in the world. So, it is but obvious that Hinglish has a higher level of preference in India.

Hinglish is now the second most commonly used language in India. And according to Professor David Crystal, it might not be long before it becomes the Queen’s new English. He says that there are more than 350 million Indians who widely use Hinglish in their daily lives as a common mode of communication. This number is far beyond the total number of people speaking in English, both in the United States and the United Kingdom.

What led to the emergence of this concept? Firstly, Indians are known to be the brainiest in the world. There are people who might debate on this statement…but it is a fact! Indians are found in every part of the world. And so, with Indians come the Indian language which obviously is mixed with the local language. This local language in most cases turns out to be English.

Secondly, connecting with the world has its own perks! The Indian culture is slowly and steadily gaining popularity outside the subcontinent. These mainly include Bollywood movies which have been found to be quite amusing, thanks to its song and dance sequences. These movies are a good source of Hinglish.

Thirdly, with the advent of globalization, Internet was introduced to Indians. With Internet came online social networking in the form of Orkut scraps, emails, chats which introduced us all to another form of Hinglish. This included using English script as a medium to communicate in Hindi. A few years back, this trend might have seemed to be very weird and probably quite difficult to comprehend to what is being communicated. This is the most common form of Hinglish used by one and all. This is to such an extent that there are some who find it quite a task to actually read in Hindi. And so, it is not very hard to believe that Hinglish would soon spread through the Internet.

In India, English has had and still enjoys a status in itself. This is due to the Colonial history that the country has. It continues to be the language of the elites and the classes. And it is the only language that binds Indians together where there are many different languages and numerous dialects.

And for the GenX urbanites, it is the new mantra of being cool! It is agreed that India lives in its villages. However, this concept is spreading beyond the urban to the semi – urban India as well.

Above all, time will tell the concurrent impact that it would have on the Indian society as a whole and its implication on a global platform.

NETFILE is one of the available options through which Canadians can file their income tax returns. To be very precise, using NETFILE means you can file your return over the Internet. The best part of using this service is that you get the confirmation immediately that your return has been received.

However, there are a few guidelines in filing tax returns over the Internet. Let’s have a look at them:

• One cannot use the NETFILE service, if he/she has to file return for the previous years, not the current year.
• One cannot use the service, if he/she is a non-resident.
• One cannot use the service, if he/she has not filed a tax return with the Canada Revenue Agency for even once.
• One cannot use the service, if he/she is bankrupt.

Before you set to file tax return via Internet, remember to prepare your own form. You can do this by using a web application and this has to be approved by the CRA. The application or any other income tax software accredited by the CRA can be downloaded. Such software is also available for free for people who have modest incomes.

For your information, for this year the NETFILE service is available from February 15 to September 30. NETFILE is a convenient way of filing income tax returns in Canada, for it is quick and instant! In case if you find any problem in using the service, contact the CRA via Internet or over the phone. If you do not find the service convenient for you, you can always go the traditional way that is filing the return in the paper form!

No matter whether you are a Canadian resident or a prospective immigrant to Canada for work purpose, this write up will help you learn a few important things about the country’s income tax regulations. Income tax filing in Canada is one of the most important aspects that needs your attention when you set to work in Canada. Here, we will throw the lights on few basics of the Canadian Income Tax.

The Canada Revenue Agency requires its residents to file for a tax return for the previous year. In certain cases, Canada may also require international and non-resident individuals to file an income tax return. This means the entitled individuals are needed to file for the return to pay the accurate amount of income tax owed to them; to avail a various benefits, including the benefits under the Old Age Security Program; and to pay back overpayment of the benefits, like employment insurance.

For your information, usually the deadline for filing income taxes in Canada is midnight of April 30. In case, if you owe income tax and delay in your filing for the return, you may be asked for penalty and interest on the unpaid amount by the Canada Revenue Agency.

Before filing your Income Tax Return, make sure you have the following things with you:

• Your Canadian Social Insurance Number.
• Self-employment income information.
• Various tax information slips, including slips from your employer; slips from the Canada Revenue Agency for the amount of income you received and how much was deducted.
• Tax deduction receipts.

You can file an Income Tax Return through a number of ways. It is up to you as to which way it would be convenient for you. You can do this through any of the ways- by mail, where the only cost involved is just a stamp; or by Touch-tone Phone, called TELEFIL; NETFILE, which is via Internet; or EFILE, where you prepare the income tax return by your own and take it to a service provider in order to process it electronically.

Martin Ferguson, Australian Tourism Minister, in his recent interview with IANS, said that Indian economy is applauded as the tenth biggest economy of the world. In addition, the nation is facing tremendous growth period, an aspect that would surely generate opportunities for masses who are interested in the “tourism” aspect!

Despite the recent spate of the racial attacks, Oz is intending to have more Indian tourists, captivating on the 11.9 percent jump in the inflow of visitors last year. The minister said that despite the recession, Australia got a good inflow of visitors last year. According to the statistics, 120,500 Indian tourists came to Australia last year. The stats point out an increase of 11.9% as compared to 2007-08.

The Minister said that Aussie as a country is gradually becoming as an applauded and prospective travel destination as compared to other places like Britain and North America. The main reason as to why Aussie is emerging as a major attraction is because it offers a wide range of adventure activities, he further added

Ferguson said that people of all genres come to Australia. Some spend a fortnight here, stay in luxury hotels, visit some destinations like Sydney and look for adventurous activities! Also, in attempt to lure other Indian tourists, Australia would be coming out with various attractive campaigns with airlines companies, in order to provide competitive travel packages.

Also, keeping in mind the popularity of Internet, the Tourism Australia website is getting all ready to serve its global target audience in the best way possible, the Minister later said.

Sponsor Management System allows only education providers with sponsor license to use it in order to have all the interactions with the UK Border Agency. Currently, Tiers 2, 5 and 4 licensed sponsors can use this system. However, the use of this system is on trial basis for Tier 4 sponsors. Until February 2010, the sponsors can issue visa letters, while gradually taking up the help of the SMS to issue Confirmation of Acceptance to Study to potential students who intend to study in the UK.

In order to apply for the sponsor license to be able to have access to the SMS, an education provider or organization should provide the name along with other details of its ‘level 1 user’. When the level 1 user(s) sets to use the tool, he/she must enter the details, after which he/she can add more level 1 and level 2 users to have access to the system.

To have access to the SMS, users must have access to the Internet, as well as an email address. Users should also have Adobe Acrobat Reader on their system, so that they can keep a check on the payment notes.

Here are few things you should know about the Sponsor Management System:

• The system is helpful in handling users and details in an organization
• It helps in managing and editing user profiles
• It enables users view and manage sponsorship certificates
• It allows users create and attribute sponsorship certificates
• It helps users keep up with various sponsorship duties
• It helps users make payments for sponsorship certificates

There are many aspects that must be considered and worked on before actually getting on to the flight and post landing in Australia. Some such activities include banking your money, car, telephone and internet, utilities and so on.

Ensuring that all your savings are safely transferred is the key of all aspects. For this, efficient banking is a must. Thus, opening a bank account is a must which would require you to present an ID such as that of a passport. Certain banks in Australia permit you to open an account prior to your landing in Australia. Once you land, you must to go the particular branch within the first 6 weeks with an identification proof. You must provide with a current residence address. This can also be a temporary address till you find a decent accommodation for yourself. After getting the bankcards, you can subscribe to phone as well as internet banking.

However, it has to be remembered that banking in Australia might turn out to be quite different from that in your native country. Here, it is followed on a points system based on which an individual is permitted to open a bank account. Ideally, a minimum of 100 points have to be acquired to open one. Additionally, a passport and a driving license are also mandatory to be produced.

Also, there are many different types of bank accounts that are available. The most common ones opted for are the deposit or the transaction accounts meant for daily purposes. The interest charged on these accounts is not more than 0 – 1%. A savings bank account is another option that could be considered. Credit cards are also available for immigrants but its takes time to build a good credit history.

Another important aspect is subscribing to a telephone and an interest connection. For this, a service provider could be contacted to fit a connection. You might have to pay some amount to get the connection active.

You must know that Telstra and Optus are the biggest telecom companies in Australia. Either of the above could be contacted for a connection. You would have to be pay monthly bills and there are a number of packages to for you to select from based on your needs.

You would need to buy a new mobile handset since the ones from your native country might not work here. All the major mobile handset companies are present in Australia. You can get a connection along with handset itself. Regarding the network coverage, be careful on the connection you opt for. To know more, contact the Australia Department of Broadband, Communications and Digital Economy.

Next in line are the utilities. If you are living in a rented accommodation, your landlord would look into it for you and pay for you. To know more on the water supply, you can visit the Australian Government National Water Commission.

For gas and electricity, the Energy Australia is the largest service provider. To get a connection, a simple phone call to them would do. However, Utilityone is one single service provider for all your needs of water, gas and electricity, telephone and internet.

A driver’s license is another important document which would prove your identification. If you have an international driving license, you would be permitted to use it in Australia for the initial one year. Post one year, you would have to take a written test to convert your current license into an Australian one.

Last, but not the least, having an independent mode of transport is of utmost importance. You would not find any problems buying a car in this country. However, look around for the best possible deal available. Your vehicle must be registered for you to legally drive. The registration would involve a fee, a pink slip, proof of purchase and ownership, insurance and an ID proof.

All in all, there are many aspects that must be looked into. The above were some of the most important aspects to be considered. To know more on the same, you can get in touch with an Immigration and Visa expert. He can guide you more on the post landing issues.

The efforts made by the Democratic US representative - Jared Polis from Colorado have led a big support for him by all the tech entrepreneurs in the United States. This would make it easier for all the investors to reside in the US with the help of a visa. It is also being considered as a mode to stop all the foreign born entrepreneurs from leaving the country. In this way, the process which started off the United States could be kept safe in the same country.

This legislation would be introduced next year by Mr. Polis through which he hopes to hinder the custom of the enterprises springing up by in the US but closing down since its originators were not legally allowed to reside on its soil.

During these times of recession, this decision is a streak of lightening since it would help create more jobs in the midst of lay – offs. There are many different visa categories for a foreign national to reside in the US. However, no such category has been prescribed which would allow a foreign – born business man with investor backing to start a US based organization.

The main businesses being affected are the Internet – based set ups where a single individual could devise a concept and raise funds from foreign investors which would help create more jobs.

If the plan proposed by Mr. Polis is implemented, it would bring major amendments in the EB – 5 visas. Under the EB – 5 visas, an investor has to invest a minimum of a million dollars in a US based enterprise. With the current norms in place, more than 80% of it is left unclaimed.

With the new framework in place, all the prospective investors have to be in the form of venture capital firms or individual investors with a minimal of $10 million that they have invested in other businesses.

A concept involves a founder’s visa under which an entrepreneur can invest and reside in the United States and grow his business that would benefit the US economy. This way, he would also be a source for other investors to set up their business on the US land.

Above all, if you are an investor intending to invest in the US economy, it is suggested that you wait for sometime to see if the new bill is passed. If positive amendments are brought about, it would provide a good start for your enterprise. To know more, contact an Immigration and Visa expert who is updated with all the latest in this sector.