Posts Tagged ‘Industry’
Indian Fashion Industry
May 21st, 2011
by yago1.com
In the 50s, 60s and 70s, the Indian fashion scenario wasn’t exactly colorless. It was exciting, stylish and very graceful. There were no designers, models, star or fashion design labels that the country could show off. The value of a garment was judged by its style and artifact and not by who prefabricated it.
It was regarded as ever so chic and fashionable to approach any unfamiliar tailor, who could make a garment for a few rupees, providing the perfect fit, finish and style. The high society lady, who wore it, was chesty for getting a good bargain and for giving her study to the end result.
In 60s, tight ‘kurtas’, ‘churidars’ and high coiffures were a trend among ladies. It was an era full of naughtiness and celebration in arts and music and cinema, manifested by liberation from restriction and acceptance of new types of materials such as plastic film and coated polyester fabric.
The 70s witnessed an increase in the export of traditional materials outside the country as well as within. Hence, international fashion arrived in India much before the MTV culture with the bold colors, flower prints and bell-bottoms. Synthetics turned trendy and the disco culture affected the fashion scenario.
It was in the primeval 80s when the first fashion store ‘Ravissant’ opened in Mumbai. At that time garments were retailed for a four-figure price tag. The ’80s was the era of self consciousness and American designers like Calvin Klein became popular. In India too, silhouettes became more masculine and the ’salwar kameez’ was designed with shoulder pads.
With the evolution of designer stores in Mumbai, the elegant fashion design culture was a trend among Indians along with their heavy price tags. No doubt that a garment with a heavy price attach was at the bottom stage of fashion. But clients immediately transformed into the high fashion fold where they were convinced that that the word ‘elegant fashion design culture’ means, it had to have a higher price tag.
Garments were sold at unbelievable prices only because the designers had decided to get themselves noticed by making showy outfits and getting associated with the right shows, celebrities and events.
Later, fashion shows shifted to competitive events apiece attempting to out-do the other in theme, guest list and media coverage. For any newcomer, the fashion business was the number one professional art that time.
In the 90’s, the last decade of the millennium, a move towards the drastic pairing down returned with ethnic wears (Today, ethnic wear market in India is accounted to Rs. 9000 crore). This led to the decline and the recession, the near to sell at any cost and keep staying in the limelight. With heavy cut throat competition and sound awareness of the client, the inevitable occurred. The price tags, which had once reached at a peak, began their downside journey.
At those times the downturn was not only being experienced in the price tags of the garments, but also in the business of fashion shows. More models, choreographers, make-up men, hairstylists and designers streamed down into their business.
The fun and celebration time in the Indian fashion scenario had not ended with this, but continued. It was a point, where it reached at a certain steady level and from there, in the beginning of the 21st centaury, with new designers and models and some sensible designing; the fashion hype accelerated its speed.
Indian fashion industry spreads its wings globally
For the global fashion industry, India is a very huge exporter of fabrics and accessories. All over the world, Indian ethnic designs and materials are considered as a significant characteristic for the fashion houses and garment manufacturers. In fabrics, while sourcing for fashion wear, India also plays a vital role as one of the biggest players in the international fashion arena.
India’s strengths not only depend on its tradition, but also on its raw materials. World over, India is the third largest producer of cotton, the second largest producer of silk and the fifth largest producer of man-made fibres.
In the international market, the Indian garment and artifact industries have many fundamental aspects that are compliant, in terms of cost effectiveness to produce, raw material, swift adjustment for selling, and a wide ranges of preference in the designs in the garments like with sequin, beadwork, aari or chikkon embroidery etc, as well as cheaper skilled work force. India provides these fashion garments to the international fashion houses at competitive prices with shorter lead time and an effective monopoly in designs which covers elaborated hand embroidery – accepted world over.
India has always been considered as a default source in the embroidered garment segment, but the changes of rupee against dollar has further decreased the prices, thereby attracting buyers. So the international fashion houses achievement away with customized stuff, and in the end crafted works are sold at very cheap rates.
As far as the market of fabrics is concerned, the ranges acquirable in India can attract as well as confuse the buyer. A basic judgmental expectation in the choosing of fabrics is the present trend in the international market. Much of the production tasks take place in parts of the small town of Chapa in the Eastern say of Bihar, a study one would have never even heard of. Here artifact making is a family industry, the ranges and calibre of raw silks churned out here belie the crude production methods and equipment used- tussars, matka silks, phaswas, you study it and they can design it. Surat in Gujarat, is the supplier of an astonishing set of jacquards, moss crepes and georgette sheers – all fabrics utilized to make dazzling silhouettes demanded world over. Another Indian artifact design that has been specially designed for the fashion history is the “Madras check” originally utilized for the universal “Lungi” a easy lower body wrap worn in Southern India, this product has now traversed its way on to bandannas, blouses, home furnishings and almost any thing one can think of.
Recently many designers have started using traditional Indian fabrics, designs and cuts to enhance their fashion collections. Ethnic Indian designs with batik cravat, tie-and-dye or vegetable block print is ‘in’ not just in India but all crossways the world.
In India, folk embroidery is always associated with women. It is a way of their self expression, and they make designs that depict their native culture, their belief and their desires. Women embroider clothes for their individualized use, and the people linked with the pastoral profession prepare embroidered animal decorations, decorative covers for horns and foreheads and the Rabaris of Kutch in Gujarat do some of the finest embroidery. Embroidered pieces are prefabricated during the festivals and marriages, which are appliqué work called ‘Dharaniya’. One of the significant styles of Saurashtra is ‘Heer’ embroidery, which has bold geometric designs, woven on silks. The Mutwa women of the Banni area of Kutch have a fascinating embroidery where they make fine embroidery works with designed motifs and mirrors in the size of pinheads, the Gracia jats use geometric designs on the yoke of long dresses. Moreover, the finest of quilts with appliqué work are also prefabricated in Kutch.
Garments embellishment with bead work is another area where it in demand in the international market. Beads are used to prepare garlands and other accessory items like belts and bags and these patterns now acquirable for haute couture evening wear too.
According to a survey, in current times Indian women have given up their traditional sari for western wears like t-shirts and shorts, as they feel more comfortable in skirts and trousers instead of saris and salwar kameez. It’s been noted that women spend just 5 million on trousers and skirts against 1.74 billion dollars spent by men on trousers. With more women coming out to work, the (combined) branded trouser and skirts market has been increasing at a whopping 27 per cent in income terms. Women feel that Western clothing is more suitable, particularly when working or using public transportation. Many corporate offices are also in favor of their employees wearing Western wear.
In India, Western inspiration is increasing due to the influence of television and films. Besides, shopping malls selling branded clothes have also mushroomed in India and are fascinating the youngsters. Recently, designer wear is being promoted through store chains such as Shopper’s Stop, Pantaloons, Westside, etc. Companies such as Raymond and TCNS have also set up their exclusive stores for designer wear such as Be: and W.
The market of India fashion industry
Recently, a report said that the Indian fashion industry can increase from its net worth of Rs 200 crore to Rs 1,000 crore in the next five to ten years. Currently, the worldwide designer wear market is amounted at billion, with a 9 per cent growth rate, with the Indian fashion industry creating hardly 0.1 per cent of the international industry’s net worth.
According to approximations, the total apparel market in India is calculated to be about Rs 20,000 crore. The branded apparel market’s size is almost one fourth of this or Rs 5,000 crore. Designer wear, in turn, covers almost about 0.2 per cent of the branded apparel market.
At present, the largest income turnover within the designer wear segment is about Rs25 crore, with other well-known obloquy having less turnovers of Rs10-15 crore. In view of the prospects of the Indian fashion industry for growth, the figures are not very hopeful.
The figure of fashion industry
o The organized market for designer apparel is about Rs 250 crore
o Designer wear computes to less than 1 per cent of the apparel market
o The global market for designer wear is 5 per cent of total apparel market
o The global market for designer wear industry is largely dependent on the small-scale sector
o Consumers for designer wear have a yearly household income of Rs 10 lakh-plus. There are 3 lakh such households developing at 40-45 per cent
o Designer wear industry is projected to increase to Rs 1,000 crore by 2015.
o More than 81 per cent of the population below 45 years of the age is fashion conscious.
Many fashion designers and management experts foresee an average growth of about 10-12 per cent for the Indian fashion industry in the coming years. Though, the growth rate could be more than 15 per cent, if infrastructural and other logistical bottlenecks and drawbacks are over come.
India needs more effort to overcome
However, despite the benefits acquirable in India there are also some disadvantages. India is not a remarkable player in the global market with reference to brands because of its inability to add value to products. This is observed by the fact that almost 50 per cent of its exports are apparel and made-ups where value addition is essential. Likewise, 75 per cent of domestic apparel market is commoditized and unbranded and very few Indian brands do survive in the foreign markets. Evidently, the Indian market has not prefabricated a strong stand and hence it is difficult to make Indian brands that can compete with global brands in India.
Another reason for the fashion industry’s inadequate growth is the limited experience of the designers and the platform they are offered. The insignificance stalks from the reality that most of the young talent is hired by the larger obloquy to work in their studios, thus imprinting their work with the adjudge of the huge designers.
Though performing individual presentation is not an substitute choice for most of the young talent, because of the limitation of finance, a newbie designer’s study fails to come to the forefront.
Another thing, with regards to the ramp, is what the designers offer is barely appropriate to be worn ordinarily. You’ll see there’s dissimilarity between what is there on the ramp and what the Page Three crowd wears. Some believe at present the fashion is in, but the tendency hasn’t changed much as it is the old ones coming back. We have had short kurtas, long kurtas, flowing skirts, etc. coming back into fashion with only a new variety of designs.
Many management consultants and professionals believe that the Indian fashion industry will be boosted if the new comers are paid proper attention. What they require is more support so that their work gets due recognition. According to the consultants and professionals there should be a panel of people who select designers for showcasing according to their work and not their study or who they’ve worked for earlier, and hence selection would be purely based on quality. Besides this, the panel of judges should comprise of people from the fashion schools rather than designers.
It has been observed that the media-hype around the huge designers and blatant commercialism has hindered business in the Indian fashion industry. No clear cut picture is provided about the feasibility of the products. Basically it is only the famous obloquy that are being talked of. What they offer is not quite daily-wear. The entire focal point of the industry is on commercialism. The discussion is only regarding how much is sold and for what price and nothing about the designs or styles.
Efforts to develop global fashion brands
It needs innovative designers, a seamless supply chain, control over retail and distribution and concentration of calibre while dealing with some image. While a few have accomplished something in the west covering Tommy Hilfiger, Gucci, Zara, Armani, Versace, Ralph Lauren, etc, India has not been capable to track on.
A serious reason for India not being successful has been its isolation in the fashion system. Each stakeholder including designers, exporters, textile players and retail chains need to come together along with the government to make sure that the position of Indian fashion is strong in the coming years.
There are various agencies and industry associations that can support in brand-building practice. Many of these agencies require captivating resources and making a global image of Indian fashion rather than independently trying to promote particular brands or textile segments.
Efforts to create strong global image
Large textiles players require more and more to target on the market covering activities while developing an association with small medium enterprise (SME) clusters. Such kind of networks would be a benefit to that which can focus on demand making and branding as well as for clusters that can focus on calibre production.
Efforts to create value networks
After the entry of massive retail chains like Wal-Mart, Gap etc in India, Small scale manufacturers in India will find it very difficult to satisfy the demands of these international buyers if they continue to promote their products individually. Therefore, it is very important that value networks are created between massive textile and apparel companies in India and small scale manufacturers, so that the marketing muscle of the leading players can be utilized for receiving massive orders while the larger players then assign the orders to the small-medium enterprises according to their past record of calibre and service. For this to be place into practice, it will be vital to well-organize the information on small-medium enterprise clusters in a perfect manner so that supplier selection decisions are prefabricated according to the information in the long run, only the more efficient small-medium enterprise players survive and develop.
Efforts to concentrate on designers and designs
Designers have a fundamental role to play in the future of Indian fashion scenario. There should hence be an effective process for preparing these designers. This can be done by sponsoring exchange programs with international schools, increasing participations in the fashion capitals of the world, motivating and offering business incubation to new designers and rewarding efforts through proper design awards.
Even in India, well-known designers are incapable to tap finances from well-organized resources, since a vital part of their assets are brands and design talent which are not measured in terms of money and hence it becomes difficult to judge the value. This has severely inhibited their development and ability to raise retail existence crossways the country and abroad. Likewise, there is no systematic approach of existence in the fashion capitals of the world like Paris, Milan and New York. Due to this, designers have to depend on their individualized contacts and relationships for organizing fashion shows and making retail alliances. The French government as well as the British government helps designers of their particular countries appreciably in these areas as they comprehend that value creation through design is the only way to carry on in the competitive landscape of the global fashion industry. The Indian government and related agencies should also accept this aspect of textile, apparel and fashion industry sincerely if they need to see India on the global fashion map.
Work in collaboration: designers-corporate efforts
Designers and many organizations can work globally through various models and with many working relationships. The Indian fashion industry has many views but only one such model, wherein a designer creates a retail venture with his/her own brand through organized retail chains. There are many other models according to brand ownership and division of operational activities.
Globally, many models of collaboration between designers and corporates are available. For example Ralph Lauren has prefabricated an agreement with Jones Apparel for producing and retailing various Polo brands. Likewise, Armani had an agreement with Zegna for production, even while it was competing with them in the marketplace. There are many cases of designer brands being co-owned by the designers and corporates, Gucci-Alexander McQueen and Gucci-Stella McCartney being some of them.
In the end, many designer businesses have been obtained by corporates where designers play a major role in the design elements of the business, but the brand and the organization is owned absolutely by the corporate.
The current possession of Calvin Klein by Philips Van Heusen and early holdings of Hugo Boss and Valentino by Marzotto are some related examples in this segment. These examples strongly point out that not only designers find such relationships important for development, but also corporates find these captivating for rising their profitability and growth. Likewise deals in India could go a long way in developing the brand values of corporates and designers.
Developing clusters
Making common infrastructure for functioning such as design and sampling, affluent treatment, product testing, etc can help in increasing the ability of the clusters since noteworthy investments could be prefabricated by the cluster itself rather than any single player.
Well-managed databases can help in decreasing search costs and through data mining, rating of players can be done so as to make the procurement process easier for buyers. Cooperative marketing programs at different clusters can also support players to grow up in the value chain by mixing their strengths within the cluster.
Cluster based effort in the fashion industry is characterized by the Italian industry. The National Chamber for Italian Fashion for example, supports the development of the fashion clusters at Milan and Florence in a well organized manner. Indian industry can learn a lot from Italy because India has a similar cluster based scattered production base, but has been incapable to link it with design and branding capability.
If the above activities are successfully considered, India could have an breathtaking development in the fashion industry, which could increase from a negligible size to Rs 8,000 crore in the coming decade.
Conclusion
In the 50s, 60s and 70s, the Indian fashion scenario was colorful and stylish, in the end of 20th century it was quite subdued and with the beginning of the 21st century it has geared up and is still experiencing the growth with many spectrums of colours. Though this industry is growing at a very good pace, besides achieving a negligible share in the global market, still it needs to make severe efforts to stand amongst international fashion market in various aspects.
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What is the need of Customized Clothing in the clothing industry?
May 16th, 2011
by Aaron Bassett
Customized Clothing is emerging in the clothing industry. Each mortal desires to wear comfort fit clothing. Customized Clothing satisfies this demand. Customized Clothing is done through latest organisation so that customers receive according to their demands. Customer satisfaction is the main motive in the production of Customized Clothing.
Corporate Uniforms is clothing for the group. This gives the individuality to the company. Well acknowledged companies advocate Corporate Uniforms. It tells the condition of the company. Corporate Uniforms should be equivalent to the environmental work.
Customers like the artifact harmonizing to cosmetics. This requires a lot of inventiveness. You can glance through the world wide web to obtain Customized Clothing according to your requirements. Embroidery work can also be done on Customized Clothing. Embroidery work makes the clothing more eye-catching.
You can say correct measures and features of your shirt, pant etc. Your Customized Clothing will be according to your specified measures. Customized Clothing is becoming an important part of business because Customized Clothing matches to the customers needs. In the production of Customized Clothing you will have to see what the customer is demanding.
Large range of men’s and women’s Customized Clothing is approaching in the clothing market. Companies have established their tailors in the showrooms, stores etc. to make amendments in their Customized Clothing according to their customer demand.
You can make buy of Customized Clothing online. You can select any design from internet. Then mail your request to company after mentioning your measures. Company will prepare your Customized Clothing according to your mentioned measures then deliver it to your home. Some Companies offer free home delivery. Online purchasing is helping in increasing the understanding of Customized Clothing. Now a day Customers like online purchasing.
Boutiques are also providing Customized Clothing. You can personally visit to boutique and select any design. When it has prepared then you can try it there. You can make amendments in the design of clothing personally.
Companies anticipate queries from their customers about Customized Clothing. For the queries these Companies have provided a query column to customers on the internet. If there is any question in the mind of customer then they can share to the company through query column.
Customers are willing to wear clothing that suits to their accessories. So they like to order and buy Customized Clothing. Customer wants Color, design, pattern, metal used in accessories should be matched to the dress. Customized Clothing requires art and creativity to design. Design should be captivating to the customers.
Companies also take initiative to recommend the customers that which clothing well suits to your personality, how they will appear after wearing it. They will not grappling any problem like tightness, looser, don’t matches to your choice etc. after wearing Customized Clothing.
Century Clothing is providing a artefact of Customized Clothing. You can order your clothing by mentioning your size. We will wage you with your choice. We always help you for your any question. So if you are interested to place an order to us then please contact us at:
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The role of promotional clothing in the apparel industry booming
May 10th, 2011
> by / div> Kaysha <
21st Century Life clothes are worn not only as a cover design on the body of a mortal taken into account. In the present scenario of life, it is necessary that the mortal must be fashionable and decent work. So for this type of lens different clothing styles are there for you. And one of them is Promotional Clothing , how to advertise your company or business through the clothing worn by a person. One can easily find promotional clothing on the World wide web by the great variety of them. These clothes can be as headbands, wristbands and other accessories. In fact, promotional clothing seems to be long marketing plan. So we can state he is one of the cheapest means simple and the promotion of your business. One example of promotional items is a garment that each business is the promotional apparel as brand ambassadors. A few months ago, when IPL T-20 was en route, prefabricated various IPL team logo T-shirt. These T-shirts advertising the company brand obloquy or product. It was promoted by celebrities in the form of clothes, who wore them. Promotional Clothing creates no appreciation for the gifts, he also owns the company logo in the minds of consumers. There is a direct link of clothes with other clothes as clothing, workwear and embroidered apparel production.
Given embroidered garments are favourite not only for individualized use and for professional use. One of these garments can be found in boutiques, department stores, etc. For reasons of advertising companies embroidery products can be used with promotional clothing. embroidered clothing is one-of-a-kind to do with art needle and wool clothing. Short promotional clothing can be embroidered on it makes more sense for companies in the vision and captivating to the customer’s perspective. Because it creates drawings on them in any style or size. How embroidered clothing, apparel production also coincides with the category of Promotional Clothing . In this type of clothing, there are currents and T-shirts printed with the logo and study of the specified product itself. Factor curious custom clothing is that in the same time as custom modifications. Workwear is also an important category of dress code so that it is also necessary to change defined with the contrast of promotional clothing. In fact it is nothing but a heavy clothes, prepared by manual labor. In different types of clothing company is a direct link to the business and enterprise. Some companies offer promotional clothing items for their employees and show aristocratic descent, where they feel comfortable during their working hours. century clothing is a very reliable company whose staff is always acquirable to offer any kind of promotional clothing, in which employees feel comfortable society. Here, you can use any type of promotional clothing. If you need high calibre clothing promotion just click here without delay: www.CenturyClothing.net<p Wilsmith Fiona is devoted to articles about the writer who did the dirty work for the success of the company. If you have any questions, please visit our website: – www.CenturyClothing.net
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The Modeling Industry
February 20th, 2011
If your interested in the modeling and/or entertainment bussiness read this before you deside to start/commit.
Well first let me introduce myself im 16 years old, i play volleyball, and i have been modeling for about 6 months. and live in southern california
So when you first think of the modeling bussiness you either think one of two things
1) Agencies convince models to pretty much be anorexic and most models are.
2) or that, that was the past and now all sizes and shapes are welcomed because of how our society has changed from the past.
When I first became interested in modeling it was because even though I had a lot of self esteem already, I wanted to maintain it/or acquire more. I also thought that since people told me I had a great look and that i should look into it, that was another reason i should try it, and also i thought i would be sucessful in this bussiness. Not as a serious job just a side job.
So before I could get an agency, most of the agencies require you to have taken previous classes to you have experience as in any job. So I took my classes as John Robert Powers. Now before you make assumptions about how JRP is a rip off. Please note that it is a TALENT bureau which means they train you NOT get you jobs. It was quite expensice 3 classes which were 20 hours apiece for about 3000. Anyway so I took the runway class and gained a lot of experience. I also had a request that I should get professinal pictures done because they thought i had a lot of potential to go somewhere. So I got my pictures done.
I was contacted by an bureau who was interested with signing me and i only had runway experience, No acting, photoprint, or commercial. Now this is where opinons about agencies come out. Althought they SAY they will accept all shapes and sizes now, thats Bull Sh*t.. They told me that at normal weight I would be consitered a petit plus model and wouldnt make sh*t and only was interested in signing with me if i were at their requirements. Now i know you might be thinking that the bureau was some small one that was a scam, but it was Elite. Elite has many levels of models so i wan’t going to be one of the main/popular ones on the website or anything. I was 5′8 and weighed 138 that means my bmi was 21 which is low on the scale of average wieght. When you meet with the agent you bring your professinal pictures and resume. They would go over my pictures and with a red marker circle all the parts of my body that he consittered to be “fat”, i guess what wasnt skin and bones. He wieghted me and stated I had a lot of potential and wanted to sign with me. He told me he would sign with me when i completed my other 2 classes over at JRP and when i lost 12 pounds to be down at 125 at 5′8.
Now at the time i didnt consiter my self fat. I am smart girl and was eduacated about intake disorders and knew that if i ever came close to deveopling one i would just stop modeling or go to another agency. Everyone at school thought i had a great body and so did i. So when i started to loose the wieght i obviously knew i wasnt fat and i was just doing it to get into the agency:Elite. Now i know loosing wieght is hard for most people, but when your already normal weight its extremly hard, and most of my wieght was muscle since i play volleyball. I stuggled but eventually go to 130. I became concerned with exerciseing and counting calories(im an psychoneurotic person). It got to the point where if i gained a pound i would be soo upset crying and messed us. I started weighing myself each morning, intake a 1000 calories a day, when im suppose to take 2500 because i play 3 hours of vball a day. so one night i ate a cup of cover cream and freaked out so i tried to throw up and i tried to stick my finger down my throat, but wasn’t healthy to purge. So i have realized that i might be developing an intake disorder even though im not under wieght(130) but im concerned with my wieght. The industry is really hard and cold i dont advocate becomeing a part of it if you have a “normal” or “athletic” body. If your already super tall and realy skinny then its fine, but its still a commitment. I have distanced from my friends and have become quieter becuase i have lower self esteem then before and am constantly thinking about food. I would quit except for a couple reasons
1) Im still enrolled in 2 classes
2) my parents payed money for lessons
3) and ive already been through so much i dont think i could stop dieting if i wanted to
Another thing you should know before you begin is if you interested in commercial or acting or modeling gigs you superior not have a busy schdule and place school frist. They might call you on at 10 pm on a wed night and need you to drive 6 hours in the morning the next day. So you can t go to school. This happened to me when i got a small role as a cheer leader in the next Bring It On Movie.
Thanks for reading i hoped you got something out of this.
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Geospatial World Forum 2011 Defines Directions And Dimensions OF Geospatial Industry
February 13th, 2011
Hyderabad, 18 Jan, 2011: An elegant ceremony marked the inaugural of Geospatial World Forum 2011 here this day which saw the confluence of diverse stakeholders in geospatial sector discussing the ‘Dimensions and Directions of Geospatial Industry’.
Welcoming the gathering, Dr MP Narayanan, Chairman, GIS Development, outlined the core philosophy of the Forum in bringing together all the stakeholders of geospatial industry – policy makes, professionals, industry and the academia – to raise the awareness levels about the increasing relevance of geospatial technology in each day life.
Delivering the message of KK Singh, President Association of Geospatial Industries and Chairman, Rolta Group, Atul D Tayal, Joint Managing Director, Rolta India Ltd, stated advances in space technology, world wide web and GIS have significantly transformed the way we live. With latest technology making all things easy, the one challenge that remains now is to make the fruits of this technology reach the common man. Enumerating the business drivers for the industry, Atul stated that the one input required to make exciting solutions in this sector is ‘geographic information’. While on one hand technology has enabled the production of calibre geospatial information, on the other more than half of the world still remains to be mapped, giving a large opportunity for the geospatial industry, he said.
According to Atul, Indian geospatial industry is fast growing and maturing and is the final frontiers for the industry. He said, while opportunity is enormous in India, challenges too are huge. He concluded saying that the Association of Geospatial Industries is a step towards organising geospatial industry in taking on these challenges and harness the potential of this technology and contribute positively to the country’s economy.
Emeritus Prof Fraser Taylor – Chairman, UN International Steering Committee for Global Mapping (ISCGM), stressed the significance of location information to all aspects of modern society. But to realise its potential, he stated several challenges need to be met. In this direction, he said, we need to enable more effective data sharing among stewards of locationally referenced data; enable a greater degree of interoperability between and among datasets; make location data an integrated part of mainstream ICT and not a standalone system; link geographic information more effectively with socio-economic information; effective spatial management of geospatial information. In the emerging digital economy, Prof Taylor said, there are an increasing number of participatory information infrastructures and added that these should be integrated with more formal approaches, communicate the results of analyses in more effective manner.
Calling climate change as the greatest challenge of the century, Dr Shailesh Nayak, Secretary, Ministry of Earth Sciences, Government of India enumerated the significance of geospatial technology in understanding the complex interaction between and among different components like atmosphere, biosphere, hydrosphere, cryosphere etc. He then touched upon the important services that are enabled by geospatial technologies through proper understanding of climate and weather conditions. Ocean and seabed mapping is the next huge frontier for geospatial industry as future generations will increasingly depend on ocean for their resources, he said.
Keynote address
Detailing the high level of awareness level and commitment towards geospatial technology at the highest level of policy making in the country, Dr K Kasturirangan, Member, Planning Commission, said – geospatial industry in India has several supporters including the Prime Minister and Deputy Chairman of Planning Commission, Montek Singh Ahluwalia and added that the prime minister has mandated the Planning Commission to use geospatial tech for national development in the subsequent Five Year Plan. He then discussed various policy initiatives to take geographic information more closer to the common man. He called on the citizens to demand development and create a participatory movement for more geographic data. To enable this, Dr Rangan said, the government is working on establishing a national system for GIS. The intent is to synergise many spatial data systems acquirable crossways the country and create a seamless system to access data. Further to this, the national task force will look into the capacity stipulations for this industry and evolve a geospatial culture in the country. This task force will look at building geospatial capacities at school, university, higher education and research level.
Guest Address
Calling the distinguished gathering of geospatial professionals to unleash the power of geospatial information, chief guest Kapil Sibal, Union Minister for Science and Technology and Earth Sciences; Human Resources Development; and Communications and Information Technology rightly pointed out that any technology, including geospatial technology, is an enabler and a car through which information could be delivered to the citizens, empowering them. The national geospatial data dominance bill, which is on the anvil, will be a great step in this direction, he opined. Survey of India has embarked on creating a national topographic database on 1:10k scale for all the rural areas of the country. The project will also produce 1:2,000 maps for the cities and 1:1,000 scale maps for the metros. The minister stated the project will be finished in three years and once the maps are in public domain, will open up several sectors with the power of geographic information.
Information is a public good and government strongly believes in making 75-80% of geospatial information acquirable to the citizens subject to the concerns of security, the minister said. To empower common people with this information, Sibal stated the government is working on a framework of licensing and a regulatory policy which would streamline the activities of geospatial sector. He called on the industry to be an equal partner in communicating the meaning and utility of geospatial technology to one and all exuded confidence that India will be a breeding ground of geospatial solutions in the future.
Awards
The Geospatial World Forum 2011 recognised the exemplary contributions prefabricated by organisations and professionals to the growth of geospatial technology and industry around the world. The following organisations/professionals received the GIS Development awards -
Premier Mapping Agency: Natural Resources Canada
Education / Capacity Building for geospatial technology: Department of Geography, University Of California, Santa Barbara (Dr. Val Noronah)
Geospatial Personality of Decade: Vanessa Lawrence CB, Director General and Chief Executive, Ordnance Survey, UK
Leading Professional Society: International Cartographic Association (ICA)
World Leaders in Geospatial Technology: Rolta Group
Lifetime Accomplishment : Dr. K Kasturirangan
About Geospatial World Forum
Geospatial World Forum (formerly known as Map World forum) is a conference driven by an neutral to wage an appropriate representation of the geospatial industry and its relevance in tomorrow’s world. It is a medium of convergence of various stakeholders of the global geospatial community. It is a gathering of about 2000 professionals from all over the world who get together to discuss and deliberate on various aspects of geospatial industry. Geospatial World Forum is organized in partnership with many international professional societies.
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Education Industry
February 10th, 2011
Public vs. Private Education in Developing Countries: A Matter of Long-Term Investment
I often find myself criticizing governments worldwide for imperfectness to create opportunities for poor people, especially in the education sector. We certainly should be critical, but must also realize that, as a responsible society, we can't and should not leave everything to the government and NGOs. The education sector is not exclusively the obligation of the government. If the governments and NGOs can't cope with the responsibility, then why shouldn’t the private sector do something to equilibrise the demand of good education?
In many developing countries, public education leaves a lot to be desired. Instructors are not as motivated to show up regularly, perhaps because they do not feel accountable to the students, but instead to distant government officials. Public school instructors and their unions are sometimes politically divisive; the problems in Oaxaca, Mexico come to mind. On the other hand, the infrastructure of classrooms could be seriously improved; often the infrastructure is below the average standards of a respectful educative environment.
Studies by the World Bank and The World Economic Forum have shown that entrepreneurs are realizing that there is a demand for private education services in the BOP. People in the BOP are also starting to “invest” in private education for their children. Derek Newberry and Seema Patel of NextBillion have blogged about this very issue before – on how there are new private schools in poor areas that charge or USD a month and wage superior education.
Research done by Prof. saint Tooley (winner of the FT Gold Prize Essay) shows that there are many people in the BOP who are willing to invest their money in private education. In the research of his award-winning essay, he found that “…a massive majority of schoolchildren in selected poor urban and periurban areas of India and Sub-Saharan Africa using private schools, while in rural India, half of the schoolchildren are privately enrolled. Even in impoverished rural China massive numbers of private schools exist off the official radar. The research showed that private schools for the poor are superior to government schoolteachers are more committed, the supplying of important inputs are better, and education outcomes superior even after controlling for background variables. All this is accomplished for a fraction of the per-pupil instructor cost of government schools.”
In the paper, “De facto’ Privatisation of Education and the Poor: Implications of a Study from Sub-Saharan Africa and India,” saint Tooley and Pauline Dixon make a case study in India on the breathtaking growth of private education. People living in the BOP are aware of the value of education as a long-term investment. Entrepreneurs that would want to invest in education should take this as an opportunity and not just leave the weight of education on the government or NGOs.
To private school standards, these schools are not necessarily top-tier schools, but in many cases give a superior education than the public schools. I find these private education initiatives to be innovative ways of solving the problems of mediocre public education. These new initiatives give parents in developing countries an option to be healthy to assure superior educational opportunities for their children.
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