Last Working Day at SDC of the year 2011

It is the last working day of this year 2011 at SDC today. This year SDC achieved almost all its goals. SDC wishes a very happy new year 2012.

The Attachment trainees of SDC are busy in writing their report. There last training day is on the next working day i.e. first working day of new year 2012 on 2nd January 2012.

Best Wishes.

SAARC Women’s Initiative for Peace and Prosperity

ASSOCHAM, Creative Living Foundation of India and Paiman Trust of Pakistan have set up an institutional mechanism called SAARC Women’s Initiative for Peace and Prosperity (SWIPP) to form a sustainable coalition of women from India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Maldives, Bhutan and Afghanistan. The objective of SWIPP is to promote economic, educational and cultural cooperation in the SAARC region. The MoU was signed on Monday, December 26, 2011 by Mr D.S. Rawat, secretary general of ASSOCHAM, Dr Harbeen Arora, founder and CEO of Creative Living Foundation, and Ms Mossarat Qadeem, executive director of Paiman Trust. The initiative plans to empower people with education and economic independence to encourage entrepreneurship in south Asia and provide them a networking platform to pull the masses out of poverty, illiteracy, disease and crime, said Mr Rawat. Dr Arora said formation of women associations and support groups should be encouraged to provide them bandwidth for critical thinking and critical mass. “There is need more than ever before for having more examples of successful entrepreneurship by women and inspiring role models.” Business leaders should unleash entrepreneurial urge and forge ahead with economic partnerships among the neighbouring nations to promote core values of unity and peace, said Ms Qadeem. “Space for women in economic and political spheres is essential for equitable development and peace in south Asia.”

For details, visit the link.................

Diamond Jubilee Lecture Series at NISCAIR (Host Institution of SDC)

The host institution of SDC i.e. NISCAIR is celebrating its diamond jubilee. On this occasion, a lecture series is being organized. In this series, 2nd lecture was organized on December 21, 2011. The lecture was delivered by the Director of DESIDOC Dr. A. L. Moorthy on the topic "S & T Information Communication and Dissemination Scenario - Role of DESIDOC". On this occasion Director of SDC & NISCAIR Dr. Gangan Prathap welcomed the guest and audience. Mr. A. K. Chawla, Chief Scientist, NISCAIR introduced the guest Dr. Moorthy. In his lecture, Dr. Moorthy gave details of the services provided by DESIDOC in particular and challenges before the library professionals in the new web era. He gave an overview of the various Library 2.0 tools and its implementation at DESIDOC.
DESIDOC started functioning in 1958 as Scientific Information Bureau (SIB). It was a division of the Defence Science Laboratory (DSL) which is presently called Defence Science Centre. The DRDO library which had its beginning in 1948 became a division of SIB in 1959. In 1967 SIB was reorganised with augmented activities and named Defence Scientific Information and Documentation Centre (DESIDOC). It still continued to function under the administrative control of DSL. DESIDOC became a self-accounting unit and one of the laboratories of DRDO on 29 July 1970. The Centre was functioning in the main building of Metcalfe House, a landmark in Delhi and a national monument. In August 1988 it moved to its newly built five-storeyed building in the same Metcalfe House complex. Since it became a self-accounting unit, DESIDOC has been functioning as a central information resource for DRDO. It provides S&T information, based on its library and other information resources, to the DRDO headquarters, and its various laboratories at various places in India.

At the end, Mrs. Deeksha Bist, Chief Scientist, NISCAIR proposed vote of thanks.

SAARC Workshop 2011 concluded successfully

SAARC Workshop 2011 on Library 2.0 concluded successfully concluded on 16^th December 2011 at Kathmandu, Nepal. The workshop was organized by SDC and Ministry of Sc. & Tech., Nepal Govt. Total of 24 participants attended the workshop from various SAARC member states. Resource persons from India and Nepal facilitated various sessions.

The workshop was started with the introduction of the concept of web 2.0 on 12th Dec. 2011. The session was facilitated by Dr. G. Mahesh (NISCAIR) and Dr. Mohan Raj Pradhan (HealthNet). In this session the participants were introduced with the general concept of Web 2.0. The post lunch session of the first day was facilitated by Mr. Mukesh Pund. Various Open Source Software useful for library 2.0 were discussed in the session. Various software for creating blogs, wikis, rss and social networking were shown with their details. The last session of the first day was the demonstration of some websites exploiting library 2.0 in practice. The session was conducted Mr. Rajeev Kumar, SDC.

The first session of the second day (13th Dec.) was on web designing. The session was facilitated by Mr. Sanjay Burde. General introduction to the www, hypertext, hypermedia, webserver, html tags, url etc. were discussed. The next session of the day was on Blogs and their applications in libraries which was facilitated by Mr. Mukesh Pund, NISCAIR. Theoretical concepts on Blogs containing their definition, evolution, their usages, merits, types were discussed followed by practicals sessions.

The first session of the third day (14th Dec.) was on Philosophy of wiki and its uses in library which was facilitated by Mr. Rajeev Kumar. Introduction to wiki, its history, types of wiki, uses of wiki, features of wiki, syntax of wiki were demonstrated and discussed in the session. The second session was on practical on creation of wiki. Various steps required to create wiki were demonstrated. The third session was on RSS which was facilitated by Dr. G. Mahesh. Current awareness services and their changes with the development of new technologies were discussed. In addition, benefits of the RSS to the uses and publishers were also discussed. In addition, sharing of documents using Google documents was practiced.

The first and second session of the fourth day (15th Dec.) was on Federated Search with Koha Integrated Library Software. The session was facilitated by Dr. Mohan Raj Pradhan and Mr. Shiva Ram Shrestha. The concept of automated library system and digital library was discussed with respect to Koha and Greenstone digital library software. There was a visit program to Nepal National Library and site seeing in Bhaktapur Durbar square after the lunch. The participants were introduced with the objectives, services and other activities being carried out by the National Library. The participants were then taken to Bhaktapur to be aware with the historic places.

In the first and session of the last day (16th Dec.) the participants were demonstrated with the general concept of data entry in Koha software. The session was facilitated by Dr. Mohan Raj Pradhan and Mr. Shiva Ram Shrestha.

There was a valedictory program at 4 PM on 16th Dec. 2011. The programme was chaired by Mr. Mukunda Raj Prakash Ghimire, Joint Secretary, MOST and G. B. member of SDC. Mr. Ishwor Singh Thapa, Acting Secretary, MOST was the Chief Guest. Mr. Pradeep Bhattarai spoke on the programme highlighting on the 5 days long workshop. Chief Guest Mr. Ishwor Singh Thapa, handed over the certificates to the participats. Representing the participants Mr. S. Siva Prasad Gauda expressed his happiness to learn and gain new idea about the topic. He further stated that the knowledge used would be implemented in the betterment of library services. Ms. Sheela Manandhar, Librarian of Nepal Administrative Staff College highlighted on the explosion of information in this age. She further stressed that modern technologies should be used to provide better services in this age. She expressed her happiness in participating in the workshop. Ms. Sohaila Noori, from Afghanistan speaking on the occasion said that the workshop was helpful and effective. Though there is a separate library system in Afghanistan, the skill learnt during the workshop would be utilized. Ms. Kesang Dechen, Deputy Director of SDC informed that the programme was the last one of SAARC. She further said that the workshop provided a forum for all the participants to share idea. She thanked MOST and all others engaged in the workshop.

SAARC Workshop 2011 inaugurated by Nepal S & T Minister

SAARC Workshop 2011 on "Library 2.0" inaugurated by Mrs. Kalpana Dhamala, Hon'ble Minister, Ministry of Science & Technology, Govt. of Nepal at 9 AM at Hotel Marshyangdi, Thamel, Kathmandu, Nepal. While inaugurating the workshop, Mrs. Dhamala has said that Library 2.0 is an essence to library services. On this occasion, Secretary, Min. of S&T, Nepal; Dr. Niranjan Man Singh Basnyat, Director, SAARC; Mr. M.R.P. Ghimire, JS of MOST-Nepal & GB Member-SDC were present.

The theory sessions were initiated by Dr. G. Mahesh, NISCAIR and Dr. M. R. Pradhan, HealthNet by introducing the basic concept of Library 2.0 followed by Open Source Software for Library 2.0 by Mr. Mukesh Pund, NISCAIR. The inaugural day was concluded by the live demonstration of Library 2.0 tools and its implementations in various libraries by Mr. Rajeev Kumar, SDC.

SDC Resource persons arrived at Kathmandu

SAARC Workshop 2011 on "Library 2.0" organized by SDC in collaboration with Ministry of Sc. & Tech., Govt. of Nepal is going to be inaugurated on 12th Dec. 2011 at Kathmandu, Nepal. Earlier the resource persons from SDC namely Dr. G. Mahesh, Mr. Mukesh Pund, Mr. Sanjay Burde and Mr. Rajeev Kumar arrived today at Kathmandu.

SAARC Charter Day celebration concluded with Koha training

The 5-day Koha training programme concluded on 10th Dec. 2011 organized on the occasion of 26th SAARC Charter Day 2011. In the concluding day, the participants were given certificates. On this occasion, participants expressed their views about the programme. Most of the participants requested to extend the duration of the training programme. Information regarding newly initiated SDC Fellowship programme were announced during the concluding session. Dr. Narendra Kumar (NISCAIR), Mrs. Kesang Dechen (SDC), Mr. Indra Sen (NISCAIR/SDC) and Mr. Rajeev Kumar (SDC) were also present besides the participants.

SAARC Charter Day Marathon and Messages

On the occasion of the Twenty-sixth Anniversary of the founding of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation, the SAARC Secretariat, in collaboration with the National Sports Council of Nepal, organized a Marathon of approximately 8 Kms. in Kathmandu on 8th December 2011. About 150 men & women from SAARC Member States, diplomatic community and the SAARC Secretariat, including the Secretary General participated in the Marathon.
Mr.Lional Samarajeewa (Sri Lanka) in Men's category and Ms.F.E.Fox (British Gorkha) in Women's category secured the first prize. (Click here for complete news...........)

Earlier in her message on the occasion of 26th SAARC Charter Day, SAARC Secretary General Fathimath Dhiyana Saeed today said that the regional bloc had made significant progress in realising the objectives enshrined in its charter. Ms. Dhiyana said South Asian Free Trade Agreement, SAARC Development Fund, SAARC Food Bank and the South Asian University were some of the notable achievements of the regional grouping. “The association has institutionalised cooperation at all levels and set up a number of mechanisms and institutions to facilitate and guide the agenda of cooperation. SAARC has sought to promote a distinct South Asian identity and a culture of peace, cooperation and partnership,” Saeed said in the statement today, the 26th anniversary of the founding of SAARC. (Click here for the message...........)

Click here for Charter Day messages from Member states.........

27th SAARC Charter Day Celebrated at SDC

27th SAARC Charter Day [Twenty-sixth Anniversary of the founding of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC)] was jointly organized by SDC and SDMC at SDC on 8th December 2011. On this occasion a Quiz Competition and a Debate was organized. Earlier a regional painting competition was organized by SDMC. Students from various schools participated in the competitions.
At the end of the programme, prizes and certificates were distributed by the Chief Guest Dr. Vikram K. Doraiswami, OSD (SAARC), Ministry of External Affairs, Govt. of India and the Special Guest Mr. R. K. Srivastava, Joint Secretary (Disaster Management), Ministry Home Affairs, Govt. of India to the winners of Quiz Competition, Debate and Painting Competition. All the participant were given gift. Dr. Gangan Prathap, Director, SDC and Dr. O. P. Mishra, Director, SDMC and entire team of SDC and SDMC were present on the occasion besides the school children, teachers, SDC sponsored trainees and NISCAIR staff.

SDC Fellowships for Research and Advanced Training

S.D.C. has initiated Fellowships for Research and Advanced Training for the professionals of SAARC member states. The programme was approved during the 17th GB Meeting.
The main aim of the present initiative is to enhance the research capacity of promising information scientists of the SAARC region, particularly those embarking on their research career, and also to encourage them to foster cross-country linkages for collaborative work. Under the aegis of SDC, one fellowship from each Member State will be sponsored for a period of six months. The Programme will aim in particular, to impact on capacity-building and research activities in the following areas:

• SAARC related topics
  
• Library and Information Science
  
• Science and Technology
  Developmental Matters
  
• Science Communication

SDC Fellows will be based at the Center and will have access to the library, computer facilities of the Centre and also CSIR-NISCAIR (host institute of SDC). During the six month period, SDC fellows will be attached to mentors from SDC or from the host institute, NISCAIR. Only those who are currently actively registered for a PhD programme in a SAARC country will be eligible for the programme.

For details, please visit the SDC Website : www.sdc.gov.in/fellowship/

for Brochure and Application Form, click here...........

26th SAARC Charter Day - 2011

SAARC Documentation Centre is going to celebrate 26th SAARC Charter Day on 8th Dec. 2011 in collaboration with SAARC Disaster Management Centre, New Delhi. On this occasion, winners of Painting competitions, quiz competitions and debate will be given prize. SDC is also organizing a Koha training programme (5-10 Dec. 2011) on this occasion, inaugurated on 5th Dec. 2011

To commemorate the 26th SAARC Charter Day, the SAARC Secretariat is organising a marathon in the Capital city Kathmandu (Nepal) on December 8, 2011. The secretariat said in a statement that it has asked all members of the diplomatic community based in Kathmandu to take part in the event. The event will kick off from the SAARC Secretariat and end at the secretariat after passing through Durbar Marg, Kamaladi, Ram Shah Path, Singha Durbar, Thapathali, Tripureshwor, Sundhara, Mahankal and Jamal. Those who want to participate in the event should register at the secretariat by 3 pm on December 6 and arrive at the secretariat at 6.45 am on December 8 for the event that will begin at 7 am. The registration can also be done through email - shabbir@saarc-sec.org - or over the phone (01-4221694). (Click Here for News........).

In connection with the observance of the 26th SAARC Charter Day on 08 December 2011, SAARC Meteorological Research Centre (SMRC) and SAARC Agriculture Centre (SAC), Dhaka jointly organizing an essay competition. (Click Here for News........).

As Association of Management Development in South Asia (AMDISA) is a SAARC Recognized Body. It is commemorating the SAARC Charter Day on Thursday, 8th December, 2011 at AMDISA Secretariat, University of Hyderabad Campus, Hyderabad, with a view to raising awareness of the people about SAARC and its activities, thereby enhancing South Asian identity as well as solidarity within the Region and beyond. (Click Here for News........)