8 JULY2024IN FOCUSIN FOCUSIndia Women's cricketers Shafali Verma and Sneh Rana led India to a commanding 10-wicket victory over South Africa Women in a one-off Test match keeping the visitors winless in the series. The match was held at M. A. Chidambaram Stadium, marking India's third Test win at home. Shafali's batting brilliance making a double century and Sneh's all-round performance were key to India's dominance. The Indian bowlers displayed a cohesive and disciplined performance, with Rana leading the charge.India defeated South Africa by 10 wickets in a six-day match, with a total of 603 runs. Shafali Verma with 205 runs, Smriti Mandhana with 149 runs, Richa Ghosh with 86 runs, Harmanpreet Kaur with 69 runs, Jemimah Rodrigues with 55 runs, and Shafali Verma with 24*.South Africa started the day on 232/2, with Laura Wolvaardt batting her first century in Tests. They forced India to bat for the second time after declaring at 603 for 6, showcasing their determination. South Africa's centuries from Wolvaardt, Sune Luus, and de Klerk kept the contest alive. South Africa lost Marizanne Kapp and Delmi Tucker early by Deepti Sharma and Jemimah Rodrigues whereas Rajeshwari Gayakwad dismissed Laura Wolvaardt for 122.India needed five wickets for victory, but South Africa scored 34 runs in 29 overs. De Klerk scored her maiden Test fifty in 174 balls, demonstrating her ability to play the long game. Sinalo Jafta returned to bat after retiring due to lower limb cramps. South Africa was 336 for 8, trailing by one run. Shafali and Gayakwad took major wickets off their competitors and brought them to only 36 runs. Shubha Satheesh and Shafali took 9.2 overs to chase it down. SHAFALI-SNEH LED INDIA'S VICTORY AGAINST SOUTH AFRICA W IN ONE-OFF TEST SERIESGOVERNMENT ISSUES 80PERCENT LICENSING FEE CONCESSION FOR WOMEN ENTREPRENEURSIndian Union Minister Piyush Goyal has announced an 80 percent licensing fee concession for women entrepreneurs, aiming to make it easier and more affordable for them to start and run their own businesses. This concession is part of the government's strategy to promote economic empowerment and gender equality in the business sector offering a 50 percent fee reduction for MSMEs. It is expected to encourage more women to venture into entrepreneurship, particularly in industries where high licensing fees have been a barrier.The Ministry of Commerce and Industry in New Delhi has announced incentives to boost women's participation and entrepreneurship, focusing on balancing industry compliance with public safety. The consultation, led by Union Minister Piyush Goyal and Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT), aims to improve efficiency within the Petroleum and Explosives Safety Organization (PESO) and foster dialogue with stakeholders. Additionally, the Union Minister orders PESO to collaborate with CPCB and MoPNG to establish safety guidelines for petrol pump operations in 30-50-meter habitation areas.The consultation attended by over 150 stakeholders highlighted areas for improvement, including digitalization, transparency, and expedited clearance issuance. Committees were formed to explore amendments and enhance regulatory frameworks, based on industry feedback.
< Page 7 | Page 9 >