The Tornos Fellowship Program provides support for up to one
year of formal graduate-level study leading to a graduate
or masters degree / diploma. Fellows are selected from those
cities / regions within India that are touristically backward
and / or where tourism has not helped local communities and
societies develop. Foreign Nationals and Non Resident Indians
(NRI) are not eligible for this fellowship, although Fellows
may study in other countries after furnishing an undertaking
that their work area will not only remain within India but
also the region or the city that they belong to.
Fellows are chosen on the basis of their leadership potential
and commitment to community or national service, as well as
for academic excellence. Fellows may enroll in graduate /
masters programs and may pursue any area of tourism that is
consistent with the interests and goals of the Tornos Foundation.
The Foundation works exclusively in the field of tourism to
strengthen democratic values, reduce poverty and injustice,
promote international cooperation, providing better living
standards, advance human achievement and Environmental & Cultural
Conservation.
Once selected, Fellows may enroll in an appropriate university
program anywhere in the world, including India. The program
provides placement assistance to those Fellows not yet admitted
to graduate school.
TFFP support also enables Fellows to undertake short-term
language study and training in research and computer skills
prior to graduate school enrollment. In addition, new Fellows
attend orientation sessions, while current Fellows actively
participate in learning and discussion activities designed
to create information and exchange networks among Tornos Foundation
Fellows. Finally, the program strongly encourages TFFP alumni
to maintain contact with the program after completing the
fellowships to help them remain current in their respective
fields through the expanding TFFP network.
Who Is Eligible ?
Applicants must be resident nationals or residents of India.
In addition, successful candidates will:
-
Demonstrate superior achievement in their undergraduate
studies.
-
Have substantial experience in community service or
development-related activities.
-
Possess leadership potential evidenced by their employment
and academic experience.
-
Propose to pursue a graduate or a post graduate degree
/ diploma that will directly enhance their leadership
capacity in
-
practical, policy, academic, and social field corresponding
to tourism.
-
Present a plan specifying how they will apply their
studies to the community and society in their own city
/ region. Commit themselves to working on these issues
following the fellowship period. TFFP selects Fellows
on the strength of their clearly-stated intention to
serve their communities, societies and regions of origin,
and expects that they will honor this obligation.
To apply for the ward of this fellowship one needs to
send us an application along with a brief profile (CV)
and a detailed report of intended work, the approach
and the objective. All these papers can be e-mailed
to: foundation@tornosindia.com
Or
alternatively sent to us by post on our mailing address:
Tornos
Foundation
Tornos House,
C-2016 Indira Nagar,
Lucknow – 226 016, India.
E-mail: foundation@tornosindia.com
Scroll
down to know more about our activities or click on the options
below......
INITIATIVES
(Scroll
down to read more about these social initiatives)
1> Exemplifying compassion (2003)
2> Illuminating hearts on Diwali (2004)
3> Sight first sightseeing later (2004)
4> Tsunami Tragedy - Initiative (2005)
5> Tourist Helpline 24X7 (2005 on)
6> Felicitation of 'UNSUNG HEROES OF TOURISM'
(2006)
7> 'Blanket Bank' - Donate a blanket and save a
winter death (2006 on)
8> 'Deepika Tiwari Memorial Tornos Foundation Scholarship'
(2007 on) New
9> 'Food for all' - 16th October 2007 / World Food
Day (2007) New
TORNOS exemplifies compassion
It
was a sunny morning of 27th September 2003 but so unlike
other mornings it was. A small tour enterprise in Lucknow
named TORNOS took a social initiative of collecting 53 small
children from the slums of Lucknow who were basically rag-pickers,
to show them inside of the walls of the beautiful monuments
of Lucknow. These monuments are inaccessible to this section
of our society.
We
at TORNOS who are handling foreign tourists since 1994 had
planned an event that surpassed the highest degree of compassion
and showed the world that compassion does not really require
any budget but just an attitude.
The
children were brought together at the Hotel Taj Residency
for a flag off ceremony at 0930 hours. Here took place an
‘Aarti-Tika’ and T-shirts distribution ceremony sponsored
by a Local Travel Agency. A large deluxe coach was flagged
off by Mr. Vimal Seth, the General Manager of the hotel,
from here for a city tour of Lucknow.
The
Group reached Husainabad Imambara, where, the Husainabd
Trust exclusively for these very special guests hosted a
tea party. The sight seeing was conducted by none other
than the descendent of the Nawab of Lucknow, Nawab Jafar
Mir Abdullha along with the executives of TORNOS and other
guests. The entry to this monument was free for this group.
Next
halt was Asafi Imambara, where again a group photograph
was taken and the guests were shown around the Imambara.
Shia clergy was kind enough to extend all VVIP treatment
to this group here too.
We
moved on to Lucknow Residency and Archeological Survey of
India extended free entry into this monument for the children
and arranged for a fruit distribution here.
Lucknow
Zoo was the final destination. Here the compassionate individuals
waited on the gates to welcome the group. The guest list
included Mr. Mukul Singhal (Director General Tourism – UP),
Other officers of UP Tourism, Dr. Fonia (Director ASI, Lucknow),
Mr. Vimal Seth (GM – Taj Lucknow) with his team of HODs
and executives, Ms. Eva Sharma (Director-LKO ZOO), Mr.Rahul
Dave (Station Manager – Jet Airways), Mr. Sujit Kumar (Station
Manager – Indian Airlines), Mr. S. N Srivastava (GM- Great
Value Travels), Mr. Sharad Thadani (MD – Mayfair Travels),
Mr. Sengupta (Area Manager – SITA Travels), Mr. S.K.Saxena
(Manager – TCI ), Mr. Mohit Chandra (Manager – Travel Bureau),
Prof T.V Singh (Travel Researcher and Academician), Dr.
Manoj Dixit (Dept of Tourism – IGNOU), Mr. R.K.Saxena (Principal
IHM, Lko), Mr. & Mrs. Katti (TTG Asia correspondent and
travel writers), Print and TV media along with Mr. Prateek
Hira (President & CEO – Tornos) with his team.
The
compassionate individuals were waiting here to welcome the
special group at the Zoo gates. None here was VIP or VVIP
just individuals who were full of compassion. Finally the
group arrived with flowers in their hands to hand it over
to us as a gesture of gratitude. We then walked into the
Zoo along with the children and settled down to have Lunch
with these children. Hotel Taj Residency served this lunch,
and to top it all the senior executive including the General
Manager himself served it.
There
after mementos were distributed to all the compassionate
individuals to thank them for all the support extended to
TORNOS in pioneering this cause.
World
Tourism Organisation has mentioned this event in their international
diary apart from an extensive encouragements received from,
The President of India, Prime Minister, Tourism Minister
and Tourism Secretary (Govt. of India). WE AT TORNOS SERVE
TOURISM SOCIALLY TOO !!!
Illuminating
Hearts On Diwali - 2004
We did
not put in money to buy gifts, crackers, sweets this festival.
For us at Tornos everyday is a festival and festival days
are special for us to show our concern to the underprivileged
and special sections of our society.
This
Diwali we spent the amount equivalent to our single Diwali
Day Turnover to buy woolen clothes for the homeless. These
clothes were then distributed at Charbagh that shelters
many homeless on the next day of Diwali on 13th
November 2004.
Turnover
on this single day (12th November 2004 – we were
open from 0930 hrs to 1330 hrs) totaled to 8945.00 To our
astonishment our team members along with their families
came out in full support of this cause and donated the amount
that they thought they spent on Diwali celebrations.
Total
collection on this occasion came to 24445.00 This amount
was spent to buy 40 pieces of woolen clothes and blankets.
When
people all over India were illuminating their houses we
at Tornos illuminated hearts !!!
Sight first sightseeing later
Tornos
Foundation as a tribute to the senior citizens on 12th
December 2004, organized a Mass Cataract Operations for
the financially backward seniors. We picked up 20 citizens
of Lucknow from the slums and drove them to Lucknow Civil
Hospital for Eye Check-up. After identifying 12 patients
who needed immediate operation we took care of their expenses
and looked after them in their pre and post operation stages.
Tornos Foundation also distributed arranged for the Medicines,
Lenses, Glasses etc.,
After
the eyes of these patients had visibility we took this entire
group for a sightseeing tour and a picnic at the Lucknow
Zoo.
Tsunami
Tragedy - Initiative
The
year 2004 has ended on a sour note, human lives have fallen
prey to nature's fury.
Nevertheless
there is light after the dark clouds seem to have cleared
the passage of the Sun beam.
Our hearts
cried aloud and eyes were somber, but the life has to go
on and we have to fight the worst times to emerge a winner.
Yet another
year 2005 has come knocking - let us resolute to enhance humanity
and sensitivity within us.
We at
TORNOS abstained from merry making to show our grief for
the lives lost at the recent nature's fury, the children
orphaned, wives widowed, husbands distressed and all those
who have lost roofs above their heads. Yet we donated to
our best capacities the amount that we would spend on dine,
drink & dance.
If you
have spent even a single rupee on Merry Making on the eve
of New Year, we appeal you to donate at least 50% of that
amount to:
"The
Prime Minister's National Relief Fund".
Your Cheques
/ DD can be sent to:
The Prime
Minister's Office,
South Block,
New Delhi
- 110 011.
Contributions
to the "The Prime Minister's National Relief Fund"
are exempted from Income Tax under Sec 80 (G)
-
Contributions
can also be made to any bank in India or Indian Banks
Abroad
-
Banks
will not charge any commission for preparation of the
Bank Drafts
-
-
If
you wish to send cash through Money Orders - No commission
will be charged.
Wish you
all a very happy new year - 2005.
All at
TORNOS.
Tourist
Helpline - 24 X 7
Tourist in distress can
call up on 993-55-66-77-88 all day round in case of any
emergency. Be it the requirement of medical assistance, road
mishap, trauma, transport breakdown, police assistance or
just a shoulder to cry on. This is an independent cel number
with a special configuration that is extremely easy to
remember. Our volunteers reach the site within in least
possible time with a positive outlook and a practical
solution. At the moment this helpline is only open to
foreign tourists but we will soon expand to domestic
tourists as well.
Felicitation
of 'UNSUNG HEROES OF TOURISM' - World Tourism Day 27th
Sept.,2006
It was a pleasant evening
of 27th September when 150 guests from all spheres of travel
trade, airlines, hotels and travel academia assembled in the
lawns of Hotel Comfort Inn to honour the senior most Taxi
Driver, Hotel Doorman, Railway Porter and Tonga Driver. The
event was presided over by Principal Secretary & DG -
Tourism Dr.Om Prakash. This was the most thoughtful of
events ever organised in our industry where that part of our
industry was honoured that is unknowingly neglected and
unrecognised, but without whom tourism is just not possible.
The event was followed by a Cocktail Dinner and soulful
Qawalis recited by Ustad Haider Baksh and party. Local media
was all Ga-Ga over the event to the extent that Hindustan a
Lucknow daily had a first page prime cover story and NDTV
24X7 showed a seven minutes documentary apart from a direct
telecast on Doordarshan.
'Blanket
Bank' - Donate a blanket and save a winter death
We
have opened a bank that collects old and new blankets and
stocks them for the approaching winters. These blankets are
being collected with the help of students of Tourism
Studies, University of Lucknow. When the winters set in we
at Tornos Foundation would set out on a mid night city
expeditions and cover the shivering homeless without
shelter. All your blankets will be stocked and redistributed
to the really deserving and actually needy. We can be
contacted on our telephones 2349472 or 2346965. The Project
Coordinator for this is: Mr. Sujay Dive (cel:9839266905)
'Deepika
Tiwari Memorial Tornos Foundation Scholarship'
This
scholarship has been constituted in memory of Late Deepika
Tiwari a very good friend of the Foundation and and active
participant in all our activities. Under this our Foundation
shall award 3rd year BA-Tourism Fee to the meritorious
student of University of Lucknow every year at University's
convocation or the Department of Tourism's annual cultural
programme called, 'Kshitij'. This year the Scholarship was
awarded on 5th October at 'Kshitij' to Khursheed Alam and
this year the scholarship will be awarded to Vandana Sharma
on 28th September at Gandhi Bhawan Auditorium by The
Honourable Mayor of Lucknow, Prof. Dinesh Sharma. At
Tornos Foundation we encourage tourism education and are
ready to sponsor students for further studies in Travel &
Tourism and institute more scholarships and awards in
different Colleges and Universities. For more information on
this please feel free to contact us. If you want any
other university to partner with us and constitute tourism
award or scholarship, please feel free to get in touch with
us and we shall follow it up with that university.
'Food
for all' - 16th October 2007 / World Food Day
This
year we joined hands with the Home Science, Cultural
Studies and Social Work & Women Studies Departments of
the University of Lucknow, to shoulder their responsibility
of their ongoing project, where they have adopted 4 slums in
Lucknow. They support 4 schools of 500 slum children by way
of regular studies in morning and evening and even medical
camps that are organized exclusively for these
underprivileged children.
16th October happened to be The World Food Day,
where we together fed the hungry stomachs of
those masses who constitute rag pickers and indulge in other
menial jobs. Under this programme we propagated an idea
of collecting the left-over banquet and restaurant food from
the hotels (not wasted food from the plates) and served
them in a packed form in hotel boxes itself. We received an
overwhelming response from all hotels in the city: Taj
Residency, The Piccadily, Comfort Inn and La Place Park Inn. It
was a sheer bundle of joy seeing the smiles on these
otherwise crying faces.
Initiatives
and activities continue. We will keep adding these on this
page......
