Archives June 2023

Mumbai, India(23rd June 2023)The Toyota Mobility Foundation, in partnership with Challenge Works and World Resources Institute, has launched a $9 million global challenge to help cities adapt to the future, with the potential to transform the lives of millions around the world.

As cities grow and evolve, the challenges of moving people and goods in reliable, efficient, and inclusive ways have never been more essential. At the same time, opportunities to apply advances in transport modes, infrastructure design, operations, energy options, and connected data systems have never been more promising.

The Sustainable Cities Challenge aims to improve the lives of people by increasing access to jobs, education and other essential services. It will bring cities and innovators together to implement mobility solutions that could reduce carbon, improve accessibility, and use data to build resilient transport systems.

Ryan Klem, Director of Programs at the Toyota Mobility Foundation, said: “Our experience over the past decade has underscored the importance of the local city’s buy-in and engagement with our activities. Throughout the Sustainable Cities Challenge, we are looking to come alongside cities to find innovative solutions in the areas they identify as critical to develop a scalable model for the cities of tomorrow.”

Call for Entries

Entry to the first stage of the Challenge is open to city leaders and municipal governments, transport departments and other related local and regional agencies. Entries should be submitted according to one or more of the following three themes:

•  Expanding access to safe, affordable, and inclusive modes of transportation
•  Harnessing the power of data to create connected and resilient mobility ecosystems
•  Reducing environmental impact through low-carbon and renewable energy solutions

Shortlisted cities will be invited to attend a capacity building academy in the US and will receive support developing their challenge design, becoming part of a wider network of other innovative city teams.

In February 2024, three winning cities will be selected to host a City Challenge to attract entries from global innovators. Innovators could be homegrown – living in the city or country chosen – or may be from anywhere across the globe, but with solutions applicable and adapted to the winning cities.

The winning innovators for each city will be announced in late 2024, and the cities and innovators will share $9 million in funding to test and roll out their solutions.

Increase mobility solutions for a more sustainable future

Many cities are now adapting to new behaviors and lifestyles, as our lives move increasingly online, and patterns of work change. With more than half of the world’s population currently living in cities, the United Nations predicts this will increase to two-thirds by 2050. Additionally, cities are responsible for 70% of global greenhouse gas emissions.

The Sustainable Cities Challenge is funded by the Toyota Mobility Foundation and has been designed in partnership with Challenge Works and World Resources Institute. Challenge Works is an international leader in developing challenge programs to drive new thinking and find creative solutions to problems facing society. World Resources Institute is a global research organization which works with partners to develop practical solutions that improve people’s lives and ensure that nature can thrive.

Kathy Nothstine, Head of Future Cities at Challenge Works, said: “Brilliant people all over the world are working hard to create innovative solutions to help mobility systems work better, and with a lower carbon footprint. The Sustainable Cities Challenge will help those innovators interface with cities to test and adapt solutions according to local needs to improve people’s lives. Challenges like this can act as catalysts for change by accelerating innovation in real world settings.”

In addition to helping cities decarbonize, transforming mobility systems will help cities become more inclusive and accessible for the people living in them. Currently, 1.2 billion people living in cities do not have access to one or more core services.

Ben Welle, Director of Integrated Transport and Innovation at World Resources Institute’s Ross Center for Sustainable Cities, said: “Cities are in need of innovations to foster sustainable mobility that reduces emissions, improves health, and increases access to jobs and opportunity for all. The Sustainable Cities Challenge is an excellent opportunity for cities globally to build capacity and support innovators to work hand in hand with officials.”
To find out more and to enter, visit the Sustainable Cities Challenge website.

Designed By Gameplan Creative, New Look Will be Featured in SlamBall League: Series 6 this Summer in Las Vegas

Las Vegas, NV and Chicago, IL (June 23, 2023) – SlamBall, the fast-paced, gravity-defying sport that combines elements of basketball, football, hockey and trampolines, today unveiled “SlamMan,” their new logo in advance of the upcoming relaunch with SlamBall League: Series 6.

The logo and color scheme were designed by Gameplan Creative, the Chicago-based branding team that has been instrumental in creating designs for a host of teams, leagues and organizations, including the WNBA and eight of its teams and the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame. The league logo will appear with all other creative going forward.

“We are honored to be able to work with Tom O’Grady, Brigitte Smith, Pat Aguilar and the team at Gameplan Creative to deliver this new look in advance of our training camp and return to play season,” said Mason Gordon, SlamBall co-founder and CEO. “Tom has overseen some of the most well respected and distinctive looks in our industry, especially those in and around the NBA and the WNBA, and the input and attention to detail of his team was outstanding. We welcome SlamMan to the family.”

The new SlamBall logo process focused on the slam dunk player silhouette placed within the parallelogram shapes, evocative of the sport’s signature tramps (springbeds). The new black and gold color scheme is a modern incarnation that reflects the power, speed and creativity of the sport.

“Having an opportunity to design a league logo, brand individual teams, and create uniform designs is like winning the lottery in the creative world – beyond that, having that opportunity with the transcendent sport of SlamBall – it’s truly out of this world!,” said Brigitte Smith, Creative Director at Gameplan Creative, who oversaw most of the work on the logo. “I believe what we have created is a reflection of what the brand truly is – a powerful sport taken to great heights. The design of the logo exhibits the power of a SlamBall player as well as the majestic caliber of height displayed when flying 15 feet midair.

SlamBall recently announced an exclusive, two-year national broadcast partnership with ESPN for the 2023 and 2024 seasons. The partnership begins on Opening Night, as SlamBall relaunches live from Las Vegas on July 21 from 7-9 p.m. EDT. ESPN, ESPN2 and ESPN+ will combine to air more than 30 hours of live SlamBall programming across five weekends, culminating August 17-19 with the SlamBall Playoffs and SlamBall Championship Game. All games will be played at Cox Pavilion in Las Vegas, with ticket sales beginning on June 28.

LONDON | New Delhi, 23rd June 2023: Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) BSE: 532540, NSE: TCS) and Nest, UK’s largest workplace pension scheme, announced the expansion of their long-standing partnership to focus on digitally transforming Nest’s scheme administration services, delivering enhanced member experiences and furthering the scheme’s mission of delivering better retirement outcomes for people across the UK.

Nest and TCS have worked closely since 2011 when the digital, auto-enrolment pension scheme was first launched. Responsible for end-to-end administration services across all aspects of the scheme, TCS built a greenfield operation with a user-friendly, multi-channel, self-serve model, and a robust core that easily scaled as Nest became the provider for millions of workers saving for their retirements.

As part of the partnership, TCS will help Nest transform the administration services using a future-ready, digitally enabled, omnichannel platform powered by TCS BaNCS™. Its digital-first architecture provides APIs to enable easy integration with ecosystem partners, such as payroll providers and fintechs. It will leverage the latest technologies and data analytics to deliver personalized, self-directed experiences to members. This will enable Nest’s 12 million members and 1 million employers to access the right information at the right time, in the way that suits them best.

“I’m looking forward to continuing our journey with TCS and exploring the opportunities ahead of us. We have a strong foundation after many years of working together and they’ve proven their ability to deliver successfully for a scheme the size and complexity of Nest. This puts us in an excellent position to further advance our operations and build a truly digital offering that delivers a superior customer experience long into the future,” said Gavin Perera-Betts, Chief Customer Officer, Nest. “The interests of our members are always our top priority and drive every decision we make and we’re rightly ambitious about what we can achieve for them. I’m confident that our partnership with TCS will enable us to develop our world class service to further support millions to enjoy a better retirement.”

“The purpose-driven partnership between Nest and TCS resulted in an immensely successful pension plan for the UK workforce, that is now a global benchmark on how an innovative, user-friendly, auto enrolment pension scheme should be run,” said Vivekanand Ramgopal, President, BFSI Products & Platforms, TCS. “We are delighted to further expand this long-standing partnership with Nest and support them in pushing the boundaries in offering compelling omnichannel member experiences to the new generation of workers entering the workplace. We are looking forward to leveraging our contextual knowledge, technology expertise and proven platform to help Nest realise our shared vision for the future.”

TCS BFSI Platforms is an end-to-end digital ecosystem that powers the journeys of life, pensions/annuities, property/casualty, and health insurance providers. This SaaS-first platform helps companies manage enterprise simplification, deliver superior customer experience, and achieve digital transformation.

National Diaper Bank Network’s recent findings show nearly half of U.S. families with young children struggle to afford diapers.

(St. Louis, Mo., June 23, 2023) — Research recently released by the National Diaper Bank Network (NDBN) reports that 47% of U.S. families with young children struggle to afford diapers. At a local level, the St. Louis Area Diaper Bank reveals it has seen a 25% increase in diaper distribution – approximately 300,000 diapers each year – since 2020.

St. Louis Area Diaper Bank is a member of the NDBN and its sister organization Alliance for Period Supplies, a nationwide nonprofit dedicated to eliminating diaper need and “period poverty” in America. This year the St. Louis Area Diaper Bank – through a network of 70 community organizations, educational and health partners serving low-income families – will distribute 4.1 million diapers to more than 70,000 families in the St. Louis region. Last year the nonprofit distributed 3.3 million diapers in St. Louis.

The NDBN Diaper Check 2023: Diaper Insecurity among U.S. Children and Families is a nationally representative study commissioned by the NDBN. Major findings include:

• A significant increase of 14 percentage points in diaper need since the first study was conducted in 2010.
• Diaper need intersects with food insecurity, and 28% of respondents who reported diaper need said they skipped meals so they could afford more diapers.
• 70% of the respondents reported they were stressed or anxious about their responsibilities as a parent or caregiver. 53% said they felt judged because they could not afford diapers.
• One in four (25%) of parents and caregivers with diaper need reported having to miss work or school because they did not have enough diapers to drop their child off at childcare. They also reported missing an average of 5.1 workdays in the past 30 days, which represents a loss of $296 per month for a parent earning the federal minimum wage of $7.25 per hour.

“This national study solidifies what we are feeling firsthand in our community,” said St. Louis Area Diaper Bank Executive Director Muriel Smith. “It’s time to realize that we are in a public health crisis, one that causes harm to our children and their families. We as a nation must do better to support those who need our help.”

Founded in 2014, the St. Louis Area Diaper Bank provides diaper and period supply access to the region’s low-income families, as well as raises community awareness about the causes and consequences of diaper need and period poverty. For more information, call (314) 624-0888 or visit their website.

SAYA Group will invest Rs2000 + crores to develop & deliver India’s tallest mall, Saya Status, on Noida Expressway. The project spans approx. 1.4 million sq. ft. consists of 9 floors of stunning vertical development and is fully paid-up land.

The development boasts of innovative design and architectural values, offering a range of luxury amenities. It is expected to set new benchmarks in the retail industry and provide a fresh experience to customers. The construction of the project is in full swing, with the mall set to open its doors to visitors in 2025. It has been designed by the globally renowned architectural firm DP Architects, based in Singapore, The brain behind Dubai Mall.

“We are committed to developing Saya Status, India’s tallest mall, into one of the country’s iconic commercial spaces. For this, the company is investing Rs.2000 + crores in the project. SAYA Group is known for its quality construction and timely delivery, which has helped us create a name for ourselves in the real estate industry. We aim to continue delivering excellence with Saya Status. This project is a testament to our passion for innovation and excellence. We are confident that it will set new standards in the retail industry,” Vikas Bhasin, Chairman & Managing Director of Saya Group, said.

This project is expected to set new benchmarks in the retail industry and provide a fresh experience to customers—the launch of the project witnessed participation by thousands of audiences. Saya Group has a track record of delivering quality constructions, prime locations, and timely delivery, which has earned it a name in the real estate industry. The company’s commitment to quality is evident in its completed residential projects, including Saya Gold Avenue, Desire Residency, and Saya Zenith.

Saya Group also has other exciting projects in the pipeline, including Saya Piazza in Jaypee Wish Town and Saya South X in Greater Noida West. Saya Piazza is a premium retail arcade strategically located with a catchment area of over 50,000 families. On the other hand, Saya South X will elevate the retail experience with Premium Business Suites with a diverse selection of luxury brands set against tasteful landscaping. It is located in a bustling and growing neighbourhood with an active community of over 5 lakh residents.

With Saya Status, Saya Group is looking to set new standards in the retail industry and provide an unmatched shopping experience in India. The project promises to offer a perfect blend of style, luxury, and convenience that will leave shoppers impressed.

CHICAGO,23rd June 2023-– The Future Fund LLC, an SEC-registered investment advisor led by Gary Black and David Kalis, announced today the launch of the Future Fund Long/ Short ETF (NYSE: FFLS) on the New York Stock Exchange effective June 21, 2023.

FFLS is a high-conviction, risk-managed long/short strategy that provides the potential to capitalize on key megatrends driving the economy. Portfolio managers Black and Kalis bring decades of investment experience to the Fund and use a deep fundamental research process to select concentrated investments that may profit from emerging technological or social trends and developments. One of only a handful of fundamental-driven long/short ETFs, FFLS fills a gap in the investment marketplace and provides a unique opportunity to invest in a hedged portfolio of leading secular growth companies ideal for today’s choppier economic environment.

“Global forces are impacting businesses, economies, and individuals, and unleashing macro trends that will produce both winners and losers – transformative companies that will capitalize on these trends, and companies that will fail to adopt and be unable to keep up with the leaders,” said Mr. Black. “We believe our deep fundamental research gives us early insight into both long and short opportunities.”

The Future Fund has identified 10 megatrends that have the potential to reshape the structure of industry, including social networking, mobility, e-commerce, AI and automation, big data and security, people living longer, fintech, lifestyle betterment, 24/7 information and entertainment, and climate sustainability. The portfolio managers believe these are the key drivers to long-term secular growth opportunities in the global market.

“Our investment process recognizes the disruptive innovation that is reshaping the economy, and it identifies the transformative companies that will displace legacy industry incumbents in several key sectors,” said Kalis. “We’re looking for companies that will change the world across multiple industries and we believe they will have strong tailwinds for investors.”

As Managing Partner of The Future Fund LLC, Black has extensive experience spanning nearly 30 years in top management positions at some of the most well-respected global investment management firms. As CEO of Aegon Asset Management U.S., he oversaw $120 billion in assets. In 2009, Black launched and managed Black Capital, a top-performing fundamental-based global long/short equity firm. The firm was acquired in 2012 by Calamos Investments, where Black became Global Co-Chief Investment Officer. At Janus Capital Group, he was named CEO in 2006 at age 45 after turning around investment performance as CIO and growing net flows to +$2 billion/year from -$29 billion in outflows in 2004 after the tech bubble burst, market timing charges, and the departure of Janus’ founder and CEO. Prior to Janus, Black was Chief Investment Officer of Equities and a partner at Goldman Sachs Asset Management. Black has an MBA from Harvard Business School and a BS in Economics from The Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania.

As Partner and co-founder of The Future Fund LLC, Kalis has more than 25 years of experience managing small- and mid-cap growth portfolios and leading investment research teams. Prior to the Future Fund, he founded Curvature Capital Management, LLC, a long/short equity hedge partnership focused on catalyst-driven global equities. Performance for the firm ranked in the top decile of long/short equity hedge funds. At Calamos, Kalis led Growth Equity Strategies responsible for $6 billion in assets in mutual funds, and institutional and separately managed strategies. He also founded and managed another long/short hedge fund partnership, Charis Capital Management LLC, focused on SMID-cap equities. He also worked for Northern Trust Asset Management and Segall Bryant & Hamill. Kalis is a Chartered Financial Analyst, awarded in 1994, and a member of the CFA Society of Chicago. He received a BA in Economics from the University of Michigan.

FFLS is The Future Fund’s second exchange-traded fund. The Future Fund Active ETF (FFND) launched in August 2021.

Chennai, 23rd June 2023: LGT Wealth India, a private wealth management company and part of the LGT Group, continues to build an experienced team of wealth management specialists with the appointment of Chirag Doshi as the Chief Investment Officer – Fixed Income and Abhishek Modi, who joins as Director- Portfolio Management. Both Chirag Doshi and Abhishek Modi join LGT from Credit Suisse, India.

Chirag Doshi brings with him over two decades of rich experience in fixed-income markets, specialising in instruments like bonds, government securities, high-yield credits, and structured products. His primary focus at LGT Wealth India will be to spearhead overall fixed income investments and build debt PMS strategies. Chirag will report to Rajesh Cheruvu, Managing Director & Chief Investment Officer at LGT Wealth India.

Abhishek Modi, who will be reporting to Chirag, has been entrusted with the responsibility of fortifying and strategically managing investment portfolios. With 15 years of experience in the Indian Equity and Debt Markets, his proficiency lies in developing and implementing investment strategies based on macroeconomic trends.

Speaking on the appointments, Atul Singh, Managing Director & Chief Executive Officer at LGT Wealth India said, “We are delighted by these appointments, as they exemplify our commitment to expanding and further strengthening our existing wealth management portfolio for HNI Indian families. These inclusions to our already tenured product & research team will significantly bolster our asset management capabilities and initiatives, further solidifying our commitment to providing a comprehensive suite of financial solutions and exceptional value to our clients. We are resolute in our mission to cater to their diverse financial needs through a wide range of services.

Additionally, Rajesh Cheruvu, Managing Director & Chief Investment Officer at LGT Wealth India commented, “Chirag and Abhishek both possess extensive knowledge and expertise in fixed-income markets, including investment strategy formulation, bond ideation, active portfolio management, and corporate treasury management. Their profound understanding and experience will greatly contribute to our firm’s capabilities in these areas. In the near future, we have plans to introduce our Debt Portfolio Management Services (PMS) and Corporate Treasury services. The inclusion of these new hires will play a vital role in fortifying and enhancing our forthcoming offerings.

LGT Wealth India employs more than 200 staff and has a presence in 14 cities across India. With LGT Wealth India being able to attract the right talent, it is surely gaining a foothold in the Indian wealth management market and can be seen as a key player in the Indian wealth management landscape in the coming years

Bangalore: Pidilite Industries Ltd, a leading manufacturer of construction and specialty chemicals, announced the launch of its state-of-the-art manufacturing facilities under its two joint ventures, Pidilite Litokol Pvt Ltd (PLPL) and Tenax Pidilite Pvt Ltd (TPPL), in Amod, Gujarat. Litokol SPA Italy and Tenax SPA Italy have transferred technology to Pidilite as part of the Joint Venture. This event signifies a milestone development in technology transfer in India’s stone and ceramic solutions industry.

Tenax offers some of the best product solutions for the installation and upkeep of marble and granite stones. These products provide a seamless finish and long-lasting luster and shine to marble and granite. Litokol’s Starlike range of quartz-based technology epoxy grouts are stain proof, nonabsorbent and highly suitable for both interior and exterior floor and wall applications, even in severe operating conditions.

Bharat Puri, Managing Director at Pidilite Industries Limited, said, “At Pidilite, we continuously strive to innovate and lead the way in all our categories and product offerings. Roff, our pioneering brand, is a true game-changer that aims to revolutionize the stone and tile fixing industry in India. The joint ventures with Tenax and Litokol reiterate our commitment to redefine industry standards and delivering world-class solutions. Given our robust distribution network and this global expertise, we will empower our customers with new age and long-lasting solutions. This partnership marks a significant milestone as we stride confidently towards a future of success. We congratulate the teams of Roff, Litokol, and Tenax for their outstanding efforts in making this journey possible.”

Igino Bombana, President, Tenax SPA said, “Our collaboration with Pidilite signifies a momentous leap in the Indian stone solutions industry. By introducing cutting-edge technology, we are revolutionizing the market, enhancing natural stone surfaces, and elevating the aesthetics and durability of consumer spaces. Our aim is to provide high-quality products that truly transform and enhance the beauty of every space.”

Fabio Plazzi, Managing Director & Chief Financial Officer, Litokol, said, “We are excited to join forces with Pidilite to introduce game-changing tile grouts in the Indian market. Our partnership brings technology and innovative solutions that offer enhanced durability, aesthetics, and ease of use, raising the bar for tile installations in the Indian market.”

The new manufacturing units are spread over an area of 27000 sq ft for Litokol & 21000 sq ft for Tenax respectively and are fully automated. With this technology transfer to the joint ventures, Pidilite will be leveraging its distribution network to market & sell epoxy, urethane grout and certain epoxy adhesives for tile application in case of Pidilite Litokol Private Limited and stone care range products in case of Tenax Pidilite India Private Limited.

With advanced technology and strategic partnerships, Pidilite is poised to redefine the industry landscape and offer customers world class products.

Kolkata, 23rd June 2023: A grand celebration of the Malhar (Torrential Rain) Season on the 2nd of July, 2023, with the only form of music and art that can capture the extremes and tempestuous nature of a thundering monsoon season: Raag Malhar in thrilling Hindustani Vocals and a magnificent Kathak performance.

The Kathak performance will be done by Shinjini Kulkarni, the granddaughter of Padma Vibhushan Pt. Birju Maharaj-ji. The Hindustani Vocals will be sung by Pt. Deepak Kumar Mishra and Pt. Prakash Mishra, 13th generation descendants of the Benaras Gharana.

This event is being organized by the Pt. Bundi Maharaj Sangeet Vidyapeeth was established in 1970. Since its inception, the Vidyapeeth has been devoted to cultivating and nurturing this ancient and divine form of Indian Music through shows and intensive workshops.

The two-hour classical event will be held at GD Birla Sabhagar and aims to reignite the passion for Indian classical art forms amongst the people, by showing them the most captivating, stimulating, and exhilarating high-paced Indian Classical performances, done by people who have dedicated decades of their lives, mastering the craft, each and every day.

As with every show, the purpose is also to pay tribute to the ones who came before and kept the art alive by passing it down through the Guru Shishya parampara.

Jabalpur, 23rd June 2023: The International Yoga Day brought by the Ministry of Ayush at Jabalpur saw participation of thousands of enthusiastic participants practicing yoga followed by Heartfulness Meditation at Garrison Ground in Jabalpur early morning. The yoga fest also coincided with Heartfulness’s and Madhya Pradesh’s Jan Abhiyan Parishad’s Ekatm Abhiyan reaching 42,000 villages and 1.13 crore people in the state taking yoga and meditation to every village and teaching life skills. Rev. Daaji – Spiritual Guide of Heartfulness and President of Shri Ram Chandra Mission and Padma Bhushan Awardee was invited as the Guest of Honour to bless the event and be felicitated by His Excellency Shri Jagdeep Dhankar – Hon’ble Vice President of India and Shri Shivraj Singh Chauhan – Hon’ble Chief Minister of Madhya Pradesh for guiding the largest Yoga and Dhyan outreach program in the world.

Chief Guest Shri Jagdeep Dhankhar, Hon’ble Vice-President of India; and Guests of Honour Shri Mangubhai Chhaganbhai Patel, Hon’ble Governor of Madhya Pradesh; Shri Shivraj Singh Chauhan ji – Hon’ble Chief Minister of Madhya Pradesh and Rev. Daaji – Spiritual Guide of Heartfulness and President of Shri Ram Chandra Mission apart from Shri Ravi Mali Math, Hon’ble Chief Justice, High Court; Shri Sarbananda Sonowal, Hon’ble Union Minister of Ayush and Ports, Shipping & Waterways; Dr. Munjpara Mahendrabhai, Hon’ble MoS for Ayush and Ports, Shipping and Waterways; Shri Prahlad Singh Patel, Hon’ble MoS for Jal Shakti and Food Processing Industries; Shri Gopal Bhargav, Hon’ble Minister for Public Works Department and Cottage & Rural Industries, Govt. of MP; Shri Ram Kishore (Nano) Kawre, Hon’ble Minister for Ayush & Water Resources, Govt. of MP; Shri Inder Singh Parmar, Hon’ble MoS for School Education & General Administration, Govt. of MP; Shri V. D. Sharma, Hon’ble MP (Khajuraho Constituency; Shri Rakesh Singh, Hon’ble MP (Jabalpur Constituency); and Shri Vivek Tankha, Hon’ble MP (Jabalpur Constituency) graced the occasion with profound thoughts on the importance and relevance of yoga.

Rev. Daaji – Guide of Heartfulness, President of Shri Ram Chandra Mission and Padma Bhushan awardee said, “We are very touched by the initiative by the Ministry of AYUSH to bring the country together on International Yoga Day especially when it also coincides with the Ekatm Abhiyan being led by Heartfulness and Jan Shakti Abhiyan jointly to touch one crore lives in Madhya Pradesh state – taking yoga and meditation to every village and every door and empowering youth with mind-sharpening faculties. A sound health is necessary to reach the equilibrium of mind and only through the right frame of mind we can build the nation. We pray that India continues to be the beacon of holistic wellness as our Hon’ble Prime Minister is also taking the message of yoga today during his visit to the United States. But most importantly each of us has to be motivated and make yoga part of our daily lives.”

Hon’ble Chief Minister of Madhya Pradesh Shri Shivraj Singh Chauhan ji said, “We all should you do Yoga every day. Our Hon’ble Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi is an ardent yoga follower and carrying the message of yoga during his current visit to the United States. When he can find time from his busy schedule for daily yoga, we as responsible citizens must follow suit devoting time for yoga in our daily lives. Schools will have mandatory yoga in MP. Yoga is not associated with any religion, it is meant for the overall wellness for humanity. There is no bigger asset than good health – with all my gratitude to our great sage Patanjali who passed down the knowledge of Yoga. Only through good health and high energy levels can we contribute to the country’s progress.”

Recently Heartfulness in association with Jan Abhiyaan Parishad successfully had launched a campaign called ‘Ekatm Abhiyaan’ – Har Dil Dyhan, Har Din Dhyan with the aim to introduce Heartfulness yoga and meditation practices, life skills program free of cost to over one crore residents of Madhya Pradesh that began on 4th May 2023 to 21 June 2023. The mission has touched 42,000 villages, 52 districts, 370 blocks; and touched over 1.13 crore people, trained over 14 lacs master trainers involving over 8000 volunteers under the keen guidance of Rev. Daaji – Spiritual Guide of Heartfulness, President of Shri Ram Chandra Mission and Padma Bhushan awardee.

The target audience of the programme includes students from schools and colleges, doctors and healthcare professionals at village and district levels, Government employees in various departments and partner institutions. Maximum residents of 52000 villages of Madhya Pradesh across 52 district headquarters and 133 blocks headquarters in the state were slated for participation in the programme.

Both Heartfulness and Jan Abhiyan Parishad are taking the efforts for mass awareness about Yoga, Mudra, Asana, Pranayama in all village panchayat and villages of Madhya Pradesh. The aim of “EKATM ABHIYAAN is to connect with self through yoga and meditation and establish the concept of unity, social harmony, good health and freedom from stress, yoga as a lifestyle at the village level. Also, Heartfulness’s Brighter Minds programme is being brought to every village for young students.

Earlier in the past too Madhya Pradesh Government joined hands with Heartfulness as has been witnessed in their joint Afforestation activities, Empowering Individuals, Enriching Communities and deaddiction drives among others.

Trainers/ volunteers of Heartfulness institute are coming from various parts of India and overseas to conduct these sessions at various villages. For each village three sessions are being conducted by Heartfulness trainers and volunteers.

About Heartfulness: Heartfulness offers a simple set of meditative practices and lifestyle changes, first developed at the turn of the twentieth century and formalized into teaching through Shri Ram Chandra Mission in 1945 in India with a goal to bring peace, happiness and wisdom to one heart at a time. These practices are a modern form of Yoga designed to support contentment, inner calm, and stillness, compassion, courage, and clarity of thought, as the first step towards a purposeful life. They are simple and easily adopted and are appropriate for people from all walks of life, cultures, religious beliefs, and economic situations, who are over the age of fifteen. Ongoing training in Heartfulness practices is going on at thousands of schools and colleges, and over 100,000 professionals are meditating in corporations, non-governmental, and government bodies worldwide. More than 5,000 Heartfulness Centers are supported by many thousands of certified volunteer trainers and millions of practitioners in 160 countries.