Archives December 2024

A village in Karnataka, once troubled by waterlogging, now enjoys safety, stability, and hope due to NMDC’s dedicated efforts in improving infrastructure

Karnataka: Located near the entrance to Donimalai Township, Bhujanganagar, a small village in Sandur Taluk of Bellary District, Karnataka, has undergone a remarkable transformation of better infrastructure with the financial assistance provided by NMDC. The village, conveniently connected by an all-weather road, once struggled with severe waterlogging due to its outdated drainage system. Despite some internal roads being in good condition, the open and un-embanked drains frequently overflowed during the rainy season, disrupting daily life and damaging homes.

The relentless monsoon rains were challenging for Ms. Pundi Omkarappa and her family. Each year, the deluge would invade their homes, leaving behind a trail of destruction. “It felt like we were battling nature itself,” shared one of the residents.

In July 2024, the situation worsened as stagnant water became a breeding ground for mosquitoes, leading to a surge in vector-borne diseases like malaria and dengue. Approximately 5 to 10 villagers fell ill and required hospitalization, prompting the Bhujanganagar Panchayat to urgently request fogging and spraying of insecticides. Recognizing the severity of the issue, NMDC provided financial assistance for a long-term solution: the construction of RCC drains to effectively address waterlogging.

Of the INR.2.58 Crore allocated for village development, a significant portion of INR.22 Lakhs was invested in constructing 440 meters of crucial drainage and road infrastructure across two key sites. This timely project, completed on schedule, marks a substantial step towards improving the community’s quality of life.

Today, Bhujanganagar stands transformed. The smiles of its residents, particularly the women, reflect the relief brought by this initiative. The improved drainage system has eradicated waterlogging in key areas, providing a new sense of security and stability. During the heavy rains brought by Cyclone Fengal on December 2, 2024, the village experienced no flooding for the first time.

“The continuous rain throughout the night didn’t cause any waterlogging this time,” shared Pundi Omkarappa, a resident who had endured years of suffering due to the village’s inadequate drainage system. “Our homes remained safe and dry.”

The benefits go beyond just fixing the waterlogging. Families now live without the constant fear of diseases like malaria. With fewer mosquitoes, people can sleep peacefully at night.

NMDC’s earlier efforts also helped build proper roads in the village. Before this, the roads were just dirt paths with gravel and bushes, making travel dangerous and slow. The new tarred road now connects Bhujanganagar to Sandur, Donimalai, and other nearby areas, helping both residents and local businesses. With focused efforts and community collaboration, NMDC’s contributions serves as a powerful reminder of how targeted interventions can bring lasting change to even the most vulnerable communities

After Santa Claus – Code Name: RED ONE – is kidnapped, the North Pole’s Head of Security (Dwayne Johnson) must team up with the world’s most infamous bounty hunter (Chris Evans) in a globe-trotting, action-packed mission to save Christmas.

Directed by | Jake Kasdan

Story by | Hiram Garcia

Screenplay by | Chris Morgan

Produced by | Seven Bucks Productions’ Hiram Garcia, p.g.a., Dwayne Johnson, p.g.a., and Dany Garcia; Chris Morgan Productions’ Chris Morgan, p.g.a.; The Detective Agency’s Jake Kasdan p.g.a and Melvin Mar

Starring | Dwayne Johnson, Chris Evans, Lucy Liu, Kiernan Shipka, Bonnie Hunt, Kristofer Hivju, Nick Kroll, Wesley Kimmel and J.K. Simmons

Run Time | 2 hours 2 minutes

Rating | PG – 13

December 10th, 2024: JSW Paints, the country’s leading environment-friendly paints company and a part of the US$ 24 billion JSW Group, encapsulates the power of transformation through paint in its latest digital film.

Titled ‘Room of Hope’ and conceptualized by TBWA\India, the film brings to life the journey of an orphanage that, with the help of vibrant colours, turns an empty, lifeless room into a beautiful homestay filled with promise and opportunity. The campaign has been launched across all digital platforms on Monday, December 9th

Capturing heart-warming stories of how acts of thoughtfulness can spark transformation – this film poignantly portrays the struggles of an orphanage striving to provide for its children while balancing limited resources. It explores how a simple idea of repurposing an unused room becomes a beacon of hope. With a fresh coat of JSW Paints playing the catalyst of positive change, the room is transformed into a warm and welcoming homestay.

The film eloquently conveys JSW Paints’ brand philosophy of delivering beautiful messages, showcasing how a simple transformation can empower people to create opportunities for a better future.

Commenting on the new campaign, Mr. A S Sundaresan, Joint MD and CEO of JSW Paints said “A single act of transformation can spark endless possibilities. At JSW Paints, we believe in creating beauty through our products as well as through the stories we tell. This film reflects our philosophy of delivering beautiful messages and showing how thoughtful action can bring about positive transformation to create a better world.”

Mr. Ashish Rai, Chief Business Officer of JSW Paints, added “Extending our commitment beyond paints, we aim to create a positive impact on communities by unlocking the transformative power of colour. The ‘Room of Hope’ celebrates the resilience and vision of people who strive to make a difference, aligning with our values of fostering beauty and opportunity in every space we touch.”

Govind Pandey, CEO, TBWA\India said, “A thought is beautiful when it makes new possibilities come to life. JSW Paints believes in the power of ‘Khoobsoorat Soch’ to create these new possibilities that make an impact on our homes and lives.”

According to Russell Barrett, CCExpO, TBWA\India, “There are so many people doing such amazing work all around us. In this film JSW Paints demonstrates how a beautiful thought can help those very people who have dedicated their lives to making the world a more beautiful place.”

With its heart-warming narrative, ‘Room of Hope’ serves as a testament to the brand’s commitment to creating beauty in spaces while fostering opportunities for growth and community well-being.

December 10th, 2024: Social Beat and uppercase announced today that their collaborative campaign, ‘Tested By Nature,’ received the highly acclaimed ‘Made Us Look’ award at Spotify Hits 2024. The campaign’s innovative use of Spotify’s Video Sponsored Sessions stood out for its ability to connect with audiences in an impactful, efficient, and creative manner.

Commenting on the success of the campaign, Sudip Ghose, Founder and CEO at uppercase, said: “We aim to inspire environmentally conscious travelers, offering luggage that blends sustainability with quality and style. Winning the ‘Made Us Look’ award validates our commitment to innovation and storytelling. Social Beat has been a great partner, helping us deliver a campaign that speaks directly to our audience and aligns with our brand’s values”

Vikas Chawla, Co-Founder of Social Beat, added: “We’re thrilled to see the ‘Tested By Nature’ campaign for uppercase achieve such incredible results. This recognition is a testament to our data-driven creativity and collaborative approach to develop impactful, effective campaigns. Spotify’s unique ad formats enabled us to deliver a seamless, engaging experience for users while driving measurable impact for the brand.”

Campaign Highlights:

● Achieved 100% higher Click-Through Rates (CTR) compared to other leading video streaming platforms.
● Delivered a 2X increase in Views to Sessions ratio, enhancing audience engagement and campaign efficacy.
● Leveraged Video Sponsored Sessions to create an immersive brand experience, delivering the message in a time and space that truly resonated with the audience.
● Seamlessly integrated compelling storytelling, eco-friendly materials, and stylish design to amplify the brand narrative.

The ‘Tested by Nature’ campaign underscores Social Beat’s expertise in leveraging cutting-edge platforms like Spotify to craft memorable brand experiences.

About Social Beat:

Founded in 2012, Social Beat is a digital growth partner, enabling brands to rise to the impossible. They drive business outcomes with a 300+ strong team of digital experts across Bengaluru, Mumbai, NCR, and Chennai. They are India’s fastest-growing independent digital marketing solutions company and manage 4% of digital media investment in India. Social Beat is a Google Premier Partner, and Meta Business Partner and works closely with ecosystem partners like Amazon, Hotstar, Salesforce & LinkedIn. D2Scale is their center of excellence for commerce & omni channels brands to drive growth via D2C & Marketplaces. Influencer.in is their creator economy product driving discovery and real-time reporting of impactful influencer marketing campaigns. They work as extended growth teams with leading brands like Bharat Matrimony, Adani Wilmar, Jaquar, Indian Terrain, Samsonite, Mankind Pharma, Kalpataru Group, Go Colors, Mahindra Finance, JK Cement, Sundaram Mutual, Khazana Jewellery and with hyperscaling startups including boAt, Niyo, Gamezy, A23 Games, EaseMyTrip, Kapiva, Drools and Sukoon Health on driving business outcomes through a combination of creativity and performance.

December 10, 2024: IRB Infrastructure Developers Ltd and IRB Infrastructure Trust (Private InvIT) have collectively reported strong Y-o-Y growth of 23% in toll collection for November 2024.

The aggregate toll collection for the month under review is Rs. 5,359Mn (Rs. 536 Crs), as against Rs. 4,370 Mn (Rs.437 Crs) in the corresponding month of FY24, i.e., November 2023.

Commenting on the occasion, Shri Amitabh Murarka, Dy CEO of the Company said, “The monthly toll collection has demonstrated impressive growth. Looking ahead, we anticipate this upward trajectory to continue, driven by the year-end festive and holiday season, which typically boosts travel and economic activity. With improving economic indicators, we remain optimistic that strong toll collections will sustain in the coming month”

The toll collection details Project and SPV wise are as follows:

December 10, 2024: Supriya Lifescience Ltd., a global pharmaceutical industry leader, achieved two significant milestones, strengthening its position in international markets. The company has acquired approval from Brazil’s health authority, ANVISA (Agência Nacional de Vigilância Sanitária), for Esketamine Hydrochloride, which is a major step in growing its product range in Brazil and the rest of LATAM. Supriya Lifescience is the first firm in Brazil to have received regulatory permission for this highly specialized pharmaceutical.

Esketamine hydrochloride is a vital drug to be used for treating mental illness and is likely to significantly impact the LATAM market. This approval will enable the company to provide state-of-the-art, high-quality healthcare solutions in a market where demand for novel, reasonably priced drugs is growing.

Moreover, the business submitted a ground-breaking patent application for an enhanced, low-cost method of atorvastatin synthesis. This ground-breaking technique makes drugs more affordable for patients by increasing their efficacy while reducing production costs. Global healthcare relies heavily on atorvastatin, a key treatment for controlling cholesterol and preventing cardiovascular disease, and this achievement shows Supriya’s dedication to drug cost and raising accessibility.

Dr. Satish Wagh, Executive Chairman and Whole Time Director, Supriya Lifescience Ltd. stated, “Our commitment to transforming pharmaceutical manufacturing while maintaining affordability is demonstrated by our invention in the synthesis of atorvastatin. Our global presence is strengthened by the CADIFA approval, which also allows us to introduce cutting-edge therapies like Esketamine Hydrochloride in important foreign countries, starting with Brazil.”

With CADIFA approval in place, Supriya Lifescience is now ready to tap into the fast- growing LATAM market. The company’s continued focus on innovation, regulatory compliance, and its mission to make high-quality healthcare accessible globally positions it as a key player in the international pharmaceutical landscape

Hyderabad, December 10, 2024.: Aashirwad Saxena from Telangana wins bronze medal at the just concluded National Cycling Championship 2024 held at Puri Orissa. The Cycling Federation of India organised the championship.

Aashirward Saxena is the most promising professional bicyclist from Hyderabad and won many championships at various levels in the past

The Road Nationals were held for Elite, Junior, Sub-Junior and Youth categories for male and female cyclists. Road racing cyclists who are selected by the State Trials got a chance to represent their states at the Nationals. The Events comprise of mass start road race, individual time trials, team time trials and criteriums.

If there is any cyclist out there, who would like to race these nationals, get in touch with your state representative and you will be instructed on how to apply for a CFI racing licence. And also informed of the dates for when the state championships will be held.

10th December 2024 – Fin One, the digital initiative of Angel One (NSE: ANGELONE; BSE: 543235) released a comprehensive report “India’s Financial Outlook 2024 by Fin One” exploring Gender, Age, and Tier-Based Financial Behaviours. The report reveals key trends in the savings and investment behaviours of Indians, based on data collected by Nielsen Media. The research offers a deep dive into how different demographics, regions and genders are approaching their financial futures, highlighting some striking disparities and insights that could reshape the way we think about financial planning.

Key Findings:

● High Savings in Tier 3 Cities: The report highlights that 42% of Tier 3 respondents save over 30% of their income, outperforming Tier 1 (35%) and Tier 2 (37%) cities in disciplined savings. This trend challenges the traditional notion of urban areas being more financially forward.
● South Zone Leads in Savings: In regional savings trends, 48% of respondents from the South save 20–30% of their income, outpacing other regions in disciplined financial planning.
● Younger Indians Prioritize Savings: Financial awareness is high among younger Indians, with 59% of 18–21-year-olds saving 20–30% of their income, compared to only 39% in the 22–25 age group. This shift underscores an early focus on building savings.
● Stocks as a Preferred Investment in Smaller Cities: Stocks are the preferred investment for 62% of Tier 3 respondents, surpassing 48% in Tier 2 and 31% in Tier 1. Awareness of stocks is also high in Tier 3, with 91% of respondents familiar with this investment option.
● Gender Differences in Financial Preferences: The report reveals a notable gender gap in investment choices, with 48% of men preferring stocks, compared to 39% of women. Women are 2.7 times more likely to prefer insurance investments (8%) than men (3%), reflecting a greater emphasis on long-term financial security among women. 48% of women are familiar with credit scores, compared to 31% of men.
● Digital Education for Women: Digital platforms, especially YouTube, are becoming essential for financial education, with 74% of women turning to YouTube for financial knowledge, compared to 59% of men.
● Challenges in Financial Literacy: Financial literacy remains an area for improvement, as 2 in 5 women report difficulty understanding taxation and investments, while 1 in 2 men find investments challenging. This underlines the need for enhanced financial education.
● Emergency Funds in Tier 1: Nearly 20% of Tier 1 respondents prioritize saving for emergency funds, a significantly higher rate than in Tier 2 (10%) and Tier 3 (10%), reflecting greater awareness of financial preparedness in urban areas.
● 72% of the 18-21 age group prefer stocks as an investment option, compared to 46% in the 22-25 age group, highlighting young adults’ preference for high-risk investments.
● Regional Investment Knowledge: Around 1 in 2 Tier 1 respondents are aware of bonds, compared to approximately 1 in 3 respondents in Tier 2 and Tier 3 focusing on the need for financial education.
● Family-focused financial trends: Tier 1 respondents are 3x more likely to manage household finances jointly compared to Tier 2 and Tier 3. Tier 3 respondents are nearly twice as likely to rely on their parents to manage their finances compared to those in other tiers.

“Fin One’s research sheds light on the shifting dynamics of India’s financial landscape. From surprising savings habits in Tier 3 cities to the increasing role of digital platforms in financial education, these insights offer valuable direction for both investors and policymakers,” said Paarth Dhar, Vice President, Angel One. “Our goal at Fin One is to empower Indians with insights, guiding them toward informed financial choices for a secure future.”

The previous report titled, Fin One: Young Indians’ Saving Habits Outlook 2024, brought forth evolving financial behaviours of Millennials and Gen Z across India, such as 93% of young Indians consistently saving, primarily setting aside 20-30% of their monthly income. Stocks and mutual funds are favoured, with 58% investing in stocks followed by 39% in mutual funds. Younger groups between the age of 18-21 show a strong preference for stocks and around 62% rely on YouTube for financial guidance, with family and friends as secondary sources. The report also mentioned that 71% of respondents feel financially literate.

10th Dec’24– Technomanya, India’s leading Smart Bus tech solutions platform, has announced its partnership with some of the most renowned schools, including Beacon High School, The Kalyani School, Dhole Patil School, Apex International School, DPS, and CP Goenka International School, to revolutionize student transportation safety through its state-of-the-art digital bus safety solutions.

In today’s fast-paced world, ensuring the safety of students during their daily commutes has become a paramount concern for parents and schools alike. Addressing this critical need, Technomanya’s advanced platform integrates real-time GPS tracking, live video surveillance, automated attendance systems, and safety alerts into a seamless, user-friendly solution. This ensures that parents and school administrators can monitor students’ journeys with ease and confidence

Speaking about the initiative, Rajeev Ranjan, Founder of Technomanya, said, “The safety of children is non-negotiable, and the journey between home and school is often fraught with risks that require proactive solutions. I introduced this platform because I saw an urgent need for innovation in school transportation. Our digital bus safety solution is designed to provide real-time insights and foster peace of mind for parents and schools. In today’s world, where technology shapes every aspect of our lives, it is crucial to leverage these advancements to address such fundamental concerns.”

The schools involved in this collaboration are enthusiastic about implementing the platform, which aligns with their mission to prioritize student safety while embracing technological advancements. This innovative solution not only enhances safety but also promotes operational efficiency by automating manual processes and reducing errors.
Parents can now receive instant notifications about their child’s boarding, deboarding, and any unexpected delays, offering them unparalleled assurance. The live tracking feature also ensures that the location of the school bus is always accessible, preventing unnecessary anxiety during commutes.

Technomanya’s partnership with these prestigious institutions marks a significant milestone in transforming school transportation systems. With a shared commitment to student safety and well-being, this collaboration sets a benchmark for schools across the country to adopt smarter, safer, and more transparent transportation practices.