All posts by Neel Achary

Bangalore, March 8, 2023: Emeritus, the global leader in making high-quality education accessible and affordable to individuals, companies, and governments worldwide, has announced a scholarship programme for young women through Vahani, an NGO dedicated to educating talented students from less privileged socio-economic backgrounds. Through this programme, INR 1 crore in scholarships will be provided to Vahani Alumnae to access Emeritus’ education programmes offered in partnership with world-class universities across technology, data analytics and digital marketing fields, as a gateway for women to enter into various industries of the economy.

According to the World Economic Forum, due to the lack of opportunities, 45% of women in India aged 15-29 years are not engaged in any education, employment, or training. This contrasts with only 6.5% of men. Access to upskilling and education programmes are critical to providing young women with the tools and skills to succeed in the workforce, opening up career and employment possibilities. Women’s education, training and upskilling is critical to the growth, society and economy of India as a whole. The increasing interest to undertake upskilling programmes to create future job opportunities is evident at Emeritus where over 40% of the learners across programmes are women and the company believes this number will continue to grow year-on-year.

Speaking about the scholarships for girl students, Ashwin Damera, Co-Founder and CEO, Emeritus said, “At Emeritus, we believe that education is transformational and we are on a mission to make it more accessible. We are proud to partner with Vahani, to help women across India learn new skills to unlock career opportunities and bridge gender gaps in skill training.”

The scholarship programme is an extension of Emeritus’ commitment to increasing access to education to marginalized and underserved communities. In 2021, Emeritus launched a partnership with Vahani which included individual scholarships and one-on-one mentorship for Vahani Alumni. Through this tie-up, Emeritus team members have been on boarded as Vahani Mentors, who provide one-on-one guidance to their mentees twice a month, thereby helping them choose better career paths.

Ms. Reeva Misra, Founder and Chairperson of Vahani Scholarship, started the NGO with a vision to create an India where the most gifted children could flourish, especially children from underserved socioeconomic backgrounds, religion or gender. Identifying a gap in the accessibility to quality higher education, Misra founded Vahani Scholarship to support the underserved. Vahani’ s mission is to build future leaders of change, fund the education of deserving women and children, and mentor and nurture them towards their holistic development. Vahani also conducts skill-building workshops, provides one-on-one mentorship, psychological counselling, English classes and assistance in procuring summer internships.

New Delhi, March 8th, 2023: KRAFTON Inc. today announced that it has signed a global publishing partnership with game developer Nirvanana for its upcoming game, codenamed ZETA, a character-based strategic PvP game

currently slated for release in 2025. As a controller(joypad)-oriented third-person action game, ZETA is focusing on capturing the deep and true pleasure of real-time character strategy PvP.

“KRAFTON is consistently searching for development studios with endless potential, such as Nirvanana, to strengthen our portfolio and its publishing capabilities,” said CH Kim, KRAFTON CEO. “KRAFTON plans on sharing its global experience with Nirvanana so that it can fully focus on developing ZETA.”

The partnership with Nirvanana is the first case of KRAFTON’s plan to expand second-party publishing pportunities through equity investments in external developers, which was announced in January during KRAFTON LIVE TALK(KLT), an internal communications program.

KRAFTON will help launch and operate the game when it launches on console, PC, and cloud-based global distribution platforms. In addition to publishing, KRAFTON and Nirvanana will plan to seek cooperation in other areas such as e-sports competitions and secondary work-related business. With this partnership, KRAFTON will continue to build its portfolio of games while strengthening its publishing capabilities to drive growth in the global market.

“Nirvanana and KRAFTON have something in common in that they both focus on developing games that bring fun to players around the world,” said Kim Nam-seok, CEO of Nirvanana. “We will do our best to develop the next-generation character skill fighting game ZETA as a new IP that will continue the success.”

Founded in 2022, Nirvanana was created by game developers with proven expertise and experience in creating global games. The company is currently hiring for various roles, including development, design, and art. For more information around the game or career opportunities at Nirvanana, please visit [http://nirvanana.gg/en] and [https://nirvanana.career.greetinghr.com].

Indis, 08th March, 2023: Hungama, India’s leading digital entertainment company, earmarked the occasion of International Women’s Day with the launch of its initiative ‘Women Game Changers’ in 2022. With the objective to create and curate an advisory panel of representatives from various segments of entertainment, the women chosen every year are propellers of change and lead by example. Coming back this year with a renewed spirit, to celebrate and encourage diversity with the hope of seeing more women breaking barriers and glass ceilings in the entertainment space, Hungama launches a brand new podcast series. The podcast is a deep-dive series with the ‘Women Game Changers 2022’ who share their success stories on a candid note that is a reflection of their journey to the path of success.

Carving a niche for themselves in a fiercely competitive environment, the platform was envisioned with a commitment to create a more inclusive environment in which women are encouraged, amplified and celebrated to inspire the next generations of professionals. Bridging the gap that comes with the lack of representation of women in leadership roles, the initiative is a stepping stone towards an actionable change. The Women Game Changers 2022 that included strong women like Rashi Chandra, Salone Sehgal, Saumya Iyer, Hiral Viradia, Kamakshi Khanna, Priya Saraiya, Dolly Rateshwar, Aabha Hanjura, Tess Joseph, Sukriti – Prakriti Kakkar and Deane Sequeira through their personal accounts will set to inspire women across the horizon in the latest podcast series.

Speaking about the initiative, Neeraj Roy, Founder & MD of Hungama Digital Media said, “At Hungama, we remain committed in our quest to create and expand our repertoire of game changers who serve as an inspiration to many and encourage a new generation of women to continue powering the cycle of change. With the launch of our new podcast, we hope that women are able to gather the confidence to chase after their dreams, growth, goals and aspirations. We look forward to fostering a community where women grow and cheer each other on their own individual journeys in a collective spirit.”

On 1st April 2023, Hungama will unveil the list of Women Game Changers for the year 2023 who are breaking the glass ceilings and building legacies in the entertainment sector across the categories of cinema, music and gaming.

New Delhi, March 08 2023: While the entire city is witnessing the Adenovirus claiming the lives of young children, Medica on the other hand is delighted to witness one such child going home, cured with ECMO support. After a month’s suffering from acute pneumonia caused by adenovirus, the proficient ECMO and Cardio-Pulmonary Critical Care team at Medica Superspecialty Hospital revived Aryav Suman a 5-year-old child, suffering from severe viral pneumonia affecting both lungs. Under the care of Medica ECMO team, headed by Dr. Dipanjan Chatterjee ECMO Physician, and Critical Care Specialist at Medica Superspecialty Hospital, Kolkata, gradually his lung compliance improved, he was taken off from ECMO after 18 days and finally discharged from the hospital on 2nd March 2023.

Aryav was suffering from a cough and fever for around five days and developed respiratory distress at his residence in New Alipore, Kolkata on 29th January 2023. His condition failed to improve despite initial medication, so his parents rushed him to a nearby nursing home, where his oxygen saturation level began to drop even with oxygen support. Given his condition, the hospital advised the child’s family to transfer him to another private hospital near EM-Bypass that has a specialised paediatric intensive care unit. However, despite receiving maximum ventilation support at the hospital, the child’s oxygen saturation did not improve. On 30th January at 2:00 am at night, Medica’s ECMO team was contacted by the private hospital for urgent admission of the child under Paediatric ECMO support.

The ECMO team took prompt action and examined him with a viral panel test, which revealed adenovirus and rhinovirus infection. In addition, the child had streptococcus pneumonia, which aggravated his condition. He was immediately put under VV-ECMO (Veno-Venous ECMO) support and was being closely monitored. After the initial revival, his tracheostomy (an opening created at the front of the neck so a tube can be inserted into the windpipe (trachea) to help you breathe) was done. He was taken off ECMO support after an 18-day battle between life and death. Following another 7 days, his oxygen support was also taken off as his saturation level improved.

After nearly a month in the hospital, the child was discharged and returned to the care of his family and friends with a very satisfying evaluation, on March 2, 2023.

Dr. Dipanjan Chatterjee who led the ECMO team, said, “Medica is the only hospital where we have the most advanced Paediatric ECMO facility, which can save many kids, suffering from adenovirus across the city and beyond. We are extremely happy that little brave heart Aryav has completely recovered from adenovirus through effective use of ECMO. The child was in a critical situation because the virus had affected both of his lungs, causing disability in breathing, despite oxygen support. However, paediatric ECMO support helped him in the gradual improvement of his lung and respiratory function. A case like this was only curable because of the prompt referral, timely intervention with ECMO, and meticulous critical care. We are grateful to his family for their support and equal participation in this long battle.”

Mr. R. Udayan Lahiry, Director, of Medica Synergie Pvt Ltd, said, “Medica has the largest ECMO program in this part of the world. We feel blessed to be able to help and assist people during medical emergencies. We wish the child a very happy and healthy life.”

Medica always believed in bringing world-class critical care and organ support treatment like ECMO and the Heart/Lung Transplant program, while revolutionizing the entire healthcare ecosystem in Eastern India.

Mumbai, March 8th, 2023: Dun & Bradstreet India has announced today it is supporting Open Network for Digital Commerce (ONDC) to help its Network Participants along with sellers on the ONDC platform increase their visibility, expand access to global markets without going through multiple layers, find potential customers, and identify growth opportunities.

The Dun & Bradstreet D-U-N-S® Number will be freely available to Network Participants along with sellers on the ONDC platform. The D-U-N-S® Number will help MSMEs on the ONDC platform to build their credibility and to access global markets.

Dun & Bradstreet India will also offer value-added services including D&B D-U-N-S® RegisteredTM Solutions and D&B ESG Intelligence, at specially discounted prices to Network Participants and Sellers on the ONDC platform.

Promoting, aiding and fostering the growth of MSMEs in India is a priority for Dun & Bradstreet India. Speaking about the partnership, Avinash Gupta, Managing Director & CEO – India, Dun & Bradstreet said, “In India, more than 99% of businesses belong to the Micro, Small and Medium category and 94% of them are unorganized. Dun & Bradstreet surveys have revealed that market access is the biggest challenge to MSMEs scaling up their businesses. Dun & Bradstreet offers a host of solutions to empower MSMEs and help them scale and improve efficiency.”

Gupta expanded on how the D-U-N-S® Number can benefit MSMEs, “The D-U-N-S® Number is recognized, recommended, and required by over 240 governments, trade, and industry organizations around the globe. There are 2.5 lakh global and domestic customers who leverage the Dun & Bradstreet Data Cloud for decision-making. The D-U-N-S® Number will help MSMEs on the ONDC platform to build credibility and they will find it easier to get noticed globally, which will level the competitive playing field for them.”

Shri T Koshy, Chief Executive Officer, ONDC said, “In order to truly democratize the existing e-commerce ecosystem of the country, empowering the MSMEs holds the ultimate key. Our association with Dun & Bradstreet will enable ONDC-associated participants and sellers to build trust with stakeholders, access financing, and grow their businesses more efficiently”.

Bangalore, 08 March 2023: mPokket, India’s fastest-growing digital lending platform, has witnessed an astonishing 100x increase in female users in 2022. The digital lending platform has improved financial inclusion across the country, which has impacted the lives of aspirational millennials, especially women. The company onboarded over 1 lakh female users in 2022, the majority of whom are from tier 3 cities. 48% of the women are between the ages of 18 and 21 years; 30% are between the ages of 21 and 25 years of age.

Commenting on the growth, Mr. Gaurav Jalan, Founder & CEO, mPokket, said, “Over the past seven years, our female user base has grown enormously, and we are proud to have added more than 1 lakh new women users in 2022. We see this trend as a reflection of the rising financial independence of women across India, and the success of our platform in driving this financial inclusion, especially among young women in tier 2 and tier 3 cities in India. We will continue to leverage technology to empower our users, the aspirational youth of India, and assist them in realizing their full potential through financial inclusion.”

It’s noteworthy that more than 63% of mPokket’s female users come from tier 3 cities, with another 18% hailing from tier 2 cities. The company has witnessed a sharp rise in demand for its financial products from tier 3 cities by boarding over 2,00,000 women users from tier 3 cities, followed by over 60,000 women users from tier 2 cities. mPokket’s services are increasingly in demand in central and southern Indian states like Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, and Maharashtra. The surge in growth can be credited to millennials and Gen Z who are embracing digital lending platforms for their financial requirements.

With more than 10 million downloads, mPokket has become one of the most popular mobile lending platforms in the country. The platform’s success can be attributed to its unique business model, which offers quick and hassle-free loans to students and young professionals. mPokket offers loans up to INR 30,000, with repayment periods ranging from 1 to 3 months. The platform is a popular option for students who require quick and easy access to finances owing to its user-friendly interface and speedy processing times. mPokket is positioned to contribute even more to the cause of financial inclusion and ensure that everyone has access to credit.

New Delhi, March 08, 2023: Advantage Club, a global employee engagement platform, has launched its latest lucky draw competition with its campaign #JackpotJunction. The lucky draw offers a chance for participants to win exciting prizes, from a BMW bike to a 55″ LED Tv, Smart Watches, Headphones, and gift cards. The lucky draw is open for all the employees of the companies engaged with Advantage Club. The competition is live till April 20th, 2023, and the winners will be announced on April 21st 2023, on the website and app.

The lucky draw is simple to enter. Users can visit the “Redeem” section on Advantage Club Web/App and purchase a product of their choice. For every ₹1 spent, the user will get 5 A-Coins. With 1000 A-Coins, users can get 1 lucky draw ticket. The lucky draw is being held to allow participants to win outstanding prizes and rewards they would not find elsewhere. This competition will boost engagement among the employees and enhance their overall experience with their respective companies and Advantage Club.

The first winner of the competition will be awarded a BMW Bike, while the first runner-up & the second runner-up will be given a 55″ LED TV and Headphones, respectively. There are 50 prizes, and the remaining winners will be given either smartwatches or gift cards based on their rank. All prizes have been carefully selected to maximize the participants’ value and excitement.

Sourabh Deorah, Co-Founder & CEO, Advantage Club, said, “We are very excited to launch this lucky draw to help our customers reward their employees for their loyalty and support. We believe this competition will not only give the employees a chance to win some amazing prizes but also help us engage with them on a more personal level and build stronger relationships. The #JackpotJunction contest is part of our larger AC Raffle campaign, and we will also continue to organize more such competitions in the future.”

New Delhi, 8th March 2023 – A joint initiative of Naredco Mahi, the women’s wing of Naredco, and JLL has revealed insights into women’s workforce statistics in India’s real estate sector. The report was released on the sidelines of Naredco Mahi’s 2nd convention held in New Delhi.

The report found that women make up only 12% of the real estate workforce in India, with 15% lower pay than men in leadership roles. Only 2% of women hold executive-level positions in construction companies. To reach a $5 trillion economy, India needs to include more of its underrepresented women workforce.

The report highlights several areas where progress has been made, such as a greater focus on diversity, equity, and inclusion, the adaptability of women in the sector, and the entry of multinational firms. However, there are still challenges to overcome, such as unconscious biases, the gender gap, the glass ceiling, and the lack of women in leadership roles.

The report also includes survey inferences, with 80% of employees feeling that companies are working towards addressing the gender imbalance at senior levels. However, 75% of employees believe there is no focus on developing or fostering female leadership talent in-house, and 70% feel that there is still a need to bridge inherent and/or unconscious bias in hiring.

The joint study calls for upskilling and reskilling, structured interventions such as mentoring and sponsorship programs, building a more flexible and hybrid working model, improving safety and working conditions, and enabling more women to enter the workforce.

“Women participation has almost doubled in the last five years in the workforce of surveyed companies, pointing to positive reinforcement of diverse hiring,” said President Naredco Mahi Dr Ananta Rghuvanshi. “However, there is still much work to be done to ensure gender equality in the real eastate sector in Indira.”

“This study further states that only 2% of women hold leadership roles in construction companies, which needs to be addressed. Women constitute 33% of the workforce in India, compared to 67% of men. Employable women make up 52.8% of employable men, rwith the employability ratio increasing from 46.2% in 2021 to 50.3% in 2022.

Dr. Ananta S Raghuvanshi, Founder Member, and President of NAREDCO Mahi, observed that gender integration in real estate would prove to be an important milestone in the growth of the real estate sector in India. She recognized the contribution of women employees equally and felt that a skilled workforce in real estate is critical to achieving near-perfection in construction.

The joint insight underscores the need to address the underrepresentation of women in leadership roles and to include more women in India’s real estate and construction sector to enable India to reach a $5 trillion economy..
The 2nd NAREDCO Mahi Convention, featured panel discussions on various subjects such as Water Way to go – Jal Bachao Kal Bachao, Green Building and Sustainability, and Scale and Growth of Indian Startups etc. The convention was addressed by leading Real Estate players including Sanjay Dutt CEO & MD Tata Realty Infrastructure Limited

Atlanta, 08 March 2023: Airbus Corporate Helicopters has won an order for two ACH160 helicopters in India – the first sale of the type in the region.

The helicopters will be delivered with the ACH160 Exclusive configuration for business use by the customer who is an experienced helicopter operator. Under the terms of the contract, Airbus Corporate Helicopters will provide a turnkey solution to ensure a smooth entry into service of both the helicopters.

Olivier Michalon, EVP – Global Business, Airbus Helicopters, said “We are proud to announce this milestone contract for two ACH160 helicopters for our Indian customer.  We thank them for their pioneering vision and I am confident that the entry into service of this helicopter will set a new benchmark for helicopter operations in India, especially for private aviation and premium charters.”

Airbus Helicopters is proud to be a key contributor to the Indian government’s ‘Aatmanirbhar Bharat’ mission. “This new order – the first in India for any helicopter in the H160 range – further reinforces our commitment to the Indian market where already more than 120 Airbus helicopters are flying,” added Olivier Michalon.

The ACH160 is the latest member of the ACH family and is the world’s most technologically advanced helicopter, with 68 new Airbus patented technologies.

It provides 20% greater volume per passenger compared to previous generation medium twin helicopters and 35% larger windows than its competitors, resulting in the brightest cabin in its class.

The ACH160’s advanced air conditioning technology allows precise temperature control and optimal cabin air quality with highly efficient air exchange. In the ACH160 Exclusive version, mood lighting contributes to reduced fatigue.

Under the program HELP: Himalayan Education Learning Program a one day workshop to Train the Teachers on “Design Thinking Led Innovation at Schools” under the aegis of Ministry of Education was successfully conducted at “The Gurukul Foundation School, Kashipur” Jaitpur Campus through Navaashay- Design Innovation Centre,IIM Kashipur.

Prof. Kumkum Bharti and Prof. Smarak Smarjeet trained the teachers during the workshop. In this program, Teachers were told how they can make teaching work more interesting even by teaching in the traditional way and we must make some changes everyday in the continuous learning process. They said that there must be harmony between the teacher and the student. Students must be taken into the confidence that the Teachers are in the school only for them. Teachers should evaluate their teaching work every day and should be done in such a way that the children learn to apply the knowledge acquired from the teacher in their lives.

The best part of this workshop was that both the professors presented their point very briefly and in simple language. School administration and teachers who participated in this program were honored by giving participation certificates.