Category business

Guwahati, Assam: Software Technology Parks of India (STPI), Guwahati-led Centre of Entrepreneurship (CoE), OctaNE launches its flagship AgTech Program called Assam AgTech OCP (Open Challenge Program) in collaboration with ARIAS Society, Department of Agriculture, Govt. of Assam on 9th February 2024 at STPI, Near LGBI Airport, Borjhar, Guwahati. Top Officials from the Central as well as State Governments along with representation from industry leaders, Academia, investors, startups, and students participated in the event. Shri S. Krishnan, IAS, Secretary, MeitY, Govt. of India Inaugurated the Incubation facility & Lab of IoT in Agriculture-CoE at STPI Guwahati under OctaNE and also interacted with STPICoE incubatee Startups and also visited exhibition stalls of startups showcasing their products & innovation in the field of AgriTech.

The AgTech summit was inaugurated by the lighting of the lamp by dignitaries followed by the welcome address given by Smt. Vandana Srivastava, Jurisdictional Director, STPI Guwahati. In her welcome address, she explained the initiatives taken by STPI in the development of a start-up eco-system. To date 23 CoEs domain-specific CoEs are being operational in different cities, of which 8 CoEs are operational in the NE Region.

Shri Kumaran Venkatesh, President, Astrome Technologies Private Limited, Chief Mentor – IoT in Agriculture – Guwahati addressed the audience about the importance of identifying problems which means half the job is done. He further added that the support and ecosystem created by various govt. initiatives such as state-of-the-art Labs created by STPI. He quoted” Great beginning bound to grow”.

S.K. Baruah, ED NEDFI during his address spoke about NEDFI schemes for startups and technological use in agriculture.

Address by Guest of Honour Shri Virendra Mittal, IAS, State Project Director, ARIAS Society, Department of Agriculture, Govt. of Assam has detailed the Open challenge program by ARIAS in collaboration with STPI to nurture promising startups in the agriculture domain it will engage farmers/ producers and facilitate to deployment of agritech solutions.

Guest of Honour Shri K.S.P.V. Pavan Kumar, IFS, Special Secretary, Department of IT, Govt. of Assam elaborated on the various initiatives taken by govt. of Assam to nurture startups and detailed about State Data Centre to host application and data exchange platform where all kind of data can be shared on a real-time basis.

While addressing at the summit, Shri Arvind Kumar, Director General, STPI elaborated “As India is a primarily agri nation, STPI is capitalizing on the emergence of technology in the agriculture sector. He also stated that for a startup, the most difficult task is to identify the problem statement. Technology such as AI can only solve the problem, but it can’t identify the problem. This has to be done by a human mind.

Guest of Honour Shri Kuntal Sensarma, Economic Adviser & Group Coordinator, MeitY, Govt. of India elaborated on the various issues in the Agriculture sector such as post-harvest supply chain issues, traceability, and productivity.

“The launch of OCP in IoT in AgriTech is a relevant, timely & important initiative. The opportunity for agriculture is huge in the Eastern part of India as it is abundantly endowed with water, land and greenery” Shri S Krishnan, Secretary, MeitY, Govt. of India at Assam Agtech OCP launch. Address by Chief Guest Shri S. Krishnan, IAS, Secretary, MeitY, Govt. of India.

During the summit MoU was signed & exchanged between STPI and North Eastern Development Finance Corporation Ltd. (NEDFi) and a Video on STPI Startup Initiatives in the North East was shown along with Launch of the Assam AgTech Open Challenge Program (OCP).

The day-long AgTech Summit included a panel discussion, a session on Success stories of Agritech-focused startups and also pitching of startups to investors. Assam AgTech OCP aims to bridge the gap between the agriculture and technology sectors and would support innovators and existing start-ups to develop solutions that address challenges for smallholder farmers and the Farmer Producer Companies (FPC) serving them in the State of Assam.

The intent of conducting Assam AgTech OCP is to identify, select, and support Tech Startups under STPI OctaNE CoE for providing technological solutions to cater to the needs and challenges faced by the agricultural industry sector of the region. The outcome of the program is to Enhance the efficiency and profitability of associated FPCs through the adoption of technology solutions, generate employment for local youths through the selected technology Startups/Solution providers and FPCs, improve agricultural productivity, and Develop widely acceptable Agritech solutions with potential for IT exports from the country.

The selected Startups of Assam AgTech OCP will receive benefits under the STPI OctaNE CoE program like Seed Funding up to INR 25 Lakhs, state-of-the-art P-n-P incubation and Lab facility, Mentoring and Technical support, Marketing, Networking and Outreach, etc. AgTech Summit 2024 is a catalyst for change, a platform where collaboration and innovation shape the future of Assam’s agriculture sector.

Bharat Nirmaan Awardee Meghna Pant and celebrated Climate-Fiction Writer Rajat Chaudhuri were in conversation with Niladri Chatterjee for the session ‘Today’s Dystopias.’ The session began with the official book launch of Meghna Pant’s ‘Man Who Lost India’ by Indian actress Swastika Mukherjee. Following the launch, the actress read excerpts from the book to the audience. The conversation started with moderator Niladri Chatterjee asking both authors about their inspirations behind writing their respective novels.

While Meghna Pant pointed out “masochism, curiosity and patriarchy” as the key forces driving her, Rajat Chaudhuri alluded to his climate activism as the ultimate source of his creative vision. The ‘Man Who Lost India’ author was quoted as saying, “No female author in India has attempted a war novel before’” She pointed out how her attempt at writing a war novel was a heretic response to men who argue that women can’t write serious, let alone, war novels.

Rajat Chaudhuri also highlighted how the central character of his book loses his grip on his mental faculties in tandem with our planet, which is replenishing and breaking apart day by day. Speaking on violence in dystopian novels, he pointed out, “At the bottom of dystopian fiction is always happiness vs. freedom, and there is no freedom in dystopia”.

Their conversation with the panel discussing the recent glorification of war and violence in modern times. Rajat Chaudhuri said that social media is responsible for the desensitization towards violence. At the same time, Meghna Pant believed that “society changes from a molecular level, starting from individuals, families and then society.” Thus, we should start with ourselves. The session ended with both authors reading out parts from their book.

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AKLF Day 1’s concluding session, ‘Tablawallah Unplugged,’ had legendary table players Pandit Kumar Bose and Bickram Ghose in conversation with Rohen Bose. This session was a combined discussion on music, literature, and a walk down memory lane. The first question that started the discussion was whether the Tabla is the most evolved form of a drum. In response to which Pandit Kumar Bose said “Tabla is the finest instrument I have ever found; I have found advantages in Tabla that I have found nowhere in the world”.

Following this, Bickram Ghose responded, “I, too, regard the table as the greatest drum in the world.” He pointed out how the table can be tuned to any tonic, which not many instruments can do. He also added that the Tabla is not a secondary instrument; it is a unique instrument that has a life of its own. It responds to the player. Regarding Tablawallah, Pandit Kumar Bose said he wanted to put out his stories to tell upcoming Tabla players that behind all the glamour lay “years of riyaaz, sacrifice, and pain to come to this point. The road to success is one.” The session ended with a question-and-answer session where the legendary percussionists fielded questions from the enthusiastic crowd.

Hyderabad, 12th February 2024: Pennar Industries Limited (PIL), a leading value-added engineering products and solutions company, today announced its financial results for the Quarter and Nine months ended on December 31st, 2023.

Consolidated Financial Highlights – Q3 FY24

· Net revenue at INR 744.75 crore compared to INR 692.22 crore in Q3 FY23, up by 7.59%.

· EBITDA at INR 82.09 crore compared to INR 66.00 crore in Q3 FY23, up by 24.38%.

· PBT at INR 33.07 crore compared to INR 27.54 crore in Q3 FY23, up by 20.08%.

· PAT at INR 25.37 crore compared to INR 21.12 crore in Q3 FY23, up by 20.12%.

Consolidated Financial Highlights – NME FY24

· Net revenue at INR 2,307.77 crore compared to INR 2,226.19 crore in NME FY23, up by 3.66%.

· EBITDA at INR 231.97 crore compared to INR 183.86 crore in NME FY23, up by 26.17%.

· PBT at INR 92.25 crore compared to INR 67.81 crore in NME FY23, up by 36.04%.

· PAT at INR 69.54 crore compared to INR 51.58 crore in NME FY23, up by 34.82%.

12th February 2024, New Delhi, India: The most awaited event of the year, The Times Group presents ET Now Global Business Summit 2024 got off to a phenomenal start today. Visionaries and business stalwarts joined in the conversations that revolved around India’s progressive journey and the glorious future that awaits the country. Vineet Jain, Managing Director, The Times Group welcomed the dignitaries and global leaders whose contributions have helped India script a brighter tomorrow.

Hon’ble Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi graced the summit with his presence. In his inspiring speech addressing the elite gathering at ET Now Global Business Summit 2024, he said “The theme of this year’sET NOW GBS 2024 – Disruption, Development, Diversification is a relevant and much-discussed topic of today’s time. This is India’s time. The global trust in India is steadily increasing, as evidenced by the remarkable enthusiasm witnessed for India at Davos recently. Experts around the world are recognizing India’s significant role in the evolving global order, acknowledging its remarkable journey and burgeoning influence. I envision an era of immense promise for India, where it continues to fortify its position on the world stage. The interim budget has garnered positive feedback from analysts and experts, further bolstering India’s economic outlook.” He further added, “In our third term, India will be the 3rd largest economy globally. Our government is going to take many decisions and the roadmap for the next 30 years is underway. New India will be working with super-skills, and this is Modi’s guarantee. I hope the summit results in positive discussions and helps us in taking the country ahead into the next era of progress.”

Vinit Jain, Managing Director, The Times Group in his welcome address said, “Today, the world is gazing at India -a nation that has not only weathered difficult storms but is well on the way to emerging as the world’s third largest economy in the next few years. Today, we see the country as a source and a guiding light in the complex narrative of global growth and development.The dawn of 2024 marks not just the beginning of a new year but the onset of a breakthrough era for India. India in 2024 is a narrative of triumph. It fills me with pride as I’ve been witness to India’s growth story, and now its march towards becoming the world’s third-largest economy, and a beacon of hope.”

Piyush Goyal, Minister of Commerce &Industry, Consumer Affairs, Foods and Public Distribution, Government of India, during his special address at the event, said, “The government has embarked on a commendable journey to fulfill the dreams of India’s vast population of 1.4 billion. Through a multitude of initiatives aimed at transforming the nation into an inclusive and developed entity, benefits have been reaped across various sectors. It is now imperative that we acknowledge the talents of our youth, empowering them to become exemplary citizens and providing them with the tools to contribute to the vision of a New India.”

Nitin Gadkari, Minister of Road Transport and Highways, Government of India, shared his perspectives on infrastructure development. Contributing to the discussions he said, “Since taking office in 2014, Prime Minister Modi has prioritized the development of top-notch infrastructure, recognizing its crucial role in attracting capital investment. By the conclusion of 2024, our national highway system is poised to rival that of the United States, a testament to the government’s commitment to enhancing infrastructure.”

Manoharlal, Chief Minister, Haryana while speaking to the audience about his vision for the digital infrastructure for the state said, “Transparency forms the cornerstone of governance in Haryana. We are actively pursuing digitization as a key agenda for development in our state. Our goal extends beyond just advancing agriculture; it’s about empowering farmers in our state to achieve self-reliance. The Parivar Pehchan Patra scheme serves as our pathway to connect with every citizen across the state and communicate development initiatives inclusively. Our objective is to foster self-reliance within our state and serve as a model forothers nationwide. Despite comprising just 2 percent of the total population, we aspire to double our contribution to the country’s GDP, reaching 4 percent by 2027.”

One of the keynote sessions, “Banking Beyond Borders: Risk, Resilience, and Recovery,” featured Bill Winters, Chief Executive Officer of Standard Chartered Bank, engaging in a thought-provoking discussion with Ajaya Sharma, Senior Editor at ET Now. Winters delved into the intricacies of navigating risks, building resilience, and fostering recovery in the global banking sector. He said, “The most exciting thing in India: the large flow of businesses. They are focused on investing out and investing in. Be it power, or petrochemicals, opportunities are immense.”

Ravi Kumar S, Chief Executive Officer of Cognizant, took the stage to explore the transformative potential of Generative AI in his session titled “Generative AI: Steering the Future of Work.” Kumar emphasized the role of artificial intelligence in reshaping the landscape of employment and industry, shedding light on its implications for the future workforce. While talking about that he said “India stands out as a data-driven economy, with vast amounts of information in the hands of its users. Leveraging this data, India is poised to lead the charge towards becoming a creator economy. The country is already facilitating this transition by empowering users with tools and opportunities to create and contribute.”

Rajeev Chandrasekhar, Union Minister of State for Electronics & Information Technology and Skill Development & Entrepreneurship, Government of India, expressed his views on the Future of the workforce underscored the importance of skill development and entrepreneurship in preparing India for the challenges and opportunities of tomorrow. He highlighted, “Technology, in its general trajectory, is inherently disruptive, with its evolution being remarkable. AI is poised to generate numerous opportunities in the future, simultaneously replacing and transforming existing jobs while also ushering in a new spectrum of employment opportunities.”

VitrA, a leading bathroom solution brand of Eczacıbaşı Building Products Division in Turkey, introduces V-Care Prime, the latest addition to its range of shower toilets. Designed by Arik Levy in collaboration with VitrA’s Design Studio and the Innovation team, this new shower toilet WC combines the functionality of a standard WC with the personal cleaning properties of a bidet and integrates the latest bathroom technology. The elegant new shower toilet provides a modern, refreshing, and hygienic washroom experience.

V-Care Prime is sleek and compact and enhances your toilet experience with technology, including a remote control and a mobile app. The design is almost identical to a standard VitrA WC, but the intelligent features, such as the night light will elevate the design to a more sophisticated level. The LED night light is automatically activated when ambient light drops below a certain level. The V-Care app enables the user to adjust this feature as well.

What sets the V-Care Prime apart from other shower WCs is the option for a hands-free control through the remote control and the app. This innovative feature allows users to customize their bathroom experience according to their individual preferences, and the app stores personalized settings for V-Care, ensuring a tailored and convenient experience every time. This option is an excellent feature to help minimize the risk of cross-contamination, either within the home or in public restrooms.

VitrA V-Care Prime goes beyond the standard features with its adjustable settings, allowing users to customize the temperature, pressure, and direction of the water flow. The shower WC also offers multiple personal drying modes for added convenience. The heated seat is thoughtfully designed for maximum comfort and includes temperature control, as well as an automatic open and close function to minimize contact and enhance hygiene.

VitrA V-Care products are equipped with a Rim-ex bowl, a superior hygienic solution 95% more effective than standard options. This feature eliminates the inner ducts of the bowl, making cleaning effortless and ensuring optimal hygiene. The stainless-steel nozzle is also designed with cleanliness in mind, automatically cleaning itself before and after each use. It also includes a feature to help prevent and remove limescale build-up, enhancing its hygienic properties.

Taking care of every family member, V-Care Prime introduces a child mode activated through the V-Care app, allowing parents to customize water flow and pressure for a child-friendly experience. The integrated bidet nozzle is thoughtfully designed to cater to female hygiene needs, enhancing comfort and convenience.

An essential element in the VitrA bathroom appliances ecosystem is the V-Care Smart Panel is an easy-to-clean and durable glass panel in glossy black. Equipped with smart sensors, functions, and specialized algorithms, it is designed to prioritize your comfort and the environment. With touch-free control options, the integrated sensors allow for convenient use of the Auto Flush feature, ensuring the optimum volume of water is supplied with each flush, promoting water efficiency.

With the latest addition of V-Care Prime, you not only experience enhanced hygiene, but also enjoy increased comfort, innovative design, and lasting durability that add an aesthetic charm to your bathroom.

Bangalore12th February 2024: EZEE CYCLES, electric cycles are crafted with precision and attention to detail. Whether you seek power, style, or performance in your ride, our electric cycles deliver on all fronts. Featuring robust frames, advanced battery technology, and powerful motors, our electric cycles offer an unmatched riding experience. From conquering challenging terrains to navigating city streets effortlessly, our electric cycles empower you to travel beyond.

Addressing the media Mr. Purushottam Naik, Ezee cycles founder, after the inauguration of the cycles in Bengaluru he said “Here at Ezee Cycles, we are passionate about bringing green technologies to life. Launching the Gaur E1, E coon s1 to create a cleaner, greener and more connected urban environment. Our electric cycles produce zero emissions, contributing to leaner air and a healthier planet. Our electric cycles are not just eco friendly, they are also designed to turn heads, explore our range of electric cycles designed to cater to diverse preferences and lifestyles.

The key feature of this cycle is using a Li-Ion rechargeable battery, detachable for charging.. They produce 30-40nm Torque with a range of 50km with full charge and up to 70km with pedal assist feature. The RALSON Balloon tyres give extra support to the suspension to make your ride easy. It also has 7 gears for better ride conditions with economical, standard and power mode.

Bangalore, 12th February 2024 : Royal Orchid Hotels Limited, India’s fastest-growing hospitality chain with a diverse portfolio of 100+ Hotels across 60+ locations, announced its consolidated results today for Q3 FY23-24, as approved by its Board of directors.

Key financial highlights:

Highlights of Q3 FY 23-24 V/s Q2 FY 23-24 (Standalone) – Increased by %

· Total Income of Rs. 54.74 CR V/s. Rs. 45.50 CR – 20%

· EBIDTA of Rs. 19.79 CR V/s. Rs. 14.02 CR – 41%

· PAT of Rs. 9.28 CR V/s. Rs. 4.94 CR – 87%

· EPS of Rs. 3.38 V/s. EPS of Rs. 1.80

Highlights of Q3 FY 23-24 V/s Q3 FY 22-23 (Standalone) – Increased by %

· Total Income of Rs. 54.74 CR V/s. Rs. 48.39 CR – 13%

· EBIDTA of Rs. 19.79 CR V/s. Rs. 17.36 CR – 14%

· PAT of Rs. 9.28 CR V/s. Rs. 8.20 CR – 13%

· EPS of Rs. 3.38 V/s. EPS of Rs. 2.99

Highlights of Q3 FY 23-24 V/s Q2 FY 23-24 (Consolidated) -Increased by %

· Total Income Rs. 86.61 CR in V/s. Rs 70.07 CR – 23%

· EBIDTA of Rs. 29.43 CR V/s. Rs. 18.94 CR – 55%

· PAT of Rs. 15.73 CR V/s. Rs. 7.67 CR – 105%

· EPS of Rs 5.60 V/s. EPS of Rs. 2.49

Highlights of Q3 FY 23-24 V/s Q3 FY 22-23 (Consolidated) -Increased by %

· Total Income Rs. 86.61 CR in V/s. Rs. 76.53 CR – 13%

· EBIDTA of Rs. 29.43 CR V/s. Rs 27.75 CR – 6%

· PAT of Rs. 15.73 CR V/s. Rs. 15.18 CR – 3%

· EPS of Rs. 5.60 V/s. EPS of Rs 5.27

IND-AS 116 adoption led to notional increase in depreciation and finance cost of Rs. 5.29 CR leading to reduction in PAT of Rs. 1.17 CR at standalone level (SA) for QE Dec 2023

Commenting on the results, Mr. Chander K. Baljee, Chairman & Managing Director said, “We are pleased to report broad based growth across portfolio and significant accomplishments including opening of 5 significant properties in the last quarter which are a mix of spiritual, business and luxury hotels. The strong performance demonstrates the steadfast devotion and support of our board, the allegiance of our clientele, and the extraordinary zeal and determination of our Royal Orchid Team.”

“Our unwavering commitment remains on value creation for all stakeholders by providing customers with a distinctive hospitality ecosystem that transcends segments, setting examples in local job creation and enhancing local culture, fostering local tourism by focused portfolio building and maintaining a track record of exceptional performance all along.” He added.

About Royal Orchid & Regenta Hotels:

Regenta & Royal Orchid Hotels is one of India’s fastest-growing hotel chains. It primarily operates 5-star, 4-star, and resorts, enabling it to target discerning business and leisure travelers. It currently operates 100+ hotels across India. Promoted by Chander K Baljee, Royal Orchid Hotels has become one of India’s most well-known names in hospitality. Royal Orchid is listed on the Bombay & National Stock Exchanges (BSE & NSE) and is governed by an independent board of eminent directors.

The group has bagged many awards including The National Tourism Award 2008-09 organized by the Ministry of Tourism, Top 50 Brands for 2014 and 2015 by Paul Writer and most recently, the following:

● Mr. Chander Baljee was honored with Lifetime Achievement Award from Hospitality Horizon Awards 2023

● Mr. Chander Baljee was honored with Lifetime Achievement Award from SKAL INDIA 2023

● Mr. Chander Baljee was honored with the Lifetime Achievement Award by EazyDiner at the Ritz-Carlton Bengaluru in 2023.

● Regenta Arie Lagoon in Sri Lanka was recognized as the Best Offshore Resort in MICE & Wedding at the India Travel Award 2023.

● Mr. Chander Baljee received the Best Contribution to the Hospitality Industry award from the South India Hotel and Restaurant Association (SIHRA) at their Annual Convention in 2022.

● Mr. Chander Baljee was featured among India Today’s 10 successful business leaders to watch out for in 2022.

● Mr. Chander Baljee was honored as the Super Star of the Hospitality Industry by AHPWI at the Indian Hospitality Leadership Award 2022.

● Mr. Chander Baljee was inducted into Hotelier India’s CEO Powerlist in 2021.

● Hotelier India conferred the Hall of Fame Award upon Mr. Chander K Baljee, CMD of Royal Orchid & Regenta Hotels in 2021.

● Mr. Chander Baljee received the Lifetime Achievement Award from the International Hospitality Council in association with IIHM Bangalore in 2019.

Our vision is to become the preferred hotel chain for discerning global travelers. The ‘Regenta’ brand is an extension of the Royal Orchid Hotel Group, designed to cater to travelers who value both convenience and affordability. It encompasses various categories, including Regenta, Regenta Central, Regenta Resort, Regenta Place, and Regenta Inn.

12th February 2024: Swiggy, India’s leading on-demand convenience platform, has announced the launch of the highly anticipated Great Indian Restaurant Festival (GIRF), starting from 7th February to 31st March 2024. This year, GIRF promises to be the biggest yet, offering unbeatable discounts and offers at over 7000+ participating restaurants in 34 cities across India, making it an unmissable celebration for food lovers nationwide.

To offer food enthusiasts an opportunity to experience the best of restaurants, Swiggy Dineout has partnered with popular restaurants including Punjab Grill, Cafe Delhi Heights, Chili’s, Jamies’ Pizzeria, Roxie, Barbeque Nation, One8 Commune, Irish House, Hard Rock Cafe, among others. Widening the choice for diners, GIRF 2024 is welcoming a host of first-time restaurants, including Biergarten, Antera, Lord of Drinks, Ministry of Beer, and Anardana, giving them a chance to discover new culinary gems and enjoy unique offers. For those keen on exploring luxury dining experiences, restaurants in 5-star properties such as the Marriott group, Leela group, Hyatt, and Holiday Inn are also participating.

In 2023, 2 million diners celebrated Swiggy Dineout’s Great Indian Restaurant Festival and saved ₹100 Crore in dining bills while enjoying the best of flavours and restaurants. This year, the offers are more exciting-

Key Delights of GIRF 2024:
Flat 50% Off on Dining Bills: Consumers can indulge in their favorite cuisines without breaking the bank with a flat 50% off on dining bills at participating restaurants.

Additional up to 15% Savings with HDFC Bank Credit Cards: HDFC Bank Credit Card users can enjoy an additional 15% savings on their GIRF transactions, making dining out even more rewarding.

Exclusive Partner Offers: Swiggy’s Great Indian Restaurant Festival brings additional partner offers to enhance the dining experience. Diners can enjoy 20% off up to Rs 50 on 2 Uber Premier rides during the event for convenient travel, and avail 40% off on movie tickets at Cinepolis app/website for post-dining entertainment.

“We are thrilled to unveil the eighth edition of the highly-anticipated Great Indian Restaurant Festival across the country. Be it an avid food connoisseur or someone looking to explore new culinary tastes, GIRF 2024 has something in store for everyone. In what promises to be our grandest celebration yet, we are converging the country’s best restaurants, exciting offers, and unbeatable savings. Our goal is to make dining out more accessible and enjoyable for our customers while celebrating the best of what the restaurant industry has to offer,” said Swapnil Bajpai, Head at Swiggy Dineout.

GIRF 2024 will span across multiple cities, catering to food lovers in major metropolitan areas including Delhi, Mumbai, Bangalore, Hyderabad, and Chennai, as well as emerging culinary hubs such as Agra, Ahmedabad, Jaipur, and Kochi, among others. In addition to enticing restaurant deals, this event will offer a variety of partner offers in collaboration with Uber, Pernod Ricard, and Cinepolis. Customers can also benefit from additional payment offers from various payment instruments such as RuPay, Simpl, and American Express.

With an unparalleled selection of restaurants, marquee brands, and exciting partner offers, GIRF 2024 promises to be an extraordinary journey of culinary exploration and savings, all set to redefine the dining experience in India.

09th February, Mumbai: Mukand Limited, a distinguished Bajaj group company and a leading manufacturer of Alloy and Stainless-Steel long products, along with heavy machinery in India, has inked a groundbreaking Power Delivery Agreement (PDA) with Amplus Phoenix Energy Pvt Limited (APEPL), a proud member of the PETRONAS Group. This collaboration marks a significant step towards fostering clean energy solutions and sustainable practices in the steel manufacturing industry.

The 23.89 MWp Group Captive Solar project, nestled in the picturesque Hulkoti village in the Gadag district of Karnataka, embodies Mukand Limited’s commitment to environmental stewardship and energy efficiency. Expected to generate 36 MUs annually, this solar venture is projected to offset approximately 28,440 tonnes of CO2 emissions per year.

The collaboration with APEPL underscores Mukand’s dedication to reducing its carbon footprint and embracing non-conventional energy solutions. Scheduled for commissioning by March 2024, this solar power plant adheres to stringent quality standards and specifications, ensuring reliability and operational excellence. The aim of the installation is to meet the growing energy requirements of Mukand Limited and contribute to making their steel manufacturing processes and production greener. APEPL will undertake the construction, operation, and maintenance of this group captive solar power plant.

Mr. Shashibhushan Upadhyay, President of Mukand Limited, conveyed appreciation for the concerted endeavors of Amplus Phoenix Renewables and Mukand Limited. He remarked, “We express our gratitude and recognize the collaborative initiatives between Amplus Phoenix Renewables and our organization, Mukand Limited, to unlock the potential of clean and green energy through the execution of this strategic Power Purchase Agreement (PPA). This partnership aligns with our mission to procure clean energy to power our manufacturing operations and aids us in fulfilling our climate change commitments.”

Speaking on the occasion, Mr. Sharad Pungalia, MD & CEO of Amplus Group said, “Greening energy-intensive sectors like steel manufacturing is critical for a sustainable future, and we at Amplus are happy to contribute with our experience and expertise. We are confident of providing a stable and reliable source of green electricity to Mukand Limited as they contribute to the region’s environmental and economic development. With this agreement, we collectively commit ourselves to achieve a sustainable energy future.”

The adoption of green energy through this project marks a significant stride in Mukand Limited’s commitment to environmental sustainability. By harnessing clean and renewable energy sources, this initiative is poised to substantially reduce its carbon footprint, contributing to a healthier and greener planet. Embracing the principles of responsible corporate citizenship, this agreement not only underscores Mukand’s dedication to meeting climate change commitments but also exemplifies the pivotal role the corporate sector plays in driving positive environmental change. The transformative impact of this endeavor extends beyond the organization, fostering a collective responsibility to create a more sustainable future for generations to come.

Bangalore, 09^th February 2024: In a concerted effort towards road safety, Toyota Kirloskar Motor (TKM) has been actively working towards creating a safer road environment through its Toyota Safety Education Programme (TSEP) – “Road Safety – My Right My Responsibility’. In line with the same, the company announced the culmination of its TSEP annual event held at IISc, Bangalore, witnessing the presence of Chief Guest – Mr. M. N. Anucheth, IPS, Joint Commissioner of Police (Traffic), Government of Karnataka, Guests of Honour – Mr. C. Mallikarjun, Additional Commissioner of Transport Government of Karnataka, Dr. G. Gururaj, Former Director of NIMHANS (National Institute of Mental Health and Neuro-Sciences) & Consultant on Road Safety, Jury Members (incl. representatives from IISc, IIM, media, etc.) and TKM’s Senior Executive – Mr. Sudeep S. Dalvi, Chief Communication Officer, and Senior Vice President & Director. With a mission to instil a sense of responsibility amongst future road users, TKM has strategically designed TSEP so that to reach out to the school children and transform them into road safety ambassadors.

TSEP adopts a distinctive ABC Approach – raising Awareness about road safety rules, promoting Behavioural Changes, and engaging in impactful Campaign. The program serves as a robust initiative designed to instil a profound understanding of road safety rules, induce positive and behavioural transformations, and further promote road safety. In addition, TSEP also benefits the schools by facilitating well-designed road safety training for the teachers and their capacity building, thereby enabling them to further train the children on this vital matter, while it also acts as a catalyst for the inclusion of this topic in school curriculum.

Following the roll-out of TSEP, 31 schools participated in the inter school club activity. In which, 25 clubs were finalised from across class 5th to 9^th, wherein a team of 5 members each were formed by the participating schools’ basis grade-specific competitive road safety driven activities. Further, class-wise themes were framed covering Poster Making by Class 5 students, Road Safety Enactment by Class 6 students, Mad Ad by Class 7 students, Speech competition by Class 8 students, and Fact Video competition by Class 9 students. During TSEP club activities, participating schools submitted their top entries, and the best team were selected basis three primary assessment criteria: Knowledge Level, Behaviour Change Level, and School Interest. While the shortlisting for Classes 5, 7, and 9 completed during the implementation of TSEP at schools, Classes 6 and 8 were shortlisted on the event day via jury round. The TSEP winners represented by school children received exciting prizes, further recognised and awarded ‘Best Teacher’, ‘Best School’ and ‘Certificate of Association’, during TSEP annual event, presented by the chief guest along with the guests of honour and Toyota leadership, appreciating the enthusiasm, good learning, active participation, and contributions towards promoting road safety.

India with its huge population and diverse road networks, experiences a high road accident annually. The report for calendar year 2022* reveals that the number of road accidents, the number of persons killed, and the number of injuries has increased compared to previous years by 11.9%, 9.4% and 15.3% respectively. Further, young adults in the age group of 18 – 45 years accounted for 66.5 per cent of the fatal road accident victims during 2022.

In this regard, TKM is actively addressing the issue through TSEP, adopting a visionary “Child to Community” approach that goes beyond manufacturing safe cars, to actively ensure the safety of individuals on roads. With specific focus on school children, TSEP aims to cultivate change agents to influence and facilitate road safety practices within their local communities as well. 

Present at the TSEP Annual event, Mr. M. N. Anucheth, IPS, Joint Commissioner of Police (Traffic) – Government of Karnataka, said, “We commend Toyota Kirloskar Motor for their proactive efforts in promoting road safety through the Toyota Safety Education Programme (TSEP), thereby contribute to the goal of zero road fatality. In a country grappling with rising road accidents and fatalities, initiatives like TSEP play a crucial role in fostering a culture of responsible road behaviour from an early age.

The ‘Child to Community’ approach adopted through TSEP is visionary, as it not only enables road safety learnings amongst school children, but also empowers them to become advocates of change within their local communities. TSEP well aligns with the urgent need for comprehensive road safety initiatives in the state.” 

Speaking during the TSEP annual event, Mr. Sudeep. S. Dalvi, Chief Communication Officer & Senior Vice President and Director – Toyota Kirloskar Motor, said, “TSEP aims to empower the next generation to be the architects of change, instil good road behaviour that extends far beyond the steering wheel. Our goal is not only to encourage road safety learnings amongst the children, but to inspire and create a ripple effect that extends from schools to the larger community, thereby adopting a sustainable approach through effective road safety initiatives such as TSEP. As we look back at the success of having reached over 7,90,000 school children through various road safety initiatives, we envision a future where the school children are not just road users, but responsible ones.

Additionally, various road safety initiatives (such as Toyota Hackathon, TSEP, etc) undertaken by the company includes capacity building for teachers, improved school recognition, road safety contributions to national and global priorities (UN SDG3), and development of life skill sets amongst school children.”

TKM has collaborated with more than 44 schools in Bangalore, implementing interactive content, assessments, club activities for experiential learning, intra-school events, and a national championship. The program’s learning outcomes includes comprehending safe road user behaviour, advocating for good samaritan behaviour during accidents and instilling awareness of responsible road behaviour among students. Apart from the primary audiences such as students and teachers, the TSEP continues to enhance its outreach to the secondary audiences i.e., community including school bus drivers, family members, and so forth. Furthermore, TKM’s partnerships with various Schools, Bangalore Traffic Police, Think Tanks, and Influencers have played a crucial role in the success of TSEP. The program covers schools across all eight educational blocks of Bangalore urban districts.

Through TKM’s dedicated road safety initiatives, the company envisions a future where school children become a responsible road user and contribute significantly to the goal of ‘zero road fatality’.