Category news

India, 2nd March 2023: Radio City, the largest FM radio network in India, announces the launch of one of the most premium properties Radio City Freedom Awards (RCFA) with this year’s theme being ‘Bridging Boundaries’. Over the last few years, independent music has had a meteoric rise in terms of acceptance and consumption. Today independent music is no longer niche, artists are performing across the country and going on international tours, independent music is being accepted on mainstream media, brands across segments are collaborating with independent artists to tell their brand story, independent music is truly bridging boundaries within the media and entertainment ecosystem.

Radio City Freedom Awards is a pre-eminent platform for commemorating, appreciating, and celebrating the innate talent of the indie music culture in India. In addition to recognizing authentic compositions, Radio City Freedom Awards also recognizes outstanding non-music contributions to the independent music community. The seventh edition of Radio City Freedom Awards has been launched on 28th February 2023 and the award ceremony is slated for 28th March 2023 via a virtual platform.

New-age artists and music has been thriving in India and the idea behind launching Radio City Freedom Awards was to draw attention to and garner support for independent musicians while also exposing the audience to a diverse range of performers. To celebrate the work of emerging and veteran artists from India’s independent music culture, the nomination categories for this year’s Radio City Freedom Awards are Best Hip-Hop/Rap Artist, Best Folk Fusion Artist, Best Pop Artist, Best Rock Artist, Best Metal Artist, and Best Electronica Artist. In addition to categories based on musical genre, there are awards for Best Video, Best Independent Collaborator, etc. To keep the audience engaged, Radio City plans to conduct various concerts across Mumbai, Delhi, and Bangalore during the nomination and shortlisting phase.

Mr. Ashit Kukian, Chief, Executive Officer, Radio City said, “Over a decade ago, Radio City became the first FM radio station in the country to build a platform to promote Indie music culture. In today’s time, India’s Indie culture is echoing the international trends and the indie artists are booming. The objective of Radio City Freedom Awards is to celebrate the musical journey of indie artists, and edify listeners with premium quality music in a variety of genres. With the seventh edition of Radio City Freedom Awards, we aspire recognizing the fortitude of indie music and artists whose work celebrates the nuances of Indian folklore.”

Radio City has always been a catalyst of inspiration for countless creative people around the nation and is popularly known for being the pioneer of promoting indie culture. The latest edition of Radio City Freedom Awards is set to be most electrifying as it will feature India’s most talented independent artists and musicians from across genres. This year’s jury consists of stalwarts from the music industry namely Atul Churamani – Managing Director of Turnkey Music & Publishing Pvt. Ltd., a company he founded to support independent artists publish and self-release music; Anurag Tagat – Assistant Editor at Rolling Stone India; Vijay Basrur – Founder of OK Listen Media; Heena Kriplani – Head of TuneCore; Aishwarya Natarajan – Founder of Indianuance; and Narendra Kusnur – Freelance music journalist, online music show presenter, content consultant in music apps. RCFA has grown to become one of the most sought-after awards with each passing year, garnering rising curiosity and integration from artists across the globe to participate in this celebration of musical creativity and diversity.

Commenting on the launch of Radio City Freedom Awards Season 7, Rachna Kanwar, Chief Operating Officer – Digital Media, Radio City & Mid-day said, “With Radio City Freedom Awards, we’ve come a long way from the first season way back in 2013. The journey has been exciting and fulfilling and we feel fortunate that along the way, we became a part of many inspiring journeys of indie artists and the industry itself. This is an exciting time for us as we unveil the seventh season of Radio City Freedom Awards. Over the years, Radio City has built the most coveted platform for artists to showcase their talent and connect with music lovers. Once again we look forward to receiving nominations from across the country and listening to some exceptional music. We are confident that through Radio City Freedom Awards, we will continue bridging boundaries and strengthening the aura of indie culture.”

Radio City started supporting the indie music culture from 2012 with the launch of the first web radio station called Radio City Freedom. The following year, Radio City introduced Radio City Freedom Awards, the biggest platform in India for celebrating and recognizing indie musicians across genres and languages. Over the seven seasons, Radio City Freedom Awards is India’s only audited & indigenous award for Indie Artists.

Cairo, Egypt, February 28 2023 – Garena has announced the Free Fire 2023 Esports roadmap, unveiling updates to its international Esports tournament format. In addition to the flagship Free Fire World Series (FFWS) that will take place in November, fans and players can look forward to the very first Free Fire SEA Invitationals (FFSI) that will soon commence in May.

The new addition is coupled with various adjustments to the tournament format, which will now comprise two milestone stages — the Group Stage and Grand Finals — in an extended tournament period. These updates to Free Fire Esports are expected to shake up the competitive Free Fire scene and raise the bar for both players and fans.

There will be one team from Free Fire Middle East and Africa (MEA) representing the region in the FFSI. As currently Free Fire Middle East and Africa running their professional tier league “Free Fire MEA Super Star” from 18th February till 18th March 2023, The Champion of Free Fire MEA Super Star will qualify directly to the FFSI. The event has 2 divisions, each has 12 teams from different countries across MEA including the big names such as WASK team from Morocco “the Champion of Free Fire Arab league Season 5”, and Alpha team from Algeria “The Champion of Free Fire Arab League Season 6”, Clear Vision from Kuwait, Viking team from Iraq, Dictators team from Tunisia, Police team from Egypt, and many more.

Fans and players can look forward to two key tournaments in 2023 — FFSI and FFWS
This year, Free Fire Esports will launch the FFSI, a new multiregional tournament designed to focus on the rivalries between select competitive regions. Set to take place in May across three weekends, the FFSI will look to host 18 teams across the regions of MCPS , Vietnam, Indonesia, Thailand, Europe, MEA , Taiwan, and Pakistan.

The iconic FFWS will also make its return in the second half of the year in November, featuring a spectacular line-up of the best Free Fire teams hailing from major competitive regions including Brazil and Latin America. Fans and players can look forward to an enhanced Esports experience, with more information to follow down the line.

Various Free Fire local leagues around the world will be held between February to April, and for a second time between July to October. Similar to previous years, local league rankings will determine the final teams promoted to FFSI and FFWS.

Upcoming key tournaments will feature a refreshed tournament format
Free Fire will introduce a new tournament format for its international Esports tournaments, which features a Group Stage and Grand Finals.

The Group Stage will take place over two weekends and will see 18 teams compete for 12 slots to the Grand Finals. The teams will be divided into 3 groups of 6, with 2 groups facing off across 6 games on each match day of the Group Stage. The top 12 teams based on the total number of points will then advance to the Grand Finals, which consists of 18 matches held across three days. Final placements will be based on the total points accumulated by the 12 finalist teams across the three days.

Newest adjustments seek to elevate Free Fire’s competitive landscape
The newest adjustments have been implemented with intentions of elevating the Free Fire Esports landscape. In the upcoming FFSI and FFWS, teams will be required to exhibit a greater level of skills, versatility, and consistency throughout all matches, and against different competitors. With an extended tournament period, Free Fire fans will also be able to fully immerse and progress along with their favorite teams and players as they strive to remain among the top Free Fire teams.

Stay tuned to the official Garena Free Fire Esports channels for exciting updates:
● Website
● YouTube
● Instagram

Free Fire can be downloaded on both the Apple iOS App and Google Play store.

28 February 2023, New Delhi: Jaipuria Institute of Management Alumni Association (JIMAA) , NCR chapter recently organized a health awareness campaign in Noida Section 150, which was a huge success. The event was attended by Honourable Mr. Manish Sharma, district senior vice president of BJP Noida, and was sponsored by InfraMantra, one of India’s leading real estate service provider.

The health awareness campaign was an interactive and engaging event that included various activities like Zumba, cycling, and other fun exercises to promote fitness and healthy living. Mr. Manish Sharma himself participated in these activities, encouraging others to prioritize their health and well-being. This approach reflects a growing recognition of the importance of sports and physical activity in maintaining a healthy and well-rounded lifestyle.

Manish Sharma highlighted the focus on sports infrastructure in the development of Noida Sector 150 and stated that the region was developed with the aim of promoting sports and an active lifestyle, and developers were specifically requested to incorporate sports facilities in their projects. With its focus on sports infrastructure, Noida Sector 150 provides a promising model for other regions to follow in promoting fitness and wellness among their residents.

“I am delighted to have participated in this health awareness campaign organized by JIMAA. It’s essential to promote healthy living in our communities, and events like this help create awareness and encourage people to prioritize their health. Noida Section 150 was developed with the future in mind, and I’m glad to see that we are continuing to build a healthier and more sustainable community.” Said Mr. Manish Sharma.

Speaking about the event, Mr. Garvit Tiwari, Director & Co-Founder at InfraMantra, said, “Being part of Alumni , I am delighted to be a part of such a successful health awareness campaign in Noida . InfraMantra always promote healthy living and encourage people to take care of their health, and we believe we have achieved that through this event. We are grateful to Mr. Manish Sharma & Alumni’s of Jaipuria institute of management-NCR chapter for their support and encouragement.”

The event was attended by a large number of people, including residents of Noida Section 150, JIMAA members, and representatives from various organizations. The attendees appreciated the efforts of JIMAA and expressed their willingness to participate in similar events in the future.

InfraMantra is committed to promoting health and well-being among the community and will continue to be a part of such events in the future. InfraMantra would like to thank everyone who attended the event and made it a grand success.

Ramanagara’s name was based on the historical story of the Ramayana. One place which traces its history to Ramayana is Rama temple near Ramanagara. Local residents still worship at the temple as they believe Lord Rama had walked through this place during vanavasa. His footsteps on the banks of Arkavathi have been “well preserved” even today. Not just that small temple has been constructed to preserve the “scared” footsteps.

Kakasura Betta, which is nearby, also has an interesting legend connected with it. Locals say that when Rama and Sita were exiled to the forest, Kaakasura, a demon, smitten by Sita’s looks, took the form of a crow and began harassing her. When Sita requested Rama to intervene, Rama flung a piece of grass to the crow. The grass turned into an arrow which struck the trouble-making crow, blinding its one eye. Seeing its life in danger, the demon pleaded with Lord Rama to forgive him. Lord Rama did that and in turn also ordered him never to come back on the hillock. Locals claim since then, not a single crow is found in this place.

Hence when Dr Ashwathnarayan recently visited Ayodhya along with silver brick dedication for the upcoming Ayodhya temple. He paid the visit along with 150 local pilgrims from Ramnagara; he did complete justice to this relevance with conviction. As a leader who is not just born into a Hindu family but is a strong practitioner of Hindu ideology. Such godly interventions will bring in added prosperity and growth to the district.

Hinduism teaches that every Hindu should not just respect another Hindu, but all humans above all religious lines, sect, communal and caste divisions. Hinduism preaches cohesiveness and preservation not only of mankind but of all natural resources, animals, and all other species. As per widespread belief & available information, the only religion anywhere in the globe in which nature is worshipped, where trees, birds, and planets are revered in Hinduism. So, when a person claims to be a strong Hindutva leader, he is wanting to become a true humanitarian leader in totality.

Ramanagara is well known for its sericulture, and is nicknamed Silk Town and Silk City. The silk produced in this region forms the input for the famous Mysore Silk. Ramanagara is the largest market for silk cocoons in Asia. The town is not just known for “Sholay” film or local granites but much more.

New Delhi, 28th February 2023: Avni- a feminine care & hygiene startup has announced that it has set up first-of-its-kind educational workshops to promote menstrual health and hygiene. The workshops intend to burst period myths and address queries of mothers of young girls who are about to enter or have just begun menstruating.

A qualified paediatrician will lead the private workshops and provide mothers and girls with verified content to help them understand the root cause of culturally internalized taboos; UTI-related infection problems; causes of irregular periods, heavy periods, Premenstrual Syndrome (PMS); the negative effects of poor quality plastic-based sanitary pads including Toxic shock syndrome (TSS), vaginal odour, rashes, itchiness, swelling and more importantly planning for menstrual periods and disposal of sanitary napkins. Currently, the workshops are held once a month, however, based on demand, Avni intends to increase the frequency of these informative workshops to once every three weeks.

Commenting on the initiation of menstrual educational workshops, Mrs. Sujata Pawar- Co-Founder, of Avni- a menstrual healthcare startup said “With so many initiatives to incentivize women’s welfare, poor menstrual hygiene is still an insufficiently recognized problem in India. To address the same holistically and prevent girls from dropping out of school due to problems concerning menstruation, we have rolled out workshops to educate adolescent girls within the framework of extensive sexual education about health issues in general and menstrual and sexual health in particular. These workshops are also designed to raise awareness among girls, and parents – both mothers and fathers – of the value and advantages of organic sanitary napkins and other menstrual protection alternatives, and to encourage them to maintain safe practices, knowledge, and attitudes throughout their lives while also passing it on to the next generation.”

Avni has a total of 8 products listed on its website, with over 100 variants for customers to choose from. Avni’s range of skin-friendly, environmentally friendly, and chemical-free product line includes Avni Anti-microbial reusable cloth pads- Avni Lush & Avni Fluff, Avni Natural Cotton Sanitary Pads, Avni Period Wear Wash, Avni Menstrual Cup & Wash, Avni Antibacterial Soothing Intimate Care Wipes and Organic Cotton Pantyliners. Avni’s best-selling product is washable sanitary napkins and panty liners, followed by cotton disposable pads.

Inspired by Grandmoms and Ayurveda, Avni as a conscious menstrual hygiene brand has been initiating multiple no-filter conversations surrounding period myths and taboos through its multiple initiative and outreach programs. Additionally, to address the lack of understanding among women users towards its reusable menstrual products and to help them with their queries, Avni also launched a 24X7 support helpline.

Dr. Uma Bhardwaj Vice Chancellor of Noida International University was invited as a Chief Guest for the 18th convocation of Pokhara Central University by the Vice Chancellor Prof(Dr.) Prem Narayan Arya. The Honorable Prime Minister of Nepal Mr. Pushpa Kamal Dahal ‘Prachand’ is also the Chancellor of Pokhara Central University.
He greeted Prof(Dr.) Uma Bhardwaj the vice chancellor of Noida International University.

Prof(Dr.) Uma Bhardwaj addresses in the convocation that “NIU has been a steadfast supporter of improving the nation’s medical infrastructure and demonstrating its dedication towards accessible healthcare for the general public around the world. The education sector has been long overdue to adapt to the latest technology trends as a refreshing change. Since the pandemic, we have witnessed new ways of learning, as education has moved from the classroom to the home. Noida International University and Pokhara University just inked an MOU, where they will work together for the benefit of students in the future. Prof(Dr) Uma Bhardwaj congratulated the recipients on their
degrees and medals, she wished them a very bright future ahead.”

Bhubaneswar, February 27, 2023: IndiGoReach, the CSR arm of IndiGo and InterGlobe Foundation (IGF), the philanthropic arm of InterGlobe Enterprises, organised their second heritage walk on February 26, 2023 at Bhubaneswar, Odisha. The walk is part of the ‘My City My Heritage’ campaign, which aims to raise awareness about the value and importance of heritage and culture in India and sets the tone for conversations and partnerships around the preservation of both tangible and intangible heritage. The ‘My City My Heritage’ campaign was commenced in November 2022 with a panel discussion event in Delhi, followed bythe first heritage walk atPrayagraj in December 2022.

The second walk conducted in the temple town of Bhubaneswar was led by Dr. Kavita Gupta and curated by Culture, a venture that fosters heritage appreciation. The walk explored historic landmarks like Parsurameswara Temple, Mukteswara Temple, Sampurna jaleswar Temple, BinduSagar, Ananta Vasudeva Temple, Sukasari Temple and Baitala Temple concluded at Vaital Deula.

Speaking at the occasion, Pieter Elbers, Chief Executive Officer, IndiGo said, “Uncovering the rich heritage of Bhubaneswar, through our second ‘My City My Heritage’ walk was a journey across time and tradition. From grand monuments to historic architecture, Bhubaneswar is a treasure trove of stories and legends, waiting to be explored. At IndiGo, we believe in preserving these architectural wonders for future generations to cherish. In fact, we will probably soon be connecting Bhubaneswar, one of our 78 domestic destinations, to international destinations
bringing inbound tourists to explore these architectural marvels. We will continue to demonstrate our commitment to being responsible and contributing back to the community we serve, while enhancing the accessibility through our unparalleled network, connecting people and places.” Rohini Bhatia, Chairperson, InterGlobe Foundation, said: “InterGlobe Foundation is proud to be part of the ‘My City My Heritage’ campaign. Bhubaneswar is known for its rich history, intricate architecture, diverse art forms, temples, and historical landmarks. We are extremely excited to
explore and showcase this city through our campaign. The Foundation has always encouraged people to preserve our built cultural heritage, which represents our history and roots, and this campaign will further help raise awareness and promote cultural preservation. InterGlobe Foundation remains committed to providing sustainable livelihoods, conserving the environment, and preserving our nation’s heritage and culture for future generations.” The ‘My City My Heritage’ campaign draws on material previously developed by InterGlobe Foundation in partnership with Sahapedia as part of a project to explore, document, and spread the diverse heritage and cultural aspects of ten Indian cities : Prayagraj, Indore, Nashik, Bhubaneswar, Hyderabad, Ahmedabad, Chandigarh, Goa, Kolkata, and Shillong. More than two hundred cultural points of interest were identified as part of this project, and the material
developed, including cultural mapping articles, self-guided trails, listicles, museum mapping, cultural calendars, photography, etc., has been captured in the form of city booklets, which are now available to the public in both print and digital formats.

Both, InterGlobe Foundation and IndiGoReach have individually taken forward various projects for promoting heritage conservation and preservation in India. Some of the major projects of InterGlobe Foundation include, the conservation and cultural revival of Abdur Rahim Khan-I- Khanan’s mausoleum in Delhi, the cultural mapping and documentation of ten cities, and the restoration of the stepwell “IndraKund” in Delwara, Rajasthan. Recently, InterGlobe Foundation also launched the InterGlobe HERITAGE Fellowships to engage a cross-section of the public in documenting and researching the cultural heritage of India and help increase its awareness. IndiGoReach also undertook projects for the conservation of Muhammed Qutb Shah’s Mausoleum at the QutbShahi Heritage Park in Hyderabad and the restoration of the interiors of the Lal Bagh Palace in Indore, Madhya Pradesh.

27th February 2023, Kolkata: The much-awaited JIS Samman Sports & Games – 2023 organized by JIS Group kicked off on Monday, 27th February at Guru Nanak College Campus. The opening ceremony witnessed the esteemed presence of Sambaran Banerjee, Former Captain, Ranji Trophy & Indian Cricketer, and Dipendu Biswas, Indian National Footballer. The joyful presence of the tiny ones from Ananadamoyee School for Specially Abled Children heightened the excitement of the opening session.

The Inter College JIS Samman Sports & Games – 2023 witnessed a gala opening ceremony with all the fourteen teams lined up for the national anthem which was followed by a colorful parade. The players were escorted by the children from Anandamoyee School and took the event forward. The JIS Samman Sports & Games – 2023 featured a wide range of sports including football, basketball, cricket, badminton, and table tennis. The tournament drew a large number of spectators who cheered on their favorite teams and athletes. The tournament culminated with the finals of all sports being played on the last day. The winners and runners-up were awarded prizes and trophies following the tournament.

Commenting on the tournament, Managing Director of JIS Group, Sardar Taranjit Singh said, “We are delighted to organize the inter-college sports tournament once again. This tournament is not only about sports but also about building friendships, camaraderie, and fostering a sense of community among college students and staff and we look forward to more such events in the future.”

Shri S Somanath (4th from right), Chairman ISRO, Secretary Department of Space; presenting the prestigious Award of Recognition, on behalf of ISRO; to Dr. Imron Subhan (extreme right), Head of Emergency Department, Apollo Hospitals, Jubilee Hills, Hyderabad; for the Emergency Medicine Department of Apollo Hospitals, Hyderabad’s contribution to developing the HEALTH QUEST, patient safety protocols for medical emergency care; at the ISRO Headquarters, Bangalore, today; as (L-R) Dr. Leeann Zacharaiah, Emergency Physician, Apollo Hospitals; Dr. Tejasvi Chikatla, Emergency Consultant, Apollo Hospitals; Dr. Alexander Thomas, President, Association of Healthcare Providers India; Dr. S. Saravana Kumar, President, Society for Emergency Medicine India; Smt Brinda V, Director Safety, Reliability & Quality, ISRO & Dr. Ramyashree Bhargavi, Emergency Physician, Apollo Hospitals.

Hyderabad, February 27th, 2023: Indian Space Research Organisation, conferred the prestigious Award of Recognition, to the Emergency Medicine Department of Apollo Hospitals Hyderabad; in recognition of its long contribution in developing the HEALTH QUEST, patient safety protocols for emergency departments. Shri S. Somnath, Chairman, ISRO and Secretary, Department of Space, Government of India; presented the award to Dr. Imron Subhan, Head of Emergency Medicine, Apollo Hospitals, Hyderabad and Past President of Society for Emergency Medicine India and the Emergency Team of the Apollo Hospitals, Hyderabad; at the ISRO Headquarters, Bangalore, today.

HEALTH QUEST (Health Quality Upgradation Enabled through Space Technology) is a collaborative project of the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO); Association of Healthcare Providers India (AHPI) and the Society for Emergency Medicine India (SEMI). These zero error emergency medicine protocols, will serve as the Standard Operating Procedures for emergency departments of hospitals, across India. Apollo Hospitals, Hyderabad; has been accredited to provide expert inputs as well as implement the final patient safety standards.

“ISRO space scientists and emergency medicine specialists; had several rounds of brainstorming since 2017, to explore adopting ISRO’s zero error principles into emergency medicine. Together we were able to integrate the best practices from both space technology and healthcare domains to make emergency department care safer and better for our patients”. says Dr. Imron Subhan, Head of Emergency Medicine at Apollo and Past President of SEMI.

These Heath QUEST recommendations were adopted by ten collaborating hospitals including Apollo Hospitals, Hyderabad, and have benefitted immensely with immediate improvement in the overall patient care. The next version of the recommendations will be made available to all hospitals in India, on completion of the current implementation in select hospitals.

Hyderabad, February 27th, 2023: Indian Organization for Rare Diseases (IORD), a not-for-profit national advocacy organization, working for the cause of patients with rare diseases, spanning over the last fifteen years, hosted an awareness Bikeathon and Walkathon, to commemorate the World Rare Disease Day-2023, in association with the Government of Telangana. The event was supported by Nakoda Chemicals Ltd and Jeedimetla Effluent Treatment Limited (JETL).

The awareness Bikeathon and Walkathon was flagged off by Shri Jayesh Ranjan, IAS), Principal Secretary, I & C & IT,, Government of Telangana; today at People’s Plaza, Necklace Road. Over a thousand participants, including several survivors and patients suffering from these rare ailments, joined along with their kin.

Chief Guest Shri Jayesh Ranjan, addressing the gathering said, congratulate Indian Organization for Rare Diseases, for focusing on this very important aspect of healthcare. The whole world will observe the World Rare Disease Day, in two days from now. But to maintain focus through various awareness activities is something which is very relevant and important. Some of you will know that for the last two days a very important life sciences event was happening in the city called Bio Asia and there too on certain occasions we discussed this issue with some of the companies who manufacture medicines for some of these rare diseases. Finding medicine for such rare diseases is very difficult and the cost is exorbitant. We discussed with companies on how they could bring down the cost for such medication. As Dr Ramaiah Muthyala garu, discussed, there are precedents in other countries on how to take care of subsidizing and finding other alternatives financing methods for medication of these kinds of rare diseases. We discussed with Novartis on the company itself absorbing some of the costs, discussions are happening, hopefully we could arrive at some midway to provide a more structured kind of a safety net for these unfortunate patients. Yesterday I met people from Order a Genie Foundation, they are doing a deep study to identify some indicators which make some families susceptible to these kinds of rare diseases. They are contemplating some kind of a genetic screening program; collaborative opportunities could be explored with them. I am happy to see good turnout to support this cause and happy to represent the Government at this World Rare Disease Day-2023, Bikeathon and Walkathon hosted by Indian Organization for Rare Diseases.

Prof. Ramaiah Muthyala, President & CEO, Indian Organization for Rare Diseases; said, in 2021, the ministry of health and family welfare drafted the national policy for rare disease treatment. The policy is inadequate to serve the needs of rare disease patients because it is drafted by borrowing the US definition of rare diseases. To have a definition suitable to our country, one must know the prevalence or count of rare disease patients in India. To accomplish this, IORD initiated a pilot project to make an approximate count of rare disease patients with the generous support of the government of Telangana, permitting Accredited Social Health Activist (ASHA) workers to join hands with us. They have first-hand knowledge related to individual health-related matters. Preliminary results are very encouraging and received worldwide attention to adapt similar approaches to determine the prevalence of rare diseases.

Sri G. K. B. Chowdary, Chairman, Jeedimetla Effluent treatment Ltd; said, IORD is an eighteen-year-old organization and in 2014, our former President and beloves Shri APJ Abdul Kalam, initiated the programs of IORD to spread awareness about rare diseases. The people suffering from rare disease are few and far, but the trauma they endure is immense because there is no cure and medicine, available. IORD has taken the responsibility of spreading this awareness, sensitizing the government agencies as well as the industry and NGOs, to bring them together and eventually get a rare disease Act, as is prevalent in USA and other advanced countries, so that pharma and other industries develop products for rare disease patients.

World Rare Disease Day is observed globally on the last day of February (February 28 or February 29 on a leap year) to raise awareness about over 7000 identified rare diseases and the challenges faced by over 300 million people worldwide, including 90 million Indians.

In most countries, Rare Disease patients have to struggle for equitable access to diagnosis, healthcare, social care and opportunity all through their life. Most of these patients endure rare diseases, which don’t seem to have approved treatments or a cure in the near future. The theme of this year’s World Rare Disease Day is ‘Show Your Stripes and Share Your Colours.’ The Zebra stripes and the colours blue, pink, green and purple signify rare diseases.

The awareness bikeathon and walkathon event is part of a series of year-long activities undertaken by the Indian Organization for Rare Diseases. These activities include facilitating seminars, workshops, rallies, illumination of landmark buildings in rare disease colours and organizing interactive workshops with various rare disease stakeholders and groups.