Mumbai: A team headed by Dr Pavan Pai, Consultant Interventional Neurologist, Wockhardt Hospitals, Mira Road gave a second lease of life to a 56 years old woman who suffered from an Ischemic Stroke while exercising in the morning. The patient with complete right-side body weakness and drowsiness underwent a Mechanical Thrombectomy to be able to resume her daily routine. The patient went back home walking on her feet after getting discharged from the hospital.

Patient Sushma (name changed) resident of Mira Road, a homemaker, was exercising in the gym in the morning at 9:15 am when she suddenly developed right side weakness. Her son admitted her to Wockhardt Hospitals, Mira Road.

Dr Pavan Pai, Interventional Neurologist, Wockhardt Hospital, Mira Road said, “On arrival in an emergency at 12 pm Code White was announced. She had complete weakness in the right side of her body, couldn’t speak, and was drowsy. She had reached within a window period of 4.5 hours. Her MRI brain showed an Ischemic Stroke with a complete occlusion of a medium sized artery. She was given a clot buster injection at 12:30 pm and taken up for mechanical thrombectomy at 2 pm. Dr Pai added, “She underwent mechanical thrombectomy and the artery opened in 6 hours. She had an underlying heart problem named Rheumatic Heart Disease, resulting in a clot in the heart to dislodge and lead to the blockage of the artery.

The artery which was blocked was a medium vessel called anterior cerebral artery A2 segment. It is a distant artery which got blocked. To reach there with any device is challenging as the artery was smaller in calibre because of which it is inherently thin and delicate. She recovered well and went home in 6 days. Mechanical Thrombectomy is done to unclog the blocked artery and restore the blood supply. It is performed in Cath lab with access from femoral or radial arteries. The procedure lasted for 1 hour. After the thrombectomy, her consciousness level and limb power improved. She could go home walking in 6 days. Mechanical Thrombectomy is a life-saving procedure and can help stroke patients improve their quality of life. If done in a time bound manner with complete opening of the artery one can expect a complete recovery in a short span of time.”

There is a strong connection between winter and brain strokes (may lead to paralysis).” Cold weather constricts the blood vessels, which can increase blood pressure – a major risk factor for stroke. However, blood tends to thicken and become stickier during extreme cold, which makes it easier to clot. Most strokes are due to blood clotting, which blocks a blood vessel to the brain. Our bodies’ reaction to cold weather tends to put added stress on the heart as we “clamp down” to preserve heat and energy. There is a sudden spurt in the number of stroke cases. B.E.F.A.S.T (Balance Loss, Eyesight Blurring or Loss, Facial drooping, Arm weakness, Speech difficulties, and Time) and seek treatment within the golden hour of the stroke to recover without any complications. Wockhardt Hospitals, Mira Road is a Platinum Certified, high volume Stroke Care Centre with all facilities required for acute stroke care under one roof and caters to the needs of patients not only from Mira Bhayander but has satellite OPDs at Borivli, Vasai, Palghar, and Boisar.” said Dr Pai.

“I got a stroke and became unconscious. I was fortunate to receive timely intervention at Wockhardt Hospitals, Mira Road. I thank the doctors for saving my life. I urge other patients like me to take utmost care of themselves and stay in touch with the doctor on a regular basis. Also, don’t miss your check-ups and follow-ups, and take medication on time, “concluded patient Mrs Sushma.

New Delhi, 18 February 2023: Aviva Life Insurance, India’s most trusted private life insurance company, announced the launch of the Aviva Signature Guaranteed Income Plan. The non-linked, non-participating savings life insurance plan is designed to provide customers with a comprehensive solution to help them build long-term wealth while saving tax and guaranteeing a steady income stream in the long run.

The plan is crafted keeping in mind the financial needs of individuals across all stages of their lives, starting from young singles and couples to parents with young and grown-up children, couples nearing retirement, or already retired individuals and offer four distinct options:

Signature Moneymaker provides customers with guaranteed income annually from the second policy anniversary till the policy matures along with a lump sum at maturity so that they can enjoy tax benefits on premium payment and income payouts.

Signature Investor offers customers a lump sum payment on survival of the life insured till maturity to fulfil their long-term goals.

Signature Builder allows customers to receive guaranteed income over a payout period, with the guaranteed income beginning from one year after the end of the policy term to have a steady stream of income after the deferment period.

Lastly, Signature Saver pays out guaranteed income annually from one year after the end of the premium payment term till policy maturity for customers who require a guaranteed stream of income to fulfill child education or retirement goals.

Aviva Signature Guaranteed Income Plan offers up to three times guaranteed returns on total premiums and provides customers with tax-efficient early and deferred income options. Additionally, customers can expect loyalty additions, guaranteed maturity additions, and zero alteration charges for frequency changes. Furthermore, it has 26 policy and premium paying term variants, allowing customers to choose the option that best suits their financial needs.

Mr. Vinit Kapahi, Head of Marketing, said, “Our new Aviva Signature Guaranteed Income Plan aims to meet the diverse financial needs of policyholders at different phases of their lives. The plan will enable guaranteed, tax-free, long-term, risk-free wealth accumulation and income in a single offering, providing peace of mind and financial security. With four variants to choose from and a range of premium and policy term options, we aim to empower a wide range of customers to achieve their financial goals with confidence and peace of mind.”

Key highlights of the Aviva Signature Guaranteed Income Plan are:

• Up to three times of Guaranteed Returns on Total Premiums# Paid
• Tax-Efficient Early Income
• Tax-Efficient Deferred Income
• Tax-free Lump Sum
• Loyalty Additions, Guaranteed Maturity Additions
• Range of Premium Paying Term and Policy Term Variants – 26 in all
• Zero Alteration Charges for Frequency Change
• Dual Tax Benefits

# excluding the taxes, underwriting extra premiums, and loadings for modal premiums if any

New Delhi, February 18, 2023: Muscle & Strength India, one of the country’s leading retailers of fitness supplements & nutritional products has won two prestigious awards recently. The company has won the award for Best Health Supplement Chain in India which was presented by renowned Indian actor and film producer Arbaaz Khan in New Delhi. Brand Icon of Year 2023 award had recognized the companies who excelled in their respective fields through innovation & persistent efforts. In another feat during the National Startup Day celebration event in Mumbai, 1Million Entrepreneurs International Forum in association with VyapaarJagat.com recognized Muscle and Strength India as Vyapaar Ratna Award – Healthcare category. It is a prestigious platform that intends to recognize and applaud formidable first-generation Startups & MSME entrepreneurs who are visionaries in their respective fields.

Muscle and Strength India, which currently has 25 stores spread across multiple cities has the widest range with over 1000 fitness supplements and nutrition products from 42+ brands. These products are used for athletic performance, fitness and overall wellness. The company is looking to expand aggressively in the country through franchisee route as it seeks to deepen its presence in India’s growing nutritional supplement space.

Commenting on this recognition, Mr. Praveen Chirania, Founder, Muscle and Strength India, said, “Awards always motivate us to strive further and innovate and I wish to dedicate these awards with my incredible staff & franchisees, who share my vision and are driven by the same pursuit of excellence. In a short span of time, Muscle & Strength India has already made its mark with its authentic and genuine products. Our unwavering commitment towards genuine and economically priced supplements and consumer-focused innovation has increased consumers’ trust in our brand. We thank the jury and the organizers for conferring us with these esteemed awards”.

“Since our inception, we have always strived to deliver the best products and services to our customers. We are elated that our commitment towards quality and innovation in the industry has been recognized. This is indeed a proud moment for the Muscle & Strength India family as also a great reassurance and reinforcement for our brand by our valued and satisfied consumer base. It will strengthen our commitment and going forward, we aim to launch products in various variants, focusing on different health and wellness categories and segments.” added Praveen.

India is at an apex of a fitness revolution where the larger population embraces the fitness industry. Muscle & Strength India is a leading brand in the supplements space today endorsed by celebrities and athletes like Mika Singh, Shreyas Talpade, and Tarun Gill amongst others. Muscle and Strength India offers a comprehensive range of genuine high-quality fitness supplement and nutritional products across categories such as proteins, vitamins, minerals and herbal supplements etc manufactured by international fitness brands under a single roof.

Kolkata 18th February, 2023: Ms Sudarshana Mukherjee, Councillor, Ward 68, Kolkata Municipal Corporation announced a unique street carnival ‘Paanch Phoron’ featuring fashion, lifestyle, food, home-décor, art carnival with interactive workshops for senior citizens, women, differently abled etc. at Citizens’ Park, Cornfield Road, Kolkata. Present on the occasion were Mr Debojyoti Mishra, Music Director, Revered Dilip Maharaj, Bharat Sevashram Sangha, Mr Swapan Basu, Folk Singer and Mr Siddhartha Chatterjee, Actor & Financial Analyst.

Hyderabad, 18 February 2023: India’s largest producer of iron ore NMDC swept five awards at the Governance Now 9th PSU Awards held in New Delhi on 16 February 2023. The ceremony witnessed the presence of Justice Shri Dipak Mishra, Former Chief Justice of India, Supreme Court as the Chief Guest to felicitate the winners. The Governance Now Awards recognize and celebrate the commitment of PSUs in raising the standards in the public sector to create socio-economic value for the country.

CMD Shri Sumit Deb was felicitated with the coveted PSU Leadership Award 2022 and NMDC also brought home accolades for CSR Leadership, CSR Commitment (Overall), HR Excellence (Overall), and Nation Building, all received by Shri DK Mohanty, Director (Production) on behalf of NMDC. He thanked the team of Governance Now, jury members, and Justice Shri Dipak Mishra for recognizing the company’s efforts and said, “NMDC’s commitment to nation-building and creating economic value for the country has been consistent. We will continue to enhance and strengthen the company’s processes for overall efficiency.”

Shri Sumit Deb, CMD, NMDC said, “As we gear up to build a new India together, NMDC dives headfirst into reinventing its digital infrastructure for technological prowess, to serve the country better. We thank Governance Now for acknowledging our sincere efforts to bring honour to the nation by creating meaningful change in people’s lives.”

India, February 17th, 2023: TeamLease EdTech, India’s leading learning solutions provider, recently launched its Career Outlook Report for Jan – Jun 2023 HY underlining some critical trends in the Indian job market that will guide freshers to navigate their job hunt for the coming months.

Career Outlook Report presents a deeper analysis of hiring intent across sectors and regions. Some key findings of the report are:

•  In Spite of the global gloom, intent to hire freshers for Indian employers has marginally increased by 3% (62%) compared to July-December 2022 (59%).
•  62% of employers surveyed across India intend to hire freshers during January-June 2023.
•  Cloud Developer, Investment Banking Associate, Cybersecurity Engineer, Marketing Analyst,Social Media Specialist, Content Writer, Campaign Associate, Microbiologists and Biomedical Engineers have emerged as top roles in fresher hiring
•  DevOps, Corporate Finance, Artificial Intelligence, and Project Management are domain skills in high demand.
•  Some top-rated soft skills include Negotiation and Persuasive Skills, Cognitive Flexibility, Curiosity/Continual Learning, and Emotional Intelligence.

The top three industries with the most robust Intent to hire freshers are Information Technology (67%), Ecommerce & Technology Start-ups (52%) and Telecommunications (51%). Amongst the Tier I cities, Bangalore comes at the top with maximum openings for freshers at 75%, closely followed by Mumbai (56%) and Delhi (47%). Degree and certification in DevOps, Supply Chain Management, Data Engineering, Business and Corporate Law are a few in-demand courses solicited by prospective employers.

The full report is available here

On the report’s release, Founder & CEO TeamLease EdTech, Mr Shantanu Rooj, said, “Even in the face of a global muted sentiments around team hiring, a large number of Indian employers have expressed their intention to hire freshers; some to create a long term supply channel whereas others to replace their expensive resources with fresh trainable talents. Whereas this is good news for fresh graduates coming out from universities, we shall be watchful of the intention translating to actual hiring in the coming months.”

Neeti Sharma, President & Co-Founder TeamLease Edtech, added, “It’s interesting to see positive hiring sentiments for freshers amidst global turbulence and whispers of economic winter. As aspiring graduates and freshers, the key here is to identify the industries that demonstrate an optimistic view and the job skills that would have good demand in the future. Now is the time for job seekers to acquaint themselves with current market trends and invest in the right skills and courses to improve their chances of landing their first jobs”.

Dr. Balbir Singh, Chairman- Cardiac Sciences, Max Hospital, Saket, New Delhi

As we keep going into the down year and try to look back at the progress of care of cardiac patients, we realize the rising number of heart disease patients in the country. We also understand the high risk and high death rates in elderly people.

This means we as cardiologists have to be extra careful, revising, and learning more technological skills. The good news for the patients is that we are improving technologies and new, safer procedures at Max Super Specialty Hospital at Saket. This is our endeavor to add more skills and save more lives.

The new technique which has been added at Max Saket and provides additional benefits are the Mitral Valve Clip, Cryoablation and the use of remote monitoring cardiac rhythm.

Being the pioneer investigator for all these new therapies, several patients who were not treatable are now finding benefits. The first Cryoablation in a patient with atrial fibrillation was performed in Nov of last year and the patient is asymptomatic on a one-year follow-up.

One of the toughest encounters that cardiologists face among the geriatric population is associated co-morbidities like renal, pulmonary, Cerebrovascular, and frailty that makes them highly vulnerable for cardiac surgery. But the latest innovations which are guided by these concerns emphasize minimally invasive interventions making the procedure much safer. Apart from the hardware, in the percutaneous intervention (PCI) the emphasis is laid on partially or completely absorbable stent platforms. They are hypothesized to decrease the late stent associated events and likely decrease dual antiplatelet therapy duration.

It has been often noticed, that in many cases though people are aware of the problems associated with their lifestyle choices, however, they continue doing that. Apart from aging, the major contributors to the problem are irregular sleep cycles, bad eating habits, stress, hypertension, pollution, high cholesterol, tobacco, alcohol, and many more. Therefore, Max Hospital Saket as an initiative to spread knowledge and awareness on how people make themselves prone to heart ailments used this platform. The experts also shared the ways to notice any early symptoms of heart attack and reach out to the nearest hospital for medical assistance.

Mumbai: 17 February 2023: A play based on the life of Padmashree Recipient, Dr. Mukesh Batra was witnessed by the audience at Sophia Bhabha Auditorium. Also present on the occasion was Rakesh Maria, Former Police Commissioner of Mumbai, Madhoo Shah, Indian actress known for her works predominantly in Hindi, Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam and Kannada. Pritish Nandy, an Indian poet, painter, journalist, parliamentarian, media and television personality, animal activist and maker of films, TV and streaming content.

Jeena Isi Ka Naam Hai makes history after two housefull shows which was the first theatrical performance to ever be depicted on the life of a living person. A gripping performance, the play depicts the real-life failures and challenges that Dr. Mukesh Batra endured on his journey towards becoming an entrepreneurial visionary and celebrated homeopath. The story on how he built the world’s largest chain of homeopathy clinics is captured through this play. This one-of-its-kind multimedia Indian theatrical production with background visuals and a star cast of more than 25 actors and over 100 crew inspired the audience with its intensity. The play is funny and sad in parts but overall creates great inspiration and a sense of pride in identifying with a global Indian.

Overwhelmed by the audience response at Sophia Bhabha Auditorium, Dr. Mukesh Batra said, “I’m thankful to all those who took their time out to witness my journey here at Sophia and for the encouragement and appreciation that the play has received. I am grateful that my life experiences can be a guide for others and hope it will help them in their own journeys.”

New Delhi, 17 February 2023: Leading private life insurer, Bajaj Allianz Life Insurance today unveiled the second edition of its flagship survey Bajaj Allianz Life India’s Life Goals Preparedness Survey 2023, which identifies the Life Goals and aspirations of Indians. It is designed to capture a complete picture of India’s Life Goals, aspirations, influencers, and readiness toward achieving these goals. The comprehensive study maps over 40 Life Goals and evaluates how Indians are preparing themselves to achieve these goals.

Providing financial security for the family emerges as the top Life Goal for Indians post-pandemic with 71% of Indians prioritizing it over other goals. Retirement planning, leading a balanced lifestyle, and providing for children’s education continues to feature among the top Life Goals, finds the Bajaj Allianz Life India’s Life Goals Preparedness Survey 2023. New focus areas like career growth, traveling abroad, and ensuring adequate care for aging parents are also emerging as important Life Goals for Indians. Interestingly, the average number of goals increased from 5 in 2019 to 11 in 2023.

The life Goals Preparedness Index, which is a function of confidence, knowledge, and action taken towards financial planning for one’s Life Goals, stood at 47 as Indians aspire for more Life Goals post the pandemic.

INDIA’S TOP LIFE GOALS ACROSS CATEGORIES

•  71% of the respondents have financial security for their family as the most important Life Goal
•  Post-covid, 84% of Indians have the desire for living a balanced life as compared to 51% in 2019
•  1 in 2 Indians say living a balanced life is their priority Life Goal
•  2 in 3 Indians have health and fitness goals up from 35% in 2019
•  Being physically and mentally fit is amongst the top 5 Life Goals for respondents
•  Health goals see a sharp increase in non-metro regions with a 33% points jump
•  2X increase in Indians pursuing travel goals over 2019, particularly in metros and among younger consumers
•  8 in 10 Indians across salaried or business segments have career-related Life Goals, a 1.5X jump over 2019
•  Pursuing higher education is a Life Goal for 1 in 4 Indians
•  Ensuring adequate care for aged parents is a priority Life Goal for 40% of the respondents
•  Philanthropy is sustained as a new-age Life Goal, including avenues like providing employment opportunities, supporting other’s dreams, or imparting knowledge through teaching
•  1.6X Increase in Indians looking to contribute towards creating a social impact

“It’s interesting to observe that India’s goals are a mix of accomplishing important goals like financially securing their family and leading a balanced life, along with having an aspiration to do more in one life. This reflects the strong tenets of the growing economy of India and the increasing confidence amongst Indians. Post-pandemic, the country has emerged stronger and our fundamentals to progress as a nation has outshone many, which I believe has fueled the aspirations of the nation,” said Tarun Chugh, MD & CEO, Bajaj Allianz Life Insurance at the unveiling of India’s Life Goals Preparedness Survey 2.0, here in New Delhi.

DRIVERS OF LIFE GOALS

The Bajaj Allianz Life India’s Life Goals Preparedness Survey 2023 reveals that the average number of influencers increased from 3 to 4 in 2023, as people felt comfortable reaching out for more advice. Interestingly, social media sites and influencers enjoy widespread popularity, even as the reliance on family, elders, and friends for advice continues to increase.

•  Social media is amongst the top 3 influencers of Life Goals for Indians
•  Over 2X increase in the importance of social media in fueling new age health, travel & lifestyle goals
•  The rising influence of social media amongst non-millennials in deciding Life Goals

“The pandemic has certainly shaped our outlook towards life, career, health, and family. A deep realization about wanting to do more and living a holistic life encompassing self-care, family security, and societal-wellbeing surfaces across cohorts of socioeconomic profiles. Further, the survey underlines a key finding that Life Insurance continues to be a reliable anchor and enabler to India’s Life Goals,” said Chandramohan Mehra, Chief Marketing Officer, Bajaj Allianz Life Insurance.

INDIA’S PREPAREDNESS TO ACHIEVE THEIR LIFE GOALS

The Life Goals Preparedness Index of Indians was 47 in 2023, indicative of their growing aspirations post Covid.

•  Indians are confident of achieving 1 in 2 Life Goals. For 48% of their Life Goals, they are unsure of achieving them
•  When it comes to financial planning of Life Goals, Indians feel that they have not done sufficient financial planning for 60% of their own Life Goals
•  61% of people feel that it is difficult to fulfill the dream of building their own house
•  67% feel financial freedom in old age is tough to accomplish
•  58% expressed that achieving financial security for their family is difficult

WHERE INDIANS PREFER TO INVEST TO ENABLE THEIR LIFE GOALS

Life Insurance is the most preferred investment option for 65% of the Life Goals.

•  For Retirement Life Goals, the preference for Life Insurance increases even further
•  82% of Indians prefer investing in Life Insurance for financial freedom at old age
•  77% Indians prefer Life Insurance for a secure and carefree retirement
•  73% of Indians prefer Life Insurance for the financial security of their family – the most important Life Goal post-pandemic

RESEARCH DESIGN

Kantar IMRB conducted the Bajaj Allianz Life India’s Life Goals Preparedness Survey 2023 with 1936 people across 13 cities including metros, Tier 1, and emerging Tier 2 cities. Cities covered:

•  North: New Delhi, Ludhiana, and Bareilly
•  East: Kolkata, Patna, and Bhubaneswar
•  West: Mumbai, Surat, and Amravati
•  South: Chennai, Bangalore, Madurai, and Guntur

Demographics include:

•  Age group 22-55 years
•  New Consumer Classification System (NCCS) A1+, A1, A2/A3 (20:50:30 ratio)
•  Salaried and Businessman/Self-employed (50:50)
•  Investment decision-makers

Statistically valid insights were gathered through a quantitative approach to provide a holistic understanding of India’s Life Goals. The data collection was done using tablet-based faced-to-face interviews. The survey data was collected in October 2022.