Archives March 2023

Bangalore, India: March 7, 2023 – Quantum Corporation (NASDAQ: QMCO), the leader in solutions for video and unstructured data, today announced a partnership with WaitTime, the industry leader in crowd intelligence analytics, to deliver a certified solution that provides real-time crowd intelligence using video surveillance data captured and stored by Quantum’s Unified Surveillance Platform (USP). Quantum certified WaitTime AI software to run effectively on USP and offer easy deployment to organizations that want to maximize the value of their video surveillance data, like extracting crowd intelligence insights intended to deliver a better customer experience.

Quantum’s Unified Surveillance Platform is a unified compute and storage platform that is highly resilient and designed to retain data even if hardware fails. It is capable of scaling to handle tens of thousands of cameras. USP has the added advantage of being able to manage and run multiple physical security applications on a single infrastructure, including analytics applications like WaitTime. The combined USP and WaitTime solution uses data produced by video surveillance cameras to analyze queues in venues such as stadiums, malls, airports, and more.

WaitTime’s AI software provides real-time data and historical analytics on crowd behavior. Their patented artificial intelligence gives operations personnel live information on crowd movement and density while providing guests with information they need to navigate a venue and get information on things like queue times at concession stands to ensure they have the best guest experience possible. End users can access this information direction from the venue’s general customer app.

USP can manage and run multiple physical security applications on one single unified infrastructure, including analytics applications like WaitTime.

“Video surveillance data is increasingly being used for business operations and value in addition to security and loss prevention,” says Choon-Seng Tan, general manager, Video Surveillance, Quantum. “This certified solution with WaitTime AI software gives these facilities a way to provide a better guest experience, while Quantum enables them to simplify their recording and analytics infrastructure and reduce operational costs by consolidating multiple individual servers—like NVRs– onto a single, unified compute and storage platform.”

“WaitTime continues to evolve our AI solution every day with new features and increased accuracy. It’s critical that the infrastructure supporting our application is resilient, high-performance, and scalable to ensure the best customer experience. Quantum’s USP software was built to manage multiple physical security applications simultaneously, including the requirements of an AI analytics app like WaitTime. This combined solution is designed to be easy to deploy and give organizations increased visibility within the operations of their venue while providing additional value to end users,” says Zack Klima, founder and CEO, WaitTime.

New Delhi, 7th March 2023: Ahead of International Women’s Day, DS Group, a multi-business corporation and one of the leading Fast Moving Consumer Goods (FMCG) conglomerates today announced the launch of a new initiative titled #SaluteTheFarmHER, which aims to highlight the contribution of female farmers in agriculture. With this, the Group takes a small step towards attaining due recognition for them.

India is an agrarian economy where about 54.6 percent of the total workforce is engaged in agricultural and allied sector activities. While farming is perceived to be a male activity, agriculture employs about 80 percent of rural women, as per the Niti Ayog. Yet, there is a lack of their recognition. The Group identified the need to sensitize the audience, create awareness, empower, and at the same time applaud the rural women workforce for their efforts.

Conceptualized by Grapes, the execution began by releasing a video to bring this gap to the general audience’s attention. It showed that when kids were asked to draw a farmer, most of them conjured up the image of a male. To change this perception, the Group intends to approach leading media houses, agricultural bloggers, and stock footage portals to make a small change that is to include images of both male and female farmers while covering relevant news.

Talking about the initiative, a spokesperson from DS Group said, “At DS Group, our CSR initiatives are designed on the principles that indigenous knowledge and skills of the local community are important towards sustainable development. We look at a holistic approach to add value, from creating awareness to implementation and ensuring sustainability. In the ‘New India’, rural women are leading the change in the social, economic, and environmental spheres. Empowering them can make way for a substantial leap towards the growth of the economy.”

Shradha Agarwal, Co-Founder & CEO, Grapes spoke about the campaign, “Today, when all of us regularly turn to digital for all of our needs, wants, queries and much more, how something is represented in the online space has become all the more critical. The representation of female farmers, however, is severely lacking. And due recognition is quite necessary in order to garner opportunities for equitable growth. So, the #SaluteTheFarmHER is a small step in that direction with the hope of initiating larger change.”

The initiative marks the company’s ongoing efforts in this space. Through their farm-based livelihood projects, which incubate women cultivators, business owners, and skilled farm laborers, DS Group’s CSR activities have diligently worked towards improving the lives of 24,000 women farmers in 12 agrarian states till now.

Guided by a clear set of values and built on a strong foundation of collective good, Corporate Social Responsibility is an integral part of the Group’s business objectives. The Group endeavours for the sustainable well-being of the stakeholder communities by addressing economic, environmental, and social issues and challenges.

India, 7th March 2023: This International Women’s Day, Helios, the watch store celebrates ‘her’ with #TimeIsChanging. A thought-provoking, BTL campaign, Helios takes a bold step towards making women’s empowerment a more inclusive discussion.

Change always takes time, and society has been on a journey towards progress, from accepting women in the workforce to normalizing same-sex relationships. Gender inequality and discrimination have been a constant struggle, and one such change that is yet to evolve is the normalization of an open conversation about menstrual health and women’s issues.

Helios recognizes that menstrual hygiene is one of the crucial aspects of women’s health but it is often kept a secret. With the aim of shattering this taboo, Helios is giving every man who visits their stores, a menstrual cup, an eco-friendly and sustainable alternative for them to gift it to the woman in their life, start an open dialogue and make the change.

Speaking about the campaign, Mr. Ajay Dwivedi, Head Retail, Watches and Wearables, Titan Company Limited said “We at Helios believe that International Women’s Day is not just about celebrating women but also recognizing and normalizing conversations about their everyday concerns. We want to encourage men to break the silence, become active participants in these discussions, and contribute to accelerating the transition towards a more accepting society.”

Visit your nearest Helios store and join us in celebrating Women’s Day. Together, let us break free and make a positive change in the world.

Bangalore – March 7, 2023: Flipkart, India’s homegrown marketplace, has been a stepping stone for women entrepreneurs entering into the digital ecosystem. Flipkart and Shopsy are enabling women-led SMEs to help them scale to new heights through a number of inspiring innovations, industry-first policies, and skill development programmes. Established in 2021, Shopsy has catalysed the growth of regional women sellers to tap national audiences across tier 2+ regions in the country. Leveraging its best-in-class technology, robust supply chain, vast customer base, and domain expertise, Flipkart is empowering women entrepreneurs across the country to succeed, scale, and achieve excellence in their businesses.

As part of its continuous efforts to promote inclusion, Flipkart and Shopsy encourage women entrepreneurs to achieve professional success and financial independence. The platforms’ efforts towards the growth of women-led businesses have resulted in the creation of thousands of livelihood opportunities in the regions they operate. Through meaningful engagements with government and non-government entities, Flipkart is sustainably replicating its efforts in providing digital capabilities to entrepreneurs in the remotest corners of Bharat thereby strengthening the MSME ecosystem, through Shopsy.

Women entrepreneurs on Flipkart and Shopsy share stories of their journey on the platform and highlight how they triumphed over challenges to prosper in their entrepreneurial journey.

Nilima Shaw who hails from Hyderabad is a passionate and driven mother, with unshakable willpower. Motivated to scale her artificial jewellery business, she has built a 10 crore, online exclusive brand, named Nilu’s Collection. Her story is that of courage, bravery and sheer hard work. As an MBA holder in HR with a well-paying job, starting her own business was incidental when she became a mother. With only Rs 8000 in hand, she began her entrepreneurial journey and later launched her online-exclusive brand on Flipkart in 2018.

“With an aim to financially empower more women, I have recruited over 80% of women from my locality who execute regular essential tasks at the company’s warehouses. I wish to pass on the benefits received from Flipkart to my own employees for their holistic growth and with the platform’s support I am committed to creating employment opportunities for women locally and making them financially secure”, said Nilima. She has several programs and initiatives planned for the female employees working with her which she plans to introduce gradually and one such initiative is monthly 4 to 5 days of menstruation leave, a simple yet progressive move.

Another inspiring story is of Rachna Singh, a 33-year-old Delhi-based entrepreneur and the founder of ‘RSP Traders’. Her entrepreneurial tryst began as a seller in 2019 when she exclusively listed her company on Flipkart. Taking the plunge was not instinctive, it was motherhood that encouraged her to leave a high-paying accounting job and begin on her entrepreneurial journey. With unconditional support from her husband and a desire to revive her career as a new mother, she established a business around the home and kitchen decoratives. However, the challenges at home became the biggest motivator to pick up where she had left off and run with it.

Recalling her journey, she said, “I chose to put a pause on my career when it was at its peak and embrace motherhood. Fortunately enough, my derailing career came back on track when I regained what I had left years ago, my independence. Realising my aspiration to build something of my own, my husband helped in setting up a small business that grew beyond our expectations. Today, I am able to take care of both my young son and the business.”

“Only a woman inspires another to be self-independent, self-confident, and self-reliant to carve her own path in this world. That is how I would describe my journey with Shopsy. My mother has been an immense source of inspiration to me. As a housewife, she made me realise the importance of feeling independent and secure with or without a partner. I run a fashion accessories business comprising earrings, jewellery sets, anklets, etc. with a team of twenty strong women. Today, our business has scaled to 4X with the help of constant support received from Shopsy. I vividly recall an incident with Shopsy on 3rd September 2021. At the time, I was pregnant and working on a product catalogue for the platform when suddenly my water broke! I had to rush to the hospital but was keen on finishing the task before I went in for delivery. It is incidents like these that testimonies your drive and motivation to scale your business. I hope to continue scaling and work with more women entrepreneurs. I always encourage all women to take stride in what they believe and do what’s best for them,’’ said, Pinky Singh, Owner of Prasubin Int based in Delhi.

“E-commerce is a boon for women entrepreneurs as it involves minimal investment and allows flexibility of hours. I started my business after having my first child, despite being able to maintain a work-life balance effortlessly. My friend who is also a seller on Shopsy inspired me to embark on an entrepreneurial journey, and so I started my business in men’s fashion with a focus on ethnic wear. Financial independence is extremely important for every woman as it inculcates a sense of purpose and self-confidence. The journey so far has been seamless since the initial days of starting my own business, my husband stood by me like a rock, and coming from a similar line of business he guided me through every step of the journey. Today, I have a team of 8 people who work tirelessly, helping us attain a sustainable growth momentum. Shopsy has helped us achieve 10X growth in orders and revenue through their support and expanded reach that the platform offers. In the coming years, I want to scale my business to new heights and become a role model for other women,” said Ruchika Singhal, Owner of Paryag Hosiery based in Delhi.

With Flipkart’s assistance, thousands of women are leveraging the power of online selling and e-commerce to elevate and rise above their challenges to build strong, national brands. Inspiring stories of entrepreneurs highlighted above continue to reiterate the ability, and power women hold to facilitate change in society when provided with the right opportunities.

Prayagraj Nagar Nigam is set to receive three Bandicoot Robotic Scavengers developed by the Kerala-based national award winning start-up Genrobotics, to help clean its manholes. This move is a part of the Nagar Nigam’s efforts to promote cleanliness and hygiene, while also reducing the deaths of manual scavengers due to he hazardous conditions in the manhole.

The city will now implement a scheduled approach of manhole cleaning wherein these pits will be cleared off at timely intervals, ensuring efficient clearing of the clogs and blockages. Kerala has recently achieved complete robotisation of manhole cleaning which accelerated this transition. The move is part of the Swach Survekshan 2023 and Safai Mitra Suraksha Protocol, which aims to create a clean and healthy environment for sanitation workers and community as a whole. Apart from Prayagraj other regions like Kanpur, Aligarh, Greater Noida in Uttar Pradesh have been currently using Bandicoot Robot Technology.

“The Bandicoots are a game-changer in the sanitation industry. They provide a safe and efficient alternative to manual scavenging, which is not only hazardous but also violates the human rights and dignity of sanitation workers. We hope that the introduction of the 3 Bandicoot Robots in Prayagraj will inspire other cities to adopt this technology and improve the lives of sanitation workers.” Officials from Prayagraj said.

The Bandicoots have already proven to be highly effective in Kerala, where they have completely transformed the way manhole cleaning is carried out. The robots have not only increased efficiency but have also reduced the number of accidents and injuries suffered by sanitation workers. The adoption of Bandicoot Robots in Prayagraj is expected to have a similar impact like that of Kanpur, promoting safety and reducing the risk of exposure to hazardous waste.

Bandicoot robots are currently deployed in 17 states of India and 3 UT’s and they are transforming the sanitation ecosystems. Bandicoot with its human-like robotic arms, specially designed bucket system, and its sewerage and waterproof cameras can eliminate the requirements for human entry and offers an entire solution for the man-hole cleaning problem. Other cleaning techniques do exist, such as sucking and grabbing machines; however, sucking machines are unable to remove the pure solid wastes, while grabbing machines can only clean less than 20% of the area inside a manhole. Due to these drawbacks, these techniques have limitations which Bandicoot Robotic Scavengers have solved.

Women’s day was celebrated at Navrachana University under the broader theme of embracing equity.
The event organized by the Women Development Cell of NavrachanaUniversity saw the participation of various organizations: Udayan
Care, Sahaj, Schools of Navrachana Education Society.

The event comprised the release of a training manual for gender trainers which would be used by Schools, Universities and Community Based

Organizations. A reel campaign with #embraceequity and AAO SOCH BADLEIN (Let’s change our thinking) by
Schools of Navrachana Education Society, Udayan Shalini is launched. A short performance of the same as a flash mob was performed by students of BBA, MBA and Udayan Shalini.

Ms. Shivani Joshi, architect and founder of Pink Coyote and RJ Kshitij were the Guests of Honor for the occasion. Smt. Tejal Amin talked

Thanjavur: Inner Wheel Club of Tanjore in association with VKC Pride has organised a Saree Walkathon on Saturday. The event was to promote traditional attire and break the stigma over traditional attire and fitness among women. Over 2500 contestants aged above 18 years participated in different age categories. Brihadeeswarar Temple was the starting point of the walkathon. 4 KM was the maximum distance to walk. The event was organised as part of the golden jubilee year celebration of the Inner Wheel Club of Tanjore. Participants aged 18 to 35 contested in 4 KM and 36-59 in 3 KM ranges. First three winners of each category received cash prizes of Rs 7500, Rs 5000 and Rs 2500, respectively. It was a 1 KM long walk for senior participants aged 60 years and above. First three winners in this category received Rs 5000, Rs 3000 and Rs 2000, respectively.

New Delhi, March 7th, 2023 – Gritzo, a brand of Healthkart and the first of its kind brand in the personalized nutrition drink for children has announced its latest campaign #RemoveTheTag. The campaign celebrates women entrepreneurs who have successfully broken free from societal labels.

As a part of the campaign, Gritzo has launched a video series featuring three prominent women entrepreneurs including Harini Sivakumar, Founder & CEO Earth Rhythm, Tapasya Sharma, Co-founder, Gnist Fashion and Shivani Popat, Co-Founder, Rashki. The videos will showcase their journeys, challenges, and triumphs, and will inspire women to not limit themselves as per the societal norms and remove any tags that limit them towards their journey to success. The campaign will be amplified across multiple digital touchpoints including Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn and YouTube.

Here are the link to the videos :

● Reaction video featuring all three entrepreneurs: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w0x9Qn8sHbA

● Harini Sivakumar, Founder & CEO Earth Rhythm: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ebXi4rzWB7M

● Tapasya Sharma, CO-Founder, Gnist : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HlmR39WAuAw

● Shivani Popat, Founder, Rashki : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PSxrPSLux5o

Gritzo recognizes that women are powerful and capable individuals who transcend societal perceptions. Through their #RemoveTheTag campaign, Gritzo seeks to celebrate women’s strength, resilience, and accomplishments while also encouraging everyone to support and empower successful mom entrepreneurs in both their personal and professional lives. The campaign emphasizes on the fact that how women can succeed even more by shunning social stigmas.

While unveiling the campaign, Mr. Subhadeep Dasgupta, Brand Head at Gritzo said, “International Women’s Day is an important opportunity to recognize the incredible contributions of women to our society and at the same time acknowledge the strength of women who often face the burden of societal stereotypes. We are thrilled to launch the #RemoveTheTag campaign and to highlight the incredible achievements of these three remarkable women entrepreneurs. Stories like these are a testament to the power of women and the importance of removing the labels that hold them back. With our campaign, we hope to inspire and uplift women entrepreneurs everywhere and encourage everyone to support women’s rights and gender equality.”

On being a part of the campaign, Harini Sivakumar, Founder & CEO Earth Rhythm expressed, “I am honored to be a part of Gritzo’s #RemoveTheTag campaign for International Women’s Day. As a mompreneur, I understand the challenges women face in breaking down stereotypes and proving their worth. But I believe that we don’t need tags to define us, because as women, we are capable of balancing both our roles and responsibilities. Let’s continue to break down barriers and empower women everywhere to reach their full potential.”

Adding to this, Tapasya Sharma, Co-founder at Gnist Fashion said, “It feels great to be identified not only as a mother but also as an entrepreneur through Gritzo’s #RemoveTheTag initiative this women’s day 2023. The passion with which I conceptualized Gnist is the same as my motherhood; I have nurtured the brand with all my heart, and it just feels unnecessary to be tagged to define ourselves. It is past time to acknowledge that passion is not dependent on judgment! With this, I hope to be a part of a revolution in which women empower society and open our minds to become more capable.”

Shivani Popat, Founder at Rashki, added, “It’s not a problem to be recognized as a woman entrepreneur or a mom entrepreneur if it inspires others, but when we label entrepreneurs by gender, it leads to unnecessary bias and inequality in society. I’m delighted to be associated with Gritzo, a brand that shares this belief and has recently launched the #RemoveTheTag Women’s Day campaign to eliminate all labels from women entrepreneurs. My desire for success is to be based solely on merit, not gender. The same goes for my male colleagues; if they deserve greater success, they should receive it. Let’s establish a meritocracy that ensures everyone, including future generations, receives what they deserve, regardless of gender.”

The video series has gone live across all the social media platforms to celebrate the spirit of all the empowered women from 28th February as part of International Women’s Day on March 8th, 2023.

As the majority of India’s population, women represent a significant portion of the nation’s untapped economic potential. Be it Home or our Workplace women have constantly played a vital role in the growth of the society. International Women’s Day is celebrated to acknowledge the achievements and contributions of women in our daily. Technology has played a significant role in helping women’s hustle and succeed in their life and career in general.

To keep their daily hassles seamless and smooth, here are few gadgets that can simplify the lives of Women’s for your perusal.

• Nokia X30 5G
• Amidst this gifting frenzy, let this cool sustainable smartphone be your ideal gifting option this women’s day. Nokia X30 is a flagship smartphone, with high-quality features and premium looks. It is equipped with 50MP PureView camera with OIS support, clubbed with a 13MP ultrawide camera making the low-light photos better with Night Mode 2.0 and Dark Vision. One doesn’t have to worry about unlucky spills and splashes as it has IP67 rating which makes it water resistant. Moreover, this flagship phone is made out of 100% recycled aluminium frame and a 65% recycled plastic back, taking a step towards sustainability. Overall, the Nokia X30 is an excellent choice for anyone looking for a high-quality, durable, and reliable smartphone. The perfect gift for a better & Sustainable tomorrow
•  Nokia T21 Tablet:
• The Nokia T21 tablet is the upgraded version of the Nokia T20. Its build quality sets it apart from its rivals, with its all-aluminium chassis a real highlight – It feels durable – as though it can withstand the occasional drop without much fuss. It has long-lasting battery, regular software and security updates, premium European built experience and looks.  Comes with 8MP rear camera with flash + 8MP front camera.  Whether for work or play, this ultimate family-friendly tablet is in it for the long run, plus, it’s loaded with fan-requested features, such as HD video streaming, voice calling, and NFC. With the T21, Nokia has done what it does best. A budget tablet that looks stylish and performs reasonably well considering its price.
• Fujifilm Instax Mini 11 Instant Camera
• The Fujifilm Instax Mini 11 Instant Camera captures your loved ones’ happy moments in more detail, use a close-up lens at a distance of 35–50 cm to get that perfect shot. They can even snap low-key pictures with only one click. The camera analyses balanced brightness for taking a photo and determines the best setting based on the environment. A perfect gift to capture all those fun moments and cherish them through polaroid pictures.
•  Fitbit Sense Smartwatch
• Fitbit Sense is a fitness-oriented smartwatch, one of the best ones in the market that comes with all the necessary features to keep track of your health. It has an ECG heart rate tracking with alerts for irregular heart rhythms, an EDA sensor to detect stress levels, and even a skin temperature sensor. Also features both Google Assistant and built-in Amazon Alexa. The Fitbit Sense can be a perfect smartwatch to gift the women in your life and remind them to keep a tab on their health.
• Dyson Airwrap Hair Styler Complete Set
• This beauty gadget is truly an investment, Dyson Airwrap is a fully customisable styling tool to deliver a range of styles for all Indian hair types, without extreme heat. The curling wands and accessories are where the magic really happens. Dyson Air Wrap has something for every hair type (basically a saviour for women) and is a daily use gadget, best for those who shoot at home or those who style hair before leaving for work. And it is better to invest in one device than use four or five of the. If your woman is concerned about hair damage with all the experiments they do, then the AirWrap is 100% worth it.

New Delhi, March7 th, 2023: Citykart, one of India’s largest value retailers focusing on family fashion retail in Tier-II and Tier-III towns, has announced the launch of its Holi campaign around the theme Full Paisa Vasool, with the tagline Isse Sasta Fashion Bazaar Kahi Nahi. As a part of this campaign, the company offers the latest apparel designs, starting at an affordable price of Rs. 99.

Also, Holi merchandise (Pichkari, Gulal and Ballon) is available at stores this year at Citikart stores. As part of the Holi promotion, products from different categories such as home goods and travel luggage will be available at a discounted price. Customers who make a purchase of Rs.1499 or more will have the opportunity to buy products such as a dinner set, a duffle trolley bag with wheels, and a casserole set (3 pieces) for only Rs.199 as they are worth of Rs. 799.

True to the brand’s central tenants of making fashion affordable and comfortable, the company presents a wide range of styles, fabrics and cuts for men, women, infants and toddlers. The collection includes jeans, tops, tees, palazzos and multiple other options.

Mr Sudhanshu Agarwal, Founder and CEO of Citykart, said, “At CityKart, we aim to make fashion affordable and accessible to all sections of the population and this Holi, we are taking this a step further. True to the campaign’s tagline, we offer the latest in the fashion world at entry price points. We look forward to styling the country with our designs this festive season.”

Citykart has launched its much-awaited Spring-Summer collection of vivid and vibrant summer colours and prints. The collection is available offline at Citykart stores in Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Odisha, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, and the North Eastern regions.