Archives March 2023

Mumbai, India, 1st March 2023 – SBI Securities, a leading stockbroker in India, has partnered with Tara Sansthan, a non-governmental organization committed to providing free eye care and cataract operations to tribal and needy rural people, to facilitate free cataract surgeries for 500 patients across five hospitals in India. The surgery camp will run from 22nd February to 2nd March 2023.

Cataract is the leading cause of blindness in India, and it is a significant issue for people who cannot afford the treatment. To reduce the waiting list and help people in need, SBI Securities has stepped forward and facilitated cataract surgery for 500 patients this year. The company has also helped Tara Sansthan meet the cost of staff, medicines, surgical items, and devices.

On the occasion of this announcement, Mr. Deepak Kumar Lalla, MD & CEO of SBICAP Securities Ltd, expressed his satisfaction with the CSR initiative undertaken by the company. He said, “This initiative by SBI Securities will impact society and help patients achieve better livelihoods. As responsible corporate citizens, we ensure good health and well-being through our CSR activities.”

The patients who have received treatment are delighted and relieved. They can now perform their routine activities efficiently and have a better view. The initiative by SBI Securities and Tara Sansthan is a significant step towards promoting good health and well-being in society.

SBI Securities aims to be an investor to every Indian and takes a customer-first approach. With a nationwide presence, the brand believes in delivering all investment products under one roof with a seamless investment experience.

1st March 2023: Dive into the art of audio with Noise’s latest TWS, Noise Buds X. The leading connected lifestyle tech brand’s recent addition to their TWS portfolio is curated to offer an authentic audio experience while staying light on the pocket. Noise today launched the new Noise Buds X, equipped with Active Noise Cancellation (ANC) up to 25 db along with up to 35 hours playtime. Packaged in an uber cool design, the new Noise Buds X are seamlessly compatible with iOS and Android devices, making them functional in style. Priced at just INR 1,999, Noise Buds X will be available in Carbon Black and Snow White on Amazon and GoNoise.com starting today.

With the importance of sound quality increasing worldwide, it is vital to have a product that is able to provide the users with premium sound quality. Staying true to this, the new Noise Buds X feature the brand’s proprietary and industry-leading technology, InstachargeTM which provides 120 minute playtime in a 10 minute charge giving up to 35 hours of total playtime in a single charge, coupled with Quad Mic ENC (Environmental Noise Cancellation) for an uninterrupted calling experience at callers’ end. Transparency mode on Noise Buds X makes your life seamless as you can use voice commands to turn on the mode when in public or turn it off when not, to cut down on the background disturbance. Furthemore, the 12mm drivers along with Bluetooth 5.3 make this latest addition ideal for an authentic audio experience. Noise Buds X come with HyperSync™ technology that lets the earbuds go into pairing mode as soon as you open the charging case. This technology is also equipped with a power saving feature that turns off the earbuds as soon as you place them inside the charging case and close the lid.

Commenting on the launch, Amit Khatri, Co-Founder, Noise, said, “With an unwavering focus on delivering superior audio quality and user experience packaged at an aspirational price, the Noise Buds X is truly revolutionary in the world of true wireless earbuds. A testament to our commitment to innovation and excellence in providing top-quality audio products, we are confident the new addition will resonate well with our new age customers looking for superior sound quality, comfort, and convenience.”

The Noise Buds X come with a USB Type-C charging connector and IPX5 sweat and water resistance feature making them safe to wear while working out or near water. The 12mm drivers provide a deep and rich in ear bass while also maintaining the highs and lows of the music.

Product Specifications

Noise Buds X

Bangalore 1st March 2023: SonicWall, publisher of the world’s most quoted ransomware data and trusted cyberattack intelligence, today released the 2023 SonicWall Cyber Threat Report. The bi-annual report details an increasingly diversified cyberattack landscape amid shifting threat actor strategies. SonicWall recorded the second-highest year on record for global ransomware attempts, as well as an 87% increase in Internet of Things (IoT) malware and a record number of cryptojacking attacks (139.3 million) in 2022.

“The past year reinforced the need for cybersecurity in every industry and every facet of business, as threat actors targeted anything and everything, from education to retail to finance,” said SonicWall President and CEO Bob VanKirk. “While organizations face an increasing number of real-world obstacles with macroeconomic pressures and continued geopolitical strife, threat actors are shifting attack strategies at an alarming rate.”

“Organizations today face an evolving threat landscape where threat actors are finding new and creative ways to stay ahead of the enterprise,” said Debasish Mukherjee, Vice President, Regional Sales APJ at SonicWall Inc. “Cyber risks and their impacts on organizations globally continue to dominate headlines and boardrooms. The 2023 SonicWall Cyber Threat Report helps elevate us as a credible source and strengthens our ability to provide sound security measures to our customers.”

Threat Actors Shift Strategies, Opt for Covert Cyberattack Methods

Global malware volume increased 2% year-over-year, but it was jumps in IoT malware (+87%) and cryptojacking (+43%) that offset the decline of overall global ransomware volume (-21%), signifying a strategic shift. Threat actors have embraced slower and more stealthy approaches to achieve financially-motivated cyberattacks.

“Cyberattacks are an ever-present danger for companies of all sizes, putting their operations and reputation on the line,” said SonicWall Threat Detection and Response Strategist Immanuel Chavoya. “It is crucial for organizations to understand attackers’ tactics, techniques and procedures (TTPs), and commit to threat-informed cybersecurity strategies to defend and recover successfully from business-disrupting events. This includes stopping sophisticated ransomware attacks as well defending emerging threat vectors, including IoT and cryptojacking.”

In addition to cyberattacks becoming more sophisticated and covert, threat actors are showing clear preferences for certain techniques, with notable shifts toward weak IoT devices, cryptojacking and potentially soft targets like schools and hospitals.

Prominent ransomware attacks impacted enterprises, governments, airlines, hospitals, hotels and even individuals causing widespread system downtime, economic loss and reputational damage. Following global trends, several industries faced large year-over-year increases of ransomware volume, including education (+275%), finance (+41%) and healthcare (+8%).

Diverse Attacks Offset Global Ransomware Decline

Cybercriminals are using increasingly advanced tools and tactics to exploit and extort victims, with state-sponsored activity growing as a concern. While ransomware continues to be a threat, SonicWall Capture Labs threat researchers expect more state-sponsored activity targeting a broader set of victims in 2023, including SMBs and enterprises.

The 2023 SonicWall Cyber Threat Report provides insight on a range of cyber threats, including:

• Malware – Total volume was up 2% in 2022 after three straight years of decline — just as SonicWall predicted in the 2022 SonicWall Cyber Threat Report. Following that trend, Europe as a whole saw increased levels of malware (+10%) as did Ukraine, which had a record 25.6 million attempts, suggesting malware was used heavily in regions impacted by geopolitical strife. Interestingly, malware was down year-over-year in key countries like the U.S. (-9%), U.K. (-13%) and Germany (-28%).
• Ransomware – Although overall ransomware numbers saw a 21% decline globally, the total volume in 2022 was higher than 2017, 2018, 2019 and 2020. In particular, total ransomware in Q4 (154.9 million) was the highest since Q3 2021.
• IoT Malware – Global volume rose 87% in 2022, totaling 112 million hits by year’s end. With no corresponding slowdown in the proliferation of connected devices, bad actors are likely probing soft targets to leverage as potential attack vectors into larger organizations.
• Apache Log4j – Intrusion attempts against the industry’s Apache Log4j ‘Log4Shell’ vulnerability eclipsed 1 billion in 2022. The vulnerability was first discovered in December 2021 and has been actively exploited since.
• Cryptojacking – Use of cryptojacking as a ‘low and slow’ approach continued to surge, rising 43% globally, which is the most SonicWall Capture Labs threat researchers have recorded in a single year. The retail and financial industry felt the sting of cryptojacking attacks, seeing 2810% and 352% increases, respectively, year-over-year.

“Cyberattacks of all varieties continue to hinder organizations worldwide,” said Logically Chief Operating Officer Keith Johnson. “SonicWall’s annual intelligence report gives us a deeper understanding of the current threat landscape and helps breakdown why cyberattacks continue to be successful, as well as the drivers and trends behind them. By making this report available to partners, SonicWall helps elevate us as trusted advisors and strengthens our ability to provide sound security measures to our customers.”

Patented RTDMI Discovered more than 465,000 ‘Never-Before-Seen’ Malware Variants in 2022

SonicWall’s patented Real-Time Deep Memory InspectionTM (RTDMITM) technology identified a total of 465,501 never-before-seen malware variants in 2022, a 5% year-over-year increase and an average of 1,279 per day. Dating to 2019, this is the ourth straight year RTDMI increased its total of malware discoveries.

 India Numbers

To learn more about SonicWall and get the complete 2023 SonicWall Cyber Threat Report, please visit SonicWall.com/ThreatReport.

1st March 2023, New Delhi – GotChosen, one of the most favoured social media platforms, introduced the monetization program for influencers – GotChosen Ads Program. Under this unique program, creators will be allowed to monetize their short videos on the GotChosen App. Through this innovative earning model, creators can earn a guaranteed compensation of 60% of the advertising revenue generated.

The GotChosen Ads Program will guarantee monetization of all videos with no time limits on date of the post creation. Users will have access to the complete analytics. The ads format available for monetization are display, native and interstitial ads. Creators will also have the option of monetizing video ads on GotChosen’s web platform.

For creators, GotChosen has introduced a number of monetizing avenues, like the CPM advertising model. This model ensures that for every 1K views on a video, creators get a guarantee earning of INR 15/-, with increases based on continued growth in traction. Creators can also earn royalty rights to referral ad monetization. In addition, The GotChosen Ads Program is also linked with the company’s referral program that pays a 5% bonus. Once a user brings in their friend or acquaintance to the platform, the referral and the user both stand to earn through the ads program. It is available for all users that have more than 10k followers on Instagram, Twitter, YouTube or Facebook.

Commenting on the GotChosen Ads Program, Oz Silva, Founder and CEO, GotChosen said, “At GotChosen, we are committed to democratising the monetization of content on social media platform. We are constantly looking at creating opportunities for our creators to maximise traction of their content, while providing an uninterrupted and unhindered user experience. The GotChosen Ads Program is a result of this objective.”

As a digital nation, we are witnessing the rise of a new wave of content creators, in India. The GotChosen Ads Program allows all our influencers, whether celebrity or nano-influencers, to access opportunities to monetize their content regularly, creating a powerful and sustainable revenue stream.” he added.

GotChosen is offering a true partnership opportunity for influencers and content creators, as the one platform that is adopting total transparency and sharing the revenues with the influencers and content creators. In the ever-chaotic social media space, and among social media platforms, GotChosen is set to raise the bar for all the players in this segment. It is a game changer.

Bengaluru, 1st March 2023: Jiraaf, one of the fastest-growing high-yield alternative investment platforms in India, has recorded more than 15x growth and deployed more than INR 1,000 cr in investments as of January 2023. Jiraaf is the first horizontal fixed-income platform enabling digital participation from investors with a minimum investment size of INR 1 lakh. Investors can earn yields ranging from 8% to 20% for a period of 30 days to 3 years.

Founded in September 2021 by Vineet Agrawal and Saurav Ghosh, Jiraaf has emerged as a reliable fintech platform for alternative fixed-income opportunities repaying INR 550 cr with zero defaults or delays.

Speaking about this, Vineet Agrawal, Co-founder, Jiraaf, said, “Investments are key to financial wealth creation, and in the modern era, alternative investment options have emerged as great opportunities for those seeking predictable & high returns. While equity markets have seen enormous participation from the public, fixed income remains underpenetrated. Our mission at Jiraaf is to make fixed-income opportunities mainstream by innovating and making them more accessible. We are thankful to our partners like Caratlane, Homecredit, Everest Fleet and Rupeek among others for sharing our journey. We have created a strong team across functions including technology, investments, and credit risk to present a wide range of curated investment opportunities.”

Jiraaf takes a cautious approach to curating investments. It works with select borrowers across the yield spectrum which facilitates investors to create a diversified robust portfolio. Delivering INR 550 cr+ repayments without delays or defaults, Jiraaf has established an early track record. Jiraaf started in September 2021 and raised $7.5 mn in funding in April 2022 led by Accel Partners & Mankekar Family Office.

“In today’s market environment, retail investors have a growing appetite for alternative fixed-income products, and we believe there is a gap in the market for products vetted by professionals. Jiraaf has effectively democratised the debt market and has provided access to a wide array of products for wealth creation beyond the traditional asset classes. This milestone achievement aligns with what Saurav and Vineet were set to achieve. We are proud to be part of this journey of Jiraaf in revolutionizing wealth creation.” – Barath Shankar Subramanian, Partner at Accel

Adding further, Saurav Ghosh, Co-founder, Jiraaf said, “We are extremely happy to have crossed the INR 1000 crore investment mark. The trust of our users remains our biggest asset. It gives us great confidence that 93% of our customers are return investors. Our endeavour in the next 12 months is to grow our user base and increase our monthly run rate of investments from 100 cr to 300 cr. Bringing new opportunities and building a robust digital platform will be our key focus areas in the next 1-2 quarters. We are grateful to our investors Accel partners, Aspire family office, Mankekar family office and others who have supported us through our journey.

2022 has been tough for investors with tremendous volatility in the stock markets. With continued uncertainty on several factors including high inflation, and challenging macro growth, there is a strong need for investment options that are predictable, transparent, and capable of delivering good returns. Studies have shown that diversifying 15-20% of your investment portfolio with alternative investments can provide great portfolio returns. Jiraaf has understood this need well and is fast emerging as a leader in the space of alternative investments.

Kashipur | 1st March 2023
IIM Kashipur FIED (Foundation for Innovation and Entrepreneurship Development) marks one of its kind extravaganza event, 7 th edition of Uttishtha 2023 – Annual entrepreneurship Summit. The initiative supported by Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, Government of India, aims to bring socio-economic value in the Uttarakhand’s entrepreneur ecosystem by enabling the raw entrepreneurs to achieve their big dreams. This Unique and successful initiative of IIM Kashipur has successfully clocked 29 LOIs worth Rs 5 Cr funding for 15 national agri-startups. IIM Kashipur’s Uttishtha 2023 also hosted over 100 startups and nearly 20 VCs to exchange
their interests. Three days of Uttishthan 2023 witnessed the National Business Plan Pitching Competition, Investors Meet and Entrepreneur’s Conclave.

Prof Kulbhushan Balooni, Director, IIM Kashipur said, “IIM Kashipur’s FIED platform has gone to a big level especially the ‘Uttishtha’. We are creating socio-economic impact in the home state by promoting the entrepreneurship with the support of state and central government. FIED team has incubated 140+ startups and out of these about 40+ startups have generated over 3.2 billion funding. These startups have also generated direct employment of 1200+ and have impacted over half a million farmers. We have identified the right talent of entrepreneurs and provided them the 360* support for creating success stories.”

During the National Business Plan Pitching Competition, agriculture startups, participated from across India, made presentations to the Investors and Industry experts. The enthusiasm of all the startup participants was remarkable and the whole process was very exciting for the key stakeholders. HimMadhu, AI-MRI, MyPahadiDukan, TheFitBread, FLAAR, Vikalp Herbals, GeeComIndia, PahariHaat, SuperFarmers, and many more presented marvelous business pitching sessions that impressed the investors and other jury members. Investors such as PinCap, FitSol Supply Chain Solutions, HBF Limited, GSF Accelerators, Omnivore and Venture Capitalists were surprised looking the startup ideas and efforts made by the founders to scale up.

Prof. Safal Batra, Director of FIED (Foundation for Innovation and Entrepreneurship Development) said, “The 7 th edition of Uttishtha has taken the big leap by generating the interests of some significant investors. FIED stands tall nationally by hosting such platform in the Uttarakhand state. We have seen our incubators team going in exterior and remotest places in the state to identify the entrepreneurs with unique business ideas who can represent the future of Indian Business. The 3 rd generation of farmers are not limited to crop cultivation but expanding
into food processing and setting startups. By facilitating the right platform for bringing the right human resources, branding, investors, larger market place, price & packaging, we put them into the main stream business.”

Some of the IIM Kashipur FIED incubated startups are making success stories in the country. Bijak raised $ 34.1 million, LoopWorm raised $ 3.4 million and Greenpod Labs raised $0.54 million from external investors. PoultryMon, NKosh, InfiU Labs and many more have also generated funds on merit and showing ways to other registered startups. Eminent Startup dignitaries remained present at the inaugural session of Entrepreneur’s
Conclave and Agri Mela. Rajat Jain, Founder of Sunfox; Nitin Jain, Co-Founder of OFBUSINESS; Anubhav Dubey, Founder of Chai Sutta Bar delivered keynote address and motivated the startup participants. A thoughtful panel discussion on – ‘How an Ecosystem can be Created in Uttarakhand State’ made the conclave more interesting with different viewpoints of marquee startups founders such as Subhadeep Sanyal of Omnivore, Monika Pandey of YourNest, Sachin Sheron of HBF Direct, Manish Srivastava of Alphavalue.

Inaugurating the Agri Mela (Startup Expo), Sunil Kaushik, General Manager of NABARD said, “I congratulate to the IIM Kashipur FIED for making difference in the entrepreneurship journey. Entrepreneurship in Agriculture can surely bring the paradigm shift for the country’s economic growth. NABARD is committed to support for marketing and branding of startups and motivate them to grow.” Also, Prabhat Kumar, Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare; and Devendra Agarwal, MD of KVS Companies expressed their gratitude towards the enthusiasm
whown by the startups during the expo – Agri Mela.

Several innovative businesses made a memorable impact on the minds of expo visitors. Various startups  presented fantastic business ideas, such as a clothing range made from bamboo fabric, interior design articles made from cow dung, a crockery range made from bamboo, a range of toys made from wood waste, a drone for pesticide spraying in agricultural fields, honey-coated dry fruits, organic fertilizer, wellness products, handicrafts, and hand-knits, as well as an immunity booster made from agricultural produce, incense sticks made of recycled flowers.

New Delhi: Comedian Bharti Singh reached HIIMS Meerut for the treatment of her mother and mother-in-law. Both of them are undergoing treatment for kidney disease through naturopathy. HIIMS Meerut is an integrated hospital, which treats severe diseases through Naturopathy, Ayurveda and Homeopathy. HIIMS Meerut is Asia’s largest Institute of Naturopathy and Integrated Science with a capacity of 1000 beds. Here treatment is done under the guidance of Acharya Manish, founder of HIIMS and Dr BRC, an expert in naturopathy.

In a statement, Bharti’s mother said that after getting treatment from here, she has experienced a lot of improvement in her health. She now feels no need to take insulin injections at all. Witnessing the improvement in her mother’s health, Bharti herself visited HIIMS Meerut and received Neem Karela therapy, by which she was extremely impressed. After receiving this therapy, she felt that all the toxins were coming out of her body. When Bharti’s mother-in-law also faced the same problem, Bharti advised her to go to HIIMS Meerut as well. Both Bharti’s mother and mother-in-law are undergoing treatment in HIIMS Meerut and are feeling much better than before for which they are extremely thankful to the doctors and the team here.

Many incurable diseases like kidney failure, liver failure, cancer, thalassemia and autoimmune are successfully treated at HIIMS through lifestyle changes, Naturopathy, Ayurveda, Naturopathy and Panchakarma.

HIIMS is famous all over the country for its treatment of kidney failure. HIIMS Shuddhi Ayurveda centres have been established in many other cities of India apart from Meerut such as Chandigarh, Lucknow, Navi Mumbai, Thane, Sangrur, Bhagalpur, Gurugram, Ludhiana, Amritsar, Delhi and Goa. More than 200 specialist doctors are rendering their services in these centers across the country.

Hyderabad1st March 2023: Under the aegis of Azadi Ka Amrut Mahotsav, The Department of Animal Husbandry & Dairying, Govt. of India organized a grand start-up Conclave today in order to promote the existing and emerging startups in the livestock, dairy and animal husbandry sectors at Marriott Convention Center, Hyderabad in close collaboration with the National Dairy Development Board, Startup India, CII and the Animal Husbandry Department of Telangana.

Shri Parshottam Rupala, Hon’ble Minister for Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying, Government of India graced the event with his presence as Chief Guest in august presence of Dr. Sanjeev Kumar Balyan, Hon’ble Minister of State of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying and Dr. L. Murugan, Hon’ble Minister of State of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying and Shri T. Srinivas Yadav, Minister for Animal Husbandry, Fisheries and Cinematography of Telangana

This event brought together entrepreneurs, investors, and industry experts to share their ideas, network, and learn from each other. It provided an excellent opportunity to showcase innovative ideas and products and network with fellow entrepreneurs and stakeholders. The event featured keynote speeches by prominent industry leaders, interactive sessions, panel discussions, and presentations by successful start-ups.

The Conclave included Showcasing of Selected startups, Pitch fest, Buyer seller meet and a workshop for startups to train the early-stage startups operating in the Animal Husbandry and Dairying Sector in the art of pitching, building the main business pillars and their story of impact.

Addressing the Conclave, Shri Parshottam Rupala stated that the agriculture diversification through animal husbandry is one of the primary drivers of growth in rural incomes and higher public investment in Livestock Sector is need of the hour. The Ministry of Animal Husbandry and Dairying (MoAHD) stands committed to work with all stakeholders to further boost growth in livestock sector and thereby making animal husbandry more remunerative to farmers and entrepreneurs engaged in Livestock Sector.

Dr. Sanjeev Kumar Balyan, Hon’ble Minister of State of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying also addressed the gathering and highlighted the importance of livestock sector and Major Challenges of Livestock Sector in India viz. lower productivity and emerging diseases. Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying is dovetailing and synergizing efforts with other Ministries and stakeholders in order to overcome all these challenges and promoting entrepreneurship, technology interventions, digitalization, innovative ideas etc.

Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying is also dovetailing and synergizing efforts with other Ministries and stakeholders especially in the context of common objective of helping the farmers and entrepreneurs increase their income through the livestock sector.

Dr. L. Murugan, Hon’ble Minister of State of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying emphasized that transforming rural economy through scientific intervention in livestock sector has already commenced and we are speeding up the process to achieve new milestones and Valuable suggestions of all the stakeholders will help us to formulate policy for further development.

Shri T. Srinivas Yadav, Minister for Animal Husbandry and Fisheries, Govt. of Telangana congratulated the Department to organize such conclave of startups in Hyderabad.

Shri Rajesh Kumar Singh, Secretary in his opening remarks highlighted the enormous potential of India’s livestock and dairying sector and various interventions being taken by Government for livestock including infrastructure development, enhancing productivity, product value addition improving livestock health and providing services at farmers’ doorstep.

Ms. Varsha Joshi, Additional Secretary, GoI gave a brief presentation on the promotional and supportive activities of the department of Animal Husbandry nurturing the growth of startups. Dr. Sapna Poti, Director, Strategic Alliances Division, PSA Office, discussed industry & startup engagements through the MANTHAN Platform at the Grand Startup Conclave.

Shri Meenesh Shah, Chairman, NDDB extended vote of thanks for the Dignitaries and participants of the Conclave.

The Government of Telangana provided all administrative support enthusiastically to make the event grand success.

New Delhi,1st March 2023 Bajaj Finserv Ltd., one of India’s leading and diversified financial services groups, has committed support to differently-abled persons by providing hi-tech mobility solutions that enable them to integrate into mainstream society.

The initiative ‘Accessibility & Freedom’ is part of Bajaj Finserv’s social responsibility programme, aimed at driving equitable and inclusive opportunities for children and youth. It is being funded and driven through its subsidiary, Bajaj Allianz General Insurance Company, in partnership with Round Table India, a non-profit working to improve the lives of differently-abled persons.

The initiative was launched at an event in Pune where 40 differently-abled persons identified by Round Table India were provided hi-tech mobility devices that convert a wheelchair into a roadworthy vehicle. The device is an indigenous innovation by NeoMotion, a start-up from R2D2 of IIT Madras. It comprises NeoFly, a compact, personalised wheelchair designed to best fit a user’s health and lifestyle, and NeoBolt, a hi-tech motorised add-on that transitions it seamlessly into an outdoor mobility device.

The first recipients of the solution were largely individuals with quadriplegia, including ex-servicemen, para-athletes, and homemakers. Under the initiative, 200 hi-tech mobility solutions will be provided by Bajaj Finserv to recipients across India. Present at the event were Shefali Bajaj, Chairperson, CSR Steering Committee, Bajaj Finserv; Ajay Sathe, Group CSR Head, Bajaj Finserv; Tapan Singhel, MD & CEO, Bajaj Allianz General Insurance, and senior officials of Round Table India and Neo Motion.

Shefali Bajaj, Chairperson of the CSR Steering Committee, Bajaj Finserv, said, “The initiative is life-transformative for the differently-abled. It ties in with our efforts to advance inclusion among children and youth by giving them equal access to resources, health, education, and opportunities. The hi-tech device gives recipients improved access, a feeling of freedom and goes a long way towards integrating them into mainstream society. It is heart-warming to see the smiles on recipients’ faces when they receive the devices. For us, it’s deeply satisfying to be able to make a tangible impact on people’s lives.”

Tapan Singhel, MD & CEO, Bajaj Allianz General Insurance Company, said, “As a group, Bajaj Finserv has always believed in giving back to society and making a positive impact on communities. Bajaj Allianz General Insurance resonates with the Group’s philosophy and strives to take measures that add value to the lives of our citizens. Many fellow Indians who use wheelchairs face numerous challenges in their routine lives, restricting their career opportunities and thus hampering them economically. As part of this initiative, we have donated 200 hi-tech mobility solutions to suit users’ health and lifestyle needs, empowering them to move around with much ease. We endeavour to make a difference in society and contribute to the well-being of the citizens of this country so that they can live a life of dignity.”

Ajay Sathe, Group CSR Head, Bajaj Finserv, said, “The initiative illustrates how technology can be leveraged for social impact. The hi-tech mobility solutions improve access for differently abled persons, enabling them to pursue an active liberated lifestyle. With the increased availability of these devices, the macro socio-economic impact can be significant. We are happy to associate with Round Table India. They have done commendable work in identifying the recipients and getting this initiative off to a great start. “

India has approximately 3 crore differently-abled persons facing mobility challenges and heavily dependent on a support ecosystem for their fundamental necessities. Restricted mobility impacts their ability to move outdoors, earn livelihoods and grow economically.

The hi-tech mobility solutions provided by Bajaj Finserv are compact wheelchairs customised to an individual’s posture and energy and are fitted with a motor-powered clip-on device that converts the wheelchair into a safe, roadworthy vehicle. It eliminates the need to transfer the person into other vehicles and can be independently attached by the user within seconds.

The powered wheelchair has a maximum speed of 25 kmph and can travel up to 25 km per charge. The solution has been compatible with rugged conditions to enhance its utility. Recipients can access the outdoors with the solution, pursue an active liberated lifestyle, be independent and explore a world of opportunities, including education and employment.

1st March 2023– Senco Gold & Diamonds has been Great Place To Work® Certified™ in India for the period January 2023 to January 2024. Senco Gold & Diamonds, which is a pan-India jewellery retail player with a history of more than five decades and the largest organized jewellery retail player in the eastern region of India has received this prestigious award for the first time.

Great Place To Work is the global authority on workplace culture. Since 1992, they have surveyed more than 100 million employees worldwide and used those deep insights to define what makes a great workplace: trust. Their employee survey platform empowers leaders with the feedback, real-time reporting, and insights they need to make strategic people decisions. The Institute serves businesses, non-profits and government agencies in more than 60 countries and has conducted pioneering research on the characteristics of great workplaces for over three decades.

Suvankar Sen, MD & CEO, Senco Gold & Diamonds said, “We at Senco Gold & Diamonds have always believed in being an equal opportunity employer and we strive to maintain diversity in our employee base. Senco Gold & Diamonds has always promoted inclusivity and supported the causes for the LGBTQ+ community regularly. The Great Place To Work Certification™ is a testament to the trust that our 2000+ employees have reposed in us. And this trust by our employees who are Senco’s face for our customers has ensured that we are featured consistently in the league of the most trusted jewellery brands”

In India, the institute partners with more than 1400 organizations annually across over 20+ industries to help them build High-Trust, High-Performance Cultures designed to deliver sustained business results. Hundreds of CEOs and CXOs from India Inc. are part of the great place community that is committed to the vision of making India a Great Place To Work For All.

The Institute’s research shows that great workplaces are characterized by great leadership, consistent employee experience, and sustainable financial performance. These organizations can deliver a consistent experience to all their employees irrespective of their role, gender, tenure, or level. Their leaders believe in the vision of creating and sustaining a Great Place To Work For All and role models being for all leaders.