Archives April 2023

Bhubaneswar, Odisha, April 25, 2023: ‘Future of Work’ Exhibition, a part of the ongoing G20 3rd Education Working Group meeting was inaugurated by Shri Dharmendra Pradhan, Hon’ble Minister of Education and Skill Development & Entrepreneurship at the CSIR-IMMT Campus in Bhubaneswar on April 23, 2023.

The Hon’ble Minister visited ChangeInkk Foundation’s immersive exhibition on “Inclusion for Innovation” which highlights the contributions of trailblazers with learning disabilities, along with their unique strengths and talents which make them the ideal future-ready workforce. Shri Pradhan, engaged with the ChangeInkk team and expressed interest in knowing more about the strengths and challenges of people with learning disabilities.

For the first time in the world, through cutting-edge emerging technology, visitors can experience how such individuals struggle with reading & explore how their strengths have birthed countless innovations & entrepreneurial ventures- from the first light bulb, telephone, aircraft, assembly-line manufactured car, and prenatal ultrasound, among many others – shaping modern society. It is a lesser-known fact that 40% of self-made millionaires are dyslexic, and just ten of the companies founded or co-founded by dyslexics have contributed to over $1 trillion in revenue in 2020.

The ‘Inclusion for Innovation’ exhibit throws light on the link between learning disabilities and innovation, through a variety of interactive games and simulations using Augmented Reality (AR) and Virtual Immersion (VI). In addition to AR/ VI simulations, the exhibit includes a live projection wall that spotlights the contributions of dyslexic innovators throughout history, such as Albert Einstein, Alexander Graham Bell, Thomas Edison, the Wright brothers, and Henry Ford.

While such pioneers of science, technology, industry, art, and architecture are plenty, India is poised to harness the skills and competencies of this future-ready workforce by embracing inclusion, bringing the Hon’ble Prime Minister’s clarion call of ‘Sabka Saath-Sabka Vikas, Sabka Vishwas-Sabka Prayaas’ to life. In India, learning disabilities were officially first recognized by the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act (2016). Following suit, in 2020, the National Education Policy underlined the importance of inclusion and mainstreaming of these individuals from foundational learning to higher education through inclusive learning environments.

ChangeInkk is pioneering interventions in the country to create pathways of success for that person with learning disabilities, starting from school to adulthood, where they are not only independent and flourishing but are also driving growth and innovation, working to their fullest potential.

As a parent who has been supporting her 15-year-old dyslexic child, Noopur Jhunjhunwala, Co-founder and Trustee of ChangeInkk Foundation said, “I know that the journeys of these individuals are filled with frustration and despair, especially among parents who don’t know how to support their children and are constantly told that your child is a slow learner, when it is the opposite. These kids have an amazing power – they think differently, and we need to harness their capabilities to enable them to change our world.”

The ’Inclusion for Innovation’ exhibit will be a powerful tool for shedding light on the lived experiences of the community of persons with learning disabilities and encourage more inclusive perspectives on the future of work and education. After all, the next big innovator could be the next big dyslexic innovator who comes from India.

25 April 2023, New Delhi: CABT Logistics, one of India’s largest growing logistics companies ties up with Croma as their delivery partner Pan-India.

India’s first large format specialist electronics retail store, Croma run by Infiniti Retail, a subsidiary of Tata Digital. was founded in 2006. Since its inception, it has brought under one roof, multi-brand digital gadgets, and home electronics products. As a pioneer in the E-commerce sector, Croma is currently furnishing thousands of orders per day. CABT Logistics has tied up with Croma as their logistics partner to facilitate deliveries Pan-India.

The partnership has been initiated from the West Region in Mumbai for Last-Mile Delivery orders for Large items. CABT Logistics is expected to go live in more than 10+ cities by the next 6 months. To help Croma gain a stronghold in LMD for increased customer acquisition, CABT Logistics will facilitate seamless deliveries. For the same, CABT Logistics has deployed skilled labor in transportation dedicatedly for Croma. This will ensure that the customers have an excellent experience keeping brand equity on priority.

CABT Logistics already has a strong presence in Pan India. This places them at an advantage to help Croma achieve targets swiftly. CABT Logistics is investing heavily in delivery personnel including riders, sorters, and loaders exclusively for Croma to ensure operational optimization.

Sujit Kumar Yadav from Lead Commercial and Contracting, Croma shared, “We are delighted to tie up with CABT Logistics. Knowing the expertise that CABT Logistics brings to the table we are confident that this will be a long and fruitful collaboration. Combining Croma’s reach and CABT’s logistics expertise this collaboration is set to accelerate the development of digital solutions to ensure a wholesome logistics eco-system for us”

Shailesh Kumar, Founder at CABT Logistics shared, “We are happy to collaborate with Croma, one of India’s pioneering platforms, and help them strategize their D2C expansion. We will put our best foot forward and deliver according to their expectations. The investment we are rolling out is because we have faith in the brand and our expertise to ensure long-term growth strategies are realized.”

CHENNAI – Marriott International, Inc. today celebrated the recent visit of its President and Chief Executive Officer Anthony Capuano, who underscored the company’s deep commitment to growing its footprint in India. During the visit, which took place between April 10-14, the company opened the JW Marriott Goa, its 150th hotel in South Asia as well as the Mulberry Shades Bengaluru Nandi Hills, A Tribute Portfolio Resort. In addition, the company announced its plans to open 15 hotels this year in South Asia across its luxury, premium and select brand segments. Marriott also has plans to launch the brand debut of Moxy in India with the anticipated openings of Moxy Bengaluru Airport Prestige Tech Cloud and Moxy Mumbai Andheri West in 2024.

During his tour of the country, Mr. Capuano was a featured speaker at the Hotel Investment Conference – South Asia (HICSA) in Bengaluru and met with Minister of Tourism G. Kishan Reddy to discuss capitalizing on India’s G20 presidency to accelerate the industry’s development. A highlight of Mr. Capuano’s visit was his meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi to discuss the company’s plans for continued growth in the region. Accompanying him at the meeting was Ms. Ranju Alex, Marriott’s Area Vice President for South Asia. India is one of Marriott’s top global markets and the company is building a pipeline of diverse leadership talent, with a heavy focus on supporting women in leadership, a topic that was discussed during the meeting with Prime Minister Modi.

Mumbai, April 25, 2023: Marico Limited’s premium hair-nourishment brand, Parachute Advansed has released a heart-warming TVC for its Parachute Advansed Onion Hair Oil. The TVC highlights how two powerful ingredients – coconut & onion, come together to boost hair growth & reduce hair fall. The film shows the unbreakable, unique bond between a daughter and her mother, with the mother guiding her daughter for the future of her impending marriage and her hair.

The film opens with a loving conversation between a soon-to-be-wed daughter and her mother, about the change in responsibilities after marriage. In a friendly banter, her younger sister also talks about the various changes that the new life will bring, including hair fall, taking a cheeky dig at her older sister. The mother lovingly assures her that she does not need to worry and that using Parachute Advanced Onion Hair Oil will not only help reduce hair fall but also promote hair growth.

Speaking on the new campaign, Somasree Bose, Chief Marketing Officer, Marico Limited said, “Parachute Advansed has been a woman’s trusted ally for generations. A mother-daughter relationship is truly unique, with a daughter seeing her mother as her most trusted advisor and rightly so. The mother’s want for only the best for her child backed by the years of wisdom, is unparalleled. That is exactly what our latest film tries to capture, where the daughter finds comfort in her mother’s advice just before marriage. Parachute Advansed Onion Hair Oil is a fusion of two powerful ingredients. It harnesses the power of onion and combines it with the nourishing goodness of coconut. These two together are a powerful combination to boost hair growth and reduce hair fall. We are optimistic that our latest offering under Parachute Advansed will gain the trust of our consumers and will be a brand that will transcend generations.”

With an emotive visual playout and a powerful storyline, the Parachute Advansed Onion Oil’s TVC is set to delight the audience. The brand film will be released first on TV & digital media in Andhra Pradesh & Karnataka and then on the brand’s YouTube page in Hindi and English later.

Speaking on the creative conceptualization of this TVC, Hans Saxena, Director at Shot Ready Hai said, “Parachute Advanced is a very trusted & loved brand across India. While shooting for Parachute Advanced Onion Hair Oil it was important to understand and capture the emotion that would resonate with the consumer while bringing out the benefits of coconut and onion, two very powerful ingredients.”

Credits:

Agency: Shot Ready Hai

Director: Hans Saxena

Producer: Nikita Sharma

Music Director: Akash Patwari
Script Writer: Aniket Sharma

25 April 2023  In a world of boring podcasts and predictable audiobooks, the audio series platform Pocket FM has taken the internet by storm with its new sensation, Super Yoddha, with a captivating storyline, heart-pounding action, and mind-blowing sound effects. It’s the audio series everyone is talking about, and it’s not hard to see why.

Super Yoddha is a thrilling audio series that will keep you on the edge of your seat with its epic battles, fantastical creatures, and incredible storytelling by voice actors. The story revolves around an 11-year-old boy named Dhruv who had accomplished the high-level ‘Eklavya’ rank in Shaurya Dal’s organization for the first time in history but dropped back down to the ‘zero’ rank due to unfortunate incidents in his life. Followed by this, the storyline progressed with Dhruv winning all the odds to regain his former rank.

Super Yoddha has been causing a sensation among listeners across India. Millions of people have already tuned in to experience the excitement and adventure of this epic audio series. With each episode, the fan base of Super Yoddha is growing, and people can’t get enough of it. The audio series has recorded over 35 million plays in no time.

Thrilled with its success, Ashu Behl, SVP – Content & Strategy. Pocket FM said, “We’re excited with the incredible response Super Yoddha has received. We knew our audience are in love with our fantasy storytelling, and this series has every entertainment ingredient required for fantasy storytelling. Fantasy audio series is gaining popularity due to the immersive audio experience and captivating storytelling. The trend is expected to accelerate as more people discover the joys of fantasy audio series, with us continuing to produce high-quality fantasy content.”

Written by the acclaimed author S. Sridhar, this series is a masterpiece of storytelling that combines the best of the superhero and fantasy genres to create an experience like no other. “As the writer of ‘Super Yoddha,’ I’m overjoyed to see the series’ massive success on Pocket FM. It’s truly humbling to know that my words have the power to transport listeners to a world of fantasy and wonder. Crafting the intricate plotlines, memorable characters, and vivid imagery that make up ‘Super Yoddha’ as a labor of love, and I’m grateful to have been given the opportunity to create something that has touched so many hearts.” said Sridhar

Shridhar’s exceptional writing skills have earned him well-deserved recognition in the film industry. He has exhibited his talents in various successful projects, including ‘The Will,’ a short film available for streaming on Disney+ Hotstar, and his contribution to the screenplays of two award-winning short films, Cowmedy and Taal-Betal. Both films were screened at renowned film festivals like the New York Indian Film Festival in 2020 and the Nagari Film Festival in 2021, where they received critical acclaim. Shridhar also shares a close association with Actor and Thespian Vijay Kumar, who has featured in several successful TV shows and movies.

Bengaluru, 24 April 2023: Kotak Mahindra Bank Ltd (“KMBL” / “Bank”) and its CSR associate Pullela Gopichand Badminton Foundation, today announced the launch of “Kotak Pullela Gopichand Badminton Academy”, a world-class badminton training Centre at Gachibowli, Telangana. The launch was attended by Pullela Gopichand Badminton Foundation’s Pullela Gopichand, Founder Trustee and India’s National Coach, L.V. Subrahmanyam, Trustee and Kotak Mahindra Bank’s Shanti Ekambaram, Whole-Time Director and Jaimin Bhat, Group President and Group Chief Financial Officer.

The newly launched state-of-the-art badminton centre is part of KMBL’s Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) Project on sports and has been developed with the shared vision of the Bank and Indian badminton legend, Pullela Gopichand – the founder trustee of Pullela Gopichand Badminton Foundation of bringing more laurels to India in the field of Badminton. The badminton training centre offers advanced infrastructure and amenities, along with international-level coaches to provide top-notch training to aspiring and acclaimed athletes.

In 2019, Kotak Mahindra Bank announced its CSR Project in Sports in collaboration with Pullela Gopichand Badminton Foundation (Foundation) to develop a world-class training facility for Indian badminton players. The launch of this new training facility is a significant milestone for both organisations, marking the beginning of their journey towards achieving their shared vision of developing exceptional athletes and coaches in the country.

Shanti Ekambaram, Whole-time Director, of Kotak Mahindra Bank said, “Kotak Mahindra Bank and Pullela Gopichand share a common vision of nurturing world-class badminton players from India and strengthening sports infrastructure and avenues for the future youth of the country. Our CSR efforts focus on making quality education, livelihood, environment and sports, available to all, regardless of their economic background. We are proud to associate with Pullela Gopichand and his foundation which is dedicated to supporting athletes and the growing passion for sports in the country.

Pullela Gopichand, Indian National Coach & Founder Trustee of Pullela Gopichand Badminton Foundation said, “The current badminton training facility has the legacy of producing global champions who have brought laurels for India in major championships from Olympics to Commonwealth games among several others. Since its inception 15 years ago, the academy has become an aspirational facility for potential players from deeper pockets across the country. Further, to support the accelerated growth of sports in India, the new-Kotak Pullela Gopichand Badminton Academy will offer advanced infrastructure and amenities and Coach development that will elevate badminton training to international standards for our players. We are grateful for Kotak Mahindra Bank’s CSR funding support on this journey leading towards achieving excellence in sports.”

Amenities offered at Kotak-Pullela Gopichand Badminton Training Facility in Hyderabad:

High-performance training centre comprising six air-conditioned badminton courts
Sports Science Centre with top-quality resident nutritionists, physiotherapists, and strength and conditioning experts on board for the all-around development of players

Top-quality training and coaching facilities at par with global standards

Fellowship Programmes for economically backward coaches and players, within and outside the academy, who have the potential to make it big Coach Certification Programme for yesteryear sportspersons to expand the reach of badminton training across India

The collaboration is a testament to the commitment of both organizations to contribute to the growth and development of Indian badminton.

Kotak Karma is the Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) identity of the Kotak Mahindra Group of companies.

Hyderabad, 24 April 2023: ASIA PACIFIC INC, a leading corporate advisors company, has today announced the achievement of ISO certification and also launched their New Web App at a special event organized at Taj Deccan, Hyderabad. The event was attended by 100+ guests, including leading real-estate developers and senior management from banks and financial institutes.

Sri IYR Krishna Rao garu, Retired IAS, Former Chief Secretary, Andhra Pradesh – Chief Guest, Sri Raghu Pervella, IRS – Distinguished guest, Sri Koti – Music Director, Distinguished guest, Sri Narendra Kamaraju, MD of Praneet Group – Guest of Honour, Sri S. Ramreddy, MD of SMR builders PVT Ltd., Hyderabad, Sri Ramesh Krishna Murthy, Director, JM Financial Services Ltd., Mumbai – Guest of Honour, Sri Vivek Kuchibotla, a prominent producer had graced the occasion at the event.

The ISO certification is a significant milestone for Asia Pacific Inc. which underscores the company’s commitment to quality and excellence in its business processes. The certification validates Asia Pacific Inc’s compliance with international standards and best practices, ensuring that their products and services meet the highest level of quality standards.

At the event, Asia Pacific Inc. also unveiled its latest offering, a new web app that is set to revolutionize the Real-estate sector. The new web app is designed to offer ease to the workflow, and its launch is a testament to the company’s commitment to innovation and customer satisfaction.

Speaking on the occasion, Mr. Radha Krishna, Managing Partner at Asia Pacific Inc. said, “We are thrilled to announce the achievement of our ISO certification and the launch of our new web application. These milestones are a testament to our team’s dedication and hard work toward delivering the best products and services to our customers. We are committed to continuously improving and innovating to meet the evolving needs of our customers.”

Asia Pacific Inc plans to leverage this ISO certification and new web app to expand its customer base and grow its business further.

Hyderabad, April 24, 2023….…The Summit on Health Insurance Vision 2030 held at FTCCI will make a document in the next three months, disclosed Bejon Misra, Chair, Health Insurance Vision 2020, at the closing of the Round Table Discussion of all the stakeholders such as Government Officials, CEOs and Heads of Various Stakeholders. The round table was held on Saturday. It was part of the Summit on Health Insurance Vision 2030 yesterday.

Summing up the Round Table Discussion, Prof Bejon K Misra, Chair of Health Insurance Vision 2030 shared that after due deliberations on Friday and Saturday, they firmed up nine recommendations, which will be incorporated in the Vision Document which is expected to be ready in the next three months.

As a person on the street has the option of choosing a coffee of his choice for his budget so must a person also must have the option to choose his healthcare in his own budget said Shekhar Agarwal, Chair, Healthcare Committee, FTCCI

The nine recommendations are as follows.

01. FTCCI is to establish a Clearing House. This will create evidence of any kind of breakdown in the healthcare delivery system. It will be named appropriately in due course of time. It will be some kind of a clearance cell, something like the Health Insurance Vision 2030 Clearance Cell It will work on evidence only. This body will also conduct Research and studies on the barriers to access and affordable healthcare in Telangana State.

02. It will work on standards. It will make sure that all the stakeholders develop their standards. If they don’t display their standards they will not get paid. Every stakeholder in the ecosystem will be encouraged to develop their own standards.

03. A Cost Account Committee will be constituted. It will have two persons each of Cost Accountants, CAs, Hospitals, Intermediaries, Patient Organisations, and insurance industry professionals.

04. It will work to develop a unique model which will be called a Telangana Model. No copying of any model. It will be original and unique to the state of Telangana. The ultimate goal of this committee is to bring a smile to citizens.

05. The Intermediaries–Agents, Brokers, and TPAs (Third Party Administrators) have agreed to start a 24×7 Helpline to help policyholders and also potential policyholders address their grievances or issues they face while purchasing policies or processing the same for claims. It will have to be a vibrant one and run by intermediaries. The working modalities will be worked out in due course.

06. It will push for exclusive laws or regulations for the medical devices sector. As of now, the devices are seen as drugs, which is not right. Devices are media that enable treatment. We can not mix devices and drugs together in one single law. No patient needs to pay more than these devices deserve. MRP transparency needs to be ensured through the proper regulatory mechanism. No overcharging will be allowed.

07. FTCCI Health Insurance Vision 2030 Cell will start a 24×7 surveillance system that will help people reach the right person at the right time. It will keep records of adverse drug reactions or any substandard products or services delivered. If so, to take them to a logical end to provide resolutions engaging with regulatory authorities. It will primarily look at patient safety and the quality of the healthcare delivery system.

08. It is decided that the group that attended the one and half day Summit will meet once in three months to review its progress. The Health Insurance Vision 2030 document will be made by ASCI, the knowledge partner to the initiative

09. Make Telangana State emerge as a leader in ‘Health For All’, maybe through insurance, private or government or a combination of all.

The Roundtable Discussion which was participated by over 100 stakeholders was moderated by Mr Ajay Mishra, a retired IAS Officer who is also a Chairman of the State Red Cross Society.

The Moderator Ajay Misra while setting the tone for the discussion, said why there is so much delay in discharging the patients even after doctors discharge them. The long waiting period must be curtailed to 1 to 2 hours. The hospitals have to be very specific about the time required to discharge a patient.

The terms and conditions of the health insurance policy are voluminous. They are in small font, not legible and not all can read. The font size of the same shouldn’t be less than 10 font and the terms and conditions should not be spread over more than two pages. The health insurance spread in the state of Telangana is reasonably good. Not many public sector hospitals have come up in Hyderabad in the last 50 years. At the time more than two dozen star hospitals in the private sector have come, Ajay Misra observed.

Participating in the discussion, one of the panelists Mr. Tapan Singhel, Chair of the General Insurance Council said if there is an intent and will, the vision that is envisaged by 2030 can be implemented even now. And he suggested a few practices followed for better coverage of health insurance. The USA made health insurance mandatory for employees employing people. The TCS in India pays INR 3000 crore towards health insurance.

In Rajasthan, every family gets an insurance benefit of ₹5 lakhs under the Universal Healthcare scheme in the state. The people in the state can avail of health insurance up to Rs 5 lakh by paying half of the insurance premium, of ₹850 annually, and avail of the treatment of ₹5 lakhs at any private and government hospital. When Rajasthan can do this, why can’t we do it elsewhere he said.

Dr. Alexander Thomas, Founder & Patron of the Association of Healthcare Providers, India, suggested setting up a Costing Committee. If the government joins fine, if not work it out between hospitals, insurers, and patients.

Dr. Vadiraju Rakesh, President of Telangana Hospitals & Nursing Homes Association said the whole approach to the issue has to be holistic.

The next decade is about Health and Health Care Delivery, said Mr. Rajiv Kumar Gupta, President of PBFintech Ltd(Policy Bazar and Paisabazaar).

Dr. Atul Mohan Kochchar, CEO of NABH–National Accreditation Board for Hospitals and Healthcare Providers said that they touched about 17000 hospitals across India so far. We want to touch 50,000 hospitals in the near future. Every month nearly 400 hospitals are registering their applications for accreditation. Every hospital must adopt some standards, he said.

24 April 2023 Utopia, the innovative smart e-bike technology company, is excited to announce its collaboration with world-renowned pianist Maksim Mrvica as the first brand ambassador for its sleek and stylish Chord E-bike.

Maksim, with over 4 million albums sold in 57 countries, is a pioneering pianist, widely recognized as the world’s best-selling crossover artist. At our initial meeting, Maksim had just concluded his latest recital. With a towering height of 6 feet 9 inches, he exuded warmth and courtesy, elegantly dressed in a black suit complemented by rock-inspired accessories and tattoos adorning his arms. In an interview, Maksim revealed that he appreciates the personalized touch and perfect fit conveyed by his fashion choices. It is evident that Maksim is not only a renowned classical crossover pianist but also a tasteful fashionista with high standards. Since his foray into crossover music in the early 2000s, Maksim has consistently breathed new life into the classics while preserving the genre’s essence. His passion for music and high-quality design made him the perfect fit for Urtopia’s philosophy of “design is soul.” When he first laid eyes on the Chord E-bike, he was instantly drawn to its simple yet elegant design, stating that it is “passionate and innovative at the same time.”

Urtopia, a technology-driven Ebike company, challenges the traditional design standards of the bicycle industry with its unique style. Urtopia Chord E-bike is inspired by the piano, with its unique design style capturing the essence of the musical instrument. Maksim was impressed by the Chord’s power, reliability, and elegant design, stating that it was “just like my favorite E-bike.”

What’s more, Urtopia is committed to providing excellent customer service, with free shipping and 14-day returns throughout the EU and the US. Its warehouse and after-sales center are located in Germany and the United States, and it has over 50 test ride service points. Anyone interested in the Chord E-bike can book a free test ride on the website. Additionally, Utopia has partnered with the German JobRad platform to offer bike leasing. This benefit is not available with all E-bike brands.

Experience the power and elegance of Urtopia’s Chord E-bike, as endorsed by the world-renowned pianist Maksim Mrvica. Visit the Utopia website to learn more about the innovative Chord E-bike and the company’s commitment to quality and service.

24 April 2023  Infiniti Mall, Mumbai’s top-tier shopping, food, and entertainment hotspot is geared up to host a lineup of family-friendly events, with a promise of elevated entertainment and a guaranteed extraordinary shopping experience this summer. Infiniti Mall announces hosting Fun Mania, the one-of-a-kind event with unlimited fun for all age groups. The mall will be adorned vibrantly featuring a wide variety of activities and attractions for visitors. Fun-packed events will be held at both Andheri and Malad premises between 21st April to 14th May 2023.

Family bonding time awaits at Fun Mania 2023, providing an excellent opportunity to spend quality time together. The unmissable lineup of events includes Paper Flower Bouquet Craft, Kids Fashion Show, Belly Swag, Seed Art, Magic Show, South Style Dance Performance, and many more.