Archives October 2024

Chennai – October 7, 2024: Six restaurants across Taj hotels in Chennai have been awarded the prestigious Tripadvisor Traveller’s Choice Awards for Restaurants 2024, recognizing their commitment to delivering unique dining experiences. The restaurants are Southern Spice, Golden Dragon, Anise and Chipstead at Taj Coromandel, Chennai; and Raintree and The Verandah at Taj Connemara, Chennai. These celebrated dining establishments, spanning various cuisines and culinary styles, have been delighting guests with exceptional cuisine and impeccable service, over several decades. Tripadvisor gives a Travellers’ Choice award to accommodations, attractions and restaurants that consistently earn great reviews from travellers and are ranked within the top 10% of properties on Tripadvisor.

Commenting on this achievement, Mr. Sarabjeet Singh, Senior Vice President- Operations said, “I am delighted that several of our restaurants have won the Tripadvisor Traveller’s Choice Awards 2024. This recognition is a testament to the excellence of our cuisine, the rich heritage of our restaurants and the dedication of our teams to serving our guests. We thank our patrons for their continued support and trust, and we remain committed to delivering exceptional dining experiences across all our restaurants.”

Taj Coromandel, an iconic landmark in the heart of the Chennai, celebrates five decades of unparalleled hospitality and timeless sophistication. From glorious menus from around the world to hip nightspots, the unique Taj culinary experience can be enjoyed in all its glory at Taj Coromandel. Southern Spice, the country’s most iconic South Indian specialty restaurant, offers guests the quintessential South-Indian dining experience showcasing the culinary legacy of the four Southern States of India – Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka. Golden Dragon, one of the first restaurants to introduce fine Sichuan cuisine to Chennai, today boasts one of the most extraordinary repertoires of Chinese cuisine with an expat master chef, Lian at the helm of the kitchen. Anise, named after the popular Indian spice star anise, is a contemporary all-day-dining restaurant that serves a variety of world flavours, from regional and Italian to Mediterranean, European and coastal dishes. Chipstead, the stylish bar and lounge offers guests to unwind over music, heady concoctions and sparkling conversations.

Taj Connemara, 127+ Years old – South India’s oldest hotel, is a proud relic of the colonial era with its deep historical roots and stands as a testament to the heritage of the city. Two celebrated restaurants, Raintree and The Verandah made it to the list of the Tripadvisor Traveller’s Choice Awards. Raintree is a well-known address for bonafide Chettinad cuisine, giving culinary adventurers an authentic taste of the Chettinad province of Tamil Nadu, with bursts of pleasant surprises, while The Verandah is an all-day dining multi-cuisine restaurant well known for its global cuisine. The highlight of this restaurant is the unique Anglo-Indian menu, which is reminiscent of the ‘days of the Raj’.

Gurugram, August 2024: A sweet revolution is brewing in Gurugram as Le Rêve, the artisanal patisserie amidst The Leela Ambience Gurugram Hotel & Residences, gears up for an extraordinary collaboration. On October 15th, Le Rêve will present an immersive showcase featuring two of India’s leading pastry experts, Chef Anil Rohira and Chef Vikas Bagul, owners of the esteemed School for European Pastry & Culinary Arts.

Over the past year, Le Rêve has been living up to its name. The name, French for “The Dream,” perfectly captures the essence of this sweet sanctuary. Now, Le Rêve is set to elevate its offerings even further with an extraordinary collaboration. With master chefs in-house, visitors can expect a symphony of flavours and a feast for the eyes as years of expertise meet Le Rêve’s commitment to authentic tastes and impeccable craftsmanship.
The luxury patisserie has been creating delights that resonate with both the soul and the palate. Each pastry, each loaf of bread, and each delicate dessert forms a verse in an edible tribute to culinary artistry. Le Rêve is all set to persistently explore new frontiers where luxury and emotion harmoniously converge on the plate through a remarkable collaboration with master chefs.

Following The Leela Ambience Gurugram Hotel & Residences’ tradition of excellence, Le Rêve has reimagined classic baking. The patisserie invites you to indulge in the craftsmanship that dedication creates as it celebrates an extraordinary collaboration with Chef Anil Rohira and Chef Vikas Bagul from the renowned School for European Pastry & Culinary Arts.

Hyderabad, 7th Oct, 2024: Honoring his legacy of service and empowerment, the 5148th historic birth anniversary of Agrasen Maharaj was celebrated with many gala festivities and grandeur by Agarwal Samaj, Telangana. Many cultural programmes were organised by Agarwal Samaj. The event featured esteemed guests, including Chief Guest Shri Dr. Jitender (IPS) Director General of Police, Telangana Govt and dignitaries like Shri Sandeep Sultania (IAS)- Principal Secretary, to Govt. Finance Dept. TG, Smt. Shikha Goel (IPS) – DGP CID, & Women Safety Wing, Anjani Kumar Agarwal – IPP and SriSailam Guest House Committee Chairman, , Purshotam Agarwal- Vice President and Jayanti Mahotsav Chief Convener, Kapoor Chand- Hon.Secretary, Mr. Naveen Kumar Agarwal- Treasurer, Ms. Kanchan Agarwal – Joint Secretary, Dr. Mohan Gupta, Mr. Badri Vishal Bansal, Mr. Mahesh Naretha, Dr. Anirudh Gupta, Mr. Anil Kumar Agarwal ( advisors ), Mr. Rakesh Jalan – Agarwal Samaj Banquet Hall President among others along with Agarwal community members, all united in a spirit of gratitude and progress. Few cultural programs like Ganesh Vandana by Miyapur Mahila Shakha, Rasleela by Varsha Team and Rakt Beej by Kukatpally Shakha were organized. Shri. Jitender ji, IPS and Shri. Sham Sunder Gupta ji was honored as Agra Ratan. Shri Anurudh Ji Gupta was honored with Agra Udyog Ratan.

Chief Guest Shri Dr. Jitender (IPS) Director General of Police, Telangana Govt commemorating the celebrations said ” Agarwal Samaj has been playing a prominent role in development of Telangana by following the teachings of Agrasen Maharaj. The community has been doing various social services, medical programs, women empowerment initiatives, blood donation camps among many such activities. It gives us great enthusiasm knowing that there were so many members and branches of the community who have been actively participating in all such initiatives. The teachings and values of the community are very impressive”.

Mr. Manish Agarwal, President – Agarwal Samaj expressed heartfelt thanks to attendees for their support in implementing the program’s community initiatives over the past year. He said, “We want to extend our heartfelt thanks to all our guests who have attended today’s programme. The community was founded in 1998. Various social works are being done by our community and under the corpus fund we are collecting donations. Our notable programs are Ekal Nari Initiative – supporting the education for 14 women, Dhan Patr Scheme – Promoting financial literacy – Tally with GST Training ( so far 130 trained, with 60 securing jobs ), Kanyadaan Scheme: Facilitating two marriages, Career Counseling and Job Mela: Over 100 jobs offered, Mega Tree Plantation Drives, Water Conservation Projects: Implemented five “Jal Shala” programs and food distribution activities. Our community is proud of the strides made through these initiatives. We want to encourage everyone in the Agarwal community to add Agarwal after their name so that we can promote our identity and be a great support to our community. The Srisailam project and Ayodhya efforts were also recognized for their contributions to community development”.

This year, the Shakas (branches) have shown remarkable activity, fostering engagement and innovative programs. The youth vows continue to take an active role, as the Agarwal community is poised for significant growth driven by positive thinking and unity. As part of their ongoing commitment to community welfare, last year’s proposal to reduce marriage expenses by 20% and redirect those funds toward assets has received positive feedback.

The collective aim of a united Agarwal community remains paramount. The members extend special thanks to Agrasen Bank for their support through the corpus fund, facilitating the initiatives.

Few announcements for the future months include: Srisailam Guest House, the dream project of Agarwal Community, for which land has been acquired from AP Govt, New Shakas in Bhagyanagar and Malkajgiri are being established. The Hitech City Shaka is in the process of formation.Ekal Nari initiative participation increased from 7,200 to 10,000 women annually.

In conclusion, heartfelt gratitude was expressed to the entire organizing team for their dedication, especially the Chief Convenor and other convenors, who played a crucial role in the success of the Jayanti Mahotsav. Maharaja Agrasen Jayanti is an important Hindu festival celebrated in honour of Maharaja Agrasen, a legendary king and a revered figure in the Agarwal community.

Delhi, 7th October 2024: ixigo, India’s leading OTA for the Next Billion Users, is delighted to announce its much-anticipated Grand Travel Utsav Sale, from October 4th to 8th, 2024. In this period, travelers can enjoy flat 15% off on domestic and international flight and hotel bookings, making their upcoming festive travels more affordable and delightful.

During the sale, travelers can take advantage of the exclusive offer with multiple banks and get flat 15% off, on flight tickets and hotel bookings! ICICI Bank customers, using Credit Cards, Net Banking, or Credit Card EMIs, can enjoy the offer on 4th and 5th October 2024. RBL Bank credit card holders can claim their discount on 6th October, followed by AU Small Finance Bank credit card holders on 7th October. BOBCARD users can grab the deal on 8th October.

Aloke Bajpai, Group CEO & Rajnish Kumar Group Co-CEO, ixigo, said, “With the festive season approaching, we’re making travel more affordable and accessible for everyone with our Grand Travel Utsav Sale. We want travelers to enjoy their festive journeys without the burden of high costs. With flat discounts on domestic and international flights, plus hotels, and exciting bank deals, there’s no better time to plan your perfect getaway. Don’t miss out on this opportunity to make your festive travel dreams come true!”

For the sale, ixigo has collaborated with reputed airline partners like Indigo, Air India, Spicejet, Emirates, Egypt Air, Cathay Pacific, Air Mauritius, Gulf Air, Oman Air, Myanmar Airways International, Cambodia Angkor Air and Vietnam Airlines.

This festive sale is designed to meet the growing demand for affordable travel during India’s most joyful season. Whether you’re planning a family vacation or a solo trip, this offer ensures that you can book your festive journeys at exceptional prices.

New Delhi, October 7, 2024: The Global Disability Innovation Hub (GDI Hub) and the National Centre for Promotion of Employment for Disabled People (NCPEDP) will co host a Demo Day for Assistive Technology (AT) startups at the Empower 2024 event. The event will take place at the National Institute for Speech and Hearing (NISH) in Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, on October 17. Startups focusing on Assistive Technology are encouraged to apply for pitch opportunities, and investors are invited to attend and support these ventures. The event will be a critical step in advancing assistive technologies that positively impact lives across India.

NCPEDP will be launching the Assistive Technology Hub project during Empower 2024 as part of its broader mission to enhance accessibility and inclusion for people with disabilities and the elderly. The Assistive Technology Hub will serve as a center of excellence focused on research, innovation, and policy interventions in the AT space, ensuring solutions are tailored to India’s unique needs.

GDI Hub’s Attvaran, a collaborative effort between University College London, the Global Disability Innovation Hub, IIT Delhi, and IIT Madras, with support from the UK Government’s AT2030 program, will play an important role in the event. Empower 2024 offers a platform for AT startups to pitch their innovations to key investors, angel funds, and grant providers, helping them gain momentum in developing cutting-edge solutions that improve accessibility and empower people with disabilities.

The day’s events will include a plenary workshop on managing grants and a panel discussion on investment in assistive technology. Two parallel pitching sessions will be held – one for grant funding and another for angel and venture capital investment.

Arman Ali, Executive Director of NCPEDP, emphasized the significance of this initiative: “India is undergoing a transformative phase in disability empowerment, particularly in the area of Assistive Technology. The AT Hub project unites key stakeholders across public and private sectors, driving forward innovations that address the challenges faced by people with disabilities. Our goal is to create sustainable, inclusive solutions that contribute to a self-reliant and accessible future.”

Hyderabad, October 06, 2024…… Komatireddy Venkat Reddy, Minister for Roads, Buildings and Cinematography, Government of Telangana grace as chief guest at the prizes presentation ceremony at Quambiant Global Grace Cancer Run 2024.

Earlier Ms Jennifer Larson, Consular General US Consulate, Hyd; Sri VC. Sajjanar, IPS, MD TSRTC and Dr. Bart S. Fisher, IPS, Chairman, Give Life Foundation flagged off three different categories of runs—10K, 5K and 2K. A total of 20,000 people participated in the run.

Komatireddy Venkat Reddy along with other guests gave away prizes to the winners of “Quambiant Global Grace Cancer Run-2024”.

In the men’s 10K category, Mohit Chowdary stood first completing the 10K run in 33.22 minutes and earning Rs 12,500/- prize money. Bodupally Ramesh stood second by completing the run in 34.15 minutes and was awarded Rs 7500/- prize money and Ramesh Chandra came third by completing the run in 34.15 minutes and bagged Rs 5000/- prize money.

In the Women 10K run category Uma completed it in 40.41 minutes, Maheshwari in 42.45 minutes and Rajeshwari in 43.58 minutes and stood first, second and third and walked away with the prize money of Rs 12,500/-, 7,500/- and 5000/- respectively.

Speaking on the occasion the Minister appreciated the Grace Cancer Foundation and Dr Chinnababu for helping the poor by screening free of cost for cancer at their doorstep. It is a yeoman service. I am pleased to note that 20,000 have participated in the Hyderabad event, which may be the biggest in India as far as Cancer Awareness Runs are concerned. Also, I am happy to note that it is the world’s biggest cancer awareness run which is being organised in dual mode—both physical and virtual across 130 countries and well over one lakh participate in it.

Hyderabad is a health capital. 40 to 50% of drugs supplied to various countries are manufactured here. It is a Vaccine capital and health tourism hub. An event like this happening in such a happening city is praiseworthy. Early detection is the key to cancer treatment. We can save lives if diagnosed in the first or second stage. But, it will be difficult to save if diagnosed in advanced stages, the Minister said.

Health is wealth. Fitness is important for health. Everyone must take part in sports. Rightly our Chief Minister declared a Sports University in Hyderabad to encourage more and more to get into sports, he said. I am also a fitness freak. I get up at 4 am and run for 10kms every day except on Sundays, he shared and advised all to get fit

The Congress Government initiated the Outer Ring Road in 2024. Now, the same Congress has started a Regional Ring Road, at a project outlay of Rs 30,000 crore. This will put Hyderabad on the world map for its infrastructure. The works of the same will begin in December, he said.

Kiran Tanuja, India’s first blade runner from Faridabad participated in the run. People from various walks of life and ages such as 3 years to 80 years participated in the run. The run was organized to raise funds for free cancer screening. Kiran said anything can happen in life. And don’t stop your efforts. Now with this blade, I run 21 kms. So believe in yourself, she said.

HYSEA, SCSC, CII, LIC and many other organisations supported the run. It was the 7th edition of the run. The run is planned to raise funds to deploy free cancer screening.

The run was organized with the theme “Run for Grace Screen for Life” disclosed by Dr. Chinnababu Sunkavalli, Senior Consultant Robotic Surgical Oncologist and the Founder of GRACE (Global Research and Cancer Education) Cancer Foundation.

The run was organised by GRACE Cancer Foundation, a Hyderabad-based non-profit organisation founded to alleviate the burden of cancer through education, early detection, treatment, rehabilitation, and cutting-edge research.

The objectives for the Run according to Dr. Chinababu are to make a meaningful impact on people’s lives by creating awareness about Cancer, to promote physical activity as a means to prevent and combat cancer in society and to help people lead active lifestyles and also to raise funds for screening the underprivileged right at their doorstep, for free.

Hyderabad, October 05, 2024:  The three-day Global South Conference on Infection Prevention, Control and Antimicrobial Stewardship(G-SPARC)-2024 which is being attended by well over 2000 delegates concluded on Saturday evening.

Prof. GVS Murthy, President, PRASHO; R Govind Hari, Chairman, PRASHO; Dr. Ranga Reddy Burri, Chairman G-Sparc; Dr. Raghu N Reddy, Co-Chair of G-Sparc and Continental Hospitals; Dr. Shamanna, Professor, University of Hyderabad; Sri. B J Rao, Vice Chancellor, University of Hyderabad; Mr. Gareth Wynn Owen, Deputy High Commissioner, UK Consulate, Hyderabad and Mr. Nkwan Jacob Gobte, Honorary Secretary, ICAN graced the closing function

R Govind Hari, Co-Chair, G-SPARC 2024 gave a welcome address.

The organisers have unveiled G-SPARC 2024, Hyderabad Declaration. Two White papers on AMR and State Action Plans for containment in India and Oral Health and AMR Declaration. It presented 21 recommendations in its Hyderabad Declaration. The following are a few highlights of the 21 recommendations.

The declaration said AMR is a manmade disaster and has to be fought by concerted action.

Countries must institute effective and efficient surveillance and monitoring mechanisms.

Strong collaborations must be forged between Global South countries. The countries must support each other and stop the emergence of AMR and newer strains.

All countries in the global south must articulate strategies and action plans to combat AMR.

The high-income countries in the world should allocate a healthy proportion of their GDP to help Global South countries to fight AMR.

To see that at least 60% of countries have funded national action plans on AMR by 2030.

The Global Anti-Microbial Resistance Multi-Partner Trust Fund mooted by the UNGA (United Nations General Assembly) should prioritize countries of the Global South.

UNGA should target that at least 70% of Antibiotics used for Human Health globally should belong to the WHO Access Group Antibiotics with relatively minimal side effects and potential to cause AMR.

The One Health approach should be the cornerstone of all AMR activities.

Adequate funding should be earmarked for awareness campaigns

It strongly recommended that across the Global South, no Antibiotics including topical preparations should be dispensed without a qualified health practitioner’s prescription

G-Sparc calls for India’s remaining g states and union territories to develop and implement state-level Action Plans by 2026.

Every health facility must have an Infection, Prevention, Control and AMR committee

Community engagements are critical in reducing AMR and improving IPC practices.

During the closing ceremony, three MoUs were signed and exchanged.

One MoU was signed and exchanged between PRASHO & Oxford Brookes to Design and Offer Academic Programs to improve public health capacity including in WASH, IPC & AMS. The MoU was exchanged between Dr. Sarah Howcutt, Lead of Public Health & Sri. R Govind Hari, Chairman, PRASHO.

The second MoU was between SCIINV from Telangana, India & Microbira UK. Two prominent startups who are building digital tools for improving AMR diagnostic capacity to form a Joint Venture to jointly invest & further develop tools for containment of AMR. Dr. Marianne Ismail of Microbira, Dr. Ratnakar, Dr. Pradeep and Mr. Krishna Burri from SCIINV participated and exchanged the MoU.

The 3rd MoU was signed between ICAN & IFCAI, for a deeper collaboration for improving policy and practices of IPC and AMS in Global South. Prof. Chedli Azouzz and Prof. Ranga Reddy Burri exchanged the MoU.

Awards were presented to five leaders in AMR and IPC (Infection Prevention Control) and Three hospitals for best practices in AMR. They include Prof. Purva Mathur – AIIMS Delhi; Prof. Chedili Azzouz, Chairman, ICAN; Dr. Anuj Sharma – WHO India Country Office; Ms. Shailaja Teacher – fomer. Health Minister Kerala. She was not present in person to receive the same. Dr. Annie Thakore received the Award on her behalf.

The other recipients were Prof. Shaheen Mehtar – South Africa. Mr. Nkwan Jacob Gobte, Honorary Secretary, ICAN received her behalf.

Awards for excellence in the IPC & AMS Hospitals category were presented to AIIMS, Delhi, Dr. Purva Mathur received the award; Continental Hospitals, Dr. Guru N Reddy received the award and Pranaam Hospitals, Dr. Maneesh Gour received it on behalf of the hospital.

The objective of the conference was to provide a platform for Infection Prevention and Control (IPC), Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR), and Patient Safety stakeholders from Global South.

G-Sparc was organized by the Infection Control Academy of India (IFCAI); University of Hyderabad (UoH); Pragyaan Sustainable Health Outcomes Foundation (PRASHO)

NEW DELHI 5/october /2024: Kenstar is making significant strides in its growth journey, following a record-breaking summer that solidified its leadership in the cooler category. With the festive season approaching, the brand is now gearing up for a highly anticipated multimedia campaign titled ‘Houseful of Joy,’ featuring the iconic actress Ramya Krishnan. Known for her memorable roles in films such as Bahubali, Jailer, and Padayappa, Ramya brings her unmistakable charm to the campaign, which showcases Kenstar’s complete range of home appliances.

The central piece of the campaign is a vibrant video that portrays Ramya in her liveliest avatar, interacting with a young cousin. Set against the backdrop of a bustling festive household, the video opens with Ramya preparing an elaborate festive spread to welcome her family. Her cousin, amazed by the grandeur of the preparations, curiously asks about the assistance behind the scenes. With a playful smile, Ramya leads him to the kitchen, where Kenstar’s extensive range of appliances is hard at work.

The commercial highlights how Kenstar’s wide-range of Small Home Appliances and newly launched Air Conditioners enhance the joy of festive celebrations by making food preparation seamless and ensuring a comfortable environment for all. Through light-hearted interactions, Ramya showcases the performance, reliability, and sleek design of these appliances, emphasizing their vital role in making family gatherings smoother and more enjoyable.

Mr. Sunil Jain, CEO of Kenstar, expressed his excitement, stating, “With a strong focus on the southern part of the country, we are thrilled to welcome Ms. Ramya Krishnan to the Kenstar family. We are already a leading brand in the Air Cooler category and growing in Small Home Appliances and Water Heaters. Ramya’s powerful presence aligns perfectly with our brand’s values of a strong performance by Kenstar Appliances, which come with superior technology and elegant design. As we move into the festive season, our wide range of appliances offers families the convenience and comfort to enjoy these special moments without hassle.”

Ramya Krishnan shared her experience working with Kenstar, saying, “I’ve always believed that a home filled with joy is the heart of any festival, and Kenstar’s products truly help in creating that happiness. I can say that, as I have been using Kenstar Appliances myself now for many years now. Whether it’s the kitchen or the living room, Kenstar appliances bring a sense of ease and comfort that makes every celebration special. I’m delighted to be part of a brand that resonates so well with families.”

Neha Khullar, Marketing Head at Kenstar, added, “Festivals are a time for families to come together and create memories. We wanted the campaign to reflect our wide range of appliances, bring even more ease and delight into households, allowing families to focus on what truly matters – enjoying the festive moments. Ramya Krishnan perfectly embodies the spirit of celebration and perfection, which strongly aligns with the brand’s ethos.

As the festive season approaches, Kenstar’s ‘Houseful of Joy’ campaign aims to inspire households across the country to elevate their celebrations with the brand’s wide range of appliances, making every moment a delightful and hassle-free experience.
About Kenstar

Kenstar has been a trusted name in home appliances for over two decades, offering innovative and reliable products that cater to the needs of every Indian household. Known for its quality, durability, style and customer-centric approach, Kenstar continues to enhance the lives of its consumers and add joy through its wide range of products, including Small Home Appliances, Coolers, Water Heaters and Large Appliances.

New Delhi, 5th October 2024: Arya.ag, India’s largest integrated grain commerce platform, in strategic partnership with the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, successfully hosted the second edition of the Rith Summit on 3rd October 2024 at the India Habitat Centre in New Delhi.

Rith Summit 2.0: Building Climate Resilience Together brought together leading agribusinesses, technology providers, international experts, and development institutions to explore partnerships, programmes, and practical technologies that can enhance climate resilience within the agricultural sector. The summit provided a platform for experts to connect, share knowledge, and discover innovative solutions to help secure a sustainable future for farming communities.

The summit commenced with a welcome note from Anand Chandra, Arya.ag’s Co-Founder and Executive Director, who emphasised the importance of a market-led model that benefits every stakeholder to make agriculture climate-resilient. “In our experience building India’s largest and only profitable agritech company, we have learnt that it is impossible to make agriculture climate resilient unless we create a market-led model that benefits every stakeholder. This is also not possible unless all stakeholders come together and commit to doing their part in this direction, and that has been our philosophy behind Rith,” Anand stated.

Chattanathan Devarajan, Co-Founder of Arya.ag, shared the significant progress made on the actionable points from Rith 1.0, including establishing Public-Private Partnerships to reduce food loss, fostering multi-stakeholder collaborations for climate action, and developing a digital platform for sustainable sourcing. “In the backdrop of Rith 1.0, we enabled Public-Private Partnership (PPP) models in collaboration with the state governments of Uttar Pradesh and Assam to contribute to climate action. These initiatives have reduced food loss by 7%, enabled the conservation of 12 million litres of water, and saved 48,000 kgs of fertilisers,” he shared.

Mr. Siddharth Chaturvedi from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation highlighted Arya’s proactive approach to action, stating, “Reflection and action are crucial, and gatherings like Rith are essential. Adaptation is constant and applies universally, especially in the context of climate change—it is at the core of Arya’s ethos. The language of adaptation must shift from beneficiaries to encompass business people who are both producers and consumers.”

Mr. Raman Wadhwa, Director of DAY-NRLM at the Ministry of Rural Development, Government of India, emphasised the importance of collaboration in driving climate action. “Collaboration is key to making our efforts more climate-resilient. No one can tackle this alone; we need multi stakeholder partnerships to drive climate action. The climate crisis is an urgent threat, and the economic cost will be enormous if we don’t act. However, we can turn this challenge into an opportunity,” he said.

Ms. Sangeeta Dawar from Bayer Crop Science stressed the need for substantial funding to drive large-scale market transformation. “Climate change is one of the greatest challenges we all face today, and substantial funding is required to drive large-scale market transformation. According to a global survey of 2,000 farmers, 75% recognize the reality of climate change and agree that adaptation is necessary,” she said.

Mr. Subhadeep Sanyal from Omnivore highlighted the urgency of implementing new solutions in the agriculture sector. “In agriculture, if we don’t prioritise sustainability in relation to nature, it will directly impact our assets and, consequently, the market. Economic sustainability is a key factor for us when evaluating investments, with our focus being on increasing farmers’ income and providing them better access to finance,” he said.

Prasanna Rao, CEO & Co-Founder of Arya.ag, discussed the evolving role of Farmer Producer Organisations (FPOs) and how Arya is committed to supporting their transformation into Smart Institutions that leverage technology to improve efficiency and promote sustainable farming practices. “We believe FPCs can evolve into Smart Institutions, which leverage technology to improve efficiency in input sales and output procurement and offer a diverse range of services. Smart FPCs will also play a crucial role in building climate-resilient value chains by promoting sustainable farming practices and through corporate collaborations to support sustainable sourcing of produce,” Prasanna explained.

The summit featured three insightful panel discussions, covering topics such as bridging corporate objectives with practical realities, key learnings from early adopters of sustainable practices, and maximising impact through technical assistance. The panels were moderated by esteemed industry leaders and featured panellists from renowned organisations, including Khedut, Bayer, Olam, LD, BMGF, IDH, UNDP India, Rainmatter Foundation, IFC, Omnivore, responsAbility, Rabo Foundation, and Tata Trusts.

“Climate change poses significant challenges to the agricultural sector, and it is crucial that we come together to find practical solutions that can help build resilience in farming communities,” said Prasanna Rao at Arya.ag. “Rith Summit 2.0 aimed to facilitate collaborations and knowledge sharing that can lead to the development and adoption of innovative technologies and practices for sustainable agriculture.”

Rith Summit 2.0 attracted participation from key stakeholders in the agricultural sector, including farmers, agribusinesses, policymakers, researchers, and development organisations. The summit generated actionable insights and forged partnerships that can drive positive change in the face of climate challenges.

The Government of Karnataka’s Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, in partnership with the Karnataka chapter of ECHO India, OBGYNs, and several non-governmental organizations, has officially launched ‘Accelerating Cervical Cancer Elimination – CCE: The Karnataka Movement’. This initiative aims to significantly reduce cervical cancer incidence through vaccination, screening, and preventive care, positioning Karnataka as a model state in the fight against this disease.

Shri Dinesh Gundu Rao, Hon’ble Minister of Health & Family Welfare, Government of Karnataka, inaugurated the launch event on Thursday 3.10.2024 at Vikas Soudha in Bengaluru. The minister reaffirmed the government’s commitment to expanding access to cervical cancer prevention and treatment in his keynote address.

“Our government is dedicated to making cervical cancer prevention, screening, and treatment accessible to every woman, ensuring early detection and timely intervention to save lives,” he stated.

Dignitaries and Thought Leaders Unite for a Common Cause

The event brought together prominent figures in the healthcare community, including:

• Dr. Hema Divakar, FIGO Division Director, Well Woman Healthcare, and former FOGSI President
• Dr. Alexander Thomas, Founder & Patron, AHPI
• Dr. Vishal Rao, Chief of Head & Neck Surgical Oncology & Robotic Surgery, HCG Cancer Centre, Bengaluru
• Dr. H. Sudarshan, Trustee, ECHO India

In her address, Dr. Hema Divakar emphasized the need for collective action. “While national efforts are underway, Karnataka must take the lead in driving awareness and implementing vaccination and screening strategies in alignment with the WHO’s 90-70-90 strategy. We aim to set a precedent for other states to follow by fostering partnerships at both the state and global levels.”

Dr. Vishal Rao echoed this sentiment, highlighting that adherence to WHO guidelines will be critical in ensuring the initiative’s effectiveness. “We are committed to following the WHO’s directives closely to maximize the impact and reach of the Karnataka Movement,” he said.

Dr. H. Sudarshan, a renowned social entrepreneur, urged the government to prioritize the immunization of young girls. “While we have made great strides in screening and building capacity for cervical cancer prevention, we must now focus on ensuring that young girls are vaccinated, securing a healthier future for the community.”

Leveraging Technology and Training to Drive Success

Dr. Alexander Thomas stressed the importance of training and certification to empower healthcare providers across the state. He highlighted the role of digital platforms like ECHO, along with certification programs offered by AHPI and HSSC, to accelerate the initiative.

“Through empanelled institutions like ARTIST, we aim to standardize training and bring quality care to every corner of Karnataka,” he added.