Category business

Chennai, 17.03.2023: Renowned social development organisation ESAF has commemorated its 31st Foundation Day. Shaji K. V, Chairman, NABARD, inaugurated the event. “Similar to NABARD, ESAF has contributed much to enhance the creditworthiness of the people in backward areas. The achievements of ESAF have been truly remarkable,” he said. K. Paul Thomas, Founder, MD & CEO, of ESAF Small Finance Bank, delivered the Foundation Day message.

Shaji K.V. was also honored at the ceremony for being the first Keralite who took over as the Chairman of NABARD. Adv. K. Rajan, Revenue Minister, Kerala, P. Balachandran, MLA, Thrissur, Mereena Paul, Executive Director, ESAF Foundation, and R. Billy, Vice President, ESAF Foundation, also spoke on the occasion.

Awards for the Best Co-operative Societies were also distributed during the event. Valakavu Ksheera Vyavasaya Co-operative Society and Kulumai Milk Producer Company won the Best Co-operative Societies Award. Jai Sardar Krishi Vikas Farmer Producer Company of Maharashtra also received a special jury mention at the event. Handing Over ceremony of houses built by ESAF Co-operative and felicitation of employees who completed 10 years of service in ESAF also took place during the event.

ESAF Bank’s sixth anniversary was also celebrated eventfully. Vijay Kumar Nayak, Chief General Manager, the Reserve Bank of India, inaugurated the event. P. R. Ravimohan, Chairman, ESAF Small Finance Bank, K. Paul Thomas, MD & CEO, ESAF Small Finance Bank, Dr. Gopakumaran Nair, Chief General Manager, NABARD, Ajayan M. G., Director, ESAF Small Finance Bank, and George Thomas, George K. John, Hari Velloor and Hemant Tamta, Executive Vice Presidents, ESAF Small Finance Bank, also spoke on the occasion.

—

New Delhi, March 17: PowerUp has launched two more products, Max Charge 20W USB Type-C Ultra Smart Wall Charger and PowerUp 1.5M Alu-Rub Tough 3-in-One Lightning Cable + Micro-USB + USB-C Cable.

Max Charge 20W USB Type-C Ultra Smart Wall Charger auto-detects the connected device and charges it at the device’s fastest speed. One port has an intelligent IC with an auto-identification feature to provide maximum charging efficiency. The charger is BIS-certified to provide safe and reliable charging. It has built-in overload latch-off protection, over-current and over-voltage protection, short-circuit protection, internal temperature protection, and surge protection.

Its hard-wearing matte exterior, high-gloss detailing, and the cool-blue USB port and Type-C provide a sleek look and soft lighting. The charger’s compact design for lightweight is ideal for traveling. With this ultra-smart wall charger, a tablet and a smartphone can be charged at the same time. The future-proof product charges all devices up to a standard 5V 3A, and up to 5V 2.4A faster charging for non–quick charge devices. Its USB 2.4A and Type-C 3.0A outputs have full power application and rapid charge USB Type-C Ports 2 Smartphones, 1 table+ 1 Smartphone.

Further, the Qualcomm Quick Charge 3.0 delivers charging speeds up to four times faster than standard chargers. It is designed to work with the most popular USB-powered devices, including laptops, tablets, iPhones, Android phones, wireless speakers, and headphones, besides wearable and photography gear.

PowerUp 1.5M Alu-Rub Tough 3IN1 Lightning Cable + Micro-USB + USB-C Cable

This PowerUp Cable is Apple MFi and USB IF-certified and meets the latest Apple and USB-IF standards so that you can enjoy super-speed data transfer, syncing, and charging. It will never show messages saying, “This cable or accessory is not certified and may not work reliably with this iPhone” on your Apple device. It is also compatible with non-Apple devices. These 3-in-1 Lightning USB-C and Micro USB connectors come together and are compatible with most devices that have these ports.

The cable is designed to withstand more than 5,000 bends and which is much more than a standard lightning cable, which basically means it will last much longer than the original device cable. The lightweight and flexible-braided nylon material makes the cable portable and tangle-free. The aluminum rubber shell protects all the connectors.

You will not have to carry any other cables when you are in a car or an office or are traveling. This 3-in-1 cable is an all-in-one portable charging solution for those who are on the move all the time. It is also MFi, FCC, CE, and ROHS-certified.

DishiS Jewels, one of the fastest-growing D2C online designer brands that offer lightweight and affordable contemporary jewellery, is proud to announce the launch of its latest collection of Rose-Pattern Rings. These beautiful rings perfectly blend timeless elegance and modern design, making them the ultimate accessory for any occasion. The latest jewellery collection is unconventional and minimal, inspired by the charismatic features of roses and created in diamonds depicting the world of love and romance.

Each piece in the collection has been carefully crafted by talented craftsmen to capture the essence of the flowers, significantly rose, and its beauty to adorn the beauty that beholds the ring. Made with premium quality metals like yellow gold, rose gold and sterling silver, these rings are designed to be durable, comfortable and easy for everyday wear, making them the perfect addition that best suits their style, preferences & personality.

DishiS Jewel’s latest ‘Rose-Pattern’ collection is modern, bold, and versatile and aims to add a touch of style to women’s mien. The new collection is available at its outlet in Delhi and on its e-commerce website; and can be delivered nationwide.

“Creating this collection of Rose-Pattern Rings was a labour of love keeping the contemporary wardrobe in mind,” said Dishi Somani, founder and creative director of DishiS Jewels. “We yearned to capture the essence of the rose, which has long been a symbol of beauty, love and passion. We believe these rings’ intricate details and stunning design will make them a treasured addition to every diva’s collection.”

The new collection includes a variety of styles and designs, including delicate and minimalist pieces and more ornate and intricate designs. Each ring features a rose pattern, expertly crafted to create a stunning visual impact. The rings are available in various colours and materials, including gold, rose gold, and silver.

DishiS Jewels is known for its commitment to quality and excellence. Every piece of jewellery in the collection is designed and manufactured to the highest standards, ensuring our customers receive only the best.

New Delhi: Lakmé Fashion Week x FDCI is one of the most watched-out for events in the country. The bi-annual event attracts audiences not only from India but also from across the globe and is one of the most followed platforms digitally. Earlier this week, the property concluded its four-day-long fashion extravaganza that hosted new and seasoned designer showcases, thought-provoking discussions, sustainable initiatives, crème de la crème of the Indian fashion and entertainment industry, and more. Scroll below to get a glimpse of some of the biggest moments that the platform witnessed at the Jio World Garden, BKC, Mumbai from 9th to 12th March.

Spotlighting emerging talent

Fashion as an industry is challenging to say the least. You finally succeeded in creating your brand, and have been around for a couple of years—but now what? Enter Lakmé Fashion Week X FDCI. Their approach to nurturing the design community has been holistic right from the start, from their longest-running INIFD GenNext program to the NEXA Spotlight, the curated emerging talent showcases by the platform has seen up-and-coming designers rise to fame over the years. This year as well, brands such as KoyToy, Hiro, KoAi, Rudraksh Dwivedi, Siddharth Bansal or the FDCI Innovators ft Akaaro and Nitin Bal Chauhan showcased cutting-edge collections that played into fabrics and techniques that wowed the audiences across the 4 days of fashion.

Sustainable initiatives took a front row seat

From RISE Worldwide presenting a unique sustainable showcase by internationally recognized designer Ruchika Sachdeva for her label Bodice during Sustainable Fashion Day to the Circular Design Challenge (CDC) presented by R | Elan™ that celebrated its fifth year since inception by hosting a special showcase by three of its alumni labels – Chamar, Doodlage-Made from Waste and Iro Iro to the grand Khadi show debuting thought-provoking collections that honored and celebrated India’s Fabric of Freedom, Khadi India with a multi-designer runway showcase, sustainability took the center stage. To top it off, Lakmé Fashion Week in partnership with FDCI collaborated with renowned designers Abraham & Thakore to design the exclusive print of reusable water bottles across the venue in a bid to reduce water wastage as well as tackle the use of single-use plastic.

Fashion Forward Showcases

The showcases at Lakmé Fashion Week x FDCI were innovative presentations that constantly kept audiences at the edge of their seats. The week saw some showstopping menswear collections by Antar-Agni, Koytoy, Sahil Aneja, and Dhruv Vaish; a tech-meets-fashion presentation through a first-of-its-kind collaboration by Hair tech giant Dyson and fashion designer Arpita Mehta; FDCI presented the “First Cut” show by Pearl Academy where 32 students across campuses in India presented their individual takes on how fashion can bring courage to the present and new hope for the future despite the many disasters taking place worldwide. And a reimagination of street style by designers Two Point Two by Anvita Sharma, Six5Six by Avni Aneja, and Hiro by Hiral Jalal gave the street style a new direction.

A star-studded affair

No fashion runway in Mumbai is complete without a bevy of Bollywood beauties both on and off the ramp. The event saw several actors take to the ramp – from the star cast of the famed show CLASS to Sara Ali Khan, Sushmita Sen, Karisma Kapoor and even yesteryear icon Zeenat Aman, who stole the show! Off the runway, a range of starlets made their way to the showcases, leaving fans in attendance starstruck. The event saw attendance from prominent social media as well as TV stars such as Aditya Seal, Sonali Bendre, Armaan Malik, Aashna Hegde, Nimrit Kaur, and more.

On-ground engagement initiatives

Fashion enthusiasts hop, jump, and slide into the Lakmé Fashion Week X FDCI venues in a bid to catch the glitz, the glamour, the drama, and more each season. Hosted at the Jio World Garden, BKC in Mumbai, this season the audiences were in for a visual treat with loads to do to keep oneself fashionably busy.

Legendary label, Satya Paul collaborated with India’s distinctive electronica artists Komorebi and Curtain Blue to create a visual showcase Birds & Bees. This unique collaboration called ‘The Satya Academy presents Komorebi and Curtain Blue’ brought to life a melodic intersection of fashion and music via a first-of-its-kind live concert. For a little shopping spree, The FDCI Designer Stockroom returned for its 10th edition which provided leading fashion talent across the industry the opportunity to sell their stock to a large pool of consumers. Over 70 designers panning, established as well as up-and-coming labels displayed their collections (old/ new) for audiences visiting the venue.

A fitting finale

The Lakmé Grand Finale brought the curtains down this season at Lakmé Fashion Week X FDCI by retagging tags such as high maintenance, arm candy, gold digger, and whatnot in collaboration with Diffuse by Manish Malhotra. Redefining the power of fashion in being #UnaplogeticallyMÉ, the collaboration was a showcase of the new brand world of Lakmé and Manish Malhotra’s Diffuse Collection, encouraging women to celebrate their individuality.

The biggest ever grand finale in the history of the 22-year-old platform saw an unprecedented 102 models, almost 1000 guests, a front-row filled with stars and creative mavericks with Lakmé brand ambassador Ananya Panday and actor Aditya Roy Kapur closing the show – every detail of the grand finale came together to create a sensory spectacle.

18th March 2023 Kolkata: The very popular art gallery in the town, Gallery Charubasona : Jogen Chowdhury Centre For Arts is soon going to showcase an exhibition titled ‘Rhythmic Nature & Nostalgia’ from 23rd March, 2023. The globally acclaimed painter, Sri Jogen Chowdhury is going to grace the inauguration ceremony on this date. The exhibition will consist of ‘soras’(terracotta discs) and board designs by artist Sourav Ghosh and experiments with papier mache and pen & ink works by artist Trina Chatterji.

About the Artists & Their Works To Be Displayed In The Exhibition

Both Sourav Ghosh and Trina Chatterji have completed their M (Fine) from Kala Bhavana, Santiniketan in Printmaking. They have also been colleagues in the Art Department of Sherwood College Nainital between 2008-2010.

Their artistic journeys have varied over the years but in this exhibition, Sourav will be showcasing his love for nature in terms of traditional motifs of Alpona (ornamental floor designs of Bengal) in graceful linearity and pleasing colour combinations whereas Trina’s personal experience and love for nature is expressed through gritty textures and bulging forms both reminiscent of an etching plate and a relief sculpture panel using a comparatively darker palette. But the rhythm of nature is unmistakable in both of their works.

The sense of nostalgia and a return to the roots is quite eminent in Sourav’s artwork in recent times where the motifs are unmistakably derived from the ‘Alpona’ and various units of design in the present show one can see the mastery of lines in the arabesques and swirls as well as the floral forms.

Trina’s artistic explorations on the other hand have been more atmospheric in nature with a later emphasis on textural and tactile detail. Some initial work on papier mache shows the artwork as a flat disc or rectangle. She has then used various types of ‘soras’ as her drape mold by placing and shaping the papier mache on them in order to create similar shapes. The forms emerge from the surface creating a low relief. Her themes range from family, to her surroundings, nostalgic memories, her pet and familiar flora growing in the gardens around her.

Trina’s pen and ink works on paper are once again a reflection of her immediate environment and have been made typically while waiting for the papier mache works to dry at various stages. The textures are more delicately applied but have the same sort of waywardness as those of the papier mache.

To conclude, in this exhibition, both the artists have used circular orientations as well as rectangular and square shapes to express themselves in their own inimitable styles using colours and textures of their choice or moods.

Gurugram, 17^th March 2023: India’s leading real estate player listed on the NSE & BSE, Ashiana Housing Ltd., has announced the launch of Phase 2 of its kids-centric project, Ashiana Amarah, in Sector 93 of the New Gurgaon region. Phase 2 of the project will feature a total of 224 units, all of which will be 3 BHK apartments. Spread over a 1000-square-foot carpet area, the real estate developer will have invested 157.55 Cr by the project completion.

Notably, the project is based on four key attributes: learning, nurture, care, and support. The project includes play streets, play areas near homes, and open spaces for outdoor fun and adventure, such as a tree house, tunnel play, and cycling ramp, to name a few features. It also has a learning hub for kids to discover their passions, such as dance, reading, music, and arts & crafts. There are perfect sports zones for children that include a cricket net, basketball court, tennis court, and swimming pool. Moreover, apartments will be developed with round-the-clock safety and security in mind.

Furthermore, Amarah offers a stimulating environment that aids in the development of the children’s social skills. Seven acres of landscaped green space provide plenty of room for activities like vegetable gardening. A 30,000-square-foot clubhouse is another amenity provided for the residents of the project. It features a sports hall, a billiards and TT room, a gym, a video room, a café, and a party room.

Location is the biggest USP because Sector 93 is close to hospitals, malls, schools, and other important locations in the city. While the sector is near NH 8, the Dwarka Expressway can be accessed in only five minutes by car.

The real estate developer claims that because of the public’s enthusiasm and appreciation for the project, as well as the about 995 visits it received for Phase I, the business launched Ashiana Amarah Phase II early.

Even though the Ashiana brand has a devoted following in the city and the surrounding area, the project has already generated excitement among discriminating consumers and investors. By October 2027, phase 2 will be finished and available for ownership.

Mr. Varun Gupta, the whole-time director, of Ashiana Housing, said, “We are overjoyed with the feedback that Phase 1 of “Ashiana Amarah” has generated. After evaluating the market’s response, we subsequently launched Phase 2. The children-focused project is in line with contemporary expectations. Residents in Ashiana Amarah will benefit from first-class amenities in a prime setting. With its upscale apartments, beautifully manicured green areas, and clubhouse, the project is positioned to provide contemporary living at a prime real estate location in Gurugram.”

“The project would be ideal for families that want access to top-notch amenities all in one location because it is close to many significant metropolitan locations,” added Mr. Gupta. 

As far as the launch and sale of residential projects are concerned, Gurugram continues to be a solid market. Buyers in the city are accustomed to contemporary apartments. Ashiana Amarah will meet the expectations of homebuyers who value both location and contemporary features.

Chennai, 17th March 2023: VFS Global received the Golden Peacock National Training Award 2023 in recognition of the organisation’s exemplary learning and development practices for the second consecutive year. The world’s largest specialist in outsourcing and technology services for governments and diplomatic missions also won the award in 2017, 2020, and 2022.

Established by the Board of Directors of India (IOD) in 1991, the Golden Peacock Awards are recognised worldwide as a benchmark for outstanding companies. In 2023, more than 260 companies competed in four award categories: Innovation, Business Excellence, Quality Management, Learning & Development.

“We are honoured and proud to have won this award for the fourth time since 2017 and twice in a row. Training and workforce development has been the primary KPI of Nurturing Our Colleagues, one of the five fundamental pillars of VFS Global’s sustainability strategy. This recognition reiterates our underlying philosophy of developing future leaders and building an agile workforce through dynamic learning and development curriculums,” said Nirbhik Goel, Chief Human Resources Officer, VFS Global.

VFS Global’s training processes are both ISO 9001 complaint and PMM Level 5 appraised, thereby confirming adherence to high-quality standards. ‘Learning and Development practices continue to be one of the strongest drivers in our Employee Satisfaction surveys with an engagement score of 81%, matching the best employers in the industry.
VFS Global is the world’s largest outsourcing and technology services specialist for governments and diplomatic missions. VFS Global is the trusted partner of 67 client governments, operating a global network with more than 3,400 Application Centres in 145 countries. The company has processed over 256 million applications since its inception in 2001. The company manages non-judgmental and administrative tasks related to applications for visa, passports, and consular services for its client governments, enabling them to focus entirely on the critical assessment task. VFS Global has its headquarters in Zurich/Switzerland and Dubai/United Arab Emirates.

VFS Global is majority-owned by funds managed by Blackstone, the world’s largest alternative asset manager. Blackstone seeks to create positive economic impact and long-term value for their investors, the companies in which they invest, and the communities in which they work. Blackstone’s USD 915 billion in assets under management include investment vehicles focused on private equity, real estate, public debt and equity, infrastructure, life sciences, growth equity, opportunistic, non-investment grade credit, real assets, and secondary funds, all on a global basi

Novotel Hyderabad Convention Centre to host a special “ Ugadi Brunch” this year at Food Exchange. An extraordinary Feast will be prepared to welcome the Telugu New Year in style. The brunch will include a delicious spread of traditional delicacies like Ugadi Pachadi among a lot more. Come and join us for an appetizing Ugadi Lunch with your friends and family.

Where: Food Exchange at Novotel Hyderabad Convention Centre, Hyderabad, Telangana.

When: 22nd March, Time – 12:00 PM to 3:00 PM

For Reservations, call: +91 9642326164

New Delhi, March 17, 2023: JAYPORE, India’s leading artisanal lifestyle brand from Aditya Birla Fashion Retail and Lifestyle (ABFRL), recently launched their #TheFabricofIndia Campaign to celebrate Spring-Summer 23 with the royal crafts of India. The campaign pays homage to the affluent and heritage crafts from diverse parts of India and applauds the craft contributors.

Eminent personalities such as the talented Shefali Shah and Kalki Koechlin have joined hands and shared their admiration towards the regal crafts. Through this campaign, rich traditional crafts like Gota patti from Rajasthan, Silk Handloom, Tribal Silver Jewelry, amongst others got center stage.

Jaypore’s collaboration with Kalki Koechlin celebrates the diversity and history that leaves an indelible mark with our rich heritage crafts.

Holi heralds the onset of Spring in all its glory with Shefali Shah colored in shades of Jaypore. The graceful and talented actress showcases a ‘white-on-white’ Khari print offset with a vibrant Gotta dupatta and an elegant hand-woven silk cotton saree. These featured ensembles by Jaypore are both celebratory and apt for the season.

The season also brings along the sweet scent of spring and summer – a perfect opportunity for Jaypore to launch Basant. With Basant, the brand highlights breezy, light silhouettes with timeless crafts like chikankari, block-print, delicate hand embroidery, Kantha, etc. Festooned with understated elegance and soothing colors, pieces from the brand’s Spring-Summer collection include apparel, home décor, jewelry, accessories, and more.

Rashmi Shukla – Business Head – JAYPORE, Aditya Birla Fashion, and Retail Limited said, “We believe #TheFabricofIndia Campaign has the power to reach a larger audience and create a sense of awakening of the rich and diverse crafts that India proudly boasts of. Jaypore celebrates our timeless Artisanal heritage reimagined with #TheFabricofIndia Campaign. Featuring talented personalities like Shefali Shah and Kalki Koechlin this campaign showcases crafts that are highlighted by our Spring-Summer 23 collections.

Jaypore’s #TheFabricofIndia Campaign recognizes and appreciates the versatile and ethnic crafts from various artisans across the country. With this campaign, the brand stitches together rich and inspirational craft stories laced with modern translations with exquisite designs beautifully narrated across apparel, jewelry, and the magnificent home décor collection.

The campaign showcases exquisite crafts such as ‘Sanganeri’ vividly displayed in the ‘Gauri’ collection portraying the onset of spring through blooming flowers. The brand’s home décor collection features ‘Kansa’, a range of handcrafted products from the miraculous Kansa metal. It also features the premium collection Jiya – an eclectic range of thalis, coffee makers, glasses, and more.

These pieces and more are available across our stores in Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru, Lucknow, Pune, Ahmedabad, Trivandrum, and Kochi. They can also be purchased via the brand’s website: http://www.jaypore.com/

17th March 2023, Bengaluru: Yellow, a startup founded by alumni of Wharton and Stanford universities, has recently raised an undisclosed amount in a Seed funding round from Gruhas. The LegalTech startup, founded in September 2021 by Niranjan Vemulkar and Nikhil Varghese aims to provide a secure and cost-effective digital estate planning solution for all Indians to protect and preserve their legacies & plan for their future.

Yellow is on a mission to drive the adoption and growth of estate planning solutions in India where properties and family disputes account for 76% of litigation burdening the judiciary. Another alarming statistic that Yellow aims to address is that nearly 1.5 lakh crores lie in unclaimed accounts in India due to a lack of Wills, families being not fully aware of the extent of financial assets held by their loved one who has passed away, incomplete financial planning and non-updation of nominees.

“Protecting and providing for loved ones is a fundamental human instinct, yet many individuals struggle to secure their family’s future due to a lack of knowledge and resources. To address this issue, Yellow has developed a groundbreaking digital Will-making solution that is accessible not just to those with expensive lawyers and wealth management firms, but to everyone. With the vision of making a Will a necessity for every household in India, Yellow is the first Indian-made digital Will-making and Estate planning app that empowers all Indians to plan for their family’s future.” said Niranjan Vemulkar, Co-Founder & CEO of Yellow.

“Given the lack of awareness of the necessity of Wills and Estate Planning, its perceived complexity, and misunderstanding of the Indian Legal system among Indian masses, Yellow provides a unique digital solution that can disrupt a market that has historically been fragmented and unreachable to the masses. We are delighted to invest in Yellow, and back its exceptional founders Niranjan and Nikhil as they make estate planning services more accessible and affordable,” said Abhijeet Pai from Gruhas.

Starting with a Will, estate planning is necessary for every asset owner regardless of net worth. The Yellow app aims to help Indians consolidate all their asset information in one place and pass on their wealth to their family members in a smooth and secure manner. With Yellow, a consumer can create/generate a legally binding will with plans costing as low as INR 5 per day. “A Will is for everyone, not just the wealthy, and estate planning, starting with a Will, is necessary for every Indian, regardless of net worth. By combining technology and legal expertise, we want to provide a simple, secure, and cost-effective solution for all Indians to protect and preserve their legacies,” Niranjan added.

The core team at Yellow brings with them extensive experience in estate planning, investment consulting, wealth management, and digital product development. Designed by Yellow’s legal experts who have 50+ years of combined experience and have protected assets worth INR 42,000 crores for Indian families, a Yellow Will is recognized by Indian courts once signed. Yellow encourages Indians to have important conversations around estate planning, and get vital documents in place while leveraging the convenience of digital solutions, time, and place without having to pay an hourly rate for a professional.

Back in 2022, the legaltech startup had also raised an undisclosed amount in a pre-seed round from institutional and angel investors, Aprameya Radhakrishna, Co-Founder of Koo, Mukund Rao, Co-Founder of Muvin, TT Jagannathan, Chairman of TTK Prestige, Pranav Pai, Founding Partner of 3one4 Capital, and IIFL Wealth, among others.