Saturday, January 23, 2021

Mr. Venkaiah Naidu - Vice President Of India launches “Not Many, But One” Book


* Prof. Sasidharan’s translated work emphasises on the similarities between ancient Indian thought and modern sciences; receives support from Tata Trusts

Honourable Vice President of India, Mr. Venkaiah Naidu digitally launched “Not Many, But One - Volumes 1 & 2”, authored by Prof. G.K. Sasidharan, published by Penguin Random House, yesterday. The book, a tribute to Sree Narayana Guru’s sublime poems, has been translated in English from Sanskrit, Malayalam and Tamil by the renowned physicist and philosopher. Echoing the consonance between physics and philosophy, the books are an effort to deep dive into Sree Narayana Guru’s philosophical and literary works.

With his opening remarks at the digital launch, Mr. R. K. Krishna Kumar, Padma Shri recipient and Trustee, Tata Trusts, emphasized, “The book authored by Prof. Sasidharan consists not only of the Guru’s poems written in Sankskrit, Tamil and Malayalam and translated in  English but go beyond as comprehensive commentary on each poem and their philosophical meanings. Prof. Sasidharan plunges straight to the core of the mystical vision of the Guru, the ultimate nature of reality and the oneness of the universe in the book, weaving an extraordinary reason for the philosophical foundations of quantum physics and cosmology. It has been a privilege for Tata Trusts to be able to sponsor this book and we extend our heartiest congratulations to Prof. Sasidharan for his accomplishment.”

He then invited the Chief Guest, the Honourable Vice President to unveil the book. 

Speaking at the launch, Mr. Venkaiah Naidu, Vice-President of India said, “Sree Narayana Gurudev was a multifaceted genius, a great Maharshi, an eloquent proponent of Advaita philosophy, a talented poet and a great metaphysician. He was at the forefront of the temple entry movement and against the social discrimination of untouchables. Books like these can contribute to a deeper understanding of the roots of India’s civilizational values and provide a glimpse of the extraordinary universality and breadth of Indian vision. This book will help the present and future generations to appreciate the soul of India and become more aware of their inheritance. No country, no nation can move forward by forgetting their inheritance. That is why culture, nature together make for a better future.”

Prof. G.K. Sasidharan speaking about how his book highlights Sree Narayana Guru’s efforts towards bringing the spirit of Advaita at par with developments in modern cosmology and said, “His literary works showed significant co-relation between the results and discoveries of physics and modern cosmology. At present, the biggest question of “Who Am I?” remains unsolved by science. Most of the modern scientists share the courtesy to answer these questions by saying, “we are not going to get answers to these questions now or anytime in the future.” But, in spirituality, especially in Vedanta, these answers are found in a unique substratum where everything, the universes, all living beings in space originate from a single point known as “absolute consciousness”. This encourages modern scientists to think of it as a combined effort to spirituality, to arrive at the “Theory of Everything”.”

Prof. G.K. Sasidharan, with “Not Many, But One” brings to foreground, Sree Narayana Guru’s foresight of the universe’s singularity. 

About Tata Trusts

Since inception in 1892, Tata Trusts, India’s oldest philanthropic organization, has played a pioneering role in bringing about an enduring difference in the lives of the communities it serves. Guided by the principles and the vision of proactive philanthropy of the Founder, Jamsetji Tata, the Trusts’ purpose is to catalyse development in the areas of health, nutrition, education, water, sanitation and hygiene, livelihood, digital transformation, migration and urban habitat, social justice and inclusion, environment and energy, skill development, sports, and arts and culture. The Trusts’ programmes, achieved through direct implementation, partnerships and grant making, are marked by innovations, relevant to the country. 

ASLI Partners With SWII And CommonAge At 3rd ASLI Annual Senior Care Conclave To Roll Out Standards and Accreditation Matrix


* The collaboration brings together significant expertise to introduce senior living and care standards along with an accreditation matrix designed specifically for India

* The three-day conclave commences with a press conference with distinguished industry experts sharing their insights on the theme of ‘Reimagining the Senior Care Landscape’

The 3rd ASLI Annual Senior Care Conclave commenced today with a virtual press conference wherein the Association of Senior Living India (ASLI) announced its collaboration with Standards Wise International’s Indian subsidiary - Standards Wise International India (SWII) and CommonAge (CA) to roll out the first-ever standards and accreditation matrix for the private sector in the space of senior living and care communities in India. The press conference revolved around the theme of ‘Reimagining the Senior Care Landscape’ with distinguished industry experts - Mr. Ankur Gupta, Co-founder & Chairman, ASLI and JMD, Ashiana Housing Ltd; Mr. David Stevens, Founder, Standards Wise International; Mr. Adarsh Narahari, Founder & MD, Primus Lifespaces Pvt Ltd and Mr. Mohit Nirula, CEO, Columbia Pacific Communities assessing and deliberating on the challenges, solutions and future roadmap for senior care in India. The three-day conclave aims to facilitate a constructive dialogue on key areas that impact senior care through thoughtfully curated sessions and panel discussions.

Mr. Durga Shanker Mishra, Secretary, Ministry of Housing & Urban Affairs and Mr. R Subrahmanyam, Secretary, Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment graced day 1 of the conclave with their special presence and shared their perspective on senior care. Among other eminent speakers and industry stalwarts present were Mr. Rajit Mehta, Mentor, CII Senior Care Taskforce and CEO & MD, Antara Senior Living; Mr. Vaibhav Tewari, Co-Founder & COO, Portea Medical; Ms. Pavithra Gangadharan, Founder, Kshetra Assisted Living and Dr. Renu Varughese, Chairperson, Travancore Foundation. The conclave will be a congregation of knowledge leaders and over 200 key stakeholders across Government, senior living operators, healthcare organizations, technology experts, academia and NGOs to address the needs of the industry. Following the inauguration of the conclave by ASLI in partnership with Unmukt – The Senior Hub, a 2-day Senior Utsav Online Expo will be held on Jan 23rd and Jan 24th, 2021 to provide seniors with a virtual platform to explore products and services suited to their unique requirements through interaction with a host of businesses working in the senior care space.

ASLI, SWI and CA bring together significant expertise to introduce and promote senior living and care standards along with an accreditation matrix designed specifically for India. The certificate, which will be issued after validation and assessing of various criteria and quality standards, will carry the endorsement of ASLI, SWII and The Commonwealth Association for Ageing. The standards edited and authored by Mr. Mansoor Dalal, Founder & Chairman Emeritus, ASLI, adapts the ASLI code of practice and enhances existing standards and accreditation templates taken from SWI. It populates them with indicators and evidence relevant and unique to the Indian context, introducing a preliminary code of operations for self-regulation along with global best practices. The standards have a four-level hierarchy comprising eight quality standards - Governance, Management & Personnel, Design & Construction, Facilities Management, Resident engagement & Experience, Technology & Information Management and Hygiene, Safety, Infection Prevention/Pandemic Control (HSIPC), and its intent, followed by multiple criteria to achieve the stated intent. 

Commenting on the collaboration and highlighting the importance of senior care in the post-pandemic era, Mr. Ankur Gupta, Co-founder & Chairman, ASLI and JMD, Ashiana Housing Ltd. said, “Introduction of standards and accreditation matrix for senior care in India is our attempt to introduce a preliminary code of operations for self-regulation and enhance an existing template for application in India. Enhanced focus on senior care could prove to be a key enabler of growth of the silver economy and in turn play a pivotal role in accelerating India’s journey on the ‘Road to Recovery’. We are committed to work closely with the Government, partners, industry experts and other key stakeholders to create a holistic ecosystem to shape senior care for a brighter future.”

Mr. David Stevens, Founder, Standards Wise International, shared, “A future in which communities embrace elders, where elders feel included and valued, empowered and independent, active, and part of a multi-generational community is an important goal for enriching our societies. Organisations like SWII and ASLI help create those better solutions and work together to ensure that the standards in these solutions are as high as possible. Standards help to educate customers and give them greater reassurance about the quality of the services. National and State Governments can help by reinforcing the importance that providers self-regulate and have quality standards which they adhere too.”

Talking about the significance of Government assistance, Mr. Adarsh Narahari, Founder & MD, Primus Lifespaces Pvt Ltd. added, “We require support from the Government in terms of policy reforms.  We need GST to be exempted for eldercare services at communities as well as an overhaul of reverse mortgage rules and feasible medical insurance for senior citizens. A cherry on the top is specific zones for development of retirement communities to be incorporated in all city level masterplans.”

Throwing light on how senior care facilities are shedding the social stigma around old age homes, Mr. Mohit Nirula, CEO, Columbia Pacific Communities, stated, “Nothing would give us at Columbia Pacific Communities greater pleasure than changing the wholly undeserved perception of senior living communities being a solution for people who have “no option” to being the “preferred solution” for seniors living alone in mixed-family communities or in their homes.”

A census conducted by Longitudinal Ageing Study of India (LASI), in 2011 revealed that by 2050, the population of senior citizens would cross the 319 million mark, growing at an annual pace of 3%. These older adults represent a dynamic consumer segment, opening up new investment opportunities along the continuum of senior citizens' wants and needs - a band of products and services called the ‘Silver Economy’. ASLI was instituted in December 2012 as a national organization with a vision to catalyze the growth and development of the entire senior care continuum (senior living, home care and lifestyle & technology providers) and aspires to create a model of self-regulation and work in tandem with the government on the guidelines of minimum standards for attaining operational excellence by its members in particular and industry at large.

Individuals or businesses interested in ASLI Expo can register themselves at https://bit.ly/3pQJt1N or visit http://www.asli.org.in/

About Association of Senior Living India

Association of Senior Living India (ASLI) is a non-profit organization formed exclusively to create guidelines to advance excellence in senior care in India and champion quality of life for the millions of Indian seniors who will benefit from professionally-managed senior care organisations.

About Unmukt – The Senior Hub

Unmukt – The Senior Hub is a one-stop solution that aims to create an ecosystem of support and empowerment for people in their senior years.

About Standards Wise International India

Standards Wise International India brings together brings together world class professionals experienced in a wide range of fields related to ageing to find creative and cost-effective solutions for their customers and senior care communities to develop leading thoughts and solutions to the Indian context.

Tata Motors Launches The Altroz i-Turbo With iRA In Indian Market


* Celebrates its 1st anniversary with an intelligent turbo charged variant at an attractive price increment of INR.60, 000 above the Altroz

Tata Motors, India’s leading automotive brand, today announced the launch of the i-Turbo variant along with iRA-connected car technology for its premium hatchback, Altroz. iRA comes with 27 connected car features along with natural voice tech, through which the car understands commands not only in English or Hindi, but also in Hinglish. Additionally, it is India’s first hatchback to introduce What3Words technology - a precise & unique tool that makes navigation easier than before. The Company has also added a new top of the line XZ+ variant in a petrol and diesel fuel option to the Altroz family. These introductions makes Altroz a wholesome package of sheer power and class leading features. The Altroz i-Turbo is launched at an attractive introductory ex-showroom price increment of INR.60, 000 above the Altroz Revotron petrol variants.

Tata Altroz is the first product on the ALFA architecture and has received a tremendous response since its launch in January 2020. Tata Motors has introduced the Altroz i-Turbo, a power and feature packed car to celebrate the brand’s success as it turns one. Despite the Covid challenge, the Company has sold more than 50,000 Altroz within its first year of launch, a testament to its popularity. India’s safest hatchback with a 5 star safety rating from Global NCAP, has indeed raised the bar and set #TheGoldStandard in safety, design and driving dynamics.

Commenting on the launch of the Altroz i-Turbo, Mr. Shailesh Chandra – President, Passenger Vehicles Business Unit, Tata Motors said, “We are thrilled to celebrate the 1st anniversary of our premium hatchback Altroz with a double bonanza comprising of the i-Turbo petrol and the new XZ+ variant with iRA-connected car technology in petrol and diesel option. Since the launch in January 2020, Altroz has been appreciated for its paramount safety, innovative design and thrilling performance and we are delighted to share that with its introduction, in FY 21, our market share in the hatchback category has increased by 5.4% compared to last fiscal and we have captured 17% market share in the premium hatch segment. We are confident that the new Altroz range will cater to the evolving needs of the Indian customer, all while creating benchmarks in the segment.”

Loaded with new tech and the 1.2L turbocharged BS6 petrol engine, the Altroz i-Turbo is launched in a new Harbour Blue colour, which is available on variants from XM+. With power of 110 PS @ 5500 rpm, Altroz i-Turbo provides a torque of 140 Nm @1500- 5500 rpm which ensures an enjoyable drive experience. Adding to that, the Sport/City Multi Drive Modes provide the Altroz a perfect combination of thrill and city driving. Altroz in its 2021 avatar will also sport the new Black and light Grey interiors accentuated with perforated leatherette seats to enhance its premium quotient. 

Furthermore, the Xpress cool feature, personalized screen wallpaper, one shot up power windows, all added to ensure utmost convenience along with the 8 speaker sound system by Harman for an enjoyable surround sound experience, adds to the entire package making it a car that all will desire.

Friday, January 22, 2021

Wave The First Full Privacy App Chooses India For Its Worldwide Launch


Wave, the first mobile app which delivers full privacy, launched its 2.0 version today.  Wave creates a private place on your phone which is accessed only by you and where no one can collect your data. The start-up intends to be a game changer in the privacy space. With over 1 M downloads already it continues to add more users by the day.

The platform was in beta phase for 5 months and, during this time, the team worked with more than 1 million users across India and fine-tuned the features. Till date it has raised USD 10 M from business angel investors based out of India and France.

Marc Miance, Founder, CEO: “Privacy is crucial and a burning issue today. A smartphone is a very personal device, people want to keep it private. Users should be able to decide when their usage has to remain private. Not only their chat, but their overall smartphone usage: the content they browse, the one they share. Wave is the first app ever to solve this problem, and not let Internet pry into your personal life. We are very proud of that”

Wave brings strong innovations and industry firsts into play with its new version. Innovations that allow you to browse in complete incognito mode and a communication layer that sits on top of your digital universe allowing one to browse and chat seamlessly, and, of course, a way to do that without sharing any data with any internet company. The global system is protected on everyone’s phone from other prying eyes who could physically use the smartphone for any reason.

The founders of the start-up based in France and in India are supported by experienced professionals, mentors that include Abhishek Bachchan and the French movie and internet tycoons Jérome Seydoux and Xavier Niel.

“India is known in the whole word as a tech nation. We have the maximum number of smartphone users in a country (including USA). We also create and consume more content than most countries. People use their smartphone for everything, and they deserve privacy. Privacy is not only a chat issue, but also about overall usage.  We thank Elon Musk for throwing a strong spotlight on the privacy issue.  Full Privacy is the real customer expectation and core need that WAVE addresses. We named the app WAVE, because it represents a new Wave in terms of mindset for the mobile consumer industry.” concludes Anish Mulani, co-founder, India CEO.

Unique features of the app are:

●  Secured access: prevent from others to access your app

●  Built-in Incognito browsing: no cookies stay on your phone

●  History Manager: decide when the browser records your navigation history

●  Tracker Shield: protect yourself from being tracked online

●  Ad Blocker: neutralize ads display

●  Search engine selector: escape from keywords collection

●  Webapp picker: stream apps over a library of 10.000 references, no storage needed.

●  Personalised News: get news based on your interests

●  Personal gallery: save valuable web content

●  Chat bar: share and chat while you browse, instantly and continuously, without friction of app switching, video pausing...

Cops Confirm The Reality Of Life In Front Line During A Pandemic Across India

 


* 47% police officers are concerned about health and wellbeing of their family, while they are on duty

* 65% believe that the public perception of the service has improved during the lockdown

Concerns for their families at home and long hours are a few of the stress points experienced by cops, resulting from the effects of the pandemic across India as per the research report ‘Godrej Locks ‘Har Ghar Surakshit Report 2020: Safety Insights from India’s Police Force’ The research was conducted with cops from across 12 major cities in India. One of the critical points revealed was that 47% of police officers are concerned about health and wellbeing of their family, while they are on duty.

Police officials believe that their families face increased risks from the pandemic as a direct consequence of their job. Nearly, a third (30%) believe that exposure to potentially infected members of the public to be a considerable risk.

According to the data, the ongoing pandemic has increased worries of cops concerning their family’s safety and protection. 59% cops cite long hours spent away from home during periods of lock down as a cause of worry. 57% cops also find long periods of confinement and 46% (cops) believe more work and responsibilities as major triggers of distress during the pandemic.

The research, however, revealed more positive sentiments when it came to public perception of the police service; in many instances, as a direct consequence of the virus. 65% cops believe that the ‘image’ of India’s police force has improved over the last few months; 82% believe that this is a result of their presence and visibility during the COVID-19 crisis, 63% police officials cite increased interaction with the public, and 62% refer to increased police patrols contributing to this improved perception. 

Commenting on the research report, Shyam Motwani, Executive Vice-President and Business Head, Godrej Locks, described the findings as a timely reminder of the professionals – husbands, wives, sons and daughters – diligently patrolling and protecting the public in these unprecedented times.

“Maintaining the health and security of the nation is always a combination of personal responsibility and authorities entrusted with safeguarding our wellbeing.  The research highlights – not just the inevitable stress that the pandemic has placed on our police force – but the public’s recognition of their extraordinary dedication in terms of improved perception levels,” he said. 

According to the data, 41% of police officers presently felt ‘very proud’ of their teams, and 27% felt ‘appreciated’ by the general public.

The findings were part of Godrej Locks’ “The Har Ghar Surakshit 2020 Report’ offering an eye-opening revelation concerning home safety, coming right from our trusted safety custodians – the police.  According to the same, 65% cops anticipate an increase in home robberies and break-ins post the complete lifting of lockdown and 85% recommend raising public awareness around home safety as a priority.

About Godrej Locks

Godrej Locks is a 123-year-old leading manufacturer of innovative locking devices. Since its inception in 1897 by Ardeshir Godrej, the name ‘Godrej’ has become synonymous with trust, protection and integrity. From the first Anchor branded lock in 1897 to the first ever spring less lock in 1907, to the iconic 'Nav-Tal' in 1954, and to the postmodern biometric locks, Godrej has set every benchmark in the locks industry. Over the years, Godrej Locks and Architectural Hardware & Fittings have changed in form, function and scope of application. But one thing still remains the same – the solid stamp of trust and reliability. Godrej Locks adhere to global quality norms and hold ISO 9001, ISO 14001 and OHSAS 18001 certifications.

With their locks reaching several countries around the world over a period of time, the brand has come a long way in delivering world-class smart locking solutions, therefore revolutionizing the very perception of a locking device from a mere functionality at an entry and exit point, to a proud pause at the doorstep, a moment to take in the significance of how far they have come. 

Trend Micro IPS Rules Integrate With AWS Network Firewall Globally


Trend Micro Incorporated (TYO: 4704; TSE: 4704), the leader in cloud security, announced it is a Launch Partner for AWS Network Firewall, a managed service that makes it easy to deploy essential network protections for all of your Amazon Virtual Private Clouds (Amazon VPCs) on Amazon Web Services (AWS). As a Launch Partner, Trend Micro has integrated managed threat intelligence feeds from its cloud security solution to enable superior protection in line with this new AWS managed firewall service. 

As digital transformation is accelerating globally, businesses consider how to strategically protect their cloud environments while maintaining scalability and minimizing friction. See how Trend Micro continuously works to provide easy to manage, scalable cloud security solutions to support AWS customers as an AWS Advanced Technology Partner: www.trendmicro.com/aws. 

According to Gartner, "In the past, organizations deployed more than one firewall brand at the perimeter or in front of the demilitarized zone with an aim to provide an overlap of capability in case a single product could not be relied on... While this argument has some merit — back doors and vulnerabilities occasionally happen – implementing multiple firewalls increases management complexity and the potential for human error, reduces scalability, and increases operational costs." 

Trend Micro's built-in IPS intelligence will inspect traffic for malicious intent so that the firewall can stop threats before they get a foothold in a virtual private cloud. Together, AWS and Trend Micro offer a simple, scalable service with reliable protection that does not require any infrastructure management. 

"Our customers asked for the ability to manage network security at scale, and we are thrilled to deliver just that," said Andrew Thomas, General Manager, Perimeter Protection, Amazon Web Services, Inc. "This low friction network firewall functionality is bolstered by AWS Partners like Trend Micro, who has stepped up to deliver additional layers of protection for customers through integration with AWS Network Firewall." 

"We are proud to help customers adopt more advanced security capabilities with less heavy lifting," said Steve Quane, chief product officer for Trend Micro. "The approach of traditional NGFW vendors to the cloud has not been scalable and has created unnecessary pains for customers. With AWS reducing customer friction at the infrastructure layer, we're excited to help raise the bar for baseline network level protections by delivering our leading threat intelligence enforced through integration with AWS Network Firewall." 

Trend Micro offers complete, industry-leading hybrid cloud security solutions to simplify protection of business data in AWS environments. This includes additional network security as well as protection for cloud native services, file object storage and cloud-based applications. Trend Micro's threat intelligence will be available free with easy deployment for AWS Network Firewall customers. 

About Trend Micro 

Trend Micro, a global leader in cybersecurity, helps make the world safe for exchanging digital information. Leveraging over 30 years of security expertise, global threat research, and continuous innovation, Trend Micro enables resilience for businesses, governments, and consumers with connected solutions across cloud workloads, endpoints, email, IIoT, and networks. Our XGen™ security strategy powers our solutions with a cross-generational blend of threat-defense techniques that are optimized for key environments and leverage shared threat intelligence for better, faster protection. With over 6,700 employees in 65 countries, and the world's most advanced global threat research and intelligence, Trend Micro enables organizations to secure their connected world. www.trendmicro.com. 

Jhula Fest Will Be At Madhurya Store, Art of Living Premises, Kanakapura Main Road From Jan 22-31


 * In a rare Jhula Fest happening in the city, apart from ceiling and stand Swings, there are myriad varieties with equally interesting stories and work on them

Be it the Scottish novelist and poet Robert Louis Stevenson’s age-old poem asking children How do you like to go up in the swing, Up in the air so blue’ or the renowned Indian dancer Pt. Birju Maharaj’s famed performance for ‘Jhoolat Radhe Naval Kishore” where his movements communicate the ‘soft tension’ of the ropes that hold the sway for Lord Krishna and his companion Radha…the swing (Uyyale in Kannada) has endured generations of thinking in the entire universe.

With many kinds that occupy our homes today, the swing is a metaphor linked with expectations, positivity and love. It is believed that a swing is symbolic of one’s souring desires touching the sky and alternately saluting the earth to stay balanced and rooted. A jhula or a swing is almost synonymous with relaxation and pleasant memories and they come in so many varieties – cradles, wooden planks, jhulas with back rests, decorated tiles or delicate carvings, swings with duco and distressed finishes, not to forget the newer versions of cane and wrought iron swings for outdoors.

To rightly take the history of the swings (or the jhula) across to people, Madhurya Creations on Kanakapura Main Road is presently holding a 10-day ‘Jhula Fest’ (from January 22 to 31) a rare showcase of nearly three dozen varieties where people can see, buy and take tips from creative interior designers, carpenters and polishers to have the exactitude in place. One can also order to get custom made jhulas, as they will be displayed online concurrently (Madhurya.com).

Madhurya is into restorative work in arts, crafts and weaving, with furniture being a one of the boutique’s forte. The in-house carpenters here either restore the sourced heritage furniture or replicate them in teak and rosewood. Speaking about the intention of having the Jhula Fest, Bharathy Harish, Co-ordinator, Madhurya Creations, says, “The Jhula has always been an integral part of our childhood memories and is synonymous with relaxation and family time. So we thought it would be interesting to start the New Year on an optimistic note celebrating the Swing.”

Just as the construction sector is seen waking up after the lull of the pandemic for almost a year, furniture and the allied products for interior designing too is getting a boost. Given the fact that we are also witnessing more contemporary built spaces, do swings still continue to have an allure for the modern minds? “Cities like Mumbai may not retain them in smaller spaces, but other metros and cities with larger designed interiors have swings in open verandahs, below their skylights, as part of their dining and drawing or even as an artistic divide in a space that needs to be demarcated,” says architect and interior designer Leena Kumar, National Secretary, Indian Institute of Architects & past Chairperson, Indian Institute of Interior Designers (IIID) - Bangalore Regional Centre.

Much in demand surprisingly, Leena says she sometimes finds most people building a house, queerly, asking for swings. “It’s in the people’s wish-list to have a swing. We do not push anyone into having one. Of course a swing reputably gels in all conditions of décor - ethnic or modern. One has to decide on the kind of swing – decorative or plain in wood or metal ones for outdoor,” she says.

But is it critical to decide on having a swing during the construction stage? “A jhula can be fixed in retrospect also, provided it is anchored into a beam. It is not recommended to be anchored into a slab directly as they may be substantially heavy. It is best, however, if its location is pre-determined and hooks already in place during construction,” says Leena.

Leena says people hardly think that having a fixed element in a décor is rather stale. “In fact we all know it takes up space as the movement of the swing is also to be considered. But give people options of a decorated or carved door, they still choose a swing for all the positives associated with wood and the jhula,” says Leena. “Perhaps this is the best way to patronize the native artisans to revive the fading traditional art forms and skill sets from ancient India, post the pandemic!”

P. Rajaiah, originally from Rudrapatna near Hassan district who has three swings installed at his home in Rajarajeshwari Nagar says “The huge wooden rectangle piece that hangs at the drawing with brass trimmings and a supporting cushion is often seen with my kids happily swinging. By the night the family is around it for late night gossips or just about a place for clustering together. This has been going on for generations.” 

Achyut Yagnik and Suchitra Seth, in their book Ahmedabad: From Royal City to Megacity, note how the jhula, also called the hinchka or hindol is “ubiquitous in Hindu, Muslim and Jain homes. The jhula was one thing most homes had in common, woven into the fabric of Gujarati life, apart from carved wooden cradles handed down generations.”

At Madhurya’s Jhula Fest, there will be several varieties, sizes, designs, accessories and subject experts to advise customers on their buy. “You can choose to accessorize with furnishings according to your requirements. There will be a parallel online offering. And the offline fest will follow all safety and social distancing norms,” says Bharathy.

(Jhula Fest, January 22 to 31, @ Madhurya store, Art of Living premises, Kanakapura Main Road. www.madhurya.com / 7019138680) 

Box points

* According to Vastu principles, swings can face East or North-East

* A chain set in brass or steel - comprising of a rod, S and W hooks and base plate will be provided with the swing at the Jhula Fest

* For installations on the ceiling, the height of the Jhula should be 18″ from the floor. The distance between the anchor bolts should be the total length of the plank minus 6 inches.

* A swing can carry a weight of 250 to 275 kgs; one can also have duco-painted and distressed finish on the swings

* Re-polish is necessary once in every 4 years depending on the wear and tear.

Yamaha Begins With ‘National Road Safety’ Awareness Initiative 2021

 


In an effort to create awareness among its employees, customers, dealers and suppliers on safer driving habits and responsible road behavior, Yamaha Motor India group of companies today announced about its road safety awareness activations that are in line with the theme of the National Road Safety Month 2021. With the commitment towards road safety for all, the company will be participating in Road Safety Promotional campaign between 20th January to 10th February 2021at all Yamaha plant locations and selected dealerships & supplier locations. 

The initiative planned under the brand campaign ‘The Call of The Blue’ was kicked off from January 20th at Shri Ram Piston, company’s supplier located in Greater Noida. During the activity, training on the Safe Test Ride Habits were imparted to the participants and they were further briefed on the importance of Safety Gears (Helmet, Gloves, Elbow & Knee Guard) while riding scooters or motorcycles. 

The company has planned a series of similar activation programs across India starting with Haryana, Uttar Pradesh and Tamil Nadu. The engaging publicity of road safety is targeted towards citizens from all age groups. Under this initiative, the company is also putting special emphasis on “Female Safety Riding Training”, “Kids’ Road Safety Awareness” through YCSP (Yamaha Children Safety Program), Test Ride & Briefing on importance of Safety Gears and Safety communication. Such efforts carry the potential to help both new riders and children to identify with the importance of road safety, ultimately leading to a better tomorrow.

Mr. Ravinder Singh, Senior Vice President, Sales & Marketing, Yamaha Motor India Sales has said, “Road Safety is a high priority concern, and the Government of India has significantly focused on this for several years. At Yamaha, as we set our commitments to ensure safety for all, we are engaging citizens of all age groups with the help of several offline activities this year. The initiative is aimed at creating a positive change in the society and educate people to follow traffic rules, thus enabling them to be more cautious for sake of their own safety and of others.” 

The Ministry of Transport & Highways, Government of India is observing Nationwide Road Safety Month this year from 18th Jan 2021 to 17th Feb.  

Vi Partners ith MFine To Facilitate Easy, App Based Medical Consultation For Its Users


* Stay safe at home and access virtual consultations and connected health care programs from the country’s top hospitals

* Partnership helps Vi customers connect virtually with 600 partner hospitals, 4000 doctors across 35 specialties

During this time of social distancing, technology has the power to provide healthcare for patients without exposing them to the potential health risks associated with physical visits to hospitals. In an endeavor to bring differentiated and holistic digital solutions to customers, India’s leading telecom operator Vi has forged a strategic partnership with MFine, India’s first AI-powered healthcare platform that connects patients with doctors from trusted hospital chains on instant chat and video consultation.

Through the MFine app, Vi customers can select a doctor from a reputed and trusted hospital with whom they wish to consult. Patients can directly chat or video consult with doctors to get prescriptions and/or routine care. The MFine app also allows patients to upload images, past medical records, and prescriptions. More than 4000 doctors, including some of India’s top doctors from over 600 reputed hospitals practice across 35 specialties on MFine.

Avneesh Khosla, Chief Marketing Officer, Vi said, “Our partnership with MFine is a part of Vi ’s endeavor to bring differentiated and holistic digital solutions to our customers. We strive to equip them for a better tomorrow by offering unique propositions across learning & upskilling, health & wellness etc. This partnership addresses the changing requirements of today’s digital society enabling individuals to get a range of benefits and value-adds. It enables Vi customers to access the finest in healthcare services offered by 600 partner hospitals, 4000 doctors across 30 specialties, in India, from within the safe confines of their home. One of the key pillars of VIL’s business strategy is to drive partnerships and digital revenue streams, across segments and we strongly believe that partnerships like this will help us drive more value for our customers and offer growth opportunities for the business.”

Speaking about the partnership, Arjun Choudhary,Chief Business Officer and Founding Member, MFine said, “The new realities of healthcare delivery in a post-COVID-19 world will necessitate the continued use of telemedicine to support social distancing and maximize healthcare resources. We are very excited to partner with Vi and look forward to working together to make quality healthcare accessible to everyone in need. By diminishing the impact of distance and time, and using the power of mobile technology, MFine is helping users connect with doctors and specialists from all over the country. In the last 6 months, we have observed that patients who never used telemedicine earlier are now consulting with specialists from across India and the power of mobile has helped people from over 1000 towns and villages get access to top doctors in the country”.

Sify Technologies To Announce Financial Results For Third Quarter FY 2020-21 On Jan 28, 2021

 


Sify Technologies Limited (NASDAQ: SIFY), India’s leading Digital ICT solutions provider with global service capabilities spanning Data Center, Cloud, Networks, Security and Digital services, today announced that it will report its unaudited IFRS financial results for the third quarter ended December 31, 2020 on Thursday, January 28, 2021 before the market opens. 

In conjunction with the announcement, Sify will host a conference call at 8:30 AM ET with Mr. Raju Vegesna, Chairman of the Board, Mr. Kamal Nath, Chief Executive Officer and Mr. M P Vijay Kumar, Chief Financial Officer. Interested parties may participate by dialling

+1-888-506-0062 (Toll Free in the U.S. or Canada) or +1-973-528-0011 (International), which will also be simultaneously broadcast live over the Internet at www.sifytechnologies.com/investors or https://www.webcaster4.com/Webcast/Page/2184/39736.

Please allow extra time prior to the call to visit the site and download the streaming media software required to listen to the Internet broadcast.

The online archive of the Webcast will be available shortly after the conference call, or investors can listen to the replay by dialling +1-877-481-4010 (Toll Free in the U.S. or Canada) or +1-919-882-2331 (International) and entering the replay passcode 39736. Please allow for some time post conference call to access the archive of the Webcast. The replay is available until 08:30 AM ET of February 04, 2021.

About Sify Technologies

Sify Technologies is India’s most comprehensive ICT service & solution provider. With Cloud at the core of our solutions portfolio, Sify is focussed on the changing ICT requirements of the emerging Digital economy and the resultant demands from large, mid and small-sized businesses. 

Sify’s infrastructure comprising the largest MPLS network, top-of-the-line DCs, partnership with global technology majors, vast expertise in business transformation solutions modelled on the cloud make it the first choice of start-ups, incoming Enterprises and even large Enterprises on the verge of a revamp,

More than 10000 businesses across multiple verticals have taken advantage of our unassailable trinity of Data Centers, Networks and Security services and conduct their business seamlessly from more than 1600 cities in India. Internationally, Sify has presence across North America, the United Kingdom and Singapore.

Sify, www.sify.com, Sify Technologies and www.sifytechnologies.com are registered trademarks of Sify Technologies Limited.

Forward Looking Statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.  The forward-looking statements contained herein are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those reflected in the forward-looking statements. Sify undertakes no duty to update any forward-looking statements.

For a discussion of the risks associated with Sify’s business, please see the discussion under the caption “Risk Factors” in the company’s Annual Report on Form 20-F for the year ended March 31, 2020, which has been filed with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission and is available by accessing the database maintained by the SEC at www.sec.gov, and Sify’s other reports filed with the SEC.

NSDC Partners With California State University Long Beach To Enrich Digital Offering For Skill Seekers


In its commitment to strengthen Skill India Mission, National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC) has joined hands with California State University, Long Beach (CSULB) to address the growing need for a digitally skilled workforce in India. Through this initiative, led by NSDC’s digital skilling unit- eSkillIndia, CSULB will be cataloguing 200+ free courses for the skill seekers. The partnership will also witness integration of CSULB’s platform - Skills Commons and MERLOT with eSkillindia.org to drive e-learning amongst the youth in the country. 

eSkillIndia and California State University Long Beach will initially add courses from sectors such as healthcare, management, information technology, finance, employability skills etc. There will be a special focus on courses for upskilling of trainers. The courses will range from 2 hours to 30 hours, providing the total digital content of 900 hours.

eSkillIndia is a digital skilling initiative from NSDC that aggregates digital learning resources through various Indian and global knowledge partnerships, to enable access to best-in-class learning resources for the Indian youth. Presently, the portal catalogues over 825 digital courses from its partners and additional 4000+ courses are connected through affiliate channels across various sectors in multiple languages, providing learners with the technology and skills needed to prosper in a rapidly transforming digital world. 

Commenting on the initiative, Dr. Manish Kumar, MD & CEO, NSDC, said, “Online learning is paving the way for digital transformation.  NSDC is facilitating acquisition of online skills, which can help realize the immense potential of youth to leverage existing as well as emerging opportunities.”

“Partnering with NSDC’s digital skilling initiative eSkill India to develop people’s workforce skills employment in the 21st century is core to our mission. By providing free and easy access to industry-centered training materials, NSDC and California State University Long Beach can deliver online learning to all and improve the well-being of all,” comments Dr. Gerard L. Hanley, Executive Director, California State University (SkillsCommons and MERLOT). 

The California State University Long Beach is ranked in the top 1% of all public universities in the USA, with 55% of the almost 40,000 CSULB students being 1st generation college students.   CSULB produces over $1.5 billion economic impact in the local region through its diverse programs.

About National Skill Development Corporation

National Skill Development Corporation, working under the aegis of Ministry of Skill Development & Entrepreneurship, is a unique public-private-partnership which aims to catalyze creation of quality vocational training ecosystem in India. Since inception in 2010, NSDC has trained more than 2.5 crore people through its partnership with 600+ training partners, 11,000+ training centers spread over 600+ districts across the country. NSDC has established 37 Sector Skill Councils and is implementing Government’s flagship skill development schemes such as Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana (PMKVY), Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Kendra (PMKK), National Apprenticeship Promotion Scheme (NAPS), among others.

About eSkill India

NSDC’s eSkill India is an elearning aggregator portal that provides learners with a platform to explore online skill-courses anytime, anywhere. The portal leverages technology to enable skill seekers accelerate their learning through methods like virtual learning and remote classroom. Across 10 Indian languages, eSkillIndia offers over 16 lakh minutes of high-quality digital content that spans various industry sectors, including agriculture, healthcare, telecommunication, retail, pharmaceutical, banking and finance, electronics and information technology. 

About California State University, Long Beach

California State University, Long Beach is a public university and is one of the largest universities in the state of California by enrollment. CSULB is home to a number of auxiliary organizations, programs, and initiatives, including MERLOT and SkillsCommons. SkillsCommons (www.skillscommons.org) is the world’s largest open educational resources library for workforce development and industry training materials. MERLOT (www.merlot.org) is a free and open online library that provides easy and worldwide access to free open educational resources for academic programs through its own curated collection and “smart search” of over 75 other free and open libraries of instructional content.

JK Tyre Record Excellent Performance During Quarter3 FY 2020-21

 


In Rs. Crores

- Net Revenue          2776

- EBITDA                507

- PBT                       343

Indian tyre industry major, JK Tyre & Industries Ltd. (JK Tyre) announced record financials for the third quarter of the current financial year.  Consolidated Sales at Rs.2776 Crores grew 26% - best ever sales for any quarter.  EBITDA doubles to Rs.507 Crores and PBT recorded multifold increase to Rs.343 Crores, compared with the corresponding Qtr.

Sales on a standalone basis aggregated Rs.1851 Crores with EBITDA of Rs.312 Crores and PBT of Rs.196 Crores.

Commenting on the results, Dr. Raghupati Singhania, Chairman and Managing Director, said, “JK Tyre turned out an excellent performance in Q3 - in terms of Sales and Profitability. This was largely driven by the increased demand for Passenger, Commercial vehicle as well as Farm tyres. Continued focus on improvement in operating efficiencies and reduction in interest costs, contributed to improved profitability.”  

Dr Singhania added “All nine, JK Tyre plants in India, operated at close to 96% capacity utilization during Q3.  It is a matter of satisfaction that some of the plants have achieved certain global benchmark operating parameters.”

Cavendish Industries Ltd., a JK Tyre subsidiary, also recorded excellent results in the Q3 of 2020-21. Capacity utilization at its 3 plants was nearly 95%. Cavendish achieved Sales of Rs.788 Crores and attained an all-time high PBT of Rs.92 Crores during the quarter under review.

Besides, the Company’s subsidiary in Mexico - JK Tornel,  continued to perform well, marked by a significant improvement in Sales and Profitability.

The Company foresees a sustained Sales and Profitability during the coming period.

JK Tyre & Industries Limited

The flagship company of JK Organisation, JK Tyre & Industries Ltd is amongst the top 25 manufacturers in the world. Pioneers of radial technology, the Company produced the first radial tyre in 1977 and is currently the market leader in Truck Bus Radial segment. The Company provides end-to-end solutions across segments of passenger vehicles, commercial vehicles, farming, Off-the-Road and two & three-wheelers.

A global force, JK Tyre is present in 105 countries with over 180 Global distributors.  The Company has 12 globally benchmarked ‘sustainable’ manufacturing facilities - 9 in India and 3 in Mexico – that collectively produce around 35 million tyres annually. The Company also has a strong network of over 4000 dealers and 550+ dedicated Brand shops called as Steel Wheels and Xpress Wheels.

JK Tyre’s unwavering commitment towards innovation is reflected through its state-of-the-art global research and technology centre – the Raghupati Singhania Centre of Excellence - in Mysore, which houses some of the world’s finest technologies and techniques.

JK Tyre launched India’s first ever ‘Smart Tyre’ technology-and introduced Tyre Pressure Monitoring Systems (TPMS) which monitors the tyre’s vital statistics, including pressure and temperature. The company recently rolled out its 20 millionth Truck/Bus Radial tyre becoming the first and the only Indian company to achieve this milestone.

It is the only Indian tyre manufacturer to be included in the list of Superbrands India in 2019 for the seventh consecutive year. JK Tyre has been conferred the Sword of Honour for Safety across its plants by the British Safety Council, UK. The company entered the Limca Book of Records with the country’s largest off-the-road tyre - VEM 04.

JK Tyre is also synonymous with motorsport in the country. For over three decades, the Company has relentlessly worked towards shaping India’s positioning as the motorsport hub of Asia, developing the right infrastructure for the sport and promoting young talent in the arena.

Thursday, January 21, 2021

Vedantu launches SuperReaders- Phonics-Based Live Online Reading Classes For Primary Kids Aged 4-6


*  First of its kind program includes 42 Phonic sounds for 4–6-year-old kids to read independently

* World class curriculum and pedagogy with highly qualified & trained teachers from across the country

Vedantu, a pioneer in LIVE online tutoring in India has launched SuperReaders- LIVE and personalised Phonics-based online reading classes for kids aged between 4 to 6. These LIVE online classes will be conducted by experts and dedicated mentors from across the globe who are extremely adept at teaching young minds how to read independently. Hosted on Vedantu’s revolutionary LIVE and interactive W.A.V.E. platform, SuperReaders is designed to keep young minds engaged through interactive songs, sounds through actions, games, and rewards. A unique feature of these classes include an introduction to the world of ‘Phonics’ or letter sounds (‘oo’, ‘ng’, ‘y’) through storytelling with over 65 exciting stories.

Phonics is proven to be highly effective in a child’s initial stages of learning and helps children to recognize and associate sounds of the alphabet in the word they read. Children who learn to read with phonological knowledge, become fluent readers and gain strong comprehension skills. This approach not only boosts their reading ability but also helps them to think logically while associating with different sounds to words, ace spellings, improve vocabulary, and further improves their communication making them more confident.

The sole aim of Super Readers is to inculcate kids with the habit of reading independently at an early age. With 42 sounds children will learn to read almost any word without any difficulty. The curriculum is highly personalised, interactive, and suited towards an individual’s learning curve.

Vamsi Krishna, CEO & Co-founder, Vedantu, opined, “The development of language is one of the 4 facets of a child’s development. At Vedantu we recognize this and have designed SuperReaders as an age-appropriate LIVE online learning class that answers the needs of a child’s emerging developmental impulses. Our pedagogy is unique, and the program has been scientifically designed to engage with very young kids. We have left no stone unturned and created this program with love for our youngest members of the Vedantu family. We hope to nurture children who enjoy learning and are engaged in their self-development through the power of reading.”

The sessions are conducted by top language experts who are highly qualified and trained in the Phonics domain. With SuperReaders, every learner will get a personalised tutoring environment. A parent’s presence is mandatory for the entire 40 mins session along with Vedantu’s certified educators and storytellers who will handhold the child in their learning process.

Vedantu SuperReaders program includes:

Introduction to Reading

8 1:1 classes, first 7 out of 42 basic sounds & 7 children's stories

First Steps in Reading

24 1:1 classes, first 24 out of 42 basic sounds & 21 children’s stories

Building Comfort with Reading

48 1:1 classes, 42 out of 42 basic sounds, 41 children’s stories & basic comprehension

Independent Reading

72 1:1 classes, All 42 basic sounds, 15-22 advanced phonics sounds, 65 children’s stories along with 5 themed projects & advanced comprehension

More information about Vedantu SuperReaders is available on  https://www.vedantu.com/superreaders

About Vedantu: 

Vedantu is India’s leading online education company which specializes in LIVE interactive classes for students across grades K1-12. It offers individual and group classes delivered by experienced Master Teachers in a LIVE real-time, virtual learning through their patented platform. The indigenous platform built for revolutionizing online learning captures 70+ parameters, helps drive high engagement and interaction in a virtual class, and give students their personalized learning reports to help them understand the knowledge gaps. Students can also access free content, take tests, and play LIVE quiz every day. 1Million+ students study LIVE every month on the platform and more than 25 Million users every month from 1000+ cities and 40+ countries access free content, tests, doubts, videos on Vedantu's platform, and its channels on YouTube. To know more about Vedantu log on to www.vedantu.com or download the App on your Android or iOS device.

Comment From Chief Security Officer, Tenable On World Economic Forum’s 2021 Global Risk Report



In the 16th edition of the World Economic Forum’s 2021 Global Risks Report, cybersecurity continues to be among the top 10 risks. This has been driven by the rapid digitisation of human interactions in the way we work and live and exacerbated by the pandemic.  The report states that as social identities become more defined by online identities, users will be increasingly at risk of exposure to targeted political manipulation, invasion of privacy, cybercrime, financial loss, and psychological or physical harm.

https://www.weforum.org/reports/the-global-risks-report-2021

http://www3.weforum.org/docs/WEF_The_Global_Risks_Report_2021.pdf

Robert Huber, Chief Security Officer at Tenable says, "Cybersecurity failure ranks the fourth highest “clear and present danger” in the World Economic Forum’s Global Risk Report 2021.  This should come as no surprise as our global reliance on all things technology went into overdrive in 2020. 

Computational power was instrumental in the research and development of vaccines. Operational technology within critical infrastructure continues to underpin the cold supply chain and logistics, facilitating the safe delivery and storage of vaccine vials.

While the power of technology was on full display in 2020, so too were the potential pitfalls. The issue with this kind of reliance is that, if we continue to steam ahead without first ensuring the security of this technology, the threats to our digital economy and very way of life will take hold. 

In 2020, we saw that threat actors weren’t afraid to take aim and exploit weaknesses in security practices for financial and even political gain. While regulation and globally accepted frameworks can be effective in raising the importance of cybersecurity efforts, alone neither is enough. Any cybersecurity initiative has to look beyond meeting minimum standard requirements to address the actual risks organisations face. It must elevate cybersecurity’s role as a strategic business function and critical enterprise risk.” 

Gond Artist Bhajju Shyam Partners ith Singaporean Artist Sam Lo To Create One Of The Tallest Mural Artworks



* Singapore Tourism Board and St+art India Foundation have joined hands to showcase a collaborative mural by two renowned artists from Singapore and India as part of Singapore Art Week

The Singapore Tourism Board (STB) has partnered with St+art India Foundation (St+art) to unveil a collaborative artwork in Little India, Singapore. The unique mural artwork titled, “Dancing in Unison” is the result of a shared passion between Indian Gond artist Bhajju Shyam and Singaporean artist Sam Lo. It is among the tallest art murals in the city.

The mural bears the fruits of many months of planning where both the artists have virtually connected to create this composition. Please refer to Annex A for the description of the mural.   Due to Covid-19 restrictions, it has been painted solely by Sam Lo.  This mural is one of the key highlights of Artwalk 2021, adding to the series of more than 20 murals that had been created during the past 6 editions of the public art festival in Little India which are a draw for local residents and Indian tourists alike.  This cross-border effort by the two artists resonates with the theme of Artwalk 2021 - “In Spite Of” - where artists overcome limitations and geographical boundaries to come together to realise their creations, made possible by their passions and hopes for harmony for the future.

This is the third time that both STB and St-art have partnered to showcase artworks by talented individuals from Singapore and India. The first was at Sassoon Docks, Mumbai during the launch of STB’s ‘Passion Made Possible’ brand in India in 2017.  More recently, at the Lodhi Art Festival in New Delhi in 2019, a Singapore lane featuring spectacular street art of Singapore was created at Block13-16 of the Lodhi Art District. 

Speaking about this initiative, GB Srithar, STB’s Regional Director of India, Middle East & South Asia, said, “STB is happy to partner with St+art India Foundation once again. The limitations brought about by the Covid-19 did not stop us from innovating and showcasing a common passion for art between India and Singapore. We are honored to be able to bring Indian Gond art closer to the audience in Singapore through the collaboration between Bhajju Shyam, a maestro in Indian Gond art and Sam Lo, a Singapore contemporary artist. India and Singapore share many cultural similarities and we want to use this opportunity to strengthen the emotional connect between both countries. As we start 2021, this wonderful artwork will bring a message of cross-cultural friendship, colours and pique the interest of visitors to Little India. It is noteworthy that the mural is one of the tallest ever undertaken in Singapore.”

Bhajju Shyam is one of the primary living exponents of Gond art. He was born and raised in the village of Patangarh, Madhya Pradesh, which is known to be the home of the Gond Pradhan indigenous tribe.  He was awarded a Padma Shri in 2018, the fourth highest civilian award given by the Republic of India. Sam Lo is a self-taught Singapore-based visual artist whose work revolves around social commentaries fuelled by daily observations of their surroundings and research into the sociopolitical climate. Sam has previously visited India during Lodhi Art Festival where they conducted a workshop and painted a mural in Lodhi Colony with their signature sparrows design. Along with another Singaporean artist Soph O, they had given an artsy makeover to the Arjan Garh metro station in New Delhi.

Giulia Ambrogi, Curator and Co-founder at St+art India Foundation said, “We are delighted to be partnering with Singapore Tourism Board for the first time in the unique Singaporean landscape, to further build on what we have been cultivating since 2017. The collaboration between Bhajju Shyam and Sam Lo is a timely reminder that despite differences, we are all connected in inherent ways. It showcases the power in coexisting and breaking boundaries, and thus opens up new horizons to remind us of the healing and liberating power of art.”

The design of the mural celebrates the symphony of traditional and contemporary visions where India, one of the oldest cultures of the world and Singapore, a modern city-state, come together under a discourse around nature, as a metaphor of what links us all together. Through this mural on the wall of the 7-storey Broadway Hotel in Little India, both the artists lyrically investigated the value of nature and our relationship with it, by bringing together their perspectives, to reveal that despite varying histories and cultures, we all are interconnected. This inherent connection inspired the choice of going beyond geographical and systemic divisions, including the ones prevalent in the art world.

This collaboration explores the traditional elements and belief systems that inform Bhajju’s world, in conjunction to Sam’s contemporary one. The mural, titled “Dancing in Unison” embodies the idea that respect for nature and the environment at large is what will guarantee our co-existence. Every feature in the work extends on this idea of the necessary dance between our urban living and nature.  The tree - an iconic element from Gond art designed by Bhajju – engulfs the urban environment of human dwelling (personified by the windows of the building) becomes a metaphor for the universe where everything is interconnected from the land to the air.  Its branches host vibrantly coloured sparrows, an element which reoccurs in Sam’s work, as a symbol of freedom, being one of the most common birds in India and Singapore.  Sam's deer, a revered animal in India serves as a tribute to Gond art, manifests the contemporary interconnection where elements from different cultures are seen blending together in our globalised and accessible world.  Sam further reinforces this idea by designing a red ribbon, another common element in their work, as a reminder of an omnipresent energy that connects us all, and one which connects her beliefs with those of Gond Art.

About the Singapore Tourism Board

The Singapore Tourism Board (STB) is the lead development agency for tourism, one of Singapore’s key economic sectors. Together with industry partners and the community, we shape a dynamic Singapore tourism landscape. We bring the Passion Made Possible brand to life by differentiating Singapore as a vibrant destination that inspires people to share and deepen their passions. For more information, visit www.stb.gov.sg or www.visitsingapore.com or follow us on Twitter @STB_sg (https://twitter.com/stb_sg)

About St+art India Foundation

St+art India Foundation is a non-profit organization that works on art projects in public spaces. The aim of the foundation is to make art accessible to a wider audience by taking it out of the conventional gallery space and embedding it within the cities we live in - making art truly democratic. Since its inception in 2014, St+art has organised numerous street art festivals and public art projects across India in cities such as Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Goa, Chennai, Kovai, Chandigarh, Calcutta and more. 

Hero Motocorp Surpasses The Monumental 100 Million Cumulative Production Milestone

 


Highlights

·        FOCUS ON BUILDING NEW MOBILITY SOLUTIONS

·        CONTINUED GLOBAL EXPANSION WITH ENTRY INTO NEW MARKETS

·        MORE THAN TEN PRODUCT LAUNCHES EVERY YEAR – INCLUDING A RANGE OF PREMIUM MOTORCYCLES - FOR THE NEXT FIVE YEARS

“Hero MotoCorp has been at the fore-front of providing mobility to the aspirations of millions around the world and the achievement of this milestone is the success of evolving engineering, operational excellence and sustainable practices. It is also the success of the holistic ecosystem built on trust and belief that has grown along with this company. Most importantly, this is a celebration of the customers who continue to shower their love and faith on Hero.

“This significant landmark is also an affirmation of the inherent capabilities in India and Hero’s Brand appeal. We have been making in India, for the world – and this milestone is an acknowledgment of the customers’ preference for Hero across geographies, demographics and generations.

“We are going to continue to ride our growth journey. In keeping with our Vision to ‘Be the Future of Mobility’ we will be launching a host of new motorcycles & scooters over the next five years, in addition to expanding our global footprint. We will also continue to invest in R&D and focus on new mobility solutions.”

Dr Pawan Munjal,

Chairman & CEO, Hero MotoCorp

Hero MotoCorp, the world’s largest manufacturer of motorcycles and scooters, today surpassed the significant milestone of 100 Million (10 Crores) units in cumulative production.

The 100 millionth bike, the Xtreme 160R, was rolled-out of the Company’s manufacturing facility in Haridwar, in the northern Indian hill state of Uttarakhand.

#100MillionHeroes event can be viewed by clicking on the below links –

http://100million.heromotocorp.com/

https://www.youtube.com/user/TheHeromotocorp

https://www.facebook.com/HeroMotoCorpIndia/

This is also the 20th consecutive year that Hero MotoCorp has retained the coveted title of the world’s largest manufacturer of two-wheelers.

Hero MotoCorp’s achievement of this landmark is one of the fastest global achievements of the 100 million cumulative production mark, with the last 50 Million units coming in a span of just seven years.

Focused on Sustainable Growth, Hero MotoCorp has been building value for communities across the globe and acting as an economic multiplier with its sales, R&D and manufacturing ecosystems. It also continuously works towards the progress of the societies it operates in. 

To mark the occasion, Dr Pawan Munjal unveiled six special celebration edition models at the Company’s manufacturing facility at Gurugram, located in the National Capital Region (NCR) of Delhi.  The six celebration edition models include Splendor+, Xtreme 160R, Passion Pro, Glamour (motorcycles) and Destini 125, Maestro Edge 110 (scooters) – that will go on sale from February 2021.

Addressing a global audience including customers, dealers, distributors, investors, suppliers, employees, customers and the media, Dr. Munjal also outlined Hero MotoCorp’s plans and vision for the next five years.

During this timeframe, the Company will aim to further consolidate its leadership position, expand its global footprint, launch exciting and relevant products and also work on new innovative product concepts.

As part of the next five-year plan, Hero MotoCorp will introduce over 10 products – including variants, refreshes and upgrades - every year.

Hero MotoCorp also has a steep growth target for its markets outside India. It will continue to grow its operations in these markets and also enter key markets in new geographies.

Hero MotoCorp will continue to reduce its carbon footprint through its green facilities and fuel-efficient products. The Company will also continue to work towards the propagation of new mobility solutions both through its internal programs and by supporting the larger external ecosystem.

Road to 100 Million

·         1994 – First Million

·         2001 – Five Million

·         2004 – 10 Million

·         2008 – 25 Million

·         2013 – 50 Million

·         2017 – 75 Million

·         2021 – 100 Million

About Hero MotoCorp Ltd.

The New Delhi (India) headquartered Hero MotoCorp Ltd. is the world’s largest manufacturer of motorcycles and scooters, in terms of unit volumes sold by a single company in a year — the coveted position it has held for the past 20 consecutive years. The Company has sold over 100 million motorcycles and scooters in cumulative sales since inception. Hero MotoCorp currently sells its products in more than 40 countries across Asia, Africa, Middle East, and South and Central America. Hero MotoCorp has eight state-of-the-art manufacturing facilities, including six in India, and one each in Colombia and Bangladesh. Hero MotoCorp has two world-class, state-of-the-art R&D facilities — the Centre of Innovation and Technology (CIT) in the northern Indian state of Rajasthan, and Hero Tech Centre Germany GmBH. Hero MotoCorp is one of the largest corporate promoters of multiple disciplines of sports, including, Football, Field Hockey, Cricket, Golf and Motorsports. Fifteen-time major winner Tiger Woods is Hero’s Global Corporate Partner.

Toyota Kirloskar Motor signs MoU with Government of Karnataka For Industry-Specific Skill Development in GTTCs

 


Toyota Kirloskar Motor (TKM) today announced the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Government Tool Room and Training Centre (GTTC) represented by its Managing Director in the presence of Secretary to Government, Department of Skill Development Entrepreneurship & Livelihood, Government of Karnataka.

In order to implement the MOU, a program is being initiated to develop students at GTTC situated in Gokak, Udupi, Hubli and Maddur. This program will impart industry-specific skill training to youth from various parts of Karnataka.  Under the scheme, TKM has been identified as an Industrial Training Provider (ITP) for developing skilled human resources for the manufacturing units and first-time entrepreneurs.

TKM will provide an opportunity for the trainees to acquire skills relevant to the manufacturing industry and improve their employment potential through a ‘Learn and Earn’ approach consisting of a mix of theoretical and On-the-Job Development. The youth will be trained by Toyota supervisors with extensive hands-on experience in the Toyota Production System. Upon successful completion of the training, they will have to take up an exam for certification, which will be jointly conducted by GTTC and TKM as per Automotive Skills Development Council guidelines.

The program aims at developing youth who have passed their 10th standard. Admissions to the program will start in January 2021. The three-year training program will be provided in two trades - automobile welding and automobile assembly.

Dr. S Selvakumar, Secretary to Government, Department of Skill Development Entrepreneurship and Livelihood, Government of Karnataka said, “We are thankful to the Toyota management for their support to the Skill India Mission. The plan is to start with four centres and gradually spread development to other centres too. Government is ready to support in improving the centres, trainers and training material to attain Toyota established Toyota Technical Training Institute (TTTI) level. We are all joining hands to fulfil Skill India Mission.”

Talking about the collaboration, Mr. Raghvendra, Managing Director of GTTC said, “Through the association with TKM, GTTC will learn Toyota’s best global practices incorporated through Toyota Way principles. We need to imbibe the Toyota culture amongst our students to make the Indian manufacturing Industry competitive in the world market. We are starting the project in our newly built GTTC centres in Karnataka. Inculcating Toyota culture will be easy in the new institutes followed by all other GTTC centres across the state. We are looking forward to a strong bonding with Toyota and its principles.”

On this occasion G Shankara, Vice President, HR and Services, TKM “The concept of exceptional quality products and services stems from developing world-class people and pans out to good processes, best-in-class equipment and infrastructure. Precisely this, Toyota’s philosophy of developing quality people, is what makes us unique. We focus on developing people, who in turn establish good processes, offer ever-better products and services, thereby achieving customer delight. We have invested heavily in our Toyota Technical Training Institute and Gurukul Skill Development Centre that are guided by globally certified master trainers who hone the skills of employees as they move up their career ladder.

TKM is a people-centric company. We provide experiential learning workshops, wherein all employees can set their career and life goals even beyond their retirement. We take the ambition of every employee seriously. We develop our employees in a way that they can achieve their career aspirations, attain self-realization and accomplish competitiveness.”

Besides training, Toyota imparts ‘Lifelong Learning’ to its employees so they can achieve their fullest potential and add value to their peers, family, company and society. People are the most important asset of Toyota. Hence, developing people forms the fulcrum of the company’s philosophy. ‘The Toyota Way’, emphasizes developing people in pursuit of ‘Continuous Improvement’ and ‘Respect for People’.

Stage Set For Grand Finale Of 23rd JK Racing Tyre National Racing Championship In Coimbatore


The Kari Motor Speedway, situated on the outskirts of Coimbatore amidst sylvan surrounding, will roar to life as participants gear up for the final round of country’s premium motor racing event- the 23rd JK Tyre FMSCI National Racing Championship.

After the grand success of the first two rounds of races held in December 2020 at the same venue, this weekend -- January 21 to 24 -- again promises rich action.  Six races in each category of Formula LGB 4 and Novice Cup will be held during the finale weekend. Chennai's Ashwin Datta of Dark Don Racing grabbed the limelight in December in the Formula LGB4 category with his consistent racing.

The unsung Amir Sayed from Kottayam of MSport, demonstrated his stellar form in the Novice category. The youngster took a likening to the renovated Kari Motor Speedway in quick time and was able to handle the twists and turns to a nicety. The stakes are higher and so is the determination of the racers as they race for the coveted National Champion title.

Adding on to the on-track excitement will be country’s finest women racers who will be in tow to give some tough competition to the men in the grid. In the last outing, Mira Erda of MSport was adjudged the best female racer. Meanwhile, in the Novice category, Anushriya Gulati of Ahura Racing emerged as the noticeable winner.

As per the provisional standings, in the Formula LGB4 category, Ashwin Datta with 39 points goes into the final as leader. Chennai lad Raghul Rangasamy of MSport with 32 points closely follows him with his teammate Vishnu Prasad at 30 points. In the overall team category, Dark Don Racing heads the standings with 80 points, followed by MSport at 74 & Ahura Racing at 29.  

Amir, with 60 points, has a comfortable lead in the Novice Cup category. He is followed by DTS Racing’s Dhruvin Gajjar from Rajasthan with 34 points. Closing in in the third place is Kolkata boy Aman Chaudhary representing DTS Racing with 24 points. Team MSport leads the points table with 77 points with DTS Racing and Momentum Motorsport in the second and third place with 59 & 50 points respectively.

In the rookie category in Formula LGB 4, Viswas Jayaraj from Nellore representing Avalanche Racing with 44 points, is the leader. At 35 points, Anushriya- Gulati from Dehradun is placed second. With just one point behind, Chirag Ghorpade of Bangalore from Team Momentum Motorsport is placed third at 34 points. The weekend will decide if Anushriya is able to maintain her lead over Chirag.

In the year gone by, when Covid-19 pandemic took a toll on sport at home (India), the JK Racing event has placed a premium on following all the rules and regulations. From thermal checking to sanitizing the pits regularly and use of hand sanitizers and masks, all steps will again be taking for the safe conduct.

The race programme starts on Friday and will culminate with the finale on Sunday.

Speaking about the JK Tyre FMSCI National Racing Championship, Sanjay Sharma, Head, Motorsports, JK Tyre said, “We feel proud that despite the pandemic, which put the world at halt, we at JK Tyre were able to maintain the continuity of India’s longest running racing championship without compromising on the safety protocols set by the Government and State authorities. And this is all with the support of our participants, patrons, officials, technicians who worked together to make this happen.”

“With some seasoned racers on the track, it would be a sight to watch the final round go down to the wire as we will get our National Champions for 2020,” he further added.

About JK Tyre Motorsport:

JK Tyre has been closely associated with the world of motorsports for almost three decades back. The company laid down a long term plan to popularise and promote the sport in the country. Its first target was to change the notion that this was a sport for the elite. So it packaged and redesigned it in a spectator-friendly way, drawing the masses to the sport.

The company then endeavored to spot, nurture and sharpen the drivers to turn them into world champions. With this goal in mind, we conceptualized the JK Tyre National Racing Champion in 1997. Our efforts started paying dividends in just a few years’ time, with the likes of Narain Karthikeyan and Karun Chandok going all the way to the F1 rung, the highest level of single-seat racing in the world. Since then, a number of stars emerged, including Armaan Ebrahim, the Maini brothers (Kush and Arjun), Anindith Reddy Konda, amongst many others. 

Before all this, JK Tyre had a successful stint in rallying too, conquering the scene in the early 90s. At the same time, gradually, we moved on to various disciplines, including cross-country rallying and off-roading, leaving a mark in each of them with their unique and innovative ways.  

JK Tyre Motorsports is also very proud of the role it has played in bringing women into motorsports in a big way. Apart from encouraging them to get into the sport through karting as kids, we also gave them opportunities in various national championships. Last year was particularly rewarding for us as an All-Women Racing team was introduced for the first time in the LGB 4 category. In addition, the company also undertook various other initiatives to encourage them to try motorsports, even if for fun to begin with.  

To supplement JK Tyre’s entry into the two-wheeler market, the JKNRC hosted the Suzuki Gixxer Cup and the Red Bull Road to Rookies Cup categories and saw enthusiastic participation from across the country.

Today, the company is synonymous with motorsports, and even more so with racing, creating a lot of goodwill for the brand. Right from budding racers to accomplished drivers in the country, everybody owes their rise and success to JK Tyre.  

BPCL Names Honeyell Automation India “Best Terminal Automation Vendor” For 2020

 



Honeywell Automation India Limited (NSE:HONAUT)) announced today that it has been adjudged the Best Terminal Automation Vendor by Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited (BPCL) for 2020. Honeywell won the award for successfully executing terminal automation solutions for BPCL, India’s second largest oil marketing company at their Bolangir LPG plant and Haveli installation. Honeywell is also putting up terminal automation solutions at BPCL’s Allahabad, Ajmer, and Jaipur LPG plants as well as Kandla installation.

The terminal automation solution uses a complex set of digital equipment such as digital control valves, positive displacement flow meters, mass flow meters, strainers and air eliminators, and earthing relays that are connected to the batch controller and process automation systems (PLC/DCS). Honeywell provides infrastructure, engineering services, and software solutions to facilitate automated fuel dispensing into oil tankers, while ensuring the right type and volume of fuel is replenished. This solution allows for increased and efficient truck flow, leading to better productivity at the oil marketing terminal.

Ashish Gaikwad, Managing Director, HAIL said, “We are honored to receive this award from BPCL. This recognition highlights our customer-first approach and our commitment to ensuring best-in-class project execution, operations management, and services, along with timely completion of our terminal automation solutions projects.”

BPCL has 78 marketing terminals across India to store and distribute fuel to retail outlets. Honeywell has been working with BPCL for more than 15 years, helping automate many of their terminals.

Honeywell was given the Best Terminal Automation Vendor Award at BPCL’s recently-held Annual Premium Vendor Meet, which attracts the oil major’s premium business partners representing all disciplines of engineering, including civil, mechanical, and automation.

Honeywell was felicitated for superior project execution, operations management, and maintenance and services. This is the second year in a row and the third award in the last four years for Honeywell in this category.

About Honeywell Automation India Limited

Honeywell Automation India Limited (HAIL) is a ~$350 million+ company listed on the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE) and the National Stock Exchange (NSE). It was incorporated in India in 1984 and its registered office in Hadapsar, Pune. HAIL is a leader in providing integrated automation and software solutions, including process solutions and building solutions. It has a wide product portfolio in environmental and combustion controls, and sensing and control, and also provides engineering services in the field of automation and control to global clients. A Fortune India 500 company, HAIL has more than 3,000 employees based in nine offices across India – Pune, Baroda, Bangalore, Hyderabad, Mumbai, Chennai, Gurgaon, Kolkata, and Jamshedpur, and Vadodara.

About Honeywell India

Honeywell (www.honeywell.com) is a Fortune 100 technology company that delivers industry-specific solutions that include aerospace products and services; control technologies for buildings and industry; and performance materials globally. Our technologies help everything from aircraft, buildings, manufacturing plants, supply chains, and workers become more connected to make our world smarter, safer, and more sustainable. All of Honeywell’s global businesses have a strong legacy in India, built over the last eight decades. Honeywell’s India commitment is evident in three state-of-the-art manufacturing and engineering operations, and four global centers of excellence for technology development and innovation. Honeywell employs ~13,000 people across different locations including Bengaluru, Chennai, Dehradun, Gurugram, Hyderabad, Madurai, and Pune.  

Emirates To Becomes Premier Global Airlines To Trial IATA Travel Pass


Emirates has partnered with the International Air Transport Association (IATA) to become one of the first airlines in the world to trial IATA Travel Pass – a mobile app to help passengers easily and securely manage their travel in line with any government requirements for COVID-19 testing or vaccine information.

IATA Travel Pass enables Emirates passengers to create a ‘digital passport’ to verify their pre-travel test or vaccination meets the requirements of the destination. They will also be able to share the test and vaccination certificates with authorities and airlines to facilitate travel. The new app will also enable travellers to manage all travel documentation digitally and seamlessly throughout the travel experience.

Prior to a full roll out, Emirates will implement phase 1 in Dubai for the validation of COVID-19 PCR tests before departure. In this initial phase, expected to begin in April, Emirates customers travelling from Dubai will be able to share their COVID-19 test status directly with the airline even before reaching the airport through the app, which will then auto-populate the details on the check-in system.

Adel Al Redha Emirates’ Chief Operating Officer said: “While international travel remains as safe as ever, there are new protocols and travel requirements with the current global pandemic. We have worked with IATA on this innovative solution to simplify and digitally transmit the information that is required by countries and governments into our airline systems, in a secure and efficient manner. We are proud to be one of the first airlines in the world to pilot this initiative, which will provide an enhanced customer experience and conveniently facilitate our customers’ travel needs.”

Nick Careen, IATA Senior Vice President for Airport, Passenger, Cargo and Security said: “We’re proud to work with Emirates to make IATA Travel Pass available in the Middle East region. With its global customer base and network traffic, Emirates as a partner will also bring invaluable input and feedback to improve the Travel Pass programme. This is the first step in making international travel during the pandemic as convenient as possible giving people the confidence that they are meeting all COVID-19 entry requirements by governments. As borders re-open, IATA Travel Pass will be further enhanced with more capabilities to meet all governments testing or vaccination verification requirements and Emirates customers will be among the first to have these services.”

Within the IATA Travel Pass app, the integrated registry of travel requirements will also enable passengers to find accurate information on travel and entry requirements for all destinations regardless of where they are travelling from. It will also include a registry of testing and eventually vaccination centres – making it more convenient for passengers to find testing centres and labs at their departure location which meet the standards for testing and vaccination requirements of their destination.

The platform will also enable authorized labs and test centres to securely send test results or vaccination certificates to passengers. The global registry, managed by IATA, will manage and allow the secure flow of necessary information amongst all stakeholders and to provide a seamless passenger experience.

Emirates is committed to providing a seamless customer experience at all touchpoints. In the last few months, it has introduced a smart contactless journey with an integrated biometric path and other services including self-check-in and bag drop kiosks at Dubai International airport for a smoother airport experience.

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